My Demonic Cult's Holy Maiden

Erhu originally belonged to the latter category, but at that time Qi Yu felt that he had nothing to repay Aunt Li's family with, so he became Erhu's teacher for a period of time.

Qi Yu moved all the books that his predecessor had stored to Aunt Li's house for Erhu to read.

Qi Yu was gone for three months, so he naturally didn't have time to teach Erhu anymore. Therefore, Aunt Li must have taken him to a private school in Jiangzhou City.

However, most people in Jiangzhou City looked down on country folk, so Qi Yu wasn't surprised that Erhu couldn't get in.

"Okay, Aunt Li, don't worry, I will teach Erhu well. Of course, if Daya also wants to learn, she can come along!" Qi Yu said with a smile.

Da Ya, standing next to her, was taken aback and felt a little tempted.

The concept of male superiority and female inferiority still exists in this world, and many women are illiterate.

Ordinary private schools did not accept female students.

Da Ya never attended a private school; Qi Yu taught her to write her own name stroke by stroke.

Only high-ranking officials and nobles would teach the women in their households to read.

Girls like Daya, who were born in the countryside, may never have such an opportunity in their entire lives.

"Brother Qi Yu, is it really possible?" Daya asked excitedly.

Qi Yu smiled and said, "Of course, education is for all, as long as you want to learn!"

Daya was so happy she almost jumped up, then looked at her mother.

Aunt Li hesitated. She herself had been raised under the influence of the idea that "a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent," so even now, she couldn't write her own name.

There are many women like her, but those who can read are ultimately a minority.

Besides traditional beliefs, there is also a very practical reason.

No money!

A family can only afford to send one child to school at most.

Like Qi Yu, he was supported by his parents and elder brother.

Therefore, many impoverished families do not choose to send their daughters to school; they will marry them off when they reach the age of sixteen or seventeen.

Qi Yu noticed Aunt Li's hesitation and said, "Aunt Li, I don't charge tuition. You can come and learn when you have free time. I'll teach you how to write your name."

Aunt Li was taken aback, then rolled her eyes at Qi Yu and said, "How can this be? If Daya wants to learn, then come on over. I'll give you the tuition fees along with everything Erhu has."

Qi Yu smiled but didn't say anything.

Excessive refusal would seem distant, and it would also put Aunt Li at ease.

Aunt Li and Uncle Li are simple, honest people from the lower classes; they don't have many complicated or scheming aspects.

There's no need for so much scheming and backstabbing when you're with them.

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Chapter 113 Running a Private School

Aunt Li had to work on the farm, so she left Daya and Erhu behind and then left.

Qi Yu was very happy that there were two more people in the house.

Although it's nice to be alone with Su Yue most of the time, it's also nice to have a lively atmosphere at home.

Because that's how it looks more like a home!

What constitutes a home?

Home is where your heart is at peace!

With Su Yue around, I feel safe and secure no matter where I am.

Lunch was prepared by Su Yue and Da Ya, and the taste was just average, not as good as what I made myself.

In the afternoon, three more people came to the courtyard.

Those were Wang Defa's father and two younger brothers!

Wang Defa learned martial arts and became a martial artist, which is why he was able to enter the government office as a constable.

Compared to martial arts, studying doesn't require as much expense or hardship.

Qi Yu bowed to his father, then looked at Wang Defa's two younger brothers.

They're not very old; the youngest is only seven, and the oldest is nine!

The king's father clasped his hands in a fist salute to Qi Yu and said, "Qi Yu, I'm entrusting these two little rascals to you!"

Qi Yu glanced at the few gray hairs at his father's temples, lowered his eyelids slightly, and bowed, saying, "Uncle Wang, please rest assured, I will definitely teach him well!"

The father nodded and said, "I believe you!"

The father had his two children perform the disciple's salute to Qi Yu, which was considered a form of apprenticeship.

There were no private schools in the village where Wang Defa lived.

After all, to be able to open a private school, one generally needs to have some cultural foundation, and being a student of the lowest level of education is the starting point.

Scholars are all busy studying and preparing for the provincial examinations! How could they have time to open a private school?

That's why Qi Yu looked at Li Ming like he was an idiot when he said he wanted every child to have access to education.

Later, it turned out he wasn't stupid; he was just a complete hypocrite, making empty promises.

He wanted to ensure that every child had access to education and every farmer had land to cultivate in this corrupt world; what he needed to fight against was the world's order.

That's not something that can be accomplished overnight; it requires the joint efforts of several generations.

Li Ming is certainly not the first person to think this way, so why has no one succeeded?

Because it's too difficult!

Those who have this idea lack the ability to realize it, while those who have the ability to realize it don't have this idea.

Those who had the ability and the idea were mostly dead; they became the targets of the "killing the chicken to scare the monkey" campaign to establish authority, because it involved the interests of many people.

When one person's thoughts affect the interests of the majority, no matter how righteous your actions are, they are wrong.

Strength is truth, and might is justice!

Qi Yu had no intention of changing this corrupt world; he was just an ordinary person.

Qi Yu set up three tables in the courtyard to teach the three students.

Fortunately, all three of them had some basic literacy skills, so Qi Yu began to teach them to read.

I taught five characters in total: benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness!

After explaining the meaning of these five characters, Qi Yu taught them arithmetic, specifically addition and subtraction within one hundred.

The afternoon passed quickly, and the three little kids went home by themselves.

Wang Defa lives in the next village, not far away, only three kilometers from the village entrance.

Qi Yu sat under the eaves, gazing at the setting sun on the horizon, his eyes somewhat dazed.

Seeing the joyful expressions on the faces of those three little kids after they finished learning touched Qi Yu.

He had no intention of changing the world himself, but he wanted to change the future of these children.

The poison of Confucianism has seeped into the marrow and is difficult to eradicate.

If these children had entered other private schools, they would likely have learned the Confucian doctrines as well.

Studying to become an official, only to become a useless scholar.

All they know is how to study by rote!

While we can't change the corrupt world, changing these children seems quite interesting.

"Husband, what are you thinking about? You seem so happy." Su Yue sat down next to Qi Yu and asked with a smile.

"My wife, I'm thinking of something very interesting!" Qi Yu said with a smile.

"What's wrong?" Su Yue asked curiously.

Qi Yu stood up, looked at the setting sun on the horizon, and laughed, "I want to open a private school!"

Su Yue smiled at Qi Yu but didn't say anything.

If my husband wants to do something, then let him do it. Whatever he does, as his wife, it's enough to just silently support him.

"Husband, are you planning to set up a private school here?" Su Yue asked with a smile.

Qi Yu shook his head and smiled, "Didn't Mr. Zhou pass away? The private school he used to run must be empty now. I'd like to take it over and reopen it as a school!"

He's not short of money now; with the thousand taels of gold Li Ming gave him, it's more than enough to start a school.

“Let’s go take a look tomorrow! It seems that Mr. Zhou’s son is managing it now!” Su Yue said with a smile.

Qi Yu nodded, then looked at Su Yue sitting under the eaves, his gaze softening.

"Thank you, my wife!"

Su Yue was taken aback and asked in surprise, "Thank me for what?"

"Thank you for your support!" Qi Yu said softly.

No matter what he did, Su Yue stayed with him without ever complaining.

Even though he didn't want to work hard and wanted to be a lazy bum, Su Yue still indulged him.

I'm so lucky to have married such a virtuous wife!

"Just like you said, we've tied the knot, and our love is unwavering. Whatever you want to do, my husband, I'll support you!" Su Yue said with a smile.

Qi Yu smiled, sat down next to Su Yue, and put his arm around her shoulder.

"With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for?"

……

Early the next morning, Qi Yu went to find Mr. Zhou's son.

He was a middle-aged man, very thin. When he heard that Qi Yu wanted to reopen the private school, he took Qi Yu to the school courtyard without saying a word.

The door opened, and in front of it was a small room, which must be the school.

The yard is also very large, about the size of a basketball court.