Good news doesn't travel far, but bad news travels for a thousand miles.

News of Lao Yang's eldest son, Yang Hu'an, falling ill quickly spread through the village.

Besides Lao Yang's family and a few relatives who knew the truth, no one else was aware of what illness Yang Huai had.

He only knew that after running to the clinics in town and county for two consecutive days, both places refused to take him, so he went home to recuperate.

It must be a strange illness!

At the head and tail of the village, everyone is discussing this matter.

The 12th day of the first lunar month.

Li Zheng was bringing several village elders to greet Yang Ruqing, discussing the opening of the school.

Yang Ruqing only then realized that everyone had been focusing on Yang Huai'an these past few days, neglecting the academy.

This is a test.

After seeing off Li Zheng and several village elders, Yang Ruoqing planned to go to the old house to find Yang Yongxian over to discuss the matter of starting school. Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

As soon as I reached the front of the old house, I could smell the pungent medicinal odor emanating from inside Yang Huai'an's room.

Yang Ruqing did not go in, but stood at the entrance of the main hall and called out to Yang Yongxian inside.

Soon, Yang Yongxian came out of it.

This is a placeholder.

“Qing’er, what’s the matter?” he asked.

Yang Ruqing immediately told Yang Yongxian about the start of school. Yang Yongxian was taken aback.

“Oh dear, I've been so busy lately that I almost forgot this important matter!” he said.

Yang Ruqing said, "Big brother, I and Tang YaZi will handle the recruitment of students."

"You should have some free time these days, and prepare for your classes, like getting your textbooks ready."

“I’ve already made arrangements with Mr. Li and the others. After the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, we’ll officially start classes on the sixteenth.” she said.

Yang Yongxian nodded: "Um, I understand. I'll make sure everything is ready."

Yang Ruqing returned home without even going to Yang Huainan's house.

Gather all the Baozhu, Yuzhu, and Wangliang from the transport team.

The main idea is to have them go door-to-door in the surrounding villages to spread the word and promote it.

I originally wanted to have notices that could be directly pasted onto paper. However, considering the surrounding villages, especially the smaller ones, where almost everyone in a village is illiterate,

Yang Ruqing still plans to save some paper and ink.

Then, she went with Tang Ya-zi to find the village head and several elders.

Have Li Zheng and several village elders come forward, and then go to the surrounding villages to tell each village's Li Zheng about this matter.

Have each village head go back to their respective villages to publicize this matter to the villagers.

Let me know if you'd like me to translate anything else!

“Because our village is having its first school ever, for this first quarter, all the students coming to be enlightened will have their tuition fees waived.”

"Let them have a free trial for one quarter first. If they want to continue reading, we'll start charging tuition from the next quarter."

On her way to visit and mobilize other villages on the outskirts, Yang Ruqing discussed her opinions with the village head and several elders.

“Of course, students who live and eat at school will have to pay for their food and lodging.”

"By the time they've finished one quarter and felt the benefits of studying, they'll definitely come back for another."

"Li Zhengbo and several grandfathers, do you think my plan is feasible?" Yang Ruohua asked finally.

"The old man laughed and said, 'You built the school, you hired the teachers, and you're giving everyone a free trial period for a whole quarter. This is clearly giving everyone a good deal! Why wouldn't anyone be happy with that?'"

The other village elders were also shrewd people, they just smiled and agreed.

Yang Ruqing, hearing this, also smiled and nodded: "Okay, then we'll mobilize according to these words later."

For three consecutive days, villagers from nearby hamlets who came to enroll in the school almost trampled the road in front of it flat.

Yang Ruqing, Luofeng Tang, and Yang Yongxian three take turns presiding over the schoolhouse and receive the villagers who come to register.

>Register the student's name, age, and home address separately.

Then, students will be further divided into classes based on their age and home address.

"I originally thought I would have about twenty students, but almost sixty showed up! It's way beyond my expectations!"

In the classroom, Yang Yongxian handed a student roster to Yang Ruqing and said.

Yang Ruqing took the book and skimmed through it at a glance.

Then, closing the book and smiling slightly, she said: "If it weren't for the fact that in a few days the spring planting would begin, and many families with children as young as ten are needed for labor, there would be even more students."

Yang Yongxian nodded.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

Most of the students in this book are between six and nine years old.

At the age of ten, there were only three or five.

For those over eleven years old, there are almost none.

"Brother, look at these sixty or so students. How many classes do you think they'll be divided into?" Yang Ruqing asked again.

Yang Yongxian thought for a moment, then looked around at the spacious and bright classroom.

"Let's divide into two classes, with about thirty people in each."

"In this way, I can teach lessons in the morning and afternoon, separately." He said.

Yang Ruqing nodded: "Well, I'll listen to my brother."

Tomorrow, which is the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, will be the official start of school.

Thirty students had paid their food and lodging fees, having lunch and resting here.

"I've already found someone to cook and clean at the school."

“It was my mother, Guihua, and Dayun’s aunt. I also made arrangements with them that they would come over early tomorrow morning to boil water and wipe down the tables and chairs.”

In addition, Yang Ruqing also shared some convenient details with Yang Yongxian and let him know about it.

After the siblings had settled everything, Yang Yongxian told Yang Ruqing, "This past quarter, besides living and food expenses, we haven't been able to collect half a penny of tuition."

"You still pay me a few silver coins every month..."

“It’s been these three months, you and Tang YaZi who have been footing the bill for this schoolhouse, supporting me, your big brother.”

"Big brother, I feel deeply guilty..."

Yang Yongxian said, a blush crept onto her fair face.

>

"Brother, please don't say that. I invested a lot upfront, and without the initial investment, there wouldn't be any income later on."

"Big brother, you are a renowned scholar known far and wide, with your belly full of ink."

"You're coming to help me teach the students? I couldn't ask for anything better! You are a real talent!" she said.

Hearing this, Yang Yongxian felt even more ashamed. Let me know if you'd like me to translate any other text!

He waved his hand and said, "Miss, please don't say such things. This foolish brother has studied for so many years, but he still hasn't passed the exam to become a juren and bring glory to his family..."

"Big brother, everything is about the right energy," Yang Ruqing said. "You've studied hard, everyone can see that. It's just that your luck hasn't been good recently."

"It doesn't matter, there are three hundred and sixty professions, each with its outstanding individuals. I believe your brother will surely be an excellent teacher!" she said.

Yang Yongxian nodded, a glimmer of light appearing in his eyes.

For dinner, Yang Ruqing and Luofeng Tang ate at Sun's place.

>

At the dinner table, Sun shi was particularly excited and eager about going to the school tomorrow to cook and do odd jobs.

Xia An was also very excited.

Because it's past the Chinese New Year, he is already seven years old according to traditional reckoning, and tomorrow he will go to school for his enlightenment.