My sister became the empress, but I'm still growing vegetables and raising chickens

Chapter 156 Someone is Matchmaking

"As for the cost of education, my father doesn't restrict it. He's just giving everyone a basic education. Those who are truly talented and intend to take the imperial examinations should still go to a formal school. I have the books needed for this basic education at home. I also have other arrangements for brushes, inkstones, and paper. I plan to ask Carpenter He to make some wooden sand tables, fill them with sand, and use wooden chopsticks instead of brushes to write."

The village head's eyes widened: "Is this... okay?"

Si Muyan smiled and said, "Okay, Xiao An wanted to learn to read before, but he didn't want to waste the pens and ink at home, so he ran to a deserted place and wrote on the ground with a branch."

Si Xingzhi quickly interjected, "Of course, using a sandbox and wooden chopsticks can only teach children how to write, not how to write characters. If you're interested in cultivating this skill, it's best to prepare pens and ink. I'm quite knowledgeable about various character scripts, so I can teach you a few."

The village head automatically ignored his words and just nodded to Si Muyan.

"Okay, okay, I'll go tell the villagers right away. Anyone who's interested can go to your house to sign up. It's definitely a good idea to follow your father!"

The village head acted quickly. He called everyone to the Taoist temple and explained the arrangements for the Si family.

"This is good for everyone. When our child goes out, she won't be blind. You all know that when we hire workers outside, those who can read can go to the shop to run errands and help with mail. Those who can't read can only do rough and heavy labor. I heard that a maid who can read can get the respect of her master even if she works as a maid in a wealthy family in the city."

Everyone was shocked: "Really? The Si family is so kind, why don't they charge money to teach the children?"

"But our child is already nine years old. Can he still read?"

"My child wants to help with the work, but I'm afraid... I'm afraid he can't."

The head of the village continued, "It's like this. If you want to teach your child to read properly, enroll them in a full-day class. If you have something to do at home, or if you just want your child to learn to read and write, you can enroll them in a half-day class. Yan said that regardless of whether it's a full-day class or a half-day class, you work five days and have two days off!"

"This is good, this is good, I'll report it for half a day."

"Then I'll sign up for half a day and try it out?"

"Quiet down for a moment." The village head raised his hand to signal for silence, then said, "It's like this. There are fifteen spots for the full-day class, and fifteen spots for the half-day class as well. It doesn't matter whether you're a girl or not. He Jialai Di is a girl, so she'll be in the full-day class. Also, Yan Yatou said that although Master Si has the knowledge of five cars, his resources are limited. He's only teaching elementary school. If you have good conditions and he thinks you're ready, he can transfer you to the academy."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone quieted down.

If he were to be sent to school, wouldn't he be able to take the college entrance examination just like Mr. Song?

But in the entire Songji Village, for so many years, only the ancestral grave of Song Xiucai’s family has smoke coming out of it. What about their children?

There are also those who are usually conceited and think that they cannot go to school because their family conditions are too poor. If they could study, they might be even better than Song Xiucai.

As a result, many families decided to send their children to full-day classes to start their education.

The village head said with a smile, "Everyone, study hard for a month first. If it doesn't suit you, we can see if there are any other positions and then slowly change it."

When the children in the village heard the news, they all pestered their parents and insisted on going to the Si family's school.

"Master Si is amazing! He taught us the Thousand Character Classic, the Three Character Classic, and even taught us to recite poems. He also paints beautifully and can play the xiao. I want to learn from him! I want to learn!"

"Dad, I can write quite a few words now. Last time, Song Chunbo looked down on Xiao An, but the words that Xiao An knew, Song Chunbo didn't know. I also want to be as good as Xiao An."

"Grandpa and Grandma, I'm very hardworking. I can get up early to work, and then go to class after work. I won't be late."

As long as the family was well-off and had no shortage of children as a labor force, they would come to the Si family to enroll their children. Of course, there were also those who felt that the Si family was causing trouble and refused to agree no matter how much their children persuaded them. There was nothing they could do.

Si Muyan didn't care much about it. In addition to arranging a teacher position for his father, he also asked He Song to make a simple guqin for Shao Qin when he was free.

Let Shao Qin teach the children to play the piano when she is awake.

Although the guqin is simple and rustic, and its tone is far inferior to those sold outside, it is enough for the children in the village.

They are willing to read and play the piano, and they are much more attentive than the children who are forced to study in schools in the city.

Shao Qin was still confused, but she was very happy to teach the children, and she always couldn't tell who was who.

"You are Wang Erya."

"Mrs. Shao, I'm Song Erya, and she's Wang Xiaoyang."

Shao Qin nodded: "It turns out to be Song Xiaoyang, come here, have some candy."

Song Erya smiled and said, "Mrs. Shao always forgets our names. Do you remember the song that Brother Nan played?"

Shao Qin listened attentively and shook her head: "Your playing is not good, it's as unpleasant as the crows in the trees."

Several children burst into laughter.

Si Muyan looked at it for a while, feeling relieved, and turned back. The Si family duck shop was about to open, and she still had a lot of preparation work to do.

As soon as I got home, I saw a middle-aged woman with heavy makeup and a mole on her face dotted with red rouge. She was waving a red handkerchief and shouting congratulations.

Si Xingzhi looked at her with embarrassment.

Si Muyan knew this person. She was a matchmaker in the county town, and she specialized in introducing concubines to wealthy families. However, how could she, a matchmaker who usually introduced concubines to wealthy masters, come to her house?

The matchmaker smiled brightly when she saw Si Muyan: "You are Miss Yan, right? You are really as beautiful as a flower. No wonder Boss Qian fell in love with you at first sight."

Si Muyan narrowed her eyes: "Who? Who are you talking about?"

"Boss Qian," the matchmaker said, waving her handkerchief. "That's the Boss Qian from Lingnan City. He said you've met him before, little girl Yan. How could you not recognize him?"

Si Muyan remembered that he was one of the two bosses who stayed after she persuaded the merchants from Lingnan City to leave when they came to discuss cooperation more than a month ago.

The owner of Shixianglou, but he asked that she could not supply to other shops in Fenghuang County except Si's food shop and could only supply it exclusively.

She refused at that time, and Boss Qian left without saying anything. She didn't think much about it. She didn't expect that Boss Qian would come to her like this now?

Si Xingzhi hurriedly asked, "Sister, who is Boss Qian?"

The matchmaker quickly replied, "Master, you don't know this, but Mr. Qian is a wealthy man. It's said that he's extremely wealthy, even richer than the owner of Fu Man Lou in the county town! Your daughter will be blessed with such immense wealth."

Si Muyan was furious and said coldly, "Really? If I give you such wealth, would you like it?"