The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 329: Village-Run Private School

"Jingzhe, we’ve decided with the village chief that our private school will start on August 18th. You’ll go to Pingchuan County the day after tomorrow to invite Mr. Li."

After dinner, Tong Huaqiong mentioned the start date of the village’s private school to her son.

Gu Jingzhe had already visited Mr. Li in Pingchuan County with Mr. Su a few days ago, offered a gift, discussed the monthly salary, and Mr. Li was very willing to come to Qinghe Bay.

"Alright, I’ll go after the festival tomorrow." Gu Jingzhe was confident he could invite Mr. Li.

Tong Huaqiong wrote a note for Gu Jingzhe to take to County Magistrate Liu.

Tong Huaqiong was equally confident about inviting County Magistrate Liu.

Given Tong Huaqiong’s contribution to the corn harvest this autumn, County Magistrate Liu wouldn’t refuse her a favor.

Besides the invitation for County Magistrate Liu, Tong Huaqiong also sorted out gifts from the city to give to County Magistrate Liu’s mother, Mrs. Han, intending to have Gu Jingzhe deliver them together.

Tong Huaqiong also planned to personally go to Pingchuan County after this busy period to ask Mrs. Han to arrange a match for Lu Zhaoyang.

Village chief Liu Tieshan called a meeting of the entire village right after lunch.

The meeting centered around Qinghe Bay’s upcoming private school.

When the village chief announced that Tong Huaqiong was using her own money to invite a teacher to teach in the village, the villagers were in an uproar, both surprised and delighted.

Every family in the village with sons wanted them to succeed and to change their family’s fate.

Take Tong Dajiao’s family, for example, why were they so proud despite being poor? It was because they had a scholar, Gu Jingzhe, at home.

According to the village chief, the villagers weren’t required to pay for the teacher or the school’s setup, just the tuition fees.

People were moved to enroll their sons when they heard the tuition was half the price of the town’s private school.

"My son should study. I don’t expect him to be a scholar, but if he can read and understand ledgers, he can get a job outside, which is better than farming at home and carrying sandbags at the dock." Liu Yue Er’s brother, Liu Shan, was the first to speak.

Since the private school was organized by the landowner and his uncle, he, as a clerk at Taohua Dessert and the village chief’s nephew, naturally had to support it.

"I’m not married yet, but I’ll have my younger brother study, so our family can also have a scholar in the future," said Ergouzi, a laborer at Tong Huaqiong’s home, planning for his youngest brother.

"My son will study too."

"My son as well."

"Since there’s a private school in the village, there’s no reason not to attend. Both my grandsons will study."

Everyone was eager to enroll their sons and grandsons in school.

Some didn’t expect academic excellence but wanted their children to read ledgers and find jobs in the city; others hoped their children would be as successful as or even surpass Gu Jingzhe.

In any case, the desire for education made the atmosphere lively and bustling.

"I don’t have a son now, but when I do, I’ll have him study. Even if I have a daughter, I’ll let her learn," said Qin Qingyou.

Now that Chen Sufen was pregnant, Qin Qingyou was envious.

He had been married to Liu Qiaoyun for a year without any sign of a child. He hadn’t been in a hurry before, but now he really wanted children.

Someone mocked Qin Qingyou: "It’s one thing if a son studies, but letting a daughter study, are you out of your mind? Which private school accepts female students?"

Simply wishful thinking.

Qin Qingyou retorted, unconvinced: "Who says there aren’t? Our landowner, Aunt Tong, plans to let Man Er and Yaozu study at the private school together."

The crowd was stunned and looked at Tong Huaqiong one after another.

Tong Huaqiong nodded and said, "That’s right. My Man Er will study at the private school with the village boys."

"Tong Dajiao really has an open mind," came a sigh from the crowd after a moment of silence.

The Gujia Clan Leader stood on the edge, wanting to oppose Man Er attending private school, thinking it absurd for Tong Huaqiong to let her granddaughter attend.

Private schools were places for men, and allowing women would bring bad luck, affecting the men’s studies.

He felt speaking out would undermine his authority, so he signaled his grandson, Gu Dahu, with his eyes.

Gu Dahu understood his grandfather’s intention and said, "Private schools have always been places for men to study. Aren’t you afraid bringing bad luck by letting women in? Aunt, you should abandon the idea of Man Er attending the private school."

Tong Huaqiong didn’t even furrow her brow, and said towards the Clan Leader’s direction: "If you think it’s bad luck, then don’t let your son attend the private school. This school is run by me, and Man Er will definitely attend. Let me make it clear upfront: if anyone minds girls attending, you’re welcome not to send your children to the private school."

What bad luck? Just an excuse.

Tong Huaqiong didn’t believe that Man Er’s attendance would stop other village boys from attending the private school.

Gu Taohua agreed: "Blaming women for everything—weren’t you all born from women? Why not be disgusted with your own birth? Just go die if you’re so capable."

The Gujia Clan Leader’s face turned an ashen blue with anger.

When Tong Huaqiong and Gu Taohua spoke up, others dared not speak.

They feared offending Tong Huaqiong, who could prevent their children from attending the private school.

Currently, the private school teacher was invited by Tong Huaqiong, the funding was secured by Tong Huaqiong and Boss Qian, and the tuition was half the price of other places. Such an opportunity was hard to find.

Even though they were uncomfortable with the idea of girls studying at the private school, every benefit comes at a cost. If they refused the school because of girls attending, they’d cut off their own family’s path to advancement.

Oh well, since the private school was entirely arranged by Tong Huaqiong, she could do whatever she wanted.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Not only will my Man Er study here, but if any of your daughters want to, they can attend too."

The villagers shook their heads, thinking it unnecessary.

Which girl could compare to the Gu family’s girl?

Their daughters needed to work and care for the family. What’s the use of being literate? That’s for rich girls from big families.

Farm girls married by age fourteen or fifteen. Who had the spare money to let girls study?

The village chief, seeing the crowd calm down, announced the start date of August 18th and instructed families wanting their children to study to register with Gu Jingzhe.

"... Since everyone is here today, let’s clear a room in the Liu Family Ancestral Hall. Bring desks, chairs, and benches from home. Since we’re opening the school, make sure the pens, ink, paper, and inkstones are ready so children aren’t empty-handed on the first day," instructed the village chief, then led everyone to tidy up the Liu Family Ancestral Hall.

Upon hearing their children could attend school, the villagers worked with enthusiasm. By sunset, they had thoroughly cleaned the Liu Family Ancestral Hall, leaving the hall spotless and placing desks and chairs from various homes.

Gu Jingzhe hung a portrait of Confucius, which he got from Mr. Su, on the front wall of the classroom.

A yellow willow wood ruler was placed on the front desk of the classroom.

The ruler was meticulously crafted by the village carpenter, Gu Guangkui, at the village chief’s request.

It now truly looked like a classroom.

Tong Huaqiong expressed her satisfaction.

Tong Huaqiong picked up the registration form in front of Gu Jingzhe; most families in the village had registered their sons or grandsons.

Tong Huaqiong was already looking forward to the start of classes on August 18th.