Peasant Woman's Decreed Life as a Wife

Chapter 1347: Chapter 1344: The Idea is Right

But Chu Heng had written a letter, instructing that the children of the servants from the Manor be sent over to learn to read as well; after all, these children, once grown up, would be asked to do work, and being literate would enable them to accomplish more tasks. This matter was managed by Chu Lin.

Since the children of the servants were being brought in, students from other villages could also be enrolled.

As a result, the Chu Family School nearly became the largest school in Nanchang County. Anyone with a bit of silver would send their children there to learn to read, simply because literacy could lead to better jobs.

And the teachers at the Chu Family School were supported by the Chu family—they didn’t need to pay a separate fee, just needed to take care of their own books and ink.

Ever since the introduction of Oil Smoke Ink, Chu Heng had also maintained a group of artisans dedicated to making slightly inferior-quality paper, made from local straw and offered at extremely low prices, such that even ordinary families could afford it.

Making writing brushes was even simpler; ordinary rabbit fur brushes were perfectly sufficient for beginners, and the Shopkeeper at the bookstore had learned the fine art of brush-making.

As long as adults were willing, they could go directly and learn.

In Nanchang County, every household raised rabbits, and finding rabbit fur couldn’t be easier.

In this way, the most expensive item was just the ink, which was only a few hundred coins.

In such circumstances, basically all school-age children would study at the Chu Family School. When Madam Zhang asked this question, in fact, she was making an affirmative statement.

Old Madam Zhao nodded, “Yes, the boys and girls from our family are all studying at the school.”

“Ah Heng is really far-sighted, saying that girls should also be educated. Just last month, the Liu family married off their daughter. She had learned to read and calculate at the school. After getting married, her husband’s family dared not to look down on her, and she even helped teach her husband to read. It’s said that his wages increased just because he became literate.”

“Right, I also heard that last time a crooked merchant tried to con Old Madam Wang out of her money with a fraudulent contract. Luckily, her granddaughter who went with her to the county knew how to read and prevented that swindler from succeeding.”

“However, the boys who come out of the school are clearly more popular; when it comes to arranging marriages, now it’s us who choose others, not the other way around.”

No matter whose children they are, everyone tends to favor their own.

With that, Old Madam Zhao asked, “Ah Yun, now that Ah Sheng has finally finished his exams, he’s seventeen this year, right? Have you thought about which family to match him with?”

“Let me tell you, there’s a girl in my maternal family, fifteen this year, and they’re looking for a match for her, too. She’s pretty and has studied at the school before. Later, she went to a clothing store in the county to learn needlework, and her skills are extraordinary. Just casually making a handkerchief can sell for a dozen or so wen.”

“Sister-in-law, you’re talking about Ah Xiang, right? I remember her being rather proud, not easily satisfied with ordinary families.”

“Ah Xiang is ambitious; she has the skills, so why shouldn’t she seek someone who’s equally progressive?” Old Madam Zhao rebuked, displeased.

Madam Zhang had recently heard quite a few relatives coming over to propose potential matches, and she had anticipated that her son, having become a scholar, would be very popular. Indeed, it had been three consecutive days of meet-ups.

She had her excuse ready and quickly waved her hand, saying, “I’ve promised Ah Sheng that I would let him choose for himself.”

“But it has always been the parents’ decision and the matchmaker’s words that matter; children choosing for themselves has never been heard of.”

Madam Zhang sighed softly, “That can’t be helped; Ah Sheng made up his mind before the examination and sent a letter saying that if he passed, he would be promised this matter.”

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