Qing Yao

Chapter 76 How can I take care of you?
care?

More needed?

Just like triggering a sensitive passive skill, Zhao An immediately lowered his head to look at the list.

Well, there are quite a few talented students in the provincial school, seventeen in total.

When he looked up again, he had the look of an elder who cared about the growth and education of the next generation. He nodded with a smile and said, "Since he is a good seedling for our prefectural school, there is no need for Lord Jiang to say more. I will definitely take care of him."

Professor Jiang did not feel uncomfortable at all when he heard the former "your humble servant" become "this official". This was the fact.

He sat down and said with a smile, "Yes, yes, they are all good seedlings. For example, the first student, Zhang, has always been a hard-working student. He usually ranks first in every subject in the provincial examination. This time, he will definitely get second place in the provincial examination."

"Xiao Bangyan" refers to the second place, which is a flattering term used by the people in the examination for students of higher learning. However, the first place is not called "Xiao Zhuangyuan", but "Xiao Anshou".

The word "classmate" sounded a bit strange to Zhao An, and it felt out of tune with the times. However, he didn't know that the Qianlong Dynasty strictly prohibited literary societies and banned titles such as "society brothers" and "alliance brothers". Only "classmates" were allowed to be called each other, and this was later extended to official schools in various places.

Therefore, although the word "classmate" existed in the past, it was not until the Qianlong period that it officially became the designated name for students, and later generations simply continued to use this term.

"And this student, Sun, has been incredibly intelligent since childhood. At five, he could recite the Thousand Character Classic by heart, and by six, he could recite the Hundred Family Names by heart. The professors in this provincial exam say Sun will at least be in the top 20, earning an A-grade."

"This classmate Liao is quite capable. He was the top student in the village community school. The government wanted him here specifically because they didn't want him to delay his studies in the countryside."

"Although Xiao Zhang didn't pass the provincial exam last time, he has made great progress in his studies over the past two years."

"."

Professor Jiang commented on the six students on the list one after another. Zhao An did not interrupt, but just nodded from time to time or made an "oh" expression.

He cooperated fully and was also very polite to his predecessor, Professor Jiang.

Seeing this, Professor Jiang couldn't help but relax a little, smoothing his beard as he said with some emotion, "This time in the provincial exam, the provincial school has a good chance of beating out the county schools and taking first place. The last time the provincial school took first place was in the 50th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign. Five years have passed in the blink of an eye."

"Oh?"

Zhao An was curious as to why Yangzhou Prefecture School, the best key middle school in Yangzhou, could not compete with the lower middle schools.

After asking, I found out that he was raped twice by the Taizhou Provincial School.

Why is Taizhou’s provincial school so awesome?
Because Taizhou's cultural heritage is stronger than Yangzhou's, the famous Taizhou School emerged in the early Ming Dynasty.

"It's a pity that I have to take up a post in another province and won't be able to witness the grand occasion of the prefectural school regaining first place and surpassing Taizhou. Alas."

The elderly Professor Jiang seemed to feel lonely and regretful for no reason. It was not an act, but he really felt regretful in his heart.

In any case, he devoted countless efforts and energy to Yangzhou Prefecture School.

It would have been better if the imperial court’s transfer order had come a month later.

In this way, it has a beginning and an end.

"Master Jiang, just go without worry. I'll be here at the prefectural school."

Zhao An, who was picking peaches, was speaking his original meaning, but these original meanings sounded so awkward to Professor Jiang's ears.

What do you mean I can go with confidence?

He coughed lightly, suppressed the slight regret in his heart, and told Zhao An that the transfer order from the Ministry of Personnel would arrive the next day or the day after tomorrow. At that time, he, the predecessor, would hand over the post to Zhao An, the successor, and then set off for Wannian, Jiangxi.

The handover was just a formality. There was an unwritten rule in the Qing Dynasty officialdom that no matter how big the mistakes of the predecessor were during his tenure, the successor had to bite the bullet and accept them during the handover, otherwise he would be considered ignorant.

What to do if the deficit is too big?
Leave it to the next person to solve it, and let the cycle repeat itself. It depends on who will be the unlucky one to be exposed.

Yangzhou Prefecture School is an educational institution, how big a deficit can it have?

There was no problem with the handover. Zhao An, the newly appointed professor, must have been given his official uniform, hat, boots, and credentials along with his transfer order from the Ministry of Personnel. It was impossible for Professor Jiang to strip him of his clothes and put them on him.

The size isn't right either.

Seeing that the time was almost up and everything that needed to be said had been said, and thinking that there was still a lot of things to pack, Professor Jiang stood up and said goodbye.

To be honest, Professor Jiang, who was born as a juren, must have looked down on Zhao An, the successor to the imperial student, in his heart, but he was also very grateful to Zhao An. Without Zhao An, would he have been able to become the county magistrate as he wished?
Therefore, the professor is actually quite conflicted and weird inside.

The list was left on the table.

I think the other person can understand what I mean.

Just as he turned around, Zhao An stopped him and pointed at the list on the table, asking, "I wonder how Lord Jiang wants me to take care of these students?"

"."

Professor Jiang was quite embarrassed. Isn't this something you already know? You just need to make Student Zhang the second one and admit all the other students.

Did I come here specifically to discuss with you which students are excellent and which are not?

"Master Jiang, if you don't tell me how to take care of me, how can I do that?"

Zhao An pretended to be confused.

"This, that,"

Professor Jiang, who was a juren, was really not used to Zhao An's straightforward style of doing things. He hesitated and didn't know how to explain the word "care".

The inner sense of morality even made the professor blush.

There was no way. He couldn't say that all the parents of the students on this list had given him gifts.

"Master Jiang?"

Zhao An was a little bit inconsiderate of the professor's dilemma. He held the list in his hand and waved it with a sincere look, "If Lord Jiang hadn't told me, I really wouldn't know how to take care of you."

"Old man, what this old man means is..."

What is it? Professor Jiang, please speak frankly. It’s just that it took half a day and it was nothing.

Zhao An frowned. These scholars just like to beat around the bush. They become whores and want to build a memorial archway for themselves.

Just accept the gift, there's nothing wrong with that.

If you don’t tell me that you accepted the gift, how can I ask you for it?

Professor Jiang's face was practically swollen with anger, so he had no choice but to approach him with the list and ask, "Did you accept money from these students' parents? Are you worried that if I, your successor, am transferred away and fail to help these students, their parents will come back to Jiangxi to ask you for money, ruining your reputation, or even report you to the education bureau for taking money but not doing the job? So you've come here specifically to ask me to look after these students?"

"."

The two idioms "dumbfounded" and "speechless" are the best descriptions of Professor Jiang's current state.

There is no point in asking this question!

Although you, Zhao Youlu, are a student of the Imperial Academy, you are still a professor in our provincial school. Even if the fact is so, it is not so embarrassing.

"Yes or no, Lord Jiang, please speak frankly. I have no other intentions. Lord Jiang also said that these students are the best talents of our prefectural school. As a professor, how can I, in my opinion, embarrass them?"

After turning around and placing the list on the table, Zhao An glanced at Professor Jiang, who was completely bewildered, with a hint of disappointment. He shook his head slightly and said, "It's just that, Sir Jiang, your attitude doesn't look like you're asking for help."

(End of this chapter)