My parents are both dead, I rely on fishing and farming to support my younger siblings

In the morning, it was the time when people from Gu Village and other villages came to Gu Lili's house to work, and this girls' school was also the only way for them to go.

Therefore, when Gu Lili ordered people to light the firecrackers, the girls' school was surrounded by villagers from various villages who came to work.

Most of the people in the village, both men and women, are illiterate.

So, everyone is curious, has Gu Lili opened a new workshop?

Opening a workshop means that people are needed to work, so after these people finish the work in the fields, they will have the opportunity to continue helping in the workshop.

They had heard that people working in the soap and maltose factories were provided with three meals per head.

Although it's only fifteen cents a day, as long as you work hard and don't cheat, you can get a bonus at the end of the month!

Almost all the people in the soap workshop are from Gu Village, and people from other villages like them can't squeeze in.

But if it is a newly opened shop, they can ask Gu Lili if she still needs anyone.

Although the round trip is a bit far, I heard that accommodation is provided here!

"Princess Yongning, Lord Lin, have you opened a new workshop?"

An aunt in the crowd couldn't help herself and asked first.

Gu Lili and Lord Lin never put on airs, so the villagers are not afraid of them and their eyes are filled with more respect.

Before Gu Lili could answer, someone else said, "Doesn't it say on the plaque at the door, Guzhuang Women's School? It should be a workshop that specializes in making things for women."

Gu Lili almost laughed out loud as she listened to the uncle's serious explanation.

However, it’s no wonder that the uncle is so understanding.

After all, few people in their small place have heard of girls' schools.

Not to mention having seen it.

"This is not a workshop, but a school specifically for girls to study!" Gu Lili explained with a smile.

The uncle who had just explained first suddenly blushed.

Everyone around burst into laughter.

The uncle scratched his head embarrassedly and quickly moved from the front of the crowd to the back.

When everyone heard that it was a girls' school, they instantly lost interest.

I thought it was a workshop, and they could come to Gu Lili to ask for a job.

But in school, it is not necessary.

Most of them are middle-aged and no longer need to go to school.

What's more, most of them are men, so they have no interest at all.

It would be better to seize the time to go to the fields and work more. If they perform well, Wei Yin and the others will remember their names, and when the monthly salary is distributed, Gu Lili can give them more as a reward.

Gu Lili had already expected everyone to react like this.

However, Lin Xiyao suddenly became anxious when she saw everyone about to leave.

"Hey! Fellow villagers, don't go! Don't you want to learn more about our girls' school?" Lin Xiyao shouted anxiously.

Everyone stopped again after hearing this.

"Miss Lin, we are all farmers. There is no need for boys to go to school, let alone girls." Someone in the crowd laughed.

Once these words were spoken, everyone agreed.

"Yes, if a man learns it, he may be able to pass the imperial examination, but if a woman learns it, it will be useless."

"That's it."

Most of the people speaking in the crowd were men, and this idea was already deeply rooted in their minds.

Lin Xiyao was so anxious that tears welled up in her eyes. Gu Lili quickly pulled her hand over, patted it, and signaled her to calm down.

A kind-looking aunt nearby couldn't bear to see this and stepped forward to comfort Lin Xiyao.

"Ms. Lin, if you open a restaurant and sell some food, we ordinary people can still patronize it, but as for women's education, we are all old, and it is useless for us to learn it."

"Yes, Miss Lin, the girls from our farming families, when they reach a certain age, will get married and have children. We are not like the girls from official families like you, who need to take charge of a large family. We really don't have much use for this women's school."

In their eyes, this girls' school might be a place for Lin Xiyao and Gu Lili to make money.

But like the uncle just said, if it was a place selling food, they might be able to grit their teeth, flatter the two of them, and buy some food.

But they don't know how to flatter this school.

"If you can't get in, what about your children?" Lin Xiyao said angrily.

The world she had lived in since childhood was different from that of these villagers.

So, in her eyes, these villagers were too pedantic.

Even if you don't have to manage a family, being able to read and write is better than living a life in ignorance.

For example, just now they gathered at the gate of the girls' school, but they couldn't even recognize the four big characters on the plaque on the door.

Even if someone understood it later, they would misinterpret its meaning and make people laugh.

Their lives ended like this, so do they want their children to live the same way?

Gu Lili also understood Lin Xiyao’s thoughts at this time, but for the villagers, this idea was just a thought of why not eat meat.

People at the bottom of society are only thinking about how to fill their stomachs and have no time to think about anything else.

"Our children...hahaha, children and grandchildren have their own blessings. People like us just want to fill our stomachs. Sometimes, being too insightful is not a good thing." Someone laughed at himself.

What’s the use of knowing so much for them?

Men still have a chance to pass the imperial examination, but the chances are extremely small.

Not to mention studying hard for more than ten years, they cannot even afford the pens, ink, paper and inkstone for writing every day.

You know, for farmers like them, having a educated person in the family means they have to tighten their belts and tighten their belts for more than ten years.

Moreover, the final result may not necessarily be a good one.

That means that all their efforts over the years have been in vain.

So, they are unwilling to gamble.

In their view, being able to grow good crops and buy some meat to reward their families when they are rich is already a very satisfying life.

Seeing that Lin Xiyao was about to argue, Gu Lili patted her hands and signaled her to calm down.

Gu Lili knew that only core interests could move them.

Moreover, Gu Lili does not intend to only teach characters and spelling in this girls' school.

It is more about teaching women how to support themselves in this world with their own hands.

"Are you really willing to let your children dig for food in the fields for the rest of their lives?" Gu Lili asked with a smile.

After hearing what Gu Lili said, the crowd fell silent.

Are you willing?

Naturally, he is unwilling to do so.

If they could choose a better life, they would definitely run faster than anyone else.

But they have no choice.