Transmigrated into a female county magistrate during a famine, leading her country to prosperity

In the backyard of the county government office, Shen Zheng and Old Qiao stood opposite each other.

Mr. Qiao is actually used to being free and easy, whether he is making tools or taking in apprentices.

When he lived in Liuyang Mansion before, some people came to him to ask him to be a tool. Whether to do it or not was entirely up to his personal preference. If he didn't want to do it, it was useless to just talk or pester him.

Unless the person opposite him really puts a knife to his neck, he still has to do it.

But thanks to Yu Zhengqing's good governance, no such rampant person has appeared in Liuyang Prefecture.

The same goes for accepting disciples. He has been a carpenter for most of his life, but now he only has one disciple, Cheng Yu.

It’s not that he hasn’t met talented people before, but for a man like Qiao who has no family, taking in a disciple is like choosing a wife, he has to be attracted to the right person.

Although Cheng Yu was sometimes disobedient, he knew that Cheng Yu was the same as him at heart.

Lonely, but longing for someone to be by my side.

But since they came to Tongan County, everything has changed. There are the noisy detectives, the outspoken and generous Zhao Xiu, the thoughtful Pei Zhaoqi, and the eccentric Fatty Fang...

To Mr. Qiao and Cheng Yu, everyone in the Tongan County Yamen exudes a different brilliance, but the most dazzling one is Shen Zheng.

Because of Shen Zheng, the Tongan County Yamen is a big family. She is the rice paste that holds the entire county yamen together and the faith of everyone in the county yamen.

The same goes for Mr. Qiao.

So even though he was a person who was afraid of trouble, he still agreed to Shen Zheng's request at this time.

"You said to teach them, then teach them, but if they don't learn anything, you have to tell them not to say my name is Old Joe when they go out. I'm too old to be embarrassed by this name."

Shen Zheng laughed when she heard this, "A good teacher produces good students. With you as their master, they will definitely learn well. But then again, they are different from Cheng Yuding and can only be considered ordinary disciples."

Old Qiao snorted and said, "Of course. I won't teach all my skills to others. If there is someone I like, we'll talk about it later."

Shen Zheng nodded in agreement and had an idea in her mind.

However, this idea has probably not been implemented by anyone in the Great Zhou yet, so she has to talk to Mr. Qiao first to see if he is willing.

She said, "I have an idea. Please listen to it and see if it is feasible."

Old Qiao turned and looked over, somewhat curious.

The girl said this, which means she must have had some good ideas.

Now everyone in the Tongan County Government knows that every time the girl has a new idea, it means good things are coming for the county residents!

Shen Zheng pondered for a moment, then continued, "In my opinion, your teaching of crafts is actually the same as the county school teaching people to read, but the county school emphasizes literature, literary knowledge and personal opinions, while you emphasize hands-on ability."

Old Qiao nodded, "That's right. Outsiders say that our business depends on talent. Humph, that's not entirely true. We should really let these people go out and see which craftsman doesn't have calluses on his hands? There are many things to learn in our carpentry business. And if you want to become an outstanding craftsman, the most important thing is what you just said, get started!"

Mr. Qiao paused, as if lost in memories, and then continued after a moment:

"Sawing wood, carving wood, grinding wood, playing with ink fountains, assembling accessories, all of these things can't escape the word 'hands-on'. If you really want to make a name for yourself in this industry, you have to work hard! Talent and theoretical knowledge alone are far from enough!"

Shen Zheng watched Mr. Qiao talking. When he said these things, he was really dazzling.

"You are right, so I thought that these apprentices can work together or separately, so why don't we gather them together and have you teach them uniformly?"

Old Qiao glanced at her and said, "Of course, what do you mean, girl?"

Shen Zheng smiled and expressed his initial thoughts.

"I just said that teaching people skills is the same as teaching people to read. Now that our county school has just been established and we are still selecting a site, why don't we build a special county school?"

Old Qiao was shocked when he heard this, and had some guesses in his mind, but he was not sure, nor did he dare to believe it. The girl's idea was too bold!

How could they, the workers, compare with those noble scholars? Why did the girl want to put them in the same academy?

No, if we allow these workers in, the county school will no longer be a simple academy!

Old Qiao looked a little bit unconvinced and asked slowly, "Girl, do you want to teach people to read and learn skills at the county school?!"

Shen Zheng nodded, "That's right."

Elder Qiao immediately panicked, his voice even louder, "How can this be done! If we are put together with scholars, it will be a violation of etiquette! What if it affects the students' exams?"

Shen Zheng frowned slightly. Although she had not yet decided to run the county school in this way, she could not accept Mr. Qiao's reason for refusal.

She said, "Although the apprentices and students study in the same academy, we will clearly divide the teaching areas. Even if they are not clearly separated, they will not interfere with each other."

Old Qiao didn't say anything, so Shen Zheng continued, "You are also a craftsman. Tell me, can you do your job without knowing how to read? For example, if you can't read the blueprint of a textile machine, how can you make it?"

Old Qiao was stunned when he heard this. He had suffered enough from being illiterate.

His master was illiterate at the beginning, and although he did teach him a lot of skills, the higher you go in this line, the more valuable it becomes to be able to read and write.

Although there are very few detailed drawings like those of textile machines, there are many people who come to us with the drawings!

When someone comes to your door with drawings, and takes a look at you, they say, wow, you can’t even read a word. Can you make the thing for me?

No matter whether you can really do it or not, others will definitely think that you can't do it!

Then they had no choice but to find another craftsman.

So if you can't read, you can only make some small tools day after day, and you will never have the chance to make those exquisite drawings and those large tools.

When Mr. Qiao thought of this, he suddenly had an epiphany.

When he was thirty years old, he was also trying his best to learn how to read and write, so that he could make more good tools!

Now that the opportunity is in front of everyone, why would he turn it down for others?

He wants to teach people carpentry while not allowing them to read. That is truly a sin!

Old Qiao sighed and once again admired the foresight of the person before him.

"The old man is being one-sided, girl, you have a point."