Forced to marry, I picked up a young powerful official

Shen Nankui glanced at the crowd, "Since I can give lectures here as a woman, then naturally there can be girls here to listen to the lessons. Not only Gu Wenqiao, but your sisters at home can come to school as long as they pay the tuition. There is a bamboo curtain separating us, so you can sit on both sides and no one can disturb anyone else."

The students were stunned for a moment.

She continued, "You look down on girls because they haven't been educated and aren't as knowledgeable as you are. But what if they have been educated?"

Yang Ze curled his lips, "So what if she has studied? Women can't take the imperial examinations!"

"Even if they can't pass the imperial examinations, they can still learn to read and understand the wisdom of the ancient sages. Moreover, I can teach them arithmetic and housework, which are also skills to make a living. Why, can you boys pursue your careers, but girls can't plan for their own future?"

Shen Nankui had also discussed the matter of allowing girls to attend private schools with the village head.

Since she could be a female teacher, she wanted to use her own ability to gain more opportunities for women in the world. Adding arithmetic and women's work to the mix was also for practical considerations.

Just like Aqiao.

Only when people know that there are indeed benefits to be gained from following her will people be willing to send their daughters to school here.

If a girl goes to school and can be independent, she will no longer be looked down upon.

Maybe, there will be more and more female teachers in the future.

Yang Ze looked sullen, and could not think of any excuses. He just muttered, "Whatever the teacher says is fine. Anyway, we haven't paid the tuition yet. If the teacher doesn't teach well, we can leave at any time."

"Whatever you say." Shen Nankui remained calm, "Who else has any objections?"

The students were silent and shook their heads.

"In that case, let's go to class."

All the students stood up, bowed, and said in unison: "Hello, Master!"

Aqiao also stood up and saluted in a proper manner. She was the only one in the area on the left separated by a bamboo curtain, but her aunt said that other girls would come in later.

That’s great. She never thought that girls could go to school together!

She looked at Shen Nankui with more and more respect.

"Today we are studying Xunzi's theory of ritual..."

When Gu Yichuan saw her start the lecture, he quietly retreated to stand outside the school. Through the window, he looked at the person who was lecturing seriously inside, and he couldn't tell what he felt in his heart.

Not only did she handle students' challenges with ease, she was also able to encourage girls to go to school according to her own ideas.

She is not satisfied with just being a teacher herself, but wants to influence more people.

And this is his wife.

There was a soft glow of appreciation in Gu Yichuan's eyes as he stared at the scene in front of him intently.

The sound of reading aloud can be heard in my ears.

"Heaven and earth are the source of life; ancestors are the source of species; rulers and teachers are the source of governance..."

On the street, people in Lai'an Town heard the long-lost sounds of reading. Thinking that the person teaching inside was the first female teacher in the town, they couldn't help but feel a little excited.

How will these students be taught by her?

-

In the next few days, Gu Yichuan sent Shen Nankui and his nephews and nieces to the private school in the morning and picked them up in the afternoon.

This went on for several days in a row. Before Shen Nankui could say anything, it was Song Dong'er who got anxious first.

"Brother Chuan isn't going to the county town?"

They went out and came in pairs in front of her every day, and she felt really uncomfortable watching them.

Gu Yichuan smiled and explained: "I forgot to tell you that there was a happy event in the master's family and he had no time to take care of me, so he asked me to study at home these days."

He turned around and glanced at Shen Nankui. "The day I left was exactly the day after you finished your trial lecture."

Shen Nankui shook his head, "Don't let there be no students left. Wouldn't that make you laugh?"

"How could that be? Madam, your teaching style is from the simple to the complex, and you have a good balance of tension and relaxation. I see that the troublesome student Yang Ze has been very convinced by you recently, and he will be respectful to you sooner or later."

"How do you know that you are afraid of me because you were punished with a ruler?"

When she went to the private school, the rules were stricter than when she was at Gu's house.

The private school had been closed for more than half a year and reopened. The levels of the students were uneven, and it was not easy for her to teach this class. She had to take into account both those who had a foundation and those who were young and had just started. Therefore, the requirements when teaching were higher.

"Let's take a gamble. I bet that the person who paid the tuition must be Yang Ze."

"What are you gambling?"

"How about whoever loses will massage the other's shoulders?"

"make a deal."

Song Dong'er watched the two of them chatting and laughing, ignoring her, and she felt aggrieved and wanted to cry.

The two of them are becoming more and more inseparable. If I really have to wait until Brother Chuan is in high school, will he still have a place for me in his heart by then?

She felt inexplicably anxious.

-

Fifteen days later, the trial lecture ended.

Shen Nankui originally thought that if 70% of the people paid the tuition, she would be satisfied.

Unexpectedly, not only did all the students pay the tuition fees, but there was even a new boy and two girls.

The academy is now full.

The students brought too much rice and grain for Shen Nankui and Gu Yichuan to carry. Yang Ze, as the head student of the private school, took the initiative to help.

With him as an example, the students all took part, carrying bags of things to the Gu family.

They marched along the way in a grand procession, attracting everyone's attention.

Gu Yichuan sighed: "My wife, you lose."

Shen Nankui also felt quite emotional, "I'm willing to accept the loss."

This scene had already alarmed Gu's mother from afar. Seeing the young men in Confucian robes bowing and greeting her, Gu's mother felt very proud and kindly invited the students into the house for tea and fruit.

Shen Nankui was also resting in the main room with them, and Yang Ze suddenly held a peach in front of her.

"Master, please have some fruit."

Shen Nankui did not reach out his hand, but asked first: "Yang Ze, you have been following me for these days, what do you think?"

Yang Ze changed his initial rudeness and said respectfully: "Teacher, your lectures are very good, and I learn a lot from them."

Shen Nankui shook his head, "No, I'm asking about your opinion on girls going to school."

Yang Ze was embarrassed, and after thinking for a while, he said, "I don't know what to say, but I have seen with my own eyes these days that girls are also very smart. For example, Gu Wenqiao is only seven years old, but she can answer the math problems that I can't figure out. Moreover, my sister at home has also been making a fuss about going to school recently..."

Shen Nankui sighed slightly.

"In fact, it is inappropriate to let you men and women live together, but this is the most appropriate thing I can do within my ability. Confucius said that there is no distinction between the classes in education. I hope you can put aside your prejudices and think carefully. Although women cannot take the imperial examinations, they can establish themselves through learning. They always have their own role in this world."

"Just like Master, right?" Yang Ze looked up at her.

"No, in this world, what I have done is insignificant."

Yang Ze was so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't even notice that the peach in his hand was taken away by Shen Nankui.