The female anchor turned into the dean of an ancient academy

In the blink of an eye, the day of the sacrificial ceremony was approaching. Everyone in Zhaoyin Academy was extremely busy, and the preparations were in full swing. As the dean, Cen Jiexiao personally took care of everything, leading the teachers and students of the academy, as well as the skilled craftsmen recruited from the city, working day and night, wishing she could split herself into two people. Cen Jiexiao, dressed in a plain long gown with fluttering sleeves, was seen shuttling back and forth at the preparation site, giving orders with confidence, going wherever needed, as if tireless. After a while, she walked up to the craftsmen who were building the platform and carefully reminded them of safety matters: "Be sure to pay attention to safety, these woods must be checked carefully, and there must be no mistakes!"

The craftsmen nodded in agreement, indicating that they understood.

Cen Jiexiao then walked over to the students rehearsing the ritual dance. Observing their slightly unfamiliar movements, lead dancer He Yunque patiently instructed them, "The movements should be slow and gentle, dignified and solemn. Remember, this is not an ordinary dance, but a sacred ritual that reveres heaven and earth and prays for blessings."

After hearing this, the students became serious and began to practice more seriously.

Cen Jiexiao always wore a gentle smile, but her eyes revealed determination and focus, and she was determined to pay attention to every detail. Inspired by her, the teachers and students at the academy also gathered their enthusiasm.

The young students carried heavy supplies, their foreheads covered with sweat but they had no complaints; some carried tables, some carried incense burners, and some carried bundles of sacrificial supplies. They were all exhausted and panting, but no one complained.

Teachers meticulously planned the ceremony's flow and layout, carefully considering every detail, striving to ensure the most perfect execution of this royal sacrifice. Some discussed quietly with blueprints, others sketched with brushes, and still others gestured with various props, each meticulously striving for perfection.

Skilled craftsmen showed off their talents. Carpenters meticulously carved exquisite wood carvings, and every stroke contained their hard work. Some carved auspicious patterns of dragons and phoenixes, some carved auspicious words, and others carved various rare and exotic animals. Each piece of work was lifelike and ingenious.

Embroiderers worked with flying needles, creating vibrant, colorful silks that added a touch of splendor to the ceremony. Some embroidered golden phoenixes, others multicolored auspicious clouds, and still others a variety of flowers, birds, fish, and insects. Every stitch and thread was imbued with reverence and reverence. The entire preparations were filled with a busy yet orderly atmosphere, as everyone worked towards the same goal.

In an old courtyard on Juyuan Street in Linkang City, morning light streamed through the shabby windowpanes, illuminating the crude food on the table. A young man in a coarse cotton jacket and long trousers munched on pickles, shoveling the remaining bread crumbs from his plate into his bowl of porridge. He wolfed it down in a few mouthfuls, wiped his mouth, and called into the room, "Mom, remember to finish the bread. Don't go hungry."

"Xiao Ke, take the bread with you. Mom can't eat that much." A middle-aged woman's voice came from the room. Before she finished speaking, she walked out of the room, came to the young man, and reached out to help him pack the bread and stuff it into the bag he was carrying.

The young man, Liu Xiaoke, was the sole breadwinner of this modest family. Seeing this, he quickly stopped his mother and said, "Don't worry, Mom. Dean Cen is recruiting craftsmen from Linkang to do the work. Not only will they have enough food to eat, but they'll also have vegetables and meat. I can't eat much, so I'll bring some back for you to try! Also, according to Yin Academy's rules, you'll be paid according to the amount of work you do each day, and there will be no delays!"

"Really? That's great!" Xiao Ke's mother's eyes lit up.

"That's right! Just ask Aunt Zhang next door. Her boss is a stonemason. He worked at the docks of Yuyang River for three days, and Zhaoyin Academy paid him over 400 coins! Think about it, we couldn't even earn that much in a month before." Liu Xiaoke said, patting the package on his back. "So no matter how hard it is this time, I'm going to earn this money. Then I'll take mother to Pujitang to get your leg treated."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ke's mother's eyes welled up. Seeing her child so filial, she felt a mixture of heartache and deep emotion. Back then, when Xiao Ke was born, his father had hoped he would become an official and bring honor to the family, so he named him Liu Xiaoke, the "Ke" in the imperial examination. But who could have imagined that the child had no interest in studying at all, completely unable to concentrate, even to the point of exasperation. His father's wrath was futile.

Later, by chance, Xiao Ke met Master Wang, a refugee living in the west of the city. Master Wang, a lifelong unmarried man, saw that Xiao Ke was well-mannered and caring for his elders, so he would occasionally make small toys for Xiao Ke to play with. Over time, Xiao Ke began to imitate Master Wang's creations and make his own. Master Wang came to pick up Xiao Ke and was amazed by his creations. He told Xiao Ke's parents that if they were properly educated and guided, they would become great people, and he accepted Xiao Ke as his apprentice.

At that time, Xiao Ke's parents didn't think too much about it. They thought that at least the child had a skill to make a living and would not starve to death, so they simply agreed.

"Oh, I don't know what your future will be like..." Xiao Ke's mother sighed and reached out to help Xiao Ke straighten his collar. "You better be more careful when you are out there. Don't be so stupid as to be deceived by others without knowing it."

"Mom, don't worry. I'm very smart. Who would dare to lie to me?" Liu Xiaoke said, patting his chest with confidence. "Besides, who is Dean Cen? She's a deity from heaven, a well-known philanthropist. It won't be wrong to follow such a great figure like her."

"You're the only one who talks sweetly!" Xiao Ke's mother was amused and gently pushed Xiao Ke, "Okay, hurry up and go, don't miss the time."

"Hey!" Liu Xiaoke responded and turned to walk out the door.

Liu Xiaoke trotted all the way to the meeting point at the city gate. Looking around, he saw that there were already about a hundred people gathered there, including elderly people over fifty years old and young people like him, and everyone's face was filled with anticipation and excitement.

This time, Zhaoyin Academy was recruiting craftsmen, and he heard that the wages were very generous, so Xiao Ke signed up without hesitation. He knew that this would help them improve their lives and also help save money to cure his mother's leg disease.

"Xiao Ke, you are here too!" At this time, a rough voice sounded in my ears.

Liu Xiaoke looked up and saw that it was Aunt Wang's son next door, Peng Erlin, a burly man who was a bricklayer.