The girl traveled through another world and forced the prince to take the imperial examination

China's coal resources are quite rich. Mu Qingcheng suspected that this place was somewhere in Anhui, but unfortunately she didn't have a map to compare. If it was, both Huainan and Huaibei had rich coal resources.

Then there is probably coal under their feet. Thinking of this, Mu Qingcheng told Yun Qing in detail about coal.

"Yunqing, have you ever heard of coal..."

Yun Qing listened in amazement. It turned out that it wasn't that their Great Qi was too poor, but that their knowledge was too backward. Tonight, Mu Qingcheng had given him a shocking lesson that completely overturned his understanding. It made him deeply understand one thing: Mu Qingcheng was omniscient, while he was ignorant.

Yun Qing was shocked and couldn't believe what the place where Mu Qingcheng lived was like.

"Nuannuan, tell me, where did you learn all this?"

Mu Qingcheng said proudly: "Of course it is nine years of compulsory education."

Yun Qing frowned. It wasn’t that he couldn’t understand, but he had never heard of these words before.

"what is that?"

Mu Qingcheng said: "First of all, according to the laws of our country, men and women are equal, and discrimination against women is not allowed. Men should be graceful and give priority to women in everything.

Regardless of age, every child, whether male or female, must go to school. Every child must complete nine years of education, and school is free, hence the name "compulsory education." After completing nine years of compulsory education, there's a turning point: most children choose to continue their education in high school and then take the college entrance exam. Some who dislike school choose to learn a trade.

Yun Qing was astonished. All the children in the country were going to school, and they were studying for nine years for free! The whole country was full of scholars. How powerful would such a country be?

"How many years does it take to complete the entire course of study in your place?"

Mu Qingcheng said, "Nine years of compulsory education, plus three years of high school and four years of college, that's sixteen years in total!"

"Hiss!" Yun Qing gasped. "Do all the children in your country have to go to school for so many years?"

"Yes! But some children don't like studying. After graduating from high school, they can join the army. We need people to defend our country. There are also those who go to specialized technical colleges and then go to work after graduation. Of course, there are also some special groups of people."

"Then, if all the young laborers go to school, who will farm the land?" This is what Yun Qing is most curious about.

"This...this...is a bit complicated."

Mu Qingcheng didn't want to talk about modern technology. Farming in their area was all mechanized, requiring only a few people to operate the machines. This explanation was even more difficult. The key point was whether he would go crazy after hearing this. Better to change the subject!

"I tell you, coal is a good thing..."

The next day, the village chief notified the entire village to gather for a meeting under the large locust tree at the entrance. Su Qingyan also came with Mu Yao and Ling Long.

When everyone arrived, he first told them that the court had increased the tax collection order. In addition to paying ordinary taxes, each household had to pay an additional two dou of fine rice.

This was a disaster. Ordinary people found their lives increasingly difficult, and those in poverty felt as if the sky was falling. After paying ordinary taxes, they had very little left, and these two dou of fine rice were undoubtedly worse.

Many villagers complained, and immediately, there was a loud noise and crying under the old locust tree.

The village chief and Li Zheng, however, were smiling broadly and remained as steady as a rock. Anyone with a keen eye would have noticed immediately.

"Village Chief, why aren't you worried at all?"

"Yes! This year there's been a severe drought and the harvest has been reduced. We can't even get enough to eat, and we still have to pay such heavy taxes. Life is truly unbearable!"

An old woman said, "Alas! My two sons went out to work a few days ago, carrying heavy loads in the county town. They used to earn fifteen cents a day, but this year the number of people going out to work has increased several times, with more than a dozen people vying for each job. Yesterday, they returned empty-handed, earning nothing. What are we going to do from now on?"

Everyone sighed, their families were in the same boat. The harvest was poor, and the county town was crammed with strong laborers, but there were too many people and too little work.

"Tomorrow, the three of us brothers are going to the capital to try our luck. Does anyone want to go with us?"

Some of the young villagers were losing their patience, and more than twenty of them stood up, ready to set off together for the provincial capital tomorrow.

The village chief then stepped forward and said, "Don't worry, everyone. I have something good to announce."

The villagers quieted down when they heard good news.

"A family surnamed Mu has come to our village. Everyone already knows about this. Mr. Mu bought 100 acres of land in our village and plans to use it as an experimental field."

The villagers were talking to each other in confusion, not understanding what an experimental field was.

"What is an experimental field?" someone finally asked.

"Mr. Mu read in a book that winter millet can be planted after the winter solstice and will be ripe in May. So, Mr. Mu plans to try planting winter millet in our village."

"What? Is this young man stupid?!"

"Oh my! I'm not stupid. We've all seen him. He's so handsome!"

"Ah! You're such a disgrace to your wife. I'll deal with you when I get home."

The villagers were not interested in watching the fun and asked anxiously: "Village head, what does this experimental field have to do with us?"

The village chief smiled and said, "It matters a lot! We need people to clear the hundred acres of land and plant winter grain. He also needs to build a two-story house, which also requires manpower. Master Mu wants each household to provide a strong laborer, and he will pay 500 coins a month for the labor."

The villagers who didn't understand other things understood what the village chief said: five hundred coins a month.

"Five hundred wen..."

"Five hundred wen..."

"Five hundred wen..."

There was an uproar under the big locust tree. No sound could be heard except the sound of "five hundred coins".

"Village chief, village chief, our family has many strong laborers, can you give us two more workstations?"

"We have five strong laborers in our family! Why are we only given one workstation?"

"If not, let's go back and split up. Wouldn't that give us a few more workstations?"

When the village chief heard this, his face turned black with anger. He slammed the table and shouted, "Shut up, everyone." Immediately, the area under the tree became quiet.

"Listen to me, what are you talking about? Master Mu only has a hundred acres of land. Does he need so many people? He just wants to help us through this difficult time, and you are trying to scheme against him. I'm telling you this today: whoever splits up and tries to grab a spot, get out of here. I don't need any of you."

The villagers immediately stopped talking. After all, the extra taxes they had to pay after splitting up were a considerable burden. Furthermore, the wages were indeed generous, and each family getting a spot was fair. If they continued to make a fuss and angered the young master, they wouldn't even get a spot. What would they do?

The village chief continued, "Mr. Mu has a condition. The first month's salary is 500 wen each, and the second month's staff will be reduced by half. Those who cheat or act slyly will be kicked out, so you must cherish this opportunity. Also, the matter of the experimental field is of great importance. Anyone who dares to speak out will be immediately expelled from Daxi Village."

Wow! How can I live after being kicked out of the village? The women who loved to gossip immediately shut up.