My sister became the empress, but I'm still growing vegetables and raising chickens

The two sisters acted immediately.

The next day, Si Muyan released the news that she would cooperate with the business to give priority to family members for school enrollment, and that family members would also be given priority for school enrollment in primary schools in cooperation with the business.

The Si family's trading company is a nationally renowned merchant empire, so cooperating with them would be a great advantage. As for the nobles who have united to resist, the merchants are not too worried.

Previously, these merchants had low social status and were subject to others, simply paying money to avoid trouble. Now, standing behind them and supporting them is the eldest daughter of the Si family, whose status is far from ordinary.

The land reform plan of the second sister was released several days late because she needed to prepare a plan and write to her younger sister for approval before she could release the plan.

Si Muyan cooperated with her and postponed the start of primary school enrollment by half a month.

After the land reform system was implemented, more and more tenant farmers on the nobles' estates wanted to return their rent. Everyone was willing to spend a small amount of money to cultivate wasteland.

Only many lazy people, or migrants from other places who originally had no land, were willing to continue staying in the village.

But the heads of each village were worried and went to their respective lords to explain the current situation.

Besides the Si family business, the turnover rate of workers in other shops is also very high.

They used to be unable to get into the Si family's business, so they worked for other merchants. Compared to that, working for other merchants meant more work but less money, so it was better to go back and buy wasteland to cultivate.

After a while, those nobles had no way to deal with it.

He hated the sisters Si Muyan and Si Mutong to the core.

But no matter how much they hated him, they dared not show it openly. After all, these two were the current emperor's own sisters.

He could only mutter curses under his breath when no one was around: "There has never been an empress before. Now that an empress has appeared, life is not easy for us ordinary people."

It can only be said that in the past, everything prioritized the nobility. The nobility seemed to be born superior to others, and the common people needed to support them. They could do whatever they wanted.

Now, simply by providing more convenience to the people, they feel that their rights have been infringed.

The nobles, having no other option, contacted local officials, hoping to devise a suitable solution.

But when the magistrate heard that the topic was primary school education, he waved his hands repeatedly: "You're asking me, what can I do? Those two are not people a minor official like me can afford to offend."

After seeing the group off, the magistrate spat and said to the county clerk and the others, "Don't be silly. Miss Si is just playing us. If the primary school doesn't turn out well, it's because Miss Si lacks ability, and it has nothing to do with us. But if it does well, it'll be our achievement. Don't be foolish enough to go against His Majesty's people, understand?"

They didn't care. The nobles and gentry were anxious and sent letters to their relatives in the capital who were officials. But what could those high-ranking officials do to Si Muyan and Si Mutong?

After much deliberation, they had no choice but to ask the teachers in the academy to intervene.

This teacher was the most famous person in the entire county. He was over fifty years old, and everyone respected him greatly.

As he passed by the "Quality Primary School," he shook his head repeatedly and said to his students, "Don't be fooled by its reputation as a primary school, which seems more advanced than a regular school. In reality, they don't teach anything properly; they just play with the kids. How can these children ever amount to anything?"

One of his students immediately said, "Master is absolutely right. To get good grades, the Four Books and Five Classics are essential. Isn't it disastrous to teach elementary schools such strange and frivolous skills?"

The lady sighed, "Yes, children go to school for the hope of the future, but if there is no hope and they cannot cope with the imperial examinations, what is the point of going to school?"

These words spread, and many people felt that the great Confucian scholar's words were indeed extraordinary.

Si Muyan just smiled when she heard this and simply went along with what the teacher said.

They instructed the person in charge and the elementary school teachers to make a public statement.

“In our primary school education, we select the best children for development based on their individual differences. The main goal is to eradicate illiteracy. If a child does well in their studies, the teachers will do their best to nurture them so that they can participate in the imperial examinations.”

"If those children who don't do well in their studies are not suitable for the scientific examination, or if they fail the scientific examination and do not want to continue, that's fine too. We can choose something else."

"Our primary school offers a variety of extracurricular classes, covering agriculture, science and technology, industry, business management, and more. These special classes are designed to help all children not only begin their education but also better prepare for their future."

The people generally nodded in agreement after hearing these words.

"Yes, why do we ordinary people send our children out of school? So that they can have food to eat in the future."

"Exactly! Bringing glory to one's ancestors—that's just a pipe dream when there's hope. If they're sent to school for years and still don't see any results, I really don't know what to do. As they say, 'A scholar is useless in a hundred ways!'"

"It's clear that primary school education is still the best. If our rascal is capable enough to pass the imperial examination and become a scholar, it will bring glory to the family. Even if he doesn't pass, he can learn some other skills and won't have to worry about anything in the future."

Everyone felt that this kind of teaching was more suitable for their children.

So this method used by the nobles not only did not discourage people from sending their children to primary school, but it also made them more enthusiastic, wishing that the following year would come immediately so that their own children could get in.

Moreover, two heads of local gentry families secretly sent invitations to Si Muyan, hoping to pull strings for their nephews and nieces so they could enroll in the primary school immediately.

—The primary school places are full now, and all those who have registered will have to wait until next year.

The reason they chose primary school over the aristocratic schools was because they discovered that their own children were good-for-nothings who didn't study properly at school, spending their time idly playing around, fighting cocks, and walking dogs.

If we send them to primary school, we might discover what they are interested in and let them do that in the future, so they don't become spoiled brats who only know how to live off their family's wealth.

Si Muyan, of course, did not give them a chance to pull strings. She did not even see them, but instead had the steward come forward to discuss the matter with them.

"We are already full this year, and we can't turn away other children. But we can give you priority for next year's spots."

"Next year..." The local gentry were initially reluctant, but since Si Muyan refused to see them, they knew what was going on. "Then next year it will be."

The manager hurriedly said, "If you're willing, that's wonderful. Our young lady has said that anyone willing to cooperate with the business is a partner."

One of the sensible local gentry noticed this and quickly asked, "We're cooperating with the Si family's trading company? How... how exactly will we cooperate?"

They are not businessmen, so how could they be talking about cooperating with trading companies?