From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

"We..." Yan Ruyu was about to speak when she heard a familiar voice, tinged with hesitation, come from behind her.

“Ruyu, Young Master Xu.” Mr. Sun’s voice was tinged with weariness. He was holding several thick ledgers in his hands, and his face was full of worry. “I contacted several shops that we used to work with, and they all said they were short of money recently, and I’m afraid…” He hesitated, but the rest of his words were self-evident.

Yan Ruyu felt a weight on her heart, as if a huge rock was pressing on her chest, making it hard for her to breathe.

These past few days, she and Xu Lin'an have been running around like crazy, but they still haven't made any progress.

Those merchants who originally agreed to support us have now all turned into cowards, refusing to even meet with us.

Xu Lin'an's weariness became more and more obvious. He gently rubbed his temples, feeling a splitting headache.

This resource problem is like a mountain, weighing them down and making it hard for them to breathe.

"Alas, it seems this reform is not going to work." Young Master Qian sighed, his face full of disappointment. Miss Li, who had originally supported the reform, also frowned, her eyes showing a hint of wavering.

The conservatives, however, became incredibly excited and started jumping around in a frenzy.

Master Zhao stroked his beard and said sarcastically, "I told you, if you don't have the skills, don't take on the job. This reform, I think, is just a farce!" The other conservative teachers echoed him, their faces full of smugness and mockery.

Master Zhao became even more arrogant and led a group of conservative teachers directly to Dean Zhou.

"Dean Zhou, look at the mess this has made!" Teacher Zhao pointed at the worried-looking students, his tone arrogant. "This reform is a complete waste of resources and manpower! We strongly demand that it be stopped immediately!"

Other conservative teachers chimed in, each spitting out their own arguments, condemning the reforms as utterly worthless.

Dean Zhou's face was gloomy. He looked at Master Zhao and the others, then at the draft, his mind wavering.

Just then, Xu Lin'an stepped forward. His eyes were sharp as he stared directly at Master Zhao. His voice was not loud, but it was firm and resounding: "Master Zhao, you keep saying that reform is wasteful and burdensome, but have you ever thought about what would happen if the academy continued to stick to the old ways?"

Master Zhao was taken aback by Xu Lin'an's words, his face turning a deep shade of liver. "Hmph, sophistry! The problem now is the lack of resources. What do you have to support the reforms with? Just your empty promises?"

Xu Lin'an sneered and was about to retort when Yan Ruyu stopped him.

Yan Ruyu glanced at Xu Lin'an, a barely perceptible smile appearing on her lips, then turned to Dean Zhou and slowly said, "Dean, may I have a word with you in private?"

Yan Ruyu led Dean Zhou to a secluded room, pointed to an inconspicuous entry in the ledger, and said in a calm but sly tone, "Dean, take a look at this."

Dean Zhou squinted his old eyes, carefully examining the handwriting. He suddenly looked up, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his cloudy eyes: "This... wasn't this payment made a long time ago..."

“That’s right,” Yan Ruyu smiled slightly, a confident glint in her eyes. “This funding was originally allocated by the late emperor to the academy for the renovation of its library, but it was put on hold due to the war. Now, the money is still in the Ministry of Revenue and is enough to support our reforms.”

Dean Zhou was so excited that his face turned red. His hands trembled as he tightly grasped Yan Ruyu's hand: "Ruyu, you are truly a lucky star for the academy!"

When the news broke, the conservatives were as dejected as eggplants that had been hit by frost.

Master Zhao's face turned ashen, and he pointed at Yan Ruyu's back, speechless for a long time.

He never expected that this girl would actually find this forgotten fund!

"Great! We won!" Mr. Sun was so excited that tears welled up in his eyes. He held Ms. Li's hand tightly, and the two cheered and jumped for joy, as if they wanted to release all the pressure that had been building up over the past few days.

Other teachers and students who supported the reforms also cheered, celebrating this hard-won victory.

The reform plan was successfully implemented, and the new teaching materials and methods gave the academy a fresh new look.

The academy is full of vitality, and there is a positive and uplifting atmosphere everywhere.

As the sun sets, the golden afterglow spreads across the earth.

Yan Ruyu and Xu Lin'an stood side by side on the academy's playground, looking at the vibrant scene before them, their hearts filled with joy and a sense of accomplishment.

Xu Lin'an gently put his arm around Yan Ruyu's shoulder and whispered in her ear, "Ruyu, thank you."

Yan Ruyu turned to look at him, her eyes sparkling, and a sweet smile appeared on her lips: "Silly boy, we are husband and wife, why are you thanking me?"

The two embraced tightly, and the teachers and students around them cast their blessings, filling the air with warmth and sweetness.

The sunlight shone on them, as if celebrating for them and blessing their love.

“Next…” Yan Ruyu looked up into the distance, her gaze deep, “there are more important things to do…”

The new system, like a spring breeze, swept through the academy, bringing it new life.

The classroom, which used to be filled with drowsiness, is now filled with the sound of students reading aloud. The students are all energetic, their eyes sparkling with a thirst for knowledge, and even the air is filled with a positive and uplifting atmosphere.

The once empty playground was now packed with students, some practicing martial arts, others discussing academics, their laughter echoing throughout, making it seem like a large-scale role-playing event, or rather, a large-scale academic exchange.

Those conservatives who once clamored that reform was useless are now like wilted eggplants, all drooping and listless.

Master Zhao was utterly humiliated, walking with a swagger as if he were being chased by creditors. He led his defeated troops away from the academy in a sorry state. His back view was practically the words "loser dog," a truly humiliating scene.

Looking at the thriving scene before him, Dean Zhou's old face beamed with joy.

He patted Yan Ruyu and Xu Lin'an on the shoulders, grinning from ear to ear, praising them repeatedly as the "saviors" of the academy. He also gave Mr. Sun and Miss Li a thumbs up, his proud expression as if his own child had passed the imperial examination with top honors. He was truly "overjoyed."

To celebrate the success of the reform, the academy held a grand celebration. The sound of gongs and drums filled the air, firecrackers crackled, and red flags fluttered in the wind. The place was packed with people and incredibly lively.

Yan Ruyu and Xu Lin'an stood on the high platform, receiving cheers and admiration from all the teachers and students. Their names were also forever remembered by the students of the academy. It was as if they had made a "center stage debut".

Master Zhao and the others watched from below the stage, their faces turning green with regret, their expressions even more bitter than if they had eaten vinegar.

Mr. Sun and Ms. Li were so moved that they burst into tears, feeling incredibly proud to have such an ally. They were truly "honored to share in the glory."

After the celebration, the afterglow of the setting sun shone on every corner of the academy, and everything seemed so beautiful and peaceful.

Yan Ruyu and Xu Lin'an stood side by side at the highest point of the academy, gazing into the distance. Their eyes held an indescribable thought, as if they were pondering something.

Outside the academy, the winds of change were strong, and an undercurrent was surging. The sunset on the horizon was blood-red, as if foreshadowing an impending storm.

“Next…” Xu Lin’an looked into the distance and said in a low voice, “I’m afraid we…” He didn’t finish his sentence, but looked at Yan Ruyu.

Yan Ruyu looked at him, her brows furrowing slightly. The two fell silent, their eyes meeting, an unspoken understanding flowing between them.