The First National Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 231

Xu Tian nodded. After seeing that the person had left, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. He took a few steps and collapsed onto the bed, sleeping soundly for a whole day and night. It wasn't until the butler knocked on the door again that he realized he had slept until the next night.

The butler knocked on the door and said, "Master, it's time for your dinner. The flower garden in front will do; it's close to your bedroom, which will be more convenient."

Xu Tian nodded, feeling an inexplicable urge to smile. As a modern person, it was already a blessing to be able to eat, let alone have such meticulous care from the butler, which made his life extremely comfortable.

While eating in the flower garden, Xu Tian was carefully thinking about how to make a living. A Grand Tutor's monthly salary was only so-so. It would be better to start a side business to make his life in ancient times better, at least to let the children around him be influenced by his knowledge. As the saying goes, knowledge changes destiny. Only by mastering knowledge can one serve the country.

Cultivating pillars of the nation starts with children.

He was a glorious people's teacher when he transmigrated, but now he has risen to the aristocratic class in a very luxurious way. However, this aristocratic class cannot erase his mission of teaching and educating people.

Xu Tian immediately put down his chopsticks and asked, "Steward, is there a private school here?"

The steward nodded: "Truly, there is one right outside the door, opened by a distant relative of Lord Wei. It is very prestigious in Chang'an. Whether it is the children of high-ranking officials or ordinary people, they can all be proud to enter this Moxuan Academy."

However, only middle-class or slightly wealthier families in Chang'an could afford to send their children there, as the Moxuan Academy assigned a great deal of homework, and the annual tuition and book fees alone were substantial.

"Then see if I can become a teacher at the private school run by Lord Wei."

The steward's eyes widened: "Master, you're not joking with me, are you? Why would a Grand Tutor like yourself teach children at a private school? Wouldn't that be a laughingstock?"

Xu Tian was speechless: "What's the value of face anyway? I'm just sitting here doing nothing. Besides, I don't have much to do on a regular basis. I might as well educate the children. After all, I asked the other adults before me."

Both Fang Xuanling and Lord Du said that the national treasury was empty and that no silver had been distributed for several months.

The steward was speechless. His master was a high-ranking official, yet he valued money so much. What kind of master would take on private jobs for such a small monthly salary?

The steward gritted his teeth and stamped his foot, then said bluntly, "Master, why don't you open a school in your own home? That way, no one will be able to say anything."

In essence, this saying means that if you're going to lose face, you should lose face yourself, not others.

Xu Tian's eyes lit up: "I'll leave this to you." These days, Xu Tian has been carefully studying the lesson plan. After all, teaching in modern times doesn't mean it will still work in ancient times. He thought that these ancient children had to learn the "Thousand Character Classic" and the "Three Character Classic," which was just rote memorization.

Some children with poor memories suffer from this rote memorization. Although they memorize it, they don't understand it and can't apply it properly, so they fall far behind others.

That's right, he wants to change this kind of teaching method, making the "Three Character Classic" and "Thousand Character Classic" more accessible and easier to understand. As long as children follow the lesson plan prompts he makes, they can memorize the entire "Three Character Classic" and "Thousand Character Classic" by heart.

"Steward, prepare the southernmost courtyard with the waterside pavilion in the mansion. I want to teach there. Go and post a notice outside the Pingning Prince's Mansion saying that tuition is only three copper coins per month."

The steward was somewhat helpless. His master really didn't care for such vanity. Originally, the emperor had bestowed a mansion upon him, which should have been converted into the Grand Tutor's Mansion, but his master wouldn't allow any changes to the plaque outside.