The First National Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 372

Think about how many children in impoverished areas today have to drop out of school to take care of their elderly grandmothers who are bedridden because their parents have gone out to work.

No matter how excellent his grades were, the child wasn't truly liberated until the old man passed away. Even so, his life was ruined.

They could only leave the mountains and become migrant workers, forever barred from knowledge.

Xu Tian, ​​as a teacher, was heartbroken and immediately said, "Xiao Sanzi's parents, listen to me. Only through education can one change their destiny. If you let such a young child herd cattle and sheep every day, they will never know how wonderful this world is when they grow up. Now our dynasty has a wise ruler."

Moreover, the tuition fee at our academy is not expensive, only three copper coins.

"If you're willing, Xiao Sanzi and Xiao Wuzi can study at our academy with free room and board; tuition fees are not required."

Seeing that the parents of the mistress were still hesitating.

Xu Tian immediately walked to Xiao Sanzi's side, patted the child's head and said, "There's a saying that goes, 'Like begets like.' If a child's starting point is too low, then he will never be able to stand out in the future. The ancients said, 'Are kings and generals born with a special destiny?' This means that kings and generals all rely on the blessings of their ancestors."

If ordinary people strive, they will have to put in ten or even hundreds of times more effort than kings and generals. If Xiao Sanzi and Xiao Wuzi pass the imperial examination and obtain official titles...

Then your family's third generation will no longer be so poor; this is a necessary factor in fundamentally changing a family's poverty.

The third son's father sighed.

“Master Xu, I know you’re saying all this for the good of the two children, and we understand your good intentions as a teacher, but there simply aren’t enough people in the family to take them to school and pick them up every day.”

Xu Tian waved his hand and said confidently, "Hongwen Academy has student dormitories. As long as you come back every month, or if Xiao Sanzi wants to study, he can come back once a year."

The little boy's mother's eyes lit up.

"Why doesn't his father let the youngest son go to study with Master Xu?"

Unexpectedly, the man immediately became angry.

“What do you know? Now that we’re one person short, I’ll have to herd cattle and sheep day and night. How can my body handle that? Besides, these cattle and sheep will be sold at the market once they’re grown up.”

"It's all about securing a market. If Xiao Sanzi doesn't help me, are we all going to starve next year?" The woman looked at her two children and began to sob, heartbroken.

Xu Tian felt a pang of pity, then offered to buy all the beef and mutton from Xiao Sanzi's family's cattle and sheep if they sold them at Hongwen Academy. This way, they could not only sell them at the market but also solve Xiao Sanzi's family's livelihood problem.

The man's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he nodded.

"My husband and I need to discuss this further. Please leave, Master Xu. We won't see you off."

Seeing that the man was truly considering sending his child to school, Xu Tian felt much relieved. After bowing, he turned and left the tent, boarding the carriage.

After Xu Tian returned to the academy, he saw a group of teachers transferred from Bailu Academy standing in front of the student dormitory. He immediately smiled and went over to greet them.

The dozen or so teachers at Bailu Academy never expected that Master Xu would be so approachable. Moreover, after what happened at Bailu Academy last time, they were too ashamed to face Master Xu.

Seeing the teachers at Bailu Academy, I was surprised to find that they even felt somewhat guilty about what had happened before.