In years of famine and drought, their village even rejected fatty meat.

After listening to Chen Dao's speech, the villagers looked at each other in bewilderment. The village school was a thing of the past in their memories, and many had even forgotten that there was a school in the village.

After all, for the villagers of Chenjia Village, farming was the most important thing, while studying... was meaningless to them.

After all, even if they could read, they couldn't possibly pass the imperial examinations. In short, the villagers saw no benefit in studying.

"Why...why does Brother Dao suddenly want to start a school?"

"Free books are a good thing, but what's the point of reading them?"

"I've heard that scholars can take the imperial examinations for official rank? How exactly are these examinations conducted?"

"How would I know?"

"..."

The villagers frowned in thought, completely baffled as to why Chen Dao wanted to set up a school. In their view, having children help with farming was far more useful than studying.

Chen He's eyes lit up. He was a visionary village chief. It was he who made the decision to build the school in Li Zheng's house. However... due to the poverty of Chen Family Village, the school project was ultimately abandoned.

Now that Chen Dao plans to reopen the school, it aligns perfectly with Chen He's ideas.

"Everyone must be very curious about why I want to start a school?"

Chen Dao seemed unsurprised by the crowd's reaction and continued, "My purpose in setting up the school is simple: I need some literate people who can do arithmetic to help me with my work. In the future, I will give priority to literate villagers for the work in my household!"

As soon as Chen Dao said this, many villagers were immediately tempted. Helping Chen Dao with his work was something the whole village was looking forward to the most. Just look at the treatment Chen Dao gave to Chen Lian and others: not only could they eat their fill every day, but they also received a salary of one or two taels of silver a month. For the poor villagers of Chenjia Village, this kind of treatment was simply a dream job.

Therefore, upon hearing that Chen Daohui would prioritize literate people, many villagers were inspired to send their children to school.

The reason they thought reading was useless was simply because they couldn't see any benefits in it. But now that the benefits of reading are obvious, why would they resist it?

Not to mention, studying at the school was free!

"I'll go back and immediately send my child to school!"

"Me too! If my stupid son doesn't study well, I'll beat him to death!"

"Fortunately, my child is not yet eighteen years old and can go to school."

"..."

The villagers were all interested.

Just then, Chen Lian, who had just arrived at Chen Dao's house, suddenly asked, "Brother Dao, can I also go to school?"

After listening to Chen Dao's words, Chen Lian couldn't help but worry about her chicken-raising job. Chen Dao had said that in the future, his family would give priority to literate people for jobs. If she couldn't read, she was afraid she would have difficulty keeping her well-paying chicken-raising job. Therefore, Chen Lian was eager to get the opportunity to study in order to keep her job.

Chen Dao turned to look at Chen Lian, his brows furrowing slightly. The reason he set the school age at under 18 was because children are more malleable, have stronger learning abilities, and can learn to read more quickly.

Chen Lian was already 18 years old. In the Xia Kingdom, where people could get married at the age of 14 or 15, she was already an adult and her potential for growth was far less than that of a child.

However... Chen Dao has no reason to refuse anyone who is truly interested in studying.

"can!"

Chen Dao nodded to Chen Lian and said, "Regardless of gender or age, anyone who wants to read and write can go to the school to study, but... they must do their job well first!"

Chen Lian is currently also raising chickens, and it is obvious that she will not be able to leave this job anytime soon. Therefore, Chen Dao must take precautions in advance to ensure that Chen Lian does not neglect raising chickens and ducks because of her studies at school.

After all, raising chickens and ducks is the source of Chen Dao's wealth, so he can't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

"Don't worry, Brother Dao, I know."

Chen Lian nodded. She didn't plan to give up raising chickens, since her family's circumstances didn't allow it. She just thought she would go to school to learn when she had free time.

"Both boys and girls can go to school? Then can my daughter go to school too, and after she learns to read, work for Daoge'er like Chen Lian and the others?"

"Can this girl really succeed in her studies? I've never heard of girls studying before!"

"Why can't girls do it? Chen Lian and the others are doing just fine working at Daoge'er's house, aren't they?"

"That's right! We women can do chores too, so why can't we study?"

"..."

The situation in Xia Kingdom was very similar to that in ancient China, with both countries having the custom of valuing sons over daughters. However, when Chen Dao said that both men and women could go to school to study, the villagers of Chenjia Village quietly began to pay more attention to the girls in their families.

After all... going to school to learn to read and write would allow them to work for Chen Dao, and working for Chen Dao would earn them at least one tael of silver per month. This income was already a super high salary for the villagers of Chenjia Village, making it hard for them not to take it seriously.

"All right!"

Chen Dao concluded his speech by saying, "The school will officially open in three days. Families with children can send them to the school to study, and adults who want to learn to read can also audit classes."

After saying that, Chen Dao walked into the house on his own, leaving behind a group of villagers who seemed to be deep in thought.

"I've made up my mind. My daughter will go to school in three days."

"Me too! If you read this book, you can get a job with Brother Dao. Only a fool wouldn't read it."

"I'll also go and ask Mr. Li for advice when I have time, so I can learn more characters. That way, maybe Brother Dao will give me priority when he asks me to work!"

"You're quite clever!"

"..."

Looking at the villagers' positive expressions, Li Zheng couldn't help but smile with satisfaction. In the past, when the school was first built, most villagers were very resistant to sending their children to study. After all, half-grown boys were also a source of labor in Chenjia Village. Sending their children to school would not only result in the loss of a laborer, but also require villagers to pay for their own writing materials.

The villagers were naturally unhappy because they spent a lot of money but saw no benefits.

Now... driven by the benefits promised by Chen Dao, the villagers' desire to send their children to school has become stronger, and even many adults who are illiterate are planning to audit classes at the school...

Li Zheng also saw many villagers hurrying back home after receiving the steamed buns. If nothing unexpected happened, they should be going back to arrange their children's schooling.