Apart from the Book of History class which was held every other day in the afternoon, Hua Zhi scheduled all her lessons in the mornings. She divided her time into two parts: one for teaching and the other for handling family affairs, ensuring neither was neglected.
On the first day of formal teaching, the initial class was the Analects for the younger group. Hua Zhi did not deliberately dress like a teacher but wore simple, plain clothes with her long hair loosely tied up, not using any jewelry at all. Unable to sit cross-legged on the floor like men, she knelt with her legs folded beneath her.
The nine Little Radishes widened their round eyes as they watched their sister... ahem, teacher, step onto the platform, waiting for her to speak. Bo Lin Ge had warned them that anyone who misbehaved would be disciplined.
Hua Zhi glanced around and smiled. In an era where people married at sixteen or seventeen, children tended to mature early.
The Hua family's ancestors, striving for the prosperity of their descendants, had established hundreds of family rules. One of them stipulated that children must leave their mothers' side after the age of two. Brothers of similar ages lived together, with four sharing one courtyard, attended only by young servants—maids were not allowed near without permission. Children raised this way naturally had less exposure to feminine influences, and no one could instill in them knowledge inappropriate for their age. Though they matured early, they were not overly cunning.
Because of this, even the Illegitimate children in the Hua family rarely had a bad reputation. Someone like her fourth uncle was already an exception.
Thinking of her fourth uncle, Hua Zhi's expression darkened slightly. Setting aside these random thoughts, she opened the book and her prepared lesson notes.
She had never been a teacher before, but after so many years as a student, she had learned a thing or two. Preparing a lesson was not difficult for her.
"We've had a break for some days, so let's not rush into new material. First, let's review what we've learned before..."
Hua Zhi spoke in a calm, soothing voice, her face always wearing a faint smile. She quickly won over the hearts of these children who had left their mothers at such a young age. Whenever she asked a question, they would blink their eyes, eagerly signaling "pick me, pick me" with their gazes. Being young, they had not yet formed the notion that women could not be teachers. Even without Hua Bolin's threats, they quickly accepted this Female teacher.
Mr. Mu, listening outside the door for a while, could see that the eldest daughter of the Hua family was someone who, when she acted, did so remarkably. He admitted that even he could not explain the long-standing Analects in such a simple, clear, and easy-to-understand manner.
In the capital, talented scholars and ladies were evaluated every year. Out of curiosity, he had read their poems. While there were some excellent works, most were overrated. Poems that strained to express sorrow were far less impressive than someone like the eldest daughter, who had truly mastered the books—this was real talent.
Winning over the older class did not take much effort either. The Book of History was inherently about history, and she had been telling stories to Berlin for years. When she ran out of stories, she made up her own. With this foundation, she made the obscure Book of History vivid and engaging. Mr. Mu eavesdropped a few more times and later flipped through the book himself, unable to find such rich and interesting content in its pages.
There were students who wanted to cause trouble, but before they could figure out how to pick a fight, they were already captivated by the lesson. By the time the class ended and Hua Zhi had left, they remembered what they had intended to do but could only scratch their heads and return to face reprimands.Old Madam specifically sent Su Momo to inquire with Mr. Mu, who only said that Hua Zhi truly lived up to being personally taught by the late master—he had greatly benefited from her. Curious, Old Madam had Su Momo support her as she went to listen at the Clan school. When she left, she felt noticeably lighter, as if a weight had been lifted. Initially, she had worried that the eldest girl was merely being stubborn because she couldn’t find a teacher, but now it seemed she had been too modest. From the children’s reactions, it was clear this Female teacher hadn’t stirred any discontent, and even if there had been any, Zhi Er had effortlessly resolved it.
With such inner confidence, it was no wonder Zhi Er had this self-assurance. How wonderful, Old Madam thought to herself. If the Hua family had a few more like Zhi Er, she could truly rest easy.
Pausing her steps, Old Madam asked with keen interest, “I recall the second and third girls are somewhat known for their talents. How do you think they compare to the eldest girl?”
Su Momo wasn’t optimistic but couldn’t say so outright, so she replied vaguely, “To be called talented ladies, they must be quite capable.”
At this moment, Old Madam had unprecedented faith in the Hua family’s girls and didn’t catch her insincerity. Smiling, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes deepened. “Later, speak with Zhi Er and have the second and third girls give it a try as well. They don’t necessarily have to become teachers, but it would be good if they could fill in for Zhi Er when she’s busy.”
Su Momo hadn’t expected Old Madam to have this idea and tried to steer her thoughts back. “Changing teachers frequently isn’t ideal. This servant has noticed the young masters are quite fond of the eldest girl. Replacing her might not yield the same effect.”
“Since it’s within our own family, there’s no harm in trying.” Old Madam looked up at the sky, her voice soft. “We know Zhi Er has made many arrangements during this time. Her focus is on the long-term future, not immediate gains. But others don’t know that. They just think this old woman favors the eldest branch and her eldest granddaughter, Zhi Er. In that case, we must give them a chance to shine. If they seize it, that’s their own ability. If they lack the skill, then they can blame heaven, earth, or themselves, but they can’t blame me or Zhi Er.”
“You’ve considered everything.”
“I have to think ahead. Zhi Er’s eyes are set on the bigger picture, preoccupied with major affairs. She overlooks these small matters, so I must think a little more for her. Who knows, we might gain an extra helper?”
“Yes, this servant hopes so too.”
A few days later than expected, Xu Jie finally returned.
Compared to when he left, Xu Jie had lost weight, but he was radiant and full of vigor as he knelt before the eldest girl. “This humble servant pays respects to the eldest girl.”
“Rise quickly.” Hua Zhi gestured for him to stand, already sensing from his demeanor that the trip had been highly successful. “Did everything go smoothly?”
Though excited, Xu Jie didn’t forget his place. He kept his eyes lowered and his attitude respectful. “Following your instructions, this humble servant went to the Jiangnan region. Just as you said, citrus fruits were abundant there and prices were extremely low. Being a stranger, the locals didn’t trust me easily, so I first presented generous gifts at the docks. Afterward, I paid half the deposit to rent a large ship from a reputable shipping company there. With the ship as collateral, the locals began to trust me. I used the remaining silver to purchase some scattered goods. For those with large orchards, I only paid a deposit and asked them to accompany the ship to the capital. They would return with the ship after unloading the goods.”
“Did you not hire escorts for protection?”"Not needed. There are over twenty crew members on the large ship, and the cargo isn't valuable enough to attract Water Goblins."
Hua Zhi nodded slightly, estimating the ship's size. Canal travel differed from sea voyages—the currents were gentler and risks lower. A vessel of similar size would require far fewer crew members for sea transport, yet this one had over twenty hands. It must truly be the largest ship capable of navigating the canal.
"How much silver are we short?"
"Two hundred eighty taels."
"Including the remaining freight charges?"
"Yes. Here are the account books for your review, Miss."
Nian Qiu took the ledger, examined it, and nodded to her mistress.
The amount was less than she had anticipated. Hua Zhi rose. "Wait here a moment. I'll accompany you to the port."
"Very well."
PS: These two chapters involved classical references and were somewhat challenging to write. Thank you for your support, dear readers. Mwah!
OpenNovel