After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Chapter 388 Promoted

“Madam Shen, these fees are too much. You can just give me two taels of silver a year.”

Su Tai chuckled and shook her head. "Mr. Chu, my four children will take up your rest time, and you'll have to put in the effort to teach them. How can you charge them the same tuition as the children in the village? Just accept the money and leave it to me. I'm entrusting my four children to you."

Chu Heng was really bad at bargaining, and since the other party was a woman, he soon lost the argument.

He took the heavy bag of silver back to class, and gained a new understanding of the wealth of Shenjiazhuang.

Five or six days later.

Xi Mu arrived in Su Chunlin's carriage to visit Chu Heng.

As soon as they entered, Xi Mu eagerly pulled Chu Heng aside and whispered, "How's things going here? I thought there would be three or five children at most, but who knew there would be more than thirty or fifty. They have to attend classes every morning and afternoon. I heard that children from nearby villages also want to come and study here. With so many people, it's really hard to handle!"

After he finished speaking, he noticed Chu Heng's resentful expression and his heart skipped a beat. "What? Does Brother Chu not have many children?"

Chu Heng counted, and Xi Mu spat out all the tea in his mouth. "Eighty-nine? How can I teach so many?"

Chu Heng said with a heavy heart, "These children are taught in three different time slots. After teaching them, I still have to teach the four young masters and ladies of the town magistrate's family separately. I haven't stopped from morning to night all day."

Xi Mu was stunned. It took him a long time to find his voice. He shed a tear for Chu Heng, "Brother! Seeing your current situation, I suddenly feel that I am still very lucky."

Chu Heng sighed again, "The only good thing is that we have more money. We were almost starving in the capital, but we became rich overnight here. Especially the town magistrate, he is very generous. He gives me eighty taels of silver a year. For this money, I will continue to teach even if I lose my voice."

Xi Mu was surprised and immediately calculated Chu Heng's tuition fee for a year. She became envious, saying, "It's good to be able to save money. In a couple of years, you can send some subsidies to your family."

They have studied for so many years but have achieved nothing. Their families are eagerly hoping that they will make something of themselves. If they could send money back home, it would bring some comfort to their loved ones.

Chu Heng nodded approvingly, "After working hard for several years, let's save some money first. You're here to eat today, there are still a lot of eggs and meat dishes in the kitchen that haven't been cooked yet."

Xi Mu went over and took a look, and couldn't help but admire Chu Heng's good living environment.

“I also have a separate courtyard in Dongmen Village, but it’s not as spacious and bright as your place.”

"But it's better than living in the capital!"

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Before we knew it, the snow melted and the ground thawed.

The villagers have begun their work for the new year.

Just as Shen Yi was about to set off for Qiongzi with Su Tai, County Magistrate Duan Ren entered the village with a large group of people.

Seeing this commotion, the villagers who were working in the fields stopped what they were doing and rushed back to the village to watch the excitement.

Duan Ren and his entourage went directly to Shen Yi's house, just in time to hear the sound of reading aloud from next door. The imperial envoy asked curiously, "Is this the village teacher?"

"No, no," Duan Ren denied repeatedly.

Just then, Shen Ying arrived and quickly explained, "This is the village school, where all the children in the village receive their early education."

It's rather rare to find a village in a place like Lizhou that hires a tutor. The imperial envoy looked at Duan Ren and exclaimed, "Lord Duan, you're quite something!"

Duan Ren smiled awkwardly. He knew nothing about these things, but he absolutely could not deny them.

Since the children were all studying, the imperial envoy did not disturb them.

Duan Ren quickly pulled the wooden stake. After Su Tai opened the door, he hurriedly asked, "Is Shen Yi home? The imperial envoy has come to read the imperial edict!"

Su Tai's heart tightened. "Shen Yi is in Dahe Town!"

"Hurry up and send someone to retrieve it!"

Su Tai immediately told Shen Ergou to make a trip and personally invite the imperial envoy and his entourage into the room.

Serve tea and snacks, keep your eyes down and mind at ease, and stand aside obediently, waiting to be ordered around.

The imperial envoy surveyed the courtyard, nodded slightly, and slowly asked, "I heard that your family also has a plaque bestowed by the Emperor. Where is it located?" "Your Excellency, the plaque hangs in the ancestral home, and also in the village. Would you like to go and see it?"

The imperial envoy inquired about the distance to Dahe Town, and figuring that Shen Yi wouldn't be back so soon, readily agreed.

Su Tai led the way for them.

The group arrived at the Shen family ancestral home and, looking at the tall, brick-and-tile houses and the grand courtyard, asked in bewilderment, "Why don't you live here?"

Su Tai chuckled twice. "This house was built specifically to house the gifts bestowed by the Emperor. Our house is quite nice to live in."

Seeing how much the Shen family valued the imperial gifts, the imperial envoy's impression of them improved even more.

The gate opened.

After the group walked around the screen wall, they saw the plaque hanging in the center of the hall.

The group, led by the imperial envoy, bowed before entering.

The shelves in the hall were filled with imperial gifts, except for money.

Upon seeing the Dragon-Protecting Sword, the imperial envoy's eyes became more solemn.

After the group had some tea, Shen Yi finally returned.

The imperial envoy read the imperial edict at the Shen family's ancestral home.

The other party first affirmed Shen Yi's act of repairing the bridge, listing several benefits of the bridge repair, and finally said: "Shen Yi is hereby appointed as the Assistant Magistrate of Zhaohua County, awarded with a thousand taels of silver, and bestowed with a plaque by imperial decree. So be it!"

Shen Yi suddenly looked at Duan Ren and Lu Tong, only to see the two of them smiling at him. He immediately understood what was going on and hurriedly accepted the imperial decree.

The imperial envoy smiled with satisfaction: "Congratulations, Lord Shen!"

"Thank you, Your Excellency!" Shen Yi bowed deeply before rising.

In front of everyone, the imperial edict was solemnly placed on the offering table.

"Gentlemen, you have come from afar and must be tired. Please come to my humble abode for a simple meal."

The imperial envoy declined twice before agreeing.

Su Tai rushed back first and bought a bunch of food from the Fire Time Food Street, including hot pot, red wine, white wine, and all kinds of vermicelli and seafood. She managed to prepare a large table of good food and drinks.

This once again shocked the imperial envoy.

This meal brought them closer together.

Shen Yicai learned that Duan Ren had been promoted and was about to be transferred, and that Lu Tong had become the county magistrate, so he naturally took over the position of county assistant.

"Lord Duan, I wish you a smooth promotion! Lord Lu, I look forward to your guidance in the future."

"Easy to say, easy to say!"

Seeing that they were quite drunk, Su Tai wondered if she should arrange guest rooms for them, but she didn't expect that the group of people, who were completely drunk, would insist on going back.

Fortunately, they brought many guards and servants with them, so they didn't cause any trouble.

After seeing the guests off, Shen Yiren was in high spirits due to the happy occasion and carried Su Tai to the bedroom.

Su Tai blushed with embarrassment. "What are you doing! In broad daylight, put me down right now!"

"No way! Wife, I'm so happy! I'm really, really happy! I never imagined that the Emperor would appoint me as a county magistrate. Our family's status can finally change!"

Shen Yi laughed and rolled into the bed with Su Tai.

After a series of silly antics.

Su Tai scolded her irritably, "This is a great idea, but don't forget our important business. Qiong Zi must go."