The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

Chapter 333 The Prefect Inscribes a Calligraphy for the Private School

Su Chengmin was helped to the ancestral hall by Gu Dahan.

He specially changed into a gray long gown with a middle-aged or elderly style that Gu Taohua had bought in town, emphasizing a composed and dignified look.

The long gown, so different from his age, only accentuated his dashing and debonair appearance, creating a strong sense of incongruity with the image of a scholar in the eyes of the villagers.

Before even stepping into the classroom, I could hear the villagers' complaints.

If it weren't for his leg injury, he would have really gone berserk. He would have been willing to stoop down and teach the village children to read, but the villagers didn't appreciate it at all.

Besides, what does the quality of teaching have to do with age or appearance?

While other teachers taught children to read and write, he not only did so, but once his leg recovered, he also taught the children martial arts.

"Hey, Laifu, don't mind what everyone's saying. Villagers always talk nonsense about things they don't understand," Gu Jingzhe reassured Su Chengmin, who looked displeased.

He was afraid that if Su Chengmin quit, where would he find a teacher?

Magistrate Liu is coming soon.

Village chief Liu Tielian came to Su Chengmin's rescue, saying, "What nonsense are you spouting? Laifu is a scholar, and he's capable of providing basic education for the children in our village. Look, even Master Su is here, which means Master Su approves of him."

Liu Tielian pointed to Master Su in the crowd.

Master Su's name was known to everyone in Yanguan Town, and the village chief wanted to use Master Su to quell everyone's complaints.

Master Su: "."

He had no idea who the person his disciple Gu Jingzhe was supporting was.

Master Su's reputation was so effective that the villagers' complaints gradually subsided.

Gu Jingzhe took the opportunity to help Su Chengmin into the classroom.

Compared to the serious-looking Master Su, the children preferred a young teacher like Su Chengmin.

Xiao Long had already become familiar with the village children in Qinghewan. Many children ran to Tong Huaqiong's house to play with Xiao Long. They had witnessed Su Chengmin taming ponies, weaving rabbits out of foxtail grass, and shooting down birds with corn kernels.
What child wouldn't like such a capable young teacher?

"Lord Liu has arrived!" someone called out.

The village chief went to greet him.

The village head and the other village chiefs who had been invited by Village Chief Liu also swarmed around Magistrate Liu.

Village Chief Liu Tielian sensed something was amiss. Who was that person in official robes standing in the middle? And why was Magistrate Liu being so respectful to him, judging from his demeanor?
Village Chief Liu unconsciously looked at Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong stepped forward first and said, "Greetings, Lord Yao; greetings, Lord Liu."

The restless crowd fell silent instantly.

Lord Yao?
Which other adult in the entire Ningcheng has the surname Yao?

Who else could this be but Prefect Yao?

After realizing what was happening, the villagers were about to kneel down in a dense crowd, but Prefect Yao stopped them.

"Hello, Aunt Tong."

Prefect Yao and Magistrate Liu were extremely polite to Tong Huaqiong.

An older woman muttered from the crowd, "Wasn't our prefect supposed to be a brilliant young man who just passed the imperial examination last year? How come he's so mature?"

At first, everyone mistakenly thought that Lu Zhaoyang, who was standing next to Prefect Yao, was the Prefect himself, and they all bowed to Lu Zhaoyang. It was only when Prefect Yao spoke that they realized they had mistaken him for someone else.

The old woman's mutterings silenced everyone once again.

Magistrate Liu looked embarrassed.

The old woman lightly slapped herself and said, "It's all my fault for having bad eyesight."

Prefect Yao, however, said nonchalantly, "It's not your fault, ma'am, it's just that I was born older."

A single sentence easily resolved the awkward situation.

Prefect Yao made a better impression on Qinghewan.

"Madam Dashu, what brings Prefect Yao here? Did you invite him?" Village Chief Liu asked, wiping the sweat from his brow.

He wondered whether he would ask Prefect Yao or Magistrate Liu to write an inscription for the private school.

Tong Huaqiong said, "I don't know why Prefect Yao came either?"

She felt that her relationship with Prefect Yao was not yet close enough to warrant inviting him over.

Let them come; it's not a bad thing anyway.

"When people are born, their nature is good. Natures are similar, but habits make them different."

Suddenly, the sound of children reading aloud filled the classroom. Tong Huaqiong thought to herself, "Su Chengmin is quite perceptive; he's already started teaching the children."

Through the window, everyone saw Su Chengmin prop himself up on one leg, write on a board, and stand in front of the table with a book in his hand, teaching everyone to read.

The students swayed their heads and recited along.

Children's voices are naturally clear and melodious, and when they read aloud, it becomes even more pleasant to hear.

Prefect Yao glanced at him and smiled, then said to Village Chief Liu, "I came to Qinghewan on an important matter and happened to meet Lord Liu. I heard that your village is holding its private school opening ceremony today, and I was fortunate enough to attend. Establishing a private school to educate the villagers and cultivate pillars for the court is enough to show that the villagers of Qinghewan are knowledgeable. Lord Liu said that this private school was sponsored by Aunt Tong, but it would not have been possible without your support as the village chief."

Village Chief Liu was already incredibly excited when the prefect spoke to him.

Prefect Yao's words were too official; he didn't remember anything else but the words praising him, the village chief.

Village Chief Liu was so excited he almost wanted to kowtow to Prefect Yao.

The villagers sitting in the classroom were equally happy, for their children had been recognized by Prefect Yao as pillars of the imperial court.

People started criticizing Mr. Li for deserting his post. The children of Qinghewan were pillars of the imperial court, and he was not worthy of them.

The village head and other villagers were extremely envious of Qinghewan. It was truly remarkable that they could not only invite Magistrate Liu, but also Prefect Yao.

The village head was already mentally reviewing whether he had offended Liu Tielian and worried that he might be dismissed from his position.

Tong Huaqiong wasn't too excited. She focused on what Lord Yao had said: "I have an important matter to attend to in Qinghe Bay." What could be so important that it would bring a prefect to come all this way?

A clear, bright voice teaching children to read drifted over, and Tong Huaqiong's gaze fell on Su Chengmin.

Now that Prefect Yao has arrived, Magistrate Liu should not take the lead in presiding over the opening ceremony of the private school.

Prefect Yao, who was originally the second-place scholar in the imperial examination, was greatly pleased to see that a village in Qinghewan had established a private school and took the initiative to preside over the opening ceremony.

"Is the Master's leg injured?" Prefect Yao asked.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Yes."

Prefect Yao stared at the wooden board with writing on it for a while and said, "The teacher's handwriting is beautiful, and he is clearly very learned."

The villagers breathed a sigh of relief.

Lai Fu's calligraphy was praised even by Yao, the prefect who ranked second in the imperial examinations, so it must be excellent.

Because Su Chengmin was injured in the leg, Prefect Yao asked Lu Zhaoyang to lead the children in the opening ceremony, but Lu Zhaoyang declined and bowed to Master Su instead.

Master Su led the children to offer incense, bowed around the portrait of Confucius, bowed to Su Chengmin who was sitting in a chair, and shouted a few slogans.
Magistrate Liu distributed the writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones sponsored by his mother, Madam Han, to the children.

Those writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were clearly better than those bought in town.

The village chief's grandson opened the ink box on the spot, which drew a scolding from his father, Liu Tong, outside the classroom: "Save such good ink and brushes for when you can read more characters."

Magistrate Liu shook his head and said, "Since they're being given to the children, they're meant for them to use now."

After the ceremony, the children went into the classroom one after another.

At the invitation of Village Chief Liu, Prefect Yao inscribed a message for the private school.

Qinghewan Private School.

Extremely simple and unpretentious.

This is exactly the effect that the villagers of Qinghewan want.

At Su Fuzi's invitation, Lu Zhaoyang stood in front and gave the children a lesson on friendship.

"Do you know what it means when you read 'At the beginning of life, human nature is inherently good'?"

"do not know."

"Then let me tell you about it."

The villagers thought Lu Zhaoyang explained things well, and wished he could be a teacher at a private school.

“Your Uncle Zhaoyang is very knowledgeable, Yan Hong, you should go and listen to him too.”

Magistrate Liu's mother, Han, and son, Liu Yanhong, stood beside Tong Huaqiong.

Han then let Liu Yanhong go in and listen to the lesson with the children.

Liu Yanhong originally didn't want to go, but when he saw Man'er among the children, his eyes lit up and he said, "Man'er is going to a private school too?"

As he spoke, he crept into the classroom along the wall and quietly sat behind Man'er.

It was only then that Prefect Yao realized there was a girl in class.

"The local customs of Qinghewan are indeed extraordinary."