She fell out after crying at the wrong grave

The old scholar's wife was talking to a student who often came to the school. Ah'an passed by and overheard.

"Alas, you know that he was a stubborn man. Before he died, he said that all his property would be used to rebuild the school." Then he looked at his daughter who was kneeling on the mat and bowing, and said with great sorrow, "The dead are gone, how can I go against his wishes?"

The student is now the owner of a stationery shop on West Street. His surname is Luo and he is a straightforward person.

Upon hearing this, Shopkeeper Luo objected immediately, "How can this be possible! You and my younger sister don't have much income, and the master has always lived a simple life. There is not much money left at home, and we have to make plans for our daily lives!"

As the tone got higher, people around started looking over here.

Shopkeeper Na Luo waved his sleeves and began to speak passionately, "Classmates! We have all been taught by the Master, so we should work together to fulfill the Master's legacy. I suggest that those who have money should contribute money, and those who have strength should contribute strength. We must not let the Master's wife and daughter suffer for this!"

People were whispering in groups of three or two.

Setting up a school is like burning incense and praying to Buddha to do charity, which is all for nothing and only earns a reputation.

Among the people present, there were minor officials, merchants like Manager Luo, farmers, and soldiers on the march.

None of us are rich, and as for wealth, I'm afraid that Zhang Hai, who is listening at the back of the crowd, is the richest one.

So someone asked, "So, how do you contribute effort and money?"

This was a question to the shopkeeper Zhu Luo. He was a hot-headed person and had not thought about this step carefully at all. He was stunned.

"Since it is the master's last wish, we will naturally help it come true. Moreover, since the decline of the school, there is no school in the city that ordinary people like us can afford. Children need to study and take exams, and the court needs talents, so it is only right that the school should be established."

A man stroked his beard and spoke slowly, explaining the matter in more detail.

When it comes to things that have nothing to do with their own interests, people are good at watching the fire from the other side of the river and may not necessarily lend a helping hand.

What the man just said hit the nail on the head. Every family has children, and everyone hopes that their children can be enlightened early and pass the imperial examinations as soon as possible. This concerns everyone.

If you can't afford the money, then teaching and helping out can also be considered a way to deal with the problem, why not do it?

Ah-yi nodded appreciatively at these words.

She had seen this man before. He was the writer who assisted Ruzui during his interrogation in the state jail.

Although his official position was not high, he often dealt with books and documents, his speech was well-organized, and his handwriting was beautiful.

If they really opened a school... Ah'ao frowned and thought, it would be a good idea for him to be a teacher.

Zhang Hai saw Ah-yi joining in the fun through the crowd, so he squeezed over from behind and walked to her side, "Are you also interested in this?"

Ah'ao was suddenly interrupted by her imagination of the school surrounded by the sound of reading, and she felt a little unsatisfied.

"Is Manager Zhang also interested in this?" A naive idea quietly grew in her mind at this moment.

Zhang Hai sighed, "You and the young marquis are a young couple and have no children yet. You may not understand the hearts of us parents."

A'an turned around curiously and listened facing him.

"When people become parents, they want to give their children the best things in the world. My wife and I didn't have a good opportunity to study when we were young, so we worked hard to create our current family business. We have worked hard for half a lifetime, and even walked on dangerous roads. Haha, I almost did something wrong."

At this point, perhaps because he was embarrassed to bring up his past collusion with Wei Guohui and Liu Jingming, Zhang Hai smiled shamefacedly.

Ah-yi also lowered her head and smiled, "That's all in the past. You have made up for your sins with your merits, so don't worry about it anymore."

A'ao and Hengzhi both saw through Zhang Hai's flaws. He was a stubborn person. At most, he was greedy for money and had no good brains.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be allowed to take the position of the Chamber of Commerce's chief treasurer.

Zhang Hai rubbed his hands and continued, "Our Dachong rules are that officials can go to private schools or academies, but the sons of merchants cannot go there. This is insurmountable. Even though there are many merchants in Kezhou now, most of them are sons who inherit their father's business and it is difficult for them to get ahead. After the old man's academy fell into ruin, the children of officials can still hire teachers to go to private schools, but the children of ordinary people like us have no place to study."

A'ao heard the obvious weakness in his words, and guessed that Zhang Hai might be interested in it because he saw her listening in on these people's conversation, so she wanted to add fuel to the fire so that his children could also go to school.

Zhang Hai's family was unusual. If it was just a merchant family, it would be fine, but his wife Su Lan was born into a prostitute family, which violated the rules set by the court, and people of low status were not allowed to enter the government.

So I'm trying my best to give you some advice here.

"We do have the money, but we just want to borrow your excuse so that my son can put his knowledge to good use in the future and pass the imperial examination." Zhang Hai smiled and his tone softened.

Ah'an listened to his words and looked at his expression, and she also felt sad.

What Zhang Hai said is true. As a parent, how can you not plan for your own children?

Therefore, no matter how difficult or tough the matter is, I am willing to humble myself and ask for it.

When I think about the village where I disguised myself as a man and went to teach when I just escaped from the capital, wasn’t it the same situation?

In the surrounding area, there was only one school rebuilt from a dilapidated temple. The teacher was a failed scholar, and every family would send their children there even if they had to beg for money.

This is the hope of the whole family, so even if her identity is revealed and she is scolded in the street, A'an can understand this intense idea.

"Let me think about it. Come to my house tomorrow and I'll give you an answer."

Zhang Hai bowed and nodded before leaving, and in the evening he even brought mung bean soup to cool him down, which was very flattering.

The mourners sang, chanted, and performed acrobatics all night long. The drawn-out tunes and unclear lyrics, plus the fire in the basin that never went out while burning paper, made people drowsy.

The old scholar's wife and daughter were kneeling in the mourning hall and even dozed off leaning against each other.

However, Ah'ao found it difficult to calm down because of the endless thoughts in her mind.

The merchants in the city have always been stingy. When Liu Jingming was in power, he had to put pressure on them in the name of his official position to get them to pay the money they complained about.

After the money was seized, it was returned to the merchants intact in the name of the court, which won some support from the people.

But the North is located on the border, and the current peace is precarious. Sooner or later, it will lead to chaos.

A'ao knew Shen Lang's character best. Her half-baked uncle was even more domineering and extravagant, and it was even more impossible for him to raise military funds for the safety of Kezhou, which was thousands of miles away.

Heng Qi had been discussing with the Ministry of Revenue all night long these days, and even stayed in the court a few nights, too busy to sleep. So how did Heng Qi raise military funds when he was in power? Ah Yi pondered this question for a long time before finding the answer in the Chamber of Commerce in Kezhou.

Heng Qi used to deliberately condone the actions of the Chamber of Commerce and became sworn brothers with various wealthy businessmen. To outsiders, it was almost incomprehensible for a local lord like him to do this.

But in order to get the money to save the entire city, why can't you bow and scrape?

Perhaps establishing a school would be an opportunity for Kezhou to turn things around.

Thinking of this, A'ao immediately stood up from the mat.

Mrs. Zhou, who had been sleeping on her shoulder, suddenly lost her cushion and almost fell.

"Hiss, what are you doing fumbling around in the middle of the night?" Mrs. Zhou asked listlessly while yawning, unable to open her eyes.

Ah-yi leaned over and straightened up the almost unconscious Zhou Sao-zi. "I have something to do. I need to go home. You stay here first!"

After saying that, he slipped out the door like a gust of wind.

The night was quiet, and it seemed like there was no difference whether she was there or not.

Wanlang's cheeks were almost sore from blowing, and he finally took the opportunity to stop and asked, "What are you doing? Why are you in such a hurry?"

Mrs. Zhou waved her hand and turned over the paper that couldn't be burned through in the brazier. "It's normal for young couples to be passionate."

Wanlang curled his lips and stopped asking.

Ah'ao galloped on her horse in the middle of the night, her heart surging with passion, like waves crashing against the shore, getting faster and faster.

The horse stopped outside the private house, and the person knocked on the door. Before the palace guard could even ask for his name with sleepy eyes, the quick-footed person grabbed the other person and asked, "Is the young marquis here?"

The palace guards were confused by the question and nodded subconsciously at first. Then they came to their senses and realized that it was them who summoned the Marquis's wife, and they bowed hastily.

But she had already disappeared from sight.

Ah'an calmed down a little after walking around the long corridor bridge.

The moon has set and it is late at night. I am afraid Hengzhi has already fallen asleep.

The main courtyard was quiet and dark.

Ah'an tiptoed into the room, walked around the table, and peered behind the screen to look for someone.

Not here.

The couch was completely cold, and it looked as if no one had slept there.

I went to the bed again and touched the quilt, but no one was sleeping soundly either.

Where did it go?
After a moment of thinking, a voice suddenly came from behind me, "What are you looking for?"

Just like a stone suddenly hit the calm water surface, a voice suddenly sounded in the empty room at midnight, scaring Ah'an so much that she trembled and quickly turned around to look.

She was originally leaning forward, and if her balance was unstable, she would fall.

The people behind her were afraid that she would bump into something, so they quickly reached out to help her.

Ah'ao subconsciously grabbed his sleeve, causing him to fall onto the bed as well.

Fortunately, the posture was different, and the person who was pulled down still had a chance to react. He supported himself on the bed with his left hand and positioned his whole body right above A'an.

The dim moonlight just happened to fall on the gauze curtain, and with this little bit of light and shadow, Hengzhi's eyes were like a pool of still water.

Ah'ao looked up and immersed herself in it with delight.

"In the dead of night, you sneak into the gauze tent. What are you doing, my lady?"

His voice was deep and blended into the tranquility of the night.

Ah'ao raised the corner of her mouth maliciously, and raised her hand to straighten his collar which had been tangled by her in a hurry, even though they were very close.

"Let's do a surprise check to see if your husband behaves as a good wife when your wife is not at home."

The last sentence was spoken slowly, with a hint of irony.

Hengzhi lowered his eyes and stared at her, not saying a word for a long time.

The person who had said he would not come back tonight has now returned.

right in front of you.

The fragrance from the sachet on her body filled and enveloped Hengzhi completely.

"Why aren't you sleeping so late at night? What have you been doing?" Ah'ao asked him in an accusing tone, smiling and pulling him.

The distance is closer.

"What about you?" Hengzhi swallowed unconsciously and followed her lead, "You didn't miss me so much that you sneaked back here?"

The ends of her hair fell on A'ao's cheeks. Her hands were unconsciously clasped together, and she could not shake off the itch on her face.

Then the itchiness rose up like a flame, making her more and more anxious.

"Yes. I can't sleep. The night is so long."

She heard her own voice say.

(End of this chapter)