Love Lock

Chapter 309 That's not her forte.
At this moment, the craftsmen working in the courtyard gathered around. Han Lei's gaze swept over the crowd, her voice clear and gentle.

"The school will officially open at the beginning of next month, and we will offer four main subjects: mathematics, physics, chemistry, and medical nursing."

She paused briefly, then smiled slightly, "In addition, classes will be divided into two levels based on age."

A middle-aged scholar below stroked his beard and asked, "Your Highness, how exactly do we distinguish between these ages? The children's levels vary, so it's probably difficult to generalize."

"The first level is for children under twelve years old, who mainly learn to recognize characters and acquire basic knowledge, focusing on laying a solid foundation; the second level is for children aged twelve to sixteen, who, in addition to continuing to strengthen reading and writing, will also receive targeted training based on each child's strengths and interests."

Han Lei spoke with a firm tone, her eyes seemingly already seeing the future: "For example, those who are good at observation and have a delicate mind can be guided to study medicine; those who have clear logic and are good at deduction may as well specialize in mathematics and physics."

At that moment, a young craftsman leaned out of the window and interjected, "Your Highness, what about those of us who are over seventeen? Can we still learn?"

“Of course you can,” Han Lei turned to him and said sincerely, “You can work with the foreman during the day, and the school still welcomes you to audit classes after work in the evening. Learning doesn’t discriminate between early and late. Even if you only learn two characters or a math problem a day, you will see results in time.”

She looked around at the faces, some filled with doubt and others with anticipation, and continued, "In less than five years, Cangzhou will have a new generation of scholars—they will not only be literate and arithmetic-skilled, but also knowledgeable in medicine and physics, and even capable of building windmills and repairing irrigation canals. And right now, the most urgent thing is..."

She raised her voice and looked at the teachers who had been listening quietly. “I ask you all to study this new knowledge with me first. I will guide you through the course from the beginning. Only when you understand it can you teach your children well.”

An elderly scholar with white hair pondered for a moment before finally speaking: "I have taught poetry for thirty years, and I have never imagined that one day I would have to learn 'physics' or 'chemistry'..."

Before he finished speaking, he slowly smiled and said, "But if Cangzhou can truly produce more young people as knowledgeable as the Princess Consort as a result—then it will definitely be worth it."

Han Lei nodded and smiled, and in the wind, one could almost hear the sound of paper turning and ink gradually thickening.

The crowd whispered amongst themselves, their eyes gleaming, as if they could already see the brightly lit lecture hall and those young faces that, though not yet fully grown, would eventually change Cangzhou.

Suddenly, a scholar named Li stroked his beard and laughed, "Wonderful! I've taught all my life and never imagined education could be like this! Your Highness is truly insightful!"

The other teachers nodded in agreement and began a lively discussion.

Seeing this, Han Lei seized the opportunity to teach the students the basic pronunciation of pinyin.

She taught in a lively and interesting way, and the students learned with great focus and concentration. Before they knew it, an hour had passed.

"That's all for today." Han Lei looked at the darkening sky and finally stopped teaching. "I'll come over whenever I have time, not only to teach the children, but also to discuss teaching methods with you gentlemen."

The teachers all rose and bowed, their faces beaming with the joy of having gained so much.

Master Li was so excited that his beard trembled slightly: "To receive personal guidance from the Princess is our greatest honor! The children of Cangzhou are blessed!"

A young scholar surnamed Luo, dressed in a faded blue cloth gown, frowned slightly as he looked out the window at the children who were laughing and running past.

He hesitated for a moment, then finally stood up and bowed to Han Lei, who was sitting at the table.

"The princess is benevolent, allowing commoners' children to attend school without charging tuition, which is truly a benevolent act for all time. However..." His voice carried a hint of worry.

"Just what?" Han Lei smiled and gestured for him to continue.

The young teacher looked directly at Han Lei and continued, "However... the school already has over a hundred students enrolled, and the daily paper consumption will be countless. Forgive my bluntness, but in the long run, where will the paper for these books come from?"

Han Lei smiled slightly, revealing a calm and composed expression. "Sir, there's no need to worry about this."

Her voice was soft and gentle, like jade striking each other, "I have already made arrangements for the paper supply."

Han Lei got up and walked to the window, her clothes fluttering, exuding a certain elegance.

"I have ordered the construction of a paper mill at the foot of the mountain in Qingshui County, drawing water from the mountain spring and using green sandalwood as raw material. The craftsmen are currently working hard to produce paper, and it will be available by the beginning of next month."

Han Lei had long known that in ancient times, the reason why ordinary people had difficulty learning to read and write was partly because educational resources were firmly monopolized by the powerful and wealthy.

On the other hand, it was because paper was expensive and books were scarce, making it unaffordable for ordinary families.

Now that she had traveled to this place, she was determined to break free from these constraints.

He wants to make knowledge accessible and so that every ordinary person has the opportunity to enter the classroom and experience the brilliance of words.

Everyone was stunned upon hearing this, and a look of astonishment flashed in their eyes.

They originally thought the princess was only temporarily using the palace's treasury to buy paper, but they never expected that she would build her own paper mill.

How can such a bold and decisive woman not be astonishing?

Han Lei turned around, her eyes clear as autumn water: "Cangzhou has many mountains, and there are also many raw materials for papermaking. Therefore, the output of this paper mill can not only supply the needs of the school, but the surplus will also be sold to various places. The profits will be used to maintain the operation of the school. It can also solve the employment problem for many elderly people and women."

The scholars suddenly realized the truth and praised it highly.

"The princess has really thought things through."

"This way, both studying and working are taken care of."

"Ever since the Prince and Princess came to Cangzhou, we common people have all benefited."

"Reading and cultivating talent is a matter that benefits the country and its people," Han Lei said with a smile. "So, everyone should put more effort into it in the future."

Han Lei looked at Master Luo and continued, "For thousands of years, it has been difficult for ordinary people to read and write, firstly because aristocratic families monopolized education, and secondly because paper was expensive and books were rare. Since we are going to establish schools, we must enable students from poor families to also write and have books to read. Knowledge should not be the privilege of a few, but should be the light that everyone can reach."

After standing quietly for a long time, Mr. Luo finally bowed deeply to Han Lei.

"Your Highness's compassion for the world is truly admirable." His voice trembled slightly, whether from excitement or emotion, it was hard to tell.

On the carriage back to the Prince's mansion, Han Lei leaned against the window, gazing at the setting sun. Although she was physically tired, she felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

She knew that the seeds she sowed today would surely blossom into magnificent flowers on this land in the future.

Jinju draped an outer robe over her shoulders and gently advised, "Your Highness, you must rest well when you get back. If you're tired, the Prince will blame us when he returns." Han Lei chuckled, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. I eat a box of spicy crayfish with every meal now, so I'm in great spirits!"

As dusk settled, Han Lei, accompanied by Zitan and Jinju, stepped lightly into the gates of the Prince's Mansion.

Before even entering the front hall, one could hear the old lady's unusually stern rebuke, accompanied by low sobs.

She quickened her pace and passed through the carved doorway. Inside the hall, a dark mass of servants knelt on the floor. In the flickering candlelight, the old lady sat on a rosewood armchair, her face ashen.

"How many times have I warned you! The Princess is pregnant now and can't withstand the kind of travel and hardship she used to endure!" The old lady slammed her hand heavily on the table, causing the teacup to tremble. "I only turned my back for a moment, and she's gone! How are you all doing your jobs? If anything happens to the Princess, even selling you all wouldn't be enough to bear the consequences!"

Han Lei stood by the door and quietly stuck out her tongue.

She tiptoed into the hall, and the kneeling servants didn't dare to breathe. Only a few maids were secretly wiping away tears.

She then realized that her impulsive decision to sneak out had caused such a big problem for the servants.

She had seen on television how wealthy families in ancient times had very strict rules, and how servants would often take the blame for their masters. But usually, she thought the old lady was a kind person, yet today, for her sake, she had adopted the demeanor of a grandmother.

She walked to the old lady's side and softly called out, "Mother."

The old lady turned around at the sound of her voice. When she saw it was her, the anger on her face softened a little, but her tone was still worried: "Where have you been, child? You've made your mother so worried!"

Han Lei took the old lady's arm and explained softly, "It's all my fault. I thought it was nice to go out for a walk today, so I didn't bother everyone."

She looked at the people kneeling on the ground, a wave of guilt washing over her. "Mother, please don't blame them. I deliberately slipped out of their sight. They really didn't know."

The old lady sighed and took Han Lei's hand, making her sit on the embroidered stool next to her.

"Lei'er, it's not that I don't want you to go out. It's just that Zun'er isn't in the manor right now, and you're pregnant. If something were to happen to you, how would I explain it to him?"

As she spoke, the old lady lovingly stroked Han Lei's still-flat stomach, "You vomited so badly the other day, and you've finally gotten better these past few days. You should rest and recuperate properly."

Han Lei leaned against the old lady's shoulder, looked up, and her eyes shone with pleading.

“Mother, I just wanted to get some fresh air because I’ve been cooped up in the mansion for too long. You know, staying indoors all day isn’t good for your health. Today I brought sandalwood and kumquats with me and was very careful on the way. I just strolled around the market and saw some new and interesting things. I’m not tired at all.”

As she spoke, she took out a small and exquisite sachet from her spatial storage and handed it to the old lady: "Look, I also brought you a calming sachet. It contains agarwood, sandalwood and a little jasmine. It will help you sleep well if you put it by your pillow at night."

The old lady took the sachet, and the anger on her face finally disappeared, replaced by a helpless yet doting expression: "You're so good at making your mother happy. But next time you're going out, be sure to tell your mother in advance and bring a few servants with you, so that your mother can feel at ease."

"I know, Mom loves me the most." Han Lei hugged the old lady's arm affectionately, her voice as sweet as honey.

In her eyes, since she transmigrated here, Zhao Zun has been good to her, which goes without saying. The old lady also treats her like her own daughter, making her feel very fortunate to have met such a mother-in-law.

Han Lei shook the old lady's arm and pleaded, "Then please don't punish them, okay? Seeing them kneeling here makes me feel so bad. If so many people are punished because of me, I definitely won't be able to sleep well tonight, and the baby will be uncomfortable too."

The old lady was rendered speechless by her coquettish behavior and could only shake her head and wave her hand at the servants: "Get up, all of you. I'll let you off this time for the sake of the Princess Consort's pleading. But if you make any further mistakes in the future, I will not let you off lightly!"

The servants, as if granted a pardon, kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Thank you for your mercy, Madam! Thank you for your compassion, Princess!"

Han Lei winked playfully at them and made a face, causing the young maids to chuckle.

At this moment, Han Lei touched her stomach and whispered to the old lady, "Mother, I'm hungry."

Upon hearing this, the old lady was overjoyed.

Since Han Lei became pregnant, she had been having a poor appetite. Today, she took the initiative to say that she was hungry, which was great news for the old lady.

She hurriedly instructed the servants, "Quickly, go to the kitchen and tell them to prepare some light and delicious dishes! Stew a pot of yam and chicken soup, make a steamed sea bass, and also prepare the princess's favorite almond tofu!"

The servants quickly acknowledged and withdrew, each going about their own business.

The room was suddenly left with only the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, the warm light of the solar lamp illuminating their harmonious figures.

Dinner was served quickly, with the octagonal table laden with exquisite dishes.

After a busy day, Han Lei had a great appetite and ate half a bowl of rice and drank a bowl of chicken soup.

The old lady watched from the side, her face full of satisfaction, and served her food from time to time.

"Eat slowly," the old lady said kindly. "Pregnant women should avoid overeating. By the way, I'll have the kitchen prepare some walnut paste tomorrow; it's excellent for the brain and calming the nerves. Also, remember to avoid cold foods, like crabs and hawthorn berries..."

Han Lei swallowed the food in her mouth and interrupted the old lady with a smile: "Mother, have you forgotten? I am a doctor."

The old lady was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Look at my memory, I was so focused on remembering you as my daughter-in-law that I forgot you are a famous female doctor."

As she spoke, she placed another piece of fish on Han Lei's plate. "But that's different. Even the most skilled doctor can make mistakes when it comes to their own patients. I've been through this myself, so I always have to remind you more."

A warm feeling welled up in Han Lei's heart.

She put down her chopsticks and looked earnestly at the old lady: "Thank you for loving me so much, Mother. I promise you that I will take good care of myself and the children. In the future, I will definitely inform you before going out and bring a few more people with me."

The old lady nodded in satisfaction, then suddenly seemed to remember something and said, "Since you're feeling bored at home, why don't I invite the best embroiderer from Qingshui County to our residence tomorrow to teach you how to make some small clothes, shoes, and socks? It's safer than going out."

"what?"

Han Lei's lips twitched, and she looked down at her hands. These hands were good at stitching wounds, but needlework... that wasn't her forte.

Forget it, she'd better figure out what excuse she can use to sneak out tomorrow!

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