The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 167 Warm Xianyang

That night, after the children had gone to bed, the couple sat by the fishpond and talked about the story of Duke Pinyang.

Letters frequently arrived from Pinyang. These letters were not written by Wang Jian himself; most were dictated and then written down by others before being sent to the palace.

Looking at the piece of paper his wife handed him, he saw that the paper originally contained the sentence, "I ate tofu today, and the tofu was very salty. It must be that Uncle Sun Tong didn't cook it well. He has to compensate me for the money I spent on the tofu." Then, that sentence was crossed out.

It's likely that Wang Jian regretted saying those words and had them crossed out.

Even from the ink marks that Fusu had crossed out, he could still make out the original words written on the paper.

In fact, Master Pinyang was a very lovable old man. Judging from these details, even though he was somewhat confused in his later years, he should still have lived a comfortable and pleasant life.

Fusu often heard his wife talk about the past. Before unifying the world, Wang Jian had not lived a good life, especially before attacking the State of Chu. Wang Jian could not sleep for nights on end.

Prior to this, Wang Jian had been extremely cautious in the Qin court.

When his wife said that, Fusu thought it was because Wang Jian felt that there were too many examples of his own mistakes among the meritorious officials of Qin throughout history.

Later, after Wang Jian entered Hangu Pass and received rewards, he began to shut himself away from visitors again.

Only now does Wang Jian feel that he is living a better life.

Just as his wife said, Fusu felt that her words made a lot of sense. Because he was the Prince of Qin, he could not easily go to see Wang Jian. Even if he took the initiative to see him without any other intention, the old man would think too much.

“My father will take good care of Grandpa. If you go to Pinyang, I’m afraid Grandpa won’t be able to eat or sleep well.”

Fusu nodded and said, "I understand."

On a morning during the White Dew season, a thick fog descended upon Guanzhong.

As the sun rose, the morning fog was still thick, and a group of riders rode swiftly out of Xianyang City.

They carried the First Emperor's edict, announcing to the world that all those who participated in the rural education program could take the exam, pass it to enter officialdom, and even enter the Imperial Academy to enjoy a salary.

The news caused an uproar in Xianyang and throughout the counties of Guanzhong.

Those with children in school feel fortunate.

In fact, the First Emperor's edict was not just that. This year, all people with household registration could participate in the examination. As long as they had household registration and had not committed any crimes, except for merchants and criminals, they could participate in the examination.

Within three days of this news breaking, people throughout the counties of Guanzhong knew about it, and it became a topic of conversation.

Shusun Tong sat in a pavilion halfway up Shangyan Mountain, the same place where Prince Fusu once overlooked the entire Weinan region.

Now, as Shusun Tong sits here, he recalls many things from those years. Prince Fusu finally took this step, and from then on, the world could no longer do without rural education.

“The person who revealed the exam papers wasn’t just the doctor,” said Xin Sheng.

Xin Sheng now needs to walk with a cane. He glanced at the still energetic Shusun Tong and said, "Of all these people, I'm the one who's aged the fastest."

Shusun Tong smiled and said, "Young Master still hopes to teach in rural areas. Only by combining it with the country's talent selection can we make teaching in rural areas a sustainable practice, with one generation following another, and continuing uninterrupted."

Xin Sheng asked, "Is that really the case?"

"Yes." Shusun Tong nodded with great certainty. He said, "When the common people of the world all know that education and teaching in rural areas can change their lives..."

At this point, Shusun Tong took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled. He put one hand behind his back, raised his head and said, "Once people have experienced certain things and truly benefited from them, then the whole world will flock to them. No matter how the world changes in the future, no matter who becomes emperor, the teaching support and examinations will continue."

Xin Sheng didn't know where Shusun Tong got such certainty from. He said, "In the past, I accompanied you, young master, to guard Weinan. You often said that building a country is very difficult. So many years have passed, and you must be almost thirty years old now."

Shusun Tong replied, "Young Master Fusu is twenty-seven years old this year."

Xin Sheng said, "That was the peak of my life."

Shusun Tong said in a low voice: "Back then, people were fortunate to have a strong country and a wise ruler. When the seven countries were vying for supremacy, one country was always strong and the other was weak. After several decades, the situation changed... The ups and downs did not change. Whenever war was about to break out, people would move their families from Qi to Chu, from Chu to Qin, and then from Qin to Wei."

"Now things are much better. More and more people are coming to Guanzhong. Prime Minister Li Si is good at using the policy of relocating people, and Prince Fusu is even more so. They are using the policy of relocating people to strengthen Guanzhong."

Xin Sheng fell asleep while listening and didn't know what Shusun Tong said next. He was woken up by a servant next to him. It turned out that Shusun Tong had already left.

As Xin Sheng walked down the mountain with his cane, he said, "This Shusun Tong is so long-winded, it's driving this old man crazy."

There is also a group of people who participated in the teaching support program from the very beginning. They have been teaching for many years and their character and performance have been assessed. These people can directly enter the Imperial Academy. They are Lang, Zhui, Wusang, Wang Yu, and the other teachers.

Today is a very important day for Zhui. He is wearing the official robes of the Academician's Office, which are said to have been modified from the official robes of the Doctor's Office.

Xianyang had already dispatched a carriage, and Zhuo boarded it at Tongguan and headed towards Xianyang. He didn't arrive in Xianyang until the afternoon.

When he followed the two clerks to the gate of the Academy, he was somewhat confused and at a loss as the new scholar. He had never thought that his achievements would allow him to sit in such a high position. Although he could not participate in the court discussions of the Qin court like the doctors of yesteryear, he could compile classics and even preside over and coordinate the affairs of supporting education in rural areas.

He stood in front of the dark and imposing gates of the scholar's mansion for a long time. In a daze, he had a feeling that once he stepped into this place, his life would be different, but he might never be able to return to the children.

When I was feeling lost, I thought of someone, and that was Lang.

Lang is a liar. He said he would continue to teach in rural areas, and he did go, but he said he would come back in three to five years.

Three years have passed, and Lang has still not returned.

Zhui inquired with Lang's parents and learned that Lang had asked an official from Qi County to bring a letter home in the summer. From the letter, Zhui learned that Lang had actually settled down in Langya County and had children.

When he first heard the news, he was greatly shocked and drank all the wine he had prepared in one night.

That was what he originally kept to welcome Lang back.

But after all, they grew up together, and Zhui understood Lang, because Zhui had also started a family and had a wife and children.

The Imperial Academy is right next to the Censorate. It's a busy place with many officials coming and going, none of whom he recognizes. He's been standing there for an hour now, but no one else has come. He's the only one there so far.

In the evening, Fusu, who had just finished a day's work, inquired about the Academician's Office.

Tian An replied, "A scholar did go to the scholar's residence, but he didn't even enter the door. Instead, he left a letter and returned to Tongguan to teach."

As they spoke, Tian An handed over the letter.

Fusu opened the letter and read its contents. After reading it all, he finally understood what Zhui meant. He was a person who only knew how to teach. He did not know how to work in the Academy or how to enter the Qin court. He was willing to take the title of Academy member and settle down in Tongguan to continue his teaching.

After reading the letter, Fusu sat in silence for a long time.

Cheng Miao arrived carrying a bundle and said, "Young master, these are letters from the scholars."

When the others approached and opened the bundle, Fusu saw sheets of paper filled with writing.

Fusu opened one of the volumes, written by a volunteer teacher named Bai Mai. He said he was busy with his volunteer teaching and thanked Qin Ting for granting him the status of a scholar. He had been teaching in Sichuan for six years. He first taught in Sichuan and then returned to Guanzhong with his students to continue his volunteer teaching career.

Bai Mai continued to apologize and express his gratitude in his letters, but he could no longer leave the teaching post and the children who were waiting for his guidance. He saw in the children's eyes a thirst for knowledge and a light in their eyes.

If he were to serve as an official in the Qin court and leave those children behind, he would not be able to do so. He could only receive the title of scholar, but could not actually take up a post in Xianyang.

Fusu opened the second letter, written by Wusang. This child was originally from the Western Rong region and was now teaching in Longxi. He had also met Wushi Luo.

Then Fusu opened the third and fourth letters.

Without exception, all of these letters expressed their willingness to continue teaching in rural areas, but they declined the opportunity to take up positions in Xianyang.

Cheng Miao also read a few letters, and he felt a lump in his throat. Prince Fusu had devised the plan to send children to teach in rural areas, and originally... the prince had never asked those children for anything in return.

Now they are going to teach in various places, but they have refused Prince Fusu's offer of a reward.

Whether it's their sense of mission or their gratitude to Prince Fusu, many of them may never have met the prince, yet they want to repay him by teaching in rural areas and dedicating their lives to him.

Cheng Miao sniffed and turned his head away.

When Tian An saw that Cheng Miao's eyes were red, he gestured for him to leave first.

Cheng Miao noticed Tian An's signal and bowed before taking his leave.

Fusu was still looking at these letters, and on his way back to Gaoquan Palace, he continued to read them one after another.

Life has many meanings, and everyone has their own choices.

In fact, it's not just Zhui; there are many other new scholars who are currently teaching in rural areas, but none of them have come to Xianyang to serve as scholars. According to Fusu, there are more than ten teachers in Guanzhong who have been listed as scholars while teaching in rural areas, but none of them have come to Xianyang.

Thus, until one morning when frost covered the entire Guanzhong Plain, the Academy remained closed, and no one came to take up a post.

The newly appointed scholars continued to serve in various places. When people inquired about this matter, they were quite impressed with the teachers who went to teach in rural areas.

During the Spring and Autumn Period, there were also some people who had extremely strong personal brilliance, such as Lord Xinling.

But Xianyang is not as cold as it used to be.

(End of this chapter)