In Teyvat, it all begins with rescuing the grass god.

Rod was already surprised that Candice offered to arrange work for him, but he was even more surprised when he heard what kind of work she was talking about.

Teach children to read and write.

For a village in the desert, this is no small matter.

The Tanit kidnappers who abducted Rhodes had gone on a hunting expedition with the aim of kidnapping lone scholars to teach children in their tribe.

Old Roy was arrested at the time.

His memorial tablet is still enshrined in Rod's house.

However, when Candice brought it up, Rhodes' first reaction was to refuse.

"I'm sorry, you should know that I've only been learning to read for a short time. Asking me to teach children is a job I really can't handle."

In Rhodes's view, this was an irrefutable reason, and Candice would definitely retract her previous idea after hearing it.

As for why Candice suddenly brought this up.

Rhodes guessed that she must have talked to Desia about her own affairs.

Knowing that he is now considered an educated person in Aru Village, he came up with this idea.

However, even if Rhodes said that...

Candice insisted, "None of that matters, as long as you can teach the children to read."

"."

Looking at Candice's serious expression, knowing she never joked, Rod frowned slightly: "Aren't there teachers in the village who specialize in teaching children?"

"not enough."

Candice shook her head, offering only these two words in response.

"not enough?"

Rhodes's brow furrowed even deeper.

"Ah."

"That's it."

Candice, her usual resolute expression gone, smiled wryly and said, "In recent years, the village's conditions have improved, and there are more and more children of school age. However, the number of teachers in the village remains the same. Some of the teachers are too old and simply can't keep up with the pace."

"Ok?"

"It's not that I don't trust you."

Rod asked doubtfully, "Aren't there any young people in the village willing to teach children? Why do we have to put all these things on a few people? Besides, aren't there quite a few scholars in the village? Surely there must be one or two who are willing to teach children?"

Aru Village and Tanit Tribe are rare examples of places in the desert that are willing to invest in their children's education.

Unlike the Tanit tribe, which relies solely on smuggling.

Aru Village is a place where teachers are licensed and within the scope permitted by the Religious Council.

therefore.

Logically speaking, the situation described by Candice shouldn't have happened.

"It's a pity, but that's the reality."

When this was mentioned, Candice looked helpless.

Judging from what she said next.

Rhodes quickly figured out why this was happening.

Aru Village is not lacking in young people with the skills to be teachers.

just.

Young people are unwilling to do this.

Those with ambition will choose to work hard in the rainforest; those without ambition will choose to use their knowledge to do jobs that can earn more money, rather than living in a village for the rest of their lives as a teacher with no future.

Therefore, only a few older people are still willing to persist in the low-paying and demanding job of being a teacher.

This relates to the topic that Rhodes had discussed with Desia when he visited Zen Garden.

Deserts cannot keep people.

Given the opportunity to achieve a better life, the vast majority of desert dwellers will choose to migrate to rainforest areas to make a living.

As for the scholars...

Then there's no point in even hoping for it.

These exiled criminals were indeed no longer bound by the authority of the instructors and could spread knowledge with impunity. However, they were basically like most rainforest scholars, filled with contempt and hostility towards the desert people.

Putting aside everything else, even old Roy, who saved Rhodes' life before.

He was willing to save Rhodes because he mistakenly thought Rhodes was a rainforest person.

Since the Church began exiling scholars to Aru Village, the number of scholars willing to help Aru Village can be counted on one hand.

Therefore, the problem of a lack of teachers cannot be solved by relying on scholars with more extensive knowledge.

"You don't need to teach anything too complicated. Just follow the Teyvat Literacy Guide, which will enable the children to recognize words and understand numbers."

Candice's requirements were very low.

She knew that Rod himself was currently in the process of learning to write.

Furthermore, Rhodes wasn't a scholar with formal academic training from institutions like the Faculty of Law or the Fontainebleau Academy.

Therefore, all she hoped for was that Rod could help with some basic education.

But she still had some concerns, and when she spoke of them, she hesitated a bit.

"I'm sorry, but I can't offer you much in terms of salary, otherwise the older employees will be unhappy."

This is a fact that is right before our eyes.

Candice and Uncle Amp wouldn't specifically raise Rhodes's salary alone, nor would they suddenly raise his salary just because he joined the company.

In this case.

Even the most magnanimous elderly people will inevitably experience unhappiness.

Candice had to consider their opinions.

This is also why she felt uneasy.

Rhodes desperately needs money.

This is something Candice knows.

Furthermore, Dixia also told her that what Rhode was doing now, the large sum of Mora he obtained in exchange for the Eye of God, was all for the good of Aru Village.

Knowing these things, Candice inevitably felt somewhat conflicted when facing Rhodes.

After all, the only thing Aru Village had done for Rhodes was take him in.

But Rhodes did so much for Aru Village, even selling his Eye of God.

What's even more valuable is.

He did so much, yet he didn't reveal a single word. He even paid for the cages himself, without letting Aru Village pay a single penny.

If Candice hadn't asked Desia about Rhode selling the Eye of God, she wouldn't have known that Rhode had done so much for the village in secret.

She originally wanted to make it up to Rhodes.

But the reality is that she's here to ask Rhodes to help the village again, yet she can't even offer him more money.

"We can only think of ways to make it up to him later."

Candice sighed inwardly and continued to wait for Rhodes' reply.

as a party.

Rhodes had no idea that Candice was almost turning him into a selfless saint.

What he's thinking about right now.

It wasn't the salary and compensation issue that Candice was worried about.

It's not a bad idea to teach children.

After all, what he's doing now will definitely take a lot of time before it produces results.

If you're just farming and raising livestock during this period, it'll get a bit boring.

What he's considering.

The question is whether I might mislead or mislead others.

However, after thinking about it for a moment, he finally decided to take the job.

Anyway.

With his level of education, he's now considered a high achiever, so he shouldn't be unable to teach a group of children.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 40 A Gift for Dixia

Although he had agreed to Candice's request to become a teacher in Aru Village.

But Rhodes cannot take office immediately.

He has to finish everything he has on hand first.

Based on the plan devised by Tinari and his own experience in preventing soil erosion.

Such barren land cannot be cultivated normally by relying solely on these grass slimes.

After all, they are all juvenile grass slimes. The land they modify is far from being as fertile as the rainforest, and the soil quality is barely up to par.

In this situation.

Straw squares and lemon twigs are still necessary.

Besides.