The Three Great Han Dynasties: Awaken Liu Bei with a scolding; you weave mats and sell sandals.

"This child is of no use. I don't know how this dark-skinned, burly man got into the Liu family's private school, let alone the most important junior class."

If Guan Yu hadn't known Zhang Fei's family background, he probably would have thought Zhang Fei was someone who had gotten his position through connections.

However, Guan Yu was also curious about this matter and cast a scrutinizing glance at it.

Seeing this, Liu Bei chuckled and was about to speak when Xu Shu spoke up in time, saying, "This is Liu Gong's good intention. If you can learn something from it, it will surely be of great use in the future."

"Just like that magistrate from the prefecture before..."

To make his words more convincing, Xu Shu did not hesitate to invoke Jian Yong's name.

Although Jian Yong was not the only one who walked out of the Liu family private school to watch, he held the highest official position and had the greatest influence within the school, without exception.

Therefore, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei took him much more seriously upon hearing his name.

He was able to enter the Liu family's private school.

They were naturally happy to be recommended for their filial piety and integrity and to serve as officials in their respective regions. They would be absolutely willing to do anything, not only to govern counties but also to fight on the battlefield.

Thus, Zhang Fei and Guan Yu also harbored a silent expectation in their hearts.

When the time came...

Liu Hong, Cui Yan, and Jian Yong came out.

"Yun Chang and Yi De, you two will follow Lord Liu; Yuan Zhi and Xuan De, you two will follow me; the rest of you will follow Jian Yong. Any objections?"

In the bamboo-lined courtyard outside the private school, Cui Yan made her decision.

"The students have no objections."

Liu Bei and his men immediately responded.

Liu Hong waved his hand, and Zhang Fei and Guan Yu quickly followed behind him, leaving the private school in front of all the students.

The three of them strolled along the streets that were becoming increasingly familiar.

Guan Yu respectfully asked, "Lord Liu, where are we headed?"

Liu Hong did not answer immediately, but instead asked in a gentle tone, "Do you know what the Young Lin Class is ultimately supposed to do?"

In response, Zhang Fei replied quickly and decisively: "Of course I should be recommended for the civil service and embark on an official career, for the sake of my family, for the greater good, for the Liu family, and for the imperial court."

After hearing this, Guan Yu glanced at Zhang Fei indifferently. This dark-skinned, chubby guy actually had some wit.

"good."

Liu Hong nodded approvingly, "Since you are both recommended for the civil service and are pursuing an official career, your moral character must be impeccable. The fact that you two were chosen by the teacher to enter the Liu family's private school's Young Talent Class means that you are already among the best, truly one in a hundred."

Liu Hong's eloquent speech made no attempt to hide his praise.

Even Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, who were usually proud, blushed slightly after hearing this.

Zhang Fei's dark face was a mix of black and red, making him look rather charming and cute; Guan Yu's already red face turned even redder with excitement.

This praise comes from Liu Gong, a big shot in Zhuo County. Doesn't it also represent Liu Gong's high regard for them?

"I, Guan Yu, am indeed no nobody!"

Seeing that they were cooperating, Liu Hong stopped beating around the bush and got straight to the point.

Just then, the people who planted mulberry trees in the Liu family manor, along with a group of officials from the county government, also hurriedly arrived at the agreed time.

"Yun Chang, you go to the county government office; Yi De, you go to the mulberry garden. We'll meet again at the appointed time."

Liu Hong made the arrangements without making a sound.

As he was leaving, the people from the county government and the mulberry orchard took the two of them away separately.

then……

In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Inside the county government office, Guan Yu was following a minor official, checking tax records and performing what seemed like an ordinary, trivial administrative task.

The junior official, having already received instructions, took the initiative to ask persuasively, "Does Yun Chang know what this thin booklet foretells?"

Guan Yu shook his head, indicating that he did not know.

The clerk chuckled softly: "This is the tax register. It records the taxes of nearly a thousand households in several villages in the eastern part of Zhuo County. Every single stroke is related to the money and grain that each household has to pay."

Upon hearing this, Guan Yu couldn't help but show his resentment.

His family was also an ordinary family, and in previous years the taxes were the heaviest. Even when the harvest was good, the petty officials who came to the countryside would exploit them, and the family would suddenly find themselves in dire financial straits.

Seeing this, the minor official was not afraid at all, but instead smiled knowingly: "Yun Chang's family must be an ordinary family. That's just how the world is."

"Since the founding of our Great Han Dynasty by Emperor Gaozu, the general direction of the tax system has never changed. What can be changed are only the minor details. For example, even though the taxes have not been reduced, I can still receive a salary from the county government, which greatly reduces the tax burden on my family."

"And Yun Chang is now fortunate enough to have entered the Liu family's private school, and is even in the Young Lin Class. If he can be personally trained by Lord Liu in the future, it will not be difficult for him to become a county official like Lord Jian."

"My words today are not intended to stir up Yun Chang's sorrow, but merely to let him know that if even the affairs of a minor official can affect thousands of households, what about the magistrate of a county or the prefect of a prefecture?"

Following the instructions submitted by the Liu family's private school, the minor official combined theory with practice, achieving immediate and effective results.

Guan Yu's arrogance and haughty gaze gradually disappeared. Instead, he began to carefully check the documents, mimicking the actions of a minor official, and would report any oversights immediately.

After all, any overpayment could be promptly refunded, but any missed payments could easily be exploited by petty officials on their second trip to the countryside, placing a considerable burden on ordinary people.

Guan Yu, who came from a humble background, was very empathetic to this, so he did it with extra focus.

……

Within the mulberry garden, Zhang Fei planted trees.

He was broad-shouldered and burly, and was quite adept at farm work.

At first, he was unwilling to do anything and even secretly slacked off. However, there were many children of his age working in the mulberry garden, and even some younger than him.

Instead of mocking him, the children asked with genuine curiosity, "Big brother, aren't you from the Liu Family Private School's Young Master Class?"

"My father said that the students in the Youlin Class are all very capable. They are all very talented and will do great things in the future. They will also care about people's livelihood and do good things for us ordinary people."

"Big brother, are you that kind of person?"

Zhang Fei blushed with embarrassment, grunted, and roared in a gruff voice, "Of course your brother Yide is!"

next moment!

He stopped dawdling when he started doing farm work.

As my skills improved, I became almost indistinguishable from the people around me.

Because he was born with superhuman strength and a robust physique, he could accomplish everything more efficiently than others.

……

After a day of classes, Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, Jian Yong, Cui Yan, and others returned to the private school.

After resting and having dinner, they gradually returned home.

As the sun set, patches of red glow fell upon the departing children, casting long shadows upon them.

Cui Yan asked, "Lord Liu, is this matter truly significant?"