Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 163: Which school in the county has the best teacher?

Seeing that there was no one around, Shen Yu took out the cloth bag containing the house deed that he had been carrying in his arms.

He handed it to He with both hands and said with a smile: "Third sister, I have bought the shop. Fortunately, third sister lent me the money, otherwise this matter would not have been done yesterday!"

He was surprised and happy: "Your brother-in-law didn't tell me when he came back yesterday, how come it was bought so quickly? That Mrs. Hu moved away."

Shen Yu smiled and said, "Maybe my brother-in-law was busy outside yesterday, and Mr. Lu didn't have time to tell him about this."

"After completing the deed registration procedures yesterday, I was busy going back to deliver lunch. I also made some chestnut cakes yesterday, so I had time to deliver the deed today and also to tell my sister about what happened yesterday."

Shen Yu told He Shi the whole story of buying the store yesterday, and also mentioned that Lu Lang wanted to ask Captain Xing to help close the store, but he automatically omitted the fact that Lu Lang complained about not having enough food to eat.

The reason she didn't say it was that there were many rules in wealthy and noble families, and studying and learning was a top priority.

She couldn't guess that if He knew the rules of the county magistrate's family in educating their children, she would disagree like Li and Jiang and sympathize with Lu Lang.

I will still applaud and agree that the county magistrate is right, and then treat Qiqi according to the same law, which will cause great harm to Qiqi.

Thinking of Qiqi's chubby little face and Lu Lang's tall and thin figure, Shen Yu firmly believed that it was right for him not to say anything.

He listened to Shen Yu's narration and felt nervous and happy at the same time. But when she heard that the deed had been signed and knew that Shen Yu had already bought the shop, she still breathed a sigh of relief.

She opened the cloth bag, took the title deed and looked at it carefully, and said happily: "Congratulations, sister, you are now the owner of a property and a store. When you open a restaurant in the future, your business will get better and better."

Shen Yu smiled and said, "Sister, keep the house deed safe and wait for me to earn money to redeem it."

He wrapped up the house deed and pushed it over to her, saying, "Sister, why are you being so polite? You should keep the house deed yourself."

Shen Yu shook her head and said, "The house I'm renting now is small and narrow, and I'll have to move in a few days. Sister, just keep it for me. I'll feel at ease when you keep the house deed with me."

Seeing Shen Yu's insistence, and knowing Shen Yu's temper, He smiled and said, "Okay, I'll keep it for you. When you move to your own house, get your business in order, and make some money, come and take it back. If you need the deed, come and get it."

Shen Yu was relieved to see that He had received the deed, and said with a smile: "Thank you for your kind words, sister. I will surely make a fortune every day."

This made He burst out laughing, and she stretched out her finger and tapped Shen Yu's forehead lightly: "You just know how to make me laugh."

Shen Yu laughed and said, protecting his head: "Third sister, I came here today not only to give you the house deed, but also to ask you something."

He smiled and said, "What's the matter? Tell me about it."

Shen Yu looked out the window and saw Yucheng playing happily with Qiqi, saying, "Yucheng is nine years old this year, and it's time for him to go to school. In the past, our family didn't have money, so we couldn't take care of him. Now we have some money and have bought a shop, so we will have more income in the future."

"I want to find a school for Yucheng to go to. I wonder if you know which teacher in this county has a good temper and teaches well."

He Shi became serious when she saw that he was asking about studying. She thought for a while before saying, "Qiqi will also go to school after the New Year. I am also worried about this matter."

"I have inquired here, and there are two schools in Anping County that teach well."

"One is the White Crane Academy in the western suburbs of the city. The teacher's surname is Yang. He has the title of Juren and is only in his twenties."

"The other one is the Jinlu Academy in the south of the city. The teacher's surname is Tao. He is also a juren. He never passed the imperial examination, so he opened an academy to teach students. This Mr. Tao is older, he is already in his fifties."

He had obviously made careful inquiries. When it came to the teachers in the school, he knew them all like the back of his hand.

He was in a dilemma, and sighed and continued, "Both of these gentlemen are very knowledgeable, but Mr. Yang is easy-going. He takes a break when he feels like it, and even plays with his students."

"Mr. Tao is meticulous, but he has a very strict temper. Slapping people on the hands is commonplace."

"Your brother-in-law is so busy that he can't be seen every day. He let me choose by myself, and I don't know which one to choose."

Shen Yu listened and realized that both gentlemen had their own advantages and disadvantages. It was a bit difficult for her to choose. If she made the wrong choice, it would ruin Yu Cheng's future.

Shen Yu thought for a while and then asked, "Since you have heard so much about it, did you see it with your own eyes or did you hear it from others?"

He was stunned for a moment, then said, "I really haven't seen it. Women can't go to the school. I asked the ladies I know. They all have children studying at home, so it must be correct."

Shen Yu shook his head: "Hearing is not as good as seeing. I think it's better to go and take a look."

He smiled and said, "What can women see if they go there? We can't sit in the classroom and listen to the class. We have no way of judging what the teacher is saying."

Shen Yu smiled slyly: "You can go and take a look secretly."

He said, "That won't work. If the teacher sees this, how can we send our children to school in the future?"

Shen Yu smiled and said, "Sister will send her children to school in the future, but I don't need to. Give me the addresses of these two schools. I will go and take a look. After I'm done, I'll come back and tell you about them."

This method may sound a bit ridiculous, but it is indeed a good idea if you see it yourself.

He was somewhat tempted. Shen Yu was only fifteen or sixteen years old. Even if he was caught by the teacher, he would at most scold her and would not be embarrassed.

Thinking of this, He agreed and gave the addresses of the two schools to Shen Yu.

Shen Yu said with a smile: "Then I will take my leave first, sister, please wait for my letter."

After leaving He's house, Shen Yu took Yu Cheng with him and wanted to go to the Baihe Academy, which was located on the western outskirts of the city.

According to what He said, Baihe Academy is just over a mile away from the west gate of the city.

This place was not far from the city gate. Shen Yu and Yu Cheng asked as they walked. It turned out that Baihe Academy was very famous in this area. After asking two people, they found it easily.

At the entrance of Baihe Academy, you can see two large osmanthus trees from afar, with lush branches and leaves. It is now the end of the flowering season, and the golden and fine osmanthus petals are falling down, forming a large golden area around the trees.

The vermilion lacquered door was tightly closed. Shen Yu listened carefully, but there was no sound of reading from inside. If there had not been a small wooden sign about a foot long hanging at the door with the words "Baihe Academy" clearly written on it, Shen Yu would have thought that this was the house of some wealthy family.

Shen Yu asked Yu Cheng to stand aside and wait, then knocked on the door knocker twice.

After a while, a child's voice came from inside, and he asked lazily, "Who is it?"