flstandardbreds Chapter 148 Clearing Doubts, Resolving Mysteries, and Welcoming New Students
Chapter 148 Clearing Doubts, Resolving Mysteries, and Welcoming New Students
Dispelling doubts, resolving confusion, and welcoming new life
Looking at the wavering students before him, Su Yunlan understood that a superficial makeover was not enough. To truly retain them, he had to completely dispel their doubts.
While directing Young Master Xiao to oversee the craftsmen in the final repairs, ensuring every detail was perfect, she quickly considered countermeasures. Her bright eyes shone with a determined light, as if to say, "We will not give up until we achieve our goal today."
"This academy looks good, but... what about the textbooks? We scholars learn the orthodox classics. If we learn some unorthodox methods, wouldn't that ruin our future?" Sun Xuezi rolled his eyes and raised a new question, his tone tinged with a hint of criticism, as if he wanted to find fault with everything.
Zhou Shutong chimed in, "Yes, yes! And the teaching hours, the teacher's knowledge—these things need to be made clear, otherwise how can we dare to enroll so easily?"
The students, who had initially shown interest, began to hesitate again upon hearing these questions. Whispers grew louder, and a tense atmosphere filled the air, as if Su Yunlan's previous efforts, like a castle on the beach, were about to be completely washed away by a wave.
Su Yunlan remained calm; she had anticipated this scene.
She walked slowly to Sun Xuezi, a faint smile on her face, but her eyes were sharp as an eagle: "Sun Xuezi's question is very good. As a scholar, you believe in seeing is believing and hearing is deceiving. The textbooks, teachers, and teaching times you mentioned are all important matters concerning your future, so you should naturally consider them carefully."
She paused, looked around, taking in everyone's expressions, and then slowly said, "But... I wonder if you have the courage to come with me and see if this Xiao Family Academy is really as bad as you imagine?"
After saying that, she turned and walked into the depths of the academy, leaving everyone with a confident back view.
Sun Xuezi and Zhou Shutong exchanged a glance, both seeing confusion and resentment in each other's eyes.
They didn't believe that this woman could actually produce any solid evidence that would convince them.
"Hmph, let's go see! I want to see what tricks she has up her sleeve!" Sun Xuezi snorted and took the lead in following. Seeing this, the other students followed suit, eager to find out what was going on.
Xiao Yuhan stood silently to the side, watching Su Yunlan handle everything with composure.
The group followed Su Yunlan through courtyard after courtyard, finally arriving at a spacious and bright room.
Su Yunlan stopped, turned around, and gave everyone a mysterious smile.
"Please come in, everyone." She gently pushed open the door.
What comes into view is a mountain of books, exuding a faint scent of ink.
These books are not the usual Four Books and Five Classics, but cover astronomy, geography, agriculture, medicine, and even mathematics and some novel theories of physiognomy. They are beautifully bound and printed on fine paper, clearly indicating that they were carefully selected and compiled.
Sun Xuezi strode forward, picked up a copy of "A New Theory of Farming," casually flipped through a few pages, and his expression gradually changed from doubt to surprise, and finally to admiration.
The farming techniques described in the book are more refined and practical than he had known before, and are even accompanied by illustrations, making them easy to understand.
He couldn't help but exclaim, "This...this book is so exquisite!"
Other students also crowded around, flipping through various books, their exclamations of admiration rising and falling.
"This 'Introduction to Mathematics' is so simple and easy to understand! How come I couldn't learn it before?" "This 'Human Meridian Chart' is drawn with such exquisite detail! I've never heard of anything like it!"
Looking at the students' eager eyes, Su Yunlan felt a great sense of accomplishment.
Pointing to the stacks of books on the bookshelf, she said with a firm and confident tone: "These are only a small part of the teaching materials of Xiao's Academy. We not only focus on the study of traditional classics, but also on the teaching of practical knowledge, so that students can apply what they have learned and better serve the people and the country in the future."
She then explained in detail the academy's curriculum and faculty, making meticulous arrangements from early childhood education to advanced professional studies.
They not only hired a well-known local Confucian scholar, but also invited some experienced craftsmen and farmers to teach practical skills.
Sun Xuezi nodded repeatedly, his previous doubts completely dispelled. He cupped his hands and bowed to Su Yunlan, saying, "Dean Su, I was mistaken. Xiao's Academy truly lives up to its reputation!"
Just then, Xiao Yuhan quietly walked up behind Su Yunlan and draped an outer garment over her shoulders.
The autumn wind was chilly, and he worried that she would catch a cold.
"Lan'er, you've worked hard," he whispered in her ear.
Su Yunlan looked up at him, her eyes filled with love and gratitude.
She took his hand and nodded gently.
The silent exchange between the two added a touch of warmth to the tense atmosphere.
Everything seemed to have settled down, and the new students were about to enroll.
However, at that moment, an inconspicuous figure quietly left the academy...
However, just when everything seemed to be going in the right direction, an undercurrent was quietly brewing.
A few days later, the number of students gathered at the entrance of the academy had decreased significantly. They huddled together in twos and threes, whispering amongst themselves, their eyes filled with hesitation and doubt as they looked at the academy.
"Have you heard? The Xiao Family Academy doesn't have a proper assessment system at all. Going in and studying is a waste of time. Nobody recognizes it!" A shrill voice rang out in the crowd, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples.
“Yes, I’ve also heard that they teach all sorts of heretical doctrines, which have nothing to do with orthodox Confucianism!” another voice chimed in, its tone full of disdain.
"What should we do? I was planning to send my child to study here!" a middle-aged woman said anxiously, her face full of worry.
These rumors spread like wildfire, causing students who had already made up their minds to enroll to waver again.
They looked at each other, whispering among themselves, their hearts filled with doubt and unease.
Su Yunlan stood at the entrance of the academy, taking in all of this.
Her delicate brows furrowed, and her previously relaxed mood instantly turned heavy.
She could sense that an invisible hand was manipulating everything behind the scenes, trying to nip the academy she had painstakingly built in the bud.
She took a deep breath, suppressing her anger and trying to remain calm.
She knew that the most important thing now was to stabilize the situation and not let these rumors ruin the future of the academy.
"Everyone, please be quiet!" Su Yunlan raised her voice, her clear voice like a morning bell and evening drum, instantly suppressing all the noise.
She surveyed her surroundings, her gaze firm and sharp, as if it could pierce through people's hearts: "I know there have been some rumors circulating about the academy recently, causing everyone to have doubts. Here, I can responsibly tell you that these rumors are all nonsense!"
She paused, her tone becoming even more resolute: "Xiao's Academy not only emphasizes traditional Confucian education, but also focuses on cultivating students' genuine talents and practical skills. To ensure the quality of teaching, we will invite local academic luminaries, including the highly respected Master Li, the erudite Mr. Wang, and the impartial and upright Lord Zhang, to jointly form an assessment committee and formulate a strict assessment system to ensure that every student can achieve academic success!"
Su Yunlan's words were firm and resolute, like a stabilizing force, instantly calming the students' wavering hearts.
The students who had been hesitant before now had hope again on their faces, and their eyes were filled with admiration as they looked at Su Yunlan.
"Dean Su is right! We believe in the academy!"
"With Master Li, Mr. Wang, and Lord Zhang in charge, what do we have to worry about?"
"I want to enroll! I want to become a member of Xiao's Academy!"
The students' enthusiasm was reignited, with many expressing their willingness to enroll on the spot, and even some students who had already left returning to the academy's gate.
Looking at the group of energetic young people in front of him, Su Yunlan felt gratified and proud.
She knew that she had once again overcome difficulties and won a stage victory.
However, looking at the academy, which was bustling but still somewhat empty, Su Yunlan knew that this was only the beginning.
The academy's tables, chairs, benches, writing brushes, ink, paper, and even the dormitory's beds and bedding were not yet fully prepared.
To perfect all of this in such a short time is another huge challenge for her.
"Eighteen, you'll have to work harder these days..." Su Yunlan looked at Xiao Shiba standing beside her, who was also beaming with joy, and was about to give him some instructions when she was interrupted by the sound of hurried hooves.
"Whoa—" A fast horse galloped up and stopped abruptly at the entrance of the academy. The rider dismounted, walked quickly to Su Yunlan, knelt on one knee, and presented a letter with both hands, his voice urgent: "Reporting to Madam, an urgent report from the capital!"