flstandardbreds Chapter 145 The Reconstruction of the Academy Ushers in a New Journey
Chapter 145 The Reconstruction of the Academy Ushers in a New Journey
The reconstruction of the academy marks the beginning of a new journey.
As night deepened, Su Yunlan stood at the edge of the bustling market, her gaze fixed on the dilapidated academy not far away.
The mottled walls looked particularly heavy under the night sky, as if telling a story of endless vicissitudes.
A strange impulse welled up in her heart, and the idea of rebuilding the academy grew rapidly in her heart like a spring bud breaking through the soil.
Back home, the house was warmly lit.
Xiao Yuhan was sitting at the table, flipping through a book.
Su Yunlan walked to his side and whispered her thoughts.
"Yuhan, I want to rebuild that academy."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuhan raised his head, his deep eyes reflecting the flickering candlelight in the room.
He stared intently at Su Yunlan, seeing determination and hope in her eyes.
Without the slightest hesitation, he grasped her hand, his voice low and powerful: "Whatever you want to do, I will support you."
The two smiled at each other, realizing that their decision to rebuild the academy was not only for the children who yearned for knowledge, but also for the future of this land.
The next day, Su Yunlan began preparations.
She found Xiao Yuhan's younger brother, the Eighteenth Young Master Xiao.
The eighteenth young master is lively and enthusiastic, and is a good speaker.
"Eighteenth Brother, I want to rebuild the academy and I need your help," Su Yunlan said bluntly.
Upon hearing this, the eighteenth young master immediately perked up: "Really? Sister-in-law, this is wonderful news! Just tell me what you need me to do!"
Su Yunlan smiled slightly and told him her plan.
Upon hearing this, the eighteenth young master nodded repeatedly, indicating that he would do his best to cooperate.
All is ready except for the opportunity.
Su Yunlan decided to start by winning over the local wealthy households to gain their support.
The first target was that notorious miser—the wealthy merchant Qian.
Under the bright sunshine, Su Yunlan led the Eighteenth Young Master to the front of the Qian residence.
The vermilion gate was tightly shut, and the brass rings on it gleamed with a cold luster.
"Knock knock knock." The eighteenth young master stepped forward and knocked on the door.
A moment later, a man who looked like a butler came out and looked Su Yunlan and the Eighteenth Young Master up and down.
"Who are you two?"
"We've come to visit Mr. Qian," Su Yunlan said, neither humble nor arrogant.
Upon hearing this, the butler's expression immediately turned impatient: "My master is very busy and will not receive guests!"
"Just say that Madam Su, the fourth young mistress of the Xiao family, has come to visit and has important matters to discuss."
The butler hesitated for a moment, then turned around and went inside to report.
A moment later, the door slowly opened, and the butler led them into a luxuriously decorated living room.
The wealthy merchant was sitting in a grand chair, twirling a pair of walnuts in his hands, squinting as he sized them up.
"I didn't know the Fourth Young Mistress had graced us with her presence. What brings you here?" Qian Fushang's voice was high-pitched, carrying a hint of barely perceptible sarcasm.
Su Yunlan smiled slightly and said generously, "Master Qian, I have heard that you are a philanthropist. I have come here today to ask you to donate generously to rebuild the academy."
Upon hearing this, Qian Fushang's face immediately darkened, and the walnut in his hand stopped spinning.
He snorted coldly and said, "Rebuild the academy? Fourth Young Madam, you are joking. My money is all hard-earned, not something that falls from the sky. I am afraid I cannot comply!"
Looking at his calculating face, Su Yunlan knew that persuading this miser would not be an easy task.
But she was not discouraged. She simply smiled and said something that made the wealthy businessman's face change drastically: "Mr. Qian, you are absolutely right. Making money is indeed not easy..."
Su Yunlan remained calm and took out an account book from her bag. The cover was slightly yellowed, but the paper was clean and the ink was clear. It was a detailed record of every income and expenditure since she started managing the orchard.
She gently placed the ledger on the mahogany coffee table in front of the wealthy businessman, making a soft "snap" sound that broke the suffocating silence in the living room.
"Mr. Qian, you might want to take a look. These are the accounts of my orchard, detailing every expense and income." Su Yunlan's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable confidence. "Rebuilding the academy isn't just a simple sacrifice; it can also bring long-term benefits. The academy's prosperity can enhance the local cultural heritage, attract more talent, promote commercial development, and ultimately benefit us local merchants."
The wealthy businessman, who had initially acted as if it were none of his business, curled his lip in disdain upon hearing this.
In his eyes, cultural heritage and talent are all meaningless; only hard-earned money matters.
But when his gaze fell on the ledger and he casually flipped through a few pages, the expression on his face gradually froze.
The accounts clearly record the orchard's income, listing the names, quantities, unit prices, and total income of various fruits.
More importantly, this income far exceeded his expectations; it could be described as "making a fortune every day."
He originally thought Su Yunlan was just an ordinary peasant woman, but he never expected her to have such an amazing business mind.
A faint scent of sandalwood filled the air, and the wealthy merchant's breathing became heavy. His narrowed eyes gleamed with a greedy light that almost overflowed.
He put down the walnuts in his hand, picked up the account book, and carefully flipped through it page by page, as if admiring a priceless treasure.
His attitude softened noticeably, and a barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Su Yunlan took in the changes in Qian Fushang's expression and was secretly delighted.
She knew that the old fox was starting to take a liking to her.
“Mr. Qian, after the academy is rebuilt, we can offer some business-related courses to cultivate more talent and provide better services for us merchants. Moreover, with a greater reputation, the academy can attract more people from other places to study, boosting local consumption. The benefits from this are immeasurable,” Su Yunlan continued, seizing the opportunity.
Just then, Xiao Yuhan gently grasped Su Yunlan's hand.
His palms were large and warm, carrying a reassuring strength.
Su Yunlan turned her head and looked at him.
A warm feeling spread between the two, like an invisible barrier that shut out the noise of the outside world.
The wealthy merchant raised his head and looked at them.
"The Fourth Young Madam is indeed a remarkable woman, managing to run such a thriving business. Rebuilding the academy is truly a great thing that benefits the country and its people..." The wealthy merchant Qian slowly put down his account book, his face beaming with smiles, but a hint of cunning lurked deep in his eyes. "However, the cost of rebuilding the academy is no small sum..."
Qian Fushang changed the subject, a sly glint in his eyes: "Fourth Young Madam, the cost of rebuilding the academy is no small sum... How about this, if the academy can be named after me after it is built, and if I can participate in its daily management, I will reluctantly contribute... half of the funds!" He deliberately dragged out his words, making an outrageous demand.
Su Yunlan sneered inwardly; this old fox was indeed hard to change his nature.
She said calmly, "Mr. Qian, the academy is a place for teaching and nurturing people. It is probably inappropriate to name it after you. As for participating in its management, that is even more absurd. We are very grateful for your funding, but the management of the academy should be the responsibility of highly respected scholars."
"That won't do!" The wealthy businessman slammed his hand on the table, splashing water from his teacup. He glared at the table, refusing to back down. "No money, no discussion!"
The atmosphere suddenly became tense, with the two exchanging barbs and neither willing to give in.
Qian Fushang adopted an attitude of "I'm just being unreasonable, what can you do about it?" Su Yunlan, on the other hand, argued her case logically and refused to back down an inch.
The living room reeked of gunpowder, as if it were about to explode at any moment.
Just then, the silent Young Master Xiao suddenly exclaimed "Oh dear!" breaking the deadlock.
He slapped his forehead and said excitedly, "Master Qian, if you were to fund the reconstruction of the academy, that would be an immeasurable act of merit! We would then invite the best writers and poets in the city to write poems and essays to praise you and ensure your good name is remembered for generations. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Upon hearing this, the wealthy merchant's eyes lit up immediately.
What he lacked most in his life was fame.
Those literary figures and scholars often mocked him for being a nouveau riche. If he could get them to sing his praises, he would truly feel proud!
Seeing this, Su Yunlan was secretly delighted, knowing that things were going well.
She pressed her advantage, saying, "Mr. Qian, what do you think? You contribute 30%, and your name can be engraved on the academy's plaque to commemorate your merits. As for management, don't worry about it; leave it to the professionals. Just wait to enjoy the good reputation!"
The wealthy merchant stroked his beard, pondering in his mind.
Thirty percent, though more than he had expected, was still a worthwhile investment, as it would earn him a plaque and the praise of those pedantic literati.
He sighed, feigning difficulty, and said, "Fine, fine, for the sake of the Fourth Young Mistress and the Eighteenth Young Master, I'll reluctantly agree!"
Su Yunlan breathed a sigh of relief, finally managing to overcome this tough challenge.
Although we only received 30% of the funds, it's better than nothing.
She knew there were still many tough battles to fight, but she was confident that she could complete the reconstruction of the academy.
Having received the wealthy merchant's approval, Su Yunlan thanked him and left.
The wealthy merchant happily saw his guests off, but he couldn't stop thinking about the account book that Su Yunlan had brought.
On the way back, I noticed Su Yunlan's brows were furrowed.
"Are you still worried about the academy's funding?" Xiao Yuhan asked softly.