The Rebirth of Han Yuxi

Chapter 364 : Rules (1)Translated byきつねonJuly 26, 2022

The girls’ school was small, with only one entrance, but it was enough for a small number of people. It was unlike the boys’ school, rented in a three-story mansion because of the large number of people.

When Zijin arrived at the girls’ school, she went to see the person in charge, He Ying. He Ying was both the head and the female teacher of the school. Her hometown was in Jiangnan, and her ancestors were also a family of scholars. Still, because her family committed a crime when she was twelve, they were implicated and exiled to this place. After she became an adult, she married a seventh-ranked military officer. However, her husband was injured two years ago, and it was difficult for them to solely rely on his pension. Her husband had a good relationship with one of Yu Cong’s subordinates. From this relationship, he knew that the girls’ school founded by Yuxi was looking for female teachers, and the pay was very substantial. He sought out Hao Dazhuang and recommended He Ying.

The priority of this school was to take care of the children from the dead and wounded soldiers’ families. When Hao Dazhuang saw that He Ying could read, he agreed at once. It was just to impart rudimentary knowledge anyway, so there were no high requirements put on the teachers. It was enough for them to be literate, at least.

When He Ying heard that Zijin was Yuxi’s personal maid, she came out with a smile. “Miss Zijin, please come in.”

After welcoming Zijin to the house, He Ying commented with a smile, “This house is bright and spacious. It’s good to be made into a school for the children.”

Zijin looked at the place and nodded slightly. “It’s quite good.” After saying that, she smiled and told her she was here to help. “I know how to read and write. I can assist you in registering the children when they come!”

He Ying smiled. “How can I do that? How can I trouble Miss Zijin? I’ll take care of the registration later.” Although she used to be a young lady from a family of a functionary, she had long since smoothed out her edges over the years.

Zijin smiled a little. “Madam specially asked me to come and let me have a clear view.” As for what kind of clear view, this was not clear.

Since Zijin herself had said so, He Ying naturally wouldn’t have any objection. “That’s it then. Please call me if Miss feels tired later, and I will replace Miss.” He Ying cherished this job very much. Not only could she save her own rations, but her monthly allowance was enough to feed her family.

Zijin received the roster and sat at a table in the courtyard. She opened it, took a cursory glance and smiled. A few of them were named Erya, the same style of the name she used before. Erya, it had been long since she had thought of her old name. [E]

It wasn’t long before some children came over. Since it was the first day of school, they were all sent by adults. The target for these financial aids were children from poor families, so the children that were sent over all had yellowed faces and emancipated bodies, making them look younger than their actual age.

Zijin took note of this situation. When she returned later, she would report this circumstance to Madam, hoping these children would be provided with cotton clothes and pants. Otherwise, when it snowed, they would freeze to death when they made a daily round trip to school!

As Zijin thought of this, a sharp voice interrupted her from her train of thoughts. “The one in charge said to come here first to register. Can you register her for me?”

Zijin returned to her senses, looked down and asked, “What’s your name?” Hearing the other party reported her name as Su Xiaoxue, Zijin ticked the box next to the name on the roster and then looked up to talk to this little girl.

When Zijin had a clear view of the little girl standing before her, she froze for a moment. The little girl was wearing a cerise-coloured cotton dress without patches; obviously, her dress was newly made. She had a pointed face, two slender eyebrows, and fair skin, and her overall appearance was delicate and pretty.

Zijin froze not because this little girl looked good but because how she was dressed was not right. She wasn’t saying that other children didn’t look good, but the clothes they wore were full of patches until one simply could not see the original material of the clothes. But this girl not only had a red face and white teeth but also wore new clothes. How could she be said a child from a poor family? Zijin pretended to look casual and asked, “What is your father’s name?”

The young girl did not think before answering, “Tu Danian.” After saying this, she knew she had responded to the question wrongly and immediately explained. “Jiejie, Tu Danian is my stepfather. My real father’s name was Su Kun.”

The woman who accompanied the little girl spoke with a shameful face, “My former husband passed away six years ago when she was still young. I took her and remarried. That’s why she gave the wrong name.”

Although Zijin did not know how to talk in a roundabout way, she wasn’t foolish enough not to see such an obvious problem. Not to mention, she came over this time with Yuxi’s instructions. Zijin looked at the silver earrings on the little girl’s ears and asked with a smile, “Since you can wear these silver earrings, how can your family have a hard time making ends meet and not be able to eat three meals a day?”

The little girl also responded quickly. “This is my mother’s dowry. I wear the newly changed clothes and my mother’s dowry earrings because today is a special day.”

Zijin laughed. “Is that so? I thought your family was very well off. Alright, you have completed your registration here, so now you guys can look for the person in charge.” In fact, there was no textbook for these children. She asked them to look for the person in charge to arrange their seating order.

After everyone arrived, Zijin took the register and told He Ying, “I’ll take this register back to Madam and show it to her. I’ll send it back later.”

Since He Ying had no opinion on that matter, she immediately nodded and personally sent Zijin out the door.

Zijin did not directly go back to the Yun Mansion but went to the boys’ school first. After wandering around for a while, her face sank. She saw several teenagers with rosy cheeks and excellent physiques and two chubby ones who looked like they had overeaten. She didn’t talk to Hao Dazhuang about this but went straight back to the Yun Mansion and told Yuxi about it. [+]

Yuxi did not look at the roster brought back by Zijin but shook her head helplessly. “It’s tough to do something good.” Like Qiu Shi’s annual winter congee outside the city. The people who came to drink congee might not be people who couldn’t make ends meet. Many of them were trying to fish in troubled waters and came to take advantage of the situation. But this time was not the same as giving congee. She would not promote this kind of unhealthy trend.

Zijin asked, “Madam, what now?”

Yuxi laughed. “What to do now? Naturally, we have to check. Go and call Xu Wu over.” She could not leave this matter to Hao Dazhuang anymore. It was not that she couldn’t trust Hao Dazhuang, but it was rather inappropriate.

Mama Qu thought for a moment before saying, “Madam, if it’s just giving false information, it will be fine. I’m worried that there are people who are up to mischief.”

Yuxi thought for a moment. “In this case, it should not be about someone up to mischief. However, in the future, it is impossible to say.”

Xu Wu came over and nodded after listening to Yuxi’s instructions. However, he also had a question. “Madam, what should be done after we found out about these people?”

Yuxi answered expressionlessly, “As long as they are found to be giving false information, all of them will be sent back home. In addition, these families are not allowed to be included in the scope of financial aid in the future.”

Xu Wu nodded. “This subordinate understands.”

Yuxi added, “You should also fill up the amount as much as you clear them out.” Yuxi meant that the total number of accepted children should be the same, at or near three hundred.

Xu Wu nodded. “Okay.”

Xu Wu did not personally handle this matter. His duty was to protect Yuxi. Therefore, this issue was naturally passed on to his subordinates. This task was given to Xu Daniu, who was originally a native. “Check these out. Madam wants to see the results after three days.”

Xu Daniu laughed. “This is a small matter that does not need three days to settle. We will get the results tomorrow afternoon.” As long as they let out Madam’s words, this false information could be found with just a single investigation.

Xu Wu coldly swept Xu Daniu a glance and warned, “This is an errand given by Madam. If there is a single mistake, not only your face but even the General’s face will be disgraced.” Hao Dazhuang had already done a lousy job. If they did not do a good job, too, they would not be able to hold up their heads in front of Madam.

Only then did Xu Daniu put away his playful expression and earnestly promise, “Don’t worry. I will make sure that the investigation will be clear and unambiguous.” If Madam knew they were not doing a good job, they would lose their faces.

By afternoon, Hao Dazhuang knew he had made a mistake and hurried over to apologise. Yuxi did not blame him. “It must have been challenging for you if I let you come forward with this matter, so I leave it to Xu Wu to handle.”

Hao Dazhuang looked ashamed. “Madam, this is my fault. I didn’t think about it thoroughly.” He didn’t even think there would be such a thing as someone using someone else’s name.

Yuxi smiled as she said, “Learn from your mistakes. Don’t make such mistakes again.” She really did not blame Hao Dazhuang for this thing. This kind of problem happens everywhere.

Hao Dazhuang nodded slightly, then proposed something to Yuxi. “Madam, today Mr Chen made a suggestion to me. I think his suggestion is excellent?”

Yuxi smiled. “As long as it’s a good suggestion, you can tell me about it.”

Hao Dazhuang said, “Mr Chen said we should let these children learn reading every morning and practice martial arts in the afternoon.” Mr Chen came up with the suggestion because he thought the children would not be able to study properly inside the house all day. Instead, learning words for half a day and practising martial arts for another half would be better. These children would have to go to war when they grew up. So if they started practising martial arts now, they would become valuable talents when they turned adults.

Hearing this, Yuxi asked, “What kind of person is this Mr Chen?” The person who could make such a suggestion was definitely not an inflexible person.

Hao Dazhuang said, “It is said that Mr Chen was scholarly honoured as juren, and he somehow offended someone. He was framed for it and sent to Yu City. Counting the days, he has stayed in Yu City for ten years. His character and talent are outstanding, so Uncle Huo let him teach at the school.” It was also Huo Changqing who acted unconventionally. Otherwise, he would not have let such a person into the school.

But Yuxi frowned instead. “This is not proper. When you go back, you must resign this Mr Chen.” Because she trusted Yun Qing, she didn’t question his decision regarding hiring the teachers.

Hao Dazhuang tried to reason, “Madam, Mr Chen didn’t really commit a crime. He had been wrongly accused. Otherwise, Uncle Huo wouldn’t have asked him to go to the school personally.”

Yuxi shook her head. “Have you ever thought about what will happen if this matter spreads? If people know that we invited a convicted person to teach these children, not only will the General be impeached for harbouring a criminal, but also these children’s parents will think that we are not doing our job by teaching them badly.” Those around him knew that he had good character and talent, but outsiders did not. In the eyes of outsiders, he was a convicted criminal, and no parent would let this type of person teach their children.

Hao Dazhuang’s face changed, saying, “Then I will go back and dismiss the person.”

Yuxi nodded. “Please explain the reason to Mr Chen clearly. Be tactful and convey my apologies, by the way.”