CHAPTER 212: CHAPTER 211: DEBATING WITH THE OLD TEACHER

In the early morning, Lin Wanwan vaguely felt someone climbing all over her, and when she opened her eyes, she saw that it was indeed the little one awake and pestering her.

"Mommy wants to sleep a bit more, you go out and play first."

Having said that, she pulled the little one off her body and turned over to continue sleeping. Hearing the commotion, Yun Shang, Hua Nong, and Hong Yan had already pushed the door open and come in.

Yun Shang picked up little Qingyu from the bed: "Young lady, your little horse and little elephant have been calling. Do you want to go and see them?"

"Oh! I want to see my little elephant, little horse, and my big bird!" Little Qingyu’s attention was diverted, and she eagerly let the maids dress and comb her hair.

After Yun Shang dressed her, she gave a signal, and the three maids quietly left the room.

At Lin Family Manor, Lin Wanwan didn’t have to get up early to pay respects to anyone. Even if she stayed in bed all day, no one would complain.

Having money, few worries, and waking up naturally—that is the ideal life, isn’t it?

When Lin Wanwan finally woke from her nap, it was already late in the morning outside. Feeling a bit hungry, she dressed and opened the door, where Hong Yan was waiting outside. Upon seeing Lin Wanwan, she hurriedly brought water and approached to serve her as she combed her hair.

Sitting lazily in front of the mirror, Lin Wanwan asked, "Is my cousin still here?"

"Xiao Mingfu had breakfast before dawn and left, asking us to convey his apologies for departing without a farewell, saying he couldn’t leave because of numerous affairs at the government office."

"Oh." Lin Wanwan nodded, having anticipated this. Being an official in charge like him, it’s impossible to be as leisurely as she is. "Did the school open today?"

"Yes, it’s in session."

"Did all the children from our house go?"

Hong Yan replied with a smile, "The young lady went, and Rongrong is accompanying her in the back of the school."

Lin Wanwan looked at the copper mirror and said, "And those little rascals?"

"Not them; they are currently in the warehouse sorting goods."

Lin Wanwan frowned but said nothing more, knowing she could take the children to school herself later.

After washing and dressing up, Lin Wanwan had a bowl of bird’s nest and red date porridge and summoned all the children in the house. They all dressed in student attire, each holding a strip of jerky. Hearing the bell ring, Lin Wanwan got up and took the children to the front courtyard school.

During the month she was away, the school was taught solely by Old Teacher Chen.

Upon entering the school and greeting Teacher Chen, Lin Wanwan said with a smile, "Quickly go up and pay respects to Teacher Chen, and present your gifts."

Old Teacher Chen was quite displeased with Lin Wanwan stuffing slaves into the school without notice, his old face changed instantly.

Just as he was about to speak, Lin Wanwan preempted him: "Teacher Chen, I was just about to tell you that these little rascals were specially bought to be trained. Let them sit in the back of the school and listen to the lecture. What do you think, Teacher Chen?"

"Nothing much." Teacher Chen snorted, "How dare slaves enter school? It would disgrace the books of the saints and sages."

Lin Wanwan replied with a smile, "Why would that be? Confucius said: teach without discrimination. Confucius also said: I have never regretted teaching anyone who brings me a gift. Even Confucius said this, so how could we scholars choose whom to teach?"

Teacher Chen scoffed, "Slaves are like livestock, how could they sit with gentlemen?"

Lin Wanwan promptly asked, "Just cannot sit together?"

Teacher Chen frowned and replied, "Hmm."

Lin Wanwan smiled, "That’s easy then. You guys need not take a seat, just move a small bench and sit at the back. Now, put down the gifts and go prepare quickly."

Teacher Chen: "..."

Just about to speak again, Lin Wanwan looked over with a smile: "Teacher Chen, you know I am from a rural area, ignorant of conventional manners, only knowing the rites of sages. The sage says teach without discrimination, so I regard it as a guiding principle.

Our Lin family has few scholars, too many who cannot recognize characters, now is the time for education. I wonder if Teacher Chen knows, though I’m unworthy, I’ve been granted the title of Fifth Rank Village Lady of Le’an by the Emperor."

Upon hearing this, Teacher Chen’s words were stuck in his throat, he looked at Lin Wanwan with a face flushed with dark red and eventually sighed, bowing, "Old man pays respects to Village Lady of Le’an."

Lin Wanwan returned the gesture, "No formalities. Teacher Chen, in the school, I believe there should be no distinction of high or low class. Besides students, there is only the teacher, no other identities, thus Teacher Chen may call me Teacher Lin, please refrain from formalities."

"Hehe, Teacher Lin is right." Teacher Chen’s mouth twitched, you’re the one declaring your title, and the one saying there should be no class distinction, you’re having it both ways.

But after all, he wasn’t someone who read himself senseless. Seeing Lin Wanwan’s firmness, he had no choice but to reluctantly accept it, for Lin Wanwan was the one paying the bills!

Let these slaves attend classes if they want, as long as they were arranged at the back, he would just treat them as invisible.

The class bell rang, Lin Wanwan took the teaching stick and started teaching the children the math class.

At noon, when class ended, Lin Wanwan announced another matter—a new music class would be added, taught by the Master of Konghou, Heng Wu.

Among the six arts of a gentleman in Great Tang are rites, music, archery, riding, writing, and arithmetic. Music is one of them, serving a function of education and naturally needs to be learned.

The children, with their innocent nature, held no prejudice of class.

Heng Wu, receiving such high regard from Lin Wanwan, was deeply grateful, never imagining in a lifetime that she would become a teacher, even if the school was just a small country private school by the sea.

Lin Wanwan was extremely satisfied with Heng Wu; she was educated in music as a musician, having knowledge in various aspects of music. Even though she specialized in Konghou, she wasn’t entirely ignorant of Ancient Zither.

Her Ancient Zither skills surpassed those of the music academy junior who initially taught Lin Wanwan Ancient Zither; in modern terms, she’s professional level at least.

During lunch, Sun Chuyao hovered around Lin Wanwan bashfully.

Initially, Lin Wanwan thought he was there to ask for a reward, as in the past month, not only did he watch over the house but helped Lin Zhentian harvest a large amount of potatoes, the warehouse now filled to the brim, and diligently taught those kids to speak Mao County dialect.

However, Lin Wanwan soon realized the true reason—it was because of a casual fib she had uttered!

Originally, she had fed Sun Chuyao the Qingshu Yiqi Pills pretending they were Life and Death Pills, and tricked him into believing that he would die if he didn’t take the antidote within two months.

Those who frighten others may forget, but those who are frightened certainly won’t.

"Hmm, seeing you’ve done well, here’s this month’s Life and Death Pills for you, take them." Lin Wanwan turned and entered the room, fetched a medicine box from a locked large chest, and took out two Qingshu Yiqi Pills for Sun Chuyao.

Sun Chuyao immediately popped the "Life-extending Medicine" into his mouth, the hanging sword over his head temporarily moved away, and he felt instantly revived.