CHAPTER 470: CHAPTER 470: THIS IS THEIR HOME

Pei Shu’er sighed as she looked at the students playing recklessly.

"Why don’t we start another school?"

The school had actually been built a long time ago, and it was quite large, with an open area surrounding it for future expansion.

However, classes had never begun.

The current situation on the Deserted Mountain was somewhat special.

Firstly, there were quite a few children of school age; secondly, the area was divided into Inner and Outer Cities. Should students be similarly divided?

If not divided, there was concern that malicious parents might mislead their children, allowing them to cause trouble here.

Pei Shu’er promptly said, "For those from the Outer City, as long as they have settled here for three months without any misconduct, their children can enroll."

"No threshold for those from the Inner City."

After all, the opportunity to enter the Inner City was fair to everyone, and there were plenty of houses and residences well-planned within the Inner City, preventing waste.

The Inner City is large enough to accommodate hundreds of thousands of people comfortably.

Previously, it was a no man’s land where even the surrounding exiles who had claimed themselves as rulers gradually gathered, leaving a lot of empty land.

Families in the Outer City were each allotted a bit of farmland, which wouldn’t make them wealthy, but would ensure they wouldn’t starve.

When people heard that the school on the Deserted Mountain was open, they were astonished.

It was clearly just a place of exile, where everyone initially planned only to weather the most challenging times.

Yet gradually, the infrastructure was established.

There was Pei’s Trading House, a medical pavilion, and now even a school.

If children attended school here, a family would undoubtedly settle down here.

Moreover, they slowly realized living on the Deserted Mountain was somewhat better than living in the city.

Being able to farm meant vegetables didn’t have to be bought; they could eat whatever the land produced.

If they lacked seeds, they could buy them from Pei’s Store.

Pei’s Store had a wide variety of seeds, only ones unheard of or unseen.

But whatever seeds they needed, they would find them there.

In this atmosphere, everyone started considering the Deserted Mountain as their home.

Seeing some brick houses with red or blue tiles, all neatly planned, particularly within.

There were large and small houses, some grand and some ordinary.

To move in, one only needed to pay for materials, labor, and purchase fees, then they could move in, with both house and land contracts provided.

The house was essentially just the same as building one’s own.

No, it’s much cheaper and better than building one’s own.

Because the bricks and tiles were fired together, the Inner City had many people trained by Tang Peiyi, all capable of building houses.

And everyone would busy themselves during non-farming seasons, treating it as a fun pastime.

The method of payment was simple; once a house was bought, those who built it and fired the bricks would be paid.

Regarding the material cost, it was paid into the Deserted Mountain’s public fund.

You never know when the money will be useful; it can be considered collective income for the Deserted Mountain.

Simultaneously, Pei Shu’er asked Liu Xu to publicize the collected fees, listing each clearly.

Anyway, people were keen to buy those brick houses; if they were to build a house themselves, at most it would be a thatched hut.

Now, those in the Outer City were eager to squeeze into the Inner City.

Not only were the housing and living conditions better in the Inner City, but all the welfare benefits also prioritized the Inner City residents.

If there were any left, only then Outer City members might get some spots.

To be fair, most Inner City residents had joined Pei Shu’er in creating the Inner City.

Those families were thriving now, living in large brick courtyards.

Choosing teachers involved a registration process.

Those who originally held official positions in the Capital were directly selected.

Some scholars and candidates were also chosen the same way.

Moreover, with Tang Zan and General Zhao’s continuous efforts, though these people still couldn’t return to the Capital, they could earn honor by achieving titles and returning based on merits.

A separate examination hall could be set outside the Capital for these exiles and refugees.

In short, life was becoming increasingly rich and full of hope.

Soon, the children were selected and could enter the school.

Enrollment in the school also required payment, one tael of silver per semester, with book fees and miscellaneous fees separate.

But those who could send their children to school were more than willing to pay.

The current society was an official-centric one.

Among myriad tasks, only studying brought honor.

After the school was established, everyone felt immense gratitude towards Pei Shu’er.

"Young Madam, thank you. Without you, our children wouldn’t have had the chance to enter school."

Gratitude and hope filled their eyes.

No matter what one did, achieving the status of a child scholar or scholar illuminated one’s family.

Even those in business had elevated status significantly.

If one had an official in the family, whether a top scorer or even seventh or eighth in the imperial exam, it didn’t matter what one did before; now they could hold their heads high.

Pei Shu’er had ignited the flame of hope for these people.

She smiled, "As long as everyone is well, then it is good."

She looked back at the shops along the street and observed the busy and fulfilled individuals.

Suddenly, it seemed that all of this was worthwhile.

On the eve before the upcoming battle, nothing happened on the borders, so Pei Shu’er didn’t stay on the Deserted Mountain; she immediately returned to the military camp with Tang Zan.

Before heading to the camp, Pei Shu’er went to Tang Peizhong’s residence.

After all, he had once been a general, and nobody dared treat him poorly.

A decent blue-brick house was built for him in the Outer City, and a little maid served his daily needs.

It’s just that lately, Tang Peizhong seemed visibly more haggard.

He had been making amends, but without success.

Liu Xu and the children had no intention of forgiving him.

Tang Peizhong felt very lost and sensed his failure.

He still did whatever he could daily for the Tang Family, checking in before Liu Xu and the others every day, sweet-talking Liu Xu.

Before, Liu Xu would hide her mouth with her sleeve and chuckle, perhaps even reprimand him lightly.

But not now.

Liu Xu simply ignored him.

Sometimes it was making food for them; other times helping with tasks at the Tang Mansion.

Occasionally, he took Tang Shu and Tang Qingning to play.

Fortunately, the two children still acknowledged him, not ignoring him due to their parents’ strained relationship.

Tang Peizhong sighed, realizing every action has its consequence.

He hadn’t expected to meet Pei Shu’er and Tang Zan.

Pei Shu’er smiled, "Father, do you wish to redeem yourself?"