CHAPTER 263: CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY-NINE

Mr. Xiao listened, and his heart was shaken.

"Children are the future of a place. If most children in a place don’t read or write, it’s hard for that place to improve," Zhao Yao said solemnly, "The same goes for a country. If most of Great Zhou’s children don’t know how to read, then Great Zhou will be finished."

Mr. Xiao was shocked by Zhao Yao’s words. He looked at Zhao Yao in amazement.

What Zhao Yao had just said completely exceeded his expectations. He knew Zhao Yao was smart and deliberately hid his abilities, but he didn’t expect Zhao Yao to be so wise.

"That’s right, there’s a saying in the world of the dream Zhao Yao: ’A strong youth makes a strong country.’

Mr. Xiao’s eyes shot out a burning light, and his expression was a bit excited: "Well said, that sentence is very well said."

Zhao Yao was stunned by Mr. Xiao’s intense reaction.

Mr. Xiao looked at Zhao Yao with full affection: "A strong youth makes a strong country, that sentence is really too true!"

"Does sir think so too?"

"I completely agree with you," Mr. Xiao said. "Through this sentence, one can see that His Highness the Tenth is a person with depth of thought."

Zhao Yao continued his earlier words: "The poorer a place is, the more it needs someone to teach, so before I go to Qingzhou, I must gather some teachers."

"Your Highness, although Qingzhou is small, it has no lack of people. Establishing a free school is not an easy task."

"I know, but no matter how difficult, I must open the free school and let the children of Qingzhou study with peace of mind," Zhao Yao said, "Reading can change a person’s destiny, and it can also change the fate of Qingzhou."

"Your Highness is right."

"I will have my second uncle adopt some orphans and invite teachers to teach them to read and develop their talents," Zhao Yao said, "When these people go to Qingzhou, they will change Qingzhou."

Mr. Xiao marveled inwardly: At such a young age, His Highness the Tenth is already planning for his future assignment to his fief. Such wisdom is not typical of a six-year-old child.

"Besides reading, I also plan to cultivate talents in other areas, such as commerce, medicine, and craftsmanship," Zhao Yao said with a smile, "but first, they must be literate."

"Your Highness, your idea is excellent." When His Highness the Tenth grows up and goes to his fief, he will certainly treat his people well and help them live good lives.

"Sir, I hope your three friends will not only teach those orphans to read and write but also teach them how to be good people," Zhao Yao’s expression suddenly turned very serious, "Being a good person is more important than reading!"

"Rest assured, my three friends are people of good character, they will teach those children to be good people!"

"I have confidence in sir’s friends."

Seeing Zhao Yao trust him so much, Mr. Xiao was deeply moved.

"Your Highness the Tenth, I am willing to go to your fief and teach!" Mr. Xiao was deeply moved after hearing Zhao Yao’s words and no longer hesitated to decide to teach in Zhao Yao’s future fief.

"Really?" Zhao Yao said with an expression of joyful surprise, "Are you really willing to go to my fief with me?"

Mr. Xiao said very solemnly, "Yes, very willing!"

Zhao Yao said with a face full of joy, "That’s great! Thank you, sir!"

Seeing Zhao Yao so happy, Mr. Xiao couldn’t help but smile too.

"It’s I who should thank Your Highness for the invitation."

"Sir, your willingness to go to my fief to teach is an honor for me and a fortune for the children in my fief," Zhao Yao said as his expression shifted, "Sir, the first few years following me to the fief may not be easy, because Qingzhou is really poor."

Mr. Xiao asked with a smile, "Will I be able to have enough to eat?"

"Of course, sir, once you go there, we will ensure that you will have enough to eat."

"That’s enough then."

"Sir, thank you so much." Even if in the future Mr. Xiao changed his mind about going to the fief, Zhao Yao was very grateful for Mr. Xiao’s current promise.

"Your Highness, no need to be so polite."

"Oh, by the way, sir, there is another matter I need to discuss with you."

"What matter?"

Zhao Yao said: "I want to gather as many books as possible before going to the fief."

"Gather books?"

"Qingzhou is such a poor place, there surely won’t be many books. Although there is paper now and more books, books are still expensive, and many poor students can’t afford them. I want to collect more books and then take them to the fief, so the children of Qingzhou will have books to read."

Mr. Xiao didn’t expect Zhao Yao to be this attentive, even thinking of this aspect.

"Your Highness the Tenth, collecting books isn’t difficult, but it does require a fair amount of money."