Empress of Fortune: A Farm Girl’s Rise

Chapter 657: Sidestory – Childhood Sweethearts (1) Chapter 657: Sidestory – Childhood Sweethearts (1) After Zhuang Qingning’s birthday celebration at Qingzhuyuan, Chu Jinzhou, as he had promised Zhuang Qingsui and Zhuang Mingli that day, began assisting them in preparing for the establishment of their respective schools.

Zhuang Mingli, who once studied under Fan Wenxuan and became the youngest scholar in the county as a young boy, enjoys a high reputation. Therefore, his school preparation went smoothly as many people were attracted to his school because of his fame.

However, the situation of Zhuang Qingsui was not that smooth.

For most of the ordinary people in the town and its surroundings, sending their daughters to school felt like a waste. First, girls couldn’t take the imperial examination to have a promising future. Second, it not only wasted time that could be used for productive work but also money on stationery.

There indeed were families who were well-off and willing to let their daughters learn to read and write. However, they believed it was inappropriate for their daughters to show up in public. They would rather have an elder or a female teacher come to their homes to teach their girls.

For a period, the school Zhuang Qingsui was preparing was nearly empty, without a single person signing up.

“Why not set up the school in the county town?” Chu Jinzhou suggested. “Many people in the county town have a broader vision and are more willing to allow their children to be more successful. Even if they don’t sit for the imperial examination, they are still eager for their daughters to learn more characters and gain more knowledge.”