Chapter 9: Thinking of You

  "What good news?" everyone asked.

  "The Empress Dowager's benevolent decree, starting from this September, Zheng Dainai of the Wu family will fund the establishment of one hundred 'Rongyu Girls' Schools' nationwide. Our Wangjia Village is lucky to have one too." The old village chief chuckled and patted Sheng Siyan's head, "The Empress Dowager said that all girls within a ten-mile radius of the school, from six to fifteen years old, can sign up for the exam and be admitted based on their scores. The teachers' salaries and school expenses will be covered by Zheng Dainai, and students will even get one meal per day at school. Students who live far away can board at school and return home once a week."

  Sheng Siyan listened and exclaimed in surprise: "Wow, this Wu family is really rich! How much silver is this? - Tsk tsk tsk, they're truly the god of wealth!"

  One hundred schools for girls! With food and lodging, dear! Who says women in feudal imperial dynasties were oppressed, enslaved, and trampled? A feudal woman can hold up half the sky, you know!

  The Great Xia Empire was able to achieve nine years of compulsory education for girls with just one person's effort, and Sheng Siyan couldn't help but admire it deeply. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that her own dreams of growing small peppers and opening a small restaurant were really too petty and narrow-minded...

  "God of Wealth Wu? —— I'm God of Calculation Wu!" Wang Ergou gently knocked on Sheng Siyan's forehead.

  However, the villagers around laughed and said: "It's really good to call Wu Caishen, it sounds more pleasant and auspicious than Wu Shen."

  From that day on, the nickname "God of Wealth Wu" spread like wildfire throughout the Great Xia Dynasty, and even Wu himself didn't know what was going on. He inexplicably transformed from the high-and-mighty "Divine Calculator Wu" to the utterly plebeian "God of Wealth Wu".

  Mr. Wu was furious and scolded at home, but he couldn't figure out who had come up with this nickname.

  Sheng Siyan made a face at Wang Ergou and asked the old village chief with a smile: "Why did Zheng Dainai want to set up this 'Xiang Rong Girls' School? Is Xiang Rong Zheng Dainai's maiden name?"

  Sheng Siyan remembered that in his previous life, there were some people who liked to name their schools after themselves, so as to make a good reputation for thousands of years.

  The villagers burst out laughing and said, "Of course it's not Zheng Dainai's maiden name. Just listen to Rongnü Xue, it's obviously the name of Zheng Xiaorong, the second daughter of the Zheng family, who is also Zheng Dainai's own younger sister." They all nodded in understanding.

  Sheng Siyan looked at these people with a suspicious gaze, feeling quite strange, "...... Zheng Xiangrong? Is she very famous? Why do you all seem to know her?"

  Wang Erge smiled and picked up Sheng Siyan, holding her on his shoulders, saying: "You're still young, you don't know that Zheng Jia's Second Miss Zong is also a pitiful case. This Second Miss is really something, at the age of eight, she became famous in the capital's poetry competition, defeating countless famous writers of the Great Xia Dynasty. From eight to sixteen years old, she wrote countless poems, lyrics, and essays that will be passed down through the ages, as well as a collection of her works, making her the greatest female literary genius of our Great Xia Dynasty in the past thousand years!"

  The old village chief also sighed and said, "Yes, Zheng Xiang Rong's name is indeed well-known in the Great Xia Imperial City. Of course, she was born into the Zheng family, which has always been known for producing literary talents, so it's not surprising. However, she was a woman, and reportedly an extraordinary beauty, young in years, so her fame was even greater. Unfortunately, she only lived to be sixteen before passing away, showing that heaven is jealous of exceptional talent, and people who are too clever and quick-witted don't live long."

  After hearing the old village chief's words, Sheng Siyan nodded repeatedly. Hmm, hmm, we still have to live a long life of one hundred years, and being outstanding or whatever is not suitable for us...

  "The imperial edict of the Empress Dowager said that Zheng Dainai's 'Xiang Rong Girls' School' was established to commemorate her sister, Zheng Xiangrong. It also stated that this was her sister's last wish before she passed away - to allow all women under heaven to read and write, so they wouldn't be blind to the world."

  Sheng Siyan: "......" - Got down on his knees!

  This Zheng Wantong is not only a great female writer, but also a great female educator and philanthropist! - Goddess, please accept my knee caps!

  Wang Ergou smiled and looked at Sheng Siyan's stunned expression, saying: "You'll be six years old this September, right? At that time, you can also sign up to take the exam."

  Sheng Siyan murmured "uh-huh" twice, lost in thought, and said: "Of course, I have to go take a look." After finishing speaking, she spoke again with a hint of envy: "Zheng Dà Nǎi Nai and her sister are really close. Their mother must be so happy."

  My sister who married out used her own money to set up a girls' school in the name of my younger sister who died many years ago. What kind of spirit is this? This is simply the selfless and altruistic spirit of Norman Bethune!

  "Yes, it's quite rare. What's even rarer is that Zheng Dà Niáng and her younger sister, Zheng èr Xiǎo Jiě, weren't born to the same mother, but they've been close like sisters since childhood, unlike other wealthy families where sisters from different mothers always fight like cats and dogs." Wang èr Gē looked up at the sky, seeing that it was getting late, and thought that Shèng Sī Yán should be going to bed soon. He bid farewell to the villagers while escorting her back home.

  All along the way, colorful lanterns are still on display. Young men and women, dressed in their finest clothes, gather in groups of three to five with family and friends to watch the lanterns and have fun.

  On the fifteenth day of the first month, even in the capital city, there is no curfew.

  The subjects of the Great Xia Empire can only stay out all night and have fun on this day throughout the year.

  "The moon is above the willow branches, and people are expected after dusk. - The ancients were not deceiving me." Sheng Siyan muttered to herself.

  Wang Ergou's ears were sharp, and he heard Sheng Siyan muttering to herself. He said in surprise, "Huh? Siyan, did Wang Danni also recite the lyrics from 'Xiang Rong Wen Ji' to you?"

  "What is 'The Collected Works of Rong Yu'?" Sheng Siyan shook her head in confusion.

  "The moon is above the willow branches, and people are invited after sunset. This is Zheng's famous poem, all collected in her 'Xiang Rong Wen Ji'. Wang Er Ge knew that Sheng Si Yan had just regained her sight and was still young, so she couldn't read characters, it must have been Wang Da Niang who read it to her."

  Sheng Siyan: "(⊙o⊙)". Isn't it?! This is obviously the "Sheng Chazi · Yuanxi" written by Ouyang Xiu of Northern Song Dynasty in her previous life!

  My god, what kind of world has she arrived in?!

  "Second Brother Wang, are you sure this is a poem written by Miss Zheng Er?"

  Wang Ergou nodded vigorously, "Of course. Miss Zheng's collection of writings is almost in the hands of every reader in the Great Xia Empire. My family also has a copy, but it's not complete. You know, books are too expensive, and my family can't afford to buy the full set, so we can only buy a selected edition."

  Sheng Siyan had a strange feeling, and immediately felt that she had said too much. She hurriedly changed the subject with a laugh, softly begging Wang Ergou: "Ergou, don't tell others that my mother told me this. She doesn't like people gossiping."

  "I know, I won't say anything." Wang Er Ge said as he brought Sheng Si Yan to her doorstep.

  They live next door, also beside Wang Erge's house.

  Wang Erge put down Sheng Siyan, patted her head and said: "Go back. Tomorrow the official school starts, I will go to the school to inquire about the registration of Rongnu Female Academy, and I will definitely let you pass the exam."

  ……