Chapter 7, The More You Sweat, The More You Eat (Part 2)

As for the village school that Tang Que was concerned about, it did not belong to the official educational system. The teachers in the school were mostly retired old instructors from the local county schools, primarily accepting impoverished children from nearby villages. Their income was not derived from the imperial treasury; instead, it was supplemented by a portion of public land allocated by the nearby villages for their support. As a result, the children from poor families were exempted from the annual tuition fees, although this fee still existed in name, it was largely symbolic, as the students' families could not afford valuable items. Due to the strong charitable nature of this village school, it was also referred to as a benevolent school, somewhat akin to a charitable burial ground for unclaimed corpses.

This situation is quite in line with my own. After listening to the introduction, Tang Que thought to himself. Given his current circumstances, the most challenging understanding of the scriptures for other students was not a significant issue for him. What he urgently needed to learn were the most fundamental aspects, such as practicing calligraphy and converting between simplified and traditional characters. Such a learning process could be completed privately at home, without the need to spend time in the classroom tracing characters and reciting scriptures with a nodding head.

The days of farming are very laborious, quite monotonous, and time seems to pass slowly. After two to three months of intense agricultural work, Tang Que's face and arms have darkened a few shades, and the muscles beneath his rolled-up pant legs have become significantly more solid. A thin layer of calluses has also formed on his hands. Meanwhile, the back that had been unable to straighten for the first few days is now as upright as a pine tree. Unlike the slouching posture of those who sit in offices for long periods in later generations, it seems as if there is a force within him holding him up.

When Tang Que occasionally thinks of the nihilism of future generations, he indeed feels as if he is in a different world. Reflecting on today's experiences, he cannot help but feel a sense of emotion regarding the aimless lamentations of later generations. What is the meaning of life? In fact, this question is neither philosophical nor profound; it is simply about working the land diligently and living a tangible life. For today's hard work, a good harvest tomorrow is the meaning. As for mid-term planning, its significance lies in completely transforming the family's impoverished situation, moving out of this dilapidated house, and ensuring that the family eats well and dresses well. In fact, this question is neither philosophical nor profound; it is simply about working the land diligently and living a tangible life. For today's hard work, a good harvest tomorrow is the meaning. As for mid-term planning, its significance lies in completely transforming the family's impoverished situation, moving out of this dilapidated house, and ensuring that the family eats well and dresses well. As for more distant life goals, they are somewhat vague for Tang Que, but generally speaking, ensuring a decent life for himself and his family should not be a bad aim.

Since the accountant is a venomous widow, it is not surprising at all. His reputation for bringing misfortune to husbands has long evolved into bringing misfortune to men in general. Nowadays, even illiterate farmers dare not engage with her too much, let alone those literate scholars who are mindful of taboos.

Transforming the soul through labor, reaching the essence of the soul by exhausting the body, when great responsibilities are bestowed, one must first endure hunger and hardship! Regardless of the circumstances, after three months of hard work and frugal living, although Tang Que has become somewhat rougher than before, the essence and spirit within him have been tempered as if by fire, shedding the common youthful recklessness found in later generations. He now exudes a sense of reliability and groundedness, a quality that, when perfectly blended with the inner temperament cultivated through over a decade of elite education, makes him appear far from a mere peasant youth despite still wearing tattered clothes. Many villagers who encounter Tang Que are astonished, and although they cannot articulate the concept of temperament, they unanimously agree that the young man from the Tang family increasingly resembles the esteemed gentlemen of Yunxi City.

Aunt Li, everything has settled down, yet you are still busy

After three solid months of hard work, the four rounds of weeds in the sloped field have been cleared. The farming activities have temporarily eased, allowing the farmers to take this opportunity to rest their bodies and prepare for the upcoming busy season of double harvesting once the wheat matures

Upon arriving near the village school, Tang Que did not linger much before noticing a notice posted on the earthen wall near the main entrance. Approaching to take a closer look, he discovered it was an announcement seeking an accountant. It stated that they were looking to hire a gentleman capable of bookkeeping, offering three meals a day in addition to a salary of one hundred and twenty wen.

For the rural families with limited resources, even though they feel deep sorrow for their son, the work in the fields must be done by someone. Moreover, at Tang Que's age, he should already be a strong laborer in the family. Therefore, despite being utterly exhausted the next morning, Tang Que still got up to work in the fields alongside his parents.

Moreover, the intense physical labor from rising early and retiring late over the past three months has brought another benefit to Tang Que: his previously severe insomnia has miraculously been cured without medication. It is understandable; nowadays, he is so exhausted every day that he can fall asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow. What reason is there to suffer from insomnia? After overcoming this issue, the faint trace of despondency and vagueness in Tang Que's eyes has completely vanished.

As Tang Que approached from the stone bridge, the farmers gathered under the large willow tree outside the village curiously watched him. None of these farmers were from the village; they were all poor men who had come from the deep mountains to the west, and in order to earn a meager meal, they had little choice but to overlook many things.

At this time, the master craftsman responsible for the tamping of the foundation only earned a daily wage of one hundred wen. The current price of one hundred twenty wen is indeed considered a high salary, especially since the host family also provides three meals a day. If the meals are slightly better, the daily cost could reach around one hundred fifty wen. Tang Que was initially puzzled as to why such favorable conditions had not been advertised, but upon seeing the signature "Li Family of the High Gate," he finally understood.

Tang Que stepped out, casually greeting the villagers he encountered along the way, as he walked towards the village school. During these days of wandering, he enjoyed taking leisurely strolls near the village school whenever he had some free time.

"A good residence is a quadrangle, and the diligent woman is in the hall." This is a common saying among the Tang people. The Gao-Li family resides in a quadrangle at the west end of the village, surrounded by mountains on three sides and facing water on one side, making it a blessed location according to feng shui principles. Ever since the Gao-Li family lost two men here, their neighbors have gradually moved away over the past decade, leaving this small estate particularly tranquil.

After secretly noting these circumstances, Tang Que spent more time wandering around the vicinity of the village school. However, with the pressing issues at home unresolved, he found it inappropriate to make such a request.

Tang Que did not believe in the notion of a man being cursed, and at this moment, he was indeed short on money. Considering his own accounts, he thought there should be no problem. After casually tearing down the notice, he turned around and headed towards the Gao Li family's estate.

Examine these short-term, medium-term, and long-term plans; is there still a hint of emptiness? Each item is concrete and represents aspirations and responsibilities that require Tang Que's diligent efforts to realize

After working tirelessly for three months without a break, Tang Que found it somewhat uncomfortable to suddenly have free time. On this day, he felt restless at home, so he simply put on a linen half-sleeve and said, "Mother, I am going out for a walk to get some fresh air."

Tang Que also did not intend to speak. After smiling at those farmers and the books, he directly went to the gatehouse

As for the management within the private academies, it is far less formal than that of the official schools. The students here primarily aim to learn basic literacy and perform simple calculations; no one expects to achieve academic distinction from this place. Consequently, the entire educational order appears disorganized. Whenever it is the busy farming season, most students return home to help with the work, and the teachers merely turn a blind eye to this situation.

Hey, what a big fish, and peach blossom petals as well. Brother Zhang has such good luck! Tonight, we can enjoy a couple of drinks.

It was during a break from work that Tang Que took the opportunity to inquire about the situation in the village school. The Tang Dynasty began establishing a comprehensive education system since the time of its founding emperor. Under the reigns of Emperors Taizong, Gaozong, and Wu Zetian, not only has the imperial examination system become a lasting practice, but the educational system at all levels has also been fully established. At the central level, there is the Imperial Academy, and within the palace, there are the Chongwen and Hongwen Halls, which are responsible for enrolling the sons of nobles and princes for their studies. At the local level, in addition to the Daoist schools, there are also prefectural and county schools, all of which are referred to as official schools. Students can study Confucian classics as well as subjects such as literature, mathematics, and law. The examination process is also a multi-tiered selection. Those who excel in the county schools enter the prefectural schools, and subsequently, through examinations, they are selected to enter the Daoist schools. Each year, there are examinations in the Daoist schools to select outstanding students to be recommended as tribute students to the Ministry of Rites in Chang'an to participate in the annual talent selection ceremony, seeking to obtain official titles. The examination process is also a multi-tiered selection. Those who excel in the county schools enter the prefectural schools, and subsequently, through examinations, they are selected to enter the Daoist schools. Each year, there are examinations in the Daoist schools to select outstanding students to be recommended as tribute students to the Ministry of Rites in Chang'an to participate in the annual talent selection ceremony, seeking to obtain official titles.