Chapter 222: Chapter 222: Li Ying (Part 2)
County Magistrate Cui was both amused and exasperated, and called out, "Cousin, open the door."
After waiting a moment, the door finally opened.
Li Ying’s face showed no sign of weariness; instead, there was a curious excitement and vigor, her eyes sparkling: "Cousin, I wrote a plan. Could you look it over for me? It’s best to refine it a bit. I need to present it to the Commandery Princess tomorrow."
County Magistrate Cui: "..."
"Mother!" Erlang mumbled, waving his little arms vigorously: "Mother, hug!"
Dalang also snuggled closer to his mother.
Li Ying smiled gently, picked up her younger son, and held her older son close, urging, "Why are you dawdling, Cousin? Hurry up and go!"
County Magistrate Cui chuckled silently, walked over to the desk, and took up the plan that Li Ying had spent half a day writing, reviewing it carefully.
Li Ying had been exceptionally intelligent since she was young, well-read in poetry and books. However, the Li Family always acted with discretion and never allowed unmarried women to show themselves outside. Thus, she never gained a reputation as a talented woman. County Magistrate Cui, being Li Ying’s first cousin and having grown up with her, naturally knew this.
After the two got married, County Magistrate Cui became busy with official duties, and Li Ying would occasionally help her husband with official documents. Given Li Ying’s abilities, writing such a plan was surely no issue. The only thing needing amendment was...
"Cousin, is this part not quite appropriate?" County Magistrate Cui pointed gently to the final section, suggesting tactfully: "Your intention to improve the female academy is good, but aiming to surpass the boys’ academy, isn’t that a bit too much?"
"Not to mention anything else, just the scale and the number of enrolled students is a huge gap."
"The boys’ academy has over forty students; the girls’ academy has only a mere five. And these five may not even study for many years. They might all return home in a year or two to raise silkworms and weave."
County Magistrate Cui wasn’t deliberately trying to upset his wife; he was troubled by this too!
Li Ying sighed softly, "Cousin is right. This is the biggest issue facing the female academy. However difficult, it has to be tackled step by step."
"The Commandery Princess trusts me and has given me this heavy responsibility. I must do my utmost to live up to her high expectations."
County Magistrate Cui chuckled again, "I never realized before that you have such a strong determination!"
Li Ying smiled slightly, "There was never such an opportunity for me before either."
That’s indeed true.
Coming from a prominent family, with no worries about food and clothing, having studied since childhood, this is a lifestyle ordinary girls cannot share. Yet, it also means numerous rules and restrictions.
County Magistrate Cui said tenderly, "Cousin is not only intelligent but also exceptionally talented. If you were a man, you would likely surpass me in the Imperial Examination."
Li Ying laughed, "Why speak of such things? Heaven made me a woman, and I have never pitied or grieved over it. It’s just a bit of a regret to stay at home every day supporting my husband and raising children, unable to go out freely. This year, when you asked me to be a teacher at the academy, I was already very happy. Being praised by the Commandery Princess was an unexpected joy."
"Now I am full of energy, eager to achieve something remarkable and get the Commandery Princess to see me in a new light."
County Magistrate Cui laughed, "Alright, alright, we as a couple will work diligently to catch the Commandery Princess’s attention."
Li Ying’s eyes curved with her smile.
Mrs. Li, Li Ying.
A single character’s difference, but to her, it was a completely distinct feeling.
It was as if a whole new world had opened up in an instant.
In that world, there was the Commandery Princess, Chen Sheren, Miss Sun acting as a military doctor in the camps, Miss Kong teaching soldiers to read. Now, there was also her.
Not Miss Li, not the wife of the Cui Family, not the mother of Dalang and Erlang.
But Li Ying herself.
This feeling was novel and delightful.
"Mother!" Erlang refused to be ignored, shaking his mother’s arm earnestly; "Mother, look at me."
Li Ying came back to her senses and smiled at her son, "Come, Mother will take you to have dinner."
...
"The Commandery Princess seems particularly kind to Li Ying."
Elsewhere, in the study, after having dinner, Chen Sheren, with nothing to do, came to chat with the Commandery Princess and brought up County Magistrate Cui’s wife, Li Ying, just as he started talking.
Jiang Shaohua smiled and acknowledged, "It’s rare enough for men to be literate, let alone women. It’s commendable that County Magistrate Cui is so open-minded and willing to let his wife serve as the female school teacher. I must certainly uplift and utilize her."
"Sun Zelan serves as a military doctor in the Personal Guard Camp, Kong Qingwan as a teacher in the military camp, you serve as my housekeeper. And now, there’s also Li Ying as a female school teacher."
"Step by step, we advance slowly. In the future, I hope more families in Nanyang will allow their daughters to read and write."
Chen Jinyu nodded repeatedly, smiling widely, "The Commandery Princess speaks truly. Look at that young Lu Daniu, she has such great ambitions at such a young age."
Jiang Shaohua also laughed, "If the Lu Family indeed allows Daniu to continue studying in the female academy, by the time she’s fourteen or fifteen, she can come to the Prince Mansion to serve."
The Commandery Princess’s words were certainly binding.
The night passed uneventfully.
The next morning, Li Ying came with her unmodified plan.
Chen Jinyu greeted Li Ying with a smile and led her into the study, presenting the plan to the Commandery Princess. Jiang Shaohua read it through carefully, and upon reading the last section, she couldn’t help but chuckle, "Having such ambition is good. However, setting such high goals cannot be accomplished in just three or five years."
Li Ying didn’t sleep well the previous night, her eyes slightly shadowed, yet her spirits were remarkably high: "The Commandery Princess speaks truly, I..."
"You are not only a female school teacher but also the first dean," Jiang Shaohua suddenly interrupted with a smile: "Before me, you can simply refer to yourself as an official."
Li Ying was stunned and replied in astonishment, "I hold no official post or rank, how can I dare to refer to myself in this manner."
Jiang Shaohua smiled faintly, "The court has no female officials, but Nanyang County is pioneering with Chen Sheren, and Miss Sun as a military doctor. Why not one more Dean Li?"
Li Ying’s whole body trembled, her beautiful face flushing quickly, and her voice quivered slightly: "I... I thank the Commandery Princess for your great kindness."
Jiang Shaohua laughed, "There is no official recognition from the court, nor any formal appointment document from the Ministry of Personnel. However, in Nanyang County, I have the final say. From now on, you will be in charge of the Ye County Female Academy, receiving a monthly salary. When County Magistrate Cui goes to the Prince Mansion next year, you will go with him."
Li Ying suppressed the surging emotions in her heart, respectfully saluting, "I will remember the Commandery Princess’s words."
Jiang Shaohua nodded slightly, and after finishing the plan, she said to Li Ying, "Except for the last section, everything else is realistic and feasible. This is the first female academy in Nanyang County, and no one knows exactly how to manage it. We are like crossing the river by feeling the stones beneath our feet, unaware of the depth."
"However, actions speak louder than words. With such determination, we will slowly move forward. One day, we will succeed."
"The journey may be long, but by marching, we will reach the destination."