In the early morning, the sun rose, bathing the entire courtyard in the rosy light of dawn.
Knowing that the third branch of the family was heading to Xining City today, Song Yongnian and Song Yaozu were sent over after breakfast to hitch a ride.
Second Aunt Song whispered in Song Yaozu's ear, "Make sure you talk more with your cousins in the carriage and try to get on their good side."
Song Yaozu reluctantly bit his lip.
He also wanted to maintain a good relationship, but every time they spoke, Brother Qiming would always ask about his studies, which was so annoying to hear.
Seeing him stay silent, Second Aunt Song frowned and gave his back a hard pinch.
"Did you hear me?"
Song Yaozu grimaced in pain, instinctively shrinking his shoulders to brush her off.
"I know."
After getting into the carriage, Song Yongnian occasionally asked Song Qiming about things from his school days.
Song Yaozu watched this, feeling a bit awkward in his heart, so he simply closed his eyes and pretended to catch up on sleep.
In the main hall, Scholar Zheng couldn't help but nod after learning the purpose of their visit.
"Given the current power and status of the County Princess and Qiming, opening a school in the village is a good thing for your reputation."
"Hiring two young scholars as teachers is not difficult. I have a few old classmates and friends in Xining City I can go and ask."
Being able to teach at a school opened by the County Princess was something ordinary people could only dream of, it was just...
"It's just that none of them have ever taught female students. Does the County Princess plan to teach them according to the same standards as the boys?"
Song Jinzhao replied, "I would like it to be a bit different, but there are no female teachers in Xining City, so as long as they can learn to read, that will be enough. We will follow the same standards for both boys and girls."
Scholar Zheng stroked his beard and said, "I understand. Please sit here for a moment. I will go out, and if they agree, I will bring them back to meet the County Princess."
Song Jinzhao stood up and nodded, "Then I must thank Teacher Zheng."
Scholar Zheng was just about to instruct the porter to prepare the carriage when Zheng Jiangyue, who had just brought tea into the room, chased after him and grabbed his sleeve.
"Father, your daughter has something to discuss with you."
Scholar Zheng looked at his daughter in confusion.
"What is it? If it's not urgent, wait until I get back. The County Princess and Qiming are still waiting in the room."
Zheng Jiangyue gripped his arm tightly, her brows furrowed together, and dragged out her words in a coquettish tone.
"It's very urgent. If I wait until you come back, it'll be too late."
Under Zheng Jiangyue's persistent pulling and tugging, Scholar Zheng was dragged into her room.
Sitting in the main hall drinking tea, Song Jinzhao turned her head and saw Zheng Jiangyue taking Scholar Zheng away, but she didn't think much of it.
In the room, looking at his slightly anxious daughter, Scholar Zheng asked her.
"What exactly is so urgent?"
Zheng Jiangyue brought over a stool for Scholar Zheng to sit on. She was a little nervous in her heart, but also excited.
"Father, I want to go to Songjia Village to be a female teacher. Can you recommend me to the County Princess?"
Scholar Zheng's expression froze, and his mind went completely blank.
After he reacted, he stood up abruptly, his hands leaning on the round table almost pulling the tablecloth down.
"Nonsense! You've never taught before. How can you go to a school and lead students?"
The anticipation on Zheng Jiangyue's face was as if it had been slapped away, instantly turning into displeasure.
"Watching you give lectures in the classroom every day, I've learned just by watching."
"I've even helped you grade the assignments of the elementary students before. Why can't I go teach at the school?"
"The County Princess also just said that if there were a female teacher in Xining City, she would definitely prefer to hire a female teacher to teach those girls. I think I'm very suitable."
"Not only can I teach them to read and write, but I can also teach them to play chess and the lute. I am much more suitable than a male teacher~"
Scholar Zheng still shook his head in disagreement. "If you go to Songjia Village to teach, what about Yunzhi? He's only three years old. He can't be without his parents by his side."
Zheng Jiangyue grabbed his sleeve and swung it. "Mother and the maids are at home; they can take care of Yunzhi."
"The village school finishes classes right at the beginning of the Shen hour. There are five days of classes and two days off. There will be plenty of free time left to accompany Yunzhi."
"Father, please let me go."
Scholar Zheng pulled his sleeve back. "No. Ah Rao doesn't know about this, and he won't agree to it."
Zheng Jiangyue blocked Scholar Zheng's path, raising three fingers to guarantee, "As long as I speak to him, Ah Rao will definitely agree. Father, please just mention it for me. If the County Princess doesn't agree, I absolutely won't force it."
Scholar Zheng raised a hand and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I can support you, and Ah Rao can support you too. Waking up early every day to go to Songjia Village to teach is so tiring. It's not worth it for that little bit of tuition money."
The pleading in Zheng Jiangyue's eyes disappeared, and her tone became serious and firm.
"It's not entirely for the tuition money. I ask myself, and my talents and learning are no less than a man's."
"But as a woman, I am shackled at every turn. After marrying, I can only stay at home to assist my husband and raise my children. But isn't the County Princess also a woman?"
"I can't be as amazing as she is, but I also want to do something within my power. With such a good opportunity right in front of me, I definitely have to try. If you won't mention it to the County Princess, I will go and tell her myself."
Saying this, Zheng Jiangyue was about to turn around and rush out.
Scholar Zheng hurriedly stopped her.
Seeing her feeling both wronged and resolute, he was caught in a dilemma for a moment, not knowing how to persuade her.
"Master, just let her go," Madam Zheng walked in from outside.
Seeing his wife enter, Scholar Zheng breathed a sigh of relief but also couldn't believe it.
"Madam, you agree?"
Madam Zheng nodded. "In the past, when you were teaching in the classroom, she often hid outside to watch."
"The assignments you handed over to her, she graded more seriously than anyone else. I think she can handle this matter of being a female teacher."
Zheng Jiangyue joyfully hugged Madam Zheng's arm, her eyes sparkling.
"Mother, I knew you understood me the best."
Looking at his precious daughter acting coquettishly toward his wife, these words sounded a bit grating to Scholar Zheng.
What did she mean her mother understood her the best? It was as if he didn't understand her.
"Father, Mother has already agreed. Will you just say yes?"
Scholar Zheng let out a long sigh, having no choice but to compromise.
"I will take you to see the County Princess. Whether it works out or not is up to you."
Zheng Jiangyue happily agreed, "Thank you, Father. I definitely won't make you lose face."
Seeing Scholar Zheng return, Song Qiming and Song Jinzhao, who were sitting in the main hall, stood up to greet him.
Seeing the confusion on their faces, Scholar Zheng stepped aside and signaled his daughter to step forward.
He cupped his hands in greeting toward Song Jinzhao.
"County Princess, although my little daughter Jiangyue is somewhat dull in aptitude, she is well-read in poetry and literature and has some understanding of the classics. I would like to recommend her to become a female teacher in the school you are opening, and I invite the County Princess to test her."
Song Jinzhao's eyes widened slightly, and she shifted her gaze to Zheng Jiangyue.
She met the other woman's gaze, which was filled with four parts nervousness and six parts anticipation.
She didn't know much about Zheng Jiangyue, only that she was Teacher Zheng's only daughter, was already married, and her husband had married into her family.
"Miss Zheng, do you want to be a female teacher yourself, or does Teacher Zheng want you to be one?"
With so many students in the private school, the Zheng family shouldn't be lacking money right now.
Scholar Zheng was just about to speak when Zheng Jiangyue's voice rang out.
"To answer the County Princess, I want to do it myself, which is why I asked my father to recommend me."
"Compared to my father's former classmates, I feel I am much more suitable."
Seeing that Song Jinzhao was looking at her quietly and listening very seriously, Zheng Jiangyue gathered her courage and continued speaking.
