roccoschili Chapter 379 Lü Zhi's Awakening 9
Chapter 379 Lü Zhi's Awakening 9
Soon, steaming dishes were served. Each dish was like a fine work of art, vibrant in color and enticingly fragrant. Lü Zhi gently picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of food, and put it in her mouth. Instantly, a rich aroma filled her mouth; the taste was exquisite, the texture complex and varied, like a feast for the senses.
She had never found the food so delicious. For a moment, she was immersed in this world of food, her eyes shining, eating with great relish. Before she knew it, Lü Zhi had eaten too much. She then suddenly came to her senses, inwardly regretting her actions. Was this how a lady of a prominent family should behave? Normally, she always maintained a dignified and proper image in front of others, eating slowly and gracefully. But today, she had lost all sense of propriety because of the delicious food.
Lü Zhi looked around sheepishly, a hint of panic in her eyes. She worried that her embarrassment would be seen by others, making her the subject of gossip. However, to her relief, the surrounding guests were all focused on their conversations and the food, and no one noticed her.
Lü Zhi finally let out a soft sigh of relief, and sheepishly picked up her teacup, taking a few sips of water. She sat there quietly, digesting her food while listening intently to the conversations of the other guests. The topics of conversation among the surrounding patrons were diverse and fascinating: current affairs of the Qin Dynasty, tales of the martial world, and local customs and traditions. Lü Zhi listened with rapt attention, as if she were in a completely new world. She thought to herself, this First Restaurant of the Qin Dynasty was not only a place to savor delicious food, but also a window into the myriad aspects of human life.
Lü Zhi took a few sips of water when she suddenly heard the conversation of several people not far away. One of them, a middle-aged man dressed in a coarse cloth jacket, wiped the wine from his mouth and said excitedly, "Do you know? The academy built by Princess Jiayang is truly extraordinary. To study there, you must first take an exam, and only those who pass the exam can be admitted!" His eyes gleamed with curiosity and anticipation.
A thin young man with a sharp look in his eyes quickly turned to the side and asked eagerly, "What kind of exam will it be? I need to find out."
The middle-aged man cleared his throat and said with a hint of smugness, "The most basic thing is that you have to be literate. If you can't even read, you can't understand articles, so what's the point of studying? Secondly, if you want to study agronomy, you have to be able to distinguish between the five grains. Think about it, if you can't even tell the difference between rice and wheat, how can you study agricultural planting?" As he spoke, he gestured with his hands, as if he were already a learned man.
An elderly man with a beard and a kind face nodded and said, "Yes, that's how it should be. Princess Jiayang is very thoughtful. Only with a solid foundation can one learn real skills in the academy."
At this moment, a scholar-like man dressed in a blue cloth shirt suddenly interjected from the crowd: "Not only that, I heard that tuition is completely free after entering the academy." His clear and loud voice immediately attracted the attention of those around him.
The young man stared in astonishment, his mouth slightly agape, and exclaimed, "Such a good thing? This is a godsend for people who want to study but don't have the money!"
The scholar-like man gently shook the folding fan in his hand and said, "Yes, but there are conditions. There's no such thing as a free lunch."
The middle-aged man frowned and quickly asked, "What are the conditions? Tell me quickly."
The scholar-like man put away his folding fan and said in a serious tone, "They must work for the court for 20 years. Moreover, these people cannot leave the Great Qin unless absolutely necessary. This is a rule set by Princess Jiayang, precisely to ensure that those who have acquired knowledge in the academy can serve the Great Qin."
The old man stroked his beard and said with some worry, "Twenty years is too much. How many twenty-year periods does a person have? All that time has been wasted."
The scholar-like man smiled and explained, "These are government officials who receive a salary. They study for free at the academy, and after graduation, they have stable jobs and income. The restriction is only 20 years. After 20 years, they can open their own shops and develop them however they want. It's a win-win situation, isn't it? Perhaps they can even make great contributions during these 20 years and be highly valued by the court."
Empress Lü listened quietly to the conversation, silently considering Princess Jiayang's move. She knew the importance of this academy to the Qin Dynasty; it would not only cultivate a group of knowledgeable and capable talents but also inject fresh blood into the court. A hint of appreciation and contemplation flickered in her eyes, as if she could already see the future prosperity of the Qin Dynasty.
Empress Lü sat in a corner of the First Pavilion of the Great Qin Dynasty, her gaze drifting through the carved window lattice towards the distance, the image of Princess Jiayang constantly appearing in her mind. Her eyes were filled with inquiry and curiosity; the name Princess Jiayang was like a mysterious seed, taking root and sprouting in her heart. "Just who was she?" Empress Lü murmured to herself.
In this era of strict feudal ethics, it was astonishing that someone could possess such extraordinary and unconventional thoughts. Those novel ideas about education, like brilliant stars, illuminated Lü Zhi's previously somewhat narrow understanding. She seemed to see Princess Jiayang standing on a high platform, her robes fluttering, passionately expounding those refreshing viewpoints, each word striking her heart like a heavy hammer.
The more Lü Zhi thought about it, the more mysterious and unpredictable Princess Jiayang seemed, like a book that could never be fully turned, each page holding endless surprises. Her fingers unconsciously tapped lightly on the table, her thoughts already drifting far beyond the First Building of Qin. Finally, she stood up, straightened her clothes, her eyes resolute and full of anticipation. She decided to go to the academy under construction; perhaps there she could find the answer she longed for.
Having learned that the academy was outside the city, Lü Zhi immediately arranged her journey. She took her two trusted maids, Chunhua and Qiuzhu, with her; these two maids were clever and capable, and very efficient. Chunhua wore her hair in pigtails, her eyes sparkling like a lively little deer; Qiuzhu, on the other hand, was quiet and reserved, her brows revealing a calm composure. Besides the maids, she also selected several highly skilled guards. These guards, dressed in black, stood tall and straight, with sharp longswords at their waists, their eyes vigilantly scanning their surroundings, always ready to protect Lü Zhi's safety.
The group set off in a grand procession towards the outskirts of the city. Along the way, Lü Zhi sat in the carriage, gazing at the scenery through the window. In the fields, lush green wheat seedlings swayed gently in the breeze, resembling a green ocean. In the distance, the rolling mountains stretched out like a giant dragon lying across the land. Lü Zhi's mood gradually lightened with the beautiful scenery; she looked forward to seeing the construction site of the academy soon to be seen.
From afar, Lü Zhi could see the bustling construction site. The scene resembled a grand battle, with craftsmen and ordinary people alike busy at their respective posts. Dust billowed across the site, and the sounds of tools clashing and shouts mingled together, creating a vibrant symphony of labor. The craftsmen skillfully wielded their tools; some were laying bricks, some were felling trees, and some were carrying stones. Their movements were synchronized and orderly, as if they had rehearsed countless times.