Chapter 1700: Chapter 1700 Shao Ting
Hou Residence, Qing Xue brought the painting back, "Old Madam, would you like to open it now?"
Zhulan was excited, "Open it, let’s see it now."
Qing Xue instructed two young maids to open the scroll, a nine-foot-long painting, depicting a scene of Zhulan speaking on the platform.
Zhulan examined the painting closely; she had hired several painters at the time to restore the complete scene, "Good, good."
This is evidence, proof of her existence. She must preserve it well. She reached out carefully to touch the scroll, her eyes somewhat red, it’s too historically significant.
Zhulan didn’t put away the painting; she left it on the table, waiting for Zhou Shuren to return home.
Zhou Shuren came back from the government office and hadn’t entered the house when his wife greeted him outside, "Were you waiting for me?"
Zhulan held Shuren’s hand, "I brought you to see the promised surprise."
Zhou Shuren grasped his wife’s hand in return, "You are young, walk slowly."
"With you here, I’m not afraid of falling."
Zhou Shuren said nothing, instead holding her hand tighter, following his wife to the table, "A painting?"
"Open it and take a look."
Zhou Shuren was quite curious, he opened the painting, his eyes gradually widening, "It really is a surprise."
"My idea wasn’t bad, was it?"
"Not bad, I also want to leave behind portraits!"
Zhulan laughed, "Let’s keep them all. Maybe in the future we’ll be in textbooks!"
Zhou Shuren, thinking about it, also became excited, "Then I want to leave even more portraits."
Zhulan’s idea had both of them becoming passionate about portraits. During dinner, they discussed inviting a few painters to the residence. Hmm, now the Zhou family has a solid foundation, capable of affording several painters.
After dinner, Zhou Shuren looked at the painting again before having it put away, fanning himself with a fan, "The weather is somewhat unusual, though the time hasn’t come."
Today was quite warm, going out one dared not look up at the sun, dazzling and making one dizzy and uncomfortable.
Zhulan, "Will there be any natural disasters?"
Alas, humans are so small in the face of natural disasters. In the modern era, technology offers solutions to some droughts and floods, but ancient times were unfortunate. Her years in ancient times have not erased her fear of hearing about natural disasters, where corpses would be scattered under their wrath.
Zhou Shuren, "I don’t know either."
The couple exchanged glances, their eyes filled with concern.
The next day, Zhulan was going to the Academy, unexpectedly meeting Ming Hui as she got into the carriage, "Are you going too?"
Ming Hui, "Grandson doesn’t feel assured about you."
Zhulan hardly believed him; if he truly cared, why hadn’t he accompanied her previously, "Do you have any other purpose?"
Ming Hui spread his hands open, "Truly none."
Zhulan, "Heh."
Ming Hui, "!!"
The carriage arrived at the Academy, classes were already ongoing, Zhulan turned around each classroom. The children were very attentive, her gaze falling on their clothing; those sent to study were somewhat well-off, their clothes without patches, and the children’s hair tied only with ribbons, a requirement she set, forbidding jewelry when entering school.
After observing the children, Zhulan returned to the office to review the register of female orphans, few of whom were past the age of coming of age. The Academy retained a few, while the remainder were still interning; going to teach on the grasslands could only be these matured ones.
A knock sounded, and a Female Officer entered, "Director, there’s a girl who wants to teach."
Zhulan was intrigued, "How old?"
Female Officer, "Fourteen years old."
Zhulan was even more interested; rather than wanting to study, she wanted to teach. Her courage was commendable, "Invite her in."
The Female Officer smiled and said, "Yes."
Upon seeing the girl, Zhulan felt familiarity, then recalled, "Ah, so it’s you."
The siblings from before, but puzzled, wasn’t the sister intending to study? Why come to apply?
The girl was somewhat nervous, "It’s this young woman, you can test me. I’ve read quite a few books."
Zhulan gazed at the girl; the Academy lacked no teachers, many female orphans were present, the girl before her possessed great courage, "I heard you originally wanted to enter the Academy to study."
The girl looked at young Zhou, this gentleman actually told everything!
Zhulan squinted her eyes, she was sensing the girl’s recent application was related to her grandson!
The girl took a deep breath, "This young woman indeed wants to learn skills, so with craftsmanship I may earn Silver, but this young woman also cares about her brother’s thoughts, he reads and so I study too; for many years this young woman believes herself not to be lacking, thus boldly comes."
Zhulan heard a lot of information from this, the brother and sister seemed to rely on each other; the brother values the sister, and she wishes to help her brother, "What’s your name?"
The girl gently pinched the palm of her hand, gathering strength, and spoke, "I’m surnamed Shao, named Ting, fourteen years old, from Xiao Liu Village, with one elder brother in the family."
Zhulan thought indeed the siblings rely on each other, "The Academy doesn’t lack female teachers."
Seeing the girl’s expression darken, she added, "However, I can offer you an opportunity, complete the task I assign you within a month, and I’ll keep you, with 500 coins as salary for this month."
Shao Ting, "This young woman certainly won’t disappoint the Director."
Zhulan liked Shao Ting very much, she was willing to give an opportunity to the first person who dared to nominate herself.
Once the girl left with the Female Officer, Zhulan turned her head to look at her grandson, "Speak, what’s going on?"
Ming Hui touched his nose, "On the opening day, grandson saw the siblings; they were watching too, so I mentioned it. A few days ago I saw Miss Shao again in the capital, grandson didn’t say much, only suggested she come and try."
Zhulan hummed, knowing her son’s temperament, which is why Ming Hui dared suggest it; today her grandson came because of Miss Shao, "You’re quite warm-hearted."
Ming Hui hurriedly explained, "Grandson appreciates the siblings."
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have spoken; if character weren’t good, he wouldn’t bother to glance, the Shao siblings had a good rapport.
Zhulan noting the time was late, took her grandson back to the capital, nearing noon during the hottest of the weather, Zhulan said, "You don’t have to fan me, look at how hot you are."
Ming Hui, "Today is hotter than yesterday, the temperature isn’t normal."
Zhulan sighed, "Hope it’s just abnormal for a few days."
Back home in a short while, Rongchuan arrived, Zhulan handed him a letter, "Take a look."
Rongchuan reviewed the letter, "Integration among ethnic groups isn’t easy; Wu Ming’s proposal should be supported. Mingyun sent a letter back first as coordination, Wu Ming’s Zhezi should be on its way to the capital."
Zhulan, "Mm."
Rongchuan smiled, "Ask around to see who wants to go, observe some who volunteer, I’ll help fight for some advantages."
"Alright, leave it to you."
Rongchuan continued, "Mother, it’s hot these days. You should send someone to the Academy instead of going personally."
He feared the old lady’s age would lead to heatstroke!
Zhulan didn’t respond, "I still need to go personally, I’m the Director, many eyes are watching!"
Rongchuan, "Then you must take more rest."
"Alright, don’t worry about me. Your father and I are careful."
Now that she has a career, she is not willing to die, let alone wish to die.
After Rongchuan stayed a while and left, Zhulan rubbed her forehead. Suddenly, the heat made her uncomfortable, so she rose and lay down in her room.
When Zhulan woke up, Lady Li came rushing in, "Mother."