Volume 4: Gathering of Sages Chapter 733: Work-Study and Training
When it comes to the word "treatment", a shrewd person like Fang's mother is the most sensitive. She was the first to wake up, leaving behind her previous annoyance and regret, and hurriedly asked: "May I ask Master Zhang, how can the treatment be different?"
Zhang Shou did not give a direct answer, but smiled and said: "I think your children come to the public school to study, not to pass the imperial examination in the future, but to find a good job with good pay after graduation, earn money to support the family and marry a wife, and have many children and grandchildren in the future, and live a happy and healthy life, right?"
Seeing that Fang's mother suddenly looked unnatural, he thought of her eldest son who claimed to take the county examination. He knew that the mother's goal was not limited to this. Maybe she was counting on her eldest son to win an imperial edict for her in the future. He couldn't help but smile and shook his head.
"I know that Madam Fang has an older son who is waiting for his fate, but that is another matter. But aren't you planning to send his younger brother to be an apprentice in order to support this son and to help pay for his elder brother's participation in the county exam?"
Hearing this, Fang's mother finally understood that there was no need to show off her little tricks in front of others, so she readily admitted, "I was short-sighted. My eldest son has already said that. His studies have almost used up the last bit of our family's spare energy. If the youngest continues to study like this, I really can't afford it. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been taken advantage of by that liar!"
The other two couples were not as talkative as Fang's mother. They could only nod their heads. Zhang Shou nodded and said, "Let alone ordinary people, even well-off families often cannot afford to send all their sons to school. So you have been very concerned about your sons. However, you are like headless flies, trying to find a good job for them. It is not easy."
It's not just not easy, it's as difficult as ascending to heaven! Fang's mother wanted to yell, but she was as cautious as she was usually. Father Chen, who usually couldn't make a fart, asked with a trembling voice: "From the tone of Master Zhang, can you say that he can solve this biggest problem?"
"Of course I can't do it alone, but after discussing it with Lu Jijiu and Mr. Liu, I have a rough idea."
For a moment, the five people in front of him were all delighted. Fang's mother, who was the most talkative, flattered him as soon as she opened her mouth: "We think it is a huge task, but in the eyes of people like you, Mr. Zhang, and Mr. Liu, the chief priest, it is of course a piece of cake..."
"It's not that easy. I just said that if I were alone, there would be nothing I could do. Now that someone has taken advantage of us, it's not too late to make amends." Zhang Shou saw that only Father Chen nodded this time, and the other four were a little confused. He knew that he used too many idioms out of habit...
He stopped talking nonsense and said directly, "The patrol system I just mentioned is not something I came up with on a whim. It is a solution I came up with after discussing it with Lu Jijiu and Mr. Liu."
"There is only one class every seven days, especially for the elementary class that cannot read and write. They can only do simple literacy. In this case, it is not wrong to let the students of the public school take the lead. Of course, we can wait until the result of the bet between the big one and the three small ones is determined."
Chen Fanggao's parents had not wanted to push for this too much - after all, their son had at least escaped the illiterate class, and if they tried a little, they would just help their neighbors. But now that Zhang Shou had already said so, no one would say anything more, and they naturally agreed meekly.
"So, after this term, the public school will no longer have elementary classes, nor will it recruit completely illiterate students. This part will be handed over to the best patrol students. The teaching time will no longer be just once every seven days, but at least half a month of concentrated classes. In view of the different family conditions of the students, those in need can choose two ways of funding."
"One is work-study, as the name suggests, it is part-time study. The school will provide opportunities to work, which can guarantee that the income will be higher than that of ordinary apprentices and helpers in the market. All the wages earned on weekdays belong to you, whether you keep it for your own use or to supplement your family, it is up to you. But such benefits have prerequisites."
"If a work-study student fails the assessment after completing one quarter, that is, three months, then you will need to stay and work for one quarter for free to compensate for the tuition fees for the quarter you failed! For work-study students, the school system is two years, and the time spent studying and working is half and half, seven days of study, seven days of work, and then two days of rest. How to use the limited time depends on the students' own ability."
"After the two-year study period, no matter what career the students choose, the public school will not ask."
When Fang's mother heard that classes would no longer be held once every seven days, but would be held for half a month in a month, she was shocked. But when she heard about the work-study plan, her face gradually regained some color.
The younger son does odd jobs every now and then, and helping out at home doesn't bring him any extra income. If he can really earn half a month's wages, that's a lot, and he can also help support his older son.
However, the two pairs of parents from the Gao family and the Chen family are not like Fang's mother who only thinks about money.
The Gao family's parents thought that the lesson of the eldest son, who was like a villain, was a lesson for the youngest son. If he studied hard for two years, he would be knowledgeable and sensible, and he would have a bright future. The Chen family's parents thought that they would suffer for another two years, and when the third son succeeded in his studies, he might be able to inherit his father's business and become an accountant.
But just as they looked at each other and were about to agree, Zhang Shou suddenly came up with another plan.
"The second is commissioned training. As the name suggests, it means entrusted training. There are many families and businesses that donate money to the public school. Some businesses have opened specific classes in the public school, such as typesetting classes, statistics classes, and clerical classes. These businesses provide all the food, accommodation and tuition for the students in these classes, and the requirement is that after graduation, they work for them."
"Of course, because such technical classes require a very high foundation, in principle, illiterate people are not accepted. As long as those who can read and write are willing to enter those technical classes in the future and are willing to sign a long contract of more than eight years with these businesses, they can become sponsored students, with free tuition, food and lodging, and even a certain amount of money and food subsidies."
At this point, Zhang Shou saw that the five people opposite him were all excited, so he said calmly: "However, nowadays, when businesses recruit people, most of them are masters taking apprentices, and the apprentices are even selected from their own children and nephews. They try their best to teach by example and cut costs. At the same time, they will even try their best to keep some skills to avoid teaching the apprentices and starving the master to death. Therefore, they are not willing to spend money to exchange for an uncertain employee."
"It's different with public schools. The requirements for the sponsored students are very high. Only those who have worked and studied for two consecutive quarters, have excellent grades, and have outstanding performance will get such an opportunity. After becoming sponsored students, they will no longer do general repetitive labor, but will enter the businesses that sponsor them to learn, observe, and get started... undergoing various training and tempering."
"If other people's life goals are to be craftsmen, then their life goals must be to be great craftsmen or famous craftsmen. If other people's life goals are to be accountants or shopkeepers, then their life goals must at least be the chief shopkeeper or general accountant. If other people's life goals are to be captains, then their life goals must be to be in charge of a fleet of several ships and give orders..."
Zhu Ying, who was quietly approaching and eavesdropping, heard Zhang Shou describe such a beautiful picture, and suddenly an idea came to her mind - could it be that Zhang Shou had already prepared a plan when he insisted on asking the emperor for that charity hall?
She didn't believe in these two complementary plans. Zhang Shou had discussed it with Lu Wan and Liu Zhiyuan this morning! Even if the three of them could be called shrewd and calculating, it was absolutely impossible... Although Zhang Shou was not old, he could be considered recognized.
Zhu Ying, who was well-informed - or rather, well-informed - she felt that the prospects described by Zhang Shou were indeed bright and beautiful. How could Chen Fanggao's parents, who had never seen the world, not be moved by what Zhang Shou said?
If someone said such things in front of them, they would inevitably suspect that the person was a liar.
However, their son had already confirmed Zhang Shou's identity to them. Add to that his outstanding looks, his eloquent conversation, his calm and composed demeanor, and Zhu Ying, who was still stunningly beautiful even in men's clothing. If they didn't throw themselves at him and curry favor with him, the other party would not want him. They were willing to send their son to Zhang Garden as a servant!
Therefore, as expected, Zhang Shou received a lot of grateful words from the three parents - without a doubt, all three families expressed their willingness to send their sons to continue their studies, and if possible, they would choose the work-study program first, and then take the exam for commissioned training.
At this time, the bet between Zhang Chen, the fourth prince and the little peanut Xiao Cheng, the three of them, had been finalized.
Zhang Chen, who was arrogant by nature and could not stand being provoked, readily agreed to be a traveling teacher for a month - he thought it was really embarrassing to be called a traveling student at his age, and completely forgot that he was a student of Banshan Hall of the Imperial College not long ago, and was not much older than Xiaohuasheng, the oldest of the three.
The fourth prince, Xiao Huasheng, and Xiao Cheng huddled together for warmth, and the three decided to go into battle together. Although the fourth prince was the youngest, since Xiao Huasheng had previously claimed that he was the head of the temple, he naturally vowed to take on the responsibility of being the head of the temple to the end. When Zhang Shou came over, he patted his chest loudly.
"Teacher, we have already made a deal with Zhang Chen! In one month, whoever discovers more qualified children between the two of us will win! If he loses, he must not only promise me one thing in the future, but also respect me unconditionally. If I lose, I will follow his lead in the future, tell everyone that he is my brother Chen, and promise to promise him one thing unconditionally. I will keep my word!"
Is this a big adventure for the social brother? Speaking of which, Zhang Chen, how much do you ignore the Fourth Prince on weekdays!
Zhang Shou couldn't help but secretly complain in his heart. However, facing Chen Fanggao's parents, he didn't want to say too much. He smiled and nodded lightly, saying, "If you really want to compete, then compete. I'll determine the time and place. Okay, you guys go out and wait for me first!"
Seeing the Fourth Prince proudly agreeing and then pulling the other two children away, while Zhang Chen snorted and followed closely with his head held high, Zhang Shou winked at Zhu Ying, and seeing that the eldest lady immediately understood and followed with a smile, he felt relieved and didn't need to worry about the two groups continuing to confront each other outside.
After briefly instructing the three parents to keep the matter confidential and telling them to go back and ask their sons to go to the public school on time and then finalize the relevant procedures, Zhang Shou turned around and prepared to leave. But before he could leave, he heard a voice behind him.
"Master Zhang, please thank the three young men yesterday! If it weren't for their help and intercession, my Dalang might have been captured by the South City Army. Now that he has escaped, no matter whether he can turn over a new leaf in the future, his mother and I are sincerely grateful to them. I just hope that he will not let them down when he goes to Cangzhou."
Zhang Shou learned from Ah Liu last night that Gao's parents were afraid that their eldest son would be captured by the South City Military Department, so after the two villains were captured, they specifically begged the Fourth Prince to send them to Cangzhou immediately. As a result, Xiao Huasheng did not hesitate at all and personally took them to the "Caiyuanzi Branch" of Shunhe Escort Agency - although there were more monks who grew vegetables from the lower courtyard of Canghai.
When Gao's father explained, when he went there this morning, the person had already been sent to Cangzhou. The efficiency surprised and delighted him, and he couldn't help but feel angry and amused.
If the parents who used to indulge their eldest son knew that their eldest son was sent to Shunhe Escort Agency for labor reform, would they still be so grateful? Maybe they would... Otherwise, with the villain's behavior, he would probably be executed or do hard labor to death sooner or later!
"No need to thank me, that's what they should do. Once a classmate, always a friend. Just like once a teacher, always a father. Everyone, please relax, your sons are very sensible, and there is a long way to go."
Hearing Zhang Shou say this, the three parents were naturally very grateful. If Zhang Shou hadn't insisted, they would have wanted to send him to the street corner. When Zhang Shou, who was saying goodbye to them, met up with Zhu Ying and others, he whistled softly. The next moment, the others felt a figure suddenly fall in front of them.
"A Liu, please point out a way. Don't let us get stuck here." Zhang Shou paused and then jokingly said, "Those women who just returned might talk too much. If a prince, the eldest son of the Duke of Qin, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhao, and a cheap scholar like me are trapped here, it will really cause a sensation in the capital."
Except for the last time he went to Xingtai, Zhang Chen hated hiding his identity the most in his life, so he revealed his identity without thinking in front of people just now. But when Zhang Shou said this, he couldn't help but be shocked.
Fortunately, Ah Liu was as amazing as ever, silently nodding and leading the way. He would climb up the wall and disappear for a while, and when he reappeared, he would lead them to a relatively quiet and deserted alley. When they returned to the spacious Qianmen Street after a big circle, they heard Ah Liu say that the carriage would be here soon, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
At this time, Zhang Shou looked at the three men who had just finished a bet with a half-smile, and said casually: "Since you want to gamble, the location cannot be in the capital, otherwise you will not be satisfied with each other after winning or losing. You go back and prepare. After Mr. Zhu's wedding, it will be my wedding with Yingying. After that, it will be your bet. The result will be announced before the New Year!"
