Utterly Absurd
From this day on, Su Li no longer meddled in the affairs of the capital. Matters concerning the emperor's decisions were beyond the influence of a country girl like Su Li; only Xiao Zetian could navigate the complexities in the middle.
In these days, Xiao Zetian also became exceptionally busy, often disappearing during the day, leaving only Lingdang and the other three apprentices to protect Su Li.
"Master, don't worry. The lord has gone to handle affairs. After all, the situation in the capital is complicated, and the lord attaches special importance to this matter, so he must personally pay close attention," Lingdang comforted Su Li as they inspected the progress of Haizi Academy, holding Su Li's arm.
Su Li brushed her hair aside and nodded, "Mm, he has his difficulties. Let him be. I'm busy enough here myself."
The two of them walked around the construction site and saw that the main structure of the buildings was already completed. What remained was interior decoration and moving in furniture and utensils.
Most of the construction workers for the academy were villagers who came voluntarily. Everyone wanted their descendants to have the chance to study and escape the fate of toiling in the fields. So they worked diligently, hoping to build sturdy and beautiful buildings where their sons and grandsons could study.
When you're working for yourself, your mindset and motivation are completely different.
As Su Li and Lingdang walked around the site, the villagers stopped their work to bow respectfully to Su Li, saying with great respect, "Ah Li is here! Don't worry, this academy is for the children. We will be diligent and make sure it's built well!"
Su Li smiled cheerfully, "Thank you all for your hard work!"
The villagers busily replied, "It's no trouble at all. We have no money, so we contribute our labor. From now on, we'll live better and better together!"
After wandering around the site, Su Li went to a temporary shed nearby where several local carpenters were helping to make furniture for the academy for free. The wood for the furniture was also gathered by villagers who went into the mountains to cut trees. In short, the hardworking villagers always found ways to make good things with little or no cost.
After inspecting the site, Su Li headed to the village chief's house. But to her surprise, she found the village chief with a worried look.
The village chief was squatting in the yard, smoking a dry tobacco pipe, his brows furrowed tightly as if he could pinch a mosquito to death.
"Village Chief, what's wrong? What has you so troubled?" Su Li asked.
The village chief sighed and pointed inside the house.
Inside, a few elderly gentlemen were gathered. Su Li recognized two of them as the teachers hired specifically for Haizi Academy—Teacher Wang and Teacher Liu.
There were also four other unfamiliar men, all dressed in scholar's robes, wearing expressions of arrogance.
At the doorway, Su Li saw Teacher Wang clasp his hands and bow, saying to the elderly man in the blue scholar's robe, "Dean Zhang, we sincerely apologize. It's our ignorance and lack of propriety that led us to agree to teach at Haizi Village. We will now refuse the village chief's offer and will not teach in the village anymore."
Su Li immediately became anxious and stepped inside, "Teacher Wang, what do you mean? Didn't we agree on everything? You and Teacher Liu were supposed to teach at Haizi Academy, and we haven't shortchanged you on your treatment. Why suddenly refuse to come?"
Teacher Wang looked ashamed, covering his face with his sleeve, too embarrassed to speak.
But the elderly man in the scholar's robe, Dean Zhang, stood tall like a thin bamboo pole before Su Li and scoffed, "Tsk, I said this so-called Haizi Academy would never amount to anything. As expected, a school funded by a woman can't be good! How can a woman show her face in public? It's simply absurd!"