After returning to Luoxue Xuan, Li Wanming grabbed her pillow and started pounding it furiously while scolding.
"What a bunch of things!"
"A bunch of old fogeys!"
"They say I'm being ostentatious? I'm opening an academy to teach girls how to plow fields, weave cloth, and brew wine. How is that being ostentatious?"
"I think he's the one who's a stubborn old fool! Just because he's the Director of the Imperial College, he thinks he's so great?"
"And that Lord He. He said it's not good for women to show themselves in public... How come he never disciplines his son who's been fooling around outside? But he comes here pretending to be a self - disciplined, kind, and thrifty gentleman!"
Spring Peach brought her a cup of tea and patted her on the back. "Calm down, calm down. They're just a bunch of narrow - minded women from the inner chambers. We don't need to argue with them!"
Li Wanming had discussed Spring Peach's job arrangement with her. But before they could say much, Spring Peach's eyes welled up with tears. "Miss, you don't want me anymore?"
"I didn't mean..."
Spring Peach burst into tears. "Did I do something wrong to make you angry, Miss? I know I'm stupid, but please don't drive me away..."
There was nothing Li Wanming could do. She had to keep Spring Peach by her side as her chief steward. She could only wait until one day when Spring Peach grew up, changed her mind, and found a place she wanted to go, then let her leave.
Xiao Jingnan had been sitting under the window sill, doing the accounts. Seeing Li Wanming so angry, he lost interest in the account books.
He sat over and comforted her softly. "Your academy hasn't opened yet. It's normal for the He and Chen families to have concerns."
"Although the Empress Dowager and the Emperor advocate for women's education, the academy you're opening is so unique. Naturally, Lord He and Director Chen of the Imperial College wouldn't easily let their daughters - in - law come out."
"Moreover, Lord He and Director Chen are men. They hope that women will always be gentle, submissive, and virtuous..."
Hearing this, Li Wanming became even more furious.
"What do you mean men and women? We're all human beings. Why is there such a big difference!"
"My mother, when she heard I was opening an academy, didn't say a word but just sent me silver. She even asked if I needed someone to teach the girls martial arts, and she could come in person!"
"Fine! According to you, my mother is an unconventional woman, so let's not count her. Let's just talk about you men!"
"My father strongly supports me. Even Brother Liang and Feng Xiao came to ask if they could help as soon as they heard!"
"And you, Lu Ping, Wu Yao, Father - in - law, and Uncle... None of you opposed me!"
"What, aren't you men?"
Xiao Jingnan wasn't angry at all. He said calmly, "It's because you've met us."
Li Wanming was stunned. "What do you mean?"
Xiao Jingnan looked into her eyes and said,
"Your father never shies away from talking about your mother's achievements in public or private. He entrusts all the family affairs to her. Even in front of his own mother, he protects his wife. Just this alone is something many men can't do."
"General Liang Xiong of the Cloud - Banner Army. At General Feng's banquet, when he lost at arrow - throwing, he knelt down on the spot. He was willing to admit defeat and keep his promise. He didn't think it was a loss of face just because you're a woman. Later, when he became sworn siblings with you, he was an open - minded person."
"As for Feng Xiao..."
Xiao Jingnan smiled and said, "From the time he accompanied the Emperor on an incognito visit to your place to order wine, we can tell he's not a conservative person. And Feng Xiao has a young and playful heart. Of course, he can't wait to support you in opening such a special academy!"
After saying that, Xiao Jingnan sat down at the small table beside the bed and gently tapped on the table with his fingers. "But, wife, this isn't something to be taken for granted."
"They support you because they're broad - minded. They don't look down on women, and they even disdain to treat women as their private possessions."
"However, most people in this world don't think this way."
"Not to mention men. Let's talk about women. Your grandmother, great - aunts, and the Lady He and Lady Chen you met today are all women... Did they support you?"
Li Wanming bit her lips and lowered her head without saying a word.
"So, whether to support or not actually has nothing to do with gender, but with one's own knowledge and position."
"Wife, if you want to get your two elder sisters out, the only way is to run this academy well."
"If we can make our Zhaoyu Academy brilliant and famous throughout the country, making it the most well - known women's school in the capital that everyone flocks to, the He and Chen families won't have any reason to hold your sisters back."
"Zhaoyu Academy?" Li Wanming looked up blankly and murmured.
Xiao Jingnan nodded. "Zhao means the brightness of the sun, representing brilliance; Yu means wings, representing flying. I named it Zhaoyu Academy because I hope all your students can fly brightly in the sun!"
"Do you like this name, wife?"
Li Wanming whispered the name twice and found herself liking it more and more. Her previous depression and anger gradually faded away, and instead, her heart was filled with the passion to strive harder in the face of setbacks.
"Good! Let's call it Zhaoyu Academy!"
Didn't they look down on her?
Didn't they think women should stay in the inner chambers?
Then she'd show them by flying once!
The days that followed became even busier.
Li's Wine Shop's main store was handed over to Caiwei. Qinglan was in charge of the academy's renovation, and Spring Peach took care of the old store.
As for the academy's formalities with the Ministry of Rites, the Imperial College, and the Hanlin Academy, Xiao Jingnan was handling them.
According to him, with the help of Miss Lu of the Lu family, everything was going smoothly. He told her to focus on her preparations and open the classes on time.
Li Wanming was relieved and began to carefully consider the academy's curriculum and the recruitment of teachers.
"I can teach brewing. Yiyi can teach about silk and fur. She said she'll also bring two shopkeepers to teach everyone book - keeping."
"It's just that weaving and gardening... Big Sister knows these things best. I originally thought I could get her out this time."
Li Wanming felt sad for a moment but quickly cheered up. "It's okay! As long as the academy runs well, I'll definitely be able to get them out in the future!"
"Moreover, since the academy is just starting, we don't need so many courses. We must first teach the girls how to read and write."
Holding a writing brush, Li Wanming carefully planned and said to Xiao Jingnan,
"Regarding martial arts, my mother said she can come and teach. Since learning martial arts may involve physical contact and the students are all girls, it's not convenient for Lu Ping and Wu Yao."
"You'll be in charge of the book - keeping courses. You not only need to teach them how to use the abacus but also how to read account books."
"As for reading and writing, Qinglan can do it. And on non - holiday days, Pei Yanqi will also come. He's the top scholar. With him here to support us, it'll be easier for us to recruit good teachers..."
Xiao Jingnan's eyebrows twitched slightly. He looked up. "Who did you say is coming?"
"Scholar Pei is coming?"