The Ace Bigshot Becomes A Farmgirl

Shu Yu greeted Yuan Gui and Kang Shuxian, inquiring about the convoy’s situation.

Yuan Gui leaned over to the side of the carriage, first shaking hands with Little Mianmian, who peeked her little head out, then said, ”Everything’s ready. This time we’re delivering goods to the Capital and Changjin Prefecture. The convoy is larger, so we’re moving slowly. Once we pass Changjin Prefecture, we’ll pick up speed.”

Shu Yu nodded, ”No problem, we’re not in a rush.”

As they spoke, Meng Yunzheng alighted from the carriage, carrying Mianmian toward the middle section of the convoy.

Reaching an elder’s back, he set Mianmian down, ”Mr. Hejiang.”

Mr. Hejiang, with his back to Meng Yunzheng, turned around upon hearing the voice, first smiling at Mianmian and handing her a grasshopper woven from straw, then nodding at Meng Yunzheng, ”This trip is large in number, it must be tiring for the brothers in the convoy.”

Meng Yunzheng laughed, ”Their extra wages are all dispensed from the academy’s accounts.”

Mr. Hejiang gave him a sidelong glance, ”Listening to the Mountain Master’s tone, our academy seems quite well-off.”

Meng Yunzheng, ”My wife is a businesswoman, I guess I’m half a businessman too.”

Mr. Hejiang, ”...” Aren’t you just a businessman?

At the foot of the mountain, there’s a large vegetable plot belonging to the academy, and the students grow their own vegetables. Behind the academy, there’s also a big section fenced off for raising livestock, where experienced farmers have been specially hired to teach, so the livestock in the backyard are fat and robust, even better than those bought from outside.

Haven’t you noticed that the workers from County Lord Lu’s workshop go out of their way to find a way to buy from them?

And the families of students renting houses at the mountain’s foot, they are wealthy folks, wanting not to shortchange their children or themselves, they also find ways to buy meat and vegetables.

Of course, there were many parents who protested about this, but no one could out-talk Meng Yunzheng’s glib tongue. He argued that even the imperial court established holidays for farming, showing that even the court supports the development of agriculture, so why not go down to the fields and work?

Moreover, with the civil exams often posing questions on agriculture, how can one deeply understand it without personal involvement? Besides, Meng Yunzheng personally goes down to work in the fields to prove that he, as a top scorer in six subjects, was trained this way.

Goodness, even Mr. Hejiang and Mr. Huai’an were thoroughly convinced by him.

Thus, Zhenglu Academy had its first income.

Later, Meng Yunzheng also developed handicrafts. The grasshopper that Mr. Hejiang just made was learned in the handicraft classes... these items couldn’t sell for high prices, but they could fetch one or two copper coins, and Mountain Master Meng didn’t mind that.

Following this, he encouraged students to write more essays. Those that were well done would be sent to bookstores for printing and sale.

This way, students honed their writing skills, gained recognition, and even boosted their courage. Especially for students from poor families, it could provide a significant income.

With this income, students wouldn’t have to owe tuition to the academy.

Whenever he got the chance, Meng Yunzheng always sought to increase the academy’s revenue, especially last year when a batch of advanced scholars emerged from the academy, causing a sensation throughout Dasu.

Hence, under Shu Yu’s suggestion, Meng Yunzheng went... to attract investment.

Merchants were naturally more than happy; if they had nothing else, they still had money.

Very well, now the academy is truly wealthy beyond words.

Probably throughout all of Dasu, unless subsidized by the Office’s grants, no academy is wealthier than Zhenglu Academy.