CHAPTER 742: CHAPTER 738 THIS IS A BIG DEAL (SECOND UPDATE)

Mu Shuangshuang finalized the matter of Luo Juren teaching in Er Gui Village.

Meanwhile, Chen Sheng from Chen Family Village was still confidently believing that Mu Shuangshuang would come back to him for teaching.

Once Mu Shuangshuang returned, Chen Sheng could ask her for a large sum of money.

Because of this notion, Chen Sheng bragged in front of the villagers that he would earn thirty taels of silver in three years, get married, pass the scholar exam, and take his whole family to live in the county.

People in the village just thought Chen Sheng had read himself silly and was blowing hot air.

No one believed a down-and-out scholar who hadn’t passed the exam could accumulate big money.

Or take his family to live in the county.

But Chen Sheng remained daydreaming until someone in the village started talking about the daughter of the Old Mu Family’s Third Branch in Er Gui Village, opening a school in Er Gui Village where village children could attend, and the tuition wasn’t expensive.

Only then did Chen Sheng realize Mu Shuangshuang had chosen someone else to be the teacher, abandoning him.

But that’s a story for later.

After Mu Shuangshuang secured a teacher for the academy, she had no more worries and discussed with Lu Yuanfeng.

The academy needed to be organized before the end of the year, so after the new year when spring arrived, the academy could operate.

Once the academy was on track, the remaining work could be watched over by Mu Dashan and Yu Si Niang.

In Mu Shuangshuang’s view, the academy was merely composed of several parts: the academy itself, teachers, students, and the staff handling meals.

These tasks didn’t necessarily require Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng to handle, so opening the academy wasn’t a troublesome matter for them.

On the contrary, it was convenient for themselves while benefiting others.

Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng shared their idea of opening an academy with Mu Dashan and Yu Si Niang.

The couple was so excited they were speechless.

Mu Dashan asked, "Shuangshuang, are you and Fengzi really planning to open an academy, right here in Er Gui Village?"

In Mu Dashan’s eyes, opening an academy was as extraordinary as opening mountains, building roads, and constructing bridges.

The affairs of scholars, in Mu Dashan’s view, were significant matters that couldn’t be neglected.

"Yes!" Mu Shuangshuang nodded.

"Dad, didn’t you mention last time that Xiao Han and Yuanbao had no academy to attend? Our third branch doesn’t have a house in the town, and the kids are too young and frail to travel back and forth daily between the town and the village.

The only solution was to establish an academy nearby, and the teacher we’ve hired is a scholar."

"Shuangshuang, what did you say? You’ve hired a scholar to teach?"

Mu Dashan could hardly believe his ears, his elder brother was a scholar and well-known throughout the villages.

Sometimes, when encountering people from other villages, mentioning he was from Er Gui Village’s Old Mu Family would earn him envy.

Now Shuangshuang was opening an academy and hiring a scholar, her accomplishment was truly impressive.

"Yes, the person was recommended by Xue Zheng’s second uncle, he’s from Luohe Village, and because his father passed away, he must observe mourning for three years, during which he can’t leave the town.

This time, inviting him to teach neither violates his mourning principle nor leaves him unable to save up money to go to the capital, so it’s mutually beneficial," Mu Shuangshuang explained.

"Have you decided where to build the academy?" Mu Dashan asked.

An academy referred to was actually a private school that could accommodate a dozen people.

In a typical peasant village, at most one or two boys would study, most peasant families couldn’t afford the gift, let alone send their children to a private school.

"I’ve selected the place, it’s over the abandoned house in the village."

Mu Dashan also thought it was a good location, although Wang Fugui and Xia Guagua had done something unmentionable there, even letting villagers see it.

But once the academy was built, no one would mention those dirty things anymore.

Instead, they’d talk about the good deeds of children studying, which was a form of purifying the place.

"Shuangshuang, I have something to discuss," Mu Dashan said.

"Please go ahead, Shuangshuang is listening."

"I wish to personally participate in building the academy. As for my physical condition, I asked Uncle Zhang this morning, he said I’m recovering well and can do some heavy work."

In his youth, Mu Dashan was involved in building houses, and although years had passed, those skills were etched in his mind.

If he led the construction of the academy, the quality of the school’s buildings would surely be unquestionable.

"Alright! Since you’ve decided, Dad, the task is yours, come to us for anything you need," Mu Shuangshuang said.

With Mu Dashan managing the construction, Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng could spare time to go hunting in the mountains.

Besides, the Huang Brothers helped Mu Shuangshuang last night, and she hadn’t repaid the favor yet, now was an opportunity to do so while hunting.

...

...

Mrs. Lin returned to Er Gui Village after lunch, carrying a bundle of firewood, with dirt covering her face and body.

It looked like she was heading to the Old Mu Family to apologize.

Step by step, Mrs. Lin walked toward the Old Mu Family, her calves trembling several times, making her want to turn back, but each time she thought of the big house in the capital.

A large courtyard, with servants aplenty and all kinds of beautiful clothes, Mrs. Lin endured.

Mrs. Lin comforted herself, at most she would receive a beating from the old woman, but once beaten, she could live a good life, no matter how she calculated, it was worth it.

When Mrs. Lin appeared in the courtyard of the Old Mu Family, Old Mrs. Mu happened to be taking out Mu Xiangxiang’s quilt to sun.

The midday sun was perfect for sunning things.

Old Mrs. Mu used a mallet, hitting the quilt several times, releasing a large portion of the dust inside.

Suddenly, Old Mrs. Mu saw Mrs. Lin standing at the courtyard entrance, sneaky, peering inside.

Old Mrs. Mu’s anger surged, she grabbed the mallet and charged forward, kicking Mrs. Lin to the ground.

The mallet in Old Mrs. Mu’s hand began to swing, smashing onto Mrs. Lin, who let out screams akin to a pig being slaughtered.

"Mother, the wife comes to admit fault, you can’t kill the wife, the wife will be beaten to death."

Mrs. Lin shouted and screamed.

Old Mrs. Mu threw away the mallet, clawed at Mrs. Lin’s face with her nails, tearing off a piece of flesh from her face.

Blood gushed out.

Mrs. Lin was in excruciating pain.

"Help, murder..."

Old Mrs. Mu became more and more enthusiastic in her beating. "Wretch, for disgracing Xiangxiang, you tramp, it’s all your fault, Xiangxiang is lying on the bed, this old woman will strangle you today, to avenge Xiangxiang!"

Old Mrs. Mu’s fingers clamped around Mrs. Lin’s neck, and with a forceful squeeze, Mrs. Lin’s face turned as dark as pig liver.

Mrs. Lin felt uncomfortable all over.

The firewood behind her had been crushed into several pieces by Old Mrs. Mu, making her ache terribly.

Breathing became increasingly difficult.

Mrs. Lin felt she was about to die...