Chapter 215: I Sneaked a Peek at Middle School Physics
Early morning, the sky had just brightened.
The people of Qingjian County were already queuing at the train station, waiting for the small train.
After five days of recruitment efforts, most people from Qingjian County found their own work. Those with skills were absorbed into the Craftsman Well, while those without skills labored, building roads and felling trees.
The women also had work. The small train brought a large quantity of textile machines and cotton from the main fortress into the women's hands, with the instruction to weave it into cotton cloth and return it to the main fortress.
Under Li Daoxuan's guidance, San Shier had long ago implemented a "piece-rate payment" system for the women. The more cotton cloth they wove, the higher their wages.
After adopting this system, the cotton cloth output of Gao Family Village saw a qualitative leap. Therefore, this method was now being applied in the Valley of Exiles.
Even the elderly found things to do.
With the influx of a large population, a high demand for "bamboo baskets," "bamboo chairs," and other items was created. The elderly would go cut bamboo, sit under the eaves, and weave bamboo products. Although their income was less than the younger people's, they could still exchange them for goods.
The only ones without specific tasks were the children.
"This won't do!"
These children *must* receive an education.
However, the negative consequences of "swallowing an elephant like a snake" were starting to show here. The "School Well" in the main fortress simply couldn't accommodate so many children. Even if it could, Mr. Wang alone couldn't teach over four hundred children.
It seemed they needed to invite more teachers, and also construct a large plastic school.
Tan Liwen could be sent to the county town again to invite teachers. As long as they were willing to spend money, enticing some teachers over shouldn't be a problem. As for the school...
He could only rely on his old friend, Cai Xinzhi, once more.
Opening WeChat: "Hey, where are you playing?"
Cai Xinzhi: "I'm still in Shanghai. I just handed your miniature Taoist temple over to the organizers of the micro-carving art exhibition. They were stunned by it and even set up a dedicated display for you. I still have to attend a figurine business exchange..."
Li Daoxuan: "Oh? So you can't make a model for me right now?"
Cai Xinzhi: "Look at you. Of course, I can! I still have people minding the shop. Just submit the blueprints to my staff, and they'll handle it. What do you want to make this time?"
Li Daoxuan: "A school! I need a 1:200 scale model of a school."
Cai Xinzhi: "Don't tell me you haven't had enough schooling yet, and now you want to put a school model in your house to reminisce about your student days."
Li Daoxuan: "That's right, I want to collect a school. Just make it based on our old alma mater. You know, the Thirty-Two Middle School that makes me want to burn it down every time I see it."
Cai Xinzhi opened a voice message and said sarcastically, "Are we adding wheels this time?"
Li Daoxuan laughed, responding with a voice message: "My mistake! Adding wheels seems useless. I was too rash adding wheels to the Hakka Walled House last time; they haven't been used once."
"That's what you get for messing around," Cai Xinzhi chuckled. "Alright, I'll take this order. I'll have my staff make a 1:200 model of Thirty-Two Middle School and send it to you. But I have to warn you, don't actually burn it. It wouldn't be good to burn down your own house."
Li Daoxuan: "Then make it with fireproof materials for me."
Cai Xinzhi: "Damn it, I knew it. The weirdest requests always come at the end."
The two exchanged a few more joking remarks, then ended their call.
Li Daoxuan hadn't focused on the school for a long time. This reminded him to quickly check on the School Well.
As he switched his view, he saw Young Master Bai standing sternly at the podium, teaching math to the children below.
It turned out Mr. Wang had already finished "Chinese Language" class; now it was Young Master Bai's turn to "impart divine knowledge" and teach all the children mathematics.
Li Daoxuan listened for a moment. Hmm, they were covering content from the first semester of elementary school math, third grade...
"They're learning so fast!"
In schools of later generations, children would take three years to reach this point. He hadn't expected Young Master Bai to "cram" them, reaching this level in just half a year.
Thinking more deeply, he understood.
"Fewer subjects!"
Modern elementary students had to attend Chinese language, math, art, music, physical education classes... After school, they had all sorts of extracurriculars: piano, calligraphy, dance, taekwondo, rollerblading, swimming... Their time was shredded into tiny pieces.
But these children from ancient times currently only had two subjects: Chinese language and mathematics.
Studying just these two subjects, relentlessly, from morning till night—how could their progress not be fast?
Honestly, this wasn't very healthy, but it was certainly better than them just idly playing in the fields or helping with household chores.
As he pondered these thoughts, Young Master Bai's math class concluded. The regular students dispersed, but San Shier's daughter ambled over to Young Master Bai and giggled, "Brother Bai, everyone's gone! It's time for our extra lesson. Elementary math, sixth grade, second semester, the last section..."
"...section..."
Young Master Bai nodded: "Alright, let's study it together."
Li Daoxuan chuckled inwardly. *Oh, so there's this happening?*
Young Master Bai, thirteen and a half, and San Shier's daughter, almost twelve. The two older children sat at a desk and opened their "Elementary Math, Sixth Grade, Second Semester" textbook. Both of them were almost at the very end.
San Shier's daughter: "Brother Bai, after we finish this book, will we start learning 'Middle School Math'?"
Young Master Bai nodded very seriously. "Yes! Father's progress is already much faster than mine. I need to catch up quickly, otherwise he'll definitely be disappointed next time he tests me."
San Shier's daughter: "I heard the Heavenly Lord has also prepared a book called 'Middle School Physics.' That book was entrusted to my father for safekeeping. The Heavenly Lord said that after finishing 'Elementary Math,' we shouldn't just study 'Middle School Math,' but also 'Middle School Physics.' We have to learn both together, and they sound really difficult."
Young Master Bai smiled: "It's not that hard. I've already sneaked a peek at it."
"Huh?" San Shier's daughter: "You sneaked a peek? Won't you get scolded?"
Young Master Bai replied: "No! How could I get scolded for reading a book? Saintess Sister said the Heavenly Lord really likes children who love to read. When I went to get the 'Middle School Math' book last time, it wasn't really sneaking a peek. I actually looked through it right in front of Saintess Sister, and she didn't blame me. She even said the Heavenly Lord is just hoping someone will read these books as soon as possible."
San Shier's daughter asked curiously: "What does it talk about inside?"
Young Master Bai: "Length, time, sound, temperature, light, mass, density, motion and force..."
He rattled off a jumble of things in one breath, leaving San Shier's daughter utterly bewildered. "What in the world is all that?"
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