"Haha, Young Master Gu, with your words, no parent would dare not send their child," Huang Wenming said, laughing heartily.
The villagers of Phoenix Village were all refugees who had tasted the bitterness of starvation. They would never return the grain they had received, so enrollment was bound to be smooth.
Gu Qingcheng cared so much about this matter because children nowadays had to help their families with chores as soon as they could walk. Some parents felt that since their children wouldn't do well in school anyway, it was better to have them work early to support the family and thus did not want them to attend the academy.
Huang Wenming thought that was all, but he didn't expect Gu Qingcheng to have a bigger move.
"Also, if you send your child to the academy, you'll receive an extra 5 jin of rice per month."
"Ah? This?"
Huang Wenming hadn't expected Gu Qingcheng to be so generous.
Looking at Gu Qingcheng's still slender figure, Huang Wenming couldn't help but wonder what this mysterious young man intended to do.
Did he want to be king?
Phoenix Village was now a nascent form of a country...
In fact, Gu Qingcheng's thoughts were not as complicated as Huang Wenming imagined.
She herself had infinite resources to protect her life and live comfortably with her parents until old age.
But if she only cared about her own life, wouldn't that be too boring?
Just their family of four?
No, plus Kele and Wangcai, and Little Wolf, a family of seven would be too lonely, right?
The villagers of Phoenix Village could accompany her to face the trials of the cataclysm.
Wouldn't it be better for everyone to live together happily?
"Young Master Gu, your move is brilliant. With this trump card, which parent wouldn't send their child? Oh, and do girls also get the extra 5 jin of rice?"
"Naturally. It is also very important for girls to be educated. Haven't you noticed how important it is for children to have a sensible and virtuous mother from a young age? If they don't study, they won't become such mothers in the future."
In Gu Qingcheng's heart, Hu Lanfang was such a mother, although sometimes, due to community work, Hu Lanfang could also be quite boisterous.
"Alright, I understand." After discussing the main business, Huang Wenming suddenly stammered, "Young Master Gu, I have one more matter to request, and I don't know if I should say it."
"What is it? Just say it."
Seeing his hesitant look, Gu Qingcheng knew it was something important. She perked up her ears to listen.
"Well, it's like this. Guixiang is sensible and gentle, and I have a good impression of her. Now, one of us has lost a wife and child, and the other has lost a husband. I want to marry Guixiang. What do you think, Young Master Gu?"
Huang Wenming, being a man, felt a prickle of unease but still spoke.
Gu Qingcheng was surprised that Huang Wenming was already thinking of marriage so soon.
However, it was understandable. Guixiang was indeed as virtuous and polite as he praised, and she was educated. This was exactly what a scholar like him would desire.
"I don't object, but of course, Guixiang's opinion must also be respected."
Gu Qingcheng stated her stance. Huang Wenming likely told her this because he was afraid Gu Qingcheng might object and had concerns, hence his hesitation.
"Young Master Gu, I would like to ask you to come with me to propose," Huang Wenming said. "With you there, Guixiang won't think it's a trifling matter, and it will be the greatest respect to her."
"Me?" Gu Qingcheng pointed to herself in astonishment.
Was she being asked to be a matchmaker?
"Yes, you," Huang Wenming said, his mood greatly improved as she didn't object.
"I'm too young, it's not suitable," Gu Qingcheng said with an awkward smile.
She had no dating experience herself, yet she was constantly being asked to play matchmaker. What was happening in this world? Did she have a matchmaker's face?
"Haha, you are our matchmaker! If it weren't for Phoenix Village bringing us together, how would I have met Guixiang?"
Huang Wenming seemed determined to have Gu Qingcheng help him with the marriage proposal.
"Then do you think Guixiang admires you?"
Gu Qingcheng, having learned from Qin Yue and Liu Ding's situations, didn't want to force a match. If Guixiang didn't want to marry, and Huang Wenming still asked her to propose, Guixiang might feel obliged to marry to save face, and then her guilt would be immense.
"I think it should be fine. I will treat Xiao Jun as my own child, and I will give all my monthly salary to Guixiang to manage. If we can be together, supporting each other and both teaching in the academy, wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Huang Wenming fantasized happily.
"How about this? This matter is not up to you, nor is it up to me. It is up to Guixiang. To avoid embarrassment, I will first probe Guixiang's feelings. If she doesn't object, then I will go with you to propose. If she objects, I won't get involved, and you must take care of yourself and not bother her."
Gu Qingcheng recalled the recent romantic entanglements and felt a headache coming on. The refugees in Phoenix Village rarely had complete families; most had been married with children before, but their families had broken apart due to the loss of loved ones in the disaster. They had faced life-and-death trials, understood human relationships profoundly, and viewed life and death with relative detachment. Therefore, if they felt a connection, things could develop quickly. With the current stable life in the village, it was no wonder people's minds were stirring again. But this was also a good thing, wasn't it proof that life in the village brought hope? Moreover, these broken families needed companionship and healing from each other. Having shared similar hardships, they would surely be able to move each other more easily.
Huang Wenming felt he had a chance when Gu Qingcheng didn't directly refuse. It was true that Guixiang had a good impression of him, and they often met and communicated regarding academy matters. Guixiang admired his erudition and talent, while he admired Guixiang's resilience and virtue. Of course, Guixiang was also beautiful. She had deliberately disfigured herself during the escape and didn't wear makeup. Now, with normal life restored in Phoenix Village, although still in simple clothes, her original delicate beauty was evident, which greatly attracted Huang Wenming.
Love and desire are natural human sentiments, and Gu Qingcheng did not delay. She went directly to find Guixiang. Guixiang had already moved into a wooden house. As a female teacher in the village, she had received special consideration. Although it wasn't her turn yet, Gu Qingcheng had let her move in early. At the time, some people were resentful, saying that Guixiang, who arrived later, was living in a big house first, and didn't they have a first-come, first-served order for housing? Gu Qingcheng happened to pass by and directly retorted: "Do you understand respecting teachers and valuing education? If your academic knowledge were better than Guixiang's, I would definitely have Guixiang give the house to you." The other person was surprised. It turned out Guixiang's "backer" was Gu Qingcheng. How would he dare to argue with Gu Qingcheng? Was he tired of living? Did he not want to stay in Phoenix Village anymore? So, he left dejectedly. In this way, Guixiang was able to move into the new house smoothly. Gu Qingcheng had been busy and hadn't visited for some time.