Chen Wangbei’s parents were both farmers. Having grown up in a farming family, he had a deep understanding of their affairs.
Hua Manman asked him if farming families would let their girls go to school.
Without even thinking, Chen Wangbei gave a negative answer.
The reason was simple.
Someone was needed to do the work at home.
Farming households had endless chores. The adults typically had to wake at dawn and work nonstop until nightfall before they could sleep.
The children in the family had to learn to do housework from a young age to ease their parents’ burden.
If all the children were sent to school, who would do the work at home?
It was a different story if it was a boy.
A boy who studied could take the imperial examinations. If he was lucky, he might even earn a title and bring honor to his ancestors.
But what could a girl do with an education?
’It’s completely useless!’
Hua Manman wanted to say that studying could make one reasonable and enlightened.
But to the farmers, all of that was just empty talk.
They didn’t care about being enlightened or not. They only cared if they could get enough to eat today.
Hua Manman was a little dejected. "So, does this mean girls can’t go to school?"
She could waive the tuition fees and lower the enrollment threshold, but if people wouldn’t let their daughters attend, she couldn’t just kidnap them.
Besides, not every girl would even want to go to school.
Getting this done would be much harder than she had anticipated.
Li Ji smiled. "I have a way to make those farming families voluntarily send their daughters to school."
Hua Manman’s interest was immediately piqued, and she pressed him eagerly.
"What is it?"
Li Ji deliberately kept her in suspense, refusing to say directly.
Furious, Hua Manman reached out and pinched his waist.
"Hurry up and tell me!"
Even though Li Ji was a trained martial artist, her pinch still stung sharply.
He clutched his waist and cried out in mock pain, "This is outrageous! You dare to lay a hand on me now!"
Hua Manman pinched his waist again. "So what if I did? It’s your fault for keeping me in suspense!"
Clutching his waist, Li Ji dodged backward.
He remembered when Manman had first married into the family. She was a sweet little darling, her words always full of sweet nothings. No matter what he said, she was obedient and submissive.
Even if she secretly complained about him in her heart, she never dared to defy him to his face.
Who would have thought that now she would dare to get physical with him!
Hua Manman gave him a shove.
"Just say it! If you keep me hanging, you’re not sleeping with me tonight."
Li Ji cursed under his breath.
’See? Look at that! This woman not only hits people, she’s learned to threaten them too!’
Swallowing his pride, he said.
"The method is actually very simple: entice them with benefits.
Don’t mention schooling at first. Just say you’ve specially invited two embroideresses from the city.
If the girls on the estate want to learn embroidery, they can go to the school to find them.
The greatest wish those farmers have for their daughters is to find them a good family to marry into.
If their daughters have a marketable skill, it will make them more presentable when it comes to arranging a marriage in the future.
Marriage prospects aside, being skilled at embroidery can also supplement the family income.
Those farmers will definitely be willing to let their daughters learn a craft from the embroideresses."
Hua Manman’s eyes lit up instantly.
’This is a great idea!’
First, lure people to the school, then find a way to make those girls understand the benefits of studying.
After a little back and forth, she would naturally be able to keep them there.
Hua Manman slapped her thigh. "Brilliant!"
Li Ji looked at her with forbearance.
"Why did you slap my thigh?"
’She could have just slapped it, but why did she have to hit it so hard?’
’His leg was made of flesh and blood, too. It hurts!’
Hua Manman retracted her hand and chuckled sheepishly.
"Sorry, I got excited and slapped the wrong one."
Li Ji was speechless. "..."
’What else could he do?’
’He could only forgive her with a smile, like a father.’
Just then, Gao Shan came running over in a hurry.
"Reporting to the Prince and Princess Consort, someone from the Duke Zhen Country Mansion has arrived. It’s Nanny Zhang, who serves Princess Rouwan. She says she has a matter and would like to ask for your help."
Hua Manman was very surprised. ’Why would Nanny Zhang suddenly show up? Did something happen to Princess Rouwan?’
She nodded in acknowledgment.
"Bring her here."
Soon, Nanny Zhang was brought before Hua Manman.
"This servant greets the Prince and the Princess Consort."
Hua Manman asked curiously, "I hear you have something to ask of me?"
Nanny Zhang bowed slightly and pleaded with sincerity.
"Yes, the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching.
It’s supposed to be a time for family reunions, but the Duke Zhen Country Mansion is empty.
Princess Rouwan is all alone.
This servant could not bear it, so I have shamelessly come to request an audience with the Princess Consort.
I wish to ask the Princess Consort to return to the Duke Zhen Country Mansion during the Mid-Autumn Festival to see Princess Rouwan."
Hua Manman said, "Oh, it’s about that. Didn’t the Duke Zhen Country Mansion already send someone to ask me? I’ve already refused."
"This servant knows, but I still wanted to ask again.
I know this is very presumptuous.
But I truly cannot bear to see the Commandery Princess celebrate the festival all by herself.
I implore the Princess Consort to help. I’m begging you."
As she spoke, Nanny Zhang knelt.
Although she was a servant, she was Princess Rouwan’s wet nurse, and her status in the Duke Zhen Country Mansion was quite special.
Normally, she rarely performed such a solemn bow to anyone.
Today, she was truly putting it all on the line.
Hua Manman quickly helped her up.
"You don’t have to do this. It’s just celebrating a festival. I’ll agree to it."
Nanny Zhang was overjoyed. "Really? That’s wonderful! If the Commandery Princess finds out, she will certainly be very happy!"
Li Ji, who had been watching coldly from the sidelines, suddenly spoke.
"Does the Commandery Princess know you came to the Prince Zhao Mansion to beg for help?"
Nanny Zhang gave a bitter smile. "With the Commandery Princess’s personality, how could she possibly do something like asking someone to celebrate the festival with her?"
Hua Manman was surprised. "Then what is this?"
Nanny Zhang sighed and said helplessly.
"To be honest, the Commandery Princess never mentioned wanting anyone to celebrate the festival with her at all.
Her temperament has always been like this—very proud and strong-willed.
Even if she’s dying of misery inside, she would never say a single soft word.
It was this servant who acted on her own and secretly sent someone to the Prince Mansion to ask if the Princess Consort could return to the Duke Zhen Country Mansion for the festival.
Today, I also came here in secret, behind the Commandery Princess’s back."
Li Ji said mockingly, "You certainly know how to look out for your Commandery Princess."
Nanny Zhang was long accustomed to Prince Zhao’s way of speaking. Not only did she not feel awkward, she even asked him eagerly.
"Could the Prince return to the Duke Zhen Country Mansion with the Princess Consort for the festival?"
Li Ji scoffed, "If this Prince goes back, I’m afraid there’ll be no festival to celebrate."
Given the way Princess Rouwan hated him to the bone, she would definitely start a huge fight with him again.
Hua Manman immediately looked at him.
"Aren’t you going back to the Duke Zhen Country Mansion with me for the festival?"
Li Ji unhesitatingly spat out three words.
"I’m not going."
Hua Manman said, "Then won’t you have to celebrate the festival all alone in the Prince Mansion?"
’Just the thought of that is so heartbreaking.’
Li Ji said with a deadpan expression, "What’s there to be heartbroken about? I’ll be more comfortable than ever on my own!"
Hua Manman looked at him, half-convinced.
"Really?"
Li Ji sneered, "Of course it’s true! Did you really think I can’t live without you? You’re underestimating me!"