Rebirth and Reversal of Fortune

Chapter 239 Talent Selection and Educational Reform

In order to consolidate the status of the Marquis's mansion and to provide talent for the imperial court, they began to select talented young people from their territories.

Xiao Ling and Su Jinxiu knew that talent was the key to development, and only by selecting outstanding talents could they inject new vitality into the Marquis's Mansion and the imperial court.

They posted a notice to select talent, attracting many young people to apply. The selection process was very rigorous, including written tests, physical tests, and interviews.

In the written examination, candidates were required to demonstrate their knowledge and talent, offering unique insights into governance, military strategy, and other related fields. The martial arts examination tested their skills and physical fitness, demanding outstanding performance in horseback riding, archery, and combat. During the interview, Xiao Ling and Su Jinxiu personally interacted with the candidates, assessing their character and aspirations.

During the selection process, various issues arose. Some candidates resorted to cheating to achieve better results; others tried to use their family connections to gain preferential treatment. Xiao Ling and Su Jinxiu had zero tolerance for such behavior and would immediately disqualify any candidate found to have violated the rules.

After rounds of selection, a group of outstanding young people emerged. But this also aroused jealousy and resentment among some people.

Some long-established families in the area believe that this selection process has harmed their interests, so they have united to suppress and exclude these newly selected talents.

The newcomers faced obstacles at every turn in their work, and some even considered giving up.

Xiao Ling and Su Jinxiu noticed this situation. On the one hand, they comforted the newcomers and gave them support and encouragement; on the other hand, they warned and punished the old families who deliberately caused trouble.

However, just as the talent selection process was gradually getting on track, unfavorable news came from the court. A minister advised the emperor that Xiao Ling and Su Jinxiu were selecting talents in their respective territories without authorization, and were suspected of forming cliques for personal gain.

The emperor became suspicious and ordered Xiao Ling and Su Jinxiu to immediately stop the selection process and send the selected talents to the capital for review.

Xiao Ling and Su Jinxiu were in a predicament. They knew that someone was deliberately framing them, but they could not disobey the emperor's orders.

On their way to the capital, the talented individuals encountered various unexpected events. Some attempted to assassinate them and create chaos.

Su Jinxiu also began educational reforms to improve the cultural level of the local people.

Su Jinxiu deeply understood that education was a vital force in changing people's destinies and driving social progress. She first expanded the local schools and hired more knowledgeable and experienced teachers. Furthermore, she lowered the admission requirements, giving more children from impoverished families the opportunity to attend school.

To enrich the curriculum, Su Jinxiu introduced practical subjects such as arithmetic, astronomy, and geography, moving beyond the traditional Four Books and Five Classics. She also organized teachers to compile textbooks suitable for local children, imparting knowledge in a lively and engaging way.

However, the road to reform was not smooth. Some conservative teachers opposed the new teaching content and methods, considering them heretical. Some parents also expressed concern about their children learning new subjects, fearing it would affect their chances of passing the imperial examinations.

Faced with these doubts and obstacles, Su Jinxiu did not back down. She personally communicated with the teachers, explaining the importance and necessity of educational reform. She patiently addressed the parents' concerns, using real-life examples to illustrate the benefits of the new subjects for children's future development.

Thanks to Su Jinxiu's efforts, educational reforms gradually gained support from some people. But just then, new problems arose. Due to the large amount of funding required for school expansion and textbook compilation, the Marquis's mansion began to experience financial strain.

To solve the funding problem, Su Jinxiu cut other expenses of the Marquis's mansion on the one hand, and actively sought external support on the other. She solicited donations from local wealthy merchants and prominent families, promising that their good deeds would be rewarded, such as by giving them certain preferential treatment in their children's school enrollment.

Some wealthy businessmen saw the long-term benefits of education reform and generously donated money. However, others believed that Su Jinxiu was using this as a disguised way to amass wealth and ridiculed her fundraising efforts.

Meanwhile, some ministers in the court who were jealous of Su Jinxiu seized on the issue of funding for education reform and complained to the emperor that Su Jinxiu was acting recklessly in her territory, causing public resentment to boil over.

The emperor, believing the slander, sent an imperial envoy to investigate.