Chapter 165: Mold

"Then I'll wait and see." Qing Feng Da Ru left.

What needed to be persuaded has been persuaded; what needed to be said has been said.

Now we can only wait for the results half a year later.

In the classroom, each student looked at Jiang Yunchu standing in front.

"I made a bet with Qing Feng Da Ru, and I don't know whether I'll win or lose." She looked at everyone frankly.

Everyone looked back at her curiously, anticipating her next words.

"Next summer, you will have a Joint Examination with the four great academies, the Ding-zi section."

She didn't build up any anticipation; she simply announced directly.

In a moment, the children below widened their eyes; Zhang Cunwen somewhat incredulously tapped his ear, wondering how many days he had been here.

Is the Dean being overly confident?

Didn't the Dean tell them that excessive confidence is the beginning of arrogance?

What is the situation now?

"Dean, do you think we can make it?" Ning Hanmo asked directly.

Jiang Yunchu didn't answer her, but instead gave him a counter-question: "Do you think you can't?"

Can't?

How could that be possible?

"No, on the contrary, I think we can." Ning Hanmo shook his head; the previously clever and mischievous child who always thought of pranks, now stood up, wearing a full-length academy robe, giving him the graceful bearing of a youth.

Jiang Yunchu nodded and looked around at the children.

What do you think?

Aside from the three newcomers, every face showed no fear, no retreat, but rather anticipation and longing.

They had already rolled up their sleeves, eager to begin.

"Wait!" Zhang Cunwen looked at everyone's expressions.

After all, is it him who's mad, or is it the world that's mad?

"Dean, set a goal." Kang Wu ignored Zhang Cunwen's words and instead looked straight at the Dean.

That expectant face was almost saying, "Hurry up, I can't wait any longer."

Jiang Yunchu smiled and said, "First, let me say something."

For the four academies, the Ding-zi section begins examination at age eight.

"Next year, many of you won't be old enough; are you afraid?" She wasn't trying to rally morale, just asking plainly, without any rhetorical technique.

"Dean, can girls participate?" This is what the girls care about most.

The four academies have only male students so far, with no female studies; can they take the exam?

"Of course they can." Jiang Yunchu said firmly.

Earlier, after discussing this with Qing feng, she firmly chose to take the exam together; the girls' curriculum at Chun Hua Xue Yuan is more extensive, so they will only outperform the boys.

Qing feng's calligraphy: one piece for Chun Hua Xue Yuan entering the Joint Examination, another piece to enable the girls to take the exam.

This is Jiang Yunchu's proposal; if it were the newly arrived Qing feng at Chun Hua Xue Yuan, he would refuse without hesitation.

Over these days of interaction, in music class, the girls' talent even surpasses that of the boys.

He never had offspring, never married, and held no notion of favoring males over females.

He single-handedly brought this about.

"Yeah, Dean is great!" Kang Zhiqiu cheered immediately.

Jiang Yunchu smiled, but she dared not claim this achievement.

"If you want to thank someone, then thank Qing Feng Da Ru."

"It was he who argued with reason, securing equal treatment from the four academy deans."

When she spoke, she raised her eyebrows; that bearing had none of the usual feminine affectation, nor the delicate weakness of some women, yet her entire aura was something no woman could rival.

Confident, arrogant, unrestrained, free.

All emotions, all traits—she need not teach them; those below will unconsciously learn and unconsciously change.

"I will diligently learn a piece, and during music class I will play it for Mr. Qing feng." Kang Zhiqiu nodded, the smile on her face never fading.

However, her words directly caused many people to fall silent.

Finally, Zhang Cunwen tentatively said, "Otherwise, shall we change the way we give thanks?"

He was really afraid.

He feared that if Qing Feng Da Ru heard, he would directly reject their Joint Examination application...

After all, Zhiqiu's musical skill is indescribable, unforgettable for a lifetime!

"That's right." Kang Zhiqiu thought for a moment, sat down a little embarrassed, but felt no anger, after all, what others said were true, and she still had self-awareness.

She is good at observing others, but even better at understanding herself.

Just now it was merely a passing impulse; now she has regained composure and immediately realized the impropriety.

"As for the music, I can only rely on everyone; I'll handle the food." She immediately changed her strategy.

Watching everyone's heated discussion, Jiang Yunchu tapped the table.

"Isn't it that you need to disperse and study again before discussing?"

"Now, class."

Upon hearing the order to begin class, everyone turned to the proper page in their books, then began to study carefully, following Jiang Yunchu's train of thought, experiencing a wonderful literary journey.

"Princess Consort, come over here, the mold is ready." Bai Zhi came to report.

The candied hawthorns were already made; Jiang Yunchu had people send some to Kang Fu, some to Qing feng Academy, and the rest placed here at the academy.

The kitchen lady directly removed the wooden stick, and the candied hawthorn turned back into individual hawthorn berries, though still coated in syrup; each child, when coming to take some, eats a few and takes a few.

The young gentlemen also each took two pieces, so everyone could get some.

When taking the candied hawthorn, she specially had someone send over the wood materials, and left a person there; if it's done, they can call her over to have a look.

Although I have confidence in Zhang Luo's carving, the mold is not purely a test of carving skill; it also involves woodworking technique.

"Princess Consort, it's done; following your orders, I made fifty."

The person who stayed behind, upon seeing Jiang Yunchu, hurried over to her side and then quietly reported.

"Got it." Jiang Yunchu replied while walking.

Entering the room, she saw Zhang Luo sitting on a small stool, and she lightly smiled, saying, "It seems you've been recuperating well lately."

From her complexion one could see that, compared to the last time she herself came, she had improved greatly.

"Thank you, Princess Consort, too." Zhang Luo replied with a smile; his legs had no strength, making it impossible for him to kneel.

That degree of bending was already beyond what his legs could do.

Jiang Yunchu shook her head, then picked up one side of the mold and lightly pressed the mechanism; the demolding mechanism was very flexible and immediately sprang apart.

It left the center position open, and the mold was polished smooth, all dimensions were standard; most importantly, the magnolia flower carved on the base was lifelike.

Just like real flowers, except these flowers are recessed inward; if the pig‑oil soap is demolded, on the soap these flowers protrude.