gnovel Chapter 87 Roads are always made by people walking them.
Chapter 87 Roads are always made by people walking them.
This question was beyond the scope of what ordinary women could learn. Xu Miaoyun frowned and lowered her head to calculate for a moment.
She pondered for a long time before hesitatingly speaking, "Replying to young master, it is seventy-two."
Zhu Yao remained noncommittal and then proceeded to pose a series of increasingly difficult questions, progressing from simple multiplication and division to mixed operations, becoming ever more obscure and complex.
Xu Miaoyun's knowledge was limited, and she struggled more and more as the questions went on. Beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, and she gradually became hesitant and stumbled when answering the questions.
Just as she was feeling embarrassed and troubled, Zhu Yao turned to look at the pretty maid standing beside him and whispered an order.
"Yueying, you answer."
The maid named Yueying remained calm, without a moment's hesitation, and delivered the standard answer in a quick and precise manner.
Every word was accurate, not a single detail was wrong, easily resolving difficult problems, and the whole process was smooth and without any hesitation.
Xu Miaoyun's pupils contracted slightly, her face filled with shock as she stared blankly at the seemingly ordinary maid, her heart filled with disbelief.
Seeing this, Deng Shengnan felt slightly resentful and muttered something under her breath.
"Being quick at arithmetic is just a trivial skill; what use is it in times of chaos, in order to live a peaceful life at home?"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yao turned to look at her, a faint smile appearing on his lips. He did not reprimand her, but instead gave detailed examples to explain.
"You think it's useless? Then let me tell you what use being proficient in arithmetic could be during the Hongwu era."
"Now that the country has been newly settled, the imperial court needs to investigate fields, determine taxes, measure land, and calculate grain reserves. Every aspect requires calculation."
"Ordinary farmers don't know how to do math, so corrupt gentry and clerks will take advantage of this, deliberately underestimating the land they measure and overcharging them when determining taxes."
"A year's hard-earned harvest is stolen by someone using trickery and deception in the accounts, all the hard work of the year goes down the drain, and there is nowhere to appeal."
"If merchants don't know how to do math, they will be cheated out of the price difference and miscalculate their profits and losses. They will work hard and toil, but in the end they will lose money and profits."
"If the woman in charge of the household is skilled in arithmetic, she can manage the household income and expenditure, calculate the harvest from the fields, and verify the accounts."
"With a clear view of the family's finances and income, others would not dare to deceive or mislead them."
"In the imperial court, the Ministry of Revenue is in charge of managing the nation's finances. Officials must be proficient in arithmetic. Those who do not understand arithmetic cannot even perform their duties in the imperial court."
"Even the allocation of military provisions, the calculation of weapons, and the overall coordination of personnel all depend on arithmetic; the slightest error could jeopardize military operations."
After a detailed and straightforward explanation, Deng Shengnan was stunned and suddenly understood.
She murmured to herself unconsciously, "So... even something as simple as arithmetic can be so useful, concerning livelihoods and the nation!"
Zhu Yao's gaze swept over all the maids present, his expression solemn, and he continued to utter a series of unconventional remarks.
"People often say that a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent, but this is a huge misconception. Women benefit more from learning arithmetic than men."
"If a woman manages the household affairs, overseeing the daily necessities, finances, and expenses, and is proficient in arithmetic, she can safeguard the family's foundation and prevent others from bullying her."
"Not only can women make a living at home, but they can also earn a living by doing math. They can work as accountants, manage businesses, and assess taxes."
"You don't have to depend on men to survive. You can make a living in the world, do what you want to do, and live the life you want by relying on your own knowledge and skills."
These words, spoken with resounding force, completely shattered the traditional moral values and worldly constraints that the two women had adhered to since childhood.
Xu Miaoyun was shocked and stood there in a daze, her heart filled with a huge wave of emotions, her face full of shock and disbelief.
Deng Shengnan stared wide-eyed at Zhu Yao in disbelief, for no one had ever told them that women could be independent and strong.
From childhood, she was taught the three obediences and four virtues of women and how to depend on others. However, Zhu Yao's remarks were completely contrary to worldly etiquette and completely overturned her worldview.
Xu Miaoyun took a long time to recover. The shock in her heart subsided slightly, but the constraints of traditional etiquette still lingered between her brows, and she couldn't help but voice her doubts.
"What you say is insightful and reasonable, but societal norms are deeply ingrained. No one recognizes or allows women to be independent and have their own careers; it's simply impossible for them to do so."
Deng Shengnan, who was standing to the side, nodded emphatically and echoed her agreement with a face full of conviction.
"Yes, young master, this is the rule in the world. Women are born to marry and manage the household, confined to the inner quarters. How can they have the opportunity to live for themselves?"
Zhu Yao smiled instead of getting angry upon hearing this, his eyes clear and open as he slowly looked at the two of them, his tone firm and composed.
"Everyone says it's impossible, but isn't that what I'm doing right now?"
"Roads are always made by people walking them. If everyone retreats and clings to old rules, there will never be new roads."
His gaze swept over every maid present, his voice gentle yet penetrating, striking straight to the heart.
"Ask yourselves honestly, are you truly willing to spend your entire lives dependent on others, living solely for marriage?"
"Don't you want to have your own hobbies, your own skills, and your own career?"
"Do you only wish to marry once, then be confined to a secluded courtyard, wasting the rest of your lives in vain?"
Each question landed like a thunderclap, striking Xu Miaoyun and Deng Shengnan hard in their hearts.
The two women trembled slightly, their previously fixed perceptions completely loosened, and a strong longing and emotion welled up in their eyes.
The two looked up almost simultaneously, their eyes firm, and nodded emphatically, responding softly in unison.
"We...we want to!"
Seeing the two of them suddenly realize their mistake, Zhu Yao nodded slightly and solemnly gave them some advice.
"If you want to, then settle down and study hard, read useful books, and learn the skills to make a living."
"First, memorize the multiplication tables in your hand thoroughly, and then learn this little encyclopedia completely."
"In half a month, I will personally set up an assessment, and the results will be determined entirely by one's own abilities."
After saying this, Zhu Yao said no more, turned around and left calmly, leaving a group of maids in the school with mixed feelings.
After Zhu Yao walked away, Deng Shengnan quickly turned to look at Xu Miaoyun, her expression flustered and hesitant, and asked in a low voice.
"Sister Miaoyun, what should we do in this situation?"
Xu Miaoyun concealed all the confusion in her eyes, her expression becoming more solemn than ever before, and her tone becoming firm and powerful.
"What else can we do? Study! Study hard and thoroughly learn all the new knowledge!"
For the next two weeks, the two could be seen studying diligently every day at Liu's school.
Xu Miaoyun and Deng Shengnan completely abandoned their status as daughters of the Duke, shed all their pampered manners, and devoted themselves wholeheartedly to their studies.
The two of them worked from dawn till dusk, rising earlier than the roosters crowed in the mansion, and continuing their studies late into the night after everyone else had fallen asleep.
Xu Miaoyun, who was once familiar with the Four Books and Five Classics but knew nothing about arithmetic, devoted herself to studying and calculating day and night, forgetting to eat and sleep.
Even though Deng Shengnan is lively and active and can't stand being still, she forced herself to calm down, memorize the mnemonic rhymes, and study encyclopedias.
The two encouraged and supported each other, overcoming cognitive barriers and gradually mastering new knowledge they had never encountered before.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye, and the day of the assessment arrived as scheduled. All ten maids took the stage to participate in the test.
The final results revealed a stark contrast, with rankings at two extremes.
Xu Miaoyun is meticulous and has a high level of comprehension, which allowed her to easily surpass everyone and win first place in this assessment.
Despite her best efforts, Deng Shengnan came in last place.