Muqiao Village is one of the villages closer to Ironwood City. As soon as it gets light, the villagers start to get busy.
Stimulated by Richard's various policies, the villagers are now very motivated, fearing that they are too lazy to live a good life.
At this time, a vendor pushing goods was leading a tough-looking young man to Ironwood City.
"Little carpenter, you are busy."
"Hey, good morning, old John."
"Haha, Ironwood City School starts today. I have to send my son to school early."
"..."
"Young shoemaker, you are still learning to make shoes from your father. Why don't you go to school like my son?"
"I'll send him there when I save some more money."
"Send yourself to school early, and you will be successful in the future."
"..."
Old John walked out of the village and greeted everyone he met along the way, saying that his son was going to school in Ironwood City, making people envious and jealous.
Little John who was following him could not help covering his face and blushing.
Old John didn't realize it, and still told everyone he met, fearing that someone in the village didn't know that his son was going to Ironwood City to go to school.
Old John was originally a rich farmer in Muqiao Village. When Ironwood City was first built, he was smart enough to rent a small stall in the city and do some business during the off-season. Over the past few years, he had accumulated a lot of wealth.
Although it is still the time of spring plowing, old John abandoned his farm work today and took his son to Ironwood City, because today is the day when Ironwood City's official school starts.
Old John thought that he would never change much in his life. With a little cleverness, he could become a wealthy householder in Muqiao Village.
But people always have the ambition to make progress and change their lives. When it is difficult for them to have the opportunity to realize it, they transfer their expectations to their descendants.
It was obvious that John Sr. had placed all his expectations on his son. He almost regarded his son as more important than his own life as he had a son late in life.
Pushing the bicycle frame while walking on the relatively spacious road, Old John would hum a little tune from time to time, obviously in a good mood. When he met some pedestrians on the road, Old John would say hello with a smile regardless of whether he recognized them or not.
This road used to be difficult to walk. It was not until Richard's period that the main roads were repaired as much as possible, making transportation much more convenient.
However, the journey was still long, and both father and son were sweating a little. Although they were slightly tired, Old John still asked:
"Son, come to the car and sit for a while. Dad will push you to school in Ironwood City."
Little John looked up at his father, then shook his head.
"No, I can walk to Ironwood City on my own."
"Hahaha, good boy, if you are ambitious, dad will have to rely on you for the rest of his life."
Both of them were in a good mood, humming and singing all the way to Ironwood City.
"Brother, how far is Ironwood City?"
Old John was attracted by the sound coming from behind.
Looking back, I saw a simple donkey cart slowly coming up.
The driver was a middle-aged man with a grimace, and a young man lifted the door curtain and looked outside.
It seemed that it was the master and the servant, and it was this young man who should be asking the question.
"Hey, you two have asked the right person. Follow me. We will reach Ironwood City in four hours at most."
Old John was even more enthusiastic. An ordinary farmer with no force or culture could save some money in a few years and become a relatively wealthy person in the village. There is always something extraordinary about him.
Old John is the kind of person who is observant and good at dealing with people.
At first glance, these two people looked simple in their status and clothing, but judging from the young man's delicate skin and calluses on his hands, it seemed that he was not a working man. These days, it was not bad for a family that could support such a person.
Looking at the man driving the cart, the calluses on his hands are all at the tiger's mouth. He looks like a soldier who has been holding weapons all year round. He looks like a guard. The two statuses are definitely noble to him.
With just one word from the two of them, Old John was able to crawl along the pole.
The young master asked about the situation in Ironwood City, and Old John naturally told him everything he knew.
"I wonder why I'm rushing to Ironwood City?"
"That's to send my son to Ironwood City Official Academy."
The young master's words really scratched Old John's heart, and Old John started talking non-stop.
"Let me tell you, the Ironwood City Official School is amazing. As long as you get in, you can at least serve as a peace officer in the village."
In Old John's eyes, the Sheriff sent from Ironwood City was considered a big shot.
"If you study well, you can also learn the breathing method, join Sir Richard's Flying Bear Army, and you may become a knight if you perform meritorious service in the future."
"Oh? Can every child go to school under Hunter's leadership?"
"How can it be done? We only accept more than a hundred teenage children a year, and we have to pay for the children's food to go to school. We also have to pay a few silver dollars for tuition every semester."
"It's not expensive at all. Can Hunter's children pay tuition and go to that official school?"
"That won't work! You can't accept so many people. They have to pick them all over again. Not only do you have to be able to pay the money, but you also have to be happy with your children."
Having said this, Old John couldn't help but feel proud again.
The young man looked at the tiger-headed child beside him. Then he bowed his hand to Old John:
"Congratulations."
"Hey, hehe"
Old John just smiled happily.
The Ironwood City Official School was also a new thing created by Richard, who shamelessly appointed himself as its dean.
In this era, almost only children from aristocratic families had the opportunity to receive a complete education.
Maybe some wealthy businessmen in big cities can afford to send their children there, but apart from Piaoxue City, it's hard to see them anywhere else in the North.
Richard's establishment of an official school is equivalent to giving more people an opportunity to receive education, and it can also cultivate some useful talents for Tiemucheng.
However, the cost of education was too high after all, so Richard did not pursue universal education out of touch with reality.
Rather, Ironwood City officially subsidizes part of it, and the other part needs to be paid for out of pocket. Many civilian families are still unable to afford such expenses, but rich farmers like Old John, who got rich first, gritted their teeth and still managed to pay for the tuition.
The official selection process only involves some simple tests, which only test physical conditions and simple intelligence tests.
The age limit was set at about ten years old, which was also set by Richard based on reality. In this world, more than ten years of comprehensive education would not be worth the gain.
A ten-year-old boy is just in the stage of physical and intellectual growth, and he learns things quickly. He can start to learn knight training such as breathing techniques, and he can also learn some cultural knowledge.
After a few years of study, you will be basically qualified, and you will be assigned to the military or administrative system based on your talents.
The children trained by this group of government schools naturally have a greater sense of belonging to Ironwood City and the Hunter family, and are more secure to use than those directly recruited from outside. It can be said that they serve multiple purposes with one stone.
With the continuous conversation, the young man almost got an overview of the entire Ironwood City Official Academy, and everything Old John knew was also revealed.
At this time, several people were approaching the gate of Ironwood City. After being inspected by the guards, they entered the city and prepared to go their separate ways.
"Brother, thank you for clarifying my doubts."
Then the young man handed a color to the driver beside him.
A golden coin was thrown from the coachman's hand, and old John quickly caught it with both hands.
When he opened it, he saw that it was a gold nugget. This gold nugget was enough for him to make a year's income. Now he just had to waste some words, which made him feel a little unreal.
"Thank you, noble man. Thank you, noble man." Old John responded and thanked him again and again.
The young man waved his hands silently and led the driver gradually away in the other direction.
Old John looked at the two people who were gradually disappearing, and carefully put away Jinnaer.
He looked back at his son.
"Come on, let's go to the official school to report."
Little John followed his father slowly and said one last sentence.
"From now on, I will give my father a hundred gold nuggets, and I will never be able to spend them all."
Old John was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"Okay, daddy is just waiting to enjoy the blessing."
After saying that, he lifted Little John onto the cart and increased his speed.