Early morning, just as dawn broke.
The Qingjian people already queued at the railway station awaiting the little train.
After five days of recruitment, most Qingjian folk had found work. Those with skills joined the Craftsmen's Well; those without labored on road-building, tree-felling, or heavy tasks.
Women also received work—the little train transported numerous spinning wheels and cotton from the main fort, distributed for weaving into cloth before returning.
Under Li Daoxuan's guidance, San Shi'er had long implemented "piece-rate wages" for women: more cloth woven, more wages earned.
This method had revolutionized Gao Village's cloth output. Now it extended to Refugee Valley.
Even the elderly found occupation.
With massive population influx creating demand for "bamboo baskets," "bamboo chairs," and similar items, elders cut bamboo, sitting under eaves weaving bamboo goods. Though income lagged behind the young's, it provided something.
The only idle ones: children.
Li Daoxuan glanced across Refugee Valley—children everywhere, at least four hundred. Older ones helped households, but younger ones simply played aimlessly.
This won't do!
These children must receive education.
But the "snake swallowing elephant" consequences manifested here too: the main fort's "Scholars' Well" couldn't accommodate so many children; even if space existed, Teacher Wang alone couldn't instruct over four hundred.
Clearly, more teachers were needed, plus a large plastic school.
Teachers could be recruited from the county town through Tan Liwen—funding would lure them. As for the school...
Again, old friend Cai Xinzi.
Opening WeChat: "Hey, where are you playing?"
Cai Xinzi: "Still in Shanghai! Just submitted your miniature temple to the micro-carving exhibition organizers. They were impressed—gave you a dedicated display. I'm attending figure merchandise trade conferences..."
Li Daoxuan: "Oh? Then my model request can't be done now?"
Cai Xinzi: "What nonsense! Of course it can. My shop has staff. Submit blueprints to my clerks—they'll handle it. What are you making this time?"
Li Daoxuan: "A school! A 1:200 school model."
Cai Xinzi: "Don't tell me you haven't had enough schooling—need a school model at home to reminisce?"
Li Daoxuan: "Exactly! I want a school to collect. Make it based on our alma mater—the No. 32 Middle School I've wanted to burn every time I see it."
Cai Xinzi sent a voice message, tone teasing: "Adding wheels this time?"
Li Daoxuan laughed, replying via voice: "My mistake! Adding wheels proved useless—the Hakka walled-house wheels were rash. Never used them."
"Shouldn't have messed around," Cai Xinzi chuckled. "Fine, I accept. My staff will make a 1:200 No. 32 Middle School model. But I warn you—don't actually burn it. Setting your house on fire would be bad."
Li Daoxuan: "Then use fireproof materials."
Cai Xinzi: "Damn—the bizarre request always arrives last."
After friendly banter, they ended the call.
Li Daoxuan hadn't focused on the school lately—this reminded him. He shifted perspective to the Scholars' Well.
Young Master Bai stood solemnly at the lectern, teaching mathematics to children below.
Teacher Wang had finished "language arts"; now Young Master Bai "imparted celestial skills," teaching all children mathematics.
Li Daoxuan listened briefly—they covered third-grade elementary mathematics...
Fast pace!
Modern children required three years to reach this level, yet Young Master Bai crammed it into half a year like force-feeding ducks.
Reflecting further, he understood.
Fewer subjects!
Modern elementary students study language, mathematics, art, music, physical education... plus after-school classes: piano, calligraphy, dance, taekwondo, skating, swimming... time fragmented.
But these ancient children had only two subjects: language and mathematics.
From dawn to dusk, two subjects relentlessly drilled—progress naturally accelerated.
Admittedly unhealthy—but better than field play or household chores.
As he mused, Young Master Bai's mathematics class ended. Ordinary students dispersed, but San Shi'er's daughter approached Young Master Bai, grinning: "Young Master Bai, they've left. Time for our extra lesson—sixth-grade elementary mathematics, final chapter..."
Young Master Bai nodded: "Yes, let's study together."
Li Daoxuan chuckled inwardly: Oh? This exists?
Thirteen-year-old Young Master Bai and nearly-twelve Third Young Miss sat together at a desk, opening Elementary Mathematics Sixth Grade, Volume 2—both nearing completion.
Third Young Miss: "After this book, do we start Middle School Mathematics?"
Young Master Bai nodded earnestly: "Yes! Father's progress far outpaces mine. I must catch up, otherwise he'll be disappointed next examination."
Third Young Miss: "I heard the Tianzun prepared another book—Middle School Physics—entrusted to my father. The Tianzun said after finishing Elementary Mathematics, we must study both Middle School Mathematics and Middle School Physics simultaneously. Both seem difficult."
Young Master Bai smiled: "Not that difficult. I've already sneak-peeked."
"Ah?" Third Young Miss: "Sneak-peeked? Won't you be scolded?"
Young Master Bai: "Unlikely! How could reading earn scolding? The Saintess said the Tianzun loves studious children. When I fetched the Middle School Mathematics book last time—not really sneaking—I browsed before the Saintess. She didn't reprimand me. She said the Tianzun hopes someone will read these books quickly."
Third Young Miss asked curiously: "What's inside?"
Young Master Bai: "Length, time, sound, temperature, light, mass, density, motion and force..."
He listed numerous bewildering concepts, leaving Third Young Miss dazed: "What... what are all these things?"
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[Historical & Educational Context]
Young Master Bai's "celestial mathematics" represents a profound pedagogical revolution. Traditional Ming education focused almost exclusively on Confucian classics for civil service examinations. Practical mathematics—arithmetic, geometry—was relegated to merchant and artisan classes as "lesser learning."
The accelerated pace—six years of modern curriculum compressed into half a year—mirrors historical autodidacts like Xu Guangqi (1562-1633), who mastered Western mathematics through Jesuit texts in similar intensive study. Such rapid learning was possible when freed from examination constraints and given singular focus.
The children's confusion over physics terminology highlights a deeper conceptual gap. Traditional Chinese natural philosophy framed phenomena through qi, yin-yang, and Five Phases. Concepts like "mass," "density," and "force" as quantifiable entities represented a fundamentally different worldview—one that would eventually displace Confucian cosmology but here exists as celestial revelation.
San Shi'er's daughter addressing Young Master Bai as "白哥哥" (Elder Brother Bai) reflects Ming social hierarchy tempered by shared scholarly pursuit. In strict Confucian etiquette, she might use more formal address, but their student-teacher relationship creates permissible intimacy—a subtle social evolution within Gao Village's unique culture.