Chapter 387: Restart
Editor: Atlas Studios
When she first started the nursery, Mu Yangling had agreed with everyone that she would raise the orphans who were not yet 14 years old. The fields under their names would be planted by her, and the harvest would all belong to her as a reward for raising them.
After turning 14 years old, the fields would be returned to them in the spring of the next year and they would then leave the nursery. Their relationship would be dissolved.
Teacher Liu said, “At 14 years old, one is old enough to support a family. But it will be very difficult. They obviously don’t want to leave.”
Teacher Liu’s gaze followed the children. He sighed slightly and said, “Miss Mu, these children are all very obedient. What I mean is, if possible, let’s keep them for a while longer. Even when spring comes next year, they have only learned craftsmanship for less than a year. They don’t even know how to read properly yet.”
“The rules of the nursery were set together with Magistrate Fang and Haoran. Even if Haoran agrees, it will be very difficult to get Magistrate Fang to agree.” Mu Yangling thought for a moment and said, “But you’re right. They really can’t learn much in a year. Previously, when we set this rule, we were in a hurry and didn’t perfect it. I’ll find time to discuss it with Magistrate Fang again.”
Mu Yangling glanced at the children who were pushing carts filled with corn and turned to look for Bowen. “Go and talk to them. If they’re unwilling to leave, the nursery won’t chase them away in the short term.”
Bowen’s eyes lit up. “Sister, I also think it’s too much of a stretch to let them out at this time. Although they can work to support themselves, they definitely won’t have a good life. They’ll definitely be thrilled if Sister can agree to let them stay for a while longer.”
“Alright, stop flattering me. If you discover any problems in the future, you have to say it. Don’t be so wishy-washy like a woman.” Mu Yangling patted his head and told him to comfort those children. There was no need to work so hard to please her.
As Bowen had always lived in the nursery, he had a deeper relationship with the children here. As for Mu Yangling, everything was communicated through Bowen. This resulted in Mu Yangling appearing unapproachable, but they viewed Young Master Bowen as their playmate. Hence, Bowen was the most suitable person to do this job.
As expected, with Bowen’s appearance, the older children who had been eager to show off were finally not so nervous. In response, they smiled uneasily. Their studies and work got back on the right track.
Mu Yangling kept this matter in her heart. After the corn harvest was completed, she gathered these youths and said, “You know the rules of the nursery. All of you will turn 14 this year or the first half of next year. According to the conditions previously signed, you can take back your fields and leave next spring.”
The youths’ faces turned pale. Mu Yangling smiled comfortingly. “But I heard that you don’t really want to leave.”
A youth boldly said, “Miss, although we’ve farmed before, we were only doing whatever adults told us to do. We actually don’t know how to farm, and we haven’t learned our craft well…” He looked at his companions and boldly said, “I… we still want to stay.”
The other children nodded repeatedly.
Mu Yangling nodded and said, “I understand what you mean, but for the benefit of the nursery, for my benefit, and for your benefit, I think it’s better to institutionalize it. After all, there are many fields and assets involved.”
The youths were even more nervous. Thinking that Mu Yangling was chasing them away, their faces turned pale.
“You’re almost 14 years old.” Mu Yangling’s eyes were filled with pity. In her previous life, 14 year-old kids were only in junior high school, but here, they’re already expected to support a family. “In that case, you can’t completely rely on the nursery like your other younger siblings. But you’re right. There are still many things you haven’t learned. Since you’re here, I can’t guarantee that you’ll live well, but I have to take responsibility for you. Therefore, I agree to you continuing to stay, but the conditions have to be reformulated. We have to discuss this with Magistrate Fang. When the time comes, send three representatives to be the spokesperson. The rest of you can listen in. Note down your thoughts first. When we negotiate, you can let your representatives speak your thoughts on your behalf.”
The youths looked at Mu Yangling in a daze. The same youth from earlier boldly asked, “Negotiate? What about?”
Seeing the confusion in their eyes, Mu Yangling knew that they didn’t know anything and sighed. She didn’t expect to have to teach them how to undermine herself. This feeling was really strange. “For example, although the fields are still rented to me, you have to participate in the entire process of farming and learn farming techniques from the people in the fields. Every year, after the taxes are deducted from the harvest, how much of the remaining do you want to receive? Also, every year, I have to ensure that you can attend classes for a certain number of hours. How those hours are divided between cultural and crafts classes can be discussed as well.”
Mu Yangling looked at them resentfully and said, “I don’t have to teach you the rest, right?”
Wasn’t this snatching food from Miss?
Wasn’t this being ungrateful?
This thought flashed through the youths’ minds in different ways. They hurriedly shook their heads. “Miss, we’re already very grateful that you took us in. We’re willing to work for you. No, we don’t care about the grains.”
Mu Yangling frowned fiercely. “If you want to be independent, you have to put it into practice, and it will take a long time. Are you all going to work for nothing for so long?”
Mu Yangling said with a straight face, “This is your legal interest. Remember, as long as it’s reasonable, you can fight for it. Otherwise, if I take your fields and instruct you to do so much work, even if you don’t have any objections now, it doesn’t mean that there won’t be any in the future. The nursery is for you to respect, not for you to resent.
The youths’ faces turned red. They wanted to say that they wouldn’t resent her, but their eyes flickered with eagerness.
Mu Yangling said, “You can discuss it among yourselves. I forgot to mention that if you raise conditions for me, I’ll also raise requirements for you. I definitely won’t raise people above the age of 14 for nothing. I’ll make rules for how much work he has to do and how much homework he has to complete every year. Let me give you a bottom line first. I can only let you stay until the age of 20 at the latest. After the age of 20, unless you’re mentally or physically disabled, you’ll have to leave the nursery.”
20 years old was a very tolerant age. The youngsters were both excited and nervous. They were excited that they could continue to stay in the nursery, but they were nervous because they did not know what kind of request Miss Mu would ask of them.
Magistrate Fang did not expect the nursery to state a new set of conditions. He suspected that Mu Yangling was unwilling to let go of the land and assets in her hands.
Actually, whether the conditions were set or not did not affect the government office much because since Mu Yangling was planting civilian fields, the government would tax them as civilians. In fact, because of the high yield in Mu Yangling’s land, the amount of taxes they collected from her this year was highly impressive.
However, this did not mean that he was willing to see the people under his rule being bullied. Therefore, when he came to the nursery, his expression was a little ugly.
This time, they chose to negotiate in a classroom in the nursery. When Magistrate Fang arrived, the classroom was filled with people. Other than the people at the two tables on the left, the others were all children from the nursery. There were children of all ages. There were only six tables left in the classroom forming a triangle. Below them were all children sitting on small stools.
Magistrate Fang stopped in his tracks, not understanding what Mu Yangling was trying to do.