Yang Mengchen also explained the study hours and several other regulations.

Everyone who heard him praised his thorough consideration, asserting that he had covered all bases. All were surprised and impressed in their hearts.

Sister Jin, sitting behind Yang Mengchen, watched the girl speak eloquently and nodded gently, truly willing to stay and serve the young lady.

When she heard news of her retirement, many prominent families invited her to their homes, but she declined.

She was an orphan and had wanted to find a quiet place to live an ordinary life after leaving the palace, but Prince Chen suddenly approached her, hoping she would come and be the penitentiary sister for the young lady.

Prince Chen was the child she had watched grow up—and to speak a bit disrespectfully—she loved him as if he were her own son, which was why she agreed to come.

Prince Chen also told her that the young lady wanted to repay the villagers for their kindness and was finding ways to help them lead better lives. Upon her arrival, she had seen that this village was indeed in better condition than many others.

She also overheard villagers expressing praise for the young lady, and on the way to the academy, she saw the villagers smiling and greeting both the Yang family members and the young lady.

Most importantly, the Yang family was kind and honest. The young lady was intelligent, capable, and knew how to be grateful. She believed they would treat her well in the future.

As for the Yang family being rural farmers, she didn't mind. Having experienced so much, she yearned for a simple and warm life.

At the unanimous request of the teachers and female professors, Yang Mengchen arranged for them, including both groups of servants, to stay at the dormitory. Old Hai and six others also moved in.

He then had Yang Chengrong, Yang Chengning, and Yang Chengxuan return to notify the previously recruited canteen staff to come to the academy. Starting that evening, the canteens of both academies would officially open, and all goods such as rice, flour, oil, vegetables, and meat were to be transported there.

The two canteens were to be managed by the servants who were skilled in food preparation, Pu Luoyang and Zhao Yilin.

Additionally, Yang Chengyu was sent to inform a hundred guards (six from Youming Palace and ninety-four from the village) to come to the academy for duty.

Two days later, the village chiefs and Lizhengs who received the notice brought the children and their parents from their villages to the academy to register.

As for those families who had once had conflicts with the Yang family, even if they went to the village chiefs and Lizhengs to sign up, the village chiefs and Lizhengs firmly refused to agree. They knew Yang Mengchen was generous and kind-hearted and would not hold grudges against those people, but they worried that those people might cause trouble for Yang Mengchen and the academy.

The teachers and female professors first divided the students by age group, then led each class to collect their uniforms and schoolbags before heading to their respective classrooms. They also took those students who needed to board to settle in at the dormitory.

Holding two sets of uniforms and new schoolbags, all the students smiled with joy.

The parents were equally happy and reassured. They were even more grateful to the Yang family and Yang Mengchen, each taking the time to bow and thank her in front of her.

Yang Mengchen planned to issue two sets of uniforms each season to the students, to facilitate washing and changing. Both the uniforms and new schoolbags were embroidered with the academy's name.

The academy was filled with laughter and joy everywhere.

"Mengmeng is indeed very smart; just look at how she has made this academy several times better than the most famous one in Chujing," Old Master Luo exclaimed.

Doctor Luo had initially wanted to come and be in charge of the medical room at Yangshan Academy, but there were simply too many people seeking his medical advice. To avoid disrupting the order and tranquility of the academy, Doctor Luo had to give up the idea.

Therefore, Yang Mengchen employed Doctor Li Langzhong for the responsibility. Of course, if someone in the village fell ill and requested Doctor Li, he could still attend to them.

Old Master Luo had impressive medical skills and volunteered to help out in the infirmary, standing in whenever Doctor Li wasn't present, when there was a shortage of staff, or in the event of an emergency.

As for the female academy's infirmary, Luo Jingrui arranged for the medical woman Jing Xiuyu to come over. After an assessment, Yang Mengchen determined that Jing Xiuyu's skill level was slightly below that of Doctor Li. However, she was capable of treating common illnesses.

Jing Xiuyu had signed an indenture and, coupled with her interest in medicine and her diligence and eagerness to learn, Yang Mengchen intended to nurture her well.

Everyone nodded in agreement, looking pleased with Rong Youyan.

Yang Mengchen was about to humbly dismiss the praise when she suddenly saw Government Official Wang Tong, drenched in sweat, sprinting over and whispering something into Xiao Hongtao's ear. Xiao Hongtao's face turned pale, and he approached, "Uncle Xiao, has something happened?"

"Nothing serious," Xiao Hongtao said calmly, "Chenchen, your uncle still has official duties to take care of, so I must return to the County Office first."

"They say two heads are better than one! If there's an issue, Uncle Xiao, feel free to share it with us. Perhaps we can find a solution," Yang Mengchen said.

Everyone crowded around, looking at Xiao Hongtao with concern.

Xiao Hongtao suddenly slapped his forehead, realizing in his urgency he had forgotten—Chenchen was a lucky star with exceptional medical skill, who might have a way to resolve the crisis in Jinquan Village: "Someone came to the County Office to report that many in Jinquan Village are suffering from relentless abdominal pain and diarrhea. After diagnosis by a doctor, it appears to be an epidemic!"

An epidemic?

Everyone's faces showed shock, including Old Master Luo and Doctor Luo's.

Throughout history, there had been many epidemics in the four nations. Unfortunately, to this day, no one had found an effective way to treat them. Once an epidemic broke out somewhere, the people there could only wait to die. In the end, their bodies would be burned and buried, often leading to the disappearance of entire villages.

Old Master Luo and Doctor Luo had spent a lot of effort researching methods to treat epidemics, but to no avail, hence the gravity on their faces was no surprise.

"When did it begin?"

Yang Mengchen had been busy with school admissions, and although she noticed none of the Jinquan villagers had come today, she thought they were too embarrassed to show up because they couldn't afford the Academy fees. She planned to visit the village tomorrow to check up, not expecting an epidemic to have broken out. Did the birds not inform her because they were also afraid of the epidemic?

Xiao Hongtao looked at Wang Tong, who promptly replied, "The informant said that this morning when he went to a relative's house in Jinquan Village, he found the entire family sick. He went to find the village doctor, but the doctor was also ill. So, he had to find a doctor in town, who diagnosed it as an epidemic.

He said his relatives told him it started last night and that many people in Jinquan Village have been infected. After reporting, he went back to Jinquan Village, and that doctor didn't leave either."

"What are the symptoms?" Yang Mengchen asked further.

Scratching his head, Wang Tong tried hard to remember, "The person said they felt extremely hot and irritable, with abdominal pain and diarrhea. Yes, and there were also dark red tongues with burnt-looking coatings— I've forgotten the rest."

Already forming a judgment, Yang Mengchen took out a charcoal pencil to write a list, "Big brother, second brother, immediately take people to the herbal medicine base to collect as much of the herbs on the list as possible, then deliver them to the outskirts of Jinquan Village; Hai Tang, go back and get the medical bag and meet us at the village entrance."

Hai Tang immediately went to carry out the order.

After giving the list to her two brothers, they hurriedly drove back to the herbal medicine base.

"Uncle Xiao, order the Government Officials to guard every exit of Jinquan Village, prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving, and investigate whether anyone from Jinquan Village has left."

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