The Demon Lords-Chapter 766 - 168: Reward_3

It went without saying who the Headmaster of the academy—also considered its Principal—was.

General Zheng used to visit the academy occasionally when he was in Shengle. Every time he came, the children would excitedly crowd around him, their faces beaming with bright smiles.

However, General Zheng had never been quite fond of the title "Headmaster"; he felt "Principal" sounded more distinguished.

The Vice Headmaster approached. His eyes darted about, and only after a young instructor leaned in to whisper in his ear did he realize who this group of women was.

The Vice Headmaster's wife was a shrew. Coupled with his advanced age, fulfilling his marital duties was already a great challenge, let alone seeking diversions elsewhere.

However, the Vice Headmaster felt little gratitude towards the instructor who had just helpfully informed him. At a previous gathering, this same fellow had inquired about the Vice Headmaster's youngest, unmarried daughter.

The Vice Headmaster, however, lacked the pedantic airs of a scholar. As a former businessman, his true strength lay in his social adaptability.

"Ladies, what brings you here? Please, come in for some tea. We can discuss things at your leisure."

The Vice Headmaster was well aware of what was happening in Shengle today. Some families were rejoicing, using their military service silver to buy pastries from the city shops—treats they usually couldn't afford.

In other homes, however, sounds of weeping already filled the air, and the ashes of spirit money had begun to drift and swirl.

The group of women was led by one nearing forty, called Sister Mei.

Though she might be considered older, her ample figure and empathetic nature made her very popular with the younger gentlemen.

The spirit tablet she cradled today belonged to a young man of only nineteen. In her eyes, he was still just a boy, not yet fully a man, yet he had already fallen on the battlefield.

He had no kin, no family. The death pension was registered in her name.

Sister Mei curtsied slightly to the Vice Headmaster and said,

"The academy is a pure place. We won't go in; we are sullied."

The Vice Headmaster paused, then he saw the woman place a silver pouch on the ground before him.

After setting it down, Sister Mei stepped back two paces. Then, the women behind her also placed their silver pouches there. Soon, a small pile of silver pouches lay on the ground.

Sister Mei began, "These common soldiers, most with no children, no family, no kin... they died in battle, and their death pensions are made out in our, their sisters', names.

"But this is silver they traded their lives for. We sisters, living in the red tents under Mr. Feng's care, don't worry about food or expenses, and we can save a little for ourselves. So, this pension silver, we sisters absolutely cannot accept.

"We sisters have heard that many soldiers who truly had no families of their own wrote their pensions to the academy, so that orphans could take their surnames and continue their lines. We sisters can't bear children for these departed scoundrels on the tablets in this lifetime, so we thought of using this method to help these rascals carry on their family names.

"We implore the Headmaster to grant our request."

Sister Mei, still holding the spirit tablet, knelt before the Vice Headmaster.

"We implore the Headmaster to grant our request!"

The women behind her all knelt in unison.

Sister Mei spoke again:

"After a child takes one of their surnames, we sisters will provide a monthly allowance for that child. The silver isn't much, but it will ensure the child has a little extra for treats, and can have a new set of clothes or two for festivals.

"Since those blockheaded soldiers were willing to name us, their sisters, in their death pensions, we must provide a little extra for the children who will carry on their line.

"We sisters know we are sullied. We don't dare hope the child would call us 'mother.' We only wish for the child to know that by taking that man's surname, their life can be a little better, and that they will remember the good of that departed man."

These words moved the Vice Headmaster profoundly.

He wasn't a scholar by birth and wasn't prone to sentimentality.

Yet, at this moment, he stepped back two paces and, facing the women kneeling before him, performed a deep, solemn bow.

When he straightened, tears stained his face. He said,

"Ladies, your integrity is noble! Truly noble!"

…

The workshop operated for only half a day today. Firstly, many had taken leave to collect their reward silver in the city. Secondly, orders from above stipulated a two-day break after today.

So, after the woman finished her tasks and tidied up, she returned to her home in the city.

Pushing open the door to her home, the woman saw her mother-in-law sitting on a stool in the courtyard, her face grim.

At this sight, the woman's legs gave way, and she nearly stumbled to the ground. Fortunately, she grabbed the doorframe to steady herself.

"Mother? Mother?" the woman called out twice.

The old woman looked up at her daughter-in-law, then suddenly slapped her own thighs and burst into loud wails:

"Oh, the accursed Heavens! The accursed Heavens!"

The woman felt the world spin around her and finally sank to the ground, tears instantly streaming from her eyes.

He... he's gone?

Instantly, the image and voice of that man began to fill her mind.

It was as if only yesterday he was still in the courtyard fetching water, making toys for her son. He would time his visits for when she finished work, meeting her briefly before hurrying away.

Ever since he first came here, he had visited every single day.