Another Boycott Movement Rises, Ingenuity Breaks the Dilemma

The morning sunlight pierced through the ancient trees of the academy, casting dappled shadows on the bluestone path.

Lin Shiya stepped onto this familiar path, never expecting the academy to be shrouded in an inexplicable tension today.

Her pace did not falter; instead, she walked toward the main hall with even greater resolve.

Students gathered in small groups, whispering to one another, their eyes flickering with unease and curiosity.

Upon entering the main hall, Lin Shiya sensed the change immediately.

The once orderly rows of seats appeared somewhat disheveled, and the instructors wore varied expressions—some anxious, some angry, and others worried.

At the center of the crowd, Elder Song's back was particularly striking, and his voice cut through the air with an irresistible authority.

"Structural reform? Absolute nonsense!" Elder Song's voice was as piercing as a bitter winter wind, every word laced with icy fury. "This academy has heritage spanning a millennium; how could it be ruined by the delusions of a mere woman?"

The surrounding instructors and parents chimed in eagerly, filling the main hall with a chorus of doubt and opposition.

Lin Shiya's brows furrowed slightly. Her gaze swept across the crowd, swiftly analyzing the source of this sudden wave of resistance.

She knew that the origin of this storm was none other than the elder standing right before her.

"Elder Song, your words are far too extreme." Lin Shiya's voice was calm yet resolute as she stepped forward, locking eyes with the elderly man. "The reform is not a delusion, but a necessary step for the academy's long-term development. Our new educational approach aims to nurture well-rounded scholars rather than bookworms who only know how to rote-memorize."

Elder Song's face turned livid. He sneered, "Well-rounded development? Hah, that is merely an excuse. Your so-called reform will only strip the students of their traditional foundation and ultimately lead to nothing."

Unshaken by his words, Lin Shiya steadied her mind and continued, "Elder Song, you are only considering the present, while I am looking toward the future. While traditional education is undeniably important, times are changing, and our teaching methods must progress accordingly. Do you truly wish for the academy to remain forever anchored in the past, reduced to the dust of history?"

Elder Song's anger was evidently stoked to its peak. He slammed his hand onto the desk and rose abruptly. "I care not how lofty your reasons sound! I only know that your reforms will shake the very foundation of this academy!"

Lin Shiya's gaze remained steadfast, her voice calm and powerful. "Elder Song, I beg you to hear me out. Reform is imperative, but I will ensure that every single measure is thoroughly deliberated so that the students' interests are never compromised. I believe that as long as we discuss this calmly, we will undoubtedly find the best solution."

The atmosphere within the hall grew increasingly tense. The murmurs of instructors and parents rose and fell like relentless waves.

Lin Shiya's eyes swept over every individual present; she needed a cleverer strategy to steady the hearts of the people and win their support.

At that moment, Elder Song's expression turned even colder. He snapped, "Lin Shiya, you have said enough pleasantries. Today, I shall expose your true colors in front of everyone!"

Lin Shiya's expression remained unchanged. She smiled faintly, having already formulated a countermeasure.

She knew that the true battle had only just begun.

A slight curve touched the corner of Lin Shiya's lips. Instead of directly refuting Elder Song's accusations, she turned toward Scholar Zhou, who had been standing silently off to the side, and asked gently, "Scholar Zhou, what are your thoughts on the academy's new plan? Feel free to share them with everyone."

Scholar Zhou was startled at first. Feeling the gaze of the crowd converge upon him, he could not help but feel a nervous flutter in his chest.

Yet, recalling the joy of learning he had experienced in the new classes, he gathered his courage and said, "I... I think the new plan is wonderful. In the past, classes always made me drowsy, but now the instructors make the lessons vivid and engaging, and I want to attend every single day. Moreover, I can discuss problems and conduct experiments alongside my classmates. I feel I have learned so much that I never knew before." He paused, his voice growing firmer. "I hope the academy continues to implement the new plan!"

Scholar Zhou's sincere sharing was like a pebble dropped into a calm lake, stirring ripples outward.

Some of the instructors and parents who had previously maintained a wait-and-see attitude began to whisper among themselves, their eyes reflecting deeper contemplation.

Catching this subtle shift while it was hot, Lin Shiya proposed, "How about this? This afternoon, we will organize a成果 exhibition on the academy grounds, allowing everyone to witness the results of the new educational method firsthand. Seeing is believing, and hearing is deceiving; by then, you can all judge for yourselves."

The exhibition proceeded as scheduled.

Sunlight bathed the courtyard, where the vibrant and energetic figures of the children darted to and fro.

Reciting poetry, competing in arithmetic, demonstrating knowledge of astronomy and geography, playing the zither, playing chess, practicing calligraphy and painting—they excelled at everything.

Even more impressive, some students utilized newly acquired physics knowledge to craft ingenious little gadgets, drawing gasps of amazement.

Elder Song stood at the rear of the crowd, his face ashen.

He had originally assumed Lin Shiya's reforms were merely for show, never imagining that within such a short span of time, such remarkable results could be achieved.

He gripped his walking stick so tightly his knuckles turned white, yet he found himself utterly devoid of words to refute it.

When the exhibition concluded, the initial voices of doubt had gradually subsided, replaced entirely by praise and support.

Parents stepped forward one after another, expressing their willingness to let their children continue studying in the new style of classes.

The instructors, too, began to reflect that perhaps change was not such a bad thing after all.

Gazing at the scene before her, Lin Shiya felt a heavy stone lift from her chest.

She knew that the road of reform remained long, but at the very least, she had successfully taken the first step.

As night fell, Lin Shiya returned to her study and prepared to rest, only to hear a soft knock at the door.

Opening it, she found Financial Officer Sun standing outside with a grave expression.

"Director Lin," Sun murmured in a low voice, "regarding the new plan, I have discovered an issue..."

The appearance of Financial Officer Sun felt like a dark cloud, once again casting a shadow over the bright lamplight of Lin Shiya's study.

His posture was slightly hunched, his complexion pale, and fine beads of sweat gleamed on his forehead under the candlelight. His hands tightly gripped the hem of his garment, betraying extreme anxiety.

"Director Lin," he trembled, a trace of unspoken dread in his voice, "regarding the new plan... I, I have uncovered some, some financial discrepancies."

Lin Shiya's brows twitched slightly. She motioned for Sun to enter, shut the door, and asked calmly, "Mr. Sun, there is no need to panic. Take your time and tell me precisely what issue you have found."

Sun took a deep breath, forcing himself to steady his nerves, though his voice still carried a tremor.

"The expenses for the new plan far exceed our initial projections, particularly for those experimental apparatuses and teaching aids. We have never had such things before, and their costs are exorbitant. Moreover, if things continue down this path, the academy's reserves will not hold out much longer. I fear—I fear it will impair the academy's normal operations." The more he spoke, the more agitated he became, and the sweat on his brow multiplied, threatening to drip down at any moment.

Lin Shiya listened attentively to Sun's concerns. Her gaze shifted to the desk; under the flickering candlelight, the densely packed numbers in the ledger suddenly seemed glaring.

Rather than directly refuting him, she replied in a steady and grounded tone, "Mr. Sun, the concerns you raise are matters I anticipated long ago."

She stood up, walked over to the desk, picked up a ledger, flipped to several pages, and pointed to the figures as she analyzed them point by point.

"Look here, this portion of the expenditure is for purchasing new textbooks, but it is not a one-time lump sum; rather, we are procuring them in batches, and we can seek out cost-effective channels. As for these experimental instruments, not all of them need to be brand new—we can attempt to manufacture them ourselves or modify older items. Furthermore, we can consider increasing the academy's revenue by establishing specialized courses to attract more students. As long as we increase our revenue while cutting unnecessary costs, we can easily resolve our current financial predicament."

Lin Shiya's voice was resonant and powerful, flowing like a clear spring that washed away the anxiety within Financial Officer Sun's heart.

Not only did she meticulously explain the origin and purpose of every expense, but she also proposed multiple contingency plans to mitigate risks.

Her analysis was logical and impeccably clear, making every seemingly insurmountable difficulty melt away effortlessly before her.

Sun listened in stunned silence, the unease on his face gradually replaced by sheer admiration.

He had never encountered a woman so wise and resolute; her crisis-management capabilities were nothing short of breathtaking.

The previously oppressive atmosphere cleared and brightened under Lin Shiya's capable analysis.

His doubts completely dispelled, Sun bowed deeply to Lin Shiya, admiration overflowing from his expression as he said, "Director Lin, you are truly... truly remarkable! Such detailed planning is something I could never have devised. With your guidance..."

Lin Shiya smiled faintly. Just as she prepared to continue refining her plan, she felt a sudden breeze sweep past, making the candlelight on the desk flicker erratically. From outside the door came soft footsteps, accompanied by a deep, resonant male voice: "Director Lin, the hour is late. Do remember to rest."

Hearing this, Lin Shiya looked up to see Murong Fu standing at the doorway, holding an exquisite wooden box.

He stepped into the study and handed the box to Lin Shiya, his warm voice sounding exceptionally pleasant in the quiet of the night.

"I know you have encountered some resistance lately. This is a small token of my regard, and I hope it brings you some strength."

Lin Shiya accepted the wooden box and opened it. Resting quietly inside was a jade pendant.

The pendant was crystal clear and warm to the touch, exquisitely carved with a pair of phoenixes spreading their wings to soar, looking as though they might come alive at any moment.

This jade pendant was one she had given to Murong Fu many years ago; now that he was returning it to her, the profound meaning behind the gesture required no explanation.

A surge of warmth blossomed within Lin Shiya's chest. She grasped the pendant tightly, absorbing the warmth and strength it radiated.

It felt as though Murong Fu were right by her side, offering her silent support and encouragement.

Raising her eyes to look at Murong Fu, her gaze softened like flowing water as she murmured, "Thank you. With you here, I fear nothing."

Murong Fu smiled gently, reaching out to stroke Lin Shiya's soft hair as he whispered, "I believe in you. You will surely succeed." He paused, his expression turning grave. "However, you must remain vigilant. I have received word that the imperial court may send commissioners to audit the academy's reforms."

Lin Shiya's heart tightened, her fingers gripping the jade pendant a fraction tighter.

She knew this heralded even greater challenges yet to come.

Yet, showing not a single trace of panic, she took a deep breath and declared with unwavering resolve, "I understand. I shall make the necessary preparations."

Watching Lin Shiya's steadfast expression, Murong Fu felt a swell of admiration and deep affection.

He clasped her hand once more, offering an encouraging look before turning to leave, striding away with a proud and upright silhouette.

Lin Shiya remained in place, clutching the jade pendant tightly, drawing warmth and strength from it while her heart filled with courage and determination.

She knew the road ahead remained long, but she would not retreat. For the sake of her ideals, and for women everywhere, she would press onward in her struggle.

Suddenly, urgent knocks echoed from outside the door, accompanied by the anxious voice of her maid Wu: "Miss, something is terribly wrong! People from the imperial palace have arrived..."