"When I planned to build a library, I was already prepared to be criticized," Fang Yun said.
"If someone gathers bookstore owners to oppose, it will be a big blow to the library and your literary reputation," said the shopkeeper Tang.
"It's nothing more than slandering me that the establishment of the library has led to a decrease in book sales in bookstores. Those who can afford the books in the library will naturally buy them, and those who can't will not buy them. On the contrary, some people read the books in the library for free and think that a certain book is good and needs to be read repeatedly, so they go back and buy the book. What's more, this is my own library, and no one has the right to interfere."
"It's just... this is just the superficial reason. If this matter is done well, it is very likely to be like the Three Character Classic, gaining the holy way of enlightenment and adding luck to the human race. Especially those great Confucian scholars who are expected to be canonized as saints are very likely to compete for the holy way of enlightenment."
"The sea is wide enough for fish to leap and the sky is wide enough for birds to fly. They can all compete for this holy path. However, there are dragon fishermen in the sea and sun hunters in the sky!" Fang Yun's tone was a little chilly.
"It's nothing for great scholars to fight for the way to sainthood. My Xuanting Bookstore is responsible for this matter, and its contribution is sufficient. If we participate in the competition again, we will lose our dignity. Those prosperous families may not look down on us, but those wealthy or impoverished families will never give up a chance. What's more, there are more serious consequences, even if I don't say it, you can guess it..." Manager Tang hesitated to speak.
"I know. Everything is as I said just now. As long as they compete with me for the holy way in a fair manner, those who are capable will be promoted and those who are not will be demoted. If they don't even want dignity, then I will give them dignity!" Fang Yun's tone was the same as usual, but a very light cloud of smoke appeared a hundred miles above the capital, and then quickly dissipated.
When Xu Sheng got angry, clouds appeared in the clear sky.
"Since you have made this decision, I will not persuade you any more. Tomorrow, Fang's library will be famous in ten countries! I will take my leave now."
After seeing off Manager Tang, Fang Yun thought for half a quarter of an hour and continued studying.
At midnight, Fang Yun was studying when he received many letters.
"Fang's Library? You spent hundreds of millions of taels of silver to gain the Holy Way of Enlightenment?"
"I'm afraid this matter may be a little dangerous, so it's better to be careful."
"I fully support this matter!"
"I just learned from the Holy Academy that this matter has been on the front page of tomorrow's Literary Newspaper. It is indeed the work of the Void Saint. Only you can have such a wonderful idea. Alas, how could we not think of such a simple thing!"
"Be careful. There was once a great scholar who traveled barefoot throughout Shengyuan, educating the world alone. But he was stopped by several noble families, and he didn't even finish traveling to all the states in his country. There will be twists and turns in this matter, so you have to be careful."
"Your medical book has not been made public, but the news has spread in the demon world. Before long, some things will be announced one after another. At that time, people from the medical family will definitely come to you, some to ask for advice. Some also come to seek advice. I'm afraid the two things will happen at the same time."
Fang Yun quickly flipped through the letters from these people. The people who got the news now must be of extraordinary status, and more than half of them issued warnings. This was enough to explain the problem.
Fang Yun thanked them one by one and continued reading.
The first day of February was a sunny day. Early in the morning, the bright sunlight shone on the capital, spreading warmth in the still chilly spring.
The first day of every month is the day when "Holy Way" and "Wen Bao" are sold.
Fang Yun's "New Year's Day" written for the Spring Festival, "Viewing the Water in the Quan Garden" and "Passing the Fire Mountain" written in the hunting ground, and "Early Spring Drizzle" written at the early spring literary meeting all appear in "The Holy Way".
In the past, the coexistence of the four poems was a rare sight that only occurred once in hundreds of years, but now the human race was not surprised at all when they saw the names of Fang Yun in the catalog of "The Holy Way", and they were completely accustomed to it.
Even if it were commonplace, these four poems would have become a topic of conversation on the first day of every month. However, after the release of "Sheng Dao" and "Wen Bao", no one talked about poetry because everyone's attention was attracted by the news on the front page of "Wen Bao".
The nearly 10,000-seat Fang Public Library opened on the first day of February.
One stone can cause a thousand ripples.
After careful reading, everyone found out what the Fang Family Library was, and realized that in most parts of the Ten Kingdoms, there were places where people could read and borrow books for free.
Moreover, there are night-shining pearls in the library for readers to read at night.
Public libraries were not important to scholars who were admitted to local academies of literature or imperial schools, and had no influence on scholars from wealthy families, but they were of vital importance to students from ordinary and poor families.
This means that these people can read books that they could not otherwise afford, and it also means that their chances of passing the examination to become a tongsheng are greatly increased.
Especially those young people who have to work on the farm early to make a living. They work during the day and cannot afford the money for oil lamps even if they want to study at night. Naturally, it is difficult for them to pass the examination to become a student.
But now, Fang's library has night-shining pearls, so we can read at night.
As long as one reads enough books, even if one fails to pass the examination to become a scholar, one will improve in all aspects. After accumulation from generation to generation, one will surely be able to get rid of poverty and cultivate true scholars.
Many scholars were secretly shocked. In a way, Fang Yun was imitating Confucius. Confucius broke the monopoly of education and established private schools, while Fang Yun opened the door to popularizing knowledge.
Confucius once said that there is no distinction between the classes in education, and anyone can receive education. Shengyuan Continent has actually done this. As long as any family is willing, their children can go to school. However, different people encounter different obstacles in the process of education, and have different educational resources.
The night reading time and the large number of free books may not be a big deal for the kids from wealthy families, but for the kids from poor families, it is equivalent to at least doubling the educational resources!
The library removed some of the obstacles faced by students from disadvantaged families and increased their educational resources.
More importantly, before long, every library had at least one student as the head of the library. As long as the head was free, the students would have the opportunity to ask the head for advice.
Moreover, every library needs staff, and they can earn money and study at the same time, which at least makes hundreds of thousands of poor students worry-free.
However, Fang Yun's feat did not arouse unanimous applause.
Whether in Fang Yun's hometown of Jiyuan County, or the capital of Jing State, whether in Kongcheng who respected Fang Yun, or in the Zong family who regarded Fang Yun as an enemy, as soon as they saw the news, at least one-fifth of the people remained silent.
Anyone who has enough spare money to buy Wen Bao is not considered to be from a poor family, and these people and their descendants will never lack books and time to read.
More people having the opportunity to study means more competitors.
The Fang family library has made contributions to the entire human race, but it has harmed the interests of some people.
Fang Yun received countless messages again. During breakfast time, someone asked Fang Yun to check the discussion list.
Fang Yun held the official seal in his hand and saw that the discussion list had become a battlefield.
Some people strongly support Fang's library, believing that Fang Yun has made great contributions to educating human beings and is the first person to do so after Confucius.
But there were still some people who opposed it. These children of the aristocratic families usually looked down on those from poor families. Now that they saw that everyone had more time to study, they felt it was a threat to them and started to attack without hesitation.
Most people watched the battle silently. (To be continued...)