In the town's academy, the fees are tiered. For kids who are just beginning their studies, it's relatively cheap—three taels of silver a year, plus a few pots of good wine, and five pieces of cured meat.
For the kids in town, it's indeed not expensive, but for farming families, it's the result of long-term frugality and savings.
Moreover, going to town incurs additional expenses, including travel and food for the students, which are not covered.
Mu Shuangshuang calculated and decided to charge one tael of silver per student. As for the dried meat, three pieces per student, or families can work off the debt if they don't have dried meat.
The idea of working off the debt comes from Mu Shuangshuang's plan to plant some beans in the dry lands, which have a high yield and are easy to harvest.
Pickled beans made from them are very tasty.
Mu Shuangshuang plans to pair the pickled beans with some dishes to serve as special cuisine at her family's restaurant.
