"Of course it's difficult! You need to rank in the top ten overall to get a full tuition waiver, and the top twenty only get half of their tuition waived," Winnie explained.
Winnie clenched her fist determinedly, "I must achieve the best results. The top three even get substantial scholarships!"
Luo Wei's eyelashes fluttered. With over two hundred students in a grade, getting into the top ten was indeed quite challenging.
However, thinking about the hefty tuition fees, she figured it wouldn't hurt to put in some effort.
Siria Magic Academy offered a total of seven courses: Potion Studies, Magic Rune Studies, Spellcasting, Alchemy, Astrology, Swordsmanship, and Horsemanship. Only one subject was taught each day.
She had already attended Potion Studies and Magic Rune Studies once, and they weren't too difficult.
Moreover, after witnessing the scientific nature of Magic Rune Studies, Luo Wei had already mentally translated the names of each subject.
Potion Studies was Biology, Magic Rune Studies was Mathematics, Spellcasting was likely some form of foreign language, and Alchemy was Chemistry.
Astrology was ancient astronomy, so it fell under Physics.
As for the last two, Swordsmanship was Physical Education, and Horsemanship was like Driving lessons, except they weren't driving cars, and the school didn't issue licenses to students.
Math, foreign language, physics, chemistry, biology, and physical education - this school was heavily skewed towards science. It was clearly a science-oriented institution.
This suited Luo Wei just fine. In her previous life, she had been a science student. Except for Swordsmanship and Horsemanship, getting high scores in the remaining courses wouldn't be difficult.
However, this meant she needed to sell her fine wool processing formula as soon as possible.
After selling it, the first thing to do would be to buy a good horse, both to better disguise her identity and to score high in the Horsemanship class.
"Winnie, do you know who the largest wool textile merchant in Siria is?"
......
Siria Magic Academy was named after the city of Siria in the Principality of Lunkos where it was established.
Siria City was located in the central-eastern part of the Western Continent, with a warm and humid climate, flat and open terrain, and relatively developed commerce.
"The church is to the north, the castle of the Lord of Siria is on the hill to the west, Siria Square is in the middle, and our market district is to the south!" Balk explained enthusiastically.
"Don't underestimate these few streets. Merchants from all over come here every day to exchange goods. You can find anything you want from all corners of the world, and there's nothing you can't buy."
"Look, those two adjoining shops ahead are our family's fabric stores. Half of the fabrics are cashmere!"
"Although we're not the largest wool textile merchant in Siria, we're not far behind the top one. Plus, our wool fabrics are fairly priced and we're honest with all our customers!"
Balk Hawkins, Winnie's classmate and the son of Barton Hawkins, Siria's second-largest wool textile merchant, chattered non-stop along the way.
He was a cheerful young man with a few symmetrical freckles on his face, and when he smiled, he showed two big front teeth.
Although Balk was also a commoner, his family had been in business for generations and was quite wealthy. His attire was noticeably more refined than Winnie's.
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When Luo Wei asked Winnie about the wool textile merchants in Siria, Winnie immediately thought of Balk and introduced him to Luo Wei.
Luo Wei urgently needed money, so whether it was the largest wool textile merchant or not wasn't important to her.
She directly told Balk that she had a secret formula for wool textile processing and wanted to do business with him.
Well-versed in negotiation techniques, she also told Balk that if he wasn't interested in this deal, she would approach other merchants in the city.
Balk became anxious upon hearing this. He was determined to expand the family business and strive to become Siria's top merchant. How could he let such an opportunity slip away?
He immediately sent a message to inform his father and invited Luo Wei and Winnie to their shop for a detailed discussion.
This was too big a decision for him to make alone.
Barton Hawkins was already waiting in the shop. Although he didn't believe a young noblewoman would have any good secret formula, he was willing to meet her since his son had invited her.
Moreover, she was a young noblewoman!
If Balk could gain the friendship of a noble lady, or thinking more ambitiously, win her heart, their family could enter high society!
Barton paced back and forth in the shop, excited. He had gone to great lengths to send his son to Siria Magic Academy, wasn't it all for him to meet some nobles?
After a whole year, his son finally managed to invite a noble lady to visit their home.
Barton was almost moved to tears.
"Father!" Balk's cheerful voice came from outside.
Barton hurried to the door to welcome the noble lady.
In his view, his son was standing at the front, leading the way, followed by two girls about thirteen or fourteen years old.
One of the girls was particularly outstanding. She had black silky hair and a pair of jet-black eyes, her skin as white and smooth as jade. Her slender neck supported her beautiful head, like a noble white swan!
Her features were so delicate, her appearance so charming, her figure svelte, her back straight, even her steps carried a certain unique rhythm.
Barton looked down at her feet and realized that she was lightly lifting her gold-embroidered skirt, walking on tiptoe on the damp stone bricks.
Without a doubt, this must be the noble lady his son had mentioned!
Only ladies from noble families would walk on tiptoe when going out.
Barton warmly welcomed them: "Please come in, please come in. May I ask how to address you, esteemed young lady?"
Luo Wei's face showed a faint smile: "Hello, Mr. Hawkins. My name is Luo Wei."
She lifted her skirt and stepped onto the clean stairs, finally breathing a sigh of relief inwardly.
The streets were full of uncleaned manure, and people were throwing water out onto the road. It was a mess to step in, and she had almost thrown up.
Barton, being observant, invited Luo Wei upstairs and instructed the shop assistants to quickly light some incense and bring the freshest fruits.
The noble lady had covered her nose earlier; she must have found the smell downstairs unpleasant.
Soon, they were seated in the reception room on the second floor, beginning their friendly business negotiation.
"Miss Luo Wei, I heard from Balk that you have a secret formula for wool textile processing?"
Although the noble lady hadn't disclosed her surname, Barton didn't dare to call her by her first name alone, so he awkwardly addressed her as "Miss Luo Wei."
"Yes, this is a secret formula of our family. It's not supposed to be shared easily, but the cashmere fabrics in Siria are so coarse and heavy, they irritate my skin all over."
Luo Wei touched her neck as if the collar of a wool sweater had scratched her, frowning in complaint.
"Yes, yes, the cashmere fabric here is indeed a bit rough," Barton said with a forced smile, but inwardly he was skeptical.
Wool fabric was naturally thick and scratchy. Which noble family would wear it as an undergarment?
Could this young lady be intentionally making trouble?
"So, I want to do business with you," Luo Wei got to the point after her complaint. "You use the formula I provide to weave cashmere fabric that satisfies me and make it into clothes. I will pay you handsomely for this."
"Well..." Barton hesitated, "How much cashmere fabric do you need?"
If they were to set up a production line just for her alone, this deal might not be profitable.
"If I need one cashmere sweater a day, I suppose about fifty bolts of fabric!"
"And a bolt is..."
"Forty chi, requiring fifteen pounds of cashmere," Luo Wei raised her chin, "I can pay you a hundred gold coins as a deposit, and for each cashmere sweater made, I'll pay you ten silver coins."
She had done her research beforehand. The current price for a cashmere sweater was generally only sixty copper coins. Her offer was more than ten times higher. Barton would surely be tempted.