Reading is difficult. There are too few literate people in this world. One is because they have no money, the other is because they have no opportunities, and the third is because they are not smart enough.
In the past, there were no schools in several villages, and children had to go to the county town to study, but they could barely afford enough food and clothing. Even wealthy families could not afford to provide for their children.
It was Mr. Bai who brought his family and moved to Qili Village. The two sons of his family needed to study, so he went to the county to hire Mr. Zhuang.
Although Mr. Zhuang did not pass the Jinshi examination, he was also admitted to a government school. He has good morals and conduct. If it was just a normal salary, how could he be willing to teach in a small mountain village like Qili Village
Mr. Bai was very reluctant to give the reward that would make Mr. Zhuang's heart flutter. Finally, he thought of a way. All suitable children are recruited, and each child also pays a part of the school. This money accumulates into a lot, and the remuneration is generous.
This school was built by Mr. Bai, but it belongs to Mr. Zhuang. Mr. Zhuang has always been in charge of the students' training, so naturally he has the final say on what students to accept.
But whether it is out of etiquette or because of his cooperative relationship with Master Bai, Man Bao has to tell Master Bai whether he can enter the school to study.
But Mr. Zhuang thinks there is no need to rush this matter, because Manbao is still young, so it is okay to follow him to learn some basics slowly.
After the Chinese New Year, she will be a little bigger, and then she will enter the school.
And it is very rare for the Zhou family to let Man Bao out to study.
When Mr. Zhuang first came, he recruited students in several nearby villages. Those adults also knew the benefits of studying. They raised their heads to persuade their nephews to work hard to make money in the future, and to go to school if they had the opportunity. Instead, she persuaded and scolded, "Why are the girls here to join in the fun? Hurry up and go home, is this learning thing you can watch?"
Man Bao eavesdropped outside the window, causing an uproar in Qili Village at first. The child was young and knew nothing.
But Mr. Zhuang knew that some elders in Qili Village found Master Bai and asked him to remove Xiaoqian's job, so that Manbao would not keep eavesdropping on classes and spoil the atmosphere in the village.
It was he who stopped.
One is that Xiaoqian is really diligent and not too busy, and two is that he liked Manbao very much at that time.
So it is said, "everyone has the desire to learn, so why kill it?"
Then more children ran to the windows to eavesdrop. At the most, the two windows were full of people, all boys.
This is a very immoral behavior among scholastics, but Mr. Zhuang said what he said, so naturally he cannot vary from person to person.
Also because of this incident, several students dropped out of school immediately at that time, and the parents came to pick up Shuxiu, turned around and drove the children to the window to study secretly.
Mr. Zhuang was in a hurry at the time, but he could only be angry in his heart, as if he couldn't see the person outside the window.
But not everyone is like Man Bao.
At that time, Manbao was just over one year old. She had just learned to speak, and her walking was still unstable. She didn't know enough about the outside world, and she was not playful. She could sit on the threshold and play quietly all day, and follow the classroom when she was happy. The children read a few words, and when they were upset, they poked the ants with a small stick and played for a long time.
But the youngest child picked outside the window is seven years old, and the oldest is ten years old, which is the time when they are the most restless and most playful.
In less than five days, they almost ran away by themselves. The parents of the students who dropped out saw that their children did not steal anything, and they almost forgot the words they learned before.
I was so angry that I had no choice but to send the child back again.
Since then, few boys came to eavesdrop, but one or two girls began to lie cautiously outside the window.
But before Mr. Zhuang could react, the parents of those girls got angry first.
They will take the girl away first, and then beat and scold, "Can you listen to reading? I think you are big-hearted. If you have time to cut pigweed, pull weeds in the field, and collect firewood on the mountain, what do you do?" In my eyes, there is no work at all, so how can I get married in the future... "
In fact, some ideas here are also Mr. Zhuang's previous ideas.
For example: it is more important for boys to study than for girls, and he also values boys more.
But I don’t know if it’s because Mr. Zhuang thinks more because he’s getting older; or it’s because people tend to have a rebellious mentality when they encounter things that they don’t like.
Anyway, before he knew it, he changed a lot of his mind.
Especially Manbao is getting bigger and wiser day by day.
She memorized more books by the window than the students who sat in the school, and she recognized no fewer characters from his manuscript than the students in the school.
She is also filial, knowing that after listening to his class, she wants to call him Mr., and knows that she needs to clean the yard and clear the desk for him...
He was sick, and serious students ran out as soon as they heard that they could have a holiday, but she knew that she wandered around the yard to pour him a cup of hot water, and even carried his clothes back to wash for her sisters-in-law...
She would pester her mother to bring him an extra egg.
He knew that the Zhou family loved this young girl, but he wasn't sure if they would let her study.
So in order to increase this possibility and make this incident develop benignly, he will not ask Shu Xiu, or even ask the Zhou family to buy pens, inks, papers and inkstones for Man Bao.
He was pleasantly surprised by how much the Zhou family attached importance to it.
Because they brought not only a piece of bacon, but also a suit of clothes and a pair of shoes.
Mr. Zhuang couldn't help laughing, it seemed that the Zhou family really valued this little disciple enough, so he accepted it with a smile.
Old Zhou was relieved when he saw him, and quickly asked Man Bao to kneel down to kowtow to Mr. Zhuang and offer tea.
Mr. Zhuang took a sip of the tea, and gave Man Bao a set of pens, inkstones and inkstones he had prepared early in the morning, oh, and a handful of green onions pulled from the backyard.
Mr. Zhuang was very happy to accept such a clever student.
Old Zhou Tou and his two sons were also very happy. Listening to Mr. Zhuang's voice, Manbao doesn't need to buy any books for the time being, and he can just copy what he needs to use.
The three of them glanced vaguely at the things Man Bao was holding in his arms, thinking, they have all the pens, ink and inkstones, and they will buy some paper for the child later, and they will be able to complete the work.
Although there was an extra expense for the family, the expense was much less than what I expected, and the three of them were of course very happy.
Man Bao was also very happy, everyone was happy to receive the gift, not to mention that it was given by Mr. Zhuang, who she likes.
Everyone is happy.
Old Zhou Tou wanted to invite Mr. Zhuang home for dinner, which was also a celebration of Man Bao's apprenticeship.
But Mr. Zhuang shook his head and refused, saying: "There is still class today, so let's come to bother you another day."
Only then did the old Zhou remember that Mr. Zhuang still had classes, and he felt a little restless.
While talking, there was also the sound of children chasing and fighting outside, and Mr. Zhuang knew that the children were coming.