Chapter 36 Marriage Law...

As a literacy worker who still holds onto hope, how could Cui Baozhu possibly stand idly by?

She took a deep breath, raised her voice, and began to persuade the crowd:

"Thank you all very much for attending the second day of the course. The leader once said: Restoring and developing people's education is one of the important tasks at present."

"And it has been rolled out across the entire army and the entire population. In the old days, it was very difficult for people to learn to read and write. Now we have such a rare opportunity, and everyone must cherish it."

As soon as she finished speaking, the family members who were holding their work and ready to start their work awkwardly stopped what they were doing and turned their attention to Cui Baozhu.

Seeing this, Cui Baozhu breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone was quite obedient; otherwise, she really wouldn't know what to do.

"Come on, everyone, hand in what you left over from last night, and we'll start learning a new lesson right away."

As soon as these words were spoken, a commotion immediately arose from the crowd.

Many people attend literacy classes just to save face and get by; how could they possibly do their homework or hand it in with genuine enthusiasm?

Cui Baozhu's words left many people completely bewildered.

They subconsciously cast pleading glances at Qin Yueru, the wife of Chen, the women's director of the family compound.

Qin Yueru was extremely embarrassed by everyone's actions and the way Cui Baozhu looked at her, and her face turned bright red with shame.

At that moment, she clearly realized that her understanding of women's work was still too simplistic.

The awkward situation must be resolved as soon as possible.

"Teacher Cui, let's start class first, and I'll talk about the rest with you after class."

"Okay, Director Qin."

Upon hearing this, Cui Baozhu stopped pursuing the question and continued teaching according to her planned lesson plan.

Miya studied for another two hours, and she radiated a glow as if she had been baptized by knowledge.

As soon as the signal to end get out of class was given, she immediately took her homework and placed it on the podium.

"Teacher Cui, this is what I wrote last night. Please make some changes."

Looking at her students' work from the previous night, Cui Baozhu was almost moved to tears. Just moments ago, she had been worried that not a single student would do their homework, but now it seemed that there were still some who genuinely wanted to learn.

"Miya, you're very good. I'll accept your answer."

Immediately afterwards, Erni and the others handed in their assignments, and Cui Baozhu experienced the satisfaction of receiving feedback from her students for the first time.

After collecting the homework, Cui Baozhu watched the departing crowd and waved excitedly.

"Remember to hand in your homework the day after tomorrow. Your teacher will be waiting for you in the cafeteria."

"no problem."

Miya answered subconsciously, but only realized what the teacher had said when she reached the door.

She turned around in confusion, wanting to ask for the specific reason. Could it be that the school was going to close after only two days of operation?

Turning around, I saw Director Qin and Teacher Cui chatting animatedly, and I didn't want to disturb them.

Liu Limei noticed Miya's gaze. "Miya, what are you looking at?"

"Sister-in-law, are there classes tomorrow and the day after?"

"Of course!"

"Then why did Teacher Cui say see you the day after tomorrow?"

This was not only Miya's question, but also the question shared by Dani and Erni.

Liu Limei finally understood what Miya was worried about, and her smile deepened. Not to mention teachers, even she herself had a greater preference for children who liked to learn.

"That's because Teacher Cui specializes in teaching Chinese language courses. Yesterday's number recognition was just a demonstration. Tomorrow you will start to learn and become familiar with various addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division."

"So that's how it is!" Miya exclaimed excitedly.

The eldest child, standing to the side, had a long face, full of regret.

Learning to recognize characters was one thing, but he also had to learn addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Those densely packed numbers were simply making things difficult for this little soldier.

After confirming that she could still attend classes tomorrow, Miya excitedly hugged her mother's hand, waiting for Ren Qingsong to take her home.

Inside the cafeteria, Qin Yueru was discussing the teaching plan with Cui Baozhu.

"Director Qin, please just tell me what's on your mind."

Cui Baozhu's words almost made Qin Yueru vomit blood. She directly stretched out her index finger and poked Cui Baozhu's forehead hard, pretending to be angry.

"You little brat, now you're making fun of people, aren't you?"

Hehehe!

Cui Baozhu immediately lost her composure and was completely unable to maintain the serious teacher image she had just presented.

A particularly endearing smiling face immediately bloomed before Qin Yueru's eyes.

"Oh dear! Aunt Qin, I was just thinking about keeping things professional at work. How could I laugh at someone? I like Aunt Qin the most."

After Cui Baozhu's coaxing and flattery, Qin Yueru completely forgot what she was about to say and returned her thoughts to the important matter at hand.

"Fine, I won't waste any more words with you."

Qin Yueru composed herself, recalling the atmosphere in the classroom just two days after the start of classes, and her expression turned serious.

“Baozhu, it seems that something went wrong with our vigorous literacy education campaign targeting women and children in the family compound. The results are not good.”

"Should we learn some experience from the military?"

Cui Baozhu shook her head, pouting in disapproval. She had finally managed to start a business, so how could she ask her father for help so soon?

"No, Aunt Qin, my dad will definitely laugh at me."

"What? Is there some kind of agreement between you and your daughter?"

Before Qin Yueru could finish speaking, Cui Baozhu instinctively retorted, "How could you..."

In an instant, Cui Baozhu realized that she had said something she shouldn't have, and quickly covered her mouth with both hands.

A pair of big, blinking eyes stared wide-eyed at the other person.

Qin Yueru's cheeks were almost sore from smiling so much; she really liked the family atmosphere of the Cui family.

"Cough cough!"

She could only cough twice, pretending she hadn't heard anything, and continue the previous topic.

"Since we can't ask the military for help, do you have any good ways to encourage people to attend literacy classes?"

After he finished speaking, there was a long silence.

Cui Baozhu racked her brains and dug out the event that made her most eager to learn about characters.

Finally, an idea came to mind.

"Aunt Qin, what do you think about telling stories while we're teaching? Let me tell you, when I was little, I studied really hard to learn the characters in the comic books."

"That's a good idea, but is it only effective for children?"

In Qin Yueru's memory, reading comic books was basically only for young children, a form of entertainment for older children and adults, and it seemed that there was no need to learn to read.

"How about reading some stories for adults?"

Cui Baozhu's words were like a door to a new world being opened for Qin Yueru; her calm gaze was instantly stirred into a raging storm.

She couldn't help but connect it to the women's work that was urgently needed in the family compound recently.

Soon, ideas started popping into her head one after another, and she was so happy that she didn't notice that Cui Baozhu's gaze was becoming increasingly strange.

Seeing Qin Yueru so excited for the first time, Cui Baozhu couldn't help but take a step back to protect her.

The next second, Qin Yueru excitedly shook Cui Baozhu's body vigorously with both hands.

Cui Baozhu was like a wave, rising and falling with the impact of the waves behind her.

She was only released when she felt dizzy.

"Baozhu, you are so smart!"

These words, spoken out of nowhere, startled Cui Baozhu. She shrank back again, asking in confusion, "Aunt Qin, what did you say?"

At this moment, Qin Yueru had already made arrangements for the upcoming literacy work and wanted to discuss it with teacher Cui Baozhu.

"Of course, something good has happened."

Chen Zhenzhen was passing by the canteen after finishing her night shift, intending to go home with her mother.

After waiting outside the door for a while without seeing her mother, she had no choice but to walk into the cafeteria.

As soon as she stepped inside, she heard her mother's excited voice, who preemptively asked a question in front of Cui Baozhu.

"Mom, what's the good news? Tell me about it too."

Upon hearing the sound, Cui Baozhu and Qin Yueru both looked towards the door.

When Cui Baozhu saw Chen Zhenzhen, it was as if she had seen a savior. She excitedly rushed towards Chen Zhenzhen and clung to her tightly.

"Sister Zhenzhen, you've finally arrived."

"What happened?" Chen Zhenzhen noticed the look of relief on Cui Baozhu's face. "Did something happen to the literacy class?"

Qin Yueru waved her hand, interrupting her daughter's speculation.

"Nothing serious happened, it's just that people aren't very enthusiastic about attending the literacy classes."

Isn't this a big deal?

Chen Zhenzhen looked at her mother in surprise, unable to believe that the other woman could say such a thing.

Qin Yueru now has new ideas about literacy work, so she naturally doesn't think that the temporary difficulties are anything.

"It's perfect that you're here too. Three heads are better than one. Come and hear my thoughts."

The three walked towards the family compound in the darkness.

Along the way, one could occasionally hear the excited exclamations of Chen Zhenzhen and Cui Baozhu, two young girls, about Qin Yueru's new ideas.

Chen Zhenzhen, in particular, couldn't wait to start the activity the next day.

On the mountain, Miya couldn't bear to use a kerosene lamp or flashlight to do her homework, so she washed up and went to bed early.

Everything in the literacy class was new and interesting to her, but also tiring.

The next day, just like the day before, Miya prepared to do her homework before starting farm work.

He even planned to bring his mother along.

Cui Dani, considering herself an old woman, thought she couldn't do these things anymore, and since she couldn't even read the words clearly, she quickly declined, saying she was busy with work in the fields.

Miya could only study by herself, carefully tracing the characters she had learned in one night onto paper.

At noon, we waited for Ren Qingsong's inspection and instruction.

Ren Qingsong was surprised to find that today's Miya recorded more content than yesterday, and even had some of her own little ideas.

He couldn't help but think to himself: if Miya had started studying at such a young age, she would definitely have achieved great things.

Unbeknownst to him, the way he looked at Miya began to take on a different hue.

While Qin Yueru was figuring out new teaching methods with her daughter and Cui Baozhu, Miya was also racking her brains to learn mathematics.

She prefers math to Chinese class.

The sheer awe-inspiring power of those mysterious numbers is unparalleled by anything else.

Just by silently counting in her mind, she could completely overcome the panicked calculations she used to make when doing accounts. She couldn't imagine what math would be like if she studied at the advanced elementary level that her teacher mentioned.

Amidst Miya's tense yet exciting studies, the Chinese language class quietly arrived.

As soon as she entered the cafeteria, she was amazed by the completely transformed scene before her.

"Mother, this..."

Cui Dani was also shocked by the scene before her. If Liu Limei hadn't patiently persuaded her, she probably wouldn't have come today.

Two days of math lessons had exhausted the old man's patience.

But she never expected that today's Chinese class would be so different.

The large blackboard still stands in the center at the front, but now two tables have been placed on either side, with two people sitting on each table. Behind them are the cymbals and drums that were once seen during opera performances.

They all stood on the high platform, which looked rather strange.

If you didn't know better, you'd think they were watching a theatrical performance in the cafeteria.

Liu Limei noticed the change in everyone's gaze and breathed a sigh of relief. At least she didn't have to worry about everyone leaving early to do other chores.

She raised her hands and quickly gestured to the crowd.

"Everyone, please sit down! Director Qin said that today's class format will be slightly different, so please don't worry."

Upon seeing the musical instruments, some people couldn't contain their curiosity and immediately asked questions.

Are we going to see a play today?

"The army has a cultural troupe. Is it going to be a play today? I'd better go back and call my family."

"They didn't even remind us of such an important event beforehand; we almost missed it."

Liu Limei and the other staff members smiled without saying a word, silently watching a group of people rush out, and then quickly leading a large group of people to participate in the literacy education activity.

Looking at the lively scene below from the high platform, Cui Baozhu almost couldn't help but burst out laughing.

She whispered in Chen Zhenzhen's ear, "Sister Zhenzhen, look, a lot of people have arrived."

"The more people there are for today's event, the better."

Chen Zhenzhen couldn't help but feel excited when she thought about what she was going to say later.

Cui Baozhu had the same thought, nodding her head frantically, as if it were about to be flung off her neck.

Those below had no idea what was going on on stage; they were still calling out to their friends and acquaintances.

In no time, the audience was full of people.

There weren't enough chairs in the cafeteria, so some people brought their own from home, just to enjoy the opera and have some fun.

But when Cui Baozhu stood up from her chair, moved to the front of the blackboard, and slowly uttered three words, everyone present fell silent, completely bewildered.

The sound of chalk hitting the blackboard, each word distinct and deliberate, was particularly pleasant to Miya's ears.

Cui Baozhu moved to reveal the words to everyone.

"Any of you students here recognize these three characters?"

Erni, who knew the most characters in the small group and was sitting closest to the podium, immediately raised her right hand.

The moment she saw someone raise their hand, a surge of joy welled up in Cui Baozhu's tense heart.

"Come on! This student, you speak."

"Teacher Cui, these three words are the Marriage Law."

"That's right! You're right, classmate. The three words on the blackboard are the Marriage Law."

Cui Baozhu nodded affirmatively and gestured for Erni to sit down.

At the same time, the entire cafeteria was filled with the sound of the words "Marriage Law".

"Marriage Law? What's that?"

"Law? Law, shouldn't it be something related to squatting by the fence?"

"Weren't we here to watch a play? Why are we squatting by the fence?"

...

The chattering noise dominated the cafeteria, making it impossible for Cui Baozhu to continue with her prepared speech.

She immediately turned her head and gave Chen Zhenzhen a look.

A loud bang erupted in the cafeteria, and everyone instinctively covered their ears and looked in the direction of the sound.

Chen Zhenzhen was holding cymbals in both hands, clearly indicating that she was the one who had just performed the action.

The sound of cymbals is not so easy to resist. Before everyone could continue making noise, Cui Baozhu seized the opportunity and continued her introduction.

"I know everyone is probably thinking right now, what does the Marriage Law have to do with me, and with you?"

"The Marriage Law is most closely related to women and children. By learning the Marriage Law, everyone can better protect their rights."

"For example, what if your husband beats you? What if your family forces you to marry a stranger? What if they threaten a widow not to remarry?"