Actually, we've gone off-topic today. We started by talking about learning to recognize characters, but the conversation has drifted further and further away. However, it's clearly working well.

To show his importance, Liu Weimin specially set aside a large room in the village office to serve as a classroom for them.

Liujiatun is only so big, and the children have no foundation in education, so dividing them into classes is simply unrealistic; they can only be raised together.

Thus, Mingzhu began her enlightenment journey.

No matter how unwilling the other educated youth were, they dared not go against the tide at this time. Moreover, Mingzhu had Lin Dongfang by her side to protect his wife, so they could only watch helplessly. Needless to say, their envy, jealousy and hatred were beyond words.

Soon, the fields were ready for the next long-running task – weeding.

In the morning, the adults went to work, and the children, big and small, flocked to the village office. Mingzhu would teach a few characters that were commonly used each day. These books were rare items, not to mention notebooks and pens.

The blackboard was a board that had been found in advance. Mingzhu used charcoal to write words on it and pointed them out to the children. On the first day, everything was new and exciting. The children listened very attentively and read the words she taught them loudly. As soon as the work was finished on the other side, they dispersed and ran home happily. They felt a great sense of accomplishment and wanted to show off to their families.

The characters we learned today weren't difficult; they were all beginner-level, and Jian Xin knew them all. But she also really enjoyed the atmosphere of learning with her friends. She saw Jian Xin happily learning from her, and when they got home, she obediently drew on the ground with a twig.

In my past life, everyone said that children shouldn't learn to write too young because their bones are too soft. So, I've always just let them recognize and read. But now, she seems quite excited about writing, writing and scribbling, scribbling and writing.

After looking for a while, Jian Dan finally realized that there were no books, no notebooks or anything like that.

"You just write on the ground?"

"Yes, yes, I don't need to go this afternoon. I can write at home. Sister Zhuzhu will check it tomorrow."

Hearing this, I simply sighed. It really was tough, thoroughly tough, in every detail of life.

After thinking about it, I simply found a flat wooden box, filled it with sand, and

"The ground is hard, so write here."

The little girl tried it and found that the sand was soft and easy to write on; the writing disappeared with a light sweep.

"Sister, this is fun."

She gave a slight smirk. It wasn't her original creation; it was just the most basic sand table model.

"This box doesn't need to be too thick, just thick enough to write on."

See, attach a lid to it, and you can put it on when you're not using it.

Then, install a sliding strip at the sealing point, put the lid on, and you see, it's locked in place, so you don't have to worry about sand spilling out.

After you finish writing, just slide it like this, and it'll be flat, right?

"Why don't you give it a try?"

Jian Xin picked up a stick and experimented.

"Wow, this is so much fun! Haha, it'll be so much easier to write now."

There's no need for further explanation; they just asked on their own initiative.

"Sister, I'm going to find Uncle Guangming and ask him to help me with this."

"Go ahead, go ahead, take some of the chestnuts I roasted yesterday to Xiaohua."

"Um."

Jian Dan had prepared quite a few other school supplies, but since she was already with the children, she didn't plan to give her any special treatment, at least not on the surface.

Jian Xin has at least ten more years of life here. Given the environment, she can't live in an ivory tower forever. She needs to experience real life, know the ups and downs of human relationships, and understand the dangers of the world. That would be more practical for her.

As for other things, of course, we can't stop giving our own children extra tutoring in private.

After a quick and easy meal was prepared, the little girl came running back, her face still glistening with sweat.

"Uncle Guangming said he'll get it done in a bit, and Third Grandfather said he'll keep an eye on it. I'll go after I finish eating."

I quickly washed the child's face.

"What's the rush? Once Uncle Guangming has done it, it can't run away."

Jian Xin sat down and immediately started shoveling rice into her mouth.

"I want to be the first to see it. Could you make one for Sister Zhuzhu? Make a big one!"

"Then, ask Uncle Guangming."

Also, Uncle Guangming is helping out, but you have to pay him. You can't let him do things for free, understand?

Jian Xin paused for a moment, then nodded emphatically.

"Can I take my food?"

This thing doesn't use much wood, and apart from the snaps for sealing, it doesn't require much technology. They wouldn't accept more than that.

"Okay, whatever you think is suitable is fine."

She doesn't want her child to be exposed to everything she can. She wants her child to experience real society, like interpersonal relationships and equal exchanges. As long as the difference isn't too outrageous, she will affirm it.

Anyway, the more exposure a child has, the more judgments she will make herself. She will have the most authentic impressions and evaluations of the world, things that cannot be conveyed through words.

Jian Xin's eyes lit up; she was clearly very pleased to be affirmed.

"Uh-huh,"

Even his eating speed increased. He put down his bowl, grabbed two snacks, and ran outside. Jian Dan didn't care. This child may look young, but having lived with Sheng Zhiyuan for three or four years and experienced chaotic times, he's not stupid and knows what's going on.

After packing her things, Jian Xin slowly went to work when it was time, and then happily went to the Liu family's house.

Liu Guangming found it novel, but he had never seen it before. However, this thing had indeed existed for a long time. It was not complicated; it was simple, just a box with a lid.

When Liu Sanye saw it, he wasn't surprised. He just looked at the lid over and over, probably because he had never seen a sand tray with a lid before. But once he saw it, he knew it was for children to use, to prevent them from spilling it.

"Hmm, that's good. It's perfect for this situation. Make some for Tiger and Little Flower too. The kids are willing to learn, and these things don't cost any money. Don't be stingy."

Actually, Liu Guangming hadn't said a word before he was scolded, and he felt very wronged.

"Dad, I'm your own father too. How could I be reluctant to part with such a small thing?"

"Hmph, hurry up, it'll be time to get to work soon."

Jian Xin entered the courtyard carrying her snacks and happened to see a prepared snack laid out to the side. She immediately shoved the snacks into Liu Sanye's arms and squatted down.

"Sister Xiaohua, let's go collect sand, it's so much fun!"

They usually play with this stuff. This morning, when we talked about writing on the ground, these kids didn't think of it this way. They just understood immediately. The sand isn't fresh, but the writing they just learned this morning is really new to them.

They filled the sandbox and started drawing and writing, then smoothed it out, proudly showing off to the adults.

"This yearning for heaven, this yearning for man,"

Putting everything else aside, the parents' joy was spontaneous; their own child could now read.