Chapter 179 Little Feet Measuring the World

Three-year-old Jin Yue is a curious child. She has her mother's bright eyes and her father's sharp nose. She's as soft as a glutinous rice dumpling, yet her energy is as bubbling as a nonstop motor. In Xia Wu's words, this child is "quiet as a virgin, agile as a rabbit."

Of course, there are fewer moments of stillness and more moments of movement.

That morning, just as the sun was filtering through the mist into the valley courtyard, little Jinyue woke up. She sat up in her crib, clung to the wooden railing, and called out in a baby voice to the next room, "Dad! Mom! Grandpa Sun, get up! Yueyue wants to get up too!"

Ji Yunzhou was always the first to respond to his daughter's call, smiling as he came in to dress her. Xia Wu yawned and leaned against the doorframe, watching Ji Yunzhou clumsily but patiently put on his daughter's sweatshirt and overalls with a buffalo pattern, her heart melting.

"Mom, you lazy bum!" Xiao Jinyue put on his clothes, ran over and hugged Xia Wu's legs, looking up at her and accusing her.

Xia Wu bent down and pinched her little nose: "Yes, Mom is a lazy bug, and we Yueyue are the hardworking little bees. Where do you want to go on an adventure today?"

"Let's go to town!" Xiao Jinyue's eyes sparkled. "Let's go see the cows! See the big cars! See lots of people!"

Ever since Ji Yunzhou had carried him to Donghua Town, the little guy hadn't forgotten the bustle of the town. For little Jin Yue, who grew up between valleys and villages, that small town with its wide streets, numerous shops, and constant traffic was like a vast wonderland.

After a breakfast of Taoyuan eggs and vegetables, carefully prepared by Liu Guizhen, the family of three set off hand in hand. Ji Yunzhou, worried his daughter might get tired, wanted to carry her, but Xiao Jinyue sternly refused, "Yueyue, walk on your own! You're a big kid!" She insisted on exploring the world on her own little feet.

A beautifully maintained path leads from the valley to Donghua Town. Neatly arranged farmland and orchards line the roadside. Some villagers are plowing the fields with water buffaloes rented from Xia Wu. The buffaloes are sturdy, with sleek fur and gentle dispositions. They pull the plows leisurely, stirring up the moist earth behind them.

"Cows! Daddy, look, it's cows!" Little Jin pointed excitedly, her short legs moving faster. She knew these cows well; the cowshed on the mountain was one of her favorite spots.

An old farmer who was resting on the ridge of a field saw them and greeted them with a smile: "Mr. Xia, Mr. Ji, are you bringing Jin Yue out to play?"

"Hello, Grandpa Zhang!" Little Jinyue was not afraid of strangers at all and called out loudly. This was what Liu Guizhen and Yang Guojun taught him: to say hello when meeting someone.

"Hey! Today is the best!" Grandpa Zhang's wrinkles were all brightened with a smile. "Come to see the cows working? They are so well behaved, and they are stronger than the last time you saw them!"

Xiao Jinyue nodded vigorously, clinging to the edge of the field, watching intently. In her little world, these gentle giants were her friends. They would greet her with a "moo" and gently touch the palm of her hand with their wet noses.

As we continued walking, approaching the town, the scene changed again. More exquisite shops appeared along the roadside, selling handmade goods, unique snacks, and even small shops with signs saying "Taoyuan Specialties." There were noticeably more tourists, wearing a variety of clothes, speaking different dialects, and snapping photos with their phones and cameras.

"Mom, that girl's clothes are so beautiful!" Xiao Jinyue pointed at a young girl wearing Hanfu who was taking photos.

"That's Hanfu, our traditional beautiful Chinese clothing." Xia Wu explained patiently.

"Yueyue wants one too!"

"Okay, when Yueyue grows taller, mommy will buy it for Yueyue too."

The town's main road is now much wider and cleaner than before, with designated parking spaces and uniformed cleaning staff on duty. This is the result of Lin Tao's efforts to standardize town management. Despite the increase in tourists, order remains high and the environment remains clean.

Little Jinyue was curious about everything. She stood motionless in front of the old man selling candy figurines, watching for a moment as the Monkey King was created. She leaned out the window to watch the pastry chef make peach blossom pastries, her little nose inhaling the sweet aroma. She saw a child sitting on their father's shoulders eating candied haws, and she looked back eagerly at Ji Yunzhou.

Ji Yunzhou immediately understood and bought her the smallest candied haws stick with only three hawthorns. Xiao Jinyue carefully licked the shiny candy coating, her eyes narrowed in happiness.

As they walked, they arrived near Taoyuan Supermarket. There were even more people here. Little Jinyue held his parents' hands tightly, turning his head around so much that he couldn't see everything.

"Mom! Milk powder!" she suddenly shouted, pointing to a large advertisement on the supermarket's wall. It showed several smiling babies, with the words "Taoyuan Milk Powder, Protecting Babies' Healthy Growth" written next to it. Little Jinyue recognized the image from the bottle she drank from every day.

"Yes, that's the advertisement for Yueyue's milk powder." Xia Wu bent down and said to her daughter.

"Drink it, Coco!" Little Jinyue still remembered her mother showing her a photo of Coco, Aunt Wang Juan's sister. Her mother said that Coco had gotten better after drinking milk powder. In Little Jinyue's simple logic, milk powder was a good thing that could make her sick sister happy.

At this time, they happened to run into Zhou Qianqian who was in the supermarket to make some purchases. Zhou Qianqian's "Zhou Ma Noodles" had already established a firm foothold in the supermarket, and she came today to discuss a new supply plan.

"Auntie Zhou!" Xiao Jinyue called sweetly.

"Oh, our little Jin is getting more and more beautiful!" Zhou Qianqian squatted down, touched her little face, and took out a still warm little rabbit red bean paste bun from the bag she brought with her. "Here, Auntie just made it, try it."

Xiao Jinyue took the red bean paste bun and said politely, "Thank you, Aunt Zhou!" Then he took a bite and chewed it with satisfaction, his cheeks bulging like a little hamster.

Zhou Qianqian looked at Xia Wu and Ji Yunzhou and said with emotion, "Time flies so fast. It feels like I was holding little Jinyue in my arms yesterday, and today I can run around the streets. The town has changed a lot too, it's becoming more and more lively."

Xia Wu smiled and nodded: "Yes, it's a wonderful feeling to watch her grow up little by little and watch the town get better little by little."

After saying goodbye to Zhou Qianqian, little Jinyue's energy was finally exhausted and she began to rub her eyes. Ji Yunzhou picked her up, and this time the little girl didn't refuse. She lay obediently on her father's broad shoulders, her little hand still tightly clutching the uneaten candied haws.

On the way back, she leaned on Ji Yunzhou's shoulder, watching the bustling streets gradually recede, the farmland shimmering in the golden light of the setting sun, and the buffaloes grazing leisurely. Her little head nods slowly, almost falling asleep. In a daze, she mumbles, "Dad... town... is fun... Niu Niu... be good... next time... come again..."

Xia Wu and Ji Yunzhou smiled at each other and gently held each other's hands.

A child's perspective is simple and direct. She doesn't see the complex planning, effort, and challenges behind everything. She sees only a lively, friendly, and exciting "world" filled with novelty: her familiar Niu Niu friends, delicious candied haws and red bean paste buns, and countless people smiling at her. And this, perhaps, is the warmest and most essential achievement of all the changes in Donghua Town—it has become a place where children feel happy and safe.

The setting sun cast long shadows on the family of three, slowly melting them back into the tranquil and vibrant valley. Little Jinyue's adventure had come to a temporary end, but a new story, both hers and for Donghua Town, awaited the next day.

The September breeze began to cool, and the old osmanthus tree in the valley courtyard was already covered with golden blossoms, its sweet fragrance so rich it seemed to seep into one's bones. Three-and-a-half-year-old Jin Yue, like an energetic little animal, chased fluttering butterflies across the osmanthus-sprinkled meadow, his laughter so clear it could shatter the sunlight.

Xia Wu leaned against the railing of the second-floor terrace, her eyes following her daughter, but her heart wasn't as peaceful and content as it had been in previous autumns. A faint sense of anxiety crept up on her like a creeping vine.

Jinyue is old enough to go to kindergarten.

Donghua Town has undergone tremendous changes in the past two years, with tourists flocking in, businesses booming, and even a renovated middle school. However, early childhood education seems to have been left behind by this rapid development. The town's public kindergartens are short on places, with outdated facilities and traditional teaching methods. The only two private daycare centers are more like "babysitting" centers, with cramped spaces and limited activities. Xia Wu visited once and was dismayed.

She really couldn't bear to cram her "wild girl" who was used to running around in the mountains and was curious about everything into such a square and neat little box.

"Do I really have to open one myself?" This thought crossed her mind more than once. With her current financial resources and influence, running a high-standard, high-profile kindergarten wouldn't be difficult. But thinking about the countless trivial yet responsibilities that would come with approvals, teacher recruitment, management, and safety, Xia Wu felt a wave of physical exhaustion. She had finally freed herself from the rigors of parenting, enjoying a few years of leisurely time. Was she about to plunge headfirst into a new whirlpool of busyness?

"What's wrong? You look so sad." Ji Yunzhou walked over with a cup of warm water and followed her gaze to look at her carefree daughter downstairs.

"What else can I do? It's just kindergarten." Xia Wu sighed and rested his chin on the railing. "I feel like none of them are worthy of my daughter."

Ji Yunzhou laughed and put his arm around her shoulders: "Then wait a little longer, or...we can teach her ourselves every day? You're free now anyway."

"That's different," Xia Wu shook her head. "She needs social interaction and an environment with her peers. We can't keep her confined to our world forever."

At this moment, in the somewhat sparsely furnished teachers' office of Dongkeng Village Primary School, retired, rehired special-grade teacher Zhang Cuiping was meticulously wiping her desk. On it lay her retirement certificate and a newly completed application for non-renewal. She was sixty-two years old and had dedicated over forty years to the education field, with students and mentors across the globe. Her son, now settled abroad, had repeatedly urged her to return home to enjoy her retirement.

Colleagues tried to persuade him to stay: "Teacher Zhang, the children will miss you when you leave! You are the best teacher in this area!"

Zhang Cuiping smiled gently, but her eyes revealed an unshakable determination: "I'm getting old, and my energy can't keep up. Besides, education doesn't just take place in the classroom. I might want to try something different."

The "other things" she was talking about had their seeds planted by chance. A few days earlier, she was strolling by a stream outside town when she saw several young parents from the city with their children, catching small fish and identifying rocks by the water. The children's faces flushed with excitement, and their questions were wild and imaginative. At that moment, she suddenly remembered the spring outings she took with her students when she was young. The children's genuine joy and burgeoning curiosity in the mountains and fields were something she could never inspire in a classroom.

A bold idea that had been lingering in her mind for a long time became clear.

Zhou Qianqian was also worried about the same thing. Sun Xiaolin was already in elementary school, and she was fully committed to the "Zhou Ma Noodles" brand, which was booming. But she noticed that many young mothers like her were struggling with their children in the neighborhood, many of whom faced the dilemma of having no one to supervise their children or being dissatisfied with existing childcare. After school in the afternoon, the neighborhood was filled with unattended children running around.

"It would be great if our neighborhood had a decent kindergarten," she lamented while chatting with some familiar mothers. "It doesn't have to be too old, as long as the teachers are caring and can help the children have fun and learn something."

"Who says it's not? The public schools are so crowded, and the private schools are just so-so, and the tuition is not cheap."

"Oh, it would be great if President Xia was willing to come forward and organize one. The things she makes will definitely be good!"

Somehow, these words reached the ears of Lin Tao, who was investigating residents' needs in Taoyuan Community.

Lin Tao, now Xia Wu's right-hand man in charge of community development and external relations, keenly recognized that the shortage of early childhood education resources had become a bottleneck hindering Donghua Town's efforts to attract and retain young families and improve residents' well-being. He compiled a detailed report outlining residents' concerns, potential needs, and the impact on community development and presented it to Xia Wu.

"Mr. Xia, this issue really needs to be put on the agenda," Lin Tao said earnestly. "This not only concerns Jinyue, but also the future of many young families who have settled in Taoyuan."

Xia Wu frowned as she read the report. She knew Lin Tao was right. Education was paramount to the sustainable development of the community. That feeling of being pushed by responsibility returned.

Just when Xia Wu's heart was gradually tilting towards "running his own garden" and he began to feel extremely heavy, an unexpected visitor knocked on the door of the courtyard in the valley.

The visitor was none other than Teacher Zhang Cuiping. She was wearing a simple cotton and linen jacket, her silver hair was meticulously combed, and her eyes were bright and sharp.

"Mr. Xia, I'm sorry to bother you. My name is Zhang Cuiping, and I'm a retired teacher from Dongkeng Primary School." She introduced herself in a neither humble nor arrogant tone.

Xia Wu quickly invited her in, feeling somewhat surprised. She had heard of this highly respected old teacher, but they had never met before.

Without further ado, Zhang Cuiping explained her purpose. "I heard you're worried about your daughter's kindergarten enrollment. To be honest, I've also been thinking about early childhood education lately. I have a rudimentary idea, and I'd like to hear your opinion."

She took out a thick, slightly old notebook and opened it. It was filled with dense handwriting, and also contained many plant specimens and photos of children doing outdoor activities.

"I want to open a kindergarten," Zhang Cuiping said in a low voice, yet with a quiet power. "But not in the traditional sense. I want to open it in the mountains, without walls, or with just a low fence. The classroom could be in an open space under a tree by the stream, on a hillside covered with wildflowers, or even in a small cabin we build ourselves."

Her eyes began to light up, and her speech quickened. "We don't teach pinyin or arithmetic, at least not intentionally. We take the children to watch ants moving, listen to birdsong and insects chirping, touch leaves and stones of different textures, plant seeds in the soil and watch them sprout. We teach them to identify edible wild fruits, explain the laws of nature, and let them exercise their bodies and learn about the world through running, climbing, and playing."

"I want to run a 'wild kindergarten', a paradise that truly belongs to children, full of childlike fun and nature."

Xia Wu was completely captivated by the idea. This was exactly the paradise she dreamed her daughter should go to!

"But... Teacher Zhang, this sounds great, but it will be very difficult to implement, right? Safety issues, parental acceptance, policy approval..." Xia Wu raised realistic concerns.

Zhang Cuiping had clearly given this much thought. "Safety is paramount. We can choose a relatively safe, enclosed natural environment, staff it with sufficient experienced and caring teachers, and develop a strict safety plan. Parental acceptance may take time, so we can start with a small group of families with similar philosophies. As for policy," she paused, her gaze firm, "it all depends on human effort. I believe that educational models that truly benefit children's growth will eventually be recognized and acknowledged. I've been teaching for a lifetime, and this final wish is to give it a try."

Her tone revealed a courage to fight to the bitter end and wisdom accumulated over the years.

At that moment, Xia Wu's inner turmoil and heaviness vanished. She looked at the old teacher, his white hair and piercing eyes, and it was as if she saw a ray of light, illuminating the path she longed to pursue but was unable to forge on her own.

"Teacher Zhang!" Xia Wu excitedly shook her hand. "Your idea is great! If you don't mind, please let me support you in this matter! I'll take care of the funding, venue, and resources! You are responsible for realizing your educational ideals!"

The problem that had troubled her for many days took a turn for the better in such an unexpected and idealistic way.

The news quickly spread in a small circle.

Zhou Qianqian practically jumped up when she heard this: "Wild Kindergarten? Sponsored by Teacher Zhang Cuiping? Invested by President Xia? Oh my god! That's great! My downstairs sister Wang's child is perfect for it. I'll tell her to go right away!"

Lin Tao breathed a sigh of relief and immediately began to study relevant policies and support plans. He knew that if this kindergarten could be established, its significance to Donghua Town would be no less than that of the original Taoyuan Community.

Even Professor Qin from the Chinese Medicine Hall smiled when he heard about this: "Tao follows nature. Children are naturally kind-hearted. Living close to the mountains and fields, connecting with the earth, will greatly benefit their physical and mental growth. Wonderful, wonderful!"

The sweet-scented osmanthus flowers were still fragrant, and little Jinyue was still running carefree across the grass. Xia Wu watched her, her heart filled with new anticipation. She could already see her daughter and her friends, barefoot, laughing, and running along valley streams and in sunny woods, embarking on their first and most precious adventure in the vast classroom of nature.

All of this began with the unquenchable passion for education of a veteran teacher and the deepest love and expectation of a mother. The story of Donghua Town is about to turn a new page.

As the chill of early winter deepened, a breaking news story erupted like ice water dropped into boiling oil, sending the internet into a frenzy. A private kindergarten in a neighboring city, touted as a "high-end bilingual institution," was exposed for chronic child abuse. The teacher's grimacing face and the helpless cries of the children captured in the surveillance video pierced the hearts of countless parents like a sharp knife. The news quickly spread, sparking widespread anxiety and outcry over the safety of early childhood education.

This wave of panic inevitably spread to Donghua Town, a rapidly developing city attracting many young families. In WeChat groups, on forums, and even on the notice boards of Taoyuan Community, people were engaged in heated and anxious discussions.

"It's horrible! How can you do this to a child?"

"I feel uneasy about every kindergarten I go to now..."

"The conditions of the kindergarten in our town are already average, and now I dare not send my child to school."

"Oh, if only there were a place where I could feel absolutely at ease..."

Amidst this gloomy atmosphere, someone suddenly asked, "Do you remember that outdoor kindergarten Teacher Zhang Cuiping was planning to run?"

This sentence was like a ray of light, instantly illuminating the anxious hearts of many people.

"Yes! Teacher Zhang! She's a famous special-grade teacher here, and her teaching ethics are impeccable!"

"A wild kindergarten sounds different from one that's enclosed in a cement box!"

"Taking classes in nature doesn't feel oppressive. The children are in a good mood, and so are the teachers. I guess there's no chance for them to lose their temper!"

"And I heard that President Xia invested in it, so safety is definitely guaranteed!"

For a time, some people were hesitant about Zhang Cuiping's "no pinyin and arithmetic" philosophy, but now they have changed their minds. When it comes to absolute safety and mental health, the inculcation of these knowledge seems less important. People long for a place where children are truly cared for and can grow up freely and happily.

Zhou Qianqian has experienced this change firsthand. When she previously recommended Teacher Zhang's kindergarten to mothers she knew, many were hesitant: "What can you learn just by playing?" "What if it rains or snows?" "It's so painful if your child falls or gets hurt." Now, those once hesitant mothers are actively seeking her advice:

"Qianqian, you're familiar with President Xia. Could you please ask Teacher Zhang if that kindergarten is still hiring? Are the spots tight?"

"Yes, yes, we all think that Teacher Zhang is definitely reliable!"

Lin Tao's office phone was practically blowing up with calls. Originally, he needed to promote this new initiative, still in the works, to potential families, but now he was fielding a constant stream of inquiries. He keenly sensed this opportunity and immediately adjusted his strategy, focusing on "natural education," "psychological safety," and "leadership by experienced and renowned teachers" as key promotional points, and began preparing for a public information session.

Meanwhile, on a newly planned site near the valley, teacher Zhang Cuiping, wearing a straw hat, worked with several hired young teachers (among them early childhood education graduates who had resigned from their jobs in big cities, drawn to her philosophy) to clean up the site. They planned to preserve the original trees and slopes, building only a few log cabins for shelter and simple sanitary facilities.

They had also seen the news, and several young teachers were outraged, but Zhang Cuiping remained remarkably calm. She straightened her back, gazed at the distant mountains, and spoke slowly, "Times like these require us to remain calm. The external storms only serve to remind us of the weight of our responsibility. We must become a place where children can truly feel safe, warm, and happy. This isn't just a change of venue; it's a return to the true essence of education."

Xia Wu and Ji Yunzhou brought little Jinyue to the venue. Little Jinyue took to the playground like a duck to water, rolling around on the grassy slopes, picking up fallen pine cones, his little face brimming with pure joy.

"Teacher Zhang, it seems you don't have to worry about the source of students now." Xia Wu said with a smile as he looked at the lively scene in front of him.

Zhang Cuiping shook her head, her eyes wise and clear. "The hype is temporary; the key lies in follow-up implementation. We can't let external panic lead to lowering standards or rushing for quick results. Every detail, from site selection to curriculum, from teacher training to safety, must be done to the utmost. We must live up to the trust placed in us by parents."

She looked at little Jinyue chasing butterflies with a gentle gaze: "What we want to build is not an ivory tower to escape reality, but a rainbow bridge that can make children strong inside and bravely face the world."

On the day of the public briefing, the small venue, originally expected to hold 30 to 50 people, was packed with nearly 100 parents, including some online friends from other places who had just heard the news. Zhang Cuiping didn't use a flashy PowerPoint presentation; she simply calmly explained her educational philosophy and presented the kindergarten's blueprint and curriculum.

Plans for seasonal observation, plant recognition, outdoor adventures, and collaborative games. She frankly explained the potential risks and safety measures they would take, and made it clear that there would be no advanced elementary school education.

"We may not be able to guarantee how many words your children will recognize or how many math problems they can solve here," Zhang Cuiping said in a clear and firm voice. "But we can promise that they will have a childhood filled with curiosity, a courage to explore, and the ability to interact with nature and their peers. We will protect each of these 'little seeds' with the utmost love and patience."

Her words were simple and unpretentious, yet they touched people's hearts. The venue erupted in warm applause.

After the briefing, a long line of parents seeking registration information formed. Zhou Qianqian helped maintain order, a proud smile on her face. Lin Tao busied himself with registering information, already mentally planning how to coordinate resources to ensure a smooth start for the "little seeds" program. Even Professor Qin from the Chinese Medicine Hall sent an apprentice, offering to regularly teach the children about Chinese herbal medicine and introduce them to the medicinal plants around them.

As night fell, the crowd dispersed. Zhang Cuiping and several young teachers were still working on their plans under the lamplight. Xia Wu walked over and handed her a cup of hot tea. "Teacher Zhang, thank you for your hard work."

Zhang Cuiping took the teacup, feeling warmth spread from her palm. Gazing out the window at the quiet night, she softly said, "It's not hard. Seeing so many people's anticipation, I feel like I made the right decision. Education is a journey toward beauty. I'm grateful that at this age, I still have the opportunity to work with so many like-minded people to build this rainbow bridge for children."

The wind blew through the valley, bringing with it the chill of winter, yet also foreshadowing the vibrant vitality nurturing beneath the ice and snow. An unexpected storm from the outside world unexpectedly allowed a seed of idealism to find the most fertile soil, poised to break through.