"Mom, I also want to learn to read and write."

"Dad, please go talk to Doctor Yang and ask if I can go to school tomorrow."

"Grandma, Goudan can even recite poems, but I can't even read a single word. I don't care, I want to learn to read too."

…

This kind of voice can be heard in almost every household. They agreed to be illiterate together, but they secretly went to cram school, which made the other children restless.

Seeing the reactions of the other children, Yang Baiyi nodded with satisfaction and smiled like a fox.

This was all arranged by Yang Baiyi. He wanted Chenjiatun to have its own school before his sister went to school.

This way my sister doesn’t have to go to Majiahezi Production Team to go to school.

The children cried all day long at home, and the adults also wanted their children to recognize a few words. After two days, someone finally couldn't sit still anymore.

"Doctor Yang, I heard that many children are learning to read and write at your house. Can my son Er Gou come over too?"

A male member asked with a smile.

"My dear brother, I'm really sorry, my main hall isn't very big, and there's really no room for everyone to sit."

Yang Baiyi replied apologetically.

"Doctor Yang, my little Shitou makes trouble at home every day. Please be kind!"

An old lady spoke in a tone that was almost pleading.

"Auntie, I understand your feelings very well. There is really no room for you to sit in my house.

If you really want your grandson to learn to read and write, you should let the captain think of a way.

How could such a big village not even have a primary school?

When children grow up, they can't even read a single word, not even write their own names. Isn't that like being blind?"

No matter who came, no matter whether Yang Baiyi knew him or not, he did not accept the child, but guided him to Chen Baiwang.

The effect was obvious. Within three days, Chen Baiwang came to find him.

"Bai Yi, you really know how to cause trouble for me! Why are you teaching the children to read?

Now, my family members gather at the door every day, demanding that the production team build a school."

These days, Chen Baiwang has been troubled by the members.

"Captain, what you're saying is, I teach the children to read and write, and I train talents for the production team, but I'm still lagging behind, right?"

Yang Baiyi said aggrievedly.

"That's not what I meant. I'll teach you everything I want. Now a bunch of members are blocking my door every day. It's so annoying."

Chen Baiwang said unhappily.

"I want to take them all in, but there's just no room for them at home. It's so cold, and I can't let the kids study in the yard. They'll freeze to death, right?

Captain, since the children all want to learn to read and write, have you ever thought about building a school?"

Yang Baiyi first talked about his own difficulties, and then began to test Chen Baiwang's thoughts.

“We used to have a primary school in our village, but a few years ago, the situation got so bad that people from the commune came and drove the teachers back to farm and closed the school.

After the school became abandoned, the brigade distributed the school as residential land to the members.

Since there is no room here, I won’t force you. Let them make a fuss if they want to. If they want to go to school, send the children to Majiahezi.

Now that I can’t go to college, what’s the point of studying for a few years? Don’t I still have to go home and farm?”

There are so many big and small things happening in the village every day. Chen Baiwang has to take care of everything and is so busy all day that he has no time to take care of his children's schooling.

"Captain, you're wrong to think that way. Reading can open your mind and enlighten your mind. Regardless of whether you can go to college or not, there's no harm in studying for two years.

Let's not talk about big principles, let's just talk about our village. You brigade cadres, are all literate, right? And the scorekeepers and warehouse keepers, are all literate, right?

Why can you become leaders, while scorekeepers and warehouse keepers don't have to work? Isn't it all because of the benefits of studying?"

Yang Baiyi argued with reason, leaving Chen Baiwang speechless.

"You have a point. It's better to study for two years than to be a blind man."

"Captain, you're right to think so. In fact, building a school doesn't cost much.

Taking advantage of the slack season, the members were organized to make some adobe bricks and cut some trees in the mountains to make beams and rafters for the house.

Every household has children who need to go to school, and I believe everyone has no objection.

Teachers are also readily available. If you touch one in the educated youth compound with your eyes closed, you will find that they are all high school graduates.

Captain, think about it, if Chenjiatun Primary School is rebuilt under your leadership, it will benefit the present and future generations!

No matter how many years pass, no matter whether you become a team leader or not, as long as everyone sees Chenjiatun Primary School, they will remember your kindness.

Yang Baiyi struck while the iron was hot and made Chen Baiwang's eyes light up.

"Doctor Yang, please go ahead and do your work. I'll call a meeting of all the members tonight to discuss this matter."

Chen Baiwang turned around and walked away, his steps much lighter than usual.

After being the team leader for so many years, I have only done trivial things.

A true man stands between heaven and earth, who wouldn't want to do something great? But living in the countryside, there's no such opportunity!

Yang Baiyi's words today opened a new door for Chen Baiwang.

In the future, the children who go to school will remember my kindness. If someone becomes a worker in the city or has the opportunity to go to the Workers and Peasants University, it will be my contribution.

The more Chen Baiwang thought about it, the more excited he became. He wished it would be dark right now so that he could quickly convene a members' meeting to discuss building a school.

"It's done."

Yang Baiyi smiled knowingly. He had been planning for several days, and things were finally almost done.

"Children, you behaved very well. I'll give you some candy. When you get home from school, recite ancient poems louder."

Yang Baiyi was happy because the children became the direct beneficiaries and each of them received two pieces of White Rabbit milk candy from Yang Baiyi.

The children finished their classes for today. On the way home from school, they recited ancient poems with great effort.

The members were all staying at home for the winter, so it was convenient to notify them. After dinner, everyone gathered at the brigade headquarters.

"It's so cold, why did the captain think of holding a general meeting?"

Liu Guihua tightened her flowery cotton jacket and shivered.

Cotton is now a very scarce commodity, and people’s cotton-padded clothes are generally not thick. This is also the origin of the custom of hibernating in Northeast China.

"I guess it's about the children's schooling."

There were also smart members who guessed the reason for holding the members' meeting today.

"Members, educated youth, the weather is cold, so let's be brief.

The main reason why we are all here for the meeting today is to solve the problem of children having difficulty going to school.

Doctor Yang and Lin Zhiqing taught my sister to read at home, and also taught a few children in the village.

Later, many members went to see Dr. Yang, but his main hall was already full of children and he could not take in any more.

So the members came to me again and asked, "Since I am your team leader, I must consider everyone and come up with a solution."

Having said that, Chen Baiwang paused, picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea.