"Brother Xu, everyone's here, not a single family is missing."

Old Zhang looked around and had a plan in mind.

"Now that everyone is here, please quiet down. What I'm about to say is quite important to you."

After Xu An finished speaking, he glanced at Li Li and told him to get down to business.

"Our master noticed that many children in the village didn't have the opportunity to study and learn to read, which he found quite regrettable."

He spent a long time compiling a booklet for learning characters, which contains more than 500 commonly used characters, all illustrated with pictures.

Simply put, it means you can tell what the words below are just by looking at the picture.

In this way, children can learn these commonly used characters without going to school or being taught by a teacher.

At that time, it's possible to go to the city to work as a shop assistant or to become an apprentice at a clinic.

Therefore, we first selected fifty children aged six to fourteen to learn how to use this literacy book.

This is voluntary; it is not mandatory.

I'll read out the names of these fifty people in a moment. If anyone wants to try, come to the estate tomorrow at noon, and I'll teach you how to use this booklet.

Li Li finished explaining everything in one breath, and everyone opposite him, including the child, held their breath, not daring to breathe loudly.

It wasn't until Brother Li finished speaking that everyone snapped out of their daze and excitedly began discussing it.

"Is it true that children can learn to read, and for free?"

"Uncle Zhang, Uncle Zhang, is it true that our children can read too?"

"Wife, hit me. See if it hurts. Am I dreaming?"

"Brother Li, Brother Li, can girls go too?"

A woman wiped away her tears and looked at Li Li with hopeful eyes.

"Yes, girls can go. Girls can learn to read just like boys. If girls can read, they won't be easily deceived in the future. When they grow up and get married, they can even teach their own children to read."

My wife said that if the mother in a family is literate, then her children will have the opportunity to learn to read, and her grandchildren will also have the opportunity to learn to read.

"Girls can go too? Is that true? God, we've met some good people! May the Buddha bless the family and may they live to be a hundred years old!"

"Yes, may the family of the employer live to be a hundred years old!"

On the drying ground, voices of gratitude rose and fell, eventually merging into a continuous chorus.

During this period, the village frequently employed women and girls to work. As they earned money, their status within the family naturally improved.

"Please be quiet, everyone. The master and mistress appreciate your gratitude."

I still have something to say, please let me finish.

Li Li shouted, and Old Man Zhang, who was at the front, heard it.

"Clang clang clang..."

Old Man Zhang struck the gong in his hand to quiet everyone down and listen to what Brother Li had to say.

He was also excited. He had several grandsons and a granddaughter, and this was a once-in-a-century event.

Although excited, everyone restrained themselves and listened to what Brother Li had to say.

"We have provided the opportunity to learn to read in our village, but whether you can seize it is up to you."

Learning to read and write is inherently a difficult task, and those who persevere to the end are the ones who truly seize the opportunity.

The initial fifty people who wanted to go should arrive at the estate on time tomorrow.

The books have been printed, but it's impossible for everyone to have a copy.

Groups of five, preferably those who live nearby, make it easier to read together.

Books should be cherished and not damaged. Anyone who intentionally damages a book will have their literacy opportunity revoked and will be required to pay for the damage.

After teaching you how to use the literacy booklet, we will test you every three days.

If someone hasn't memorized a single word in three days, it means they don't want to learn to read, so they should give up their opportunity.

After Li Li finished speaking, everyone started whispering again.

"A book must be expensive, how much does it cost?"

"I don't know, we've never bought any books. Even a single sheet of paper is expensive, let alone a whole book!"

“There will be an exam. What if my child can’t remember a single word? My child is not very bright.”

"That's fine too. If you're really not cut out for it, don't waste your time. Just stay home and work. You're destined to be a farmer."

"If someone studies well, is there a chance they'll pass the imperial examination to become a scholar?"

"Forget it, do you think a family like ours has that kind of luck?"

...

Seeing that everyone had finished discussing, Xu An told Old Man Zhang to strike the gong again so they could announce the list.

"Alright, everyone quiet down and listen to Brother Li and the others read out their names."

It's getting late, don't disturb Brother Li and the others' rest. Do you know if your child is coming? We'll discuss it when we get home.

Everyone quieted down and stared nervously at the form in Li Li's hand, wishing they could see right through it. Even though they knew they couldn't read, they still wanted to take a look.

Li Li took out a list and began reading out the names of the people, which they had recorded during their visits.

"Zhang Dazhu, Zhang Erzhu, Zhang Dani, Zhang Erni, Wang Genzi, Liu Yezi..."

There were fifty people in total. Li Li read each person's name three times, just in case they couldn't remember some of them.

"Alright, let's select these fifty people first. After they've learned how to use the literacy booklet, we'll select the others."

The opportunity has arrived; whether you can seize it is up to you.

Be at the estate promptly at noon tomorrow. Keep quiet and don't be late.

After Li Li finished speaking, he greeted Old Man Zhang. Xu An then emphasized that this was voluntary and it was okay if he didn't go.

Even after the two left, the people on the threshing ground still lingered, feeling it was all too real and needing to confirm things with each other.

"Uncle Zhang, your Dazhu, Erzhu, Dani, and Erni are all on the list, is that true?"

"It's true, your family is here too. Go back and talk to the kids about it. This is a great thing, a really great thing."

"That's right. Now that they can write, they can go to the city to find work."

The waiters at the restaurant earn two taels of silver a month, plus room and board.

Old Zhang's heart was pounding; he felt there was hope for the future.

"Alright, everyone, let's all go home. It's too late. Make sure the kids are all cleaned up by tomorrow."

It's okay if your clothes have patches, but you should wear them clean.

Before you go tomorrow, wash everything thoroughly, especially your hands; make sure they are clean.

Those are books, you can't get them dirty.

Old Zhang gave a few more instructions out of concern. He had four children on the list, which made him happy, but he didn't know if he would be able to sleep tonight.

The people on the drying ground gradually dispersed, discussing the matter as they walked away, all of them very excited.

Those families who did not rent land on the estate were unaware of what was happening; they only heard cheers and felt that something good had occurred.

However, after finishing the wheat harvest and planting rice these past few days, everyone is exhausted, feeling like they've been skinned alive.

Even the most outgoing person in the village didn't get up tonight, too tired to move and just lay on the bed.

More than fifty tenant farmers walked in the moonlight, and for the first time, they were in the mood to look up at the moon.

The moon is so bright tonight, shining on the ground and making people's hearts feel bright.

It looks like tomorrow will be a good day.