Keep in mind that this is a remote village, where it's not easy to even live in a decent mud-brick house, let alone a house with blue bricks and tiles.
Looking at the busy villagers, Xia Xuezheng remarked, "What a serene and picturesque scene of a mountain village."
Chen Gui smiled and said, "In the morning, we'll have wild vegetables stir-fried with eggs, wild vegetable pancakes, stewed soybeans, white flour pancakes, and peanut porridge, four coins per person. After eating, if you're willing to go up the mountain, I can take the young people to pick wild mushrooms and bamboo shoots. If you're lucky, you might even find a few wild eggs."
Student: "Old village head, is the village preparing to raise the roof beam?"
Chen Gui smiled gently, "Hmm, not bad. It's a pity you're leaving, otherwise we could have watched some fun."
Some students expressed their regret, saying they had only heard about the roof-raising ceremony but had never actually seen it, though they had heard it was quite a spectacle.
Student: "Last night's show was really exciting! I wonder if there will be any more like it?"
Even if there isn't one, you have to say there is. Chen Gui nodded: "Yes, yes, there is. There's at least one big show every month. If you come, we'll definitely treat you well."
After the meal, he led the students for a walk on the mountain. Soon they gathered and left in a horse-drawn carriage.
The villagers stood by the roadside, holding handfuls of scallions, wild vegetables, flatbreads, or small bags of cucumbers, their faces beaming with enthusiasm, insisting on giving them to the teenagers.
Instructor Xu frowned. "Let's go quickly."
Pulling and tugging.
Mr. Zhou quietly watched the man in the crowd. He had heard of the three teachers who came from the county school.
Moreover, judging from Mr. Sanmin's attitude towards the village, Instructor Xu seems to have a very poor impression of the village.
With a slight frown, the man, who had already turned and boarded the carriage, frowned slightly.
Instructor Xu simply stood on the carriage and said in a deep voice, "I believe that you people of Qingxia Village should prioritize farming, rather than spending your energy on other things like making food, fishing, picking fresh fruits and vegetables, watching plays, and other silly tricks."
"Farmers should do things calmly and peacefully. Instead of spending time figuring out little tricks to take money from other people's pockets, they should focus on cultivating their own land..."
With a flick of his sleeve, he prepared to climb into the carriage.
The people of Qingxia Village looked at each other in bewilderment.
Even Xia Xuezheng and Instructor He felt somewhat embarrassed as they looked at the villagers.
Aren't you slapping someone in the face?
The places you stay and eat here have all been carefully prepared for you by the people of Qingxia Village.
People give you their labor, and you provide them with money; it's a mutually beneficial arrangement.
No one is blaming anyone else.
Now you've packed your bags and left, you've found a place to stay and eaten your fill.
Is it inappropriate to point at them with an arrogant attitude?
The villagers looked completely bewildered.
Chen Gui's expression froze for a moment, then he gave a dry laugh.
Zhang Daguang retorted speechlessly, "Old man, you're about to leave, and you've already eaten all the food from our village. You didn't seem to mind eating less, so why are you lecturing us now?"
"Shut up!" Chen Gui snapped.
When they saw that the villagers also wanted to complain like Zhang Daguang, they realized that Zhang Daguang was the one who was complaining.
Instead, he stopped caring.
Chen Xian noticed that this old man was different from other old men.
His expression remained long and sullen, and he looked at people in Qingxia Village with a scrutinizing and critical gaze.
He looked at the murmuring villagers of Qingxia; some were confused, some were angry, and some had flushed faces.
Chen Xian pushed through the crowd, his face calm. "Old sir," he said, "we farmers only ask for enough to eat and wear. The busy farming season is over now, and all the villagers of Qingxia just want to do some small business and find the motivation to strive for something while earning a little profit."
"And according to your logic, Instructor Xu, does that mean farmers can only toil in the fields for a living and can't do anything else?"
Instructor Xu sneered, "My ancestors were also born in the countryside. In my hometown, the villagers did not neglect their duties and try to figure out how to do business or attract customers... Farmers are farmers, and merchants are merchants... Besides, don't you have any intention of swindling these students out of their money?"
"A transaction is nothing more than a transfer from one person to another. Master Xu, please take a close look. Whether it's the tickets for the grand show or the fishing process, we have informed you of the pricing for every item in advance. There is no deception involved!"
"Farmers struggle to survive, and all they ask for is to have enough to eat, a warm bed for their wives and children, and even to live in brick houses instead of mud houses in the future. What simple ideals! But can we really live in brick houses just by farming?"
Does it really mean that, like the villagers in Master Xu's hometown, we work hard all our lives and don't even deserve to live in a bigger, nicer brick house?
Can't farmers have ideals?
Can't farmers realize their personal value?
Can't farmers do other odd jobs to earn some extra money to supplement their household income?
Instructor Xu's face turned ashen. He had never encountered a peasant like this before, who dared to speak to him like that.
"You! How dare you speak to me like that, showing no respect whatsoever! Since ancient times, farming has been the duty of farmers. Am I wrong? Do you think we should do our job well? That has always been the case!"
Chen Xian stepped forward, his expression calm: "Heh, is it right just because it's always been this way?"
"In the end, from the very beginning, Master Xu viewed us with prejudice. No matter what we did, we would be disliked. Master Xu was condescending and was not a farmer."
Old Man Chen loves to speak the truth. Some of you Confucian scholars never care about the lives of farmers. You're stubborn. If something is even slightly beyond your understanding, you'll accuse them as if someone has been killed, as if the sky has fallen. Heh heh…”
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
