Early the next morning, Zhu Youjie arrived before Zhu Youliang went to elementary school.
"Youjie, have you had breakfast yet?" Zhu Youliang asked. "Yes. Sixth brother, I'm here to get my notes," Zhu Youjie said hurriedly. He had asked Zhu Youliang for them yesterday, but Zhu Youliang said he had to sort them out first, so he came this morning.
"Youjie, this is what I said. Yesterday, I discussed with your sister-in-law and decided to donate my notes to the elementary school, and have them kept by Teacher Sun. As for your sister-in-law's notes, they will be given to you for safekeeping. Not only can you use them yourself, you can also lend them to your classmates and other people. I will also tell everyone about this during my speech today, so that more people can benefit from it." Zhu Youliang explained yesterday's arrangements.
Of course, Zhu Youjie didn't object. One set was enough for him, and besides, this way, he could also gain good popularity. If he wanted to see his brother's notes, he could also borrow them from the elementary school. Thinking of this, he nodded quickly, "Sixth Brother, I'll do as you say."
"Okay, come with me. I packed everything yesterday," Zhu Youliang said, yawning, before leading Zhu Youjie into the house. After sobering up last afternoon, he and Liang Yuan stayed indoors, and even Ah Tong was drafted into the army. He was simply catching up on his notes. Luckily, the original couple also had a habit of taking notes, which saved them a lot of trouble. They worked until eleven o'clock that evening, finally finishing. Liang Yuan was thrilled, feeling like he'd finally accomplished something since coming here.
After Zhu Youjie left, carrying a cardboard box, Zhu Youliang also emerged, carrying a cardboard box, and headed towards the elementary school. Liang Yuan followed behind him, also clutching a stack of notebooks. They brought not only notebooks but also books with notes on them, covering everything from elementary school to high school. Zhu Youliang already had more notes than she did, as the previous man had been much more diligent than his wife. Zhu Xingtong and Tongtong, along with Zhu Yourong's family, followed them. Those who hadn't left yet in the village, seeing them emerge, quickly packed up and headed for the elementary school.
Someone saw them carrying books and notebooks, and upon asking, they learned they were donating them to the school, and immediately praised them. In the village, no matter how close or distant, Zhu Youliang had a younger sibling in high school. Keeping them at the elementary school was different; everyone could borrow them. Some had also heard that Zhu Youjie had Liang Yuan's notebooks, and some were thinking of looking for him as soon as they got back from elementary school. The elementary school didn't just have students from their brigade, but from other brigades as well. Although the elementary school only accepted elementary students, there were also many high school students who graduated from the elementary school. Maybe students from other schools would come to borrow them.
Before I even reached the elementary school, I saw it was packed with people. From a distance, I could hear Chen Youguo telling everyone to line up and take their seats. The elementary school looked much better than before after the last renovation. Not only had the roof been tiled, but even the walls and holes had been patched up, making it look like a school again.
When they arrived at the school, they were met with a crowd of people. Zhu Youliang didn't recognize many of them at all and assumed they were from surrounding brigades. Fortunately, Zhu Youguo spotted them and quickly shouted through a loudspeaker, "Make way! Let them in. Otherwise, it's either you or me who'll tell them."
After Zhu Youliang and Liang Yuan arrived, Chen Youguo approached them and said, "I don't know who told you that you were going to teach everyone in elementary school about the secrets of studying. Now, all the kids from the commune are almost here, and there's no room. We can't hold it in the classroom, so why don't you two do it on the playground?"
Zhu Youliang and Liang Yuan exchanged a glance, each seeing a hint of helplessness in the other's eyes. Now that they were here, they couldn't just send them back. Looking at the eager eyes of the children below, they suddenly felt a surge of pressure.
"Let me speak first. I'm better at speaking than you. You think about it again." Liang Yuan looked at Zhu Youliang and said.
Zhu Youliang nodded his agreement, nodding his head. Seeing they were ready, Chen Youguo clapped his loudspeaker and said, "Quiet, quiet! Children, take your seats. Adults, please stand aside." He paused, allowing the crowd to quiet down before continuing, "Now, please give a warm round of applause to Comrade Liang Yuan as he shares his learning experiences with everyone."
“Pah pah pah…”
Chen Youguo handed the loudspeaker to Liang Yuan while everyone was applauding.
Liang Yuan stood still at the front, then waved the manuscript in his hand and said, "I originally thought this would be a very ordinary speech. I spent half an hour writing it yesterday. I wrote down some good learning methods and learning experiences that I have summarized in my daily life, and I was going to repeat them on stage today. But standing here today, I suddenly don't want to talk about it. All my learning experiences and learning methods are on this piece of paper. Later, I will ask Teacher Sun to post it on the school bulletin board. Everyone can take a look at it when they have time."
"The reason you're here today is largely because I'm about to become a college student. What does being a college student mean? In the near future, it means a good job and a bright future. I want to tell you that the benefits of studying extend far beyond that. Even if you don't make it to college despite your best efforts, even if you don't expect to, the knowledge you gain from studying for a few more years will be equally useful. The books we read now will become nutrients that nourish us in our future lives."
"Reading more can broaden your horizons, change your way of thinking, help you see clearly many things you don't understand now, and help you find opportunities in life. I also want to say that reading can't make you a permanent solution, and sometimes it can't even give you the life you want. The greatest benefit of reading is that it gives you more choices and more possibilities in life.
"I'd also like to point out that learning isn't an easy task. Aside from some gifted individuals, most people need to work hard to achieve academic success. Don't let temporary setbacks discourage you, or give up thinking you're not as smart as others. You need to have a long-term vision to succeed. Learning is a long-term process, and it can even require a lifetime of continuous effort. You'll encounter countless challenges along the way, and you might even find there's no end in sight, because knowledge is endless and constantly evolving. If you choose this path, you must be prepared for both hardship and difficulty, and you must be prepared for a protracted battle. You might find learning boring, or you might find it truly fascinating. In short, you need to be prepared for a long-term struggle."
"Finally, I want to say something off topic, a small regret of mine. Many children are here today, but unfortunately, not many girls. I understand that men have a natural advantage over women when it comes to farm labor, as evidenced by the work points we earn. But I want to tell you that when it comes to studying, girls are just as capable as boys, and in some areas, they're even better. I implore all parents and friends to consider girls when sending their boys to school, and give them a chance. I also hope that the girls here today will strive for opportunities to study, and study diligently. This may be your only chance to change your future, so I hope you will cherish it. Finally, I will donate one hundred yuan from yesterday's prize money to Daqian Elementary School to help girls who want to study but whose families face financial hardship. Thank you, everyone!" With that, Liang Yuan left. There was a moment's silence before warm applause broke out.
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