Strict regulations only serve to better filter out those who are not sincere.
Seeing that many people looked embarrassed but dared not leave, Gu Lili continued, "Those who want to stay can stay, and those who don't can leave first. I won't blame you. But if you give up halfway through your studies and want to leave, I won't show you any leniency. If you can't pay for your meals and lodging, you'll have to go to the government office and get a beating!"
Gu Lili always likes to lay out the unpleasant things upfront, no matter what she's doing.
After Gu Lili finished speaking, she didn't even look at the people below.
He was so engrossed in chatting with the village head that he left the time for those who came to learn the craft to think things over before making a decision.
After a moment of whispering among the people underground, two or three of them stood up.
"Your Highness, we didn't understand. We thought we would learn it quickly. We've caused you trouble." An elderly woman, holding her eight or nine-year-old grandson's hand, stood up and spoke first.
With this old woman taking the lead, the others with ill intentions also stood up one after another.
Gu Lili is right. If they don't leave now, they won't be able to learn it later, and if she holds them accountable, they will be the ones who suffer.
So, if we don't leave now, when will we?
Gu Lili didn't stop her, she just nodded slightly.
"You're very easygoing!" Gu Lili said with a faint smile.
Everyone saw that Gu Lili was smiling, which meant she wasn't angry.
One by one, people stood up and left.
Gu Lili didn't stop them, but the village head looked at the departing person with a disappointed expression.
Originally, the village head wanted to invite his son and daughter-in-law to learn.
However, Dazhu's wife is pregnant again.
Dazhu needs to keep earning money. Once his wife gives birth, he will definitely let her learn this skill.
He is not like those shallow-minded people who only care about immediate gains!
The village head was furious as he watched the people leave.
All his efforts were in vain.
"Grandpa Village Head, don't be angry. After all, only those who are willing to learn can truly learn, right?" Gu Lili comforted him.
Grandpa Village Head sighed, took out the pipe that Gu Lili had given him, squatted down to the side, and started puffing away.
It's impossible not to be angry.
Many of these people had IOUs from their families.
He had originally thought that this opportunity would allow these children to learn a skill to make a living, so that they could live a more comfortable life in the future.
Unexpectedly, they were all hopeless cases!
Gu Lili looked at the village head's grandfather and couldn't help but laugh and cry.
It seems I'll have to give the village head a good talking-to later.
Of the dozen or twenty people, only five children remained, with four adults staying by their side.
Gu Lili glanced at the person and saw that they were about eleven or twelve years old.
It's the perfect age to learn new things.
Three girls and two boys.
Gu Lili was not surprised by this result.
Judging from their clothes, they are all children from poor families.
I reckon she does almost half the work of an adult at home.
If someone comes to learn a trade but doesn't earn any income for a long time, it's indeed hard to accept.
This matter cannot be rushed. After the five people who remain have studied for a period of time, their learning outcomes and insights will be able to attract more people to study with Gu Lili.
Gu Lili was quite confident about this.
"So, all five of you are sure you want to come and learn?" Gu Lili stood up and asked the group opposite her with a smile.
The group quickly got up from their stools and nodded repeatedly.
Gu Lili decided to ask them a few questions first, and then take them to see Yu Yirou.
"Then tell me, why do you want to stay?"
The children all lowered their heads, not daring to speak.
The adults behind them wanted to push them out to answer the question, but the children were all a little timid.
However, the little girl who was standing in the far corner without any family members behind her timidly stepped forward.
"Because they provide meals here!" The little girl's childish voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for everyone present to hear.
Gu Lili sized up the little girl who was speaking. The child was about the same age as Gu Huanhuan, and her clothes were somewhat tattered, even her straw sandals were worn out.
Everyone burst out laughing when they heard her answer.
Gu Lili didn't find it funny; on the contrary, she thought she was very sincere.
There aren't many high-sounding reasons for learning a trade; isn't it all just about making a living?
The village head looked up, quickly extinguished the tobacco in his hand, and walked over to Gu Lili.
“Lili, this is Yang Xiaoni from Yangjiagou. She lives alone, so I thought I'd let her give it a try.” The village head said, and couldn’t help but sigh.
This girl was recommended by the village head of Yangjiagou; it's not that she's particularly smart or capable.
It was just that she was so pitiful; her grandparents had died on the way to escape famine.
Her parents had also passed away early, leaving her alone in this world.
She was fed by many families from the age of six until she was eleven. Because of long-term malnutrition, Gu Lili thought that she was about the same age as Gu Lili.
As the children grow up, Yang Lizheng is also very worried.
I'm afraid that in a few years, this girl will be targeted by someone with ulterior motives and her life will be ruined.
Therefore, when the village head came to his door, his first thought was to beat up Yang Xiaoni.
Learning a craft at Gu Lili's house would at least give him Gu Lili's protection, which would put his mind at ease.
Gu Lili understood and felt deep sympathy for the girl's plight.
“Xiao Ni is right! You came to my house to learn a trade so you could have enough to eat. As long as you are willing to learn well, you will definitely be able to make yourselves and your families live better and better through your own efforts.” Gu Lili looked at the children with mocking expressions and said in a deep voice.
It's normal for children to be naughty; they can be corrected.
Seeing Gu Lili's face darken, the children quickly suppressed their smiles.
Actually, at their age, they don't know why they came to Gu Lili's house to learn a craft.
It's just that my family forced me to come.
“What the county magistrate says is true. We sent these children to your home to learn a trade so that they could have enough to eat in the future,” a woman in the crowd said as soon as Gu Lili finished speaking.
The others nodded in agreement.
"Well, then you should go with Yun Chu to see how Master Yu makes mother-of-pearl. After you've seen it, you can pack your bedding and luggage and come back in about three days."
Gu Yun Chu led everyone to the courtyard next door, while Gu Li Li invited the village headman into the main room.
These past few days, it's been Grandpa Village Head who's been helping out by searching for people, so naturally we can't let him help us for nothing.
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