Qian Liang washed the vegetables and brought them in. There was a big basket of Shanghai greens and Chinese cabbage. Qian Xiaoyun kept muttering about stir-frying Shanghai greens with garlic and Chinese cabbage with green onions. She also complained that Qian Liang didn't bring back some celery. Qian Liang said that celery was not tasty, and if he wanted to add some vegetables, he might as well stir-fry some mustard greens.
Meng Tao laughed secretly: This group of people must have transformed from vegetable worms. They want to eat so many vegetables, but I don’t see them planting any melons in the backyard.
Before cooking, Meng Tao went out to visit the carpenter and bamboo craftsman in the village. When she came back, she was carrying a basket with a small wooden basin in it. She saw the newly made basin at the carpenter's house. It looked sturdy and cute, so she bought it on a whim as winter was approaching and she could use it to soak her feet.
He was holding two bamboo baskets in his hands, which contained a chopping board, bamboo chopsticks, a wooden spoon, a wooden spatula, etc. There were also two winnowing baskets for drying vegetables.
The food was ready, Qian Xiaoyun washed a pile of bowls, and cleaned everyone's lunch boxes and large bowls. Meng Tao took out her own lunch box and a bowl, and put rice porridge in the lunch box and vegetables in the bowl. Each person also had two steamed buns made of whole grains, which was enough to fill them up.
Usually everyone took their meals and went their separate ways. Today was the first time Meng Tao had dinner with everyone. A kerosene lamp was lit in the main room, and everyone gathered in the room. The four girls sat around the octagonal table, and the five boys each found a low stool to sit on. Some sat directly on the doorstep, eating and chatting. Naturally, what they talked about was Meng Tao's experiences during this trip to the provincial capital.
When He Huijuan was about to finish her meal, she asked, "Taohua, are you going to the literacy class later? I'm giving a lecture tonight."
Meng Tao nodded: "Go ahead, Teacher He, let's go together."
He Huijuan smiled: "How did you feel about Mr. Zhao's class last night? Did you understand it?"
Meng Tao took a big bite of the steamed bread and couldn't answer. Jiang Limei looked at He Huijuan with dissatisfaction: "What do you mean? Are you saying that Zhao Ming's level is not as high as yours, or that Taohua has little cultural knowledge and his comprehension ability is too low?"
He Huijuan: "What does this have to do with you? I didn't talk to you."
"Why is it none of my business? If the road is uneven, someone will step on it. If you look down on peach blossoms, I have the right to say something to you."
"Don't give me that! You are not doing this for peach blossoms. Everyone knows what you are thinking."
"What am I thinking? Tell me!"
"Why should I say that? Zhao Ming is not here. Let him speak."
“…”
Meng Tao was chewing the steamed bun in silence. She thought that she was the one who started the war and wanted to finish eating the bun before mediating. But when she heard what He Huijuan said, she quickly turned to look at Zhao Ming who was sitting by the door: So this nameless war was started by you, so you should say something.
Zhao Ming looked at He Huijuan angrily, chewing food without saying anything.
Jiang Xiaodong, who was sitting next to him, saw Meng Tao's expression and couldn't help laughing: "It's okay, Taohua, they are always like this. I have class tomorrow night, I will take you to the literacy class."
Meng Tao remembered that he was the teacher she saw when she first went to the literacy class. He taught well and was very patient.
"Okay, Mr. Jiang, there are three teachers in our school."
Meng Tao pointed at Sun Yutang and the other man sitting on the doorstep and said, "Why don't you become teachers? Is it because you have little education and low level like me?"
A few laughs, including "Puchi", "Hehe", and "Ahem", successfully resolved the awkward atmosphere in the hall. Sun Yutang said with a smile: "Being a teacher does give you work points. We would like to do that, but we don't need that many teachers."
Xu Guoliang, who was sitting next to him, leaned against the door frame, looking lazy after having eaten and drunk a lot: "When we were assigned here, the three of them had already become teachers in the literacy class, and they took advantage of being here first."
He Huijuan glared at him and said to Meng Tao, "Don't listen to his nonsense. You can also get subsidies if you go to the literacy class to learn to read."
"Tsk, just a few cents."
"A few cents is not money, so why don't you give it to me?"
"Why should I? Who are you to me?"
"I……"
Qian Xiaoyun patted He Huijuan and said, "Alright, stop arguing. If you don't eat quickly, you'll be late."
Meng Tao looked at He Huijuan who was eating rice with her lunch box in hand and couldn't help laughing: This teacher He doesn't look like a gentle and quiet person. She can quarrel with anyone and is a troublemaker.
Sun Yutang asked Meng Tao: "Do you have enough notebooks? I have a few new notebooks and two pens, which were given to me by others when I went to the countryside. I'll give them to you."
Meng Tao thanked him and said, "Keep it for yourself. I bought some when I went to the provincial capital this time. It's enough."
Xu Guoliang smiled and said, "Taohua, you are so serious and hardworking in learning. If it were in the past, you would definitely have become the top female scholar."
Meng Tao said: "I definitely won't be the top female scholar. I have been in the Tian family for several years, but was abandoned in the end because of my lack of education. I am not sad about this. I am very glad that I found out in time and turned back. I just regret that I shouldn't have been so willful as not to go to school when I was young. People dared to bully me under my nose if I couldn't read. If it weren't for the arrangements and help of the brigade cadres, I would not dare to go far away. After a few days in the provincial capital, I understand the importance of knowledge and culture even more. So no matter how big the difficulties are, I must overcome them and learn culture well. Maybe one day in the future, our country will suddenly change its policy and let you educated youth and us young people in society go to college? In that case, I can also go to college, how wonderful it is!"
Sun Yutang, Xu Guoliang and Qian Liang all thought she was daydreaming and laughed it off. However, Jiang Xiaodong said, "Don't laugh. I think Taohua's idea is very practical. I have thought about it too."
Zhao Ming also nodded: "Taohua, ignore them and study hard. I've thought about it today and will write a teaching plan later. It's one-on-one, and you will improve quickly."
He Huijuan came in after cleaning her lunch box: "What do you mean one-on-one? Can't I teach her?"
"Yes, I can teach her too." Jiang Limei responded naturally, as if they had never had an argument just now.
Sun Yutang, Xu Guoliang, and Qian Liang all spoke up to join in the fun:
"Taohua, I'll also make a teaching plan for you tomorrow."
"Taohua, Zhao Ming studies liberal arts, I'm good at math, physics and chemistry, I'll teach you!"
"Taohua, learn foreign languages from me. I promise you'll learn it!"
Jiang Xiaodong looked at Meng Tao with a smile. He found that Taohua's skin was a little dark, but she was actually very good-looking, especially her eyes. Sometimes they were clear and bright, making her look smart and clever, and sometimes they were shrouded in mist, making her unpredictable and very interesting. He wanted to paint a portrait of Taohua and also teach her how to paint.
Meng Tao: “…”
What should I do? She is not really illiterate. Suddenly, so many teachers appeared and insisted on teaching her. In the future, they will force her to study. Just thinking about it makes me feel headache! Good morning! Little fairies, continue to be beautiful today, feel refreshed, and give a lot of votes to the author! And save the five-star review, remember! (End of this chapter)