"You need to learn how to write 'wood' and 'child' first, then it will be easier to write 'plum'."
Zhang Hongmei watched as the four children diligently drew on the ground, and they all wrote quite well.
After waiting a while, I wrote down the next character.
"This character is pronounced Liu. The left side is pronounced Wen, the 'Wen' in 'writing'. The right side is a radical. When you go to school, your teacher will teach you about radicals. This one is the 'knife' radical."
All the children gathered around, watching them write.
"You all want to learn?"
All the children looked at Zhang Hongmei with longing and nodded.
"Alright, I just taught them three words. You split up and learn those three words from them first."
Suddenly, four children were surrounded. Those who didn't have twigs used their fingers; they were all quite eager to learn.
As it was getting dark, Zhang Hongmei taught the sixteen children ten characters, and they all learned them. A boy named Dazhuang asked, "Sister Hongmei, can I come to see you every day? I won't bother you, and I can even help you with chores. Will you teach me to write?"
"Alright, I'm out of work now, so you can come over every day. I can only teach you simple words and arithmetic. If you want to learn something, you still have to go to school."
The children were all dejected, heads bowed, wondering where their families could find the money to send them to school.
Zhang Hongmei couldn't bear to see children looking aggrieved. "Alright, I can teach you all until next spring planting."
The children ran home excitedly to tell the adults the good news.
How could anyone disagree? It's wonderful that the children can learn to read without spending any money; everyone remembers Zhang Hongmei's kindness.
And so Zhang Hongmei began her life as a teacher. Of course, Liu Erya would occasionally come and relieve Zhang Hongmei.
The next day, before dawn, Er Lengzi came to ask Zhang Hongmei to take him to the township to catch the bus. On the way there, Er Lengzi carried Zhang Hongmei on his back, but on the way back, she could ride her own bicycle.
"Brother Er Lengzi, you're really in a hurry."
"Of course I'm in a hurry. I've wanted a watch for two years. I would have bought it long ago if I had the tickets. Thank you so much."
"Don't mention it. I don't need it, it'll expire anyway."
"No, this watch ticket can be sold for at least fifty. I gave you two wolf skins, which is a bargain."
"Isn't it unnecessary to be so clear?"
"I will always remember your kindness."
Zhang Hongmei didn't stay in the village for long. After finding out that she didn't need to be picked up, she returned to the station. The children had already arrived. Seeing that Zhang Hongmei's house was locked, they reviewed the ten characters they had been taught the day before in the open space outside the gate.
Today we're going to learn twenty characters, all from the children's names. At the very least, they should all be able to write their own names, right?
In the afternoon, I taught them addition. Most of the children could do it, since it's something we see all the time in daily life.
On Saturday, Er Ya came to substitute for her class, and Zhang Hongmei finally had time to organize her clothes. She washed her summer clothes and put them in the closet. She took out her autumn clothes to wash.
Both outfits were newly made in the spring, but the sleeves and trouser legs were a bit short, so Li Cuihua let them out a bit more.
I was already saving some ingredients when I made it.
"Hongmei, tomorrow is the Zhanggezhuang market day. I took the cotton shoe uppers to get air holes and made you another pair. Two pairs should be enough for you to alternate wearing. Is there anything else you want to buy?"
"No, it's just that we're out of eggs. Auntie, have your new hens laid any eggs yet?"
"No, but it should be soon. I reckon there won't be any eggs for sale at the market. People aren't even getting enough to eat these days, so where would they get the grain to feed the chickens? Let me see, and if there are any, I'll buy them for you."
"Auntie, would you like to stay for lunch? I'm making steamed bean buns for lunch."
"No, I have to go home and cook." I don't dare let Daya cook anymore; that child still has the bad habit of sneaking food. I really can't control her anymore. My husband said he'll send her away next week. I went to the market to see if they had any fabric so I could make her some clothes. It's all such a burden!
Liu Erya was teaching the children to write in the yard, while Zhang Hongmei was making bean paste in the kitchen.
I make a paste from red beans and rice beans, and save it to eat slowly. When I'm too lazy to cook, I just eat the bean paste.
The dough was started rising this morning. I need to learn how to use fermented dough from Li Cuihua when I have the chance, so as not to give myself away.
No matter how Zhang Hongmei tried to persuade the children to stay, none of them did. Xiao Shitou and Sanya went home every day.
Only Liu Erya left behind the message, "I'm shameless enough to freeload off you every day."
"It's okay, you can come back later."
I ate a red bean bun and a rice bean bun for lunch. I ate too much, so I carried a basket and took two more to the old lady.
Are you teaching children to read?
"And Sister Erya is with us too."
"That's good, then the girls won't be blind either."
Zhang Hongmei, who had been praised, held her chin up and looked proud.
The old lady smiled and stroked her head.
That evening, Er Lengzi came over and showed off his plum blossom watch to Zhang Hongmei, which made her so angry that she wanted to take out her gold watch and compare it with his.
Zhang Hongmei didn't go to the market; she stayed home teaching her children. Er Ya went with her mother.
After lunch, Er Ya rushed over and said, "Hongmei, can I borrow your bicycle?"
"It's in the warehouse, go get it yourself. I told you to ride it to the market, but you won't. Where do you want to go?"
My sister ran away.
"They ran away?"
"Yeah, they took all her clothes and half a bag of flour too. They ransacked the house, but they didn't find any money."
"Is she stupid?"
"How would I know? I left first. The villagers said they saw her heading towards the township."
"Where can she go without a letter of introduction? Do I need her?"
"Come to my house now, my mom is so angry she's lying down."
"Okay, you can go now, I'll go to your house right away." Zhang Hongmei took the leftover pumpkin porridge from lunch and yesterday's steamed buns to Liu Maocai's house.
The house was ransacked, and Li Cuihua didn't tidy up. She lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) and wept. Her two younger children sat beside her.
Seeing Zhang Hongmei come in, the two children quickly got off the kang (a heated brick bed). "Sister Hongmei, please comfort my mother. She's been crying for a while now."
"Auntie, stop crying. I'll bring you some food. Eat something now. Crying won't help."
Li Cuihua sat up, wiped away her tears, and said, "I can't eat. Shi Tou and San Ya, you two go and eat."
"Mom, if you don't eat, I won't eat either."
"I won't eat it either."
"Third Aunt, look, let's eat quickly. My Third Uncle and Second Sister have gone to look for her, but she can't go without a letter of introduction."
"That debt collector, we really owe her something."
Shi Tou moved the table over, Zhang Hongmei carried it onto the kang (a heated brick bed), and San Ya also brought out the bowls and chopsticks. Only then did the three of them eat.
"No need to save some for my third uncle and his son. I'll make more for them. Just make sure you're full."
Li Cuihua ate while tears streamed down her face. She had raised an enemy; the child was going to bring trouble to the family even before leaving. How could this child be like this? She hated her so much she wanted to beat her to death.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com