The child Liang Hengsheng visited was none other than Yao Youhua's eldest brother's son. He had never been a student, and because of Yao Youhua's influence, Liang Hengsheng had always kept him in the classroom, at least to keep him from running around. But ever since his aunt was kicked out, there was no one left to manage him, and he'd rather work as a bricklayer than go to school.
Liang Hengsheng went to visit the family not out of respect for Yao Youhua, but because he felt uncomfortable as a teacher. There were only about ten children in the class, and missing one would feel like a big gap.
The Yao family's attitude toward Liang Hengsheng's arrival was subtle. They poured him water, but it was cold water scooped directly from the vat. They also offered him a seat, but it was a low stool meant for children. Liang Hengsheng sat on it like a bullied daughter-in-law, not a teacher trying to persuade him to study.
"Teacher Liang, we peasants don't understand much, so please don't be offended if I say something wrong. We are just observing. You have read a lot of books, but you just live in our little mountain village. What's the difference between you and us?"
"At least I don't have to work in the fields in the wind and rain. At least I don't have to depend on the weather for my livelihood, right?"
"Yes, look at us eating. Aren't your rations all given to you by us?" Yao Youbing said.
Liang Hengsheng was speechless.
"So, don't try to persuade me anymore. You must be tired after a busy day. Go back and rest early."
This was an order to expel the guest. Liang Hengsheng heard it and rubbed his hands on his thighs for a few times before getting up. "Then, let the child come to school tomorrow."
"Let's see."
When he walked to the door, Yao Kun was just coming in from outside. He was obviously surprised to see his teacher. His eyes were evasive and he didn't look directly at him.
Liang Hengsheng suddenly felt that he should try harder, so he took Yao Kun's hand and asked, "Why don't you study anymore?"
Yao Kun looked at his father and grandfather and shrugged. "I can't read, Teacher Liang, I'm sorry."
"You are not being unfair to me, child, you are being unfair to yourself. You are still so young, how can you not study? Go back to school with your teacher. Even if you learn one more word, it will be good." Liang Heng said sincerely.
"No, teacher, I don't want to study anymore. Please don't bother me anymore." Yao Kun broke free from Liang Hengsheng's hand and said with a painful expression.
"Teacher, please don't force the child. He is really not cut out for this. It's fine the way it is now." Yao Youbing said, and casually invited his son to come in for dinner.
Liang Hengsheng looked at this family's stubbornness and xenophobia, as if they treated him as an enemy, and he felt very relieved. However, since they did not welcome him, he had to leave.
He had to rush to the next family. This family had a daughter with good grades. The child also wanted to go to school, but her family would not allow it. They said that there was no point for girls to go to school because they would get married sooner or later. The in-laws only looked at the size of their buttocks and whether they could give birth to sons, and did not look at their graduation certificate.
When Liang Hengsheng arrived at this house, they refused to let him in. He saw the light inside was on, but as soon as he knocked on the door and opened his mouth, the light went out instantly.
This rejection was a firm one.
Liang Hengsheng sat outside the girl's house, basking in the moonlight. He began to doubt himself. He was supposed to teach and educate, but now all the students had run away. Who was he supposed to teach and educate? His own experience wasn't convincing, so when the parents challenged him, he was powerless to rebut.
He seemed unsure whether this study was useful or not. This was destined to be a difficult night.
Tao Xiaoxi also had a hard night.
When she took the shoes back, she asked Mrs. Sun seriously and earnestly why she had to take them off.
Mrs. Sun avoided the topic and stammered for a long time without being able to explain herself clearly. She just kept smiling foolishly.
Tao Xiaoxi had no choice but to let Sun Pozi go.
Beibei came over and whispered to her, "Mom, grandma is looking for my dad."
"Looking for your father? Your father is not hiding in the cracks of the rocks." Tao Xiaoxi was puzzled.
"Grandma thought Dad had hidden himself, so she went looking for him in the river, in the cracks between rocks, and even in the cornfields, wherever Dad liked to go."
"Does your father like to go to the corn field?" Tao Xiaoxi asked.
"Yeah!" Beibei nodded heavily.
"Hmph, scumbag." Tao Xiaoxi couldn't help but curse. The scene was disgusting to watch.
"Mom, what does scumbag mean?"
Tao Xiaoxi was about to say that he was a scumbag and very bad, but then she changed her mind and decided that she couldn't just dismiss the word "dad" with one blow. She didn't want to leave a psychological trauma on Beibei's young mind, so she said, "There's a lot of crumbs in the cornfield. Your dad will easily get himself into trouble if he goes in."
"Oh, Beibei understands." Beibei nodded.
"Beibei told grandma not to go down the river or the mountain next time, and not to hide from XZ, otherwise I won't care about her anymore."
"Grandma will be so pitiful if mom doesn't care." Beibei said suddenly.
"So what do you think of grandma?" Tao Xiaoxi asked.
Beibei didn't say anything, pursed her lips, thought for a moment, and whispered, "Okay now."
Tao Xiaoxi didn't ask any more questions. She washed Grandma Sun's shoes, dried them on the kang, put them under her kang, closed the door and walked out.
Tonight, the moonlight is like water. Although spring has arrived, there's still a chill. Tao Xiaoxi, draped in her coat, stands alone in the cool moonlight, draped in the moonlight, chilled. People today can't see the moon of the past, but this moon once shone on the ancients. Because the moon is merciless, it is impartial and strict, allowing the whole world to bathe in its light. But humans can't do that. To a greater or lesser extent, we are all controlled by our subjective consciousness. Once sworn enemies, we can now no longer hate them.
Especially stupid.
However, the one having the hardest time tonight was Li Nanshan. He didn't know if he would be himself again after tonight. He lay on his bed in the mine, counting sheep with his eyes open. As he counted, he became more and more awake, and he couldn't wait to get up and dig coal.
And his home was also very lively tonight. The second brother's couple was arguing so fiercely that Mrs. Li couldn't calm them down no matter how hard she tried. Old man Li was so angry that he smashed a bowl before they could barely calm down.
The reason for the quarrel was also quite commonplace: money. Yang Rongzhi blamed her husband for being incompetent, while Li Nanhai blamed her for being too domineering, saying she was the most shrewish woman in the entire Mantou Village.
Yang Rongzhi just went all out and started pulling her husband's hair. Li Nanhai also got angry and started pulling her hair as well. The couple almost became bald.
Da Mao and Er Mao stood aside, not knowing whether they were used to it or just didn't know what to do. They held the sugar jar and ate candy with their hands, completely ignoring their father and mother who were fighting on the ground.
The most frightened were the eldest brother's family. The eldest brother and his wife didn't even dare to open the door. When they tried to persuade him, they would just say, "The cat is crying over the rat, you're just being sympathetic, get out of here!"
Now that a bowl was broken, everything finally calmed down. Only the sobbing of my second sister-in-law Yang Rongzhi floated in the night sky.
That night in Mantou Village, every household had their own worries and troubles. However, it was Grandma Sun who fell asleep as soon as she touched the pillow and snored loudly. She had no worries or concerns, but she was worried about someone in her heart, and she only thought of him when she was awake.
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