All of a sudden, the villagers began to discuss enthusiastically. They had a free opportunity to learn to read and write, and if they learned well, they could even run a shop. How could they not be happy?
They all saw how good the business was in the shops in the market, and if they opened branches in other towns, they would naturally have no worries about business.
Among them, there were one or two quick-witted villagers who asked Li Yan with a smile: "Girl, do you think Third Uncle can teach you in that private school?"
Their son is still young. If they wait until those children have finished their studies, what will be left for their family?
Li Yan smiled and said, "Uncle wants to learn, you're welcome anytime."
Hearing Li Yan's words, Li Laosan straightened his back even more.
The villagers beside him were amused by his words. "Li Laosan, are you ashamed? Do you want to sit with the children?"
Thinking of such a funny scene, with an adult sitting among a group of children, the villagers laughed even harder.
Li Laosan was embarrassed by his companions' laughter and said with his neck stiff, "Who said I should sit with the kid? I'll just stand outside and watch. Maybe I'm naturally smart and will learn it right away!"
"Bah, stop bragging here."
Listening to the conversation between the two, the villagers were amused and the atmosphere was very harmonious.
"It has been decided that the children will go to school. As for the private school, it will be built at the threshing ground at the entrance of the village. Those classrooms will be used by the children of each family. I think everyone should contribute. We will start building the bricks and houses tomorrow. Does anyone have any opinions?" The patriarch said to everyone again.
The villagers were eager to send their children to school immediately, so they agreed readily.
Li Yan had never thought of getting everyone to build a school building together, but after listening to the arrangements made by the clan leader, she thought this was a good idea.
After the discussion, everyone happily left. When the grandfather and grandson came to a fork in the road, Li Yan said to her grandfather, "Grandpa, you go back first. I'll go down the mountain to see how the medicinal herbs are being picked."
The grandparents and grandchildren parted ways at a fork in the road, and Li Yan went directly to the medicinal fields at the foot of the mountain.
The children worked in groups of two, and only a few scattered patches of indigo leaves remained in the field. Their speed was actually faster than Li Yan had expected.
Walking to another field, Li Yan saw Cao Jiang picking honeysuckle.
Li Yan waved towards Cao Jiang, signaling him to come over. Just now, when she didn't see Cao Jiang in front of the clan leader's courtyard, Li Yan guessed that the clan leader's grandson had forgotten about them, so she simply went to look for him herself!
"Miss, what can I do for you?"
Li Yan repeated to Cao Jiang what she had just said to the clan leader, "Since they have landed in our village, we are all fellow villagers from now on. If Grandpa Cao wants the children to study in the private school, that's fine!"
Different from the excited people in the village, Cao Jiang shook his head sadly. There were no male descendants in their clan a long time ago, and now there were only some girls left. What was the point of reading then?
"I appreciate the young lady's kindness on their behalf. I won't let the children suffer any more. Once they can settle down, finding a good husband is the right thing to do!"
The days of being a refugee have left the old man's heart broken. He has accepted his fate and no longer wants to struggle. As long as he can live a stable life, he dare not even think about the so-called future.
Now he just wants stability and doesn't want any changes!
Li Yan didn't expect that Cao Jiang would refuse.
She didn't push him. "Grandpa, maybe you could ask the children what they think? They're still young and have a long way to go. If they're willing, the door of the village private school is always open!"
This time, Cao Jiang nodded and did not refuse.
He was already in his twilight years, just thinking about getting by, but what about the children? He turned around and looked at the children squatting on the ground working hard, and finally did not refuse the girl's kindness.
Li Yan didn't take Cao Jiang's rejection to heart. She couldn't force others to do what she wanted with a knife. She believed that those who wanted to change would seize the opportunity!
After returning home, Li Yan was not idle. She picked up a sickle and went out.
"What are you doing with the knife?" Mrs. Lin stopped her impetuous daughter.
"I'm going to the back mountain to cut some bamboo and will be back soon!" After saying that, he immediately ran away.
When Mrs. Lin wanted to call her daughter again, there was no trace of Li Yan!
Li Xiaomei put down the work in her hands and stood up: "I'll go and take a look, sister-in-law, don't worry!"
When Li Xiaomei rushed to the back mountain, Li Yan had already cut a small pile of thin bamboos.
She took the sickle from her niece and continued to chop the bamboo. "What do you want such thin bamboo for? You can't weave bamboo baskets with such thin bamboo!"
Li Yan carefully gathered the cut bamboo and said, "Even if I tell you now, Auntie may not understand. Once I'm done, you'll know!"
With one more person joining in, the speed of cutting bamboo increased a lot. In just half an hour, the aunt and niece returned home, each carrying a bundle of bamboo.
After returning home, Li Yan cut the bamboo into sections, one by one, and the simple container was ready.
I found some gypsum, ground it into powder and mixed it with water, then poured the mixed gypsum solution into the bamboo joints that had just been cut.
The two of them worked together and soon more than a hundred pieces of chalk were ready!
Li Yan placed it in the yard to dry in the sun. After it was formed, she peeled off the bamboo nodes and the simple writing tool was made.
Now that we have chalk for writing, the next step is to make a blackboard, which is not urgent.
I will wait for my uncle to come back from the fermented bean curd workshop and ask him to help me find a flat wooden board. I will then apply the ground ink on it and brush a layer of palm oil on it, and the children will have the writing tools they need.
Li Yan was preparing reading supplies for the children. During the lunch break, Li Laoerlang went to the old student's house.
After hearing about Li Laoerlang's purpose of coming, the old student first expressed his gratitude, and then politely declined the job, saying that he still had several students on hand and he was not in good spirits, so he was afraid that he could not be qualified for this job.
Li Erlang had no choice but to say goodbye and leave.
After leaving the yamen and returning, Li Erlang spoke directly to his daughter about the matter, "Tomorrow, as a father, I will ask his classmates. Finding a teacher also requires opportunity."
Looking at the silent father and daughter, Lin said bluntly: "Why go so far? I think it's better to ask my eldest brother for help."
This is indeed a good idea. Needless to say, my eldest brother is very knowledgeable and even has the title of scholar.
"My uncle has also opened a private school. Will he have no time to take care of us?" Li Erlang also knew that his uncle was the most suitable person, but he was unable to split his time between the two and it was unrealistic for him to run around in both places.
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