Chapter 155 154. Little Ginger Cried Again
Xiaobao is in class at this time.
The schools in both villages have four regular classes a day.
The first period starts at 8:00 in the morning and ends at 9:00. There is a half-hour break, the second period starts at 9:30, and school ends at 10:30. Classes start at 2:00 in the afternoon, and there are activities from 3:00 to 3:30. The second period ends at 4:30, and then school ends.
The time is very ample and relaxed.
This was also set up according to the situation of the village. It was not like the modern middle school entrance examination or college entrance examination, nor was it about having to be an imperial examiner. It was just about recognizing words, so naturally it would not be very strict.
Besides, which child in the village doesn’t work?
Ample class time is also intended to allow children to help out at home, do chores, or work in the fields, which is also a form of physical education.
"If it's a man, it's fine. But if the family has some spare money, they all want their sons and grandsons to study. If they pass the imperial examination and become officials in the future, it will bring honor to the family."
"If a boy or girl studies hard but fails to pass the civil service exam and takes up so much of my time that I don't even do housework, I'm sure I'll be looked down upon and won't have a good time getting married in the future."
Lei Li said this with a curl of his lips.
Whether one has the talent for studying is another matter. Many elderly parents blindly think that their children are smart and will definitely pass the exam if they study hard, so they will use all the family's resources to support them. In fact, most of them are just sucking the blood of their brothers and sisters.
But that’s the general environment.
There was no regulation in the Dayou Dynasty that allowed boys and girls to take the imperial examinations. Many boys and girls could not study like men and go out to work as accountants. At most, they could open a small private school to teach boys and girls how to read and write.
Therefore, only families who love their sons and daughters will send them to school to learn to read and write, although most of them just learn about things like "daughters should follow the virtues of their husbands".
"That's how you force boys and girls to study."
Zhou Yi comforted him, saying, "Education opens your mind. The boys and girls in the village are all sensible and understand the rules. Even if they don't work in our factory or restaurant, they can find other ways out."
"There are more opportunities to work, I earn more money, and I have a say in the village."
"As the saying goes, women hold up half the sky. If they can stand on their own feet and know the value of education, they will send their own children to school, creating a virtuous cycle."
"Our two villages will get better and better, and our business reputation will also get better and better."
"Indeed."
Lei Li nodded and laughed, "Miss Asi also wrote to say that there are also husbands and wives in the village who want to learn to read and write, but there are not enough teachers, so she picked a few top students from the children's class to teach them in the big class."
"Many people are happy and proud to see that their children can teach them and others, which makes them proud in the village. Sending their children to school also makes them feel more sincere."
The money for the man's education is paid by his own family, and the money for the boy and girl's education is paid by the Lei family. It would be a waste if you don't study. If you can really learn something, tell others and it will bring honor to the village.
In Sanlihe Village, everyone knows which daughter is the best at studying, which boy is praised by the teacher in class, and which boy recognizes a few words. They compete with each other secretly.
The news spread to the surrounding area, and many families came to these two villages to propose marriage, especially those with good academic performance, who were afraid to get married too early and have the girl snatched away by others.
Some landlords and gentry who had little money but were not yet able to marry into the government, as well as families in the county town, were tempted by the idea, and several good marriages were arranged.
"Dad! Dad!"
Little Jiang was confused for a long time, and only understood the two words "study". He immediately raised his little hand and shouted, "Jiang also studies! Daddy, Jiang also studies, and studies with Brother Xiaobao!"
“Ginger is too small.”
Zhou Yi touched Xiao Shengjiang's head and said, "The youngest brothers and sisters in the school are four or five years old."
Few children in the village receive any enlightenment.
Therefore, the ages of students in the school vary greatly. Most children have passed the best time for enlightenment, and their heights are also different. There are 50 people in a class, and they are first arranged according to age. Then they take exams. If they pass, they will be in the second grade, and then the third grade.
The highest level of education is fifth grade.
The content learned in each grade in a year is basically the same, so after the fifth grade, students either become too old to continue studying, or those whose families have money are sent to private schools to become imperial examination examiners.
It would be fine even if you passed the exam to become a tongsheng. If you became a scholar, you would bring honor to your family. If you became a juren, you would be a juren master and might even be able to become an official.
Fifth-grade students will also teach lower grades, calling them little masters and little teachers, and telling them about it will bring honor to their parents and relatives in the village and town.
——Even though it’s just a village school, it’s still a school! It can teach people!
"Ginger, ginger, go in and read it, ginger is the youngest!"
Little Jiang didn't understand what being small had to do with not being able to study, but his little brain was quite impressive. "Jiang is younger than his brothers and sisters, but he studies very fast and is in the same class as brother Xiaobao!"
The elder brother heard that Xiaobao was already in the second grade, but he was only in the first grade when he entered the school. That wouldn’t work, Jiang had to stay with Xiaobao.
"Ginger can't even hold a pen."
Lei Li teased him, "How can you write if you can't hold a pen? Sheng Jiang should just be obedient and go back to the county with Daddy. Wait until Brother Xiaobao comes to see you once every ten days or half a month."
“No, no!”
Little Ginger puffed out his cheeks, looking angry but also very serious, "Ginger wants to read along with Brother Xiaobao!"
"Little Ginger, do you really want to read it?"
Lei Li raised an eyebrow and touched his son's little head. "Studying is very hard. Sheng Jiang can't eat snacks at any time, nor can he go out to play."
"I have to be locked in a small room and keep writing and writing. Even when my hands are sore and my stomach is hungry, I won't let little ginger stop."
"You can't talk to Brother Xiaobao all the time. Brother Xiaobao needs to study. If Xiaoshengjiang talks, it will disturb him and he will hate Xiaoshengjiang."
"real?"
Little Jiang hesitated when he heard this, tilted his head and thought for a while, then covered his mouth with his little hands and said in a muffled voice, "Then Little Jiang won't talk anymore. When Brother Xiaobao talks, Little Jiang will talk again, and Brother won't hate me anymore."
"But little ginger really likes talking to his brother."
"Ginger doesn't talk, brother doesn't hate it."
"Ouch……"
Lei Li held little Sheng Jiang in his arms, smiled and kissed him several times, "Our Sheng Jiang is so well behaved, and he can hold back his words. When we get to school, let's ask Brother Xiao Bao if he wants to study with us, okay?"
"good!"
Little Ginger nodded happily.
He thought, Brother Xiaobao must study with him, Brother Xiaobao likes little ginger! He also brought sweet cakes for Brother Xiaobao, Brother Xiaobao likes sweet cakes and also likes little ginger that looks like sweet cakes!
—
As soon as the carriage approached the village, it was discovered by the villagers. Knowing that it was Lei Li's family returning, they warmly invited them to their homes.
They said they were frightened when they came back yesterday, and the bandits were trying to catch them, so there was no need to worry. If they dared to come to the village, they would break their legs and hand them over to the authorities to avenge Lei Li and his wife.
I also asked if I was thirsty after eating. My aunt had killed a chicken and my uncle had cooked mung bean soup. I asked him to come in and eat something, drink something, rest his feet and chat.
Lei Li's family said no, no, they would go back home and put the things away first.
This time I go back to the village and plan to stay for a few days.
The last time Xiao Shengjiang saw Xiao Bao was during the Lantern Festival. This time, he must be reluctant to leave and would cry and refuse to leave. He could be coaxed, but Zhou Yi felt sorry for the little guy and decided to stay for a few more days to make the child happy.
Besides, the little guy doesn’t have many friends at home. It’s a rare opportunity for him to go to the village and play with other kids, get in touch with his peers and nature.
Little Jiang was thinking about her brother Xiaobao. After entering the Lei family's courtyard, she didn't even look around and urged her father to go to school.
Seeing that it was time to go home from school, Zhou Yi said goodbye to his parents, and went with Lei Li to take Xiao Sheng Jiang to find Xiao Bao. Xiao Jiang also brought the box of sweet cakes made by his father.
"Give it to the little baby brother."
Little Jiang couldn't walk fast, so he asked his father to hold him and wait at the school gate. His big black eyes looked around eagerly, and when he saw his brother Xiaobao, he shouted happily and waved his little hands.
"Brother Xiaobao!"
It was just after school and there was a lot of noise at the school gate. Xiaobao didn't hear Xiaoshengjiang calling him. He was talking to his classmates and smiling with his eyes curved, which made Xiaoshengjiang angry and anxious.
"Brother! Brother! Ginger Ginger is here!"
Little Ginger was yelling, but seeing that it was no use, he got down from his father's arms and ran towards Xiaobao with the snack box in his arms, "Brother! Ginger brought some snacks!"
On the road, the little ginger was bumped by a kid who was not looking at the road. He fell down and his little knee was bleeding and red. The pain made the little ginger tearful.
But little ginger didn't cry.
He wiped his eyes, stood up bravely, picked up the snack box, and stumbled towards Xiaobao. The boy was reckless but good-natured. He knew he was embarrassed for bumping into the child and wanted to take the child to see Dr. Niu. When he saw the child struggling and saying no, he got anxious.
"How can you not see a doctor? You're bleeding!"
“No!”
Little Jiang finally found Brother Xiaobao and didn't want to see a doctor. He even thought this kid was blocking his way and looked at him angrily with his face puffed up like a little bun.
Fortunately, there was a lot of noise here, and Xiaobao saw Xiaoshengjiang. His eyes lit up and he hurried over to find Xiaoshengjiang.
"Brother Jiang, why are you here? Where are Father Lei and Father Zhou?"
"elder brother!"
Little Jiang jumped into Xiaobaodi's arms like a young swallow flying into the forest. Her little face flushed and she smiled happily, "Jiang came to see her brother! Daddy and grandpa brought him here. Jiang also brought some snacks, sweet snacks!"
"Is this the box of snacks?"
Xiaobao smiled and touched Xiaoshengjiang's little head. Under his expectant gaze, he opened the snack box, but saw that the petal-shaped sweet hearts inside were all broken and in a mess.
"dessert……"
Little Jiang was stunned when he saw this. He had just fallen and his knee was bleeding but he didn't cry. Now he was heartbroken and started crying out of grievance and confusion.
The little pearls kept falling, and her face and nose were red from crying. She looked both pitiful and cute.
"My heart is broken, brother can't eat anymore..."
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