The Daily Life of Farming and Raising Children in Ancient Mountain Residences

Chapter 268: Requesting More Spots

Sang Luo set up a literacy class and a school for the children of employees at Daxing Village, with a registration period of two days and a total of 110 spots available. She expected that having 20 to 30 people sign up would be quite good, given that during the agrarian era, life was not easy for anyone except for very young children, regardless of gender or age.

Even though she arranged for the workers to study at night after their workday, the exhaustion from the day made it challenging for many to find the motivation to learn things they weren’t sure would be useful in the future.

As Chen Dashan said, people often don’t realize the importance of things until they are directly involved.

However, the actual turnout was somewhat surprising to Sang Luo. In addition to those like Gan Erlang’s wife and Zheng Daniu, who had planned to enroll themselves from the beginning, Daxing Village was very supportive.

They were indeed supportive.

On the first evening after the registration was set, several families arrived at Shen’s house. Among them were those who could already read, such as Zhou Cunzheng, Shopkeeper Xu and his wife, and Lin Jiuniang, as well as older people like Xu Old Lady, Chen Old Man, Mrs. Chen, Lu Old Man, Mrs. Lu, and Uncle Xu. Nearly all of the middle-aged and younger generations were mobilized.

This was naturally not accomplished all at once. There was hesitation and anxiety; for instance, Qin Fangniang and Zhou Cunzheng’s wife, who were in their early forties and felt like they were too old to enroll, were reassured by Sang Luo’s confirmation that it was indeed possible and encouraged to try despite their fears of not performing well.

Others, like Chen Youtian, had their parents and wives make the decision for them. They hoped to learn as much as they could.

Some, like Gan’s family, inquired about whether having one formal worker and one apprentice counted as two spots or just one. They were curious if they and their two children could enroll.

In the past few years, there were opportunities to learn in the mountains, but people hadn’t recognized the necessity of literacy. However, there was a strange consensus among the female workers at the vermicelli workshop that Sang Luo encouraged learning, and they felt they should seize this opportunity.

So, despite their uncertainties about learning well at their age, they encouraged each other and participated.

The reasons were practical: Chen’s family knew they might need to help Sang Luo with some of the work in the future, and being illiterate wouldn’t be advantageous. As for the others, they saw potential in Sang Luo’s business growing larger. If the business expanded and there were jobs available, it would be better to be literate. If not, Sang Luo would likely prefer to hire those who could read.

Thus, they didn’t want Sang Luo to make the choice for them or to be the ones left out. When they met, they discussed their plans, and it turned out that almost everyone who was not traveling for business participated.

When the people had left, Shen Ning counted the registered names: “Sister-in-law, including Gan Er’s wife and daughter, and Zheng Daniu’s niece, there are already 20 people.”

On the first day alone, there were 20 people!

By the evening of the second day, with the sun setting in the west, Shen Ning counted again: 43 people!

Sang Luo reviewed the list. In addition to the initial 20 registrants, the only ones over sixteen years old who had come were Zhou Laizi’s three sons, Mrs. Zhao’s older grandsons, and the eldest sons from the other two long-term workers’ families. The rest were mostly young children.

Girls were even fewer: Zhao Dalang’s eldest daughter, Gan Erlang’s daughter Pan Niang, and Zhou Ge’s younger sister Zhou Kui were the only ones.

Outside of Daxing Village, there were still few places willing to educate girls.

Even though there was no fee and the classes were held at night, those who didn’t recognize the value of literacy thought it was unnecessary, and those who did were more inclined to allocate spots to boys in their families.

Sang Luo was somewhat silent.

Shen Ning looked at the three girls’ names among a bunch of boys’ names, feeling an indescribable frustration. She puffed out her cheeks and sighed deeply, feeling a bit of relief from the tightness in her chest.

Sang Luo patted her shoulder. “Take it slow.”

As the registration list was still out, Mrs. Lu peered in through the gate. “Is Ah Luo here?”

Sang Luo responded with a cheerful “Oh,” and went to greet her. “Lu Grandma, what brings you here at this time? Come inside.”

“Are you here on business?”

It wasn’t strange to ask, but it was getting dark, and earlier in the day, people from the village were registering. Since Mrs. Lu had come alone at this time, it clearly wasn’t just a casual visit.

“Ah,” Mrs. Lu sighed, glancing at Shen Ning and looking somewhat embarrassed.

Shen Ning, quick-witted, smiled at Mrs. Lu and said to Sang Luo, “Sister-in-law, I’ll check on Ayao and Qian Bao; it’s almost time for them to wake up.”

After Sang Luo nodded, Shen Ning headed to her elder brother and sister-in-law’s house.

Mrs. Lu, feeling a bit awkward, followed Sang Luo to the side hall and said, “I came to ask about something…”

She was momentarily at a loss for the right word to follow “ask.”

Using “request” seemed off, as did “inquire” or “beg.”

She was stuck and didn’t know how to continue.

Sang Luo looked at her and said, “Let me guess, you’re asking about Shuanzhu and his siblings?”

In Daxing Village, registrations were lively, with adults and children eagerly signing up. Only the Xu, Wei, and Lu families hadn’t participated, with the Lu family being somewhat of an outlier, living in the village but remaining slightly apart from the core group.

Mrs. Lu found it difficult to articulate her request, but Sang Luo guessed it correctly and nodded. “Yes, back then, with all those events, I shouldn’t be asking, but… the children are good. They had learned some in the village and in the valley. As a grandmother, I have a bit of selfish desire to see them continue learning, so they don’t fall too far behind their peers. After much consideration, I gathered the courage to ask if I could get a few spots.”

The word “ask” made Sang Luo shake her head.

“Grandma, you don’t need to worry. I have no objections to Shuanzhu and his siblings. Isn’t Shitou already attending the basic class during the day?”

Mrs. Lu nodded. “Yes, I know. If you had objections, Shitou wouldn’t be learning from An Ning and Xiao Jin.”

Because of this, Mrs. Lu felt brave enough to come. Although people were reluctant to interact with the eldest son, they were still good to the children. Even Xiao Jin’s brothers treated Shuanzhu and his siblings without resentment over past events. The children were learning what Shitou had learned during the day and teaching their siblings what they could, though Shitou himself wasn’t very advanced in his studies and couldn’t always explain things clearly.

Sang Luo didn’t want to make Mrs. Lu uncomfortable. “I agree to this. If Shuanzhu and his siblings want to learn, they can come. I’ll add their names to the list.”

Without putting away the pen and ink, she added four more names to the list.

Mrs. Lu, who couldn’t read, was overjoyed at Sang Luo’s agreement and repeatedly thanked her.

Sang Luo smiled. “It’s not a big deal. Classes will start tomorrow evening at the hour of the dog in Xiao Jin’s house. There isn’t a desk yet, so let Shuanzhu and the others bring a stool. The books will start with the Thousand Word Classic, which I believe they already have.”

“Yes, yes.”

Mrs. Lu repeatedly agreed and thanked her, then left Shen’s house happily, heading towards the farthest corner of Daxing Village, where the Lu family’s land and house were located.

Farmers typically have two meals a day, and at this time, they were taking a break after a day’s work. Lu Dalang was likely inside the house. Since returning from the mountains, whether due to years of hoarseness, resentment, or other reasons, his relations with his parents, younger brothers, or his own children had become somewhat strained.

Mrs. Lu, aware of the past events when the eldest son’s family went to the deep mountains, had long since become disheartened. Though years had passed and they were brought out, despite not hearing complaints from Shuanzhu and his siblings, she could see how distant they were from their father. She suspected the eldest son had not improved, and the harsh conditions in the mountains had likely worsened his situation, leading to further estrangement from his children.

Seeing that Lu Dalang was not around, she focused on her grandchildren.

The children were busy: Shuanzhu was chopping firewood, Tiezhu was repairing farm tools, Shitou was writing words on a sandboard for Huzi, and Daniu was sewing shoe soles, a task she was skilled at and could do without much light.

Seeing Mrs. Lu approach from afar, the siblings stopped their work. Huzi came forward a few steps. “Grandma, what brings you here?”

Mrs. Lu’s face was filled with uncontainable joy. “You know about the school being set up in the village, right?”

The siblings exchanged glances, and Huzi nodded.

Mrs. Lu felt a pang of sadness. The children had learned only a little in the valley; when Wang Chunniang passed away, they had to stay behind to look after their mother and felt embarrassed to go out. Their initial studies were left unfinished.

Huzi, now fourteen and taller than her, was difficult for Mrs. Lu to pat on the head, so she patted his arm instead. “During the day, you didn’t have time to attend the basic class because of farm work. Ah Xu will teach you, but you refused to go back and said Shitou should teach you. But Shitou himself hasn’t learned enough to explain everything well.”

Huzi replied, “Grandma, Ah Xu is preparing for the county exam, and what he’s studying is too difficult. He doesn’t have a teacher; he just follows An Ning and learns from him. He asks Xiao An, Wenbo, and others in the evening. I’m just learning a few words, and I don’t want to take up his time.”

During the day, the brothers were too busy with plowing and clearing land to find time to study. In the evenings, they had gone a few times, only to find that their study time clashed with Ah Xu’s important study hours.

“Yes, yes, Grandma knows you’re doing this for Ah Xu’s sake. Let’s not dwell on that. What I want to say is that the new school in the village only has evening classes. I just went to find your sister-in-law Ah Luo and got your names registered.”

Huzi blurted out, “Doesn’t it require spots only for people from Ah Luo’s family, the shop, and the workshop?”

When Mrs. Lu heard this from Huzi, she realized that the children were silent because they actually wanted to attend.

This matter was settled.

She smiled, “That’s right. So, I went to ask your sister-in-law Ah Luo and got a few spots for you. Since we’re all in the same village, Ah Luo agreed with a smile, and your names are now on the list. Classes start tomorrow evening at the hour of the dog at Xiao Jin’s place. There aren’t any desks yet, so bring two stools for the four of you.”

“Also, the classes will start with the Thousand Word Classic, so bring your original bamboo slips.”

“That’s all. Xia girl can walk now and needs someone to look after her. I’ll head back now. Remember to go on time tomorrow.”

Xia girl is Lu Erlang’s daughter, named Yunxia by Lu Erlang after careful selection because she was born in the evening.

Mrs. Lu left in a hurry, and the siblings were left somewhat stunned. Tiezhu turned to Shuanzhu, “Brother, did Grandma really say she registered us?”

Was it just the spots, or did she specify who they were for?

“She did. Didn’t you hear that our names are on the list?”

“I heard,” Huzi said, though he still found it hard to believe. Even though Shitou had been studying at Shen’s house, the siblings didn’t really dare to go there and felt embarrassed.

Shuanzhu looked towards Shen’s house, then suddenly turned and grabbed two empty baskets. He called out to Tiezhu, “Come help with the firewood.”

Tiezhu was taken aback, but Huzi quickly understood his elder brother’s intent. He perked up and went to help, turning to Tiezhu and saying, “Second Brother, what are you dawdling for? We’re not just working for Ah Luo’s family; we can’t waste the opportunity to attend classes.”

Tiezhu got the hint and hurried to help. Soon, the two brothers were carrying two full loads of chopped firewood towards Shen’s house.

Huzi stood there grinning, but as he smiled, his nose felt a bit sore. Daniu, who had appeared by his side, murmured, “Did Grandma say my name is on the list too?”

Huzi smiled, “Yes. Sis, you should go and learn. Try to learn more from An Ning, whether it’s reading or other things.”

Shitou glanced towards the house and whispered, “Yes, An Ning is very impressive.”

Go and study with Shen Ning?

Daniu, holding the half-finished shoe sole, couldn’t help but look in the direction of Shen’s house.

She recalled seeing Shen Ning teaching a group of children in the pavilion at Shen’s house. She remembered how, when selling goods to Shen’s house, she would hear the weight reported by the workers and write beautiful Words in the ledger. She’d quickly calculate the price and hand over the exact amount of copper coins to her elder brother with a smile, asking him to check it.

Lu Daniu was inherently a soft-hearted person. The thought of how high a goal Shen Ning represented made her heart tighten and her back tense.

Could she ever match Shen Ning’s level?

Huzi watched her. She instinctively touched the skin on her neck covered by her dark hair and then nodded, “Okay.”