Chapter 608: Support

President Yu, straightforward as ever, stared at the silent Lin Gang: "I'm asking you a question. If you didn't hear me clearly, I'll have Officer Li repeat it for you."

Officer Li frowned.

Is it really that hard to send children to school?

Just say yes or no; why do they have to make such a fuss out of everything?

What is wrong with the people in this village?

The Brigade Leader and the Women's Director seem reasonable enough, and it looks like they've put in plenty of work.

It must just be that they happened to run into people like this.

So, Officer Li said sternly: "Lin Gang, President Yu is asking if you can send your two children to school tomorrow."

Lin Gang glanced at his silent wife and stammered: "It's not that I don't agree; it's that the two of them simply don't want to go. If you ask me, you should go check on other families—if there are kids who love to study, send them. If they don't want to study, just leave them be."

Lu Lu Qiao said: "Comrade Lin Gang, give us a general direction, and we will send people to find them. Children are the future of the motherland; only by mastering scientific and cultural knowledge can they better build our country."

Besides, even raising ducks and geese requires scientific knowledge.

So, there must be a reason why they don't want to study.

You can't just let the children have their way because they don't want to study; that is wrong.

So, where did your children run off to play?"

A commune member nearby let out a snort of laughter and said loudly: "Factory Director Lu, President Yu, don't be fooled by him. Those two children love to study; they even bring their books with them when they go to herd ducks."

So how could they not want to go to school?

This couple is heartless; they don't even give the children breakfast before sending them out to herd ducks.

They should be at the meadow right now. Do you want me to go find them?"

President Yu was very gratified; there were still many reasonable, progressive, and courageous commune members.

He said in a deep voice: "I remember you, your name is Liu Liu Shuanzhu. Good, you go with the commune's security officer."

Liu Liu Shuanzhu agreed readily.

The current head of the security station was at the Old Cao family's house, so the one accompanying President Yu was another security officer.

The courtyard fell quiet for a moment.

An old woman pursed her lips and whispered to the auntie next to her: "Why is Lin Gang's wife so quiet now? Isn't she usually quite loud and showy? If anyone tries to manage her family's affairs, she... she jumps three feet high."

The other auntie said: "Oh, look at who came today. She's a bully who fears the strong!"

"Actually, I think this is hard to handle. Even if they agree to let the two kids go to school, what if they stop them again in a few days? Will the leaders from above have to come manage it again?"

"It was everyone's fault to begin with. The side businesses developed from above were meant to improve our lives, not to add more chores for these children."

"Exactly. My boy even said that if it weren't for the down jacket factory, he wouldn't have to do so much work."

"Isn't that ungrateful? Isn't making money a good thing? With money and various ration coupons, we can go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy food and drink."

Old Liu from the down jacket factory didn't look very happy.

He looked at the calm and indifferent Lu Lu Qiao, wanting to say something, but thought better of it and swallowed his words.

After all, these were the voices of a very small minority.

And this was a problem with the parents, not with them.

President Yu didn't want to listen to the commune members' chatter either.

Although the voices sounded small, some things could still be heard.

After all, these people were used to speaking in loud voices.

So, President Yu said to the old principal: "Aren't there two other families in this village? Let's go check those two first. By the time we finish with them, Lin Gang's children should be found."

The old principal agreed.

So the group went to the third family.

This family's child didn't like school.

But the parents hoped the child would attend.

They had been watching the commotion, hoping these leaders would discipline the child so they would study properly.

After some criticism and education, the child earnestly promised to return to school tomorrow.

The situation at the fourth family was similar to the third.

It was resolved quickly and cleanly.

The parents were quite timid; seeing this formation, and knowing the situation with the previous families, they knew the leaders from above were not just going through the motions.

They were truly going to resolve this matter.

So they promised to send their two daughters to school.

Only then did a gratified smile appear on President Yu's face.

He said to Lu Lu Qiao: "The awareness of our commune members is still quite high."

Lu Lu Qiao nodded in agreement.

It's enough to catch a few examples; the majority are still good.

Lu Lu Qiao deliberated and said with a smile: "Xiang Yang Food Factory is preparing to provide free financial aid to children from difficult families. We will issue it in the form of a document. The relevant rules and requirements for the free aid program will be reported to each commune after the brigade leaders compile the statistics. I may have to trouble President Yu to worry about this then."

President Yu's eyes brightened, while the old principal was so moved he wanted to hold Lu Lu Qiao's hand and say thank you repeatedly.

Then Lu Lu Qiao told the old principal that she would provide corresponding support for such rural primary schools.

At this time, there was no such thing as "donations" to rural schools.

But support did exist.

The old principal and Teacher Yin didn't expect such an unexpected joy.

They were so happy their eyes turned red.

Then the two children were found.

They were thin and small, dressed in rags, looking very heart-wrenching.

President Yu asked them gently about their thoughts, but the two children didn't dare to speak, only looking repeatedly at Lin Gang and his wife.

But in the end, the two children told the truth.

Mainly, Lin Gang's eldest son was very strong and mature for his age, saying he would wake up early and go to bed late, and would absolutely not let studying delay his work.

Lin Gang's wife slapped her thigh, ready to wail.

Lu Lu Qiao interrupted her in time: "Don't cry yet. Our food factory has some corresponding reward measures. For example, after they go to school, all tuition and miscellaneous fees related to studying will be covered by the food factory. The better the grades, the higher the reward. We will set up an award standard..."

Lu Lu Qiao didn't have a complete plan for this, but once she had the idea, she could perfect it almost immediately.

The more she spoke, the brighter these people's eyes became.

Lin Gang's eldest son and eldest daughter had sparkling eyes, both clenching their small fists, feeling they would definitely be able to get the reward.

Lin Gang's wife stared with her mouth open, not knowing whether to cry or scold.

Someone pursed their lips and said: "Lin Gang's wife, this time don't stop the children from learning. Xiaojun has a smart head; although he's not as good as Cao Cao Zhaozhao, now that Cao Cao Zhaozhao has gone to the army, he will definitely be able to take first place. Just wait to collect the money."

So someone asked Lu Lu Qiao: "Factory Director Lu, will that reward system always be there?"

Lu Lu Qiao nodded: "For some schools in difficult conditions and students from struggling families, this reward system will remain in place after approval from the higher-level units." ===== CHAPTER 609 =====