Chapter 897: Brainwashed by Zhou Andong

"No!" Zhou Andong shook his head. "However, we can add some Nenjiang elements into it."

An Congwen nodded. "I'll have someone go to Qishi tomorrow!"

With just two sentences, the matter was settled.

"Uncle, you should start a design company. It will be much more convenient for us to collaborate in the future."

An Congwen was stunned, then immediately waved his hand. "I am a teacher; how could I open a company?"

"What's wrong with being a teacher?"

Whenever Zhou Andong thought of those so-called experts, professors, and public intellectuals from later generations, his anger would flare up. For the sake of money and fame, they truly had no shame left, wishing they could dig up their own ancestors from their graves to sell them.

"I believe that students who can get into the Central Academy of Fine Arts are all very talented. However, in this world, there are so many talented people; in the end, how many truly stand at the top of the pyramid?

I think most are forced by the need to make a living to abandon their profession and dreams, choosing just to survive. In the end, they fade into the crowd, disappearing among the masses."

Zhou Andong's words caused the few people in the room to fall into deep thought.

"If you open a design company, others might not be manageable, but your students could work at the company. While they earn a living, it would also give them an opportunity to strive for their future in their own professional field."

"I think Andong's words are very correct," Deng Lanxia said thoughtfully. "The school doesn't have a rule that teachers and professors cannot do business."

"Dad!" An Jing also spoke up. "You really should consider this matter carefully."

An Congwen looked at his wife and daughter and smiled helplessly. "Fine, I'll consider it."

Because he also felt that Zhou Andong's words made a lot of sense. Especially after the state abolished job assignments and implemented independent career selection, if design majors didn't have relevant units to receive them, it would be very difficult for them to have a chance to stand out.

"Oh, right!" Zhou Andong said. "There is one more thing I need your help with, sir."

"What is it? Speak!" An Congwen was truly responsive to every request from Zhou Andong.

Zhou Andong said, "My fourth uncle's child is in the first year of high school this year, and I've brought him to the capital. Please do me a favor and find a school for him. Additionally, my second uncle's cousin dropped out of school over a year ago, but her foundation is still there, so I brought her along too. I figured since I'm herding one sheep, I might as well herd two; please help me handle this as well."

"That's fine!" To An Congwen, this didn't count as a problem.

"There's one more." Zhou Andong felt a bit embarrassed. "My old uncle's child, my cousin, is in the third year of junior high this year."

An Congwen smiled and nodded. "Is that all?"

"That's it!" Zhou Andong sighed. "I had no choice. Before, I didn't have the ability, so I didn't think about anything because thinking was useless.

Now that I have the ability, I want to pave the way for their future, let them receive a better education, and then be able to get into a good university."

"That is correct!" An Congwen nodded in strong agreement. "You are a person of sentiment and righteousness; this is exactly what I admire most about you."

"Uncle, you're making me blush with your praise." Zhou Andong laughed. "Also, they definitely won't be able to keep up with their studies when they arrive. Please help find a few tutors, and I will pay the tutoring fees."

An Congwen waved his hand. "Finding teachers is no problem, but forget about the tutoring fees. Teaching and educating people is a teacher's responsibility."

Teachers of this era were truly candles that only knew how to burn themselves without asking for anything in return.

They hoped their students could become dragons and that their own students would be everywhere under the heavens.

"Teaching and educating people is indeed a teacher's responsibility. But teachers are also human. Sacrificing their rest time requires compensation. Moreover, I've heard that many teachers live very frugally.

Being able to increase their income and improve their lives through tutoring is not wrong, and I'm not short on this bit of money."

An Congwen fell silent. He had worked on the education front his entire life and was quite aware of the treatment and lives of ordinary teachers.

In some township schools, it was common for teachers' salaries to be in arrears; in some impoverished counties, it was even normal for teachers not to be paid for a year.

Although the capital was a bit better and there were no salary arrears, compared to other industries, teachers' salaries were the lowest.

Some teachers had elderly parents and young children, with a family of five or six, or even seven or eight, all relying on one person's salary to eat. Just thinking about it, one knew what this life was like.

"You are right!" It took a while before An Congwen spoke. "Being able to increase their income and improve their lives through tutoring is also quite good."

Zhou Andong said, "The state attaches importance to education and shouts that education must start from childhood, but it doesn't attach importance to teachers' treatment. How can this work?

If the youth are strong, the country is strong. Teachers stand on the three-foot podium, and what they carry on their shoulders is the future of the country. Yet they are often hungry while lecturing to the children; this is too unfair."

"This is due to the general environment; we individuals don't have the ability to solve it," An Congwen sighed and said. "However, I believe this situation will definitely improve in the future."

Zhou Andong nodded. Of course, he knew it would improve. But that would be after 2010, when teachers' treatment would significantly increase, and teaching would become a profession everyone envied. However, professional ethics would no longer be visible in some teachers.

Next, Zhou Andong chatted about some lighthearted topics, rambling on, and it wasn't until past eight o'clock that he stood up.

"I have to go back!" As he was leaving, this guy turned back and said, "Uncle, your Central Academy of Fine Arts admission letters are truly too ugly; they should be designed properly."

An Congwen was stunned, and by the time he came to his senses, Zhou Andong had already run off.

"Are the admission letters really that ugly?"

An Congwen looked at his wife, then looked at An Jing and Zhou Anqin. Before they could respond, he muttered to himself.

"They indeed lack aesthetic appeal, but they are just admission letters; what's the use of designing them so beautifully!"

Thinking about the words Zhou Andong said, An Jing burst into laughter and repeated them to Comrade Old An.

"I think Zhou Andong is right. The Central Academy of Fine Arts is an art sanctuary; the admission letters should be designed more beautifully, so that every student who receives one feels proud of the Central Academy of Fine Arts."

"This kid!" An Congwen gave a bitter smile. "Every time I talk to him, I have a feeling of being brainwashed. It's a waste of his talent to do business; he should go to school to work in political education."

An Jing curled her lip. "The little sapling was growing just fine, but if you let him prune the branches, it will definitely grow more crooked. Better not harm the future of the motherland."

"How are you talking!" Deng Lanxia said with annoyance.

"It's true!" An Jing looked at Zhou Anqin. "If you don't believe me, ask Xiao Qin!"

Zhou Anqin yawned. "Mom, Dad, I'm sleepy. I'm going back to my room to sleep."

"You traitor!" An Jing picked up a throw pillow from the sofa and threw it at Zhou Anqin.

Zhou Anqin caught it, stuck her tongue out at An Jing, and trotted into her room.

"Sister, let's go to RT-Mart together tomorrow."

An Jing rolled her eyes: "I'm going to sleep too."

Only the old couple was left in the living room. An Congwen slapped his thigh: "Fine, let's go too!"