Chapter 91

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

This evening, Lin Xiaoyue ate dinner at Li Xiulan's home.

"Your youngest son is too clever; he's the studious type. You must cultivate him well! Keep a good eye on him, don't let him play with those bad kids!"

While eating, Lin Xiaoyue still didn't forget to admonish Li Xiulan.

Rural areas actually aren't lacking in clever children, but they lack discipline. Many children have wild personalities, their minds aren't on studying. Once they enter junior high and high school, they can't control themselves and just become mediocre like everyone else.

"Okay, okay, Teacher, I'll definitely listen to you!"

Li Xiulan nodded like pounding garlic.

But in reality, where would she find the time to manage the children?

Back when she ran the convenience store, she could perhaps still squeeze out some free time to manage the kids. Now doing masonry work, leaving early and returning late, everything can only rely on the children's own self-awareness.

"What about your husband? How come he's not here eating?"

Lin Xiaoyue casually asked this at the moment.

"He went to the city to work, he's not at home. He only comes back for Spring Festival and holidays."

Li Xiulan answered honestly.

"Oh, oh, I see..."

Lin Xiaoyue's gaze toward the three children couldn't help but reveal sympathy.

Their growth environment lacks a father; this will definitely have a negative influence on the formation of their outlook on life and values.

Take Wang Dashan for instance. This child, one look and you can tell he's already a write-off. When he grows up, there's a very high probability he'll only be able to do the lowest-level work.

And Wang Erhai isn't much better. In school he's also very wild, very naughty, has a bit of petty cleverness. Although it's not to the point of ranking last in every exam, his academic performance can only be considered average.

Children like this, when they grow up, there's a very high probability they also won't be able to walk out of their parents' social stratum.

Only Wang Xiaohua still has that tiny bit of possibility to walk out of the rural area.

But it's merely a faint, vague hope.

In the future he has to go through primary school, junior high, high school, university — these four stages. No matter which stage, as long as he goes slightly astray, or slacks off a little, that vague hope will turn into nothing.

For rural children to make something of themselves, it's many times harder than for city children.

So after Lin Xiaoyue finished dinner, before saying goodbye and leaving, she still tirelessly admonished Li Xiulan: she must discipline Wang Xiaohua well, must not let him learn bad habits, must not let him grow tired of studying. She must make him always maintain interest in learning, always maintain the desire for knowledge.

Li Xiulan still nodded like pounding garlic in agreement, but after Lin Xiaoyue left, she was at a loss. She understood everything Lin Xiaoyue said, but she didn't know how to do it.

How to prevent the child from learning bad habits, how to prevent the child from growing tired of studying, how to make the child always have a thirst for knowledge?

She completely didn't know.

And Wang Xiaohua is still this young right now. Thinking about these things now, isn't it a bit too early?

The only thing Li Xiulan could do was say to Wang Xiaohua:

"Tomorrow I'll take you to the bookstore. Whatever books you want, just say the word, I'll buy them for you!"

Wang Xiaohua immediately became overjoyed, even screaming and clapping in delight.

Li Xiulan then asked Wang Dashan and Wang Erhai if they needed to buy books?

Wang Dashan and Wang Erhai both hurriedly shook their heads like pellet drums. They haven't even fully figured out their school textbooks; they don't want to buy other books. Reading is the most painful thing!

The next morning, Li Xiulan took Wang Xiaohua together to the town for market day.

Today is market day.

There are many passenger-carrying small four-wheelers heading to the town.

She didn't worry about not having a ride.

When passing by Pork Rong's home, she happened to see Pork Rong was just about to go to the town.

Pork Rong looked at Li Xiulan with a complex gaze, hesitated for a moment, and finally still opened his mouth to ask:

"Xiulan, how come I haven't seen you go to the town construction site these two days?"

Li Xiulan just answered honestly:

"Brother Rong, I'm resting these few days."

"You're going to the town now?" Pork Rong asked this one more sentence.

"Yes, but not to start work. It's to go to the market."

"Oh, oh, why don't I give you a ride then!" Pork Rong's face wore an enthusiastic, simple smile.

"No need to trouble Brother Rong. Xiaohua and I will just wait by the roadside for a small four-wheeler!" Li Xiulan glanced at the entrance of Pork Rong's home. She was just afraid Pork Rong's daughter He Xiaoling would run out at this time and scold her again.

A person needs face like a tree needs bark. No matter what, Li Xiulan was unwilling to ride Pork Rong's motorcycle again.

Being accused like this by a little girl like He Xiaoling, how much it would hurt her self-esteem.

"My daughter went to the town to study. You don't need to worry!"

Pork Rong said this sentence at this moment.

He saw through Li Xiulan's worry at a glance.

He Xiaoling started junior high this year. And attending junior high requires going to the town's middle school, needing to board at the town's middle school. Only on Saturdays and Sundays does she return home once a week.

"Still no need, Brother Rong, thank you. I appreciate your kindness, but I think taking a small four-wheeler is better! It's not early anymore, won't chat anymore. Goodbye!"

Li Xiulan hurriedly said goodbye, then pulled Wang Xiaohua's hand and left in a rush.

In her heart, complex emotions couldn't help but surge up.

She knew Pork Rong treated her very well, but she also knew, as an adult she must maintain restraint. Especially now that she and Wang Changgen haven't divorced yet, it's even more necessary to keep distance, lest people gossip.

Arriving at the side of the highway, after waiting about ten or so minutes, a worn-out small four-wheeler came.

"There's still space up front, come to the front!"

Driver Lao Lu stuck his head out from the driver's seat and said this to Li Xiulan.

Lao Lu was a good person; toward passengers raising children he would always give a bit more care.

Li Xiulan, bringing Wang Xiaohua, squeezed onto the seat at the front cab of the small four-wheeler.

On the rear seat of the cab, there were already two passengers.

Everyone knew each other; boarding, they exchanged greetings with one another.

Then they chatted on and off.

The small four-wheeler went along the rural road, stopping and starting, and midway picked up quite a few more passengers.

By the time they got off at the town street entrance, the passengers totaled twenty or so.

Lao Lu came down from the driver's seat and collected fares one by one.

Adults one yuan, children five mao, infants free.

Li Xiulan gave one yuan five, then brought Wang Xiaohua to the market day.

The market on market day was bustling and noisy.

There were those selling chickens, those selling fish, those selling pork, also those selling all kinds of vegetables and fruits, those selling all kinds of farm tools, those selling all kinds of daily necessities... anyway, it had everything.

Li Xiulan brought Wang Xiaohua to the town's only bookstore.

This bookstore was very dilapidated; in the narrow space, all kinds of books and stationery supplies were crammed.

The books were mainly teaching-aid reference books; the stationery was all kinds of pen and paper, erasers, and so on.

"You go look yourself; whatever book you want, just take that book."

Li Xiulan said this one sentence to Wang Xiaohua.

Wang Xiaohua nodded excitedly, his small body only slightly higher than an adult's knee, scampered to the bookshelf, eyes wide, searching for the books he wanted.

His gaze was filled with a thirst for knowledge...