"Thank you very much..." The old village chief paused for a moment, and finally explained his purpose of coming, "Master Zhou... Oh no, Zhou Xiucai, actually I came here with a small request."
Zhou said to himself: "You said?"
"There have been several scholars in our village, but they have all moved away. However, there is still a literacy class in the village, and there is only an old boy teaching calligraphy there." The old village chief clicked his tongue, "There are very few scholars in the village. This is not true." It just so happens that you are here, and you are still a master, so I would like to ask you to go to the literacy class and take a look at it. If there is anything inappropriate, please give me some advice."
"We have a literacy class here?" Zhou Ziyan got off the kang in surprise, "But it's in the village?"
"Right here, one mile south of our house, is the literacy class. It's quite large, and all the nearby small villages know about it. The children can go there and learn to read when they have time." The old village chief laughed, "Thanks. The county magistrate, otherwise these children from ten villages and eight shops will not have a chance to read or write."
Zhou Ziyan held his fists in his hands and walked twice in the room, "Sure! I'll go take a look tomorrow."
Literacy class, literacy class in Shanghe Village!
He didn't expect that during this trip, he would have the opportunity to see the literacy class he founded with his own eyes. What a blessing, what a blessing!
Zhou said that because he was so easy to talk to, the old village chief liked him even more, "What a good young man! What a good young man!"
"Then you rest, rest. If you need anything, just call me or Danian, old man!"
The old village chief touched the heads of the little children one by one, carried his smoking pole, and left again.
After the old village chief left, Wang Xiaoniu breathed a sigh of relief, leaned on the window and looked out, "It's so beautiful here. There are mountains everywhere that you can't see in the town."
"We have put away our things. Let's go and play with Doudin?" Zhou Ziyan suggested.
This proposal was instantly approved by all the dolls.
They spoke to the village chief and walked to Song's house.
Before I reached Song's house, I saw a circle of villagers gathered in front of Song's house, and they were busy.
The houses here all have low eaves, and there are no high-walled courtyards. Therefore, when the villagers surrounded them, they could climb directly from the fence to Song's house.
Song Douding was surrounded by a bunch of aunts and uncles, and anyone could get a hold of it. "Oh, this is the little scholar of our village. He is so handsome."
"Dou Ding, your aunt changed your diapers for you when you were a child. Do you still remember?"
"Douding, Douding, can you come to my aunt's house and teach your two brothers how to read?"
Song Douding had his hair tied into a bun, and it was no longer neat and tidy. He finally got tired of it and yelled, "Get out of the way! Are you annoyed?"
"You kid, why do you have such a bad temper?" When Song Douding yelled at them, several elders lost face and their expressions immediately dropped.
Song Douding didn't care how they felt. He pointed at the aunt who pulled his hair and said, "I remember you because you said that my brother is a wild child with no father or mother!"
"Don't talk nonsense." The aunt who was pointed out turned away, not wanting to be pointed out by Song Douding.
"And you!" Song Douding changed his target again, "Don't think that I don't remember. You secretly told others behind my back that I kept crying and making trouble at home. It was you!"
"..." This man also turned his back, thinking that he had no face to face the little scholar's accusation.
Song Douding scolded everyone one by one, and even scolded everyone around him.
Finally, Song Douding moved out the big broom at home and said, "Go, go, get out. You are not welcome in our home, get out!"
The big broom swept the land, bringing up bursts of dust.
The dust was flying, making these people cough. "Song Douding, you don't respect your elders so much. You are really blind when you pass the exam!"
"How could the county magistrate let a child like you pass the examination? It's unreasonable!"
"..."
Song Weifeng had been sitting in the room, just not wanting to hear what those people outside said about him.
At this moment, he could no longer bear it. He walked out of the door, protected Xiao Douding, and said in a cold voice: "Douding passed the scholar examination because of his knowledge. Even the academic masters of Beijing Middle School praised Xiao Douding. The literary talent is outstanding, why are you here saying that Douding is not good?"
"Hey, Song Weifeng, we thought you didn't come back." Seeing Song Weifeng, the women stopped again, "What, I heard that you have also become a scholar?"
"So what?" Song Weifeng raised his head, showing no fear.
Song Zhanghe walked over with his hands in his arms and said jokingly: "Brother, I can pass the scholar examination. It's really interesting."
"Brother, why can't you take the exam?" Song Weifeng was bored when he saw Song Zhanghe.
"Auntie, why do you think this brother and the girl are going to take the imperial examination? In the end, they don't have to get married. I think it's better to give up the quota and let the men pass the examination and get married and build a career. ." Song Zhanghe deliberately disgusted Song Weifeng and said extremely unpleasant things.
But after hearing this, several elders beside Song Zhanghe nodded, feeling that what Song Zhanghe said made sense.
"Wei Feng, you have passed the scholar examination and you are almost there. Isn't it time to think about life-long matters?"
"Hasn't Erma in our village always liked you? If you come back this time, have a good chat with him, and maybe it will work out. Erma was a bit mixed up in the past, but once we become a family, we will definitely be stable."
"That's right. When I get married, I won't have to live in the Song family anymore. I will have a small family of my own, and my life will be more comfortable."
Song Douding really laughed angrily, "Erma? Are you talking about the Erma at the head of the village who doesn't do anything serious and just idles around all day? In what way is he worthy of my brother!"
That Erma likes his brother, but Erma is not worthy of him!
"Er Ma's family has ancestral property! We have those acres of high-quality paddy fields. If we cultivate them well, won't our lives be better?" The person who mentioned E Ma was a married man, and he said earnestly, "Our brother What can you do if you have so many abilities? It's only true that you marry the right person. Wei Feng is a foreigner with an unknown origin, and he is considered a good match for Erma——"
He and Song Weifeng are both brothers. The difference from Song Weifeng is that he married early and to someone from the village.
Not to mention that my face has turned yellow after working hard every day, I already feel a lot of fatigue.
I thought that Song Weifeng was just messing around in the town and would definitely not learn anything. Who would have thought that Song Weifeng actually passed the scholar examination!
Now Song Weifeng is still so young and handsome, and he has the reputation of being a scholar, but he is already old.
Such a comparison, there was a jealousy that he couldn't even feel in his eyes and words.
"It's a bad match!" Song Douding spat fiercely, "I'm telling you, if you tell Erma again, my brother will never stay in the village, never!"
His brother will continue to take the provincial examination and will be able to...
He will take the exam all the way to the capital, and when the time comes, he will never return to this place that makes him sad!
"Why are you so anxious! How can your brother never get married? Isn't this a joke!" Several people were squeezed by Douding one after another, and their faces began to turn ugly. "Song Weifeng, as a brother, just look at the village The elder among you is choked like this by Douding?"
"..." Song Weifeng pressed Song Douding and said nothing.
Zhou Ziyan was outside the door and wanted to hear what was going on with the Song family and the village, but now he really couldn't listen anymore.
He opened the door and entered, swinging the folding fan. Although he was wearing a cross-collar shirt and stockings, he still looked elegant and contented. "Song Wei Feng is a scholar listed on the imperial court's list. The elders are here to ridicule Wei Feng, but they are not satisfied with the imperial court." decision?"
"Song Weifeng has a reputation as a talented scholar and a strong character. He is the only brother from Ma Ming Academy who has passed the children's examination this year. He is also the only three brothers in the county who have passed the examination in recent years. Even the county magistrate dare not say that he will be allowed to take the exam now. Getting married will ruin your future. How many elders have already seen a longer term than the county magistrate?"
"Why don't Zhou talk to the county magistrate now and ask the county magistrate to come and take a look? There are several elders in our village whose strategic knowledge is comparable to that of the imperial staff."
Not to mention that Song Weifeng is a special person to him, even if Song Weifeng is just an ordinary brother and a girl, he should not be treated so harshly.
What does it mean to find someone to marry and then farm in the village every day?
Of course, farming is not bad.
Why should you stay in the village when you clearly have the opportunity to go to a completely different future?
Under the banner of 'for your own good', he uses his own narrow vision to judge everything, thus imprisoning people in this village.
Zhou said he was not ashamed to act like this.
Zhou said something to himself, full of yin and yang, but also extremely confident.
The intimacy with the county magistrate in his words did not seem to be false, which made those who heard it feel panicked.
Could this man really have a good relationship with the county magistrate?
Besides, Song Weifeng, has he really met the county magistrate? !
Zhong Qiaoyi wanted to stand out with the Yamen sign again, but Zhou Ziyan had quick eyesight and quick hands and pushed him down.
This is not a town, the sky is high and the emperor is far away. If something happens to Zhong Qiao, Zhongzhi County will not be able to save him in time, so it is better to stay calm.
"..." As soon as Zhong Qiao put away the sign, he stepped back obediently.
Zhou Ziyan walked over and touched Song Douding's face, "Where's Uncle Song?"
"My father was called away by the old patriarch. If my father were still here, he would definitely drive them all out with a broom." Song Douding frowned, looking very angry.
Zhou Ziyan turned to Song Weifeng, "Why don't you refute?"
"It's not necessary. I won't stay here for too long." Song Weifeng shook his head, "Besides, it's inevitable that I'll do something if I get the upper hand. If I hurt them, it would be troublesome."
Zhou Ziyan thought about the scene of the group fight and said, "...Pfft, that's right."
Song Weifeng was very capable, and he might be able to push all those people down, and it would definitely be difficult to face the old village chief.
"Okay, let's go into the house." Zhou Ziyan took Song Douding's hand and prepared to go into the house.
Song Zhanghe, who was still standing in the yard, felt something was wrong, "That Zhou Xiucai, what is your relationship with Song Weifeng? I look at you two, why can't you be clear about it?"
"..." Zhou Ziyan stopped, turned around, looked at Song Zhanghe and said, "I am just Douding's wife, but Wei Feng is studying with me now. What do you think our relationship is?"
"...Tsk, Master and student are so close, why do I think something is wrong." Song Zhanghe curled his lips, obviously not believing Zhou Ziyan's words.
Zhou Ziyan didn't care whether he believed it or not, as long as he and Song Weifeng were honest about their true intentions.
Wang Xiaoniu and Jiang Qingqing pinched each other's waists, and before closing the door, they said fiercely: "Who told you girls and brothers can't take the child exam? Just wait, we will come back next year and let you see!"
After saying that, he took a photo of the Song family's wooden door, which really pissed them off.
After closing the door, Zhou Ziyan lit the stove at home and rubbed his hands, "What does that guy named Song Zhanghe do? Why is he so aggressive?"
He's just a kid, fanning the flames, and I'm tired of watching it.
Song Douding looked at Song Weifeng, then at Zhou Ziyan, and whispered, "Song Zhanghe used to like my brother...but he was rejected by my brother. Later, he might hate my brother and find trouble with him every day..."
This is not what he wanted to say, Master Zhou only said it after asking him!
Zhou Ziyan seemed to be stunned, and there was a moment of hesitation in his movements, "You said that Song Zhanghe fell in love with Wei Feng, so he held a grudge and turned from love to hatred?"
Song Weifeng held hands, nodded, and shook his head, as if to prove something, "I don't like him, and I never have."
Chapter 78
When Zhou Ziyan heard this answer, he raised his eyebrows and said, "I don't like him either. He is vicious and self-righteous."
Song Douding nodded frequently, "That's right, I'm far behind Master. I still want Master to be my brother-in-law——"
Song Weifeng promptly covered Song Douding's open mouth.
Unfortunately, Zhou Ziyan could already hear Song Douding's unfinished words, but he heard them and hid them in his heart. He warmed a few cups of hot water in his hands and distributed them to the people in the room.
Holding the hot pottery bowl, Song Weifeng quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
"I heard there is a literacy class here, Wei Feng, take us to have a look?" Zhou Ziyan was thinking about the literacy class in Shanghe Village and couldn't wait to go there the next day.
Song Weifeng looked at the sky from the window, "Then let's leave now. It should be too late."
"Okay!" Zhou said to himself as he tidied up his clothes and made sure to look his best when going to the literacy class.
When he came south from Beijing, he wanted to put aside the secular world and only enjoy the fun of sightseeing. Even though he passed by literacy classes in various places, he never stepped into them.
It's too late to regret now.
We can only place our hope in the literacy classes in Shanghe Village.
Zhou Ziyan was filled with excitement that no one knew, and he was timid about being close to his hometown.
Standing at the door of the literacy class, I was a little afraid to go in.
Although he single-handedly recommended this literacy class, he was afraid that his set of rules would not be able to carry his hopes and would be of no benefit to the people.
But he also had some fantasies. He wondered if the literacy class in Shanghe Village was as neat and orderly as he imagined?
Have many of the dolls learned in literacy classes?
Is there anyone who has graduated from a literacy class and passed the examination?
"Come in?" Song Weifeng pulled Zhou Ziyan twice, and found that Zhou Ziyan was stuck at the door like a stone statue, unable to pull him any further, "Brother Zhou, are you okay?"
Zhou Ziyan shook his head as if he had woken up from a dream, "It's okay, I'm okay, it's just... ha, I don't know what identity I should use to get in."
Song Weifeng smiled, "Brother Zhou, you are a scholar and a master, why can't you enter?"
"It's true, it's true." Zhou Ziyan took three deep breaths, put away the folding fan, "Let's go, let's go."
Compared to Zhou Ziyan's panic, Song Douding and other children's emotions were more pure.
As soon as I saw the literacy class, I immediately rushed inside and no one could stop me!
Before the class started, this literacy class was the best place to read in their minds. Although they no longer have any use for it, they still have the highest respect for the literacy class in their hearts.
The location of the literacy class should be an abandoned temple here.
The area is small, with only one temple in total.
Passing through the gate of the temple, an ancient tree that has experienced vicissitudes of life stands tall in the courtyard. In the front is the place where children read and read.
Zhou Ziyan stared blankly at the temple in front of him, and the image of a neat and orderly literacy class he had built in his mind suddenly collapsed.
But if you listen carefully, you can still hear the voices of children reciting "The Thousand-Character Classic" in the wind.
"So this is what literacy classes are like..." Wang Xiaoniu touched the rough trunks of the ancient trees in the courtyard, as if hearing the sounds of the ancient temples from thousands of years ago through the trunks, "There is such an atmosphere here..."
What is the atmosphere?
She couldn't explain it, but she felt that she felt at ease as soon as she stepped in here.
Song Douding had attended classes here for a few days before. Looking at this place now, his eyes were full of nostalgia, "I was forced to stand here when I was a child!"
At that time, he was naughty and wanted to go out to do business with adults, but he didn't want to study.
He was causing trouble every day in class, and was finally dragged out by the teacher who couldn't bear it and made him stand.
Zhou Ziyan patted Song Douding on the shoulder, "What does it feel like to revisit an old place?"
"It doesn't taste good." Song Douding scratched his head, "I want to see if the teacher inside is still the same as when I was a child."
After Song Douding finished speaking, he ran towards the place where classes were held, stood at the door and looked in with his big eyes.
This behavior was so frightening that the teacher who was teaching inside almost fainted from fright.
When the teacher recovered, he took a closer look, oh, isn't this a child? !
The teacher opened the door and bumped into Song Douding at the door.
Song Douding was happy when he saw the teacher's appearance, "Mr. Yang, it's really you!"
Mr. Yang is old and has a stooped figure. He can't see Song Douding's appearance clearly, "You...who are you? Which family's doll comes to class?"
"Me! I, I'm Song Douding! I'm back!" Song Douding hugged Mr. Yang, "It's only been four years since we last met. Mr. Yang, don't you remember me?"
"Douding?" Mr. Yang put his face in front of Song Douding, and after looking at it carefully for a while, he finally connected the little fat boy in front of him with the skin monkey who went to the house to lift the roof when he was a child.
"Oh, it's really Douding!" Mr. Yang hugged Song Douding, "Didn't you move to the town with your family? Why are you back?"
Song Douding's eyebrows were beaming, "Mr. Yang, I passed the exam to be a scholar! I came back to worship my ancestors!"
Ever since he returned to the village, he wanted everyone to know that he had passed the examination to become a scholar!
As a result, Mr. Yang patted Song Douding and said, "Song Douding, don't talk nonsense. How old are you? How can you be a scholar? You have been taking the exam for so many years and you are still an old boy. Don't tease me."
"Really, I won't lie to you. I have met the county magistrate, the prefect, and the academic administration." Song Douding counted the adults he had met on his fingers, and pulled Zhou Ziyan to his side, "Yang Sir, this is my wife in the town, and he is also the scholar this year. And my brother, he also passed the exam."
"Did you really pass the exam?! Did you pass them all?" Song Douding said so confidently that Mr. Yang also began to doubt whether it was true or not. "Sir, you are old, so don't play tricks on him."
Zhou Ziyan supported the old man and said loudly: "Mr. Yang, you really won. Song Douding, who you taught, passed the examination to become a scholar!"
Mr. Yang may be old and deaf, so he has to repeat a sentence several times before he can understand it.
But it doesn't matter. Although Mr. Yang is deaf, he understands Zhou Zi's words!
"Oh, I really got it, I really got it! It's good, it's good!" Mr. Yang held Song Douding's shoulders and began to cry as he spoke, "It's good, it's good... I won the scholarship at the age of seven, sir. This is about to end in a coffin, you are still an old boy, you are ashamed of your master, you are ashamed of your master!"
The students behind Mr. Yang heard the sound of Mr. Yang crying and ran out one after another, accusing Zhou Ziyan and others, "Who are you, and why do you make our husband cry!"
"You go quickly and don't disturb us. If you come back again, we won't be polite!"
There was also the stronger kid who ran out with a bench under his hips and yelled: "Who is bullying us sir!"
When Song Douding saw the child moving the bench, he jumped up and said, "Big mountain, big mountain! It's me, Douding!"
After hearing this name, Pang Pangshan pointed at himself, looking confused.
Song Weifeng chuckled, "Da Shan, that kid is also called Dashan, but his name is Song Dashan, and you are Pang Pangshan."
"Song Dashan..." Pang Pangshan touched the back of his head and couldn't help but laugh.
The child named Song Dashan hugged the bench and was stunned for a while, then threw away the bench in his hand and rushed over to hug Song Douding, "Douding, Douding is really you! Are you back?"
"I'm telling you, I passed the examination as a scholar!" Song Douding said what he had said again.
Song Dashan patted Song Douding on the shoulder, "I've heard about it a long time ago! I didn't expect you to actually pass the exam. You are so good!"
"Hehe." Song Douding smiled.
"Everyone, this is Song Douding from Shanghe Village. I grew up with him..." Song Dashan put Song Douding in his arms and introduced him to the other children.
With Song Dashan as the middleman, the children on both sides instantly became familiar with each other.
When they learned that Wang Xiaoniu and others were going to take part in the children's examination next year, they all exclaimed, "Wow!"
I didn't expect that these children would be able to take part in the children's examination at about their age. It's amazing!
Wang Xiaoniu and the others had never been sought after by so many peers, and they were at a loss for a while.
Zhou Ziyan saw it and pretended not to see it, letting them deal with the situation on their own.
Song Douding ran to Zhou Ziyan and whispered to Zhou Ziyan: "Master, Mr. Yang has been teaching here since I was sensible. He has been taking the children's examination for many years, but it seems that he has never passed. Master, can you help him?"
"Mr. Yang, have you always been here?" Zhou Ziyan inserted his folding fan, "I understand."
Ever since Mr. Yang found out that Zhou Ziyan passed the children's examination with the first test result, he held on to Zhou Ziyan's hand tightly and seemed to really want to get some advice from Zhou Ziyan.
It's just that because of my identity, it's hard to say it out loud.
Seeing this, Zhou Ziyan happened to want to ask Mr. Yang something, so he invited Mr. Yang to sit in the courtyard.
Mr. Yang almost agreed, but he looked at the students in the room and sighed, "It's not appropriate, it's not appropriate. As a wife, you should focus on classes. Zhou Xiucai... Oh, when will you return to town? No." I know it's tonight, could you please disturb me?"
Zhou Ziyan admired Mr. Yang for being so student-oriented. He called Song Douding, "Mr. Yang and I have something to discuss. I'll leave the Thousand-Character Essay class for these children to you, okay?"
"It's definitely no problem!" Song Douding assured, patting his chest.
Mr. Yang was caught off guard, "This, this can't happen! Douding is only seven years old, can he teach?"
"Don't worry, Douding has been teaching children to read in the town for almost more than a year." Zhou Ziyan reassured Mr. Yang, and the two of them sat under the ancient tree in the courtyard.
After chatting, Zhou Ziyan found out that Mr. Yang's ancestral home was in another small village. He was already in his fifties this year. He grew up in a poor family and had no chance to read or write.
Like Lin Lang from Ma Ming Academy, he gradually learned about articles such as "The Thousand Character Essay" through the words of other children when he grew up.
By the time he took part in the children's examination for the first time, he was already thirty years old.
Perhaps due to bad luck or lack of knowledge, I have been taking the exams intermittently until this year, but I am still stuck on the last exam, looking at the scholar's fame from a distance, and weeping.
Mr. Yang did not want other children to have the same life as him, so he took on the task of teaching literacy classes and came to the temple every day for classes.
Just the number of children who come to class, sometimes seven or eight, sometimes two or three, there is no definite number.
After Zhou Ziyan thought for a moment, he understood the reason, "Is it because...these children have heavy work to do at home, so they cannot come to class every day."
"Exactly." Mr. Yang nodded, "In our mountains, farm work and going up the mountain are more important things than reading and literacy. If you don't study, you will starve to death, but if you don't work, you may really starve to death. "
Zhou Ziyan understood the reason, but could not solve this big problem.
The deep-rooted productivity problem cannot be solved overnight or by one person. For the time being, we can only sigh.
Mr. Yang rubbed his hands. He had discussed knowledge with other scholars before, but those people either disliked him for being old, or they couldn't understand the truth he had learned. Today, he finally met a scholar who was easy to talk to and didn't dislike his age. Big, I hope this Zhou Xiucai can help him clear up his doubts.
Zhou Ziyan was naturally knowledgeable and told Mr. Yang everything he knew.
From this short conversation, Mr. Yang learned a lot. He couldn't help but bow to Zhou Ziyan, who was much younger than him, "Thank you Zhou Xiucai for your advice. Yang... Yang will never forget it."
Zhou Ziyan helped Mr. Yang up and said, "There is still class inside, why don't we go and listen?"
"That's what it means, that's what it means!"
Mr. Yang and Zhou Ziyan tiptoed to the place where classes were held. Mr. Yang knew a place with a leak and could see into the room. He walked over with Zhou Ziyan. The two of them stood on the door and took in the scene of class inside.
Song Douding stood at the front holding the scroll and explaining "The Thousand-Character Essay".
Song Weifeng sat next to Song Douding and helped Song Douding check for gaps, while Wang Xiaoniu and others mingled among the students and followed the class together.
If the children next to them don't understand, they are responsible for answering the questions, and they must make sure that these children understand.
Mr. Yang usually only teaches a few words in a class, but with the concerted efforts of this group of people, eight children in a room actually learned four sentences of "The Thousand-Character Classic" in one class!
Mr. Yang stroked his beard and shook his head, "They still know how to teach better. Yang is ashamed of himself, I am ashamed of myself..."
"Mr. Yang, don't be too humble. You can stay in a small literacy class like this for several years, which is already a great virtue." Zhou Ziyan held the old window sill with mixed emotions.
Mr. Yang is like the modern volunteer teachers Zhou Ziyan has seen. He does not do it for fame or money, but for the passion in his heart and never gives up.
"Thank you Zhou Xiucai for your guidance today. Next year, Yang will try again in the Children's Examination!" Mr. Yang's fighting spirit, which had faded a bit, was now ignited by the children in the room. If he can pass the examination as a scholar, this person in the literacy class will , maybe a little more.
Zhou Ziyan took two steps back. Some tiles fell off the eaves of the temple, and there were many fallen leaves on the ground. This was a very simple and simple place to study.
It was not the same as the literacy class in his fantasy.
But it was this dilapidated little place, together with Mr. Yang, who had stuck to the local area for many years, that jointly built the literacy class in Zhou Ziyan's heart.
When it comes to gratitude, it should be Zhou Ziyan who thanks Mr. Yang.
"Mr. Yang, thank you for never giving up here for so many years." Zhou Ziyan bowed his hands and bowed deeply.
The old village chief said that many scholars came and went here, but only Mr. Yang stayed.
Because Mr. Yang stayed, this literacy class stayed.
In the past, he was the one who got involved. It didn't matter whether the venue was clean or not. These masters with persistence in their hearts were Zhou Ziyan's 'literacy class'.
"Oh, that's a shame, old man." Mr. Yang didn't dare to accept Zhou Xiucai's bow and quickly helped him up.
The two of them continued to cling to the door, listening to the sounds of children going to class in the house.
Mr. Yang also talked nonchalantly, talking to Zhou Ziyan about writing a literacy class.
Although the children in the house were doing farm work and reading and literacy at the same time, they did not delay any of them and did extremely well in any of them.
Speaking of them, Mr. Yang was full of pride.
Zhou Ziyan's frustration and pretentiousness were finally broken down by Mr. Yang sentence by sentence.
It's just that they came a little late, and the literacy class was about to end before they had attended two classes.
There is no other way. These children have to continue doing farm work when they return home, so they cannot delay for too long.
Song Dashan carried his own backpack and said, "Dou Ding, you are so awesome, you can teach us now."
"It's nothing..." Song Douding said shyly, "After all, he is already a scholar."
"Go sit at my house when you have time, and my mother will make you some pancakes." Song Dashan looked at the sky, and then at Douding, who was completely different from himself. His smile seemed a little strange, and he said distantly, "Then I'll do it first. Now that we're gone, we have to go back to mow the grass."
"Goodbye." Song Douding said goodbye, watching Song Dashan's back walking further and further away.
A few years ago, he was actually no different from Song Dashan.
Just like carrying a basket on my back to cut grass and go down to the river, I could read and write in the gaps between my days.
Now he is already a scholar, and Song Dashan is still in the mountains.
Zhou Ziyan pushed away the folding fan and shook his head.
It seems that Song Douding hasn't realized his problem yet.
Song Douding was about to speak when he saw a child running into the courtyard, blushing and panting, "Mr. Yang, is get out of class over? I'm late again."
"Xiao Shun, everyone has to leave." Mr. Yang packed his things and said, "Come early tomorrow."
"Hey, that's good." The child named Xiao Shun wiped the sweat from his forehead without complaining or getting angry, and prepared to turn around and go home.
Zhou Zi said that the child looked familiar, so he called out to Xiao Shun, "Wait a minute."
Xiao Shun stopped as expected, stared at Zhou Ziyan for a long time, then suddenly rushed to Zhou Ziyan, hugged him, "Uncle Zhou!"
"Xiao Shun, is it really you?" Zhou Ziyan hugged Xiao Shun for a while, put Xiao Shun down, and introduced Xiao Shun to Song Douding, "Douding, this is Xiao Shun. He was the one who introduced me to your house to be your wife. "
"Uncle! Have you really become a gentleman?" Xiao Shun opened his eyes wide and looked at Song Douding, who was clean and had the temperament of a young scholar. It turned out that this was the child of the family that wanted to recruit someone.
"Hello... hello, my name is Xiaoshun."
Xiao Shun looked at Song Douding and hid his muddy hands in his sleeves.
My fingernails were filled with dirt from working for my brother, and my clothes were mended again and again by my sister-in-law.
But Song Douding was wearing a sapphire blue cross-collar blouse, with a long woad hairband on the back of her hair.
Moreover, his nails were round and clean, and his skin was as tender as a shelled egg, completely different from mine.
Zhou Ziyan could tell at a glance that something was wrong with Xiao Shun's mood. He gently took Xiao Shun's hand out of his sleeve and used his sleeve to help Xiao Shun clean up the mud in his hand. "Is Xiao Shun helping his brother with work again?" Already?"
Xiao Shun blinked and watched his hands getting cleaner little by little. He didn't know how to describe the feeling in his heart.
Mr. Yang helped explain: "Xiao Shun is a child from Lijia Village. Although Lijia Village is a village in our county, it is close to Hushan Mountain. Last year or the year before, there were bandits in Hushan Mountain, and then they suppressed the bandits, which affected Lijia Village. . As soon as the village chiefs of the two villages were combined, Lijia Village was merged into Shanghe Village."
"Lijia Village has a sparse population. When the literacy class was in place, it was not located there. If the children in Lijia Village wanted to attend the literacy class, they had to climb two hills. Now that they have been merged together, their village has also been moved to Shanghe Village. , we can take classes together in the future."
Song Douding cleverly noticed Xiao Shun's discomfort. He touched his nose and said deliberately: "Xiao Shun, you are so powerful. My father and my brother only think that I am causing trouble and never let me get close to them. Every time I get close to them, , they will all beat me up."
"Actually, it's nothing... I've been helping out at home since I was a child, and I'm relatively strong..." Perhaps because he didn't have such close contact with children of his own age, Xiao Shun suddenly became much shy, and told Song Douding about the time he spent in the fields. Work scene.
He talked about his family's desire to read and recognize words, how Zhou Ziyan left his name to them, and how his family was grateful to Zhou Ziyan.
Xiao Shun thought that Song Douding was a child from the town and might not understand their daily life as country people.
So I talked a lot over and over again, trying to explain every detail clearly.
Who would have thought that Song Douding held his hand and nodded frequently, "That's right, when I was a child, I had to help my brother deliver water and food. Occasionally, when the farming was busy, I would go to the fields. I got pricked all red every time!"
"You...are you also a child from the village?" Xiao Shun was stunned. He thought that such a beautiful and lovely child must have grown up pampered in the town!
"Yes, yes, our family used to live in Shanghe Village, and we moved to the town two or three years ago." Song Douding didn't mind others knowing about his family's situation at all, "But now I come back to pay homage to my ancestors."
"I passed the examination as a scholar. My father said that I was smoking from my ancestors' graves. He must take me back to worship my ancestors."
When it comes to his reputation as a scholar, Song Douding still looks proud, "Next year, my friends will also be able to participate in the Children's Examination. By then we will definitely be able to be scholars together."
"Xiucai..." Xiao Shun pinched the corner of his clothes, feeling that this identity was so far away from him.
But the child in front of me is already a scholar.
Zhou Zi said that he hit Song Douding on the head with a folding fan. The Xiaoshun family was unable to read because of difficulties.
Dou Ding is now mentioning scholar and children's examination, isn't he deliberately trying to poke people's hearts?
Xiao Shun curled his lips and took Song Douding's hand affectionately, "Well, Douding, you must work hard!"
Song Douding was stunned for a moment.
"Okay, Douding, Uncle Zhou, I didn't catch up with the literacy class today, I have to go back and continue working." Xiao Shun waved to Song Douding and Zhou Ziyan, picked up his steps and ran home.
Song Douding shook his hand in vain, feeling uncomfortable.
The warmth of the child's hand seemed to still remain in the palm just now, but now it was gone.
After Xiao Shun left, Song Douding looked at Zhou Zi in confusion, "Master, doesn't Xiao Shun like me?"
Zhou Ziyan reluctantly knocked on Song Douding's forehead again, "You can feel that Xiaoshun is uncomfortable because of your family background. Why can't you think more about it? Why didn't Xiaoshun go to school and learn to read?"
"Because...because of poverty?" Song Douding suddenly realized, and then hammered his head in annoyance, "I'm so stupid, I'm so stupid, how could I mention the scholar in front of Xiao Shun——"
Song Douding suddenly stopped talking to himself and squatted directly on the ground, "No, I shouldn't be in the village, in front of the mountains, claiming the title of scholar. How can I show off everywhere just because I passed the exam?! No, I shouldn't It should be!"
"Master, Xiao Shun won't hate me. Although Xiao Shun and I met on the first day, I don't want Xiao Shun to think that I am a bad boy."
Song Douding hugged Zhou Ziyan's thigh and begged.
"I don't know." Zhou Ziyan pinched Song Douding's chubby face, "Although you are aware of your problem, Dashan and Xiaoshun don't know."
Douding bit her lower lip, "Then what should I do..."
"If you go after him now, it might still be too late." Zhou Zi said, pointing his folding fan in the direction Xiao Shun left.
Song Douding immediately understood what Zhou Ziyan meant, and he started to chase after him, "Brother, Master, please wait for me, I'll be right back!!"
When Wang Xiaoniu and the others finished saying goodbye to the children they had just met, they found that Song Douding had run away!
"Master, what did Douding do?"
"He went to apologize." Zhou Ziyan smiled and asked Wang Xiaoniu and the others to wait a little longer.
"..." Song Weifeng watched Song Douding running away little by little, "Douding, it seems that he has grown up."
"He is a good boy." Zhou Ziyan stood next to Song Weifeng, with his clothes folded over each other, leaving no gaps. "Young Ding has grown up, how can someone still be as angry as a child?"
Is this distance too close?
Song Weifeng wanted to move to the side, but there was nothing around him, and he didn't know where to run.
"Wei Feng, tell me, what do you want to do now?" Zhou Ziyan looked into the distance. After looking at the ancient tree in the temple for a long time, it was actually no different from the tree at his home.
They are all silent and always present.
Just like the vast land, regardless of its prosperity or decline, ups and downs in several lifetimes, it will always watch humans shine among the stars and then fall into nothingness.
Human beings are so insignificant, yet they dream of going up to the sky to embrace the bright moon and going down to the earth to explore the nine secluded places.
But thousands of years later, humans really realized it.
"Stop saying things you don't want to read. I don't believe it."
"Brother Zhou, I still want to get the honor." Song Weifeng stretched out his hands to the layers of leaves in front of him, his big sleeves hanging down layer by layer, and picked up a few leaves blown down by the wind, "I want to go to Qingjing Province, and I also want to go to Beijing. To meet the Emperor...I want to meet Mr. You even more, and I have many things to tell Mr. You."
Zhou said to himself that he was puzzled, "You are obviously from Maminggou, why do you want to see him so much?"
It took him four months to walk from Qingjing Province to Maminggou.
Why did Song Weifeng, a child born in Maminggou, admire so much a person from Qingjing Province?
...If Song Weifeng was not born in Maminggou, it might make sense.
"Because... he is very powerful." Song Weifeng kept silent about other reasons and only talked about his admiration for Master You. "I have heard many stories about his deeds, and I think he must be a very powerful official."
"If you want to see him, you have to study hard." Zhou Ziyan picked up a leaf, plucked off both sides, plucked it back and forth, and finally pulled out a strange little man shape, "Here, this is for you, we have reconciled ?"
"...It's so ugly." Song Weifeng disliked the little leaf man very much, but put the little leaf man into his arms.
"Don't put it in your arms, my little heart is broken." Zhou Ziyan was afraid that the leaves would break and soil Song Weifeng's clothes.
Song Weifeng didn't care. He turned his head and said in a soft tone: "Brother Zhou, I can't go back to the academy now. Just be kind and let me follow you."
"What you said is really awkward." Why do you mean 'follow you'? Zhou Ziyan's back felt cold, but his face began to turn red. He covered his hot cheeks, "It's not impossible to follow me, but you have to promise to do well. In class, don't do anything that is not right. If you mess around again, I will personally kick you out of the door."
"Okay!" Song Weifeng paused, "Brother Zhou, if I get admitted to the capital, I will tell you a secret."
"..." Zhou Ziyan held the fan behind his back and said, "If you get admitted to the capital, I will tell you a secret."
"It's agreed."
"Yeah, it's agreed."
Chapter 79
Song's father had a "tongue-in-cheek" with the old patriarch, and finally went home patting his belly and laughing.
"Wei Feng, Dou Ding, come out, come out!" Song's father couldn't stop laughing as soon as he entered the yard of his hometown. He circled the ball in his hand twice and felt uncomfortable, so he threw it away, lifted up his robe and sat on the haystack. Up, looking at the sky above, "Okay, really good..."
"Dad, what are you doing?" Song Weifeng wiped his hands and walked out of the kitchen. Zhou Ziyan followed beside him, holding a handful of green vegetables in his hand.
Song's father looked for a long time but didn't see Song Douding, "Where is that skinny monkey?"
"Douding went to find his childhood playmate. I also went with the little girl." Zhou Ziyan put down the vegetables and straightened his clothes. "Uncle, don't worry, the older brother is following him. Nothing will happen."
"I'm so happy, so happy!" Father Song's hands on his knees were clenched into fists, "The old patriarch agreed to let our family open a separate family tree! We no longer need to covet the family tree of their old Song family!"
"Open a new family tree?!" This is a big deal. Zhou Ziyan has been in Daqing for so long that he has never seen such a "treasonous and unethical" thing.
What is the conflict between the Song family and the village that makes it necessary to separate the family tree?
Father Song glanced at Song Weifeng and said, "Weifeng, go to the village and fetch me a pot of wine. Go quickly."
Song Weifeng lowered his eyebrows and said helplessly: "Dad, it's okay. Master Zhou... I've probably guessed it all."
"What?!" Father Song was shocked.
Song Weifeng went back to the kitchen, put out the fire, and then explained: "Actually... I am not a child of the Song family."
"Song Weifeng!" When Father Song heard what Song Weifeng said, he immediately stood up from the haystack, and his originally cheerful expression became serious.
"Dad!" Song Weifeng helped Song's father sit down, "This is not a secret. Everyone in the village knows it, and Brother Zhou will also know it sooner or later!"
Zhou Ziyan also sat on the other side, "I would like to hear the details."
"Hey, it's actually nothing." Since Song Weifeng said so, Song's father didn't hide it, "I was running a business outside and met Wei Feng. His family was in trouble and he was all alone. My son was among the beggars, and I saw how pitiful he was, so I bought him some big steamed buns."
"Unexpectedly, he followed me all the way and happened to encounter our caravan being robbed. Wei Feng was probably twelve or thirteen years old at that time. He unloaded a wooden stick from the carriage and helped the caravan guard with the wooden stick. Drive away those gangsters."
"I thought that this was probably the fate mentioned in the book, so I discussed it with the caravan boss and brought Wei Feng with me. After spending more than half a year together, I felt that this kid was quite honest and homeless. Just take him back to Shanghe Village."
Song's father beat his legs and continued: "I thought very simply at the time. I just couldn't bear to see my child suffer. I also thought that Wei Feng, a big boy with a good heart, might be able to stay at home and help me take care of Douding. As a result, I had less After thinking about it for a while, there was a lot of gossip in the village about Wei Feng's appearance."
"Many people said that my father gave birth to me outside." Song Weifeng thought about the rumors he heard at that time and couldn't laugh or cry. "I also don't think about my age. My father would marry and have children when he was at least a teenager. But at that time, Dad is still in Shanghe Village."
"The old patriarch is also a bastard." Speaking of the old patriarch, Song's father's resentment has not subsided, "He gave me two choices at that time, either admit that Wei Feng is my biological child, or say that Wei Feng was picked up . If it's my biological child, then I feel sorry for Douding's mother, and also feel sorry for Wei Feng's own parents. If I say that Wei Feng was picked up, then it won't be included in the old Song family tree, and Wei Feng's surname cannot be Song."
"I was so angry that I argued with that old guy for days and nights, but the old guy just wouldn't let go."
"But the old patriarch and I are not just because of Wei Feng." Song's father thought about what happened in the past, his eyes were far-reaching, "My mother-in-law and I were childhood sweethearts, and we got married smoothly when we grew up, but I I don't have much ability, so I can't let Douding's mother enjoy the happiness with me."
"After giving birth to Doudin, his mother became ill. After raising him for more than a year, he still couldn't do it. During the busy farming season, he had to follow me to farm, but he fell and died."
"I begged my grandfather to sue my grandma, and I begged the old patriarch to give me money to save people. But the old patriarch insisted on saying that Douding's mother has left, so don't waste your money."
"I felt bad, but I really couldn't get the money out. In the end I could only hold Douding in my arms and watch my first wife being buried in a handful of dirt."
"At that time, I suddenly realized that even if I farmed all my life, I wouldn't be able to leave much money. I happened to know that there was a business like running business outside. The money came quickly, but it was more dangerous. If you go there, you might die."
"I didn't know where I got the courage at that time. I handed the beans to the old village chief, took some dry food with me, and went to find the caravan." Song's father lowered his head and smiled, as if he saw a hint of recklessness in his youth. The impetuous self said, "I just think, at worst, my life will be lost. I can earn some compensation from the caravan and leave it to Douding."
"Actually, thinking about it now, I didn't want to live at that time, and I didn't consider Douding. If I was given another chance to choose, I wouldn't necessarily dare to leave Douding and go into business."
Zhou Ziyan felt extremely sad when he heard this. He comforted Song's father and said: "The current choice may be the best choice."
In fact, there is no need to go to the road that has not been chosen, because that road is not necessarily better.
Father Song nodded. Many years have passed and it is too late to regret it now.
He continued: "This incident, coupled with Wei Feng's incident, made me completely break up with the old patriarch. When I brought Wei Feng home, Douding was only three years old. I ran out for a few years and saved a lot of money." After acquiring some wealth, I ignored the old village chief's pleas to stay, took everything with me, and moved to the town. Normally, there is nothing important, and I never return to the village. I only send some money to the old village chief."
"I don't think the old village chief kept any of the money. His family is still in the same condition, so he should have distributed it all to the village."
Thinking of the old village chief, Song's father couldn't help but laugh, "Thanks to the old village chief, if it weren't for his help and support, I definitely wouldn't have been able to do it."
"Since you have a conflict with the old Song family, how about worshiping the ancestors this time?" Zhou Ziyan asked.
"Although Wei Feng's surname is Song, it has never been listed in the family tree. This person has no family tree. He is like a rootless duckweed. He can't find his relatives even if he dies." Song's father patted Song Weifeng's hand, "Besides, my two children It's so promising, so of course I want to bring it back to show off."
"I've been thinking about it since they passed the scholar examination. Since the old Song family doesn't want members of our clan, then let's not do it. Let's create a separate family tree of our own, and I must let Wei Feng have a root."
Song Weifeng sniffed, "Dad..."
"Dad is fine." Song's father held Song Weifeng's hand tightly. Song Weifeng's hands were white and delicate, with only some calluses for holding the pen, but Song's father's hands were covered with traces of time and were as rough as tree roots, "It's fine now. When the time comes for ancestor worship, dad will be able to put your name on the new family tree in front of the whole clan. Dad will be first, and you will be second, Doudin Lao San, hahahahaha!"