The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 461 - 432: Literacy Class_1

Chapter 461: Chapter 432: Literacy Class_1

Village Chief Qi, who had heard Qi Shuliang’s complaints before, nodded and said, "You can’t be lazy! So, what kind of work do you want to find for him? There’s no work points for labor these days."

"No need for work points, I just want him to learn how to tend fruit trees from Brother He and Sister Wang," Qi Shuming replied. "Learning a little will be enough for this brat to live on for a lifetime."

He Jingyu had a good relationship with Qi Shuming and didn’t refuse when he spoke up. He smiled and said, "As long as this kid is willing to endure hardship, let him come over and I’ll teach him. Mastering this skill indeed means not having to worry about food or drink for a lifetime."

Qi Shuming hadn’t expected He Jingyu to agree so readily and prompted, "Binzi, aren’t you going to thank your Uncle He right away? You’re taking on a skill, acknowledging a master, you should kneel and kowtow."

Seeing his father say this, Qi Rongbin was about to kneel down.

He Jingyu quickly stopped him, saying, "No need to kneel, since you call me ’Uncle’, I won’t hide anything from you."

"Thank you, Uncle He, Aunt Wang," Qi Rongbin said gratefully, thinking of the few peaches his father had brought home before, which were so sweet he nearly wanted to eat his tongue as well. These peaches were much tastier than the wild fruits in the woods.

Now that his father was letting him learn, he too could grow delicious peaches in the future so he could eat them every day, and his younger brothers and sisters could too.

"Alright, since you’re here, let’s start working," He Jingyu said as they began to work, learning gradually.

"Alright!" Qi Rongbin said, rolling up his sleeves and trouser legs to start working.

In fact, Qi Rongbin was not lazy; he was too diligent, going out only when there was really nothing to do at home.

With a hardworking young man like Qi Rongbin, they managed to repair several large greenhouses in just one afternoon. After letting them dry, they could start covering them with plastic film.

"Kid, not bad, keep up the good work," He Jingyu praised. "You’re a smart child with both manual skills and a clever mind."

"Thank you, Uncle He," Qi Rongbin said with a smile. "I’ll study hard."

When the villagers saw Qi Shuming sending his son to work, they guessed what he was thinking.

If the boy learned well, he would become a technician! Less labor and more respect.

After giving it some thought, a few people also brought their children along with gifts, hoping to learn this skill.

He Jingyu agreed to each one, not refusing anyone. Having people help with the work was a good thing!

Whether they could learn or not depended on them. After all, they were all present when he explained.

If they didn’t understand, they could ask, but he wouldn’t check on them proactively; it all depended on their initiative.

But at that time, the villagers were still very simple and knew that to learn a skill, one needed to be not only clever but also hardworking, so the children they sent were all steadfast and willing to work hard.

Before they knew it, there were actually over twenty people.

Among them, there were even some who couldn’t read. He Jingyu felt overwhelmed, so he went to speak to Village Chief Qi about the situation.

Young people who can’t read will be blind for life, just like being blind with open eyes; it’s not a solution!

Having heard He Jingyu’s words, Village Chief Qi fell into deep thought. He knew the benefits of learning all too well, but now, with schools not in session, one couldn’t learn even if they wanted to!

"The teachers are all giving lessons right now," Village Chief Qi said. "If the children can’t read, they won’t even recognize roads when they go out in the future."

"Yeah," He Jingyu replied. "Why don’t you go to your department and see if you can apply for a literacy class?"

"Alright, I’ll go ask," Village Chief Qi said, "If possible, we’ll set up a literacy class to teach the children in the village to read and do arithmetic. It will be useful for a lifetime."

He himself had some education, although not for very long, but at least he wasn’t completely ignorant.

Village Chief Qi was very committed to this matter and went to the county town to inquire about it.

Upon hearing this, County Chief Niu slapped the table and laughed heartily, "Younger Brother Qi, you really have a way about you. I’ve just received instructions from the higher-ups, and here you are, showing that you’re a visionary."

"What instructions?" Village Chief Qi asked, "Does it mean that schools will start classes?"

"Not that schools will start classes, but higher-ups have directed us to carry out a literacy campaign during the slack farming season," County Chief Niu explained. "The villagers who can read can teach the illiterate ones, each leading a few."

"Even though classes won’t resume, this is good too as everyone can learn within the village without having to go to school," Village Chief Qi said. "This is excellent. I was just worried about the young ones in our village not being able to read. The older ones are a lost cause, but it’s a shame for the youngsters to go through life ’blind’ without being able to read."

"You’re right," County Chief Niu said pensively. "The higher-ups have also noticed this issue, which is why they’re initiating this campaign."

"Leadership is wise!" Village Chief Qi said, flattering, "Alright then, I’ll organize it when I get back. A few villagers who can read and some young people from the city, as well as former teachers, can all teach."

"Hold on," County Chief Niu interjected. "Better not involve those retired teachers in this to avoid unnecessary criticism, just have the ’educated youth’ and literate villagers teach."

County Chief Niu said this actually to protect the older teachers and professors, to spare them from any backlash.

"Got it," Village Chief Qi smiled. "Asking retired professors to help with literacy is a bit of an overkill. Only if some children want to go further, they could ask them for tutoring with their problems."

"Exactly," County Chief Niu replied. "We must be meticulous in our efforts to avoid giving those people a chance to find fault. Qijia Village has achieved great results these past two years, and I’ve benefitted from your good work."

Every time County Chief Niu diligently completed tasks related to Qijia Village, he always earned great accolades.

Perhaps before long, he could ascend even higher.

"I understand, Big Brother Niu," Village Chief Qi laughed, ready to post the higher-ups’ directive notice at the village branch office, inspiring everyone to read and become literate through education.

Visiting the county town was no easy task, and Village Chief Qi bought many things to bring back for the villagers.

He had arrived at the county town with an uneasy heart but left with great spirits.

Instead of idly spending time at home gossiping with the wives, the men smoking tobacco, or playing cards, it was better to use that time for learning!

After returning, Village Chief Qi began organizing study groups for the villagers.

Wang Lei, Ye Xiaofan, Zhang Qingshan, He Tiantian, Huang Jingli— all the young literate people from the city—were all assigned by Village Chief Qi to teach those under twenty years of age. He Jingyu and Wang Shuping had work commitments and couldn’t spare the time.

Village Chief Qi and Qi Shuli, the literate ones, taught the men over twenty how to read.

Most people from Qijia Village participated in the literacy campaign, and on the first day, the illiterate at least learned how to recognize their own names.

Professor Wang and Professor Gu were pleased to see the villagers learning.

Literacy is a form of education too!

This was a positive sign, and if schools were to start classes soon, they just had to wait patiently!

As the saying goes, "After the winter comes the spring. How far can spring be?"