A century of poverty

Chapter 119 Academic Studies

After May Day, the weather warms up and flowers bloom, so I took my children to the district gymnasium.

Upon seeing us enter, the coach greeted us, inquired about our situation, examined our child's condition, and briefly explained, "You can train with us for a week first. If it's satisfactory, you can pay the tuition fee: 800 yuan for six months, payable in full for six months at once."

A week later, I made a "training outfit" for my son, and with 800 yuan for tuition, he officially joined the training.

The stadium was empty, with incandescent light bulbs hanging from the high dome, giving it a slightly dim, yellowish hue.

The coach was leading a group of children in practicing kicking. The tallest boy at the front of the line looked to be a middle school student, while the youngest was a year or two younger than Su Long.

I stood in the "public seating area" for a while and chatted with the other parents who were also waiting about their children's martial arts learning progress.

From then on, I began to focus my attention on nurturing my child and on my own reading.

Time flies. It's been over a month since I sent my son to practice martial arts every night, and now the flood season is here.

It was a sunny Saturday afternoon at 3 pm. I rode my bike with my son on the back to his calligraphy class on Xiangyang Road. After my son went inside, I waited outside. Suddenly, a northerly wind picked up. I hadn't worn enough clothes on the way there, and my legs and feet immediately felt cold. I hurriedly went to the clothing market on Yanyang Street and bought a pair of cropped jeans to barely ward off the cold wind.

When my child came out of class, they looked me up and down. I smiled and said, "Don't you recognize me?"

Child: "I feel like something's different about you."

Me: "Yes, I feel cold, so I just bought a pair of thick pants and put them on."

When I got home, I was busy making dinner. After eating, I put on a long coat and trousers before taking my son to his martial arts class.

I stayed inside the gym watching the children practice.

Because I knew that in a month, the children would need to practice leg raises. I had already seen how hard the children struggled with leg raises. After a few days of self-practice, if their leg raises weren't standard, the coach would have to come and help press them down, and many children would endure the pain with tears in their eyes.

Today, Su Long's leg movement was similar. Although I knew everyone had to go through this process, I couldn't help but worry and watched from the side. Although Su Long's leg movement wasn't too difficult, he still turned his head away to wipe his tears.

I felt heartbroken, but it was necessary to do this in order to practice my skills.

"Fortunately, he's still young. The older he gets, the harder it will be to get down and the more painful it will be!" the coach said with concern.

This is no exaggeration. I personally witnessed a boy in a middle school uniform practicing leg raises for two weeks, but his legs were still shaking and he couldn't go up high enough, let alone do it.

After a few sets of exercises, it was time to end get out of class.

"Dismissed!" the coach shouted. The children rushed towards the exit.

As we came out, cool raindrops fell into our necks, and puddles appeared on the ground.

"Son, get on the bike and hurry up, it's going to rain harder soon." As he spoke, the raindrops grew larger and denser, and in an instant, a torrential downpour began. I rode my bike and pedaled home as fast as I could.

Within fifty meters, water was streaming down my body. The rain obscured my vision, and the car felt very heavy.

I was truly encouraging myself with the spirit of "not being afraid of hardship or death" that I learned when I was a child. The water was deep in the wheels of the bicycle, but I just kept pedaling as hard as I could.

Once out of town and into the village's gravel road, the road was uneven and a vast expanse of water. The car swerved and twisted along the road, and I strained my way forward, feeling my way along the narrow path beside the railway. At a bend, I strained my way through, and "thump!" the car, my son, and I all plunged into a stinking mud pit.

I fell in and came to my senses. I was so focused on pedaling that I forgot there was a mud pit here.

I immediately pulled the child behind me up, helped him up, went down into the stinking mud pit to retrieve a pair of shoes, and then pulled the bicycle out of the pit.

Although the muddy water and heavy rain were washing over it, the black, smelly muddy water still emitted a disgusting stench.

"How's Su Long? Are you alright?" I asked.

"It's nothing!" Su Long replied.

I straightened the bike: "Get in."

My son gripped the backrest with both hands and struggled to climb up. I gave him a hand and said, "Are you steady? Here you go!"

We continued our arduous journey through the torrential rain, stumbling and twisting along.

We got off at the small bridge at the front gate of our house and pushed the bike into the yard.

When we got inside, I helped my son take off his dirty, smelly, wet clothes and threw them outside, then changed him into dry clothes. After that, I found some dry clothes for myself and changed into them in the main room.

They washed the dirty clothes they had taken off and hung them in the shed between the main house and the gatehouse.

The next day was sunny but exceptionally hot and humid. Fourth Sister, wearing off-white trousers and a light green gauze top, arrived carrying a woven basket of cucumbers and green beans. Sweat dripped from her temples and neck as she walked to the window.

I rushed out to greet her: "It's so hot, you're carrying so much, look how hot you are!" I said, taking the basket from her and leading her into the house.

I grabbed a plastic stool and placed it under the electric fan: "Sit here and cool off. I'll get you an ice cream." As I spoke, I went to open the refrigerator.

He returned and handed it to her, then picked up the basket and placed it in the kitchen: "It's so hot today, carrying such a big basket must be so heavy!"

Fourth Sister peeled off the ice cream wrapper, put the ice cream to her lips and inhaled the cool air: "We have everything we need in our garden, plenty of it. You guys buy vegetables, I'll get you some extra to eat slowly."

I asked, "Have you finished weeding the field three times? Do you have time to come out?"

Fourth Sister: "There are still two plots that aren't too overgrown, we'll finish harvesting them in two days. I came here today because I have something I want to discuss with you. I'll go to the street to see Bingbing later."

Me: "Bingbing is great. The family at 'Chuangyi' is really nice. Her uncle was talking to her yesterday when they were buying goods."

Fourth Sister: "Yes, a mother's love is always on her mind."

I asked, "What do you want to discuss with me?"

Fourth Sister: "Yesterday, Liu Zhenxue and Gao Baozhi came to my house and talked to me about something. Liu Zhenxue is now the principal of Da Liu Jia Elementary School, and Gao Baozhi is a teacher who was rehabilitated and is about to retire. They said they wanted me to go to Da Liu Jia Elementary School to teach. What do you think, should I go?"

I said, "That's a good thing, let's go!"

Fourth Sister: "I'm worried that when I'm not home, Wang Yuhai is quite lazy. He can't manage the house and the fields all by himself, and I don't feel comfortable leaving them unattended!"

Me: "Don't overthink it. The school is short-staffed right now, and they've approached you, which means they trust you. Some people fawn over others, but they might not even get the job. We came here from the city center, and your academic performance has always been excellent, as everyone knows. It's such a great opportunity; if you don't take it, they might not even know what to think. Going will benefit both sides, so why not?"

Fourth Sister: "Then I'll go? I'll agree to go when I get back. I said I'd think about it yesterday, and they're still waiting for my reply. If I go, I'll need to make some preparations."

I nodded: "Yes! My third sister's daughter, Xiaolin, took the college entrance exam this year. I wonder how it went?"

Fourth sister: "She performed normally, but she's hesitant about choosing a major. Third sister suggested she apply to a teacher's college so she can find a job easily. She doesn't like being a teacher; she wants to study management."

Me: "Choosing a major is very important. Being a teacher has room for advancement, which I think is a good choice. I don't know what this kid is thinking these days. Anyway, my third sister achieved her goal; it wasn't a waste of money. She got into university!"

Fourth Sister: "Yes!"

When the fall semester started, Su Long enrolled in first grade, carrying a new schoolbag and wearing new clothes.

I told him to stand up straight. I sat up straight, my expression serious and solemn: "From today onwards, you are a primary school student. I'm going to tell you a few things you must remember:

1. Pay attention in class, don't get distracted, and don't violate classroom rules;

2. Respect teachers, care for classmates, and maintain good relationships with classmates.

3. Go straight home after school and don't go out to play with your classmates. If you have something to do, come home first and tell me before you go out. Put down your schoolbag before you go out.

Did you understand? Can you remember it?

Su Long: "I understand, I've remembered!"

"Okay! Let's go to school." I took his hand, and we happily went to school.

From your doorstep, walk 50 meters north to the main road, and then walk 70 or 80 meters east to reach the school gate.

Turn left after entering the door, and you will arrive at the first-grade classroom in a single-story building.

The teacher was already waiting for the new student at the door. I handed him over to the teacher and then returned.

From then on, the family did their best to create a learning atmosphere. The television broke down and was put aside. Instead, readily available reading materials were provided.

The learning process in the "civil and military classes" remains unchanged.

At the start of the school year, the third sister took Linlin to Bohai University to register and said that she took the opportunity to visit her hometown. She heard from the second sister that the eldest sister's sixth child, Yanwei, had been admitted to Nankai University.

With the National Day holiday approaching and the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, Jinhai City will hold a "Crab King Competition".

My second brother signed up for the competition. His crabs were big and fat this year. He prepared as soon as he received the information and finally selected a big female crab to participate.

Colorful flags fluttered and drums resounded in front of the municipal government building at "Venus Square," where lion dances and folk dances were performed as people celebrated the Party's good policies and the joy of a bountiful harvest.

Leaders from relevant municipal departments attended and took their seats.

The large crabs selected by the farmers were laid out on the steps, and the working group members evaluated and weighed them one by one.

Finally, it was announced that the weight of the crown was 498 grams.

The female king crab, weighing 285 grams, was submitted by Zhang Shuangfei, a crab farmer from Da Liu Jia Village, Liuhe Town.

The second brother was beaming with joy. When interviewed, as a crab farmer who had won the title of "Queen of Female Crabs," he chuckled and said, "My feeling is that with such good policy support, I will definitely work hard, raise crabs well, and get rich together with everyone."