"You're asking if I can teach you? Of course, I can! It's such a wonderful opportunity, the best welfare for the villagers. Being able to read and write, what an honor," Fu Wenwen whispered into Zhang Cuihua's ear.
"Exactly! It's a great thing!" Zhang Cuihua exclaimed excitedly.
Fu Wenwen, however, sighed. "But then the village chief said that you women wouldn't know the use of reading, that you'd definitely not come to this class, and that you're all so tired after work, who would bother to study? You'd all rather rest at home! He said since no one would attend, there's no point in holding this literacy class, and they won't be holding it."
"Oh dear! How can that be! We finally have a good thing, the village chief can't do this!" Zhang Cuihua became anxious, slapping her thigh.
She had just been thinking of some good things that would bring honor and free education! And now the village chief was nipping it in the bud? No, no, no.
"That's what I said! I persuaded the village chief for a long time before he finally agreed to try. He said if half the villagers signed up, then he would agree to hold the class. But if the numbers weren't enough, he wouldn't! He'd let the Party secretary find another village to hold a literacy class," Fu Wenwen told Zhang Cuihua.
"I'm just worried for everyone! You see, reading is such a good thing that brings honor. If the village chief refuses to hold it, and the Party secretary finds another village to do it, then the people in other villages will be literate, and only our village will be illiterate. This..."
Before Fu Wenwen could finish, Zhang Cuihua slammed the table and stood up. "Then how will our Honghe Village ever hold its head high in front of people from other villages? No! This literacy class must be held in our village!"
"Sister, you must be steady about this! Don't let the village chief give up!" Zhang Cuihua said to Fu Wenwen.
"Sister Cuihua, where are you going?" Fu Wenwen saw Zhang Cuihua about to rush out.
"I'm going to tell everyone about this. We absolutely cannot let the village chief give this opportunity to another village!" Zhang Cuihua said and quickly walked away.
Fu Wenwen watched Zhang Cuihua's retreating back and smiled faintly.
The bait had been cast, and the first fish had taken the hook. Now, it was just a matter of whether she could bring the rest of the fish along.
After thoroughly washing the pig offal she had bought, Fu Wenwen took some of it and went out, intending to thank her neighbor aunt.
She arrived at the neighbor's house and had just knocked when the aunt came out. Seeing Fu Wenwen, she was momentarily surprised before smiling and asking, "Fu Zhiqing, what is this?"
"Auntie, thank you so much for your help last time. I originally wanted to buy some meat to thank you today, but all that was left were some pig offal and bones. I'm truly sorry, it's not much, please don't mind," Fu Wenwen said apologetically, holding out the basin of pig offal and bones to her neighbor aunt.
"Oh my! Fu Zhiqing, you are too kind," the neighbor aunt's smile became much more sincere upon hearing Fu Wenwen's words. "It was no big deal! We're neighbors, of course, we can't just stand by and do nothing."
"That's true, but I am just a frail woman with a child. If no one had come to help me, I wouldn't have been able to catch Zhang Laosan! Please accept it, Auntie! Consider it a small token of my gratitude." Fu Wenwen looked at the neighbor aunt with wide eyes. The aunt looked at Fu Wenwen for a moment and then no longer refused, accepting the offer.
"Fu Zhiqing, wait for me a moment! You probably don't grow vegetables yourself. I have some vegetables at home, take them back to stir-fry," the aunt said as she carried the basin inside. In a short while, she came out again with the basin, filled with freshly picked vegetables.