Li Min bared her teeth, "Little brother, you only know how to threaten the villagers. Do you need to force people to study?"
"What if the children can't get into it? It's a waste of time for both parents and students."
Li Mu was packing the luggage for her eight grandchildren and grandchildren who were going to the county town to study. Hearing her daughter's words, she slapped her.
"Stop your gossip, doesn't your little brother know this?"
The broadcast continued: "Children, the village has fought for your chance to study, you must strive for it."
"Those who fail the exam three times will be expelled and sent home to help earn money. School is not a place for you to be lazy."
"You can all see and experience the hardships of your parents."
"So, when you sit in a spacious and bright classroom, you should think about what your parents are doing. In comparison, if you don't work hard, who are you worthy of?"
The villagers who had registered for the children felt relieved. Village head Li wasn't just favoring his own children.
Not only were all the children from Kusan Village registered.
The old village head of Wang'er Village also brought a large group of villagers and children.
"Village head Li, our children are also here to study. You didn't want us to participate in the money-making plan in advance, but you can allow us to participate in the education plan, right?"
Li Zhengguo welcomed them with open arms, "You can participate, you can participate. We welcome all parents and children to study at our Kusan Village Primary School."
"The teachers at our school are all volunteer teachers dispatched from the county school."
"They have overcome various difficulties just to teach our children knowledge and insight."
"We cannot waste resources and time. As long as you are willing to come, we welcome you."
While the villagers were lining up to register, the old village head asked Li Zhengguo, "Are you also accepting children from the three surrounding villages?"
Li Zhengguo nodded, "As long as the student quota is not full, as long as they don't mind the distance and the difficult, winding roads of Wuli Slope, if they come, I will accept them until the quota is full."
The old village head was stunned for a moment, then he gave Li Zhengguo a thumbs up.
"Good, good. Having discussions and opinions is our business as adults, it has nothing to do with the children, and nothing to do with education."
On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, Kusan Village Primary School officially started.
According to the literacy class's academic depth, only first and second grades were admitted. Those who wanted to attend third or fourth grade could skip grades by examination according to the school's regulations.
Thus, the school affairs were arranged.
Li Zhengguo continued to work on the project of pulling electricity, being busy from morning till night, and wouldn't be seen until dark.
Tian Jing strolled to the new office and called Zhou Chenbin, who was reconciling accounts, to the courtyard house.
The school had been established, and Grandpa Xiao wasn't idle; he still had to teach literacy to villagers over seventeen years old.
Seeing his granddaughter arrive, he thought she had come to see him, but he didn't have time to accompany her.
Tian Jing was quite relieved about her grandfather, who became happier the busier he was.
"I'm here to talk to Accountant Zhou about something. You busy yourself."
Grandpa Xiao then noticed Zhou Chenbin, who had followed in, "Accountant Zhou is here? Aguang, prepare some tea."
"Coming right up."
Aguang, still a bachelor, was still very diligent.
Zhou Chenbin sat nervously on the grand tutor's chair in the main hall.
After Aguang served the tea and left, Tian Jing waited before asking Zhou Chenbin if he had a partner.
Zhou Chenbin, holding his teacup, was glad he hadn't drunk it yet.
"Team Leader Tian, I don't have a partner. My parents are urging me, but I've only been out of college for three years, and I feel like I don't know anything, so I don't want to rush into a relationship."
Tian Jing put down her teacup, "By the way, what's your relationship with Magistrate Ji?"
Zhou Chenbin secretly glanced at Tian Jing, not knowing what Team Leader Tian meant by this question, but he answered truthfully.
"He, he is my cousin's husband. Village Head Li knows."
"Oh." Tian Jing nodded, "He and I never talk about this kind of meaningless stuff."
Meaningless? Then why are you asking me?
Tian Jing was unaware of Zhou Chenbin's internal thoughts, and she continued, "Do your parents have any requirements for your partner?"
"Cough, cough, cough."
This time, Zhou Chenbin choked even without drinking water, "Team Leader Tian, are you trying to set me up?"
"Yes."
Tian Jing admitted, "So I want to know your parents' requirements for their future daughter-in-law, so as not to cause any unpleasantness."
Thinking of that lively back, Zhou Chenbin felt a little expectant, "Who is it?"
"Heh heh."
Tian Jing chuckled, "No wonder Village Head Li said you weren't steady; you really are a bit."
"I haven't even inquired about both parties' conditions yet, and I don't know if you are suitable. How can you ask who the girl is?"
Zhou Chenbin sat up straight, "Zhou Chenbin, Han ethnicity, 23 years old, never dated, never been on a blind date."
"My parents have no requirements for my other half. They say as long as I like her, I won't complain about them in the future."
"They are willing to help me with the children. They have jobs and will have pensions in the future, so they won't cause me much trouble."
"Their health is still good, they do housework together, and they never let me participate."
"They also said that they don't need my future wife to participate. We just need to take care of our own small family."
After reciting this passage like reciting a scripture, Zhou Chenbin cautiously asked, "Team Leader Tian, who is she?"
"Pfft."
Tian Jing couldn't help but laugh, "Your temper is really impatient. You only ask who she is? You don't ask about her age, personality, or family background?"
Zhou Chenbin shook his head, "I just want to know who she is now? Do I know her?"
Tian Jing asked back instead of answering, "In Kusan Village, have you taken a liking to anyone?"
Zhou Chenbin quickly waved his hands, "No, uh, no, uh, yes and no..."
Tian Jing was confused, "Is there or isn't there? Yes or no?"
"Yes, but she..." Zhou Chenbin looked at Tian Jing's stern face and waved his hands again, "I, she, I can't say."
Tian Jing became impatient, "You're a man, yet you're so wishy-washy. Never mind, since you have someone you like, I won't mention it."
Seeing Tian Jing about to leave, Zhou Chenbin anxiously reached out to stop her, but was bumped into the wall by someone who rushed in.
"You scoundrel."
Xiao Mai, with her hands on her hips, pointed at Zhou Chenbin, who had fallen to the ground, "You think you can touch my aunt? I'll kick you to death."
"Xiao Mai!"
Tian Jing reached out and pulled back the about-to-be-violent Xiao Mai, only to see Zhou Chenbin on the ground looking surprised and delighted.
Thinking of how this young man had spoken to her hesitantly, and thinking that she was also Xiao Mai's guardian...
Tian Jing exerted force, and Xiao Mai was pulled to face her.
Raising her hand, she slapped Xiao Mai diagonally across her nose. Xiao Mai, a beat slower, tilted her head, "Auntie?"
Zhou Chenbin, who was on the ground, leaped up and stood between the two women, nervously asking, "Xiao Mai, are you okay?"
Xiao Mai frowned, "Who are you? I don't know you."
Zhou Chenbin extended his hand, "My name is Zhou Chenbin, I'm the accountant in Kusan Village. It's a pleasure to meet you, please guide me."
"You?"
The surprised Xiao Mai pointed at him with her index finger, "Are you that Accountant Zhou who always makes mistakes? If I were you, I'd go back and study again."
Zhou Chenbin took her index finger, "We've already shaken hands, and you're also happy to meet me, right?"
"Happy my foot!"
Xiao Mai withdrew her index finger, "Rogue."
"Girl, don't use foul language."
"Who do you think you are to tell me?"
"I can't control you, but as a friend, I'm giving you a suggestion."
"Who's your friend? Get away from me."
Xiao Mai pushed away the person blocking her path, and when she looked for her aunt again, she had already disappeared.
She stomped her foot angrily, "It's all your fault, you rogue. I had something important to tell my aunt."
"Then let's go chase her."
"Chase who? It's too late. Also, who is 'we' referring to? Stay away from me."
Xiao Mai pushed Zhou Chenbin away and ran off quickly.
Zhou Chenbin excitedly rubbed his right hand. He had held her finger.