The reading club had already been in session for many days. Although the first couple of days after opening were a bit chaotic, Chen Lan knew that every beginning was difficult, and once the initial hurdle was overcome, things would become much smoother. Moreover, with her mother-in-law, the steadying force, holding the fort, there wouldn't be too many problems with the reading club.
The women who had first come to the valley might have been unfamiliar with the concept of "learning" initially. However, having worked in the sewing club with Ming Wei and interacted with Chen Lan several times, they understood from the knowledge Chen Lan shared that learning more was always beneficial. So, even though they were not entirely accustomed to it at first, they were diligently adapting.
After two or three days of this initial hustle and bustle, things became much smoother, and the reading club gradually found its rhythm.
Every day, the young women, married women, and children over five years old in the valley attended classes together. They were all at the same starting line, which meant no one dared to slack off during lessons for fear of embarrassment during exams. Thus, they all kept each other in check, and many families saw mothers and sons, or sisters and brothers, learning and progressing together.
Ming Wei, having experienced the world at the imperial city's Western-style school, naturally knew that simply working hard in this manner wasn't enough; everyone needed to progress together.
Therefore, she encouraged everyone to work hard and improve together, emphasizing that each individual must strive. Those who learned quickly would proactively share their learning methods with slower students, and the reading club's learning atmosphere continued to improve.
Time flew by! It seemed like only a blink of an eye before it was the twelfth lunar month. Over a month had passed, and there was still no news about Xu Mingxuan. No one from the camp had visited the valley either. None of Xiang Dong and his brothers had returned to the valley, nor had they sent any news.
One day, after everyone had finished breakfast, Uncle De and Uncle Fu, as always, went to the greenhouses.
Chen Lan, her mother-in-law, and her mother-in-law chatted while watching the children, waiting for the students to arrive for the day's lessons. Today was the first diagnostic exam since the opening, and everyone was a little nervous, so some students arrived quite early.
The first to arrive were the wives of Xu Hao, who lived in the second house, Qian Yingzi, and Li Daqiang, Zhang Dani, who lived closest to Chen Lan's home.
Qian Yingzi brought her six-and-a-half-year-old son, Gang Dan, now attending school with the given name Xu Xiaowei, and her eleven-year-old sister-in-law, Xu Liu'er.
Zhang Dani brought her seven-year-old son, Li Xiaochui, her eleven-year-old sister-in-law, Li Xiaoju, and her nine-year-old brother-in-law, Li Xiaoqiang. Sudannovel.com
As soon as they entered, the few women quickly greeted Chen Lan and her mother-in-law before hurrying off to the large study.
Next, Zhou Sixi's wife, Zhang Xiaohe, arrived with her ten-year-old brother-in-law, Zhou Xiaoxi, and her eight-year-old sister-in-law, Zhou Xiaohuan. After greeting Chen Lan and her mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, she also quickly entered the large study.
Those who arrived later were Zhao Tie's wife, Liu Man'er, with her twelve-year-old sister-in-law, Zhao Qiaojie, rushing in.
The last to arrive was Chen Erlin's wife, Wu Lamei, with her twelve-year-old sister-in-law, Chen Xiaoyun, and her nine-year-old brother-in-law, Chen Sanlin, panting as they ran in. Still catching their breath, they briefly greeted Chen Lan and her mother-in-law and daughter-in-law before rushing into the large study, still out of breath.
Chen Lan glanced at the system time; it was only 7:50 AM. She was puzzled. Classes officially started at 8:30 AM, and there was still plenty of time! Why were they in such a hurry?
Chen Lan figured it was their nervousness causing it! Since it was the first exam since the opening, they likely arrived at the reading club so early to "polish their skills before battle" or something similar.
Soon, it was time for the official class at 8:30 AM. Xu Mingwei, the manager and teacher of the reading club, walked into the large study carrying a stack of white paper, followed by the invigilator, her mother-in-law.
When the students saw the mother and daughter enter, the once lively large study immediately fell silent. The room was so quiet that only the sound of their breathing could be heard.
Ming Wei stood in front of the blackboard, and the students rose in unison, shouting, "Hello, teacher!"
Ming Wei, with a stern expression, said, "Hello, students! Please sit down!"
Then, she surveyed the room and continued with a serious tone, "Comrades, as announced yesterday afternoon when school ended, our reading club will hold its first exam since opening this morning. This exam is to assess our learning progress over the past two weeks.
"Rest assured, the exam content today is not difficult at all. You can write it just as you do your homework. I wonder if you all diligently reviewed the material we covered previously after returning home yesterday."
After speaking, she looked around again, observing each student's facial expression, and then added, "Students, the exam content today is very simple. You will first write six single vowels from memory on the white paper provided to each of you, and then you will transcribe ten consonant sounds by dictation.
"Alright, now we will begin distributing the exam papers. After receiving the white paper, the first thing you must do is write your name. You all know how to write your names, so do not forget to write your name in the upper left corner of the exam paper."
As soon as the students received their papers, all other sounds in the large study ceased, replaced by the rustling of writing. In the beginning, everyone was "head down, working hard."
Before long, some students started biting their pencil tips, struggling to recall how to write. Some frowned, writing intermittently. Others, brimming with ideas, furiously scribbled, appearing confident.
A few students who hadn't paid close attention during class tried to get away with something, but upon looking up and seeing the stern face and sharp eyes of the mother-in-law, they quickly abandoned any mischievous thoughts and diligently started writing.
Half an hour later, dictation began, with the content being the ten consonant sounds the students had just learned.
In the large study, only Ming Wei's clear voice could be heard repeatedly calling out the dictation. Similarly, some students scratched their heads in confusion, unable to write, while others who knew the answers easily wrote down the dictated letters.
An hour later, the exam finally concluded. After submitting their papers, everyone felt a sense of relief. Those who did well cheered and hopped out of the large study; those who didn't fared so well walked out with heavy steps.
After the exam, classes were dismissed. The remaining time in the morning was for Ming Wei to grade the papers. The results of this exam would be announced in the afternoon and posted publicly in the large study.
In the afternoon, the students arrived at the large study on time for class. As the scheduled time approached, Ming Wei entered with light steps and gently placed a stack of papers down.