Chapter 51

Chapter 51

Yang Zhaodi stood there, puzzled by Tang Jianshe's words.

Tang Jianshe continued, "You're married now. Your main task is to take care of your own little family. You don't need to always worry about us."

"Dad, what you're saying..." Yang Zhaodi felt a bit wronged.

Wang Simei's heart sank too, but she trusted her husband and quickly understood the reasoning behind his words.

"Your father means that you shouldn't always focus on us. You're a mother of two now; you need to take care of yourself first."

They weren't wealthy families. If Yang Zhaodi helped her sister go to school, she wouldn't be able to support her own family.

It wasn't Yang Zhaodi's responsibility as an older sister; it was Tang Jianshe and Wang Simei's duty as parents.

"I'm not telling you to cut off all contact with us, just not to always prioritize us. I proposed the separation because I believe that your mother and I can manage our lives. You don't need to constantly worry about us."

Yang Zhaodi felt her eyes well up. This stepfather had keenly sensed her slight inclination.

She did indeed feel that after the separation, life would be tough for her parents, and instinctively wanted to shoulder the responsibility.

"But you have to tell me if anything happens in the future. Even though I'm married, I'm still part of this family."

Tang Jianshe: "Of course, you're married, not sold away."

Yang Zhaodi smiled. She noticed that her stepfather seemed more open and talkative than before.

In the past, although he had been kind to her, he had done so silently without saying much. Now, things were different.

Although Tang Qiaoqiao's schooling didn't require Yang Zhaodi's involvement, she still left five yuan.

"My in-laws know about the separation and specifically asked me to bring this over."

After the separation, they would definitely lack many things.

Even though they hadn't come to visit, they imagined that the division wouldn't leave them with much.

The Zhu family simply wanted to show their goodwill and asked Yang Zhaodi to bring the money.

Wang Simei refused to accept it, worried that too many family matters might make her daughter's life difficult in her in-laws' home.

But Yang Zhaodi insisted on leaving the money, and they pushed it back and forth for a while. When Yang Zhaodi tried to leave the money and run, Wang Simei held her tightly.

In the end, Tang Jianshe made the decision to keep the money.

The in-laws' gesture was sincere. They could repay it later, and this way, neither Yang Zhaodi nor the relationship would suffer.

The eldest branch was filled with harmony and hopeful anticipation for the future.

On the other side, however, chaos reigned, and peace was nowhere to be found.

Zhao Dahua never realized how much work Wang Simei did daily until she took over. She discovered how exhausting each day truly was.

One morning, when she tried to cook, she found that there was no water! The water jars were empty.

Then she had to dig for pig feed, prepare pig food, one task after another, never-ending.

Tang Jianjun not only didn't help but also hindered her. He bathed every day and changed clothes every day.

He found that the clothes he had changed yesterday hadn't been washed and scolded Zhao Dahua harshly.

Zhao Dahua, already dizzy from exhaustion, exploded after being scolded, and the couple ended up fighting early in the morning.

Tang Jianjun, with a scratched face, stayed indoors for several days, embarrassed to go out. He stayed at home, not even earning any work points.

This made Zhao Dahua both guilty and angry, constantly wiping away tears.

In the end, Tang Xingsheng took over the task of digging for pig feed. As for Tang Xingwang, the elder brother, he didn't care about these tasks and ran away faster than anyone else.

Even the youngest, Tang Xingqiang, often went along to dig for pig feed, proving to be more reliable than his elder brother.

However, this wasn't entirely his initiative. Tang Xingqiang was used to being idle at home and only behaved better outside. Once he returned, he reverted to his old ways.

It was Tang Qingqing who suggested that she preferred a harmonious sibling relationship and liked diligent children. Only then did Tang Xingqiang join Tang Xingsheng in digging for pig feed.

But Tang Qingqing didn't know this; she had gone to class early in the morning.

She planned to finish all the elementary school material during the summer vacation, review it at the start of the new term, and then move on to junior high school content.

Previously, she had borrowed junior high school textbooks from the commune.

According to Zhai Hongyi, the two-year junior high school curriculum wasn't difficult, and she could start learning ahead of time, completing it in one year and taking the high school entrance exam.

Zhai Hongyi had great confidence in Tang Qingqing's learning ability. She had an excellent memory and was extremely focused.

Once she started studying, she could block out everything else and fully immerse herself, which greatly increased her efficiency.

This was partly due to her talent and partly due to her study of Ma Zong.

Initially, without patience and focus, one couldn't even begin to learn Ma Zong.

Wang Heizi wasn't any less intelligent than Tang Qingqing, but he learned slower because he lacked endurance.

His bottom seemed to be on fire, unable to sit still, and twenty minutes was his limit during class.

No matter how engaging Zhai Hongyi's lectures were, Wang Heizi squirmed as if he had fleas.

Thus, he learned much slower than Tang Qingqing. Mathematics was manageable, especially word problems, where his quick thinking and mental multiplication skills shone.

Language was his Achilles' heel; not only did he write terribly, but he often omitted parts of characters, and almost all the content that needed memorization was lost on him.

This led to severe academic imbalance, where he could easily score a hundred in math but sometimes fail in language.

In contrast, Tang Qiaoqiao was an ordinary child. Her focus and memory weren't as good as Tang Qingqing's, nor was her mind as quick as Wang Heizi's, but she was diligent and thorough. Although she didn't learn quickly, she was very solid in her studies and never lost points due to carelessness during exams.

During the summer vacation, Tang Qingqing wasn't always in class. Zhai Hongyi and Wang Heizi had to collect and sell eggs, while Tang Qingqing would occasionally be invited to track down criminals.

The cases were usually thefts, and as long as they were reported promptly, Tang Qingqing could almost always solve them.

This made thefts rare in Rongshan Brigade and nearby brigades, as everyone knew there was a 'Divine-Eyed Heroine' who could identify thieves once she arrived at the scene, leaving no room for them to hide.

Tang Qingqing's reputation spread far and wide, and other townships' local police stations would also invite her to assist in investigations when they lacked clues.

This led the trio to travel extensively, learning much about local affairs during their case investigations.

After each trip, Zhai Hongyi would record the local specialties and draw a simple map, even including diagrams of relationships discovered during investigations.

"Brother Yi, what's the use of recording all this?" Wang Heizi asked curiously when he accidentally discovered it.

Zhai Hongyi didn't hide it, so Tang Qingqing saw it too.

"Wow, Brother, how do you know so much?"

Some of the information recorded was known to Tang Qingqing, but some was not.

Zhai Hongyi drew the entire village, adding little figures and livestock to each house, documenting everything he knew about the residents.

He noted how many chickens each household had and whether they owned dogs.

Tang Qingqing considered herself to have a good memory and observation skills, but she still felt inferior to Zhai Hongyi.

How could he remember such details?!

"I just got into the habit of recording things when I have nothing else to do," he said, "without any special meaning."

Wang Heizi found it hard to understand this peculiar hobby, but he had to admit that after recording everything, he gained a clearer understanding of the commune.

Although he remembered some things, his memories were scattered. With Zhai Hongyi's organization, everything became structured and clear.

Still, Wang Heizi thought it was useless and moved on after seeing it.

Tang Qingqing, however, was inspired and decided to document each case and her tracking methods for future reference.

This would help summarize and systematize the information, making it easier for others to learn from her techniques.

Tang Qingqing had previously consulted Old Liu about teaching her tracking skills to others.

With limited energy, she needed to train more people to solve more cases.

She particularly despised criminals. In one case, a family already struggling with poverty had their meager food supplies stolen by someone wealthier who took advantage of the vulnerable household.

If not for Tang Qingqing catching the thief, the family would have starved.

Such petty thefts were common, driven purely by greed without regard for others' well-being.

The local police station was understaffed and lacked the ability to solve cases effectively, often failing to find the culprits.

Therefore, Tang Qingqing considered teaching her skills to others.

Even if they couldn't match her, at least they could be more perceptive and improve their tracking abilities, enhancing overall efficiency.

Old Liu, who no longer opposed the idea, encouraged her:

"Girl, you're meant for this work. Do your best and show everyone that you're no less capable than anyone else."

Hearing this, Tang Qingqing understood what Old Liu was concerned about.

He resented that her biological parents couldn't recognize her after the switch, believing they were blind to mistake her for another.

He thought they chose Tang Zhenzhen over her because they favored a smarter daughter.

As Tang Qingqing excelled in adversity, it proved who was truly outstanding and laid the foundation for future reconciliation.

Parental love isn't always selfless; sometimes it comes with conditions and expectations.

An excellent daughter is more appreciated than an average or poor one, especially when there's a highly praised impostor like Tang Zhenzhen.

Old Liu scoffed at Tang Zhenzhen, believing she was far inferior to his disciple Tang Qingqing.

Tang Qingqing took note, determined to prove herself regardless of her parents' feelings, standing tall to handle any situation.

On this trip to the neighboring town, Tang Qingqing solved a theft case at the supply cooperative.

The loss was significant, with over three thousand yuan and two thousand yuan worth of goods stolen.

If not recovered, it would have been a huge loss.

After solving the case, the local government rewarded Tang Qingqing generously. She kept half for Old Liu, and her backpack was still bulging.

As Tang Qingqing tried to bypass her own home and head to her uncle's place, she was intercepted by Grandma Wu.

At the beginning of the separation, everyone hadn't thought about Tang Qingqing. After a while, they realized something was missing—

Tang Qingqing was living next door at her uncle's house, eating there just like one of their children.

If it were any other child, they would have been happy about it. But this person was Tang Qingqing, who often brought back good things, which now were all kept next door!

It was only then that Zhao Dahua remembered that this daughter had also been separated along with the house she used to live in. She then thought about bringing Tang Qingqing back to live with them, to share a room with Wu Laotai, Tang Xingwang, and Tang Xingsheng.

Like the main house, Tang Jianjun's side also had two rooms, though these were larger.

Tang Jianjun and Zhao Dahua slept with Tang Xingqiang, while Wu Laotai lived in the main room with the other two grandsons.

Their family was considered well-off within the village, which is why they had so many rooms.

Many families in the village only had one room and one bed, with three generations squeezed together.

Naturally, Tang Qingqing refused to comply with their request, not even acknowledging it.

"When we first separated, none of you even thought about me. Now that it's been so long, you suddenly remember? Too late! I'm perfectly fine here; I'd be foolish to go back."

Zhao Dahua wanted to hit someone, but Tang Qingqing was no longer the same as before.

She had grown taller and stronger, and her constant outdoor activities had made her much more capable than the naive girl she once was. Zhao Dahua couldn't beat her physically or verbally.

This matter could only be dropped because it was rare to catch Tang Qingqing at home; she was always out and about.

Wu Laotai finally managed to catch Tang Qingqing today, her eyes fixed on the cross-body bag she was wearing.

"How long has it been since you came home? Go home quickly! We have eggs today."

Tang Qingqing knew immediately that this was an attempt to get what she had obtained today using the eggs as bait.

Indeed, Wu Laotai's instincts were sharp; she had passed by several times before without being caught, but today, when she had the most rewards, she was caught.

Tang Qingqing didn't refuse and followed Wu Laotai into the house.

As soon as they entered the courtyard, they saw Tang Xingsheng chopping pig feed, his movements already quite skillful.

Seeing Tang Qingqing, Tang Xingsheng's expression was complex, tinged with a hint of grievance.

Among the three brothers, Tang Qingqing felt the most sympathy for Tang Xingsheng.

He was truly the most honest member of the family. Although his treatment was better than hers, he was still given all the difficult tasks whenever anything needed to be done.

Tang Xingwang, the eldest brother, had no sense of responsibility. At thirteen, he should have been an important labor force in the countryside, yet he acted like a child, running around all day.

Neither Wu Laotai nor Tang Jianjun and Zhao Dahua bothered to discipline him.

Tang Qingqing couldn't help but mention it several times, and even people from the Wu family had spoken to Wu Laotai about it, saying that the eldest son and grandson should not be raised this way.

But they paid no heed and continued to indulge him.

Tang Qingqing felt that if this continued, this younger brother would end up as a village loafer.

Tang Xingwang had never been taught to respect her. Previously, he had been beaten because of Tang Qingqing, so he harbored strong resentment towards her.

Tang Xingqiang, although spoiled and with many faults, would at least say thank you when receiving something from others.

Tang Xingwang, however, believed everything belonged to him and only complained about getting too little, showing no gratitude whatsoever.

Tang Qingqing lost interest in trying to correct him, knowing that if he went astray, it wouldn't affect her.

She liked to meddle, but not in every situation.

Younger brother Tang Xingqiang still played a lot, but under Tang Qingqing's guidance, he occasionally helped Tang Xingsheng, though he often ended up playing again.

Thus, most of the work still fell on Tang Xingsheng.

In the short time since they last met, he looked much more haggard, carrying a gloom about him.

Not only because of the heavy workload, but also due to the unfair treatment by the elders, causing him mental distress.

Tang Qingqing understood this feeling well. She believed that as a family member, sharing some responsibilities was natural.

If she were at her uncle's house, she would have worked hard without complaint, as everyone else did the same, without any intentional mistreatment.

However, if treated unfairly as before, she would not be pleased.

Therefore, she now took a hands-off approach, not helping at all, and certainly not relying on them for survival—she chose this extreme stance.

"Grandma, the new school term is starting soon, right? Xingsheng should be entering first grade?"

Hearing this, Tang Xingsheng's eyes lit up.

Zhao Dahua walked out, "Read, read, read what nonsense! Our family can barely survive now, let alone waste time on schooling!"

In just a month, Zhao Dahua had aged visibly, looking even more bitter.

It was clear that life had been tough for her recently.

Without Wang Simei, a diligent sister-in-law, all the burdens fell on her, making her realize how frustrating it was.

If her natal family were reliable, she would have fled there long ago.

Now, hearing Tang Qingqing talk about schooling, she became even more agitated.

If it weren't for Tang Qiaoqiao's education, they wouldn't have separated in the first place. Now, instead of seeing benefits, it was just causing her trouble.

Tang Qingqing ignored her and stared at Grandma Wu.

Tang Xingsheng also looked at Grandma Wu: "Grandma, I want to go to school too."

Although Grandma Wu favored the other two grandsons more, she still loved this grandson.

Seeing her grandson's expression, she found it hard to refuse him, worried that he might hate her from then on.

"Xingsheng, I'm old now and can't make many decisions anymore. Given our current situation... I know you're a good child. As an older brother, please give way to your younger brother."

Tang Xingsheng was very disappointed, his head drooping and his movements slowing down.

"All the other children in our family have gone to school except for Xingsheng. He wasn't picked up from the streets; this is unfair."

Zhao Dahua: "It's easy for you to say that with your mouth flapping open and shut. Who will pay for his tuition? Who will feed the pigs? You're so capable now, eating well outside all day, but you don't see our family's situation anymore.

If I had known you were a traitor, I should have drowned you!"

"What nonsense! We don't have such people in our family!" Grandma Wu scolded, then smiled at Tang Qingqing: "Don't listen to your mother. She has a sharp tongue but a soft heart."

Tang Qingqing did not refute her but said:

"You've raised me this far, and I do need to show my gratitude. If Xingsheng can go to school, I won't take any future rewards to the neighbors. As long as he's studying, the promise stands."

Zhao Dahua was immediately displeased: "Look at what you're saying! Where is your home? It's only right that you bring things back here, yet you're setting conditions."

Tang Qingqing laughed, her trained eyes looking at her with a different meaning:

"Is this really my home?"

Zhao Dahua felt a jolt in her heart. "What do you mean, girl! Just because you ate at someone else's house for a few days, you can't recognize your own door."

Tang Qingqing just stared at her, a technique she learned from Chief Zhang during interrogations.

Zhao Dahua felt uneasy under her gaze, as if she was being seen through.

Especially with Tang Qingqing's particularly dark and large pupils, staring like that made her feel scared.

Moreover, with her reputation as the "Mystical-Eyed Heroine," everyone said her eyes had supernatural powers, making Zhao Dahua feel that Tang Qingqing knew something.

Zhao Dahua wanted to say something, but her voice wouldn't come out.

Tang Qingqing quickly withdrew her gaze and said: "Anyway, it's up to you. Whether you agree or not is your choice. Anyway, whether Tang Xingsheng succeeds or fails has nothing to do with me. If he resents you later, I won't be responsible."

Grandma Wu had been watching Tang Xingsheng closely, fearing that the boy would hold a grudge.

Tang Xingsheng's eyes brimmed with grievance and indignation. When the family had divided their assets earlier, he had believed that he would finally get the opportunity to attend school, but after the division was complete, the subject was never brought up again.

Instead, they threw all the chores at him. Several times, he wanted to run away.

But every time he ran, he was beaten when he returned.

In contrast, his elder brother and younger brother, especially his elder brother, did no work and faced only mild criticism.

But whenever Grandma spoke up for him, the matter was dropped.

His younger brother Tang Xingqiang received endless praise for doing a little bit, unlike him, who got scolded and even beaten despite doing much more.

He wasn't a wooden head; how could he not feel anything?

When his eldest sister worked day and night, he didn't think much of it.

Now that it was his turn, he realized how unbearable it was.

The hardest part wasn't the work itself, but the differential treatment by the elders, making him often doubt if he was adopted.

He finally understood why his eldest sister always said she wasn't part of this family. He now felt the same way about himself.

"Eldest girl, how can you make such a trade? We're all family, and this is too impersonal."

"If you had taken the initiative to send Tang Xingsheng to school, I wouldn't have said such alienating words. Precisely because I consider him my brother, I want to make this deal. You said I need to rely on my brothers for support and take care of them. Does that not include Tang Xingsheng?"

No one dared to answer, especially Grandma Wu.

"Think about it. Right now, you don't need to pay much to let Tang Xingsheng go to school. If I succeed, I can pull him up too, and the returns will be significant.

In the commune, a temporary worker earns at least ten yuan a month, which is a conservative estimate. A full-time worker earns at least twenty yuan a month, and it's a steady income. Now, a semester's tuition is just a few yuan, and I'll provide the stationery."

Even Zhao Dahua, who was initially very opposed, couldn't help but calculate the potential benefits, feeling a bright future ahead.

Villagers saved only a few dozen yuan a year. If they earned that much every month, even half brought home, life would be different.

Zhao Dahua: "Can you really arrange a job for him?"

Tang Qingqing replied firmly: "As long as he studies well, yes!"

After the reforms, there would be many opportunities. Even if he couldn't get a government job, he could start a small business.

As long as Tang Xingsheng stayed on the right path, Wang Heizi could guide him.

Grandma Wu looked at Tang Xingsheng: "Xingsheng, can you study well?"

Tang Xingsheng was excited: "Yes! I definitely can!"

Grandma Wu then decided: "Alright, next semester, Xingsheng will go to school with Xingqiang."

Zhao Dahua calmed down but couldn't help worrying:

"But if Xingsheng goes to school, who will take care of the pigs? I can't manage everything. I need to earn work points, and Jianjun's earnings are barely enough for our expenses."

Raising pigs does count towards work points, but these days she has been busy with household chores. She would rather work herself to death outside than deal with things at home.

If one had to say which was more tiring, Zhao Dahua thought that farm work was more exhausting and could peel the skin off someone in the scorching summer sun.

But no matter how hard or tiring it was, the work points were clear and straightforward.

At home, it was different. After a day of busying herself, when the men came back, they assumed she had been sleeping all day. They criticized her for not doing things well and accused her of being lazy and doing nothing at home.

Not only was it tiring, but it could also drive her to her wits' end.

Anyway, if she went to earn work points, the old lady could take care of the house herself.

Tang Qingqing: "Let Auntie continue raising them. Anyway, we'll definitely get our share this year. If the pigs get too thin, even if we get the larger portion, it won't be as good as what Auntie gets from raising them, and we'd still be exhausted."

Wang Simei had long been unhappy about this and wanted to take over the pig-raising.

The pigpen was filthy, and the pigs weren't getting enough food or proper nutrition; they had already lost weight.

Tang Qingqing kept stopping her, telling her not to worry.

If she had helped out then, it would have become her responsibility. By the time the work points and meat distribution were calculated at the end of the year, Zhao Dahua would surely take advantage again.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dahua became unwilling again. "You little girl, did you plan this all along? Trying to take my pigs away!"

Tang Qingqing shrugged. "If you don't agree, it's fine. After all, you're the one feeding the pigs, not me. Tang Xingsheng has enough on his plate with studying. If he doesn't do well, it would be a waste. He can only help with gathering pig feed during his free time after school. Making him the main worker will affect his studies, and I won't accept that."

In rural areas, children were expected to help with chores, and Tang Qingqing didn't think there was anything wrong with that. However, they shouldn't be burdened with all the heavy labor.

Their family's workload wasn't excessive. If Tang Jianjun and Tang Xingwang were a bit more diligent, things wouldn't be so difficult.

Tang Xingwang was almost fourteen, having grown up well-fed, and like the rest of the Tang family, he was tall, nearly 1.7 meters, as tall as many adults.

If he helped out, he could accomplish a lot.

As for Tang Jianjun, an 1.8-meter-tall man, he earned only slightly more work points than ordinary women, sometimes even less than the more capable women.

At home, he was a complete layabout, lying around waiting for meals, too lazy to move even when thirsty, expecting others to serve him tea and water.

He was also very particular, not helping but finding fault with everything. Even a speck of dirt in the house or a stain on his clothes would require someone else to clean it up.

"You little girl, why do you have to make such a fuss!" Zhao Dahua was thoroughly annoyed by her.

Yet, everyone outside praised her for raising such a smart and capable daughter.

She couldn't say much and had to swallow her frustration.

She couldn't understand why her personality had changed so much. As a child, she had been obedient and eager to do whatever was asked of her.

"Probably because I take after my dad."

Zhao Dahua was exasperated.

In the end, Zhao Dahua handed over the pigs to Wang Simei and explained the situation to the team leader.

This was, of course, what Tang Qingqing had demanded. At first, Zhao Dahua tried to avoid it, but Tang Qingqing wouldn't let her get away with it.

Tang Xingsheng was thrilled to learn he could go to school.

"Sis, I'll study really hard!"

"Remember what you said today. Going to school isn't a fun thing; it's very tiring. Don't think it's easy just because you sit in a classroom instead of working in the fields. To study well is also exhausting. You have two choices: either wear straw shoes and work in the fields here, or study hard and wear leather shoes in the city. Think about it carefully."

Tang Qingqing loved the land but had to admit that making a living here was too difficult.

Even in the future described in books, rural issues remained unresolved, and villages became increasingly desolate as young people left for jobs in cities, leaving behind only the elderly and children.

Those migrant workers who worked in cities also had a tough life, as the cities did not accept them.

She didn't know how to solve these problems and could only encourage those around her to strive for a better future elsewhere.

Teachers for grades one through three were still Sun Qin. Although she had been serious for a few days, she soon reverted to her old ways.

Tang Qingqing secretly listened to a class next door and frowned.

Her teaching quality was terrible; students learned nothing and easily developed a dislike for learning.

In the first class, Tang Xingqiang lasted only ten minutes before fidgeting.

Tang Xingsheng looked confused but persevered.

The other new first-graders started causing a commotion, and Sun Qin did little to manage them.

While teachers generally avoided disciplining students for fear of being targeted, Sun Qin's irresponsibility was rare.

The classroom was noisy, making it impossible to hear her clearly.

She merely read the text aloud, her voice low and mumbling, like casting a spell, which was incredibly frustrating.

After briefly improving, her teaching had become even worse than before.

Tang Xingsheng, one of the few attentive students, was nearly falling asleep.

Tang Qiaoqiao initially listened but later quietly opened her textbook to study independently.

Tang Qingqing was worried but didn't know what to do.

Sun Qin had a permanent position and wasn't a substitute teacher, and even substitutes couldn't be dismissed casually.

Moreover, she was a military spouse, making it even harder to criticize her.

Tang Qingqing went straight to the principal after class and said bluntly,

"Principal, if Teacher Sun continues teaching like this, all the children in our brigade will be ruined. We've paid the tuition and spent time and effort, but they can't even learn basic pinyin or recognize a few characters. The multiplication table has 'three threes make twelve,' which is a huge joke anywhere."

The old principal looked at the tall young girl before him. Despite her youthful appearance, her determined gaze made it clear she wasn't just any ordinary child.

For this issue, the old principal had no solution.

He could only sigh, "When they reach the fourth grade, I'll teach them again."

"But if they don't see results, they won't last until the fourth grade."

Many children dropped out after one year; those who stayed longer only graduated from primary school.

The old principal sighed deeply, feeling helpless.

"Can't we apply to the brigade leader for more teachers? There are so many educated youths in our brigade. Let them come and teach. After all, classes are only half a day, and they can continue working in the afternoon."

The current schedule was quite relaxed, with afternoons mostly free. Most children still helped out or earned work points.

Tang Qingqing also attended classes only half a day and spent the other half doing her own things.

"I've already mentioned it to the brigade leader, but our school is too small to justify that many teachers."

"Even if they're not official teachers, wouldn't it work?"

"They still need work points, and people in the brigade would definitely have complaints."

Many families didn't send their children to school and thus didn't care about the quality of education.

Educated youths were already slow workers, and taking them away to teach would mean there would be more teachers than students, leading to complaints.

"What if they don't take work points?"

The old principal was taken aback, "Who would work without work points? How would they eat and drink?"

Tang Qingqing pursed her lips and remained silent.

"I'll think of a way for this. Don't worry."

How could Tang Qingqing not be worried? Three of her siblings were in primary school, and if they learned nothing, it would be a huge loss.

Wang Heizi had planned to join as well, but during the summer break, he made rapid progress and started learning third-grade content. He intended to skip directly to the fourth grade like Tang Qingqing once he finished his studies, so he hadn't officially started yet.

After school, Tang Qingqing went to check on her three siblings.

Tang Qiaoqiao complained with a frown, "Sis, why does Teacher Sun's teaching differ so much from what Zhai Zhigqing and you taught? I almost fell asleep."

Tang Qiaoqiao loved attending classes and always listened attentively.

She never expected school to be like this; it was too unbearable compared to self-studying at Old Liu's place.

Tang Xingqiang felt discouraged, "Sis, I'm starting to doubt my intelligence."

Tang Xingsheng cherished this hard-won opportunity and held back his complaints despite his frustration.

Tang Qingqing didn't know what to say. She was fortunate; without Zhai Hongyi, she might have lost interest in school too.

"The first day is always tough, but it will get better. If you have any questions, I can explain them to you."

Tang Qingqing took them to Old Liu's house and gave them another lesson.

On the first day, they didn't cover much content. In math, they only learned a few numbers, which Tang Xingqiang already knew.

In Chinese, there weren't many new characters, and Tang Qingqing recited them once, and Tang Xingqiang remembered them all. However, he needed guidance on writing them correctly.

Tang Xingsheng learned more slowly and initially felt anxious seeing his brother's quick progress. Tang Qingqing reassured him,

"Everyone is different. Focus on your own progress, not others."

Relieved that Tang Qingqing didn't scold him, Tang Xingsheng began practicing earnestly.

If he couldn't remember something, he practiced more until he did.

Tang Qiaoqiao was already learning second-grade content, now taught by Tang Qingqing.

Zhai Hongyi mainly focused on teaching Tang Qingqing, while he provided guidance to Tang Qiaoqiao and Wang Heizi. Tang Qingqing became their main teacher.

Teaching reinforced her own knowledge.

When Zhai Hongyi returned, the lesson had ended, and the children were quietly practicing.

Tang Xingqiang, usually restless, behaved much better at Old Liu's place.

He showed more patience than Wang Heizi and could focus when he wanted to.

Tang Qingqing didn't force him; once he learned something, she let him play instead of pressuring him.

In the book, Tang Xingqiang still performed well under Sun Qin's teaching. After moving to the city with his parents, he continued to do well in middle school.

Later, he chose to start a business early, and his parents, Tang Jianjun and Zhao Dahua, encouraged him rather than stopping him.

Otherwise, he might have gone to a good university and had a different life.

Tang Qingqing pulled Zhai Hongyi aside and told him about today's events.

"I've felt for a while now that this can't go on. I just wanted to run away myself. But looking at it now, if we let her continue teaching like this, our brigade's children will be stuck in the village their whole lives."

Zhai Hongyi raised an eyebrow at her, and Tang Qingqing realized she had let something slip.

Given the current situation, it's normal for farmers to stay on the land, and it's very difficult for them to have the opportunity to leave the mountains.

Fortunately, Zhai Hongyi didn't press further, saying, "This matter is indeed difficult to handle."

If even Zhai Hongyi says it's hard, Tang Qingqing slumped, feeling even more at a loss about what to do.

She couldn't possibly call all the children over and tutor them herself, could she?

Not only would she be exhausted, but once she leaves next year after passing the exam, what will happen to these students?

Sun Qin is still young and has many years before retirement, so the children of the Rongshan Brigade will continue to suffer under her teaching.

Tang Qingqing felt that solving crimes was much easier than dealing with such matters.

When you know someone is a criminal, all you need to do is catch them, convict them, and punish them.

But now, even though she knows Sun Qin is not a qualified teacher and doesn't teach properly, she feels powerless.