While Zhang Yunxi was working.

Zhao Mo was also studying. She flipped through her textbook, eager to hear the teacher’s lecture again, but the teacher kept emphasizing discipline, which was really annoying.

If she didn’t study hard.

Wouldn’t she be wasting money?

Moreover, she wanted to get into a technical school and become a worker, so she had to do well in her studies. How could she afford to waste time?

Zhao Mo nudged Er Gouzi, whom she had forced to shut up. “Can you manage the class discipline? I want to listen to the lecture.”

“No!”

Er Gouzi lifted his chin proudly. “We’re not good buddies anymore.”

“We can be good sisters.”

“I’m a boy!” Er Gouzi emphasized.

“I’m a girl, so I can’t be your buddy. Fine, if you don’t want to manage it, I’ll do it myself.” Zhao Mo was about to stand up.

Suddenly, a loud banging sound echoed as Er Gouzi slammed the desk and shouted, “What’s all the noise? Do you all have too much money? You’re paying to come to school, yet you’re not studying properly. If anyone keeps making noise, I’ll make sure your parents beat you. If they don’t, I will! Teacher, just keep teaching. If anyone misbehaves, kick them out.”

The teacher: “…”

Who’s the teacher here, really?

But miraculously, after the teacher had repeatedly emphasized discipline to no avail, the classroom finally quieted down after Er Gouzi’s one sentence.

The teacher’s mood was quite complicated.

But she began the lecture.

The kids didn’t have a choice. They all knew Er Gouzi.

He was a troublemaker, a tattletale, and a shameless little tyrant!

If he targeted you, no matter what, you’d end up getting a solid beating. So everyone had no choice but to quiet down.

Of course, some kids were dissatisfied. Hei Dan, for example, didn’t like Er Gouzi.

He wanted to be the boss of the kids in Zhao Brigade.

And he was much stronger than Er Gouzi. He had lots of good buddies.

What about Er Gouzi?

He spent all his time playing with Zhao Mo.

No ambition at all!

“Hei Dan, pay attention. Stop turning around to look at Er Gouzi.” The teacher stopped by Hei Dan’s desk and tapped it with her book.

Hei Dan became the first student in the class to be scolded, his face turning red with indignation.

The teacher frowned.

Everyone in the village said Er Gouzi was disobedient, but he was paying attention in class and even helped maintain order.

What was wrong with Hei Dan?

The teacher didn’t know that Er Gouzi was paying attention for two reasons: one, because Zhao Mo had scolded him, and two, because he didn’t want to waste money.

Besides, he found the textbook quite easy.

He always knew he was super smart, but his dad didn’t believe him.

First-grade lessons weren’t difficult, but some kids found them boring and dozed off.

The teacher shook her head helplessly, but seeing Zhao Mo’s bright eyes filled with curiosity, she felt a surge of responsibility and pride in her profession and began teaching with even more enthusiasm.

Zhao Mo easily memorized the lesson.

She looked at the teacher with pleading eyes, hoping she would move on to the next lesson or teach them how to write.

But the teacher kept passionately reciting the same lesson over and over.

Er Gouzi, who had been paying attention at first, started to feel drowsy as the teacher kept repeating the first lesson and talking about past struggles.

When the bell rang for the end of class.

Er Gouzi sprang back to life!

Grabbing his small cloth bag, he dashed out like a bolt of lightning, disappearing in front of everyone.

Zhao Mo called out, “Wait for me!”

Er Gouzi screeched to a halt. “Hurry up!”

Zhao Mo slung her small bag over her shoulder and caught up. “I’m going to gather firewood later. Are you coming?”

“I want to go to the river.”

“Then let’s go together tomorrow.”

“Okay!”

Er Gouzi, like a dog that had been locked up for three days, finally let loose and plunged headfirst into the village stream, playing with his friends.

After school, Zhao Mo went home to do chores and also picked some wild vegetables to bring to her aunt’s dormitory, so her aunt could add them to the meal. She had originally wanted to find some wild eggs but didn’t succeed.

Sigh.

There just wasn’t enough time.

She’d definitely find some on Sunday!

When she got home, Zhao Mo saw her father, whose face was dark and looked like he was about to drag her over and give her a good beating. She couldn’t help but shrink back in fear.

After eating, she grabbed her bag and ran out.

Zhao Hongqiang cursed, “You’re all ungrateful!”

Yuan Guixiang remained silent.

Silently wiping her tears.

Her son’s teeth had been knocked out by this dog of a man. What could she do?
Zhao Mo, a motherless child, still had Zhang Yunxi to protect her. She had both her parents, but no one stood up for her.

“Cry, cry, cry. All you do is cry. You’re crying away all my luck.” Zhao Hongqiang continued to curse.

Yuan Guixiang lowered her head and cried even harder.

Before, she could at least make Zhao Mo help with the chores at home. But now, without Zhao Mo, she was the most miserable person in the family.

As Zhao Mo ran away, she faintly heard her father cursing and ran even faster. By the time she reached the educated youths’ dormitory, she was out of breath.

Zhang Yunxi happened to be reading the newspaper. Seeing her like this, she didn’t say much, just patted her back and waited for her to catch her breath before asking, “How was school today?”

“Too boring.”

Zhao Mo really wanted to cram more knowledge into her head, but the teacher just wouldn’t teach.

Disappointing!

“Is that so? Let me see your Chinese textbook.”

“Okay.” Zhao Mo handed her the textbook.

Zhang Yunxi opened it.

She was stunned. Why wasn’t there any pinyin?
“How did your teacher teach you today?”

“The teacher just read, and I followed along with the textbook to recognize the characters. Auntie, I’ve already memorized the first lesson, and I know all the characters on it.”

“My Zhao Mo is amazing.” Zhang Yunxi praised her first, then asked, “Did the teacher just read this text? Did she specifically teach any characters?”

“No, the teacher just read the text and kept talking about past struggles, telling us not to forget the sacrifices of our ancestors!” Zhao Mo said seriously.

Zhang Yunxi suddenly remembered a conversation she had with a big shot during a dinner gathering in her past life, where he talked about his childhood.

“My Chinese teacher didn’t really teach me pinyin. We just followed along and read. Back then, learning Chinese was like babbling—mostly memorizing and copying.”

Zhang Yunxi didn’t press further. “Alright, then read it to me.”

“1. The East is Red

The East is red, the sun rises…”

Zhao Mo recited “The East is Red” with the same intonation as her teacher, her voice rising and falling with emotion, expressing deep admiration for the great leader.

Zhang Yunxi compared it to the text in the book. Sure enough, it was word for word. She clapped happily. “Amazing! You’ve learned so well. Today, let’s learn how to write these characters. Later, when we go to town, we’ll check the recycling station for old textbooks to learn pinyin. For now, let’s focus on writing these characters, okay?”

“Okay.”

Zhao Mo nodded seriously.

Zhang Yunxi then taught her how to write the characters stroke by stroke.

She secretly hoped Zhao Mo could learn quickly and be ready to attend one of the first batches of universities in seven years.

Not long after, Er Gouzi popped in. “Zhao Mo, why are you still studying? I’ve been looking for you for a while. I thought you went off to play without me. Come on, let’s go pick mountain berries.”

“I’m not going.”

Zhao Mo thought studying was better.

“You’re such a bore. Fine, I’ll go play with someone else.” Er Gouzi stormed off in a huff.