Chapter 95: Reading 1/3

Li Damao, whose full name was Li Xingyi, immediately said, “Second brother, that’s your name!”

Li Qingzhi taught the three children how to read and write. Li Ermao was the least serious student and always wanted to play outside.

Zhao Xiaodou and Li Damao had already written their full names very well, but Li Ermao…

He also followed along to memorize poems and practice writing, but the next day, when Li Qingzhi asked him, he had already forgotten most of it.

But he was still young, so it was normal. Li Qingzhi didn’t push him too hard.

In modern times, at his age, he would still be in kindergarten or preschool, so not being able to write his name was normal.

Moreover, “Li Ermao” were three words that Ermao could already write. He could also do addition and subtraction within ten and dress himself… he was really great!

“Yeah, that’s my name,” Li Ermao remembered, adding, “But I still prefer ‘Ermao,’ it’s much easier to write!”

“There are too many people named ‘Ermao,’ and there’s even a ‘Ermao’ in the village. Calling yourself Li Xingyi sounds better,” Li Damao lectured his younger brother with an air of superiority.

Li Qingzhi smiled and patted their heads.

In Li Xiucai’s school, the oldest student was already in his thirties, older than Li Qingzhi, while the youngest student was around the same age as Li Damao and Li Ermao.

But it was rare for father and son to study together as classmates.

After finding Li Xiucai, Li Qingzhi paid the tuition for the three children and handed them over to Li Xiucai’s son.

These young children who were just beginning their education were taught by Li Xiucai’s son.

As for him… Li Qingzhi immediately asked Li Xiucai a question.

He read a lot of books and even memorized them, including all the annotations. However, being able to memorize them didn’t mean he could fully understand them. Most importantly, some simple knowledge hadn’t even been annotated yet. Unfortunately, he didn’t understand these simple concepts.

Li Qingzhi had made up his mind to follow Li Xiucai’s intensive training in order to solidify his foundation and fully understand these simple concepts.

Li Xiucai knew about Li Qingzhi’s situation and didn’t think the question was too simple. He earnestly explained it to Li Qingzhi.

Every day, Li Xiucai would teach his students. When he wasn’t teaching, students could ask him questions at any time. Of course, if he was busy, students had to wait a moment.

As Li Xiucai explained things to Li Qingzhi, a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy arrived with a book in hand. Seeing someone asking questions, he stood aside and waited.

Li Qingzhi had visited Li Xiucai’s school before, so he recognized many of the students, including the young man in front of him, who was Fang Zijian, the younger brother of Fang Jinniang.

In some respects, Fang Zijian was very similar to Yao Zhenfu, but there were differences between them.

Yao Zhenfu was somewhat lazy and not very diligent in his studies, but Fang Zijian was different. He studied very hard, even more diligently than Xu Qifei.

Moreover, if Fang Zijian didn’t study hard, his mother would discipline him. Even though Mrs. Fang favored Fang Zijian, she would still discipline him if he didn’t study hard. She was much stricter than Mrs. Xu.

Because she was so strict, Fang Zijian, at a young age, was educated like an old scholar. Zhu Xunmiao had once complained about Fang Zijian’s old-fashionedness.

Xu Qifei, on the other hand, was different. He was more lively, would secretly read idle books, and even help Zhu Xinmiao copy books to earn extra money.

Li Qingzhi could feel that Fang Zijian didn’t like him, and there was disdain in his eyes, but he didn’t get angry.

After all, he didn’t like Fang Zijian either.

And… what’s the point of arguing with a kid?

When Li Xiucai finished answering, Li Qingzhi didn’t ask any more questions and let Fang Zijian ask first.

Fang Zijian’s question was very simple, but he was different, asking deeper questions.

Li Qingzhi had seen some related content in the books before and had a general idea of the answer, but he wasn’t sure, so he listened carefully.

Li Xiucai’s explanation happened to help him fully understand this part of the knowledge.

After Fang Zijian left, Li Qingzhi continued to ask questions.

This afternoon, Li Xiucai didn’t have any classes, so Li Qingzhi seized the opportunity to ask him questions continuously. However, he didn’t monopolize Li Xiucai. If someone else came over, he would let them ask questions first.

Li Qingzhi asked a lot of questions, and he understood very quickly… Li Xiucai answered his questions happily.

When Li Qingzhi left, Li Xiucai said, “You’re such a likable student who grasps things instantly. But after talking so much, my throat can’t take it anymore.”

“You flatter me, sir,” Li Qingzhi smiled.

After leaving Li Xiucai’s place, Li Qingzhi went to find Li Damao and Li Ermao.

These two children were in the beginners’ class. After studying for a while, they could take a break. When Li Xiucai was explaining things to him earlier, these two children had come to find him.

Knowing that he was busy, they didn’t come up to talk to him but stood at the door, peeking in… Their two identical little faces were just adorable!

“Damao, Ermao, how do you feel about studying at the school?” Li Qingzhi asked with a smile.

Ermao eagerly spoke up, “Dad, studying is great! The teacher praised me for being smart!”

And as he finished, the son of Li Xiucai, who was in charge of the beginners’ class, also said, “Li Qingzhi, your two children are very smart.”

Li Qingzhi knew that Damao and Ermao weren’t stupid, but they couldn’t be considered exceptionally bright either.

However, most children sent to study with Li Xiucai came from families that couldn’t afford to provide them with an early education. When these children first arrived, they often didn’t recognize a single word.

But Damao and Ermao were different. Li Qingzhi had already taught them a lot of knowledge before, so they naturally seemed smarter than other children.

Although he knew this was the case, Li Qingzhi still said, “These two children follow me and are particularly smart.”

Li Xiucai: “…” Usually, parents would be modest when praised for their children. Li Qingzhi was indeed unique. 

Even… Was Li Qingzhi praising himself with that statement? It’s rare for someone to say they’re particularly smart.

But on second thought… Considering his father’s words about Li Qingzhi having a photographic memory, Li Xiucai said, “Indeed, these two children are like you, particularly smart.”

Li Qingzhi liked to hear others praise his children. He walked home with joy, and Damao and Ermao were especially happy to receive praise.

Ermao didn’t walk the whole way; he kept bouncing forward. Damao was much more steady, but his steps were light and brisk too.

Li Qingzhi took them to the medicine shop first to buy some fat sea cucumbers.

He had more questions to ask Li Xiucai tomorrow, and to prevent Li Xiucai from losing his voice, he could give him some fat sea cucumbers to soak in water.

After buying the fat sea cucumbers, Li Qingzhi also bought some roasted chestnuts as snacks for the three children.

Damao and Ermao happily ate the chestnuts, but Zhao Xiaodou didn’t want to eat them.

Zhao Xiaodou had been silent the whole way… Li Qingzhi asked, “Xiaodou, what’s wrong? Are you not happy with studying?”

It shouldn’t be the case, right? Zhao Xiaodou had a foundation, and he was patient. Li Qingzhi thought he should do well in school.

After thinking for a moment, Zhao Xiaodou said, “Brother, I don’t need to go to school. Studying costs money…”

Li Qingzhi had previously mentioned to Zhao Xiaodou and Zhao Laosan that he would bring Zhao Xiaodou with them to the county town, but he didn’t mention that he would send Zhao Xiaodou to study.

Although Zhao Xiaodou was considered Li Qingzhi’s cousin, he had always seen himself as a servant to Li Damao and Li Ermao. When Li Qingzhi initially took him to the school, he thought he was going to serve Li Damao and Li Ermao as a servant.

But to his surprise, Li Qingzhi helped him pay for tuition fees and let him study with them!