Mo Beihan did not quibble with this irritating fellow. Instead, he looked at Jiang Xun and Jiang Ping. “In the future, both of you must also study diligently. Especially you, Jiang Ping. You must set an example for the younger boys. You must be even more diligent than them.”
Jiang Xun was taken aback. “I… I need to study too?”
He was not a young child anymore. He could work and their home situation was fraught. Should he not be working more to support the family?
Mo Beihan nodded and told him very sternly, “That’s right, you have to study too. You will work as usual, but you must not neglect your studies. But you have to be careful and not let anyone else find out. Be discreet. Do you understand?
“Listen to me. There is no harm in learning more. And there are all those older folks at the cowshed, not just in our Southern Lake Brigade but also in the Qing River Brigade. The older folks in the Qing River Brigade in particular are kind and very knowledgeable. In the future, you can seek their guidance.
“But some of them here in the Southern Lake Brigade are not so nice. You have to be careful.
“Also, I heard that school will start next year and lessons will begin. That way, all of you can go to school In the future. All of you are to attend school and study hard. Do you understand?”
Jiang Xun and Jiang Ping were completely stunned!
“I… we can attend school too?”
This was beyond Jiang Xun and Jiang Ping’s expectations. How did they get so lucky?
Mo Beihan thought for a while and said, “You can, but not right now. I cannot send all of you to school at once. That would be too conspicuous.
“When school starts next year, Chengrui will start first, followed by Little Xu and Little Jing. Mu Mu is still young and can wait a few years. In two years, Ping Ping can go to school too.
“As for Jiang Xun, he must wait for his younger brothers to all attend school and for things to improve at home before he can attend school. By then, he can directly attend senior school.
“That way, others won’t find it peculiar. But whether you go to school or not, you must not neglect your studies at home. I will check on your learning periodically. I will buy the books, paper and pens that you need. Those old people at the Qing River are all very learned. You should not waste this opportunity.”
Jiang Xun was very moved. “Youngest Uncle, Grandma, I… I don’t need to go. It’s enough if you send Ping Ping to school. I… I’ll stay at home and work.”
He was already very touched that they would allow his younger brother to go to school. He did not mind so much about himself.
Mo Beihan smiled. “You’re older, so it doesn’t matter much whether you go to school or not. We’ll see how things go. But remember, whether you attend school or not, you must study hard at home and not neglect your studies. You must learn whatever your younger brothers learn. It will come in useful in the future.”
Jiang Xun was startled. He felt that Mo Beihan’s last sentence had a deeper meaning!
Although he did not understand, he obediently nodded.
Mo Beihan relaxed and waved them away. “All right, go and tidy your room. In the future, all of you will stay together. Jiang Xun, you’re the older brother. You must take care of the younger ones.”
“I know, I will take care of them.”
Jiang Xun led the younger ones to the room to tidy it.
Mo Chengrui and Mo Chengxu had stayed in this room. Now there were another four people, but they would continue to stay there. All the beds in the room were bunk beds.
But there were not enough beds because there were only two bunks, which could accommodate four. In the past, only Mo Chengrui and Mo Chengxu had stayed there, and the upper bunks were used for storage.
For now, two people slept in each lower bunk. The smaller ones squeezed together. Mo Beihan planned to go to the salvage station when he was free, to get some old furniture. Or he might just buy two more bunk beds.
Mu Mu looked at his bed somewhat unhappily. “I want to sleep with Young Aunt!”