Chapter 204: Chapter 204: If All Else Fails, Let’s Split the Family
Upon hearing his mother’s words, Yue Jiandong was at a loss for words for a moment.
Actually, he had heard Zhang Ying talk about it as well.
Qingqing was incredibly smart, praised by all three teachers in the village.
The teacher surnamed Sun even tactfully mentioned that it would be a pity for a promising child like Yue Qingqing to be buried in the village.
While children her age were still learning numbers, Qingqing could already carry out addition and subtraction within three digits.
Her progress in recognizing Chinese characters was even faster. She could understand the poetry collections Yue Jiandong brought back from the city and even recite them from memory without missing a single word.
But no matter how intelligent Qingqing was, the progress among the village children was uneven, and the teachers could only teach half a class at a time.
Whenever Yue Jiandong was free, he often went to pick up his daughter from school.
The cramped classroom was filled with noise, occasionally punctuated by the children’s screams.
The teacher’s voice was often drowned out, having to exhaust himself to maintain order.
Lin Chunju bluntly pointed out to Yue Jiandong, “Going to the city isn’t just for making money. It’s mainly so that the children can get a proper education, not necessarily to achieve great results, but at least not to waste their youth.”
Thinking of his children at home, Yue Jiandong immediately agreed.
At dinner, he took the initiative to bring it up as the eldest brother.
Since it hadn’t been discussed beforehand, everyone at home was surprised.
Yue Jianxi kept his head down, silent.
He was traditional by nature, reluctant to leave his hometown.
Only the days facing the loess could give him a sense of peace.
Wang Xiaoni, his spouse, naturally felt similarly, but her heart stirred when Yue Jiandong mentioned the schools in the city.
Her gaze shifted to her daughter’s face, full of longing.
Xingxing loved to read. She was well aware of that and knew too well the condition of the village school.
She wasn’t one to favor sons over daughters. Given the chance to provide her daughter with a better education, she was naturally willing.
But then there was Xiaohu’s temperament…
“Uncle, I don’t want to go to the city to study! I have a lot of friends here,” Xiaohu said.
Yue Xiaohu always felt studying was uninteresting. He only completed his homework on time every day to fulfill a promise to his “master.”
But to make him sit at a desk and study seriously every day like his sisters, he would wear a look of utter desolation.
Besides, he still had to practice the martial arts moves his master had taught him.
What if his master couldn’t find him after he moved to the city?
After listening to Yue Xiaohu’s words, Yue Jiandong didn’t scold him but simply nodded.
“No worries, let’s all share our thoughts. Xingxing and Qingqing can speak too. Our family meeting values democracy, and everyone is allowed to have their say,” he said jokingly.
However, unlike usual, the others did not laugh in response to his humor.
Everyone was seriously considering the future situation.
Yue Xiaofang spoke first, “I’ll follow mom. Wherever she goes, I’ll go. I can always find a place in the city to sell my things.”
Lin Chunju looked at her daughter’s determined expression and smiled reassuringly.
Zhang Ying also nodded, “I also want to go to the city. If we can relocate, I’ll find a better school for Qingqing.”
Yue Jianxi spoke up, which was rare, “Mom, I want to stay in Daye Village. You know me; I only know how to farm. I’m not like my older brother who can do business, nor like my younger brother who can study.”
Wang Xiaoni was about to say something, but she hesitated upon hearing her husband’s words.
She naturally wanted to accompany her husband, but she also wished for Xingxing to pursue her studies.
Xingxing was both serious and eager to learn, yet staying in Daye Village meant not even finding a decent teacher, which was a great pity.
Yue Xiaohu, on the other hand, was grinning, in complete agreement with his dad.
Lin Chunju sighed softly, “I understand. After all, everyone has the life they want to live. We can’t force them.”
“If it really doesn’t work out, we can just live separately.”