"Mom, don’t be upset. Learning doesn’t distinguish between age. I went to check it out today, and there are even people older than you going to school there. It’s just a year, and you’ll have a vocational diploma. Nowadays, people with vocational diplomas are very sought after, especially accountants. Now, both my little sister and I are in school, and sometimes we can’t manage everything, so the store definitely needs you to handle it. We definitely won’t have just one store in the future, and when we have more, we’ll need someone to manage, especially the finances."
"Yeah, Mom, the policy has relaxed now, and it’s a great opportunity to get a diploma in a year. In a few years, it’s bound to get stricter. If you miss this chance, there won’t be another one like it." Lin Wan wasn’t trying to scare Liang Hongmei; in a few years, it wouldn’t be this easy to get a diploma.
"But... but I didn’t even go to school. How can I compare with others?" Liang Hongmei was tempted by the two kids’ words but still felt uncertain inside.
"Even though you haven’t been to school, the knowledge you’ve gained through self-study in the past year is not inferior to theirs."
"Mom, since you’re already enrolled, they won’t refund the money. I’ve already spoken to the school’s teacher, and you’ll start classes tomorrow afternoon." Lin Yinghui hurriedly added fuel to the fire, afraid that his mom might back out.
"Starting tomorrow... even in winter?" Liang Hongmei’s heart was unsettled. For more than half her life, it was the first time she was going to school, and it was all arranged by her son and daughter. She felt uneasy about starting school at such an age; isn’t it embarrassing?
Lin Wan wasn’t giving Liang Hongmei a chance to back out. She quickly rode home, bringing back unused school supplies and a stationery box for Liang Hongmei.
"Mom, you can ride my bike. I’ve been using the tricycle lately, and after buying groceries in the morning, I ride straight home in the afternoon. The bike is mostly just sitting at home."
"This is part of your dowry. It’s only been a few months, and you’re already sending it to your mother’s home. If you’re not riding it, leave it at home to avoid people gossiping. Besides, I can’t ride a bike."
"The school is far from home, so it’s more convenient to ride a bike. Little sister, you take Mom to school tomorrow. I’ll talk to a classmate at school and see if she can find a second-hand women’s bicycle. Then, Mom can practice at home first."
Tonight’s first class was Li Liang’s. Lin Wan didn’t hurry to leave. She pushed the bicycle to find a spacious place in front of the store and taught Liang Hongmei how to ride.
Liang Hongmei felt that she should learn to ride a bicycle. Seeing people her age or older riding bicycles on the street made her envious.
Back in the village, forget about riding a bike; out of dozens of households, only the village chief’s family had two bicycles, and they cherished them, never letting anyone borrow them. (My mother-in-law said that back then in the village, my father-in-law had a good friend whose family was the only one with a bike, and they were afraid of it getting damaged even if someone touched it, let alone borrowed it. Haha.)
When she first ventured out with Xiao Wan, she felt nervous and unsure. Now, looking at the changes in their family over the past year and a half, she had to admit that life in the big city was indeed lucrative.
In just a year and a half, they had several thousand in savings. Her daughter got married, and she could even go to school herself.
When Lin Wan took Liang Hongmei to school the next day, Liang Hongmei wore a dark green woolen coat Lin Wan made for her, and she specially put on her rarely worn leather shoes.
The outfit made her look no different from city women. Liang Hongmei was naturally good-looking, and although she’d be forty after this year, the past year in the kitchen, the steam made her skin smooth and tender, looking like she was in her thirties. She didn’t look old at all.