Volume One, Chapter 18: Teacher Song's Mini Classroom Begins

At that moment, the radio program "Morning Trumpet" officially began broadcasting.

Although the announcer's tone sounded rather affected to Ling Shuang, the clear, bell-like voice felt like a gentle hand, parting the thin morning mist to welcome the warm sunrise and usher in a brand-new day of rural life.

Ling Shuang obediently followed Qiu Ran’s movements, practicing the broadcast calisthenics.

Aunt Qiu Yue from next door, seeing this scene, quickly returned the vegetables she had exchanged and hurried her three little rascals over to join the morning exercise in Ling Shuang’s yard.

Lan Fang and Ying Xue also emerged from the house at some point, silently becoming part of the morning exercise group.

Only after completing a set did Ling Shuang realize how many people had gathered in the yard!

Moreover, the little girl from next door, Ling Cui, was pleading with Qiu Ran, “Teacher Song, can you lead us in this broadcast exercise every day from now on?”

The village children were only vaguely aware of the educated youth sent down to the countryside.

They only knew that the educated youth came from the city, had some schooling, and were literate.

And the teachers at the production team’s elementary school were all educated youth.

So, the children collectively called the educated youth “teacher.”

Besides, Qiu Ran had just led them in exercises, and to five-year-old Ling Cui, that was clearly something only a teacher would do.

She had heard adults say that going to school required paying tuition.

But Teacher Song’s exercises were free!

Plus, they got to listen to songs on the radio—it was so much fun!

If she didn’t have to go home to help tend the fire, Ling Cui wished she could stay at Teacher Song’s house forever!

Faced with the eager eyes of the children, Qiu Ran felt a bit awkward.

She was still new to this household.

Such a big decision was not hers to make...

Qiu Ran looked at Lan Fang, who seemed even more hesitant.

Ling Shuang took the initiative, “The radio belongs to you, sister-in-law. You decide.”

Then she glared at Ling Cui and the others, “From now on, you must listen to Teacher Song! If anyone disobeys, I won’t allow them to join the broadcast exercises!”

The three little rascals nodded vigorously, “Yes, yes, yes!”

“Also, you can come, but like today, you have to be very quiet, no loud noises!” Ling Shuang set the rules. “My eldest brother and Little Lin from the Gu family patrol the mountains at night to protect the village and need quiet rest during the day. If anyone disturbs them, I’ll make sure to punish them severely!”

The three kids covered their mouths and nodded eagerly, “Yes, yes, yes!”

After the exercises, the children dispersed.

But the news of Teacher Song appearing at the Ling Shuang household quietly spread throughout the village.

There were detractors—

“Teacher Song? You mean that nameless, rankless educated youth who married Second Brother Ling—the one named Qiu Ran?”

“What kind of class is she running?”

“Who has the right to open their own class?”

Others quickly responded—

“What’s the point of arguing? She doesn’t charge tuition and even brought out a radio for the kids to listen to. Free lessons—who wouldn’t want that?”

“Exactly! Every morning, a whole bunch of kids buzz around me like flies, making a racket! If you don’t want your kids to go, that’s fine. But if someone’s helping watch over them, why complain so much?”

Some revealed insider information—

“Earlier, the educated youth representative from the team recommended Qiu Ran for the production team elementary school’s Chinese teacher position. But I heard she wants to teach at the middle school level and is in line to apply for a new middle school teaching position. They say the results will come next spring.”

Upon hearing this, the villagers felt even more assured.

“If Teacher Song can teach at the production team elementary school, then she’ll definitely be able to teach our wild kids!”

“You ignorant country bumpkins, how dare you look down on Teacher Song!”

“If you don’t like Teacher Song, then don’t send your kids to the Ling Aodong household! Their yard is small and can’t hold so many people anyway—better for our kids not to be squeezed.”

Some things only become more desirable when everyone wants them.

The more people covet it, the more precious it seems!

Before lunchtime, the Shen family also caught wind of the village news.

Shen Dashan and his eldest son, Shen Yangguang, sat on the kang bed, sharing a small dish of peanuts, chatting and drinking while watching Shen Xiaochuan tap picture cards on the packed earth floor.

These cards were scraps cut from cigarette boxes, and he had tapped them many times already. From a distance, the cards looked greasy and worn, barely turning.

Yet Shen Xiaochuan was determined to conquer them, chasing after the last two cards to flip them over.

He pressed the cards against the corner of the wall, sending up a cloud of dust, causing Shen Dashan to cough repeatedly.

“Xiaochuan! Stop tapping!” Shen Yangguang shouted at his son. “You’re filling the house with dust—you can’t see anything!”

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Shen Dashan waved his hand, smiling at Shen Yangguang. “Xiaochuan is young and has no playmates at home. He relies on these picture cards and his spinning top to pass the time. If you don’t let him play, he won’t stop all day!”

Yangguang glanced toward the window. “His second uncle’s family is doing some gym exercises, right? Everyone’s going. Xiaochuan should go too!”

Upon hearing this, Shen Xiaochuan immediately wailed, “No! I don’t want to go!”

Yangguang frowned. “Why not?”

“That sickly Ling Shuang is sick again. Who would want to go to her place! Grandma said I should stay away from her!”

Xiaochuan’s anxiety caused his upper lip, already chapped, to tear further. He grew more upset and added, “Besides, Aodong hit me! If I go, he’ll beat me to death!”

“What happened?” Shen Dashan sensed something amiss and looked at Yangguang.

Yangguang tilted his head, unconcerned. “Brothers bicker and fight—that’s normal. We three brothers have been at it since childhood.”

“That’s not the same!” Du Juan stormed in through the curtain from the backyard.

“I never said a word when Aodong teased Xiaochuan before! But this time, Aodong hired an outsider to beat up our Xiaochuan!”

Du Juan cried as she approached Shen Dashan. “Dad! Yangguang doesn’t want a conflict between our families, so he endured it! Our son was beaten so badly, yet he won’t tell the truth!”

“But I feel so sorry for Xiaochuan! No matter how naughty he is, he’s only nine years old!”

“But Aodong found some teenager to beat him up!”

Yangguang’s face twisted into a scowl. “What’s all the fuss about? It’s just a busted lip. It’ll heal in a few days. Is it worth all this crying?”

Du Juan held her neck stiffly and insisted, “No! This time it’s only a busted lip, but if we don’t stand up for Xiaochuan, who knows what will happen next time? Yangguang! Xiaochuan is your own son! Are you going to watch him get beaten to death before you admit that Aodong is wrong?”

Smack!

Shen Dashan slammed his hand on the small table, scattering peanuts everywhere.

“Yangguang! Go and call Aodong here for me!”