The teacher's guidance had both kids listening with fascination.
Zhao Zhitong felt energized all over; she wanted to jump up and pull the teacher around in circles right then.
Qiao Muchen's eyes also sparkled with light, he saluted and said: "Thank you, teacher, I will certainly remember your teachings."
Seeing Qiao Muchen salute the teacher in gratitude, Zhao Zhitong quickly imitated, clasping her small hands and, in a childish voice, said: "Tongtong also remembers today's teachings from the teacher."
Mr. Meng stroked his beard and smiled with satisfaction.
Suddenly, as if making up his mind, he looked at Zhao Zhitong and asked: "Girl, would you like to study with the teacher?"
Zhao Zhitong was puzzled by the question: "I'm already studying with the teacher."
Mr. Meng laughed and said: "I mean, would you like to sit in the classroom like other students and study with the teacher?"
Zhao Zhitong's eyes instantly lit up with little stars, her little head nodding like a chick pecking rice: "Oh, you're talking about going to school! I'm willing, I'm willing; my mom said, once the family earns money from tofu, she'll send me to school. I'm so happy when I heard that."
Mr. Meng chuckled happily at this. Initially, he lamented that Zhao Zhitong was born the wrong gender; if she were a boy, with good education, she would surely achieve great things in the future. But unfortunately, she was born a girl.
Later, the more he interacted with this girl, the more he lamented, and after lamentation, he began to ponder frequently whether he would regret it for life if he let this girl remain buried in this village.
In this world, if a girl achieves success, there is nothing wrong with it. He was now near old age; why stick to gender and miss such rare talent?
That would really be living life in reverse.
Hence, he developed the idea of having the girl enter school and learn, but he was not the girl's parent; he needed the parent's consent.
Now, hearing her say this, he couldn't help but feel gratified; it seems the girl's parents are also wise people.
Thinking of this, Mr. Meng rubbed Zhao Zhitong's little head and said: "Alright, girl, go tell your parents not to wait; have them find a suitable time and take you to school to learn from the teacher."
Upon hearing these words, Zhao Zhitong was so happy she didn't know how to express it, staring blankly at the teacher.
At her side, Qiao Muchen was also happy for Zhao Zhitong, even though he viewed Zhao Zhitong as a rival.
However, the teacher said, 'In a group of three, one can be my teacher.' He felt that studying with a competitor allowed him to learn the strengths of his opponent and avoid her weaknesses for better improvement.
He chuckled for half a day, then saw Zhao Zhitong unresponsive, he turned her way, finding her smirking foolishly at the teacher.
He hurriedly stretched out his small hand, poking her to remind: "You should thank the teacher."
"Ah, oh." Zhao Zhitong snapped back, took a glance at Qiao Muchen, and quickly saluted the teacher: "Thank you, sir, oh, thank you, teacher."
Mr. Meng stroked his beard, nodded with a laugh: "Alright, off you go."
The two little ones thanked again and walked out of the teacher's residence side by side.
Because class was about to start, Qiao Muchen went directly to the classroom, while Zhao Zhitong hopped and skipped to the kitchen to tell Sun Mei about the recent occurrence.
At that moment, Sun Mei had already cleaned up the kitchen bowls and chopsticks, planning to go back.
After listening to Zhao Zhitong's explanation, she understood Mr. Meng's intention: he didn't plan to take Zhao Zhitong's tuition, feeling grateful inside.
But she didn't rush to thank Mr. Meng hastily, rather after reminding Zhao Zhitong a few times, she planned to go home and discuss this matter properly with Zhao Dong.
——
So, after dinner that day, Sun Mei didn't rush to prepare tomorrow's tofu but first pulled Zhao Dong aside in the courtyard to talk about Mr. Meng's suggestion to have Zhao Zhitong enroll in school.
Afterwards, Zhao Dong was delighted: "That's great news! Before, we were worried whether Mr. Meng would consent to let our Tongtong go to school; now we can rest assured."
At this point, he suddenly changed his tone: "However, we must not skimp on the teacher's tuition. Today, our tofu sold well; tomorrow, I have invited Shitou and a few others to join me in selling, so money isn't a concern."
Sun Mei nodded repeatedly: "Indeed, we must prepare properly. In ancient times, they placed great importance on teacher-student etiquette, 'A teacher for a day, a father for life,' in terms of rituals, we cannot be careless, or being criticized is minor; mistreating the teacher is major."
Zhao Dong also agreed wholeheartedly: "Yes, yes. After tomorrow's fair, I'll go to the fair to sell tofu. By the way, I'll see, buy some gifts for the teacher, and also get some pen and ink for our Tongtong."
With school coming up, they couldn't do without pen, ink, paper, and inkstone.
Sun Mei deliberated and said: "Honey, look and see if there are any leather goods for sale at the market; buy some back so I can make a knee pad for the teacher."
Zhao Dong found it feasible and nodded in agreement.
At this time, Zhao Zhitong, listening to their conversation, ran out from the room: "Daddy, when you go to the fair the day after tomorrow, I want to go with you."
Zhao Dong: "What do you want to do?"
Zhao Zhitong hugged Zhao Dong's neck and childishly said: "I want to help daddy sell tofu."
Sun Mei laughed: "You know how to sell tofu? I think you just want to go out and run wild; you really can't sit still."
Sun Mei recollected that previously Zhao Zhitong had never left Zhaozhai Village due to Mrs. Wang's strictness.
Now it's fine; they have separated from the Yuan Family, and now it's just the three of them. Allowing the child to go out and see more is always good, so she agreed.
Receiving her mother's consent, Zhao Zhitong was extremely happy; she took out a piece of paper from the room and stuck it on Zhao Dong to show him the words she learned today.
It was a small sheet with the fifth and sixth lines of the Thousand Character Classic as taught by the teacher today, though the handwriting was slightly immature, not from the teacher's hand.
Sun Mei was curious and asked: "Tongtong, where did you get the paper? Did the teacher give it to you?"
Zhao Zhitong shook her head: "No, Qiao Jiaojiao wrote it; he lent it to me to look at, and I need to return it to him tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Sun Mei recalled when school ended today, she went to the school to fetch Zhao Zhitong and Zhao Zhitong didn't want to go home, insisting on playing with Qiao Muchen, which made her smile.
Sometimes kids are simple; one day arguing fiercely, determined to compete, the next day they have become friends without secrets.
However: "Tongtong, didn't mother say you can't give people nicknames? Now that you're friends, you shouldn't call them nicknames anymore."
Zhao Dong was happily listening to his daughter recite the Thousand Character Classic, received a signal from Sun Mei, quickly laughed, and said: "You're right, your mother is right."
But Zhao Zhitong pouted, humphing discontentedly: "He called me Zhao Zhuangzhuang first today."
Sun Mei: "..."
Zhao Dong: "..."