The tuition fee of one dollar a year, plus the cost of books, is not a small burden for a farmer's family. What's more, children can still get a few points of work every day for pigweed at home, so it's not just a matter of a few dollars.

For the Victory Brigade, which is struggling to even satisfy itself, this is an unnecessary expense.

Cao Manfu put his hands behind his back and looked at the farmland of the Ten Mile Brigade from afar, his eyes full of longing.

"What's the use of studying," he muttered, shaking his head, "it's useless to read to the end, and it's useless to study in the city...... In the end, it's not about coming to the countryside to earn food. ”

Principal Wu listened from the sidelines, his brows furrowed.

She had only heard Wang Hong say that the Victory Brigade was poor, but she had never had an accurate understanding.

For her, reading is the most important thing, and she can't leave it behind no matter what.

But for most people, eating is the most important thing.

Books don't feed them, they just starve them to death.

Principal Wu had made many assumptions and prepared countless drafts to deal with the many problems encountered during the call.

Now, she listened to Cao Manfu's words and looked at his thin and dry face, but she didn't want to say a word.

It's useless.

She knows.

"Alas...... Principal Wu, take a look at this. ”

After seeing off the people of the Victory Brigade, Wang Hong handed a roster to Principal Wu and continued: "I want to go to the list of children who went to study at the Birch Brigade Primary School before I arrived. ”

This roster was found by Wang Hong in the commune, and it was the list of those who paid the tuition fees when the school started last year.

The primary school of the Birch Brigade mainly enrolls children from six production teams south of Lan County.

But none of the children were of the Victory Brigade.

Principal Wu searched several times, trying to find a student's name related to the Victory Brigade through the cracks.

No.

Can't find it.

Wang Hong persuaded a little dryly: "Actually, this is also a helpless thing, I can't eat, how can I let my children study." ”

Principal Wu was silent, not knowing what to say.

She used to work in Lanxian High School, and there were also students with good grades whose parents were not allowed to study anymore because of poor families or other reasons, so she took her teachers to visit and lobby from home to house.

Most of the time it can be successful, after all, the working families in the town can still squeeze out their children's school fees.

But here, Principal Wu has no enthusiasm, but there is nowhere to sway it.

Wang Hong continued: "The commune only gave such a division, but there was no hard request, so Principal Wu ...... Even if the children of the Victory Brigade don't come to school, our school can continue to run it. ”

After a long time, Principal Wu laughed lowly, very weak.

"Yes, even if there is only one student, this school will continue to operate."

She whispered.

Wang Hong looked at her and stopped talking.

Li Dahe was squatting outside the door, smoking, and suddenly, he sighed.

Before Wang Hong could ask him what was wrong, he heard Lin Nianhe's voice coming: "Uncle Captain, you are also here." ”

Li Dahe wiped his face and brushed his hair again: "Why are you here?" ”

"I heard that the fellows of the Victory Brigade are gone, come and see."

Lin Nianhe stopped in front of the brigade department and asked, "Uncle Captain, can I enter?" ”

She originally wanted to come and take a look today, but Li Dahe said that he wouldn't let her come over, as if he was afraid that something would happen to her.

Li Dahe waved his hand and motioned for her to enter.

Lin Nianhe shook his little hand into the door, and when he saw Principal Wu's lonely expression, he immediately understood what was happening.

She also saw several people of the Victory Brigade from a distance today, and it was not difficult to see the predicament of the Victory Brigade from their clothes and figures.

Lin Nianhe looked at Wang Hong and asked her how she was doing.

Wang Hong shook her head slightly.

Lin Nianhe smacked his tongue.

It's a bit tricky.

She stood opposite Principal Wu, bent down on the table, and asked her, "Principal, have you been hit?" ”

Principal Wu looked up at her, and that bright smiling face always seemed to bring hope to people.

She suddenly had some expectations, and said her dilemma very calmly, and then asked her: "Nian He, do you have any way?" ”

Not only her, Wang Hong and Li Dahe also looked at Lin Nianhe, and they all wanted to ask her what bad ideas she had.

Lin Nianhe looked at Principal Wu's expectant gaze, licked his lips, and slowly shook his head.

Of course, there are solutions, such as finding factories or individuals to donate, or simply reducing tuition fees and subsidizing food.

But it didn't work.

Teaching is to teach people to fish, not to unconditionally raise them and let them only know how to reach out and ask for something.

Principal Wu looked at Lin Nianhe and hesitated: "Nianhe, you really have no choice?" ”

Lin Nianhe will shake his head and say no?

Principal Wu didn't believe it.

Wang Hong didn't believe it either, she pulled down Lin Nianhe's cuffs, lowered her voice and said, "Too lacking in virtue and embarrassed to say?" It's okay, you whisper to me, I'll do it. ”

Lin Nianhe: "......? ”

Her idea has to be immoral?

Lin Nianhe didn't want to delve into what kind of image he was in their eyes, but said: "It's useless, for the victory brigade, studying is not a necessity of life, if they can't get rich, they will never be able to let their children go to school." ”

After a pause, she continued: "Even if each family gives them a hundred yuan now, they still won't give a little to send their children to school, they will use the money to repair the house, buy food, buy chickens, buy cloth, or simply get some meat and come back for a tooth sacrifice, and then ...... Keep waiting for the next hundred. ”

"They don't send their children to school because they are poor, and in the future, they will continue to be poor because their children have not gone to school...... And so on until good fortune strikes or is eliminated. ”

Lin Nianhe couldn't tell them that in just a few years, the country would change dramatically. Ten years from now, when these children grow up, going to university will be the easiest way to change their fate in their lives.

She knows the future, and it is not difficult to foresee the future of the Victory Brigade.

Principal Wu looked at Lin Nianhe, and the last glimmer of light in his eyes went out.

Seeing her like this, Lin Nianhe's heart ached.

After a while, she sighed softly and reached out to hold Principal Wu's fingers.

Principal Wu's hands were cold, like ice cubes.

Lin Nianhe coaxed softly: "Principal, don't be like this, that's what I said...... In this way, tomorrow, I will go to the victory brigade to take a walk around and see what the situation is on their side, if the children really want to study, I will find a way, okay? ”

For Principal Wu, Lin Nianhe inexplicably wanted to support her and support her unconditionally.

Before Principal Wu could speak, Li Dahe suddenly spoke: "No, you can't go!" ”

Lin Nianhe was stunned and looked at him blankly: "Uncle Captain, I don't get into trouble, I just go to see." ”

Li Dahe's brows furrowed tightly, and he shook his head involuntarily: "No, no one is allowed to go over, especially female comrades, absolutely not allowed to go!" ”

Lin Nianhe was a little confused.

She had never seen Li Dahe look so serious.

Subconsciously looked at Wang Hong, Lin Nianhe asked her the reason with his eyes.

Wang Hong also frowned, sensing Lin Nianhe's gaze, she just shook her head gently.

As if he knew something, and as if he didn't know anything.

(End of chapter)