Chapter 8: How About I Teach You All to Read?

The Wen family home is halfway up the mountain, and fetching water requires a trip to the foot of the mountain. Wen Yuanliang is only a half-grown boy; he can’t even fill a bucket in one go. To fill the water vat, he has to run back and forth a dozen times—it’s enough to wear anyone out! Sun Laifu subconsciously assumed that the Deng woman was refusing to do any work and dumping everything on the child. He stretched his neck to peer into the house, but he didn't see a thing.

Wen Yuanliang wiped the sweat from his forehead, kicked the wicker gate open, and panted, "Uncle Sun, go sit in the main room for a while. My dad went to the fields, or maybe he went up the mountain. In any case, he usually doesn't come back until it's almost dark. My mom is taking care of my younger brother and sister who are sick, so she can't come out."

"Who’s sick? What kind of illness is so serious that your mom can't even step out the door?" Sun Laifu’s voice rose significantly, tinged with faint anger. He was even more convinced that the Deng woman was just making excuses to order Wen Yuanliang around. If the children were truly sick, how could Wen Youshan not have even gone to his house to say a word?

Worried that Sun Laifu would wake his sleeping brother and sister, Wen Yuanliang tugged on his sleeve and put a finger to his lips, shushing him. "Uncle Sun, please keep your voice down. My brother and sister are both in the room; don't wake them. My mom really can't come out. My older sister and second brother have chickenpox and also caught a cold. The doctor said it’s contagious and forbade us from getting close to them. My mom has been in Grandma’s room taking care of them for several days now and hasn't come out. She can only leave the room once they’ve recovered."

"What? That serious? Is it true? Why didn't your dad say anything?" Sun Laifu was so anxious he slapped the table and stood up. Thinking of the chickenpox, he didn't dare rush into the room to check, and he was at a loss for what to do.

Wen Yuanliang nodded firmly. "My dad went to town overnight to fetch the doctor to see them, so there’s no mistake. Mom said the first two days were the most dangerous, but they’ll be much better once all the pox have surfaced. They haven't had a fever for a few days now, so Dad can finally go out to work with peace of mind. It’s just that I can't go out to play; I have to stay home and help."

In the past, if he had been kept at home like this, he definitely wouldn't have been willing, but this time he didn't feel the slightest bit of resistance. He couldn't even figure out why himself.

Sun Laifu patted Wen Yuanliang’s head with relief. Hearing that the children were fine, he sat back down and muttered softly, "I never expected your mom to personally take care of the two children. The sun must be rising from the west!"

It wasn't just Sun Laifu who found it strange; even Wen Yuanliang was surprised. He was still getting used to it, but the feeling wasn't bad. If only his mom could stay like this forever.

Seeing that he wouldn't be able to wait for Wen Youshan today, and since everything at the Wen house seemed normal and in order, Sun Laifu didn't want to waste any more time. As he left, he instructed Wen Yuanliang, "If you need anything, come find me at home. If I'm not there, tell your Aunt Sun, or at the very least, there's your aunt. If you're short on anything, just come to our place to get it."

Sun Laifu and Wen Youshan had grown up wearing the same pair of split-crotch pants; their bond was closer than that of biological brothers, and the two families never stood on ceremony with each other.

Wen Yuanliang nodded obediently and carried the water bucket down the mountain with Sun Laifu.

Staying in Zhang’s bedroom, Chen Ningya naturally heard Sun Laifu’s voice. She smiled helplessly, knowing full well that Sun Laifu had a low opinion of her—or rather, everyone in the village who was good to Wen Youshan had a low opinion of her. It was just that Sun Laifu was more vocal about it. This was understandable; it seemed Wen Youshan had saved Sun Laifu when they were young, and ever since then, Sun Laifu had treated Wen Youshan like a brother. Naturally, he would stand up for his brother if his brother’s wife was acting out of line. It wasn't that he had any malicious intent.

Forget it, thinking about it was useless. From now on, she would live her life well and make the Wen house look like a real home. Time reveals a person's heart; her changes would eventually be seen by someone.

Just as Chen Ningya was lost in thought, Wen Yuanzhen suddenly tugged on her hand, startling her.

"What is it? Do you need to use the chamber pot?" Chen Ningya prepared to get out of bed without a second thought.

Wen Yuanzhen shook her head and whispered, "Mom, don't take Uncle Sun’s words to heart. He doesn't know that you’re different from before."

Chen Ningya was startled, deeply moved by the child’s sensitivity. She smiled and patted her head, saying softly, "Mom doesn't mind; I was just thinking about some things. Alright, I see that you and your second brother are mostly recovered, but since the scabs haven't all fallen off, you can't go out yet. How about this: starting today, Mom will teach you how to read, how about that?"

"Read?" Wen Yuanzhen sat up in shock, her eyes wide as she looked at Chen Ningya in disbelief. "Mom, have you studied before?"

Wen Yuanzhen was already six years old. As the eldest daughter of the Wen family, she used to go to town with Grandma Zhang to buy and sell things. She knew there was a scholar in town who was highly respected by everyone. Some people even had to offer a few pounds of meat and some copper coins just to ask the scholar to name their child. Others sent their children to study under him. She had once asked her grandmother about it out of curiosity.

Grandma said that scholars were like masters, and only by studying and learning to read could one become an official. When she asked if her older brother and younger brother could study, Grandma said that wasn't something their family could dream of—only families with silver could afford to study. After that, she had paid attention for a while and realized there were no scholars in their village at all, let alone people who could read. Even the village chief only knew a word or two. When she asked other little girls, they said they had never heard of such things either. As time went on, she forgot about it. She never expected her mother to be literate.

Chen Ningya nodded naturally and lovingly smoothed Wen Yuanzhen’s hair. "What? Did you want to study before, my big girl?"

Wen Yuanzhen looked at her mother with adoration. She wanted to nod but felt shy, her face flushing as she said excitedly, "I wanted my brothers to study. The scholar in town is so amazing, but Grandma said our family doesn't have the means and shouldn't think about it."

At this, Wen Yuanzhen sighed almost imperceptibly.

Chen Ningya chuckled. "You’re just a little thing, and you’re already sighing! When I was your age, I was as naive as could be. Since you want to learn, Mom will teach you from now on. But while studying doesn't take much physical strength, it is dull and tedious. Once you start, you cannot give up halfway."

Wen Yuanzhen nodded eagerly.

Only then did Chen Ningya feel that this girl was truly like a child.

Action followed thought. That evening, when Wen Youshan returned, Chen Ningya called him over and instructed him through the door, "Make three sand trays for me and the children, and prepare three bamboo styluses for us."

Wen Youshan had just returned from the mountain and hadn't even put down his things. He wiped his sweat, handed his gear to Wen Yuanliang, and asked casually, "What for?"

"The children want to study, so I’m going to teach them how to read."