Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family-Chapter 1008 - Sincere Invitation

Chapter 1008: Chapter 1008: Sincere Invitation

Chapter 1008 -1008: Sincere Invitation

“I’ve made inquiries. According to the villagers, among the several teachers at ‘Xiyi Academy,’ with the exception of Mr. Meng who happened to be out and thus survived, there was also Elder Mr. Xu who was fortunate enough to be knocked unconscious and dumped into the bushes behind, allowing him to escape with his life. The rest perished in the fire.”

“…”

Everyone sighed heavily upon receiving such an answer.

This fire, though seemingly trivial, claimed so many lives. The children who came here to study were probably the pride of their families. It destroyed the hopes of many households.

“Have you found out where Elder Mr. Xu is living nowadays?”

“The villagers said that Elder Mr. Xu and Mr. Meng both live on the hillside behind Xiyi Academy.”

Having learned the specific address, Liu Sisi naturally hastened there.

Back then, Liu Sisi had said she would have Elder Mr. Xu teaching at the academy within three years, but she never anticipated the chaos of war would disrupt all semblance of normal life.

Nowadays, Xiyi Academy was gone, the academy was gone. But they still had hope and a future.

And today, she had come here to fulfill that long-held wish, to invite Elder Mr. Xu to teach at the academy.

Once she rounded the mountain top, she could see from afar three thatched huts standing midway up the hill.

Only when she drew closer did she find that the area surrounding the huts was planted with numerous vegetables, all thriving with vitality, which brought joy to Liu Sisi who had grown accustomed to desolation.

Approaching the fence that made up the courtyard wall, she peered inside and saw that the courtyard was quiet, without a sign of activity.

There was no door at the main entrance, just an empty doorframe, and as Liu Sisi wondered where to knock, she had no choice but to call out loudly, “Is anyone there? Is anyone here? Is anyone there?”

After several shouts, a voice suddenly called out from behind her, “Who are you people? Whom are you looking for?”

Turning around, Liu Sisi saw an elderly man with snowy white hair carrying a half bucket of water, standing a few meters away from them, looking at them warily.

“You, you are… Elder Mr. Xu?”

No wonder Liu Sisi hesitated to recognize him, as the appearance of Elder Mr. Xu before her had changed too much.

The once meticulously groomed salt-and-pepper hair had completely turned white, carelessly tied into a bun, with a wooden hairpin slanted into it. The long gown he used to wear had been replaced with shabby short clothes covered in countless stains, and he wore a pair of worn straw sandals. He looked emaciated and had lost the vigorous demeanor he once had.

“You are…?”

Elder Mr. Xu clearly did not recognize Liu Sisi.

“I am Liu Sisi, the very Liu Sisi who came several times before to invite you to teach at the academy!” Liu Sisi clarified her identity.

“Oh! It’s you.”

It was evident that the other party breathed a sigh of relief, “Come, let’s go inside and talk more.” He beckoned Liu Sisi and her companions to follow him.

“Thank you so much, Elder Mr. Xu.”

Liu Sisi quickly gestured to the followers beside her to pick up their load.

Elder Mr. Xu did not insist, handed over the shoulder pole to them, and led Liu Sisi towards the house.

“Please wait a moment, allow this old man to wash and tidy up a bit.”

Not long after he went inside, he returned, looking clean and tidy once again. He sat down silently in a chair with a sigh, “I cannot hide it from you, I had gone out today to fetch water and just happened to run into a parent of one of my former students. That’s why I was in such disarray just now.”

Every student from the village school that year failed to escape, leaving only him and Mr. Meng fortunate enough to find a way out, which made it difficult for those families who lost their children to accept.

As such, over the years, both he and Mr. Meng had their fair share of troubles from everyone. Mr. Meng couldn’t bear such days and moved away before the start of the year to find a new place to live, while he insisted on staying here, right up until today.

“The villagers have already told us everything about what happened that year.”

Liu Sisi spoke directly, not trying to hide anything, “The events of that year are something no one would wish to encounter. However, since it has happened, those families making life difficult for you are in the wrong.”

“Right or wrong, wrong or right, what’s the point of arguing about it now?”

Elder Mr. Xu waved his hand, clearly disheartened by the matter. He looked at everyone, “Have you come here today to seek revenge for your family members?”

“No. On the contrary, our visit today is not to make things difficult for you, but to rescue you from the fire pit.”

“Fire pit? Quite a cozy way to put it.”

Elder Mr. Xu laughed wryly, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

“Indeed! Elder Mr. Xu, you must understand that Sisi comes today also because of the events of the past year, sincerely inviting you to join the academy as Vice Dean. I hope you won’t decline.”

Elder Mr. Xu, taken aback, waved his hand with a look of disillusionment, “No need! I already took an oath long ago that I would never teach again.”

“What are you saying, Elder Xu? How can the events of that year be blamed on you? If you give up on those students because of this incident, is that the attitude a teacher should have?” Liu Sisi wanted to continue, but Elder Mr. Xu cut her off,

“Enough! Don’t speak any further, no matter how eloquent you are, my decision is final, and it will not change. Please leave!”

Elder Xu’s face turned steely as he shooed everyone away.

Liu Sisi hadn’t finished speaking when he drove her out.

“Elder Mr. Xu, Sisi is serious! If you agree to go, I assure you that…”

“Go away, go away, go away! Can’t you understand what I’m saying? If you come to bother me again, watch out, I won’t be polite!”

As he spoke, he hustled everyone out of the house and slammed the door shut.

Standing in the courtyard, everyone looked at each other, unsure of what to do next.

“Princess, shall we break down the door?”

One of the followers stepped forward. To them, breaking down the door was a piece of cake.

After thinking for a moment, Liu Sisi shook her head, “No need, let’s go! We’ll talk about it once we’re outside.”

One by one, everyone filed out of the courtyard, retracing their steps up the hillside. Looking back at the three thatched huts standing forlornly mid-hill, they appeared so cold and solitary.

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“What should we do now? Convincing him won’t be easy if we really want to persuade him,” considering the other’s firm stance, which disregarded even the courtesy of not ejecting them.

“It won’t be easy. In the past, Zhuge Liang visited the thatched cottage three times, but what if I, Liu Sisi, visit the thatched cottage four or five times?”

They were famous, she was not.

“Let’s go! We’ll talk more when we get back,” Sisi said, then took the lead.

As they passed several courtyards, they explored a farmers’ small courtyard and gathered quite a bit of news before heading home.