Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 289 - 288: The Character "Liu

Shunzi watched Liu Ji pacing back and forth on the bed with his money bag, and suddenly he wasn’t so envious of Liu Ji’s easy life anymore.

Just because of one hundred cents, it was linked to a man’s dignity. He couldn’t imagine what kind of life his third brother lived on a daily basis.

But it was good as long as he agreed.

Shunzi asked, "Third Brother, when will you be available? The factory is a bit urgent right now."

Liu Ji covered his money bag, sat cross-legged, and asked Shunzi how many students there were.

Shunzi replied, "We are learning voluntarily. If someone doesn’t want to learn, we don’t force them. Those who want to learn just need to pay five cents, so currently, there are twenty people. Third Brother, if you become the teacher, the tuition is all yours."

In other words, the more people attending the class, the more money Liu Ji could earn.

Thinking of this, Liu Ji felt quite regretful. "The tuition fee is only five cents, and there are still people who don’t want to learn?"

Shunzi was also helpless. Poverty is like this—it’s not only the people who are poor, but the spirit is also impoverished.

However, in the past, he definitely would have been one of those with a poor spirit.

Shunzi said admiringly, "This idea was suggested by Manager Qin. She said that as the business grows bigger, we can’t remain illiterate, so we should organize a literacy class to teach everyone to read and learn some basic arithmetic. This way, they won’t be easily deceived when they go out in the world."

When Liu Ji saw the look of admiration in Shunzi’s eyes when he mentioned Qin Yao, he instinctively wanted to scoff at him, but a strange sense of pride welled up inside him.

"Alright, money for work. I’ll prepare, and we’ll start the class the day after tomorrow." Liu Ji pocketed the money bag and waved his hand to signal Shunzi that he could leave now.

Shunzi, worried that he might be careless and unfocused, repeatedly reminded him, "Third Brother, don’t forget!"

Only after Liu Ji impatiently said, "I know!" did he leave.

The four Da Lang siblings immediately ran into their father’s room and curiously asked Liu Ji, "Father, are you going to the factory to be a teacher?"

"Yes, what about it?" Liu Ji looked at the four siblings’ doubtful expressions and dusted off his clothes, pretending to be indifferent, "Your father is at least a child student, wasn’t it I who taught you all?"

The four siblings looked at each other, suddenly finding this father of theirs a bit unfamiliar—he was actually about to do something serious!

Second Lang reminded him, "Father, you can start earning your own money now."

Lying on the bed with limbs sprawled, Liu Ji was taken aback and looked down at his bulging clothes, which concealed a money bag with one hundred cents.

As he recalled the past, he suddenly realized that if those tricks of deception didn’t count as his ability, this seemed to be the first time he had earned money with his own skills!

Liu Ji took a deep breath, sat up from the bed, and looked up, just to meet Qin Yao’s eyes at the door.

She looked at him calmly, not a hint of disdain or urgency in her eyes, just like she was looking at a person.

Liu Ji admitted that this felt nice; he got a bit lost in it.

"While it’s still daylight, I’ll go check on the watermelons in the field, you prepare yourself."

Qin Yao reminded him, "The people at the factory are all older; teaching adults is different from teaching children. Adults have strong self-esteem; it’s best not to teach anything too difficult at first and proceed gradually."

Liu Ji nodded heavily, "Mhm! I’ll start preparing right away!"

After watching Qin Yao take the sickle and head out, Liu Ji immediately stopped the four children who wanted to rush outside to play.

"Sit down, sit down, let’s discuss how to teach these people to read..."

Da Lang and Si Niang felt alright, thinking it was interesting, and Si Niang felt she had a right to speak—after all, she was Jinhua’s teacher!

Second Lang and Sanlang were standing by the door, eagerly listening to Jinbao’s calls from the village.

In the end, it was Liu Ji who gave each of them a copper coin to make them reluctantly stay.

One copper coin couldn’t tempt Second Lang, who now held the financial power over his younger siblings.

These fresh brains worked well; though the four siblings were young, their suggestions were quite practical.

Si Niang said, "Encourage the students, give them confidence, don’t scold or hit them."

Sanlang said, "I like to learn what I’m interested in. Mr. Cheng loves telling stories; I like that."

The other Mr. Ding just liked to teach them history, which was very boring, and they didn’t want to listen.

Da Lang and Sanlang shared the same view: start with learning about things around them, things they want to know and are interested in, so they can stick with it and not quit halfway.

However, Second Lang thought their brother was overthinking, "They’ve paid money, five cents! Even if they don’t want to learn, they have to make themselves study, otherwise it’d be a waste of money."

Liu Ji thought it was reasonable and suddenly understood why the literacy class, despite being able to be free of charge, still charged a symbolic five cents.

With the sunk cost of these five cents, they’d at least get their money’s worth before quitting.

"Alright, you can go play now." Liu Ji waved his hand, signaling the four siblings that they could leave.

He already had a plan, and now he had to prepare the content for the class the day after tomorrow—the children chirping in his ears were just noisy.

Second Lang made a funny face at his father, referring to "use it up and toss it away," which really meant him!

Unfortunately, just as they were excitedly heading out, Qin Yao happened to return from the fields, and sent the four siblings back home.

Qin Yao pointed at the starry sky, "What time is it already? Hurry up and wash up for bed!"

All four siblings slumped their shoulders at the same time, "Ugh~"

Ah Wang had the water ready, and the corners of Qin Yao’s mouth curled up. She set down the watermelon flowers she had picked from the field to wash up.

If the watermelon is blooming, it means it can bear fruit. Up to now, the watermelon growing was considered successful.

Soon, it was time for the literacy class at the factory to start.

Since the workers worked during the day, the literacy class was scheduled for the evening after work.

In summer, it got dark late, with one class a day, each lasting half an hour, and the rest of the time used for commuting home, ensuring they could get back before dark.

The literacy class was a new thing, and on the evening it started, twenty students attended.

Liu Ji walked into the specially prepared classroom in the production workshop holding a wooden board, and upon looking up—oh wow, the whole village was watching!

He stumbled and almost fell flat on his face.

Qin Yao stood with her arms folded and the children in the middle of the crowd, seeing through someone’s pretended calm, a slight smile on her lips.

Liu Ji swallowed quietly before solemnly walking up to the students, who could be called uncle and aunt, set down his wooden board, picked up a charred fire stick, and wrote the character "Liu."

"This is the character ’Liu,’ the ’Liu’ of Liu Family Village, Liu the carpenter’s ’Liu,’ my ’Liu Ji,’ and his ’Liu Daniu’..."

The first batch of students were all from Liu Family Village. As soon as Liu Ji pronounced the character "Liu," the uncles and aunts were immediately energized.

The surrounding villagers watching the excitement also couldn’t help but quiet down, listening to Liu Ji talk about how Liu Family Village came to be.