As expected, Zhou Xiaoyun's proposal was unanimously opposed by her parents.

  "What did you say?"

  Zhou's father was somewhat incredulous, never expecting that his eldest daughter, who had always been quiet and reserved, would say something like wanting to go to school. In his opinion, Zhou Xiaoyun, although a bit taller, was still just a six-year-old kid after all. Even Dabao, who was nine years old and in the first grade, didn't understand that not studying was not knowing how to study seriously.

  "There's still a month left before school starts, I want to go to school."

  Zhou Fu felt that today's Zhou Xiaoyun was somewhat different, sitting upright at the big table, speaking like a little adult. He couldn't help but feel some joy and pride, as if thinking "my daughter has finally grown up", however, this feeling did not affect his decision:

  "You're only six years old, what do you know about reading books? Stay at home and take care of Xiao Bao and Er Ya, and when you have nothing to do, you can help your mother herd ducks. Whose child doesn't start school until they are eight or nine?"

  There is still another point that has not been mentioned, and tuition fees are also a considerable burden.

  At that time, the tuition was about 10-20 yuan per semester. This amount of money was not a lot, as he could earn only 3-4 yuan by slaughtering pigs for others outside, and the eggs collected from their chicken coop at home were sold for just over 2 yuan per week.

  Zhao Yuzhen also echoed: "Yes, after two years, Da Ya."

  Zhao Yuzhen's views were similar to those of her father-in-law, and the traditional rural idea of valuing boys over girls also led her to neglect her daughter's education. In her opinion, as long as her daughter was diligent with household chores, could take care of her younger siblings, and knew some basic handicrafts like knitting, it didn't matter if she read a few more or fewer books.

  At that time, school was just a slightly higher place for children to play, and parents as well as teachers didn't take going to school seriously.

  Zhou Xiaoyun wasn't surprised at all to hear such words, because she grew up listening to this kind of talk.

  "What's the point of not being held back a grade?" "Don't do your homework, take your sister out to play" "Tomorrow we need to harvest wheat at home, don't go to school" and so on. It was this kind of environment, attitude, and education that made Zhou Xiaoyun, who had a relatively smart mind, always have average grades, and she ended her school career after graduating from junior high school and entered society early.

  If she hadn't entered the factory and started working early on, how would she have fallen in love, gotten married, and given birth to a daughter so early?

  Zhou Xiaoyun attributed her failed life to this one point, that a misstep in childhood led to every subsequent step being wrong. Now she wants to steer her life onto a broad and smooth road.

  "Dad, I really want to go to school. I stay at home every day and feed the ducks. I've already learned how to count: 1, 2, 3, …"

  Zhou Xiaoyun has already counted up to twenty-three.

  "Not bad," said Zhou's father, his eyes shining brightly. A six-year-old child can understand what? She can even count! The eldest daughter couldn't count as smoothly as her. "My daughter Zhou Guoqiang is really smart, just like me when I was a kid." He started bragging to himself, reminiscing about how he was also a clever kid back then.

  Zhou Xiaoyun's family affairs were all managed by Zhao Yuzhen, but the truly important "big things" were still decided by Zhou's father. Zhou Xiaoyun naturally knew who to work hard for.

  Zhou Xiaoyun recited two more Tang poems, the famous "Ge Ge Ge" and "One Go Two Three Li", which delighted Zhou's father so much that he couldn't close his mouth, praising his daughter for being clever. His mind, which had previously been hesitant about letting her attend school, began to waver, thinking that since the child was clever and eager to learn, he might as well let her go to school.

  Zhao Yuzhen felt strange, Zhou Xiaoyun had been hovering around her all day, and she had never seen her recite poetry before: "Dai, when did you learn to recite poetry? I've never seen you study it before."

  "Brother practiced at home and I listened twice then I learned it."

  The big treasure who was mentioned didn't know how the matter of his sister going to school got dragged onto himself, and he looked bewildered. In his heart, he kept thinking about when he had recited these two poems at home, it seemed like, it seemed like, he couldn't even recite them properly now:

  "I still can't......!"

  Zhou Xiaoyun quickly glanced at him, her eyes conveying many meanings.

  At this time, Da Bao's brain also brightened up and felt that he couldn't ruin his sister's reputation. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to play so happily in the future. Wherever he went, he would be followed by three annoying little brothers, and letting them loose for two hours at a time was unbearable.

  As for how Da Bao came up with this, it's all thanks to Zhou Xiaoyun's "warning" gaze.

  Dabao didn't quite understand what warnings and threats were at this time, but his intuition made him choose to help his sister out: "Maybe it was me who recited it at home and was overheard by Daliao." Heaven knows when he had ever recited it.

  His father rubbed his chin thoughtfully for a moment and hesitated before saying: "But..."

  "Dad, I promise to help mom take care of Xiaobao and Er Ya every day after school. When I have time, on Saturdays and Sundays, I'll go let out the ducks. Just let me start school and attend first grade!"

  Zhou Xiaoyun raised her right hand like a boy scout taking an oath, unaware that at the age of six she was making such a comical gesture.

  Zhao Yuzhen burst out laughing, "This dead girl, learned from her father, a set of tricks, if not for the sake of the child's will!"

  It's probably because mothers are soft-hearted, thinking that the eldest daughter has always been honest and obedient, not to mention anything. At home, the eldest treasure is mischievous and naughty, the second treasure is weak and difficult to take care of, and the third treasure is young and needs to be taken care of. Only the eldest daughter is the most worry-free and never bothers with anything. Relatively speaking, she also receives the least attention, now thinking about it, Zhao Yu Zhen's heart feels a little guilty again.

  No choice, too many children. At home, there are over ten mu of land, a courtyard full of chicken and duck coops, and pigs. All the household chores have to be done by her. Sometimes, Father Zhou even goes to help people in the surrounding villages slaughter pigs, and when he's busy, he can't take care of things at home.

  Zhao Yuzhen is busy from dawn till dusk every day, how can she have so much idle time on her hands for the child?

  Zhou Xiaoyun was overjoyed when she heard Zhao Yuzhen's words, and rushed into her arms. "Mom, you're the best! You're the best mom in the world!"

  Er Ya didn't understand what her sister was saying, and in a soft voice, she imitated: "Good mommy, good mommy."

  Now, Father Zhou also smiled and agreed reluctantly, thinking that there was still a month before school started, he could run more and kill a few more pigs, if not, he could sell some of the grain at home, and he would be able to earn enough for Da Bao and Da Ya's tuition.

  Zhou Xiaoyun laughed so hard that her mouth couldn't close, and she laughed and shouted with Dabao. For a moment, the Zhou family's thatched cottage was filled with deafening cheers and laughter.