Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Free Enrollment

one The setting sun slowly disappears from the peaks of Shaoshan Mountain, and the greenery of the mountain is covered with rouge.Down the mountain, among the green trees and green bamboos, there is a 13-room mud-brick and blue-tiled house. There is a pond in front of the house. Spring grass grows beside the pond, and the small lotus in the pond shows its sharp corners.The rape blossoms in the mountains in the distance are in full bloom, golden, mixed with green trees and fresh peach and pear blossoms, and the smoke from cooking is everywhere. On the house yard, a middle-aged woman was holding a small bamboo dustpan to sow grain and feed the chickens. Following her crowing, more than a dozen chickens scrambled to grab the grains.Not far away, an old man wearing a melon cap and jacket was sitting on a bench, beating on a plow.At this moment, a pleasantly surprised voice came, "Mother! Mother! Big brother is back, big brother is back!" A thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy ran over barefoot while shouting.

The middle-aged woman raised her head in amazement, and saw behind the boy, Mao Zedong carrying a blue cloth luggage bag and holding an umbrella, striding forward, and shouted from a long distance: "Mother—mother—" This woman is exactly Mao Zedong. Wen Qimei, the mother of his mother, two lines of tears burst out of her eyes immediately. She murmured: "Shi Sanyazi? My Shi Sanyazi..." With a shaking of her hand, the little bamboo dustpan fell to the ground.Flocks of chickens swarmed up, scrambling for grain. "Go, go, go..." The old man who was repairing the plow rushed forward, hurriedly drove away the chicken, picked up the bamboo dustpan, and put it on the bamboo stand beside him.At this time Mao Zedong put down the luggage in his hand and called to him: "Father." Mao Yichang glanced at him and said: "You know that you are back." He still went to repair the plow by himself.Wen Qimei hurriedly wiped away her tears, and said, "Quick, Zemin, help your elder brother bring your luggage in." The young man agreed, and Mao Zedong hurriedly said, "No need." He picked up the luggage and went into the house.

After the family had dinner, Wen Qimei sent the two children, Mao Zetan and Mao Zejian, to bed, and sat with Mao Zedong at the door of the kitchen.One was mending Mao Zedong's torn cloth shoe, the other was peeling beans, peeping quietly at Mao Yichang's expression from time to time. There is an old-fashioned copper hanging pot hanging on the "crackling" burning firepit in the room.Mao Yichang sat on a bench next to the fire pit, put the tobacco pot close to the flame, lit the shredded tobacco, the dancing flame illuminated his wrinkled face, he puffed out a long puff of smoke, under his frowning eyes, his gaze Stubborn.After a while, I finally asked, "What university are you talking about?"

Mao Zedong added cautiously: "Peking University is the former Imperial University." Mao Yichang slammed the cigarette pot on the stool, "I don't care what you call the Golden Teachers University or the Silver Teachers University. In a word, what is it?" Don’t make up your mind at school! 150 yuan? Thank you for being able to speak out! You treat this family as a golden mountain, and you will be defeated by a prodigal son!” Mao Zedong looked down at his father and said, "I'm reading, not wasting it." When Mao Yichang heard this, he became even more furious. He pointed at his son with a cigarette pot and said, "You still have the nerve to mention reading! What ghost book are you reading? Hmph! "Wen Qimei hurriedly said: "Oh, why don't you speak up, you lose your temper as soon as you open your mouth, San Yazi just walked in..."

Mao Yichang glared at her, "Don't talk so much! It's you who spoiled him!" Wen Qimei quickly fell silent and continued to mend the shoes in her hands. But Mao Yichang became more and more angry as he spoke, "I heard from you earlier that he wouldn't look like this. You can see for yourself. A twenty-year-old man can't do both civil and military skills. He travels here and there all day long. , you only know how to spend money but don’t know how to make money! You, a mother, have been used to it since childhood..." Mao Zedong raised his head: "Father! If you scold me, you can scold me. Why are you scolding my mother?" Mao Yichang stared: "This family is still in charge of me. I can't scold you? You still talk back! Do the math yourself. What kind of famous things have you learned in reading and studying? You can’t stay in Dongshan Academy and go to the provincial capital, but I let you go, what about you? If you can’t study for a few days, you drop out of school, why don’t you go to the army!”

Mao Zedong muttered: "Then you were a soldier before..." Mao Yichang blocked his son back with one sentence: "I have nothing to eat when I am a soldier! You have nothing to eat? You have food and drink, and I will provide for your ancestors." I’ll give you the same credit, you go to be a soldier! Good iron doesn’t make nails, and a good man doesn’t serve as a soldier, haven’t you heard this saying?” "Aren't I not a soldier now?" Mao Zedong breathed a sigh of relief.Mao Yichang ignored him, filled another pot of shredded tobacco, approached the fire pit to light it, took a sip, sat back on the stool, and then said: "That's true! You are no longer a soldier. You said you want to study, but what happened? Today you want to study." I am quite happy to enter a business school to learn to do business. I promise you, I will give you money to enroll, and if you do not understand any English after two days of study, you will drop out of school. Tomorrow, you will go to a soap school to learn how to make soap, and I promise you again. , I will give you money to sign up again; the day after tomorrow you will go to the police school to learn to be a policeman; the day after tomorrow you will go to some jurisprudence school to study law and become a judge; a letter will come in two days and you will go to Provincial No. 1 Middle School again...you do the math , In less than half a year, you have changed many schools? Which school have you stayed in for a full month? Do you study? What ghost books do you read? It is true that you treat me like a ghost!"

Mao Zedong didn't seem to realize that his father's patience was reaching its limit, so he interrupted and said, "Those schools are not good." This time it's different, this is Peking University, the best university in China..." Mao Yichang interrupted him: "Don't play the piano with me! Which school did you not talk about at the beginning? Which school do you continue to study? Changsha has read it all, it is not fun, and you want to go to Beijing again, change to a bigger place Are you playing? You, I have seen it through, from now on, don’t mention anything about studying to me again!”

Wen Qimei, who had been burying her head in mending shoes, couldn't help but raised her head again and said, "Shunsheng, it's not a bad thing that Sanya wants to study..." Mao Yichang turned his head and said sharply, "I beg you, please shut up!" Wen Qimei had no choice but to remain silent again, looking at the repaired shoes, packing up the thimbles, needles and threads. Mao Yichang turned back and said to Mao Zedong: "I tell you, you don't want to leave when you come back today. The Tianhecheng Rice Store in Yintian City is my regular customer. They have given Tianda a big face and are willing to accept you. Go to be an apprentice, you will go with me tomorrow, and from now on, you will be an apprentice there honestly, and after three years of study, you will take over Lao Tzu's foot!"

Mao Zedong turned his head: "I won't go!" "Don't you dare! Let me tell you, I used to let you go, which made you so worthless. This time, it's a certainty. You have to go, or you have to go!" Mao Yichang beat with a cigarette stick He pointed a stool, "Also, I will arrange for you to be the daughter-in-law of the Luo family when you are 14 years old. If you procrastinate until now, you can afford it, but the woman can't afford it. When you go to Tianhecheng to worship the teacher , just come back and consummate the wedding for me, and from now on, you will get married, start a family, farm and start a business, and it will save you from thinking wildly all day long, and spending the rest of your life fooling around outside!"

When Mao Zedong heard the words, he stood up abruptly, and Mao Yichang stared and shouted, "What are you doing?" "I don't want money anymore, I'll go back to Changsha tomorrow!" "Say it again!" "I will go back to Changsha tomorrow, and I will never come back again!" "It's against you?" Mao Yichang picked up the tobacco stick and chopped it over. Mao Zedong flashed, and the tobacco stick hit the bench and broke in two.Mao Yichang easily picked up the tongs by the firepit again, pounced on it, and cursed: "How dare you talk back? Talk back? I'll beat you to death, you disobedient thing..."

He swung the pokers and beat him up and down. Although Mao Zedong dodged here and there, he was still hit twice.Wen Qimei and Mao Zemin were so frightened that they rushed up and stopped Mao Yichang.Wen Qimei shouted: "Oh, what are you doing? Put it down! It's made of iron, do you know..." In the chaos, Ze Tan and Ze Jian next door were also awakened, rubbing their sleepy eyes and standing outside the kitchen door.Just at this moment, there was a crash, which startled everyone. It turned out that Wen Qimei's small bamboo plaque for needlework was overturned by Mao Yichang with a pair of tongs, and the thimble inside was flattened.Ze Jian, who was only six years old, was so frightened that he burst into tears and cried, "Father—" Mao Yichang panted heavily, and pointed at his son, "Listen to me, go back to the room, cover your head and try to be innocent! If you dare to run, I will knock your legs off!" Mao Zedong snorted, but was caught by his mother. Pushed and persuaded into the bedroom.Mao Yichang found a lock, and when Wen Qimei came out, he locked the door with a "click". That night, Mao Zedong lay on the bed, tossing and turning, but he still couldn't calm down. After an unknown amount of time, a slight noise suddenly came from the window sill. Mao Zedong jumped up and rushed to the window, where he saw Zemin prying on the window outside.The two brothers had a tacit understanding, one inside and one outside, carefully pushing together, the window was pried open.Mao Zemin gestured to him and said in a low voice, "Brother, Dad is asleep, be careful." Mao Zedong nodded, and quickly climbed up the window. Just as he poked his head out of the window, he saw his mother standing outside the window, and hurriedly called, "Mother?" The mother and son left home lightly, and when they arrived at the entrance of the village, Wen Qimei handed a blue cloth package to Mao Zedong, carefully took out a handkerchief bag from her arms, took out a few silver dollars inside, and stuffed it in. : "Your mother doesn't have much money. This is saved without telling your father. That's all. Mother is useless in this life. If you want to go to that university, mother can't help you. If you want to study, you can find a A cheaper school." Mao Zedong was stunned for a while, took the silver dollar, felt a lump in his throat, and didn't know what to say.Wen Qimei caressed her son's face, and said softly: "If you are alone outside, you have to take care of yourself. You have to eat enough, and remember to add clothes when you are cold. Don't be too hard on yourself. If you have any difficulties, just write back. Mother can help you find a solution. Your father is also doing it for your own good, but he is just impatient. Don’t blame him. After a while, when his anger subsides, you can write a letter and come back to confess your mistake to him, and you will be fine, ah.” Mao Zedong listened blankly, nodded and said, "Oh, I remember." "Okay, let's go, your father woke up late, and he can't go anymore. Let's go." Wen Qimei pushed her son, but her eyes were red. Mao Zedong finally held back his tears, took a long breath, and said to Zemin beside him: "Second brother, I'm leaving, you take care of mother at home." He just turned around and took a few steps, when Wen Qimei's voice came from behind him: "San Yazi, remember to take the main road, don't take the small road on the mountain, there are wolves on the mountain at night." Mao Zedong couldn't bear it anymore, turned around and rushed to his mother, knelt down on the ground, choked up and said: "Mother, my son is not filial, I can't stay by your side, I'm sorry..." Tears gushed from his eyes out. Wen Qimei hugged her son, patted him on the back, and urged: "Okay, don't cry anymore, mother knows you are filial. I, Shi Sanya, am a promising person, and I want to do great things. Mom, I don’t want you to watch over me. Don’t cry, let’s go quickly, be obedient, let’s go.” Mao Zedong kowtowed vigorously to his mother, wiped away his tears, stood up and left. After walking a few steps, he suddenly froze. Under the big tree not far ahead, his father Mao Yichang was actually standing in the middle of the road. Both Mao Zemin and his mother were stunned, not knowing what to do for a moment.Mao Zedong and his father looked at each other. In silence, the two seemed to be trying to see who was more stubborn than the other.Finally, Mao Yichang lowered his head and walked over slowly with his hands behind his back.Seeing his father walk past him with a livid face, but he didn't even look at him, Mao Zedong's nose suddenly became a little sore. At this moment, a small package fell directly at his feet, and there was a loud tinkling sound on the ground, and the moonlight sprinkled The silver dollars all over the place are shining brightly. The mother and son looked at each other in blank dismay.I only heard Mao Yichang say coldly: "You have heard what your mother and father said. What kind of university does the young master go to? No wonder the family doesn't provide it for you. Find a cheap school by yourself. If you can't get in, just give it to me honestly." I'll get back!" While talking, he walked straight to the house without looking back. Seeing the direction in which his father disappeared, Mao Zedong suddenly felt hot.He squatted down, stretched out his hands bruised by his father's tongs, and picked up the silver dollars on the ground one by one.While groping, he stopped suddenly—in the package his father threw him, besides silver dollars, there was actually a bottle of diarrhoea!He stood up suddenly and cried out: "Father, I remember, I will read a trick!" two From Shaoshan in Xiangtan to Changsha, it takes about 150 miles of water.Mao Zedong returned to Changsha by boat. It was already the evening of the next day. He got off the boat and came to the residence of the Xiao brothers.Just as he sat down, Xiao Zisheng was about to speak, but Xiao San rushed to ask: "Brother Run, last time we talked about taking the Peking University exam together, did you decide?" "I'm here this time to tell you about this. Well, when I went home and said that it would cost 150 yuan to go to Peking University, our old man was furious. Oh, I almost forgot, I'm here to pay back the money Excuse me, borrowing and repaying, it is not difficult to borrow again." Mao Zedong took out the money, while telling the story of himself being beaten and running away overnight, and finally said: "The money given by the old man is not enough, I am now I don't know how to do it." Xiao San laughed loudly, and said, "Your old lady is really interesting." Xiao Zisheng listened to the two of them quietly, without saying a word.Mao Zedong asked: "How are you two, is there anything you can do?" Xiao Zisheng sighed and took out two things from his arms, a letter and a newspaper.Handing the letter to Mao Zedong, with a solemn expression, he said: "Zijun should also read it." Xiao San was stunned for a while, and when he leaned on Mao Zedong's back to read, it was a letter from his family, which wrote: "Zisheng, Zijun My son, your father went out to raise money for your tuition yesterday. He suddenly suffered from dizziness, an old disease, and even injured his right foot. The family’s livelihood has been quite poor in recent years, and this accident happened again? The letter said to apply for a study at Peking University Miscellaneous expenses, I'm afraid it's hard to prepare..." Xiao San's expression changed suddenly, and he said: "When did mother come to the letter, brother, why didn't you tell me earlier." Zisheng ignored him and said, "My father is sick like this. As sons, it's okay if we can't share the family's worries. Why are we talking about going to Peking University? Normally, if something like this happens in the family, we brothers should go home and do our best." Filial piety, you shouldn't think about studying anymore. But my father has worked hard all these years, and what he hopes for is that we have a decent future. If he says not to study now, he will definitely not agree." Xiao San opened his mouth wide and said, "Then what should we do?" Zisheng pushed the newspaper in front of the two of them. On it was an admissions advertisement for the Hunan Province Public No. 1 Normal School. Another allowance" is extremely eye-catching. Mao Zedong suddenly understood, laughed and said, "You want to study in a teacher's school that doesn't cost money?" "Aside from this, is there any other solution?" Zisheng smiled wryly, "Actually, the teacher's school is also good, and it doesn't need money, and there is nothing to worry about when you come out. Besides, besides the five-year undergraduate course, the first teacher also has There is a two-year lecture course, and I am thinking of graduating early to work, and after two years of study, I can come out and help my son, which is not bad." Xiao San was silent for a while, and said: "Brother, you are better at reading than I am. I should go to take the lecture course, and you should study for undergraduate." "Am I the eldest brother or are you the eldest brother? Don't mention this matter." Still holding the newspaper in his head, Mao Zedong asked, "Runzhi, you haven't paid enough for your tuition, have you thought about what to do next?" Mao Zedong didn't seem to have heard his words, and suddenly said out of nowhere: "'Teacher Mao'? Hey, do you think the word 'Teacher Mao' is easy to pronounce?" Look at the Xiao brothers. Confused, Mao Zedong continued: "I mean, if I go to teach and stand on the podium, shouldn't those students shout 'Hello, Teacher Mao'?" "You want to take the exam too?" Zi Sheng and Xiao San finally understood, and the three of them looked at each other and burst out laughing. three The Xiangjiang River meanders from south to north and passes through the city at Daximen, dividing Changsha City into east and west parts.Since the opening of Changsha in the 30th year of Guangxu (1904), the Daximen Ferry has become the most prosperous ferry in Changsha. In the early morning of this day, next to the long stone steps of the ferry, the meticulously dressed Ji Mohong was sitting on a chair, with his feet crossed for someone to shine his leather shoes, while reading a newspaper. Admission Notice".The person who polished his shoes was a boy of seventeen or eighteen years old, tall and thin.He was so absorbed in reading the newspaper that he forgot what he was doing.Ji Mohong obviously felt it, he suddenly moved away from the newspaper, and shouted at the young man, "Hey, are you still wiping it?" The boy's name is Cai Hesen, from Xiangxiang, Hunan. Cai Hesen was taken aback, and he was busy with his hands and feet: "Wipe, wipe, it will be ready soon... Sir, it's finished." Ji Mohong looked at the polished shoes, stood up, took out two copper coins and handed them out.Cai Hesen blushed and said softly, "I don't want your money. Sir, can you give me this newspaper?" Ji Mohong froze for a moment, looked at the young man in front of him, wearing a school uniform, which was neatly patched, and asked, "The shoe polisher still reads newspapers? Do you know how to read?" Cai Hesen nodded. Ji Mohong's serious face suddenly burst into a smile, and he handed the newspaper to Cai Hesen, "Take it. Poor and studious, poor and strong, I like young people like this the most." Cai Hesen quickly thanked, squatted on the ground, and seriously I read the newspaper intently, but I didn't hear the high-pitched siren on the pier. The ship docked, and passengers poured out one after another. Xiang Jingyu got off the boat slowly surrounded by nanny servants, she saw a sedan chair waiting by the side of the road from a long distance away, a man in charge led a lot of servants standing there, frowned unconsciously, and Xiang Jingyu The steward asked: "Si Yong didn't come?" The steward said with a smile: "Miss has something to do at the last minute, and before she leaves, she entrusts the villain to take good care of Miss Xiang." This steward is President Tao's housekeeper, Xiang Jingyu's His father is the president of the Xupu Chamber of Commerce. The Tao and Xiang families are family friends and have frequent contacts. Xiang Jingyu and Tao Siyong have been good friends since childhood. This time Xiang Jingyu came to Changsha to study at Zhounan Middle School. The elders take care of them. The steward said: "Miss Xiang, this is the sedan chair our master prepared for you." Xiang Jingyu waved his hand: "Thanks, I don't need it." The steward hurriedly said, "What can I do then? You are Miss Qianjin, how can you have any reason to walk by yourself?" "I just like to walk by myself." Xiang Jingyu ignored him and went straight up the steps.The steward still wanted to persuade him, but the nanny stopped him and said, "Don't be too polite, our lady is just like this, she never sits in a sedan chair, so it's useless to persuade her." The steward was stunned, and the servant who followed behind muttered, "What kind of lady is this?" The steward glared at the servant, and the servant quickly fell silent.The steward had no choice but to wave to the bearer: "Follow up." Xiang Jingyu walked quickly in front. Jing Yu suddenly stopped behind Cai Hesen, she was attracted by the newspaper in Cai Hesen's hand.Cai Hesen turned his head in surprise, but saw a beautiful girl looking at the advertisement in the newspaper in his hand. She was at a loss, and before she realized what happened, the girl squatted down generously. He said, "Hey, can you lend me the newspaper to read?" Cai Hesen had never met such a bold woman. He really didn't know what she was going to do, so he had to hand her the newspaper quickly.The manager followed up and said apologetically, "Miss Xiang, do you want to read a newspaper? I'll buy it for you right now." "No, no, no, am I reading it?" Without looking up, the policeman read the advertisement in a low voice: "'...The day after the newspaper appears, registration will start.' Hey, which newspaper is this?" For a while Flipping around, looking at the date on the headline, without waiting for Cai Hesen to answer, he said to himself: "Today's? That's great!" Seeing that Cai Hesen was looking at herself blankly, she smiled and asked, "Hey, do you want to take the test? Let's take the test together." "The First Division is not a girls' school, how can you take the test?" Cai Hesen I really don't understand why this girl doesn't even know that ordinary schools in Changsha don't recruit girls? "It didn't say in the advertisement that only boys were recruited? Why is that? It's so unreasonable! I thought the provincial capital would be better than the small place, but it's so backward!" Jing Yu stood up, returned the newspaper to Cai Hesen, and rushed to the supervisor. He said loudly, "Let's go, go to the First Normal School!" The steward was taken aback again, the lady made him dizzy, "Aren't you going back to Tao Mansion?" "I'm not going to Mr. Tao's house now, I'm going to the First Normal School!" Xiang Jingyu said in a word, walked a few steps, and then turned to Cai Hesen and said, "Hey, just wait and see, I will definitely follow You take the exam together." Xiang Jingyu came straight to the First Normal School, stepped into the teaching office, and shouted, "Teacher, is this the registration office? I want to apply for the exam." At this time, there was only Yuan Jiliu, a Chinese teacher, in the teaching office. Juren from the Qing Dynasty had a big gray beard, a fat body, and shawl hair that was not long after the braid was cut.It took him a long time to figure out that the hot-tempered woman in front of him was actually going to take the first division exam, and he almost couldn't believe it, "You little girl is going to take the first division exam?" Xiang Jingyu straightened his waist and said loudly: "I am a woman, not a doll!" Yuan Jiliu pushed his glasses on the bridge of his nose without even looking at Jingyu, "Women are not even allowed to take the test! I don’t want any defense anymore, what’s the proper way! Go, go!” Seeing Xiang Jingyu’s face turned pale with anger, the steward next to him hurriedly interjected: “Sir, please be more polite. This is from the chairman’s family. Qianjin..." "I don't care about your thousands of dollars, take them home quickly, and stop making trouble here!" Yuan Jiliu raised his chin and said.At this time, a school official came in, "Mr. Yuan, the principal invites you to a meeting." "Understood." Yuan Jiliu got up slowly, picked up the hookah, and said to the steward as he walked, "Hurry up, hurry up, and don't look at it." Look at the place - this is a school, is the school an occasion for women to come? It's not famous!" "You're not famous, old feudalism!" Xiang Jingyu stomped and scolded Yuan Jiliu's back, and then said to the steward, "Go, please don't come to this kind of place!" She rushed out , squeezed past Yuan Jiliu's back, and walked away.Yuan Jiliu was so crowded that he almost dropped the hookah. He was so angry that he blew his beard and stared at him for a long time before choking out a sentence: "It's just... It's just... The world is going down! The world is going down! Hmph!" Xiang Jingyu arrived at Tao's house holding his breath. As soon as he entered Tao's house, he yelled loudly: "I'm so pissed off, I'm so pissed off! I don't treat women like human beings! I'm really pissed off!" At this moment, a voice outside the door Came, "What made our Miss Xiang so angry?" Tao Siyong stood in front of the door. "Si Yong, you damn girl, you didn't come to pick me up at the pier." Jing Yu shouted, and the two hugged each other, laughing.At this moment, a servant came forward and said, "Miss, my aunt called just now, and she and Master Biao will be there in a while." Si Yong was startled when he heard this, and immediately became impatient, and said, "Got it." But he said to the police: "Go, go and see your room." When the two came upstairs, the policeman watched and told about the rejection of the application for the first division, but Si Yong was a little absent-minded, lying on the bed and said: "Who asked you to go to the boys' school to apply? Actually, Zhou Nan is still a student. It's not the same thing? They're all teachers anyway. I'm really in trouble now." Jing Yu didn't understand what she meant, walked up and down the room, and said, "Then you can't throw me out, can you? Return to Chengnan Academy, a millennium school? It's all old feudalism! Besides, I didn't Saying that I have to enter the first division, I just can't swallow this breath! Who is worse than whom?" Si Yong nodded, and said in agreement: "That's right, if you enter the examination room, maybe those boys can't pass us." When Jing Yu heard this, he suddenly stopped, tilted his head and thought for a while, then looked at Si Yong with a smirk on his face, approached her and said: "If there are two girls, they will quietly participate in a game that is only for boys. You took the exam and got the first place, and then they went to tell those old feudal examiners that the first champion you admitted was the heroine Tao Siyong and Xiang Jingyu, how would you feel at that time?" Si Yong pushed her away and said: "Go, go, whimsical! I don't want to get crazy with you!" "Hey, I'm not joking with you. This time, we just want to show them that women are better than men! Come on, Lagou !" Jing Yu approached him solemnly, and stretched out his hand to Si Yong.Si Yong hesitated, Jing Yu encouraged her with his eyes, Si Yong obviously couldn't bear the instigation, and finally couldn't hold back, the little fingers of both hands were hooked together. At this time, the maid of the Tao family came in and said that the master, wife and young master of the Wang family had arrived.Si Yong was stunned for a moment when she heard the words, stood up reluctantly, looked at Jingyu with a bitter face, Jingyu said with a smile: "Go quickly, don't make people wait, I'm tired, I want to sleep, so don't bother me You guys are dating." Si Yong smiled ambiguously again while speaking, and Si Yong glared at her, before slowly coming downstairs after a while. In the living room of the Tao family, Wang Zipeng, in a suit and leather shoes and wearing myopia glasses, was sitting on the sofa, a pair of delicate hands twisted together subconsciously.He was quite handsome, and he was meticulously groomed from head to toe, but his face was a little pale, and his maid Xiuxiu stood behind him. When Si Yong entered the living room, he was surprised to see that his parents and uncles and aunts were not there, so he had to call Zipeng unnaturally: "Cousin, are you here?" Zipeng stood up, with the same unnaturalness, and squeezed a nervous smile.On the contrary, Xiuxiu obediently called Miss Biao. "Hey, Si Yong," Boss Wang, Mrs. Wang and Chairman Tao came out from the inside, and Mrs. Wang started bluffing, "Zipeng is here to invite you out today, and I've been waiting for you for a long time. We The adults need to discuss something, you children, go out and play." Si Yong looked at the three elders, then at the embarrassed Wang Zipeng, and walked out with a look of reluctance.Zipeng quickly followed out.Xiuxiu picked up Zipeng's scarf almost reflexively, and followed behind Zipeng.Mrs. Wang stared, and scolded: "Axiu, the young master is taking Miss Biao for a walk, what's the matter with you? Go aside." Xiuxiu stopped her pace, returned to her wife, and watched Zipeng go out.I saw Zipeng walking out of the gate behind Si Yong, peeping at Si Yong's expression quietly, just as Si Yong turned his head, he quickly lowered his head again. Si Yong asked him, "Where do you want to go?" "I...whatever." Si Yong said, "Wang Zipeng, when can you make up your mind? Even if it's just a specific place, it's not difficult, is it?" ?” Zipeng wrung his hands nervously, not daring to look at Si Yong.Si Yong looked away and shook his head.At this time, the melodious bell of the church suddenly sounded in the distance. Zipeng seemed to think of something, and said excitedly: "Let's go to the church!" "I heard...you want Zhou Nan to study?" Zipeng finally found a topic.Si Yong nodded and said, "Zhou Nan Girls' Middle School is a teacher's department. There is a friend with me." "Who is it?" Zi Peng had nothing to say. "The daughter of the president of the Xupu Chamber of Commerce, Xiang Jingyu, is called Xiang Jingyu. We made an appointment to study at a normal school together. After graduation, we will be teachers together. By the way, what about you?" Si Yong said. "What about me?" Zipeng was stunned. "What are your plans? Which school do you plan to go to? What do you study? What do you plan to do in the future?" "I, I haven't made up my mind yet." Zipeng said after a while. "That is to say, uncle and aunt have not made arrangements for you, have they?" Zipeng couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed.At this moment the church bell rang again.Zipeng suddenly remembered something, and hurriedly took out his pockets. He took out a lot of change and counted it, but he didn't have enough money, "Si Yong, do you—do you have any change?" Si Yong looked puzzled: "Why do you want so much change?" Zipeng said hesitantly: "I... I'll borrow it." "Master Wang, hey, Master Wang is here...!" At this time, a large group of little beggars saw Zipeng, and surrounded him with a huff, and stretched out small black hands, Zipeng hurriedly held a lot of change Distribute to each child.Amidst the children's "thank you", Si Yong tenderly looked at Zipeng's bright smile when he handed out the change. The children came like a gust of wind, and went away like a gust of wind.When the last child ran away, Zipeng turned his head and met Si Yong's gaze, which was very strange to him.Sitting down on a chair outside the church, Si Yong asked, "You seem to know them very well?" Zipeng sat on Si Yong's left, separated by a person's seat: "Not to mention... I come here often, they are used to it." Si Yong looked at Zipeng, Zipeng was made nervous by her eyes, bow your head. Si Yong pondered and said: "Cousin, there is something I want to tell you. In fact, you are a very good and kind person, but have you ever thought that kindness alone is not enough for a person. You can show kindness , Give these children alms, but what can this change? Can you change their future, can you change their fate?" Zipeng was stunned, obviously he hadn't thought about these questions seriously.Si Yong also said: "There are such children everywhere in China. If you just donate to them and don't do anything for them, then they are like this today, and they will be like this tomorrow. Even their children, their children's children will still be like this. It will be like this. This is why I want to go to normal school and become a teacher." She grabbed Zipeng's slightly pale right hand: "Have you ever thought about what useful things your hands can do for these children and this society? It can make you feel that you are a right person." Someone who is useful to others? Cousin, let's think about these issues, shall we? I'll go first. " Si Yong left, Zipeng stayed there and raised his hand, looking at it as if he didn't recognize him, until the bell rang again, and a group of pigeons flew away from him in surprise, and then he stood up. At noon, Zipeng came home depressed. He mulled Si Yong's words over and over again in his heart. He sat on the balcony and flipped through the newspapers of the day. Xiuxiu who was serving him tea: "Xiuxiu, tell me, am I, Wang Zipeng, a useful person?" Xiuxiu put down her teacup, stood behind the young master, and said, "Young master has read so many books, knows foreign languages, and has such a good heart...You are young master, how can you be useless?" Zipeng put the newspaper in his hand on the table, propped his chin and said, "I am useful? Am I capable of writing or martial arts? I can also work, farm, teach, and heal diseases. What can I do? I am useful to others." What's the use? Other than being a young master, I don't even know how to make a cup of tea, so you have to make it and bring it to me!" Xiuxiu thought that she made the young master unhappy by saying the wrong thing, so she quickly waved her hands and said, "Young master, what's wrong with you? How can you compare to a servant like me? Young master..." "I should compare myself to you. Only after I compare with you will I know that I am a waste, a waste!" With a long sigh, Zipeng picked up the newspaper, read the advertisement on it, and said: " I don't want to be a waste, I will go to a normal school, become a teacher, and teach children!" Xiuxiu looked at the newspaper and suddenly said, "Master, can you give me this newspaper?" Four Liu Sanpai, who sells stinky tofu at the alley entrance of the Xiangxiang Guild Hall, closed his stall today. His son Liu Junqing has been admitted to the School of Law and Politics and is about to report, but how can the family afford the 30 yuan tuition fee?There was really no other way, so Father Liu had no choice but to take his son to the third meeting. The eldest brother Ma Bazi in the hall was leaning on the couch and smoking a big cigarette, and his confidant Lao Liu led several thugs to stand beside him viciously.Ma Bazi puffed out the smoke ring, and said lazily, "Hey, interesting. Borrowing money to pay tuition? I said Liu Laosan, aren't you really stupid?" Liu San's father bent his waist into a bow, and begged in a low voice: "I really can't think of a way, so I asked Ma Ye here. It's only 30 yuan, I will accept any interest, please." "Do you recognize it?" Ma Baozi sat up, stretched long, stared at Liu Sanpai and asked, "What do you recognize? Ah? Just rely on your stinky tofu stall with clear soup and little water?" He asked As he said that, he got off the cigarette couch, came over and patted Liu Sanpai on the shoulder, and said, "Old Liu, listen to my advice from Ma Scar, and give up your heart. Just study for your stupid son. What kind of life have you lived? You can pawn the pawns you can pawn, you get up in the middle of the night, you are greedy for the night, and even your daughter is betrothed to someone else as a maid, are you worth it?" "Junqing can read, he really can read, he used to be the first in the school exam every year." Liu Sanpai hurriedly pulled Liu Junqing, "Junqing, come, you show the school report card to Master Ma, Take it out." This kind of humiliation made the delicate and handsome Liu Junqing very embarrassed. With a sullen face, he shook off his father's hand. "Okay, okay, who cares about that crap?" Seeing Liu Junqing's appearance, Ma Bazi snorted, "I don't understand, what's so good about reading this book? Still being a judge? Master Ma and I I haven’t read a book for a day, and even the judge has to give me three points! Tell you, don’t have that daydream if you don’t have money, the sparrow turns into a phoenix, and it’s not your stinky tofu!” "I beg you, Lord Ma, as long as Junqing enters the school, I will be your cow and horse..." Liu Sanpai still didn't give up, but Liu Junqing couldn't take it anymore, he turned around and left, Liu Sanpai hurriedly pulled他，“俊卿，你回来，快求求马大爷……” 刘俊卿甩掉父亲的手，说：“要求你求，我不求！” 马疤子在身后叫道：“哟嘿，还蛮有骨气？我说小子，真有骨气，就别把你家老头往死里逼，自己给自己寻条活路是正经。马爷我为人义字当先，最是个爱帮人的，要不，上爷这儿来？爷手底下能写会算的还真不多，包管有你一碗饱饭吃。” 父子俩回到家已经是黄昏了，棚屋里已经简陋得没有任何一样值钱的东西。一道布帘将本来就狭窄的房子一分为二，靠外面杂乱地堆满了石磨、竹匾等做臭豆腐的工具，只有一床窄小破旧的铺盖挤在墙角，这是父亲住的地方。布帘另一侧桌椅床铺虽然简单，却还干净整洁，那就是刘俊卿的书房了。刘俊卿气愤地在床头坐下，点亮油灯，看起书来。 忽然门外轻响，秀秀走了进来，她见刘俊卿在那里读书，也不惊动他，只在布帘外悄悄拉了父亲一把，掏出一个布帕递给父亲，小声说：“爸，这是我的工钱。”一时又看布帘里的刘俊卿一眼，说：“那个法政学堂那么贵，一年学费好几十块，我们上哪弄得到这么多钱？” 刘三爹无奈地说：“我想，实在不行，我明天再去求一求三堂会……”秀秀急了，打断父亲的话说：“爸，那种钱借不得，利滚利，要人命的！” “我怎么这么没用？我怎么这么没用？就这么一个儿，我都供不起他读书……”刘三爹抬手猛捶着自己的脑袋，哭着说。 刘俊卿在屋里坐不下去了，他掀开布帘子走出来，紧紧地抱住已是老泪纵横的父亲，叫道：“爸，你别这样，大不了……大不了我不读了。” “怎么能不读呢？你这么会读书，你要读了才有出息，你要当法官的，不读怎么行呢……”刘三爹一把捂住了脸，“都怪我这个当爹的没用，害了我的儿啊……” 刘俊卿兄妹相互看了一眼，不说话，秀秀眼泪止不住地流了下来，半晌掏出了那张报纸，递给刘俊卿说：“哥，这是我找我们少爷要来的，可能，你有用。” Fives 湘江对岸的岳麓山。山下溁湾镇刘家台子的一个小巷子里，用竹篱笆围成一个小院落，院内一间阴暗的小房子里，桌上、地上堆满了火柴盒子和糨糊，斜阳照进来，一个妇人和一个十多岁的小女孩正低头在那里糊着火柴盒。 这个妇人梳着一个大髻，乌黑的头发总挽在脑后，穿一件深蓝色衣衫，虽已极是破旧，但破口处都用花饰掩盖，整洁异常。她面容清瘦，眉角间满是风霜之色，然而举止从容娴静。 “第……八十五页。” 妇人一边报数字，一边手不停地忙碌着。 小女孩手边赫然是一本翻旧了的《西哲诗选》，她看了一眼标题，盖住书，拿起刷子，一面在火柴盒上刷糨糊，口里背诵：“'假如生活欺骗了你，不要愤慨，也不要忧郁。'”她背了这句，停下来，看着那妇人。 “不顺心时暂且克制自己，相信吧，快乐的日子就要来临。” 妇人立时续道，然后看着女孩。女孩也续着，“现实总是令人悲哀，我们的心却憧憬未来。”又停下来。妇人又接道，“一切都是暂时的，它将转瞬即逝。” 两个人你一句我一句，从普希金到雪莱，从哥德到席勒，背个不停。这时一个少年走进了院子，正是蔡和森，他轻手轻脚掀开墙边的破草席，把一个擦鞋的工具箱藏进去盖好，换出自己的书包背在背上，然后擦了擦手上的黑渍，整理好衣服，这才推门进了屋，问：“妈，小妹，今天谁赢了？” “打平！”小女孩放下手里的刷子。她正是蔡和森的小妹蔡畅，那妇人是他的母亲葛健豪。蔡和森放下书包，坐在妹妹身边帮着糊火柴盒，低着头说：“不可能，你能跟妈打平？” 蔡畅得意地说：“今天我发挥得好，不信你问妈。” 葛健豪看着儿子，问：“又这么晚才放学啊？” 蔡和森答应着，不动声色地避开了母亲的目光，对妹妹说：“来来，再比，我也来一个。小妹，你来翻书。” “书待会儿再背吧。” 葛健豪拍拍手，站起身，叫着儿子的小名，“彬彬，你来一下，我有话问你。”少年蔡和森犹豫了一下，立即微笑着站起来跟母亲出了房间。等儿子出来，葛健豪关严了房门，站到破草席旁问儿子：“这些天学校里还好吧？” 蔡和森故作轻松地回答：“就那样。”“就那样是哪样啊？”葛健豪的语调平静。蔡和森说：“还不就是上课，也没什么可说的。” 葛健豪的眼睛还看着儿子，一只手却掀开了草席，指着露出来的擦鞋箱：“就用这个上课吗？如果不是你们学校今天寄通知过来，妈到现在还被你瞒着呢。你自己看看，学校说你一直欠着学费没交，最近一段干脆连课也不去上了。彬彬，要学费为什么不跟妈说呢？” “咱家现在哪交得起这么多学费啊”！蔡和森低下了头，小声说，“小妹又要读中学了，我是想……” “不管怎么想，总不能不去读书！”葛健豪打断儿子的话，平静了一下，伸手按在儿子的肩上，很坚决地对儿子说： “彬彬，你是个好孩子，你心里想什么妈也知道，可不管怎么苦，不管怎么难，妈不能看着你们两兄妹失学。连妈都在读书，何况是你们？不怕穷了家业，只怕蠢了儿女啊，你懂不懂？” “可这个铁路学堂，我实在是读不下去了，一年学费这么多，我不能看着妈你白天晚上糊火柴盒子供我上学，再说也供不起啊！”蔡和森叹了口气。 葛健豪眼眶不由红了，说：“妈明白，妈不是那种不切实际的人。学校太贵，咱们可以换，好学校也不是个个都贵的。关键是你得读下去。” 蔡和森这时从口袋里掏出了那份叠好的报纸，打开递给母亲：“我想过了，妈，我想退学考一师。”