CHAPTER 54: CHAPTER 51: A BRIGHT MING YUE, ASPIRING TO TEACH OTHERS

The carpenter and mason felt deeply: It’s been a long time since encountering such genuine clients, the old man indeed didn’t deceive them.

They heard that bricks, cement, lime, and steel are on their way, these materials aren’t easy to acquire, especially steel, even Yan Jinzhi doesn’t know how it was managed.

Quickly, everyone saw two military trucks delivering the building materials to the site.

Because the eldest cousin needs to build a house, the elder brother and second brother didn’t go to work, following Mrs. Jiang’s orders to help out, leaving only Mrs. Jiang and the third sister to go to work.

Before leaving, Mrs. Jiang reminded Xiao Jiang Ran to help his sister with the fire.

Actually, there was no need to remind him, Xiao Jiang Ran was very sensible.

Indeed, Xiao Meng came by, carrying a basket of freshly dug red spinach from the mountain. Aunt Jiao must have gotten up in the early hours; this was certainly freshly dug, still carrying the early morning fragrance of soil.

"Is this for me?"

"Yes, Ms. Ming Yue."

"Then thank you, Xiao Meng. Come, come, let’s eat steamed buns first." Jiang Mingyue gave each of the little ones a steamed bun along with a bowl of malted milk.

Xiao Meng looked at Jiang Mingyue with a confused expression.

Jiang Mingyue felt a bit heartbroken, yet also gratified.

The young girl was truly understanding. Wu Tiantian, who is a year older, couldn’t even hold back and would grab even if others didn’t give him.

"Eat! Everyone gets a share. If Xiao Meng feels this isn’t good, you can help the sister with cleaning the yard during leisure times, okay?"

Xiao Meng nodded vigorously to show her determination, "I will clean it very well."

"Then thank you in advance, Xiao Meng!"

Xiao Jiang Ran wasn’t willing to be left behind: "I help sister with the fire, wash vegetables for her."

Xiao Meng also wanted to help: "I help sister wash dishes and clothes."

Jiang Mingyue laughed: "You two little ones take all the chores, what will the adults do?"

Once the two little ones were fed and satisfied, Jiang Mingyue began teaching them reading.

Xiao Jiang Ran could recite the Three Character Classic yesterday, so Jiang Mingyue started teaching him to write today, but beginning with strokes; this is different from rote memorization, it’s a long and patient task.

She taught Xiao Jiang Ran the basic principles, wrote a standard stroke on the notebook for him to practice by rewriting each stroke for an entire line.

After teaching Xiao Jiang Ran, Jiang Mingyue taught Xiao Meng to recite the Three Character Classic.

For enlightenment, she taught both little ones the same, and would classify later.

Compared to Xiao Jiang Ran, Xiao Meng was slower at memorization.

In a morning, Xiao Meng could only memorize six lines, struggling quite a bit.

Fortunately, Xiao Meng wasn’t anxious herself, continuing diligently at her own turtle pace, isolated in her efforts.

Jiang Mingyue didn’t care how fast or well she learned, she valued this unwavering spirit.

Xiao Meng’s spirit was something unattainable by others.

Thus, Jiang Mingyue’s praises could often be heard.

"Our Xiao Meng is really great, learning should be just like this."

If Xiao Ran was jealous, Jiang Mingyue would also praise Xiao Ran a bit; however, Xiao Ran was usually not envious, learning quickly but equally focused and immersed.

This point was surprisingly similar between the two kids.

As the time approached, Jiang Mingyue had to start cooking.

But there was a surprise before cooking today.

Qiao Mingtang came to find Jiang Mingyue, bringing two burden carriers with him.

"Little Yueyue, aren’t you worried about having no vegetables? Come, come, brother brought you some. No thanks necessary! Just remember to save some good food for brother."

Qiao Mingtang came and went swiftly, like a gust of wind, while Jiang Mingyue was only surprised and asked the two men to help carry the vegetables to the kitchen, planning to ask Qiao Mingtang when he was already gone.

Jiang Mingyue so left the matter as is, anyway, the two of them would also be eating her cooking, so it’s like joining in a bit; some things are meaningless if calculated too clearly.

Thus, at noon everyone enjoyed a lavish vegetable feast, with tomato scrambled eggs, spicy lettuce stir-fry, chrysanthemum greens boiled with stinky tofu, and several rabbits made into spicy rabbit cubes measured in large basins, as well as spicy chicken and green pepper stir-fry meat. Two big tables full to serve the guests.

Everyone was simple and honest, feeling unworthy of such a meal for their work, initially too shy to take the dishes, but the eldest cousin is an expert in creating lively atmospheres, as long as he wanted to.

So, soon, everyone was as comfortable as at home, with their relationships with the eldest cousin and others quickly strengthening.

Aunt Jiao called in over ten able-bodied young men, all good workers and straightforward, showing Aunt Jiao not only worked hard but also had a sharp eye.

At Jiao Family’s side, Aunt Jiao had to work, although it rained heavily yesterday, the fields were still wet today, with some places still flooded, but today they had to straighten the crops that were blown down by yesterday’s wind, someone had to do it.

Jiao Family also had a father and son pair, Jiao Longhe and his son Jiao Can, who were both sent by Aunt Jiao to help.

Aunt Jiao, back then, fled south with her parents, whose starvation left her alone to wander into Qingshan Village. Granny Jiao took pity on her, took her in as a child bride, and renamed her Jiao Yun.

Jiao Longhe saw his daughter learning to recognize words from Ming Yue; his daughter worked hard, which made him, as a father, work even harder and feel gratified; Xiao Meng had met a benefactor, and it’s good for girls to recognize words.

After the meal, unexpectedly, a young man also hurried to help tidy up the dishes. Jiang Mingyue looked up to recognize him as Jiao Can, and let him go rest, having worked hard all morning.

But Jiao Can insisted, so Jiang Mingyue let him be.

Later, Jiao Can wanted to wash dishes for her, and after washing didn’t want to leave.

Jiang Mingyue realized he had something to say.

"Are you worried about Xiao Meng?"

Jiao Can hesitated then shyly shook his head, "I, I want to ask Ming Yue, can you... can you teach me too? I, I just need to listen on the side."

A very humble request.

Jiang Mingyue instantly understood; the young man wanted to learn words, acquire knowledge, and refuse to bow to fate.

Anyway, she didn’t have to go to work, had plenty of time, teaching one was teaching, teaching two was also teaching, naturally she agreed.

The young man visibly jumped three feet high in joy, bowed ninety degrees before leaving.

Quite solemn.

Jiang Mingyue was increasingly keen to buy books, lots of books, notebooks, and pencils.

Seeing the eldest cousin was free, Jiang Mingyue immediately went over to talk about it.

Jiang Ming’an nodded immediately, feeling it wasn’t a big deal.

But as soon as Jiang Mingyue left, this eldest cousin immediately became a hands-off boss.

"Yan Jinzhi, figure something out, get some books for Ming Yue. As you can see, someone now has a new hobby—being a mentor, let’s fulfill it for her. I have some books tucked away in the city, but they’re all too difficult to understand, perhaps you can think of something."

When it comes to matters involving a round Ming Yue, Yan Jinzhi would not refuse.

"Hmm, I’ll have someone send them over soon."

As Jiang Mingyue left the eldest cousin here, she unexpectedly ran into the elder brother returning from the restroom.

Jiang Mingyue immediately pulled him aside to ask.

"Elder brother, did you go to Lotus Village yesterday morning to meet Liu Yinghe?"