The three of them walked together to the other side of Wu Kui Park, and Liu Sandao did not expect the place they were going to was a famous impoverished area in Wu Kui City.
It was only separated from Wu Kui City by Wu Kui Park.
According to Xue Guilan, the county they were going to this time was a poverty-stricken county. Due to its special location, it was a no-man's-land and located in a mountainous region, making it economically underdeveloped.
Although it was close to Wu Kui City, it had become a forgotten corner because of the cliffs.
Liu Sandao remembered looking down from the cliff when he was picking up trash that morning. He thought it was a deserted mountain forest, but he never expected it to be such a place.
Xue Guilan, already in her seventies, still walked with vigorous steps, especially on this mountain path, and Bai Suxiang couldn't keep up with her.
To help Xue Guilan share some of the burden, Liu Sandao dumped the trash they had collected into a bag and carried it himself.
"This child is someone we recently got in touch with. Jian Guo introduced us. She's of school age, but because her family has no money, her father won't let her study!"
As Xue Guilan walked, she introduced the situation of this family.
They talked as they walked, and by the time they reached the foot of the mountain, dusk was falling.
Following a small path, they quickly arrived at their destination. Xue Guilan was very familiar with this road; according to her, she had been there many times before.
"No, you're not going, you're just not going!"
Before they even entered the house, they heard a man's voice shouting loudly.
"Wuu wuu wuu~~ I want to go, I want to go!"
"Slap, slap, slap!"
"Quick!"
Hearing the noise, Xue Guilan quickened her pace, taking two steps at a time, and pushed the door open.
"What's going on? Can't we talk things through properly?"
Xue Guilan said as soon as she entered.
"Mind your bu..."
The man started to say, then turned and looked, and slowly lowered the hand he had raised in the air, "It's you, why are you here? Come in, come in and sit down."
He quickly found a stool and brought it over to Xue Guilan.
"Didn't we agree? What's going on?"
"Teacher Xue, wuu wuu~~" The girl, seeing Xue Guilan enter, rushed into her arms.
"Don't cry, don't cry, be good!"
Xue Guilan comforted her, stroking her little face.
The girl was about seven or eight years old. Xue Guilan said she was going to start the first grade. Sudannovel.com
Bai Suxiang was surprised that she was only starting school at this age. After seeing the family's situation, she understood the reason.
The word "bare walls" would not be an exaggeration to describe this home.
The house was two thatched huts, and this was the only large one.
A family of four squeezed in here, living off farming year-round. And according to Teacher Xue, this area was prone to drought and lacked rain, so the harvest was predictable.
This was why Xue Guilan insisted on sponsoring her despite Su Dadong's opposition.
Poverty could only be overcome by stepping out. Only then could they truly live a good life.
"Teacher Xue, you're here!"
A woman's voice, sounding a bit weak and powerless.
At this moment, a woman in tattered clothes walked out from behind the door. Her face was a little pale. Even though it was evening, Liu Sandao could tell at a glance that she was ill.
"Why are you up! I told you to rest well. If you don't rest, the little one will still be breastfeeding!"
Su Dadong said, hurrying to help the woman. She was Su Xiaowen's mother.
"I, I'm fine. I'm fine,"
The woman said, leaning against the wall and sitting on a chair.
"We've found a school for you. Don't worry, it's a public school with very low tuition fees. As long as the child can finish her studies and have a bright future, your family's situation will improve!"
Xue Guilan persuaded them.
"We want to, but look at this home, where would we get the money for tuition?"
Su Dadong spread his hands, saying helplessly.
"I'll cover the tuition, so don't worry."
"But, Teacher Xue, you're already so old. Besides, what's the point of a girl studying so much? Our villagers grow up, get married, and that's it!"
Su Dadong began his usual reasoning, which Liu Sandao was very familiar with.
Many people said this in TV shows, especially the older ones.
He thought it was just acting in TV shows, but he never expected that it was actually like this in real life.
"A girl, so what? She can still make a living!"
Bai Suxiang chimed in when she heard him say that.
"You, what do you know, you're just a girl!"
Su Dadong didn't recognize Bai Suxiang and saw she was a girl, so he spoke without much politeness.
"What era is this? It's already gender equality outside. We girls can stand tall just like men. Not to mention far away, just look at Teacher Xue, isn't she a woman? And she's so old, yet she's helping you!"
Bai Suxiang was eloquent and made sense, leaving Su Dadong speechless.
He lowered his head and remained silent for a long time.
Su Xiaowen, on the other hand, looked at Bai Suxiang with wide eyes, as if she were her savior, her eyes blinking, full of expectation.
"Alright, Xiaoxiang, take Xiaowen out to play for a while. I'll talk to her father!"
Xue Guilan said to Bai Suxiang.
These matters could only be resolved through calm and composed discussion.
Bai Suxiang took Su Xiaowen's hand and said, "Little sister, come, let's go out and play for a bit. When Teacher Xue finishes talking with your dad, you can go to school tomorrow!"
"Really?"
Su Xiaowen couldn't believe it. She turned to look at Xue Guilan.
Xue Guilan nodded, but she still glanced at Su Dadong, afraid to speak, her hand tightly pulling at the corner of her clothes, twisting them.
Bai Suxiang took her hand and walked out.
"What's your name?"
Bai Suxiang asked.
"I, my name is Su Xiaowen." The little girl said, pulling out a piece of paper with the words "Su Xiaowen" written on it.
Neat and beautiful, written in a well-formed hand.
"This?"
"Teacher Xue gave me this name. She said everyone needs their own name when they go to school. What do you think, is it nice?"
The girl asked earnestly.
"It's nice, very nice!"
Bai Suxiang replied, also very seriously.
What would a seven or eight-year-old child feel when they had their own name for the first time? Bai Suxiang couldn't truly understand her feelings, but from her joyful expression, she could tell it must have been a very happy thing.
"You said, is it really useful if I finish my studies?"
"Of course. Let me tell you, sister, after you study, you'll know about the outside world, and you'll learn many things you don't know. Most importantly, you'll be able to earn money yourself, just like me, and support your family!"
Bai Suxiang was imparting some wisdom.
"Really? Can I be like Teacher Xue?"
"Of course, if you want to be a teacher, you definitely can!" Bai Suxiang knew that at this moment, it was important to give the child more encouragement.
"I want to be a teacher like her, and then help others!"