Chapter 53: Heroes Are Not Defined by Their Origins

Since there was no longer any need for exams, and after the cancellation of the college entrance examination, many families believed there was no reason to keep sending their children to school. This was especially true in the countryside, where children were diligent—even at just a few years old, they could help out with chores. Why bother with school, which only delays real work and costs money? Tuition might not be expensive, but what about the cost of books, pens, ink, and paper?

Li Jiang hadn't gone to school, and naturally, his twin brother Li Hai hadn't either. Tang Xin still clung to a shred of hope, looking at Gu Nan and asking, "What about you?" Gu Nan replied with even more conviction, "I have to take care of my father! How would I have time to go to school?"

Take care of his father? Tang Xin was stunned, picturing the not-quite-eight-year-old Gu Nan tending to the burly and robust Gu Third, and shivered at the thought.

The Li family and Gu Third's household weren't particularly well-off, but they weren't ignorant either; at first, they genuinely intended for their children to attend school. Even if there were no exams, at the very least, they didn't want their children to grow up unable to write their own names. But the three children were rather unruly; they were lively and disliked being confined in a classroom. Why go to school when the mountains and rivers offered endless entertainment? They could have fun and help out at home—wasn't that much better than sitting in a classroom?

Tang Xin, unaware of the full story, incredulously turned to her mother-in-law. "Mother, why not send the boys to school? Isn’t there a primary school here?"

Fang replied honestly, refusing to shoulder the blame, "Of course there is. We wanted to send them last year, but those three stubborn mules insisted school was useless and refused to go."

They only attended for two or three days; unable to understand a word of the teacher's lessons, they spent class time causing trouble and distracting the other students. Eventually, when they stopped attending, the teachers at the commune primary school were actually relieved.

After listening to her mother-in-law's explanation, Tang Xin understood: in the current environment, few children still had the heart to pursue studies. But even if not for exams, becoming illiterate would mean a lifetime spent as a farmer, facing the earth day after day. Tang Xin wasn’t just thinking of herself—she hoped to take the whole Li family back to the city with her in the future. Society was heading toward an age of technology; knowledge could change one’s destiny. Heroes might once have been unconcerned with their origins, but in years to come, a reckless hero who couldn’t read a single character would struggle to make an impact.

Tang Xin resolved to assert her authority as the mistress of the household, sternly addressing the three children, "There’s no reason for children not to go to school. All three of you must register and attend school every day."

Not only Li Jiang and Li Hai, but even Gu Nan was stunned. "Sister-in-law, it's right for them to go to school, but why should I go too?"

Li Jiang glared at Gu Nan, "What do you mean, it’s right for us? Wasn’t it your father who first said you should go to school?"

Gu Nan retorted, growing agitated, "That was your eldest brother's idea. My father didn’t even have money to send me to school."

Before anything else, the three children were already quarreling among themselves. Tang Xin just watched, smiling, saying nothing, letting them argue. Fang herself looked on coldly, thinking back to how the house used to feel too quiet. Due to her background and personality, she seldom went out; every trip meant enduring gossip and pointed fingers from the neighborhood women, so she preferred the comfort of her own home. But during the day, when everyone else was out working or playing, Fang found the house lonely. Since Tang Xin married into the family, the Li household had become much livelier, and the children often sought out their sister-in-law. This was the atmosphere Fang liked.

Although Gu Nan was a year younger, he was clever; from childhood, his quick tongue outmatched the two Li boys. He could take on both and still win an argument, his conclusion being that Li Jiang should attend school, while the other two, being younger, ought to stay home and help.

"Shameless traitor!" Li Hai pointed at Li Jiang, yelling, "You’re only older than me by a dozen minutes—do you really think you deserve to be king?"

Tang Xin, seeing they’d argued enough, decided the matter with finality, "Enough—no more excuses. All three of you go to school, not one less."

The three were stunned, casting hopeful glances at Li’s mother. Fang shrugged, looking innocent. "Your sister-in-law is in charge now; it’s no use looking at me. Oh dear, age must be catching up—I should go wash the dishes." Taking the opportunity, Fang slipped away.

In truth, she had always known that schooling wasn’t just about exams; being literate was beneficial for the children. But her gentle nature and Old Li’s indifference to household matters meant that once the children agreed not to go, the adults simply let them be.

The two elders of the Li family always held this attitude—as long as the children weren’t getting into trouble, they didn’t interfere. If they didn’t want to work, so be it; after all, skipping a day’s work meant going hungry for a day. After a few days of hunger, wouldn’t the children learn their lesson? Li Xiyue and Li Kai had been corrected this way—lazy, but never refusing to go to work. Otherwise, with their mischievous natures, they would have become little vagabonds long ago.

Gu Third was even rougher, always busy outside; Gu Nan spent more time at the Li household. So, his actions followed the lead of the Li children.

Now, it all depended on whether the daughter-in-law had the ability to force them into school.

When their backer had fled, Li Jiang and Li Hai were dumbfounded. Gu Nan, however, turned to Tang Xin with solemn earnestness, "Sister-in-law, you can make decisions in the Li family, but you can’t make decisions for us. My father said I don’t need to go to school and waste money."

He finished with his head held high, pride on his face.

Tang Xin didn’t get angry. She went to her room and brought out her savings: ten ten-cent notes, along with candy and fruit.

She laid everything out on the table, smiling as she said, "Anyone who goes to school can have a piece of candy or a spoonful of sugar every day; if you manage a whole month without skipping school, you’ll get ten cents as pocket money."

She was offering ten cents, which sounded much more than a dime. Though they hadn’t spent much time in school, the three children could at least count. According to their sister-in-law’s plan, if they went to school every day for a month, they’d get ten cents; plus, one, two, three… goodness, thirty pieces of candy!

The three were stunned—what did that even mean? On New Year’s, their mother only gave them two candies each. As for pocket money, well, what was that? They’d never even heard of such a thing!