Chapter 216 Harvest Season Arrives
Young Master Bai chuckled, a mysterious smile spreading across his face. "I didn't get a good look either, just a quick peek then. But even with just that tiny glimpse, I felt the entire world shift before my eyes. Everything I saw was different from before, hehehe! That book, it's a true divine book from the heavens. It reveals all the mysteries of the world. If we master it, we'll truly be invincible!"
Miss Three was overjoyed. "Then let's finish Elementary Math quickly, so we won't have to sneak peeks anymore. We can read that divine book openly and honorably!"
Young Master Bai chuckled. "Just the last lesson. Keep it up!"
Li Daoxuan felt a warmth in his heart, seeing the two youngsters so driven. A thought turned in his mind: Young Master Bai would likely be the first person in Gao Family Village to truly grasp "physics." The role of "Physics Class Representative" would undoubtedly be his then.
He would soon have to "impart knowledge in the Heavenly Lord's stead," teaching other children physics.
That would place too heavy a burden on him. After all, he was still a half-grown child, teaching both physics and math. Li Daoxuan worried he might get overwhelmed.
Once Young Master Bai became the "Physics Class Representative," he'd need to find a new "Math Class Representative." His gaze involuntarily fell upon Miss Three.
She was twelve, still a girl. Could she bear such a heavy responsibility?
Ancient women were generally unwilling to appear in public; even if they were, they were constrained by so-called "feminine virtues" and would be scolded.
It was settled!
Li Daoxuan withdrew his gaze from the School Well and shifted it to the outside of the village.
Suddenly, he noticed a bustling scene near the wheat field. More than half of Gao Family Village's forty-two original villagers had gathered at the edge of the fields.
Even the Village Chief, who had recently been enjoying a life of ease, had come out to the fields today.
The villagers crowded around the Village Chief, watching as he extended a wizened hand, felt a wheat stalk, plucked a grain, and chewed it. A joyful expression spread across his face. "It's ready! We can harvest now."
The Village Chief raised his walking stick and laughed loudly. "Three years! Three long years! Our Gao Family Village has finally grown grain again! Children, tomorrow we start harvesting the wheat!"
"Tomorrow, we harvest the wheat!"
The original residents of Gao Family Village cheered in unison, followed by the people of Zhengjia Village, who also began to cheer: "Our Zhengjia Village's wheat is also ready for harvest!"
In mid-May of the first year of Chongzhen, the two villages that were first blessed by "the Heavenly Lord dragging the Dragon King to bring rain" finally entered the harvest season.
The festive atmosphere swept over everyone instantly.
The villagers who received rain in the second batch and had planted sorghum couldn't help but clench their fists. "You can be happy now, but come autumn, when we harvest our sorghum, it will be our turn to rejoice."
Meanwhile, the refugees, short-term workers, and displaced people from Qingjian County who had traveled from afar looked on with envious glances. After a moment, they rallied their spirits. "I earn income from temporary work, and it's no less than what farmers get. What's there to feel inadequate about?"
Here in Gao Family Village, there was no exploitation by officials, only the Heavenly Lord's blessing. "With our diligent hands, we will surely live well."
Early the next morning, the people of Gao Family Village and Zhengjia Village began their harvest. Men and women, old and young, rushed into the wheat fields together, backs bent, scythes swinging.
Gao Sanwa had skipped school that day and was also in the fields, swinging a scythe to harvest wheat. Teacher Wang, a ruler in his hand, stormed into the field. "Gao Sanwa, you rascal, get back to class this instant!"
Gao Sanwa screamed in fright, scrambling through the wheat field and using the tall wheat stalks to evade Teacher Wang's pursuit. "Teacher, please don't hit me! I'm helping my family with work! If the wheat isn't harvested quickly, and the rain ruins it in the fields, our family will lose a whole year's harvest!"
Teacher Wang's mustache bristled with anger. "Are you an idiot? How many years has it been since it rained? If the Heavenly Lord hadn't dragged the Dragon King here, would you even have crops to plant? What are you worried about rain for? Hand your work over to your parents and get back to class!"
Finished, he turned to Gao Sanwa's mother. "Mother Gao, control your child! Study hard, learn to read and write. With knowledge, won't he be more successful when he grows up than just digging for food in the fields? Now, delaying his studies for a bit of farm work is actually harming him."
Gao Sanwa's mother, startled completely by the teacher's roar, quickly rushed into the field, grabbed Gao Sanwa by the scruff of his neck, and practically tossed him to Teacher Wang. Then she ran towards the Short-term Workers Village. "Our family needs to hire someone to help harvest the wheat. We can discuss and negotiate the wages..."
Just as that commotion ended, elsewhere, Cheng Xu was taking roll call for the Gao Family Village Militia when he realized something was amiss. "Where's one of the Three Idiots? And that greenhorn, Zheng Gouzi, who just joined from Zhengjia Village? Does anyone know where they went?"
Gao Chuwu raised his hand. "Instructor He, who are the Three Idiots?"
Padi Tu chimed in, "That's definitely the three clumsiest people in the team. Zheng Daniu and Gao Chuwu are certainly among them, but who's the third? Someone as clever as this rabbit certainly isn't the third."
Everyone cast a sidelong glance at Padi Tu, saying nothing.
Just then, Zheng Daniu arrived, running over with a hearty huff and puff.
Seeing him, Cheng Xu's expression softened slightly. "Finally, the Three Idiots are all here. What about Zheng Gouzi?"
Zheng Daniu ran up to him and loudly declared, "Reporting, Instructor! Zheng Gouzi was called by his father to Zhengjia Village early this morning to harvest wheat. I was delayed trying to convince him to come to training."
Cheng Xu was furious. "Dare to miss training without reporting it and asking for leave? Running home to farm on your own accord? Is military discipline meaningless? Everyone, right turn! Quick march! We're going to Zhengjia Village to deal with that blockhead."
The militia, over a hundred strong, immediately set off at a run, forming a single-file snake-like formation as they headed towards Zhengjia Village.
Li Daoxuan was currently eating century egg and lean pork congee. Watching this, he thought to himself: Zheng Gouzi, that idiot, has really messed up this time. This is completely different from Gao Sanwa skipping class. Though the militia isn't a regular army yet, it's meant to become one in the future. Leaving the ranks without reporting or asking for leave is an absolute taboo.
Let's see how Cheng Xu deals with him.
He finely adjusted the diorama box's view, following Cheng Xu's group. Six li of cement road was insignificant for the well-trained militia; it didn't take long for them to reach Zhengjia Village.
Everyone immediately spotted Zheng Gouzi. The greenhorn was swinging a scythe in the fields, helping his parents harvest wheat.
Cheng Xu was furious. "Zheng Gouzi! You rascal, leaving the ranks without permission, what crime is that deserving of?"
His roar echoed across the entire farmland.
Zheng Gouzi's hands froze, his movements halted. He turned to look at Cheng Xu, immediately jumping in fright. The scythe in his hand clattered to the ground.
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