C28 Tenth Home Visit

Tao Huizhen sat down on the bamboo chair. She held the lemon tea made by the people of the Great Tea Village in her hand and did not raise her head for a long time. She stared at the shoes on her feet that were covered in dust. It was as if she had done something wrong. Her shoulders trembled slightly.

Wazi's parents were sitting across from Tao Huizhen. Their eyes were fixed on Teacher Tao. The hot air in Dai Village was flowing in the hanging bamboo house.

This was Tao Huizhen's tenth home visit this month. It was harder to communicate with the parents of the child than imagined. She had met parents who refused to back down, and she had also met students who wanted to study but could not. Or students who swore not to study, and parents who could do nothing about it.

Tao Huizhen felt her cheeks heat up, and the atmosphere fell into a deadlock. This home visit was obviously very unsuccessful. But Tao Huizhen still hadn't given up.

"Go back, Teacher Tao. Our child, it's still up to us to decide. " The child's mother glared at him.

Tao Huizhen repeated what she wanted to say many times. "This child's learning is very good. He will definitely have a bright future. . . " She helplessly repeated this sentence. Her hand was holding the cup, like she was holding onto the last inch of the life-saving rope.

"Our children in the mountains cannot compare to Teacher Tao's city, which is so far away. We can't wait. "

"You can't use your own thoughts to measure the child. "

"Go back, go back. We have no culture, we can't beat you "

"He's still young, and he's at the age of compulsory education. Whether it's the school or the country, we don't charge a single cent. At least let the child finish the sixth grade. Is that not possible?" Tao Huizhen lowered her head and prayed to her parents.

"He's not young anymore. Last year, I wanted him to go back home to help with the farm work. Didn't he wait another year? He can finally start working. My son. . . Teacher Tao didn't need to worry too much. A child from Big Tea Mountain, if he doesn't plant tea, he won't be able to support his family in the future. He wanted to learn how to work as soon as possible. He couldn't be delayed by studying anymore. I also understand the great principles you spoke of. . . I understand all of them. . . " The child's mother pulled out a smile.

"No. " Tao Huizhen shook her head. "You don't understand. I understand. How could I make such a choice? "

"How come I don't understand my child?" The Dai woman suddenly asked with a questioning tone.

Tao Huizhen met the girl's eyes and said discontentedly: "Have you ever thought about the feelings of your child by doing this? You are undoubtedly harming him by doing this. "

"You have come to the cove. If you have any children, go and teach them. You still have to teach us. "

"Teacher Tao, you are a cultured person. You treat yourself as the savior. People from big cities are very impressive. With your judgment, In fact, you don't understand us country bumpkins. You don't have the right to participate in my child's family business. The Dai people have been like us for generations. It's pretty good. My child will never go to that place again. You know what people say? They say you're a demon from the city, and you make the children run towards Da Tea Village Primary School without caring about anything. You brainwashed them. " The child's mother was on top of Tao Huizhen's head. Her face was filled with anger as she shouted.

Tao Huizhen felt her heart tremble, and her face was as white as a sheet of paper. Her hands began to tremble. The lemon tea in her hand was also trembling.

In an instant, it was as if she had been struck by a bullet. She looked up at the Dai woman, her eyes full of barbs. It was as if she was testing her, "Do I look like a demon?" The woman knew she had said something wrong and avoided Tao Huizhen's gaze.

"Sister, as long as you can let the child go to school. I'm happy that I'm a fairy. " Tao Huizhen placed the lemon tea on the table. Her body swayed slightly when she got up.

She knew that there was indeed such a rumor. She also knew the reason. As a volunteer to support education, she had done too much. She had done more than what she was supposed to do. When she first arrived at Dai Village, many people were worried. Would she leave very soon? What would the children do if they didn't have a teacher to teach them? One year later. No one was worried about this anymore. On the contrary. . . Tao Huizhen was too obsessed with the matter of her child studying. As for the students of Da Tea Village Primary School, as long as it was related to their studies. . . She never let her guard down. Some people said that she was deliberately performing, that she was once a dancer. Because they had never seen even one, Someone like her.

After all, that kind of voice was still a minority. Tao Huizhen didn't take it to heart. But today, what she was afraid of finally happened. Someone pointed at her nose and told her that the rumors were true. She was filled with fear.

"Sister, without a child, your work will be even more leisurely. You only need to teach your books. Whether or not the child goes, the responsibility will not fall on you. " The child's mother said.

"Then why did I come here?"

"I taught my students with words, but I didn't care about them. I'm not qualified to be a teacher. Sister, you can't catch up to the good times. You caught up to an ordinary era, but that doesn't mean that your children have to follow the same old path as you. This world is not a straight line, It is slowly rising. We, you. We all have to look into the long term. See the future even further away. Don't tell me you want to cut off the child's path and let him. . . Are his descendants the same as you, forever planting tea in Da Tea Village? The volunteer teacher won't be the last one to come here. Children who have not received education are not the last either. But I can't just watch the child miss such an opportunity. When the child meets me, at least I have to work hard to do it. I don't want to wait for a few years. . . Another volunteer teacher came to Dai Village. Your child is the same as you are now. You can only tell his child to work. Work. This is how the people in Dai Village come about. . . But when did they become leaders? "

The child's mother's face stiffened. It was as if a layer of cement had been added to it and was fixed there. It slowly cracked and produced cracking sounds.

Tao Hui carefully walked to the roof of the bamboo building. She pointed at the green hills that were still in her sight, and the winding mountain paths that were not far away from her. "Look at that mountain. There's also the dirt road that leads to the county town. We clearly know that it is right behind that mountain. It is an even wider world. This year. In 2007, the Qingzang railway had been opened for a year. Nothing could stop people's footsteps. But the Dai villagers could not walk out. They could not see the outside world. Why? Don't think of old ideas anymore. We have to take this step together. We have to believe that we can get out. . . I can see it. " Tao Huizhen alternately looked at the child's parents. She was very satisfied with her speech. The short speech took away all of her strength.

She heard her own eardrums ringing. Her own voice was very sharp. Because she used too much strength in her grip, it hurt herself.

However, as long as she could convince her parents, she would be very grateful.

"Get out!"

The father of the child, who had been silent the whole time, spoke with a voice that sounded like it came from the bottom of a cold well. He roared deeply.

The raging flames on Tao Huizhen's body suddenly extinguished. What could be called a good mood was completely gone. Her gaze wandered on the child's parents again. The husband and wife looked at her angrily. There was a glow of grievance in her eyes. Like a heavily injured egret, she lowered her head and walked out of the hanging bamboo building. She retreated in a sorry state.

Tao Huizhen ran towards the tea mountain behind the village. She controlled her emotions. The wind blew past her ear. She wanted to climb to the bare land at the top of the Great Tea Mountain, where she could see very far. She wanted to take a closer look at this small village. And what it looked like outside of the village. But when she climbed halfway up the mountain, She could no longer climb, and tears finally burst out of her eyes.

Could it be that she wanted to take one last look at the appearance of the Great Tea Village and leave? Even this was not possible?

Tao Hui fell heavily into the grass. She rolled a few times before stopping. She looked at the foot of the mountain with a malevolent expression. Her whole body was in extreme pain.

After leaving, she felt relieved. She was well aware of this. Or as long as she could let go, she would be free to do anything. Perhaps she didn't have to put herself in such a difficult situation. However, it was precisely because she could not do it that she was repeatedly injured and repeatedly defeated.

Tao Huizhen! If you were to return to two years ago, would you tell yourself what choice you would make?

She interrogated herself. Halfway up the mountain, she couldn't see the entire Da Tea Village. Half of the snake-shaped stream was rippling. A muddy road extended into the yellow horizon. She stayed there until the sun set. She got up and went down the mountain.