Returning To 1980 To Enjoy Prosperity Chapter 146: Let's See Who Dares to Say Studying Is Useless in the Future - Novel Cool

Chapter 146: Let's See Who Dares to Say Studying Is Useless in the Future

Chapter 146: Let's See Who Dares to Say Studying Is Useless in the Future

When it came to hiring a tutor, the first person Deng Shirong thought of was Liu Huakang, a well-educated youth who had stayed in their village to marry and start a family.

During the era when educated youth were sent to the countryside to work and live, Deng Shirong’s village had hosted four such youths—three men and one woman. Among them, Liu Huakang was the only one who chose to stay and start a family.

Liu Huakang had two reasons for staying:

1. By the time he could return to the city, he had no family left there.

2. While working in the village, he fell in love with a local girl.

The government had also provided incentives to encourage educated youth to settle down in the countryside and improve rural life. Each person who chose to work in the countryside would receive a settlement grant of 230 yuan, which increased to 480 yuan by 1973. Additionally, those who decided to marry and settle in the countryside would receive an extra 300 yuan for building a house.

In the 1970s, this was no small sum of money.

Considering all these factors, Liu Huakang ultimately decided to stay and start a family.

With a suitable candidate in mind, Deng Shirong set off for Liu Huakang’s house.

Three minutes later, he arrived at a relatively new mud-brick house with a courtyard, built with the government’s housing grant.

"Uncle Jiu, have you eaten?" Liu Huakang’s wife, Deng Changqing, was feeding their youngest son. Seeing Deng Shirong, she greeted him warmly.

Deng Shirong replied, "Yes, I’ve eaten. Is Huakang at home?"

Deng Changqing offered Deng Shirong a chair and then called out, "Huakang, come out. Uncle Jiu is looking for you."

Soon, a young man in his thirties with a sun-tanned complexion emerged from the house. Seeing Deng Shirong, he greeted him, "Uncle Jiu."

Deng Shirong nodded and asked, "Huakang, you’re a high school graduate. How was your academic performance?"

Liu Huakang, unsure why Uncle Jiu was asking, answered honestly, "I was in the top ten in my class."

Deng Shirong continued, "After all these years, do you still remember what you learned?"

Liu Huakang smiled, "Of course. When the college entrance exams were reinstated in 1977, I studied hard with other educated youth, hoping to get into college. Unfortunately, despite two years of effort, I didn’t succeed and had to give up on that unrealistic dream. However, those two years of study helped me regain a lot of the knowledge I had forgotten."

Deng Shirong then explained his purpose, "Here’s the thing. My children are all studying, and even my eldest daughter and daughter-in-law are self-studying. But without guidance, their learning efficiency is likely to be low. So, I was wondering if you could spare a couple of hours each day to teach them and help with their studies. I’ll pay you 20 yuan a month for your trouble. Are you interested?"

Before Liu Huakang could answer, Deng Changqing, sitting nearby, exclaimed with joy, "Of course he’s interested! You don’t know, Uncle Jiu, he often complains to me about having no place to use his talents. This is a great opportunity for him, and he’s over the moon about it!"

Hearing Uncle Jiu’s proposal, Liu Huakang was indeed as happy as his wife said. He nodded eagerly, "Uncle Jiu, I’d be happy to help."

Deng Shirong smiled, "Great! Just arrange your schedule and make a timetable for the lessons. I’ll adjust my schedule to fit yours."

Liu Huakang, excited, replied, "Thank you, Uncle Jiu. I’ll make a timetable tonight and bring it to you tomorrow. I’ll do my best to teach well and help your children."

Deng Shirong stood up, "Alright, I’ll be on my way then!"

"Take care, Uncle Jiu!"

After Deng Shirong left, Deng Changqing was still excited. She then said with a sigh, "Uncle Jiu has always been the most committed to his children’s education in our village. Other parents wouldn’t let their children study even if they wanted to, but all seven of his children have studied until they were no longer interested. Now, he’s even willing to spend 20 yuan a month to have you teach them. Uncle Jiu really spares no expense when it comes to his children’s education!"

Liu Huakang agreed, "Uncle Jiu’s approach is the right one. Without education, it’s almost impossible for someone from the countryside to succeed. Only through hard study can one change their fate. You’ll see, no family in our village, now or in the future, will be able to match Uncle Jiu’s family."

As a former educated youth, Deng Changqing naturally trusted her husband’s judgment. She praised him again and said happily, "It’s such an honor for Uncle Jiu to personally invite you to teach his children. I’ll go tell my parents this good news and show them that studying isn’t useless."

Liu Huakang smiled faintly. With a high school education, he understood that being a son-in-law in the countryside often meant having little status.

Fortunately, he was different from other son-in-laws. He didn’t live with his in-laws but had built his own house in the village, which gave him a higher status than those who lived with their in-laws.

Despite this, Liu Huakang had still been mocked behind his back, even by his wife’s relatives.

He wasn’t a saint, so it was impossible for him to be completely unaffected by these comments.

When he chose to stay in the countryside and received the settlement and housing grants, the government naturally couldn’t provide him with a job. Without a stable job, his education seemed useless.

Now, his knowledge finally had a practical use, and it felt like a breath of fresh air.

Especially since Uncle Jiu, a respected figure in the village, had personally invited him to teach his children. With such a prominent person valuing him, who in the village would dare to mock him for his education?

Seeing his wife rush off to tell her parents the good news, Liu Huakang picked up the bowl and spoon and continued feeding their youngest son, feeling very pleased.

He said, "My son, eat up and grow strong. Study hard in the future, aim to get into college, and show those shortsighted people that education is indeed useful."

(End of Chapter)

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