The Road Home Page #3

women could only...

...watch from a distance.

- What did you make today?

- Steamed bread.

- Di, what did you make?

- I made onion cakes.

I brought rice steamed in lotus leaves.

Steamed rice is not as good

as onion cakes.

- Did you save some for your boyfriend?

- Shut up!

They just pick up any dish at random.

They don't know who made what.

I wonder who ate my dumplings.

Put them here.

You're already done with the banner?

I was going to come get it from you.

- Give it to me.

- It's okay. I saved you a trip.

This is a beautiful banner.

The school is almost finished.

The first lesson will be Chinese literature.

- Is the teacher happy with the food?

- Yes.

- Does he eat what we make?

- Yes.

Does he grab the food like you guys?

No. He's a gentleman from the city.

He is not like us.

So how does it work?

We always ask the teacher to pick first.

"In life..." Read after me.

"One must have a goal."

Let's start from the beginning.

"Reading and writing opens one's eyes.

"Writing and counting benefit one's life.

"Keep a journal faithfully.

"Know the present, know the past..."

When I was young, my mother told me

my father had a beautiful voice.

My mother is illiterate

She didn't understand the text.

But she couldn't resist my father's voice.

She went by the school

every day after that.

For most, the novelty of the new school

wore off after a while.

But not for my mother.

For 40 years, she went to listen.

It became part of her life.

"Have respect for your elders."

My mother heard that each day

after school...

...my father walked some students home.

She started waiting beside the road,

hoping to meet my father.

"The birds sing with the beautiful sun.

"Their songs wake the beautiful flowers."

- Who is she?

- That's Zhao Di.

- Is she from the village?

- Yes.

Di, the teacher is asking about you!

- Teacher, you want some water?

- Yes.

- Let me get it for you.

- No, I can do it myself.

- Let me do it.

- I can do it, thanks.

You're the teacher, you shouldn't bother.

Let me do it.

Come on.

I can.

Di, how come you came to the Front Well?

- Tomorrow it's our turn to have you over.

- I know.

My father told me the first time

he went to my mother's house...

...she stood in the doorway.

Leaning against the door frame,

she looked like a figure in a painting.

That's the image he would never forget.

- Di, is the teacher here?

- Yes.

I could tell by his heavy footsteps.

Come in. Let me see.

My mother's eyesight is no good.

This teacher is very tall.

Sit down, please.

The food must taste good to you.

You sound like you're enjoying it.

How long have you been in our village?

About a month.

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