Too Short-Sighted
Su left the hall, leaving the village chief sitting alone. Seeing Su leave, the village chief quickly stood up and smiled, "A Li, I've consulted someone to select several auspicious days. Please help choose a good day for the academy to start classes."
As the village chief spoke, he handed Su a red paper with several selected dates written on it.
Villagers are always very superstitious about events like groundbreaking and openings; they must choose a good day. The village chief asking Su to finalize the date clearly shows his great respect for her.
Su looked at the paper; all the dates were within a month and spaced apart. She discussed with the village chief and chose the day seven days later.
With the date set, the village chief smiled, "The desks and chairs in the academy are all ready. I've also arranged with the two teachers you invited. They will come to the village on the first day of school and stay in rooms specially prepared for them."
Su nodded and asked, "Village chief, how many children have registered so far?"
The village chief sighed, his face looking a bit grim. He shook his head, "There are over one hundred and twenty households in our village, but only twenty children have registered. However, quite a few from neighboring villages have signed up, about twenty or so."
"What? Only twenty?" Su widened her eyes. "How come? There are many school-age children in the village. When we announced the academy, didn't all the villagers support it? Why aren't they sending their kids to school?"
The village chief sighed heavily, "I went door to door asking. Many people initially got excited about the academy and said they wanted to send their children. But after careful calculation at home, the cost of ink, paper, and meals is quite a bit. Also, the older kids help with farm work; if sent to school, the family loses half the labor. So many villagers thought schooling wasn't worth it. Look at Su Shimao—he studied for years, spent a lot of money, but gained nothing. So many don't want their kids to study."
"That's not right. Our academy waives tuition. The yearly cost for ink and paper is minimal. Studying now is to have a better life in the future. How can they give up long-term benefits for short-term petty gains?" Su frowned, thinking these villagers were too short-sighted.
"Yes, I told them the same. But many asked me, if after years of study they end up like Su Shimao—educated but can't farm or make a living—what then? I don't know how to answer," the village chief shook his head helplessly. "A Li, not everyone has your vision. Ultimately, the villagers are too poor. If they had some wealth, they wouldn't mind spending money on education."
Su rubbed her temples and sighed, "Poverty now is temporary, but if the mindset doesn't change, they'll remain poor for generations..."
But poverty is the reality now. Even though villagers earned some money selling vegetables with Su during winter, for their meager household wealth, this money is insignificant. Many villagers would rather save it than spend it on their children's education.
Su understood the villagers' attitude but did not agree with it.
Money shouldn't be spent recklessly, but it also can't be hoarded; it must be used wisely.
But changing such deeply ingrained beliefs is easier said than done.
Su felt a bit defeated in that moment. She had worked so hard to establish the academy and brought in well-educated teachers, yet the villagers simply wouldn't buy into it.