Chapter 204: Chapter 204: Let’s Teach You How to Read Chapter 204: Chapter 204: Let’s Teach You How to Read But Er Ya didn’t harbor such strong expectations, as she used to think that her grandparents didn’t like her and she was bullied by her third aunt because she didn’t have a boy to back her up.

Now, she didn’t feel that way anymore, because San Ya had told her that relying on oneself was better than relying on anyone else, and only if one had skills, could one truly change one’s situation.

So she didn’t say anything, and after washing the dishes, she quietly returned to her room to write the homework that San Ya had assigned her.

She was now using the leftover stubs of pencils that San Ya had used and exercise books that had been written in on one side, but she didn’t feel wronged at all.

Uncle was wealthy and could afford to buy new pens and exercise books for San Ya, she had nothing, and already felt content with what she could use.

Moreover, San Ya had also helped her by asking the principal of the commune primary school, who agreed that she could take an exam at the school after she finished studying the primary school textbooks, and as long as she passed, she would get a graduation certificate.

Therefore, it didn’t matter if she couldn’t go to school, having a sister like San Ya made her luckier than other girls.

Er Ya was very diligent, every day she took the opportunity to read as much as possible before the lights went out.

She had to work during the day, and at night the old lady wouldn’t allow them to use the kerosene lamp much.

Once the lights were out, she would silently go over in her mind what she had learned that day, sometimes getting so absorbed that she would inadvertently whisper the words.

At first, this had startled Zhao Xiaojuan, thinking her daughter had become bewitched by her studies.

But over time, she got used to it, and even found Er Ya’s soft reading of her textbooks at night to be a lullaby, falling asleep after just a couple of sentences.

Seeing her second sister study so hard, Zhaodi didn’t find it all that surprising.

Because her second sister had always been the most determined among their siblings, otherwise she wouldn’t have divorced with a child in tow.

After all, even over a decade later, divorce would not be considered a respectable thing.

Reborn Zhaodi, understanding the importance of education, leaned in and whispered to Er Ya, “Second sister, just hang in there, keep studying on your own for now; once we split the family later, we can all go to school.”

Er Ya felt that Zhaodi’s words were a bit unrealistic; with so many children in their family, to start with, she wondered who would do their house chores if they went to school.

Just the cost of tuition, four yuan per term for each of the four children, was a significant expense, and she was sure their parents couldn’t afford it.

But she couldn’t bear to burst her little sister’s naive dreams and whispered back, “Zhaodi, let me teach you how to read then.”

She felt reading was very useful and wanted to share it with all her sisters at home.

But Zhaodi refused without a second thought, “No need, second sister, I’m still young, not in a hurry to read, maybe in a couple of years.”

Having followed San Ya in her studies for a few years in her past life, she certainly knew more characters than Er Ya, who was studying the primary school first-grade textbooks; there was no need to waste this time and effort.

Seeing her reluctance, Er Ya didn’t insist, thinking that as a child, Zhaodi might not be able to sit still, and it wouldn’t be too late to learn when she was older.

Just as the two sisters were about to talk more, the harsh voice of Zhang Guihua suddenly rang out in the courtyard.

“It’s so late, why aren’t you sleeping? What are you up to? Hurry up and turn off the kerosene lamp and go to sleep. Every single day, your family uses the most kerosene.”

Upon hearing this, Er Ya hurried over and extinguished the kerosene lamp.

Zhang Guihua, seeing that the light in the second house had gone out, returned to the main house satisfied.

Er Ya, however, didn’t lie down; she sat up, silently reciting the texts she had memorized, then lightly tiptoed to the door and slipped out.