Chapter 10, Aftermath

He groggily got out of bed, stretched lazily, and then walked to the backyard, where he picked up a willow branch to brush his teeth

Oh, I went for a run. Uncle Zhou, please give me a bowl of tofu pudding, just like yesterday. Li Si wiped the sweat from his forehead with his clothes and said with a smile

"Sir Li!" Suddenly, a shout came from afar, and a stout man with a broad build approached. With a face full of flesh, he squeezed out a smile and said to Li Si, "How has your health been lately, Sir Li"

... ...

Upon hearing the poem recited by Cao Meng, Cao Qing paused with the ceramic bowl in hand, savoring it carefully. He felt that he could understand this poem as well, and although these few lines were simple, they resonated profoundly. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Mr. Li is a scholar who understands the hardships of the world"

Oh? The young man exclaimed in surprise, for he knew that his son usually did not eat well, always leaving food behind at every meal. Each time there was leftover food, he would hit him with a bamboo stick, yet the boy never seemed to learn his lesson. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but ask, "Cao Meng, did the teacher teach you something today?"

Then recite it for me to hear. Cao Qing picked up the teapot on the table and poured a cup of water into the ceramic bowl, waiting for Cao Meng to recite the poem for him.

"Father, I will never waste food again in the future," the child said earnestly to the young man

I naturally trust the character of Mr. Li. However, Yu San nodded and then said: "But you teaching my son principles is a kindness; you wouldn't want me to become someone who does not repay kindness, would you?"

Before long, he finished washing up. Li Si looked at the night sky still filled with countless stars and couldn't help but sigh, not expecting that upon arriving in this world, his habit of sleeping in had vanished so suddenly. It is worth noting that he had never woken up this early before.

... ...

The young man is well aware of Mr. Li, and during his free time, he often holds lectures to enlighten and educate children. He never charges any fees. Even when someone offers him money, he declines.

"I won't eat anymore, I won't eat anymore!" Yu San, feeling somewhat angry, placed his chopsticks on the table and decided not to eat.

"Hey, Mr. Li, there's no need to be polite. I should be the one thanking you for teaching my son. Here are two jin of pork belly, please take good care of your health with it." Yu San chuckled softly and placed a bundle of pork belly wrapped in lotus leaves on the table in front of Li Si.

Hmm. Cao Mang nodded affirmatively and said, "The gentleman taught me a poem"

"Oh, Mr. Li, you are here so early." The owner of the tofu shop greeted Li Si as he approached, and upon noticing his drenched forehead, he was immediately taken aback: "What has Mr. Li been up to? Why are you sweating so profusely?"

After completing his stretching exercises, he began to jog in the city. At first, his legs were somewhat sore, but as he continued running, he felt that the soreness diminished.

A crowing of a rooster echoed through the night sky

Yu Hu's mother, standing to the side, covered her mouth and laughed, yet she did not intend to smooth things over

Oh! Yu San exclaimed, realizing that this kid wanted to give him a lesson. He then sat down, let out a laugh, and smiled at Yu Hu, saying, "I will finish this meal today, but if you dare to waste food in the future, I will make sure to spank you hard."

Cao Meng, upon hearing Cao Qing's words, could not help but stand tall and recited in the manner of Li Si in class: "Weeding at noon, sweat drips onto the soil beneath the crops. Who knows that the food on the plate is earned through hard work, grain by grain"

"This is unacceptable," Li Si furrowed her brow, picked up the pork, and handed it to Yu San, saying, "I never intended to teach your son to covet anything."

"What are you doing, always mumbling to yourself?" asked a young man dressed in a short-sleeved shirt. This was the same person who had handed the machete to Li Sichai today

Li Si suddenly kicked his leg while in bed, as if experiencing a spasm, and immediately woke up.

Stepping out the door and locking it, Li Si began to do stretching exercises in front of the door. After all, there were not many people around during this time.

"What are you staring at? Haven't you seen your father eat before?" Yu San felt that his son had been staring at him while he was eating, with a strange look in his eyes, which made him feel a bit uneasy.

He plans to go for a good run this morning, anyway he is wearing the short-sleeved shirt he didn't change out of yesterday, which makes it convenient for running. If he were wearing the long shirt, it would be rather inconvenient.

In the middle of the night, a series of anguished cries emanated from the Yu family.

"It's nothing, Dad, you continue eating." Yu Hu slowly began to eat his meal, but he occasionally glanced at his father.

In a thatched cottage, a sturdy little boy was mumbling something incessantly

Upon seeing that he was no longer eating, the little Yu Hu became spirited and reproached, "Mr. Li said today, 'Who knows the food on the plate, every grain comes from hard work. Food is not easily obtained, so how can one simply say they won't eat?'"

The tofu shop owner suddenly appeared somewhat dazed, shook his head with a smile, and then went to serve Li Si some tofu pudding

"Running?" The tofu shop owner was momentarily puzzled upon hearing this term

After speaking, he quickly began to eat, and before long, he finished his meal. Once he was done, he crossed his arms over his chest and leisurely watched the little chubby boy. This made Yu Hu feel uneasy, and he found himself unable to continue eating.

The hoeing of rice occurs at noon, and sweat drips onto the soil beneath the crops. Who knows that the meal on the plate is made from grains that are all the result of hard work. The child is drawing something on the table with their finger while mumbling incessantly.

This is a rare quality in this world; many educated individuals actually look down upon such people, let alone provide enlightenment for their children. Cao Qing is a person of reason and can distinguish right from wrong. Therefore, he holds great admiration for Li Si, which is why he was the first to step forward and offer his sword today

After running for about ten minutes, he felt as if his lungs were on fire and he could not catch his breath, so he began to walk. After walking for a short while, he started running again, repeating this cycle. By the time dawn was approaching, Li Si had just arrived at the tofu shop

This statement is the truth; he merely intends to teach these children something because he cannot find any entertainment activities in this world. It is not out of a desire to gain anything.

Li Si suddenly recalled that in ancient times, there was no term for running, and people hardly ever ran. He added, "It is brisk walking to exercise the body"

In another corner of the county town, a family is having dinner, the candlelight illuminating the room brightly. Among them, a stout man with a face full of flesh is enjoying his meal heartily, while a smaller chubby boy beside him is watching the big man eat with rapt attention. This little chubby boy is Yu Hu, and the big man is his father, Yu the Butcher, Yu San.

Li Si felt as if he was enveloped by a shadow. He looked up at Yu San and said with a smile, "I am feeling much better now, thank you for your concern, Brother Yu."

Such conversations are not uncommon in this county, and the poem "Sympathy for Farmers" has also begun to be known among adults