Juhua whispered to Little Shitou, "Did you hear that? You should learn from Brother Yangzi. After they're done with this fishpond, don't just go running around. You should take the time to read your books. The tutor lives right here in the village, so if there's anything you don't understand, just go ask him."
Little Shitou nodded, looking at Zhang Yang ahead and feeling a great deal of admiration. He and Gou Dan would toss their books aside and play so hard they'd forget their own names, yet Yangzi actually remembered to practice his writing. 'Mhm, I can't let him outdo me,' he thought. 'I promised Sister Juhua I'd become an official and protect her in the future!'
In the fields, people began to drift over from the village in twos and threes.
Tiaozi Pond was located even further south of the village, nearly bordering Little Qing Mountain, which ran from northwest to southeast. This area not only had Tiaozi Pond but also a weedy ditch nearby.
