Lin Nianhe listened intently, nodding seriously, still waiting for the "but".
But there was no "but".
Old Secretary said, "So, I told them in a eting before we started digging the well, if they want a machine well, they must send their children to school... Comrade Xiao Lin, if they ask, just say I said it."
Lin Nianhe originally thought the Old Secretary wanted to make a request, but it turned out he played the villain.
Lin Nianhe looked at the slightly yellowed water in the cup, and after a mont of silence said, "During the students’ ti in school, we will subsidize each person two yuan per month. If they get into college, we will cover the tuition for the first two years of college and provide monthly living allowances."
"There are plenty of opportunities to earn money in the city. I will give them a two-year buffer period. If they know their family is poor and still refuse to lower themselves to find a job, I will not continue to support such people."
The Old Secretary’s eyes suddenly lit up.
Their team also had an educated youth who got into college.
Of course he knew what it ant to get into college—after finishing studies, they could be assigned jobs and beco cadres!
He had once fantasized when looking at that educated youth’s admission notice, that it would be great if even one child from his village could go to college.
But he felt that it was just a thought; how could they afford to support college students?
"Comrade Xiao Lin, this this this..."
The Old Secretary licked his lips, unable to refuse.
Lin Nianhe gestured for him not to say more and continued, "Every school we donate to will have such subsidies. I will sign an agreent with the entire team, requiring every adult to sign."
"Moreover, after the school opens, I will co for inspections irregularly, according to the student list you report. If any student is found absent for any reason, the donation will be imdiately stopped, and the grants received by that student will be reclaid."
Lin Nianhe spoke firmly, with an exceptionally resolute attitude.
The Old Secretary didn’t ask what would happen if a student fell ill. He knew very well that as long as there was one excuse, it would lead to all kinds of loopholes.
The Old Secretary pondered for a while and nodded, "I can’t guarantee other places, but in Red Flag Team, as long as I’m still the secretary, no one will exploit the loopholes."
"Good," Lin Nianhe nodded, "I trust you."
That night, Lin Nianhe discussed with Wang Shui and drafted a contract.
Early the next day, before work started, the Old Secretary called the villagers for a eting and specifically had them bring their children along.
At the eting, the Old Secretary again talked about building the school, with an extrely firm attitude, then left the discussion of subsidies to Lin Nianhe, letting her be the good person.
The talk was still the sa. After Lin Nianhe finished, she asked, "Do any fellow villagers have questions?"
They discussed quietly for a long ti, and soone in the crowd said, "My child is a boy, can he get more subsidy?"
Blending into the crowd, he was originally inconspicuous, but Lin Nianhe pinpointed him accurately.
She glided her eyes towards him and asked back, "Why should boys get more?"
The man felt uneasy under Lin Nianhe’s gaze for a mont, but upon reflection, did not feel he was wrong, stubbornly said, "What kind of talk is this, boys pass on the family na, how can girls compare!"
"Does your family possess imnse wealth or have a throne to inherit?" Lin Nianhe replied unceremoniously, "Haven’t you heard that won hold up half the sky?"
"How can it be the sa..."
"Since you say so," Lin Nianhe noticed others shared a look of agreent, and a smile unavoidably curled on her lips, "the subsidy agreent needs to be changed."
"Exactly! How can girls get the sa subsidy as boys!"
Suddenly, the number of supporters increased sharply.
The Old Secretary watched nearby, wanting to intervene but finding it hard to speak.
They didn’t know, but he knew a little about this Comrade Lin.
Compassionate yet firm-handed.
Dreaming of taking advantage of her was definitely wishful thinking!
Seeing so families with more girls already showing impatience towards their daughters, Lin Nianhe said, "Yes, indeed, they can’t be the sa. From now on, female students can receive one yuan subsidy per month, male students receive 50 cents."
"...!"
The crowd was like a paused button had been pressed, suddenly falling silent.
After three seconds of silence ca a thunderous uproar.
"Make one more noise, and even the 50 cents won’t be there." Lin Nianhe squinted her eyes, lazily said, "I am here to help you, not to owe you. If you keep clamoring, I will leave right now, and who knows when soone will co again to solve your education issue."
This rotten notion of valuing boys over girls can be traced back to the agrarian society, where n were the main labor force and economic pillar of the family. In regions where agriculture is the main economic inco, this notion will inevitably persist.
But just because it persists doesn’t an it’s right.
Especially since it has already deteriorated: so people have long forgotten the responsibilities n should bear, just wanting to enjoy all the favoritism by virtue of being male.
Lin Nianhe did not want to go to the other extre, but the atmosphere had been set, she had to speak up for the "Zhaodi" girls.
It had just occurred to her that even if she offered the sa treatnt to boys and girls, they would still prioritize boys.
If that’s the case, she might as well save so money.
She saw very clearly, those parents with three or four daughters at this mont looked at their daughters with eyes full of shock, as if they never felt their daughters could be this useful.
The looks not only pierced Lin Nianhe but also frightened the girls imnsely.
The people under the stage were already arguing again, but not at Lin Nianhe; they were targeting the earlier outspoken person.
"Why are you cursing ? Weren’t you the ones steering this earlier..."
Seeing the villagers below getting noisier, the Old Secretary moved over to Lin Nianhe and quietly said, "Comrade Lin, go back to the room to avoid them for now, I’ll reason with them."
He was afraid this group would get riled up and beat Lin Nianhe.
Lin Nianhe stood calmly, "It’s alright, can they really hit ? Then they would have to pay for dical expenses too."
A few people nearby were stunned for a mont, instinctively drawing back from Lin Nianhe, fearing they might accidentally touch her and really be made to pay.
Watching them argue for a while, Lin Nianhe spoke up again before they got physical, recalling sothing, "Right, not only will female students receive higher subsidies during their schooling, but their living expenses during college will also be subsidized at a higher rate."
Everyone: "..."
Lin Nianhe added this condition solely out of concern that soone might exploit the girls’ achievents.
Valuing boys over girls is a ntality that can’t be reversed by just one subsidy change; it requires girls stepping forward and living a brilliant life in front of them, then maybe they’ll truly understand that girls are independent individuals, not just soone’s wife.
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