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Qing Shusheng saw Bai Cuifen sitting down and decided to open up, chatting with her about family matters.
Qing Shusheng had been holding back for a long time, unable to find someone to talk to. So every time he met Bai Cuifen, as long as she had time to sit down, he would definitely chat with her about family matters. Even if they repeated the same thing hundreds of times, neither of them grew tired of it; one was willing to talk, and the other was always willing to listen.
Around ten o'clock, An Shaojie returned from outside.
When he came back, Qing Shusheng had already left, Shaw Min was asleep, and only Bai Cuifen sat alone in the living room.
An Shaojie suddenly felt a pang of sympathy, thinking how pitiful and lonely Mother looked sitting under the light. He forgot the resentment he had felt earlier while wandering outside alone.
"You're back? Let me fetch some water for you to wash your feet," Bai Cuifen said somewhat sheepishly as she approached An Shaojie, her body appearing slightly fatigued and her voice soft.
Ever since An Shaojie began to understand the villagers' gossip, Bai Cuifen always felt a bit guilty in front of him. Although she was innocent regarding Qing Shusheng, she believed that it was her inadequacy that caused him trouble and hurt. Thus, she always felt a sense of guilt when facing An Shaojie.
"I'll do it myself." Although his resentment towards her had faded, his stubbornness kept him from looking at her even once. He dropped a curt reply and went into the kitchen.
Bai Cuifen watched his thin figure and reached into her pocket to feel the money before following him into the kitchen.
"An Shaojie, do you want to go to school?" Bai Cuifen asked as she leaned closer to him.
An Shaojie looked up at Bai Cuifen, paused for a moment, then decisively replied, "No."
"Not want to? Why not?" Bai Cuifen was taken aback but quickly put on a flattering smile.
She knew An Shaojie was worried about their financial situation and feared that expressing his true feelings would burden her, which is why he answered her insincerely.
"Tomorrow I'll take you to sign up for the School Newspaper! Once you register, you can start school," Bai Cuifen couldn't contain her joy any longer. She raised her eyebrows and smiled brightly at An Shaojie while one hand remained in her pocket gripping the roll of money.
"Really?"
An Shaojie said he didn't want to go to school, but after hearing Bai Cuifen's words, he was so excited that he almost dropped the ladle he was using to scoop water.
"But, Mother, we don't have any money."
After a moment of excitement, An Shaojie immediately remembered how Mother had been worried about his sister Shaw Min's tuition a few days ago and said he should delay starting school for a year. He felt discouraged again and lowered his head.
Bai Cuifen stepped closer mysteriously, pulled out a roll of money from her pocket, waved it in front of An Shaojie's eyes, and proudly said, "Look at this! Mother borrowed some money today."
Bai Cuifen thought that An Shaojie would surely jump for joy after hearing this, but unexpectedly, he suddenly put down the ladle, rushed in front of Bai Cuifen, snatched the roll of money from her hand, and angrily walked to the door, throwing the money forcefully outside.
Bai Cuifen followed behind him shouting, "An Shaojie, what are you doing?"
But she was a step too late and couldn't catch An Shaojie's arm before he flung the stack of money far out the door.
Bai Cuifen sat down on the stool at the door in despair without saying a word.
She didn't blame An Shaojie; she understood that he knew the money had just been given by Qing Shusheng, and he was angry at Qing Shusheng!
Bai Cuifen thought that he was still young and didn't understand the world; when he grew up, he would understand.
After An Shaojie fell asleep, Bai Cuifen took a flashlight and found the roll of money outside before going to bed.
The next morning early, Bai Cuifen called out to An Shaojie.
"An Shaojie, get up! I'm taking you to register for school." Bai Cuifen patted An Shaojie's back as he bent over.
"I won't go," An Shaojie said stubbornly, resting his head on his arms and facing the wall, remaining completely still.
His voice sounded a bit hoarse, indicating that he hadn't slept well last night and was still sulking.
"Really not going?" Bai Cuifen glanced at Lin Xi and Qinglan, who were standing behind her, and smiled mischievously.
The two of them each carried a patterned backpack, hiding behind Bai Cuifen as they giggled quietly.
"I'm not going." An Shaojie shifted slightly, trying to shake off Bai Cuifen's hand resting on his arm.
Lin Xi and Qinglan immediately burst into laughter.
"Brother Shaojie, if you don't go to school, Lanlan and I won't want to play with someone who can't read! If you don't study, you'll always stay in this big mountain, while Lanlan and I will fly out of it. You won't be able to see us anymore," Lin Xi said, gesturing how they would fly out of the mountain.
These words were what her dad, Teacher Lin, had told her last night.
"My dad said that only children who study can leave this mountain and see the outside world. He said the outside world is very exciting," Lin Xi's eyes sparkled with dreams and aspirations.
Bai Cuifen smiled at Lin Xi.
Lin Xi's dad, Lin Wenhui, had gone to school early. On his way past the bridge on the west side, he stopped by Bai Cuifen's house to remind her to take An Shaojie to school along with Lin Xi.
"Zhi Lan isn't feeling well today. I've already told Lin Xi to come to your house later and go to school with An Shaojie. Please take her along," Lin Wenhui politely said to Bai Cuifen.
"Isn't your Lin Xi not yet seven years old? Shouldn't she also go to school?" Bai Cuifen asked while agreeing with Lin Wenhui.
"She'll be seven when school starts in September. If we wait until next year, it will be a bit late. Girls mature earlier; it's better for her to start school sooner, so we're sending her this year," Lin Wenhui explained to Bai Cuifen.
"Oh, that's right, it's still Teacher Lin who has read more and has broader knowledge." Bai Cuifen suddenly felt that her understanding of the world was too shallow. She shyly tugged at her clothes in response to Teacher Lin's words.
"Not at all," Lin Wenhui glanced at the watch on her wrist. "Sister-in-law, it's getting late. I have classes during the first and second periods this morning, so I need to leave. Thank you for your hospitality, see you later." With that, she waved her hand and left.
Not long after Bai Cuifen returned to the house, Lin Xi arrived wearing a pink outfit.
As soon as Lin Xi entered Bai Cuifen's home, Qinglan bounced in with her backpack.
As she crossed the threshold, she called out loudly, "Mother."
Upon seeing Lin Xi inside, she smiled and ran over to her, cheerfully calling out, "Lin Sister," while linking arms with her.
Bai Cuifen turned around and saw Qinglan standing in front of her with her little face tilted up, giggling.
"Hey, Lanlan, why are you here so early?" Bai Cuifen was taken aback and then noticed the backpack behind Qinglan, becoming even more curious. "Lanlan, are you going to school too?"
"Yes!" Qinglan nodded vigorously, her high pigtails shaking with enthusiasm.
"You’re so little; aren’t you too young to be going to school?" Bai Cuifen gently pinched her pointy little chin.
With her sharp little face and slender figure, she did indeed look very small—at least a year younger than Lin Xi.
Qinglan pouted and said playfully, "Mom, why do you think I'm so small like my Mother? Last night my Father said I'm only one month younger than Lin Sister, so I can go to school with Lin Sister and Brother Shaojie." A proud expression appeared on Qinglan's face.
"Ah, you're only one month younger than Lin Sister," Bai Cuifen looked at Qinglan, then at Lin Xi.
With her round face and calm demeanor, Lin Xi was indeed slightly taller than Qinglan, making her appear a year older.
"Then what about you, Father? Aren't you going to take me to sign up?" Bai Cuifen asked again.
"My father has something to do today. He said that Brother Shaojie is also going to sign up for the School Newspaper, so he asked me to go with you today," Qinglan said as she took some money out of her backpack. "This is my registration fee; my father told me to give it to you."
Bai Cuifen chuckled and took the money from Qinglan's hand, gently touching Qinglan's face. "Alright, from now on, you'll go to school with Lin Sister and Brother Shaojie, but you mustn't fight with them!"
Despite her small stature and delicate appearance, everyone in the village knew that Qinglan was a wild girl. Her personality was as fierce as the boys in the village; she was sharp-tongued and stood up for others, often arguing with the mischievous boys. Many of them were afraid of her.
However, in front of Lin Xi and An Shaojie, she acted like a docile little lamb, especially in front of An Shaojie, where she often compromised and showed fear, frequently being bullied by him.
Bai Cuifen knew that she wouldn't argue with An Shaojie or Lin Xi; she only said that to tease Qinglan, joking about her having a chivalrous spirit!
Qinglan pouted and said unhappily, "Mother is biased; she only protects Brother Shaojie. I have never argued with Brother Shaojie; he always bullies me. You should tell Brother Shaojie this, Mother."
Qinglan wiggled closer to Bai Cuifen and tugged at her clothes.
Lin Xi and Bai Cuifen both laughed.
"Okay, I'll tell Brother Shaojie later not to bully Lanlan anymore!" Bai Cuifen bent down and playfully poked Qinglan's nose. "Come on, let's go wake your Brother Shaojie up for school."
"Ah, he hasn't gotten up yet? What a lazy bug!" Qinglan exclaimed, causing Lin Xi to giggle.
So when Qinglan and Lin Xi stood by An Shaojie's bed waiting for him to wake up, An Shaojie heard Lin Xi's voice and jumped out of bed. Turning around, he saw Lin Xi in a pink outfit standing in front of him like a delicate peach blossom.
Lin Xi blinked her big eyes at him, tilting her head as she asked, "Brother Shaojie, can we all go to school together?" At the same time, she pointed at Qinglan standing beside her.
An Shaojie jumped off the bed, his stubborn heart softening instantly. He looked up at Lin Xi, his rebellious gaze turning gentle as he asked in disbelief, "Lin Mei Mei, you're going to school too?"
He did not use the word "you all," but only "you," clearly indicating that he did not care whether Qinglan was going to school with him.
"Yeah," Lin Xi said happily. "Last night, Lanlan came to my house and said you were going to school today. My Dad and Mother said I should also go to school, so I decided to go with Brother Shaojie."
"Yes, Brother Shaojie, after I returned from Lin Sister's house, I told my Father that I wanted to go to school with Brother Shaojie. I mentioned that Lin Sister was also going to school, and my Father agreed, saying that the three of us could go together. Today, my Father has something to do, so he let me go to school with Brother Shaojie." Qinglan hurriedly stepped in front of An Shaojie, eager to share her situation.
Seeing Qinglan step forward, An Shaojie immediately withdrew his gentle smile, straightened his face, pushed Qinglan aside with his hand, walked in front of Lin Xi, and turned back to Bai Cuifen, saying, "Mother, I'm going to school now."
Qinglan stumbled when An Shaojie pushed her and almost fell.
Bai Cuifen quickly reached out to support her while angrily scolding An Shaojie, "An Shaojie, what are you doing?"
After steadying herself, Qinglan puffed out her cheeks and glared at An Shaojie.
"My Father said we should take care of each other and not fight," Qinglan said, looking at An Shaojie with her delicate little face raised. Tears of grievance were welling up in her eyes.
"Apologize to Lanlan," Bai Cuifen said as she slapped the back of An Shaojie's head.
"Why should I apologize to her? She was the one being troublesome; I didn't even talk to her," An Shaojie retorted, glaring at Qinglan with his head held high and a hint of disdain on his lips.
Bai Cuifen raised her hand again, ready to hit An Shaojie.
Seeing Bai Cuifen about to strike An Shaojie, Qinglan—who had just felt wronged—quickly stepped forward and grabbed Bai Cuifen's hand. "Mother, don't hit Brother Shaojie."
With one small hand holding Bai Cuifen's hand, Qinglan's eyes remained fixed on An Shaojie. Her cheeks puffed up as if she still had endless grievances to express. Yet inside, she repeatedly told herself that being good to him would make him feel it; one day he would treat her as well as she treated him.
An Shaojie turned his face away and contemptuously thought, "Hmph! If you feel wronged, then don't pretend to be nice to me."
Bai Cuifen stopped and gently patted Qinglan's head, smiling at her. "Lanlan is the best. Let's not argue with this stubborn bull, okay?"
Hearing Bai Cuifen's words, Qinglan glanced at An Shaojie, smiled proudly, lifted her chin, and nodded at Bai Cuifen. "Mm!"
Lin Xi stood aside, listening to Bai Cuifen call An Shaojie a stubborn bull. She pursed her lips and looked at An Shaojie, secretly laughing.
After getting up, An Shaojie washed up and quickly gulped down some thin porridge before urging Bai Cuifen to take them to register.
Bai Cuifen took Qinglan's hand in one hand and Lin Xi's hand in the other. "Let's go, Mother will take you to sign up for the School Newspaper now." With that, Bai Cuifen pulled Qinglan and Lin Xi along.
Bai Cuifen was still upset about An Shaojie from earlier and deliberately ignored him.
An Shaojie stood still in place.
Qinglan turned back to look at him.
Lin Xi turned around, smiled at An Shaojie, and waved her chubby little hand. "Come on, Brother Shaojie."
An Shaojie smiled back at Lin Xi and quickly ran up to follow her.
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