Tian Hongjun asked Gou Dan where he lived. After hearing his address, he happily put his arm around Gou Dan's shoulder and said, "What a coincidence! I also live nearby. It's only a 5-minute walk from your house to mine. We can go to and from school together from now on."

Dog Egg was also very happy: "Sure, I'll wait for you to come to school together tomorrow, but not today. My parents are still waiting for me at the school gate, and I need to go back with them."

“It’s okay, you go find your parents first, I’ll come to your house to find you tomorrow morning,” Tian Hongjun said.

Tian Hongjun didn't think there was anything wrong with Gou Dan being so old and still needing his parents to take him to school. Gou Dan had just mentioned that his family had only recently moved to Beijing, so his parents were probably worried about him coming to school alone.

Gou Dan dashed to the school gate and saw Zhang Hongyan and Xia Heping chatting happily with the gatekeeper.

"Mom and Dad, I've finished cleaning, we can go home now."

The gatekeeper pointed at Gou Dan, who was running over, and asked, "Xia, is this your son? The little guy is so handsome."

“Yes, Lele, quickly call out to Grandpa Xie,” Xia Heping pulled Gou Dan over and made him greet him.

Zhang Hongyan glanced at the time and realized it was getting late. She smiled and said, "Uncle Xie, we'll be going now. We'll come back to chat with you again next time."

The gatekeeper, Old Xie, waved his hand: "Hey, hurry back, it's time to go home and make lunch."

On the way, Zhang Hongyan asked Gou Dan how he felt at school today, whether his classmates were easy to get along with, and whether anyone bullied him.

Gou Dan subconsciously shook his head, but he quickly realized that his mother couldn't see him, so he hurriedly said, "My classmates seem to be quite easy to get along with. I've also made a new friend, my deskmate Tian Hongjun. He lives near my house, and he said he'd come and call me to go to school together tomorrow morning."

Zhang Hongyan was happy for her son when she heard that he had made a new friend on the first day: "Wow, you've made a new friend so quickly! After school tomorrow, bring them home to play, and I'll prepare some snacks for you."

Zhang Hongyan had originally planned to send Gou Dan to school in the next few days and let him go alone once he was more comfortable with it. Now that he has a friend, it's even easier.

"Great! I'll invite him over tomorrow," Gou Dan said happily, swinging his leg.

"Don't move around, or you'll fall," Xia Heping said, raising his hand to slap the back of his son's head, his tone carrying a warning.

......

When the bell rang for the end of the last class, Xia Qingqing said goodbye to her roommate and hurriedly packed her things to go home.

Watching Xia Qingqing's departing figure, Liu Huimin sighed, "It really feels a bit strange. We used to do everything together as a group of four."

“Yes, but it’s good that Qingqing can come home for dinner every day,” Chen Xiu interjected. If it weren’t for the fact that her home was so far away, she would probably choose to go home every day as well.

“You guys are better off than me, at least you can go back once or twice a month,” Liu Huimin sighed helplessly.

"Hurry up, otherwise the cafeteria will get crowded later and you'll have to wait in line for a long time."

On the other side, Xia Qingqing had just arrived home when she saw Gou Dan waiting for her in the yard: "Sister, you're finally back."

"It's so hot, what are you playing in the yard?" Xia Qingqing said, gesturing for Gou Dan to come inside with her.

Dog Egg looked at her expectantly: "Sis, you said you'd take me to buy popsicles when you got back."

Zhang Hongyan, who was cooking in the kitchen, seemed to have a pair of ears that could hear everything. She immediately poked her head out and scolded, "What popsicles? We're about to eat, why are you eating popsicles now? You're not allowed to eat them, do you hear me?"

Dog Egg's mouth immediately pursed, and he whined softly, "Fine, I won't eat it then."

Seeing his pitiful look, Xia Qingqing smiled and comforted him, "Don't be sad. I'll take you shopping after we finish eating. We can go for a walk to digest your food."

"Hehe, sis, don't tell Mom," Gou Dan said, making a shushing gesture to his sister.

Xia Qingqing smiled and said, "Okay, how was your school registration today? Do you like the new school?"

"It's great, I've also made a new friend," Gou Dan introduced Tian Hongjun again.

Xia Qingqing could tell from his tone that he had a good impression of this boy named Tian Hongjun: "That's really good. You should get along well with him, okay?"

"Yes, Mom said I should invite Tian Hongjun over to our house tomorrow. She'll even prepare some snacks for us."

Xia Qingqing put her schoolbag in her room and went to the kitchen to help Zhang Hongyan cook.

Zhang Hongyan was busy in the kitchen, sweating profusely. While wiping her sweat, she urged her to leave, saying, "You don't need to help. You've been teaching all day and you must be tired. Go and rest for a bit. We'll be eating soon."

Xia Qingqing said helplessly, "Mom, I'm not tired. Let me help you."

"Then take this cabbage out first, and set out the bowls and chopsticks. I'll be done in a minute," Zhang Hongyan said.

After setting out the bowls and chopsticks, Zhang Hongyan brought out the last dish, a plate of pickled fish.

The pickled cabbage inside was brought from home by Zhang Hongyan.

Looking at the food on the table, Xia Qinqin joked, "Mom, why are we eating so much today? There's meat and fish."

"Since you and your brother have both started school, I'm giving you some extra nutrition."

Zhang Hongyan sighed as she spoke: "If we were at home, we wouldn't need to buy fish from the store; we could just catch them directly from the river."

Although the fish I bought back home weren't this big, what's there to complain about when it's free?

Dog Egg picked up a large piece of pickled fish with his chopsticks and put it in his own bowl, muttering in protest, "It's different. Fish caught in the river doesn't taste as good as this."

“No, of course it tastes better if you pay for it,” Zhang Hongyan rolled her eyes at her son.

Xia Heping said with a smile, "If you two siblings like it, I'll buy it again next time."

"I love it. Eating pickled fish on such a hot day is the most appetizing thing."

After dinner, Gou Dan went to the kitchen to wash the dishes and winked at his sister, who was relaxing in the yard: "Sis, let's go for a walk."

Before Xia Qingqing could answer, Zhang Hongyan interjected, "Going for a walk? I'll go along too, to help digest your food."

Dog Egg's face stiffened. This wasn't what he expected. If his mother came along, he wouldn't get to eat an ice cream.

"What? You dislike your mother?" Zhang Hongyan snorted unhappily, looking at the little brat and wondering what she was thinking. She just wanted to sneak out to buy popsicles.

Is she, as his mother, really that bad in his eyes? He can't even bear to let his child eat an ice pop.

Seeing that his mother was angry, Gou Dan quickly explained, "Mom, I absolutely didn't mean that."

It took Gou Dan a long time to coax his mother to calm her down. Just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he saw his mother go to the supply and marketing cooperative and buy four popsicles.

Zhang Hongyan handed a milk-flavored drink to Gou Dan, glancing at him with a smile: "Your mother isn't as stingy as you think."