Chapter 16 Hands! Don't you want your sister anymore?

"Wrong!" Jiang Yueming shouted, "Cui Cui, the gesture you're making isn't 'hello.' This gesture is something you created yourself; it's not in the book."

He flipped through the entire beginner's guide to sign language but couldn't find out what the sign language Ms. Lin Cuiqin was using meant.

As Friday approached, Jiang Yueming gave Lin Cuiqin a crash course in sign language, so that when Li Leshan said thank you, Lin Cuiqin wouldn't be dumbfounded and think he was just being silly.

And they were sincere, truly sincere. Sincerity is essential in everything, and Jiang Yueming and she both took Li Leshan's visit to heart.

“Oh dear,” Lin Cuiqin said, distressed, “it’s really difficult.”

I really don't know how that kid Li Leshan learned.

"What does this mean?" Jiang Yueming gestured.

Sweetie giggled beside her, interrupting her. Jiang Yueming gently patted her little hand, "Don't be naughty, I thought someone's rooster crowed."

"Hmm..." Lin Cuiqin flipped through the sign language book, half-guessing and half-thinking as she replied, "Thank you, Auntie?"

“Wrong again! This is way off the mark…” Jiang Yueming said, “The sentence just now was ‘I’m going home.’”

Now he finally felt confident and said, "Now you know how difficult English is, right? I think it's much harder to learn than sign language. It's not something a human can learn."

Lin Cuiqin always assumed that his daily English scores of 30 or 40 were due to a lack of effort, although that was partly true. But Jiang Yueming at least proved one thing: he simply couldn't learn it! Just like now. He'd barely grasp the meaning of "attitude" before forgetting it.

The thought of torturing himself with English for another ten years made Jiang Yueming feel hopeless. In third grade, when they were learning phonetics, the English teacher's repeated "ah, oh, eh, ee, wu" went in one ear and out the other, some not even registering. Later, when it came to phonetics tests, everyone else scored 80 or 90, while Jiang Yueming barely got 20, and that was only because he'd glanced at a few other people's answers.

The English teacher patiently explained the easy questions, and Jiang Yueming, looking at the few points available, thought to herself, "Indeed, all the points have been given to the teacher."

"So how did Li Leshan learn it?" Lin Cuiqin asked. "You..."

Upon hearing the name Li Leshan, Jiang Yueming had no choice but to admit defeat. He leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and began flipping through a sign language book.

“You only need to learn one word.” Jiang Yueming suddenly sat up straight.

Lin Cuiqin was a little confused.

"Eat more food," Jiang Yueming said, gesturing as she spoke.

"You little rascal, it's rare to see you so attentive," Lin Cuiqin said with satisfaction. "You're acting like a little adult."

"That's because I'm hospitable!" Jiang Yueming quickly explained.

"Yes, yes." Lin Cuiqin nodded and continued, "Remember to pick up your little sister from kindergarten on Friday. I need to go to the market to buy groceries beforehand. Can she eat shrimp? And yellow croaker, you've been wanting to eat it for a while now."

Jiang Yueming could almost smell the aroma of food just from the smell. "Alright, I guarantee I'll complete the mission!"

On Friday afternoon, before the bell rang for the last class, Jiang Yueming stared at the old-fashioned clock hanging on the back wall of the classroom and counted down the seconds.

56, 57, 58, ... 60!

He jumped up from the stool in a flash, and without even putting on his schoolbag, he ran downstairs like a gust of wind.

"You need to pee, huh?!" Before Cao Fan could finish speaking, the kid had already disappeared from sight.

He sighed, his gaze falling on the test papers on the desk. He felt puzzled, then belatedly realized that Jiang Yueming had been so busy running that he had forgotten to bring his holiday homework.

What on earth is he trying to do? Why is he in such a rush to be reborn? He's running faster than his grandma grabbing discounted eggs at the supermarket. Cao Fan thoughtfully brought his homework along, planning to go to his house sometime to pick it up. Although Jiang Yueming might not even be able to do it.

Class Two was still quiet. The last class was math, and the math teacher was diligently working on the last big problem. Jiang Yueming glanced at the problem through the window and found a comfortable spot to squat down.

Just as she squatted down, she bumped into Cao Fan, who was coming downstairs after packing his schoolbag. Their eyes met, and Cao Fan was about to greet her when Jiang Yueming quickly put her index finger to her lips, making a shushing gesture. Cao Fan immediately understood and, like a thief, tiptoed over and squatted down next to Jiang Yueming.

"What's wrong?" Jiang Yueming asked.

Cao Fan rolled her eyes. "Don't you think your backpack is unusually light?"

"No." Jiang Yueming shook his head. He had stuffed several practice books into his bag, intending to do them at home; they were incredibly heavy. "I think they're really heavy. Are you going to let me carry them?"

"Congratulations, you're going to be even heavier now." Cao Fan pulled out a few test papers from his bag, along with two textbooks. "If you didn't bring your homework and didn't run into me, you're doomed when school starts."

"Damn it." Jiang Yueming rummaged through his schoolbag and realized he hadn't brought any test papers. He quickly thanked Cao Fan, otherwise he would have been in real trouble when school started.

"What are you doing squatting outside Class 2's door?" Cao Fan, having completed his task, glanced into Class 2's classroom, then looked at the blackboard with math formulas written on it, and exclaimed in shock, "Holy crap, you're stealing my teaching skills?"

He was truly impressed. Cao Fan gave Jiang Yueming a thumbs up, "Awesome brother."

Jiang Yueming was speechless.

First, he was waiting for someone; second, he was genuinely studying, so why was he so surprised? Does that mean Jiang Yueming can't study anymore?

"Then I won't squat here with you. You should focus on your studies." Cao Fan patted Jiang Yueming on the shoulder. "But can you even understand what you're reading?"

"Get lost," Jiang Yueming said softly, even though he really couldn't understand it.

I don't know how long they talked over there, but it must have been at least ten minutes. Jiang Yueming's legs were numb from squatting, and she stared blankly at the floor. This was the scene Li Leshan saw when he came out: Jiang Yueming squatting dejectedly against the wall, like a little dog being punished, not moving at all.

He gently patted Jiang Yueming's head with his textbook.

Jiang Yueming suddenly looked up and met Li Leshan's gaze. She stood up abruptly, feeling a little dizzy and her legs were numb.

"How long have you been waiting?" Li Leshan asked, looking at his grimacing expression.

Jiang Yueming shook her slightly numb feet and said that she had only waited for a short while because she had been dawdling since get out of class ended.

It was no longer unusual for him to walk home from school with Li Leshan. Han Jiang was used to it and gave the two of them a disdainful look as they walked away.

After leaving the school gate, before Jiang Yueming could say that they needed to go to the kindergarten first, Li Leshan turned and walked into the stationery store.

Jiang Yueming assumed he was going to buy something, after all, Li Leshan used up pens much faster than he did. Jiang Yueming's black pen was practically worthy of being listed as an intangible cultural heritage item; he'd bought it last year and only replaced the refills a few times.

"What do you want to buy?" Jiang Yueming asked, peeking out. "A notebook or a pen? I have plenty at home, just take what you need."

Li Leshan shook his head, his gaze falling on the colorful sticker books beside him. He picked one up; the cover featured a little girl in a bright, fluffy yellow dress. Then he picked up another. He met Jiang Yueming's questioning gaze.

"When...when...it's not that boys can't play with stickers, but this stuff is completely unrelated to Li Leshan's aloof, studious, and taciturn demeanor. He couldn't imagine Li Leshan spending time sitting there matching clothes or decorating rooms for the little girls and boys in the stickers."

However, if Li Leshan really liked it, Jiang Yueming swallowed hard and thought he could "steal" a few of the sweet sticker books and give them to Li Leshan, so he wouldn't have to buy them himself.

A book costs three yuan, enough for two breakfasts.

Li Leshan paid the bill and then gestured to him in sign language, "Doesn't your sister like playing this?"

Jiang Yueming then realized that it was for Tian Tian. That little girl must be so happy, she'd be overjoyed.

"You bought way too much. Just tear off a couple for her," Jiang Yueming said, adding that they still had plenty at home.

"It's okay, she can play with it slowly." Li Leshan unzipped Jiang Yueming's backpack and stuffed two brand-new sticker books inside.

The kindergarten is right next to the Iron Pagoda Elementary School, a ten-minute walk each way. When we arrived at the gate, there were still a few minutes before dismissal. The area outside was filled with parents, mostly grandparents. Jiang Yueming and Li Leshan, the two children, seemed out of place.

The air was filled with the calls of various vendors. Although there weren't as many as near the elementary school, the aroma of roasted sweet potatoes and fried skewers was still quite enticing. While waiting for Tian Tian to get out of school, Jiang Yueming somehow managed to sneak off and buy three grilled sausages.

Li Leshan turned his head and saw Jiang Yueming grinning foolishly at him while holding a grilled sausage.

He waved his hand, but Jiang Yueming pretended not to see it and stuffed it directly into Li Leshan's hand.

"It seems like school's out." Jiang Yueming watched the crowd move towards the gate. He stood on a round stool, looking into the park, and didn't forget to tell Li Leshan what his sister looked like, "You'll see in a bit. The one with two little braids and a really silly smile is my sister. She's very easy to recognize."

"Am I smiling as foolishly as you?" Li Leshan thought to himself.

They are indeed very easy to recognize. Jiang Yueming is absolutely right about that. A lot of children came out at once, and Tian Tian soon followed the crowd out, standing at the school gate and looking around.

The little girl had big eyes, two little braids, and a big bow on her head. The two-yuan snacks sold at the school gate were a gift from Xu Qing, or indirectly, a gift from Han Jiang.

"Sweetie!" Jiang Yueming called out.

He called out three times, quite loudly. The little girl could only hear her brother's voice, but couldn't find him. The problem was, Jiang Yueming had told Li Leshan about his features, and Li Leshan had already spotted him, but Jiang Yueming hadn't seen him yet.

"Hiss, something's not right. He used to be the first one to rush out." Jiang Yueming wondered.

Why don't you take a look up? Li Leshan thought to himself.

However, Jiang Yueming's foolish behavior wasn't something that had only started recently. He grabbed Jiang Yueming's hand and pulled her off the stone bench, then bypassed the crowd to find the girl not far away.

!

hand!

Hands!

Li Leshan held my hand!

Jiang Yueming's gaze fell on Li Leshan's hand, which was holding his. Li Leshan's hand was a little cold. For a moment, the thought of finding his sister flew out of Jiang Yueming's mind, and he let Li Leshan lead him through the crowd.

When the siblings met, Jiang Yueming was still in shock from what had just happened. He stared at his right hand and grinned foolishly until Li Leshan looked at him with the eyes of someone who thought he was crazy, at which point he finally came to his senses.

"Don't you want your sister anymore?" Li Leshan gestured, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“Yes,” Jiang Yueming stammered, “Yes, yes.”

A note from the author:

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I've never written anything so pure and innocent before. (Slowly lies down)

Even holding hands with Jiang Yueming is like this... I don't dare think about the future [rainbow praise]

It seems the road to love is long, long, long—!!