It turned out that Fang Dongqiang had written me a letter. Fang Yu felt relieved when she returned to the classroom. I didn't reply to him because I didn't receive it. I'll tell him when I come back from vacation, Fang Yu thought.

After this week's classes are over, it'll be a holiday. Fang Yu brought her bicycle from home. She's already learned how to ride a bicycle, but she can only ride it with her crotch down.

With legs squeezed through the gap between the crossbar and the front wheel, when riding, the upper body leans slightly forward, and the arms must be straightened to grip the handlebars. The waist and back cannot be fully extended, and the pedaling motion is not smooth. The legs are stuck by the crossbar, and the only way to exert force is to alternate small movements, as if half of the strength is tied up.

Fang Yu thought this posture was ugly, and when the road was bumpy, she had to quickly brace herself with her arms on the handlebars, afraid of losing her balance and falling off. Sometimes, after riding for a while, her knees would accidentally rub against the cold frame crossbar, leaving faint marks. The whole posture was a bit clumsy and forced.

Yu Jihong said that she would buy a women's bicycle after she earned some money outside. She saw other women riding bicycles on the street and thought they looked really good, especially when they were wearing long skirts. The skirts swayed with the turning of the wheels, creating a pleasant and beautiful sight.

Last Sunday, Fang Yu pushed her bicycle to school. Several acquaintances on the way asked her if her bicycle had a flat tire, which made Fang Yu very embarrassed. It looked awkward to ride and push.

On the day of the holiday, Fang Yu was packing her things when Hua Hua peeked out from the doorway, calling out, "Fang Yu!"

"Hey, Huahua, you're here."

"I searched several dorm rooms before I found you." It was Hua Hua's first time at the school, and she looked around the dorm rooms with curiosity.

"See? This is what boarding school is like. After seeing this, do you still want to live on campus?" Fang Yu asked her.

"It's great!"

"You're so stupid. You'll realize it's better to come home after a few days."

A light, cold rain was falling that day, and the muddy ground was sticky from being trampled, but it seemed unusually lively. The row of dormitory entrances was full of bicycles, and everyone put their boxes on the back of the bicycles and secured them with ropes wrapped around the seats and boxes twice.

"Fang Yu, how are you going to take your things back? Do you want me to take you home?" Shi Feihao came over.

"No need, I came by bicycle."

"You can ride a bicycle? I thought you couldn't because you always walk. Where is it? Let me help you tie your things up."

"No need, no need, I have friends with me." Fang Yu packed the quilt and some daily necessities into the box.

Shi Feihao was still standing at the door without moving.

"You go home first, we can manage on our own." Fang Yu said when she saw that he hadn't left yet.

"Let me help you secure the box to the car first."

"No, no, you should go back now. I still need to pack my things. It's okay, there are two of us."

"Okay, I'll go back now. I'll come to your house for Chinese New Year when my aunt and uncle come back."

Fang Yu did not respond.

After Shi Feihao left, Fang Yu and Fang Huahua carried the box out.

The box was placed on the back seat, and Fang Huahua held it up. Fang Yu took out a thick hemp rope, tied one end to the seat frame, and then clumsily wrapped the rope around the box twice, just like they did. But even after it was tied, the box still wobbled, as if it was about to fall off at any moment.

"That male classmate offered to help you tie it up, why didn't you ask him to help you?" Fang Huahua asked.

"He is my cousin, my second aunt's son."

"Then we should definitely ask him for help."

“I want to do it myself, I don’t need his help.”

Fang Huahua shook her head, looking puzzled.

“It’s okay, I brought enough rope. I’ll wrap it around a few more times. The two of us can push the bicycle and you can hold it. We’ll get home eventually.”

Fang Yu pushed her bicycle forward. The box on the back seat would occasionally wobble, and Fang Huahua would reach out with both hands to steady it. The wheels splashed small water droplets as they rolled over mud puddles, also splashing the joy of the holiday and the anticipation of the New Year.

The noise at the school gate lasted for quite a while, until the last student's bicycle disappeared at the end of the field ridge, leaving only the empty muddy ground and raindrops still dripping from the treetops, waiting to become lively again when school starts next year.