Chapter 22 School Opening
The next morning, Gu Yihan ate the sweet potato porridge made by her grandmother, then put on her schoolbag and took her package.
"Grandma, I'm going to school!" Gu Yihan said goodbye to her grandmother.
"Wait a moment."
Grandma Gu jogged to the kitchen, grabbed two hard-boiled eggs, and placed them in her hand: "Take these and eat them on the way."
Gu Yihan did not refuse; she silently kept it in mind. She would take good care of this lovely old lady in the future.
Upon arriving at school,
Gu Yihan saw the old gatekeeper sitting on a recliner sunbathing at the entrance: "Grandpa, I'm a new student. Do you know where the girls' dormitory is?"
The old man sat up: "New student, which class are you in in the first year of junior high?"
Gu Yihan replied, "I'm in Class 1, Grade 7."
The old man pointed in a direction: "Third floor over there, your class and name are posted on the dormitory doors."
Gu Yihan said to the old man, "Thank you, sir."
The old man guarding the gate waved his hand.
Gu Yihan found her dormitory room by its name; it was a six-person room.
She found a lower bunk and started making her bed. She had just noticed that there were only two names posted on the dormitory door.
There were probably more beds available than girls, so most of the students in the commune went home to live, and those who stayed in dormitories mostly lived far from the school.
She was quite happy; fewer people meant fewer troubles. After tidying up neatly, she...
I closed the door, took out a plate of braised pork from my storage space, and drank a glass of milk. It felt so good; I hadn't eaten meat in ages.
After eating and drinking her fill, she lay on the bed to rest, thinking about how to make some money in the future. She didn't dare to go to the black market, so she could only try submitting her work to the authorities.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
"Who's inside? Is anyone home? Why is the door locked?"
Gu Yihan was startled. She tidied up the food she had finished eating, threw it into her spatial storage, and looked around to make sure there was nothing out of the ordinary before opening the door.
Upon opening the door, one sees a slender figure, as thin as a bamboo shoot, dressed in clothes patched upon patched.
She gripped the hem of her dress with both hands, looking hesitant and nervous.
"Hello, classmate, my name is Gu Yihan." After saying that, she stepped aside to let the other person in.
The other person said apologetically, "My name is Liu Huanhuan."
Gu Yihan smiled and went back to her bed to read. She didn't plan to make friends at school; being a regular roommate would be fine.
From then on, Gu Yihan spent her days attending classes and studying, and her evenings reading numerous newspapers and magazines she bought from the scrap metal yard, as well as writing and revising her manuscripts.
In the eyes of all the teachers, Gu Yihan is someone they cherish very much, as this learning opportunity is hard-won.
Aside from meals, she was almost always studying; they had never seen a more hardworking student than Gu Yihan.
Gu Yi also wrote quite a few articles during this month. Since it was her first time writing, she didn't know if they would be selected, so she could only cast a wide net.
On Saturday morning, Gu Yihan went to the post office, where a woman dressed in a trendy dress was knitting a sweater: "Miss, could you please give me five envelopes and stamps? Thank you."
Suddenly, the other person smiled and said, "You're really good with words. I'm a mother of two."
Gu Yihan feigned surprise and said, "You look so young! I thought you were the same age as my older sister, but you look like you're 17."
The other person slowly smiled, stood up, took out an envelope and stamps from the cabinet, and handed them to Gu Yihan.
As Gu Yihan wrote down the address, she casually remarked, "How do you maintain your youthful appearance?"
The woman at the post office smirked and said smugly, "This is something you're born with; no one else can learn it."
Gu Yihan said with envy, "That's such a pity. I'd like to ask you for advice."
The other person laughed and said, "You're so good with words. Come visit me sometime!"
Gu Yihan was just waiting for these words: "Okay, sis, I'll still mail you letters often from now on, and I'll definitely look for you when I come."
It took Gu Yihan an hour to get home in the oxcart, and her backside was in agony.
"Grandma, your lovely little granddaughter misses you."
When Grandma Gu heard Gu Yihan's voice, she hurriedly came out of the house. Seeing that her granddaughter hadn't lost weight, she was relieved.
He pulled her inside and asked her how things were at school. "Grandma, don't worry, my grades are great, the teachers like me, they won't let me get bullied."
Upon entering the house, I discovered a strange young man, about 1.7 meters tall, wearing patched but clean clothes.
He was talking to Gu Daya, and they seemed very close, chatting and laughing.
Grandma Gu smiled and said, "This is your cousin's fiancé. The date has been set; they'll get married this winter."
Gu Yihan's mouth dropped open in surprise: "Grandma, I've only been away for a few days, and my cousin is getting married? Isn't that too fast?"
Grandma Gu glared at her granddaughter: "What's so fast about it? Your grandfather and I never even met before, and we were doing just fine. These days, we let them get to know each other before they get married. Be content."
Gu Yihan was speechless.
Grandma Gu continued talking to herself, "This child is the youngest in the family. He has two older brothers who are both married and have children. The family is thriving, so no one will bully him in the future, and he will have someone to help him."
Gu Yihan could only agree, saying, "Grandma, you can't have chosen the wrong one." But what she really thought was, "We're so poor, all we have left is a large and prosperous family."
Grandma Gu: "Your cousin's boyfriend is having dinner at home today. I'll go cook. You go back to your room and rest for a while."
Gu Yihan nodded and went back to her room to rest.
"Thump, thump, thump."
When Gu Yihan opened the door, she saw Gu Meng holding a book at the door. After inviting her in, she explained the knowledge that Gu Meng did not understand.
“After she got pregnant, her father took great care of the baby in her belly. Once the baby is born, we will have no place to stand.” Gu Meng said in a low voice.
She knew that Gu Meng was referring to the stepmother who had taken advantage of her.
Gu Yihan looked at her with a puzzled expression and said, "What does this have to do with me?"
Gu Meng felt a lump in her throat. Yes, what did this have to do with Gu Yihan? She had her mother protecting her.
In this family, she is the only one who is cared for by no one.
Gu Yihan looked at her and kindly reminded her, "After you finish learning the fifth-grade curriculum, go to the elementary school principal and take the graduation exam."
Gu Meng is actually very smart and can learn quickly. Her family is not short of money for her education, but if she doesn't work hard, how can others possibly consider things from her perspective?
The family has only so many resources. If she goes to school, no one will do the housework that the second wife used to do. Nobody wants to do extra housework.
But ever since this stepmother came into the family, she still does the same things as before, doing all the chores that the stepmother used to do every day. Who wants to do housework when someone else is doing it?
Kind words are hard to persuade a damned ghost. Mercy is useless to save those who have abandoned themselves. If you don't stand up for yourself, who else can you rely on?
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