Two days before the start of the school term, Bonnie and her friends packed their things and moved back to the family compound.
The house had been uninhabited for the entire summer vacation, so Bonnie and her four children did a thorough cleaning, leaving no corner untouched.
"Ouch, I haven't been active at all over the holiday, and my back and waist are aching. Liu Jiu, wake me up for morning exercise tomorrow. I can't take it anymore, I'll be doomed if I'm just a little lazy."
Gu Xuanyi rubbed his lower back and massaged his legs, like an old man in his twilight years.
“Brother Xuanyi, you have the body of a young master but the life of a servant. You complain about doing even the smallest tasks. You lack experience.”
He stretched and realized that he could easily handle this level of physical exertion.
"Sanqi, you never stop talking. I only didn't exercise for one summer vacation, otherwise, would you still dare to nag me like that?"
Gu Xuanyi was extremely annoyed by Sanqi's mouth, which was like a machine gun, constantly firing away.
"You dare to shout like that all you did this summer was not exercise? Aren't you afraid that my dad and your second uncle will hear you and send you to the army for extra training? How glorious!"
Gu Xuanyi reflexively turned around and looked back. Thankfully, his second uncle hadn't returned; he was terrified. He waved his fist at Sanqi, thinking, "What a naughty kid, scaring him like that."
"Sis, Xuan Yi threatened me. He might want to spar with you. He said he hasn't exercised all summer and is a bit rusty."
Gu Xuanyi quickly covered Sanqi's mouth. This brat, he hadn't offended him at all. If he really summoned Liujiu, he would be dead for sure.
"Anyone want to spar with me, Brother Xuanyu?"
Liu Jiu walked out excitedly; she hadn't practiced with anyone all summer and her hands were itching to get some practice.
"Little sister, I'm too old and weak to bother with this. I saw Han Bei and Zheng Tao. Tonight, you can practice with them. You won't get any results practicing with me."
Gu Xuanyu sat on the windowsill wiping the glass, quickly shifting the blame, as he didn't want to be Liu Jiu's punching bag. Xuan Yi was right; not exercising all summer was really taking its toll. It seemed that there was no way to slack off when it came to physical training.
"Yeah, sparring with you guys isn't very interesting, but it's better than nothing. Zheng Tao and the others are really back, I'll call them later to ask."
Liu Jiu went to work again. She has grown taller recently, and can now reach the cabinets without standing on a stool to wipe them.
In the evening, after finishing her dinner, Liu Jiu hurriedly went downstairs, leaving the dishes and chopsticks for Gu Xuanyi. "Let's start exercising by doing housework," she thought.
"Why are you in such a hurry, Liu Jiu?"
"Second Aunt, Zheng Tao and Han Bei are back. Liu Jiu is eager to spar with them and release his excess energy."
Xuan Yi really couldn't understand why a young girl would like to fight with people so much. Isn't she beautiful wearing a pretty dress and leather sandals?
Sigh, he only dared to mutter these words to himself. If Liu Jiu heard him, she could force him to change into a skirt and sandals, and he couldn't resist.
Sanqi watched as Xuanyi muttered to himself, clearly talking about his sister, but he didn't dare say it aloud, so he could only mutter to himself. He was such a coward.
Dinner was prepared by Sanqi; his dad had something to do and wouldn't be home for dinner. "I'm going downstairs too, to check on the situation and see if my sister has made any progress."
Those who cook don't wash the dishes, while those who don't cook are responsible for washing the dishes.
Bonnie watched the children chattering, but she didn't care. That's how it should be between siblings; relationships are built over time.
After helping Xuanyi tidy up, I told him to go downstairs for a walk and get some exercise.
Gu Xuanyu washed his hands and went downstairs. He hadn't seen Zheng Tao and the other guy for a long time, and it was a rare opportunity to run into them, so he wanted to chat.
"Xuanyu, over here!"
As soon as they arrived at the training ground, Han Bei called Gu Xuanyu over.
"Why are you alone? Where are the others?"
"I just finished practicing with Liu Jiu. This girl has improved again. I almost got the short end of the stick. Uncle Gu has a successor."
Han Bei shook his leg; it was still a little numb from being kicked by Liu Jiu.
“I wouldn’t dare spar with Liu Jiu; I’d just be a punching bag. My second uncle doesn’t insist that Liu Jiu go to military academy. She and San Qi can choose their future careers based on their own preferences.”
Gu Xuanyu knew from a young age that he had responsibilities to bear and had always worked very hard. His father also had high hopes for him.
However, my second uncle and aunt really didn't have that idea; Liu Jiu and San Qi grew up freely. If they wanted to learn a skill, they would discuss it with their parents, and they were generally able to get their wish, just like this time with learning English.
"Your second uncle and aunt really dote on their children, but the siblings are also very capable and excellent in every way, and they don't let their parents down."
Han Bei is the eldest son in his family, and his family relationships are complicated, so he is under a lot of pressure.
"Hasn't the relationship between your dad and your uncle improved a lot?"
"Yes, since my uncle came back, our relationship has improved a lot, but the rift has already formed, and no matter how much we try to repair it, it will never be completely intact."
Han Bei had no choice; his grandfather was retiring this year and was now making the final handover, meaning his family would have to move out of the small building.
Even someone of his father's rank wouldn't be allowed to live in a general's mansion.
"Don't think about it too much. We all have our own responsibilities, and no one can escape them. Even if you're born into an ordinary family, don't you still have to work and support your family?"
Gu Xuanyu was very open-minded. Before going to university, he was surrounded by kids from the compound, and their circumstances were similar.
After entering university, Gu Xuanyu met classmates from all over the country and from different family backgrounds. As he learned more, he felt that he was already very lucky and had a very high starting point.
"That's true. If we say anything more, it would just be complaining without reason, and we wouldn't know how lucky we are."
It was only after Han Bei went to university that he learned what poverty was, something he could never have imagined.
Two teenagers, just about to come of age, sat under the starry sky and talked for a long time. Such scenes will become increasingly rare in the future.
A little while later, Liu Jiu and the others arrived, and everyone dispersed, each going home to their own mothers.
"Go wash up, you're covered in sweat."
Bonnie looked at her daughter; she had really enjoyed the beating, her head was covered in sweat, and she was even covered in dirt.
"Got it, that was great. It's been a long time since I've had such a satisfying match, especially with a professional one."
Liu Jiu grabbed a change of clothes, let out a couple of howls as he returned from target practice, and went in to take a shower.
"Mom, Dad isn't home yet?"
Sanqi didn't sweat, so he wasn't in a hurry to take a shower; he'd just rinse off before going to bed.
"No, you guys just need to wash up and go to bed later."
Bonnie gave a few words of advice and then went inside.
The children didn't know when Gu Ye returned, but Bao Ni noticed someone was there and asked, "Have you eaten?"
"I've eaten. You can continue sleeping. I'll wash up and go to sleep too."
Gu Ye kissed his wife, then took his clothes and went to take a shower.
On the last day of August, the children returned to school. They had to clean up and get new books.
Bonnie and her friends are going back to school, the library needs cleaning, and new books are being delivered.
Liu Jiu and Xuan Yi will be in the second year of junior high school this semester, which is the fourth grade.
Before we know it, my child will be taking the high school entrance exam next year, followed by two years of high school and then the college entrance exam. Time flies!
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