Chapter 129

Zhong Jing knew that Lin Tao was coming today, so she was waiting at the dock early. She was wearing old clothes that had turned white from washing, and she looked a little more haggard than when she was on Shengshan Island. But the only thing that remained unchanged was that she always dressed neatly even if she was wearing old clothes.

The clothes can be old, but they must be clean.

There were relatively few people coming to Qingshui Island. When the boat docked, only a few people got off, including Lin Tao and Yueyue.

Yueyue was very well-behaved. When Lin Tao was holding something else, she would help Lin Tao hold the pile of textbooks.

Zhong Jing rushed over, first helping Yueyue pick up her textbook, and then took the things from Lin Tao's hand: "Teacher Lin, I'll take it. You're carrying it again now, so you still have to be careful."

"It's not that heavy actually." Lin Tao shook her head.

Yueyue called out, "Aunt Zhong."

Zhong Jing looked at Yueyue with eyes full of love: "Yueyue has grown so big and is getting more and more beautiful. Come and help mom deliver books today."

"Yeah, I miss Aunt Zhong." Yueyue smiled, revealing a little pear-shaped swirl at the corner of her mouth.

"Auntie misses Yueyue too." Zhong Jing said, "Let's talk while walking. Let's go home and have a rest first."

The house Zhong Jing lives in now is smaller and more dilapidated than her previous house on Shengshan Island, but no matter where she is, she still manages to build a yard. She grows a lot of vegetables in the yard and also raises chickens and ducks.

Although the house is small, she keeps it very clean.

Zhong Jing asked Lin Tao to sit down. She didn't know what to say when they were at the pier because there were other people there. She said after they got home, "Teacher Lin, why did you bring so many things here... You gave me something last time, and I really don't know what to say."

Lin Tao said, "There are things in here that Yuting and Sister Chen prepared. We all miss you. It's not easy for us to come to see you normally, so we thought we'd take this opportunity to come and bring you as much as we can. You can't even buy it here."

"Teacher Lin..." Zhong Jing couldn't help but tears up in her eyes. It is easy to add icing on the cake, but it is difficult to help someone in need. Over the years, even her relatives haven't come to see her, but the friends she met on the island are always thinking about her.

She wiped away her tears and said, "Look at me, I forgot to pour water for you. You must be thirsty. I'll go get you some water."

A cup of warm water was poured into the enamel pot. Lin Tao took it and gave it to Yueyue to drink first, then she drank it herself. She said, "Teacher Zhong, I came here not only to give you a book, but also to tell you something important. My former high school teacher was also demoted because of some things, but in the first half of the year, I received a letter from him saying that he had been rehabilitated. Now more and more people have been rehabilitated and their hats have been removed. I think Teacher Zhou should be soon."

"Teacher Lin, thank you, I really appreciate you." Zhong Jing held Lin Tao's hand and kept thanking her. Thank you Lin Tao for always thinking about them. "And Teacher Xu and Sister Chen, please convey my gratitude to me when you go back."

"Teacher Zhong, I can." Lin Tao nodded.

Good friends appreciate each other. For Yu Lintao, Zhong Jing is a friend worth making friends with and a very good teacher. She should shine in school instead of here.

The two chatted about some things about the school here. Zhong Jing said, "There are a total of seven or eight children of school age here, and three of them are from the Shen family. However, Shen Jiahao and Shen Jiayi don't study hard in class and their minds are not on studying. Only the youngest, Shen Jiaping, likes to study. He usually takes time to read after helping with housework. I actually brought books with me when I came here, and he has already finished reading several of them. He is a smart child and learns things very quickly. This is the first time I have seen such a smart child in all my years of teaching."

Shen Jiaping was only six or seven years old, but he had already learned all the knowledge in elementary school.

In fact, the reason why Zhong Jing asked for the junior high school textbooks this time was mainly to teach Shen Jiaping, but Shen Jiahao never listened in class, so it was useless to ask for the textbooks.

Yueyue was listening nearby and couldn't help but say, "Brother Jiaping is so amazing."

Zhong Jing said: "Yueyue is amazing too. Your mother said that you already know a lot of words, right?"

Yueyue said: "But I'm not as good as Brother Jiaping."

"Yueyue is already great." Zhong Jing said, "Teacher Lin, you guys can have lunch at home today. I'm going to kill a chicken. Zhou Wen brought back a fish last night."

"I won't have the meal. School will start in a few days, and I have to take care of school matters. There won't be any boats if it's any later. This meal will wait until you are rehabilitated, and then we can have it together." Lin Tao said.

When Lin Tao left, Zhong Jing took out a bag. Lin Tao looked inside and saw a lot of dried abalone and sea cucumber. She refused to take it, but Zhong Jing insisted that she take it, saying that Lin Tao had given her so many things and that this was all they could give her.

Not much, they are what they usually collect. If they see some when they are rushing to the sea, they will pick them up, dry them, and keep them.

Lin Tao had no choice but to accept it.

Yueyue came here to see Shen Jiaping, so Zhong Jing took them to find Shen Jiaping: "He must be going to fetch water now. A freshwater well was dug on the island last year, but it's quite far from here. Lin Hui asked Shen Jiaping to fetch water there every day."

"He is less than seven years old, still a child." Lin Tao frowned.

Zhong Jing sighed, "Who says it's not true? But it's good for him to go there. There are not many people there. He can take a book with him. Anyway, he just needs to fetch enough water for the whole family every day. He just needs to walk a few more times. Anyway, it's more comfortable than at home, and he can have time to read. In that family, his brothers and sisters will never give him time to read."

While they were talking, they had already walked towards that direction.

Shen Jiaping was walking back with a half-bucket of water. He was reciting the contents of the book he had read before while carrying the bucket. He had grown a lot taller than before, but he was still a child after all, so he had to change hands from time to time to carry the half-bucket of water.

But his expression was very calm, immersed in his own world. If Zhong Jing hadn't called him, he might not have noticed Lin Tao and the others.

"Shen Jiaping, look who's here to see you." Zhong Jing said.

When Yueyue saw Shen Jiaping again, she smiled and called out, "Brother Jiaping!"

"Yueyue, Teacher Lin..." Shen Jiaping saw Lin Tao and Yueyue, and a happy expression appeared on his face. He put down the bucket and bowed to Lin Tao again, "Teacher Lin, why are you here?"

"Teacher Zhong is going to give you a lesson, isn't he? I'm here to deliver the textbooks." Lin Tao explained, "I was just listening to you reciting the text, what were you reciting?"

"It's a book I borrowed from Teacher Zhong. It talks about mechanical structure." Shen Jiaping said.

Zhong Jing said: "I can't even understand his books. I didn't expect Jiaping to like them so much."

Lin Tao praised him, "He is a smart kid. Only those who endure hardships can become successful. As long as you want to learn knowledge, you can learn it under any circumstances."

Yueyue took out a handful of White Rabbit candies from her pocket and handed them to Shen Jiaping: "Brother Jiaping, these White Rabbit candies are for you."

Shen Jiaping looked at Yueyue, and Lin Tao said, "Jiaping, take it."

Shen Jiaping nodded and took the White Rabbit candy from Yueyue's hand. Yueyue's hands were small, so even though she grabbed a handful, there were only seven or eight candies. Shen Jiaping put the White Rabbit candy in his pocket. Yueyue saw that she had finished, so she peeled off a candy wrapper and tiptoed to Shen Jiaping's mouth: "Brother Jiaping, eat it now."

Shen Jiaping opened his mouth and put the White Rabbit milk candy into his mouth. The sweet taste spread in his mouth. With Yueyue's sweet smile, Shen Jiaping took a deep breath and felt warm in his chest.

Yueyue said, "Brother Jiaping, eat these White Rabbit candies secretly by yourself, don't let Shen Jiayi and the others take them away."

She knew that Shen Jiahao and Shen Jiayi were bad guys who always liked to bully Brother Jiaping.

Shen Jiaping nodded and promised: "I won't let them take it away. By the way, Teacher Lin, I also want to give Yueyue something. You guys wait here for me, I'll go home and get it now, okay?"

Lin Tao said, "Okay, go get it, we'll wait for you here."

When Yueyue heard that Shen Jiaping was going to give her something, she immediately widened her eyes and asked, "Brother Jiaping, what is it?"

But Shen Jiaping didn't tell her now, he just said she would know later.

Shen Jiaping turned around and ran towards home. Lin Tao reminded him from behind: "Jiaping, you forgot to take your bucket."

Shen Jiaping turned around and said, "Teacher Lin, it's okay, I'll get it later."

He walked slowly with half a bucket of water in his hand, so it would take him at least 10 to 20 minutes to walk this distance. However, it would only take him 10 minutes to run back and forth with nothing in his hands. He would rather run an extra trip than let Lin Tao and Yue Yue wait any longer.

Lin Tao was also a thoughtful person. She could guess what Shen Jiaping was thinking and sighed, "He's a good kid."

Zhong Jing smiled and said, "Who said it wasn't true?"

When Shen Jiaping returned home, Shen Jiahao and Shen Jiayi were waiting for lunch at home. Seeing Shen Jiaping coming back empty-handed, they asked in a bad tone: "Shen Jiaping, didn't you go to fetch water? Where's the bucket? Did you break the bucket? Shen Jiaping, you're done for. I'll tell mom when she comes back. Don't think that I won't dare to do anything to you just because dad is protecting you."

Shen Jiaping glanced at Shen Jiayi, pursed his lips without saying anything, picked up something, turned around and left.

Shen Jiahao snorted, "I don't know what the use of carrying that pile of broken stuff is."

Shen Jiaping held the thing and trotted back to the place he had just been. When he stopped, he was still a little out of breath. Yueyue had been waiting just now. Her curiosity had been aroused and her heart was itching. Now that she saw Shen Jiaping coming back, she hurried forward to greet him.

Yueyue: "Brother Jiaping, what is this?"

Yueyue looked at the thing Shen Jiaping was holding in front of his chest and asked curiously.

Shen Jiaping said, "This is a phonograph. I read Teacher Zhou's book, which described these things, and I made one according to my own ideas."

As Shen Jiaping spoke, he turned the things on the paper tube and said to Yueyue, "Yueyue, say something to this paper tube."

Yueyue scratched her forehead with her little hand: "What are you talking about... Let me tell you, Brother Jiaping, you are really amazing."

When Shen Jiaping heard this, his lips curled up and his eyes were filled with smiles. Yueyue asked, "It's settled, then what?"

Then, Shen Jiaping turned the thing in the opposite direction again. The next moment, Yueyue's voice came out from the paper tube: "What are you talking about... Then I say, Brother Jiaping, you are really amazing."

Yueyue stared at this magical thing with eyes wide open and mouth wide open, her eyes full of shock and novelty: "Brother Jiaping, this is amazing, it can actually imitate my speech!"

"This is a simple phonograph I made myself. You turn this stick clockwise once and speak, then turn it counterclockwise once, and you can hear what you just said." Shen Jiaping explained.

Yueyue held the phonograph and couldn't let it go: "Brother Jiaping, I like this so much."

Lin Tao didn't expect that Shen Jiaping, who was less than seven years old, was so amazing and could make such a thing. Moreover, he learned to make it just by reading a book. If this child can be well educated, he will definitely achieve great things in the future.

"Teacher Zhong, I haven't finished reading the book that Teacher Zhou lent me. Can I return it to Teacher Zhou later? I will find time to finish it as soon as possible." Shen Jiaping said.

He is only seven years old, but he speaks like a little adult. Born in such a family, no one takes care of him, so he has to rely on himself for everything.

Zhong Jing: "It's okay, just read it. Send it back when you're done. School will start on September 1st. Remember to report back then. I've asked Teacher Lin to send you the junior high school books, so you can study the junior high school curriculum then."

Shen Jiaping said sincerely, "Thank you, Teacher Zhong, and thank you, Teacher Lin."

It was getting late, so Zhong Jing sent Lin Tao and Yue Yue to the pier to catch a boat. Shen Jiaping watched them from behind until they were out of sight, then he picked up the bucket and walked towards home.

Shen Jiayi was already waiting for him at the door. When she saw him coming back, she sneered, "Did you go to see that bad woman just now? Did you give that lousy thing you made to Li Yanyue? Our family is here because of that bad woman. Have you forgotten what mom said? Who told you to see that bad woman and her daughter? Shen Jiaping, do you like Li Yanyue? You are so shameless. You are so young and you are thinking about such things."

Shen Jiaping looked at Shen Jiayi coldly. Although they were siblings, there was no family affection between them at all.

He put the bucket down, walked to Shen Jiayi, and pushed her to the ground. Although Shen Jiaping was two years younger than Shen Jiayi, boys were still stronger than girls. Shen Jiayi fell to the ground and yelled, "Shen Jiaping, you dare to hit me——"

The ground was full of stones, her hands were scraped, and there was stinky chicken poop on the ground, which made her clothes dirty.

Shen Jiaping was not afraid at all, and said coldly: "Why not? If you continue to talk nonsense like this, I will beat you again."

Shen Jiayi yelled at the top of her voice: "Brother, Shen Jiaping is bullying me, come and help me."

Shen Jiahao heard the noise and ran out quickly, rolling up his sleeves and preparing to beat Shen Jiaping. He was five or six years older than Shen Jiaping, and now he was twelve years old. If Shen Jiaping fought with him, he would not get any good results.

Shen Jiahao: "Shen Jiaping, you even dare to hit Jiayi, are you looking for death?"

But before Shen Jiahao could throw his fist at him, Shen Jiaping said, "I guess your father doesn't know about the last time you stole money."

Shen Jiahao's eyes dodged: "You, you just wait for me!"

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After returning home, Yueyue excitedly told Lin Changhai about her phonograph and asked Lin Changhai to speak into the paper tube.

Yueyue: "Grandpa, please say something."

Lin Changhai: "Then I say, Yueyue is grandpa's baby."

"Okay, now I'm going to turn this needle." Yueyue said as she turned it as Shen Jiaping taught her. As expected, Lin Changhai's voice came over, "Grandpa, grandpa, please say something. I'll say it, Yueyue is grandpa's baby."

Yueyue laughed and said, "Oh, my voice got in too."

Lin Changhai didn't expect that this thing made of some broken stuff could actually work like a phonograph. He was very surprised.

In the evening, Lin Tao also talked about this with Li Chengxi. Li Chengxi said, "This thing is not difficult to make, but he can make it at such a young age, which is quite amazing."

Lin Tao propped up her chin and looked at him: "So, you can do it too?"

Li Chengxi's expression was natural, but his tone was full of pride, like a peacock spreading its tail: "I can make a lot of things. I'll show you next time."

As the two were talking, Yueyue came over with her picture book and said she wanted to be told stories by the baby in her mother's belly.

Lin Tao and Li Chengxi laughed for a moment, but they followed Yueyue.

Yueyue and Wang Qingming also went to school at the beginning of the semester, and they were in the same class. Before they went to school, they studied at home, and after going to school, they easily surpassed other students, but Lin Tao taught Yueyue not to relax because of this, and she still had to listen to the teacher's class and regard it as review.

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, we have entered winter from autumn.

By the month before the New Year, Lin Tao was already five months pregnant, and her belly had grown much bigger than before. Chen Shuifen looked at her belly and said it was definitely a boy.

Xu Yuting said, "Sister, when A Tao was pregnant with Yue Yue, you said it was a boy. You are not right."

Chen Shuifen said: "That time it was a mistake, this time it must be a boy."

Some people deliberately approached Yueyue and made a 'joke' about her: "Yueyue, your mother is pregnant with a little brother. After the little brother is born, your mother will not like you anymore."

But Yueyue never listened to them. She snorted and said, "My mother doesn't dislike me. My little brother, little sister and I are all her babies. She likes us all the same."

Her mother had told her long ago that she would always be her good baby and that her mother would never dislike her. She also loved the baby in her mother's belly, and she would be nice to the baby together with her father, mother, and grandfather, and would not believe what others said.

After the winter vacation, Lin Tao discussed with Li Chengxi that they would go to Xiangcheng together to celebrate the New Year this year.