Children are all like angels.
They seem to know nothing, yet they also seem to know everything.
No one asked Ning Yanshu and Shen Xu where they had gone for so many days, nor did anyone whisper about Shen Xu's unusual behavior.
They were just like before, laughing and joking in class and playing around after class.
The girls eagerly offered Shen Xu the small candies they had won as rewards, while the boys gathered around him, discussing what games they would play during their outdoor activities later.
The chattering and noise in the kindergarten sounded so lively and energetic.
To prepare for the upcoming graduation season in June, Teacher Youzi prepared a special lesson—
Write a letter to your future self.
...
Teacher Youzi stood on the podium and asked, "Children, do you remember the drawing that everyone drew last semester? The drawing was about your dreams."
"Remember!--"
The children in the classroom shouted in unison.
Receiving an enthusiastic response from the children, Teacher Yuzu smiled and said, "That day, Teacher Yuzu received so many dreams from the children, I was almost overwhelmed by them all!"
"Everyone has different dreams. Some children want to be athletes, some want to be stars, and some want to help their mothers sell lunchboxes when they grow up..."
Laughter filled the classroom.
Meeting everyone's gaze, Ning Yanshu smiled sheepishly.
Teacher Yuzu slightly raised her hand, and the classroom instantly fell silent again.
"Dreams come in all sizes, and even ordinary people possess great power! So no matter what your dream is, Teacher Youzi thinks everyone is amazing. Because that is the goal that you want to strive for in the future and work hard for throughout your life."
After a brief pause, Ms. Yuzu took out the letter paper and envelope she had prepared beforehand: "So today, let's write a letter to our future selves!~"
"When these children grow up in the future, they can open this letter and see if their drawings and dreams from back then have come true."
As the class monitor, Tang Tang went up to the podium, took the letter from Teacher Youzi, and distributed it to each child.
When it was Shen Xu's turn, Teacher Youzi took out an extra sheet of drawing paper and a paintbrush.
She walked over and squatted down next to Shen Xu: "Little Xu, you should also draw a picture of your dream. Teacher Youzi will help you put it in an envelope to show to Xu when you grow up."
Shen Xu took the drawing paper and brushes and stared blankly at the envelope on the table.
He seemed to be thinking seriously.
He turned his head to look at Ning Yanshu sitting next to him, who was already holding a pen and writing furiously on the letter paper.
Shen Xu's gaze returned to the envelope in front of him. After pondering for a long time, he finally took out a pen...
...
When get out of class ended, the classroom and hallway were noisy.
Everyone excitedly chatted about what they had just written in the envelopes.
Long Aotian boasted to Tang Tang that he would become a powerful CEO and a great person in the future.
Tang Tang ignored him.
She turned to look at Ning Yanshu, who was sitting opposite her: "Little mole, what did you write?"
Ning Yanshu replied, "I made a slight modification to my dream."
"Oh? What is it?" Wang Zihao turned to the side and asked curiously, "What is your new dream?"
Ning Yanshu said shyly, "When I grow up, I want to sell boxed lunches with my dad, mom, and older brother."
Hearing his name appear in Ning Yanshu's dream, Shen Xu felt a sense of disbelief mixed with a subtle joy.
“Selling boxed lunches is no good at all.” Long Aotian interrupted them rudely, dissatisfied with being ignored by Tang Tang: “People who have no future can only pick up trash and sweep the streets when they grow up. It’s utterly shameful.”
"Why would that be so embarrassing?" Ning Yanshu asked, puzzled. "My dad used to collect scraps all the time, although he doesn't anymore..."
"That's right, that's right. What's shameful about earning money with your own hands?"
Ever since Long Aotian transferred to this school, Wang Zihao has found fault with everything about him.
He and Ning Yanshu used to bicker occasionally. But ever since this annoying guy arrived, Wang Zihao has focused all his energy on dealing with him.
“My mom said that these days, you can earn over ten thousand yuan a month just by collecting recyclables. What right do you have to look down on people like that?”
Upon hearing Tang Tang's words, Ning Yanshu exclaimed in surprise, "Ah, really?"
...
He was retorted several times, including by his favorite Tang Tang, and Long Aotian lost face.
He left his seat without saying a word.
He went to the toilet alone, closed the door, and sat on the toilet to contemplate life.
Long Aotian was caught in a dilemma.
On one hand, he felt that what Wang Zihao said seemed to make some sense. But on the other hand, he reminded himself that he must always keep Long Batian's words in mind.
Because my father said that only by becoming a superior person can you have everything you want.
Only by standing at the top of the world can one control everyone in the world!
But……
Now, it seems like I'm the one who can't fit in, the one who feels out of place...
...
When school was over, the person who came to pick Long Aotian up was her mother, Li Chuting.
On the way home, Long Aotian sat on the back of the wobbly bicycle and asked, "Mom, if I grow up and sell boxed lunches or collect recyclables, will you scold me and think I'm useless?"
While waiting for the traffic light to turn green, the bicycle stopped.
Li Chuting thought about it seriously for a long time.
My thoughts drifted back to the past.
Long Aotian used to be quite incompetent, earning a meager salary of a few dozen yuan a day, and working a very hard nine-to-five job.
But back then, he treated me very well.
On my way home from work on a shared bike, I'll buy myself a hot roasted sweet potato. Occasionally, when I'm not busy on holidays, I'll take my kids to museums and parks that offer free admission.
Their marriage was not well-regarded by their families, and the family of three lived a very frugal life.
But at least I am happy.
However, everything changed after Long Batian became rich.
He had become someone Li Chuting didn't recognize at all. He started staying away from home, started to dislike her, and started becoming less and less like the person he used to be...
...
The cars behind me kept honking their horns; the red light had ended.
Li Chuting started pedaling her bicycle again, and then answered Long Aotian's question: "No, Mom won't think you're useless."
"As long as you are safe and healthy, that's all that matters."
Hearing Li Chuting's words, Long Aotian's previously dim eyes gradually brightened: "Mom..."
...
In the evening, Shen Fu returned home after work.
Before he could even settle into his seat on the sofa, Ning Yanshu came running up to him and asked, "Dad, why aren't you picking up trash anymore?"
Shen Fu: "...?"
...
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