At that time, there weren't many cars on the roads in Shenzhen, and the non-motorized vehicle lanes weren't exclusively for car parking. People commuting by bicycle used the non-motorized vehicle lanes.
Xia Minmin and Tang Meng initially glided cautiously along the roadside on their skateboards, but after becoming familiar with the road conditions, they became much bolder and went faster than before.
While waiting at a traffic light, Xia Minmin and Tang Meng whispered to each other, "Xiaomin, what should we do? So many people are staring at us!"
"It's okay, you'll get used to it. The more you see it, the less people will watch it anymore."
Skateboarding isn't very well-known right now. Many people don't even know that skateboards exist, let alone what they're for, and are curious to see what they're for.
Everyone who passed by would stare at Xia Minmin and her friend. Over time, Xia Minmin and her friend became resistant to other people's curious gazes and were no longer shy.
When Xia Minmin used the foot brake and other traffic lights again, she complained, "I guess before the summer vacation is even over, our shoes will be ruined. Once we get used to the tail brake, it's better to use the tail brake, since skateboards are cheaper than shoes."
"That makes sense. Are your legs numb? Mine are completely numb from the vibration."
"Same."
The young people riding by whistled at Xia Minmin and Tang Meng, "Little girls, what are you doing?"
Where did you study?
"You two are so cool!"
Tang Meng said loudly, "I learned to skateboard at the Children's Palace."
"Thank you!"
When Xia Minmin and Tang Meng arrived near the residential area, many people greeted them.
"Xiaomin, is this the extracurricular class your mom signed you up for yesterday?"
Xia Minmin's lips curled up slightly, looking a little proud. "Yes, this is called a skateboard. Today is my first day learning. I just skated all the way back from the Children's Palace."
"That's great! You've only been learning for one day and you're already so good. When you learn it, teach your uncle too, okay?"
Xia Minmin never hesitated to respond to others' teasing. "Okay, I'll teach you after I've completed my apprenticeship."
Xia Minmin waved goodbye and continued skating forward with Tang Meng.
"Mengmeng, I've arrived!"
Tang Meng checked the time. "We've only been back for twenty-five minutes, about the same time it takes to take the bus. We can go to the Children's Palace on skateboards from now on."
Xia Minmin stopped by the roadside near the small supermarket and cautiously climbed the steps, as she was not yet very familiar with the action of climbing the steps.
Snap snap snap…
Tang Meng's cheers were never late.
Xia Minmin wiped the sweat from her forehead; it really hadn't been easy.
"Xiaomin, I'm going home now. Let's meet at our usual spot at 1:30."
"Mengmeng, don't forget to wear your hat and mask this afternoon. I'm going to find another long-sleeved shirt to wear, otherwise I'll probably get a tan after two months of skateboarding to and from school."
Tang Meng smiled and nodded upon hearing this, "Yes, I also want to be fully armed."
Xia Minmin said, "Why don't you have dinner at my place? Your parents aren't home anyway. After dinner, we can go back to the neighborhood for a nap together."
"I feel so bad, my parents give me money for lunch."
"There's nothing to be embarrassed about, we're so familiar with each other."
After saying that, Xia Minmin pulled Tang Meng along and they walked into the small supermarket with the skateboard.
Li Chunmei and Xia Jianguo were watching a TV series on a mini TV set placed on the counter.
"Mom and Dad, we're back! Mengmeng's parents weren't home at noon, so I brought her over for lunch."
Tang Meng blushed slightly and said softly, "Hello, Uncle and Aunt! I'm sorry to bother you today."
Li Chunmei held Tang Meng's hand and said, "No problem, no problem. You'll be having lunch at my house with Xiaomin during summer vacation. The food is just ready and we're waiting for you to come home."
Xia Jianguo poured two glasses of cool boiled water for Xia Minmin and Xia Minmin, "How was your skateboarding class today?"
"It's not difficult. We just came back from the Children's Palace by skateboarding home."
Upon hearing this, Li Chunmei stopped serving rice and said, "You two are far too daring! You haven't even learned how to cross the road yet!
Xia Minmin hugged Li Chunmei's arm and said, "Mom, don't worry! We're skated on the non-motorized vehicle lane, it's very safe, and we're not going fast. We're just practicing. We plan to skate to and from school at the Children's Palace every day as long as it doesn't rain. By the end of summer vacation, we should have mastered our skills."
Li Chunmei tapped Xia Minmin's head hard, "You! Be careful in the future, and wear protective gear."
After a quick lunch, Xia Minmin and Tang Meng went home for a nap, as they had an oil painting class in the afternoon.
Xia Minmin and Tang Meng slung their sports bags across their backs, inside which were the oil painting paints and tools they had bought yesterday.
The two people, completely covered from head to toe, attracted a lot of attention when they arrived at the Children's Palace on skateboards.
"Those two people are so strange, why are they wearing so much despite the heat?"
Aren't you worried about getting heatstroke?
"They've even covered their faces, is there some kind of secret they're hiding?"
"Could it be murder?"
"Have you been watching too many Hong Kong crime dramas? Murder? Those two are so short and thin, they don't look like it at all."
"They were carrying skateboards, probably to skateboard to class. They were probably wearing so many clothes to avoid getting a tan. The sun is strong in Shenzhen, and I get a tan every summer if I'm not careful. I'll dress like this from now on."
"Skateboarding? I know about the new courses that started this year. I wanted to sign up before, but they were too expensive, and my mom wouldn't let me."
Xia Minmin and Tang Meng nonchalantly went upstairs to the oil painting class.
Ms. Lu's appearance is as gentle as she is. She speaks softly and is very patient. No matter how naughty the students are, she never gets angry. During breaks, she will share the snacks she brought with everyone.
The oil painting class ended during the rush hour, and there were many more people riding bicycles on the road than at noon, and many more people whispering among themselves.
Wearing masks and hats, completely covered up, Xia Minmin and Tang Meng seemed to be wearing masks as they practiced their newly learned moves without any restraint while waiting for traffic lights, even if they failed.
"Mengmeng, Xiaomin."
Luo Yang's voice came from behind.
Tang Meng turned to look at Luo Yang from the side, "Mom, why are you here so early today?"
"Hello, Aunt Yang!"
Luo Yang patted Xia Minmin's head. "I just saw you two skateboarding on the bus. If it weren't for your backpacks and shoes, I wouldn't have recognized you. Why are you both so bundled up?"
Tang Meng explained, "Mom, the sun is too strong and we'll get tanned easily. We plan to skateboard to the Children's Palace every day, so this is the only thing we can wear."
"You two are pretty fast, I couldn't catch up with you even on the bus!"
Xia Minmin waved her hand, "Aunt Yang, you misunderstood. We're not going fast. It's just that there are a lot of people on the road during rush hour, which is why the bus is going so slowly."
"Exactly, we're much slower than riding a bicycle."
Xia Minmin and Tang Meng didn't dare tell their parents the truth. They deliberately slowed down on the way to their neighborhood for fear of being discovered, but they really sped up on the way out of the Children's Palace.
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