To avoid appearing like she was secretly learning from Xia Minmin, Li Qing deliberately waited an hour after Xia Minmin's class to arrive.
What Li Qing didn't expect was that there were so many onlookers.
When Xia Minmin and the others were having class, they would block off the area around them with strips of cloth, so Li Qing could only stand on the steps to watch.
"Xiaomin, what are you looking at?"
Tang Meng noticed today that Xia Minmin was acting strangely, constantly glancing at the crowd of onlookers.
Xia Minmin explained, "Mengmeng, didn't I tell you? My cousin said she's coming over today to watch and learn how to skateboard!"
"There are too many people coming to watch and learn lately, so it might be hard to find. Go outside and take a look after class."
"Old Niu is probably going to make a fortune these days. The other night when we passed by the park after dinner, I saw him leading more than twenty people in class."
"So many people?"
"Yeah, haven't you noticed? There are a lot more people skateboarding lately. They're everywhere—in parks, on the streets. People gather around to watch every day here."
Teacher Niu had been staring at Xia Minmin and Tang Meng for a long time. The two of them were whispering to each other and talking non-stop.
"Pay attention and watch my movements."
Teacher Niu clapped his hands loudly, and Xia Minmin and Tang Meng didn't dare to continue talking and focused on listening to the lesson.
"Ten-minute break."
After class, the onlookers went to ask Teacher Niu questions, and that's when Xia Minmin noticed Li Qing.
Xia Minmin waved her hand and shouted loudly, "Sister Qing, over here!"
Li Qing walked over with her head down.
After learning to use Xia Minmin's skateboard briefly, Li Qing developed a strong interest in it.
"Xiaomin, where did you buy your skateboard? I want to buy one too. It's really convenient for getting around. I don't want to learn all those tricks you guys do. I'll just ask you to teach me."
"I'll ask Mr. Niu after school; I ordered it from him before."
"Okay! I'll head back now. See you tomorrow afternoon."
After school, Xia Minmin ordered a skateboard for Teacher Li Qingniu.
When the oil painting class ended in the afternoon, Xia Minmin suddenly remembered what Li Chunmei had said at noon.
"Mengmeng, please ask for leave for me tonight. My uncle from my hometown is in Shenzhen, and my family is having a family gathering today."
"No way! I'm all alone again today!"
"I probably won't take leave so easily in the future, but I should go back to my hometown after my extracurricular classes are over!"
"Me too. My family has to go back to Shanghai every winter vacation. My dad has to work every winter vacation, so we go back during the summer vacation."
"Alright, go ahead! Aunt Chunmei is already waiting for you at the door."
Tang Meng, with her sharp eyes, noticed that Xia Jianguo and Li Chunmei had packed all the items displayed outside into the supermarket, probably preparing to close up shop and go have dinner.
"Okay, be careful when you go to the Sanda class tonight."
"You're just a little kid, you should worry about yourself. My parents will come to pick me up tonight!"
Xia Minmin and Tang Meng said goodbye at the supermarket entrance.
"Mom, I'm home. I'm going home to put my gym bag away first."
"It's too late, let's just let it go."
Before Xia Minmin could even take a sip of water, Xia Jianguo locked the door of the small supermarket, and the family took a taxi to the discount supermarket.
Sitting in the car, Xia Minmin asked, "Why are you in such a hurry?"
Xia Jianguo explained, "After dinner, your uncle's family plans to go to your aunt's younger brother and sister's place. One lives in the east and the other in the west. It will take at least three hours to get there by bus."
"Where do Auntie and Xiaoyu live?"
Li Chunmei said, "Your aunt and Xiaoyu are currently living on the third floor of the discount supermarket. The tenant in that room moved out at the end of June. After their new home is renovated, they will move there. Xiaoyu and Xiaobao will also go to school there."
Xia Minmin nodded, indicating that she understood.
Li Chunmei watched Xia Minmin nod her head slowly, "It's still early to go to sleep, do you want to take a nap?"
"Um."
Xia Minmin had barely finished speaking when she leaned back and fell asleep.
Looking at his somewhat tired daughter, Xia Jianguo said softly, "I don't know why she's working so hard? She already has a much better starting point than others."
Li Chunmei lowered her voice and said, "She's probably very competitive! She wants to do her best. But the intensity of the exercise also has its benefits. She's grown very fast recently and is now twenty miles taller than her peers."
"That's true. We just need to take care of the logistical support and not hinder the child's pursuit of progress. Knowing her personality, she would tell us directly if she wanted to ask for leave."
"The fresh milk is about to expire, and the calcium supplements are running out."
"Okay, I'll renew the milk tomorrow. The calcium tablets should last a few more days. These calcium tablets are really effective. I've noticed that Xiaomin's legs haven't hurt at night recently."
Looking at the increasingly familiar street scene, Li Chunmei thought, "We should be there soon, right?"
"Yes, you two are so good to your daughter!"
"Yes, she's the only one in the family, so everyone spoils her."
Li Chunmei patted Xia Minmin's face, "Xiaomin, wake up, we're almost there."
Xia Minmin slightly opened her eyes, her gaze somewhat confused. "Have we arrived?"
"immediately!"
Before he could finish speaking, the taxi stopped.
Xia Jianguo said, "Pack your things so you don't lose anything."
"knew."
Xia Minmin checked the car door repeatedly before closing it.
"Xiaomin."
Wang Yu and Xiao Bao were playing in front of the discount supermarket when they spotted Xia Minmin, who had just gotten off the bus.
"Sister Min, you're finally here! We've been waiting for you for so long."
Xia Minmin handed Xia Jianguo her sports bag and skateboard, then went to chat with Wang Yu and Xiao Bao.
Xia Minmin said, "Why are you only coming now? I thought you would come when you were on summer vacation."
Wang Yu said, "Ever since I found out I was coming to Shenzhen, I've been asking my mom every day during summer vacation, 'I haven't seen my dad for months!'"
Xiao Bao said, "Sister Min, is it this uncomfortable for you to ride the train? I sat on the chair for a whole day and night! I never want to ride the train again."
Hearing the two children calling out, Xia Damei also came out of the supermarket, and said somewhat awkwardly, "Second brother and sister-in-law, it's been a long time. How have you been lately?"
Li Chunmei took Xia Damei's hand and said, "We're all doing well. How have you been lately? You look great."
Xia Damei looked at Xia Minmin and said, "Xiaomin has grown quite a bit taller recently! Last time I saw her, she was only a little taller than Xiaoyu, but now she's almost half a head taller."
"Once you've settled in, order fresh milk for Xiaoyu. Drinking milk regularly will help the child grow taller."
Xia Jianguo said to Xia Damei, "You're the only one here. Where is everyone else?"
"My older brother and sister-in-law went for a walk around the neighborhood and should be back soon. My younger sister and Xiao Wu went upstairs to prepare dinner. I'm staying here to watch the two kids and wait for Wang Jie to get off work."
Li Chunmei glanced at the time; there were only a few minutes left before the factory closed for the day. "Then I'll wait with you!"
"Chunmei, I'll take Xiaomin's things upstairs first, and help Xiaomei and Xiaowu out while I'm at it."
The three children were talking about something, their faces flushed and their hands gesturing wildly.
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