Unlike other children her age, Xia Lian learned to be independent at a very young age, and started going home alone from the fourth grade of elementary school.
My mom is usually very busy and works very hard, so I can't let her have to go through the trouble of picking me up from school.
As the school bell rang, a group of elementary school students walked out of the school gate in a long line, and many parents were already waiting at the gate.
Xia Lian didn't stop and look around like the other children, because she knew no one was waiting for her at the door after school.
Compared to this lonely little figure, the scene on the other side was much more lively. Outside the school gate, there was no shortage of stalls, vendors, and stationery stores.
Although it's called a stationery store, it actually sells mostly toys and snacks, because the owners know that elementary school students can't resist these kinds of things.
"Boss! A grilled sausage, please!"
"Boss, how much is this pencil case?"
"Boss, can I pay on credit? I'll pay you tomorrow."
The cacophony of noise came from the busiest little shop outside the school gate, where countless elementary school students buy things every day.
Xia Lian had no intention of stopping, but perhaps she heard something interesting, and the 10-year-old girl hesitated for a moment, then stopped and turned around.
Small shops usually display something eye-catching at the entrance, such as small toys or candy boxes filled with lollipops of various colors.
You can buy one of the pretty lollipops for just two dollars.
Many children love shiny things, especially the candy wrappers that shimmer in the sunlight. After peeling off the wrapper, the round, pink candy ball inside is revealed.
A little boy holding a lollipop walked past her, and Xia Lian stared at the pretty candy for a moment, lost in thought.
She couldn't explain her psychology, but she inexplicably liked lollipops because her classmates had told her that they were very sweet, so sweet they could make your teeth fall out.
Xia Lian had never tasted it, but the description alone had piqued her interest.
But it only piqued her interest. After having her fill of eye candy, Xia Lian didn't hesitate any longer. She turned around and walked home with her heavy schoolbag on her back.
She really liked it and had enough money to buy lollipops.
But Xia Lian knew that buying candy was just to satisfy her cravings, and she would probably finish one piece of candy very quickly, so she might as well not buy it.
The family wasn't wealthy; in fact, they were quite poor. My mother was already exhausted from her work and couldn't afford to add any more expenses to the household.
She originally had a ten-yuan note in her schoolbag, given to her by her mother. She didn't plan to use it, but when her eraser was almost completely worn out, she hesitated for a long time before deciding to buy a new one.
The 9 yuan in change remained in my schoolbag and was never used again.
Xia Lian hadn't tasted sweetness in a long time. She only remembered eating a piece of wedding candy when she went to someone else's house for a banquet when she was a child. It had been so long that she couldn't remember the taste of that candy anymore.
After walking for about ten minutes, she stopped in front of a dilapidated rental house and looked down to take out her keys from her bag.
With a long, creaking sound, the wooden door was slowly pushed open, revealing a faint musty smell in the air. Inside, there was only a wooden table and chairs and a small cabinet.
The room was dark, and the girl didn't plan to turn on the lights. It was brighter than nighttime, and not turning on the lights would save on electricity.
Seemingly used to this scene, Xia Lian went into the bedroom, put down her schoolbag, carried a stool to the stove, and with a little effort, lifted the iron pot, poured out the water, lit the fire, and began to cook.
The groceries were bought in advance by her mother. Xia Lian has been cooking at home since last year, and her mother comes home very late after work, so she can just heat them up and eat.
She skillfully stir-fried the vegetables in the wok, adding salt and MSG in turn. When it came time to add sugar, the girl paused for a few seconds.
As if possessed, she stretched out a finger, seemingly wanting to dip it into the sugar in the box, but then quickly shook her head when she realized what she was doing.
However, when adding sugar to the dish, she still added a little bit too much, even just a few extra grains, hoping to taste a slight hint of sweetness.
Once the hot dish is cooked, pour it onto a plate.
The rice was leftovers from yesterday. After heating it up a little, Xia Lian served herself a small bowl.
Holding the chopsticks, her eyes trembled slightly for a few seconds. She picked up a piece of food, put it in her mouth, and chewed it carefully until she swallowed it.
Xia Lian's little wish was dashed. Adding more sugar to the dish didn't make it taste sweet, and the eyes of this 10-year-old girl gradually dimmed.
After dinner and washing the dishes, it was 6:30 p.m.
At the dining table, Xia Lian moved a chair over and sat down. She spread her homework out on the table, picked up a pencil, and began to write slowly.
Learning is the way out, so she never takes it lightly.
When I get tired of studying, I take a break and then continue studying. Even if the textbook is worn out, I will read it several times. I must memorize the new English before I can go to sleep.
She worked incredibly hard, and her grades lived up to her reputation; Xia Lian's ranking never fell out of the top three in her grade.
Xia Lian didn't close her book until just before going to sleep. Her eyes were sore and swollen. She was more tired from studying than sleepy. All she wanted to do was close her eyes, lie in bed, and sleep a little longer.
The bed was the only comfortable place in the house. It was warm and cozy under the covers. Xia Lian slowly closed her eyes and let her mind go blank. However, she felt that her head was very hot tonight, but she just thought it was because she was tired from studying and did not feel anything unusual.
When I opened my eyes, my mother was beside me, looking haggard. She gently stroked my cheek with her calloused hands, her eyes full of worry.
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