Chapter 4: Doing Homework
The following day, Beijing experienced its first snowfall in 79 years.
When Luo Yan woke up, she felt that the room was unusually cold. She opened the window a crack and looked out. She saw that the ground in the yard was covered with a layer of white, and she couldn't help but shiver.
She quickly closed the window, rubbed her hands together, and went to the living room to pour herself a cup of hot water to warm herself up.
But perhaps because of the cold weather, her hands and feet were not under her control. She lost her grip on the enamel cup, which fell to the ground with a thud and rolled twice.
None of the rooms in the house were soundproof. When Liu Yinfeng heard the noise, she thought it was a rat infestation. She put on her clothes, opened the door, and held a thin bamboo stick in her hand.
This place looks like a thief has broken in.
Afraid of waking the others, Luo Yan lowered her voice and said, "Mom, it's me."
It was still dark, and the lighting inside the room was quite poor.
Liu Yinfeng glanced at the clock, stared at it for two seconds, and then said, "You're up too early. Go back to sleep for a while."
It was early enough. This time, Luo Yan didn't feign compliance; she went back to her room and crawled back into bed.
She was fast asleep when the twins from the Wu family in the west wing, who had just turned 100 days old, suddenly opened her eyes.
These two kids have a regular schedule; they get hungry at this time every day.
Luo Yan now uses them as alarm clocks. She is not impatient at all when she is woken up. Instead, she sits happily at her desk and does two pages of physics problems as planned.
She was one of the few who were as happy as she was.
The Wu couple had been having a baby almost every year since they moved into courtyard number 13. While other families' children would cry for a few months at most, theirs was one baby after another.
The other residents in the courtyard have had complaints for a while now, but since they see each other all the time, they just grumble a little. Today was no exception.
While eating breakfast, Luo Hong muttered, "Before, it was just one person crying, but now it's a duet every day."
People who have been parents are more forgiving. Liu Yinfeng said, "There's nothing you can do about it. Just bear with it. It'll be fine in a few months."
If it were only a few months, it would be fine. Luo Hong: "You said the same thing when Aunt Wu gave birth to Xiao Liu, but she got pregnant with twins when Xiao Liu was only six months old."
Originally, Liu Yinfeng felt there were some things she shouldn't say to the children.
She looked hesitant, then mumbled, "This time it will definitely be better."
They started promoting family planning in 1971, encouraging women with children to get sterilized. Luo Hong wasn't stupid; he nodded to show he understood, finished his porridge, and stood up: "I'll go sweep the floor."
They were sweeping the snow in front of their house.
Luo Yan, who was trying to do two things at once, put down her book and quickly ate her meal upon hearing this.
Seeing this, Liu Yinfeng said, "I don't need you, your brother and I can do it."
Luo Yan, being observant, glanced at her father out of the corner of her eye, then picked up her book with a grin: "I knew you wouldn't allow it, so I'm just pretending to be diligent."
The roads are slippery due to the snow, so Luo Xinmin has to walk more carefully than usual.
He's not like he used to be when he was younger, and he says, "I don't even pretend anymore. I just sit here and watch you guys work."
Liu Yinfeng playfully slapped her husband's arm: "Clean up the dishes, and I'll let you have some free time."
Having only one hand doesn't hinder Luo Xinmin from doing housework; at most, he'll have to make a few more trips than others.
Luo Yan knew her father didn't like others helping him, so she quietly moved aside to make room.
The family members were all busy with their own things, leaving home around the same time.
Luo Yan was afraid of falling, so she rode her bike slowly all the way, arriving at school later than usual.
She had just entered the classroom, sat down, and opened her book when the teacher stood on the podium: "Turn to page 76. Today we're going to talk about..."
With only six months until the college entrance examination, all the teachers are teaching very fast and urgently, cramming five or six knowledge points into each class.
Those who are quick-witted can barely keep up, while those who are slower have to seek help from all sides.
As soon as the bell rang, Wu Huifang poked Luo Yan on the back: "Yanzi, can I come to your house to do my homework tonight?"
If she were to write alone, she would probably write until dawn and still have nothing to show for it.
Luo Yan and she had known each other since childhood and had always had a good relationship, so she didn't hesitate at all: "Sure."
After receiving this message, Wu Huifang went to the Luo family's house to look for someone after dinner.
She had been here more than once or twice, and after greeting the adults, she entered the room with ease.
Luo Yan didn't need to give her any special treatment. She patted another chair that had been prepared in advance and said, "You can sit here. Just ask me if you don't understand anything."
Wu Huifang hummed twice and took out two milk candies from her pocket: "One for you and one for me."
Luo Yan didn't stand on ceremony with her, unwrapped the candy, and popped it into her mouth: "Is this tuition?"
Wu Huifang shook her head repeatedly: "Please pay the medical expenses. Thank you for saving my life."
He still held onto the "doctor's" hand tightly.
Luo Yan was amused by her: "It's not that exaggerated."
Wu Huifang's face fell: "If I don't improve in the final exams, my mom will really never forgive me."
Her grades weren't actually bad; she could probably get into a junior college. But her parents had high expectations and insisted that she get a bachelor's degree.
With final exams just around the corner, Luo Yan got straight to the point: "Let's get started, no more talking."
Wu Huifang was mainly afraid of delaying her, so she pursed her lips and took out the book.
But she couldn't completely control herself; every now and then she would want to chat with someone, and she was so restless that she couldn't sit still.
Luo Yan knew that someone was fidgeting nearby.
She said helplessly, "If you concentrate, you're sure to do well on the test."
Wu Huifang was aware of her own problem and smiled sheepishly, holding her pen: "Did I disturb you?"
Just then, the twins in the west wing started crying again. Luo Yan pointed out the window and said, "Can you be noisier than them?"
There are many courtyard houses housing more than a dozen families, and in Beijing, the word "quiet" is as luxurious as a refrigerator.
Wu Huifang covered her ears: "When do you think we'll be able to live in a small building?"
"Small buildings" is a general term for housing for high-ranking officials; ordinary people certainly couldn't afford to live in them.
Luo Yan: "I don't even hope for anything this good. I just hope that one day I can go to the toilet at home."
Speaking of this, Wu Huifang said, "The meat processing plant is going to build new dormitories, the kind with toilets inside."
Luo Yan was filled with anticipation: "How long will it take to build the house? I wonder which school I should apply to so I can get a job at a meat processing plant after graduation?"
University students have good benefits; perhaps she won't have to wait three or five years to get a place to live there.
Wu Huifang: "College graduates will definitely go to government agencies; who would want to go to a meat processing plant?"
Just hearing it makes you think of the bloody smell of slaughtering pigs; it's not suitable for cultured people at all.
Luo Yan is a pragmatist: "I think it's pretty good. There should be meat distributed during holidays."
That's true, Wu Huifang said: "Our neighbor does eat several pig's trotters a year."
Luo Yan said with genuine envy, "That's great, just talking about it makes me hungry."
Wu Huifang opened her two empty pockets to show her: "When I have money, I'll treat you to big meals every day."
Luo Yan patted her on the shoulder: "You have great ambitions. There is a wealth of knowledge in books. Read them quickly."
She thought to herself that if she didn't stop talking, who knows when the conversation would go on forever.
Wu Huifang couldn't see the gold in the paper, and the more she wrote, the more frustrated she became, to the point where she wanted to tear the book up.
Seeing that she was making slow progress, Luo Yan couldn't help but want to urge her a few words. Before she could open her mouth, she heard someone calling in the yard and stopped: "Huifang, it sounds like they're calling you."
Wu Huifang listened intently and recognized him: "It's my dad."
She hurriedly packed her things, saying, "I'm going home now, see you tomorrow!"
Luo Yan saw her to the door and greeted Uncle Wu.
Mr. Wu was an intellectual who worked as an engineer in a machinery factory. He spoke politely and exchanged pleasantries with Mr. and Mrs. Luo through the door for a few moments before leaving with his daughter.
Once the guest was out of sight, Liu Yinfeng closed the door: "Yanzi, you should go to sleep early too."
Luo Yan agreed and went back to her room to continue reading.
She had barely sat down when Luo Hong tapped on the wooden partition separating the two rooms: "I'll take you out to eat tomorrow night."
Because there was a layer between them, the sound came through somewhat unclearly.
Luo Yan went to her brother's room and asked, "What did you just say?"
Luo Hong lay on the bed, holding a comic book in his hand: "I said I'd take you to eat at Donglaishun."
Eating hot pot with mutton on a day other than a holiday is too extravagant.
Luo Yan knew he had been listening the whole time, so she said, "I was just talking to Huifang casually; I didn't really want to eat meat."
Luo Hongkuan thought to herself: "You're just a side effect; originally, only three parties were invited."
Luo Yan felt a pang of heartache just thinking about how much money the three of them would have to spend on food: "Forget it, you guys go ahead, I still have homework to do."
Luo Hong knew his sister's personality, so he threw off the covers, stood up, and pushed her out, saying, "There's still time after you finish eating. Anyway, you don't need to sleep much. Go read your book."
Luo Yan was left outside, staring at her brother's door for a while. In a rather good mood, she hummed a song as she went back to continue studying.
A note from the author:
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