Chapter 15: The Start of School
We'll deal with next year's problems next year, and finish this year's problems this year.
The seventh day of the first lunar month is the day when high school sophomores start school.
The whole family of four was having breakfast when Luo Xinmin heard other children running and jumping in the yard and said, "They're celebrating the 20th of the first lunar month."
The implication is that the school started too early.
Before Luo Yan could speak, Luo Hong interrupted, "School should have started earlier; they only give two days off for working now."
All factories are rushing to produce, and most employees are working three shifts. He worked the night shift yesterday and only got home a short while ago.
After hearing this, Luo Yan said, "I feel like being a teacher is a good job."
My daughter has been burying herself in her studies and hasn't mentioned what college application she should fill out.
Liu Yinfeng asked, "Do you want to apply to the Normal University?"
Luo Yan: "I've thought about it, but I'm afraid I won't be a good teacher."
The responsibility of teaching and imparting knowledge is immense, and she had considerable doubts about whether she could shoulder it.
Luo Hong thought she had a natural talent for being a teacher since she was a child, saying, "You're so good at managing people."
It would have been better if she hadn't mentioned it, because once she did, Luo Yan gasped: "If I'm assigned to a primary school in the future, I'll be surrounded by students like you. I won't be able to live like this."
Luo Hong moved his mouth, but it was rare for him to be completely defeated in a quarrel with his sister.
He also knew how annoying he was as a child: "Besides school, where else do you have many holidays?"
Luo Yan was actually impatient to think about these things. She thought it would be better for the school to just admit her based on her score and let her decide which major to study.
She said, "Let's talk about college applications in June. I'm going to school now."
As soon as her daughter stood up, Liu Yinfeng said, "We haven't received the tuition fee yet."
Luo Yan pulled her coat up higher, revealing the pocket on her pants: "Put it here."
Liu Yinfeng slipped it in, saying, "Watch it carefully, don't lose it."
It cost five yuan per semester, and Luo Yan almost didn't go to No. 4 Middle School because of this.
Because the state-owned cotton mill had its own school, the children of employees could attend for free, and there were also a few openings for them each year.
However, with the resumption of the college entrance examination, the teaching level of the State-owned Cotton Mill High School was clearly insufficient. Luo Yan dared not jeopardize her future to save a little money, and in the end, she chose the No. 4 High School, a key municipal school. The strong teaching staff was one aspect, and it also had the added advantage of being close to home.
Despite the freezing weather today, Luo Yan wasn't blown to bits by the wind.
After locking her bicycle, she rubbed her hands together as she entered the classroom, wiping the desks and chairs before sitting down.
It's probably because the holiday just ended and the students haven't gotten back into their routines yet; there aren't many people here at this time.
She had to stand up frequently to make room for others, so she simply stood close to the window facing the corridor.
As soon as Wu Huifang arrived, she saw her good friend "standing guard" and said, "Yanyan, I still have a math homework to finish."
Luo Yan: "Didn't you say you finished writing it all?"
Wu Huifang went to her house the day before yesterday to "borrow" homework, looking dejected: "I missed one thing."
Luo Yan couldn't help but say, "You're quite careless."
She was actually aware that she loved to criticize others, but she just couldn't help it. She took out her homework from her schoolbag and said, "Which one? Hurry up, the teacher is coming."
Wu Huifang was even more anxious than her, her hands were almost cramping from moving so much.
Unfortunately, she was too late and was caught on the spot by her homeroom teacher.
On the first day of school, the teacher gave the whole class a moral lesson: "You all calculate how many days are left until the college entrance exam, and this semester..."
Just like in the play, the guillotine of Kaifeng Prefecture was already hanging on his neck.
Even Luo Yan, who never lets her guard down, felt a chill run down her neck and couldn't help but say, "Why does the teacher scare people every day?"
Her deskmate, Wang Qianyun, shared some inside information with her: "If the college entrance exam results are good this year, the school's expansion application will definitely be approved. I heard they're even going to build staff housing."
She is the child of a teacher, so of course she wouldn't make baseless accusations.
Luo Yan then lowered her voice and said, "Then the next batch of students will be really unlucky."
These days, which school doesn't have students' sweat on its walls? Especially during the big "student-in-work" and "student-in-farm" programs a few years ago. For example, she spent half of her three years of junior high school building the playground, digging soil and carrying loads until she had several blisters on her shoulders.
Wang Qianyun hadn't expected this: "Oh yeah, we don't get to enjoy the benefits of the new school, but we still have a lot of work to do."
Luo Yan: "Of course..."
She kept glancing at the podium out of the corner of her eye and noticed the teacher's gaze sweep over her, so she nudged her deskmate with her elbow.
Almost every teacher at the school was a neighbor of the Wang family. If Wang Qianyun behaved poorly one day, her parents would know at lunchtime.
She quickly sat up straight, and the two of them pretended to listen attentively the whole time.
Actually, they have good grades and usually behave well, so the teacher usually turns a blind eye. Today was no exception: "I've said everything I need to say. Class monitor, take a few boys to the office and bring the books back."
During this break, everyone paid their tuition fees one by one.
If someone fails to hand in their work, the homeroom teacher will temporarily make a note of it on a piece of paper.
People are bound to have a lot of gossip at times like these.
Wu Huifang didn't need to rush to finish her homework, so she nudged the back of the student in front of her.
Luo Yan turned around: "What's wrong?"
Wu Huifang whispered, "Bai Ru's family doesn't want her to continue her studies."
Luo Yan asked, puzzled, "Why?"
Wu Huifang: "Her grades were not good, and she was even worried about getting into a vocational school. Her parents felt that a high school diploma was meaningless."
Luo Yan: "How can it be meaningless? The factory has an advantage in recruiting workers. Besides, this is the last semester, it wouldn't be worth it if we didn't study."
Wu Huifang: "I originally thought it was unlikely, but look, she didn't pay her tuition today."
After paying the fee, Luo Yan started reading and had no time to pay attention to what was happening on the podium.
She said, "Perhaps I forgot to bring it."
Wu Huifang: "You forgot, her house is in the same alley as ours."
Luo Yan really didn't have much of an impression, after all, out of the eighty-odd people in the class, she only had contact with a handful of them.
She couldn't help but sigh: "Maybe her parents will change their minds in a few days."
Wu Huifang: "I hope so."
But based on what she knew, the possibility was very slim, she just didn't say it.
Luo Yan didn't discuss the matter further and went home for lunch after finishing her four classes.
The leftovers from the New Year's Eve dinner had been reheated for several days, and were finally cleaned up yesterday.
Liu Yinfeng made some new dishes today, and as soon as she put them on the table, she noticed that the two children had a much better appetite.
Luo Hong had been sleeping all morning and now looked half asleep, his eyelids drooping as he ate.
Liu Yinfeng felt sorry for him and said, "Why don't you skip the afternoon and stay home to rest?"
Luo Hong yawned, and two tears welled up in the corners of his eyes: "If I don't help my master's family get married, do you think I'll have a good future?"
Although the formal apprenticeship system isn't as strict as it was before liberation, no apprentice would dare to treat their master's affairs as if they were their own, especially since they haven't even completed their apprenticeship yet, so they have to be even more attentive.
Knowing there was nothing she could do, Liu Yinfeng changed the subject and said, "I've bought the enamel basin you wanted. Shall I take it with me this afternoon?"
These days, enamel basins, thermos flasks, and towels are all very practical wedding gifts.
Luo Hong had originally planned to do the same, and he showed an annoyed expression: "I don't know what's wrong with Wang Tu Mao, he said he wants to combine our resources to give away a radio."
The radio has been discounted twice, but the cheapest one still costs around a hundred yuan. Even if Master Zhang has many apprentices, it would still cost several yuan per person.
Liu Yinfeng clicked her tongue: "Why should we listen to him?"
Luo Hong: "He set up the seedlings in front of the master, how could everyone not climb them?"
He was also in a bad mood when he brought it up, and he slammed the bowl and chopsticks down on the table.
Luo Yan wasn't good at these kinds of social interactions. Her gaze swept between her mother and brother, and she slowly stopped chewing.
Seeing this, Luo Hong said, "You continue with your studies; don't worry about the adults' affairs."
Luo Yan was naturally annoyed, but she didn't know how to handle it, her eyes darting around nervously.
Luo Hong: "Forget it, forget it, let's just take it, it's no big deal."
I don't know if I'm saying this to myself, or to my sister and mother.
Although Liu Yinfeng was reluctant to spend money, it was nothing compared to her son's job.
She said, "That's right, Mom will give you this money, we won't mind."
Luo Yan chimed in, "I'll contribute one."
Luo Hong: "I can't accept what Mom gives me, but I absolutely have to take yours. It's been so many years since I've seen any money come back from you."
Luo Yan immediately put on a pained expression and said, "I'm just saying it."
Luo Hong: "Ha, too late."
Why reach into your pocket when you're just talking?
Luo Yan was so anxious that she wanted to scratch him, but in the end she "reluctantly" took out all the money from her pocket.
Luo Hong counted: "Oh, there's still two mao left."
Holding on tightly and refusing to let go, they're practically getting a great deal.
Luo Yan knew exactly how much money it was, so she just grumbled and didn't say anything.
After dinner, she was sealing books in her room when Luo Hong pushed open the door and came in, standing silently to one side.
Luo Yan assumed he was going to return the money to her, so she declared beforehand, "I don't want it."
Luo Hong poked his sister's forehead: "Dream on, what goes into my pocket is mine."
Luo Yan asked curiously, "Then what are you going to do?"
Luo Hong hesitated for a moment, then said with a grin, "What, can't I come into your room?"
Luo Yan knew exactly what he meant: "You must have something to say, so say it quickly."
Many thoughts arise in an instant, and Luo Hong has now suppressed his true feelings.
However, he knew he wouldn't get through this without throwing something away, so he said, "The three parties have rented a place right at your school gate, and it should be open in a couple of days. You can puncture your classmate's tires and patronize his business sometime."
"What a terrible idea!" Luo Yan pushed him. "If we get found out, how can I face anyone?"
Luo Hong: "I didn't tell you to just poke around. Just discuss it with your good friend, and I'll pay for it."
Luo Yan refused even more: "No way! I'm spending money on you, and you're spending money on him? Why should I?"
Luo Hong thought about it and realized it made sense. He reluctantly agreed, "Fine, fine, if I don't let you do it, I'll just leave."
Luo Yan closed the door in front of her brother and let out a heavy snort to express her dissatisfaction.
Luo Hong said through the door, "I'll bring you something delicious tonight," and left, rushing off to his master's house to do free manual labor.
As soon as her son left, Liu Yinfeng, who hadn't said a word, came to give her daughter some extra money.
Luo Yan pushed it back: "I agreed to pay."
Liu Yinfeng mimicked her, saying, "I'm just here to say hi."
Luo Yan called out "Mom" in a spoiled manner, and Liu Yinfeng smiled and patted her daughter's head.
After exchanging a few words with her mother, Luo Yan went to school.
A note from the author:
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Good night~
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