Chapter 77: Hiking
Chapter 77: Hiking
Fang Yuenian didn't have a strong feeling about this when she was a child, but now, she often has the feeling that "there are probably no happier days than this".
During the summer vacation after the middle school entrance exam, they ran freely in the mountains and fields like this; during the summer vacation before their first year of high school, they strolled along the tall and breezy metasequoia road in the early morning like this.
Later, even during the busy and fulfilling second year of high school that they went through together, he would think about this from time to time.
After the start of the second year of high school, Cheng Bing was still in Class 18. There were no major changes in the teachers and classmates. Fang Yuenian was different. Because Classes 1 to 6 were humanities classes, after some integration and reshuffling, he was placed in Class 9. Fortunately, more than half of his classmates were the same as before. Meng Xiaoyang, Li Peixiang, Chen Yu, and Wang Wei were all there. The homeroom teacher was also the same as before. Some of the new classmates also quickly became familiar with each other in their studies and daily life.
The separation of arts and sciences has a direct impact on students' academic performance.
Although Fang Yuenian was still able to remain in the top five of his class, his ranking in the grade was always around seventy. It wasn't until the last monthly exam in his second year of high school that he finally squeezed into the top fifty in the science stream.
Cheng Bing's situation is slightly more stable, always hovering around seventh or eighth place, but the top five change every year—which is something the teachers are happy to see. The top students are not far apart, the competition is fierce, and it is also conducive to them striving to move up.
The dormitories also underwent a major change. Cheng Bing was unable to move into Fang Yuenian's dormitory. As the only male student living on campus in his class, he was moved to a two-person dormitory with a student from Class 17.
Autumn goes and winter comes, winter ends and spring returns, and before we know it, it's May again.
The cicadas chirped, and the camphor trees lining the main road of the school emitted a rich fragrance. On sunny days, the dense foliage dappled the sunlight, casting a long, cool glow.
After the last monthly exam, only the final exam remains for the second year of high school. Because it involves the level test for the graduating class, this time it is a city-wide joint exam, and the results will be ranked city-wide. The words "graduating class" have put unprecedented pressure on everyone.
Perhaps to relieve everyone's stress, or perhaps to help these children prepare for a year of hard work ahead, the grade organized a hiking trip.
This Saturday, everyone was preparing for tomorrow's hike.
This activity was conducted in teams within the class. Under Li Peixiang's call, they quickly formed an eight-person group, including six boys and two girls, and each had their own assigned tasks.
The two girls were mainly responsible for bringing mosquito repellent, medicine for heatstroke and minor injuries, sunscreen, and other essential items like tissues and wet wipes. Fang Yuenian and Meng Xiaoyang were responsible for bringing fruit and basic food, while Li Peixiang was responsible for bringing water for everyone. Of course, everyone also had to bring some food. Before setting off, everyone's backpacks had to be checked for weight; they couldn't be too light.
This hike was like a military training exercise, with a grand scale. The students had to exit through the gate of the school's century-old ancient building, which was closed all year round and only opened during the senior year's oath-taking ceremony—a great honor, since in the past, each student of No. 1 High School could only walk through the main gate once every three years.
The team set off at four o'clock on Sunday morning and walked for nearly two hours. By daybreak, they were almost at the outskirts of the city.
Throughout the journey to our destination, everyone was able to maintain relatively sufficient physical strength and was in the mood to sing. At first, most of the songs were serious revolutionary songs or folk tunes, but later, the classes in front and behind formed a singing contest, and all sorts of songs came out.
Their teachers walked alongside them, but the teachers' stamina was somewhat inferior to that of the high school students in their prime. Many of them fell behind the group, and then were urged to catch up by students from other classes behind them. They were all panting heavily, feeling both pained and amused.
After leaving the city, the route is mostly mountain roads, with azaleas blooming all over the mountains on both sides, creating a vibrant and beautiful scene under the clear sky.
Along this stretch of road, everyone sang the same songs, their voices melodious, clear, and continuous.
"The hillsides are covered in azaleas! The hillsides are covered in azaleas!"
With their youthful energy, they supported and helped each other, joking and playing around as they walked the distance, arriving even half an hour earlier than expected.
The midday break was free but short. Everyone took out their food and haphazardly put it together, forming an intimate circle on the grass. Because of Meng Xiaoyang's foresight, the fruits he and Fang Yuenian brought were cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and the like, which became quite sought-after items among the thirsty team members.
After the exertion of lunch and the journey, the students' loads were much lighter on the way back, but their physical strength was almost exhausted. Under the scorching sun, sunscreen was useless, and everyone's faces were red and hot, with some even starting to peel.
The class gradually lost its original shape.
Their team managed to stay intact, but several people experienced ankle pain and thigh cramps, requiring them to stop and rest from time to time.
After the group scattered, Fang Yuenian finally reconnected with Cheng Bing.
I used to think that Class 1 and Class 18 were an insurmountable barrier, but now Class 9 and Class 18 aren't much better off. Apart from exchanging a few words with them during the queuing procession, I didn't see them at all on the way there.
Now that they've met, they're both drenched in sweat, dragging heavy legs, with chapped lips and flushed faces.
Fang Yuenian and Wang Wei were supporting Chen Yu as he moved forward, one on each side. Not long after they started their return journey, Chen Yu twisted his ankle, and the pain was excruciating as soon as he landed. This made everyone very nervous. Liu Miao's Yunnan Baiyao spray was almost gone, Meng Xiaoyang was still distributing the little fruit and water left, and Li Peixiang, who had brought a camera, was still energetic enough to take pictures.
"Now approaching us are our classmates Wang Wei and Fang Yuenian. The person they are supporting, whose leg seems to be broken, is our classmate Chen Yu. It is obvious that he has lost the ability to walk on his own and needs the support of our teammates. —Hey? Cheng Bing, what brings you here?"
Fang Yuenian turned around and saw that Cheng Bingren was already beside him.
"How did you get here?!" he exclaimed in surprise, still panting. "Did you walk this far back, or did you fall behind the group and get this far back?"
On the return trip, they came in reverse order, with Class 18 at the very front.
“I’ll take him,” Cheng Bing said, lifting Chen Yu’s arm from his shoulder and taking him onto her own. “We’re not that far behind yet; they’re resting up ahead.”
"Campus Heartthrob Cheng, thank you, thank you so much." Chen Yu chuckled sheepishly. He felt perfectly at ease leaning against Fang Yuenian, but now that it was Cheng Bing, he felt a little embarrassed.
“It’s nothing,” Cheng Bing said softly, looking at Fang Yuenian. “I have a box of hawthorns in my bag. A classmate gave them to me just now.”
Fang Yuenian shouted, "You are my own brother!" Then she rummaged through his backpack, took out a hawthorn, and eagerly popped it into her mouth.
The sweet and sour fruit was a healing remedy for him. He shivered from the sourness, and Cheng Bing smiled when she saw his face scrunch up.
Li Peixiang coughed lightly at the front, then continued filming and narrating: "Okay, as you can see, the one who lent us a helping hand was Cheng Bing, the top student from Class 18. Cheng Bing's act of kindness demonstrates the precious friendship of mutual help among our brother classes..."
Fang Yuenian ate several hawthorns before he was willing to share them with everyone. He was reluctant to part with them, but apart from Shen Xiaoxiao who ate one, everyone else refused.
"This is too sour, I can't eat it," Liu Miao shrugged, seemingly already overwhelmed by the sourness before even taking a bite, and added sarcastically, "There's a reason why there's still so much left."
Fang Yuenian laughed angrily, "Great, I'll eat it myself!"
Cheng Bing looked at him and said, "Don't eat too much."
"Okay, okay," Fang Yuenian replied casually, "but don't stray too far from the group, go back in a bit."
"Um."
As they chatted, Chen Yu chuckled beside them, "Cheng, you're so doting on our Nian-ge! Oh wait, why don't you come to our dorm when we're in our senior year? There are only two of you in your dorm now, right? Come on over, you can even bring that guy from Class 17 in too, it's fine. There are only four of us now, it's very spacious."
Meng Xiaoyang came over to replace Wang Wei. When Li Peixiang saw this, he shoved the camera into someone else's hand and went over himself, saying, "Let me help him up. Can your little body handle him? Let your brother Xiang do it."
Chen Yu was still grinning foolishly, "Hey, Brother Xiang, you really care about our Xiao Yang, huh? How about you come live at school in your senior year of high school too?"
Fang Yuenian rolled her eyes speechlessly and moved closer to Cheng Bing: "I'm not tired, I'll help you up. You should go back now. Oh, is your foot alright?"
“It’s alright,” Cheng Bing said. “If I walk with you for a while, we’ll catch up with them after they finish resting.”
"Your face is so sunburned, I wonder if it will peel."
"Probably, but it's okay, it'll be fine in a few days."
Li Peixiang sighed and then made conversation: "Cheng Bing, how's your class doing? We just overtook the large group from Class 11."
"Many people ahead are resting by the roadside, but Class 16 seems pretty impressive. I heard some of them have already made it into the city."
Upon hearing this, Li Peixiang's face hardened. "I'm not saying this to be mean, but how can your experimental class fall behind? What if they rush to Momei Square first with their class flag? How embarrassing would that be for you?"
Cheng Bing smiled and looked down. "There's nothing we can do about that."
Fang Yuenian chewed on a hawthorn berry beside her, "You worry too much. Didn't you say before we set off that we would be the first team from our class to return? What happened now?"
Chen Yu said quietly, "Ah, I'm sorry, everyone."
Meng Xiaoyang chuckled inwardly and handed him a bottle of water, saying, "Ignore them."
Li Peixiang shouted, "I want water too! Yang-ge, give me a bottle too!"
"Don't you have some in your bag?"
"Then I need to have a hand to hold it!"
"Oh, okay, okay, here you go..."
However, Cheng Bing still had to return to his own team and left soon after.
The remaining few continued their arduous and heartbreaking journey back, pulling and tugging at each other. Along the way, they encountered classmates whose legs and feet ached and who were overwhelmed by the burden, yet they kept moving forward—until finally, they returned to the school gate.
We went back through the usual automatic door next door. It was spacious there, and rows of teachers who had taken the school bus home earlier were standing on both sides. Their faces showed concern and affection, and the teachers were calling out to them and helping them up, telling them to hurry up and get to the square to gather.
The scene at Momei Square now is completely different from when we set off early this morning. Students are scattered all over the ground, some sitting and some lying down. Class flags are fixed in several strange ways. Some are squeezed back to back by students, and some are stuck in the soil at the foot of the plum trees. There is no order to speak of. Classes are mixed together. Looking around, it is heartbreaking. Those who arrived first are cheering for those behind them and singing their class songs in a desperate attempt to stay alive.
As the sun set, it cast a warm glow on the hackberry trees by the fountain. The students were tired, exhausted, and excited.
As their junior year draws to a close, they are about to face the crucial senior year of high school. However, at this moment, everyone forgets the pressure and worries, and only remembers to enjoy their youth to the fullest.
P.S.: The second day of the hike was Monday, but the second-year students couldn't get out of bed, so the whole grade had a holiday and classes were moved to Saturday.
Students at home were fine, but boarding students had to come out to find food. Fang Yuenian's dormitory had been moved to the third floor. He finally managed to climb down from his bed, his legs stiff, and he moved like an eighty-year-old man, taking one step at a time, intending to go to the supermarket to buy food. On the stairs, he ran into a second-year high school student who was also struggling to hold onto the handrail and lift his legs to go up. They looked at each other, paused for a second, and then couldn't help but burst out laughing.
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