It's the second watch now, but don't worry, there's a third watch at noon! I await your reward!
"Does your mother know that you look down on farmers like this?"
The five people in the dorm were stunned for a moment. What did this mean?
Zhang Hongmei was also stunned for a moment. She had gotten used to saying it in her previous life and accidentally blurted it out.
The dormitory supervisor doesn't really have a good solution for minor conflicts between girls, but they usually don't report them to the teacher. This is the first time I've seen a girl so persistent and make such a big deal out of it.
"Ahem! My friend, let's not escalate a small conflict into a big one. All three of you should apologize to this student."
"Why should we be allowed to talk about her just because she's a country bumpkin?"
"Teacher, you heard me. It's not that I want to escalate the conflict, but that they lack manners and think they are superior. Chairman Mao said that everyone is equal, and the greatest people are the working people. Her behavior is a denial and contempt for Chairman Mao's words."
The three girls were terrified. Who would dare to disrespect the chairman?
The teacher was helpless; how could someone be so clueless?
"You three can decide for yourselves whether to apologize or receive a demerit. You have three minutes."
The three of them looked at each other and simultaneously apologized to Zhang Hongmei.
"Hehe, there's nothing to apologize for. It's a fact that you discriminate against farmers, and it's also a fact that you make reactionary remarks."
"Classmates, if they know they've made a mistake, we'll forgive them this once. If they do it again, the school will punish them."
"Since the teacher has said so, let's leave it at that for now. If there's a next time, well..."
There won't be a next time.
The girl who hadn't spoken but had a disdainful look in her eyes said, "You're not from our dorm."
"I didn't say that. I'm in the second year of junior high. Can I stay with the teacher?"
The teacher was also surprised; the girl was tall but clearly much younger than her age.
"Didn't you register for a dormitory?" the dormitory supervisor asked, puzzled.
"Teacher, I don't come to class, I only come to take exams."
"I know, you're the student who got full marks in every subject when you took the exam."
"I don't know how many points I'll get. If the teacher is having trouble, I'll go back first and come back tomorrow."
"You can stay overnight. You're a student at the school, so of course you can." The dormitory supervisor thought to herself, "Is this the prodigy the principal was talking about? I never would have guessed."
The dormitory supervisor left, and the three of them sat obediently on the bed. Zhang Hongmei looked at the frightened Er Ya and said, "Er Ya, you must remember that they may not be afraid of you, but if they bully you or use insulting language, you cannot give in."
"Hongmei, I understand. I'm not afraid anymore."
After the two finished packing up, they left the dormitory. Er Ya took the aluminum lunchbox and the two went to the cafeteria together, where there were already many people lining up to get their food.
You need meal tickets to get food. The report just mentioned that they collect grain, and they give you meal tickets based on the type and amount of grain you hand over.
Zhang Hongmei didn't have meal tickets, but she really didn't lack food; at least Er Ya and Zhu Zi wouldn't let her go hungry.
Seeing the food in the cafeteria, Zhang Hongmei whispered to Er Ya, "Er Ya, let's not get any food. I'll treat you and Brother Zhu to eat out."
Er Ya didn't think the food was bad; it was just porridge made with dried pumpkin, cornmeal, and sorghum. But Zhang Hongmei didn't want to eat it. She was starving and wouldn't deprive herself.
Er Ya was dragged away by Zhang Hongmei, who also called Zhu Zi.
There were no restrictions on entry and exit today, so the three of them arrived at the restaurant quickly.
Zhang Hongmei's face turned green when she saw the list of today's meals written on the blackboard, but it was still better than the school food.
I ordered three bowls of sorghum rice and a plate of stewed sauerkraut. It cost me 80 cents for a pound of grain coupons.
When the food was served, Zhang Hongmei gave each of them a portion of sorghum rice, as she couldn't possibly finish it all herself.
"Sister Er Ya, is there anything else you need? Shall we go check out the supply and marketing cooperative?"
"I don't need anything, I have everything."
"I don't need it either."
Okay, you all have enough, so I can't be either. I'll go to the supply and marketing cooperative when I come alone. The township won't sell sugar to Liujiatun, but my issue is military scrip. I wonder if the county will sell it to me?
The three returned to school and went to their respective classes.
There were two classes in the first year of junior high, but only one class in the second year because too many students dropped out. There were twenty-five students in the class, and everyone sat wherever they felt like. Zhang Hongmei sat at the very back, flipping through the textbooks that had been handed out on her desk, waiting for the teacher.
Several more students arrived after that.
A male teacher in his fifties walked in and stood on the podium. "Hello everyone, I am your homeroom teacher and math teacher, Li Quanzhou. From now on, we will study and make progress together."
The students below applauded. "Now, I'm going to introduce myself to everyone, starting with the first student against the wall. Please welcome him."
The first one was a short young man. "Hello teacher, hello everyone, I am Anxin from Anjiazhuang Village, Qingshan Township. I am sixteen years old this year."
The second one wasn't tall either. "Hello teachers and classmates, I am Yang Yong from Anjiazhuang Village, Qingshan Township. I am sixteen years old this year."
The third one said, "My name is Chen Yongsheng, I am seventeen years old, and I am from Yangjiatun, Qingshan Township."
Everyone introduced themselves, and Zhang Hongmei was the only girl in the class who was the last to introduce herself.
"Hello everyone, I am Zhang Hongmei from Liujiatun. I am eleven years old this year."
The students whispered among themselves, firstly because she was only eleven years old and already in the second year of junior high school, and secondly because she was from Liujiatun.
Now, the people of Liujiatun represent those who can afford to eat their fill. Everyone's gaze towards Zhang Hongmei grows increasingly eager.
"Alright, now that everyone knows each other, there are no formal classes this afternoon, so everyone can study on their own. There's also an exam tomorrow, so don't be nervous, answer the questions carefully, and if you need anything, come to my office."
After teacher Li Quanzhou left, the students, no longer bound by rules, started chatting. No one spoke to Zhang Hongmei, mainly because they were embarrassed; she was the only girl, and the rest of them, being men, really didn't know what to say to her.
Everyone was focused on her; the girl was tall, had a rosy complexion, and looked very healthy. She must have eaten well.
Zhang Hongmei was bored. She had finished reading all the textbooks for the second year of junior high school, and now she was sitting here like a monkey for everyone to watch. She was really depressed.
I take out paper and pen from my bag and while thinking about Garfield from my past life, I slowly draw various expressions and poses.
As I calmed down, I became more and more skilled at drawing, and I even forgot about the time.
Zhang Hongmei didn't put the paper, pens, and new books into her bag until the noise of everyone leaving startled her. She then left the classroom to find Er Ya.
Dinner was a porridge of dried pumpkin, dried sweet potato, and sorghum. Zhang Hongmei only had Er Ya serve her a portion, and she only drank a couple of sips herself, as she really didn't have much of an appetite.
After finishing their meal, the two of them filled a basin with hot water and went back to their dormitory to wash up together.
The dormitory was unusually quiet. The three girls completely ignored them, and Er Ya didn't bother to pay attention to them either.
Nothing happened that night. The next morning, Zhang Hongmei only ate a little for breakfast, which made Er Ya shake her head and say, "Hongmei, you're too picky about food. This won't do."
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