The county school had just resumed classes a few days ago, and Huo Xiaolong and his two friends were already back to their old routine of going to school from 8 am to 5 pm, feeling a bit dazed. Before they even stepped into the classroom, the three girls heard an argument going on inside.
"Our class teacher is at odds with Teacher Ding again," Huo Xiaolong said.
“That’s for sure, they start pinching each other as soon as they meet.” Hou Xiangxiang nodded in agreement.
"Hou Xiangxiang!"
A familiar voice came from behind. The Sun family twins didn't even step on a stool; they jumped off the carriage and came to the three of them.
We're back!
“We heard there was fighting in Pingyang County recently, and we’ve been worried about you at home.”
"It's okay, it's over."
The aroma of meat wafted from the school, drawing Young Master Sun inside. He saw a woman who had fled from the south fanning herself as she grilled sausages. Sun Ziyang swallowed hard and walked straight toward her.
"elder brother!"
"Why are we having a school-style roast?" Sun Zixi asked the three little girls beside her when she couldn't get her brother to come.
"From now on, we'll sell grilled sausages at the county school because some people don't like the school's food," Da Ni'er replied, glancing at her two friends who were a head shorter than her.
They're both so picky, clearly they don't want to go to school, but they're making trouble by saying the school food is bad and they have no energy for afternoon practice.
That's good now. I've brought you the grilled sausages, and I'll bring over the squid that Fengyuelou can't finish making at noon too. Don't you want to study? Your two mothers won't allow that, okay?
"Auntie! Could...could you sell me one of these sausages?"
Young Master Sun, who was walking quickly, didn't know that this was what the school was giving them to eat, and he was too embarrassed to open his mouth, his little face turning red.
"Sure! Twenty coins each! Which one do you want, elementary school student?"
"this!"
Sun Ziyang preferred women with a fiery temper. He rummaged through his purse for a while but couldn't find any coins. He took out a dime and slipped it to the woman, saying...
"Auntie, I don't have any copper coins, will silver work?"
"Okay, oh dear, Auntie doesn't have any change." The woman looked around and saw Sun Ye returning with Hu Zi, so she quickly waved to her.
"Ye'er, quickly give me the money pouch, I'll give you change."
The woman took the money bag and was about to make change when she looked down and realized that Sun Ziyang was gone.
"This child... why doesn't he want the money anymore?"
"What's wrong, sis?"
"That chubby kid from Class A bought a sausage and left, and I haven't even given him my change yet!"
"It's okay, I'll give it to him after class."
The woman jokingly picked up Tiger and asked...
"Tiger! How's your Uncle Li?"
The little boy nodded vigorously and said...
"good!"
During this time, Sun Ye went to take care of Li Wei every day, and she always brought Hu Zi with her. In their hometown, widows are expected to stay at home and remain faithful to their husbands, and remarried women are not well-regarded; their husbands' families usually don't treat them very well.
The border town is different. Here, there aren't many such rules. Women seem to live more freely and happily, although it's not entirely safe, like the attack on Pingyang.
However, they still love this place, this place where women can support their families and show their faces in public, and they love this life of self-reliance without having to depend on others.
"Are they still doing it?"
"How about I take a nap first, and you two wake me up when class starts?" Huo Xiaolong said, sitting between Hou Xiangxiang and Da Nier.
The two little girls nodded.
The chief priest, carrying a pointer, came out of the room to offer his advice.
"Stop arguing! The Spring Festival is in a few days. How about you two have a competition then?"
Feng Yuandao fell silent, glanced at the white-haired priest who was still trying to mediate, and nodded.
"You're not convinced, are you? In a few days at the spring festival, let's have our two classes compete. I'll tell you why I can lead Class A! And you'll never be ahead of me!"
"Feng Yuandao, you just had a bit more luck, what's there to be proud of! When your class loses, take down your A-level badge and hang it at my class's door. When your little potato cries, don't come at me like a cornered dog!"
"??????" Huo Xiaolong, who had just closed his eyes while lying on the table, immediately stood up.
Hey no, I'm only five years old, what did I do to deserve this?! My height is outstanding among my peers, okay?! I'm the youngest in the whole school besides Tiger! Is it my fault for being young?! Everyone keeps attacking me with the nickname "Little Potato"!
Feng Yuandao entered the room. Sun Ziyang, who had just finished eating a grilled sausage, wiped his hands and sat up straight. The man scanned the students below and said...
"In a few days, during the Spring Festival, each class will have a competition, especially between us and Class Ding. If we lose, our class's plaque will be taken off."
"Sir, what are we competing in?"
The man stroked his beard a couple of times and said...
"It should be the Six Arts of a Gentleman."
Huo Xiaolong said in a low voice
"I won't cry even if I lose."
Feng Yuandao was a little embarrassed. He hadn't expected the child to have such good hearing, having heard everything he had just said.
"You can invite your parents to watch the Spring Festival. Don't be too stressed. Even if you lose, the teacher has a way to win the plaque back. Now, class begins!"
"I hope you are well, sir!"
The students in their school uniforms stood up and greeted the teacher, then swayed their heads as they read the Analects in the spring breeze.
"Can we go pick up Long'er now?" Huo Shuwen had asked for the tenth time today, and He Yi looked at her husband speechlessly.
"Brother Wen, Long'er won't get out of school until noon."
"Can't you learn at home? Why do you have to go to school?"
The eagle had never been away from its cubs for so long when it was at home. In its memory, it could see Huo Xiaolong as soon as it opened its eyes at home. The fact that its daughter was going to school was a big blow to it.
When Xiong Ying saw her off to school in the morning, he almost burst into tears at the door. If Huo Xiaolong hadn't repeatedly told him not to take her, he would have followed her to school and sat on the roof all morning until she got out of school.
“Who’s in charge of our family? Who can control your Long’er? Steward Zhao is well-educated, but he’s not like you, completely controlled by your daughter.”
"Why don't you mind?"
He Yi looked up at the man's somewhat aggrieved jawline and sighed softly. Here it comes again, this aggrieved look.
“You weren’t like this when Cheng’er went to school.” He Yi took his hand and coaxed him to go back to the house and sit for a while.
"That's different."
"How is it different? Aren't they all your children?"
"Long'er is likable."
He Yi pursed her lips. Indeed, although she was mischievous and caused trouble, she was still popular.
"I want to go to the county school gate and wait there now."
The woman was afraid that she would burst into tears if she disagreed with Huo Shuwen, so she quickly nodded.
“Go, I’ll go with you.”
It was the same hand, the same person. He Yi looked to her right and saw a wisp of fluff clinging to Wen Ge's eyelashes. The man's eyes were itchy, and he was about to rub them when the woman breathed out a soft breath. A white feather floated down and spun around before landing on the ground.
He seemed unchanged, still as handsome and dashing as ever, always attracting the attention of girls on the street.
He Yi placed her hand in the man's arm. The spring sunshine was just right, and we were still as affectionate as we were back then.
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