When Xiao Yunxi was three years old, Xia Liang discussed with her in-laws whether to send her to kindergarten, otherwise she would be full of energy and cause trouble everywhere. On Thursday, they heard a child crying next door. Han Yulan asked curiously, "Who is beating their child like that? Don't they feel sorry for their own child?" Xia Liang shook her head and said she didn't know. At this moment, Xiao Yunxi, who was quietly eating, said, "It's Xiao Kui from next door. I recognize his voice." Han Yulan recognized his granddaughter's friend, who often played with her granddaughter and whom she had seen a few times before. Thinking that a child this age couldn't cause much trouble, she thought of going over to persuade him not to hurt the child. But when she got to Xiao Kui's door, she heard Xiao Kui's mother say, "If you put a snake in the pot again, I'll spank you until your bottom is a bloody mess." Han Yulan turned around and left. Such a naughty child deserved to be disciplined. When he got home and told his family, they all thought he deserved to be beaten. But Xiao Yunxi said, "Doesn't Xiao Kui's mother like snakes? Doesn't she always say Xiao Kui is too lazy to cook snakes? Xiao Kui can't catch snakes, so I caught one for him and let him keep it at home. His mother would definitely praise him, but why didn't she praise him and instead beat him?" Gu Weiguo, Han Yulan, Xia Liang, and Aunt Wu were speechless.
That evening, Xiao Yunxi also got a beating with bamboo sticks and received a lesson, promising never to catch snakes again. Xia Liang and the others were terrified. Luckily, it wasn't a poisonous snake. If they had encountered a poisonous snake and been bitten, it would have been dangerous. This was the little girl's first time being punished. Her grandparents didn't feel sorry for her and gave her a serious lecture to teach her a lesson.
The little one is just too naughty, so she has to be sent to kindergarten to be disciplined by professional teachers. We can't send her to the municipal government's kindergarten, since Gu Weiguo is now the top official in the city, and many opportunists, without considering the consequences, deliberately send their children there to curry favor with her and try to get close to their family. Also, she needs to be separated from the other children in the compound for a while; otherwise, she'll only cause trouble. Sending her to an unfamiliar environment will probably make her more well-behaved. Actually, Xia Liang is worried that most of the teachers at the municipal government's kindergarten are from the compound, or relatives of someone in the compound. Everyone knows each other's status and position, and she's afraid that if they know the little one is the top official's granddaughter, they'll try to give her preferential treatment, causing unnecessary harm to her development. After Xia Liang shared her concerns with her in-laws, they wholeheartedly agreed, and ultimately decided to send little Gu Yunxi to the garment factory kindergarten.
The night before taking her to register, Han Yulan was worried that the little one might cry if she didn't see her family all day. She had seen many children in the neighborhood crying their hearts out while being taken to kindergarten. Gu Weiguo said, "We only see our little darling when we get home from get off work in the evening; she rarely gets up in the morning." Han Yulan smiled helplessly, "I was just worried." The next morning, the Gu family got up very early, took the little one out of bed, washed her, and put her on a stool. Seeing the food, Xiao Yunxi woke up a little and asked, "Mommy, why did you wake me up? I haven't had enough sleep yet." Xia Liang put a dumpling in her bowl and said, "We're taking you to kindergarten to play today, so we have to get up early." The little one looked up and asked Xia Liang, "Mommy, are there lions and tigers in kindergarten?" Gu Weiguo and Han Yulan were speechless. Xia Liang smiled and said, "That's a zoo. There are many children in kindergarten." "And there are toys too!" Xiao Yongyunxi said listlessly, "But there are friends in the yard and toys at home!" Xia Liang continued to coax, "But you've never been to kindergarten! Lots of kids go, and if you don't go, what will you say when people ask you what's in kindergarten?" Seeing the little guy's thoughtful look, Xia Liang knew she had a chance and pressed her advantage, "And the teachers there know a lot of games that Mommy doesn't know, you can learn them and play with the kids in the yard." Hearing about games, the little guy was happy, giggling, "Then I want to go to kindergarten!" Xia Liang was satisfied, "Then hurry up and eat, after you finish eating, Grandpa and Grandma will take you to kindergarten, but you have to remember, the teacher said that these games are only taught to kindergarten kids, adults at home can't learn them, so you have to go in alone, and Mommy will pick you up after school in the afternoon, okay?" The little guy said without hesitation, "Okay."
When they arrived at the kindergarten gate, Xiao Yunxi was carrying a backpack her mother had made for her, with her favorite little rabbit on it. Looking at the unfamiliar place, Xia Liang thought she was scared and was about to comfort her when she heard her say, "Mommy, do I have to play games inside?" Xia Liang nodded, "Yes, baby. Mommy will take you inside to pay the tuition. After we pay, you can play games inside." The little one was overjoyed, "Okay, Mommy, let's go in quickly!" She even pulled Xia Liang's hand and led her inside. Gu Weiguo and Han Yulan followed behind. Once inside, Xia Liang learned that there was no tuition. These days, large factories all have these kinds of kindergartens—actually daycare centers—to help factory workers better care for their children. After handing her child over to a young woman, Xia Liang saw her in-laws off. Because it was a garment factory kindergarten, it was very close to the factory area, just a few steps away. Although Xia Liang went back to work, her mind was entirely on her daughter. She worried that her daughter wouldn't adapt well and that she might be bullied. But then she thought of her daughter's mischievous nature; it would be good enough if she didn't bully others, let alone be bullied herself. She also worried that her daughter, only three years old, might be bullied by older children. In short, Xia Liang spent the entire day in worry. Han Yulan was in a similar situation. After arriving in the provincial capital, she was still working at the Women's Federation. Her colleagues, hearing her sigh several times, couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong? Is something bothering you?" In their eyes, Han Yulan's family was simply perfect: her husband held a high position, her son had a promising future in the military, her daughter-in-law was capable, and they even had a lovely and intelligent granddaughter. Her life was simply unbeatable.
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