By September, elementary school had started, and Gu Yunxi was in fifth grade. The school she was attending wasn't far from the Gu family home. Before, Xia Liang would take her to school every day, but now that she was older, she didn't need to anymore. However, this year was special because Gu Yuanzhi was also starting first grade, and Xia Liang had to take her to register. Xia Liang, who was washing up in the bathroom, heard her two daughters whispering outside. She stopped what she was doing and listened intently. Her older daughter, Gu Yunxi, said, "Little sister, if anyone bullies you at school, don't be afraid. Come to me, and I'll protect you." Xia Liang wanted to laugh; her own daughter knew to protect her younger sister. Then she heard her younger daughter ask, puzzled, "Why do they bully me? I'm not a troublemaker!" Seeing that her sister wasn't convinced, Gu Yunxi said a little angrily, "Just listen to me. Some people are just ill-mannered and always bully others for no reason. You have to act tough, so they won't bully you. Of course, if anyone bullies you, come to me. I'm a fifth grader, and I'm not afraid of them." Although she still didn't understand, Xiao Yuanzhi always listened to her older sister, so she nodded obediently. Xia Liang thought about how funny it would be if her younger daughter, with her round, white face, tried to act fierce, but she was still very curious about why her older daughter thought she would be bullied at school. Just as she was about to go out and ask her eldest daughter, she heard her younger daughter ask for her: "Sister, how did you know? Did someone bully you?" Gu Yunxi shook her head: "It wasn't me, it was a classmate. She's always bullied by her younger brother. I helped her once before, but she not only didn't appreciate it, she blamed me." Hearing this, Xia Liang was relieved. As long as it wasn't her own daughter being bullied, she continued to eavesdrop, oh! No, to learn about her two daughters' lives. Gu Yuanzhi was even more curious: "Can older sisters and younger brothers go to school together? Then why can't older sisters and younger sisters go together?" The little girl was confused. Gu Yunxi was always very patient, especially with her beloved younger sister. She patiently explained: "They didn't have the same mother. That girl's mother passed away not long after she was born. Her father remarried, and her younger brother was born to her second mother. I heard from classmates who live near her that her stepmother treats her badly. She has to do laundry and cook every day, and she often doesn't have enough to eat." The little one, hearing the word "death" for the first time, asked curiously, "Sister, what does 'death' mean?" Gu Yunxi patted her little sister's round face and continued, "It means you die, you're no longer in this world, and we'll never see you again." The little one was terrified and ran into the bathroom to hug Xia Liang's leg, crying, "Mommy, don't die! You have to be somewhere I can find you!" She cried loudly as she spoke. Xia Liang, having heard the whole story, picked up her koala-like daughter and patted her back gently, saying, "Don't worry! Mommy won't die. Mommy will always be with you."
Xia Liang took her little one to school. Gu Yunxi, along with her mother and younger sister, went to register. After registration, the teacher led them to their classroom. Many first-graders were there today, and at first glance, her daughter was the roundest, making Xia Liang want to laugh. After seeing her younger daughter's classroom and seat, Xia Liang squatted down to be at eye level and instructed her, "Sweetie, when you come to school tomorrow, will you go to this classroom and this seat?" Gu Yunxi replied, "Don't worry, Mom, I'll bring my sister to the classroom tomorrow." Xia Liang patted her older daughter's head, "Mommy's darling is so great, thank you, sweetie." Praised, Gu Yunxi proudly puffed out her little chest, "You're welcome, Mommy." Then she took her younger sister's hand, saying, "Sister, let me take you to see my classroom." She then led her mother and sister to her classroom. The classroom—she had attended this school before and her classroom hadn't changed—was familiar to her mother and sister. Standing next to her desk, she introduced her classmate, who had arrived earlier, to Xia Liang: "Mom, this is my deskmate, her name is Li Qiaoqiao." The little girl timidly looked at Xia Liang and Gu Yuanzhi beside her classmate. Xia Liang gave her a gentle smile: "Hello, Qiaoqiao." Little Li Qiaoqiao also shyly greeted Xia Liang: "Hello, Auntie." Then she ran out. Xia Liang thought to herself, what a shy little girl.
Since her two children started school, Xia Liang has been able to focus all her attention on her business. However, no matter how busy she is, she still makes sure to chat with her daughters every day and pay attention to their mental health. After all, there's nothing that can be done when their father isn't around, so as their mother, she has to take care of them.
During dinner, Xia Liang asked her daughter, "Sweethearts, did anything unusual happen at school today?" Xia Liang was afraid her youngest daughter would tell her every detail of what happened at school. Before, when she asked her, her daughter would tell her everything, even how many times she went to the toilet. Now, Xia Liang was more experienced and would directly ask if anything unusual happened. This way, if anything happened at school other than eating, drinking, using the toilet, or attending classes, her daughter would tell her. Usually, her daughter would think for a moment and then say no, but today Xia Liang noticed her daughter's expression was a little upset, so she became anxious. However, she didn't dare show it. If she overreacted and her daughter thought she was unhappy and was afraid to tell her, then her daughter probably wouldn't tell her anything in the future. The little girl was a bit angry, her face puffed up, and she said, "Mom, today a classmate brought a bug to school and put it in my pencil case! I was terrified when I opened it and saw it!" Xia Liang was also angry. Whose brat was this?! But what angered her even more was her eldest daughter, who jumped down from her seat and turned to her younger sister, asking, "Who did this? I'll get revenge for you tomorrow!" Since practicing martial arts with the group, both little ones had developed a bit of a江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) air about them. Xia Liang wanted to laugh; she wanted to see how her younger daughter would handle it. Gu Yuanzhi said, "No need. I was a little scared when I found the caterpillar today, but when I saw it laughing happily, I hit it. It even cried. It's shameless." As she spoke, she giggled. Hearing that her daughter was in the right, Xia Liang asked, "Then you don't need your sister to help you fight back. Do you need Mommy to go talk to your teacher or parents?" The little one shook her head: "No, Mommy, I'm not scared anymore." Seeing that her daughter was truly unafraid, Xia Liang didn't say anything, thinking that she would sleep with her daughter tonight so she could notice if she developed a fever sooner.
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