Probably all children in the world don’t like going to school.
Especially children like Lu Yang, for whom sitting still in the classroom was like having nails on the chair.
After moving up to third grade, they got a new homeroom teacher. She said Lu Yang kept talking to his deskmate in class, so not long after school started, she separated Lu Yang and Xin Hexue.
The next seat rearrangement would be after the midterm exams, and it was still unknown if the two could be seated together again.
Not being able to sit with Xin Hexue made time pass even more slowly for Lu Yang. He looked forward to the end of class and school every day, and looked forward to the weekends.
Finally, the National Day holiday arrived.
Lu Yang was so happy he was disoriented. But on the afternoon before the holiday, the homeroom teacher walked up to the podium with a stack of test papers. “The midterm exam results are out. Take the papers home, along with the safety notice commitment letter, and have your parents sign them.”
“Bring them back after the holiday. We’ll review them next Thursday.”
“The results for this midterm are very unsatisfactory. Were you all thinking about the holiday and not answering properly?”
“The math average is four points lower than the class next door! You’re clearly taught by the same teacher. I’ve taught for so many years, but your class is the worst I’ve ever had!”
Elementary school students were a bunch of mischievous monkeys, hard to discipline. The homeroom teacher picked up the thick stack of test papers and slapped them on the podium, making the wooden podium rumble and chalk dust fly up, which finally quieted the children down.
Xin Hexue’s seat was in the front. The flying chalk dust wafted towards him, and he couldn’t help covering his mouth and coughing softly.
Lu Yang, who was sitting in the last row, got angry. He grabbed his deskmate Zeng Zishi and demanded in a lowered voice, “Did you not clean the podium properly during your duty today?”
It was their sixth group’s turn for duty this week, and Zeng Zishi was responsible for cleaning the podium and blackboard.
Zeng Zishi hung his head honestly. “I forgot.”
“Still talking! Still talking! If you keep talking, I’ll invite you to come up to the podium and speak.” The homeroom teacher’s eyebrows were drawn very thin, the tails flying into her bangs. She shot Lu Yang a glare and raised her voice. “Some students only scored 34 points, single-handedly lowering our class average by 2 points!”
She walked down two steps and placed the stack of test papers on Xin Hexue’s desk. “Class monitor, please hand out the test papers.”
“Mm.”
Xin Hexue, who also served as the math class representative, stood up obediently.
“Study committee member, please help hand out the safety commitment letters.” The homeroom teacher delegated the tasks and then clapped her hands. “However, although our class average is not as good as other classes, the highest score in the grade is still in our class. Everyone should learn from the excellent students around you. Classmate Xin Hexue only lost one point on the Chinese essay segment in this midterm exam, and got full marks in math and English.”
She was very satisfied with the class monitor selected by the previous homeroom teacher.
With only two people handing things out, it was a bit short-handed. The homeroom teacher said, “Group leaders, please help hand out the materials too.”
The test papers were mimeographed from wax paper stencils, and were grayish-white with rough edges. They felt coarse and had a smell of paper pulp and ink.
Xin Hexue counted the test papers, spotted a paper with a crookedly written name, and quietly hid that paper at the very bottom. He distributed the rest to the group leaders according to quantity.
After handing out the first few test papers, he walked to the last row of the classroom and looked at the paper’s owner with concern.
“Lu Yang…”
“Will your mom beat you tonight?”
Lu Yang coughed to clear his throat. “She dares? I’m this big already. If she hits me, I’ll run away from home.”
“You can’t run away to my house every time.” Xin Hexue said seriously. “My brother said he won’t let you sleep on the floor in our room anymore.”
Lu Yang wilted dejectedly, and hid the 34-point math test paper.
“Come to my house during the holiday. I’ll teach you.”
After saying this, Xin Hexue returned to his seat at the very front.
Lu Yang touched his buzz cut, then stared at his good friend’s back and grinned foolishly. The speed at which his mood changed made his deskmate Zeng Zishi look on in awe.
………
Lu Yang had long limbs. Although he hadn’t reached the age when boys really shoot up, he was still half a head taller than the boys his age around him. During P.E. class, the new P.E. teacher saw at a glance that he was good material, so Lu Yang was selected as a reserve player for the affiliated elementary school’s basketball team.
This meant his National Day plans were disrupted from the very first day.
He was originally supposed to go out to play with Xin Hexue on the first day of the National Day holiday. A new arcade had opened in Lingzhou City, and recently “The King of Fighters” had taken the affiliated elementary school by storm. Lu Yang was no exception.
Because he promised to do homework with Xin Hexue for the later days of the National Day holiday and listen to Xin Hexue teach him problems, Zhu Cuifeng, in a rare show of mercy, spared her son’s pocket money this time.
So, according to plan, Lu Yang would take Xin Hexue to play. He had saved a month’s pocket money and could treat Xin Hexue to an orange soda and a shredded radish cake.
But now, he had to get up early and rush to the school gate to meet up with the basketball team students and teacher.
The only thing worth being happy about was that Lu Yang picked up Xin Hexue on the way, and even the wind on the way to school felt sweet.
The P.E. teacher said he would take them to the provincial capital to watch a game and broaden their horizons.
He had also communicated with all the parents in advance. Since there were adults leading, there were no problems.
The autumn heat had passed, the temperature had dropped, and it was a pleasant clear day. A team of boys wearing the affiliated elementary school’s team uniforms stood outside the school’s high iron gate. Even though they were only spectators and not participating in the game, the uniform clothing also helped prevent anyone from getting lost.
“Hurry up, we were just waiting for you.”
Cai Shu, also a reserve player, waved to Lu Yang.
As they got closer, Cai Shu exclaimed in surprise, “I was wondering why you were willing to come out alone on a holiday. You actually brought the princess along too.”
“Princess?”
“The princess is here too?”
Several other team members peeked.
Sure enough, they saw a familiar face being led by Lu Yang.
Wearing a pure cotton white shirt with a royal blue wool vest over it, the sleeves clean and neat, he looked like a top student.
His curly eyelashes cast small shadows under his eyelids. His dark bangs were slightly long, covering a bit of his delicate eyebrows and eyes.
“Good morning, everyone.”
Xin Hexue said.
After all, Xin Hexue often waited for Lu Yang to go home. He had accompanied the basketball team to practice so many times that the others all knew Lu Yang’s childhood friend.
“Good morning, Princess.”
“Are you coming with us too? Did Lu Yang drag you over?”
“Princess, did your family agree?”
Lu Yang scowled, his eyes narrowing. “Don’t call him that. Only I…”
Cai Shu: “Only you can call him that? The princess doesn’t even object. What are you barking about, Brother Dog?”
Initially, the basketball team didn’t call them that; they weren’t familiar with Lu Yang and Xin Hexue.
It started with Cai Shu.
Cai Shu was in the same class as Xin Hexue since kindergarten. At that time, their class performed an adapted version of the play “Snow White” for their kindergarten graduation performance
The roles were decided by vote. Xin Hexue had fair skin and was good-looking, so he was the popular choice for the princess.
The remaining roles were competed for.
Lu Yang originally wanted to run for the prince, but he was the little bully of the kindergarten, imposing and intimidating, yet his popularity was low. Plus, it was an adapted play with role reversals, so the role of the prince was taken by Miao Ling, who had the highest popularity among the girls.
Fortunately, this graduation performance ensured every child participated, so all parents coming could see their own child perform on stage. Therefore, many roles were added to the script.
Lu Yang went up to the podium for the first time and delivered a soul-stirring campaign speech.
“I want to be the princess’s dog!”
Cai Shu imitated exaggeratedly.
The bus moved forward, the poplar trees on both sides of the asphalt road receding into the distance.
Lu Yang gave Cai Shu, who was sitting in the front seat, a hard flick on the head from behind. “Shut up.”
“Don’t hit classmates.” Xin Hexue tugged Lu Yang’s arm and teased, “Brother…Dog”
When he called him, his eyes curved, his tone teasing, the tail end of his words like a curled-up cat’s tail, swaying.
Lu Yang sat in his seat, crossed his arms, and didn’t speak.
Xin Hexue: “But, why did you campaign for that role? You were on stage for less than a minute, and only had two lines.”
One was “Woof,” and the other was “Woof woof woof.”
“Dogs are man’s best friend.” Lu Yang said irritably. “That’s what they said on TV back then.”
Laozi just wanted to be little Xin Hexue’s best friend.
“Even though you and I are separated by a classroom now, you absolutely cannot be fickle in affection.” Lu Yang said. “Can your new deskmate Sun Wuwu beat up bad guys who bully you like I can? You have to say my name three times every morning when you wake up, and remember we are the very best friends in the world.”
“My new deskmate is called Sun Wuhao.”
Xin Hexue said helplessly.
“Also, ‘fickle in affection’ isn’t used that way.”
“Whoever he is, it’s almost over anyway.” Lu Yang looked out the bus window; the sun was shining brightly. “We change seats after the National Day holiday.”
Xin Hexue asked, “Did you get your test paper signed by your aunt?”
“No.” Lu Yang’s voice lowered when this topic came up, but then he mustered up his courage again. “I don’t know why, but I couldn’t find the test paper no matter how I looked at home. It must be fate. When the time comes, I’ll tell the teacher and my mom that a cat stole the test paper.”
“Really.”
Afraid Xin Hexue wouldn’t believe him, Lu Yang emphasized that he searched his backpack twice and rummaged through the house.
Xin Hexue pulled the backpack from his back and held it in front. “Of course you couldn’t find it. Because you stuffed the test paper into my backpack.”
“What a coincidence?”
Lu Yang laughed.
The provincial capital was next to Lingzhou City, and the power plant was located in the eastern suburbs of Lingzhou City. It took two and a half hours by bus to get to the provincial capital.
“Let me go over your mistakes with you,” Xin Hexue said.
He unfolded Lu Yang’s math test paper. “Why did you get so many calculation problems wrong at the front?”
They were simple multiplication and division problems, yet they were all marked with red crosses.
Xin Hexue frowned. He pointed with his finger while reading the problem: “Please help the little animal calculate. After multiplying by 9, I am 72. So I am…?”
“Why did you write ‘monkey’ in the parentheses?”
Lu Yang was greatly astonished, pointing. “Isn’t this drawing a monkey? Or is it a gorilla?”
Then he said regretfully: “The teacher who set the question tested too deeply. I don’t usually like watching Animal World.”
“Are you an idiot?”
Xin Hexue tapped his head, as if fixing a short-circuited TV with static.
“What is 8 times 9?” Xin Hexue asked.
“72.” Lu Yang answered honestly.
“You know it?”
Xin Hexue glanced at him. Previously, he was made to stand outside the classroom until he memorized the entire multiplication table because he couldn’t recite it.
He looked down and scanned the calculation problems at the front; half of them had been in the homework before. He really couldn’t understand how Lu Yang could get them wrong. He turned the page and looked at the word problems.
“Below are the election results for the Young Pioneers brigade leader.”
“Xiao Ming 231 votes, Xiao Hong 341 votes, Xiao Lan ? votes, total 968 votes.”
“Question: Who can be elected brigade leader?”
Lu Yang said confidently: “Total.”
Even someone as patient as Xin Hexue was a bit uncertain. He touched Lu Yang’s forehead worriedly and asked, “Is your brain broken?”
Seeing his expression, Lu Yang was touched. “Don’t worry. My dad said I don’t have a brain.”
Xin Hexue pursed his lips and said, “I won’t go out to play The King of Fighters with you anymore.”
Cai Shu turned around and said excitedly. “Lu Yang, Xin Hexue, I heard that after the National Day holiday, your class is arranging seats based on ranking, the high will be paired with low, which will promote one-on-one help. So why are you sad? After the holiday, you can be deskmates with Xin Hexue again.”
Lu Yang did get last place in the class this time.
But…
Xin Hexue asked, “How do you know how our class arranges seats?”
The homeroom teacher hadn’t even told him yet.
Cai Shu said, “I passed by the office last time and followed Lu Yang to eavesdrop.”
The clouds parted and the moon appeared; now everything was clear.
Xin Hexue was wondering why. It was clear that Lu Yang was sixth from last before.
He was moved. “Don’t do that next time.”
“Of course, I’m not really brainless.” Lu Yang said. “Next time, if I’m elected brigade leader, I’ll definitely write your name.”
Xin Hexue: “…”
………
Xin Hexue had informed Xin Zhiying and the others before going out. The affiliated elementary school was only so big, and the P.E. teacher also knew this child who excelled in both character and academics, and had a good impression of him. Anyway, leading a group of children was the same, one more didn’t make a difference. He just told Lu Yang to keep a close eye on his childhood friend.
They got off at the bus station and headed towards the provincial capital experimental middle school’s gymnasium.
Even though it was only one city apart, the provincial capital was much more prosperous than Lingzhou City. The streets were bustling with traffic, and due to the National Day holiday, the surging crowd jostled shoulder to shoulder, a vast dark mass. Tall buildings rose abruptly across from them, and the seemingly golden architectural complex broke into view under the sun. The dark green spire of a building and the huge clock face of the Customs building seemed to be pressing down on them like a mountain.
The pedestrians on the street were dressed more fashionably than the others, and the fabrics looked much more high-end than those commonly seen in Lingzhou City.
The scene was dazzling and overwhelming to the eye.
Lu Yang held Xin Hexue’s hand tightly.
As they approached the provincial capital experimental middle school, there weren’t as many people, and the wide road was no longer sticky with people like paste.
Perhaps because of the basketball event and tourists, even though the experimental middle school was on holiday, a few mobile street vendors still came pushing their carts as usual.
Stinky tofu, savory scallion pancake, glutinous rice wrapped around fried dough sticks…
Cai Shu sniffed. “Chicken strips! There are chicken strips!”
They rushed towards the handcart excitedly like wild horses off the reins, and the P.E. teacher couldn’t call them back at all.
Lu Yang used his pocket money to buy an egg pancake and a crispy chicken strip. The chicken strip was twenty cents more expensive than those sold in Lingzhou City, costing a full one yuan.
“Be careful, it’s hot.”
Lu Yang held his hand underneath and let Xin Hexue eat first.
Xin Hexue only took one bite to taste. His health wasn’t great, and he was afraid eating too many snacks would give him a stomachache. “It’s delicious.”
He told Lu Yang to eat.
Cai Shu said from the side, “Brother Lu, I want some too.”
Lu Yang agreed: “Sure, I’ll leave the stick for you later.”
They were chatting lively when another group of boys walked past inside the school.
“Lin Oufei, do you want some? I’ll ask the vendor to pass it to us through the iron fence.”
One voice asked.
“Those things aren’t hygienic.”
Another voice answered, the tone indifferent.
The students from the power plant affiliated elementary school looked up towards the source.
Across the painted patterned fence, the group of students, clearly from the experimental middle school’s team, were all wearing black-and-white quick-dry sports uniforms. Among them, the boy called Lin Oufei glanced over them, his profile cold and aloof.
Their backs turned as they walked towards the gymnasium.
“What are they pretending for?”
Lu Yang was irritated just seeing them.
Xin Hexue held the egg pancake, chewing slowly.
