Unfortunately, both women were not interested in that, they were wholeheartedly focused on burying watermelon rinds in the field.
Sacred Heart Middle School starts a day earlier than other middle schools. On August 31st, all new and returning students must report to the school.
Just as the suitcases were brought to the school gate, Zhuo Feng and his wife were stopped. On such a big day like the opening day, the main gate of the school was actually closed, with a side gate opened next to it, where students entered one after another, but each student entered without their parents accompanying them.
Other new students’ parents, also stopped outside the gate, discontentedly questioned the gatekeeper.
Eventually, the gatekeeper, tired of the questioning, pointed to a Han white jade stele at the main entrance through the iron bars of the school gate, which had six characters written on it: "Self-strength, diligence, and advancement."
The motto of Sacred Heart Middle School has always been so. Whether old or new students, the procedure for school commencement must be completed independently by the students, which conforms to the meaning of that stele.
Xiao Xian watched the lively scene from the side, noticing two types of students entering and exiting the small side gate: one type looked more experienced, probably returning students. The other type was like a little girl behind her.
"Dad, I told you not to bring so many drinks and dried pork. The luggage is also packed so bulky, how am I supposed to carry it inside," said a tall female student with two ponytails. Her parents, sweating profusely on such a hot day, also had quite bulky luggage. It was only summer, with just summer clothes packed, and yet the luggage was so large.
Xiao Xian then looked at her own luggage, a small suitcase just bought by Zhuo Feng.
The student’s dad, gasping for breath, broke through the crowd, and nonchalantly pulled out US$100, handing it to the gatekeeper: "Comrade, use this money to buy some cigarettes, please help my daughter carry her luggage inside."
The female student’s face turned red, she ignored her dad and a whole bag of snacks, dragging the suitcase, she walked inside.
"Daughter, call home when you have time."
"Parents, please wait a moment, don’t crowd. In a while, a teacher from the finance department will come to collect the tuition. When your child’s name is called, you can go and pay," the gatekeeper returned the money to her, signaling Xiao Xian to hurry inside.
Zhuo Feng, watching from the side, smirked, thinking what a thoughtless father-daughter pair, bringing so many snacks inside for what? He was smart, having stuffed US$500 into Xiao Xian’s suitcase. Since the meal fees are included in the tuition, there was no worry about Xiao Xian suffering inside.
"Big brother, don’t look over there anymore, I see your child looks quite sturdy, she won’t suffer," Feng Xing stood at the school gate, opening the zipper of his handbag, preparing to take out money to pay the fees.
After opening the zipper of the handbag, Feng Xing saw an extra envelope inside, he opened it and counted, finding the previous US$500 all there.
"Yes, we specifically came over from Tianjin. Hey, young man, why do you look so upset, not heatstroke I hope? Come, let’s sit under the tree shade, and I’ll talk to you about school matters," saying that, Feng Xing was pulled aside, and they started discussing parenting experiences.
Zhuo Feng shook his head, looked into the school gate, and saw the lush tree-lined path where Xiao Xian was no longer visible; he felt as if a piece of his heart was empty, Xiao Xian had finally started middle school. (To be continued. If you work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)