Breakfast was almost ready. Ye Liu went upstairs to call Ye Liu down for food.
At the table, Ye Liu said, “Little Duo, why don’t we send Liu Ran off to school together?”
This showed his concern for Liu Ran, and it was also a way to let the other kids know that this boy had four brothers-in-law, all of whom would not tolerate bullying.
Liu Duo understood Ye Liu’s intention. She nodded, “Yes, our youngest member is attending school today, so we should all go with him.”
When Li Wazi and his family arrived with the bamboo shoots to be brought over to the restaurant in town, they stacked Liu Ran’s luggage on top and off they went.
“Li Wazi, wait for Mo and I at the village entrance later. We’ll come to look for you after we send Ran Er off,” Ye Liu said.
Li Wazi nodded frankly before speaking to Liu Ran, “Ran Er, you’re going to school today. Work hard, alright? You’ll be a role model for our Little Huzi, won’t you?”
Liu Ran was in an especially good mood, as he gave a broad smile, “No problem, I’ll teach him to read and write and everything I know!”
They talked as they travelled. When they reached the intersection, Liu Duo walked in the direction of the school with her husbands in tow, while Li Wazi took the ox-cart to the village entrance.
Ye Yang and the men each helped carry Liu Ran’s luggage, while Liu Duo held her brother’s hand. They saw Yuan Fang, the boy they had met the other day, when they reached the schoolhouse.
Yuan Fang went over to welcome them politely, “Madam, the teacher asked me to wait for you and to bring Liu Ran upon your arrival. I’ll take him to his dorm and then bring him to report his arrival.”
“Alright, thanks.”
They followed Yuan Fang as he led them to the dorm.
It was then Liu Duo realized there was a backyard. She thought the school grounds only had several straw houses.
There were three simple dorms in the backyard, each of which housed students of a single grade.
Yuan Fang brought them to one dorm. There was one large bed, long and wide enough for ten kids to sleep on.
There were several blankets strewn on top. Those must have belonged to the students who had brought them from home.
Yuan Fang pointed at a spot and said, “Liu Ran will be sleeping here, and this cupboard is for you to put your clothes…”
Very patiently Yuan Fang introduced Liu Ran to all the utilities in the small hostel that he could use.
Ye Ling and Liu Duo helped Liu Ran arrange his belongings and place them according to where Yuan Fang had instructed.
Ye Yang and the two other men waited outside. Ye Liu went to explore the other two dorms before going back to Mo. “Mo, what does it feel like to come back here?”
Ye Mo thought about it. Time had gone by so fast. So many years had passed.
As he thought about the past, he seemed to recall his days there as a student, “It’s still the same, but I’m no longer who I used to be!”
After unpacking everything, Yuan Fang brought them to the front yard. At that moment, the teacher came out from another building.
Yuan Fang bowed to him, “Teacher, Liu Ran’s accommodation has been arranged.”
“That’s good. You can go revise now,” the teacher nodded and waved him away.
Then he nodded at Liu Duo and the other men before speaking to the boy, “Liu Ran, from now on you are my student, and I’ll teach you everything I know. Even if you face any hardships in between, I hope you can bear it until the end!”
Many children who had just started schooling, possibly because of their age and late beginnings, often gave up halfway because they weren’t able to catch up.