Zhang Qiong fiddled with the registration forms, but her mood didn’t have too many ups and downs.
Just two fewer students, that’s all too common.
Not to mention just two students not showing up for registration, there are also those who drop out halfway through the semester and never return. Some parents come to the school making a fuss, demanding a refund on tuition, while others simply don’t utter a word, just not allowing their kids to come to school anymore.
In this era, dropping out is the most common occurrence.
Which teacher doesn’t have a few dropouts in their class?
Zhang Qiong felt that this was not a big deal; she just needed to take the two extra sets of textbooks back to the commune.
But Principal Wu thought it was a major issue, a top priority.
She pinched the registration form, looking at the names of the two kids who hadn’t shown up—
Zhang Dahu, Shen Cailan.
"Jianjun, come here for a second."
Principal Wu beckoned He Jianjun.
He Jianjun hurriedly put down his ping pong paddle and ran to Principal Wu’s side: "Principal."
"What’s the deal with Zhang Dahu and Shen Cailan? Why haven’t they registered yet?" Principal Wu asked.
"Zhang Dahu? That’s not right, Sister-in-law Zhang just saw him out the door this morning." He Jianjun looked slightly panicked, glancing around, calling over a taller boy who was walking by, "Erwang, where’s Zhang Dahu?"
The kid called over was He Jianyu, He Jianjun’s cousin, nicknamed Erwang.
Erwang perfectly inherited the He family’s genes, with his simple and honest appearance.
Knowing that the woman with the red badge in front of him was the school principal, he couldn’t help feeling a bit nervous.
"Tha-that... Zhang Dahu he..." Erwang stuttered, clearly meaning: I know, but I dare not speak.
Principal Wu’s frown grew tighter, her tone remained gentle: "Erwang, you can speak freely, I won’t tell Zhang Dahu it was you who said anything." By the end, she even lowered her voice intentionally.
She dealt with students year-round and knew what these kids cared about.
Sure enough, with this assurance, Erwang’s nervousness eased quite a bit, he looked around then whispered, "Principal, Zhang Dahu said he’s not studying anymore, he wants to go into business."
Upon hearing this, Principal Wu felt her blood pressure soar.
School hadn’t even started, and here was someone already aspiring to become a speculator!
The hand holding the registration form began to tremble, and her lips turned pale.
Seeing this, He Jianjun quickly supported Principal Wu’s arm, and asked again, "Erwang, do you know where he went?"
"He said he was going to town, and not to tell his mom," Erwang replied with a guilty conscience, "Principal, will you bring him back? I’m afraid he might end up in jail..."
Principal Wu pounded her chest, feeling some difficulty breathing.
Her health wasn’t good to begin with, and it had only recently improved a bit due to a better mood and a sense that life was looking up. Consequently, her tolerance for shocks had decreased substantially.
"I’ll handle it, Erwang, don’t worry, the Principal is here," Principal Wu reassured him despite feeling chest pains, "You go play, pretend you never told me any of this."
"Okay." Erwang, naive of the world’s troubles, ran off.
He Jianjun was still supporting Principal Wu, saying, "Principal, take a rest, I’ll go find that little rascal right now."
Principal Wu waved her hand at him: "You go, and call Nianhe for me."
Before He Jianjun could leave, Niuwa came over dragging Lin Nianhe by the hand.
The little guy was quick-witted; seeing Principal Mother’s poor complexion, he immediately went to find Sister Lin.
He thought that Sister Lin knew a lot and would definitely be able to handle the situation well.
Seeing Lin Nianhe, Principal Wu smiled bitterly: "Nianhe, do you remember that Zhang Dahu from the Zhang Family?"
"Daxi’s cousin?" Lin Nianhe asked in return.
"Right," Principal Wu nodded and motioned her to come closer, "that little rascal hasn’t come to report in, says he wants to go into business... Can you go to the police station and ask them to help find the kid and bring him back?"
Lin Nianhe’s gaze slightly dimmed.
She had previously thought that Bai Bo’s donation to the school was kind of dumb, but she had overlooked the current state of the times. Most kids mature early these days, half-grown children are the most reckless, with just a bit of encouragement they dare to delve into the black market, and they fight as if life doesn’t matter.
Lin Nianhe patted Principal Wu’s hand reassuringly: "Don’t worry, Principal, there’s no need to call the Public Security. By dinner time at the latest, Zhang Dahu will definitely be back."
Principal Wu’s eyes brightened slightly: "Really?"
"Really." Lin Nianhe nodded, then asked, "Are there any other kids who haven’t reported in?"
If they’ve all run off to the black market, then we might as well catch all of them in one go and save the effort.
"There’s one more, called Shen Cailan." Principal Wu looked at He Jianjun, "What’s her story?"
He Jianjun tugged at the corner of his mouth, his neck flushing red.
He stammered in response: "Shen Cailan... won’t be coming anymore, she’s getting married."
Principal Wu widened her eyes, and her voice went up an octave: "She’s only about ten years old, right?"
This is an elementary school, how old can the children be?
He Jianjun’s face turned both black and red as he explained: "Shen Cailan is fourteen this year, well... it’s the person who previously wanted to marry Daxi, well, Daxi didn’t marry, so, so they switched..."
Principal Wu nearly collapsed on the spot.
Lin Nianhe firmly supported her, calling for Wen Lan repeatedly.
Sister Lan ran over like a gust of wind, and without asking, she directly picked up Principal Wu and carried her back to the room.
"What’s going on here?" Wang Shumei also rushed over, "Nianhe, what happened to the Principal?"
"She’s upset," Lin Nianhe told her, "Sister Shumei, please go down to the riverbank and call Wu Genmao back."
Wang Shumei didn’t ask for details and hurriedly ran out.
The children on the playground were somewhat at a loss, blinking their large eyes, not knowing what to do.
Lin Nianhe couldn’t worry about them right now. She quickly followed back into Principal Wu’s room, and while Wen Lan was out getting water, she took two lifesaving heart pills from her pocket and popped them into Principal Wu’s mouth.
"Don’t swallow, just keep them in your mouth," Lin Nianhe said softly.
Outside, Wang Xue and Miao Hongqi were soothing the frightened children, leading them to the private plots at the back to look at the cabbages.
After a while, Principal Wu felt better and struggled to get up from the bed: "Nianhe, I have to make a trip to Shen Cailan’s house, how can a child who’s only fourteen get married?"
One wanted to drop out and go into business, another wanted to get married and have children, Principal Wu didn’t know which student worried her more.
"Just rest," Lin Nianhe pressed her back to the bed, tucked in the blanket around her, worried she wouldn’t be at ease, she then added, "I’ll go with Sister Lan, we won’t be at a disadvantage."
Lin Nianhe directly pulled over Niuwa and said to him: "Niuwa, you keep an eye on Principal Mother here. If she feels unwell anywhere, go find another teacher."
As she spoke, she pulled out five yuan and stuffed it into Niuwa’s hand: "Take this money. If you need to go to the clinic, use it to pay."
Niuwa glanced at the pale-faced Principal Wu, suddenly pushed the five yuan back into Lin Nianhe’s hand.
Looking at Lin Nianhe, he said:
"Sister Lin, I have money."