Chapter 156: The Older Brothers Start School
At this time, Yun Xiaowu and his companions, who didn’t know they would regret it later, were happily strolling around the village with their new schoolbags.
Their schoolbags were all hand-sewn, cross-body cloth bags made from their favorite army green fabric, and on the cover of the bag was a red five-pointed star.
The children cherished that five-pointed star dearly; even when they took their new schoolbags out to show off, they only allowed others to look at the five-pointed star, not to touch it.
“Our schoolbags are all new, Mom specially sewed them for us. Look how beautiful this five-pointed star is.”
Some children who could only carry their older brothers’ or sisters’ hand-me-down schoolbags were very envious.
“Yun Xiaowu, let me touch it.”
“No, your hands are so dirty. What if you get my five-pointed star dirty?”
“Then can I touch it after I wash my hands clean?”
“Okay, but only for a moment.”
For the sake of you being my best good brother.
Yun Jiao was gnawing on a boiled egg and following beside her older brothers; she also had a new small bag on her.
She had what her older brothers had.
It was also army green, and also had a five-pointed star, but her bag was much smaller and more exquisite, meant for carrying snacks.
The boiled egg she was eating at this time was taken out from inside it.
It even had a layered fabric lining inside.
Similarly, Yun Jiao’s friends were also envious.
“Jiaojiao, are you going to school too?”
“But this bag is so small, it can’t fit books.”
“This isn’t a schoolbag, Mom made it for me to put snacks in.”
Inside were a few candies, a piece of chocolate, and biscuits wrapped in a cloth.
Hearing her words, Yun Xiao Hua and the others were even more envious.
“When I go back, I’m going to ask my mom to make me a beautiful small bag too.”
“Me too. If she doesn’t, I’ll make it myself.”
The young girls gathered together to discuss how to make a good-looking small bag.
Yun Jiao finished eating the egg white, leaving a round yolk.
She divided the yolk into small portions and handed them to Yun Xiao Hua and the others.
She didn’t really like eating the yolk; it was too dry.
Although their family still couldn’t afford a boiled egg every day, Yun Jiao firmly believed that the chickens she raised were plump and would soon bring her a surprise.
When will they lay eggs? Then she’ll give her older brothers an egg every day.
However, her chickens, ducks, and geese were now even uglier.
Yun Jiao could no longer honestly call them chicks, ducklings, and goslings.
After Yun Jiao’s older brothers finished showing off outside, they took her home.
However, the children who were shown off to cried and insisted on new schoolbags, the army green ones with five-pointed stars.
Some children got their wish, but others were severely spanked by their family members.
“What new schoolbag? This one still works. Where am I supposed to find army green fabric to make a new schoolbag for you? And you want a five-pointed star? With my craftsmanship, can I sew a five-pointed star for you? You’re dreaming!”
Some people also complained in private, saying that Yun Xiaowu and those few boys were really something. It was fine that they had new schoolbags, but why did they have to show them off? Now the whole village’s children were restless.
On the first day of school, Yun Jiao also went to school with her older brothers.
Third Brother and Fourth Brother brought them to register.
She was led by Third Brother’s hand as they walked into the school, looking around curiously.
The school playground was a cement ground with a few trees planted for greenery, and there was a flag-raising platform. A bright red flag with a five-pointed star fluttered at the highest point, the most eye-catching sight in the entire school.
Yun Jiao also saw some students with red scarves around their necks. The red scarves were folded three times and tied around their necks; this was a symbol of primary school students.
There were quite a few students registering on the school playground; some were brought by their parents, and some came on their own.
This was Hongxing Primary School, the closest one to them, which taught from kindergarten to sixth grade.
Yun Chennan had also come from here before.
He first took the two oldest younger brothers to the office for second-grade registration.
Coincidentally, the homeroom teacher was someone who had taught him before.
The students who left the deepest impression on a teacher were either the top academic performers or the worst academic performers who were most prone to causing trouble.
And Yun Chennan clearly belonged to the former category.
As soon as he appeared, more than one teacher in the office recognized him.
“Student Yun Chennan!”
The teachers who had taught him, including the homeroom teacher, were all delighted.
Especially the homeroom teacher, who came forward and patted his shoulder: “Student Yun Chennan, why are you here at school? In the blink of an eye, you’ve grown so big.”
Yun Chennan looked at the white hairs appearing on the teacher’s head and felt a bit emotional.
“Teacher Yang, I’ve brought my younger brothers to register.”
He pushed Yun Xiaowu and Yun Xiaoliu forward: “This is my Xiaowu and Xiaoliu. Their names are Yun Chenqin and Yun Chenshu. They might be a bit boisterous, so I’ll trouble you with them from now on.”
“Alright, alright… What were their previous situations like?”
After some inquiry, it was learned that due to their family’s poverty, the two children had never attended school before, and their education had been taught by their older brothers. The teacher was not surprised.
Many families were in similar situations, and as education gradually became more widespread, children who had never attended school would all have to come to school now.
This led to some older children, who couldn’t keep up with the learning pace, being mixed with children in preschool or first grade. The height difference among the students was astonishing, with some very tall and some very short.
These two were fine; at ten years old, they would normally be in third or fourth grade. Even in second grade, their height was on the taller side, but it was still acceptable.
After a simple assessment confirmed that the two had learned up to the second-grade curriculum, they were registered.
Teacher Yang pushed up his glasses and looked at the other children behind Yun Chennan.
Among them, the only young girl was fair and tender, and particularly good-looking. He couldn’t help but look at her a few more times.
Yun Chennan noticed and led Yun Jiao’s small hand to introduce her.
“Teacher Yang, this is our youngest sister. She’s three this year. We’ll let her come to school in another two years.”
In front of outsiders, Yun Jiao was always very well-behaved.
“Hello, Teacher Yang.”
She obediently greeted Teacher Yang.
Teacher Yang responded with an “ah,” patted his body, and actually found a candy, a preserved plum candy, which he then handed to Yun Jiao.
“You have quite a few children in your family.”
According to Yun Chennan’s earlier introduction, Xiaowu and Xiaoliu were registering with him, and there were three more boys and this one girl among the younger ones, making it a total of 10 children.
Hiss… No wonder the family was so poor that other children couldn’t go to school.
“Thank you, Teacher Yang.”
After receiving the candy, Yun Jiao thanked him obediently.
Yun Chennan exchanged pleasantries with Teacher Yang for a few moments, then left with his younger brothers and sister.
Continuing to the next location.
