Chapter 350

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Protagonist:

Chai Mi

Time really passed quickly; half a month went by in the blink of an eye.

Chai Mi wasn't so busy during this period, her mood improved a lot, and her condition followed suit.

Also, things at home became a bit smoother. The calf had completely recovered and started frolicking.

Chai Xiu was about to be sent away...

Yes, there were only two or three days left until the autumn semester started.

Chai Mi was so happy that she could finally send Chai Xiu to school.

First... hehehe, studying can make a person progress. Second... studying can make Chai Xiu stop being annoying at home.

Theoretically speaking, Chai Xiu was still quite well-behaved.

But in reality, Chai Xiu knew more and more principles, and gradually began to align with Chai Mi's personality.

This might be a kind of subtle influence.

She was completely different from the meek and compliant Chai Xiu of her previous life.

Chai Mi didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing, but now Chai Xiu was damn meddlesome, wanting to manage everything and get involved in every matter.

The key point was that she had learned to talk back...

And she could also make false accusations and argue with reason.

This really annoyed Chai Mi...

There were still three days until school started; Chai Mi was resting and specially boiled two eggs, giving them to Chai Xiu during breakfast.

Afterwards, she brought up this matter.

"Mom, seeing that the new semester is about to start, I plan to send Xiu'er to school."

This matter had actually basically become an established fact. Previously, the family was poor and Xiu'er couldn't go to school; now the family had money, so sending Chai Xiu to school was certain.

So Chai Youqing supported it, though he wasn't one to emphasize his words much; he just said: "Xiu'er has reached school age, and she indeed should go to school. This autumn semester is just right."

He completely failed to mention that Chai Xiu had already reached school age long ago, and that he, as her father, had no money to support Chai Xiu's schooling.

Hearing about school, Chai Xiu almost choked on her egg: "Ah? Really going, Sister? I... I can help you with work, can't I?"

"No need for you to work!" Chai Mi tapped her chopsticks against the bowl rim. "Go to school! Look at which family's girl is this big and still wandering around at home? Want to be like Er Shazi from Xiangli East, not even knowing how to write her own name?"

Su Wan put down her porridge bowl, looking somewhat worried: "Chai Mi, she does need to go... but the tuition, I heard it went up again this year? Plus book fees and miscellaneous fees... it must cost quite a bit, right?"

"Don't worry about money." Chai Mi finished the last spoonful of porridge. "Worry about what should be worried about. Today's topic is which school to go to."

Su Wan blinked: "Then just go to our village's primary school; where else could she go? The village school is closer, and your Second Uncle is a teacher there, so he can look after Xiu'er a bit."

Chai Mi spread her hands: "So, the problem lies right there."

Originally, before the incident where Chai You Fu stole chicken meat and broke his leg, Chai Mi definitely wouldn't have hesitated; she would have sent Chai Xiu to the village primary school.

But after this incident, Chai Mi hesitated a bit.

The whole family was very conflicted.

Chai Youqing tentatively said: "Going to another primary school would be somewhat far; Xiu'er is too young and doesn't know how to ride a bike or anything. She's this big, going to school alone, there's some danger on the road..."

Chai Mi actually knew this too.

The main reason this issue was stuck here was this very problem.

If going to the village primary school, there was Chai You Fu; if going to the Daodao primary school, there was Che Lianyun. Both primary schools were quite close, just a ten or eight minute walk.

School being closer was also easier.

Other primary schools were farther away, and they didn't comply with regulations either.

But the family's relationship with these two people was well known to be not very good.

While speaking, Song Qiushui came rushing in; seeing Chai Mi still eating, she was stunned: "What, aren't you setting up your stall today? Why haven't you finished eating yet?"

Chai Mi said: "I won't set up the stall for these two days; I'll rest for two days. Seeing that school starts in two or three days, I was just thinking about sending Xiu'er to school."

"Go then. The school isn't far from your home, just a few steps away. Xiu'er isn't young anymore; what are you worried about?" Song Qiushui asked somewhat puzzled. "Besides, your Second Uncle is a teacher at the school; by then, assigning Xiu a good class teacher, wouldn't that settle the matter?"

"The problem lies with Second Uncle!" Chai Mi put down her chopsticks, furrowing her brow, "Last time with the meat-stealing incident, his leg was broken, and he's seething inside. If Chai Xiu goes to the village school and falls under his control, would he have a good face? Giving Xiu'er small shoes to wear and making trouble openly and secretly, we can't guard against it."

Su Wan heard this and her face fell: "Oh, this... this, how to handle it? He is after all an elder and a teacher; he can't do such a thing, right? Besides, we're all family, we see each other every day..."

"Mom, you think too well of him!" Chai Xiu interrupted, her little face puffed with anger, "When he stole our things and blamed Qiu Shui Sister, did he think of being an elder? What was his attitude toward Sister in the hospital? He's just narrow-minded! If I go, he'll definitely find ways to mess with me! I won't go and suffer that anger!" Thinking of Chai Min's nose-in-the-air look, she became even more worked up.

Song Qiushui also quickly chimed in: "Auntie, Chai Mi is right! Chai You Fu is a grudge-holder! Chai Min's little scandal about dating at school, I exposed it, and he could hate me enough to climb over the wall at midnight to steal my chicken meat for revenge; his heart is smaller than a needle's eye! If Xiu'er goes, will he let her go? He'll definitely find fault! Then he'll assign more homework, pick questions in class that you can't answer, and squeeze you a few sentences in front of classmates... tsk tsk, that life, just thinking about it is stifling!"

Su Wan was made anxious by them: "Then... then if not going to the village school, where can she go? Can't she just not go to school?"

Chai Mi thought for a while and tentatively said: "How about the primary school in town, Ganzhu'er Primary School! It's not too far from our home; taking a detour, riding an inverted donkey, it's seven or eight minutes."

"Ganzhu'er?" Su Wan was even more worried, "That would mean running back and forth every day! There are vehicles coming and going on the road, and there's the river ditch! In this deep autumn, it gets light late and dark early; you're busy and don't know when you'll come back, and in the morning you might not make it either; saying you'll send her, but then you have no time, and Xiu'er alone... I just can't put my heart at ease!"

Chai Youqing had been silently drinking porridge, but at this time he also interjected: "Yes, Chai Mi, Ganzhu'er is a bit far, and you have to cross the Big Dam... how about... how about I go find Old Two and talk to him? We share the same surname; he can't really go against the child, can he?"

Chai Mi made a "heh" sound and swept her gaze over: "Dad, you go say it? What would you say? Say 'Second Brother, sorry about stealing the meat before, your broken leg was your own doing, now my Xiu'er is in your class, please be more accommodating, don't bully her'? Do you think he'll smile at you after hearing that or hit you with a broom knot?"

Chai Youqing was choked until his face turned red; he sheepishly lowered his head and didn't dare make a sound.

"No... but that can't..." Su Wan rubbed her hands anxiously.

"What can't be done?" Song Qiushui slapped her chest. "Auntie, what are you afraid of? If Chai Mi and I have time setting up our stall, we'll take Xiu'er to school, just treat it as a stroll! If we don't have time, let my uncle ride a bicycle... anyway, my uncle doesn't have much to do either! And I'm familiar with that Ganzhu'er Primary School; my maternal aunt's child studies there; the teachers are much better than that old scholar in our village, they don't hit people!"

Chai Xiu didn't like going to school anyway; going meant someone managing her, but not going was also not okay. Simply being farther away, farther from the village, would actually be more comfortable: "Mom! Just let me go to Ganzhu'er Primary School! I promise to study hard! I run fast, won't play around on the road! Definitely won't go near the river ditch! Please, Mom! I don't want to see Chai Min's dad's long donkey face every day!"

Chai Mi looked at her sister's eager yet slightly stubborn eyes, and her heart became firmer: "Mom, this matter is settled like this. Xiu'er must go to school, but can't be sent to Chai You Fu's side; that's asking for trouble. Ganzhu'er it is; the road is a bit far, but people can be at ease. Qiu Shui is right; we'll take turns picking up and dropping off, nothing will go wrong. Comrade Chai Youqing," she turned to her father, "you shouldn't be idle either; tidy up our bicycle, make it Xiu'er's 'special car'."

Chai Youqing saw Chai Mi had made the final decision; how could he still have an opinion? He quickly nodded: "Yeah, yeah! I'll go tidy up now! Guaranteed to tidy it up steady and firm!"

Su Wan looked at her youngest daughter's expectant eyes, then at her eldest daughter's unquestionable expression, and thought of Chai You Fu's whole family's conduct; she sighed: "Alright... fine, you sisters have already discussed it... then go to Ganzhu'er Primary School. You must be careful, extremely careful, on the road, go slowly... especially Youqing, don't ride the bicycle too fast, and don't get the time wrong; this time for going to and from school is fixed, don't be late or anything."

Chai Youqing smiled: "My own daughter's school time, I can still remember it."

Chai Xiu pursed her lips; since things had come to this, she could only go be a monk for a day and strike the bell for a day.

She tilted her head, imitating the Old Scholar's manner: "The Master said: Children who go to school, have no childhood? Anyway, Sister just wants to send me away so the house is quiet. But going to study, I have nothing at all, going empty-handed?"

Chai Mi disdainfully pushed her head away: "Just bring your head. Books, stationery, and such, after eating, I'll go with you to the Town Supply and Marketing Cooperative; whatever needs buying will be bought, so you don't flounder when you get to school. I'll also buy you two sets of clothes, shoes, and such, wear them clean and pretty."

"Mhm mhm!" Chai Xiu nodded vigorously, finished the last few mouthfuls of porridge in her bowl, wiped her mouth, "Sister, I'm done! When are we leaving?"

"What's the rush? Wash the bowl first, then go!" Chai Mi glared at her.

"I'll do it, I'll do it! You two go." Su Wan immediately nimbly collected the bowls and chopsticks, ran toward the kitchen.

Song Qiushui looked at Chai Xiu, bumped Chai Mi's shoulder, lowered her voice: "Hey, really decided? Aren't you afraid Second Aunt finds out and gossips again? Saying you look down on the village primary school, look down on her family's that one?"

Chai Mi sneered: "Let her say whatever she wants. Her family's that one, worth me looking up to? I, Chai Mi, do things, still need to watch their faces? Xiu'er being able to study smoothly is better than anything. Their bit of idle gossip, even treating it as wind in the ears feels dirty."

"You have the day off today, go do whatever you want." Chai Mi spread her hands: "I'll first get Xiu's matter settled properly."

Song Qiushui didn't stay longer: "Then you two be careful on the way, I'm going back to sleep. Haven't slept well for several days, I need to sleep more."

Chai Mi gave an "mm."

Song Qiushui then left for home.

Chai Mi looked at the sky; the time wasn't early either, called to Chai Xiu: "Alright, let's go. Mom, we're leaving."

"Hey, ride slowly!" Su Wan chased to the door to urge.

Chai Mi pushed out the Inverted Donkey, Chai Xiu "whoosh" jumped into the cart bed and sat steady, excitedly patting the cart board: "Giddyup! Depart! Buying new schoolbag!"

Chai Mi got on the cart, displeased: "Sit tight! If you fall and knock out your front teeth, see if you're still pretty!"

The sisters rode toward the Town Supply and Marketing Cooperative. On the road, Chai Xiu chattered non-stop:

"Sister, is Ganzhu'er Primary School big? Is it as big as the village primary school?"

"Sister, for the new schoolbag I want blue! The kind with a little doll!"

"Sister, what about the pencil case? Iron! The kind with a magnet that can hold pencils!"

"Sister..."

"Alright alright!" Chai Mi got a headache from her noise, "When we get to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative you pick yourself! Don't buy anything too fancy, looks good but useless! Studying well is the real business!"

"Got it got it!" Chai Xiu agreed readily.

Arrived at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

"Comrade, that blue schoolbag! Right right, the one with little flowers! Show me!" Chai Xiu leaned on the glass counter and shouted.

The salesperson was a woman in her forties, smiling as she took out the schoolbag: "Little girl has good taste, this material is sturdy. For school?"

"Mhm!" Chai Xiu nodded vigorously, then touched it, "For school."

Chai Mi didn't respond, pointed at the counter: "Comrade, also a dozen pencils, two erasers, that iron pencil case too. Notebooks: Tianzige Notebook Notebook and arithmetic, ten each."

Chai Xiu hugged the new schoolbag, pencil case, and also picked out several flower pencils with eraser tips.

Chai Mi paid, stuffed everything into a large mesh bag.

Then bought two sets of relatively nicer clothes, and shoes.

Food wasn't too necessary, Chai Mi bought a new lunch box.

When the time comes, bring food in the morning, eat at school at noon.

Chai Xiu was seven or eight after all, this bit of stuff she could still handle herself.

But next still need to go find some connections.

That side is different from the village primary school; village study just go directly. This era also involves hukou and such issues; although not a big problem, still have to go through formalities.

Theoretically speaking, children who reach school age will enroll nearby.

Chai Xiu is clearly a bit overage, and also not nearby.

But it's not like there are no acquaintances at Ganzhu'er Primary School. The village's front Nanwa, there's an old man, right there serving as Teaching Director, named An Baoyu.

Chai Mi although not familiar with him, never even met.

But how does that saying go, within ten li eight villages, who doesn't have a few relatives.

This An Baoyu has a neighbor, who is precisely Chai Mi's clan brother's wife's maternal family.

Chai Mi felt still better to go through connections, so Chai Xiu over there can also be looked after a bit.

Returning from town, Chai Mi went empty-handed to her clan's Second Brother — Chai Erke's home.

Anyway all one family, bringing things would be treating as outsiders instead.

Chai Erke's home is right on Front Street, next to Lao Liutou's home.

Chai Mi arrived in a few steps.