Chapter 142: Rural Absurd Past Events Chapter 142

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

Everyone has childhood scars and regrets that cannot be changed or reversed, and for Wang Xiaohua, buying a tape recorder was destined to become a scar he could never erase from his heart.

The impact of this matter on his life was no less than the impact of his parents naming him Wang Xiaohua but long refusing to change his name.

Even many years later, after Wang Xiaohua grew up, he still could not understand why his parents initially refused to satisfy this small request of his, causing him to live with a sense of lack all along, always wanting to make up for it.

"This child, what's wrong today? Why is he throwing such a big tantrum?"

Li Xiulan looked at Wang Xiaohua's tightly closed bedroom door, full of puzzlement and surprise.

Wang Zhanggen had a dark face, very unhappy:

"He probably needs a beating! He hasn't been hit once since he was little, that's why he's been spoiled!"

Wang Zhanggen came to Wang Xiaohua's bedroom door and knocked violently:

"Wang Xiaohua, get out here! Who taught you to treat your parents like this? Who gave you the courage to smash bowls in front of your parents? Hurry up and come out and sweep the floor clean, or I'll make you regret it!"

Li Xiulan sensed her son was not quite right and didn't want Wang Zhanggen to intensify the conflict, so she hurriedly said:

"Don't yell at him anymore. Let him stay in the room by himself to digest it for a while. I'll clean up the broken bowls on the floor!"

Li Xiulan hurriedly went to get the broom and dustpan to clean up.

Wang Zhanggen was still indignant and accused Li Xiulan:

"It's all because you spoiled him! Daring to smash bowls in front of his old man at such a young age—what will happen when he grows up!"

Li Xiulan was very displeased at being accused by Wang Zhanggen this way, and talked back:

"So what if I spoiled him? When you were working away, did you ever care about whether the child lived or died? Do you still have the nerve to give me a sour face? Do you know how hard it was for me to raise three children alone back then?"

Wang Zhanggen was immediately speechless.

He didn't want to argue with Li Xiulan.

Over these years, as life got better and better, the frequency of their arguments had decreased a lot.

Wang Zhanggen didn't want to ignite family conflict over such a small matter and make a mess of things again.

"I don't want to argue with you, I can't be bothered to waste my breath on you!"

Wang Zhanggen waved his hand and went out.

Out of sight, out of mind.

After Li Xiulan finished cleaning the living room floor, she came to Wang Xiaohua's bedroom door and knocked:

"Son, don't be angry, okay? Mom will kill a chicken tonight and give you a big chicken leg."

There was no sound coming from inside the bedroom.

Li Xiulan had no choice but to let Wang Xiaohua digest it himself, after all she still had to go to the construction site to start work this afternoon.

Wang Xiaohua was alone in the bedroom, looking at the pile of old books on the desk, and suddenly felt that these were not what he loved either.

He also didn't know why he had buried himself in books all these years.

He now almost had no friends; only Li Yuncui could exchange a few words with him, and the rest of his classmates all treated him like a freak.

His grades were too good, which instead made other classmates dare not approach him.

For many years, no one played with him.

They thought he was a freak.

Which normal person could score nearly a hundred in both Chinese and math every exam?

Which normal person could still score eighty or ninety in English without a teacher?

Li Yuncui had a tape recorder to help, but her English was only in the low eighties, always hovering around that score, unable to improve further.

Since there was no English teacher in the village primary school, this instead led Wang Xiaohua to transfer to the primary school in town, with a glimmer of expectation.

He thought that if he could meet an English teacher in town, perhaps his English could be learned well.

This afternoon, Wang Xiaohua had just arrived at school when his deskmate Li Yuncui excitedly told him a piece of news.

"Wang Xiaohua, let me tell you some good news?"

"What good news? Did you buy a new tape recorder?" Wang Xiaohua asked, stunned.

Li Yuncui smiled and said:

"What kind of good news is that! I'm transferring to school in the county town! The schools in the county town are huge, there are so many students! My dad said, the schools in the county town are much more fun than our village primary school! He also said, studying in the village school has no future, and finally not many people can get into high school. My dad not only hopes I can get into high school, but also hopes I can get into university!"

Li Yuncui's parents, after several years of hard work, finally bought a house in the county town.

Once the household registration for the house was settled, they immediately went to communicate about the child's enrollment.

After running around, they finally got the transfer approval.

Hearing this, Wang Xiaohua was first surprised, then envious:

"Congratulations then. The schools in the county town surely have professional English teachers, right!"

Finally, inside he felt empty, full of disappointment.

Because Li Yuncui was his only friend; once Li Yuncui left, he would have no friends.

"Of course. The English teachers in the county town are great at teaching English. I won't have to parrot and memorize by rote in front of a tape recorder anymore!"

Wang Xiaohua smiled bitterly:

"I wish I could transfer schools too."

Li Yuncui said:

"Then go tell your parents. You study so well, studying at Shangou Village Primary School is simply wasting your talent. Maybe if you bring it up, they'll immediately transfer you. Even if you can't transfer to the county town, you can transfer to the town."

Wang Xiaohua gave a wry smile and shook his head:

"Impossible. I asked them to buy me a tape recorder, bringing it up many times, but they were unwilling to buy one for me."

"Oh, is that so? Then you're quite pitiful..." Li Yuncui couldn't help but cast a sympathetic glance at Wang Xiaohua; back then, when she asked her parents for a tape recorder, her parents bought her the most expensive one without a word.

In her cognition, she felt that as long as she wasn't doing bad things, as long as it helped her studies, her parents would agree to her requirements.

Unexpectedly, Wang Xiaohua's parents were actually unwilling to buy Wang Xiaohua a tape recorder; truly stingy!

"I'm leaving tomorrow. How about I give this tape recorder to you!"

Li Yuncui suddenly took out her tape recorder.

About the size of two palms, heavy, used for over a year, but still well preserved.

"Such a valuable thing, you're giving it to me?"

Wang Xiaohua's face was full of surprise.

"You keep it, don't give it to my grandmother and mother! When I go to the city, I might not need a tape recorder, after all there are professional English teachers to teach me English! Even if I need a tape recorder, I can ask my parents to buy me a new one!"

Li Yuncui forcibly stuffed the tape recorder into Wang Xiaohua's hands.

Wang Xiaohua's heart was full of gratitude, but he still hesitated:

"No, if your parents find out, they'll probably beat you; this is over a hundred yuan!"

Li Yuncui said instead:

"Rest assured, my parents never hit me, just take it. If you don't take it, I'll get angry!"

In the end Wang Xiaohua accepted Li Yuncui's tape recorder, as well as several English tapes.

And these were all the things Li Yuncui left him.

The next day, Li Yuncui no longer came to school.

She went to the city to study.

The desk to Wang Xiaohua's left became empty.

After Li Yuncui left, Wang Xiaohua often thought of Li Yuncui, very wanting to know how she would be studying in the city.

Her English should be learned very well, after all there was a real English teacher teaching.

Wang Xiaohua glanced out the window, smiled knowingly, then buried his head in studying that English which was like heavenly script to him.

I must work hard too; when we meet again in the future, I absolutely cannot fall too far behind Li Yuncui...