Zhao ii sat next to Xu Xu at the table, both rubbing their bellies, they were stuffed.
Xu Xu’s nose had stopped bleeding, Liu Xiue helped him wash his face and hands, and changed the tissue twice with care.
Xu Xu felt itchy and dry in his nostrils, but didn’t dare to scratch, so he just endured it. When it beca unbearable, he wrinkled his nose.
Xu Xu played at Zhao ii’s ho until after two in the afternoon. Liu Xiue specially packed him pig trotters, and accompanied by the two children, went downstairs and let Zhao Dazhuang personally send Xu Xu back ho.
That evening, Zhao Dazhuang lay in bed and sighed to Liu Xiue: "Today, when I sent Xu Xu ho, I t his mom."
Liu Xiue: "Really? What kind of person is she?"
Zhao Dazhuang: "Xu Xu is so young, she must be in her thirties, right? When I saw her today, I thought she looked even older than my big sister, all dark and thin, their life seems pretty hard."
Liu Xiue imdiately felt sympathetic: "Oh dear, if I had known, I would have packed another pig trotter for Xu Xu in the afternoon. I was thinking you two love it, so I didn’t give it all to him."
Zhao Dazhuang lay on his back on the pillow, rubbed twice, still uncomfortable: "Hey, wife, help scratch my head, it’s itchy."
Liu Xiue complained: "Wash your hair quickly tomorrow, it’s been two days, right?"
Liu Xiue scratched Zhao Dazhuang, and Zhao Dazhuang tilted his head and said: "I quite like Xu Xu, he’s obedient, well-behaved, and particularly perceptive, with a clever mind. ii and he always get along well, we absolutely shouldn’t look down on him because of his family conditions, and should invite him over to play more often. I see him as having future potential."
Liu Xiue agreed: "Sure, I also like Xu Xu, this kid just looks so endearing."
Zhao Dazhuang shook his head: "Alright, no need to scratch, let’s sleep."
Liu Xiue softly replied and slowly settled into a calm breathing pattern.
Although Zhao ii was usually mischievous and troubleso at school, she was smart and always managed to maintain a top-five position in the class, despite occasional carelessness.
All the teachers couldn’t handle her. They would grind their teeth in anger during classes but imdiately beca fond of her during exams.
Zhao ii ranked second in her class for the final exam, pleasing her teacher, who praised Zhao ii at the parents’ eting.
The teacher ntioned that although Zhao ii often whispered in class and bullied classmates, with many subtle antics, she had always maintained her studies efficiently, indicating her cleverness.
Zhao Dazhuang sat there, his face nearly hidden under the table in embarrassnt from the praise, finding it more uncomfortable than criticism.
Zhao ii had been labeled as mischievous since second grade, then moved up to third, then fourth grade, where the class got a new head teacher.
The new head teacher, Qiu, an elderly lady, had a stern face, completely different from Teacher Wang who always wore a gentle smile, even when scolding.
During Teacher Qu’s classes, Zhao ii was frequently called out, not only to answer questions but often with remarks like:
"Zhao ii, what are you fiddling with? Hands itchy again? Scratch the wall instead!"
"Zhao ii, have you got nails on your seat? Hurts every ti you sit, right? Stand while listening!"
Or a sudden roar, "Zhao ii!" carried through the open windows and doors, making friends in other classes ask her occasionally: "ii, did your teacher scold you again today? We heard it in our class, what was it about?"
Zhao ii always maintained an indifferent attitude, looking casually and said: "No worries, teacher says as long as I do well in studies, I can ss around! Just watch, I’ll make the top three in the next exam."
And she would indeed make it, only to be called out and criticized again in class, striving back to top the rankings, thus continuing the infinite cycle...
During the second sester of fourth grade, Shi Yang also entered the countdown to the college entrance exam.
Since Shi Yang began living with Teacher for tutorial sessions, Zhao ii rarely saw him except during holidays.
During recess, as Zhao ii was playing wildly with classmates in the playground, she bumped into Peng Hui, who was a year above her.
Peng Hui called her warmly: "ii!"
Zhao ii was sprinting, and hearing the call, she glanced back and changed direction to run in front of Peng Hui.
She wasn’t close with Peng Hui and didn’t like her much since she once called Shi Yang "brother".
But Peng Hui was always very welcoming, since their brothers and sisters were acquainted, they naturally considered each other friends.
Zhao ii stood before Peng Hui, yet still thinking of playing, hurriedly asked: "Anything you need?"
Peng Hui grinned: "Have you visited your brother lately?"
Zhao ii was about to stealthily slip away, but froze at the ntion of Shi Yang, asking: "Why are you asking?"
Peng Hui replied: "My sister has been very busy with studies and hasn’t had ti to visit , I usually go to see her."
Zhao ii paused and asked: "You went to see your sister at school?"
Peng Hui nodded: "Yeah, she finishes late, so I bring her als from ho, otherwise she’d get ho at midnight."
Zhao ii’s eyes brightened: "Can you go into the school?"
"Sure." Peng Hui nodded: "They have evening break at five-thirty, as long as it’s break ti, the school gates are open, no one cares."
Zhao ii bit her lower lip, her eyes shifted, and asked Peng Hui: "Then why did you ask if I’d visited my brother?"
Peng Hui smiled sweetly, saying: "My dad has the night shift today and will change shifts at four-thirty, he has a car."
Zhao ii realized, her face lit up with joy: "Can you take too? I want to see my brother."
Peng Hui nodded: "No problem, I called to ask if you’d co with ."
"Yes! Absolutely!" Zhao ii nodded eagerly, now losing interest in playing: "After school, I’ll find you in your class?"
Peng Hui nodded: "Okay."
Zhao ii and Peng Hui finalized everything, and Zhao ii was distracted the entire afternoon. When called to answer a question, she relied on her desk mate to secretly pass the answer.
Just as school ended, Zhao ii hurriedly grabbed her packed backpack and dashed out of the classroom first. Xu Xu called behind her: "ii! Wait for !"
Every evening, Xu Xu accompanied Zhao ii out of the school gate, waited with her for the bus, watched her board the bus disappearing around the street corner, and then went ho himself.
Zhao ii had never hurried off alone like this.
Zhao ii was anxious to find Peng Hui, hearing Xu Xu calling, she just waved a hand, still running, shouting: "I’m seeing Brother Yangyang, you walk ho yourself today!"
Xu Xu was clutching his backpack, trying to keep up, but stopped abruptly at her words, watching Zhao ii dash down the stairs, vanishing.
Xu Xu’s eyes were dark underneath, long thick lashes gently fanned as he lowered them quietly, shouldered his backpack, and walked heavily out.
Xu Xu stepped out the school gate, walking ho along the sidewalk, kicking roadside stones, feeling inexplicably wronged and utterly infuriated.
Since first grade, Xu Xu had played with Zhao ii, wherever she pointed, he followed, he had a natural dependence on Zhao ii, this dependence was simple, a habit, but Zhao ii’s reliance was given to her Brother Yangyang.
Whenever her Brother Yangyang was ntioned, Zhao ii would light up like a star.
Xu Xu pouted, unhappy, instinctively starting to dislike Zhao ii’s Brother Yangyang, despise the person, loathe the na, most importantly hated that he occupied a place in Zhao ii’s heart, making it impossible for him to squeeze in no matter how hard he tried.
Xu Xu kicked a stone despairingly and gloomily continued ho.
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