School.
As Scholar ng announced the end of school and left the classroom, the students rushed out.
It was only Shen ti, and the day was still young. The children from the nearby village didn’t hurry ho. Instead, they gathered their buddies to play around the school for a while before returning.
As a result, the school entrance was packed with children right after classes ended.
Sun Daji was the oldest and tallest of them all. He stood at the very front, staring unblinkingly at the entrance, and instructed the other little ones, "Don’t you dare blink! Keep your eyes wide open and watch carefully. We can’t let our little cousin escape!"
To an uninford observer, his passionate speech might have made it seem like they were intercepting so criminal.
The little ones replied in unison, "Don’t worry, Big Brother! We won’t blink!"
The two younger female cousins even used their fingers to hold their eyes open, staring unwaveringly at the school entrance.
"AHA! I see her! Our little cousin!"
As soon as Zhao Zhitong’s small figure appeared at the school entrance, the crowd of little ones shouted and sward over her.
Zhao Zhitong was puzzled.
She had just been bragging to Qiao Muchen, saying that after only one practice session yesterday, she already knew how to write the characters the Teacher had taught them.
Her boast was still in mid-air when she was suddenly surrounded by a crowd of little ones.
"Little cousin!"
"Little cousin!"
Their shouts filled her ears.
After Zhao Zhitong recovered from her daze, she was pleasantly surprised. "Cousins! Why are you all here?"
"We ca to pick you up to go ho! Grandpa and Grandma are here too!" several of the little ones excitedly announced.
Zhao Zhitong cried out in excitent, "WOW! My maternal grandfather and grandmother are here too! Let’s go ho quickly then!"
With that, she prepared to head ho with the group of little cousins.
Qiao Muchen, who had been pushed aside by the swarm of little ones, stood stunned for a long mont.
When he heard Zhao Zhitong say she was going ho, he imdiately went over and caught her arm. "Are you leaving now?"
Only then did Zhao Zhitong rember Qiao Muchen.
She imdiately pulled Qiao Muchen over to her older cousins and introduced him. "Cousins, this is my good friend. His na is Qiao Muchen."
Then, she turned to Qiao Muchen and introduced her cousins one by one. "This is my eldest male cousin, Sun Daji; my second male cousin, Sun Daqing; my third male cousin, Sun Daxiang; my fourth male cousin, Sun Daru; and my fifth male cousin, Sun Dahe. This is my eldest female cousin, Sun Xiaoxue, and my younger female cousin, Sun Xiaoyu."
Qiao Muchen was montarily stunned by the string of auspicious-sounding nas Zhao Zhitong rattled off. His eyes widened in surprise, and after a pause, he managed to say drily, "Your family is truly flourishing with so many mbers."
Zhao Zhitong was imnsely proud, grinning triumphantly. "HEH HEH, of course! No one has as many older brothers and sisters as I do."
Then she said to her cousins, "Cousins, I promised Qiao Muchen earlier that I would teach him how to climb trees after school today. The Teacher says one shouldn’t go back on their word, so I’ll go ho a little later."
Qiao Muchen, realizing he couldn’t beat Zhao Zhitong at tree climbing, had challenged her to a character recognition competition instead.
He had begun his studies at the age of three. Although his learning had been intermittent due to his frail health, he was certain he knew more characters than Zhao Zhitong.
At the ti, Zhao Zhitong had also grown tired of competing in tree climbing every day, so she had agreed.
Naturally, Qiao Muchen had won. As a result, they made a deal: Qiao Muchen would teach Zhao Zhitong character recognition, and Zhao Zhitong would teach Qiao Muchen how to climb trees.
Her young male cousins, in fact, hadn’t wanted to go ho imdiately either. Hearing Zhao Zhitong say she would return later, they all promptly declared they would go with her.
And so, a large, energetic troop of children marched towards the old locust tree at the village entrance.
Zhao Yue, standing by the door, watched their departing figures and snorted coldly.
Just then, three of his regular playmates from the village approached him.
One of them remarked, "The Teacher praised those two a lot today. They certainly seed pleased with themselves, didn’t they?"
Zhao Yue snorted coldly again without responding.
Another kid then proposed a mischievous idea. "Hey, I have a way to get rid of that annoying girl."
Zhao Yue paused, then asked hesitantly, "What way?"
The kid leaned in and whispered, "She hasn’t formally beco an apprentice, so she isn’t the Teacher’s student. She shouldn’t be allowed to listen in on classes at the school. That’s considered stealing knowledge! If we tell our parents about this, she won’t be able to show her face at the school anymore."
Another kid agreed. "WOW, that’s a great idea!"
Zhao Yue, however, hesitated. "That... that doesn’t seem right."
The kid who had suggested the plan replied nonchalantly, "What’s not right about it? It’s the truth. She hasn’t beco an apprentice and hasn’t paid any tuition. Why should she get to study with us under the Teacher?"
Another child chid in, "Exactly! That’s right! Zhao Yue, don’t hesitate. We’ll go back and tell our parents that Zhao Zhitong hanging around outside the classroom will affect our studies. That way, the Teacher will definitely have to send her away."
Zhao Yue hesitated. He thought about how kindly his father treated Zhao Zhitong and how the Teacher had praised her. Steeling his heart, he nodded in agreent.
However, the mont he nodded, a brief pang of regret struck him.
That troop of little ones played outside for so long they lost all track of ti. By the ti they headed back, Sun i and the two aunts were just about to go out and call for them.
Seeing the little ones dashing back from a distance, the Aunt chuckled. "See? I guessed it. If we let them go pick soone up, they’d definitely end up playing outside for ages."
"Eldest Aunt! Aunt!" Spotting the figures standing at the doorway, Zhao Zhitong ran towards them, calling out sweetly.
"Where have you all been playing? You’re covered in sweat! Hurry inside and get washed up."
The adults quickly ushered the children, who had clearly been playing with abandon, into the house.
As soon as she stepped into the courtyard, Zhao Zhitong’s nose caught the scent of at. Her eyes sparkled. "Mother, braised pork!"
Sun i smiled helplessly. "You and your nose! Just like a little puppy. Quick, go wash your hands."
It was their first day in their new venture, and they had even earned so money. Coincidentally, Sun i and her family hadn’t eaten at since they had transmigrated.
So, Zhao Dong had gone to Butcher Zhao’s to buy pork. At that very mont, braised pork was simring in the kitchen.
Her maternal grandfather and grandmother still hadn’t left.
The grandmother was helping in the kitchen, while the grandfather was chatting with Zhao Dong in the courtyard.
"Young girl, co here."
After Zhao Zhitong had washed her hands, Sun Kang beckoned her over.
Zhao Zhitong trotted over to him, asking sweetly, "Grandfather, are you here to tell Tongtong stories?"
"HAHAHA." Sun Kang chuckled rrily, pulling the young girl close. He then asked seriously, "Young girl, grandfather has a question for you. Are you willing to learn dicine with grandfather?"
Zhao Zhitong looked puzzled. "Learn dicine?"
Sun Kang nodded. "Yes, that ans learning about dicinal herbs with grandfather, how to treat illnesses and save people. Are you willing?"
Zhao Zhitong stared at him with her big, round eyes and asked innocently, "If I learn, will I be able to cure Father’s leg?"
Sun Kang nodded. "As long as you study diligently, it’s possible."
Zhao Zhitong asked again, "And will there be good stories to listen to?"
Sun Kang laughed. "HAHA! Yes, plenty of stories you’ll never tire of. And in the future, you’ll have your very own stories to tell."
Zhao Zhitong’s eyes sparkled, and she nodded firmly. "Then Tongtong is willing! I am willing to learn dicine with grandfather!"
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