Courir partout et jouer des rôles mineurs

Chapitre 33

Finally, Qiu Jianguo, on behalf of his entire family, sincerely invited his father-in-law and mother-in-law to move to Zifang Town. He and his wife were both very busy, often sleeping at the factory, leaving little time for their three young children. They used to think that living in the compound with neighbors around meant they weren't worried, but now it seemed Qiu Shanglin was too audacious, and they couldn't help but feel uneasy. Even if the neighbors were considerate, they were still outsiders and couldn't control their movements. Tomorrow was September 1st, the start of school, and all three had enrolled in first grade. They would have fixed times for going to and from school, with his mother-in-law cooking for them and his father-in-law looking after them—it seemed like a perfect combination!

But Grandpa Zhang firmly disagreed with living in the Red Star Compound.

The current room is just enough for them. Although the couple doesn't come home often, it's not right for the father-in-law to sleep in his daughter and son-in-law's bed. Asking them to stay at Li Changsheng's place next door also has problems—although his grandfather doesn't come home often, who knows when he might come back?

After some discussion, they decided that the elderly couple would move to an apartment building in town and live with their son. Surely that would be fine?

It's close by, so they can come here during the day to take care of the children. If they don't go home at night, the old lady can stay here to keep the children company, and the old man can go back to sleep. It couldn't be more convenient.

However, this meant that Aunt Bai's work was coming to an end. Fortunately, she had a new grandson and needed to take care of him, so both sides agreed and were happy.

After discussing the matter, Zhang Hongwei wanted to talk to his three children about tomorrow's schooling and give them some instructions, but seeing his son's impatient expression, his daughter's seemingly humble but actually very patient face, and Li Changsheng's unchanging zombie-like face, he could only wave his hand and let them go back to their room to sleep.

Lying in bed that night, she tossed and turned like a pancake, unable to fall asleep. She nudged her drowsy husband, who woke up with a start, complaining, "What time is it? Why aren't you asleep yet!"

"Tell me, am I a terrible mother?" she asked, her voice filled with disappointment and melancholy.

Qiu Jianguo was fully awake and lowered his voice: "What's wrong?"

Being a failure as a mother? Hey, this is the first time I've ever heard of that! Your daughter earns just as much as you, and your son is practically bald from brain damage. How can you be a failure?

“Other people’s children need their mothers to take good care of them, but I don’t have time. Shanglin doesn’t need my care—Xialin… he only listens to his sister. You tell me, as a mother, it’s no different from not having one at all.”

Ultimately, she lacked a sense of authority as a parent.

The fact that her two children were doing well without her kept her up at night.

Qiu Jianguo chuckled: "What nonsense are you talking about! You should be content! Do you know how many people outside envy our family? Besides, Shanglin and Xialin are both sensible and respect you a lot. Look, you said you wanted to confiscate Shanglin's little savings, and although she objected, she still gave you the passbook. This shows that the child knows what she's doing!"

Qiu Jianguo understood why his wife felt lost. You raise a dog, thinking that you care for it, feed it, and give it life; then one day the dog runs to you, eagerly cooking for you, washing your clothes, and taking care of everything for you. While you feel proud and carefree, you inevitably feel a sense of loss at the loss of your status as its master.

But raising children isn't like raising dogs. Every child grows up, leaves their parents, and learns to be independent. It's just that his child matured a little earlier, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

"They're going to school tomorrow, their first day. I want to tell them not to get into conflicts with their classmates, to be friendly and respectful to their teachers, and to study hard..."

In the pale moonlight, her husband's mocking expression was unmistakable. She stopped abruptly, realizing she was losing interest.

Think about how Shanglin started learning to read at the age of four, and now she holds those daunting books that would give her a headache, and enjoys them immensely. Every afternoon, without fail, she has English time, babbling incomprehensible Japanese. Her elementary school teacher, Lin, suggested sending her to a gifted program, but if Shanglin hadn't firmly opposed it, she'd probably be in fifth grade by now!

But she was unconvinced: "And then there's Xia Lin..."

He felt deflated again. What about Xia Lin? Wasn't he still forced by Shang Lin to learn to read, practice calligraphy, and memorize ancient poems?

What's with all this "Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you"? And "When busy with affairs, always examine yourself in quiet moments, and excesses will naturally decrease. When thoughts arise, prepare them in stillness, and the mind will naturally cease"? And "Being overly observant is not true wisdom; true wisdom lies in knowing when to observe and when not to observe. Being certain of victory is not true courage; true courage lies in knowing when to win and when not to win." Who knows where she found all this nonsense? I'm just afraid her perfectly good son will turn into a bookworm!

Whenever Xia Lin gets into a fight, he gets angry and throws a tantrum. Zhang Hongwei, having suffered from her husband's weakness, desperately wants her son to become a little tyrant so he can protect her and her daughter! Shang Lin, on the other hand, is afraid that his younger brother has a bad temper, so he tries every means to suppress him.

And then there's Changsheng—in their eyes, Li Changsheng doesn't seem like the neighbor's child, but rather like another son!

Changsheng has a big temper, right? Yet she managed to keep him from uttering a single word in her way, and every day, without fail, she would pull out a sheet of Xuan paper and practice writing at her desk.

Zhang Hongwei dreamed of dressing his daughter up beautifully, holding her hand as they went to school, adjusting her red scarf at the school gate, and telling her to be a good girl, listen to her teacher, study hard, and make progress every day. His daughter would say "I know" in her sweet little voice, and he would give her a kiss on the cheek before she left—what a beautiful scene that could never come true!

Dressing up in the autumn forest?

She's got a lot of ideas! She said yellow hair has no nutritional value, and then she picked up the scissors and cut it off!

Any piece of clothing you randomly pick out of the wardrobe is something you can't buy in the town's stores.

Listen to the teacher? Lin Tongmao actually listens to her!

Study hard and make progress every day? Zhang Hongwei only hoped that one day she would suddenly become silly, less clever, and more adorable, so that he could take care of her!

She should stop going up, or she might fly into the sky!

Still using a childish voice?

Whenever my daughter enters a Mocha Cat store, a line of staff follows her, bowing and scraping as they report on their work and sales!

As for giving it a kiss... never mind, that's just a pipe dream!

That being said, which family sends three children to school at once like hers?

Changsheng was a year late, Shanglin was two years early, and Xialin was even more remarkable, three years early!

She and her husband were worried that Xia Lin wouldn't be able to keep up, and wanted him to go to kindergarten first and then enroll in school later. But Xia Lin absolutely refused, insisting on going with his sister and brother. Although Shang Lin was worried that he wouldn't have a normal childhood, she thought to herself, sooner or later he'll be different from others, so why insist on having a normal childhood?

These days at the factory, when we talk about our children, everyone praises themselves for their good parenting skills, saying their children are sensible and well-behaved.

How convenient!

The moonlight shone softly on the ground as Zhang Hongwei drifted off to sleep, completely forgetting that just a moment ago she had regretted not being able to educate her children like a normal mother.

There was only one scene in the dream: her daughter stood on a high podium, proudly announcing to everyone that she had won first place, won first place... As for what kind of first place? It was a dream, so let's not delve into it!

September 1st is the nationally designated first day of school. On this morning, countless families are busy washing their children's faces, dressing them, feeding them, and packing their school bags, giving them countless reminders and instructions. Watching their children skip and hop into school, they turn around and start worrying: What if my child doesn't adapt? What if my child doesn't get along with the other children? What if my child doesn't pay attention in class?

This is the heart of parents everywhere.

But in the Red Star Compound, things were reversed.

Early in the morning, a weary Zhang Hongwei opened his eyes and smelled the aroma of fried dough sticks and soy milk. Qiu Jianguo was already up and sitting at the table. Qiu Shanglin was directing Xia Lin and Li Changsheng to put pickled cucumbers and peppers on the table. He turned and looked his mother up and down, his brow twitching slightly.

"Mom, change into a black dress! You have a meeting in town today, right? And change your shoes too, wear those three-inch pointed-toe shoes with flowers from last time!"

By the time Zhang Hongwei changed his clothes and washed up, their breakfast was almost over.

Shang Lin glanced at the wall clock, somewhat displeased: "I overslept! There's no time to wash the dishes." He looked around the room and instructed: "Dad, you wash the dishes. The dish soap is in the cabinet above the sink. Wash the dishes, wipe them clean, and put them in the cupboard on the left."

He went inside to get his schoolbag, tossed it to Li Changsheng, and asked, "Did you bring your admission notice?"

Li Changsheng nodded.

She looked Li Changsheng up and down, then frowned: "Why are your shoes dirty again? Didn't I tell you you weren't allowed to wear these for morning practice!"

Li Changsheng didn't say anything, and she didn't say anything more either. There wasn't enough time, so she hurriedly pulled Xia Lin out the door, leaving behind the words, "Mom and Dad, I'm going to school!"

Zhang Hongwei, holding his rice bowl, watched helplessly as she pulled Li Changsheng in front and Qiu Xialin behind, and the three of them hurriedly ran away.

A little dumbfounded, he asked his father, "Should we go report to the authorities first?"

"Um."

"Re-assign classes?"

"Um."

"Do we need to see the homeroom teacher as well?"

"right."

"Don't other children get taken care of by their parents and handed over to the teachers?"

Qiu Jianguo rolled his eyes at her: "Hurry up and eat. Or do you think your sister-in-law's lifestyle suits you better?"

Through the bright glass window, the house across the street, belonging to Third Sister-in-law, was in complete chaos. Third Sister-in-law was holding a bowl of soup in one hand and her husband's socks in the other, while her middle school son was shouting, "Mom, Mom, where's my schoolbag!"

Her husband sat empty-handed, waiting for the food to be served, without even picking up a pair of chopsticks.

Qiu Jianguo softened his tone: "Aren't you going to a meeting in town? Shanglin prepared a book for you to pass the time."

Looking at the complete meal on the table, and then at his third sister-in-law across from him, who was busy and sweating profusely, Zhang Hongwei suddenly felt that he had a pair of caring children.

At the gate of Zifang Town Central Primary School, an elderly man working at the gatehouse and several first-grade homeroom teachers stood smiling as they watched the reluctant parents and children leave. The children's innocent faces held a mixture of confusion and curiosity, while the parents' faces reflected worry and anticipation. The hope for their children's success begins here.

Qiao Liang, the homeroom teacher of Class Two, suddenly had a bright idea. Not far away, three siblings were skipping along, holding hands. Oh, to correct her, it was the little girl in the middle holding the hands of the two little boys on either side of her, trying her best to keep up with the person on the left by skipping along with her short legs.

The little girl had two braids, wore a light pink dress with a cartoon bear pattern, and a pair of cloth shoes of the same color. She looked clean, refreshing, and lively.

Qiao Liang took a few steps forward. Almost simultaneously, the homeroom teachers of the other two classes also stepped forward. The three looked at each other, and the students were already in front of them, bowing obediently in greeting.

Hello, teachers!

From their elevated position, they could clearly see the little girl pressing down heavily on the children's backs with both hands, causing the two reluctant children to bow their heads and greet her.

Qiao Liang said with a smug look on his face, "Hello, Shanglin. I'm your homeroom teacher, my name is Qiao Liang. Welcome to the big family of Class 2, Grade 1 at Zifang Town Central Primary School!"

He extended his hand, as if to shake hers in a very mature manner.

But another hand reached out even faster than his, tapping Qiu Shanglin's nose and teasing, "Bullying Changsheng again, huh?"

Without needing to go up to Lin Jiao, Changsheng and Xia Lin obediently greeted him: "Hello, Teacher Lin."

Lin Tongmao's eyes crinkled into crescents, and his eyebrows arched: "Hello, everyone."