A hundred flavors of life

Chapter 1408 This child is more sensible than adults! (Please subscribe!)
As Huang Ling called out, a moment later, the door next door opened, and the sound of children laughing and playing came from outside. Then the door was pushed open, and two teenagers ran in. They were Zhuang's two children, the older brother Zhuang Tunan and the younger sister Zhuang Xiaoting.

The two were taken aback when they saw a strange child in their home.

Zhuang Chaoying quickly introduced the children to her:

"This is your aunt's child, Xiang Pengfei. He's from Guizhou and is spending his summer vacation with us. He's Tu Nan's cousin and Xiao Ting's older cousin. You two should get along well and learn from each other!"

After saying that, he introduced Hua Shier: "Pengfei, these are my uncle's two children, this is Tu Nan, and this is Xiao Ting!"

Zhuang Tunan curiously looked at Hua Shier, while Zhuang Xiaoting, shy, hid behind her brother.

Hua Shier walked over and extended her hand: "Tu Nan, Xiao Ting, hello."

This scene stunned everyone in the room. Were they about to shake hands?

"Oh, hello!" Zhuang Tunan subconsciously extended his hand to shake hands with Hua Shier, just like he did on TV. The next moment, he realized something was wrong; his cousin hadn't called him "brother."

Hua Shier shook hands with Zhuang Xiaoting again. It was the first time in the little girl's life that she felt valued, and she smiled so broadly that her eyes disappeared.

Zhuang Chaoying asked the children to sit down and prepare for dinner.

After Zhuang Tunan sat down, he asked Hua Shier curiously, "Pengfei, you came from Guizhou? Is Guizhou far? Why didn't your aunt come? Is she at your grandfather's house?"

This kid is always like that; he launches into a barrage of questions as soon as he opens his mouth, never getting to the point.

Hua Shier wasn't bothered at all and told the truth: "My mother didn't come. I came to Suzhou by train from Guizhou by myself. It took me two days!"

"You're traveling by train alone?" Zhuang Tunan asked in surprise.

"Ah."

"Then you are amazing."

Zhuang Tunan said sincerely, then remembered something: "By the way, have you ever watched TV?"

Hua Shier shook his head: "No."

He added in his mind, "It doesn't exist in this world!"

"After we finish eating, I'll take you to Lin Dongzhe's house. He's our next-door neighbor, and we're very close!" Zhuang Tunan and Zhuang Xiaoting chattered away, recommending how great the TV show was to Hua Shier.

At this moment, Huang Ling finished cleaning the kitchen, washed her hands, and came out. Zhuang Chaoying quickly said:

"Alright, let's eat quickly. We can talk after we finish eating!"

It was clear that Zhuang Chaoying was very strict with her children. Zhuang Tunan and Zhuang Xiaoting immediately quieted down and waited for Huang Ling to sit down and eat together.

The family ate quietly. Huang Ling didn't look too good, but she still put food on Hua Shier's plate several times, urging him to eat more.

Zhuang Chaoying knew his wife was unhappy and wanted to explain several times, but seeing her expression, he was afraid she would start a fight in front of the children, so he swallowed back what he wanted to say.

Huang Ling ate a few bites and then said to Hua Shier, "Pengfei, you can sleep with Tu Nan. You two are still young, and this bed is big enough for you!"

Zhuang Tunan had no objection to his mother's words; on the contrary, he was very happy to have a younger brother to sleep with, so Hua Shier was naturally fine with it.

After the meal, Huang Ling cleared the dishes. Hua Shier offered to help, but Zhuang Chaoying stopped her.
"Go out and have fun with Tu Nan and the others. Your aunt and I will take care of things!"

Before Hua Shier could speak, Zhuang Tunan and Zhuang Xiaoting pulled him outside.

Lin Dongzhe's house is right next door; the two houses are separated by a wall, and their doors are less than a meter apart.

Zhuang Tunan knocked on the door, and a boy of about ten years old opened it. He was chubby-faced and had big eyes.

"Dongzhe, this is my cousin Pengfei, he's from Guizhou."

Zhuang Tunan introduced: "Pengfei, this is Lin Dongzhe, our good friend, in the same class as Xiaoting."

After he finished his introduction, he couldn't wait to say to Lin Dongzhe, "My cousin has never seen a TV before. Can he watch TV for a while?"

Lin Dongzhe looked at Hua Shier curiously: "You've never seen a TV before?"

"No."

"Come on in!" Lin Dongzhe excitedly pulled them into the house, looking like a child showing off his toys.

The Lin family's house was larger than the Zhuang family's, and the furniture was newer. The most eye-catching thing was the 12-inch black and white television on the cabinet, which was broadcasting the "News Broadcast".

Sitting on the sofa was a young couple, Lin Dongzhe's father, Lin Wufeng, and Song Ying.

Lin Wufeng was in his thirties, wore glasses, and was very refined. Song Ying had curly hair and wore a floral dress, which was considered quite fashionable for that era.

However, in Hua Shier's eyes, it was as if he saw Fan Shengmei with big curls but dressed in 'simple' clothes.

"Uncle Lin, Aunt Song, this is my cousin Pengfei," Zhuang Tunan said.

Song Ying greeted them warmly, "Come and sit down, have you eaten?"

"I've already eaten, thank you, Auntie."

Although she was reluctant to call a woman who resembled Fan Shengmei "Auntie," Hua Shier was perfectly polite.

The children squeezed onto the sofa to watch TV, while Song Ying and Lin Wufeng went to the yard to chat with Zhuang Chaoying and Huang Ling.

Hua Shier patiently watched the news, the content of which he was very familiar with because it was all history he had experienced in other worlds, but the other children were engrossed in it.

"This TV costs over four hundred," Lin Dongzhe boasted. "And there's also the TV ticket price. My dad had a hard time getting it."

"That's really impressive," Hua Shier said in agreement.

After watching for a while, as soon as it got dark, he made an excuse that he was sleepy and called Zhuang Tunan and Zhuang Xiaoting to go back to the Zhuang family home together.

When the children came home, the adults dispersed and told their own children to go to bed.

Huang Ling had prepared toiletries, towels, and toothbrushes for Hua Shier. Although they were ordinary, it was clear that she had prepared them specially.

"Thank you, Auntie," Hua Shier said earnestly.

Huang Ling nodded: "Go to bed early after you wash up."

Late at night, Hua Shier and Zhuang Tunan squeezed into the small bed. Zhuang Tunan fell asleep quickly. He was very satisfied with how well the boy slept.

Hua Shier closed his eyes and cultivated the 'Former Word Secret'!
Suddenly, a hushed argument could be heard from outside.

"They're just bullying us!"

Huang Ling's voice was filled with suppressed anger: "You won't take care of your own grandson, and you're pushing him onto us? Why should we?"

"Keep your voice down, the child is asleep," Zhuang Chaoying said in a low voice.

"I'm going to say it!"

Huang Ling was even more anxious:
"Did I ever stop you from giving them 25 yuan every month? Those were your parents, I accepted that, but what about now?"

“Pengfei has no household registration, no food ration book, and his food and drink are all rationed by our family! Tu Nan and Xiao Ting are still growing and are already not getting enough to eat, and now there's another one on top of that.”

"Hua Lin said she would send the food coupons."

"Where are the vegetables? Where's the oil? Where's the meat? Everything's free!"

Huang Ling became increasingly angry as she spoke:

“I’m not targeting Hualin or Pengfei, I’m just furious. Your parents dote on their youngest son and don’t want to burden them, and they’re also reluctant to spend money on themselves. What about us? Are we just supposed to deserve this?”

"Don't say that."

"I'm going to say it! I'm going to your parents tomorrow. We need an explanation! We can't bear all the blame!"

"Don't go."

"I'm going anyway!"

The arguing subsided, turning into Huang Ling's suppressed sobs and Zhuang Chaoying's soft sighs.

Hua Shier closed his eyes and continued to drift into a reverie. He understood Huang Ling, and he would demonstrate through his actions that he was not a burden.

This family will gradually accept him, trust him, and eventually need him.

Things should be done gradually.

The next morning, the residents of the alley woke up to the familiar morning hustle and bustle: the gushing of public water taps, the greetings of neighbors, and the ringing of bicycle bells, all blending together to create the unique morning symphony of the dormitory area.

Huang Ling calmly prepared breakfast and then called the children to get up.

Breakfast consisted of congee and pickles, which was simple but tasted quite good.

During the meal, Zhuang Chaoying glanced at his wife several times, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

After finishing the meal, Huang Ling cleared away the dishes and said to Zhuang Chaoying, "We'll leave in a bit to visit your parents."

It wasn't a discussion, it was a notification; the tone was calm, yet brooked no argument.

Zhuang Chaoying opened her mouth, but in the end only hummed in response.

Before leaving, Huang Ling instructed the children:
"Tu Nan, you're the older brother. Take Peng Fei around to familiarize himself with the area later. Make sure he doesn't wander too far. Come back for lunch."

"Okay!" Zhuang Tunan replied.

After the Zhuang family elders left, Lin Dongzhe from next door ran over to find Zhuang Tunan and the others to play together, and even asked Hua Twelve:

"Pengfei, what are some fun things to do in Guizhou?"

"Climbing mountains, catching fish, picking mushrooms," Hua Shier said.

"You can catch fish?" Zhuang Xiaoting's eyes lit up.

"Yes, we can use a bamboo basket, or just our hands."

How do you grab it with your hands?

"Wait for the fish to swim over, then quickly grab its gills," Hua Shier gestured. "Be quick and accurate." After saying this, he turned to Zhuang Tunan and asked:
"Tu Nan, my aunt said she's going to my maternal grandmother's house. Doesn't she work?"

Zhuang Tunan explained, "My mother works three shifts at the cotton mill, and she's only starting work tonight."

He suddenly realized something was wrong halfway through his speech:
"Pengfei, you should call me brother. I'm a year older than you!"

Hua Shier laughed. He had taken Xiang Pengfei's place. He had nothing to say to his elders, but it was impossible for his peers to call him "brother."

He immediately started spouting nonsense: "In Guizhou, the rule is that the most accomplished comes first!"

Lin Dongzhe asked from the side, "What does 'the successful come first' mean?"

Hua Twelve smiled and said:
"Whoever is better is the boss. If you're stronger than me, I'll call you boss. If you're not as good as me in anything, then I'm the boss!"

Lin Dongzhe is mischievous and loves to be different; his eyes lit up immediately upon hearing this.

"That's great, that's great. I still call Tu Nan 'Brother Tu Nan'. If we follow your local custom, wouldn't that mean I have a chance to get Brother Tu Nan to call me 'Brother'? What do you compete in over there? Can you play marbles?"

Hua Shier nodded: "I know a little."

"Come on, let's have a competition!"

Lin Dongzhe turned to Zhuang Tunan and said, "Brother Tunan, do you dare to have a competition? Let's set the rules: whoever is stronger is the boss!"

Zhuang Tunan also had a youthful spirit, and he was very confident in himself, saying:
"Compete!"

As he spoke, he pulled a small metal box from under the bed, which contained colorful glass marbles.

The three ran into the yard, squatted down, and Lin Dongzhe drew a circle and explained the rules:

"We each get a few marbles, and then everyone puts one in the circle. Whoever uses their marble to knock someone else's marble out wins a marble. The loser puts another marble in, and so on, until someone loses and runs out of marbles. The person with the most marbles left wins."

"Understood." Hua Shier nodded. It seemed that the way to play marbles was pretty much the same all over the country.

Zhuang Xiaoting didn't participate. Zhuang Tunan took out thirty marbles, kept ten for himself, and divided the remaining twenty equally between Lin Dongzhe and Hua Shier. Then, each of them put one into the circle.

In the first round, Zhuang Tunan went first. He squinted one eye, aimed, and with a 'snap', knocked Hua Shier's marble out of the circle.

"Yay!" Zhuang Tunan said proudly, "It's your turn."

Hua Shier picked up the marble and flicked it lightly with his finger. The marble traced a precise arc and with a "snap," it not only knocked Zhuang Tunan's marble out of the circle, but also bounced off and hit Lin Dongzhe's, knocking both of them out of the circle at the same time.

Lin Dongzhe, standing to the side, kept stomping his feet.

Zhuang Tunan was stunned: "How did you do that?"

"I was lucky," Hua Shier said casually.

"It's my turn!"

Lin Dongzhe picked up the marbles and aimed for a long time, but when he tried to shoot them, they slipped out of his hand and he didn't hit a single one. He couldn't help but sigh.

In the second and third rounds, no matter how Zhuang Tunan and Lin Dongzhe played, Hua Shier could always hit two or even three balls at once.

Zhuang Xiaoting's eyes lit up as she watched: "Cousin, you're amazing!"

At that moment, the cousin from Guizhou became the little girl's idol.

"I'm not playing this anymore!"

Zhuang Tunan, getting impatient with his loss, said, "Let's play a game of card collecting!"

The cards are round cardboard cards printed with heroes from the Water Margin. The rule is to flip the card over and win.

Zhuang Tunan took out his treasured pictures of Lin Chong, Wu Song, and Song Jiang. He took the first picture, using all his strength, and ended up flipping two of them over.

When Lin Dongzhe took the photos, he also flipped through two, and they were tied with Zhuang Tunan.

When it was Hua Shier's turn, he clapped his hands lightly, and with a "snap, snap, snap," all three picture cards flipped over.

Zhuang Xiaoting had already betrayed them, clapping her hands and jumping around: "Brother Pengfei is so amazing!"

We played two more rounds, and the situation was the same each time.

Zhuang Tunan and Lin Dongzhe were dumbfounded.

"Pengfei, you...you've practiced martial arts before, haven't you?"

Hua Shier chuckled, "I played with my classmates in Guizhou." There was a hint of guilt in his voice, like he was bullying a child, but it was undeniably satisfying!
"I don't agree!"

Zhuang Tunan retorted, "It's not enough to just compare how to play. We also need to compare our studies. Aren't you going to be in fourth grade? Then do fourth-grade problems. Xiaoting will compete against you for me. She's a year younger than you. Don't say I'm bullying you if you lose!"

“Okay.” Hua Twelve smiled.

The children went back inside. Zhuang Xiaoting found two notebooks and two pens and gave one to Hua Shier, who was eager to try.

Zhuang Tunan pulled out his math textbook and found a word problem:

"Listen carefully, two cars, A and B, start simultaneously from two places 300 kilometers apart and travel towards each other. Car A travels at 40 kilometers per hour, and car B travels at 60 kilometers per hour. How many hours will it take for them to meet?"

Hua Shier Miao replied: "3 hours."

Before Zhuang Xiaoting could even start calculating, her cousin had already given the answer. When she finally did, the answer was indeed 3 hours, leaving her utterly shocked.

Lin Dongzhe swallowed hard, exclaiming in surprise, "Really? Pengfei is that amazing!"

"This question is easy! Now give me a harder one!"

Zhuang Tunan was clearly not satisfied, so he found another one:
"A pool can be filled in 10 hours by opening pipe A alone, and in 15 hours by opening pipe B alone. If both pipes are opened at the same time, how many hours will it take to fill the pool?"

"Six hours," Hua Shier replied instantly.

Zhuang Tunan refused to believe it and asked Hua Shier five questions in a row, all of which Hua answered instantly.

"Have you done these questions before?!"

Zhuang Tunan suspected that Zhuang Xiaoting and Lin Dongzhe shared the same idea.

"No," Hua Shier said calmly.

"These questions aren't difficult. Would you like to hear my solutions?"

He took out paper and pen and explained the problem-solving approach to the three children. He not only explained how to do it, but also why to do it that way, as well as the general solution for this type of problem.

Zhuang Tunan was stunned. Some of these methods were ones that even his father had never taught him.

"You...you really won't be going into fourth grade until next semester?"

“Mathematics doesn’t have grade levels,” Hua Shier said. “If you know it, you know it.”

Zhuang Tunan fell silent. He looked at his sister and Lin Dongzhe, who were both looking at Hua Shier with admiration.

"Then should I call you brother?"

Zhuang Tunan was somewhat dejected: "But I'm a year older than you."

Hua Shier couldn't help but laugh: "Then let's be equals and just call each other by our names. You call me Pengfei, and I'll call you Tunan. Let's not call each other brothers anymore. Of course, if you ever manage to beat me in something, then I'll call you brother!"

Zhuang Tunan felt a little better and immediately invited everyone to go out and play. He also took Hua Shier to familiarize himself with the surrounding terrain. In fact, he still had a glimmer of hope and was thinking of finding some other activity. He had to win back the identity of 'older brother'.

Meanwhile, Huang Ling presented the facts and reasoned with Zhuang's family at their old house, expressing her dissatisfaction both openly and subtly, arguing that her in-laws shouldn't be so biased. In the end, Grandma Zhuang realized she was in the wrong and gave Huang Ling thirty yuan.

As soon as Huang Ling and Zhuang Chaoying left, Grandpa Zhuang slammed his fist on the table.

On the way back, Huang Ling's mood brightened, and Zhuang Chaoying smiled as he looked at his wife.

Huang Ling cooked several dishes at noon. During lunch, Zhuang Xiaoting chattered on and on about what had happened that morning, which surprised Zhuang Chaoying and his wife.

After dinner, Zhuang Chaoying deliberately gave Hua Shier a few fourth-grade math problems to test him. Hua Shier could answer them directly without even having to do the calculations.

Zhuang Chaoying was overjoyed, but asked in confusion, "Pengfei, didn't your mom say your grades weren't good and ask me to tutor you? How come you can even do fourth-grade problems?"

Hua Shier was too lazy to make up excuses or lie about such a trivial matter, so he simply didn't answer.

Zhuang Chaoying was a teacher and had seen many children of all kinds. Seeing that Hua Shier didn't speak, he imagined the situation:

"I understand, you did it on purpose, didn't you?"

"Your mother has always been a stickler for details since you were little. It must be because she was too strict with you that you deliberately did poorly on your exams to spite her. Sigh, you kids, you don't know the love of your parents until you raise your own children!"

After Zhuang Chaoying finished speaking, she went outside and told Huang Ling, who couldn't help but smile.

At this moment, Hua Shier found his shorts in his bag, pulled them out from the waistband, and took out three ten-yuan bills. He went outside and handed the money to Huang Ling.
"Auntie, this is the money my mom sewed into my clothes. She said I should give the money to whoever I stay at!"

Zhuang Chaoying and Huang Ling were both stunned. The former asked:
"Why didn't you tell your grandma?"

Hua Twelve smiled faintly:
“My uncle took me to my maternal grandmother’s house, and in front of me they discussed sending me to my maternal uncle’s house. They even said that there was a room that needed to be used to store miscellaneous items, and there was no place for me to live. How could I give them money under such circumstances!”

As he spoke, he stepped forward and stuffed the money into Huang Ling's hand:
“When I came yesterday, my aunt was unhappy, but she didn’t make things difficult for me. She even put food on my plate. I know you weren’t angry at me, but you were probably worried about the food rations. I think it’s more appropriate to give the money to you!”

Huang Ling returned the money to Hua Shier, then reached out and ruffled his hair, smiling as she said:
"Keep this money. Your aunt doesn't want it. Your grandmother has already given it to your aunt as your living expenses!"

Hua Shier smiled and said, "It must have been my aunt who asked for it, otherwise why would Grandma be willing to pay for it!"

Zhuang Chaoying couldn't stand it anymore: "Pengfei, you're not allowed to talk about your elders like that. Your grandmother isn't that kind of person!"

Hua Shier: "Yes, yes, Uncle is right. Aunt should keep the money. Tu Nan, Xiao Ting, and I are all growing. Aunt can use this money to buy us some good food and improve our lives!"

Lin Dongzhe called some children outside to go out and play, and Hua Shier took the opportunity to run out, not giving Huang Ling a chance to pull him away.

Huang Ling smiled and glanced at her husband: "I think this child is more sensible than adults!"

Zhuang Chaoying knew who his wife was referring to as "the adult," sighed, and had nothing to say.

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