Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 557 Line up to receive schoolbags

Elementary school students' discipline, organization, and coordination all depend on the teacher's presence. Especially now, even though it's supposed to be the end of the school term, many children are surrounding the teacher asking why they can't go home. Xiao Wei even saw a second-grade girl crying. The playground is like hundreds of frightened birds that have landed there, making a huge commotion.

In this day and age, it's rare for parents to pick up and drop off elementary school students, but it still happens. Right now, there are some elderly people standing at the gate to pick up their children, and a few young people too.

"What are you doing here?" A pretty girl in military uniform and glasses walked over and asked Xiao Hong. Because they were afraid of getting the bags dirty, they had packed their schoolbags in a large pile of cardboard boxes, and it was impossible to tell what they were.

Xiao Hong laughed and said, "I'm just bringing the kids some small gifts. Are you picking them up? How old are you to have kids?"

The man in the neat military uniform, his face slightly flushed, said, "I'm picking up my daughter, she's in first grade. I was away on a business trip for half a year and just got back today. I missed her a bit. She usually walks home by herself."

Xiao Hong said in surprise, "Sister, how old are you? You don't look much older than me."

The neatly dressed man in military uniform said, "I'm thirty years old, and my child is seven. What do you do?"

Xiao Hong said, "I study at the engineering college. They're both about to give birth, so I came with them to distribute some stationery to the students, as a way of praying for the baby's well-being. We're staying here."

The neatly dressed man in military uniform glanced at the pile of cardboard boxes and said, "So many? This must have cost a lot of money. You guys are really thoughtful. What's your last name?"

Xiao Hong said, "My surname is Wang, and my name is Wang Xiao Hong. This is Chen Xiao, and this is Geng Hui. Geng Hui works at a bank. Sister, what's your surname? What do you do in the army?"

The neatly dressed man in military uniform said, "My surname is Li, and I work at a research institute."

The homeroom teachers were sweating profusely as they finally managed to organize the class and calm the crying students down. The little ones from each class stood in pairs, albeit crookedly, with the younger students holding hands to maintain their formation.

Principal Sun said, "Alright, stop talking. This isn't a meeting, nor are we keeping you in class. We're students now, not little kids playing at home. From now on, let's line up like this after school, holding hands and walking out of the school gate in an orderly fashion, okay?"

A chorus of responses, varying in pitch and volume, followed: "Okay."

Principal Sun said, "Okay. Today, some uncles and aunts came to visit you. They felt you had worked hard studying all day, so they prepared some stationery for everyone. Everyone gets some. When you receive it, remember to thank the uncles and aunts, okay?"

"Remember it...!"

"Okay, let's start with Class 1 of Grade 1, one class at a time. Ah, each class, keep your formation and don't rush. The homeroom teachers will follow along to maintain order. Class 1 of Grade 1, march in step!" The teacher of Class 1 of Grade 1 waved and led the children toward the school gate.

The playground wasn't very big, and soon a group of little ones, with curious eyes, followed their homeroom teacher to the school gate. Geng Hui and Chen Xiao stood facing each other on either side, each with a large cardboard box next to them, while Xiao Hong and Xiao Liu helped them.

The teacher and a few others nodded and directed the students to walk between Geng Hui and Chen Xiao.

Geng Hui and Chen Xiao took the schoolbags filled with stationery out of the cardboard box, handing one to each child, and casually touching their hair and pinching their cheeks, eliciting laughter or an eye roll. The little girl was the most easily excited, occasionally letting out an excited scream.

The backpacks that Xiaohong and Geng Hui bought for the lower grades are cartoon-style, which is exactly what the kids love.

Sister Li's youngest daughter, with her big pink hair tied up, was holding her schoolbag in her arms when she turned her head and saw her smiling mother. She shouted and rushed over, and the two of them hugged each other happily and started kissing.

"Mommy, Mommy, look at my new schoolbag! It's so cute!"

"Yes, it looks nice. Did you thank your aunt?"

"I told you, good children should say thank you. Mommy, why haven't you come home for so long?"

Sister Li, carrying her child, greeted Xiao Hong and the others as they walked away, chatting as they went.

For fifth and sixth graders, as the children are older, their schoolbags have been changed to a more formal style, but they are still quite nice.

Some children were confused. An elderly woman picking up her child blocked the child's path, refusing to take the backpack and pulling the child aside with a tense and wary expression. The child stared longingly at the backpack. Finally, the homeroom teacher went over and explained for a long time before the child hesitantly accepted it: "Really? It's free? We don't have any money. You can't hold us accountable later, can you? Teacher, you can't fool this old lady!"

The homeroom teacher, covered in sweat, came back and said to Xiaowei, "Some children's families are really struggling financially. Even twenty or thirty yuan is a lot of money for them."

Xiao Wei said, "I've been here a few times. I saw that some of the children must be from very poor families, so I came up with this idea. We'll see how it goes after we move here. We'll help those who need it. No matter what, the children can go to school."

The homeroom teacher asked, "What do you do for a living? And why do you live around here?"

Xiao Wei said, "I'll live here from now on and open a food factory. In a few years, those two kids will probably be attending elementary school here too." The homeroom teacher laughed and said, "You're getting to know each other a bit too early."

Distributing schoolbags is actually quite tiring. After distributing them to three grades, Chen Xiao couldn't keep going, so Xiao Hong took over, while Chen Xiao stood by and watched.

By the time everything was sent, more than an hour had passed.

Principal Sun also came to the school gate and spoke with Xiao Wei and the others. Although things had been quite unpleasant before, there was no deep-seated hatred. After a few words, the past was forgotten. Although Principal Sun's actions weren't exactly exemplary, he was ultimately acting in the best interests of the school.

Xiao Wei said, "When the main construction starts here, I'll have someone come and pave your yard with cement. Right now, it's impossible to walk on it when it rains. I'll connect the road outside to your yard, so it'll be easier for the kids to come and go."

Principal Sun smiled and said, "I really have to thank you. It's quite a headache these days when the snow melts or it rains. I'm in a hurry but there's nothing I can do. The school doesn't have much money, and submitting a report is just another matter. I've submitted several times but haven't heard anything."

Xiaohong said, "Shouldn't you repair that house over there? It's an old house that's been converted, right?"

Principal Sun turned his head and glanced at the buildings, saying, "These are all old buildings. This two-story building was built by the Air Force before the school was built. I'd like to repair it too, but I can't get the funding."

Looking at the house, Xiaohong said, "It's a bit worrying. I really don't understand, the money for a Santana could have turned the whole school upside down twice."

Principal Sun smiled awkwardly but didn't say anything.

I'm only posting two updates today. My back is really sore, I need to rest.

(End of this chapter)