Chapter 10, Suffocation

However, Peichuan lowered his gaze, his pale fingers pinching the folds of the dumpling, appearing somewhat skilled. He was always like this, learning anything very quickly

The New Year has become a get-out-of-jail-free card for little Chen Hu. He had his red envelope money confiscated, but at least his hot-tempered father did not beat him.

Peichuan's gaze passed through the open warehouse door.

Peichuan was making dumplings with his mother, Jiang Wenjuan, in the opposite building. At first, Jiang Wenjuan thought it was just a way to give him something to play with. After all, Peichuan had finished his little winter vacation homework from preschool in just two days. Other children would not voluntarily bring along a "burden" to play with, which made Jiang Wenjuan feel heartbroken, so she could only find some time to accompany her son.

Eating candy and sunflower seeds while watching television can make one feel bubbly with joy. Beiyao is happy every day, but sometimes she rests her small hands on her cheeks and gazes at the house across the street, wondering why Peichuan hasn't come out to play today either

She covered her eyes and said, "You all hide."

I did not peek

Beyao glanced at the little chubby one who looked as if he was about to cry from grievance, and softly said, "I didn't see anyone."

Jiang Wenjuan was concerned that her son might feel upset: "Let's not make dumplings anymore, shall we go out to play instead?"

As spring begins, the next semester of classes also commences, and the time of childhood always passes joyfully.

Zhao Xiu also understood this principle, realizing that such a lie could be easily exposed. Zhao Zhilan would not be foolish enough to use this to deceive her. This indicates that that little girl Bei Yao really scored 99

Chen Hu took a group of children from the neighborhood out to play, followed by six or seven boys behind him. Among them were two boys who were two years older than him, but they were not as sturdy as the chubby one.

Zhao Xiu could only poke Fang Minjun's head and say: "Do you understand that you need to work hard after the New Year?"

From being completely unaware to understanding the rules, all the children have obediently answered well

Zhao Xiu was taken aback

"Juan'er, do not act impulsively; Xiao Chuan is still too young..."

Jiang Wenjuan washed her hands and pushed Peichuan out

Why would I need to deceive you? If you don't believe me, you can ask Teacher Yu; the scores are recorded with the teacher

She had a good temper since she was little. After searching around, she was exhausted and out of breath, having lifted the fabric curtains and looked through the grass, but found nothing inside. Peichuan looked on coldly.

The sound is very faint, like a muffled voice buried deep in the snow, pulling out strands of stiffness.

Pei Chuan's gaze passed over the cypress trees and landed on the little girl covering her eyes

Peichuan is six years old

Zhao Xiuqi was so angry that she was about to smoke; she silently played mahjong, and this was the first time in her life that Zhao Zhilan had won against her.

Jiang Wenjuan did not intend to play mahjong; she merely pushed Peichuan to take a look at the festivities, while the children would also be playing nearby

Indeed, you all play, and I will just watch

It is particularly easy for them to find someone; they just need to stand downstairs and shout loudly: "Fang Minjun!"

Outside, a vast expanse of silvery white covered everything. Before the New Year, Chen Hu received a beating; his father, known for his violent temper, saw his exam paper and immediately struck him.

Beyao let go of her hand and went to find other children. He cast a cold glance at Beyao, then his pale fingers grasped Jiang Wenjuan's: "Mom, let's go home"

The clear and tender voice was heard throughout the entire community

The children's voices rose and fell downstairs. After calling out for Fang Minjun, Chen Hu remembered that he had eaten Bei Yao's apple. So he led everyone to continue shouting: "Bei Yao—"

Mom, next time I will be able to do it. " She sobbed, " Except for Beiyao, I did the best in the exam.

The southern wall is covered with climbing ivy in the summer, and now it is coated with a layer of ice crystals

Zhao Zhilan was bewildered: "What did you say?"

Zhao Xiu recalled her recent words and felt utterly embarrassed. Meanwhile, the other two women at the card table, oblivious to the situation, glanced at Zhao Xiu with strange expressions before repeatedly praising Zhao Zhilan's daughter for her intelligence and cleverness

I don't believe you; you are being unreasonable

The chubby child wailed like a pig being slaughtered, nearly audible throughout the entire neighborhood. Zhao Zhilan shook her head, finding it somewhat amusing: "This child's voice is incredibly penetrating."

Fang Minjun quickly nodded

Jiang Wenjuan sneered, "There are no teachers in the first grade who can help Xiaochuan go to the bathroom!"

Zhao Zhilan has finally caught on to something, and she cast a sidelong glance at Zhao Xiu: "Who told you that my Yao Yao just barely passed?"

Zhao Xiuxin thought, pretend, go ahead and pretend

The other children were mostly happy to know that there would be no final exams. Only Fang Minjun felt dejected, wondering if, without the exams, she could only surpass Bei Yao in the first grade.

All the boys in the old neighborhood are here, except for Peichuan. The construction here is particularly old and has its own characteristics, somewhat resembling a large courtyard, although the floors are a bit higher.

Peichuan looked at the empty legs of his trousers

The sound of mahjong tiles clattering echoed as Zhao Zhilan arranged her tiles: "Indeed."

Did Yao Yao not do too well in the final exam? I heard she barely passed. Don't rush the pace; in my opinion, having a solid foundation is the most important. I originally thought the same about Min Min; if she didn't do well, she could just repeat the year. But when the test papers were returned, Min Min scored 90, so continuing to the next grade should be fine.

Pei Chuan's lips moved as he wanted to refuse, yet in the end, he said nothing. At the age of five, he still held expectations and yearnings for the world, and he also wanted to go out and see the snow

It is unknown what they will become when they grow up, nor is it known where they will go

In the class, individuals like Chen Hu are overjoyed.

The icy snow touched her warm skin and melted, flowing down her cheeks. She awkwardly withdrew, her apricot-like eyes glistening, as if she had been bullied and was crying

About one hundred meters north of the community, there is a tea house, with the scent of smoke wafting through the air, where people can be seen playing mahjong.

Beyao turned back to look at him, and he wore a cold expression, as if he had said nothing at all

This feeling is both humiliating and suffocating; she wishes she could grab Fang Minjun, who is playing outside, and ask her what is going on

In Xiao Beiyao's eyes, Fang Minjun still appeared aloof, while the plump Chen Hu's voice echoed in her ears. In the corner, Pei Chuan no longer took the initiative to speak to her, as if the person who had quietly told her in the warehouse that day was merely a figment of her imagination

Chen Hu sighed in relief and ran off in a flash, while Fang Minjun quickly followed suit, and the children scattered in various directions to hide

I said I would ask the teacher to help by sending a gift

Zhao Xiuyi thought it made sense; Fang Minjun at least had a score of ninety. The others in the community were all a bunch of mischievous kids, and the only one who didn't know his score was the disabled child from the Pei family. However, with a child like that, how much could one expect him to score? He might not even pass.

In the last month of the preschool class, the school announced a policy—examinations for future preschool classes will be abolished

He was the first to look away

Li Da said, "Let us go find Min Min"

Beyao, wearing her red cotton jacket, covered her eyes tightly with her small hands. Chen Hu led Fang Minjun, crouching and sneaking through the alleys to hide. The little girl's clear voice said: "3, 2, 1... I'm coming to find you!"

Chen Hu scored fifty points, making him the last in his preschool class.

"Can you ask for just one year? What about later? In the fifth and sixth grades of elementary school? In middle school and high school? Can you ask for a lifetime? I will find a hospital to provide Xiaochuan with a prosthetic limb; even if it costs me everything, I will make sure he stands up again"

Pei Chuan pressed his lips tightly together, feeling an unbearable frustration inside; it was he who was being overly concerned.

She waved her hand to the children, saying: "Keep it up, elementary school students!"

His black eyes gazed lightly at it, then he pinched the gap shut

Peichuan's wheelchair was placed aside, and someone in the teahouse called out: "Dr. Jiang has come to visit, huh?" A light and airy gaze passed over Peichuan, and they would also affectionately call out "Xiaochuan."

Beyao saw Aunt Jiang pushing Peichuan away, and she blinked her almond-shaped eyes, wondering what was going on. She had not yet had the chance to thank him.

Amidst the sound of firecrackers, the New Year arrives

The cypress trees rustled, leaving the girl with a face full of snow.

Jiang Wenjuan felt even more distressed. On the night when Pei Chuan returned with the exam papers, she cried silently under the covers for half the night. Pei Chuan was the only one in the preschool class to score one hundred points. Her son was so intelligent and outstanding, yet he had been deprived of his legs, ruining more than half of his life.

Before entering the first grade, he heard Jiang Wenjuan and Pei Haobin arguing

She turned and walked towards the warehouse, her small hand brushing aside the nylon bag, and sure enough, a row of children was squatting there

They originally did not bring him along to play, so he should not have said that.

Chen Hu thought for a moment: "Catching birds and setting off firecrackers, I won't play with girls." However, upon thinking again about Fang Minjun's beautiful and noble appearance, he agreed, "Alright, let's go find her."

His legs did not grow back as his mother said, "They will grow back when you grow up." Every night before going to sleep, he would look at their incomplete state, but they never grew back.

I am here to help you win against Bei Yao

He does not understand what a "prosthesis" is, but he understands "to stand up again"

The chubby boy looked as if he had been blown up like a shell, while Li Da glanced at the bewildered Xiao Beiyao and said, "Who did you see first?"

Beyao's eyes brightened; she still could not understand the little secrets in her notebook, yet this did not hinder her feelings of closeness to Peichuan. She wanted to talk to him, but throughout the entire semester, Peichuan hardly paid her any attention. Moreover, she first needed to find the children, so she had no choice but to waddle off on her short legs to look for Chen Hu and the others

The children squatted inside, and Beiyao searched for an eternity without finding it

Zhi Lan, do not be discouraged. If Yao Yao truly cannot keep up with the pace, she can spend an additional year in preschool. After all, she is still very young

This year has passed quickly, and the festive atmosphere of the New Year was strong during my childhood, along with books

The other two women at the card table exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, this child will have a bright future."

Zhao Xiulian's expression changed: "Zhao Zhilan, you don't need to fabricate this to deceive, do you?"

Pei Chuan was originally focused on making dumplings when he heard the intermittent calls for Bei Yao from downstairs, causing him to slightly tear the skin of the dumpling in his hand

Every year, winter in City C brings snow, which is the most joyful time for children

Fang Minjun was scolded by her mother and cried until her face was a mess. She sobbed as she defended herself: "90 points is already a lot, Chen Hu only got 50!"

Jiang Wenjuan had been observing him and suddenly noticed that no child would take the initiative to play with Peichuan. After all, the children were like lively birds; they could not push and would not be willing to push the heavy wheelchair to bring Peichuan along

Chen Hu was momentarily stunned by Xiao Beiyao's beaming face, and then he erupted with a loud shout: "Beiyao, you must have been peeking!"

She thought to herself that she was a big sister with a third-grade memory and should not bully the little kids

Zhao Zhilan held the cards well, smiling broadly as she said: "She has been very obedient this year, just one point short of a perfect score, scoring ninety-nine!"

He wants to say that since that time in kindergarten, he has not asked the teacher for help to go to the restroom

She smiled as she let go of his hand, but her first glance was directed at the boy in the wheelchair.

Pei Chuan tightened his grip on the wheelchair. After a long wait, when Bei Yao passed by him and still needed to search, he whispered, "In the warehouse"

Chen Hu also suffered losses; he led everyone into the warehouse next to the teahouse, which was filled with nylon bags

The tall cypress tree is covered with snow, while beneath it, the laughter and joy of children fills the air

When Teacher Yu Qian sent off this group of children, it was already summer, and they still resembled newly sprouted seedlings, each one tender and green.

Zhao Zhilan and Zhao Xiuy at the teahouse are playing mahjong at the same table. Zhao Xiuy is having bad luck today, constantly giving tiles to Zhao Zhilan. Frustrated, she takes a sip of hot water and says, "Next year, my Minmin and Zhilan's Yaoyao will also be starting first grade together, won't they? These children really grow up so fast"