Chapter 6, but I am short

In September, summer has not yet passed, and the phoenix trees at Chaoyang Primary School are lush and green

Beyao smiled radiantly, her almond-shaped eyes curving with joy

Chaoyang Primary School is a fifteen-minute walk from the community, and Pei Haobin started the motorcycle, signaling Jiang Wenjuan to bring the child up.

Her daughter is somewhat naive and slow to react compared to others since childhood. The teacher said that while other children learn to sing nursery rhymes in three repetitions, her Yao Yao needs five. If five repetitions are not enough, she will slowly sing it ten times by herself.

Pei Chuan said: "Get lost." It was the first time he spoke to her, and his icy voice made her feel dismissed.

In her palm lay five pieces of chocolate, and Zhao Zhilan picked one up and said: "That child gave this to you, it is not cheap."

In the classroom, there are little ones dressed in colorful attire. Some children are tidy, while others still have snot hanging from their noses. Teacher Yu smiles kindly and places Pei Chuan in the front row by the window, just below the podium

Zhao Zhilan looked at her daughter's cheek where her finger was raised and gave Bei Yao a hearty kiss on the face

The preschool class consists entirely of new children, and you may encounter some of your former classmates from kindergarten.

Pei Chuan remained stiff, not turning back

"I will not play games," Beiyao said seriously, "I will go learn to write."

He does not want to go, but he knows he must go

She sat down beside him, bringing with her the essence of the sunshine after the rain outside

He still does not like to speak to those who are not close to him

The two teachers exchanged an awkward glance, and Teacher Zheng said, "Let the other children sit down first; there are still a few children who have not arrived."

Fifteen minutes is the pace of a half-grown child, while Beiyao's little short legs take twenty-five minutes. With the rain falling, Zhao Zhilan carried her for a while, but when she could no longer carry little Beiyao, she walked on her own.

Pei Chuan's pupils contracted imperceptibly

You have already met me when you came to register yesterday. I am Teacher Yu. Would it be alright for me to arrange the seats according to height?

Pei Chuan's cool, pale fingers grasped Teacher Yu's, revealing a polite smile

She knows that she should still attend kindergarten for another year, as she has always been one grade lower than Peichuan. However, if Peichuan's class consists of individuals like Chen Hu, does that mean Peichuan has never had any friends?

Childhood did not have many particularly good things; even receiving candy brought great joy, let alone this brand of chocolate. When Zhao Zhilan married Bei Lichai, the Bei family was still in debt. Although Bei Yao did not suffer after her birth, she rarely bought these small snacks for Bei Yao.

I want to attend preschool

However, the child has to rely on Pei Haobin to find connections for school enrollment

Now, everyone stand up and compare heights. The shorter children should sit in the front, while the taller children should temporarily sit in the back

Both sides are filled with writing; the left side features Chinese characters. One row contains "big," another row contains "small," as well as "many" and "few".

Beiyao knows that her father's thoughts are not as perceptive as her mother's. She has the memory of a third grader, and writing Chinese characters and performing addition are easy for her. However, she only dares to choose some simple tasks, fearing that Zhao Zhilan might become suspicious.

Chen Hu has already arrived at the kindergarten. He is somewhat older and is one of the children who will be attending the preschool class to learn knowledge. He asked Fang Minjun: "Minmin, are you going?"

How wonderful! It truly is a class!

Several children looked at the teacher and hesitantly raised their hands

Light rain fell gently as Pei Chuan left his mother's sight, and he finally lost his expression. Behind him was his father's broad chest, and Pei Haobin rode slowly. Few raindrops hit Pei Chuan's face; he gazed at the curtain of rain, knowing that he was about to enter a new environment

You hold it, mother does not eat sweets

The children are very obedient, yet it is quite challenging to have them compare their heights by themselves. Teacher Yu and another male teacher who teaches mathematics, Teacher Zheng, assisted in adjusting their heights.

Pei Haobin escorted him to the door of Teacher Yu's office, while Pei Chuan sat in a wheelchair

On September 1, 1996, it was no exception; Peichuan watched as the road surface was suddenly drenched, his pale fingers resting on the wheelchair, lost in thought.

Chen Hu was originally playing around with Li Da at the back, but when the teacher pushed Pei Chuan in, his eyes widened in surprise

Teacher Yu frowned, noticing that several children were missing from the class

Beiyao said she wants to go to preschool, and Zhao Zhilan just took it as a joke. Such a significant matter concerning a child's entire life cannot be left to Beiyao's whims. Once you lose at the starting line, you won't be able to catch up.

Beyao looked at her mother with a sense of nervousness and unease

It is raining today, and some families living farther away are likely to be late. However, for now, we can only adjust the seating arrangements.

Chaoyang Primary School in City C has two preschool classes, Class One and Class Two. The Chinese language teacher of Class One is precisely a former middle school classmate of Pei Haobin, whose surname is Yu. Teacher Yu was already aware of Peichuan's special circumstances early in the morning, so as soon as Pei Haobin mentioned it, Teacher Yu agreed.

Pei Chuan tugged at the corner of his mouth, yet his eyes remained cold.

Zhao Zhilan did not hesitate to reject the idea: "No, you have just turned four years old; you must wait until you are five to go. You cannot think about flying before you have learned to walk. Those older brothers and sisters are going to learn to write, and you can stay in kindergarten to play games with your friends."

A piece of "Qishi Lin" costs 2 yuan, while 5 pieces weigh heavily, totaling exactly 10 yuan

After the children gradually took their seats, Chen Hu looked around and quietly recounted to others about Pei Chuan wetting his pants and biting people in kindergarten. The children displayed expressions of surprise on their faces, and all eyes subtly turned towards the solitary first table.

Zhao Zhilan was taken aback at first glance

The sound of the engine is very loud

The children in the classroom exchanged glances, then looked at Peichuan, who was sitting in a wheelchair, his legs empty below the knees

When Peichuan was three years old, Pei Haobin bought this motorcycle. At that time, little Peichuan was extremely excited to sit on it, feeling like a cool little superhero. Everyone around him looked at him with envy. Now, as he sits on this motorcycle again, the envious gazes of all have turned strange, and Peichuan lowers his eyes in dejection

Beyao walked towards Peichuan

Because of the matter concerning the kindergarten, Mother finally agreed to speak with Father. He desires a complete and normal family, even though his body is no longer whole.

Zhao Zhilan asked her, "How do you know all this?"

Beyao Xing'er looked extremely aggrieved: "But I am short. The short ones can't see from the back."

Father does not like it either

A few younger ones looked at her enviously

Pei Chuan's eyes scanned over them one by one

Beiyao felt a bit guilty, she lowered her head and made a counting gesture with her small hand. After a while, four soft fingers were raised.

The children exclaimed in unison: "Good!"

Jiang Wenjuan was afraid that the child would get wet, so she put on a raincoat for him

Her bright eyes are clear, and recently she has been very well-behaved, as if she has reached the age of four; this child has suddenly become much more obedient. Zhao Zhilan asked Beiyao to share her thoughts.

Teacher Yu was also taken aback

The girl arrived late, with two flower buds on her head tied with pink ribbons. Her small flower buds were dampened by the rain as she stood at the door, calling out her report in a clear voice

I will be going to preschool this year

For Xiao Beiyao, when she was in the third grade, ten yuan was also a "huge sum". She held the "huge sum" given by Peichuan with trepidation. Seeing her daughter's innocent and lovely appearance, Zhao Zhilan's heart softened: "Since you have accepted it, just keep it. In the future, when I make something to eat, you can take some to Xiaochuan."

The children sang the birthday song to her in their innocent voices, and as Beiyao looked at the empty spot in the corner, her mood became somewhat melancholic

Teacher Yu said: "Beyao, there are three seats left in the classroom, please choose one to sit down."

City C experiences a rain every year at the beginning of the school term

Zhao Zhilan was at a loss whether to laugh or cry

Pei Chuan's pupils were pitch black as he silently gazed at Yu Qian, and after a long while, he nodded slightly

The one on the wall of the kindergarten

Upon returning home, Beiyao asked Zhao Zhilan: "May I make a birthday wish, Mom?"

Teacher Zheng asked softly: "Two people at a table, there are exactly 58 children in the class, who will sit with Peichuan?"

A water bottle was hung beside the wheelchair, filled with boiled water that Jiang Wenjuan had poured for Pei Chuan, so that he could drink when he felt thirsty

Pei Haobin has left, and Teacher Yu said to Pei Chuan: "If you need to go to the restroom, just raise your hand to let the teacher know, understood?"

The chocolate was infused with an alkali that brings happiness. As Beiyao bit down with her two rows of small white teeth, the chocolate melted in her mouth, and her eyes sparkled with a fragmented brilliance

Pei Haobin carefully protected his son and deliberately said cheerfully: "Let's set off."

On the right side is addition, "11" and "12"; although it only adds up to five, it has already left Zhao Zhilan in shock. At that time, kindergarten was a large daycare center, where a group of children would at most sing a nursery rhyme together. Generally, formal knowledge is taught only in preschool, and the multiplication table of nine times nine is formally learned in the first grade.

The rain has stopped, and the water remaining on the leaves slides down. He sits in a backlit area, his lips somewhat chapped, yet he does not reach for the water cup he brought.

Beyao looked at the chubby Chen Hu and frowned

Despite hurrying, I still arrived about ten minutes late

Beiyao nodded vigorously and smiled, saying: "Mom eats"

Drinking water will lead to the urge to urinate

Teacher Yu has already understood the situation regarding Pei Chuan, and thus said to Pei Haobin: "You may go to work; I will take good care of the child."

Pei Chuan silently turned his head away

Jiang Wenjuan spoke calmly with her husband for the first time the night before, expressing her deep concern about Peichuan's kindergarten. Ever since Peichuan's legs were severed, Jiang Wenjuan has often been awakened from nightmares filled with bloody and disfigured images, a recurring torment that has become a mother's nightmare. Jiang Wenjuan found her husband's silence and taciturnity after the incident increasingly displeasing.

We are enrolling in the preschool class, and tomorrow my mother will go to meet the teacher

He does not smile, and there is not a glimmer of light in his eyes, as if he resides in a dark and damp place where sunlight is reluctant to shine. In the areas his gaze sweeps over, those hands that were already unsteady slowly lowered.

She, Zhao Zhilan, has finally defeated Zhao Xiu! It is truly a moment of pride and relief!

The wheelchair was tied with a leather strap to the back of the motorcycle, and Peichuan was seated properly in front of the motorcycle

In the blink of an eye, it is mid-August, and August 17 marks Beiyao's fourth birthday. Her birthday celebration is modest, consisting of a bag of candy and some sweetened water with eggs, after which she still goes to kindergarten.

Bei Yao only ate one piece, and ultimately could not bear to eat the rest. She hid it in her own drawer, planning to take it out to satisfy her cravings when the desire struck.

As the roadside wild daisies sprouted their small buds, the month of September arrived

Five pieces of red-packaged "Qishilin" chocolate, all produced in City T

The sun slowly rises, the rain gradually ceases, and Teacher Yu pushes Peichuan towards the classroom

The evening sun in August warmed the entire body, and Beiyao spread her small hands to show Zhao Zhilan.

As soon as they entered the classroom, the curious gazes of the children turned towards them

Beyao, undeterred by the rejection, returned to her room and later emerged during dinner to show her parents her small notebook filled with grid paper.

Pei Chuan clenched his fist, his gaze fixed on the tall phoenix tree outside the window

Then give it to Dad

Chen Hu said, "That little mute has to go too, I must beat him up!" He imitated his father, raising his fist in a rough and gruff manner. Being bitten by a child without legs left both a shadow and a sense of shame in Chen Hu's heart. He was determined to take revenge!

Pei Chuan firmly grasped the metal bar. On the first day of school, many elementary school children, carrying their backpacks, curiously looked at Pei Haobin's motorcycle.

Beyao's handwriting is small, occupying less than half of the grid squares, yet each stroke is executed with evident seriousness and care

Peichuan looked over, and countless youthful faces, just like the name of Chaoyang Primary School, were vibrant and full of vitality, with the children brimming with hope for their future

Fang Minjun shook her head: "I won't go, my mother said I am still young"

Pei Chuan grasped the metal bar at the front of the motorcycle, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips

Zhao Zhilan had not yet spoken when Bei Licai laughed heartily and said, "My Yao Yao is still a little genius!"

There are no special education schools near their home, and the country has not established such schools this year. For Jiang Wenjuan, she is even afraid of her child entering such a school, as if this would label Peichuan with a lifelong mark of being special and incomplete.

Teacher Yu looked over and discovered that this was the youngest child in the class

In the past, he did not wish to see anyone

Teacher Yu was very satisfied and then asked Peichuan: "Which little friend does Xiaochuan want to sit with at the same desk?"

Pei Chuan thought to himself, who needs your pity. It is best to keep your distance from him

The gentle language teacher, Yu Qian, extended her hand to him and said: "Hello, Xiao Peichuan, I am Teacher Yu, a friend of your father. I will teach you knowledge in the future and take good care of you."

However, she quickly recovered and smiled as she asked the children: "Little Peichuan has injured his leg and needs everyone's care. May I ask which brave and kind little friend is willing to sit at the first table with him?"

Zhao Zhilan pondered: "What is two plus two?"