Chapter 009: Mother-in-law

Easily taking over with a smile, without saying a word, I foolishly asked, "Hey, smiling like that, is it because of a girlfriend?"

Xiaomai made a few sounds but did not speak. Arthur reached out and pressed Xiaomai's hat down, chuckling: "Is that called running out of talent, or is it something else? No, it's about wasting one's potential, isn't it eighteen? This fully illustrates a point: most child prodigies end up with untimely demise. They exert too much effort in elementary school, using up the energy meant for middle and high school, and by the time they reach middle and high school, they are just average. What a waste that your grandfather taught you 1 + 1 = how much so early." This fully illustrates a point: most child prodigies end up with untimely demise. They exert too much effort in elementary school, using up the energy meant for middle and high school, and by the time they reach middle and high school, they are just average. What a waste that your grandfather taught you 1 + 1 = how much so early.

The weather in Beijing has turned cooler, and I have started to feel reluctant to get up early in the morning to run. However, I still force myself to get out of bed, as laziness is not a good habit. Every morning when I wake up, I start to develop bumps on my body. Last night, Zhu Tan called me to ask if I had time. Fortunately, I have no classes this morning. Zhu Tan asked me to go to her office to meet her, saying that she had something to discuss with me. I was a bit taken aback, but despite my surprise, I respectfully agreed. Last night, Zhu Tan called me to ask if I had time. Fortunately, I have no classes this morning. Zhu Tan asked me to go to her office to meet her, saying that she had something to discuss with me. I was a bit taken aback, but despite my surprise, I respectfully agreed.

I almost choked on the vegetables: what a feeling. I really want to kill that little brat. If it weren't for the saying that men and women should not engage in close contact, I would have already made a lifelong commitment.

I chuckled softly as Xiaomai raised her hat a few times with her hand, looking at us disdainfully: "Hmph, I don't want to study atomic bombs, so why should I apply to Tsinghua? It's hard to communicate with you mundane people, especially with someone like Shiba, who has been in kindergarten for several years. Don't you feel embarrassed? I've already skipped a grade, and Shiba is still playing the game of the Big Bad Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood in kindergarten, sucking on her fingers. Is she mentally challenged or just naive? Hey, why are you getting physical?"

The two economics theory classes were rather dull, and Yi Ming was sitting next to me, telling little jokes that occasionally made me chuckle. During the break, Yao Yao lazily ran over to me with a mischievous smile and said: "Ah, handsome guy from the 18th National Congress, I heard that you were dumped by a handsome guy from the computer science major a few days ago. What happened?"

Arthur chuckled: Eighteen, why are you still hung up on that? That little brat, he spends all his time on girls and still manages to find time to play ball with me? My parents too, why did they send me to military school? It makes it impossible for me to sleep in; I wake up every morning, it's really unbearable

Returning from the cafeteria, Dudu reluctantly threw the lunchbox onto the table and huffed: "It's really unfair. Both Eighteen and I ordered the same dish, so why did the head chef give Eighteen more and me less? Su Xiaoyue, look, Eighteen's portion looks like one and a half servings, while mine is clearly just a little over half a serving."

Yiming glanced at me and smiled: "No, it's a female friend. Don't you have any male friends who write to you?"

Su Xiaoyue scoffed: "Dudu, aren't you on a diet? It's just right that the master chef is looking out for you, how wonderful.

Yi Ming glanced in the direction of Xu Xiaohuai and nodded to me: Yes, I also believe this is the reasoning behind it

Arthur leaned on his racket and scoffed: "Xiaomai has caught a cold and can't even lift his racket. How can I showcase the prowess of a man? Honestly, have you ever seen anyone play joyfully with a sick cat? It's a hollow victory, so I have no choice but to consider myself a sick cat and play in slow motion with Xiaomai.

I turned to Xiaomai and said, "What about you? You mentioned that you skipped two grades in elementary school. How did you end up at our mediocre university? You should have been able to get into Peking University or Tsinghua University, or even the youth class at the University of Science and Technology.

In the afternoon, during the economic theory class, I held several letters that Yaoyao had given me, all addressed to Yiming. Looking at the elegant handwriting on them, I couldn't help but think of girls. In the classroom on the fourth floor of the comprehensive building, as soon as I entered, I saw Yiming calling out to me: "Eighteen, over here."

Yingzi couldn't hold back her laughter and spat out a mouthful of food, which landed right on Dudu's half portion of vegetables. Dudu widened her eyes and said: You all, you are all bullying me

I let out a long sigh: Ah, it is hard to express in words. Long, long ago, when I was in the last year of kindergarten, around the age of six or seven, on a sunny afternoon, many children were playing the game of "Eagle Catches Chicks" on the playground. At that moment, suddenly, a very handsome and sunny little boy, who was a year younger than me, hugged my waist from behind and wouldn't let go, shouting, "I caught you, I caught you!" That little boy was the nephew of our kindergarten teacher, tall and graceful, fair and tender, dressed neatly. From that moment on, I began my youthful infatuation and daydreaming. ... Many children were playing the game of "Eagle Catches Chicks" on the playground. At that moment, suddenly, a very handsome and sunny little boy, who was a year younger than me, hugged my waist from behind and wouldn't let go, shouting, "I caught you, I caught you!" That little boy was the nephew of our kindergarten teacher, tall and graceful, fair and tender, dressed neatly. From that moment on, I began my youthful infatuation and daydreaming. ... Alas, I have never known love, yet when I do, it brings me suffering. How pitiful it is that I have been afflicted with a colorless and tasteless disease since the age of six or seven, called love sickness, a condition that no one in this world can cure.

Yiming glanced a few times, turned his head and smiled at me: "Oh, I see, not bad looking, eighteen, what do you think?"

While I was eating, I clarified: Let me make it clear from the outset that this matter has nothing to do with me. First of all, the chef in the cafeteria who serves the dishes is not my acquaintance, and secondly, he is not a relative of my family

I unceremoniously flicked Xiao Mai's head twice: Hmph, now you know how formidable I am, this is what I learned in kindergarten, can you do it?

In the morning, while jogging, Arthur weakly played tennis with Xiaomai, as if he were lacking in nutrition. At the beginning of the run, I felt a bit cold, but after finishing, I started to sweat. Arthur leaned against the wire mesh of the tennis court and waved at me: "Eighteen, stop running. You don't need to prove your strength to others through running. Just stop running."

I sat down, shaking my head: no, it was entirely a group of women and books

In the morning, I nervously went to Zhu Tan's personal office. When I arrived, Zhu Tan was writing something. Upon seeing me, he smiled and said, "Eighteen, there's no need to be so formal; it's not an exam"

I took a sip of water and began discussing Tang poetry with Zhu Tan, mentioning figures such as Chen Zi'ang, Zhang Jiu'ling, Zhang Ruoxu, Li Bai, Du Fu, Du Mu, and Li Shangyin. Ultimately, I particularly advocated for the boldness of Li Bai's masterful works, the unrestrained spirit of Du Mu's wandering life, and the elusive ambiguity of Li Shangyin, along with the exquisite lines of Li He. In discussing Song lyrics, we touched upon the Later Emperor Li Yu, Ouyang Xiu, Su Dongpo, Xin Qiji, and Li Qingzhao, as well as the Flower Between Poems. Personally, I favor Su Dongpo and Xin Qiji due to my appreciation for their free-spirited and unrestrained style. We did not delve much into narrative prose, as it is the most common form, yet writing it well can be quite challenging; the most ordinary subjects are often the hardest to articulate clearly. In discussing Song lyrics, we touched upon the Later Emperor Li Yu, Ouyang Xiu, Su Dongpo, Xin Qiji, and Li Qingzhao, as well as the Flower Between Poems. Personally, I favor Su Dongpo and Xin Qiji due to my appreciation for their free-spirited and unrestrained style. We did not delve much into narrative prose, as it is the most common form, yet writing it well can be quite challenging; the most ordinary subjects are often the hardest to articulate clearly

Wheat, come over here: Hey, what are you all talking about

Dudu has come alive: Who is it? Speak up, and we will help you strategize.

I had not yet finished speaking when the other five were already laughing uncontrollably. Yifei had not swallowed a mouthful of water, and it all sprayed out. Xiaocang was laughing so hard that the grains of rice at the corners of her mouth were shaking: "Eighteen... eight, you, you ruined it."

I responded with a sound when I received the letter, and upon returning to the dormitory, I saw Yi Fei, Su Xiaoyue, and Xiao Cangyingzi having a meal. Dudu had just returned as well, so I decided to go to the cafeteria too. Thus, I went with Dudu to the nearest cafeteria and casually picked up some dishes.

Dudu took a packet of instant noodles from my noodle box: Eighteen, eating a packet of instant noodles will suffice

Zhu Tan brought me a glass of water and handed me the lesson plan on the table. I glanced at it; it was divided into three parts: the first part was Tang poetry, the second part was Song lyrics, and the third part was narrative prose, followed by some subdivided smaller chapters. Zhu Tan smiled at me and said: This course is a major for your department this semester, and it is also a major for the School of Literature and History. The Computer Science, International Trade, and Engineering majors are all electives. What do you think about this?

Su Xiaoyue suddenly leaned close to my head and said, "Eighteen, to be honest, how did you feel when that little vixen hugged you that day? It's not appropriate for men and women to be so close; you actually let someone hug you. You might as well just follow him.

I stared at the textbook with a blank expression: "A graceful lady, does a gentleman seek her?"

Yiming smiled, as if he were about to reach out and pat me on the shoulder, but in the end, he withdrew his hand and placed it on the table beside him, remaining silent. I opened my textbook and stared at it in boredom.

Yao Yao stuck her tongue out at me and ran away, while Yi Ming beside me chuckled: "Eighteen, many people already know about this. Da Xiong told me, that little pervert is quite twisted, how did he end up in your line of fire? He seems like a pretty sharp person. We played football together, but you were quite fierce too. It's strange, how come all these messy things happened to you?"

Dudu is holding his breath: It's not like that. I would rather throw away what I can't finish myself than accept that I was supposed to receive something but got less. Hmph

One Fei barely held back a laugh: So what about now, that elegant and handsome young man?

I laughed too: Hey, aren't there others? That little rascal, you can just call him, right? He's tall and strong, he has so much strength when he throws me off.

While washing the lunchbox, I truly thought of Xiao Yi, wondering how he is doing now. Those were the days, youthful and tender like sour hawthorn. Although I am not a saint, I am certainly not a fool. My heart has also been stirred, even if that person never knew that there was an ordinary girl who once had feelings for him

I am so angry. They always say that good deeds go unrecognized while bad deeds spread far and wide. I said coldly: "Sigh, who did you hear that from? Clearly, it was I who rejected others. When was it that I was the one being rejected? Nonsense, go on, it's time for class.

I wiped the sweat with a towel, looking at Arthur in the picture book: "Hey, what's wrong with you all? Why do you look like you've caught a plague? How can such big men become so pathetic? It's disappointing"

As noon approached, when it was almost time for lunch, Zhu Tan asked me to go back and write down what we had discussed in the morning. I agreed, then bid farewell to Zhu Tan. On my way to the dormitory entrance, I encountered Yao Yao, who threw a few letters at me: "Eighteen, these are for Yi Ming. You can pass them to him during class this afternoon; he often sits next to you, doesn't he?"

I was also amused: Alright, I will leave this matter to Su Xiaoyue. If I can't get married, I will hold you, Su Xiaoyue, accountable.

Su Xiaoyue looked at me sharply and said: "Eighteen, if there really are no men who want you, I can ask the head chef in the cafeteria for you. You might as well marry him; every day after he prepares the meals, he will call out to you, 'Dear wife, it's time to eat.' How blissful that would be.

Yifei turned his face and smiled for a while, finally managing to suppress his laughter: "Hey, what do you think it would feel like to call Guo Shiba 'wife'? Su Xiaoyue, you truly are remarkable, truly remarkable.

I walked over to Yiming, who had already reserved a spot for me. I casually handed the letter to Yiming, saying: Here, your letter.

I felt my face flush and said nothing. During the second class, I noticed Xu Xiaohuai constantly turning to look in my direction. At first, I thought he was looking at me, but then I realized something was off; Xu Xiaohuai's gaze was fixed on Yi Ming. I snorted and scribbled in my textbook: "Hey, Yi Ming, a beautiful girl is sending you secret glances, and you’re not responding? Why not return the favor?" I snorted and scribbled in my textbook: "Hey, Yi Ming, a beautiful girl is sending you secret glances, and you’re not responding? Why not return the favor?"

I finished the last bite of my meal, pretended to stand up, stretched lazily, and slowly approached the window: this person and this thing, that young man named Xiao Yi, is now a thousand miles away from me, probably studying at university in Dalian. Unfortunately, he does not know of my infatuation for him. In my youthful recklessness, at this moment, he might be embracing that girl by the window, indulging in romantic fantasies and sweet nothings. Never mind, dear sisters, let us not dwell on the past; it is more practical to wash the lunch boxes.