Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Enrollment Plan

As the summer vacation was coming to an end, Xia Yuan’s tan gradually faded, and like many other families preparing their children for primary school, they began purchasing new stationery for the upcoming semester. Mei Lijun also bought new gear for his son who had been cooped up at home for a long time.

“Ta-da! Son, look! What did your great dad bring back for you?”

“Just a backpack.”

Mei Fang wore a disinterested expression.

“Hey, son, what’s with that face? Be more excited!”

Mei Lijun emphasized with a pout, “This is the latest Dega Ultraman backpack that all the elementary students dream of. If you carry this to school, you’ll surely be the coolest kid in class!”

“So, Dad, do you believe you can also turn into light?”

“Huh? What do you mean by turning into light? Do you want that God Light Stick?”

“You see, you don’t even watch Dega, yet you pretend to understand me so well.”

“What are you talking about? I’ve watched up to episode 30 of Dega. How would I know what you mean by turning into light?”

Mei Fang thought to himself, realizing the Dega series hadn’t reached its conclusion on TV yet.

But wasn’t this an old show? It should have finished airing long ago…

To avoid suspicion, Mei Fang didn’t make any unconventional statements about his interests. He acted as if he liked what the kids liked nowadays. Besides, he truly enjoyed these shows back then.

Four Wheel Warriors, Dragon Knights, Ultra Hero Legend, Digital Monsters—these animated series could be broadcast openly during prime time on local channels in 2002. Mei Fang felt lucky to have such a rich childhood, and revisiting them now brought different feelings.

The local White Plum County TV station even dared to air more adult-oriented shows like “Three Sisters of Meow Eye” and “Incredible Race.” For children of Mei Fang’s age, understanding those plots was still too early.

Of course, most of the time, the kids just watched for fun.

Just as Mei Lijun was thinking about how he hadn’t seen Xia Yuan or Lin You Xi recently, a call came from Xia Yuan’s house.

“Hello, is this the Mei Fang household?”

“Hello hello… Are you Xia Yuan?”

“Uncle Mei, hi! I wanted to ask if Mei Fang is home.”

“He’s here. Do you want to come over and play?”

“Yes, if possible, I’d love to.”

“I’ll have Mei Fang come down to meet you.”

“No need no need, I can come myself. Thank you, Uncle Mei!”

Mei Lijun hung up the phone and turned to Mei Fang lying on the couch watching TV, clicking his tongue. “You little rascal, I noticed since that bedwetting incident, you’ve really grown up. Today it’s Xia Yuan, tomorrow it’s Lin You Xi. Why do these two girls like playing with you so much? Who do you prefer to play with?”

“…I don’t know.”

Mei Fang paid no further attention to Mei Lijun, simply peeling an orange.

“I’m going out to see if there are any cards to play. Don’t let Xia Yuan play computer games at home, don’t corrupt her.”

“Mm-hm.”

No sooner had Mei Lijun left than Xia Yuan popped her head in through the open door.

“Uncle Mei, hi… I came to bother you!”

Xia Yuan looked around.

“Hey… Where’s Uncle Mei?”

“He went out to play cards.”

Xia Yuan looked disappointed. She shook the wine bottle in her hand and gently placed it on the coffee table. “My dad told me to bring a bottle of red wine. I was planning to give it to Uncle Mei in person.”

“Huh? Why did he tell you to bring wine?”

In 2002, red wine in White Plum County was a rare treat, even though it wasn’t very good, it was a status symbol.

Xia Yuan’s father ran a restaurant business and had plenty of such wine at home.

“My dad said I always visit your place and eat and drink for free, so I should occasionally bring something along.”

Xia Yuan scratched her head embarrassedly. “But in my opinion, Aunt Mei’s cooking is much better than my mom’s. Hehe.”

“That’s true. My mom’s cooking is really good.”

“But don’t tell my mom this, I don’t want her to be sad.”

“Got it, got it.”

Though young, she understood things.

Xia Yuan suddenly turned her back to Mei Fang and said, “Look at this, Mei Fang! My elementary school backpack! My dad bought it for me from Shanghai City.”

“Oh, it’s the Sakura Card Captor bag…”

“It comes with the Seal Key. Come take a look. Don’t just sit there.”

Mei Fang made a pained expression. “I’m sealed by the sofa right now. I can’t get up.”

Hearing this, Xia Yuan immediately perked up. She walked over to the slumped Mei Fang, held the key tightly, closed her eyes, and began reciting the spell:

“Key of darkness, reveal your true power before me. Little Yuan, who made a pact with you, commands you to unseal!”

Xia Yuan opened her eyes and saw Mei Fang still slumped there, she pouted angrily.

“You’re a big oaf, not cooperating at all.”

“Don’t be mad, don’t be mad. Have some orange.”

Mei Fang peeled a small piece of orange and put it in Xia Yuan’s mouth. She didn’t resist and took a small bite.

“How sweet!”

“Tasty, huh?”

Xia Yuan nodded and sat next to Mei Fang on the couch. Mei Fang finally sat up and continued peeling oranges, feeding Xia Yuan pieces from time to time.

They were relaxing and watching TV when Xia Yuan suddenly turned to Mei Fang.

“By the way, Mei Fang… I have something to discuss with you.”

“Sure… go ahead.”

“I was thinking, we both enrolled in Experimental Primary School. Should you and Lin You Xi talk to your parents about joining the e-learning class together?”

“What’s an e-learning class? I’m not sure.”

Mei Fang pretended not to know and asked. Xia Yuan knew about it and explained.

The e-learning class was a special teaching model introduced by the primary school in recent years. The classrooms were located in the comprehensive building, with fewer students, using multimedia classrooms equipped with air conditioning.

In short, it was a luxury class that exploited the gaps in nine-year compulsory education.

After all, it required an extra 5000 yuan annually, which was quite expensive.

When Mei Fang was in elementary school, there were up to 91 students in a class, a number he was certain of because he remembered struggling to pull out his textbook from the last row.

So, if one could join the e-learning class, the elementary school experience would naturally be much better.

However, Mei Fang had no intention of joining the e-learning class.

Because he clearly remembered that when he was in fourth grade, an unfortunate event happened in the e-learning class of his year.

The homeroom teacher’s family, due to the husband’s failed investment leading to bankruptcy and millions of debts, ultimately chose to take pills out of despair.

Even their daughter was involved.

It was one of the most heartbreaking topics back then.

“I think we shouldn’t go…”

Mei Fang shook his head. “I feel that class has too many rich kids. Rui and I would definitely be discriminated against in such a class.”

“Exaggerate much? People aren’t that materialistic. Mainly, mainly, if we join the e-learning class, we’ll definitely be in the same class!”

There were six regular classes and only one e-learning class in the primary school.

If they chose the e-learning class, it would indeed ensure that Xia Yuan, Lin You Xi, and Mei Fang would spend their elementary school years together.

“Since you hope so much for us to join the e-learning class with you, is there another reason?”

Xia Yuan nodded. “In that case, I’ll tell you a secret! Actually, my mom is the homeroom teacher of the e-learning class in Experimental Primary School this year!”

Originally relaxed and carefree, Mei Fang suddenly felt something heavy fall onto his heart.

When he first met Xia Yuan’s mother, the familiar memory, and the impression of the homeroom teacher of the e-learning class at school back then.

Now, everything finally connected.

(End of Chapter 14)