Chapter 161 : Xiaxia, a Popular Person  

As they walked along the road, Fang Xiaoluo asked, “How was your morning?”  

Shen Jinxia replied, “The teacher is very nice, and the kids are very nice too, but you can’t just wander off like that.”  

Yu Xiaopang didn’t share her sentiments about the kids, especially the little boys who always tried to squeeze next to Xiaxia.  

When they were playing games and choosing seats together, many of them competed with him for the seat next to Xiaxia.  

He felt a little gloomy.  

But seeing how happy Xiaxia was to make new friends, he felt happy too.  

He still remembered the first time he met Xiaxia. Back then, Xiaxia had been very unhappy.  

Yu Xiaopang chatted on for a while, and then Fang Xiaoluo lowered her head and asked him, “Feiyue, do you find kindergarten boring?”  

Both families had agreed that since Yu Xiaopang had started school, they would stop calling him “Xiaopang” and instead use his given name.  

Yu Xiaopang shook his head. “No, Auntie. Anywhere Xiaxia is, it’s good.”  

Fang Xiaoluo: …  

This love-struck little Yu Xiaopang!  

When they arrived at the house, Fang Xiaoluo said, “Feiyue, your mom probably just got off work, and your dad isn’t home. Go and call your mom over.”  

“Okay.”  

Yu Xiaopang took off running. Though chubby, he was surprisingly quick.  

Not long after they entered the house, Shen Haifeng and Shen Haiping came back.  

Fang Xiaoluo called out, and soon Yu Feixu came over too.  

Shen Jinxia saw the group gathering and said excitedly, “I made some new friends today.”  

She began counting on her little fingers, “There’s Chen Guodong, he gave me an apple from his lunch. Then Wei Siyuan, he gave me two candies. And Zhang Haoran, he gave me two fruit leathers.”  

As she spoke, Shen Jinxia pulled the items out of her schoolbag and placed them on the table.  

Shen Haiping walked over and said, “You’re really popular.”  

Shen Jinxia’s eyes sparkled. “Second Brother, I’m really happy. Not because of the food, but because they don’t dislike me and are willing to be my friends.”  

Shen Haiping knew what mattered to her and gently said, “Mom always says you’re worthy. Don’t ever think you’re not good enough. You’re the best Shen Jinxia in the world.”  

Shen Jinxia nodded, “Yes. But I won’t take their gifts without returning something. I’ll bring some treats for them this afternoon.”  

Yu Feixu observed this for a while, rubbing his chin, feeling something wasn’t quite right.  

Shen Jinxia was undeniably adorable, with a charm that made her instantly likable.  

If this was already the case in kindergarten, what would happen in middle school? Or college?  

What about his little brother?  

After lunch, the children didn’t nap.  

Outside the Shen family’s gate, Shen Haifeng, Shen Haiping, Yu Feixu, and Yu Xiaopang squatted together in a circle.  

Yu Xiaopang sighed, “I need your advice. Those boys are always bothering Xiaxia.”  

Yu Feixu raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you strong? Can’t you deal with them?”  

Yu Xiaopang shook his head. “How could I? I can’t risk leaving a bad impression on Xiaxia.”  

Yu Feixu snorted, “Yu Feiyue, you’re doomed!”  

Shen Haifeng picked up a small stick and began drawing on the ground. “I don’t think it matters. Our families are so close, they can’t compete with us, right?”  

Yu Xiaopang felt Shen Haifeng’s words made sense.  

Shen Haiping added, “As long as Xiaxia isn’t hurt, I don’t mind who she befriends.”  

Yu Xiaopang pouted, “Second Brother Haiping, you don’t love me anymore.”  

Shen Haiping: …  

He sighed and pulled a candy out of his pocket, handing it to Yu Xiaopang. “Will this do?”  

Yu Xiaopang accepted the candy and popped it into his mouth. “It’s fine now.”  

The four kids debated for half the day but still couldn’t come to any conclusion.  

Only Yu Feixu had a faint understanding of what was happening. Though he didn’t fully grasp what marriage meant, he had a sinking feeling his brother was destined to fail in this lifelong endeavor.  

But as long as he was happy, it didn’t matter.  

With that thought, Yu Feixu patted Yu Xiaopang on the shoulder and said, “Good brother, try your best and grow up to be the most powerful man.”  

Otherwise, how could anyone in the Shen family allow his brother to marry Shen Jinxia?  

Not to mention Fang Xiaoluo, Shen Haifeng, and Shen Haiping, who would never permit it.  

And in the future, when Fang Xiaoluo has her own children, Shen Jinxia will likely have younger siblings. That will be even more obstacles to overcome.  

—  

The children were settling into school life well.  

Shen Haifeng managed to catch up on his studies this semester, so Fang Xiaoluo no longer needed to tutor him individually.  

Of course, learning ultimately depended on self-discipline.  

Fang Xiaoluo made a trip to Jiangcheng to select new teaching aids and also stopped by to pay Wei Yan for the tables and chairs.  

Although Wei Yan accepted the payment, he gave Fang Xiaoluo the lowest price.  

Fang Xiaoluo felt uneasy about this. She knew she’d need to ask for his services again in the future and didn’t want to exploit their friendship. After all, with such a large factory and so many workers, Wei Yan needed to make a profit.  

“Wei Yan, if you keep giving me such low prices, I’ll feel too embarrassed to come to you again. Let’s stick to market rates, okay?” she said, handing him the money.  

But Wei Yan didn’t take it. After some thought, he said, “Xiaoluo, let’s compromise. I won’t give you the lowest price, and you won’t pay me the full market rate. We’re friends, after all. I’ll take a portion of the cost, and you can keep the rest. Besides, you’ve brought me new business.”  

Within just ten days, Wei Yan’s factory delivered 200 sets of desks and chairs to Qingshi No. 1 Primary School.  

Initially, Bi Xiujie wanted to hold a reception ceremony for the donation, but Fang Xiaoluo disagreed.  

She didn’t want the students to think Shen Haifeng and Shen Haiping were privileged. Often, when people use things you provide, they aren’t grateful. Instead, they might see you as wealthy and treat you differently.  

So, when all four first-grade classes received their new desks and chairs, no one knew who had funded them.  

The students merely commented on how lucky the first graders were to have brand-new furniture from the start.  

Even Shen Haifeng and Shen Haiping were unaware. When they returned home, Shen Haiping excitedly said, “Mom, the school gave all the first graders new desks and chairs today! They’re so nice.”  

Shen Haifeng added, “The school is so unfair, they replaced theirs but not ours.”  

Fang Xiaoluo casually replied, “They’ll replace everything once the school has enough money.”   

Later, Shen Haifeng mentioned, “Oh, by the way, Mom, the teacher reminded us to pay the tuition and textbook fees for this semester.”  

Shen Haiping chimed in, “Our teacher told us too.”  

“How much is it?” Fang Xiaoluo asked.  

Shen Haifeng said, “The tuition is 30 yuan, and the textbooks are 12 yuan.”  

Thirty yuan?  

At first, Fang Xiaoluo thought it was quite expensive it was, after all, 1985.  

But then she remembered this was before the compulsory education period. By the 1990s, tuition fees for primary school in some places had risen as high as 300 yuan.  

It wasn’t until years later that tuition was reduced to 60 yuan for primary school and 80 yuan for junior high before eventually becoming free.  

Thinking about it, schooling in the 1990s had been incredibly expensive.