Chapter 73.1

Xiao Doubao has now adapted well to going to school with his older brothers. Now, Su Xiaoxiao can ask the older cubs to take him back to the classroom and join everyone for morning reading.

Xiao Doubao has his own small stool and desk. Han Cheng made a simple version for him, which is basically a piece of wood with four legs. The shorter legs are the stool, and the higher legs are the table.

He sits alone in the corner, with his back against the wall on both sides, while his two brothers stand outside, blocking for him. He enjoys writing and drawing on his small blackboard.

When he heard everyone reciting from the textbook, he shook his head and recited along with them. However, he couldn’t speak complete sentences. His rhythm of shaking his head is correct, but when he likes the words, he blurts out two or three words, and when he doesn’t like the words in the sentence, he doesn’t say a word. Occasionally, he gets up and messes with his brother’s textbook.

Fantuan has always been very patient with his younger brother. Whenever he reads, he points it out to him. Sometimes he just stands and reads with his brother. When the dismissal bell rang, Fantuan picked up the small stool and ran to the classroom door, eagerly waiting for their mother.

All of Fantuan’s classmates like Xiao Doubao very much. Those who don’t have younger siblings are especially fond of him, while those who do have younger brothers or sisters envy Fantuan and Zhuzi and really like Xiao Doubao very much.

Not only is Xiao Doubao beautiful, but he is also clean and smells nice. He is well-behaved and doesn’t cause any trouble. He is especially obedient.

During morning reading and after school, Fantuan and Zhuzi refrain from going out to play as they have to take care of Xiao Doubao and await their mother at the door. Fantuan and Zhuzi remain by Doubao’s side, playing and drawing with him, akin to door gods.

Fantuan and Zhuzi have become the center of attention in the entire class. Wherever they go, their fellow classmates follow suit. Those few bullies who used to target Zhuzi, such as Dashu, now look up to Fantuan and Zhuzi.

Despite being the youngest in the class, Xiao Fantuan has now become the leader of the entire class.

It’s unclear who started it, whether it was Xiao Houzi or someone else, but now in Class 1, only Xiao Zhuzi still calls Fantuan by his name, and most of the students have started calling him “Lao Da” ^[1]Big brother/Boss/Eldest child in a family leader of a group boss.

The drawing boards were brought by Han Cheng for Xiao Fantuan and Zhuzi. They are small, one-inch photo-sized black and white pictures filled with various characters from novels or myths. The pictures are face down on the floor, and players lightly pat them with hollow palms covering or beside them. The objective is to flip the character’s face up by any means necessary. Two or more people can participate, agreeing to flip one or multiple pictures. They arrange the order with scissors, hammers, and cloth. Whoever successfully flips a picture is considered the winner.

At first, only Fantuan and Zhuzi played the game in class. Later, most of the children asked their families to buy them. Those who didn’t have one would squat on the side and watch. 

In Class 1, during the break in the morning reading, a beautiful little cub is sitting on a small stool, waiting for his mother. Surrounding them, a circle of little bottoms has formed, creating a unique scenery.

Even children from other classes came over to watch. At first, everyone thought they were coming to see the beautiful little brother. After all, who doesn’t have a younger brother at home? Although they didn’t look as good as Xiao Doubao, there was nothing particularly special about them.

Later on, they realized that Fantuan and Zhuzi had something new to play with, so they all gathered around to take a look. Usually, they would not leave until the class bell rang.

When the class bell rang, Xiao Doubao would stand up, his big eyes curving as he waved his little hand to his mother, and say, “Mama, mama.”

At this moment, even if Fantuan and Zhuzi are not done playing, they will immediately stop, gather their things, and urge people to leave.

Xiao Fantuan would raise his voice and shout: “Disperse, disperse! Go back to class! Pay attention to my mother’s class. Whoever causes trouble, I won’t play with them anymore!”

Xiao Houzi was the first to respond to the call: “Boss, we won’t cause trouble. We love Teacher Su’s class the most. We wish every class was taught by her. How dare we cause trouble? Whoever causes trouble, I’ll beat them up!”

The other little radish followed suit and said, “Yes, we really enjoy attending Teacher Su’s class!”

Xiao Zhuzi picked up the drawing boards from the floor, and Fantuan entrusted him to take care of them. He waved to the others, saying, “Let’s go, everyone. Go back and sit properly.”

The group of radish heads dispersed in a crowd and said, “Yes, boss!”

Su Xiaoxiao smiled and squatted down, catching the baby charging towards her like a small cannonball. She said, “Xiao Doubao, slow down; don’t fall.”

Xiao Doubao hugged his mother tightly, rubbing against her, reluctant to let go.

Xiao Zhuzi picked up Xiao Doubao’s small stool, and Xiao Fantuan hurried over and said, “Come here, Xiao Doubao. Mom is going to start class.”

Xiao Doubao obediently climbed onto his brother’s back and was carried back to the classroom by his brother.

Sometimes it was Xiao Zhuzi who carried him on his back, and sometimes it was Xiao Fantuan who carried him back. This scene had become a familiar sight in Class 1.

Su Xiaoxiao has been teaching the children for some time and wanted to assess their progress. Today, she handed out a quiz, unexpectedly turning the class into an impromptu test.

The little radish heads, who were completely unprepared, were bewildered. They weren’t as quiet as usual and started whispering to each other.

It’s unclear which student initiated it, but someone said, “Teacher Su, we don’t want to take a test. We want to listen to your lecture.”

“Yes, yes, we won’t take the test. We want to listen to the teacher’s lecture.”

Xiao Fantuan shouted. “Everyone, be quiet.”

The children closed their mouths.

Su Xiaoxiao said: “This is just a simple diagnostic test. I want to assess the current level of the students and adjust the course accordingly. Students don’t have to worry too much. Just treat it like doing homework as usual. However, it’s a closed-book exam, so you can’t look for answers in your textbooks. Just do your best with what you know. Is that clear?”

The children nodded. “Clear!”

Su Xiaoxiao divided them into groups and placed the papers in front of the students in the first row, instructing them to pass them backward after taking one for themselves.

Everyone had a test paper, including Xiao Doubao. Su Xiaoxiao walked to the back and gave Xiao Doubao a “test paper,” which was actually just a sheet with a few small animals drawn on it. She asked Xiao Doubao to copy them on the small blackboard.

Xiao Doubao really likes his “exam paper” and has been squinting his eyes and grinning at his mother since he got it. He was very happy.