Erbao’s words left the class monitor somewhat stunned.

In his family, it wasn’t like that; it was always the older ones giving to the younger ones.

For example, if there was a delicious treat, the parents would give it to the children, but if there wasn’t enough to go around, the older siblings would let the younger ones have it. “So, what if there isn’t enough to share? For example, if there are five people and only one piece of rib, who gets it?” the class monitor asked curiously, wanting to know how Erbao’s family divided things.

Erbao was shocked.

How could there only be one piece of rib? But he answered honestly, “The little kids would share it together. When we were younger and there was only one pear, I’d get one bite, my brother one bite, and my younger brother one bite. Well, if there’s only one piece of rib, it’s too small to split among us, so we’d give it to the youngest this time, and next time it would be for me and my brother.” If one piece of rib wasn’t enough for everyone, you couldn’t take turns eating it.

The class monitor hadn’t expected it to be like this. “Your family is really special.”

Although Erbao’s family seemed very special and good, the class monitor still liked his own family.

His parents also gave the good things to them, and even when there was only one good thing, he was willing to share it with his younger siblings.

When he was the only child, he got everything for himself, but now he shared with his siblings without complaints.

“Hehe… Class monitor, you should eat quickly. You have five pieces of rib,” Erbao continued.

The class monitor said, “I don’t want any, you should eat it.”

“That won’t do. If you don’t eat it, I won’t eat it either,” Erbao insisted.

If he were at home, Yibao and Sanbao wouldn’t be polite either; everyone would eat together.

If they really didn’t want to eat, Erbao would definitely eat it.

But since he was with the class monitor, he couldn’t eat the class monitor’s portion.

Erbao was adamant.

After finishing dinner and eating his two pieces of rib, he didn’t touch the class monitor’s share.

In the end, the class monitor had no choice but to eat the five pieces of rib Erbao had saved for him.

Though the food was in his mouth, it warmed the class monitor’s heart, and he was deeply touched.

After the meal, the two of them tidied up, washed the lunchboxes, and returned to their dorm to prepare for steaming the food for the next morning.

On the way back, Erbao recalled his elder brother’s words.

He only knew the class monitor among the class leaders, and the class monitor had treated him well, so Erbao decided to ask him. “Class monitor, are all the people in Room 204 from our class?”

“No,” the class monitor replied. “There are three students from Class 3 of Year 1. Why?”

Erbao was a straightforward person and didn’t beat around the bush.

He asked directly, “Class monitor, I don’t want to stay in Room 206. Can I switch with someone from Class 3 of Year 1? I can… I can invite them to eat meat or something else.” Remembering his elder brother’s advice, he added, “I don’t know anyone from Class 2 of Year 1, and I’m a bit scared.”

The class monitor thought of how good Erbao had been to him and considering Erbao’s age, he didn’t want to refuse.

Even though he didn’t want to leave Room 204, he said, “I’ll switch with you.”

“What?”

Erbao was surprised and didn’t expect the class monitor to be so kind.

However, he shook his head. “No, that’s not necessary.”

He felt embarrassed to switch with the class monitor. “I can switch with someone else, then I can be in the same room as the class monitor. Class monitor, can you ask the others if they are willing to switch? I can offer them three meals of meat as a thank-you.”

The class monitor thought for a moment. “Three meals of meat is quite a lot. How about two meals of meat? I’ll ask around.”

The class monitor was taken aback when the a student asked six meals of meat. “Are you sure you want six meals of meat?”

The class monitor was shocked.

He felt it was already a lot for Erbao to offer Theee meals of meat.

Now, this classmate wanted six meals.

He was a bit pained by the thought.

Before he could ask other students, he heard the classmate say, “Class monitor, if you ask the others and they don’t agree to switch, let me know, and I won’t switch anymore.”

The class monitor was speechless. Was this a threat?

The classmate explained, “Class monitor, if you ask other students, everyone will know about the bed switch and the meat reward. I don’t want others to know about it; it’s not good.”

Understanding the explanation, the class monitor agreed. “Six meals of meat is too much; how about four? I’ll go ask.”

The classmate shook his head with a smile. “Class monitor, ask if six meals of meat is okay. If the other person agrees, I can switch anytime. I can also talk to the teacher and say that the student is younger and it’s better for them to be in Room 204 where you can keep an eye on him. I promise not to cause any trouble.”

The class monitor was reluctant but agreed since it was about Erbao’s request. “I’ll go ask now.”

The classmate nodded.

So, the class monitor hurried to Room 206 before lights out and bedtime: “Lin Hairui…”

Erbao had just finished washing up and was already in bed.

Although he was quick, many classmates in the dorm hadn’t gone to bed yet.

Hearing the class monitor’s voice, Erbao responded, “Class monitor, I’m here.”

Class Monitor: “Come out for a moment; I need to talk to you.”

Er Bao: “Coming, coming.” He quickly got out of bed.

The two went to a corner of the corridor, where the class monitor quietly conveyed the offer from Jiang classmate.

Six meals of meat?

Under normal circumstances, Er Bao would have haggled, but he was anxious to switch dormitories, so he didn’t negotiate: “Class monitor, that’s fine. When can we switch?”

The class monitor said, “He said if you agree, the switch can be made tomorrow…” He repeated Jiang classmate’s words.

Hearing that it could be done tomorrow, Er Bao was very pleased: “Let’s switch during the lunch break tomorrow. We’ll go to the teacher together.”

The class monitor was still a bit hesitant: “Six meals of meat, are you sure you agree?”

Er Bao replied, “Yes, it’s fine, class monitor. I can manage with fewer meals. I have some pocket money and can afford six meals of meat. I can also take over all the chores at home during the breaks to earn some extra pocket money from my older brother and third brother.”

Er Bao’s plan seemed very optimistic.

“Alright then.” Seeing how determined Er Bao was, the class monitor didn’t insist further.

The class monitor returned to Dorm 204 and nodded to Jiang classmate, indicating that the deal was settled.

The class monitor was still regretting the six meals of meat, while Jiang classmate’s eyes lit up at the thought of getting six meals of meat.

Er Bao, lying in Dorm 206, also had bright eyes.

Not only would he not have to smell stinky socks, but he would finally be in the same dormitory as the students from Class 1 of Junior High.

It was really wonderful.

So, the next day during the lunch break, the class monitor, Er Bao, and Jiang classmate went together to the teacher’s office.

The office for the junior high teachers was all together, and the teachers were surprised when the three students came in.

Teacher Wei was the first to speak: “What’s going on?”

Seeing the class monitor, Er Bao, and a student from another class, she was a bit concerned that there might be a dispute between students.

The homeroom teacher of Class 3 of Junior High also asked, “Jiang classmate, what’s the matter?”

The class monitor explained first: “Teacher, Lin Haizhi is young and feels a bit scared staying alone in Dorm 206. Classmate Jiang has agreed to switch dormitories with Lin Haizhi, and we’re here to ask if that’s possible.”

Teacher Wei was naturally pleased with the idea of moving Er Bao to Dorm 204.

After all, he was a likely candidate for next year’s competitions.

Teacher Wei valued him highly.

So she turned to Jiang classmate: “Is this true? Are you willing to switch? If you’re being forced, you can tell the teacher.”

Teacher Wei’s concern was not about doubting the class monitor or Er Bao.

She had trusted the class monitor’s character, having worked with him for almost a semester, and Er Bao was too young to force anyone.

However, Teacher Wei wanted to ensure Jiang classmate was making the decision willingly.

The homeroom teacher of Class 3 of Junior High also said: “Jiang classmate, tell the teacher honestly, do you really want to switch?”

Er Bao chimed in: “Teacher, he’s willing to switch; he’s a good person.”

He was worried that if the teacher asked Jiang classmate, he might change his mind.

So he quickly praised Jiang classmate.

Hearing Er Bao’s eager tone, Teacher Wei and the homeroom teacher of Class 3 couldn’t help but smile.

Jiang classmate, already won over by the promise of six meals of meat, quickly expressed his willingness: “Teacher, I’m not being forced. I’m very willing to switch with Lin Haizhi.” He thought six meals of meat is too good to pass up.

Hearing that Jiang classmate was volunteering, Teacher Wei and the homeroom teacher of Class 3 had no objections.

Teacher Wei said: “Alright then, I’ll write a note for you. Take it to Aunt Wang, the dormitory manager. She will need to register the change. I’ll also inform Teacher Qi in the admissions office.”

“Thank you, teacher.”

Er Bao jumped up with joy.

Jiang classmate also smiled happily.

The dormitory switch happened quickly. Although students from Dorms 204 and 206 were surprised, the students in Dorm 206, who weren’t very familiar with Er Bao, didn’t say much about him moving out after only two nights.

The students in Dorm 204 were, of course, delighted.

Although Jiang classmate had been with them for almost a semester, he wasn’t from their class, and they were much happier to have Er Bao move in.

As soon as Er Bao moved in and was still unpacking, he heard a familiar voice at the door: “Er Bao…”

Er Bao looked a bit confused at the door and saw Yi Bao: “Brother, San Bao, you’re here.”

He happily went to the door. “Brother, San Bao, how did you know I was in this dorm?”

Yi Bao said: “Aunt Wang from the dormitory management told me. She said you switched to Dorm 204.”

“Hehe…” Er Bao leaned close to Yi Bao’s ear and said, “Brother, I did it according to your suggestion.”

The students in Dorm 204 also noticed Yi Bao and San Bao and commented: “This person looks just like Lin Hairui. Are they twins?”

Some even asked: “Lin Hairui, is this your twin brother?” because they heard Er Bao call Yi Bao “brother.”

Er Bao turned to everyone and said: “Yes, this is my older brother, and this is my third brother. My older brother and I are twins.”

Yi Bao also graciously introduced himself: “Hello everyone, I’m Lin Hairui’s older brother, Lin Haizhi. My younger brother is still young, so please take care of him.”

He then turned to Er Bao and said, “Mom asked me to bring some snacks. Please share them with the dormitory mates.”

Ning Shu knew Yi Bao and San Bao would come to find Er Bao for lunch, so she prepared some snacks for them to bring.

She hoped that the snacks would encourage the classmates to look after Er Bao more.

“What did Mom prepare?” Erbao asked curiously.

The other students in Room 204 also heard this and were intrigued.

In that era, there were fewer types of food, so people were very curious about what they had.

“There are apples, fried dough twists, and meat buns,” Yibao said, handing the basket to Erbao, while still carrying a large sack.

At Yibao’s words, the students in Room 204 all gasped.

Meat buns… meat buns!

And apples—these were rare items.

“Wow, I really miss meat buns. Brother, Sanbao, come in first,” Erbao said while carrying the basket, inviting them inside. “Brother, I’ll sit here, and you two sit on the bed.”

Sanbao was on the lower bunk.

After the room switch, Erbao moved to the lower bunk as well.

“Okay.”

Yibao and Sanbao sat down.

Indeed, although this dorm had a smell, it wasn’t the stinky sock smell.

Moreover, the room was quite clean.

Erbao opened the basket and took out the items inside: three cloth bags, one with apple slices, one with fried dough twists, and one with meat buns.

Erbao took out four pieces of apple, four meat buns, and four fried dough twists, then said to the class monitor, “Class monitor, please distribute these to everyone.”

“This…” The class monitor felt a bit embarrassed.

Yibao smiled slightly, “So you are the class monitor. My younger brother said you and the classmates have been taking good care of him because he is younger and a transfer student. Thank you for that. These are from my mother’s heart, prepared specifically for everyone. However, since we didn’t know how many students there were, each person might not get enough. The meat buns will need to be shared between two people.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine.” The class monitor quickly said.

He felt a sense of obligation towards the person who looked like Erbao, like he was dealing with senior students, and found it hard to refuse. “I… I’ll thank Auntie on behalf of everyone.”

“Thank you, Auntie.”

“Auntie is really kind.”

“Lin Hairui, thank your mother for us.”

The other students echoed the sentiments.

Yibao and Sanbao smiled at the heartfelt thanks.