Chapter Twenty-Four: New Deskmate

  I think we've all had that feeling, wanting school to start quickly during breaks and then wanting the holidays back once school starts.

  The days of the holiday passed very quickly, and Ouyang spent most of his time either attending supplementary classes or doing homework at home. When he had some free time, he would play computer games or go out to play basketball with Mais. On the second day of the second month of the lunar calendar, he went to get a haircut and waited in line for half a day. Before he knew it, more than a month's holiday had passed, and the new semester was about to begin. Feng Hongyan thought that letting Ouyang take the large commuter bus every day wasn't a long-term plan, so she found a mid-size private car and arranged for Ouyang, Wang Lin, Xuemei, and three other children to ride together to school. With fewer people, things would naturally move more quickly. However, taking kids to school in a private car was against the law, so on the first day of school, his mother specifically reminded Ouyang not to speak loudly in the car before they left. But what Ouyang was thinking about was something else entirely - what kind of person their new teacher, Mr. Luan, would be.

  On the commute, Ou Yang discussed with Wang Lin and Xu Xue Mei. Xu Xue Mei didn't seem too interested in the new class teacher, but was concerned about the new math teacher after Liu Laoshi left. Ou Yang only then found out that the new class teacher, Luan Laoshi, wasn't a main subject teacher, but rather taught politics. It's worth noting that in middle school, teachers who don't teach math, science, Chinese, or English are not well-received by students. Wang Lin was actually interested in the new class teacher, but his interest lay in whether the teacher would be strict with the students, allow them to read extracurricular books, and whether they would continue to print those damned report cards.

  Arrived at school, this day's arrival was just to pick up new books, only half a day was needed. There were noticeably more people in the neighborhood than last semester. The weather was slightly better than the severe winter. Ouyang saw the uniforms of students from other grades again and couldn't help but feel resentful. Because Fengmao Middle School had its own school uniform, but Ouyang's grade didn't have one. The school's explanation was that this year's students were required to wear the C district student uniform due to the new curriculum reform. Ouyang never understood what the curriculum reform had to do with uniforms.

  The campus is no different from last semester, the basketball frame is still one less, and the playground has not changed much. Only on the small playground behind the high school teaching building, which was originally crowded with Fengmao Middle School, a few more parallel bars were added.

  "This school is too stingy, can't they just say build a few basketball hoops, even small ones would do." Wang Lin muttered as he walked towards the teaching building.

  Ouyang shrugged, looking helpless. Xue Mei, who was standing beside him, also looked unhappy and said, "That's how private schools are, they'd squeeze every last penny out of you if they could." The two of them fell silent after hearing Xue Mei's words.

  "Morning, you're here, still punctual as ever." As soon as he entered the classroom, he heard Xu Yu Jie's voice. Mu Yu Hang, who was standing beside him, glanced at Ouyang and then lowered his head to greet Wang Lin.

  "Are we getting to school a bit earlier than before?" Ouyang put down her bag at her seat and asked Xu Yu Jie, who nodded. Ouyang continued to ask: "Have you guys met our new head teacher yet?"

  In front of the curtain, Wang Lin helped Wang Lin put the book on his desk, turned around and said to Ouyang: "I saw it, I always feel that the age is a bit big, but looking at her expression, I always feel that it's bitter and resentful." Ouyang listened and rolled her eyes, saying: "Really or not, then can't read extracurricular books later?" Xu Yu Jie patted Ouyang's forehead with her hand, saying: "You, study hard, one day is full of bad ideas."

  "What is our new head teacher doing now?" Wang Lin asked Mu Yuhan.

  "It seems like there's a problem with seat arrangements, some height issues need to be rearranged," said Mu Yuhan.

  Wang Lin was shocked after hearing that and stood up from his seat, saying: "Then I won't be able to sit next to Ouyang anymore, are you going to transfer me too?"

  Mantou Huang didn't look at him and continued to say, "I heard that we are going to set up four tables in the middle of the classroom, with two people on each side just like now, and leave a passage in between."

  Ouyang heard this and became interested, then said: "This is pretty good, four people sitting together side by side, everything is convenient."

  As soon as the words fell, footsteps came from the door, and a middle-aged curly-haired woman walked in. Xu Yu Jie nodded slightly at Ouyang, then returned to her own seat.

  Ouyang knew that this person was the head teacher, and Teacher Wan walked up to the podium, saying: "Later, I'll have the class president write the new seating chart on the blackboard. After you've rearranged your seats according to the new chart, taken out your new books, and followed the instructions of the life committee for cleaning duty, those who live close to school can stay behind to clean up, while everyone else can leave. On Monday, don't be late for the opening ceremony." After saying this, she turned around and walked out. Ouyang could feel that this teacher's words were powerful and authoritative, with a strong woman's demeanor - it seemed like things wouldn't go well from now on.

  Next, Ouyang began to organize her new textbooks. This semester's courses were basically the same as last semester's, so Ouyang's backpack was still packed tightly. After Xu Yu Jie finished organizing her books, she sat down in a nearby seat and said: "Do you want me to ask the teacher if I can sit next to you?" Ouyang listened to Xu Yu Jie's words, looked at the empty desk beside her, where there were still notes written by Ouyang for Chen Juan's extracurricular books, and couldn't help but sigh. She said: "No need, it's great that I can occupy two desks all by myself. Who knows, maybe we'll even be assigned to sit four people in a row."

  On the blackboard, the class monitor continued to write a new seating chart. Ouyang saw that Wang Lin, Gen Mu, and Yu Huan's positions had not changed, but they were moved back one row. Xu Yuejie was assigned to the second row of four people, along with Xiao Yangchen. When Xu Yuejie saw her seat, she pouted and said, "Looks like I'm the one who got assigned to the group of four." Ouyang smiled and said, "You should just move your desk over there." Xu Yuejie nodded and went back to gather her things.

  Ouyang continued to look at the blackboard and found that his position had also moved back a row, and he couldn't help but smile secretly, thinking that his height was still significantly improved. At this time, a female voice came from the right side.

  "Hello, Ouyang Chenxi, starting today I'll be your deskmate, please take care of me."

  Ouyang looked over and saw that the person standing was a short-haired girl with one eye having single eyelid and the other having double eyelids. Ouyang couldn't recall her name for a moment, feeling like he had seen her somewhere before. He quickly glanced at the blackboard, then turned around and said: "Ah, it's Murong Xiaozhu, you weren't sitting in the back before?" Xiaozhu sat down and said: "I guess it's because I didn't grow much this year. We've met so many times before, how come you still can't remember my name?" Ouyang smiled awkwardly and said: "Uh, maybe it's because your name is a bit long." Xiaozhu was unhappy after hearing that and said: "Your name is even longer! In the whole class, only we two have four-character names. You're just making excuses!" Ouyang could only smile wryly and say: "Don't worry, I'll definitely remember it from now on."

  "Xiao Zhu, I'm leaving." A male voice came from outside the classroom. Ouyang felt like he had heard it somewhere before. Xiao Zhu said goodbye to Ouyang and then walked out of the classroom.

  Zhao Junyi was still in the last row, no matter how tall or heavy he was, he should be in the last row, Ouyang thought when he saw Zhao Junyi's name appear on the blackboard.

  "It's Ou Yang, you've grown taller." Ou Yang turned his head to see that it was Zhou Feng who spoke, sitting right behind him.

  Ouyang greeted Zhou Feng and after a while, almost everyone had left. Ouyang and Wang Lin volunteered to stay behind for the day's cleaning duty because they hadn't participated in the big cleanup last semester and felt guilty about it. They were joined by Xiao Yangchen, Mu Yuhan, and Xu Yuejie.

  In junior high school, the cleaning is basically like this: one girl sweeps the floor, another girl erases the blackboard, and another girl wipes the glass. Two boys are responsible for wiping the floor and pouring water.

  After more than half an hour, the classroom was swept clean. Ouyang took down the tablecloth on Chen Juan's desk and muttered to himself: "Are you doing well?" Then, he threw that tablecloth into the trash can.

  Five people walked out of the classroom, Xiao Yangchen went to lock the door because of the cleaning relationship. Ouyang and Wang Lin didn't take the shuttle bus, after all, the car wouldn't wait for them for half an hour. So Xu Yuejie suggested taking everyone out to eat, Wang Lin was very happy when he heard it, Mu Yuhan said she wanted to go home and then left. Xu Yuejie didn't stop her either. The remaining four people followed Xu Yuejie to the place where she and Xiao Yangchen had eaten last time. The four of them surprisingly all ordered curry beef rice, during dinner Wang Lin asked Xu Yuejie: "Why do I feel like your relationship with me hasn't been as good as before, what's going on?" Ouyang stopped his chopsticks when he heard this and looked at Xu Yuejie too, Xu Yuejie didn't think much of it and said: "No, she just has a lot of family things recently." Wang Lin was a simpleton and actually believed her.

  Xu Yu Jie finished speaking, about ten seconds later, suddenly hugged Ouyang's neck, then said to Wang Lin: "Hey, do you think it's suitable for us two to be boyfriend and girlfriend?"

  Wang Lin was taken aback by this question and then said: "Suitable, Ouyang, you won't not tell me about such a big thing, will you?"

  Ouyang said, "What are you talking about? Who falls in love at the age of 13 or 14?" After finishing speaking, he glanced at Xu Yu Jie. Xu Yu Jie let go and said, "It's true, if we're going to talk, it should be at the age of 15 or 16, next year, right?" Xiao Yang Chen, who was standing beside them, couldn't stop smiling and nodded his head, saying, "That's right, if we're going to talk, it should be in junior high school, first or second year, right, Ouyang?"

  Ouyang was momentarily at a loss for words, it seemed that Xiao Yangchen also knew about the experiment this semester.

  After dinner, Ouyang and Wang Lin took the bus home. On the bus, Wang Lin asked Ouyang: "I always feel that Xu Yu Jie is more outgoing than my deskmate, but she's just not our kind of person. Are you sure you want to be good friends with her?"

  "Let's take it one step at a time."

  So Ou Yang's first semester of junior high school began with a nervous and uneasy heart.