Chapter Twenty-One Weekend

  In the following days, we went to class and exercised as usual. During morning runs, I still met Lu Qi, and we tacitly ran together, occasionally exchanging a few words. After-school training continued, but from teaching four forms every day, it was changed to two forms, and then reviewed from scratch. There's no way, they really didn't understand anything, so they had to teach slowly and learn slowly.

  Finally, the first weekend arrived as expected by my classmates. Our weekend started from Saturday afternoon, and we still had to attend half a day of classes in the morning. Therefore, the actual rest time was only one and a half days. Fortunately, there were no evening self-study sessions on Sunday night, so we could go to school on Monday morning.

  The girls in the dorm really found some clothes for me to take back and alter. I also packed three big bags of bedding, clothes, and jars of dishes, etc. My classmates saw us carrying so much stuff and felt a bit embarrassed. Hong Yan said, "How about I just don't get my clothes altered this time?" I casually said, "Hey, these things aren't heavy, what's the big deal? You guys can just wait to wear your new clothes!"

  After we split up, I and Qiao Wei each carried a few bags and walked towards the outside of the school. Just as we reached the edge of the playground, we saw Xiao Yang and Pang Yu talking there. "Here they come, here they come," said Pang Yu, walking over to take Qiao Wei's bag and saying, "I'll help you." Winking at me, he added, "Of course, your bags are taken care of by Lao Da (Old Big)." Xiao Yang also had a bag, and he walked over to take mine. I quickly said, "Thanks! Let me carry one myself!"

  Here is the translation:

  So, we chatted and laughed all the way, and before long, we arrived at Fat Fish's home. Qiao Hui stretched out her hand and said: "You're home, give me the bag." "No way, I'm not busy even when I get home, so let me send you guys off!" Fat Fish made a pitiful face. Qiao Hui burst out laughing: "This guy is really funny! Who would fight to do chores?" Xiao Yang smiled and said: "Let him send us off, it's free labor after all." "Right right right, I'm someone who can't stay idle." I reached out and grabbed Qiao Hui: "Alright, let him take it. But, kiddo, I have to warn you, don't get any weird ideas. You guys are still students, got it?" Fat Fish hastily nodded: "I guarantee we won't have any weird ideas, our friendship is the purest. Right, boss?" He even pulled Xiao Yang along with him.

  Then, the four of us walked along the winding country road on our way home. Looking at this winding country road, I couldn't help but hum a song:

  Walking on the small road in the countryside

  The old cow returning at dusk is my companion

  Blue sky with a sunset in my chest

  The colorful clouds are the evening glow's garment

  Carrying a hoe on his shoulder

  The shepherd boy's song is rippling

  Oh oh oh they sing

  There was also a short flute faintly sounding

  A smile is written all over his face

  Humming a little tune of rural residence

  Thoughts drifting in the evening breeze

  How much desolation and melancholy are blown away by the evening wind

  Forgotten on the rural path

  I didn't expect that as soon as I hummed, they also started singing along. I was stunned, oh, right, this song came out a few years ago, sung by Taiwanese singer Chang Ming-ming, no wonder they all know it.

  All the way singing, all the way together, turning around and arrived at the detestable single-plank bridge again. Originally I was just a little afraid of this bridge, but since it let Xiao Yang get hurt, I deeply hated it and stirred up my own fighting spirit. Hum, isn't it just a broken bridge? I'll deliberately not be afraid of you, I'll deliberately trample on you heavily, I'll deliberately stomp on you heavily. Looking at the single-plank bridge, I secretly made a vow in my heart. "Wait, don't move!" Xiao Yang said in my ear, and quickly walked towards the single-plank bridge. I looked at him puzzled, oh, it turned out he wanted to hand over the package in his hands.

  Fat Fish looked at the single-plank bridge and exclaimed, "Wow, do you guys have to cross such a dangerous bridge every time? This bridge is too narrow!" Qiao Hui hastily said, "Give me your bag, I'll go by myself! Thank you!" Fat Fish replied, "Hey, I didn't mean it that way. I'm worried about you. It's very dangerous for a girl like you to be in such a place. What am I afraid of? I'm a boy, even if I fall down, I can still swim!"

  Then, two boys were about to come over to help us. I hurriedly shouted loudly: "Don't come over, I want to walk over myself." Qiao Hui also said: "Right, we can walk over ourselves." "Qiao Hui, you go first, I'll follow after." I pulled Qiao Hui forward and let her go ahead. Qiao Hui slowly walked over, those two boys looked at me tensely, I followed behind, brewing my feelings towards the bridge in my heart. Yes, I hate it, I want to trample it fiercely. While glaring fiercely at the bridge, I slowly walked on. When I reached the middle of the bridge, I stopped.

  "What's wrong?" Xiao Yang's tense voice came over, "Don't move, I'll help you." I raised my eyes and smiled loudly, saying: "Hey, I'm not afraid! I want to trample it under my feet, I am its master, I want it to surrender to me. Haha!" I laughed triumphantly. Xiao Yang walked to the bridgehead, looking at me with a mixture of tears and laughter: "Be careful!"

  I stomped my feet hard, humph, who let it be so bad, dare to hurt people, I'll stomp it to death. Maybe I used too much force, or maybe the single-plank bridge really heard my curse, but I actually felt it shake a little, ah, no way? So eerie? I got a bit tense. Xiao Yang saw my expression and quickly ran over, grabbed me and walked away. "This bridge is a bit old, you don't think it's retaliating against you, do you?" he teased, "Next time don't do that, or else it'll really break and be more trouble."

  Looking at the tall and slightly weak back of this young man, I was deeply moved. We were originally two unrelated people, just childhood playmates, but now he is like a neighbor's brother, caring about me, and I couldn't help but softly sigh: "Third Brother, it's great to have you!" He heard my low voice, his body stiffened slightly, and then he walked forward as if nothing had happened.

  As we reached the opposite side, it was time for us to head back home, and Fat Fish should have returned too. After bidding farewell to him, we watched as he walked across the single-plank bridge, heading towards his way home, before turning around ourselves. "Xiao Yang, are you going back to the mountains today?" I asked, catching up with him. He nodded and said, "Yeah, but I'll be back tomorrow afternoon, and we can head to school together the day after." "Alright, let's follow San Ge's arrangement," I smiled sweetly. His face turned red again, hehe, I just love seeing him blush like that. As we reached the Long Dam, Xiao Yang parted ways with us. Chou Hui and I also quickly headed towards home.