CHAPTER 41: CHAPTER 41: ELDEST UNCLE

Gu Xiaoqing finally understood that due to limited teaching resources at the school, the same teacher taught first, second, and third-year classes, although some courses in the third year had to be attended in the adjacent classroom, where the principal personally taught.

It was probably the only place that received special attention.

Compared to the children’s novelty.

After the class bell rang, the new homeroom teacher became the subject of everyone’s curiosity.

In came a middle-aged man in his forties, looking well-groomed with a freshly shaven face, appearing very neat.

He had the bearing of a teacher.

With a few books under his arm, wearing black-rimmed glasses, his thin frame was evidently sun-tanned.

Stepping onto the podium, the man set down the books from under his arm and began introducing himself to everyone.

"Hello, everyone, I am your new homeroom teacher, Li Zuoxin, though I should be familiar to those in the second and third years. As the new semester begins, my only request for you is to study hard and strive to get into a good high school soon, changing your path and fate."

Everyone applauded.

Gu Xiaoqing felt a sense of admiration for Teacher Li Zuoxin, thinking that being able to become a teacher required some level of education, which was Gu Xiaoqing’s impression.

Next, everyone started introducing themselves one by one.

Afterward, the teacher rearranged the seating a bit due to height issues, but Gu Xiaoqing and Gu Juying remained together.

Both were very happy.

Being with familiar people felt comfortable, at least the sense of unfamiliarity was not so overwhelming.

Subsequently, Teacher Li instructed two boys to accompany him to bring new books back for distribution.

As it was the first day, there was not much to do; once the new books were distributed, the students were dismissed.

Teacher Li informed everyone that classes would start promptly at seven o’clock every day starting tomorrow.

Gu Juying accompanied Gu Xiaoqing back to the village.

The two agreed to meet the following day.

Gu Xiaoqing returned home, and since it was just noon, no one was at home. Luckily, Gu Xiaoqing had brought a key in advance, so was not locked out.

Gu Xiaoqing ate the steamed bun and pickles brought in the backpack, and after drinking a big bowl of hot water at home, finally turned to look through the books.

Chinese, math, English, along with physics, chemistry, history, geography, and others.

Gu Xiaoqing looked through them and finally felt relieved.

Attending the night school for that half year wasn’t in vain; perhaps with age being different now and not truly being twelve years old, things that seemed complicated before now felt enlightening.

Many study exercises seemed easy. Unsure if the night school training in the previous life had paid off, or if there was some sort of rebirth golden finger.

Gu Xiaoqing felt memorizing everything after a single reading, without the anticipated difficulty.

In fact, found it quite simple.

After previewing the courses needed for the next day, Gu Xiaoqing packed up the backpack and started tidying up the house.

After all, this was the first day with an opportunity to rest; later on, even if wanting to rest, finding time would be challenging.

It was only three o’clock, so parents, the eldest sister, and the younger brother would take a while longer to return.

Gu Xiaoqing had already started cooking.

The black flour at home was nearly gone, and there was only one bag’s worth of cornmeal left, not even enough to prepare a meal.

Gu Xiaoqing decided to carry half a bag of dried corn from home to the grain mill nearby, where the entire village used the grindstone for milling.

However, upon stepping out, Gu Xiaoqing ran into Uncle Li Weimin sweating profusely, carrying a bag of items into the house.

Gu Xiaoqing quickly opened the door wide, welcomed Uncle Li Weimin inside, helped him unload the bag from his shoulders, and fetched a basin of water, mixing in some hot water for Uncle to wash his face.

Also scooped a bowl of hot water from the pot and added a bit of sugar. The household sugar jar was already empty. Gu Xiaoqing fervently scraped some remnants from the jar’s sides to get a little bit of sugar residue.

Handing the water to Uncle, Gu Xiaoqing poured out the basin of used water.

"Uncle, what brings you here?"

In fact, when Gu Xiaoqing helped unload the sack from Uncle’s back, it was clear Uncle had come to deliver food supplies.

The bag weighed a substantial thirty pounds, likely because Grandpa figured their grain wouldn’t last until the next harvest, so Uncle was sent to deliver supplies.

Ah, such is family; there’s no need to ask. The bond remains in the heart, always thinking of each other.

Thinking further of Mr. and Mrs. Gu, along with the second and third uncles, Gu Xiaoqing couldn’t comment much. Blood relatives they may be, but at times felt less connected than non-relatives.

Aside from wanting to take from the family’s resources, the Gu Family left no warm memories for Gu Xiaoqing.

Not even a little.

Li Weimin took a sip of water and sat on a stool under the eaves, finally exhaling a breath of relief.

This niece was truly considerate; compared to his own daughter, the niece was even more caring.

This child had perceptiveness.

"Well, our wheat has been harvested. Figured your grain might not last a few more days, so Grandpa sent me with some. In a couple of days, your second uncle and I will come to help harvest yours, to speed things up. Where are your parents?"

Li Weimin, not seeing Li Xuemei and Gu Ruhai after all this while, was puzzled. At this hour, no household should be busy, yet neither of them was anywhere in sight.

Even Gu Xiaojie, who typically clung to him, was nowhere to be seen, causing a slight nag of worry—could something have gone wrong at home?

Seeing an unusual look on Uncle’s face, Gu Xiaoqing quickly realized what he was thinking and hurried to explain, "Uncle, my parents took my eldest sister and Xiao Jie to the town to do business selling food, they should be back soon. Please sit down, no rush, I’ll cook, let Uncle taste my skills tonight."

Hearing this, Li Weimin visibly relaxed.

The fact that his sister and brother-in-law could step out to do business surprised Li Weimin.

Having a fair idea of what’s like the two were, with crowds they often struggled to articulate words.

Was business really so easy?

Perhaps life at home wasn’t going well, prompting the couple to venture out.

Li Weimin wondered, hadn’t his sister Li Xuemei just brought back twenty-nine yuan?

Could it be the family was financially strained?

Otherwise, why would they all venture out in such a manner?

Business was no easy task.

Li Weimin furrowed his brows.