"County Magistrate Xue, shall we go and see these students?"
"I was just thinking the same."
The two of them laughed as they walked towards the gate of Heba Village Primary School.
Through the glass, Yan Shen could be seen holding a towel, wiping the rainwater off the faces and heads of the children one by one. Despite the cold, their young faces still bore innocent smiles.
"County Magistrate Xue, would you like to go in and say something?"
Gu Bai invited Xue Lin.
"Better not. While I can speak eloquently to the masses outside, when it comes to these children, even if I want to speak, they might not want to listen."
Xue Lin laughed and declined Gu Bai’s invitation.
Gu Bai didn’t insist, as it was clear that Xue Lin was a practical person who didn’t care for formalities.
"Then please wait a moment, County Magistrate Xue. I’ll go in and talk with these kids."
Having said that, Gu Bai stepped inside.
"Class, do you remember me?"
With a sincere smile on his face, Gu Bai gently asked the children.
The first boy to receive stationery, Jiang Jie, stood up and shouted, "I remember! You are Brother Bai! Teacher Yan told us your name and said those beautiful clothes and delicious food were given to us by you!"
Seeing the smile on Xiao Jiangjie’s face, Gu Bai couldn’t help but walk over and pat his little head.
"Aren’t you cold? Why don’t you wear your new clothes?"
No one answered him, but the bravest Xiao Jiangjie tugged at Gu Bai’s cloth, gesturing with his little hand for Gu Bai to come closer. Amused by his precociousness, Gu Bai leaned his ear toward his mouth.
"Brother Bai, we’re saving our new clothes to wear at New Year. Last night, my grandma even went to the village head’s house to call my dad, telling him he doesn’t need to buy me new clothes this year."
Listening to Xiao Jiangjie’s words, Gu Bai was slightly taken aback, patting his head again without saying anything.
A cold-protection coat that cost less than 200 yuan. Even in an ordinary family, one would not be so strict about letting a child wear it. But in Xuyong County, such a garment had to be saved to be worn in a few months during the New Year. Was it that they didn’t want to wear it? Thɪs chapter is updated by 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡✶𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚✶𝙣𝙚𝙩
Certainly not; they just understood that with a new coat now, they wouldn’t have to spend money buying one for New Year.
This kind of maturity doesn’t require teaching. As long as they’re in this environment, whether they want to or not, being sensible is the only thing they can do.
"Just now, Jiang Jie said you’re all saving your clothes to wear at New Year, is that right?"
The bolder ones timidly replied with a "Yes," while the less bold ones, as if they had done something wrong, could only nod their little heads while sitting in their seats.
Hearing the sparse responses, Gu Bai took a deep breath.
"Do you know the clothes were given by me?"
This time, regardless of boldness, everyone loudly answered Gu Bai.
"Since the clothes were given by me, I want to make a request. I hope you all wear your new clothes to school tomorrow, and if someone doesn’t, I’ll take back the new clothes!"
Hearing Gu Bai’s slightly stern tone, the children’s big eyes began to show a sparkle they couldn’t hide. In their world, they just wanted to have a new outfit to wear at New Year’s; they didn’t understand why Gu Bai wouldn’t let them do this.
Seeing their expressions, Gu Bai quickly continued, "Just wear your new clothes tomorrow, and I promise I’ll prepare a prettier outfit for each of you in a few days for New Year, okay?"
"Brother Bai, really?"
Beside Gu Bai, Xiao Jiangjie couldn’t help but ask.
Gu Bai wiped his somewhat dirty little face with his hand and smiled softly, "Of course it’s true. Do you think Brother Bai would lie?"
"No! Brother Bai and Teacher Yan are not only good-looking but also nice to us!"
After Jiang Jie spoke, knowing they would have new clothes again, the children made a fuss together, "Yes, Brother Bai and Teacher Yan are just as nice, and just as good-looking!"
"Then let’s make a deal. Tomorrow, ask Teacher Yan to send me pictures of you all in your new clothes. If anyone hasn’t worn them, then there will be no clothes for New Year."
Yan Shen, still wiping the children’s faces, couldn’t help but raise her head to glance at Gu Bai’s face full of tenderness. Her beautiful face blushed a little, then quickly bowed her head and continued to wipe the rainwater off the child.
With a beauty score of 101, it caused her a lot of inconvenience. Since childhood, various male peers around her tried to attract her attention. She had met handsome ones like Gu Bai, too, but no one ever gave her this kind of feeling. To say that they were just meeting for the second time would be too false, but the curiosity was definitely genuine.
And some feelings start from a girl’s curiosity.
Gu Bai didn’t know what Yan Shen was thinking because he saw Zhao Yanyan in the corner gathering her courage and raising her little hand.
Gu Bai remembered this girl without parents and hurriedly walked over.
"Yanyan, is there something you want to ask?"
Surprised that Gu Bai remembered her name, Zhao Yanyan hesitated for a long time before weakly saying, "Brother Bai, I gave my clothes to my sister to wear, and I’m not wearing new clothes tomorrow. Can I bring my sister to school?"