Favoritism

Shuǐ Wǔláng ultimately failed to get a little more sugar from Mǎn Bǎo. He sighed and led Lǎo Liù and Èr Yā on their way. Yes, it was Èr Yā's turn to go to the county town with them today.

Zhōu Dàláng and the others also set out with their baskets to pick the privet berries their mother had mentioned.

Mǎn Bǎo also followed them out because she was going to school!

When they arrived at the school, they found that half of their classmates had already arrived. Bái Shànbǎo was sitting at his desk, earnestly reading. She ran up to him, placed her book on the table, opened it, and then turned to look at her desk mate.

Bái Shànbǎo shook her head and finished reading the section before stopping to look at her classmate. She asked with a serious expression, "What's the matter?"

"Nothing, I just wanted to tell you that my father has agreed to let my older brothers help build your house." Have you chosen a location for your house?

Speaking of this, Bái Shànbǎo's shoulders slumped a bit as she said, "My great-aunt is unwilling to let us move out." She insists on keeping us here. My grandmother didn't mention this yesterday.

Mǎn Bǎo, puzzled, asked, "Why would they want to keep outsiders living in their own home? It's so uncomfortable, and it also consumes food."

Bái Shànbǎo: "..."

Does it consume food?

What kind of expression is that?

Mǎn Bǎo said, "I have an uncle who is very lazy." After quarreling with my aunt, he was kicked out and came to stay with my mother at our house. But my mother didn't let him stay. She dragged him back to my aunt's house by the ear to apologize before he could leave.

Mǎn Bǎo continued, "My mother said it was for the good of my uncle and our family." Living in someone else's house means having to consider their feelings. How can you feel comfortable in your own home? And it is also uncomfortable for the host family. "When there are no outsiders, you can argue, make noise, or be affectionate." But with outsiders present, can you still do that?

Bái Shànbǎo shook her head vigorously, complaining, "I used to be able to play with mud, but now my mother won't let me." Yesterday, I saw a big yellow flower in the garden. It was so beautiful that I wanted to pick it for my grandmother, but my mother wouldn't let me. Hmph, if it were in my own home, I could pick it without anyone stopping me. My mother wouldn't mind; she would even praise me for being filial.

Mǎn Bǎo encouraged her, "So you have to move out. When the time comes, if you want to plant flowers, I can take my nephews to the mountains to help you dig." "Let me tell you, there are many beautiful flowers in the mountains."

Bái Shànbǎo's eyes lit up with envy as she asked, "Have you been to the mountains?"

Although Mǎn Bǎo had only been to the mountains twice, she was still proud as if the mountains were her backyard. She said, "Of course, I can go whenever I want." "There are wild fruits to eat in the mountains."

Bái Shànbǎo's envy deepened, and Mǎn Bǎo, feeling excited, patted her chest and said, "If you want to go, I'll take you."

Bái Shànbǎo's eyes widened, "Really?"

What's so difficult about that? They could just go find Sì Gē later.

Mǎn Bǎo nodded solemnly.

Bái Shànbǎo cheered, and Mr. Zhuāng's figure appeared at the door. Bái Shànbǎo immediately picked up her book and nudged Mǎn Bǎo, indicating that she should be careful around Mr. Zhuāng.

Unfortunately, Mǎn Bǎo had never experienced being observed by a teacher, so she didn't grasp Bái Shànbǎo's intention. She turned to look at the door and saw Mr. Zhuāng. She then smiled at him and greeted him warmly, "Hello, Mr. Zhuāng!"

The students: Are they asking for trouble? Didn't they see the teacher when they were talking?

Mr. Zhuāng, who was about to get angry, suddenly stopped and couldn't bring himself to scold the children with their smiling faces. He could only smile back, then sternly said, "The early bird catches the worm." Why aren't you reading yet?

Mǎn Bǎo obediently opened her book and started reading, swaying her head along with Bái Shànbǎo.

The students: ... Are they seeing things? They must be seeing things, right?

But Mr. Zhuāng let them off lightly.

During the break, Mr. Zhuāng took the two children to the courtyard next door.

The students thought Mr. Zhuāng was going to scold them, so they felt a sense of justice. They thought, of course, that talking during the morning class should be punished.

Mr. Zhuāng had clearly stated that if they wanted to talk, they should go outside. Once they were in the classroom, they should only read.

They didn't know that Mr. Zhuāng was asking the two children about their thoughts on today's reading.

They were still studying the text from the Analects, and Mr. Zhuāng had already explained the meaning. Mǎn Bǎo always had many questions, but she didn't want to interrupt the teacher while he was speaking in class. Now that she had the opportunity, she asked all of her questions.

Mr. Zhuāng smiled and answered each question.

Bái Shànbǎo had been hesitant to ask her own questions because, in his experience, if he dared to ask the teacher those questions, he would be scolded for being tricky and then have his palms slapped. The next time the teacher saw his grandmother, he would complain that he was not focused and was always thinking about unconventional and tricky methods.

Now that he saw Mǎn Bǎo asking all sorts of questions, he no longer hesitated. His eyes sparkled as he asked Mr. Zhuāng his own questions and even brought up questions from when he had read the Thousand Character Classic.

There were too many questions, and the short break time was not sufficient.

Mr. Zhuāng patted the boy's head and said with a smile, "Don't worry. After lunch, come to me to rest, and I will teach you again."

After a pause, he added, "If your classmates ask why you're coming here, tell them that I asked you to come and clean." "Understand?"

The two children nodded, their round heads and adorable faces.

Seeing Bái Shànbǎo looking a bit dazed, Mr. Zhuāng gently patted his head and said with a smile, "What are you thinking? Come back to your senses and return to class."

Mǎn Bǎo pulled Bái Shànbǎo and turned to run back to the classroom.

Bái Shànbǎo whispered to her, "The teacher actually patted my head."

Mǎn Bǎo looked at him in surprise, "Yes, so what?"

Bái Shànbǎo said, "My previous teacher never patted my head." He didn't pat the heads of other children; he only hit us.

Mǎn Bǎo indignantly said, "Then your previous teacher was a bad person." Mr. Zhuāng is great. Only bad kids get their palms slapped. But once a bad kid changes, Mr. Zhuāng pats their head.

Bái Shànbǎo lamented, "If only I had come earlier." "When I was in school before..."

Bái Shànbǎo couldn't stop talking about his previous experiences in school, and when Mr. Zhuāng returned to the classroom, he could barely contain his excitement.

He regretted sitting right under the teacher's nose. If he had been in the back, he could have continued talking to Mǎn Bǎo.

Mǎn Bǎo also listened with great interest and, after class, did not go to find the teacher. Instead, she grabbed some food from the kitchen and found a patch of grass outside the school to continue their conversation.

It wasn't until Mr. Zhuāng had waited for a long time in the courtyard and saw the two children sitting side by side on the grass, eagerly talking, that he realized why they hadn't come to find him.

Mr. Zhuāng was so angry that his beard bristled. He shouted and brought the two children back to the courtyard, deciding to give them a lesson at noon on the importance of keeping promises and respecting teachers!