December 29, Sunday, after the first evening self-study period.
Dan Kaiquan called Jiang Ning out to the small garden outside, and handed him a fifty yuan bill.
"Here's the fifty yuan I borrowed from you last week, now we're even."
After getting ho, Dan Kaiquan had asked for a week's worth of living expenses. Since New Year's Day fell on a Wednesday and didn't connect with the weekend, only one holiday day was given.
Students like them, who didn't live in the urban area and needed to take buses and even transfer, decided not to bother going ho for just one day, so they stayed at school and planned to go back ho on Friday instead.
Jiang Ning accepted the money, "Okay."
Dan Kaiquan chatted with Jiang Ning for a bit longer before heading towards the school gate.
This week, under the pretext of preparing for the New Year's Eve party, he had asked for an extra thirty yuan from ho, giving him a bit more breathing room.
Dan Kaiquan decided to buy a box of hot milk for Bai Yuxia to let her feel his generosity.
During the last period of the evening self-study, Hu Jun stood up at the podium and called out,
"So students still haven't paid for the New Year's expenses. The party is this Tuesday night; hurry up, or there won't be ti to buy what we need!"
...
Tuesday, December 31.
From the morning, the school was filled with a tranquil and jubilant atmosphere, the smiles on the students' faces more nurous than on usual days, looking forward to the arrival of the evening.
Periodically, students could be seen carrying big and small bags into the school, mostly in groups of boys and girls, chatting and laughing.
By noon break, Classroom 8 beca lively, as the class president, Huang Zhongfei, brought in a set of speakers and a microphone for singing.
These were from his ho, unused, and he offered them for the class to use so they wouldn't have to rent from outside, saving so class funds.
Afterward, the life committee mber, Hu Jun, ca in with a big red plastic bag.
It contained various snacks, mainly Alps chocolates or other chocolates.
He also brought out a smaller red bag filled with many balloons and colorful confetti.
"Who wants to blow up so balloons?" Hu Jun shouted.
"!"
"I'll do it too!" Several students volunteered and ca over to help.
"Don't forget to put the confetti inside the balloons!" Hu Jun reminded.
Then, Hu Jun took out many strings of fairy lights from the bag, which were rented, and hung them across the classroom ceiling.
A few class officers pulled tables over to stand on and work.
The entire break, they were busy with these tasks.
By the ti the afternoon classes started.
When the students entered the classroom, they noticed that it had transford; colorful fairy lights crisscrossed overhead, decorated with multicolored balloons.
"Jiang Ning, it looks really nice," Xue Yuantong said, looking up at the balloons.
"Yup."
Both the front and back blackboards were also decorated, and next to the classroom's multidia area, there was a set of speakers, while at the back, on an empty table, lay heaps of bulging red plastic bags and a few boxes.
The chemistry teacher, Guo Ran, walked into the classroom and, seeing the state of Class 8, complinted,
"Very nice."
The class responded, "Then, teacher, make sure to co and check it out tonight!"
"Not just the classroom, our class's performances are even better."
Guo Ran replied, "Sure, I'll definitely co by!"
Having a beautiful teacher like Guo Ran in attendance made the boys even happier, especially those who were prepared to perform, feeling extrely motivated.
The whole afternoon, the school and the classroom were filled with a joyous atmosphere, everyone eagerly awaiting the evening, and in such a spirit, the afternoon classes ended.
Before the students could even leave the room, life committee mber Hu Jun rushed to the podium.
"Everyone, please clear your books from the desks, and tonight we need to pull them back to form a circle around the walls, leaving the middle of the classroom open."
Under Hu Jun's direction, the class began to move the tables around, turning the room into a bit of a ss. In the middle of this, Hu Jun received a phone call.
Then he found Huang Zhongfei, "Class president, the cake is ready; I'm going to get it. Watch the students with the tables for ."
"Sure, go ahead."
Jiang Ning had already finished moving his and Xue Yuantong's desks early, positioning them near the south wall with a small gap between the desk and the wall, perfect for tucking in the stools to sit down.
After Jiang Ning finished, he planned to go out for dinner, but just then, Shao Shuangshuang sent a ssage:
"Jiang Ning, the company bought a lot of snacks for the holiday, so small cakes and such, I'll bring so over for you."
"Should I drop them by your classroom?"
Jiang Ning replied, "No need to co into the school, just park at the crossroads outside Fourth Middle School, I'll co and get them."
"Okay, good, I'll be there in fifteen minutes," Shao Shuangshuang didn't elaborate, knowing Jiang Ning's character, he wouldn't awkwardly insist on formalities.
"Xue Yuantong, are you going out to eat?" Jiang Ning asked her.
Because moving the tables had kicked up so dust and because Xue Yuantong found her smart desk awkwardly placed, she said,
"Alright, I'll go for a walk."
"The lazy bun finally cos out," Jiang Ning said.
Xue Yuantong replied, "I'm quite diligent, actually."
The two went out to get food, and Xue Yuantong expressed her wish to eat a Moon Cake. The one from the shop near the gate of Fourth Middle School tasted pretty decent, with a filling made from sautéed and fried chicken, richly seasoned and satisfying with each bite.
Xue Yuantong also bought a cup of rock sugar pear juice and a portion of grilled dumplings.
Jiang Ning ordered sothing similar, and they sat at an outdoor stall.
It was actually a bit cold, and many students preferred to take their food back to the classroom, leaving only a few scattered students at the stalls.
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