Carefree Days

In the soft morning light that filtered through the windows of the classroom, Chun Hua's voice carried a playfully reassuring tone as she welcomed her younger sister with a smile. "Well, well, look we are here. You ready for this, miss fool universe?" Her words were a gentle prod, aimed at dispelling the first-day jitters that clung to Chan Juan like a second skin.

The resonant echo of Chan Juan's footsteps reverberated through the dimly lit hallway as she approached the classroom door. With each step Chan Juan's response held a nervous tremor, her voice a hesitant melody in the midst of an unfamiliar symphony. "I guess so,shi jie. It's just... everyone is staring at me." Her eyes, wide and inquisitive, scanned the room, landing on curious faces that whispered secrets

Chun Hua's teasing tone emerged like a playful melody, weaving through the air.  "Haha, fool! they're just curious. Don't let it bother you. Come on, I'll show you to your seat." Her words were both a jest and an embrace,

Chan Juan's response was filled with gratitude, a melody of warmth and acceptance in the presence of her protective sister. "Thanks,shi jie.." Her voice held a note of newfound trust

Chan Juan's footfalls persisted as she ventured further into the room, the subtle shuffling of her shoes harmonizing with the symphony of whispers and muted conversations. Each step she took reflected the measured rhythm of her emotions—hesitation, curiosity, and the eager desire to carve her own place within this unfamiliar landscape.

Chun Hua, her smile reflecting the bond between siblings, acknowledged the unspoken connection. "Stop feeling nervous, you fool" Now let's find that seat of yours."

With a comforting touch on Chan Juan's back, she continued to offer wisdom like an older sibling often does. "You'll see, once you're settled in, it's not so scary. You'll make friends in no time."

Chan Juan's hope and innocence shone through in her response, a vulnerable note in the symphony of their exchange. "I hope so. Do you think the teacher will be nice?"

Chun Hua's grin encompassed years of experience, layered with playful memories. "Of course! Teachers are always nice. Well, mostly."

They reached Chan Juan's designated seat, and Chun Hua gently guided her younger sister into the chair. As Chan Juan settled in, Chun Hua leaned in closer, her voice a whisper of sisterly reassurance.

"This is your spot, miss fool universe" Chun Hua began, her words carrying the weight of a promise. "You'll do great. Remember, I'm just a few classrooms away if you need anything. And if anyone gives you a hard time, just let me know."

Chan Juan's eyes met her sister's, and she nodded, a silent expression of gratitude for the lifeline her sibling offered.

Chun Hua couldn't resist a sly wink, adding a touch of playfulness to her support. "But I doubt anyone will mess with you. You're my little sister, after all." " Alright, I've to go,  good bye , miss fool universe."

Chun Hua began to retreat, making her way back towards the classroom door. As she left, Chan Juan struggled to find her voice, the words forming slowly, almost as a whisper. "Don't go," she managed to say, but her sister had already moved beyond earshot. The classroom seemed to expand, and Chan Juan found herself on the precipice of a new and unfamiliar world.

In the midst of the classroom's hushed atmosphere, a fellow student, Mia, approached Chan Juan, dispelling the silence that had enveloped her. Mia's face radiated a friendly smile as she initiated a conversation, bridging the gap of unfamiliarity.

"Hi there, are you new?" Mia inquired, her voice carrying a reassuring warmth.

Chan Juan, her shyness evident in her soft response, admitted, "Yes, I am. This is my first day."

Mia's smile widened as she extended a hand of welcome. "I'm Mia. Nice to meet you! Don't worry; the first day is always a bit intimidating, but you'll get used to it in no time."

Chan Juan's nervousness began to ebb as she listened to Mia's words. "Thank you, Mia. I'm Chan Juan."

Mia's kind demeanor continued to shine. "Chan Juan, that's a beautiful name. If you have any questions or need help, just let me know. We're all here to make friends and learn together."

Chan Juan, her gratitude evident in her expression, responded, "I appreciate that, Mia.

The fellow student, Mia, couldn't help but admire Chan Juan as she looked at her. With genuine admiration, she remarked, "You look so beautiful."

"Ah, really?!!"

Mia couldn't help but chuckle as she added, "But you shouldn't use lipstick in school, Chan Juan. Hihi."

Chan Juan felt a pang of guilt upon Mia's reminder and hastily responded, "Sorry, I didn't know that." In her rush to correct the situation, she attempted to wipe away the lipstick, but her face ended up slightly smeared.

"Hahahahahaha , haha, haha, haha,"

The sight of Chan Juan's smeared lipstick prompted laughter from her classmates, creating an uncomfortable moment for her. She couldn't help but feel self-conscious as the laughter echoed through the classroom.

As the laughter filled the classroom, the teacher's arrival interrupted the commotion. With a stern tone, the teacher asked, "What's wrong? Do you think it's a fish market?"

Order was quickly restored as everyone hurried to their seats. In unison, they greeted the teacher with a resounding, "Good morning, Laoshi (Teacher)."

The teacher, with a calm and concerned demeanor, instructed the students to take their seats and then inquired, "Take a look at Chan Juan, smeared lipstick on her face. Why was everyone laughing at her? Did you guys bully her?"

The teacher's voice held a note of disappointment as she continued, "Didn't I warn you all not to bully new students? Do you want punishment? Do I need to call your parents?"

Amidst the quiet classroom, the students remained seated with their heads bowed. Chan Juan, after a moment of hesitation, finally spoke up. She said, "Laoshi, no one's bullying me. I messed up the lipstick on my own."

Mia, standing up with sincerity and honesty, took responsibility for the situation. She said, "No, Laoshi, it was me. I told her that she shouldn't use lipstick in school. It's my fault that everyone was laughing at her."

The teacher, understanding the situation, offered a valuable lesson to the entire class. With a gentle yet firm tone, the teacher advised, "Let's remember, it's important not to make fun of others. We're here to learn and support each other, understand?"

In unison, the students in the classroom responded, "Yes,Laoshi."

The teacher kindly gestured to Chan Juan, saying, "Come here, Chan Juan."

Chan Juan, initially nervous and afraid, gradually felt relief as she approached the teacher. With a gentle touch, the teacher wiped the smeared lipstick from her face, offering a comforting reassurance in the process.

Chan Juan, with a sense of wonder in her eyes, sat down at her desk. She opened her bag, carefully extracting a brand new book. Holding it in her hands, she couldn't resist taking in a deep breath of that delightful, fresh book scent. With a smile on her face, she leaned in, inhaling the aroma of the crisp, untouched pages. In a soft, dreamy voice, she whispered to herself, "It smells so good, feels like if I could eat the smell... Haha, but we can't eat smell." It was a simple moment.

Time passed, and Chan Juan's initial fears of school and teachers gradually faded away. With the support of friends like Mia, Lu Li, Li Jianjian, and Du Haitao, she blossomed into a confident student. No longer did anyone laugh at her for her early mishap with lipstick. Chan Juan excelled in her studies, becoming a well-liked and respected student. She embraced the joys of school, eagerly participating in activities, playing, running, and dedicating herself to her studies.

On a particularly rainy morning, as Chan Juan prepared to head to school, her father expressed his concern. He asked her, "My sweetheart, are you going to school today?" Chan Juan, determined as ever, replied with a resolute, "Yes, father."

Her mother chimed in, "But it's raining heavily, and we have only one umbrella. Your father needs it for work. You should consider skipping class today."

However, Chan Juan's determination knew no bounds. She argued, "I don't want to miss a class."

Her father empathized with her situation and said, "If my workplace were closer to your school, I could have dropped you there. But it's too far."

With the resolve of a dedicated student, Chan Juan insisted on going to school, not wanting to let the rain deter her.

That's when her Aunt came up with a creative solution. "What about a leaf umbrella?" she suggested.

Chan Juan, astonished by the idea, questioned, "Is that even possible, Aunt?"

Aunt explained, "Yes, we used to use leaf umbrellas back in the 1990s."

Chan Juan, still processing this newfound information, uttered a bewildered, "Huuuuh? Really?"

Her aunt's response was, "Hm, let's go find some raw leaves."

Chan Juan's grandmother, not entirely convinced by this unconventional solution, expressed her concern. "Don't spoil my granddaughter, Chan miao" she said.

Chan Miao assured her, "I'm not spoiling your granddaughter, ma."

Chan Juan chimed in, reiterating her strong desire to go to school, "Yes, Granny, I want to go to school. Don't stop me."

Her grandmother, filled with love, offered her caution. "Don't catch a cold. Be careful on your way," she said, her words carrying the warmth of her love as she sipped a comforting cup of tea.

With heartfelt smiles, everyone get back to their works.

Chan Miao's craftsmanship shone through as she ingeniously created a leaf umbrella using taro leaves. Chan Juan gazed at it in awe, her eyes reflecting a mixture of amazement and curiosity. She questioned, "Is it going to work?"

Chan Miao, with a gleam of confidence in her eyes, responded, "Yeah, believe it."

With the newly crafted leaf umbrella in hand, Chan Juan expressed her gratitude to her aunt."Aunt. Thanks for the umbrella. Good bye."

Her aunt offered a caring reminder, "Be careful on your way. Don't slip; it's slippery, you know?"

Chan Juan nodded, acknowledging the advice. "Hmm, Tata, Aunt," all while her aunt watched her, ensuring she set off safely.

Chan Juan continued her journey to school, carefully navigating the muddy road with her homemade leaf umbrella. The smell of wet earth filled the air as the heavy rain poured down, obscuring the sun, and casting a shadow over the day.

Undeterred, Chan Juan made her way with each step, her small feet treading cautiously to avoid slipping. As she walked, she sang a familiar nursery rhyme, her voice carrying through the rain-soaked atmosphere, "Rain, rain, go away, come again another day, little me wants to play, rain, rain, go away!"

Chan Juan's penchant for the unexpected continued to be a source of great amusement for those around her. A story from her childhood highlighted this quality, particularly in her budding friendship with Mia, her neighbor.

Mia was taken aback when Chan Juan suddenly appeared in her house one day. With an exaggerated surprise, Mia exclaimed, "Don't scare me, Juan Juan!"

Chan Juan, undeterred, responded with her characteristic spontaneity, "Hm, let's play!"

In the late autumn of that year, nature orchestrated a beautiful spectacle. It was the season of paddy production, known as Aman-Aush, when the seeds sown at the end of the monsoon transformed into lush fields of paddy. Kartik, the first month of late autumn, marked the ripening of the paddy.

The landscape was adorned with an array of blooming flowers like Gandharaj, Mallika, Shiuli, Kamini, Himjhuri, Dev Kanchan, Raj Ashok, Chatim, and Buckful. The sweet scent of these blossoms filled the air, creating a harmonious symphony of fragrances.

Beneath a vast blue sky, fluffy clouds drifted lazily, casting shadows that danced upon the fields. The season brought with it the scent of winter, a cool and refreshing reminder of the changing seasons.

The paddy fields were a sight to behold, full of golden rice straw. People of all ages gathered there to immerse themselves in the beauty of nature, cherishing each moment. Among them, Chan Juan and Mia joined in, finding solace and joy amidst the bountiful scenes that autumn had to offer.

In their youthful exuberance, Chan Juan and Mia reveled in the joys of the season. They ran, jumped, and played with other children, their laughter blending with the rustling leaves and the carefree spirit of late autumn.

Chan Juan, caught in the moment, shouted to Mia with unbridled enthusiasm, "Mia, let's play every day like this!"