"The cafeteria has sweet and sour pork ribs today." Little Xie Yunting held up his lunch box and said, "I ran fast and got the last portion of pork ribs!"
Tangning looked at Xie Yunting in front of him, still a little overwhelmed. He forced a smile and said, "Thank you."
Xie Yunting walked up to Tang Ning and looked at her with concern. He looked her up and down carefully like a little adult. After confirming that Tang Ning was fine, he looked at the people around her.
Jiang Mianmian reached out and covered her injured eyes, and her whole face turned pale.
The other players all showed expressions of fear.
"Student Jiang Mianmian, what's wrong with your eyes?" Little Xie Yunting took out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it over, "Guess quickly."
Jiang Mianmian was stunned for a moment and covered her eyes with the handkerchief given by Xie Yunting.
"Why don't you ask for leave to go home?" Xie Yunting said, "Your eyes are like this, you definitely can't go to class."
Asking for leave to go home? That sounds like a good way to avoid that ghost.
Jiang Mianmian thanked Xie Yunting in a low voice.
Next, Xie Yunting helped Jiang Mianmian to ask for leave from the teacher, and Tang Ning and the others returned to the classroom. Xie Yunting packed his lunch box and considerately handed Tang Ning chopsticks.
The cafeteria auntie's cooking skills were mediocre. The ribs were a little tough, and Tang Ning had just encountered a ghost, so she didn't have much appetite. After eating two pieces, she couldn't eat any more. However, Xie Yunting had run around to bring these ribs. If she ate a few bites and didn't move, would it hurt little Xie Yunting's feelings
When Tangning hesitated to continue eating, little Xie Yunting came over to take a sniff and commented, "My mother's ribs are more fragrant."
Then he picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs and said, "My mom's sweet and sour pork ribs are stringy, but this one has soup that's like water. You'd better not eat it. If you have a chance, come to my house and I'll let my mom cook for you."
Tang Ning felt that Xie Yunting saw that he was unwilling to continue eating the ribs, so he spoke to him to help.
Tang Ning thought back to when she was six or seven years old. She was as cheerful as a fool all day long and didn't have the same thoughts as Xie Yunting at all.
With Xie Yunting by their side, no one encountered any crisis during the entire lunch break. This sense of security even made Tang Ning want to lure Xie Yunting home.
The last two classes in the afternoon were music class and ideology and morality class. In the music class, the teacher played a music movie for the whole class. The ideology and morality class was also very relaxing. The only special thing was that the teacher gave a piece of blank paper to everyone in the class, even the empty desk and chair.
The teacher asked everyone to write on a piece of paper what kind of person they wanted to be in the future.
Tang Ning vaguely remembered that a long time ago, when he was still an elementary school student in the real world, he seemed to have written down a similar wish on paper, but too much time had passed and he had forgotten what kind of person he wanted to be in the first place.
It seems like... becoming a rich man? Buying a big house? Or becoming a movie star
If these are really his wishes, then he has realized them all in the real world.
But it was not true, because he wanted to be rich and use his money to let his mother live a good life. He wanted a big house and wanted to live in it with his mother. He wanted to be a star and still watch the TV series and movies starring himself in front of the screen with his mother.
The pen tip moves across the paper, making a rustling sound.
Xie Yunting, who was sitting next to him, had already written his wish. He turned to look at Tang Ning, his eyes sparkling with curiosity and a bit of shyness.
Tang Ning stopped writing. He felt the burning gaze of little Xie Yunting. Perhaps when most people were young, their love and hate would be particularly intense, like colorful balloons and candies.
"What did you write?" Little Xie Yunting took the initiative to pass his own paper to Tangning, lowering his voice as if he was carrying out some underground operation, "Why don't we exchange it and take a look?"
Tang Ning raised her eyes and saw Xie Yunting's eyebrows and eyes that looked very similar to Mo Yunchu's. Just looking at the outline of his eyebrows and eyes, it was almost as if they were carved from the same mold as Mo Yunchu, but Tang Ning would never confuse Xie Yunting with Mo Yunchu.
Because Xie Yunting's eyes were always clear, one could see everything at a glance and easily guess everything. For example, at this moment, Tang Ning and Xie Yunting looked at each other and she guessed that he would definitely be in the future written on the paper.
"Okay." Tang Ning handed her own paper to little Xie Yunting.
Xie Yunting happily received Tangning's paper. What was written on it was very simple:
"Growing up is really tiring. I don't really want to grow up, but I must grow up. It would be great if I could be an ordinary person with a simple and happy life."
Tang Ning also saw what Xie Yunting wrote. His handwriting was very beautiful and it was obvious that he had practiced calligraphy:
"I'm so proud of someone as capable as my parents, and I'm also a lifelong friend of Tangning!"
"Don't you want to grow up?" Little Xie Yunting seemed to have seen this statement for the first time. He said, "But we all grow up. If you are worried about being too tired, I can take care of you in the future."
Tang Ning held his chin with his small hand as he looked at Xie Yunting's carefree appearance. He was like a little sun, glowing and full of vigor and vitality.
If Xie Yunting were a king, would he become like those kings when he grows up
Ding-a-ling, the school bell rings.
The ideological and moral education teacher collected everyone's papers and told each child to pack up their bags and leave the room.
Tang Ning put on his backpack and left the room with the other players, heading towards the school gate. During this process, everyone talked about the question that the ideological and moral education teacher had asked them.
Jiang Mianmian took a leave to go home and didn't attend the class. She was so quiet that she was nowhere to be found. The players on the field, including Tang Ning, were all filled with a lazy vibe. Although they were at the age of budding flowers in the motherland, none of them had any ambitions.
Li Haoyuan said: "I want to open a pet shop. I feel that with my affinity for canines, I should be able to manage it well. In fact, after spending a long time with animals, I feel that getting along with animals is better than getting along with people in the workplace..."
"That's a good idea." Tangning said, "Then I can go to your shop to pet dogs in the future."
Xie Yunting asked in high spirits, "Xiaoning, your paper doesn't say what kind of job you'll be doing in the future?"
"It doesn't matter what the job is, I just want to find a job that pays well and is close to home, but such jobs are hard to find..."
Xiao Xie Yunting immediately patted his chest and said: "Then I will have a company like this in the future, you can come and work for me."
Tangning smiled, "Mr. Xie is very generous."
"Dad, we are really in sync, but I'm asking for something more than you." Si Tai clenched his fist, "I will definitely find a regular job that's close to home, and I'll exercise every day to reduce the risk of sudden death..."
Si Tai talked for a long time and said that he had no plans for writing in the future. He seemed to really hate typing.
Zhou Kang said: "There is nothing special I want to do, but I know what I will not do. I will not be a parent, and I will not get married or have children."
Lin Yun echoed, "I also feel that I am not suitable for marriage and childbirth. However, according to the theme of the life copy, marriage and childbirth should be a hurdle that is difficult to bypass. The rules are described very clearly, starting from our birth, to holding hands, and ending together. This also means that we should experience the twilight years. In addition to the ghost crisis, there is also the issue of raising children. If we don't have children, will we be unable to raise them?"
"Giving birth to a child doesn't guarantee that you can raise it. Raising a child is like buying a blind box. You can't be sure if the child will turn out to be an ungrateful person." Zhou Kang's attitude was very naive. "Besides, this is not an agricultural society. Raising a child costs a lot of money. It's better to save the money for raising a child and put it into a nursing home later..."
The warm sunset shines on every corner of the campus, and many parents are standing outside the school gate.
The eunuch protagonist of Si Tai is the most unique being at first glance, and he is easy to recognize.
Lin Yun's mother looked radiant in the morning, but this time she looked sloppy as she stood at the door. She was not wearing any makeup, and her hair seemed to be cut short by herself. She was wearing very simple clothes. Tang Ning could not recognize that this was Lin's mother for a moment.
After seeing his mother's dress, Lin Yun once again had a deeper understanding of his family's poverty. He sighed, "Alas, with my family's financial situation, I'd better not consider raising a son. I should think about how I can support my mother in the future."
Although he has no feelings for this "mother", if he really encounters the problem of raising her in the future, Lin Yun will not be able to just sit back and do nothing. His conscience and morals have not been traded away.
"Hey, why are there reporters squatting at the school gate?" Tangning was very sensitive to the camera. He pointed at a few reporters in surprise. The next second, the reporters were frantically filming Tangning.
"I think it's me." Li Haoyuan's experience made his life in this copy legendary. Tang Ning and the others didn't have cell phones, so they didn't know that the underdeveloped internet was reporting on Li Haoyuan's deeds.
"Well, you should think carefully about not using this fame in the future," Tangning suggested. "I think this dungeon is very valuable. If the fame you accumulate in a day can be used in the future, it should be a great help."
Li Haoyuan nodded obediently.
Si Tai, who was standing by, clapped his hands suddenly. "Indeed! Dad, what do you think? Should I go back and write some new trendy online memes to make some money?"
Tang Ning felt that this was a very feasible idea. Although Si Tai was a child, writing an online article was like writing a dog. No one would know unless the author revealed it. Moreover, the flow of time in this instance was magical. If the 2-day trajectory of the instance could be extended to 1 day, then Si Tai was equivalent to planting a seed in the spring, and could harvest it in the fall by just opening and closing his eyes.
"But didn't you say your dream was to find a regular job where you could slack off?" Tangning asked.
"The two are not contradictory. I slack off while working and I actually think I am more efficient when I am slacking off and I write more attentively." Si Tai said, "After all, when I am writing, I feel more happy doing anything else. When I am doing work that is not related to writing, I feel more attentive to writing than working."
Li Haoyuan and Si Tai quickly found plans for their future. They waved goodbye to Tang Ning and others, and each found their parents and went home.
Tang Ning looked at the backs of Li Haoyuan and Si Tai as they left. Compared to the real kids like Xie Yunting, these two seemed insignificant. But compared to Tang Ning and other players, their mentality seemed good.
Lin Yun also said goodbye to Tang Ning and went to find her mother.
Tang Ning also looked for his mother, and soon he saw his mother next to Xie Yunting's parents.
The mother was wearing sunglasses and holding a blind stick. She stood calmly beside Xie's mother. Xie's mother pointed at Tangning and Xie Yunting and smiled. From her lip movements, it seemed that she was talking to her blind mother about the arrival of the two children.
"Mom!" Tang Ning waved excitedly at her mother like a real child.
When the mother, who had been expressionless until now, heard Tangning's call, a bright smile appeared on her face.
Tang Ning was eager to go home. He held Xie Yunting's hand and ran to his mother. When the two little kids were running, their small school bags were shaking violently.
"Ningning." Mom reached out her hand and touched Tangning who ran in front of her. "Why are you running over here? Be careful not to fall."
Xie Yunting stood straight in front of Tang's mother. Even though Tang's mother couldn't see anything, he still showed a smile that would please the elders. "Hello, Aunt Tang! I'm Yunting!"
"Hello." Tang's mother said.
Xie Yunting happily introduced her to his parents, "Mom and Dad, Tangning and I sit at the same table!"
"Hello, Ningning." Mother Xie greeted Tangning, "I'm so glad you and our Yunting are sitting at the same table."
"Hello, Auntie." Tangning called out obediently. He then said to Xie's father who was standing beside him, "Hello, Uncle."
"Hello, Ningning." The elegant Father Xie bent down and touched Tangning's head.
"Dad, you can't just touch other people's heads, or you won't grow taller." Xie Yunting protested.
"King, I touch your head every day, haven't you grown taller?" Xie's father pretended to be angry.
Xie Yunting also frowned, "If you don't touch my head, I will grow taller."
In fact, he is already quite tall among kids of his age.
"Okay, okay, it's my fault." Father Xie squatted down, "I'll apologize to you, Xiao Xie, I hope you can forgive me, okay?"
Xie Yunting reached out his hand and touched his father's head, ruffling the middle-aged man's meticulous hairstyle. "Okay, I forgive you."
This time, Xie's mother couldn't hold it in anymore and she covered her mouth and laughed. Although she was Xie Yunting's mother, when she smiled like this, she still looked like a little girl.
Mother had a faint smile on her lips. She held Tangning's hand and listened quietly to the Xie family's cheerful conversation.
Tang Ning rested his little face on his mother's arm. He watched Xie Yunting interact with his parents and began to understand why he was like the little sun.
"Ningning, uncle and auntie will come to take you and mom home later, okay?" Mother Xie looked at Tangning with smiling eyes.
Tangning raised her head and looked at her mother. Her mother nodded and said, "Thank you very much for your help."
"What's the trouble? We're on the way." Xie's mother said, "If you don't mind the trouble, you can come to my house for dinner."
"Yes! My mother's cooking is delicious!" Little Xie Yunting desperately invited: "My mother can cook sweet and sour pork ribs, which are a thousand times more delicious than those in the cafeteria. Xiaoning, Auntie, come over and eat."
"Ningning, do you want to go over?" Mom asked softly.
Tang Ning did not sense any ill will from Xie Yunting's family, and he knew that Xie Yunting's family was definitely not simple. If he went to visit Xie Yunting's family tonight, at least he would not encounter any danger during his visit.
Thinking of this, Tangning said yes softly.
After hearing Tangning's agreement, Xie Yunting was the happiest. He held Tangning's hand and said that he would share the toys in his room with her. He also said that he had a beautiful ferret at home...
Tang Ning sat in Xie's father's car, listening to Xie Yunting's words while looking around the car. This car was worth a lot of money, and the small ornaments in the car were also very special, with exquisite talismans hanging and an ancient copper coin placed there.
Tang Ning could tell from the aura emanating from the talisman that the power of this talisman was no less than the Golden Light Spell talisman that he had treasured for a long time and was reluctant to use.
"Why did you think of sending your children to this kind of school?" asked Tang's mother.
Although she couldn't see the exact appearance of the car, her sense of smell and touch, coupled with her conversation with Xie Yunting's parents, made her know very clearly that the Xie family was not from the same world as them.
"Isn't this school a good one?" Mother Xie said with a smile, "Otherwise where can we find such a good deskmate for Yun Ting?"
The car entered the beautiful villa area.
Tang Ning looked outside through the car window. The security here was very good. The saluting security guard had a solemn and murderous aura like a soldier. Next to the security guard was a big dog squatting and looked very majestic in his working state.
The greening in the community is very good. Little Xie Yunting leaned against the window and pointed at a tree that was almost three stories high and had a canopy as wide as a giant umbrella and said, "Do you know how old this tree is?"
Tang Ning shook his head. He saw a long ribbon tied to the branch. The wind blew and the ribbon fluttered slightly.
"It's older than all the people in our car combined. My mom said it's almost 300 years old." Xie Yunting shared with Tang Ning.
Tang Ning looked up at the tall trees. When the car passed by the trees, the sky seemed to turn dark green.
"Yun Ting is a very naughty boy. He often climbs up that tree to get bird eggs." Mother Xie said to Mother Tang, "Once, he secretly hid a bird egg and brought it home, hoping that the egg would hatch. You wouldn't know that the boy hatched it very carefully and even gave the egg a name. What was it called?"
Xie Yunting blushed, and quickly pointed to a long river that ran through the entire community, trying to change the subject: "My father likes to go fishing in that river. He gets up early and goes to fish late every day, but every time he catches, he always catches very small fish..."
Xie's father coughed, trying to stop Xie Yunting from exposing his secrets.
"It's okay to catch small fish every day, but if we catch big fish, our whole meal will be fish." Xie's mother also joined the team to denounce Xie's father.
They got out of the car chatting and laughing. After arriving at Xie's house, Tang Ning once again looked up at the decoration of Xie's house as if he had never seen the world before.
In the real world, Tang Ning also bought a villa after he became rich. However, if you compare his house in the real world with the Xie family's house in front of him, there is really no comparison and no harm.
Tang Ning couldn't describe how good Xie's furniture made him feel, but it was very elegant, as if every detail had been carefully designed. From the huge layout to the tiny decorations, they all echoed each other. It was as if the villa in Tang Ning's real world had been transformed into the decoration of a nouveau riche.
They entered Xie's house together. After a while, two people came down the stairs. They were two men with gray hair but full of energy.
My grandfather is in very good health, and he looks very powerful when he walks.
Grandma was wearing a fitted blue cheongsam, her white hair was beautifully styled. When she saw Xie Yunting coming, she called out softly, "Yunting, come here, Grandma."
Xie Yunting ran to Grandma Xie and said sweetly, "Grandma, I miss you so much."
Grandma Xie quickly said, "Grandma, I miss you so much too. Is it hard to go to school? Ouch, why is your schoolbag so heavy?" She took off the small schoolbag from Xie Yunting.
Thanks, Grandpa, for the cough.
Xie Yunting said to his grandfather: "I miss you so much, too."
"Grandpa, Grandma, let me introduce you. That's my deskmate Tang Ning, and that's Tang Ning's mother. I'm inviting them to our house today!"
Grandma Xie came up to her very kindly, "Ah, Tangning, right? I was wondering how handsome this child is. Turns out he looks like his mother. Yunting, go find the can of tea that your grandfather treasured."
"Okay!" Xie Yunting happily went to rummage through his grandfather's private collection.
On this side, Xie's mother tied an apron on herself, and not only did she tie it on herself, she also tied one on Xie's father, so that he could cook with her. Xie's father seemed to be a person who could do housework normally, and he was very obedient to his wife and did whatever she said.
Mother Tang sat on the sofa for entertaining guests, holding the tea that Xie Yunting had just made for her. She lowered her head and took a sip, "Ningning, go play with Yunting. You don't have to stay here with me."
Xie Yunting's grandparents sat down to talk with Tang's mother. Tang Ning didn't want to get involved in such a conversation between adults, so he obeyed.
Xie Yunting couldn't wait to grab Tang Ning's hand and run up the stairs. The Xie family's staircase was very long. On the wall of the staircase was hung a very valuable painting. The painting showed mountains, water, flowers, birds, fish and insects, which made Tang Ning dazzled for a moment.
As he ran at top speed, the paintings seemed to come alive, with butterflies dancing and birds singing. Tang Ning blinked, but the paintings were still paintings. In the eyes of little Xie Yunting, who was holding his hand tightly, there seemed to be a vibrant world.
He and Xie Yunting ran up the spiral staircase and finally stopped in front of a tall door.
"This is my secret base." Xie Yunting whispered.