Chapter Sixty: April Fool's Day Fool

  It's April Fool's Day again, and in previous years, our class always had mischievous boys playing pranks on people. This morning, I got up early, washed up, had breakfast, rode my bike to school, and arrived at the classroom, where everyone seemed normal, perhaps because the junior high school entrance exams are approaching, nobody realized it was April Fool's Day yet, or maybe the prank war hadn't started yet, anyway, there wasn't a hint of anything unusual in the classroom.

  Until the end of the second class, Tian Jing received a letter from Tao Yu. The envelope was bulging, as if there were many things inside. She thought it was a love letter and blushed, refusing to accept it at first. Many boys and girls in the class were waiting to see what would happen next. Under Tao Yu's sincere request and the persuasion of her deskmate, Tian Jing finally accepted the letter.

  But after Tao Yu left, it seemed that many boys were laughing a bit strangely, with a triumphant look on their faces. It wasn't until then that I realized that the note probably wasn't about love. Sure enough, during the third class break, Tian Jing's gaze at Tao Yu was like a knife. If looks could kill, Tao Yu would have been tortured to death under Tian Jing and her deskmate's gazes.

  Tao Yu said with a self-satisfied expression to a group of boys, "How's that? This year my prank method is innovative. You guys always stick notes on girls' backs, writing 'I'm a pig', what does that even mean?"

  Many boys asked eagerly: "What's the mystery in that letter of yours? I only know you're definitely up to no good, but what exactly is it? We're really curious!"

  "It's just that I'm a bit more clever than you guys, the envelope I wrapped had another envelope inside, and it was wrapped in multiple layers. The best part is that on the letter paper, it said 'This isn't love, you've been tricked, April Fool's Day makes fools'. The discussion ended with a chorus of 'oohs' from the boys."

  Tian Jing actually didn't like Tao Yu either, it's just that girls have a soft spot for guys who write love letters to them, and she couldn't help but feel a little proud. But now she got pranked, and she was so angry that she couldn't even breathe. So she ran over to me and Xiao Xiao and said: "I got teased by those boys, you guys have to help me get revenge! Let those stinky boys know that we girls aren't easy to bully either, April Fool's Day isn't just for them to prank people, we girls can also be clever and hold our own!"

  Xiao Xiao clapped her hands and said: "Jing Jing, you're absolutely right! But why don't you go take revenge yourself?"

  Quietly making a move, Xiao wanted to say: "They bullied me, and you still want to step on one foot, watch me not hit you."

  Xiao Xiao pretended to be afraid and said: "Tian Nu Jia, spare my life! Come closer, I'll tell you how to avenge grievances and settle scores... like this and that. How's that? Got it? Prepare the props when you go home at noon."

  I reckon they're definitely up to no good, but I'm not averse to watching the show. I smiled and said: "Jingjing, how about I tell you a method that doesn't require any props? First, let's 'return' something to Tao Yu, since she came without bringing anything, it's only polite."

  Tian Jing nodded repeatedly and said, "Okay, okay, of course it's fine. You go ahead and talk, Xiao Xiao." After I finished talking to Tian Jing, she returned to her seat, first staring at Tao Yu, making Tao Yu feel a bit uneasy, then pretended to cry.

  Although Tao Yu was mischievous, seeing Tian Jing being made to cry also made her a bit afraid. She ran to Tian Jing's seat and asked Tian Jing's deskmate for information, Tian Jing's deskmate had an expression of "you still have the nerve to come", saying: "Isn't it just that your joke on Tian Jing went too far? If you want to apologize, that's okay, but you need to show some sincerity. Here's a piece of paper, during the third period after class, go to the podium and read it out loud in front of the whole class, as an apology to Tian Jing."

  Tao Yu took the note and found that it was a poem. He couldn't see anything wrong with it, so he said, "No problem, don't just say a poem, even if it's an article criticizing me, I'd be willing to read it."

  Just after the third class, everyone had not yet gone out. Tao Yu took three steps and two steps to walk up to the podium and read: "Lying in spring, lying plum blossoms hear flowers, lying know painting in the sky. Fish kiss lying stone water, lying stone answer spring oriole."

  He had just finished reading, Xuan Yuan was secretly smiling at me on the side, I knew he already understood the meaning. At this time, Li Fang jumped up and said: "Tao Yu, you have nothing to do today, actually reading poetry here, this can't be your own poem, showing off here."

  Tao Yu originally intended to say it was given by Tian Jing, but seeing Tian Jing nodding at him secretly, he didn't think there was any trap in it and said boastfully: "Yes, I wrote it. How is it? Not bad, right?"

  Lin Lilili said with a look of disdain: "Tao Yu, you can also write poetry? I reckon even beggars wouldn't need to ask for food anymore. Who would believe it? This poem seems to have quite a nice atmosphere too. You, a common person, definitely couldn't come up with this."

  Tao Yu said discontentedly: "Lin Lilili, you're just jealous of Hong Guoguo. Just because your language skills are good, what's wrong with me writing poems? No matter how good your language skills are, they can't be better than Nan Xiao and Hou Jingya."

  Lin Lilai was stepped on her sore spot and said: "Hmph, still so arrogant, can't even say 'naked', I won't talk to you, a person without culture."

  Tian Jing couldn't bear it anymore and said, "Tao Yu, read that poem aloud a few more times quickly." Tao Yu seemed to be showing off in front of Lin Lilai and read it several more times. The whole class burst out laughing except for Tao Yu who became even more enthusiastic. Unaware of what was happening, Zhang Ershang scratched his head and said, "What's going on? Why are you all laughing?"

  A piece of paper was passed from Tian Jing, Tao Yu took a look and saw that it was written: I'm stupid, I have no culture, I only know how to farm, if you ask me who I am, I am a big silly donkey. Tao Yu only then realized she had been pranked, her face turned red with anger, and she ran down gloomily.

  Xiao Xiao burst out laughing on the side, thumbs up and said: "Xiao Xiao, this move is really high, how did you think of it? It's really a bloodless victory."

  Shaobing laughed and said: "Xiao Xiao, the clever things in your mind are really one set after another. I truly can't afford to offend you, or else I don't know when I'll be secretly plotted against. Confucius was right, 'Women and small men are hard to cultivate'."

  I smiled and said: "Hehe, just knowing I'm awesome is good enough. Don't offend me in the future, okay? As for Confucius' words, I reserve my opinion."

  In the afternoon, Tao Yu saw Tian Jing and walked around. Tian Jing couldn't let go of this rare opportunity to get revenge, so she blocked Tao Yu's path and said: "Tao Yu, you teased me this morning, I've retaliated, now we're even. Alright, here's a Wangzi biscuit, consider it a truce."

  Tian Jing said it was true, Tao Yu took the cookie and said thank you, then started eating. As expected, when Tao Yu bit into the "cream filling", her face immediately scrunched up, she ran to the trash can and spat out what was in her mouth, then returned to her seat to drink water and rinse her mouth. Tian Jing and a group of girls clapped their hands and laughed loudly, Tao Yu said awkwardly: "Tian Jing, you're something else... we'll see about that."

  Tian Jing smiled and said, "Tao Yu, come on, it's April Fool's Day today. Being pranked only proves you're not clever enough. If you still want to bring this up tomorrow, then you'll be too shameless. Your tolerance is really that small?"

  Tao Yu was provoked and said, "Alright, let's compete again next year and see who will be the ultimate winner." Tian Jing readily agreed, saying that no one was afraid of anyone. Nobody realized that they might not all be in the same middle school next year, and this might be their last April Fool's Day together. But it was all good, as the festive atmosphere had alleviated a lot of the tension from the upcoming entrance exams for high school. The classroom was filled with everyone's laughter and chatter.

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