Chapter 20 National Day Before, During and After (1)

  After the misunderstanding was cleared up, Yuan Xuan and I returned to our usual state of verbal sparring, as if he always knew how to provoke my anger, I don't know if it's because I'm too impulsive or he's too calm.

  During class break, the head teacher called me, Xuan Yuanrui, Wu Hanwen and Hou Jingya to go to the office. He told us that on the 30th of this month, in the afternoon, there will be a speech contest to celebrate National Day. Each class can send two groups, one male and one female per group. He hoped we four would discuss how to form the groups.

  Xuanyuan Ai surprisingly cooperated and said, "Teacher, we all want to hear your advice. And if you let us discuss it ourselves, I'm willing to let the girls go first, we boys should show our gentlemanly demeanor and respect their choices." Wu Hanwen also nodded in agreement.

  The teacher said: "Actually, in my opinion, I suggest that Xuan Yuanrui and Nan Xiao are a group. Xuan Yuanrui's voice is relatively cold and deep, while Nan Xiao's voice is clearer and more pleasant to listen to. The two of them match up quite well. Wu Hanwen's voice is warmer and thicker, while Hou Jingya's voice is delicate with a hint of huskiness. This combination won't be too abrupt. However, the emotions during reading are more important, so you still need to allocate according to your own wishes."

  Hou Jingya pulled me to one side and whispered, "Xiao Xiao, let's listen to the teacher's opinion. Besides, I'm not familiar with Xuan Yuanrui either, and I always feel like he's a mysterious person. You'd better behave yourself and don't make me be in a group with him, okay? Moreover, listening to the teacher's opinion will make it easier for us to win awards and bring glory to our class." As she spoke, Jingya shook my hand and gave me a pitiful look. I replied, "Jingya, it's not as exaggerated as you say, Xuan Yuanrui is not a wolf or a tiger. If that were the case, would you let me, a delicate little girl, enter the dragon's den? That would be heartbreaking."

  "No, no, I didn't mean that. I'm not familiar with him, and Xuan Yuan is indeed a bit different towards you. You two are also desk mates, so it's easier to talk."

  "Just kidding, huh? I won't go to hell, who will? Xuan Yuan and I are a team, you and Wu Hanwen can be a team."

  "It's still better to be relaxed." We told the teacher our results, and the teacher was very satisfied. He let us go back to discuss the topic of our speech, find materials, and then practice a lot after school.

  After returning, I joked: "Xuanyuan, you usually don't do anything, why doesn't Yaya want to be in a group with you? It's clear that you're very despicable, I'm making a big sacrifice by being in a group with you, so I'll decide the speech topic and you can find more materials while I find less." Xuanyuan smiled and said: "Little girl, if you want to slack off just say it directly, don't make excuses. Besides, who would you be in a group with if not me? I already knew Hou Jingya would choose Wu Hanwen, but little girl is too stupid to see it."

  "Don't call me little girl, I have a name and surname, you're not even older than me by much, maybe even younger. And don't say I'm stupid, you're the stupid one. With that 'I knew it all along' face of yours, from now on, just call you 'all-knowing'."

  "Hehe, I won't call you stupid or little girl, so I'll just call you baby like your mom and dad do."

  "Don't you dare call me like that, only my family can call me that."

  "Alright, let's take a step back each. From now on, I'll call you Nannan." He saw me about to retort, "Otherwise, I'll continue calling you baby, after all, it is your nickname, and besides, my mouth is mine, I can call you whatever I want."

  I nodded and said, "Then you call me like that when no one is around, this is my bottom line." Xuan Yuan Rui smiled and touched my head, I wanted to dodge. Seriously, I'm not a kitten or puppy, why do they always like touching my head?

  It's already September 30th in the afternoon, I and Xuan Yuan Rui, Wu Hanwen, Hou Jingya wore school uniforms, lightly made up, and went to draw lots. We were number seven, too early! The mountain is huge! Wu Hanwen and others were number twenty-three, still a good number. Although we've all lived for over 20 years, but in our previous life, we never had such an outstanding experience, at most it was just a recitation competition, and we never participated in the speech contest, no experience at all.

  As soon as the sixth one came on stage, my palms were sweating, and my two hands were tightly clasped together. Xuan Yuan seemed to have noticed that I was not feeling well, scooped out a white handkerchief with a smile, and said: "Here, wipe your hands. Don't be so nervous, just think of the following as a bunch of radishes and cabbage. Be yourself, you performed very well during rehearsals, believe in yourself, and I'm always by your side. Learn to take a deep breath and let go of your anxiety."

  I took his handkerchief and wiped my hands with it, saying: "This is the second time, I'll wash it clean and return it to you."

  "It's nothing, I'm giving it to you." Seeing that I didn't say anything, he added another sentence: "My family has a lot of these handkerchiefs." I put the handkerchief in my pocket and told myself: "I'm not nervous, I'm not nervous, relax, relax." With a deep breath, I felt a bit better. Suddenly, Xuan Yuan Ze grabbed my hand, and I looked at him in surprise. He smiled and said: "I'm giving you strength, this is a lucky pair of hands!"

  Before long, we went on stage. The topic of our speech was "Ode to the Motherland". I started by saying: "In the east of the world, there is an ancient country, beautiful and vast." Xuan Yuan continued: "In the east of the world, there is a great nation, diligent and strong." Like this, we cooperated very tacitly, even without any inadequacy at the time of rehearsal. Our faces always maintained smiles, ending naturally like that. After going off stage, I was so happy that I even high-fived him to celebrate. Although Wu Hanwen and Hou Jingya's performance wasn't particularly outstanding, it was also commendable.

  At four o'clock, the host began to announce the list of winners. The third prize was not ours, and it was reported that Wu Hanwen and Hou Jingya had won the second prize. I cast a congratulatory glance at them. When the first prize was announced, I held my breath, and when the second-to-last name was read out, I heard my name and Xuan Yuanrui's. I was extremely excited, it was a great victory in our first battle! I dragged Xuan Yuanrui around in circles. Xuan Yuanrui seemed to have not expected me to be so happy, with a smile in his eyes.

  After everything was over, we went back to the classroom, where our classmates gave us a sincere round of applause. The teacher announced that school was dismissed, and each of us happily headed home.

  On the eleventh day, I slept until I woke up naturally and saw that it was already ten o'clock on my clock. My mother teased me as a little lazy pig. After washing up, my father, mother, and I sat on the bed watching TV, which was just some special programs. My father suggested: "Wife, baby, let's go to the park this afternoon, I heard that there are merchants from other places setting up stalls, with all kinds of goods, including antiques, clothes, snacks, and so on."

  I kept saying yes, and my mom scratched my nose, saying: "Not only is it a little lazy pig, but also a small greedy cat." I was not convinced, and directly threw a tantrum, saying: "Dad, you have to take charge for me. I don't agree."

  Dad smiled and said, "Wife, didn't you also suggest that I buy some decorations for the small restaurant? And our house is too empty. Let's go take a look today. Maybe we'll find something we like."

  At around two o'clock, Dad took us to the park on his motorcycle. Today's event was so lively that we didn't even need tickets. The snack stalls were crowded with people shouting about authentic duck heads and delicious stinky tofu. There were also many people at the clothing stalls, but the area for calligraphy, antiques, flowers, and plants was quiet, with only a few people occasionally stopping by to take a look. Mom was looking at the calligraphy over there, and I had nothing to do, so I just took a casual glance at the jade carvings here. Although I didn't understand them, I thought they were beautiful anyway.

  As I looked, I saw a dragon and phoenix jade pendant. I felt like I had seen it somewhere before, but no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't remember where. The boss looked at me looking at the jade and frowned, saying: "Little friend, isn't it pretty? If you want to buy it, ask your dad or mom to bring you here to buy it, and I'll give you a discount."

  At this time, my old man suddenly shouted at me, which made me remember that I had seen it in a program of "Antiques" on CCTV before. It was this dragon-patterned jade pendant. The reason why I remembered it so deeply was that the collector was from N city, and he only spent 500 yuan to buy it at that time. Finally, the appraised price was 10 million yuan, which was a sky-high price for investment returns. At that time, I also sighed with my mother, wondering why such a pie didn't fall on our heads. I couldn't be sure if this was the same one, maybe it was fake, but I couldn't let go of this opportunity either. I ran over and said with a smile: "Dad, mom, have you bought something? What did you buy? Let me see."

  "Dad pointed to the few paintings rolled up by the boss over there and said, 'It's those few, go back and take a look. Your mom and I chose them together, we both think they're better, should be okay. You've been standing there for a while, are you eyeing something and wanting me to buy it for you? Looking at your sweet smile, you must have an ulterior motive.' I nodded and said, 'Still, Dad understands me.'"

  I pulled my dad and mom over there and said, "Dad, Mom, look at all these beautiful jade pieces! The boss says this is emerald, that one too. Hehe, baby likes the jade pendant with the dragon pattern." My mom said, "That dragon-patterned jade pendant is quite pretty, does baby like it? How much for that, boss?"

  The boss said 800, my mom said: "You can't just name a price and it's only one, right? This little jade pendant is worth so much money, 300, will you sell it or not? Our daughter likes it, otherwise I wouldn't buy it." The boss said: "Sister, you're too good at bargaining, okay, 300 is 300, today's business hasn't even started yet, let's consider it a good start." After paying the money, my mom happily put it around my neck.

  Dad has taken a fancy to a white teapot, which comes with four white tea cups. The floral pattern on the outside is quite intricate and gives a hollowed-out feel. Mom says she's also taken a liking to that green jade bangle. How much would both cost in total? The boss says the teapot is 1,000 yuan and the bangle is 500 yuan. Mom says we've bought three items today, so we must get a discount. After haggling, they agree on 680 yuan, which is still an auspicious number. The boss refuses to budge, saying that even this price won't cover his costs. Mom pretends to walk away, and only then does the boss agree to the deal.

  After buying things, we went to see clothes and eat some food. My mom sighed and said: "Today I spent too much money, what a waste..." My dad comforted my mom saying: "Don't worry dear, we spend more but earn more too. After National Day, your store will open and our family will get better and better." I also agreed with him.