Chapter 38: The 38th Parallel, Swapping Desks

  Unconsciously, we have become high-grade primary school students. The estrangement and contradictions between boys and girls are gradually emerging. For example, after class, the girls in our class like to chat in groups of three or five about what TV series they watched last night. When they get excited, they even frown and dance with their hands and feet. Some girls also play shuttlecock or jump rope outside the classroom.

  But the boys are different, they always seem to have endless energy, in those ten minutes after class, they can run to the playground to play football, basketball, table tennis, and there is a clear boundary between the territories of boys and girls, without much conflict.

  However, today was a rainy day and the boys' activities were completely unable to unfold. I chatted with several familiar classmates about the TV series we watched last night. I said that I didn't see the beginning, and the other girls also said that this TV series was broadcast too early at night, when they were still taking baths. Wang Xiaoxiao laughed and raised her hand, as if asking us to reward her, all I heard her say was: "I saw it, I saw it, the front is very wonderful... ... You guys didn't see it, what a pity! But I also begged my mom for a long time before I could see it, and I don't know if I can continue watching tonight."

  Xiao Xiao became a bit down, Hou Jingya pulled Xiao Xiao's hand and said: "It's nothing, I believe that with your sweet words, Aunt Wang will definitely let you watch it. If not, during the summer vacation, I'll buy this TV series back home, invite you to my house to watch it, and have your favorite green bean and osmanthus cake to eat."

  "Great, great, now I have something to look forward to." Another foodie, Xiao Xiao laughed and said: "Also, don't you think that young Master Si looks like someone in our class, especially from the side?"

  We were all a bit bewildered, thinking carefully and looking at our classmates. When Xiaoxiao said this, my first reaction was whether it might be Xun Gege. I looked back at Xun Gege several times and didn't think there was any resemblance. Looking at other classmates also yielded nothing. Xiaoxiao had an expression that seemed to say "you all don't know who it is, do you?" and said: "You all don't know who it is, right? Well, I'm going to reveal the mystery now."

  Xiao Xiao was just about to say the name, when Ya Ya suddenly laughed and said: "They all shook their heads, I didn't shake my head, nor did I say I don't know. I knew who you were talking about, isn't it 'far in the sky but near at hand'?"

  I looked left and right, saying "Who is it?" Xiaoxiao said "Indeed heroes have similar views. Hehe, Yaya, you say who it is, tell these silly kids." Yaya pointed behind her, smiling and saying "Isn't it the one behind us, Wu Hanwen?"

  In our "ohs", everyone turned around to look at Wu Hanwen, and indeed he looked like him. When we took a sideways glance, he looked even more alike. I vaguely saw YaYa's face turn red, with golden light flashing in her eyes. And when Wu Hanwen turned around to look at us, he looked at me blankly and asked what was wrong. I smiled and said: "Nothing, it's just girls' stuff, you don't need to know."

  But then came Lin Lili's voice, saying: "Cut it out, you're all just infatuated with each other." Lin Lili had been quiet for a while and hadn't caused any more trouble in class, so the teacher had a better impression of her and thought she had changed her ways. But it turned out she still loved to provoke people, huh? The world may change but one's nature remains the same, indeed.

  Xiao Xiao was very unhappy with Lin Lili, just about to reason with her, when we heard a cry from the back door. It turned out that Li Fang and Tian Jing had fallen down together, Tian Jing seemed to have fallen quite heavily, her eyes were red.

  Li Fang struggled to get up, wanting to pull Tian Jing up with him. Tian Jing was angry in her heart and after Li Fang pulled her up, she heavily pushed Li Fang away. Li Fang suddenly crashed into the door and probably got hurt badly. His face immediately fell.

  Tian Jing stood there, crying and saying: "Li Fang, you're taking revenge in secret. The 38th line thing was originally your fault. I said why you've been acting so strangely these past few days, turns out you were waiting for today to push me."

  It turned out that a few days ago, Tian Jing and Li Fang had a dispute over the 38th line on their desk, Tian Jing won, and Li Fang didn't make any moves afterwards, which was not in line with his usual style. But today, this thing happened, and Tian Jing naturally thought of it.

  "This is too much, Li Fang can't take it anymore. He said angrily: "Tian Jing, are you reasonable? I didn't do it on purpose, I just accidentally knocked you down, and I even helped you up. You still pushed me back, now you're playing the victim, what's wrong with you?" Tian Jing cried even harder, saying: "You boys usually don't play in the classroom, but today you had to come in here and shoot hoops. Don't you know that the classroom is girls' territory during recess? And yet you say it wasn't on purpose."

  Li Fang got angry and said a lot of things in one breath, "Tian Jing, don't measure the heart of a gentleman with your own petty mind. I didn't even put the 38th parallel thing in my heart, but you girls are always talking about it every day, making it seem like we boys are afraid of you girls. And who said that the classroom is your territory during class breaks? I say this is all our boys' territory. I told you, Tian Jing, today it's raining and I'm playing basketball here, tomorrow when the sun comes out, I'll still be here, wherever I want to play basketball, you girls can't control me."

  Tian Jingyi became even more unyielding upon hearing this and said, "Girls, where are you all? Is this not our territory? Isn't it reasonable for us to divide at the 38th parallel?" Many girls loudly responded in agreement.

  Li suddenly stood up on the table and said, "Boys, did you all hear that? The girls are bullying us too much. This is everyone's classroom, why should it be their territory? I say this is our boys' territory." Many boys echoed him, and their voices were naturally louder than ours. Suddenly, it escalated into a conflict between the boys and the girls.

  The next class happened to be the head teacher's class. The head teacher, as usual, came after the bell rang and saw us in such a mess, like a group of ducks quacking, without any appearance of being in class. Seriously, he said: "Everyone, quiet down, take out your books and get ready for class. This class is mine, you're all like this, if another teacher were teaching, you wouldn't be so unruly. I'll understand the situation after class and settle it, who's the ringleader, who's stirring up trouble, no one will be let off lightly."

  In a language class, everyone's mood seemed to be a bit heavy, probably worried that the head teacher would get angry or call their parents. After class, the head teacher asked the class monitor and other class cadres about the situation, there were boys and girls, so the teacher basically understood the situation and didn't listen to one side of the story.

  "He announced: 'You're all not growing up, it's not a big deal to make such a fuss. It seems that the 38th line thing really needs to be handled seriously. I see what you mean is that boys want to sit with boys and girls want to sit with girls. Okay, I'll agree to your request. This afternoon's class meeting will change seats, everyone think about how to sit this afternoon, and I will make adjustments according to height.'"

  After the teacher left, everyone was relieved and excited to discuss who they would sit with. After the afternoon class meeting, as soon as the teacher said to switch seats, everyone quickly found their new deskmate. As expected, boys sat with boys and girls sat with girls. I also had to seize the opportunity, my new deskmate is Shu Tengteng, while YaYa sat with XiaoXiao. Speaking of Shu Tengteng, she was also one of my good friends in my previous life, all the way until junior high school graduation. In high school, because we weren't in the same school, we lost contact. Although she just transferred to our class, sitting together is an olive branch I threw out, but I want to nurture our friendship carefully.

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