Chapter 23

Approaching the school gate, the sound of the news broadcast could be heard from the guard's little house. Old Li was watching TV while eating noodles.

"Still eating?"

"Yeah, yeah, right. Young Master Zhang is back. Where did you park the car?"

"In the parking lot."

"Park it directly in the school to save on parking fees."

"Not safe, with all the children running around."

The school grounds were spacious, but no parking was allowed, as per the rules. Although Zhang Tan was the boss, he felt he should not break the rules.

Each time he parked the car in the school, he felt a bit uneasy with the children running around.

"Uncle, come here, come here."

Xiaobai stood under the mulberry tree, waving at him. Was this child specifically waiting for him? He suspected so.

"What's up?" Zhang Tan walked over and asked.

"Come on, the kids want to watch an episode of an anime."

Her little face was full of hope.

"Emmm~~ If you want to watch, just ask Teacher Xiaoliu to turn on the TV."

"Teacher Xiaoliu won't turn it on."

"Why not?"

"Hmph, you go ask Teacher Xiaoliu what she thinks. She won't let the kids have fun. I'm so angry today."

"What's wrong? Why are you so angry again?"

You get angry after just a few words. Are you the Red Boy?

"Ying ying ying~~ My cricket is gone!"

Zhang Tan thought hard and finally remembered that the cricket was a cricket. The glass bottle Xiaobai was holding that day contained a big black cricket.

He walked back to his room, asking casually, "Lost it? How?"

Xiaobai ran up and whispered in Sichuan dialect, "I strongly suspect it was Luo Zikang, that little rascal."

Zhang Tan took out his keys and opened the door, turning to Xiaobai at the doorway, "Don't suspect others without evidence. Come in and sit down."

Xiaobai nodded, took off her shoes, and lifted her little feet to show him, "Uncle, look, I'm wearing the new socks you bought. I ran as fast as Old Second today."

What is Old Second?

"Put on your slippers." Zhang Tan found her slippers.

"Kill the slippers." Xiaobai happily put on the slippers.

Zhang Tan: [__]

He put down his bag, went to the bathroom to wash his hands, and started moving around the house. Xiaobai stood in the living room, chatting non-stop.

"I'm going to take a shower. Do you want to stay here? I'll prepare some snacks and turn on the TV for you."

"What? You're going to take a shower?" Xiaobai asked in surprise, shaking her head, "Then I'll leave. I'm a girl."

Saying that, she left without Zhang Tan's persuasion, as if afraid he would do something bad.

This child has a strong sense of self-protection.

That's good. Zhang Tan locked the door, took a shower, and came out. Suddenly, he noticed a bowl of boiled peanuts on a small stool in the living room.

When did she put them there? Zhang Tan hadn't noticed before.

He picked up the peanuts, peeled one, and found a plump peanut inside, just as fragrant as Xiaobai described.

Wearing shorts and a gray T-shirt, Zhang Tan went out, and on his way down the stairs, he heard a child crying.

In the school, children crying was not unusual, but this cry sounded familiar, like Xiaobai's!

He took three steps at once, went down the stairs, and indeed saw Xiaobai crying on the first floor.

"What's wrong? Why is Xiaobai crying?" Zhang Tan asked, wondering how such a strong and optimistic child could cry like this.

Xiaobai, with tears in her eyes, looked at him and continued to cry. Xiaomi and Meng Chengcheng were comforting her, and Meng Chengcheng, the cute and innocent girl, was also wiping her eyes silently.

Luo Zikang was also crying, but not as loudly as Xiaobai.

It was the opposite last time.

Zhang Tan guessed they must have fought again.

Teacher Xiaoliu explained that indeed, they had fought again. This time, Xiaobai lost and was beaten, which is why she was crying so much.

Momentum can intimidate people, but it can't guarantee victory.

Teacher Xiaoliu and others were already handling the situation, so Zhang Tan didn't get involved. After a while, Teacher Xiaoliu came over to tell him the details.

The reason was that Xiaobai's cricket was missing, leaving only an empty bottle. She suspected Luo Zikang, which led to an argument.

Zhang Tan was speechless, having told her not to suspect others without evidence. Xiaobai still couldn't resist and confronted Luo Zikang.

He thought Xiaobai fought with Luo Zikang because of this, but Teacher Xiaoliu said no, they just argued, without any intention to fight.

"Xiaobai was wearing a new pair of socks today and showing them to everyone. Luo Zikang said a few things about it, and that's when they started fighting." Teacher Xiaoliu said.

Zhang Tan: "…"

Teacher Xiaoliu further explained that Luo Zikang called Xiaobai a country bumpkin and said her clothes were ugly.

"And he said…"

Teacher Xiaoliu hesitated.

Zhang Tan: "What else did he say?"

"He said Xiaobai was a fool."

"Fool?"

Xiaobai is so smart.

"She can't read."

"…" Zhang Tan asked curiously, "Xiaobai really can't read?"

Teacher Xiaoliu nodded, "She really can't read. At her age, she should be in kindergarten, but she isn't. Her family hasn't taught her, and she only knows a few words, which she learned here at the school."

Zhang Tan asked, "But I often see her reading picture books with great interest, even staying up late."

Teacher Xiaoliu said, "She's just looking at the pictures and guessing the stories."

Zhang Tan suddenly felt a bit sad.

"How should we handle this today?"

"Both are at fault and should be punished by standing against the wall, reflecting on their actions…"

Zhang Tan didn't say anything. He didn't know much about educating children, so he left it to Teacher Xiaoliu.

Since Xiaobai was being punished tonight, Zhang Tan didn't go downstairs to see the children. He stayed at home and watched "The Lantern Bearer" from the first episode.

The next day at work, Luo Ming recommended him, and he would strive to become the screenwriter for "The Lantern Bearer."

Since the project was relatively simple, he wouldn't form a screenwriting team and would work alone.

Comics have their language, and anime has its language. Zhang Tan needed to convert the comic into an anime, simplifying and compressing the plot while trying to maintain the original style and storyline.

The comic had already proven its market value, and making too many changes would be counterproductive and damage its charm.

All day, Zhang Tan pondered the comic, only starting to write as the day was ending.

Driving home, he planned to lock himself in his room to write. As he stepped into the school, he heard a voice, "Uncle," and turned to see Xiaobai. Beside her was a middle-aged woman, dressed simply, with a small stool and a cloth bag at her feet.

"Xiaobai, you're here early." Zhang Tan said.

The child's eyes were red and a bit swollen.

"Are you Xiaobai's aunt?" Zhang Tan asked, remembering that Xiaobai's file mentioned her aunt's name was Ma Lanhua.

"I am Xiaobai's aunt. Hello, teacher. Xiaobai fought yesterday, and I came to apologize."

Ma Lanhua's face was full of smiles, her wrinkles and folds showing. Xiaobai's Mandarin must have been learned from her, with a Sichuan accent.

Zhang Tan looked at Xiaobai, who pouted and looked down, not saying a word.

"Both children were at fault yesterday, not just Xiaobai. However, fighting is never right. There are many ways to solve problems, and we can choose better ones, right?"

"Right, right, you're absolutely right, teacher." Ma Lanhua nodded repeatedly.

Seeing Xiaobai still not speaking, she tapped her little head, "You little rascal, what do you say? The teacher is asking if you agree."

Xiaobai hugged her head and said sadly, "Okay."

Ma Lanhua glared at her, "Okay? Okay, you silly girl, what are you saying? Do you agree or not?"

Xiaobai continued to hug her head, puffed out her cheeks, and said weakly, "Indeed~"

Ma Lanhua was angry, "Indeed, what? Just answer if you agree or not, and apologize to the teacher!"

"Uncle, I was wrong. Fighting isn't my strong point."

Her aunt, hearing this, said不满地, "You little brat, fighting isn't your strong point? You just realized that? Who can you fight? The dogs or cats in the alley?"

Xiaobai,不服气地说, "Cats and dogs are my good friends. Why would I fight them?"

"Who are you friends with? How dirty! If you keep hanging out with those cats and dogs, I'll make you pay!"

"Scaring a four-year-old isn't very nice."

"Say that again and see what happens?!"

"… I really like Auntie~"

Ma Lanhua glared at her, "You're so naughty, you little troublemaker!"