Li Manjun helped her daughter pack her schoolbag and was about to leave when the teacher stopped her.
Li Manjun's scalp felt numb, and then she was relieved. Now she is a parent of a student, not a student.
"What's the matter, Teacher Feng?" Li Manjun put her schoolbag on her daughter's desk, asked her to sit there for a while, then walked up to the teacher.
Teacher Feng asked with concern: "You are the only parent who is late today. The other parents all arrived early. Is there something at home that delayed you?"
This was said euphemistically, but it was actually a reminder to her not to be late for the next parent-teacher meeting.
Li Manjun explained: "Actually, I went to take the exam today, so I came late. I'm sorry, Teacher Feng, for keeping you waiting for so long."
Teacher Feng smiled and waved his hand, saying it was okay. Hearing Li Manjun talk about exams, he asked curiously: "What exam are you taking? Certificate?"
Li Manjun shook his head and said it was not a certificate, and said with a wry smile: "The school's final exam happens to be in these two days. I will take the last two subjects tomorrow and finish it."
Teacher Feng was even more surprised, "Final exam?" Isn't this only for students?
But Li Manjun is an adult!
Li Manjun thought that she might have classes in the afternoon and would be delayed in picking up her children, so she took this opportunity to tell Teacher Feng that she was attending college, hoping she would understand.
"Are you a college student?" Teacher Feng's surprised voice was a bit shrill. Luo Fang, who was waiting for Li Manjun and her daughter at the door, couldn't help but look sideways.
Li Manjun said sheepishly: "I got admitted later and will graduate next year."
Teacher Feng was even more impressed. When Li Manjun said that she had stopped studying after graduating from junior high school, and then started studying at a junior high school again after getting married, she went all the way to junior college, and then upgraded to a bachelor's degree. She is now in her junior year, and her eyes gradually became filled with admiration.
"Mother Jianing, you are so amazing. No wonder classmate Zhao Jianing is so cute and sensible. It turns out that I have a role model like you by my side and I am influenced by you."
This time, Teacher Feng fully understood Li Manjun's tardiness and told her that if she was delayed due to classes in the future, she could help take care of Zhao Jianing's child.
Extended child care is a separate price, so Teacher Feng volunteered to help, and Li Manjun was extremely grateful.
Teacher Feng watched the mother and daughter walk out of the campus, then turned around and sighed with the middle class teachers next to them,
"I really didn't expect that the parents of the students in our class are actually college students, and they went all the way from junior high school to pass the exam. This requires so much willpower, it's amazing."
When the teachers heard this, they were all surprised. This was the first time they met such parents of students.
In front of the roasted sweet potato stall in front of the school, Luo Fang and Li Manjun bought roasted sweet potatoes for their children. Seeing that the two children had something to eat, they stood obediently next to the adults and had the opportunity to chat for a while.
Luo Fang spoke first, expressing her admiration and envy for Li Manjun's academic path.
College students were still very popular in the 1990s. Luo Fang was considered a highly educated person in her workplace, but she only had a college diploma.
Her leader only has a junior high school diploma and is now preparing for further education at public expense to prepare for promotion.
If a college student is demoted to a work unit, no matter how low he is, he is still a small leader.
But what Luo Fang admires most is Li Manjun's willpower.
Li Manjun smiled modestly, not wanting to talk about this topic anymore, and hurriedly told Luo Fang the good news from Shirley Zhong.
"I will make an appointment for you in advance to late February. After the new year, you will take your mother-in-law to get measured. You will definitely be able to wear a new dress for your birthday in April."
Luo Fang's eyes widened in surprise, "That's great!"
"Jia Ning's mother, I don't even know how to thank you. You have really helped me a lot. How about you take Jia Ning to my house for dinner? I will cook the food myself. How about we have a meal together?"
Li Manjun hurriedly waved his hand, "You are too polite. It's just a small effort. I feel embarrassed if you do this."
Luo Fang still insisted on inviting her to dinner. Seeing that Li Manjun couldn't refuse, she agreed.
But every year, I heard my mother promise Luo Tiancheng
The mother was going to their house for dinner. The two children looked at each other, their eyes lit up, and the corners of their mouths stained with mashed sweet potatoes turned up in anticipation.
She has never played with other children in every year. Lin Fangfang said that she often goes to her neighbor Lulu’s house to play with dolls, which is a lot of fun.
"Mom, when are we going to Luo Tiancheng's house for dinner?" On the way home, Nian Nian asked in anticipation.
Li Manjun drove the car into the underground garage of the community, thought for a moment and said, "Let's see what Luo Tiancheng's mother arranges."
Nian Nian said "oh", feeling a little disappointed, but soon cheered up and asked my mother what a college student is.
She observed that the expressions of the teacher and Luo Tiancheng's mother changed when they heard her mother say that she was a college student.
I can't describe the expression on my face. I just think that my mother is very powerful.
Li Manjun parked the car, got out of the car, unfastened the seat belt on her safety seat, and replied ineffectively: "College students are students who go to college."
Nian Nian said a confused "Huh?" and stretched out his hand for his mother to take him out of the car. Mother and daughter carried their small schoolbags and went home hand in hand.
Every year, my face is covered with the black ashes and sweet potatoes from roasted sweet potatoes, and I turn into a little cat without realizing it. I feel the aroma of sweet potatoes on my lips, and I lick the corners of my mouth with unfulfilled interest.
Li Manjun glanced down and saw her daughter's little move, and she couldn't help but laugh.
Nian Nian didn't understand what a college student was. I only vaguely understood that it was a very powerful thing. He puffed up his chest with pride and said sweetly: "Mom, you are so boring~"
Li Manjun's heart almost melted. He picked her up and kissed the little cat on the face. Then he opened the door and went into the house to take the little cat to wash its face and hands and prepare for dinner.
After dinner, Nian Nian couldn't bear it any longer. He pulled out his small school bag and found the snack gift box prepared by the teacher. He was looking forward to opening it to see if there were any toys inside.
"Mom!" Nian Nian shouted in surprise.
Li Manjun looked up and saw her daughter holding up a small doll and smiling happily with millet teeth.
"It's a doll!" she said.
"It's so beautiful." Li Manjun praised.
Nian Nian hadn't realized what winter vacation was. When Li Manjun got up the next day, she also got up, put on her clothes and socks in a mess, walked out of the room to find her little schoolbag, and was going to kindergarten.
Li Manjun knelt down and explained to her that it was a holiday and there was no need to go to kindergarten. The little girl was confused for a moment and did not react.
"I want to exchange dolls with Lin Fangfang." She patted her small schoolbag and put the dolls given by the teacher into her schoolbag in advance. She also brought her two bunny clothes for Lin Fangfang's dolls to wear.
Every year I thought that the gift boxes the teacher prepared for all the students were filled with dolls.
