Ordinary people's rice bowl

Chapter 21

The aftermath of the earthquake passed, and everyone regained their former peace.

Not long after, the school organized mid-term exams for all grades in the school. This mid-term exam was different from usual. In the past, the exams were concentrated in the classroom, and different grades were intermingled, that is, two people were assigned to one desk. Students of different grades can avoid plagiarizing each other. It is said that in the results of the test, students of higher grades do the questions for students of lower grades.For this reason, this mid-term exam has become concentrated in the playground for the whole school. The exam is like "autumn soldiers on the battlefield". All students in the school are drawn to the playground. Even peeping would make the invigilator clear at a glance. During the three days of the exam, the weather was fine, the sun was shining brightly, and there was a slight breeze, which did not affect the students' mood in the exam at all.

The whole school, from the teachers to the students, believed that this result was a big review of the teachers and students of the whole school, and it was also the most authentic review.The grades came down soon, and the grades of the whole school were still published on the wall of the corridor under the main hall of the school's Confucian Temple.Mu Zhen's overall score ranked No. 20 in the class. With this score, Mu Zhen knew very well that the time for him to leave this school was not far away.

The reason for leaving here is not the ranking of the total score, but the most important thing is the English subject that Lao Mu values. In the past, if English could not enter the top ten in the class, Mu Zhen would be asked to go back to the commune middle school to repeat the grade. In Lao Mu's opinion, repeating the grade is the best way to solve the students' partial subjects.

Mu Zhen knew in her heart that the key to learning English was to memorize words and grammar. As long as she did it, there would be no problem in improving her grades. You will find that the back of your head will have a dull pain, and sometimes you have to put down your books to rest, or take advantage of extracurricular activities to take a big circle in the field to relieve the pain.Although Mu Zhen's English score did not enter the top ten in the class, it is not very bad. If she was in the commune middle school, she might be able to rank in the top ten, but here she is facing the elites of the whole county. Xueba, many of these students have indeed shown their own unique skills, including himself. For the study of mathematics and Chinese, he has to admit that his understanding is no worse than any student.However, after all, there is still a little gap with Lao Mu's requirements, and it is this gap that has changed the trajectory of his studies.

Lao Mu, who was teaching at the school, naturally knew when the school's mid-term exam results would come down. For this reason, he made a special trip to Gucheng No. 1 Middle School to see Mu Zhen's mid-term exam results.It was a sunny but slightly chilly afternoon. When Lao Mu came to the school, the students were in class. He didn't disturb anyone in the school, but went directly to the grade list in front of the main hall of the school's Confucian Temple. He didn't care about the rest Yes, the only thing he cares about is the results of Class 671 of the second year of junior high school, which is Mu Zhen's class. From the No.506 total score of "165", he kept looking down, and his eyes stayed on the "99", which was Mu Zhen's class. He didn't care about the difference of 92 points in the total score. What he valued was Mu Zhen's single-subject score in three subjects, the score of "8" in mathematics. Lao Mu carefully looked at the math scores of the whole class, which was only one point away from the full score. Apart from one student who scored full marks in mathematics, there was another student who was tied for second with Mu Zhen, with a score of "1" in Chinese, which was only "95" short of the full score. There were only four students in the class who scored more than 75 points, ranking second. The No.90 score is "20", which is acceptable in Lao Mu's heart. As for Geography and Botany, he failed in both, and Lao Mu didn't mind much, except for the English score of "[-]". , making Lao Mu frowned. Looking at the results above, Lao Mu found that there are many people who have passed the "[-]" points, at least there are [-] people. This ranking is only outside the [-]th place in the class. Let Lao Mu accept it. He felt that Mu Zhen's English learning had reached the point where she had to repeat a grade to solve the problem.

"Repeat the grade, go to the next middle school to repeat the grade as soon as possible, otherwise the grade will be farther and farther away!" Lao Mu thought of this, and without waiting to take a look at Mu Zhen after class, he rode his bicycle and walked home without looking back.

The commune where Lao Mu is located is far from Xiaowangzhuang, but the nearby Binhu Commune Middle School is close to Xiaowangzhuang because it is not where the commune government is located. Lao Mu preferred this middle school next to his own village. Instead of devoting all his energy to studying, he indulged himself. Along the way, he thought about how to transfer to this middle school in the Hubin Commune, which is no village away from Xiaowangzhuang.

Since they are not in a commune, although they are close, there are no familiar people. Even if there are individual teachers who know each other by themselves, the matter of transferring schools in the middle is not something that an ordinary teacher can decide.He pondered all the way, but still had no clues, so he had to let go of his thinking to find out the social relations of relatives and friends.The old Mu who returned home told Xiuhua about Muzhen's idea of ​​transferring to the Binhu Commune Middle School behind the village. After hearing this, Xiuhua thought about it a little: "It seems that I heard from my father that an uncle of my brother-in-law's brother-in-law is in this school. As the dean of the middle school, I can go to him to discuss with him tomorrow, see if I can help with this?" When Lao Mu heard this, he was as happy as seeing the sun in front of his eyes.

"Well, go ask tomorrow if there is such a relative who is really the dean. The dean is the second in command in the school. As long as he can help with this, it shouldn't be a problem to transfer a student over." Old Mu Respond with a very positive tone.

The next day, Xiuhua went back to her mother's house. She knew that Lao Mu's temper would be impossible to get back even ten cows when he bumped his head against the south wall.When she saw her sister-in-law, she explained her intentions directly in the future, and her sister-in-law was very straightforward: "Sister, you see that Mu Zhen is doing well there, so why not just transfer to another school!"

"Hey! It's not your brother-in-law who is as stubborn as an ox. He didn't know what he was doing, so he had to send the child to study at the door of his house. Back then, he tried everything possible to let the child go to the county to study. Now it is his idea to come back. He We can't help him if he has an idea. Since it's not a commune, and we don't have many people to know, I can only ask you to help me this time!" Xiuhua said with a bit of embarrassment on her face.

"Look at what my sister said, we have this relationship, if you don't ask me, I will help what I should! Who said we are such close relatives!" Seeing Xiuhua's embarrassed expression, the sister-in-law expressed This attitude is enough to give Xiuhua peace of mind.

"It shouldn't be too late, we sisters should go to school now!" Xiuhua said in an interface.

"Wait a minute, I'll tidy up and leave!" As she said, the sister-in-law stood up, took a comb, combed her hair carefully, and took a leather case to put her long hair on the back of her head. Jizi, pushed the bicycle and took Xiuhua to ride to the Hubin Commune Middle School.

When the two sisters came to the gate of the middle school, there was already a class in the school, and it was the break time between classes. Xiuhua's sister-in-law had sharp eyes. As soon as they arrived at the gate, they saw her uncle standing on the side of the road directly opposite the gate. elder brother.

"Big brother, big brother." Xiuhua's sister-in-law waved at the middle-sized man standing there and took two quick steps to meet him.

The middle-aged man seemed to hear the shout, turned around and saw his sister coming, and asked with a smile: "Are you here?"

"I really made you guess. I'm looking for you because I have something to ask you?" Xiuhua's sister-in-law's straightforward character is also the brother who knows best.

"Tell me! My nephew is currently studying in junior middle school in No. [-] Middle School in the county, and now he wants to transfer to your school, do you think it's okay?" Xiuhua's sister-in-law said and made a grimace as she walked over.

"It's not so easy to transfer to another school now. It's convenient when I joined the school, but it's a bit difficult to explain now!" The middle-aged man put one hand on his hip and waved the other.

"Look, look, it's really hard for you with just such a small matter! This is my sister, and her home is in the village in front of the school." He pointed to Xiaowangzhuang in the south of the school. "After all, my sister is older than you! You should also be called sister!"

"Sister, is that your child?" The middle-aged man asked Xiuhua.

"Look, brother, we don't know anyone, so I can only trouble you! Let my old Mu tell you about the specific situation later!" Xiuhua didn't know how to address her. The big brothers are commensurate and seem to be much closer.

"You see, what my sister said is a bit out of line. It's all my own business. I can't make up my own mind. I have to ask the head teacher for advice. I have to discuss this matter with the head teacher. There are more students, the desks are tense, and the number of students in the class is obviously more recruited, please listen to my letter later, okay?" The middle-aged man did not refuse the girl who asked him for help for the first time.

"Thanks in advance! I'll bring our old Mu to you later!" Xiuhua hurriedly responded.

The class bell rang, and the two knew that there were many things in school, so they briefly said goodbye, then turned and walked outside the school, and the two went home without mentioning it.

During lunch, Xiuhua said to Lao Mu: "Xiuhua's sister-in-law's family name is Liu, so naturally the director of the middle school I'm looking for is Director Liu!" He repeated what he said to Lao Mu, and Lao Mu thought in his heart that what Director Liu said to ask for the opinion of the class teacher was just a rhetoric, and if he didn't implement it while the iron was hot, it might just be a waste of time.

As soon as school was over in the afternoon, Lao Mu discussed with Xiuhua: "Let's go to Director Liu's to buy something tonight and ask!"

"What should I buy?" Xiuhua knew that if she didn't implement it well, Lao Mu wouldn't be able to sleep peacefully, but she really didn't know what to buy. "It's not a festival, and there's nothing to take, so just buy some peanuts and snacks!" Xiuhua looked at Lao Mu, as if she could get an answer from his face.

"Let's go and have a look first, and buy some snacks as you said!" Lao Mu affirmed Xiuhua's opinion.

"Do you still have money at home?" Lao Mu suddenly thought of the dilemma that he couldn't get the money for cigarettes a few days ago. Where did the money for the snacks come from?Lao Mu's salary of 15 yuan per month is meager, but it is basically enough for his cigarette money and gifts.The family basically relies on Xiuhua and Mu Yan to weave straw bales and the money from the dozens of chicken butts in the chicken coop. It is always tight all year round. If there is a serious illness in the family, then I have to tighten my belt to live, and I don't have any spare money to give gifts.

A word reminded Xiuhua, and hurriedly dug out the twenty egg money that was just sold yesterday from the pile of clothes in the fruit basket next to the bed, ordered some, smiled helplessly at Lao Mu and said: "I bought a few eggs at that time. Supplies, there is one yuan, six cents and two cents left."

"That's all. If it's not enough, you can make an account in the consignment department first!" After saying that, Lao Mu pushed his bicycle and went out. The two of them planned to buy a catty of cooked peanuts and two packs of fried sugar snacks in the consignment department. , put it in Xiuhua's hand-sewn handbag, and rode directly to Hubin Commune Middle School.

When they arrived in middle school, it was already time to light the lamps. Lao Mu and Xiuhua found out that Director Liu lived in the last row of bungalows on the campus at the farthest end of the campus. There are ten houses in the last row of the campus. It is said that this house was a temporary office building built by the drilling team in the 50s. Later, the drilling team left the entire courtyard and transformed it into a dormitory for school staff. The adobe house I live in is already a high-end residence.The light was on in the house, and Lao Mu asked Xiuhua to go up and knock on the door to see if it was Director Liu whom he had seen in the morning. Xiuhua went up to knock on the door, and Lao Mu was waiting two or three meters away from the door, and it was Director Liu who opened the door. Xiuhua hurriedly said hello: "Big brother, I came to you this morning to ask about the child's transfer. I don't know how the question went?"

"Sister, come in and talk!" Director Liu greeted.

"Our guy is here too!" Xiuhua said, turning her head and giving Lao Mu a look. Lao Mu understood, hurried up to meet Director Liu, and held Director Liu's hand: "I'm really causing you trouble!"

"There's nothing troublesome or not, it's all about my own child!" He said as he let the two of them into the house.

Old Mu noticed that Director Liu's room was very clean. There was a double bed against the north wall, and a large flower curtain was hung on the south side of the bed to separate it from the outside. Maybe he didn't expect any guests to come. Pull down the curtain, the quilt on the bed is folded into square tofu pieces, there is a desk near the head of the bed, a few books and an old-fashioned desk lamp are piled on the desk, and there is a three-seater sofa outside the curtain. A dining table is placed in front of the sofa.Judging from the few children's clothes on the wire hanging the curtains, Director Liu's child is not very old, and he is also here with Director Liu.

"I've already asked the class teacher about the child!" As soon as the two of them touched the sofa, Director Liu got to the point. "There are really no desks in the class. When you come, you may be squeezed on the same desk with two students who have just transferred from the Lake District. The desks are brought by these two students. I have seen it. Make it harder."

"Then I really thank Director Liu!" Old Mu was really moved. He never thought that on the way back from the county, he had been thinking about how to transfer to another school, and he would solve it so quickly when he came to Director Liu.

"It's not a big deal, the key is how is the child's study and performance in school? What if..." Director Liu thought for a while when he said this, but obviously didn't know how to express it and stopped.

Lao Mu immediately understood: "Don't worry, the child is in the second year of junior high school, and his English is not very good, so he came here to repeat the grade and supplement his English. There is no big problem with his studies. It is close to my house. If there is any bad performance, I will discipline him well." Yes, I am teaching in Xiaowangzhuang School, please rest assured!"

"Okay, we are colleagues, so I won't say much. I have a meeting tonight, so let's make it like this. You can come to me after you bring the students!" Director Liu obviously had something to do at night, so he issued an order to evict the guests.

Lao Mu glanced at Xiuhua, waved his hand and said, "Quick, leave the things you brought to Director Liu!"

Xiuhua opened the handbag, took out three packs of snacks that hadn't been warmed up, and put them on the dining table. Seeing this, Director Liu hurriedly picked up the top pack of peanuts, "Look, there are no outsiders. Come to my place and you'll be fine." Buy something, quickly, put it back in your bag."

Xiuhua clutched the mouth of the cloth bag, and said repeatedly: "Look, it's not too much, buy some food for the child!" As she spoke, she stepped back out of the room, and Lao Mu also took Director Liu's hand holding peanuts, and took ten He said with half sincerity: "Look, I didn't take any gifts, just be careful!" Director Liu was inconvenient to give way, put the peanuts on the table, and walked out of the room to send the two of them out without mentioning it.

The moment to go through the transfer procedures for Mu Zhen finally came. It was the first weekend when the mid-term exam results were announced. Old Mu came to the school by bike, found Mr. Li, the class teacher, and proposed to go through the transfer procedures for his son. Teacher Li felt very happy. Startled, he stared at Old Mu with a dull expression for a full minute.Then ask slowly: "Are we not managing well enough, or are you not satisfied with our teaching?"

"Actually, it's not true. I think he's still young, and he's far away from home. He can't take care of himself! It really doesn't mean anything else!" Lao Mu rubbed his hands together, feeling a little embarrassed.

Teacher Li is still very optimistic about Mu Zhen. In the mathematics class he teaches, it can be seen that Mu Zhen is a student who knows a little bit, and she is very serious in doing things. As long as the guidance is correct, I believe there is still a bright future. .But how could he stop the parents' request to transfer schools?
Teacher Li waved his hand and said, "Okay, I'll report this to the principal!" Obviously, Teacher Li found it difficult to refuse Lao Mu's request to transfer to another school, but he wanted the principal to say something to keep him. A student with developmental potential.

When Teacher Li took Lao Mu to knock on the principal's office, Principal Wang was reading the newspaper. After listening to Teacher Li's statement, Principal Wang stared at Lao Mu asking for advice: "Look, the behavior of the students in school It's still pretty good!" Paused, as if seeing from Lao Mu's expression that he was still extremely reluctant to let the child stay, he turned around and said, "If you are determined to transfer to another school, we won't be able to force you to stay. , then ask Teacher Li to assist you with the transfer procedures!"

After completing the transfer procedures, it was already the end of the third class at noon. He saw Mu Zhen walk out of the classroom after class and waved to him. Old Mu, ran over quickly.

"Big Daddy!" After shouting, there was no words, and tears welled up in his eyes.

"Why are you crying!" Lao Mu stretched out his hand to help him wipe it off.

"I've completed the transfer procedures, so I can pack up and go home after class." Old Mu Yu said earnestly.

Mu Zhen already knew the outcome after the mid-term exam. If she couldn't meet the condition put forward by Mu, she would transfer to another school and leave the campus where she lived and studied for a year and three months. This day would come sooner or later.Lao Mu didn't give himself a chance, that is, he wanted to work harder to improve his English score, and during this period of time, he really worked hard. If it weren't for those days that were delayed by the earthquake, his English score would probably be worse than it is now. It's better, no matter what homework, Mu Zhen is confident that she can learn it well, but her own conditions are limited, and only she knows this matter in her heart. Although she can't understand the reason, she already feels that she is unable to do what she wants.

The class bell rang again. Mu Zhen rubbed her eyes with her hands, and ran back to the classroom without looking back. He didn't want to go back. He was nostalgic for the environment here, the teachers here, and the classmates here. remember.

The last section is the self-study class. Everyone just sat down. The head teacher, Mr. Li, walked up to the podium and glanced at the whole class. All the students focused their eyes on the podium, thinking that Mr. Li must have something important to do when he comes to the self-study class. speak.

"Mu Zhen in our class has completed the transfer procedures today and left our group!" Teacher Li paused here, because he saw the tears rolling down the face of Mu Zhen who was sitting in the front row. I don't want to continue talking, lest I hurt another child's childish heart.

"Please continue to study by yourself!" Teacher Li understands that it is inconvenient to say anything more about this matter. From Mu Zhen's tears, one can read the child's heart and understand the parents' intentions. As a teacher, he also showed a little helplessness , After saying these words, Teacher Li walked out of the classroom by himself.

With the sound of the classroom door being closed, the originally quiet classroom immediately became uneasy. Everyone whispered, talking about something in a low voice?The voice of this discussion was replaced by Mu Zhen's sobbing immediately, everyone fell silent, and Mu Zhen lay down on the desk and stopped sobbing.For him, this was his last lesson in this class. He thought of Daudet's "Last Lesson", and he remembered the phrase "Poor man, now let him break up with all this, Why don't you tell him not to be sad?" A line of hot tears rolled down again.

The bell rang for the end of get out of class. This was the shortest class he felt since he went to school. How he wished that time could stop in this class, how he wished that everything would be reversed. He could stay and continue to study and study here with everyone.But this is an extravagant hope. After class, he doesn't care about eating. Even if he has big fish and meat, it is difficult for him to swallow at this time.He silently started packing the things on the table. His deskmate looked at him blankly, and then reached out to help him put the books in his schoolbag.When the packing was almost done, Ma Facheng and another classmate named Li Mingbo sent him a brand new diary. It was a soft leather diary that he wanted to buy more than once. The cover of the book was his favorite. The cover is inlaid with the head of Jiang Dawei who sang "The Song of Peony". Because of financial constraints, he has not been willing to buy it. Now his friend gave it to him at parting. Mu Zhen opened the title page, and it was written: Ma Huacheng Li Mingbo gift.His tears spewed out again, a touch of touch, deep emotion, he really couldn't think of what he should give back to the two friends.He just said silently in his heart, hoping to meet the Prime Minister again.

The scene in the classroom was clearly seen by Lao Mu standing outside the window. At this time, Lao Mu felt a little sour in his heart. He was afraid that Mu Zhen would not pass the exam. It's hate, I can't say clearly, but at this time, Lao Mu really became a little confused.

(End of this chapter)