Chapter 394 - 388: School Registration

Yun Jiao’s family kept a few yellow butter crabs for themselves and sold the others—around twenty in total.

It left Ah Wang grinning from ear to ear.

Su Huan sold everything he could. All he had left were some small assorted fish and a few worthless mussels, which he planned to take back and eat with his Grandma.

As soon as he was paid, he immediately pulled out three yuan to give to Yun Linhai.

"Uncle, this is for gas. I can’t let you take me along for free, otherwise I won’t feel right about it."

Su Huan was young, just a year older than Yun Xiaojiu, but he was very mature and handled things like a little adult.

Children from poor families have to grow up fast. At home, it was just him and his grandmother depending on each other. Even at his young age, Su Huan had to support their home, so he acted with a maturity and steadiness beyond his years.

Yun Linhai accepted it without any fuss.

"Alright. You’re starting school soon, aren’t you? Feel free to look me up during your next school holiday. Or you can go forage for things by the sea."

Su Huan was happy to see him take the money.

"Great, thank you, Uncle."

He had earned a whole thirty-eight yuan today, and he even got to bring some seafood home. It was much easier and more profitable than fighting with others over scraps or collecting trash.

Su Huan didn’t ask for a ride and walked home by himself.

"That kid... he’s so sensible."

Truth be told, Yun Linhai hadn’t wanted to take the three yuan. But if he hadn’t, the boy probably wouldn’t have felt right about it.

Shen Yunlian nodded. "I’d rather my own kids not have to be so sensible, though. It’s better if they can just take their time growing up."

Growing up fast, taking on responsibility early... it sounds like a compliment.

But only those who live it know the hardship behind it.

More than wanting them to be sensible and mature, she just hoped her children could have a safe, stable, and happy childhood.

Before school started, Yun Jiao’s shipwreck salvage permit came through.

Naturally, she was too young to apply for it herself.

So it was issued in her father Yun Linhai’s name.

"Now that the permit is here, when should we go salvage the contents of that shipwreck?"

Yun Linhe said, "The two of us can only drive the boat. We can’t go down into the sea with Jiaojiao to do the salvaging."

Yun Jiao said, "I’ll do it myself."

’At that depth, forget them—even someone with professional diving gear wouldn’t be able to get down there.’

However, Yun Jiao’s godfather had left them two sets of diving gear last time. While they couldn’t be used to reach the shipwreck, they could be used to explore other parts of the sea.

The two brothers discussed it and decided to wait until after Yun Jiao registered for school.

Their Jiaojiao’s academic progress was already far beyond the first-grade level.

’But she was still a child, and a childhood without school just isn’t complete.’

July soon came to an end. As August arrived, schools began opening for registration.

Red Star Primary School in their town had its registration day on August 3rd.

As for Yun Chen Nan and Yun Xiao Liu, they had already taken a train to the Capital five days earlier.

On the day of school registration, Yun Xiaowu and his brothers, for once, didn’t sleep in. They were all up bright and early, their clothes worn crisp and proper.

None of their clothes had patches anymore; their old, patched-up outfits had been given away to others in the village long ago.

Seeing the brothers lined up, anyone could tell their family was well-off.

"Jiaojiao, get up! We have to go register for school."

Yun Xiaowu, Xiaoqi, Yun Xiao Ba, and Yun Xiaojiu, with red scarves tied neatly around their necks, appeared at Yun Jiao’s door.

Yun Jiao opened the door with a yawn, her hair still a bit of a mess.

Before she could say a word, they grabbed her by the arms and hustled her downstairs.

Yun Jiao: ???

"I haven’t even changed my clothes!"

The moment they got downstairs, the boys were all disciplined by their mothers.

Wang Mei said, "It’s the first day of school, and you’re already asking for a spanking."

Shen Yunlian nodded in agreement.

She took Yun Jiao back to her room to change into a nice outfit.

She didn’t put her in a dress. Hardly any of the girls at school wore dresses these days, and it was best for their Jiaojiao not to stand out.

She was dressed in a pair of small denim overalls, with a brand-new, light pink bookbag.

Her hair was tied in two low pigtails, and her bangs were clipped back with a small seashell barrette, revealing a smooth, full forehead.

Her pretty little face was on full display, and the tiny girl was brimming with energy.

"My Jiaojiao is just so pretty."

Shen Yunlian and Wang Mei circled her, looking her over and over, extremely pleased.

Yun Xiaowu nodded. "Of course she is. And whose sister is she, anyway?"

Shen Yunlian rolled her eyes at him. "You sure know how to take credit!"

Yun Xiaojiu, wearing an identical pair of overalls, stood next to his sister.

"We’re the ones who really look like siblings. Fifth Brother, you’re too tan. You’re not as handsome as me, and you don’t look like Jiaojiao and me."

"Bullshit! I’m the closest to Jiaojiao."

Just as the brothers were about to start bickering again over who was closest to Yun Jiao, Wang Mei and Shen Yunlian each gave them a light smack to quiet them down.

Yun Xiao Ba protested, "I didn’t say anything!"

’This is so unfair!’

Wang Mei stated calmly, "Watching the drama makes you just as guilty."

Finally, everyone was ready to head to the school for registration.

But as Yun Jiao looked at the large crowd of family members standing in the courtyard, she felt the whole procession was a bit much.

"Grandpa, Grandma, you’re coming too?"

Grandpa Yun replied, "I’ve never taken my granddaughter to school before. I want to experience it! I also want to see which class Jiaojiao is in and get familiar with the school, so it’ll be easier for me to attend parent-teacher conferences later."

Yun Linhai said, "Dad, you’re getting on in years. I should be the one going to parent-teacher conferences."

Shen Yunlian and Wang Mei chimed in at the same time, "I can go, too."

Yun Xiaowu asked, "For Jiaojiao’s parent-teacher conference, as her older brother, I’m basically a guardian. Can I go too?"

"Oh, shut up."

’The adults are already fighting over it, what’s it got to do with you?’

Yun Jiao: ...

’She hadn’t even started school yet, and they were already fighting over parent-teacher conferences that hadn’t even been scheduled.’

Granny Yun said, "All right, what is there to argue about? Whoever’s free when the time comes can go."

They walked to the school.

Along the way, they ran into acquaintances and greeted them warmly.

"You all heading to the market?"

"Nope, today’s the day our Jiaojiao registers for school. We’re all seeing her off."

The person: ...

’So many of you are going just for one kid’s school registration?’

"That family really dotes on their kid."

After they were out of sight, the person remarked with a sigh.

"Not a single one of them is working this morning, just to send one child to school."

But someone next to him said, "What do you mean? When Yun Xiaowu and the others started school, you didn’t see the whole family turn out to take them."

"It’s just because it’s Yun Jiao. The whole family dotes on that little girl."

"You can say that again."

By now, everyone in the village had basically come to accept the fact that Yun Jiao was the family favorite.

All the girls in the village, big and small—heck, even the boys—were envious and jealous of her.

After all, who wouldn’t want to be so completely and utterly favored?

When they arrived at the school, the family naturally drew quite a bit of attention.

"That family has so many children! And they’re dressed so well. Just look at those healthy, rosy faces—you can tell they’re not short on money."