The Inquiry of Life

Author: Zhang Haidi
Editor-in-Chief: Yang Dehua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-11-01
Features: Excerpt:
bsp; The bed was still in use, and chicken manure was scattered on it. We teased it, making it fly, jump, and squawk. I felt happier than I ever had before that day. Later, the door burst open, and the nurse in the isolation room stared at us with wide eyes, then suddenly shouted, "Who did this?" The rooster seized the opportunity to dash out from the nurse's legs. The nurse had us stand side by side. This time, she didn't ask us for injections or medicine, nor did she give us cookies and candies, but instead had us confess our mistakes one by one. We stood there with lowered heads, realizing our mistake as we thought about the messy room. Later, the nurse said, "Come on, you'll go to the clinic first to spray your throats, and we'll also need to disinfect here with formaldehyde." On the way to the clinic, I pouted and wondered if I would ever be this happy again.
The Grey Wolf · Black Dog Skin · Red Chili
What's your name? How old are you?
Five and a half.
That day, in a school office, I bravely stood before two female teachers and answered their questions seriously. These questions weren't difficult at all. As I thought this, I tugged at my floral skirt, which had become wrinkled while sitting on the chair waiting for the exam. I didn't want to give these two teachers a messy impression, especially the young one, who had dimples when she smiled. Her soft braids hung down by her ears, and the blue bow ties she wore were truly beautiful! As I answered the teachers' questions, my dad sat nearby, watching me with encouraging eyes. On the way to the exam, Dad told me, "Don't be nervous—you'll do well. You're not afraid, are you?" Maybe Dad gave me confidence, because when I finally let go of his hand, which had been holding mine the whole time, and walked up to the teachers, I wasn't afraid at all.
Child, come here. Let's look at these cards.
At that moment, the teacher with the floral-framed glasses, who was sitting behind the desk, reached out her hand to me. A few strands of white hair had already appeared at her temples, and her eyes, looking through the glasses, were filled with kindness.