lcionline Chapter 1861 The First Next Generation
Chapter 1861 The First Next Generation
"Li Xiangnan! How could we not come!"
When the Youth League Secretary Ge Lu saw him, she greeted him with a bright and clear voice, and pointed to the students behind her, saying, "Everyone is so happy for you!"
Li Xiangnan's throat tightened slightly as he looked around at the kind and familiar faces, deeply moved.
The students immediately surrounded him, greeting him all at once.
"Look at the difference, Lao Li! How could we not come to such a joyous occasion? We're still so young, and you've already become a dad, haha!"
"Yes, Xiang Nan, where's your sister-in-law? Where's the child? Are they inside? Let's go check!"
"You really kept it a secret! If we hadn't asked Hu Yinglong, we wouldn't have known your child was born!"
This lighthearted banter, devoid of any belittling tone, left Li Xiangnan with a complex and indescribable feeling.
Zhang Jian laughed heartily, pushed up his thick glasses, carefully took out a few red-shelled eggs from his bag, wrapped them in a clean handkerchief, and showed one to Li Xiangnan, looking somewhat embarrassed.
"Li Xiangnan, I asked my mom to collect more than thirty of them in the village and bring them over by bus. Each student in our class will represent one and dye them red to bring joy to the children!"
As soon as the class monitor Zhang Jianyi spoke, a shy female classmate took out a pair of cotton shoes from a cloth bag. The shoes had fine stitches sewn on them, with a festive red double happiness symbol.
"I... learned to embroider from my sister-in-law. It's not very good, but the materials are solid and it will definitely keep the baby warm in winter!"
Li Xiangnan noticed that her cheeks were slightly flushed and there were still some needle marks on her fingers.
These days, a pair of handmade cloth shoes represents a sentiment that money can't buy.
Youth League Secretary Ge Lu took out a brand-new notebook, and upon opening the first page, one found it filled with the students' densely packed blessings.
“This is just a small token of our appreciation. Everyone has filled this notebook with their blessings for the child,” she said softly. “Keep this for Xitang. When she grows up, tell her that this was a birthday gift from her father’s classmate! We’ve all written our hometown addresses at the back. If she ever encounters difficulties in the future, no matter where she is, we will do everything we can to help her whenever she needs us!”
"..."
Upon hearing this, Li Xiangnan's throat tightened even more.
This is the most heartfelt and sincere support his classmates have for their child, and it is also a promise to the child's growth, which is more precious than any gift!
Many students also brought their own roasted peanuts, dried sweet potatoes, and even a small handful of fruit candies wrapped in a handkerchief and tucked into a jar...
These things, each one shabby, were all clean and tidy, carrying the most simple and sincere blessings of these college students from the 1980s.
Most of these students come from ordinary families and their monthly living allowances are meager. Many of them send four-fifths of their allowance home. The fact that they can offer these things is already the greatest kindness they can show.
Li Xiangnan accepted them one by one, his hands trembling slightly. He thanked them repeatedly, though the gifts were light, his heart was heavy with gratitude.
At this moment, Ge Lu took out a slightly crumpled red envelope from her pocket, which she had been hiding in for who knows how long, and stuffed it into Li Xiangnan's hand.
"Class monitor, this is a donation from our class for Xitang. It's not much money, but it's the thought that counts, so please accept it!"
When Li Xiangnan touched the thickness of the red envelope, his heart skipped a beat.
This is not a small amount; he could tell just by touching it that it was at least fifty yuan!
He wasn't short of money and absolutely didn't want to see his classmates struggling financially, so he quickly pushed the red envelope back, his tone very firm.
“Secretary Ge, I appreciate the students’ kind intentions, but I really can’t accept these red envelopes! None of us are well-off and are receiving living allowances. We are all students, and it’s not easy for us to save money. This money could be used to buy some study materials, which would be better than anything else. Even if you don’t like the food in the cafeteria, you can go out to eat. I, Li Xiangnan, will truly remember your kindness!”
Seeing his resolute refusal and insistence on returning the red envelope, Ge Lu retreated repeatedly, waving her hands, "Oh, Li Xiangnan, please don't refuse! Hu Yinglong paid the lion's share! The rest of us just contributed a few cents or a dollar as a token! If you want to thank someone, thank Hu Yinglong. And you absolutely cannot return it; we won't accept it, absolutely not!"
Upon hearing this, Li Xiangnan's face fell. His gaze locked onto Hu Yinglong, Duan Sijiu, and Lu Chen, who were hiding behind the crowd. With a hint of reproach and heartache, he shouted, "Well, Yinglong, you three can just hide! Didn't you come alone a few days ago and give red envelopes? Why are you paying the lion's share again? You're not comfortable if you don't spend all your salary, are you?"
Hu Yinglong was called out, so he had no choice but to squeeze forward, his face full of sincerity.
"Brother Nan, that's not the same! Last time it was just me, this time it's a collective effort! You have to understand, Xitang is the first next generation in our class, it's everyone's wish! I have to contribute, and besides, I've forgotten how much I contributed!"
His tone was stubborn, carrying the loyalty and sincerity unique to young people of his age.
Moreover, the phrase "the first next generation in the whole class" resonated deeply with Li Xiangnan.
"Little Li!" At this moment, Duan Sijiu, the oldest among them, came out and patted him on the shoulder. "Take it. Everyone is genuinely happy for you!"
Li Xiangnan looked at him, knowing that further refusal would only hurt their brotherly bond and the feelings of many classmates. Overwhelmed with mixed emotions, he finally nodded to everyone, tightly clutching the heartfelt red envelope in his hand, and said in a hoarse voice, "I, Li Xiangnan, thank you, classmates!"
As soon as the gifts were given out, everyone rushed into the room, eager to see the dolls.
With so many people, there wasn't even enough room to stand, which left Qin Ruobai, Zhu Qiuju, and the others speechless, but they were also genuinely moved.
It was almost noon, so Zhu Qiuju put on an apron without saying a word and asked Hu Yinglong, Duan Sijiu, and Lu Chen to invite everyone to eat there.
The students were unwilling to let their elders cook for so many people, and the female students immediately erupted in protest.
"Auntie, you rest, we'll do it!"
"Yes, today I'll cook you a local chicken dish from our hometown!"
"Auntie, we have Shaxian snacks! I'll make a few dishes for you all to try!"
"Then I'll make Lanzhou noodles! Everyone, try my big bowl of wide noodles today!"
In an instant, the kitchen and yard were filled with young people eager to get to work.
Some were washing vegetables, some were fetching water, some were chopping vegetables, and some were tending the fire. They directed and teased each other, and the occasional clumsiness that caused good-natured laughter intertwined into a symphony full of vitality and enthusiasm.
His technique was surprisingly skillful for his age; his pure, youthful energy was almost overwhelming.
Zhu Qiuju smiled from ear to ear, her eyes filled with loving kindness as she listened to the guidance of elders like Jiang Guiying.
The scene left the surrounding neighbors who were watching the spectacle completely dumbfounded.
However, just as the noise reached its peak, Wang Defa returned with his uncle Bai Chonglou, who had gone for a walk outside.
"Little Li!"
Hearing the shout, Li Xiangnan, who was squatting on the ground picking vegetables, sensed that something was wrong with Defa's tone and turned around to look.
Behind him followed a slightly uneasy, hesitant figure—his homeroom teacher, Mr. Ye Buping.
Teacher Ye was clutching a net bag tightly in her hand, inside which were two lonely cans of fruit.
He stood at the entrance to the bustling backyard, somewhat at a loss.
His face bore a mixture of the intellectual's unique aloofness and the predicament brought about by the reality of the moment.
He was wearing a faded Zhongshan suit with worn cuffs, but it was the best-looking outfit he could muster.
Seeing the room full of students and the numerous but not expensive gifts on the table in the courtyard, he subconsciously hid the net bag in his hand behind his back.
The two cans of food reflected a faint light in the sunlight, further highlighting his poverty and unease.
His students gave him far more than he, the teacher, which deeply wounded his conscience and dignity.
Seeing this clearly, Li Xiangnan felt a pang of sympathy. He quickly stepped forward, pushed through the crowd, and called out with surprise and respect, "Teacher Ye, you've arrived! Please come in!"