CHAPTER 17: CHAPTER 17: DON’T SLAP MY BUTT

Zhao Meimei attended the preschool class affiliated with the nearby Seventh Elementary School for a year. Her lunar birthday is late, and her solar birthday is early, so she can start elementary school this September.

Liu Xiue and Zhao Dazhuang were lying in bed discussing which elementary school Zhao Meimei should attend when they had nothing to do in the evening.

Liu Xiue analyzed with Zhao Dazhuang: "You have to go to work every day, and once Meimei starts elementary school, your times will clash, so you won’t be able to take her. I need to watch over our grocery store at home. I can get up early to take her in the morning, but picking her up in the evening really is when I’m selling goods. To save time, I suggest sending her to the Seventh Elementary School; it’s at least close to home."

Zhao Dazhuang, who studied more than Liu Xiue, and has knowledge, listened to his wife’s shallow analysis and frowned, rebutting: "That’s not acceptable. How can we sacrifice learning for a little time savings?"

Liu Xiue was unconvinced: "How is that sacrificing learning? It’s just elementary school; does it even matter where you go?"

Zhao Dazhuang flipped up from the bed, propped on his elbow, and turned to Liu Xiue: "Of course, it matters! Schools vary in quality, and the teaching resources and educational standards are not the same. Elementary school is crucial! A child’s character and qualities are cultivated from elementary school onwards; I won’t let my daughter lose at the starting line!"

Liu Xiue coldly snorted, thinking Zhao Dazhuang was making a big deal out of nothing: "You won’t let our daughter lose, but once she starts school, you’ll be asking your boss for leave every day to take and pick her up?"

Looking at Liu Xiue’s charming pout, Zhao Dazhuang thought it over. It’s only the end of May, and there’s still time to inquire about schools and enroll next month. Once a good school is registered, any difficulties can be overcome; there’s really no need to worry so early.

Zhao Dazhuang, always optimistic, smiled close to Liu Xiue, whispering: "Wife, are you mad at me again?"

Liu Xiue pushed his head away: "Get away from me! You’re annoying!"

Zhao Dazhuang snuggled closer: "I don’t annoy you; I adore you!"

Liu Xiue couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing: "Such a smooth talker!"

Zhao Dazhuang lowered his head: "You’re my wife, if I don’t smooth talk to you, who else?"

Liu Xiue semi-pushed him and laughed softly.

At the end of June, Zhao Meimei’s preschool class at the Seventh Elementary School was getting ready for summer vacation. After the holiday, her classmates would all go their separate ways, officially heading toward elementary school.

Having spent a year together, they’ve developed deep friendships, and among the classmates, Zhao Meimei has the best connections. Her pals were around her, reluctantly saying goodbye.

Zhao Meimei also couldn’t bear to part from them, forcing her thin eyelids down, trying to hide her nose’s sourness and the urge to cry.

One little classmate asked her: "Zhao Meimei, will you still play with us when you start elementary school?"

"Of course!" Zhao Meimei replied straightforwardly: "I definitely won’t forget you all!"

She said this, putting her hand on her chest and repeating what her Brother Yangyang once said: "I’ve put all of you in my heart; I won’t forget a single one. Don’t worry!"

Zhao Meimei was here making her final goodbyes to her classmates when Shi Yang craned his neck outside the classroom window to peek inside.

The school Shi Yang attended was also on break, having just finished the final exam today, he figured he had time, so on the way home, he detoured to pick up Zhao Meimei from the Seventh Elementary School.

Zhao Meimei, still emotional with her pals, glanced up to see her Brother Yangyang standing outside the large classroom window. She immediately waved at Shi Yang excitedly, waiting for the teacher’s signal to announce dismissal, then quickly grabbed her backpack and rushed out.

Her friends were still calling out to her: "Zhao Meimei!"

Zhao Meimei ran while answering: "Yeah! I won’t forget you all! My Brother Yangyang is here to pick me up! I have to go home!"

Zhao Meimei sprinted out of the classroom door, happily jumping onto Shi Yang, the farewell sadness completely gone.

Seeing Shi Yang, Zhao Meimei forgot everything else.

Zhao Meimei held onto Shi Yang’s hand, letting him help her carry her backpack, looking up with delight, asking: "Brother Yangyang, why did you come to pick me up today? Did mom ask you?"

Shi Yang spoke with a smile curling at his lips: "No, I checked the time after my exam and came especially to pick you up!"

Zhao Meimei’s shiny black eyes curved like crescents: "You came on your bike?"

Shi Yang said: "Yes, I did."

"Great!" Zhao Meimei raised her hand and smacked Shi Yang’s butt, feeling the tightness of his muscles even through his pants:

Shi Yang stopped smiling, frowned, and reprimanded: "Zhao Meimei, what did you just do?"

Zhao Meimei chuckled: "I smacked your butt!"

Shi Yang kept a straight face, pretending to scold: "Who taught you that? It’s so disrespectful!"

Zhao Meimei wasn’t scared of Shi Yang, swinging from his arm, bouncing up and down, explaining: "That’s how I show that I adore you! They always do this on TV, haven’t you watched the drama at half past seven in the evening? The young master likes his maid, so he often smacks her butt."

Shi Yang glared at Zhao Meimei: "Zhao Meimei, are you not listening to me?"

Zhao Meimei saw her Brother Yangyang was truly angry, so she immediately became obedient, stopped playing with his arm, and stood properly beside him, anxiously explaining: "I am listening to you!"

Shi Yang looked at her anxious expression, and most of his anger dissipated. He still held his stern face, educating her: "What you did was very disrespectful, and the meaning the drama conveys isn’t the same as what you think."

Zhao Meimei didn’t quite understand, tilted her head, and asked: "How is it different? The young master likes the maid!"

Shi Yang patiently explained: "Did the young master end up marrying that maid?"

Zhao Meimei thought carefully: "The young master definitely marries the young madam, why would he marry the maid?"

Shi Yang continued: "Does the young master also smack the young madam’s butt?"

Zhao Meimei shook her head: "Nope."

Shi Yang concluded: "So you see, the young master respects the young madam, which is why he doesn’t do such things."

Zhao Meimei understood: "Oh, so the young master doesn’t respect the maid, so he smacks her butt."

Shi Yang nodded.

Zhao Meimei quickly covered her own butt and took two steps back.

Shi Yang was puzzled, looking at her: "What are you doing?"

Zhao Meimei seriously said: "Brother Yangyang, from now on, don’t smack my butt!"

Shi Yang asked her: "Why not?"

Zhao Meimei squinted her small eyes: "Because you’re definitely going to marry me in the future! You have to respect me! If you smack my butt, I’ll become a maid, and I won’t stand for that!"

Shi Yang: "..."