CHAPTER 143: 142: REPORT (FIRST UPDATE) REQUEST FOR MONTHLY TICKETS

Ye Ling estimated that it was just past nine o’clock. There was only one bespectacled teacher sitting behind the desk. Seeing Ye Ling coming over carrying things alone, looking so thin and small, the teacher assumed she was from the countryside. After all, circumstances are tough now, and to save on travel expenses, rural kids usually come to school by themselves carrying their luggage. But when Ye Ling reported her name, the teacher’s gaze towards her evidently changed.

"Are you Ye Ling, the one who came first in the whole city?" This was known to everyone.

The person is a student from the same school and a military child at that. Now seeing the child coming alone, it was hard to believe it would be just one person.

"Yes." Ye Ling admitted with a smile.

She understood why the teacher had a look of disbelief.

Now that she confirmed it herself, the teacher didn’t ask any more questions. "You just go directly to the high school dormitory building over there. Look for Aunt Sun when you get there; she’ll take you to the dormitory where the freshman high school students live."

Ye Ling thanked the teacher, and then, carrying her things, she walked briskly towards the dormitory building. The junior high school was in the front, and the high school was behind it, separated by a large playground. First came the teaching buildings, followed by another playground behind them. Finally, enclosing the school with a wall were the dormitories.

In this era, the dormitories were still single-story buildings, so they were easy to find. As Ye Ling carried her luggage and wash basin all the way to the dormitory, it was quiet all around. Only when she walked did the basin clatter. She didn’t need to call anyone, as the sound alerted a middle-aged woman who came out.

"Aunt Sun? I’m a new freshman reporting in." Ye Ling greeted first.

Sun Yue had a square face and looked very serious. She nodded, "Come with me."

Turning around to lead the way, she didn’t say much and stopped at the westernmost room in the dormitory building. She took out a key from the key board, opened the door, and stepped aside, "You are the first to report. The room hasn’t been cleaned yet. After you put your things down, come to me to get a broom and clean up the dormitory yourself."

"Alright." Ye Ling replied cheerfully, thanked Aunt Sun again, and then carried her luggage into the room after watching her leave.

Inside were metal framed bunk beds with two pairs of bunks against the northern wall and another bunk bed by the southern window, which had good lighting. Ye Ling was glad she had come early and chose the lower bunk by the window. The bed was laid with a straw mat, fine for summer, but it would feel cold in winter. Ye Ling put her things down first, moved the mat outside, shook off the dust, and then placed her bedding on it after putting the mat back. She folded her quilt simply and placed it on top, put other belongings under the bed, and then went to get the broom from Aunt Sun to clean the dormitory.

She swept the dust off each bunk, rolled up her things to avoid getting dust on them, swept the floor, and, using a cloth she got from Aunt Sun, fetched water from the sink on the west side to wipe down the dormitory. She opened all the windows, airing out the dusty smell, leaving the room very clean.

Finally, washed her hands and face quickly, she started to make up her bed again. Just then, she heard footsteps. Looking up, a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl entered with a middle-aged man and woman following. From their clothing, they were middle class for the time. The girl wore a plaid dress, and her feet had black leather shoes.

Back then, not everyone could afford leather shoes, costing at least a month’s salary for a regular worker. After one glance, Ye Ling could tell the girl’s family was well-off.

The girl glanced around the room, her eyes finally settling on Ye Ling’s bed. Then she turned her head to her mother and nudged. The middle-aged woman nodded, walked over to Ye Ling, and smiled, "Little girl, can we discuss something? My daughter Ji Hong is timid. Can you switch with her and take the upper bunk? I have some peanuts here; have a taste, they’re delicious."

Saying this, she pulled out a handful of peanuts from her pocket and placed them in Ye Ling’s hands. Ye Ling pulled away, unwilling to take them, "Auntie, there are still four empty bunks over there. Your daughter can choose one. I’m timid too and won’t dare sleep on the upper bunk."

Who do you take for a fool?

Ye Ling keenly observed the woman in front of her; with four beds available, she insisted on fighting for hers, and now using timidity as an excuse. Did she really think Ye Ling was a fool?

Seeing Ye Ling say this, Zhang Shuling was also embarrassed. After all, with the good lighting here, how could the four bunks by the north wall compare to this bed? In the end, she could only turn back to look at her daughter.

Ji Hong twisted her body, walked over, pointed to the bunk above Ye Ling’s, "Mom, I’ll sleep up here. Make the bed for me."

She didn’t even glance at Ye Ling, but Ye Ling didn’t mind. She never sought to please everyone. If she met people she didn’t like, she’d keep her distance. She had no need to curry favor. Whether others liked her or not, or whether they had money, was none of her business.

Seeing her daughter not causing a scene, Zhang Shuling sighed in relief, smiled, and called her husband over to help, "Ji Jiang, lay the sponge mat for Xiao Hong. It will keep her warm in winter."

The voice was so loud, it was as if her husband was outside rather than in the room. Clearly, she had her own agenda. Ye Ling smirked, having understood most of this family’s nature. Ji Hong’s father seemed honest, always with a grin, doing whatever was pointed out, while her mother, always acting according to her daughter’s preferences, was self-centered and loved to flaunt.

As a result, while the upper bunk was being made, Ye Ling down below suffered. The neatly laid quilt at the foot of the bed was lifted up, shoes directly stomped on the mat. Once the shoe was moved, the quilt was pushed aside, no doubt dirty by now.

Ye Ling wouldn’t wrong herself. She addressed Ji Hong’s father, who was reaching over to hand things, "Uncle, when you’re making the bed up there, don’t lift my mat. Your shoes have dirtied the quilt laid here."

Ji Jiang, who had been helping his wife hand things over, noticed what Ye Ling said and saw the mess made of her quilt. He turned red, "Oh, oh, okay, I’ll be more careful next time. Sorry about that, young girl."

Seeing him being so easygoing, Ye Ling nodded, saying nothing more. However, the incident was perceived differently by others.

Ji Hong, sitting on the dormitory’s only chair, raised her head hearing Ye Ling’s words, "If you don’t want people stepping on it, take the upper bunk. How else can we make the bed? This isn’t your home after all." (To be continued. If you like this work, please head over to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)