Chapter 20 Publishing Composition
Teacher Wang handed over a brand-new soft leather notebook to Mei Xiaoran with a loving mother’s smile on her face. “This is the prize given to you by the newspaper. You should work hard to write a better composition in the future.”
Mei Xiaoran took it and opened the title page, only to find what was written on it ‘Presented to fellow student Mei Xiaoran. Hope your studies improve and progress to a higher level. Especially sent this book as a reward.’ At the bottom ‘Zhou Han, editor in chief of the weekly composition newspaper’, also stamped with his official seal.
It’s that simple, without the fee for manuscript. It’s just a notebook, but it’s of great significance! If you buy this kind of high-end soft leather notebook, you have to spend several Yuan. Even the teachers usually are reluctant to use it, so it can be said to be very generous. However, if they gave some manuscript fee, even though it was only two Yuan, it will make Mei Xiaoran happier.
Teacher Wang encouraged Mei Xiaoran again before letting her go back to study hard.
Mei Xiaoran returned to the classroom with a brand new soft leather notebook in hand.
Lu Xia, who still recites a lesson, is unable to restrain from gossiping and ask her, “How come that you are back with a notebook? Who gave it to you? This soft leather notebook is of superior quality!”
Mei Xiaoran had intended to hide this at first, but Lu Xia grabbed the notebook at once, opened the title page, saw the words written on it, and immediately exclaimed, “Ranran, this……This is……given to you by the weekly composition newspaper? Tell me quickly, what’s going on?”
“This is from before, when we had the placement test. Teacher Wang said that my composition was well written and recommended it to the weekly composition newspaper. In the end, maybe because of my dog’s shit luck, got chosen by the newspaper office.”
Lu Xia was so surprised that she didn’t know what to say. “It’s that simple? My God, Ranran, do you know that this means your composition will be published! “
“So what?” Mei Xiaoran still sighed innocently and smoothly picked up the English textbook, “I think, rather than sending me such a good high end notebook, it’s better to convert it into the manuscript fee.”
Lu Xia laughed loudly, “Ranran, you can really make me laugh to death. You are just a little money grubber.”
“That’s right. I would rather be a small money grubber!”
At this time, the bell rang. If it wasn’t because of a moment of delay this time, Mei Xiaoran felt that she should be able to memorize the textbook. Although she may not remember it perfectly, it should not be a problem after she memorized it.
“Guys, quickly come and have a look. Mei Xiaoran’s composition was published in the newspaper. This is a high quality notebook sent to her by the newspaper.” Lu Xia excitedly raised her notebook to show it to others, “Mei Xiaoran really gives our class, no, give our school a big honor!”
The classmates, one after another, cast envious glances over, and there’s even a classmate who was kicking up a fuss, “No wonder that the English Teacher called Mei Xiaoran out just now. It turned out that she was called to receive the prize. This notebook is really too beautiful!”
Vermillion colored soft suede leather, with big ‘Notebook’ letters gilded in gold, in one glance they know it is of a high quality. Some of the students even saw it for the first time and shouted more exaggeratedly.
At this time, an untimely voice sounded out in the class, “What’s so amazing? Isn’t it just a notebook, as if no one else has it.”
“Of course, no one else has this kind of notebook. In the notebook, there’s Mei Xiaoran’s name on it and a message from the editor in chief. Moreover, it was stamped with an official seal. Can it be the same as yours?” Lu Xia is also too overly excited. For fear that others don’t know, she helps Mei Xiaoran push back the dissatisfaction.
“Hmph, that’s nothing remarkable too. It’s not like there’s only Mei Xiaoran who can get their composition published.”
Now Mei Xiaoran not only heard it clearly, but also saw it clearly. The one who spoke was Qi Lin, the study committee member. However, she didn’t plan to quarrel with Qi Lin. After all, she is telling the truth. As long as one has the ability, anyone can publish a composition. There’s nothing wrong with that!
“Let’s go, let’s go. The classes are over and if you don’t hurry home to eat, don’t you feel hungry?”
Mei Xiaoran pulled Lu Xia and went out. She was really a little hungry!
Inside the classroom, she was delayed a few minutes and right now, there are not as many students that leave the school gate as before. When Mei Xiaoran and Lu Xia left the school gate, they met Ouyang Xun.
Wearing a white shirt and blue trousers, with a refreshing clean short hair.
Ouyang Xun’s outfit is exactly the standard for junior high school students, but the same clothes become particularly outstanding when he wears them. His whole body is full of youthful spirit, but it’s so bright and clear that it makes people feel the breeze of spring.
“Let’s go together.”
Ouyang said so without giving a chance for others to refuse and joined Mei Xiaoran and Lu Xia’s small group of returning home team.
Mei Xiaoran said nothing.
Everyone lives on the same street, and she has no reason to object in travelling together all the way.
Lu Xia did not know that Mei Xiaoran was deliberately alienating Ouyang Xun because of Qi Yao’s affairs. On the contrary, she happily started the conversation. “Older Brother Ouyang, you may still not know that Mei Xiaoran’s composition was published in the newspaper. The newspaper even sent her a prize! “
Ouyang Xun was slightly stunned, and then a smile slowly appeared on his beautiful face. “Mei Xiaoran, congratulations.”
Lu Xia, this big mouth, announcing it to each and everyone she met. Mei Xiaoran’s face even became a little red because of it. Isn’t it only publishing a composition? It’s really not a big deal, but everyone doesn’t think so.
“You guys should have adapted to the life of junior high school, right?”
“It’s still okay. Anyway, at the beginning, I was most worried about the English lesson. But now I find English is not that difficult. Just need to recite more and remember more.”
This is Lu Xia’s most direct experience, but for Mei Xiaoran, learning English is hard. Vainly lived for two lifetimes, still, there’s not the least improvement in her English. She really feels ashamed towards this one word of ‘rebirth’!
Ouyang Xun seemed to see through her mind. “Just take your time. Even though the threshold for English is not high, it is also not easy to learn it well. You must study, read and recite more. My dad said that the best way to learn is to recite words, read English books and listen to English. “
Mei Xiaoran looks at him like he was some kind of monster. This is not like a future where one can just listen to English unconditionally. If it is in the future, to listen to English, there are many ways to choose from. Whatever kind of radio, repeater, MP3, but now there is no reform and opening up yet in 1978, even the radio is not a hype yet.
Ouyang Xun asked again, “What about other subjects besides English?”
Lu Xia smiled embarrassedly. “Older Brother Ouyang, you know that I have a poor foundation and my study is only so-so. I can’t cope with the sudden addition of so many courses in junior high school. “
Mei Xiaoran still walked silently, without speaking.
The Third Junior High School is on the east side of the moat, and Mei Xiaoran’s house is next to the moat. Of the three, she is the first one to get home. Only when she approached the door of her house did she say goodbye to Lu Xia and Ouyang Xun.
Lu Xia waved her hand towards her, while Ouyang Xun responded with a friendly smile.
When she pushed open the courtyard door, Li Mingyun was hurrying out. When she saw Mei Xiaoran coming back, she left behind a sentence, “The meal is all ready. You eat it by yourself. I have something urgent and have to go out.”
“Mom, if you are in a hurry, why don’t you ride the bicycle? Running with two legs will only delay things more!”
“You are right. I already forgot that we had a bicycle at home.” Li Mingyun turns around and pushes the bicycle out of the courtyard. She then hurriedly goes westward……
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