Chapter Seventeen: Summer School

After the final exams, I thought I could finally relax and enjoy two carefree months of summer vacation. Who could have guessed that the school would issue a notice: all first-year students were required to attend two weeks of remedial classes. The news sent a wave of dismay through the student body, but as the most powerless group in society, we could only grumble helplessly. In the end, everyone reluctantly handed over the hundred-yuan fee and trudged back to school under the blazing sun.

Perhaps the school had a pang of conscience, or maybe it was simply trying to quell the growing complaints. On the second day of classes, they moved us to the lecture hall, where there was air conditioning. The discontented murmurs gradually faded away.

Recently, things had been a little tense between Lele and me because of Chuchu. Since these weren't official classes, everyone sat wherever they pleased. So I joined Lele in a window-side corner.

Haozi sat in front of us, absorbed in a magazine he’d borrowed. I prodded him several times, but he was too engrossed to notice. With nothing else to do, I turned to Lele, who was diligently listening to the teacher and jotting down notes. With no one paying me any attention, I sprawled across the desk, stretching out my hand to play with the little tassel on Lele’s sleeve.

Lele frowned and shot me a look, as if about to say something, but simply bit her tongue and turned back to the lesson.

“Piggy Bei, let’s go to your place for lunch,” Haozi suddenly leaned back and blurted out.

“Mm,” I replied lazily, not even lifting my head. I squinted at Lele and grinned. At first, Lele pretended not to notice, but after a while, she began to fidget under my gaze.

Finally, Lele pushed her book forward and leaned in, feigning a fierce glare. “Hey, have you stared enough yet? You’re so annoying!” Her voice was low, afraid the teacher might hear.

“Heh, with a wife as pretty as you, how could I ever have my fill?” I yawned, grinning cheekily.

“You…” Frustrated by my teasing, Lele didn’t know what to say. She turned away, propped her chin on her hand, and ignored me.

At long last, class was over and everyone surged out of the lecture hall. The midday sun was scorching, making it hard to keep our eyes open, and the drastic difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures was really uncomfortable. Even with an umbrella, we were drenched in sweat after only a few steps across the playground.

The bike shed was crammed with people. I handed Lele the umbrella and asked her to wait outside, then braced myself and squeezed in. The stifling smell of sweat was suffocating. To my dismay, my beloved bike had been knocked over and was pinned beneath two others. After much dragging and tugging, I finally freed it, inching my way out with the crowd. When I checked the time, I was shocked to see twenty minutes had passed.

Pushing my bike to look for Lele, I found she was no longer where I’d left her. “Where did that woman run off to?” I muttered. Suddenly, I felt a chill shoot up the back of my neck. Reflexively, I turned around and there was Lele, holding a freshly bought bottle of ice-cold mineral water.

“Ha! Piggy Bei, you’re just too cute.” Lele’s laughter was infectious, and even as she handed me the water, she kept giggling, clutching her stomach.

“Is it really that funny?” I took the bottle, twisted off the cap, and gulped down the icy water. The coolness spread through my body, driving away the summer heat.

With no one home to cook, Lele suggested we go to her place and she’d make lunch for me. Since I’d never tasted her cooking, I agreed at once.

Having visited Lele’s house a few times, I knew my way around. She told me to watch TV in the living room, then slipped into the kitchen.

“Lele, let me help you,” I offered, hovering in the kitchen doorway.

“No, you’ll only make things worse. Leave it to me.” Even as she spoke, her hands were busy. “Move, Piggy, you’re blocking the fridge.”

I stepped back, a little put out. “You really don’t need your househusband?”

With her back to me, Lele opened the fridge. “Piggy Bei, just go watch TV and don’t cause trouble for your big sister.”

“Sister? Come on, I’m older than you! And I’m your husband…”

“Go cool off somewhere else! If you keep nagging, you’ll be kneeling on the chopping board.” Lele took out several plates, closed the fridge with her foot, and nudged me out of the way before heading back to the kitchen.

It seemed there’d be no chance for me to show off today; I’d just have to sit back and enjoy the meal like a lord. Scratching my head, I wandered to the living room and turned on the TV.

These days, girls who can cook are few and far between—and Lele’s cooking really was impressive. Stir-fried beef with green peppers, eggs with yellow chives, and a plate of vibrant water spinach salad had me practically drooling. Before Lele could even sit down, I grabbed my chopsticks and popped a piece of beef into my mouth.

“Mmm, so delicious…” I praised between bites. Lele, used to my compliments, just smiled, then brought out a pot of porridge. “Grandma made extra this morning, so let’s make do with that.”

I quickly set down my chopsticks, got up to take the pot, and served us each a bowl. On a sweltering day, cool porridge felt just right, and with Lele’s excellent cooking, my appetite soared.

“Having you as my wife would be a blessing…” I couldn’t help teasing her.

“Then marry me,” Lele said, looking up with a smile, chopsticks still in her mouth.

“Then I’ll have a houseful of kids and a pack of puppies…” I set down my bowl and started counting on my fingers, feigning seriousness.

“Have them yourself, you big-headed fool! I’m not a sow!” Lele immediately shot back, waving her chopsticks threateningly—just as my phone rang.

It was Haozi. “Piggy Bei! Where’d you go? I’ve nearly broken your door down!”

“Oh, right…” I smacked my forehead, having completely forgotten Haozi had planned to come over. “Sorry, I’m at Lele’s place. Totally slipped my mind.”

“Never mind, you two lovebirds enjoy yourselves. I won’t disturb you,” Haozi said magnanimously.

Before I knew it, we’d polished off every dish. Sitting at the table, Lele started to look sleepy.

“Wife, go take a nap. I’ll handle the dishes,” I said, dragging her off to the bedroom before she could protest. If I didn’t step up now, I’d lose all face as a boyfriend.

Lele was truly tired; after a token protest, she gave in. She kicked off her slippers, flopped onto the bed, and mumbled, “Thanks, Piggy Bei. Wash the dishes, and if you’re tired, have a nap too…”

“Got it.” I promised, quietly closed the door, and stepped out of the bedroom…