Meng Yan's Transformation

Chapter 552 Writing a Letter to the Principal

"You don't look old, but your serious expression makes you look over sixty. You're too somber. If you smiled, I'd say you're like a flower blooming in the morning sun, vibrant, radiant, full of energy, and full of vitality..."

As Zhan Mengyan spoke, she reached out and scratched the itchy spot under Dong Hanmei's armpit.

Dong Hanmei didn't dodge well and was caught by Zhan Mengyan. She felt ticklish even through her clothes and couldn't help but laugh. The two of them ran towards the classroom, playfully bickering.

The school gate was bustling with activity as students excitedly poured into the campus, their faces beaming with anticipation and joy. Carrying their new schoolbags, they excitedly shared their holiday stories, and laughter echoed throughout the corridors and playground.

The students gathered in small groups, sharing their stories one after another, some even blushing with excitement. Some students bounced slightly in their seats, cheering with clenched fists; others circled the podium, debating the highlights of their holiday, gesturing wildly, their joy at the reunion evident; some hugged their old classmates tightly, while others high-fived each other in celebration.

The new books smelled of fresh ink, and as students flipped through the pages, their eyes sparkled with a thirst for knowledge and a yearning for the future, laughter and chatter filled the air.

Zhan Mengyan didn't receive a new book because she hadn't ordered one and was using the old books that Zhang Xincheng had used. She picked up Dong Hanmei's new book and compared it with her old book to see how many curriculum reforms there were.

"Zhan Mengyan, why don't you stay at my second sister's house for the next few days and help me catch up on the lessons I missed last semester? Also, my eldest sister left behind a lot of textbooks; see if you can use them. I don't understand some of these books. I'm really afraid I won't be able to keep up with the class's pace. If I fall behind, I'll have to repeat a grade and won't be in the same class as you anymore."

When Dong Hanmei spoke, she was looking at her textbook and seemed somewhat confused.

"Dong Hanmei, this is a new book and new course. If you understand it now, you can go straight to the second year of high school. Don't worry, I can tutor you tonight for the classes you missed last semester. But you have to have confidence in yourself. Don't rush, you won't fall behind. We will definitely take the college entrance exam together and get into the same university. I want to go to a university in a big city. Which one do you want to go to?"

As Zhan Mengyan spoke, she looked at Dong Hanmei with endless longing.

"Zhan Mengyan, you really dare to dream big! A metropolis is the capital of our Xia Kingdom. The universities in metropolises are all national key universities, and the college entrance examination requirements are extremely high. Even for students from key high schools in Jin County, the number who can get into metropolises each year is extremely small, truly a rare breed. For an ordinary high school student like me, getting into an ordinary local university is already a very lucky thing. I don't have that many extravagant hopes. It's not even certain that I can finish high school."

While Dong Hanmei was speaking, she just sat there blankly, her eyes so empty that they seemed to hold the loneliness of the whole world, like a small boat adrift on a vast ocean. Her lips drooped, as if all her joy had been taken away. She lowered her head, her expression as dark as a sky covered with clouds, so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

Zhan Mengyan looked at Dong Hanmei's dejected appearance, as if she had lost her soul, and felt very sad: "Why is she like this again? Has that incident really ruined the Dong Hanmei who used to love to talk and laugh?"

Zhan Mengyan paused for a moment, then said, "Dong Hanmei, don't be so pessimistic, okay? Let's cheer each other on!"

As Zhan Mengyan spoke, she nudged Dong Hanmei with her elbow.

Dong Hanmei remained seated at her desk, motionless, looking like a wilted eggplant, listless and with the light in her eyes dimmed like a candle about to go out. Her disappointment was almost palpable. She stared quietly at the blackboard, her face filled with melancholy, like a fallen leaf drifting in autumn, full of helplessness and loss.

Just as Zhan Mengyan was feeling distressed and didn't know what to do, her homeroom teacher walked in.

"The new semester has begun, and we need to rearrange the seating according to factors such as height. Now, students, please line up in the hallway and enter the classroom according to your height. I will assign you seats!"

After the homeroom teacher finished speaking, the students walked out of the classroom in an orderly manner.

Zhan Mengyan and Dong Hanmei were not assigned to sit together. They each got new deskmates.

Zhan Mengyan's new deskmate is Xu Yanmei, a quiet girl. Xu Yanmei seemed unhappy about being assigned to sit next to Zhan Mengyan and went to the homeroom teacher to ask for a change of seats. After being refused by the homeroom teacher, she returned to her seat and gave Zhan Mengyan an awkward, bitter smile. Zhan Mengyan, not understanding what was going on, smiled and nodded back.

The homeroom teacher stood on the podium, his gaze sharp as a sword, as if he could see through the students' thoughts, making everyone unconsciously straighten their posture. His cold face made the air heavy, and his imposing aura made the classroom instantly silent, even the sound of the wind outside the window became cautious.

"Just now, after I finished assigning seats to everyone, a few students privately approached me requesting to change their seats, but I refused them all. The seating arrangements I made were carefully considered, and I don't want to explain the reasons behind them to any of you. I hope everyone will abide by this seating arrangement and not seek special treatment. As members of Class 1, Grade 1, please abide by this seating arrangement as you would any school rules. Now, everyone, please begin your self-study period!"

The homeroom teacher's voice was calm and powerful, each word like a warning bell, allowing no room for complacency.

Zhan Mengyan had originally intended to ask the homeroom teacher to let her sit next to Dong Hanmei. However, upon hearing the teacher's reprimand, she was so frightened that she abandoned the idea. She merely glanced at Dong Hanmei's seat, just as Dong Hanmei was looking at her. Their eyes met in the air, as if drawn together by invisible threads. They smiled at each other—instantly understanding each other's thoughts.

During self-study, Zhan Mengyan had a bold idea: she would write a letter to Principal Li Qian to apply for boarding at the school and a reduction in tuition fees.

Dear Principal Li:

Hello!

I am a student in Class 1, Grade 11 of high school. Due to my family's inability to afford tuition for this semester, I am applying for a tuition reduction. I come from the impoverished Xinxing Township. My family's main source of income is agriculture. My father is a veteran of the Korean War; he was shot in the head during the war, and shrapnel remains in his head, frequently causing dizziness and headaches, affecting his daily life and farming. My mother suffers from heart disease and stenosis of the second and a half lumbar vertebrae due to years of overwork, making her unable to do farm work. I also have an older brother who is in high school as well…

Zhan Mengyan wrote an opening but felt it wasn't good, so she rewrote it, and repeated this process of rewriting and revising over and over again...