On the twenty-seventh of the twelfth lunar month, Li Ye's private study room closed for the holiday, but it met with "tremendous" resistance.
Having grown accustomed to special meals, private lessons, and the warm environment of the Second Grain Store, Hu Man and the others simply refused to leave.
"Please, Li Ye, Xia Yue and the others still have one more day of class tomorrow! Let us study for one more day!"
"You don't need to make papers for us. There are still plenty of old problems we haven't practiced enough. We can review on our own."
"You don't need to feed us either. We've eaten too much meat these past few days. I saved two cabbages—we can just toss some cabbage hearts together and make do."
Hu Man, Han Xia, Jiang Xiaoyan, and the others all looked at Li Ye pitifully, tiptoeing around him as carefully as though they were serving a creditor, afraid he would get angry, flip the table, and refuse to pay them back.
Li Ye was irritated. Over the past two months, the friendship within their little group of eight had risen in a straight line, while his authority had gradually declined. Now, he could not even chase them out without losing his temper.
"Stop dragging your feet, every last one of you. Come back after the sixth day of the New Year! It's already the twenty-seventh. Even the production team's donkeys are on holiday—can't I rest for two days?"
"We really won't hold you up."
Hu Man and the others still wanted to insist, but Li Ye said, "Enough, enough. You should all go home and spend time with your families. Eat your mom's cooking, help your dad rub his back, and do your filial duty."
The girls exchanged glances. Han Xia said softly,