The shop owner put down the scissors, switched to an electric clipper, and began trimming Jiang Ning's hair short.
Hearing the little girl's answer, the shop owner said, "Oh, you're in seventh grade? My youngest is a little older than you. She'll be starting eighth grade when school begins."
Having started on the subject, the shop owner became quite chatty and pressed on, "Which middle school do you go to?"
One lie required countless more to cover it up. Unable to back down, Xue Yuantong could only answer, "Iron Middle School."
The shop owner's tone rose. "Mine goes to Iron Middle School too."
Xue Yuantong felt helpless. Why was it such a coincidence?
The shop owner said earnestly, "Middle school isn't like elementary school. The things they teach are harder, and if you don't study seriously, you won't keep up. If you can't get into a good high school, your life will be ruined."
Xue Yuantong said blandly, "It's fine. Middle school stuff isn't any different from elementary school."
The shop owner smiled. "Don't underestimate it. The kid next door used to score over ninety every time in elementary school, but after starting middle school, he went online every day and ended up at the bottom of the class."
As she spoke, a chubby little girl came out from the back room. "Mom, give me ten yuan. I want to buy ice cream."
The shop owner had been smiling, but the moment she heard that, she frowned. "Eat, eat, eat. Will you starve to death if you skip one?"
The chubby little girl was quick-tongued. "If you won't let me eat, I'll go on a hunger strike like my sister and scare you to death!"
The shop owner nearly exploded in anger. The electric clipper in her hand jolted sharply;