Shen Nuo Fei, You're Just a Little Sister

Raise the flag, sing the national anthem, sing the school song.

An upperclassman from second grade gave a speech beneath the flag, warmly welcoming the first-graders.

Finally, the principal gave a summary.

The opening ceremony was simple yet meaningful, and it ended smoothly.

The parents left, the students returned to their classrooms, and the grounds of Second Experimental Primary School fell quiet.

All three classes for Class 1(2) that morning were Chinese, because their homeroom teacher, Yang Xiuqin, taught Chinese.

There were 44 students in the class, and the seating chart had already been arranged. Under Teacher Yang's direction, the students took their assigned seats.

The boys sat with boys, and the girls sat with girls. Everyone had a seatmate of the same gender.

Shen Nuo Fei and Xu Silin were truly fated to be together. They'd been assigned seats beside each other.

Both girls were quite happy. Xu Silin said, "Shen Nuo Fei, we'll be best friends for life."

Shen Nuo Fei treasured their friendship. She nodded firmly. "Mm! Xu Silin, we'll be best friends for life and never be apart!"

Teacher Yang spent two class periods explaining the school rules and had every student introduce themselves one by one.

Shen Nuo Fei was the youngest. She was just a little sister.

Teacher Yang took special care of Shen Nuo Fei, since she was one or two years younger than the other students in the class.

During the break, Teacher Yang asked Shen Nuo Fei, "Everyone will eat in the cafeteria at lunchtime. Can you manage on your own?"

Shen Nuo Fei answered with complete confidence, "Of course! I'm really good at eating!"

And sure enough, at lunchtime, Shen Nuo Fei took care of herself and finished the most food in the shortest time.

Not all the first-graders had