Two days later, a Mana Sedan sped out of Alafat Town.
Winnie pulled herself back in through the car window and looked back at her sister and brother-in-law as they gradually disappeared into the distance, a trace of reluctance crossing her eyes.
After staring blankly for a while, she turned to Hawat beside her. Although he also looked a little reluctant and apprehensive, excitement and anticipation were far more evident on his face.
Winnie couldn't help smiling. She reached over to stroke Hawat's head and asked gently, "Hawat, this must be the first time you've ever been so far from home, right?"
Hawat thought for a moment, then nodded vigorously and answered loudly, "Yes! The farthest I've ever been before was Moro City with Dad."
"Moro City? That's only thirty-odd kilometers from your home. But this time, you're coming with us to somewhere more than a thousand kilometers away. Are you scared?" Winnie asked again.
Hawat thought for a moment, then shook his head hard.
"No. With you looking after me, Auntie, I'm not scared at all."
Winnie chuckled and patted his head again. She took some snacks and sweets she had prepared out of her bag and handed them to Hawat. Once she saw him happily eating, she leaned toward the front seat of the Mana Sedan and said worriedly to Joshua, who was driving, "I've been thinking it over, and I still don't think having my brother-in-law serve as the principal of this Primary College is a very sound idea."
"Oh?" Joshua kept his eyes on the road without turning around.
"You know what he's like. He barely knows how to read, yet you're making him the principal of a Primary College responsible for teaching children to read and write. That doesn't seem right, no matter how you