The shell of the house was finished. Only the roof tiles and a few finishing touches remained, so they no longer needed to hire so many workers. The family could do those jobs themselves and save on wages.
As usual, the whole family got up early.
Seeing all the children up early for once, sitting neatly around the table eating breakfast, Ye Yaodong teased them. "It's September first today, isn't it? School's starting, right? Your good days are over."
The two children starting first grade that year giggled. "We've been wanting to go to school for ages."
"After a few days, you won't want to go anymore!"
"Why?"
"Because you'll have loads of homework every day. Brother A-Hai is still in his room copying out his lessons. I've never seen him work so hard. Today's the only day you'll see him up first thing in the morning, cramming at the last minute."
"Hahaha! No wonder I heard Eldest Aunt scolding someone while I was still half asleep this morning."
"Good thing I finished mine last night..."
The children all chattered away, making fun of Ye Chenghai.
Mother Ye grumbled too. "Do nothing all day, panic at night, then get up at midnight to patch your pants. Not one of you has a head for studying."
Just then, the boy in question emerged from his room with huge dark circles under his eyes, looking listless, a military-green shoulder bag embroidered with a five-pointed star slung over him.
"Oh, finished your summer homework? It's fine if you haven't. At worst, you don't enroll and go herd sheep in the hills instead. How carefree would that be? You could run all over the hills without doing any homework, and there are peach trees, plum trees, loquat trees, orange trees, and pomelo trees everywhere.