Only After I Was Reborn Did I Realize That I Had Childhood Sweethearts

Chapter 3: Dad Has It Tough Too

After receiving the lollipop, Xia Yuan kept playing with it on the table, without any intention of eating it. Mei Fang looked a little impatient.

Why are you so happy to receive a lollipop? They sell them at the school gate, dont they? Mei Fang raised an eyebrow.

Xia Yuan whispered, Mom said its junk food and told me not to eat it. If I eat too much, Ill have cavities like Du Zihan, and that wouldnt look good.

So its not because she eats less, but because shes not allowed to eat it

Then why are you so happy?

Because its the first time youve given me a gift! Xia Yuan seemed extremely excited. Im really, really happy!

Just eat it! Its a waste if you dont. Mei Fang thought to himself that he spent a whole fifty cents on it, such precious startup capital.

Xia Yuan shook her head and said seriously, I plan to save it until Im very, very hungry!

What does very, very hungry mean?

Very, very hungry means

Mei Fang, what are you whispering to Xia Yuan? Stand up! The teacher interrupted. Pay attention in class. Can you solve this problem?

I can. Mei Fang nodded.

Then tell me, if there are seven apples here, and you add five more apples, how many apples are there in total?

Some of the children were already counting on their fingers, but Mei Fang calmly raised his head and gave the correct answer, 12!

A hint of surprise flashed across the teachers face. She had just started teaching addition and subtraction within 10, and now, nearing graduation, she had nothing else to do, so she came to teach addition and subtraction with two-digit numbers.

What about 8+13?

Mei Fang scratched his head, pretending to think, and after a few seconds, he gave the answer, 21!

Amazing!

Although they didnt know if it was correct or not, Mei Fangs determined expression made the children spontaneously applaud.

Mei Fang is so good at addition, just like an elementary school student!

So impressive! I estimate that Mei Fang is at least at a second-grade level No, a third-grade level! My older brother is in third grade and cant do this!

Thats a problem with your older brother! How can someone in third grade not know addition and subtraction!

This kid must have been trained in the My Brother Eat-Shiting Club.

Teacher Li pushed her glasses and looked puzzled. Mei Fang, did you join a mental arithmetic class somewhere?

No My cousin taught me.

Mei Fang hadnt considered establishing himself as a child prodigy yet. After all, this kind of character doesnt have long-term development potential, and he couldnt guarantee that he wouldnt end up like Zhong Yong^[1], being dragged by his money-obsessed father Mei Lijun to participate in various shows to earn appearance fees.

Even if you have good grades in the future, you still have to follow classroom discipline. Otherwise, when you go to elementary school, youll get punished for being mischievous, understand?

I understand, Teacher Li.

Mei Fang suddenly had a whim and forgot to put himself in the role of a kindergarten child.

But this kind of performance is really not worth it, I wont do it again in the future.

The long-awaited debut of the national football team has arrived. On June 4th, the Chinese national team will play against Costa Rica.

This year, the Chinese peoples attention to the World Cup is unprecedented. Even kindergarten children are watching live broadcasts at school, cheering for the national team. Regardless of the excitement of the game, the atmosphere is still very intense.

But because he knew the outcome, Mei Fang remained silent throughout the game. He observed the children who were involved in the game with great interest.

An interesting discovery is that even Xia Yuan, a girl who seems to have nothing to do with football, cried because the national team lost.

And a few other boys shouted for Costa Rica out of rebelliousness, but they were scolded by Teacher Li and punished to stand in the corner.

It can be seen that the teacher was also very angry.

But its a bit unreasonable to take it out on children.

But I didnt expect that the national football team would have such a time when they were loved by people. If I hadnt personally experienced it in 2002, I wouldnt have felt it.

Who would have thought that 20 years later, the national football team would make General Fan shout words like I dont want to show my face anymore!

The depressed atmosphere lasted until the end of school in the afternoon. The parents who came to pick up their children had gloomy faces, and the air was still heavy.

When Mei Lijun appeared, his face was also very long, and Mei Fang noticed a bruise on his forehead.

Mei Fang thought that his father was really a die-hard fan. He could get so angry over losing a game.

It couldnt be because he lost money in a bet, right? Is 10 yuan really worth it

Mei Fang is a smart person. He followed his silent father and rode home on a motorcycle.

After they arrived home, Mei Lijun couldnt help but complain: You watched the game today, right? Damn it, Costa Rica played dirty. If it werent for Sun Xiaohais injury, disrupting Milus tactical arrangements, how could we have lost so miserably!

Mei Fang nodded, Dad, Teacher Li said that victory and defeat are common in war. Lets not get upset and strive for a good result in the next game of the national team!

In the next game against Brazil, we definitely dont have any hope of winning. As long as we lose by less than 3 goals, it wont be considered a loss

At first, Mei Lijuns mood was low, but the more he thought about it, the more excited he became. You know, if we can score a goal against Brazil even if the national team doesnt advance, it will still be worth it this time!

Mei Fang looked at his fathers delusional thoughts with shock on his face, feeling like they were living in parallel worlds.

How did this excessive confidence in the national team come about

After reluctantly dealing with his fathers impatience, Mei Fang took the opportunity to bring up his own request: By the way Dad, about the bet we made last time

Bet? What bet? Mei Lijun frowned, You, a little kid, made a bet with someone in kindergarten?

Dad, youre talking nonsense. You said if we lost to Costa Rica, you would give me 10 yuan!

Why do you need so much money, what do you want to buy? Shall I buy it for you?

Mei Fang could only put on a childish tantrum and reach out his hand, saying, I dont care! I want 10 yuan! Dad, youre not trustworthy, youre a dog!

Then youre a little dog!

Mei Lijun picked up Mei Fang and spun him around in the air before putting him down.

Tonight, Ill take you and your mom to the mall to play and eat chicken legs. Consider it compensation!

Mei Fang rubbed his dizzy head and thought for a moment before responding, I dont want to go to the mall, I just want to buy a lottery ticket. The World Cup only happens once in a while, and I just want you to take me to experience that. It would be such a waste to miss it.

Haha, so you want to buy a lottery ticket

Mei Fang continued, Dad, look, I even guessed the result of this match correctly. To be honest, I have superpowers, I can predict the future. Let me choose one, maybe our family will become rich and successful!

Mei Fang originally planned to secretly buy a lottery ticket and keep the huge sum of money for himself, but then he remembered that even if he won the jackpot, he wouldnt be able to claim it himself. He would have to go to the provincial capital, so he could only rely on his dad.

Mei Fang spent a long time trying to persuade his dad, but in the end, Mei Lijun suddenly showed a sad smile and reached into his pocket in front of his son.

His pockets were clean and tidy, not a single coin inside.

Do you think I dont want to buy a lottery ticket? Its just that I dont have any money

What about your secret stash?

Forget it, its this secret stash that caused me trouble. Just today, after I dropped you off at school, you mom found the money I hid and cut off my cigarette money for this month.

Mei Lijun pointed to the bruise on his forehead and said, See, this is what your good mom did to me.

It seems like, Dad youre also having a hard time

Mei Fang expressed strong sympathy for his unlucky father.

Translators Notes:

1. Zhong Yong is sometimes referred to as Zhong Yong the Filial due to his exemplary devotion to his parents.