By the pond near Team Eight.
Summer and Logan sat on the large tree trunk that stretched along the pond's edge.
When they first started telling stories at noon, only five or six kids were sitting and listening.
After a few hours, word had spread, and now dozens of children surrounded them.
Among these children, some who had already heard the stories were still sitting, not wanting to leave, while others, like those by the river, had just run over, hearing there were stories to be heard.
Once everyone was seated and quiet, Logan, holding a book, said, "It looks like we have a lot of new listeners today, so let's start from the beginning."
The children eagerly responded in unison, "Yes!"
Logan began the story again.
Considering the new arrivals, he first gave a brief introduction to the story's background.
He explained the setting of the late Eastern Han dynasty, where the country was divided into three kingdoms: Wei, Shu, and Wu.
He then briefly introduced some of the main characters.
As Logan narrated, the children's eyes, whether they had heard the story before or not, were wide and unblinking, fixed on him.
Just like before, after Logan finished the background and his prepared segment, he handed the book to Summer, allowing her to tell her part of the story.
When both stories were finished, the children all looked eager for more.
Those hearing it for the first time were especially excited, with some bold ones asking, "Is there more?"
Summer and Logan had only prepared two stories.
But the children's eagerness persuaded them to tell the story of the Oath of the Peach Garden.
While telling this story, Summer and Logan emphasized one particular line, making the children repeat it several times. Some of the children, with good memories, quickly remembered the line.
"We may not be born on the same day of the same month of the same year, but we hope to die on the same day of the same month of the same year. Heaven and earth shall bear witness to this oath. If we turn our backs on righteousness and forget our friends, may all men strike us down!"
Those who remembered the line helped those who didn't, and together they shouted it out loud.
By the time they reached the final four words, their voices resonated through the air.
Summer and Logan applauded them with smiles.
Once they quieted down a bit, Summer asked, "What do you think? Aren't the stories in the book fascinating?"
"Yes!" the children answered in unison, much more relaxed now.
After answering, one brave child asked, "Can you tell another story? This book is so thick; there must be many more stories. In the end, does Liu Bei win?"
Logan responded, looking at the child who asked, "Yes, the story is long, and we can't tell it all in one day. If you want to hear more stories and find out if Liu Bei wins, you can enroll in school. We'll tell you more bit by bit there. Once you learn to read, you can read all the stories yourself."
Summer then held up a comic book, playing along with Logan.
She handed the comic book to two new children and said, "We brought these comic books from the city. There are many, each one telling a different story. We'll also have these comics at school, and every week, we'll give you one to read."
The new children, flipping through the comic book, exclaimed in amazement.
Looking at Summer, they asked excitedly, "These drawings are so good! Can you tell us what this story is about? Is this the one where the hero blows up the bunker?"
Logan interjected, "I'm sorry, but we can't tell you these stories. These comic books are for teaching you how to read. Once you know how to read, you'll understand the stories yourself."
Understanding his meaning, one child asked, "So, we have to go to school, right?"
Logan nodded, "That's right. Once you're in school, you'll have endless stories to hear, and you'll learn to read and enjoy your favorite stories on your own. School isn't the scary place you might think. It's not a place where you get hit for not doing well. Neither I nor Miss Summer would ever hit a student."
"Really?"
Summer answered, "Of course, we wouldn't hit anyone."
She carefully took out a piece of milk candy from her pocket, holding it up, "Not only won't we hit anyone, but if you sign up for school, each of you will get a piece of candy."
Seeing the candy, many children's eyes lit up, and they swallowed hard.
Some of the younger kids couldn't control themselves, and drool started to trickle from the corners of their mouths.
Some kids who had already heard the stories and seen the candy several times still couldn't help but drool and swallow.
After salivating, one child asked loudly, "Really? You're not lying?"
Logan assured them, "Absolutely not. If you come to school with your parents to sign up, pay the tuition, and fill out the application form, we promise you'll get the candy."
He also took out a piece of candy, holding it in his hand, "We don't just have one piece. We have a whole box, and everyone who comes to school will get one."
Hearing this, the children's eyes were filled with longing.
They whispered among themselves.
"Do you want to go to school?"
"I didn't before, but now I kind of do."
"We can listen to stories, read comics, and eat candy. Where else can we get such a good deal?"
...
Though they tried to keep their voices low, Summer and Logan could still hear the general content. Achieving the desired effect, they were naturally pleased.
The whole afternoon, Summer and Logan stayed by the pond, telling stories.
Groups of children came and went, and by dusk, some still didn't want to leave.
Summer and Logan had to coax them home.
They promised, "Tomorrow morning and afternoon, we'll be here again to tell you stories."
Seeing that Summer and Logan really weren't going to tell more stories, the children finally dispersed.
In the fiery red sunset, they walked hand in hand, their small figures casting long shadows.
Finally, having coaxed all the kids away, the surroundings grew quiet.
Summer instinctively let out a sigh of relief, sitting back down on the tree to rest for a bit before heading back to the settlement.
After talking all afternoon, often having to shout, her throat felt parched.
She didn't want to speak anymore, so she sat down and started tidying up the comic books the children had leafed through.
As she was putting away the second book, she noticed Logan beside her, calmly taking a green army water bottle from his bag.
Holding the water bottle, he slowly unscrewed the cap.
Just as the bottle was about to touch his lips, he paused.
Noticing Summer's gaze, he turned to look at her.
Meeting his eyes, Summer quickly snapped back to reality.
She smiled at him hoarsely, "I'm not thirsty, not at all."
Logan: "..."
He stared at her for a moment, then, without a word, poured some water into the bottle cap and handed it to her.
Summer was surprised by his gesture.
Unsure of his intentions, she hesitated and asked, "For me to drink?"
Logan: "What else? To wash your face?"
Summer: "..."
Without further hesitation, Summer took the cap and drank it in one gulp.
But the cap was too small; the water just wet her tongue and was gone.
This made her even more thirsty, so she handed the cap back to Logan, saying, "It's not enough... Can I have some more?"
Logan: "..."
He looked at her with slight annoyance, then filled the cap again.
Summer smiled at him, took the cap, and drank it down, then handed it back.
And so, shamelessly, she drank ten caps of Logan's water.
Logan's face grew darker with each cap.
The bottle cap was attached to the bottle by a thin string, making it inconvenient for both to drink. So Logan waited until Summer was done before he drank from the bottle.
After drinking, he slowly took out a neatly folded blue-striped white handkerchief from his pocket and meticulously wiped the bottle cap.
Summer: "..."