After mailing the letter, Summer headed to the local store. She stood at the counter for a moment, then bought two packs of toilet paper, a bar of soap, a tube of toothpaste, and a bottle of cold cream.
She wasn't sure when she'd next be able to come to town, and some items were unavailable at the village store. Essentials like these were used daily, so she seized the opportunity to stock up.
Items like salt, soy sauce, and vinegar were available at the village supply store, so she didn't bother buying those. She also didn't buy any snacks; she still had plenty of malted milk and honey she'd brought from home, and even a can of braised beef.
She had a bowl of three-delicacy noodles for lunch, satisfying her craving. The main issue was that she couldn't spend money as freely as she wanted.
Although she had brought a decent amount of money to the village, she had spent quite a bit on Henry. Now, after purchasing these daily necessities, she didn't have much left.
With the remaining money in her pocket, Summer made her way to the bookstore. She browsed around, choosing not to buy any novels for leisure but instead picked up a few study guides and exercise books for middle school math and science.
With her purchases in hand, Summer jogged back to the donkey cart parking area. She stopped next to the cart, placed the two packs of toilet paper on it, and said to Logan, catching her breath, "Let's go, everything's done. Let's hurry home."
Before Summer returned, Logan had been sitting on the cart, flipping through an elementary school textbook. Seeing her back, he put the book down, harnessed the donkey, and got onto the cart. Summer climbed up after him.
After catching her breath, Summer turned to Logan and said, "I'm out of money now. Can I pay you back for half the cost of the candy when I get my salary?"
Sixty students had signed up for school, so Logan handed out sixty pieces of candy. He had just enough to go around, which equaled about two pounds, costing around three dollars in total. Summer owed him one dollar and fifty cents.
The candy was intended to help with their enrollment efforts. Logan, not one to be inflexible, replied indifferently, "Sure."
Summer breathed a sigh of relief, her breathing steadying after her run. With nothing else to say to Logan, she pulled out the books she had just bought from the bookstore and began to browse through them.
The content of the study guides and exercises was somewhat challenging for her. However, she wasn't entirely clueless; they had just graduated from middle school last year, and she had paid attention in class.
She bought these materials to keep studying in preparation for the college entrance exams. If she didn't study over the next two years, it would be much harder to pass the exams when they resumed. But if she kept studying, she would be prepared and not panic when the time came.
As Summer was flipping through the materials and planning her next steps, Logan suddenly asked, "Why did you buy middle school study guides? We only teach elementary school."
Summer looked at him, "I need to study too."
Logan snorted, glancing at her, "Didn't think you were so studious."
Ignoring his tone and expression, Summer replied, "Of course. You're never too old to learn."
Logan snorted again and focused on driving the cart without further comment. After a while, he suddenly asked, "Do you know something?"
Summer, still looking at her book, replied absentmindedly, "Know what?"
Logan steered the donkey cart, "About the college entrance exams being reinstated, what else?"
Summer froze for a moment. She looked at Logan, thinking to herself—how did he catch on so quickly? She had only mentioned it once, and others dismissed it as a dream. Why did he remember?
Without showing her surprise, she replied in a normal tone, "The exams were suspended nearly ten years ago. Our country is now facing a severe shortage of talent in many fields. I think the reinstatement is inevitable. Don't you think so?"
Logan had thought about this before and agreed it was possible. He looked at Summer, "I just want to know if you have any inside information."
Summer shrugged, "I don't. I'm just speculating."
Logan returned his gaze to the road ahead, "You're buying study guides based on mere speculation?"
Summer, "Why not? I enjoy studying, and it's not a bad thing. Knowledge is power. Being good at math and science opens up the world."
Her claim of loving to study was a bit of an exaggeration. She had been a diligent student because she was a well-behaved, rule-following person. Logan didn't mock her this time and fell silent.
Summer put her book away and enjoyed the scenery. After a while, she turned to Logan, "Why don't you review too? If the exams are reinstated, you won't be caught off guard. You can borrow my books."
"No need," Logan rejected her offer outright.
Fine, no need. Summer pouted inwardly and resumed watching the scenery. He didn't need to because, in the novel, he passed the exams smoothly. Summer didn't apply for college in the novel, so she didn't know if she could pass. She needed to prepare in advance.
In the novel, after giving up her chance to return to the city to Sophia, Sophia went back, while she stayed in the countryside with Henry. Soon after, the exams were reinstated. Henry, who never studied, had no interest in the exams, so she stayed with him and didn't apply either.
Looking back, it was foolish.
***
Summer and Logan returned to the village before it was too late. When they reached the team office, it was just starting to get dark. They unloaded the textbooks and teaching materials into the office and locked up, then went to the yard to unhook the donkey from the cart, feeding it grass and water.
After taking care of the donkey, their workday was over. Although the donkey did most of the walking, the day's activities left them tired. Summer just wanted to eat, wash up, and go to bed.
They returned to the dormitory, which was dark and empty. At this hour, Henry and the others had likely finished dinner and were off somewhere. Summer and Logan didn't care. They each went to their rooms to drop off their bags and then headed to the kitchen to heat up dinner.
With dinner ready, Summer sat at the table with Logan to eat. Logan glanced at her, clearly still bothered by her presence, but said nothing.
Logan's indifferent demeanor made it clear he didn't want to engage, so Summer didn't try to make conversation. She quietly ate her bread and pickled cucumbers.
As they were eating, the noise of laughter and chatter grew louder outside. The door curtain was pulled open, and the noise became clearer—Henry and the others had returned.
They paused upon seeing Summer and Logan, then continued as if nothing happened, going about their business and conversation. They had been to the mill to grind more flour for making new bread.
They occupied the other two tables. The girls kneaded dough, while the boys rested and chatted, sometimes joking around and playfully pushing each other. The atmosphere was lively and fun.
Summer and Logan remained excluded from the group. After finishing their meal and cleaning up, they returned to their rooms. Once they left, the atmosphere in the kitchen relaxed even more, and the conversation became more animated.
Grace, kneading dough, asked Lily, "What was Summer eating earlier?"
Although it seemed like none of the ten paid attention to Summer and Logan, Grace's question revealed otherwise.
Before Lily could answer, Mike replied, "Pickled cucumbers, I think."
Cecilia added, "Yeah, I smelled it. Definitely pickled cucumbers."
Grace muttered, "Where do they get so many pickles? Summer seems to have a different one every time."
Although they could now make their own bread and weren't lacking, eating plain bread every day while seeing Summer and Logan eat pickles was hard.
Lily responded, "Maybe the locals gave them some."
Grace sighed, "Why do they get it?"
Lily shrugged, "They get along with the locals."
The conversation was veering into gossip territory. Knowing Henry didn't like hearing bad things about Summer, they avoided going further. Cecilia brought the topic back, "Should we ask the locals too?"
Before anyone else could reply, Henry volunteered, "I'll ask."
The others, used to relying on Henry, agreed without hesitation. Since it was late, they couldn't ask the locals tonight, but they planned to tomorrow.
Feeling stifled inside, Henry stepped out into the yard, glancing towards the girls' dorm before continuing outside. He found a spot to sit, looking up at the stars.
Sophia soon joined him, sitting beside him and looking at the stars too. After a while, she turned to him, "I heard there's an opening ceremony for the school tomorrow."
Henry, lowering his gaze to Sophia, asked, "You're not upset with me, are you?"
Sophia shook her head, a bittersweet smile on her face, "It's not your fault. I just wasn't meant to be a teacher."
Henry squeezed her hand, "Don't worry. As long as I'm around, I won't let you suffer or feel wronged, whether you're a teacher or not."
Feeling secure in Henry's grip, Sophia smiled and nodded, "Okay."