Enrollment Ceremony

Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, it was time for the enrollment ceremony, which was also the day of the apprenticeship ceremony.

Early in the morning, Zhuang Zhuang reluctantly said goodbye to every animal in the house with his tears flowing non-stop.

He sobbed as he ate the two red eggs. Mrs. Yang knew that Zhuang Zhuang was going to start school today, and that he would only be back in five days. She brought Xiaohu and Xiaohua over early in the morning to send him off.

“Zhuang Zhuang, you have to eat well.”

Xiaohua held his small hand and patted his shoulder like a big sister. She was about to say something when she was suddenly startled by a loud tormented wail.

“Wow…”

The sudden wailing startled them. Zhuang Zhuang’s tears immediately stopped flowing. He looked at Xiaohu helplessly.

“Brother Xiaohu…” Zhuang Zhuang didn’t know what to make of this. He should be the one crying.

Mrs. Yang felt a little embarrassed. She nudged Xiaohu, who was crying uncontrollably. “That’s enough. Zhuang Zhuang isn’t even crying now. What’s up with you.”

Xiaoguo wanted to laugh, but since Xiaohu was crying so hard, it would be embarrassing for him if she laughed at him. Hence, she could only turn around and cover her mouth to laugh in secret.

“Zhuang Zhuang, you have to take care. I cannot be there to play with you. Don’t feel lonely. When you come back, we can get together and play!”

“Yes, yes! Let’s do that, Brother Xiaohu!”

Zhuang Zhuang was very touched. He grabbed his small backpack tightly and reluctantly got on the donkey cart with Xiaoguo.

Just as Xiaoguo was about to set off, Zhuang Zhuang suddenly tried to jump down. Seeing this, Xiaoguo quickly grabbed him and lowered him to the ground. Before she could scold him, he started running away. As he ran, he told her, “Mother, wait a moment.”

“Sigh…” Xiaoguo didn’t stop him. She could only watch him run towards Mrs. Yang.

She didn’t know what Zhuang Zhuang said to her, so she could only guess from Mrs. Yang’s face. Mrs. Yang was stunned for a moment. Then, she smiled and nodded. She reached out to pat his head and said something to him. Zhuang Zhuang nodded when he heard her words and ended the conversation.

Zhuang Zhuang got back on the donkey cart again. He was much calmer now. He just nestled in Xiaoguo’s arms and leaned against her quietly.

Xiaoguo waved goodbye to Mrs. Yang and drove off.

As they approached Mr. Kong’s house, Xiaoguo touched Zhuang Zhuang reluctantly. Why did she suddenly feel like her son had grown up?

She stopped the donkey cart and put Zhuang Zhuang down. Then, she took out everything and entered the house after checking through the items she had brought.

Mr. Kong had gotten up early in the morning. It was an auspicious day. After waking up and having a simple breakfast, he began to prepare the apprenticeship gift.

His face was glowing today. This was the first time he was taking in a student officially, so he was inevitably a little nervous.

When Xiaoguo and Zhuang Zhuang arrived, Mr. Kong was done with his preparations.

In ancient times, there were four major ceremonies in a person’s life. They are the enrollment ceremony, the coming-of-age ceremony, the wedding ceremony, and the funeral. On the day of enrollment, a grand ceremony was required.

Although Mr. Kong was only taking in Zhuang Zhuang alone and did not run a school, he still ensured that everything was done in accordance with the customs.

From Zhuang Zhuang’s new clothes and red shoes, to Mr. Kong’s elegant attire, every detail reflects the importance that teacher and student attach to today’s enrollment ceremony.

When the auspicious hour arrived, Mr. Kong brought Zhuang Zhuang to the main room. The required items had been laid out neatly in the room.

“Clothes.”

Mrs. Kong was also dressed for the occasion. She was taking the lead in going through the ceremony. Xiaoguo stood quietly not far away and watched with relief.

Looking at Zhuang Zhuang’s erect posture, Xiaoguo covered her mouth. She couldn’t help but feel a lump in her throat. If only she had a camera now. She could capture this moment of Zhuang Zhuang’s life as a memento.

“Greetings, Teacher.”

Mr. Kong brought Zhuang Zhuang to the portrait of his late master. He knelt on both knees and kowtowed nine times. Whatever he did, Zhuang Zhuang followed suit.

“Kowtow to the teacher.”

This time, it was Mr. Kong’s turn to sit at the head of the table and accept Zhuang Zhuang’s three kowtows.

Zhuang Zhuang’s face was solemn as he kowtowed three times. Mr. Kong was overjoyed. If not for the fact that he was bowing, he would have stood up and hugged Zhuang Zhuang.

“The ceremony is complete.”

As soon as Mrs. Kong finished speaking, Xiaoguo walked in with a tray. On it were the six ceremonial bundles that she had bought the day before yesterday.

Teacher Kong accepted it and placed it aside.

The entrance ceremony was not over yet. There were still three steps to go.

“Wash your hands and clean your mind.”

After saying that, Mrs. Kong walked over with a basin of clear water and stopped in front of Zhuang Zhuang. Teacher Kong guided him to wash his hands in the basin before wiping dry.

The symbolism of washing one’s hands was to clear the mind and heart of all impurities. With that, one can be focused and free of distractions.

“Cinnabar to awaken the mind.”

Mrs. Kong brought over some cinnabar. Mr. Kong dipped a brush into the cinnabar and tapped it between Zhuang Zhuang’s eyebrows. The mark it made was the size of a mole.

The word “mole” was a homonym for “intelligence”. This was a symbolic act to awaken his intelligence. From now on, his eyes and heart would be clear.

“Write in red ink.”

Under Teacher Kong’s guidance, Zhuang Zhuang wrote down the first word in his official schooling life.

Xiaoguo couldn’t wait to see the words that were written. However, as they were in the midst of the ceremony, she could only suppress her eagerness in silence.

Soon, Zhuang Zhuang put down the brush and Mr. Kong raised his writing in satisfaction. The admiration in his eyes was about to surge out.

Xiaoguo tiptoed quietly and finally saw the word.

Benevolence.

“Strength, resolution, simplicity, caution with one’s speech, will bring one closer to benevolence.”

Mr. Kong’s expectations for Zhuang Zhuang were all incorporated into this sentence.

Xiaoguo made a mental note to write a letter to Jiang Danhe. Their son was officially enrolled in school today. She should share this exciting piece of news with him.

Xiaoguo replayed every scene of today’s event in her mind. Since she didn’t have a camera, she would go back and draw it. Although her drawing skills weren’t very good, she just needed a rough sketch to keep as a memento. This was definitely a day that she would remember for as long as she lived.

Her shining son…

The enrollment ceremony was officially over. Zhuang Zhuang followed behind Mr. Kong with a small bag and walked towards his residence. He looked back three times with every step and reminded Xiaoguo not to leave.

Xiaoguo had to keep nodding to reassure him, but Zhuang Zhuang was still worried. He walked to the corner and looked at her with reluctance.

Xiaoguo waved him away before he left.

Mrs. Kong saw everything and smiled at Xiaoguo. “Zhuang Zhuang is really clingy.”

Xiaoguo nodded helplessly. “Yes. He hasn’t left me since he was born.”

Mrs. Kong nodded in understanding. “There will be such a day. You’ll get used to it.”

“Yes.” Xiaoguo wanted to leave, but thinking of Zhuang Zhuang, she hesitated.

“Don’t leave yet. Stay here for lunch.” Mrs. Kong’s eyes were bright. She could tell at a glance that Xiaoguo was hesitating. In consideration that Xiaoguo could be feeling reserved, she told her, “Zhuang Zhuang is still young. Stay and have a meal with him. Give him time to get used to it.”

As expected, when Xiaoguo heard this, she didn’t hesitate anymore. She nodded happily and smiled. “Then I’ll have to trouble you.”

“Dream on.”

Xiaoguo was stunned, not understanding what she meant by that.

Mrs. Kong smiled mischievously. “I heard that your culinary skills are not bad. Shouldn’t you show off your skills?”

“Who did she hear this from?”

Xiaoguo was feeling curious. Who leaked this information to her?

“Let’s go!”

Mrs. Kong took the initiative to pull Xiaoguo into the kitchen. She was very hospitable and seemed especially close to Xiaoguo.

Xiaoguo had no chance to feel shy around Mrs. Kong. There was no room for awkwardness at all. Within those few hours in the morning, Xiaoguo had gotten to know Mrs. Kong better and promised to visit her often in the future.