Mo Hen said, "Tang San, you and Xiao Wu are both first-year Work-study Students. From now on, you'll be responsible for cleaning the garden on the south side of the training grounds. Ten Copper Soul Coins per day—remember, you have to clean every single day. Make sure to clear out all the clutter and debris. Otherwise, your wages will be docked. If you're caught slacking, the Academy has the right to expel you. Is that clear?"
Tang San and Xiao Wu nodded in unison, indicating they understood.
Mo Hen said, "Tomorrow is the opening ceremony. Classes officially begin the day after. First-year students attend Class One on the first floor of the Teaching Building. Just show up on time the day after tomorrow. From that point on, you'll carry out your duties as normal. I'll conduct spot inspections periodically. All right, go rest for now. Wang Sheng, you're the senior here—make sure to explain all the rules to them."
Clutching the bedding in his arms, Tang San felt a wave of warmth in his chest, and the image of the Great Master's somewhat stiff face surfaced unbidden in his mind.
"Bedding? That seems like a problem." Xiao Wu stared blankly at the bedding in Tang San's arms, a hint of embarrassment in her eyes.
Work-study Students all came from poor families and were far more sensible than the children of nobles. Several of the sharper students quickly spoke up. "Boss, take my mattress for now—I can make do with just draping the quilt halfway."
Another said, "Boss, you use my quilt then. I can get by with just the mattress."
Xiao Wu looked at the bedding of the other Work-study Students. While it couldn't be called filthy, most of it was worn and tattered. She frowned and said, "Stop calling me 'Boss.' You're making me feel old."
Wang Sheng said, "How can we do that? That's the rule."
Xiao Wu said, "Since I'm the boss, then what I say should be the rule. How about this—from now on, just call me Big Sister Xiao Wu."
As she spoke, her gaze finally fell on the bedding in Tang San's hands. "Tang San, how about we work something out?"
Tang San blinked, understanding immediately that Xiao Wu had her eye on his bedding. He wasn't a stingy person, but the bedding had just been given to him by the Great Master, and he felt somewhat reluctant to part with it. Still, Xiao Wu was a girl.
"Work something out how?"
Xiao Wu said, "Your bedding looks pretty big—big enough for two people to share, no problem. How about this: we push our beds together, and then we both have something to use?"
"What? Share?!" Tang San looked at Xiao Wu. His mind was far more mature than a six-year-old's, but even so—sleeping together, even at their age...
"Men and women should keep their distance. That doesn't seem appropriate."
Xiao Wu snorted. "What's not appropriate about it? I don't mind—what are you worried about? Scared I'll take advantage of you or something?"
"Uh..." They said girls matured earlier than boys, but this girl was only six years old.
Tang San was rendered speechless. The other students watched them with expressions ranging from envy to amusement, most of them grinning, though none said a word.
"Uh what? Hurry up—pull your bed over. Aren't you supposed to be strong?" Xiao Wu urged impatiently.
Tang San instinctively pushed his bed next to Xiao Wu's. Xiao Wu took the bedding from his hands and spread the mattress first. It was adult-sized and quite large—though it couldn't cover both beds entirely, it covered more than seventy percent of each.
Xiao Wu placed her bundle at the seam where the two beds met. "Put your bundle here too. This will be the boundary from now on. If you cross it, don't blame me for not being polite."
Watching Xiao Wu set up the boundary, Tang San actually felt relieved and quickly nodded, placing his bundle in position. Xiao Wu then laid the quilt over the top. Just like that, a simple double bed was formed—complete with a dividing line, of course.
Wang Sheng said, "It's about time for lunch. Big Sister Xiao Wu, Tang San—want to come together?"
The moment she heard food, Xiao Wu jumped to her feet. "Sure! What good stuff are we eating?"
Wang Sheng and the other Work-study Students exchanged glances, smiling ruefully. "What good food can Work-study Students afford? We just grab something cheap at the cafeteria and call it a meal."
Tang San shook his head. "You guys go ahead. I'll sit this one out." His family was dirt poor—Tang Hao spent every last coin on wine. To keep from going hungry, he had brought some dried rations with him: coarse flatbread he'd made himself. It would do the job well enough. Once work started the day after tomorrow, he'd have wages.
Noticing the patches on Tang San's clothes, Wang Sheng vaguely understood his meaning and didn't press the issue. "Big Sister Xiao Wu, let's go then."
The excitement on Xiao Wu's face froze for a moment. "Does eating cost money? Those... Soul Coin things, right?"
If not for the fact that she was clearly no pushover, Wang Sheng might well have snapped—who needed to be told that food cost money? Nobody gave out free lunches. But he could tell that this new boss was probably just as strapped for cash as Tang San.
Wang Sheng said generously, "Don't worry about it. Here's the deal—your meals for the next two days are on me. Tang San, from now on we're all dormmates. Come along. You can treat me once you've got some money."
Tang San hesitated briefly, then agreed. He had never been one to fuss over money, and Wang Sheng's straightforwardness suited him just fine. Xiao Wu broke into a radiant smile immediately, looking at Wang Sheng as though she might send him a wink or two. But remembering her Soft Technique, Wang Sheng kept his distance. Earlier, when she had thrown Tang San, she'd been smiling the entire time she did it. Who knew when she might get excited and give him one for free?
Including Tang San and Xiao Wu, the group of eleven filed out of Dormitory Seven and headed toward the cafeteria under Wang Sheng's lead. The cafeteria was inside the Teaching Building, requiring them to cross the entire training grounds.
The grounds were already bustling with activity. Students in Academy uniforms could be seen walking toward the Teaching Building—clearly all heading to eat.
The Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy's cafeteria was enormous, large enough to seat over three hundred people—six classes' worth of students plus teachers. A long line had already formed at the entrance. The cafeteria was split across two floors, with the ground-floor hall alone holding three hundred seats.
(End of Chapter)