After leaving the old chief's house, they proceeded to bid farewell to Wang Xinsheng and Guo Ming.
Upon hearing about their train the next evening, Wang Zhonghua's tears immediately began to fall.
"Xibao, can you not leave, please? You're already eight years old; we could go to school together." Although Xibao lived at the old chief's place, Wang Xinsheng often took him there, rekindling their childhood friendship.
Xibao tiptoed, patted his shoulder, and said, "Huahua, be a man; men bleed, not cry!"
Wang Zhonghua pouted, "I'm not a man; I'm a young lad."
At that comment, everyone laughed.
"Alright, you're a young lad, and I'm still a kid. Even if I did go to school, I'd have to start from the nursery class, while you're already in the upper grades, so we couldn't possibly go to school together!" Xibao was not so easily consoled. "We can write to each other, and when I have time to visit Grandpa, I'll come to see you. Next time, don't fail to solve such simple problems."
