Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 446 The Class Monitor's First Lesson

The classroom of Class 3, Grade 1 was bustling with activity, filled with the lively chatter of children and the chaotic sounds of rehearsing programs.

The word "New Year's Day Party" was written in large letters on the blackboard with colored chalk, and there were also crookedly drawn balloons and lanterns next to it.

Xi Xi stood beside the podium, and the "bar" on her arm was quite eye-catching.

Her face was flushed from anxiety and pacing back and forth. In her hand, she held a piece of paper with a simple program flow drawn on it, which she and Wang Yuling had designed together.

This was the first time she had been independently in charge of a "large-scale event" since being elected class monitor. She put in her best effort to do a good job, hoping to earn praise from Teacher Wang and make her classmates like her even more.

"Zhang Wei! Li Qiang! Stop fooling around in the back! It's our group's turn to rehearse the choir!"

Xi Xi raised her voice, trying to appear authoritative.

Two chubby-faced boys in the back row were happily rolling up their textbooks into "swords" and gesturing with them. When they heard her, they just glanced at her with a grin, slowed down their movements, and clearly didn't take it seriously.

"Hurry up!" Xi Xi stomped her foot.

"Squad leader, I'm thirsty, I don't have the energy to sing." Zhang Wei made a face.

"Yes, I'm hungry and want to eat something."

Li Qiang joined in the commotion, but his eyes were drawn to the pretty cloth bag with embroidered flowers that Xi Xi had hanging on the side of her desk—it was often filled with snacks that her classmates envied.

Xi Xi pursed her lips.

She was familiar with this move.

A few days ago, during dance rehearsal, some girls were not moving in unison. She took out some White Rabbit candies from her bag and distributed them to everyone, and they all became much more focused and cheerful.

She thought it was great; her father gave her so much pocket money, which made everyone happy and helped get things done.

She hesitated for a moment, then walked over, took out two small packets of imported animal biscuits from her cloth bag, and handed them to Zhang Wei and Li Qiang: "Here, eat them quickly and sing well."

The two boys' eyes lit up. They grabbed the cookies and stuffed them into their mouths in no time. Sure enough, they calmed down for a while and joined in the chorus at the top of their lungs, although they were still off-key.

Xi Xi breathed a sigh of relief, but a vague feeling of unease lingered in her heart.

It seems that... apart from when she was handing out snacks, everyone smiled at her, but when she asked her classmates to help move books or clean the corner, not many people responded as expected.

Especially these mischievous boys, who seem to have figured out her "pulse," causing a little trouble whenever she wants snacks.

The program for the party included choral singing, dancing, poetry recitation, and a "little play" that she had been thinking about for a long time—adapted from a fairy tale in her textbook.

She took on the role of "director" and, when assigning roles, wanted to give the most prominent "prince" role to Zhou Qiang, the tallest and most mischievous sports committee member in the class, thinking that he would definitely like it.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Qiang turned his head away: "I'm not playing a prince, he's so silly. Unless... you buy me a McDonald's burger!"

Several boys around them joined in the commotion.

Xi Xi was stunned.

A hamburger costs ten yuan, which is almost one-tenth of her weekly allowance.

And why should we?

Ultimately, the afternoon rehearsal ended hastily amidst Xixi's frustration and confusion.

She noticed that when she stopped offering snacks, the classmates who had been chattering around her seemed to disperse more quickly.

Those boys went back to their old ways and did whatever they wanted.

Sitting in the car on the way home after school, Xixi, unusually, didn't chatter about the fun things that happened at school. Instead, she hugged her schoolbag, looked at the street scene rushing past the window, and pouted so much that an oil bottle could hang from her lips.

Even Chenchen noticed that something was wrong with her younger sister and glanced at her several times.

Back home, Wang Yuling served hot pear water. Xixi only took a small sip before sitting listlessly next to Lin Yan, who was reading the newspaper, and resting her little head on his arm.

"What's wrong, our little class monitor? Did rehearsal not go well today?" Lin Yan put down his newspaper and asked gently.

This question seemed to open the floodgates of grievances.

Xi Xi's eyes reddened, and she began to pour out her grievances like beans:

"...They're all so disobedient! When I tell them to rehearse, they demand food! Zhang Wei wants cookies, Li Qiang wants some too, and Zhou Qiang is even worse—he wants a hamburger! If I don't give them any, they won't perform properly and they cause trouble...I'm almost out of pocket money! Dad, being class monitor is no good at all; they only listen to me when they give me snacks!"

By the end, her voice was trembling with tears.

Lin Yan listened patiently, gently patting her back until she finished speaking.

Chenchen also put down the model in his hand and sat quietly beside him to listen.

Lin Yan waited until she calmed down before slowly speaking.

"Xixi, tell Dad first, why do you think your classmates elected you as class monitor?"

Xi Xi sniffed and thought for a moment:

"Because... I often treat them to good food, I sing well, and... they all like me?"

The last two sentences are somewhat uncertain.

Lin Yan nodded.

"Well, maybe both. But Dad wants to tell you that using snacks or other 'benefits' to get others to listen to you is like building a house with sand. It seems fast, but it can collapse with just a little wind or rain. Because sand itself isn't strong; it's just temporarily held together."

Looking into his daughter's eyes, which seemed to understand but not quite, he explained in simpler terms:

"When you treat everyone, they're happy and will listen to you for the time being. But when you stop treating, or when others have snacks too, why should they still listen to you? The class monitor's 'official position' isn't for ordering others to do things for you, but for leading by example and serving everyone in the class."

Xi Xi blinked: "Work for...everyone?"

"right."

Lin Yan affirmed.

"For example, when rehearsing a performance, you can't just stand by and give instructions like 'You should do this' or 'He should do that.' You have to do your best first. In a choir, you should sing the most seriously; in a dance, you should dance the most perfectly. If you see a classmate making a mistake, you don't criticize them. Instead, you go over and quietly say, 'Let me help you check. Isn't this better?' When cleaning, you should say, 'Let me try,' for the dirtiest and most tiring corners. If a classmate is sick, you should take the initiative to care for them and help them with their homework."

He paused, looking at his daughter:

"Gradually, the classmates will discover that Xixi is not the 'rich' classmate who only knows how to share snacks, but a truly enthusiastic, capable, and reliable class monitor who always has a solution to problems. Everyone will be willing to listen to your advice and cooperate with your work because they admire and trust you. This kind of 'obedience' is not something you can get by giving snacks; it's respect that you earn yourself. That's what makes a house built with solid bricks, unafraid of wind and rain."

As Xixi listened, her eyes slowly brightened, but then she looked somewhat confused again:

"But...wouldn't that be too tiring? And what if they become even more disobedient if I stop treating them to food now?"

Lin Yan smiled: "It might be a little tiring, because real responsibility is always tough. But the joy and sense of accomplishment are much more fulfilling than the smiles you get from handing out snacks. As for now..."

He patted his daughter's head:

"Snacks can be shared occasionally as a source of joy among friends, not as a way to exchange 'money' for obedience. Starting tomorrow, try the method Dad suggested. When you encounter naughty classmates, don't rush to 'solve' them with snacks. Try to discover their strengths. For example, Zhou Qiang is fast; perhaps playing a messenger soldier in a play would suit him better than playing a prince? Zhang Wei is strong; you can ask him to help move props during rehearsals and sincerely thank him. Remember, when you start genuinely thinking about the group and helping every classmate, the light you emit will attract more true friends and support than the aroma of snacks."

Xi Xi leaned against her father's chest, carefully thinking about these words.

Although I don't fully understand it yet, the stifling sense of grievance in my heart seems to have dissipated a bit, and a feeling of eager anticipation with a touch of challenge has quietly emerged.

The next day, Xixi did not carry the bag full of snacks to school.

During rehearsal, when Zhang Wei complained of being hungry again, she didn't take out any cookies, but instead winked and said:

"Zhang Wei, you have the loudest voice. When we sing that last high note together, can you lead everyone in singing it? You can definitely do it!"

Zhang Wei was taken aback, scratched his head, a little embarrassed, but unconsciously puffed out his chest.

She also refused Zhou Qiang's request for a hamburger, instead saying:

"Zhou Qiang, I don't think you walk like a prince, but you're amazing at somersaults! How about we add a scene in our play where a knight does a somersault to rescue the princess? You design it!"

Zhou Qiang's eyes lit up immediately...

The class monitor's first lesson, about power, responsibility, and true leadership, quietly began amidst the mundane routines of daily life.