Since entering the city, the members of Dormitory 306 rarely went out. It wasn’t just them; other students stayed on campus too. Although they were in middle school, their studies were heavy. In recent years, the country had placed increasing importance on the college entrance examination, making it more difficult. To secure their futures, these students had long since forgotten the word "play."
"Where should we go?" Wang Yue asked as they walked out of the school gate.
Gao Xia thought for a moment. "How about Longquan Mountain? It’s close to us, and I heard they recently installed funhouse mirrors. Let’s go see them."
"Great," everyone agreed. They had finished school early, and it was nearly three o’clock. By the time they reached Longquan Mountain, it would be around half past three. After visiting the funhouse mirrors and the animal exhibit, they would likely leave just as the park closed at five o’clock. Fortunately, the tickets were cheap—only eight mao per person.
Living standards were improving across the country. With overtime work, most families earned about one hundred yuan per month per person. This was a rare figure compared to a few years ago. When the economy truly took off and incomes rose to six or eight hundred yuan, twenty-yuan and fifty-yuan notes were introduced. Later, when earnings approached one thousand yuan, the hundred-yuan bill appeared. Currently, however, the ten-yuan note remained the largest denomination. Currency included ten, five, two, and one yuan notes, as well as five-mao, two-mao, one-mao, five-fen, two-fen, and one-fen coins.
The eight girls gave their money to Gao Xia, who bought the tickets for everyone, and they entered the park.
Longquan Mountain was merely a small hill. It became a scenic spot in Yao City primarily because of the Yao River flowing beside it. While its scenery might not be remarkable in later years, it was still worth visiting now. Especially when the eight girls entered the funhouse mirror room, their laughter never ceased.
There weren’t many mirrors, but the varieties were amusing. Some made heads look huge and bodies tiny, others made bodies large and heads small. Some distorted the middle, making it wide or narrow, while others enlarged mouths or shrank eyes. Seeing their bizarre reflections, everyone laughed with pure joy.
After their laughter subsided, An Xiaoxiao said, "That was amazing! I’ve never laughed so happily before."
"Hehe," the others chimed in unison. Liu Min looked at An Xiaoxiao. "Xiaoxiao, if you’ve never laughed this happily before, then who provides the most laughs in our dorm every day?"
An Xiaoxiao blinked. "Is there such a person? Who is it?" She made funny faces, causing Zhu Yanyi and the others to struggle to keep from laughing.
"Who else but you?" Liu Min bluntly exposed her antics.
An Xiaoxiao looked depressed. "Liu Min, Fifth Sister, can you stop staring at me like that? I’ve realized being childhood friends with you has no benefits. You always bully me."
"Childhood friends?" Zhu Yanyi looked curious. "Who is the plum and who is the horse?"
"I am the plum," both girls said in unison, glaring at each other like roosters. "You are the horse."
"I’m stronger than you," An Xiaoxiao said, waving her fist.