The Beloved Childhood Friend's Diary of Life in the Compound: The 1970s

As an only child in the 1970s, Manbao was the happiest kid in the whole compound.

Her parents worked at a canning factory, so there was always plenty of canned meat at home. Other families' grandparents favored one child over another, but Manbao alone enjoyed the love and affection of the entire family.

Even around the compound, everyone adored Manbao.

She looked like a little doll, and the auntie across the hall would braid her hair, practically wanting to hold her and kiss her all over.

If anyone dared bully Manbao, all the boys in the compound, young and old, would come swarming over and beat the culprit until they cried for their parents.

Manbao was like a little butterfly that had fallen into a jar of honey, living a carefree, happy life every day.

But on her seventh birthday, the little dimples on Manbao's face disappeared.

She was snatched away by elementary school and forced to become a first grader!

She could no longer go out catching fireflies whenever she pleased, or do whatever she wanted without a care. Those wonderful days of having five, six, seven, or eight big brothers in the compound to play with were gone forever!

She wriggled around in her seat and got scolded. She was told to sit and stand properly, and that elementary school students had to follow the rules.

Manbao returned home with tears in her eyes. She didn't want to be an elementary school student. She had never agreed to become one!

Puffing up in anger, Manbao decided to ignore her cruel parents. She wouldn't even eat her favorite sweet-and-sour ribs. She was going to protest!

Who knew that after she got so hungry she fell asleep, Manbao would dream strange dreams about the people in the compound?

The auntie had become quiet and withdrawn, and the older boy across the hall had failed to get into college.

What made Manbao angriest was Zhou Yan, who lived next door. He used to follow her around every day like a little shadow. If she said east, Zhou Yan wouldn't dare go west. If she wanted to start a fire, Zhou Yan had to stand watch beside her.

But in her dream, he had become a cold, unfamiliar stranger who even claimed not to know her!

Manbao puffed out her cheeks.

What a disloyal jerk. She was going to break off their friendship!

[Reading Guide]

1. A slice-of-life story set in a bygone era, with a warm and cozy tone. The main plot follows Manbao and the people in the compound as they go about their daily lives and grow up.

2. Childhood sweethearts, one-on-one romance, happy ending.

Theme: People should look out for and help one another.