At this time, the children in the village had all grown up, and the springtime air was becoming stronger. Those boys and girls who used to always play together were gradually showing signs of drifting apart.
Because most of the parents in the village were strict military personnel, even if some young ones were interested in each other, they didn't dare to openly socialize. At that time, parents generally enforced a rule: "No dating unless you get into university," and the parents in the village were no exception; they seemed to understand each other without needing to say much.
Ashan also started noticing girls. There was a quiet and cute girl from Taipei First Girls High School whom he often saw on the bus to school in the mornings, and there was also a girl with big eyes from Jinou Girls High School whom he found very likable on the bus heading towards school.
Ashan began paying attention to his appearance as well. His hat was styled like a Nazi soldier's, his uniform was neatly pressed, and his trousers were straight-legged right on the edge of what the drill instructors permitted. This was considered the most handsome outfit for high school boys at that time, designed to attract the attention of girls.
Because Ashan's father was very strict, Ashan didn't dare to interact with girls. Several times he almost made up his mind to approach them, but in the end, he always backed out at the last moment.
There was a girl in the village named Xiao-Hui, who wasn't doing well in math and asked Ashan for help with tutoring. Since their parents were acquainted, Ashan became her little teacher.
Ashan hadn't paid much attention to this girl before. When they were younger, being three years apart meant they couldn't really play together. Now Xiao-Hui, in the third year of junior high, was blossoming like a newly opened bud. Sometimes when Ashan tutored her, he found it hard not to get distracted. Unexpectedly, in less than a month of tutoring, her algebra and geometry problems were no longer a big issue. Everyone was pleased.
In the summer, people in the village liked to relax in the yard. They lay on bamboo chairs, fanning away mosquitoes with fans. Looking up at the stars, they chatted and enjoyed listening to the 8 PM radio dramas on Central Broadcasting like "Stars, Moon, Sun," and "Blue and Black"; it was a great pleasure.
這時村子裏的孩子們都長大了，春天的氣息也增強了。原來老是一起玩的男男女女，也慢慢地出現總有些人脫隊的現象。
因為村子裏的軍人家長大都管得很嚴，所以就算是兩小有意，也不敢明目張膽的來往。當時一般的家長都是規定「沒有考上大學，絕不準交男女朋友」，村子裏的家長們也不例外，反而顯得很有默契的樣子。
阿三也開始注意女生了。早上上學經常坐同一路公車的那位北一女學生是文靜可愛，轉上往學校的公車上，也有一位金甌的大眼睛女生很討人喜歡。
阿三也開始注意自己的儀表。帽子扳成納粹軍人式樣，制服燙得畢挺，褲子是在教官剃刀邊緣的直筒。這是當時中學男生最帥的打扮，為的就是要吸引女生的注意。
因為阿三爸管得很嚴，所以阿三也不敢去跟女生打交道。好幾次都幾乎決定要上了，最後還是臨陣退縮。
村中有位女生叫小蕙，數學成績不好，要請阿三幫忙補習。因為大家父母都熟，阿三就成了小老師了。
以前阿三不太注意這位女生。小時候大家在一起，差三歲就差了很多，沒辦法玩在一起。現在唸初三的小蕙，卻像初開的蓓蕾一樣。阿三為她補習的時候，也難免有時會分心。沒想到補了不到一個月，這位女生的小代數及幾何，都不再是滿江紅。大家都很高興。
夏天的時候，村子裏的人都喜歡在院子裏乘涼。躺在竹製的涼椅上，拿把扇子邊扇邊趕蚊子。仰頭看著天上的星星，談天說地。或是聽著中廣晚上八點的廣播劇「星星、月亮、太陽」、「藍與黑」等，那可是天大的享受。
