As the children were about to start a fight, Song Zhaodi decided she couldn’t just sit back and watch. “Zili, is there scallop or fish in the basket?”
“It’s seaweed.” Zili paused for a moment, then asked, “Auntie, how did you know there was something in the basket?”
Song Zhaodi glanced at Zhong Dawa and smiled. “That rascal is too polite. If others feel embarrassed to accept something, once they do, they’ll definitely give you seafood in return.”
“Mom, you knew?!” Dawa sat up abruptly.
Instead of answering, Song Zhaodi asked, “There are more than thirty fishing families nearby. Why did you suggest I trade for crabs with the Qu family?”
“They’re good people,” Dawa responded without hesitation.
“When we traded a bag of sugar for so many things from them, I could already tell they were kind and honest. Such decent people, do you think they’d feel comfortable taking so many vegetables from you? Think about it.”
“…Probably not.” Zhong Dawa thought it over and couldn’t help but say, “Why didn’t you remind me, Mom?”
Song Zhaodi countered, “Would you have listened?”
Dawa was stumped. “…No.” He groaned, regretting his stubbornness and arrogance. He collapsed onto the bench, lying there like a lifeless salted fish.
Erwa had never seen his brother so dispirited before. He pushed Gengsheng over, poked Dawa’s face, and quickly withdrew his hand. Seeing that Dawa didn’t react at all, he blinked and turned to Song Zhaodi. “Mom, what’s wrong with ge?”
“He’s feeling frustrated.” Song Zhaodi replied. “Don’t pay attention to him. Leave him be. He’ll be fine after a while. Zili, did the Qu family tell you how to cook the seaweed?”
Zili nodded. “They said the seaweed they gave us is clean, without any sand. We just need to blanch it in boiling water, then either mix it into a cold dish or stir it with noodles.”
Song Zhaodi picked up the basket and gasped. “That much?”
“Yes, quite a lot,” Zili said. “They said since our family is big, they gave us more. Dawa didn’t want to accept it, but they insisted and refused to take our vegetables in return.” He hesitated before adding, “I wanted to help carry it, but Dawa wouldn’t let me. He carried it back himself. Oh, and Auntie, they also said if we want seaweed in the future, we can just go to their house and take some.”
Song Zhaodi looked at Zhong Dawa with a smile. “Will you listen next time?”
“Yes.” Zhong Dawa covered his face with his hands. “Mom, stop talking.”
Song Zhaodi wanted to laugh at his reaction, but seeing how seriously he took it, she refrained from teasing him. She poured the seaweed into a washing basin, added some water to a porcelain bowl, and planned to clean it later while preparing lunch.
When she came out of the kitchen, she turned to Zili. “Bring down your school bags. I need to see what else you need.”
Zili was born on the 12th of the eighth lunar month in 1960, while Dawa was born on the 11th of January, 1962. Gengsheng was also born in 1962 but was nearly a full year younger than Dawa, with his birthday falling on the 7th of the twelfth lunar month.
Song Zhaodi only remembered that the national college entrance exam resumed in 1977, but she wasn’t sure about the exact date. After bringing Zili home, she suggested that Zili and Dawa be placed in the same class. However, Zhong Jianguo disagreed, thinking the age gap was too large.
Song Zhaodi reasoned with him, saying that even if Zili started in third grade, by the time he finished middle school, he still wouldn’t be old enough to enlist. He’d have to idle away a few years at home. She then asked Zhong Jianguo if he wanted to send Zili to the countryside under the government’s ‘Educated Youth Go to the Countryside’ policy.
Although Zhong Jianguo privately disagreed with the policy, he never voiced his opinion. But when Song Zhaodi mentioned it, he immediately rejected the idea without hesitation. However, without going to the countryside, career options for Zili were limited. In the end, Zhong Jianguo agreed to let Zili and Dawa start second grade together.
Since Zili and Gengsheng were listed as Zhong Jianguo’s sons on the household registration, they could enroll in the military dependents’ school the next day. Having been out of school for six months, both boys were thrilled.
As soon as Song Zhaodi finished speaking, the two brothers dashed upstairs and brought down four school bags.
Sanwa, seeing this, grabbed a bag embroidered with a panda outline.
Zhong Erwa snatched it back. “That’s my school bag.”
The strap dug into Sanwa’s hand, and when he saw the bag was gone, he pouted and burst into tears.
Song Zhaodi immediately felt a headache coming on. “Erwa, let your brother play with it for a while.”
“If I give it to him, he won’t return it,” Erwa argued. “Don’t think I don’t know, he really wants my bag.”
Song Zhaodi pulled Sanwa onto her lap and told Dawa to fetch a towel to wipe his tears. “Tomorrow, when I go to the city, I’ll buy some fabric scraps and make you a bag shaped like a big-eared puppy.”
“A big-eared puppy?” Sanwa stopped crying. “What does it look like?”
Song Zhaodi grabbed a notebook, pulled out a pencil, and sketched a beagle lying on the ground. “Do you like it?”
Sanwa glanced at his brother’s bag, then at the drawing, and scrunched his face in distaste. “Ugly.”
Erwa took a look. “Not as good as the panda.”
Song Zhaodi shot him a glare. “You keep quiet.”
She then sketched a ragdoll cat. “How about this one?”
“It looks good,” Erwa admitted. “Mom, I like it.”
Song Zhaodi smiled at him. “Give your school bag to your brother, and I’ll make you a new one.”
“No way!” Sanwa didn’t think the cat was any better than the panda, but he instinctively knew that his second brother was the most vain in the family. If Erwa liked something, it had to be good. Before Erwa could reach out, Sanwa hugged the notebook tightly.
Song Zhaodi chuckled. “Alright, alright, I won’t give it to him. Be good, and I’ll make you one when I get the fabric.”
“Okay!” Sanwa stuck out his pinky. “Mom, pinky promise.”
Song Zhaodi sighed. Why do kids always love making pinky promises? “Alright, pinky promise. A hundred years, no changes.”
As she let go of his little hand, she noticed Zili and Gengsheng staring at her. She instinctively touched her face. “Is there something on my face?”
“Auntie, you’re amazing,” Zili pointed at the cat drawing. “It looks real.”
Song Zhaodi caught on and teased, “And?”
“Can you teach us?” Zili asked cautiously. “Gengsheng and I want to learn.”
Song Zhaodi laughed. “Of course! Whether you want to learn to draw or make clothes, I can teach you. Just don’t mind if your friends say you’re acting like girls.”
“Mom, teach me!” Erwa said loudly. “If I learn to sew, I won’t have to bother you to fix my school bag anymore, I can do it myself.”
Song Zhaodi raised an eyebrow. “And then change styles every day, right?”
“No,” Erwa said seriously. “I just don’t want you to get tired and sick.”
Song Zhaodi smiled. “So, your brother wants to learn to cook, and you want to sew. Are you two trying to turn me into a figurehead?”
“What does that mean?” Dawa had some idea but wasn’t sure.
“It means the family can run just fine without me.”
“No way,” Dawa said firmly. “The family must have you.”
Zili nodded in agreement. “A real home needs both a mom and a dad.”
Song Zhaodi was touched. She looked at Zili, feeling quite surprised, but didn’t show it. She simply smiled and said, “Alright, good kids. Dawa, go get the blackboard. Teacher Song’s art class is starting today!”
Sanwa saw his older brothers’ actions and reached out his hands: “Mom, where’s my pen and notebook?”
“You want to learn too?” Song Zhaodi was surprised.
Sanwa asked back, “Mom, won’t you teach me?”
“Of course I will.” Song Zhaodi was more than happy that all the kids were willing to sit down and study quietly.
That evening, when Zhong Jianguo returned home, he noticed an unusual silence in the house and felt puzzled. Did Teacher Xiao Song get angry, scaring the mischievous kids into behaving?
When he entered the room, he saw five children lying on the small table, writing something. His curiosity grew. “School starts tomorrow, why are you still doing homework?”
“Dad, look at the little chick I drew.” Sanwa held up his notebook. “Does it look good?”
Zhong Jianguo bent down to take a look. He couldn’t really see a chick, but it did resemble a chicken coop. “It’s quite realistic. Keep it up.” He then glanced over at Dawa and Zili and saw that they were drawing too. “Not studying English today?”
“We’re balancing work and rest,” Song Zhaodi said as she walked out of the kitchen. “We can’t study every day without a break. You came at the right time, go start the fire, I’m making noodles.”
Zhong Jianguo frowned and blurted out, “Noodles again?”
Song Zhaodi was displeased. “What do you mean ‘noodles again’? Be clear, how many times have I made noodles this year?”
“I must have remembered wrong.” Zhong Jianguo really disliked eating noodles. “I just meant, maybe don’t make noodles next time.”
“We’ll see how I feel.” Song Zhaodi turned back toward the kitchen. “If you don’t want to eat, you can go to the camp and eat in the cafeteria.”
“I have a home and a family. If I go eat at the cafeteria, people will think we had a fight again.” Zhong Jianguo glanced at the pile of noodles on the chopping board and frowned even more. “That’s too much; we won’t finish it all.”
Without even turning around, Song Zhaodi could imagine his expression. “Commander Zhong, you really don’t have to force yourself.”
“No, no,” Zhong Jianguo shut his mouth and went to start the fire. Seeing that there wasn’t much firewood left in the kitchen, he asked, “Tomorrow’s Saturday, so there won’t be regular classes, right?”
“No classes. The students will collect their new books, and lessons will start on Monday.”
“Then take the kids up the mountain on Sunday to gather some firewood.” Zhong Jianguo suggested, “From now on, use the stove for steaming rice and buns. Save the earth stove for cooking things like duck or goose.”
“I got it. But cooking with the stove is exhausting, and the earth stove is much faster.”
“No choice,” Zhong Jianguo replied, then suddenly remembered, “When your second sister visited, she was envious that we had a stove and a whole stack of coal balls in the kitchen, ”
Song Zhaodi interrupted him, “Don’t mention my second sister. I’ve finally had a few peaceful days. Don’t ruin it for me.”
“Did your family send a letter?” Zhong Jianguo asked quickly.
“My eldest sister and her husband don’t like to trouble others. If nothing major happens at home, they won’t write to me. But I should write back and ask if my second sister has gone back to upset my parents again.”
“You’re really good to your parents.” Zhong Jianguo remarked.
“I used to want to be good to my parents earlier too, but unfortunately…” Song Zhaodi shook her head. “Let’s not talk about the past. Tomorrow, you should take Gengsheng to his classroom.”
“What’s wrong?” Zhong Jianguo asked in a low voice.
Song Zhaodi glanced outside. “Zili and Gengsheng are both introverted. Zili will be in second grade with Dawa, so I’m not worried about him. But Gengsheng will be alone in first grade. After everything he’s been through, I’m afraid he’ll be too scared to talk to his classmates. If he says something he shouldn’t, he might close up again.”
“I understand.” Zhong Jianguo thought she was overthinking it. Boys weren’t as fragile as she imagined. Once he got familiar with his classmates, he’d naturally open up.
But this wasn’t something worth arguing about, so he didn’t contradict her.
The next morning, Zhong Jianguo carried Sanwa and led his four sons to the elementary school, while Song Zhaodi took her books to the middle school.
Zhong Jianguo rarely took the kids to school. He usually left early, while the elementary students had classes later in the day. Even if Dawa left at 8:20, he wouldn’t be late.
Since their dad was suddenly walking them to school, Dawa was curious and asked why. Zhong Jianguo half-jokingly said that he was afraid someone would bully Zili and Gengsheng.
Zhong Dawa patted his chest confidently. “With me around, no one dares to bully my friends.”
Zhong Jianguo ignored him and walked Gengsheng to his seat. Then he told the first-graders that Gengsheng was new and asked them to help him.
Holding Sanwa in his arms, Zhong Jianguo noticed that the first-graders immediately recognised him as Dawa’s father.
Who was Dawa? He didn’t even pay attention in class yet still scored perfect marks. He could even speak English. The first-graders admired Dawa greatly. So, they eagerly promised Zhong Jianguo that they would take good care of his younger brother, Zhong Gengsheng.
Before leaving, Teacher Xiao Song reminded him again, and Zhong Jianguo told Gengsheng that if he had any trouble, he should go find Erwa in the next class.
Gengsheng smiled shyly, waved at Zhong Jianguo, and said, “Goodbye. Hurry up and get to your base so you’re not late.”
Zhong Jianguo felt everything was under control. Later, when he ran into Commander Zhao, he told him that Zili and Gengsheng were doing well in his home.
Before coming to Zhong’s house, Teacher Xiao Song already had a reputation for spending money like water. Back then, Commander Zhao’s wife didn’t care about any ‘Teacher Xiao Song’ or ‘Teacher Da Song’.
But after Song Zhaodi became Zili and Gengsheng’s adoptive mother, Commander Zhao’s wife happened to ‘run into’ her at the grocery store.
Song Zhaodi didn’t know who she was, so she took advantage of this and followed her around, buying whatever Song Zhaodi bought. When she got home, her husband scolded her.
She argued, saying, “I didn’t buy more than her, just as much.” After that, Commander Zhao no longer worried that the kids weren’t eating well at Zhong’s house.
So, when Zhong Jianguo assured Commander Zhao that the boys were fine, he believed him.
However, a month later, when Commander Zhao returned from a meeting, the first thing he heard upon arriving on the island was that Zhong’s kids had gotten into a fight.
Panicked, he sent his wife to check on them.
At the same time, Zhong Jianguo, having received the same news, rushed home. As he approached, he expected to see a chaotic scene. Instead, everything was eerily quiet.
Feeling uneasy, he waved at Xiao Li and whispered, “Leave the car here and head back first.”
“Commander, please go easy on them. Dawa and Erwa are very well-behaved. Someone must have provoked them first.”
Zhong Jianguo frowned. “Am I their father, or are you?”
“You are, you are.” Xiao Li quickly left.
Zhong Jianguo took the keys and quietly walked up to the door. Inside, he saw five kids lined up against the wall, their eyes fixed on the table.
When he walked in and took a closer look, he nearly burst out laughing, on the table was a bowl of glossy, braised pork.
“Haven’t eaten yet?” he asked deliberately.
Song Zhaodi crossed her arms. “No.”
“Did they do something wrong?” Zhong Jianguo played along. “Did they get into a fight? No, wait, Dawa, did you lead your brothers into a brawl again?”
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