Chapter 24: A Morning’s Errand and School Arrangements

When Xu Hengzhou woke up, he felt as if he were embracing a small furnace.

He opened his eyes. In his arms, a soft, tender little dumpling was sleeping soundly. On such a vast bed, he wondered how this little one had managed to roll over to him.

Xu Hengzhou slowly sat up, carefully putting on his clothes. He had not intended to wake Xiang Chen, yet as he got out of bed, Xiang Chen still stirred awake.

Xiang Chen’s little bun-like face still bore red marks from being pressed. He gazed at Xu Hengzhou in a daze for a moment before realizing what was happening. Then, he offered Xu Hengzhou a soft smile and sweetly called out, “Brother.”

Xu Hengzhou found himself growing increasingly soft-hearted toward Xiang Chen. Before any thought could fully form, his body had already reacted.

He gently stroked Xiang Chen’s warm cheek and lightly patted his back, soothing him in a hushed voice, “It’s nothing. Go back to sleep for a while.”

Xiang Chen sat there in a daze for a bit. Then, he slowly shook his head, slid off the bed, and put on his shoes, taking Xu Hengzhou’s hand to go wash up.

Song Wenbin had already risen. Having lived in military camps for years, his daily routine was firmly established.

After waking, he would first put the porridge on to boil, then wash up, and finally do some simple exercises to loosen his body.

By the time Xu Hengzhou and Xiang Chen got up, breakfast was already prepared. Song Wenbin, as usual, had served a large pot on the table, allowing them to take as much as they wished.

Song Wenbin finished eating first. He was scheduled to report to the machinery factory that morning.

Xu Hengzhou knew he had noted down the household’s missing items the previous night, planning to acquire them when he had time.

So, before Song Wenbin left, he said, “Uncle, let me buy the things the house needs. They’re all small, scattered items. I’ll get them, so you don’t have to make another trip.”

Song Wenbin hesitated for a moment before agreeing.

His friend, the police chief, had given Song Wenbin a deep impression of Xu Hengzhou’s situation, suggesting that perhaps due to his many childhood experiences, his eldest nephew was independent, capable, and very responsible.

Moreover, Song Wenbin mused that boys should learn to handle things themselves. Even if they suffered a minor loss, it was inconsequential.

Today’s small losses would teach them valuable lessons, ensuring they wouldn’t stumble on major issues in the future.

Song Wenbin handed all the money and ration tickets to Xu Hengzhou. Instead of explaining how to use them, he reiterated his instruction to look after his younger brother.

Xu Hengzhou nodded in affirmation, carefully putting away the money and tickets Song Wenbin had given him. He had no interest in staying cooped up indoors all day; he needed to first understand the basic situation of this place.

Once Song Wenbin had left, the two boys finished their meal and then washed the dishes.

During breakfast, Xiang Chen had overheard Xu Hengzhou say he was going out. He, too, wanted to explore. Being constantly confined, even Xiang Chen, who wasn’t fond of going out, had grown tired of it.

Seeing Xiang Chen clinging to his back like a little shadow, Xu Hengzhou found himself amused. He reached out and pinched Xiang Chen’s cheek. “Still want candy?”

Xiang Chen was about to refuse when he saw Xu Hengzhou pull out a handful of Great White Rabbit candies from his pocket.

He had initially thought the candies Xu Hengzhou gave him that day were all he had, which was why he wanted Xu Hengzhou to keep the rest. He never expected there to be so many more.

“There’s still so much!” Xiang Chen exclaimed, his eyes wide with wonder and envy.

“I told you I had plenty,” Xu Hengzhou said, offering the candy. “Eat it. Come ask me for more when you’re done.”

Xiang Chen hesitated. How much more could there be? And if his brother carried so many Great White Rabbit candies with him, he must enjoy them too. He had even lied, saying he didn’t like milk candy…

Xiang Chen cast a covetous glance at the milk candy in Xu Hengzhou’s hand, then bit his lip and refused, “I won’t eat it.” He couldn’t eat his brother’s candy; if he ate it all, his brother would have none left.

Xu Hengzhou was puzzled. “You don’t like this anymore? Then what do you like to eat?” He clearly looked like he wanted it very much!

Seeing that Xu Hengzhou insisted on an answer, Xiang Chen stammered out his thoughts.

Xu Hengzhou chuckled for a moment, then felt a warmth in his heart. He simply unwrapped a candy and popped it into Xiang Chen’s mouth.

“You can’t refuse what your brother gives you. I have plenty, don’t worry about me. I don’t like milk candy.” Then, he stuffed the remaining candies into Xiang Chen’s pocket.

Xiang Chen felt a surge of satisfaction as he touched the full pocket of Great White Rabbit candies. He could eat them for a long, long time!

He savored the rich, milky sweetness of the candy in his mouth, wondering how anyone could dislike something so delicious. His brother must have been humoring him. His brother was so kind!

Overwhelmed with emotion, Xiang Chen pulled out a candy, mimicking Xu Hengzhou by unwrapping it. He then stood on tiptoes and held the candy to Xu Hengzhou’s lips. “Brother, you eat some too.”

Xu Hengzhou had no choice. He opened his mouth and took the candy. He truly disliked such things; all milky foods were an anathema to him.

As a child, to grow taller, Xu Hengzhou would simply gulp down milk, which felt no different from drinking poison.

Yet, strangely, he didn’t mind Xiang Chen sidling up to him after eating milk candy. Despite the lingering milky scent, he simply felt that his little silly brother was different.

Xiang Chen carefully finished the candy in his mouth, patted his bulging pocket, and decided to save the rest. He then drank a glass of plain water to wash away the milky taste.

After both brothers had finished their candies, Xu Hengzhou grabbed a satchel and slung it over his shoulder. Then, he locked the door and led Xiang Chen outside.

Xiang Chen, with his short legs, happily trotted along. This was the first time he had a chance to properly explore.

Xu Hengzhou went downstairs but didn’t rush out. He first visited the home where he had exchanged coal briquettes last time and asked Granny Li for directions to the supply and marketing cooperative.

Granny Li was sewing shoe soles. Hearing Xu Hengzhou’s question, she put down her work and slowly said, “The city’s cooperative? It’s far from here.

If you want to go there, you’ll need to take a bus. But our factory district also has its own cooperative. While it doesn’t have everything the city one does, it has needles, thread, and all the common necessities. Which one do you want to go to?”

Upon hearing this, Xu Hengzhou already knew his answer.

He had long suspected that such a large factory would surely have its own supply and marketing department. Otherwise, how would daily necessities be acquired?

Besides, how much could two children carry back? Unless he exposed his spatial ability, which would be even more disadvantageous.

Granny Li, after hearing Xu Hengzhou’s reply, turned and called out to a few boys nearby, “Liangliang, come, take this big brother to the supply and marketing cooperative.”

A boy of seven or eight years old, like a little calf, rushed over. He looked at Xu Hengzhou and Xiang Chen, then at his grandmother.

Granny Li patted him and said, “Take big brother and little brother there. You can play again when you get back.”

Xu Hengzhou and Xiang Chen followed the boy named Liangliang. The child was very shy, remaining silent throughout the journey, occasionally sneaking glances at Xiang Chen.

Xiang Chen puzzledly tugged Xu Hengzhou’s hand. Xu Hengzhou smiled and adjusted Xiang Chen’s hat. Xiang Chen didn’t realize it, but Xu Hengzhou knew the child was looking at Xiang Chen’s little military uniform; the envy in his eyes was unmistakable.

Xu Hengzhou felt a strange sense of pride. That small vanity of having his own child admired solidified his resolve: he would make sure to dress his little dumpling well in the future. Someone so good-looking deserved to wear fine clothes.

Upon arriving at the cooperative, Xu Hengzhou observed that it was similar to the one he had visited when he first transmigrated, though slightly larger in area, and seemingly stocked with more goods.

After a quick tour, Xu Hengzhou had a plan in mind.

He first looked at condiments like salt, soy sauce, and vinegar. Eating bland corn porridge all the time was unbearable, not just for Xiang Chen, but for himself too.

In those days, soy sauce and vinegar were sold loose from large vats, with families sending children to fill bottles. However, the Song family didn’t even have a soy sauce bottle. Fortunately, there were still full bottles available, albeit more expensive.

The ration tickets Song Wenbin provided included several sugar tickets for brown and white sugar, each for a few ounces. After confirming availability, Xu Hengzhou used all these tickets to buy sugar.

There were also a few egg tickets. Xu Hengzhou had wanted to buy some eggs to make steamed egg custard for Xiang Chen, but they couldn’t carry too many items, and he worried about breaking the eggs, so he reluctantly gave up the idea.

He bought three enamel mugs, two bars of soap, and three towels, all of which required industrial coupons. Luckily, Song Wenbin had given him plenty of tickets, so he wasn’t worried about not being able to afford them.

Considering the items, he couldn’t carry much more. Xu Hengzhou then bought a basin, put all the items into it, and carried the basin himself, letting Xiang Chen carry the soy sauce and vinegar bottles.

Xiang Chen, experiencing the legendary task of buying soy sauce for the first time, was in high spirits, excitedly trailing behind Xu Hengzhou, clutching the two bottles.

After putting their purchases away at home, Xu Hengzhou and Xiang Chen made another trip. This time, Liangliang didn’t need to lead the way; Xu Hengzhou had already memorized the route.

After the second trip, Xu Hengzhou looked at the much more substantial kitchen. With vegetables now available, they wouldn’t have to subsist solely on corn porridge. The rest would depend on Song Wenbin’s decision.

When Song Wenbin returned at noon, he announced that Xiang Chen’s household registration was being processed.

Additionally, Xu Hengzhou’s schooling had been arranged; he would be transferring into the sixth grade at the machinery factory’s affiliated primary school.

Xu Hengzhou had considered the issue of schooling early on, knowing that a higher level of education would undoubtedly be an advantage in this era.

However, considering the turmoil that would erupt a few years later, Xu Hengzhou felt it best to advance as far as possible in his studies during these intervening years.

Furthermore, Xu Hengzhou couldn’t tolerate going through school year by year with a group of children in a conventional manner; he lacked both the time and the patience for it.

Therefore, Xu Hengzhou had told Song Wenbin that he had already self-studied all primary school knowledge and hoped to enter middle school directly.

Song Wenbin, trusting him, had inquired at the machinery factory’s affiliated middle school beforehand. However, without any prior school records for Xu Hengzhou, they were unwilling to accept him as a transfer student.

Song Wenbin had no choice but to arrange for him to attend the affiliated primary school. Fortunately, there were only a few months left until the entrance exam for middle school.

After passing that hurdle and entering middle school, Xu Hengzhou could then consider skipping grades.

After hearing his uncle and brother speak, Xiang Chen quickly raised his hand. “I want to go to school too! With Brother.”

What would he do if his brother went to school? Staying home alone was too boring. Plus, if he went to primary school, he could even pretend to be a child prodigy, which was a significant temptation for Xiang Chen, who had always had mediocre grades.

“Chenchen will go too,” Song Wenbin had also arranged for Xiang Chen. “Brother is a big boy, Chenchen will go to a different school first.”

Xiang Chen looked confused. “Where?”

Song Wenbin revealed a benevolent smile. “Kindergarten.”