Chapter 11: A New Name and a Trip Home

By the third day of Xiang Chen’s arrival at the Chen household, nearly half of the cast iron factory knew that Chen Guoliang, who had four daughters, now had a son.

One might assume men weren’t prone to gossip, but when they started joking, their banter knew no bounds.

Having fathered four daughters, Chen Guoliang’s close colleagues frequently teased him, some even debating whether his wife’s inability to bear a son was due to an incorrect ‘posture.’

Now, with a son, even if not his biological one, no one was foolish enough to bring that up. Only congratulations were offered.

It wasn’t until someone inquired about the child’s name that Chen Guoliang remembered. Right, he hadn’t named his son yet.

That evening, after returning home from work, Chen Guoliang brought the matter up with his wife. At that time, it wasn’t customary to call children by their formal names.

Chen Fen, for instance, had been called Daniu for many years. A shout of ‘Daniu’ from the doorway would often elicit responses from several young girls.

It was only when she started school that she learned her proper name was Chen Fen, and from then on, she refused to let her family call her Daniu, getting upset with anyone who did.

Xiang Chen’s situation was somewhat different. He had no childhood nickname from birth, or rather, even if he did, the Chen family had no intention of using it.

It was better for him to completely forget his former family; why would they continue using his old name?

So, Chen Guoliang didn’t even ask Xiang Chen about his own preferences, directly discussing with Cai Zhen what would be a good name for the child.

Chen Guoliang was a junior high school graduate, which was considered a relatively high level of education at the time. Cai Zhen, however, was different; she had struggled with studies since childhood.

Her mind wasn’t suited for academics; while she quickly mastered other household tasks, she couldn’t grasp the lessons taught by teachers, ultimately dropping out after elementary school.

This was also why Cai Zhen’s father had gone to such great lengths to get her into the machinery factory later on. She couldn’t pass the entrance exam herself and relied entirely on connections.

Therefore, Cai Zhen, feeling her education was lacking, largely left the decision of Xiang Chen’s name to Chen Guoliang.

Xiang Chen didn’t mind changing his surname, but he strongly objected to changing his given name. His surname came from his father, and since his father had many sons—two others besides him—he felt it didn’t matter.

But his given name had been chosen by his mother, and Xiang Chen didn’t want to change it.

Yet, Xiang Chen knew he had little say in the matter currently. He simply needed to remember his true name, and he could change it back once he gained the ability.

So, he obediently squatted beside Chen Guoliang, watching him write down all the names he liked on a piece of paper, intending to slowly choose later.

Thus, on that sheet of paper, Xiang Chen saw names such as “Jianguo,” “Aiguo,” “Weiguo,” and similar variations, or replacing “Guo” with “Dang.”

Xiang Chen: ‘This kind of name… I’ll definitely have to change it later!’

Chen Guoliang filled the entire sheet of paper, though not all names were like those at the beginning. There were also some he considered more ordinary, such as “Qiang,” “Shan,” or “Shu.”

He showed these to Cai Zhen, asking her to help choose. Cai Zhen looked at the paper covered in names, a flicker of dissatisfaction in her eyes.

She still remembered that their Daniu’s name had been chosen by Chen Guoliang on a whim. The younger ones were all named in sequence after Chen Fen, and their fourth child still hadn’t been named.

As husband and wife, Cai Zhen and Chen Guoliang shared one significant trait: their aesthetic sense. Chen Guoliang thought the earlier names were good, and Cai Zhen agreed.

But precisely because they were ‘good,’ she didn’t want Xiang Chen to use them.

It was that feeling of her husband’s hard-thought-out names being used by an outsider, a sense of being taken advantage of.

So, after a long deliberation, Cai Zhen picked the name she considered the least desirable: Dabao. She chose it because she’d heard that ‘cheap names’ made children easier to raise.

This name, she thought, was far from ‘cheap,’ and she secretly hoped this little one wouldn’t be able to handle it.

To Chen Guoliang, Cai Zhen explained, “The names you picked are too grand. The child is still small and can’t bear such weight. Let’s call him Dabao for now, and we can change it when he starts school. We’ll have plenty of time to choose then.”

Chen Guoliang considered this reasonable. He pulled Xiang Chen closer with a smile and said, “Dabao, from now on, that’s what you’ll be called.”

Xiang Chen: ‘Dabao?! I might as well be Prince Charming!’

Naturally, Xiang Chen had no right to object. Once Chen Guoliang chose a name, he loved to use it, calling out “Dabao” every so often, and not responding was not an option.

Annoyed beyond measure, Xiang Chen climbed into bed early to feign sleep.

Still hungry today, Xiang Chen couldn’t sleep even after getting into bed. Furthermore, having been confined to the room with nothing to do all day, he had already napped for a while.

So, when everything around him quieted down, Xiang Chen remained awake.

Closing his eyes, he pondered various thoughts for a while. Xiang Chen began to feel a little sleepy, yet the profound quietness around him made him feel as if something was amiss.

As he mused, sounds began to emanate from Chen Guoliang and his wife’s large bed, separated by a curtain. Xiang Chen suddenly realized. Ah, Chen Guoliang hadn’t snored tonight.

Why did people snore again? Xiang Chen’s thoughts immediately diverged. Before he could make sense of it, the sounds from the big bed grew louder.

The muffled gasps of a man and a woman, the creaking of the wooden bed. Xiang Chen curled up on his small bed, blushing like a cooked shrimp.

‘It’s a good thing I insisted on sleeping on this small bed,’ Xiang Chen vaguely thought before finally drifting off to sleep.

***

The next day was Saturday, but at that time, the weekly day off was Sunday. So, those who had school went to school, and those who had work went to work.

Xiang Chen was still confined for the entire day, but thankfully, Little Flower kept him company, so he wasn’t entirely alone.

When the adults were home, Xiang Chen tried to go outside to play. He thought if he went out for a short while and returned, they might stop confining him.

However, the moment he stepped out of the room, Chen Guoliang immediately hauled him back inside.

Fortunately, on Saturday evening, Xiang Chen overheard Chen Guoliang telling Cai Zhen that he planned to take Xiang Chen back to the village to show him to his mother.

Cai Zhen was reluctant to go back because of her inability to bear a son; Chen Guoliang’s aunts and uncles back in his hometown held strong opinions about her. Every time they returned, they would corner her and talk for ages.

But this time, the situation was different. Old Lady Chen had arranged it with them during her last visit: they were to bring Xiang Chen back for the villagers to see, letting everyone know that Chen Guoliang also had an heir.

Xiang Chen also heard Cai Zhen discussing with Chen Guoliang about not mentioning Xiang Chen’s unregistered hukou to Old Lady Chen, but rather to say it had been processed. Otherwise, their mother would worry.

In truth, Cai Zhen was afraid Old Lady Chen would make trouble for her. Chen Guoliang also disliked being caught between his mother and his wife. He considered that his father-in-law wasn’t refusing to handle the registration, it just took time, and it would eventually get done. So, he agreed.

The next morning, Xiang Chen woke up full of anticipation, waiting for Chen Guoliang to take him out. After being cooped up for several days, any chance to get some fresh air, even if it meant going to the countryside, was welcome.

Initially, Chen Guoliang wanted to take his two elder daughters along, but as soon as Chen Fen heard they were going to his hometown, she immediately claimed to have plans with classmates, gulped down her porridge, and fled.

Seeing her sister run off, Chen Fang followed suit without even bothering to find an excuse.

Xiang Chen observed Chen Guoliang’s darkened face and suddenly understood why Chen Fang was so disliked by her parents: she wasn’t clever and lacked subtlety.

That was, after all, where Chen Guoliang had been born and raised. No matter how much she disliked it, she should at least have found an excuse like Chen Fen.

Of course, these matters had little to do with Xiang Chen. His relationship with Chen Fang wasn’t close enough for him to speak up for her or teach her how to behave. He simply needed to act like an innocent child, waiting for Chen Guoliang to take him out.

Chen Guoliang borrowed a bicycle from Old Wu’s family next door. In those days, a bicycle was a significant possession.

When a groom in the countryside could borrow a bicycle to pick up his bride for a wedding, it was considered a tremendous display of prestige.

Chen Guoliang also longed for a bicycle, but they required not only money but also industrial coupons. Money was manageable; he and his wife could save enough.

However, industrial coupons were scarce; with only a few issued each month and needed for everything in the household, they could never accumulate enough for a bicycle.

Chen Guoliang eventually gave up. Old Wu’s family next door was slightly better off. They had three children; the eldest two were already working, and their youngest daughter, Yan’er, was in high school.

Their hometown was also far, so they didn’t need to send subsidies. Their household was more prosperous, which allowed them to buy a bicycle that the whole family could use.

Chen Guoliang rode the bicycle, with Cai Zhen holding Xiang Chen seated behind him. Along the way, Chen Guoliang pedaled swiftly, not feeling tired at all.

Having a vehicle certainly made the journey quicker; in less than an hour, Chen Guoliang had already cycled into the village.

Their village, Qianpo, was relatively well-situated, close to the commune, and the roads were not difficult to traverse. This was unlike the Hou Mountain Village behind them, which was truly nestled deep in the mountains. Not only was land scarce, but it was also difficult to yield crops, leaving every household impoverished.

When Chen Guoliang and his family entered the village, most people were still busy in the fields. Only a few very old villagers saw him and asked a child to go call Old Lady Chen.

Chen Guoliang greeted the villagers as he walked. The villagers had already heard Old Lady Chen mention that their fourth son now had an heir. Seeing Xiang Chen for the first time, they were quite interested. One would glance, another would stare, and some even tried to pinch Xiang Chen’s chubby cheeks.

Xiang Chen, frightened, covered his face, afraid to let go. He had clearly lost a noticeable amount of weight these past few days, so why were they still fixated on the flesh on his face?

After a short delay, Old Lady Chen had already returned home by the time Chen Guoliang arrived. The others still had work in the fields and couldn’t just run back.

Chen Guoliang’s biological father had died young. He and his six siblings were all raised by Old Lady Chen, giving her significant authority in the family.

His eldest sister, Chen Hongmei, was about ten years older than Chen Guoliang. She had married long ago and lived far away, rarely returning. His eldest brother, Chen Guofu, was two years older than Chen Hongmei. He had two sons and two daughters, the youngest of whom was already fifteen.

His second brother, Chen Guomin, had been adopted by a childless clan uncle from the Old Chen family and was now the production team leader of their village. The identity certificate Old Lady Chen had obtained for Xiang Chen was from him.

His third brother, Chen Guoqiang, was three years older than Chen Guoliang. He had three daughters and one son, whom he cherished more than his own life.

Chen Guoliang was the fourth child. The fifth, Chen Guocai, was close in age to Chen Guoliang and had three sons. The youngest, Chen Baogen, was born in the same year as Chen Fang, but a few months later. He was the son Old Lady Chen had originally wanted Chen Guoliang to adopt.

Chen Guoliang stopped his bicycle at their doorstep. Cai Zhen, holding Xiang Chen, also dismounted. Old Lady Chen, beaming, welcomed them inside, loudly declaring, “Fourth son, you’ve brought your son back to see your mother!”

Chen Guoliang knew his mother was speaking for the benefit of the surrounding neighbors and villagers. He cooperatively responded, then had Cai Zhen put Xiang Chen down, led him to Old Lady Chen, and told him to call her Grandma.

Xiang Chen thought that since they had spent so much grain to buy him from the traffickers, and given her age, calling her Grandma was no big deal. So, without any shyness, he loudly called out, “Grandma.”

Old Lady Chen’s face practically blossomed into a chrysanthemum. Everything about Xiang Chen pleased her; she felt she had truly chosen the right grandson. Taking Xiang Chen’s hand, she declared she would get him something delicious.

Xiang Chen inwardly rejoiced, surprised by this unexpected benefit. Since his transmigration, the only ‘outside’ food he had eaten were the few dried sweet potatoes given by this old lady.

The thought of having something to eat again, after days of not being full, made Xiang Chen uncontrollably happy.

Old Lady Chen told Chen Guoliang and Cai Zhen to wait in the main hall while she went to her room to open a cabinet, preparing to get some food for Xiang Chen.

Xiang Chen waited obediently outside the door when suddenly, a strong force from behind sent him stumbling.

Xiang Chen fell to the ground. He turned his head to see a dirty boy glaring fiercely at him.