That weekend, Qiao Lanshu went to Wencheng Normal University early in the morning—the alma mater where she had once studied.
She had come to find one of her former teachers and ask whether she could recommend an English tutor.
The country was beginning to place greater emphasis on English education. Since 1983, English scores had been included in the total for the national college entrance examination, making the subject impossible to avoid.
Unfortunately, Qiao Lanshu’s own English foundation was weak. When she had taken the college entrance examination in 1977, foreign languages had not yet been tested.
Neither she nor Qin Yuanzheng could help the children with English, so they would have to leave it to a professional.
Her teacher immediately introduced her to a young university professor of foreign languages.
The professor was not yet thirty. He was biracial and had gone abroad with his family during the chaotic years. After the country opened up and called on talented people to return and help build the nation, he had come back with his family. Since his field was philosophy, becoming a professor was practically the only suitable job he could find in those days.
Qiao Lanshu met him at the university. The two of them chatted in the library, and he asked with a smile, “Comrade Qiao, how many children in your family need tutoring?”
“Just one,” Qiao Lanshu replied. “He’s in the eighth grade. I want him to get into high school, but his English is terrible.”
Lang Yangqiu nodded and sighed. “There are still a great many illiterate people in our country. Foreign languages only officially became part of the college entrance examination in 1983, so it’s only been three or four years. And according to our textbooks, children don’t even begin learning the alphabet until the first year of junior middle school. It’s perfectly normal for their English foundation to be weak. Since your child needs tutoring, I assume he’ll have to start with the first-year textbook?”
Qiao Lanshu nodded. “Yes, we’ll start with the basics.”
Professor Lang continued, “Since that’s the case, I heard you have three children. Why not let the two younger ones attend the lessons as well? They’re still in primary school, right? The earlier children are exposed to a language, the faster they learn.”
Professor Lang had grown up abroad, after all, and his foreign-language skills were excellent. It really would be a wonderful opportunity for Qin Qiao'an and Xiaxia to study with him.
After considering the suggestion, Qiao Lanshu said gratefully, “If you don’t mind, Professor Lang, that would be wonderful.”
Lang Yangqiu waved his hand with a smile. “It’s no trouble. Since you were Professor Rong’s student, that makes me your senior schoolmate. I was Professor Rong’s student too.”
Lang Yangqiu was not short of money and had never actually considered tutoring children.
But Professor Rong had not asked whether he was willing. She had merely mentioned that one of her students was looking for a tutor for her children, and then recommended him.
Hearing this, Qiao Lanshu smiled. “In that case, I’ll have to give Professor Rong a generous gift to thank her for the recommendation.”
Lang Yangqiu teased her, “You can include my share too. I’ve been so busy tutoring the children lately that I won’t have time to visit our teacher.”
…
After agreeing on the tutoring schedule with Lang Yangqiu, Qiao Lanshu had finally taken care of one major matter and was in high spirits.
She rode her bicycle to the market to buy groceries. Thinking that all three children were growing and needed to nourish their minds as well, she bought some walnuts and a pig’s trotter. She planned to stew the walnuts and pig’s trotter for them when she got home.
When she returned, all three children were there. Xiaxia was sitting in a recliner in the courtyard with a book in her hands.
An'an was bored, playing with the dog by himself.
The puppy had only recently joined the family. After all, Dahuang, Han Ye’s favorite dog when he was little, had already died of old age.
This new puppy was only a few months old.
As soon as An'an saw Qiao Lanshu come home, he hurried over with the dog in his arms. “Mom, Mom, you’re finally back!”
He put the dog down and ran over to help her carry the groceries. “Mom, what are we having for dinner?”
Qiao Lanshu gave him a disdainful look. “You don’t need to carry anything. Go wash those filthy black paws of yours. I bought bread today. You can have some in a little while.”
The moment they heard there was bread, even Xiaxia stopped reading. The siblings washed their hands and ran over to get some.
As Qiao Lanshu sorted the groceries in the kitchen, she asked in confusion, “Your big brother isn’t home?”
“He came back,” An'an said around a mouthful of bread. “He got home at noon, but the moment he came back, he holed up in his room. He won’t even take me out to play.”
Qin Qiao'an had friends among the neighbors, but after spending so much time with Han Ye, he found playing with children his own age boring. He always felt that they were rather slow and knew nothing and could do nothing.
When Qiao Lanshu heard this, she put down what she was holding and went to Han Ye’s door. She knocked.
“Han Ye? Are you in there?”
Han Ye called back from inside, “I’m here.”
He opened the door and looked at Qiao Lanshu. “Mom, did you need something?”
Qiao Lanshu looked him up and down several times before asking, “What have you been doing in your room? An'an says you’ve been in there all day.”
Han Ye scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed. “I’m still looking up information about the military academies. I talked to Dad yesterday, and he suggested that I apply to the Military Armored Academy. So I looked into the school’s admissions requirements. The competition is fierce every year. Last year, they only recruited three students from Wencheng, and the requirements were extremely strict…”
Han Ye had always been carefree and had only thought about joining the military someday. He had never considered the possibility that he might fail to get into a military academy.
But after researching the requirements over the past two days, he finally realized that something was wrong.
Military academies had such strict standards. It was entirely possible that he might not get in!
What would he do if he failed?
He had never thought about it.
Now he was a little panicked—and a little regretful. He should have taken his studies seriously from the beginning.
What if he served his two years in the military and passed all the physical and training requirements, only to be rejected because of his academic scores? Wouldn’t he regret it for the rest of his life?
Seeing him like this, Qiao Lanshu felt relieved.
“The fact that you’ve realized this now means it’s not too late. Fortunately, you’re only in the eighth grade, not your second year of high school. All right, don’t be nervous. I’ll help you with your studies. As for matters concerning the military, don’t you still have two fathers? Relax. Focus on your schoolwork first, and we’ll deal with everything else later.”
Qiao Lanshu had great confidence in Han Ye.
He was strong and physically fit, having trained with Qin Yuanzheng since childhood. His fighting skills were excellent as well.
If he joined the military, he would definitely make a fine soldier.
As long as he could keep up academically, getting into a military academy would certainly be no problem.
After Qiao Lanshu encouraged him, a smile appeared on Han Ye’s face too.
He came out of the room and draped an arm over her shoulder. “Mom, I knew you wouldn’t abandon me! I’ll definitely study hard from now on!”
Qiao Lanshu nodded. “Then study hard with your tutor. I’ve already found you one, so you’d better take your studies seriously.”
Han Ye didn’t think tutoring would be a big deal. He asked, “How long will I need lessons? A month? Or a whole semester?”
A whole semester sounded rather long to him. By his way of thinking, a month or two should be enough. He was so smart, after all—surely he could learn everything by then.
Qiao Lanshu glanced at him. “What are you thinking? How could it be only one month?”
Han Ye sensed that something was wrong and asked cautiously, “Then how long will I have to take extra lessons?”
Qiao Lanshu said, “Two years. Until you get into high school.”
Han Ye: “!!!”
He was only in his second year of middle school. If he had to take extra lessons for another two years, wouldn’t he go crazy?
Seeing his face change dramatically, Qiao Lanshu showed no mercy. She added, “And after you get into high school, if you still don’t listen in class or study properly, you’ll have to take extra lessons in high school too. Understood?”
Han Ye: “...”
Han Ye felt as if the sky were falling.
He was actually going to have to take extra lessons for two years.
His days of freedom were gone forever!
Still, Han Ye did not complain. When he thought of the military academy’s stringent admissions requirements, he realized that without such capable parents supporting him, he might not be able to compete with the other applicants.
There were too many outstanding people in the world. He was merely an ordinary one among them.
If he did not work harder than everyone else, how could he stand out and be chosen from among thousands?
And so, Han Ye began taking extra lessons that week.
On Saturday mornings, Teacher Zhao and Teacher Qiao took turns tutoring him in mathematics and English.
In the afternoons, Professor Lang would bring English textbooks and magazines over and teach English to the three children.
Han Ye, An'an, and Xiaxia sat in the courtyard while Professor Lang gave them their first introduction to the language.
During their breaks, Professor Lang would read English books to them—literary works by foreign authors. Hearing him read them aloud in English made the whole experience feel wonderfully romantic.
This was Xiaxia’s favorite part. At Professor Lang’s recommendation, she had begun reading Shakespeare.
Sometimes, Professor Lang would even take the three children to the cinema and pay for the tickets himself.
Han Ye had initially been very resistant to foreign-language lessons. His foundation in English was poor, and learning a foreign language was no easy task for a second-year middle school student.
Unlike Qin Qiao'an and Xiaxia, who were still young and could learn much more easily.
But Professor Lang was simply too kind to them. Every time he came, he brought them snacks and soda, and he took them to the movies as well. Han Ye liked Professor Lang, and gradually, he came to enjoy listening to his lessons.
Once Han Ye and An'an stayed home obediently to study and stopped going out to cause trouble, peaceful days passed in the blink of an eye.
A year later, Guan Wenjun was transferred to the provincial government and came to work in Wencheng.
He brought his wife and children with him and moved into a newly built residential compound for government employees.
His two sons, one in kindergarten and the other in elementary school, attended schools near their new home. Since those schools were some distance away, they did not attend the same school as Qiao Lanshu.
Of course, the happiest person about their move to Wencheng was Zhong Mei.
On the day they moved in, Qiao Lanshu had to work, so she did not go over during the day.
After work, she drove there with Qin Yuanzheng and the children.
Although both families lived in Wencheng, one was in the east and the other in the west. They were quite far apart, and even by car, the journey took nearly half an hour.
The two families were already very close. As soon as Qiao Lanshu arrived at the entrance to the residential compound, Guan Wenjun was there waiting for her.
Qiao Lanshu and Qin Yuanzheng carried a live chicken and some dried noodles they had bought and walked over to him.
With a smile, Qiao Lanshu said, “Section Chief Guan, congratulations on your promotion!”
Guan Wenjun had been transferred to the Organization Department, a position he had been working toward for some time. He said that the department would be relatively less busy.
Guan Wenjun beamed. “Thank you, Teacher Qiao. I heard that you’ve been promoted too. Congratulations to both of us!”
Qiao Lanshu had been promoted to team leader, but the position had only made her workload heavier. She had recently been working until midnight every day and was exhausted.
She shook her head helplessly. “Congratulations to both of us. By the way, where’s Zhong Mei?”
As he spoke, Guan Wenjun took a handful of White Rabbit candies from his pocket and handed them to An'an and Xiaxia. Then he said, “She’s at home unpacking and tidying things up. Come on, I’ll show you around.”
At that time, housing consisted of work-unit dormitories. If you had a job, you had a place to live; if you left the job, the housing would be taken back. Private individuals were not allowed to buy or sell homes.
Guan Wenjun’s apartment was on the third floor of the dormitory building. It was quite spacious, with a balcony and three bedrooms. The building had been constructed within the past two years, so the apartment was completely new.
Zhong Mei loved the place. She had been thrilled ever since they moved in.
She spent the entire day organizing the rooms with the children and had finally gotten most of everything put away.
Once Qiao Lanshu arrived, the four children went off to play together, while Qiao Lanshu and Zhong Mei stayed in the kitchen, chatting as they prepared dinner.
Qiao Lanshu asked Zhong Mei, “The last time we saw each other was seven or eight months ago. You said then that you were preparing to open a shop. How’s that going?”
Zhong Mei had actually mentioned opening a shop a long time ago.
But nothing had ever come of it. It had remained nothing more than an idea in her head.
As she trimmed the green beans, she said, “Oh, the children were too little before, and I could never find the time. Last year, I actually saw a storefront in Longcheng, but Guan Wenjun wouldn’t let me open a shop.”
Qiao Lanshu asked curiously, “Why not?”
As she sorted through the beans, she glanced at Zhong Mei and teased her, “You listen to him now? That doesn’t sound like you at all.”
After marrying Guan Wenjun, Zhong Mei had him completely wrapped around her finger.
Guan Wenjun had a rather sharp tongue, but he was not a bad person. Whenever Zhong Mei coaxed him a little, he became completely dazed and compliant.
Later, Zhong Mei became pregnant and gave birth to two sons in succession. After that, Guan Wenjun lost all control over the household finances.
Every month, as soon as his salary arrived—before he had even had time to warm it in his hands—Zhong Mei took it away.
If he wanted to buy even a steamed bun, he had to ask Zhong Mei for money. In short, Zhong Mei was the one who called all the shots at home.
Qiao Lanshu’s teasing made Zhong Mei a little embarrassed.
She lowered her voice. “He said he was trying to find the right connections to see whether he could be transferred to the provincial government. If that happened, we’d have to move to Wencheng, so I didn’t open a shop in Longcheng.”
Zhong Mei continued, “Now that our whole family has moved to Wencheng, I’m definitely going to open one. I want to run a general store and sell all kinds of things. Those stores can make a lot of money—the profit on many items is two or three times the cost.”
Zhong Mei had worked odd jobs since she was young, always thinking of ways to make money. She had a keen sense of the market.
In the past, circumstances had been restrictive, and no one had had much opportunity to develop a business. But now it was the 1980s, and private enterprise was springing up everywhere. Even Han Ye knew that he could make money by buying and reselling goods, let alone Zhong Mei.
She was nearly thirty now, with plenty of life experience, some savings, and a husband who could support her if necessary.
She wanted to learn how to do business.
She wanted to make a fortune.
Qiao Lanshu thought it was a good idea. She asked Zhong Mei, “Opening a shop will require quite a bit of money, won’t it? Do you have enough?”
Zhong Mei paused before answering, “Not quite. I’ll save up a little more.”
Qiao Lanshu smiled and shot her an exasperated look. “You really are something. If you don’t have enough money, why didn’t you come to me? Stop saving. Go open the shop right now. I’ll invest and become your partner. How does that sound?”
In any case, Qiao Lanshu and Qin Yuanzheng did not have the time to run a business themselves.
They both had careers of their own, and neither of them planned to change professions.
Qiao Lanshu had managed to save up some money over the years. Since it was just sitting there, she figured she might as well invest it in Zhong Mei.
She trusted Zhong Mei’s abilities and judgment and was sure she would succeed.
When Zhong Mei heard her say that, however, she hesitated. “Lanshu, maybe you should think it over a little more? I’m worried that…”
Qiao Lanshu cut her off. “Worried about what? You’re sure to succeed.”
If Zhong Mei lost the money, Qiao Lanshu would simply consider it support for her friend.
But if Zhong Mei made it big, then it could be money set aside for her children’s future.
Qiao Lanshu took things in stride. She told Zhong Mei, “It’s fine. Just go ahead and do it without holding back. Even if you lose it all, it won’t matter. We both have jobs—we won’t starve.”
