"This matter can be considered. We'll announce it tomorrow and see what everyone thinks. If more than half agree, then we'll build it."
The decision was met with unanimous approval. A location was chosen, and everyone volunteered to help. Even the children acknowledged their mistake.
With many hands making light work, the swimming pool was completed in just five days. Though it was open-air, both adults and children were thrilled. A dedicated supervisor was assigned to ensure safety, resolving any concerns.
However, Hu Zhenghao and the other kids ended up with more homework because of this incident. Hu Zhenghao didn’t dare complain—after all, he was the one who had led his younger brothers to play in the water. He got a beating from his grandmother and another from his mother. He was just glad his father wasn’t home, or it would have been worse.
On the other side of the sea...
"These are the fundamentals. Memorize all of it."
A thick notebook was placed in front of Qin Nian.
"Professor, this isn’t related to what I’m currently studying—"
Before she could finish, the professor raised a hand to stop her.
"This material isn’t available back home. Can you memorize it or not?"
The professor’s gaze bore into Qin Nian, urgency barely concealed.
"Yes."
Qin Nian nodded. What did it matter if she hadn’t studied it before or if it wasn’t her field? She was here to learn—how could she shy away from more knowledge?
"Good. Don’t show this to anyone, and don’t discuss it with others—not even your study group."
With that, the professor left. Qin Nian tucked the notebook away as others gradually arrived, and everyone immersed themselves in their studies and experiments.
"Old Hu, I’ve realized children’s learning abilities are remarkable. Even if they don’t fully understand, by mimicking and then gradually deepening their comprehension through practice, they grasp things faster than adults."
Professor Wen shared her observations and methods from teaching the children with her husband.
"Hu Zhenghao and Little Baby have similar temperaments—restless but quick learners, especially when it comes to hands-on tasks and execution. The other two show exceptional talent in language and numbers. They’re evenly matched in Sudoku, and if Hu Zhenghao weren’t a few years older, he wouldn’t stand a chance."
"Such sharp minds shouldn’t go to waste."
Dean Hu began pondering.
"Once Little Baby is old enough for nursery, I plan to take the children to sit in on university lectures regularly."
"Good idea. Have you discussed this with Yang Yufen?"
"She’s even more invested in the children’s education than you are. Though she’s not highly educated, her open-mindedness is extraordinary."
Yang Yufen came every day to cook for the children—a task some might resent, seeing it as being treated like a maid.
But Yang Yufen never felt that way. Free of resentment, the atmosphere was so harmonious that Professor Wen found it more comfortable than her own marriage. Yang Yufen always stepped in at the right moment to handle small tasks—like tending to Little Baby when he woke or needed changing, even feeding him while Professor Wen was engrossed in teaching, without her even noticing.
Time flew by. When Hu Jun and Shen Xianjun called again, neither Yang Yufen nor Professor Wen remembered—they were too busy watching the news with the children.
"Grandma, the phone!"
Hu Zhenghao’s shout snapped Professor Wen out of it, and she hurried to answer.
"Son."
"Hu Jun, everything’s fine at home. No need to worry."
Professor Wen’s attention lingered on the news, already thinking about how to discuss it with the kids later.
Yang Yufen took the phone next.
"Next time, call after the news is over. Anything else?"
Her tone was dismissive. Shen Xianjun was stunned into silence before the dial tone cut in. The children didn’t even know who had called.
"They hung up? I didn’t even get to hear the kids."
Shen Xianjun stared at the phone in disbelief.
"What did Yang Yufen say?" Hu Jun asked.
"My mom said to call after the news next time."
It dawned on them—they’d called at the wrong time.
But the call had ended, and redialing wasn’t an option. They had to let it go.
"Aren’t you calling?" Shen Xianjun turned to Liao Yuanjie.
"My dad can’t be bothered to answer, and I can’t be bothered to call."
Liao Yuanjie shrugged, long accustomed to it. Still, seeing Shen Xianjun’s treatment gave him a strange sense of balance.
"Let’s go. Quit dawdling. Fall in, double time!" Hu Jun barked.
School started again, and Hu Zhenghao was a little reluctant. He’d finished all his homework in one go during the break and spent the vacation having the time of his life—even helping Wang Xing overcome his fear of water.
Now, carrying his backpack to school, Hu Zhenghao watched his classmates scrambling to finish their homework and couldn’t help puffing out his chest. He pulled out his own completed work.
"Tsk tsk, you guys still haven’t finished? The teacher’s coming any minute."
"You’re done? But you were playing all break too!" His desk mate was incredulous.
"Finished ages ago." Hu Zhenghao waved his homework before it was snatched away.
"Lend it to me, buddy. I’ll give you my favorite marble—emergency help!"
Hu Zhenghao grinned. Maybe school wasn’t so bad after all.
"Hu Zhenghao, come help me carry the new textbooks."
Startled by the sudden call, he quickly stood when he realized it was to assist the teacher.
"We’re adding a new subject this term. A new teacher will arrive soon—make sure the class gives them a warm welcome, understood?"
"Understood!"
"Good. I trust you. Just these books."
Hu Zhenghao didn’t think much of it until he saw the bold English characters on the covers.
He hadn’t escaped his grandmother’s lessons at home, and now school was starting them too!
Yang Yufen watched the steady stream of customers at the noodle shop’s breakfast rush. Even at this hour, business was brisk.
"Yang Yufen, you’re here early today."
"Nothing much at home, so I came. Where’s Ershun?"
"Her dad took her to the hospital. He handles her therapy sessions now. I don’t know if it’s Qing teaching her, but Ershun’s mind is getting sharper."
Gui Xiang couldn’t stop smiling.
"Qing’s at school now, right?"
"Yes, she’s gone to school."
As they talked, the morning’s stock was nearly sold out.
At the hospital, Ershun’s father echoed the same sentiment.
"It’s entirely possible. Learning stimulates brain activity, promoting growth. Her memory and cognition were stuck at an eight- or nine-year-old’s level, but studying has helped her progress. Keep it up."
Tears welled in Ershun’s father’s eyes. People had always dismissed his daughter as just a girl, saying the family’s future rested on the eldest son. But who said girls were any less?
If not for his granddaughter’s patience and diligence, they’d never have seen this improvement.
