"Go if you want to. It's Old Yang's Noodle Shop just outside the residential compound. Your mother-in-law has classes tomorrow and can't take care of Little Baby, so I'll be looking after him."
Yang Yufen kept her head down as she packed clothes for the child to wear the next day.
"Oh, Mom, do you have any money on you? I can't go empty-handed, can I? This isn't a mission—it's just training. And I even hitched a ride back with my brother-in-law."
Shen Xianjun spoke up.
Yang Yufen paused for a moment, then after some thought, took out twenty yuan.
"Use it sparingly."
"Mom, could you give me five more? I’ve got a two-week leave—there’ll be things I need to spend on."
Shen Xianjun had thick skin. Though he wasn’t sure what he’d spend the money on, he asked anyway. Otherwise, once his allowance came in, his mother would surely take it from him.
Yang Yufen rummaged around and pulled out two more yuan.
"That’s all. You don’t smoke or drink—what do you need so much money for? We’ve got two bicycles at home. Just ride wherever you need to go."
Shen Xianjun quickly took the money.
"Alright. Oh, and Mom, one more thing—I only have two weeks off, but after that, I’ll be going for more training. This time it’s different though—I’ll get one day off a month to come home."
"Will there be an allowance for the training?"
Yang Yufen finally looked at Shen Xianjun properly.
"There should be, but I don’t know how much."
Of course. His mother only cared about his allowance, not him.
"Don’t even think of lying to me, or I’ll break your legs. Oh, and your old commander is working in our security department now. When you visit your uncles, don’t forget about him. Also, come with me the day after tomorrow to buy some planks. We need to make a desk for the kids—the old bookshelf is too small, so we’ll need another one."
Yang Yufen thought for a moment. The Hu family already had desks and chairs, but the kids were different heights, so it wasn’t very convenient. They just hadn’t had the time before, but now that Shen Xianjun was back, they had an extra pair of hands.
"Got it."
Shen Xianjun nodded.
The next morning, Shen Xianjun loaded all three kids onto his bicycle and took them to the nursery. Unexpectedly, he ran into his old commander there.
"Commander!"
Shen Xianjun saluted.
"Enough of that. I’m not a commander anymore—just the head of the research institute’s security department now. You look well, though. Much more energetic."
Army Commander Liao looked him up and down before patting his shoulder.
Shen Xianjun suddenly thought of Liao Yuanjie. Maybe the guy hadn’t called because he didn’t know where his father was?
"Yuanjie was my roommate at the Party School. He misses you a lot."
Shen Xianjun said.
"That brat probably hates my guts. ‘Misses me’—yeah right. Anyway, go do what you need to do. I’ve got rounds to make."
Army Commander Liao rubbed his temples at the thought of his son. His three daughters were all strong-willed and doing well in their marriages, so he didn’t have to worry about them. But his youngest son? That kid had a temper like no other. They couldn’t even talk for two minutes without arguing.
Shen Xianjun left the residential compound and hadn’t gone far when he saw the bustling noodle shop, crowded with people buying breakfast.
"Xianjun! Over here! Have you eaten? Doesn’t matter—have some more!"
Ershun's father spotted him first, pulling him inside and seating him before piling the table with flatbread, steamed buns, and millet porridge.
"Eat up. I’ll talk to you once things slow down."
With that, Ershun's father hurried back to work—there was a long line waiting for flatbread.
Though Shen Xianjun wasn’t particularly hungry, the aroma of the food was irresistible. Auntie Gui Xiang’s cooking was as good as ever.
Since he’d come to visit anyway, Shen Xianjun wasn’t in a rush. He parked his bicycle and ate leisurely, even getting up later to help clear tables.
After a busy hour, things finally quieted down.
"Uncle, you’ve recovered well!"
Shen Xianjun smiled.
"Yeah, thanks to your mother. So, you finished your training?"
Ershun's father sat down with him.
"Yep. Where’s Second Brother?"
Shen Xianjun had glanced around earlier but hadn’t seen him.
"Ershun and Qing went to school. They’ll be back for lunch."
"Ershun’s in school now?"
Shen Xianjun couldn’t believe it. Everyone was pushing forward, studying hard.
"That’s right. The doctor said learning would be good for his mind. And with Qing looking after him, we don’t have to worry. Last exam, he even scored full marks—never been this sharp before."
Ershun's father laughed, his pipe long since abandoned after his injury.
"I’ll wait till noon to see him before I go. Auntie, Uncle, anything I can help with?"
It was too late to go shopping now—would look odd.
"No need, no need. We’ve got everything under control. If you’ve got time, go help your mother. Come back for dinner tonight."
Gui Xiang waved him off, already planning to rush out for groceries later.
"My mom’s helping my mother-in-law with the kids today—they went out together. I’ll help you wash up."
Shen Xianjun rolled up his sleeves and started carrying out the steaming baskets. Seeing this, Gui Xiang didn’t stop him. Ershun's father joined in washing dishes while Gui Xiang prepped ingredients for lunch.
They kneaded the dough for buns the night before, then steamed them in the morning while letting the noodle dough rest in a basin.
By noon, the dough was ready. They sold as much as they could at lunch, allowing them to close earlier in the evening. Business was steady, and with a well in the yard, they could keep the dough cool in the basin by lowering it into the water—no risk of souring.
By the time they finished cleaning, it was already noon. Shen Xianjun barely had time to sit before the shop filled with customers again.
"Second Brother! Qing!"
"Hello, Uncle!"
Qing held Ershun’s hand as they returned, greeting him cheerfully.
"Hey there. Second Brother, it’s me—Xianjun."
Ershun almost followed Qing’s lead and called him "Uncle," but hesitated at Shen Xianjun’s words.
"Xianjun?"
"That’s right!"
"Eat up—it’ll get busy soon."
Ershun's father placed two bowls of noodles on the table.
Shen Xianjun thought it was already busy enough—how much busier could it get?
At the mention of food, Ershun immediately pulled them to the table, where bowls of noodles were set before all three of them.
As they ate, the shop quickly filled.
Ershun finished first. Before Qing could even put down her bowl, he was already clearing tables.
"Uncle, I’ll go help now."
Qing drank the last of her soup and hurried to the backyard to wash dishes, ensuring they wouldn’t run out.
Shen Xianjun, with his sharp memory, helped deliver noodles to customers.
By the time the crowd thinned, Ershun and Qing had already slipped away.
"They left for school—didn’t want to be late. Tired out yet?"
Gui Xiang handed Shen Xianjun a bowl of water.
