Teacher Gao left with Li Wu, and Army Commander Liao began to offer some comforting words.
"Sister Yang, this is a good thing for Li Wu. His starting point will be higher than many others, and you won’t have to worry about his future anymore."
"I’m just afraid I haven’t taken good enough care of Xianjun and Little Qin’s child. As long as the child is healthy, that’s all that matters. When you get old, you’re not as strong-willed as you were when you were young."
Yang Yufen let out a slight sigh.
"You’ve taken such good care of both children. Anyone who says you haven’t done your best as a grandmother would be heartless. Xianjun and Little Qin would surely want their child to walk a good path in life. What was all our hard work for, if not to make sure they have it better and stronger than we did?"
Army Commander Liao reassured Yang Yufen, who nodded in response.
"Will you stay for dinner tonight?"
"No, no, I have something else to attend to later."
Army Commander Liao stood up, and Yang Yufen saw him out.
When Li Wen got out of school and went looking for Li Wu, he learned that his brother had been taken away. He rushed home in a hurry and happened to see his grandmother bidding farewell to Grandpa Liao at the door.
"Hello, Grandpa Liao! Grandma, where’s my brother?"
Li Wen asked urgently.
"He went to your grandparents’ house. Why are you in such a rush? I haven’t even finished cooking yet."
Yang Yufen wiped the sweat from the child’s forehead.
"Then I’ll go find him!"
With that, Li Wen turned and ran off again, with Wang Xing chasing after him.
After finishing the meal, Yang Yufen closed the door behind her and headed toward Professor Wen’s house.
"Yufen, you’re here. I just heard from Teacher Gao about this. Actually, I knew a little about it, but I didn’t expect Li Wu to be chosen at such a young age."
Yang Yufen grew curious, and Professor Wen elaborated on the details Teacher Gao hadn’t fully explained—mainly focusing on Li Wu’s future prospects, the benefits of the training program, and how it would affect his education.
"So, once Li Wu completes this, he’ll have a stable job lined up?"
Yang Yufen’s eyes lit up.
"He won’t even have to wait that long. If he passes the provincial selection, the state will take care of everything for him. Li Wu has real talent. It’s a shame Zhenghao is too old for the selection—otherwise, I would’ve wanted him to try too."
Professor Wen, being in education, still had connections to inside information even after retirement.
"The only thing is, the child will be away from home for long periods. The adults will miss him, and he’ll miss home too."
Hearing this, Yang Yufen felt less sorrowful.
"It’s still better than how things were in our time, when some families sent their kids to learn a trade—having to serve the master tea and water, working for years without pay before maybe learning anything."
"Grandma, you’re letting me go?"
Li Wu was pleasantly surprised.
"Your grandmother says it’s a good opportunity. But once you go, you have to stick with it. Don’t embarrass our family, understand?"
"Of course not!"
Li Wu puffed up with pride.
Teacher Gao was even more excited.
"The paperwork should take about a week. It’ll give the child some time to adjust. If you’re worried, you can go with him when it’s time to send him off."
Afraid of losing such a promising student, Teacher Gao quickly settled on the timeline.
Hearing that he only had a week left, Li Wu suddenly felt reluctant to leave.
"Alright, what does he need to bring?"
Now that the decision was made, Yang Yufen focused on the practical matters.
Li Wu, suddenly bashful, tugged at Li Wen’s sleeve.
"Little brother, I’m going to miss you."
"Did you finish your homework?"
Li Wen’s blunt response left Li Wu stunned.
"How can you be so heartless? Aren’t you going to miss me at all? We’re brothers!"
"Should I tell Grandma you fell asleep in class this afternoon?"
Li Wen twisted the knife further.
"Hmph! I’m not talking to you anymore. I’m going to do my homework—wait, I didn’t bring it home!"
Just as Li Wu was about to gloat, a book bag appeared in front of him.
"I brought it for you. Go finish it."
Li Wu took the bag and obediently sat down to work, though he kept one ear on the adults’ conversation.
Wang Xing and Li Wen also took out their homework, finishing much faster than Li Wu.
"Weren’t you just saying you’d miss Li Wu?"
Wang Xing whispered to Li Wen.
"I was worried something might happen to him. But now that he’s fine, and after this, he probably won’t even have this much homework to do. He’ll be thrilled."
"That’s true."
Wang Xing thought for a moment.
"Still, without Li Wu around, the house won’t be as lively."
He couldn’t help but sigh.
Li Wen’s eyes flickered as he glanced at Li Wu, who was scratching his head over his homework.
After seeing Teacher Gao off, Professor Wen pulled Yang Yufen aside to discuss other matters about the children.
"The Youth Program isn’t just for kids like Li Wu. Those like Li Wen and Wang Xing—especially those with a sharp mind for math and science—are also potential candidates."
Without outsiders like Teacher Gao around, Professor Wen spoke more freely and in greater detail.
"Especially since Li Wen and the others have been exposed to computers early. If they just follow the usual academic path, their talents might go to waste. Compared to other places, we have better connections here, and the children have more opportunities."
Yang Yufen nodded repeatedly.
"Absolutely. Back in our hometown, we’d never even hear about these things. Just being able to go to school was already a blessing."
Forget computers—even finding someone who could recognize a foreign language in their town would be a miracle.
Yang Yufen felt increasingly fortunate as she looked at her two grandsons with deep affection.
"Grandma, I’m leaving in a week. Does that mean I don’t have to go to school tomorrow?"
Li Wu suddenly popped up beside her.
"Do you want a taste of the bamboo rod? You’re going to class like always."
"But I want to visit Grandpa Zhou and Grandpa Yang at the orchard!"
Li Wu whined pitifully.
"Today’s Thursday. There are two more days. I’ll take you all there this weekend."
As soon as Yang Yufen said this, Li Wu’s eyes brightened again.
"Grandma’s the best!"
Hu Zhenghao came home from school just in time to hear Li Wu’s cheer.
"Is there some kind of event?"
"Grandma said we’re going to see Grandpa Yang this Sunday."
"This Sunday? Oh no, I’ll miss it!"
Hu Zhenghao clutched his chest in exaggerated despair.
"Zhenghao-ge, what are you doing on Sunday?"
Li Wu asked curiously.
"There’s a competition at the youth center. I was going to invite you all to come."
Hu Zhenghao set down his bag.
"Are you competing too?"
"Yeah, it’s a league with ten middle schools. There are two rounds, morning and afternoon."
Hu Zhenghao nodded.
"Wow, but I’m leaving in a week."
Li Wu’s face fell with disappointment.
"Leaving? Where to?"
Hu Zhenghao looked puzzled.
