"I was just saying it casually. Pinching me doesn’t hurt me, but it’ll just tire you out."
Shen Xianjun earned an eye-roll from his wife, though in his eyes, that glance carried a whole other meaning.
"We’ve got enough kids, but a husband’s duties still need to be fulfilled. I’ll make sure to thank you properly for giving me two such wonderful children."
Like an old house catching fire, Shen Xianjun found himself utterly smitten with Qin Nian, finally understanding why his mother adored his wife more than him—he’d do the same in her place.
Li Wu had returned, spending days running wild in the orchard, climbing and jumping around like a monkey.
"Li Wu is truly gifted, but he’s also getting older. To avoid holding him back, we’ll need to adjust his academic schedule."
With a five-year elementary system, Li Wu had skipped a grade. If not for his training, he’d already be in middle school.
Teacher Gao discussed the boy’s future with Yang Yufen, urging the family to prepare him mentally.
"We’ve also asked Li Wu about his own aspirations. He wants to attend military school. With his talent and family background, there’s no issue at all."
Yang Yufen nodded.
"The navy has special recruitment programs. Right now, it’s about academics, but later there’ll be systematic training—different from what he’s doing now."
Truthfully, with a few more years of training, Teacher Gao was confident Li Wu could bring him even greater honors. But personal accolades paled in comparison to serving the nation.
A promising swimmer is one in a thousand, but a promising naval recruit is one in ten thousand.
Yet the risks and future prospects were worlds apart—one offered lifelong stability, while the other was far less certain.
For a struggling family, it’d be a golden opportunity, but for Li Wu, it might be a waste.
Unaware of these discussions, Li Wu was too busy enjoying himself. With his younger brother occupied and the family quarters under renovation, the orchard was far more fun than staying alone in the new house.
Getting to vacation while others were in school? Pure bliss.
"The navy is tough, but Li Wu isn’t one to shy away from hardship. Still, being away from home for long periods means his family will need to keep a close eye on him."
The more Teacher Gao spoke, the more reluctant he grew. Though Li Wu was a troublemaker, his loyalty and sharp mind made him the teacher’s favorite.
Annoying when he’s around, missed when he’s not.
"Teacher Gao, what are you telling my grandma about me?"
Li Wu’s sudden appearance snapped Teacher Gao out of his sentimental mood.
"Talking about you. Have you been running wild these past few days?"
Teacher Gao gave him a once-over—torn pants pockets, leaves stuck in his hair, dust on his arms, and a feisty longhorn beetle clutched in his hand.
For a champion he’d trained, the boy had zero composure.
"Teacher Gao, you’re not tattling on me, are you? Grandma, I didn’t do anything bad!"
Li Wu raised his hand in defense, forgetting he was still holding the beetle.
"Go play. Why do you have to take after your father so much?"
Yang Yufen sighed.
"Heh, well, Grandma, don’t believe any bad stuff. I can explain!"
With a grin, Li Wu dashed off again—he was eager to "help" Grandpa Zhou taste-test his cooking.
"That boy."
Yang Yufen watched him run with fondness.
"I’ll discuss this with Li Wu’s parents and hear his thoughts."
"No problem at all."
"It might actually work out well. He could even return to Beijing, so the family won’t be separated long-term."
Teacher Gao considered the Shen family’s connections.
Not about pulling strings—just a matter of preferential treatment.
"If the parents agree, I’ll coordinate with the navy. They’ll contact you directly."
Teacher Gao didn’t linger.
Qin Nian and Shen Xianjun called to ask Li Wu himself.
"Swimming’s fun, but I’d rather go to military school."
That one sentence settled it for the couple. No matter how busy they were, they dug into the details for their son’s future.
The special recruitment was real. Though young, Li Wu’s recent championship met all requirements. After weighing options, Beijing seemed best—keeping family together gave them peace of mind.
Only as his break neared its end did Li Wu learn he wouldn’t be returning with Teacher Gao.
"I didn’t even get to say goodbye to Jiang Cheng and the others."
He’d made promises with his friends.
"You can call them. Work hard, and you’ll reunite someday."
Teacher Gao reassured him.
Li Wen, however, was thrilled. No more waiting ages for study materials to arrive by mail—now he could quiz his brother anytime. He could even visit Li Wu at the naval academy.
Information technology? Mom and Dad researched planes; he’d research aircraft carriers.
Li Wen added another line to his life plan—he wasn’t about to let Li Wu go it alone.
"Brothers in arms, just like father and son."
"Why do I have to read so many books before starting in ten days?"
Li Wu groaned at the towering stack.
"These are basics. You can’t just swim if you’re in the navy—what if the ship breaks?"
Li Wen said it like it was obvious. Out-argued, Li Wu resigned himself to studying.
"But there’s so much! And I might not even understand it!"
"Don’t worry, I’ve read it all. Ask me anything."
"You’ve read all this? Don’t you have your own studies? Is this even your coursework?"
Li Wu was stunned.
"Library books are free for all. The university has open lectures too, and the web’s full of resources. I joined a forum where people solve problems together."
"There are only 24 hours in a day! Do you even sleep?"
"Kids need sleep to grow. I’m in bed by 10:30, up at 5:30—exercise, breakfast, classes, library after lunch, lab or computer room in the afternoon, lectures on weekends."
As Li Wen laid out his schedule, Li Wu broke into a cold sweat. Was his little brother about to impose this rigor on him?
Sure, training meant early mornings, but nothing this brutal!
"Once you’re enrolled, give me your timetable. I’ll plan it out."
"I’m the older brother."
Li Wu weakly protested.
"Mom told me to look after you. Grandma’s busy."
That shut him up.
The natural order was upside-down, but he couldn’t retaliate—this was his baby brother. A single hit to the head or hands, and he’d never hear the end of it.
With a growl, he snatched the chicken drumstick from Li Wen’s bowl and took a savage bite.
"Childish."
Li Wen didn’t even blink, continuing his meal with infuriating calm.
Wang Xing stifled a laugh—he knew better than to invite trouble.
