Time flies when you're with people you click with.
Before we knew it, dinner had been going on for over two hours. Professor Gao and Bao Ni's father were talking about the island, while Bao Ni's mother, Teacher Zhai, and Teacher Fang were chatting about everyday things. They were all enjoying themselves.
Grandpa and Grandma, having eaten and drunk their fill, didn't want to chat. They sat by the window, watching people come and go outside, and felt that life was truly wonderful.
Bonnie noticed it was almost time and hurried home. Her grandparents needed to go to sleep; they were going to watch the flag-raising ceremony tomorrow.
Back at the courtyard house, Liu Jiu and the others went to their respective rooms. Bao Ni had prepared several rooms, one for each person. It was just to make a few more sets of bedding; things weren't as scarce as before.
As parents, we always want to give our children the best we can.
Gu Ye can finally sleep with his wife in his arms; just thinking about it makes him happy.
In the morning, Grandpa and Grandma were the first to get up. They changed into the new clothes that Bonnie had made for them—a Zhongshan suit and a Lenin suit—and got ready neatly.
Bonnie's parents did the same thing; in their view, watching the flag-raising ceremony was a very solemn matter.
The children aren't going; they'll go directly to Teacher Zhai's house to learn a foreign language later.
Gu Ye drove the car, and the group headed towards the square.
At that time, there weren't many people watching the flag-raising ceremony. Traveling was inconvenient then, unlike decades later when many people would watch it every day.
The car couldn't get too close, so the group got out and walked over.
From the moment she stepped into the square, Bonnie noticed that her grandfather and the others looked solemn, with a light in their eyes.
He didn't say anything while waiting, just waited quietly.
Upon hearing someone announce that the honor guard had arrived, the four of them simultaneously straightened their uniforms. They touched their collars and tugged at their lapels to make sure they were dressed neatly.
As the red flag slowly rose, Bonnie noticed that tears were streaming down Grandpa's face.
At that moment, they must have felt excited and deeply moved!
Bonnie took out her camera and captured the moment, which became one of their most cherished photos.
The red flag fluttered in the morning sun. The old man stared at the bright flag for a long time, and in a daze, he seemed to see his second son's smiling face, saluting him.
The old man silently prayed in his heart, "Second son, do you see? Your blood was not shed in vain. Life is getting better and better!"
Bonnie and Gu Ye stayed by her side silently. Having never experienced the true chaos of war, her feelings were different.
Just like decades later, when children watch black-and-white patriotic films, most of them won't understand them or why they should be done that way.
"Let's go back. It's been a lifetime since I was able to stand in the square and watch the national flag slowly rise!"
Grandpa and Grandma supported each other, their steps much easier than when they arrived.
Gu Ye and Bao Ni took their parents out for an authentic Beijing breakfast. Everything else was fine, but the fermented mung bean juice was really bad. Apart from Gu Ye, no one who tried it had the courage to take a second sip.
Since Grandpa and Grandma were exhausted from getting up early, Bao Ni and the others didn't go anywhere else and went straight back to the courtyard house.
"Is that my second brother and his family of four?"
Gu Ye had sharp eyesight and spotted the group of people standing in front of his house from a distance.
"Really? I can't see clearly."
"Your second brother and the others are here?"
Hearing Gu Ye and Bao Ni's conversation, Bao Ni's mother asked a question.
"It seems so," Gu Ye said.
As the car drew closer, Bonnie could see clearly that it really was the family of four.
Where did you all go so early?
After Lin Tao and the others got up, they quickly ate a little food and came over, only to find that no one was home and Tie Jiangjun was guarding the house.
"I took my parents to watch the flag-raising ceremony. You've been here for ages?"
Bonnie opened the door and let her parents come down. Lin Hongqiao had been yawning since finishing breakfast; he had gotten up too early and the child was very sleepy.
"Grandpa and Grandma, you should go and rest for a while and see if you can take a nap."
"Yeah, I really need to go back and lie down for a while to recharge."
Grandpa took Grandma's hand and slowly went back into the house.
"Hongqiao, you should go take a nap too. You can play again when you wake up."
Bao Ni's mother brought Lin Hongqiao into the house; the child's eyes were barely open. Gu Ye sat with Lin Tao's family in the living room, while Bao Ni busied herself getting some food out.
"Bonnie, where are Liu Jiu and the others?"
"Going to study a foreign language."
Thanks to Sister-in-law Shen's vigorous promotion, everyone in the compound knew that Gu Ye's child was learning a foreign language from a diplomat, and that sour feeling lingered in the air for a long time.
"That's great! Your Sanqi is starting to learn English so early. She'll definitely do very well in middle school. Should I send my Hongwei to learn too, so he can get into a good university?"
Hao Mei felt envious and jealous, but she didn't say anything about letting her son Hongwei study with Sanqi and the others.
The previous incident caused quite a stir, and they had heard about it and knew that Teacher Zhai would no longer teach other children.
"Why are you in such a hurry? Hongwei has just started first grade. He hasn't even mastered pinyin yet. If he learns English on top of that, he'll be even more confused."
Lin Tao took over the conversation. Ever since the college entrance examination was reinstated, his wife had become a bit obsessed, always thinking about how their child would study so that he could get into a good university in the future.
He knew that Hao Mei was a little worried because neither of them had been admitted to university and had no opportunity to pursue further education. Sooner or later, they would have to transfer back to civilian life.
However, worrying is useless; putting too much pressure on children will backfire.
Bonnie didn't respond. She believed that it was her own responsibility to educate her child and that no one else should interfere.
Bonnie's parents listened and said they would completely let go from now on, and they meant it.
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