Chapter 117 The Family Went to Beijing
Seeing that the two hadn't lied and had honestly come to register, Sister Fang's expression softened completely. She was afraid that the two returning the ancestral property were troublemakers. Their alley had been a model for many years, and they couldn't let two newcomers ruin its reputation.
After a few naggings about precautions, such as being careful and having to register with the street office when taking in strangers, the two came out half an hour later.
It was almost noon, and the two of them were in no rush to go home. Instead, they went to a state-owned restaurant for lunch. On the way, Jiang Nan whispered, "Isn't it time to visit the neighbors? They say the security is bad, and we're new here, so we're definitely being watched. Those local tyrants haven't figured out where we are yet, so they're afraid to make a move. If we don't visit them soon, they'll probably come and steal things in a couple of days."
Zhou Zhixing nodded. "Okay, after dinner, let's go to the supply and marketing cooperative and buy a bag of loose sugar. Each family can grab a handful. Don't worry about the local tyrants for now. I'll talk to the people around us today and see who has the most influence in this area. We'll go give them some gifts and save their reputation. This is a big deal in Beijing. I think after two or three visits, the local thugs will be afraid to attack us."
Jiang Nan nodded in understanding. "That's right. Those guys in 'Old Cannon' fought each other when they were young, wasn't it all about face? Since you care about that, we'll give it to you." She didn't care about face, anyway; as long as there was something in return, it was fine.
After a hearty lunch at the state-owned restaurant and a quick stop at the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some candy, Jiang Nan strolled home. Seeing Hu Tong from a distance, Jiang Nan pointed to the wall facing the street and said, "Can we raise the wall a foot higher? That'll keep thieves out. Our yard faces the street, and if we don't, we're afraid something might happen."
Zhou Zhixing nodded and said, "Okay, let's go find Yan Hui tomorrow and ask him who to contact about this matter."
As they were walking, they saw a table set up on the sidewalk at the entrance of the alley. Two old men were sitting opposite each other, playing chess. A crowd of people surrounded them, chattering and pointing, making the place quite lively. Zhou Zhixing waved at Jiang Nan and whispered, "Go in. I'll ask them about the local tyrant."
Jiang Nan nodded: "Okay, hurry up, the dead rats in the yard haven't been burned yet."
Zhou Zhixing laughed: "I remember it."
Jiang Nan finally returned home. She wasn't into this kind of thing; the mere sight of it made her nauseous. After giving the gifts, she still had to clean. The courtyard looked beautiful, but anyone who had to clean it knew how tiring it was. The beams were so high, and she had to stand on a ladder to sweep the dust from each one. There were so many windows, maybe twenty or thirty, and she had to stand on a stool to clean each one. And then there were the doors, the walls, the floor—nothing could be left out, and she had to sweep them all without making a sound.
When Zhou Zhixing came in, Jiang Nan had already delivered the candy and was in the east wing's side room, sitting on a ladder, sweeping the dust with his eyes closed. Hearing the noise, he glanced down, coughed a few times, and muttered, "Why are you back so late? I'm so tired."
Zhou Zhixing smiled apologetically, "I went to visit the local tyrant Dao Ge and bought some snacks to send over. This big brother is interesting and insisted on treating me to a meal. I had a hard time turning him down."
Jiang Nan clapped his hands exaggeratedly, gave a thumbs-up and praised, "Awesome! Awesome! Did you make a friend? So, will our courtyard be alright from now on?"
Zhou Zhixing laughed, "It's not that easy to make friends. They just know we're police officers and don't dare offend us. We can talk about it when we meet again. Don't worry, I've revealed our work to everyone, so they won't dare to do anything wrong."
Jiang Nan nodded. Things are still a bit chaotic right now, with police resources stretched thin. They can't handle these minor matters. They have to study and aren't home all year round, so they can only turn to these people for help. Maybe in the future, when the system is more complete, there won't be room for people like this.
Zhou Zhixing collected all the dead things in the yard, walked a long way, and came to a small river, then took out matches and started burning them.
After two days of yard cleaning, I finally went to the flea market on the third day and found a bunch of old furniture. Zhou Zhixing explained that while it wasn't a valuable wood, just beech, its advantage was its durability. He had two naughty kids at home, so he could let them mess around.
Everything else was purchased, but a home boiler was hard to come by, so heating would have to wait. By the time the house was finished, it was already New Year's Eve, so the couple checked out of the guesthouse and moved directly back into the courtyard house.
Even though they were just two people, Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing ceremoniously bought meat and vegetables, preparing a meal of cabbage and pork dumplings. Their food coupons were running low, but they only had enough to buy another bag of shaqi ma. Dumplings and shaqi ma were a perfect example of adapting to local customs, celebrating a New Year with a touch of Beijing flair.
Early in the morning of New Year's Day, just as the sky was getting light, the two of them lit up the New Year's fireworks. A new year, new signs. They had a house in the capital, a warm pot, and furniture. All that was left was to get home early, perhaps even spend their old age there.
The return trip went much more smoothly. They bought train tickets for the third day of the Lunar New Year and sent a telegram home early in the morning, predicting they should be home by the evening of the fourth. Nothing else happened on the train. When they got off, Chacha, Xiaozhi, and Xiaoye burst into tears upon seeing their parents. They almost attracted a patrol officer, who thought something had happened to the children.
Fortunately, the police officer was an acquaintance. The team led by Shao Yong from Group 5 was definitely an acquaintance. Jiang Nan picked up Cha Cha and teased Shao Yong, "Team Leader Shao, your red scarf is really eye-catching. Was it knitted by your sister-in-law? You have excellent craftsmanship."
Shao Yong glanced at Zhou Zhixing proudly and said, "That's right. Your sister-in-law heard I was going on patrol, so she spent two nights knitting it. It's made of pure wool and is very warm."
Xiao Zhao and the others behind him rolled their eyes, clearly having heard it so often that it became a conditioned reflex. Jiang Nan was laughing so hard she could barely hold the children. Xiao Zhi and Xiao Ye, confused as to why their mother was laughing and why she wouldn't let go of their sister to hold them, were jumping with anxiety.
There was no other way, so Zhou Zhixing handed the luggage to Jiang Mancheng, picked up the two brothers, one on each side, and shook them up, jokingly saying, "Tell Dad what delicious food you ate during the New Year? You've gained at least two pounds."
You have a scarf knitted by your wife, and I have three children. Not only did I not lose, I won.
Shao Yong rolled his eyes and left in a huff. Behind him, Xiao Zhi and Xiao Ye giggled, followed by the little girl's clear, sweet laughter, a mingled sound of a woman's hearty laughter and a man's high, mischievous laugh. Shao Yong looked back, suddenly feeling a little reluctant. I'm afraid I'll rarely see this family again.
That's right. It's not like we'll never see each other again, but I'm sure he'll be back less often. Why? Because Jiang Mancheng and Chen Jinhua have been transferred to Beijing! They can just report after the Lantern Festival, which is before the school starts for the young couple.
As soon as he got home, Jiang Mancheng exploded this bombshell: "Your mother and I have been transferred to the capital. We work in the same unit. We will report on the Lantern Festival and leave for the capital on the tenth day. I've already bought the tickets. It's a sleeper car. Our family will be in the same carriage."
Jiang Nan, still holding Cha Cha, jumped up and said, "Dad, Mom, how come you two are so awesome! Which department have you been transferred to?"
Jiang Mancheng picked up the large teacup and said cheerfully, "The Ministry of Industry is just a small pawn, just waiting to retire."
Jiang Nan looked at Chen Jinhua and asked, "Did Grandpa do it? What conditions did the other party put forward?"
Chen Jinhua smiled and waved her hand: "Don't worry, the other party wants the two sons to learn from your grandfather. Your grandfather has seen people and knows that he is not a naughty person, so he agreed. Anyway, we are just here to make a living and don't seek promotion or anything, so it should be easy to arrange."
Zhou Zhixing then laughed: "That's great. I'll go out and buy some delicious food. Let's go to the headquarters to see Grandpa tomorrow."
Chen Jinhua nodded: "Okay, let's buy some cakes. Your grandpa is retired and likes to eat sweet things."
Jiang Nan handed over a wad of money and bills, estimated to be about a hundred. Fortunately, Zhou Zhixing didn't take off his clothes and turned to leave. When the two of them were admitted to university, Chen Wanli gave a thousand, and Chen Jinhai and Chen Jinyang each gave five hundred. Their friendship was deep, and they couldn't afford to neglect it in the slightest.
Zhou Zhixing is now a celebrity in the homework department. After all, there are not many people who can get into university, and even fewer couples can get in. As soon as he appeared in the supply and marketing cooperative, he caused quite a stir.
Cheng Meijuan and Jiang Huai's wife, Wan Xiulan, were both present, and they were quite upset. Cheng Meijuan was simply jealous, but Wan Xiulan was a bit more subtle. With the Jiang family's backer gone, it would be difficult for them and their husband in the oil field.
However, Zhou Zhixing paid no attention to them. He quickly bought some vegetables, meat, and cakes and returned home without stopping. At home, Jiang Nan was showing everyone the gifts she had brought back.
"Dad, Mom, I bought ten roast ducks. I'm sending three to Grandpa and Uncle, and the rest to Grandma and Grandma Cao. This should be enough to go around." Jiang Nan took out the roast ducks and pointed at the shaqi ma, hawthorn pot cakes, and other pastries. "Grandpa loves Daoxiangcun snacks, right? Let's take this snack box with us tomorrow. It should be enough."
Then he took out five snack boxes, opened one of them, and handed the hawthorn pot cakes to everyone one by one: "Try it, everyone. I think this is the best, sour and sweet."
The family enjoyed a lively dinner and, early the next morning, headed for the oilfield headquarters. Chen Wanli, now retired and no longer leading exploration teams due to his age, is at home compiling his insights over the years, preparing to publish a book.
When the family arrived, Chen Wanli was wearing reading glasses and writing furiously in the study.
"Grandpa." As soon as she entered the room, Cha Cha ran over and knocked hard on the study door. "Grandpa, Cha Cha is here to see you."
The door of the study was open. Chen Wanli looked up and smiled, "Oh, it's little Cha Cha. Come in, let Grandpa see if our Cha Cha has grown taller."
"You've grown taller." Cha Cha ran in with a smile, and her two little tails followed without hesitation, tapping their stirrups. Soon, the sound of four people laughing and talking could be heard from the study, each louder than the last, their joy unseen.
Jiang Nan and the other three were still changing their shoes at the door when the three troublemakers ran in. Luckily, the old man had changed his ways and started liking children, and there was a nanny at home, otherwise Jiang Nan would have been furious. At that moment, she was holding a roast duck and smiling at the four of them hugging each other at the door.
Chen Wanli was sharp-eyed. He noticed the roast duck in Jiang Nan's hand and said with a smile, "Oh, I haven't eaten it for a long time since I retired. Give it to Xiao Wu. Let's have one for lunch today."
Xiao Wu is the family's nanny, in her forties, a very honest man. Upon hearing this, he quickly took the roast duck bag from Jiang Nan's hand and turned back to the kitchen.
Chen Jinhua placed the box of Daoxiangcun snacks on the desk: "Dad, if you feel tired while writing, just have a few bites. Xiaonan and Xiaoxing brought them here specially from the capital."
Chen Wanli nodded repeatedly and asked about their purchase of a house in Beijing. Hearing that they had also visited the Panjiayuan Ghost Market, Chen Wanli couldn't help but glance at Zhou Zhixing twice, tut-tutting, "I didn't expect him to be so knowledgeable. What did you buy? Did you bring anything back?"
Who is Zhou Zhixing? That inkstone was bought specifically for the old man. Given Chen Wanli's family background, he must have attended a private school in his early years and must have practiced calligraphy. Giving him an inkstone is the safest and most reliable gift.
Chen Wanli chuckled and pointed at Zhou Zhixing with a satisfied look on his face: "Okay, let me see it."
Zhou Zhixing presented an inkstone. Chen Wanli took it and raised his eyebrows: "Duan inkstone from the Ming and Qing dynasties?"
Judging from the sound, he was obviously interested. Without waiting for Zhou Zhixing's reply, he couldn't wait to open the red sandalwood inkstone box. The more he looked at it, the more he liked it. "Isn't this a Ganoderma pattern? It looks beautiful. Such a good inkstone is rare. Did you buy it at the ghost market?"
Seeing Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing nod, Chen Wanli sighed, "Good luck. The house you bought is also good. It's not far from where your parents work. I remember that the bus runs there, so it's convenient to go anywhere."
Chen Jinhua chuckled. Amidst the conversation, Xiaozhi and Xiaoye, two silly boys, stood on tiptoe to see everyone buzzing around a dark object. Seeing this, Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing sprinted over and, in perfect unison, each grabbed one. Finally, they snatched the person away before the two could reach for the inkstone.
Zhou Zhixing poked Xiaoye's chubby cheek and taught him, "Don't be naughty. That's a gift from Daddy to Great-Grandpa. What if you two break it?"
Xiaoye chuckled: "Look, it won't break."
Chen Wanli waved his hand, took the inkstone in front of the two people, and told them the history of the inkstone: "Since ancient times, scholars have paid attention to writing with brushes, ink, paper and inkstones. This inkstone is the inkstone..."
Seeing the two men obey, Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing finally let them go. Chen Jinhua and Jiang Mancheng had already left for the kitchen to help Xiao Wu prepare lunch. Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing, having nothing else to do, helped tidy up the house. Not long after, Chen Jinhai and Chen Jinyang arrived, each with their own extended family.
Before arriving at headquarters, Chen Jinhua sent a telegram to Chen Wanli and his two brothers, a final family reunion before departing for Beijing. Chen Jinhai brought a camera with him, intending to take a group photo after dinner.
"Sister, is Beijing fun? Did you bring anything back?" Chen Xingwei was transferred back to the headquarters. He had already married and had children, but he was still a lively person. He shouted at Jiang Nan as soon as he came in.
Jiang Nan was pouring tea when he replied, "I'm not going to the capital for fun, I have a mission. As for food, today we're having roast duck and some Daoxiangcun dim sum. Let's try them all."
Chen Xingguo had been admitted to the Petroleum University and was discussing university with Zhou Zhixing. The whole family was delighted. Even before dinner, Chen Xingwei suggested taking a photo. More than a dozen people responded, creating large and small family portraits, as well as individual and couple photos. A roll of film wasn't enough. Fortunately, Chen Jinhai was well prepared, and the whole family enjoyed a joyful day together.
Before leaving on the tenth day, they returned to the West Riverbank. Du Hehua was still the same, healthy and fit as always. She warned Jiang Mancheng, "Don't be so outspoken when you get to the capital. After all, you're in the emperor's court, so you have to be a little cautious. You've had it easy since childhood, so you have a bad temper. But the capital is full of important people, and a bad temper will only offend people..."
These were all the reminders he kept talking about.
Although he secretly complained, the old lady didn't know how she could tell that he had a bad temper, but Jiang Mancheng always smiled. Even so, he listened respectfully on the surface.
Du Hehua was old, and her health wasn't what she thought, but she was becoming increasingly nagging. When she finally finished, Jiang Mancheng pulled out the phoenix hairpin from his bosom and, like offering a treasure, said to the old lady, "Mother, I've given away so much gold, and today I'm giving you some back. How is it? Xiaonan went to the capital to buy this especially for you. Doesn't it look nice? It's an antique, a fine item from the Yuan Dynasty. Keep it, and give it to whoever treats you well in the future."
Du Hehua's eyes lit up as she watched the phoenix flapping its wings, ready to fly. She tremblingly reached out to take it, "This is really beautiful, and the workmanship is excellent. I'm almost seventy, and this is the first time I've seen something this good."
After admiring it for a while, she suddenly glared at her youngest son: "Xiao Nan bought this, and you're showing it off like a treasure! You're really not ashamed at all at this age! Xiao Nan, come here, grandma has something good for you."
Jiang Mancheng groaned, "You little old lady, why do you still despise your son?"
Jiang Nan, however, let out a loud "ouch," pushed his father away, and said with a smile, "Oh, Grandma, you're giving me something good again? Everyone's here, I'm so embarrassed. Second Aunt, you're so jealous, aren't you biting your teeth to pieces?"
Ma Honghua pouted, "Stop talking about your second aunt!" Her son, Jiang Gui, had been admitted to the Petroleum University and was about to become an oilfield leader. Ma Honghua had been acting like a tyrant lately, never getting angry at anyone teasing her. Why? It was because the old lady had given him gold!
Everyone in the room burst into laughter. As soon as the laughter died down, the eldest son Jiang Mantang hurriedly said, "Mom, don't worry. Mancheng is so big now. He knows the seriousness of the matter. He will be fine in the capital."
He looked at Jiang Mancheng and said, "Don't worry, your house will be cleaned by your eldest sister-in-law and I every ten days or half a month. Xiao Huai and his wife were able to get a house this time thanks to your sister-in-law's help. Your sister-in-law and I know about it and will definitely do our best."
Jiang Mancheng really wasn't worried about that. They'd bought the house back last year, and it was now under Chen Jinhua's name. Before leaving for Beijing, they had to ask their eldest brother and sister-in-law to help look after it, to prevent it from accumulating too much dust. This meant they had to resolve the issue of separating Jiang Huai and Wan Xiulan's rooms, otherwise, while they were cleaning, someone else might take over.
Fortunately, this year's housing application was approved. With so many employees and fierce competition for housing, the list of those allocated housing was released long before construction began, and Jiang Huai and Wan Xiulan's names were on it. Chen Wanli didn't need to say anything. Jiang Mancheng had been in the oil field for so many years and had a good relationship with Secretary Tu, so he got the job done.
This time, Jiang Mancheng also brought his family's camera. After dinner, the Jiang family took a group photo, and the younger ones took a few photos individually, and then left happily.
On the ninth night of the Lunar New Year, the family was so busy that Chen Jinhua even cooked twenty tea eggs, saying they were to take on the train. Aunt Wen also wanted to make steamed buns. Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing persuaded Aunt Wen to give up her insistence on making steamed buns, repeatedly assuring her that food was available on the train and that food coupons were not required. However, the tea eggs were cooked anyway. In Chen Jinhua's words, "If you don't eat them, Cha Cha and the others will."
The train was at 11:08 pm. On the tenth day, the family woke up at 6:00 am, preparing food and water, checking luggage, and finally Chen Jinhua packed another bundle. Jiang Nan was speechless: "Mom, this mattress is old, there's no need to bring it. We can buy a new one when we get to Beijing. They're all sold there."
Chen Jinhua glared at her daughter and said, "What do you know? Xiaozhi and Xiaoye are so young, how could they not wet the bed? This old mattress is for them, don't worry about it."
Xiao Zhi and Xiao Ye were drinking milk when they heard this and refused to stop. Although the two little guys were only two years old, they were also little men and knew how to save face. They sat at the dining table and kept shouting, "Don't wet the bed, don't wet the bed."
Chen Jinhua had no choice but to coax him: "Yeah, no, it's all peed by mom and dad, right?"
The two little guys were still nodding: "That's right, that's right."
Jiang Nan glared at the two men and resigned himself to his fate. He carried one bag around his neck, one on each shoulder, and one in each hand. Of the five people, three had the same outfit. Only Jiang Mancheng and Aunt Wen had fewer bags. The two of them were responsible for holding the children, so they only had one bag slung around their necks and followed behind the three of them, looking very relaxed.
When everyone in the courtyard saw this, they realized that the entire family was actually going to Beijing. Everyone who saw them came over to say a few words, as if to say goodbye. Some close friends, such as Secretary Tu's wife and daughter-in-law, came over to help with the luggage and even took it to the train station.
Jiang Nan felt very embarrassed. His family had only been able to book a sleeper berth thanks to Secretary Tu, but now he had to ask others to give it to him. How embarrassing.
Before leaving, Jiang Nan pretended to dig in his bag, but in fact he bought another bag of Daoxiangcun snacks from the system mall. He handed it over and said, "Sister-in-law, have you finished the snack box I gave you last time? Take these back for the children to try. They're not very good. I wanted to eat them on the train, but there are too many things. I'm afraid there will be leftovers if I can't finish them. You can take them back."
How could Secretary Tu's daughter-in-law have the nerve to accept it? The two sides exchanged gifts, and in the end, Jiang Nan emerged victorious, stuffing the snack into the other party's hand. When no one left, the family breathed a sigh of relief.
It was the first time for all three children to ride a train, and they were incredibly curious. They looked around as soon as they got on. At first, they were too timid to move around, but as the train started to whine and they saw people walking around in the carriage, Cha Cha finally stood up and grabbed Zhou Zhixing's arm, leading them out: "Dad, let's go out and take a look."
It wasn't even time for lunch yet, and Zhou Zhixing had nothing to do, so he simply picked up Cha Cha and said, "Okay, let's go out and take a look."
Xiaozhi and Xiaoye screamed and wanted to follow, so Jiang Mancheng stood up and said, "Come, I'll hold Chacha, and you hold Xiaozhi and Xiaoye."
The father-in-law and son-in-law exchanged places and took the children out for a stroll. Chen Jinhua found all the food she had brought and took out their respective cups. She and Aunt Wen went out to get some hot water. Before leaving, she told Jiang Nan not to wander around and to keep an eye on the luggage.
After returning, the two of them were busy for a long time before they calmed down.
Jiang Nan smiled: "Mom, Aunt Wen, we finally got a train, why don't you go out and take a look?"
Chen Jinhua shook her head. "Let's go after dinner. This sleeper berth is great. No wonder only leaders can reserve it. It's so comfortable. I remember your dad said that when he was on business trips, he always had hard seats. It was common to sit for two days and two nights, and his butt would be sore."
Then he looked at Aunt Wen and said with a smile: "Sister Wen, let's take the children to sleep on the lower bunk and let them sleep on the upper bunk."
Aunt Wen was a quiet person. She only answered "yes" and said nothing more.
The mother and daughter didn't mind and chatted casually. Not long after, the father-in-law and son-in-law came over with seven boxes of lunch. Chen Jinhua scolded them, "You're wasting money! We brought food with us."
Jiang Mancheng smiled and said, "It's not expensive, only fifty cents per portion, with meat and vegetables. Chacha and Xiaozhi are clamoring for it, so why not give it a try?"
Hearing that her grandchildren wanted to eat, Chen Jinhua fell silent. She sat down again and began to peel eggs. She quickly handed them to Cha Cha and said, "Come here, Cha Cha. Let's eat an egg first and then have the lunch box later, okay?"
Cha Cha hugged her teddy bear and sighed helplessly, "Grandma, Cha Cha's belly is so small. If I eat eggs, I have to eat less meat. You and Grandma Wen can eat it. I want to eat meat."
Jiang Mancheng laughed: "Are you dumbfounded? The three of us are meat lovers. No matter how good your tea eggs are, they can't compare to the aroma of braised pork."
Yes, the lunch box tasted average, but it did contain two pieces of braised pork. The three siblings ate it with relish. Cha Cha had a good appetite and ate most of the box. The twins also finished one box. There were seven lunch boxes in total, so not a single piece was wasted.
Traveling on a train with children is a lot of work. One needs to poop, another needs to pee, and they often go out for walks and visit friends. Often, at the end of the day, the adults are exhausted, but the three children are still excited and need to be coaxed into sleep.
When they finally got off the bus, the five adults were exhausted, but the three children were still chattering and full of energy. Interestingly, even though Chen Jinhua and Aunt Wen tried their best to eat, they only finished twelve tea eggs. The remaining eight were taken back to the courtyard as is and eaten as dinner.
The next day, the twelfth day of the first lunar month, the family had their first breakfast in Beijing: fried dough sticks, tofu pudding, and steamed buns. After a hearty meal, they strolled to the neighborhood office to register. With so many people moving in at once, they had to explain the situation to Ms. Fang at the neighborhood office.
Fortunately, Jiang Mancheng and Chen Jinhua both had jobs, and after notifying Sister Fang of their work report, they were cleared to move forward, ensuring the couple's continued residence. As for Aunt Wen, she simply explained that she was a relative, alone and without care in her hometown, and that they were bringing her here to enjoy her retirement. This was considered a kind act, and no one could say anything. They were given a temporary residence permit, effectively securing a permanent residence in Beijing.
After leaving the neighborhood office, Jiang Nan asked his parents, "Mom and Dad, you two work in the same unit, will we get separate rooms?"
Jiang Mancheng glanced at his daughter and said, "What are you dreaming of? Houses in Beijing are so expensive. Your mother and I are both retired people who came here halfway through our careers. Do you still want to get a separate house? It's good enough that you agreed to sign up for you."
All right, if we don't want to divide the room, then we don't have to divide the room. Anyway, we have a house to live in now, so we are not afraid of this. The next thing is the children's schooling. The couple has moved their household registration to Beijing now, and with the three children coming here, they naturally have to go through the household registration transfer process. Jiang Nan suggested: "Why not just let Cha Cha go to elementary school directly. Cha Cha will be six this winter, and we are teaching her regularly, so she should be able to keep up with the first grade."
Chen Jinhua felt it was too hasty. Cha Cha hadn't even turned six yet, and was only five years old. It was too early for her to start elementary school. Jiang Mancheng grabbed Chen Jinhua's hand, refusing her to speak. Instead, he asked Cha Cha, who was looking around, "Cha Cha, do you want to go to kindergarten or elementary school?"
Unexpectedly, Cha Cha said without hesitation: "Elementary school!"
Jiang Mancheng: "Why? Didn't you have other kids to play with in kindergarten? Once you enter elementary school, you have to study, and the classmates around you are older than you."
Unexpectedly, Cha Cha shook her head and said, "I know everything they teach in kindergarten. I'm so smart that I can go straight to elementary school."
She jumped up and hugged Zhou Zhixing's legs, saying, "Dad, Dad, I want to go to elementary school. Those kids in kindergarten are drooling, and I don't like playing with them."
Children love to play with older kids, and she was delighted to hear her classmates were older than her. Zhou Zhixing picked up Cha Cha, looked her in the eyes, and said seriously, "When you start elementary school, you won't have much time to play. Your classmates are older than you, and their comprehension and learning abilities are better than yours. If your grades don't match your older siblings, don't come home crying."
Cha Cha was very confident: "No way, Cha Cha is the smartest and will definitely get first place."
Not knowing why this child was so confident, Zhou Zhixing scratched his daughter's nose and said with a smile, "Okay, then Dad will watch and see if our Cha Cha can get first place in the exam."
Chacha was a little early to start elementary school, but there was a way around it. The two little ones could just be put into the neighborhood kindergarten, which wasn't a big deal. The neighborhood elementary school and kindergarten were right next to each other, making it convenient for Auntie Wen to pick them up.
However, for such a young child to enter elementary school, one must have connections to smooth things over. Luckily, few people know this family these days. All we know is that they were oil workers, that the young couple had been admitted to university, and that their parents had been transferred to Beijing. For someone to be able to transfer to Beijing from another place, they must be from an extraordinary family.
Therefore, when the couple and the little girl came to the door with gifts, the elementary school principal Wang Liansheng smiled brightly: "Oh, it's you. I heard a long time ago that there was a new family in the alley, and I wanted to meet them. Who would have thought that you would come? Come on in."
Wang Liansheng is the principal of a primary school in a nearby street. He also lives in Qingyun Hutong, in the courtyard with the fifth gate. Go in and you will find the east wing of the second courtyard.
This courtyard was originally a quadrangle. It was acquired and distributed as employee benefits. With so many people living there, it's become a slum. When Zhou Zhixing entered, he felt a pity. Such a beautiful five-courtyard house was rare even in the capital. If it were spruced up, it would be no worse than the one he bought during the Wei Dynasty in his previous life.
Sitting down on the bamboo sofa in the living room, Zhou Zhixing smiled and said, "I only found out you, Principal Wang, live here after asking around with the neighbors. We just moved to Beijing, and we have a lot to do. On the 15th, my parents have to report to work, and on the 17th, my wife and I have to go to college. My aunt is the only one left at home, and it's too much trouble to take care of three children. So, I'm thinking of sending them to elementary school."
Wang Liansheng was a little surprised. He hadn't expected that they were here for their child's enrollment. He picked up the large teapot and slowly took a sip of tea before speaking: "Your little girl doesn't look more than six years old, right? Isn't it a bit early for her to start elementary school? You know, for children this age, a one-year difference in comprehension, coordination, and expression skills can all be quite significant..."
Zhou Zhixing poked Chacha, who had been listening. She puffed up her cheeks, held her head high, and said confidently, "Uncle, if you don't believe me, just test me. I know all the first-semester first-grade questions. I can also recite ancient poems and do addition and subtraction within 100."
Wang Liansheng laughed heartily, put down his teacup, and pointed at Zhou Zhixing: "You come prepared. Okay, then I won't be polite. What's your name, little friend?"
Cha Cha's voice was very clear: "My name is Jiang Cha, and my nickname is Cha Cha." As she spoke, she stretched out her finger and gestured on the coffee table in front of her, indicating that she could write her own name.
Wang Liansheng raised an eyebrow, stood up and went to the study, took out the first-grade Chinese textbook, turned to the middle of the text, handed it to Jiang Cha and said, "Cha Cha, right? Come, read this text."
Chacha took the textbook and read confidently: "Wind, cloud, rain, snow, horses, cows, sheep, horns, wool..."
Jiang Nan glanced at her and saw that her daughter had read correctly, and a smile appeared in her eyes. Wang Liansheng chuckled and asked a few more math problems before saying, "You've taught this child well."
But he still didn't agree to accept Cha Cha. Zhou Zhixing pushed forward the gifts he had brought: four boxes of canned yellow peaches, two bottles of malted milk, a net bag of red apples, and a TV ticket. Chen Wanli had given them to him before he came to Beijing, saying they would be useful. Sure enough, the old man had a keen eye; now they were in use.
Zhou Zhixing smiled and said, "Principal Wang, I know you're a principled person. This is just a small gift, so don't worry. It's just everyday stuff, not worth much. Look, the child has really learned everything, so there's no point in keeping her in kindergarten. My husband and I will be attending the police academy soon, so we'll have to live on campus six days a week and only be home on Sundays. We won't have time to spend with the child, so we're trying to be more in line with her wishes. Don't worry, my daughter Cha Cha has a strong understanding and even better health than the average child. Even though she's less than six years old, she's as tall as a seven-year-old girl. Even if she goes to first grade, it won't be out of place."
It was true. Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing were both tall. Jiang Cha, Jiang Zhi, and Zhou Ye were all born with long arms and legs, standing head and shoulders above other babies. It looked like they would grow up to be quite tall. Jiang Cha was now the height of a seven-year-old, while Jiang Zhi and Zhou Ye were the height of three or four-year-olds, all very sturdy.
Wang Liansheng's hesitation wasn't because of the gift; he was worried about a five-year-old who couldn't even maintain proper personal hygiene. Suddenly being transferred to the first grade would be a bummer for the teacher. Now that the child's father had even revealed his university status, he wasn't hiding anything from him, and he was letting him know that he could come to him if he had any problems in the future.
Wang Liansheng looked at the little girl a few more times, and finally nodded and said, "Okay, Sixteen, you two should come to the school to handle the formalities."
Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing finally breathed a sigh of relief. Jiang Cha jumped up happily and quickly bowed to Wang Liansheng like a little adult: "Thank you, Principal Uncle."
The three of them chatted for a while before getting up and leaving. Today was the 14th. Jiang Nan looked at his watch and saw it was already 11:00 AM. He had been in Beijing for so long and hadn't had any fun. He'd just been busy with these trivial matters. But the surroundings were bare, and winter wasn't a good time for a trip. Jiang Nan said, "Let's go to the state-owned restaurant and celebrate. My parents have to go to work tomorrow, and then we'll go to school, which will make things even busier."
Zhou Zhixing nodded: "Okay, go back and pack up and then leave."
Unexpectedly, not long after arriving home, Yan Hui came to find him. When he opened the door and saw him, his face was full of joy: "Brother Zhou, are you still buying a courtyard? I have a buddy. His father has been rehabilitated and the ancestral property has been returned. He has a courtyard in Houhai, also with two courtyards, about the same size as this one. But as you know, that place is in a good location, and the price is probably higher than this one. Do you want to go and take a look?"
This was truly a pleasant surprise. Courtyards in Houhai were hard to come by. Zhou Zhixing hurriedly let someone in and asked, "Have all the residents in the courtyard been cleared out?"
Yan Hui nodded. "They've been cleared out. The residents there all worked for the same factory, and they recently distributed housing. They said those with bungalows wouldn't get apartments. The residents in the courtyard didn't like that, and they made a scene at the factory, but they didn't give in, so they all moved out. No one's living there now, so don't worry."
Jiang Nan and Zhou Zhixing exchanged a glance, and Zhou Zhixing said, "Okay, I'll definitely watch it. Wait a moment."
Then he turned around and said to Jiang Mancheng and Chen Jinhua who had just come out, "Dad, Mom, this is Mr. Yan Huiyan, the man who sold our house. He's a student at Peking University. He said he's found another yard. Xiaonan and I have to go take a look. Please mom and dad, please keep an eye on Chacha and Xiaozhi."
Jiang Mancheng waved his hand: "You guys go ahead, we three are at home, don't worry."
Zhou Zhixing nodded, went back to the house to get the bag of money, and handed it to Jiang Nan. Just as they were about to leave, Chacha, Xiaozhi, and Xiaoye were dissatisfied, pouting and stomping their feet in protest. They thought their parents were so mean to go out without them.
Or maybe it's said that children are a burden, wanting to follow adults wherever they go. Jiang Mancheng, Chen Jinhua, and Aunt Wen coaxed them and tempted them with delicious food, which finally allowed the two to escape. As they walked out the door, Yan Hui said enviously, "I didn't expect Brother Zhou to have three children. I'm so envious."
Zhou Zhixing said modestly, "Xiao Nan and I got married early and had children early as well."
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