Chapter 25

The next morning, Shu Yuan felt something warm nudging around on the bed. When she opened her eyes, she was met with Xiao Man’s delicate little face, just inches away. It was clear he had just finished washing up. Several strands of damp hair hadn’t yet been dried, and his breath carried the fresh scent of toothpaste.

She had now fully adjusted to her identity as a mother. Being greeted first thing in the morning by a bright, smiling little face actually felt pretty wonderful.

Seeing that she was awake, Xiao Man leaned in even closer. In his soft, childlike voice, he said, “Mom, Dad said you’re coming with us to go running today.”

Shu Yuan glanced toward the window. It was still early. She turned over and reached out to pull Xiao Man into her arms, asking, “Why am I going too?”

The sound of running water from the bathroom came to a stop. Chen Zai walked out while wiping his face and said, “You and Xiao Man need to do two things today. One is to get a physical check-up, and the other is to join me for some exercise.”

Shu Yuan rubbed her drowsy eyes and asked, “Why?”

Was it because she talked about dying early yesterday?

Had she gotten herself into big trouble?

Chen Zai had already walked over to the bed and told Xiao Man to go change his clothes, then urged Shu Yuan to hurry up too.

Shu Yuan sat up and leaned forward to check the time on Chen Zai’s watch. She cried out in shock, “It’s just past five? So early!”

She lay back down again. “I’m very healthy. I won’t die young. I’ll get a check-up when I have time. As for running, you two can go. Getting enough sleep is what’s good for my health.”

As she spoke, she flashed the father and son a radiant smile. “You two go ahead. Good luck.”

Xiao Man had a strong sense of urgency. More than anyone, he wanted Shu Yuan to be healthy. While changing out of his pajamas, he softly coaxed her, “Come on, Mom, running is really good for your health.”

With both father and son making it impossible for her to sleep, Shu Yuan had no choice but to get up, wash up, and change hastily. Dragged out the door by Xiao Man, she headed toward the stadium.

There were quite a few people exercising at the stadium. The little guy walked with cheerful steps, afraid that Shu Yuan might back out, and kept encouraging her the whole way.

Shu Yuan gritted her teeth and followed behind the father and son, regretting having ever mentioned anything about dying early.

After running one lap with Xiao Man, Shu Yuan sat down on the steps to rest. Chen Zai tried to persuade them to keep going, but when that failed, he decided to lead by example. As he ran, his posture was upright, his long legs strong and steady. The morning light glinted off his thick black hair, making him rather pleasing to look at.

When he passed by again after three laps, he called out to Shu Yuan, “Had enough rest? Get back to running.”

Shu Yuan lifted her lips into a smile. “If you tire me out and I die, Xiao Man will be all yours.”

A dark, deep light flickered in Chen Zai’s eyes as he cast a glance at the mother and son. He pressed his thin lips together and ignored the leisurely seated Shu Yuan, running forward again.

Xiao Man turned to Shu Yuan. His eyes were dark and round, his lashes thick and long. His expression was unusually solemn and earnest as he gripped her hand tightly, speaking with urgency. “Mom, don’t say things like that anymore. If you keep exercising, you’ll be amazing.”

Shu Yuan humbly accepted the criticism and rubbed his little head. “Alright, I’ve zipped my lips shut. That was the last time. I won’t say things like that again.”

Chen Zai ran over ten laps around the basketball court. After the morning exercise, the three of them returned to the staff housing compound and went to the canteen to buy breakfast before heading home.

Xiao Man placed a peeled boiled egg into Shu Yuan’s bowl and encouraged her, “Mom did really well today. You have to keep it up.”

Shu Yuan took a bite of the egg. “Alright then.”

——

Sunday was always the busiest time at the photo studio, and Shu Yuan definitely couldn’t keep taking Sundays off. After finishing work on Saturday morning, since Chen Zai had to work and couldn’t go with them, she took some time to bring Xiao Man to the Public Security Bureau and headed straight to the Household Registration Section.

Chen Zai had given Xiao Man the name Shu Shiqing^[1]The name Shu Shiqing could be interpreted as something like: “one who is clear and composed through the changing times.”. He didn’t use obvious words like “peace” or “safety” directly, probably because in his view, only when the larger environment was stable could an individual be safe.

“Xiao Man, do you like this name?” Shu Yuan asked.

Xiao Man nodded. “I really like it.”

He finally had a proper name.

He thought the name sounded especially cultured and pleasant. His dad had flipped through many books just to come up with it.

With the parent-child relationship certificate issued earlier by the Baihua County Public Security Bureau, the household registration process went smoothly. Shu Yuan also transferred her own registration from her family’s household book to Chen Zai’s, so now the three of them were officially listed under the same household registration.

After leaving the Public Security Bureau, mother and son went to the subdistrict office to transfer Shu Yuan’s grain and oil registration onto Chen Zai’s grain ration book and add Xiao Man’s name to it as well. This way, it would be easier to purchase grain as a household. After that, they went to the grain station to get the official stamp, and the changes would take effect starting next month.

Having taken care of such an important matter, Shu Yuan felt at ease. Holding Xiao Man’s small hand, she said, “From now on, Xiao Man will have his own grain ration. It’s eighteen jin (9 kg) every month.”

Xiao Man was thrilled. “I won’t have to eat food saved from grown-ups’ portions anymore.”

If only he could make some money to buy grain for himself, he could also help ease Mom’s burden of debt.

That evening, after changing into his pajamas and crawling into bed, Xiao Man lay under the covers. Shu Yuan sat by his bedside, gently pinching his soft little cheeks as she asked, “Now that you have a household registration and you’re no longer undocumented, you can go to kindergarten. Do you want to go?”

Chen Zai walked over and said, “Let him start school. It’s not convenient for you to keep bringing him to work every day.”

Xiao Man quickly reached out to smooth out the bedsheet and invited Chen Zai to sit down. “Mom and Dad will decide.”

Back when he was living with Old Zhang, Xiao Man had no chance to attend school and had always envied children who could. But now, he went with Mom to the photo studio every day, reading and drawing on his own while waiting for her to finish work. Just lifting his head and seeing her nearby made him feel especially content, so he wasn’t in any rush to start school.

Even Xiao Man himself didn’t realize it, but he was like a little sticky rice cake, especially clingy with his mom.

Shu Yuan said, “Then let’s go with Xiangyang Kindergarten. They should be able to accept a transfer student.”

Xiangyang Kindergarten was located between the Fifth Hospital and the electronics factory. It was nearby and had a long-established reputation. Most of the children of factory workers attended this kindergarten.

Chen Zai nodded. “Alright. It’s close to home, which makes drop-off and pick-up convenient.”

——

Besides work, Chen Zai placed the medical checkups for Shu Yuan and Xiao Man as a top priority. He thought deeply about it. Shu Yuan was an optimistic person. She wouldn’t say something like dying early without reason. She couldn’t possibly joke about something so serious.

No matter the reason behind those words, he had to take her and Xiao Man for a checkup as soon as possible.

Every morning when Shu Yuan was dragged out by him to go running, he would ask, “Shu Yuan, when do you have a day off? Go get the checkup with Xiao Man.”

Shu Yuan always wanted to tease him, say something like “Oh, you’re worried about me?” But before she could say anything, Xiao Man, who dreaded going to the doctor even more, quickly raised his little hand and cheerfully said, “Dad, I’m really healthy. Mom already took me to the hospital twice. I don’t need to go again.”

“You’re both going. No more putting it off.” Chen Zai didn’t give them any room to negotiate.

Shu Yuan felt she wasn’t much better than Xiao Man. She didn’t know if there was anything wrong with her body either and had a tendency to avoid doctors too. But since Chen Zai, usually so calm, had brought it up multiple times, she could only agree. “Alright, I’ll find time to go.”

Delaying didn’t work on Chen Zai. On Tuesday morning, Shu Yuan swapped shifts with someone. That day, she and Xiao Man were completely at his mercy. At just past five in the morning, he pulled them out for a run. After that, they bought soy milk and steamed dumplings from the canteen, but he wouldn’t let them eat. He finished his own breakfast, then at seven-thirty, dragged the two of them to the hospital for a checkup.

It was the first time the whole family had appeared at the hospital together. Chen Zai’s colleagues greeted him while eyeing the mother and son. So this was his wife, so pretty, and the child was so well-behaved. No wonder Director Chen had been so eager to transfer back to Lucheng from the northwest.

When they arrived at the outpatient hall of the hospital, Chen Zai handed the mother and son over to a nurse and said, “Please help guide them around.”

The nurse responded cheerfully, “Director Chen, leave it to me.”

By the time the checkup was finished, it was already past ten. Mother and son walked hand in hand back toward the staff housing compound. Xiao Man asked, “Is Dad a really amazing doctor? So many people said hello to him.”

Shu Yuan nodded firmly. “Of course. Your dad is the best doctor.”

Hearing his mom say that, Xiao Man straightened his back with pride.

Once they got home, Shu Yuan reheated the soy milk and steamed dumplings in the pot and boiled two eggs. After finishing the meal, they would have another lunch around noon, and then she would head to the photo studio for her shift in the afternoon.

That evening, when Chen Zai returned from work, Xiao Man immediately told him, “Dad, Mom said you’re the best doctor.”

Chen Zai was quite surprised. “Mom really said that?”

Xiao Man nodded vigorously. “Yes, that’s exactly what Mom said. If you don’t believe me, go ask her.”

It did seem a little exaggerated. Plenty of people had said he was outstanding, but rarely did anyone add the word “best.” And why would Shu Yuan praise him like that?

Chen Zai was tugged into the kitchen by Xiao Man, and the three of them crowded together. Xiao Man asked, “Mom, didn’t you say Dad is the best doctor?”

Shu Yuan was cutting eggplants and potatoes. She glanced down at Xiao Man’s soft little face. That casual sentence she had said earlier had clearly been magnified,again and again, by the little guy. It showed just how thoughtful he was. She smiled and said, “That’s right. No one is more outstanding than your dad.”

Chen Zai replied, “…Isn’t that a bit much?”

Was it because he had dragged them to the checkup that morning, showing he cared, and now he was being rewarded with such high praise?

Shu Yuan laughed and said, “You are definitely the most outstanding.”

Chen Zai didn’t know how to respond to that, so he said, “You two go on out. I’ll do the cooking.”

Might as well take on some housework.

It was getting too crowded in the kitchen. Shu Yuan quickly put down the knife and said, “Alright, then the two of us will just wait to eat.”

That night, after Xiao Man fell asleep, Shu Yuan took the neatly folded clothes from his bedside and carried them into the bathroom, planning to wash them the next day. When she shook the clothes open, a few elm leaves fell out from the pocket. He must have picked them from the roadside while walking.

Shu Yuan picked up the leaves and quickly called Chen Zai over to show him. “Do you think Xiao Man has pica? He told me before that he eats leaves. I thought it was because he used to be hungry, but now he eats well, even has snacks like peach crisps and milk candies, yet he’s still eating leaves.”

Chen Zai’s gaze settled on her face, studying her expression carefully. He asked, “You even know what pica is?”

Shu Yuan looked back at him. “…”

Was she not allowed to know what pica was?

Given her high school education level, her access to information, and the general public awareness at this point in time, was she not supposed to know that term? Or did it not even exist yet?

What did it mean for Chen Zai to be staring at her like that, eyes sharp and focused?

She changed the subject. “I’m asking you. Why would he eat leaves if nothing’s wrong? Do you think leaves picked from the roadside are safe from pesticide spraying?”

Chen Zai’s gaze darkened, the look in his eyes growing increasingly probing. What was she thinking? Pesticides? Pesticides were expensive and distributed by ration. Who would waste them on roadside trees?

His intense gaze put enormous pressure on Shu Yuan. She felt guilty under his stare and quickly raised her voice. “What are you looking at me for? I asked you a question, Dr. Chen.”

Chen Zai withdrew his gaze and replied calmly, “Even if he does have pica, it’s not serious. It’s a minor issue. Don’t label him, and don’t pay too much attention to it. He’ll grow out of it on his own.”

His steady tone and composed attitude had a soothing effect on her. Shu Yuan placed the clothes in the bathroom. She was about to go to bed when something suddenly occurred to her. She went to check the calendar and said, “Xiao Man’s birthday is coming up.”

The next day after breakfast, Shu Yuan immediately took Xiao Man to wait by the back door of the electronics factory canteen. When she saw the deliveryman Liu Yuan, she went up and asked him quietly, “Do you have any oil? I need fifteen jin (7.5 kg).”

While unloading a large basket of white radishes from the truck, Liu Yuan whispered, “Yes, nine mao per jin (0.9 yuan per 0.5 kg), soybean oil.”

The monthly ration price was six mao per jin (0.6 yuan per 0.5 kg). This was Liu Yuan’s side hustle, he had his own channels for sourcing the oil. The price was fifty percent higher, but Shu Yuan still agreed readily. “Alright. When can you give it to me? I’ll bring my oil container.”

Each person was only allotted half a jin (250 g) of cooking oil per month. By the second half of the month, the oil jar at Shu Yuan’s mother’s house was already nearly empty. When Shu Yuan brought back five jin of oil (2.5 kg), she still got scolded. Li Hongxia told her to be more frugal with money.

As for herself, she kept ten jin (5 kg). After work, Shu Yuan took Xiao Man to the electronics factory. Holding his hand, she asked, “Xiao Man’s pocket looks all puffed up. What’s inside?”

The little guy patted his pocket and said in his sweet, childlike voice, “Elm leaves.”

Shu Yuan smiled warmly. “Actually, I like eating leaves too. How about we fry some leaves to eat, and that’ll be our way of celebrating your birthday?”

Xiao Man’s eyes widened. Mom said she was going to celebrate his birthday! That’s right, this time of year was his birthday.

He had never imagined he could celebrate a birthday. It was something he had never even dared to wish for. His little heart thumped with excitement. Wearing an expression of surprise and joy, Xiao Man said, “Thank you, Mom.”

He was a child loved by both his mom and dad.

“Then let’s go find some tasty leaves,” Shu Yuan suggested.

In the southwest corner of the electronics factory, there was a grove of trees. Many of the Chinese toon trees had already sprouted bright green leaves. The tender leaves within reach had been stripped clean. Shu Yuan climbed a tree to gather a whole net bag of fresh leaves. She also picked some goji leaves and Sichuan pepper buds. After that, mother and son carried the large net bag to the canteen to buy some steamed buns, then headed toward the main gate. On the way, they passed the supply and marketing cooperative and bought two bottles of orange soda.

Xiao Man found these leaves quite fascinating. So Mom also liked eating leaves, and she even knew how to enjoy them better than he did.

Back home, Xiao Man helped wash the tender leaves. Shu Yuan mixed sweet potato starch and eggs into a runny batter, coated the leaves in the mixture, and dropped them into the oil to fry.

As the oil bubbled in the pan, Xiao Man stood at the doorway watching Shu Yuan work. The rich aroma coming from the kitchen made his mouth water, and a big smile lifted the corners of his mouth. Mom was celebrating his birthday by making fried leaves just for him. She had been especially generous, spending a large sum of money on oil.

By the time Chen Zai got off work and came home, the leaves were nearly done frying. After washing his hands, he stood at the kitchen doorway and said, “Sorry, work’s been busy lately. I’m not always sure when I’ll get off. Need any help?”

Shu Yuan handed him the enamel basin and said, “As long as your attitude is good, I don’t need any help.”

She poured the hot oil into the basin first, then made a pot of spinach and egg soup. When she brought the soup to the table, Xiao Man was already setting out the bowls and chopsticks and dividing up the steamed buns. Chen Zai found the bottle opener and opened the orange soda, pouring half a tea mug for each of them.

The aroma of fried leaves, the fresh scent of the spinach egg soup, and the sweet citrusy smell of the soda all blended into an inviting fragrance. Looking at the table full of delicious food, Xiao Man beamed and said, “Thank you, Mom, for making dinner.”

Shu Yuan picked up a piece of fried toon leaf and placed it in his bowl. “We’re celebrating Xiao Man’s fifth birthday. Give it a try. If you like it, we’ll make it often.”

All the different kinds of leaves tasted delicious, golden, crisp, and full of flavor. Xiao Man chewed happily as he praised, “Mom, everything is so crispy and fragrant. It’s incredibly good.”

Since both Mom and Dad also liked eating leaves, then his love for eating leaves wasn’t strange at all. With that thought, the little guy felt completely content.

——