On the first day, Sun Feng didn’t teach them any moves but had them start by running to gauge their physical endurance.

Cen Huai’an’s sprained ankle had almost healed, so he could walk without any problems.

However, Chu Xia didn’t let him do any intense exercise, saying he should rest a bit longer.

So Cen Huai’an was the only one who didn’t run.

He watched his cousins running around the yard while listening to Sun Feng’s pointers on martial arts training.

Zhang Lu was clearly much more physically fit than Jiang Weixian, who soon cried out that he was tired and refused to run any further.

Zhang Lu, still full of energy, glanced back at Jiang Weixian with disdain. “Cousin, you’re too weak!”

Chu Xia watched them for a while before going to the study to do some work.

Meanwhile, Grandpa Jiang, with nothing else to do, sat in a rocking chair watching the kids train.

Aunt Li also brought a stool to sit by the door, preparing vegetables while keeping an eye on them.

Jiang Weixian looked miserable as he trained, but instead of feeling sorry for him, Grandpa Jiang seemed to enjoy watching the kids struggle, finding it all very amusing.

After assessing the kids’ abilities, Sun Feng started teaching them basic martial arts skills.

Training always starts with building a solid foundation; it’s impossible to jump straight to learning fancy moves.

He didn’t push the kids too hard, letting them rest once they reached their physical limits.

Although Cen Huai’an didn’t use his legs and only practiced with his hands, he was still drenched in sweat.

Zhang Lu and Jiang Weixian were even more exhausted.

Jiang Weixian turned and ran to Grandpa Jiang, crying that he didn’t want to learn anymore because martial arts training was too tiring.

Grandpa Jiang, who had been smiling, immediately became serious.

He helped Jiang Weixian stand up straight and said in a stern tone, “Once you’ve decided to learn, you must stick with it. In our family, we don’t give up halfway.”

His tone wasn’t particularly harsh, but with no smile on his face, and his words spoken softly, it was even more intimidating than if he had yelled.

Jiang Weixian immediately stopped crying, tucked his neck, and sniffled as he nodded, “Great-grandpa, I’ll learn.”

He was afraid of his great-grandfather now.

This was the first time Cen Huai’an had seen the stern side of Grandpa Jiang.

He wasn’t afraid, though, and kept observing Grandpa Jiang’s face, curious about how many different expressions he could have.

….

Chu Xia, carrying a bag of locust flowers, took Cen Huai’an’s hand and they took the bus home.

Along the way, Chu Xia asked him, “Was the martial arts training tiring?”

Cen Huai’an replied, “Not tiring.”

His eyes sparkled, “It was very interesting.”

Whenever he had a question during training, Teacher Sun would explain the origin of each move, and the stories of their heritage were fascinating.

Although he was only partially involved in the training, Cen Huai’an was still very happy.

When they got home, Cen Huai’an immediately went to his room and placed the small basket and wreath of locust flowers he had been holding in a big box where he kept his treasures.

Inside the box were also candy wrappers, family photos, bookmarks made with ginkgo leaves that Chu Xia had made with him, and the New Year’s money given by Chu Xia and Cen Zhengnian.

That night, they had steamed locust flowers.

Chu Xia cleaned the locust flowers, sprinkled them with dry flour, mixed them by hand to ensure each flower was evenly coated with flour, and then steamed them.

As soon as the locust flowers were done steaming, the whole house was filled with their sweet fragrance.

With some salt, sesame oil, and garlic paste added for seasoning, they tasted fresh and sweet, just like Chu Xia remembered.

“Mom, it’s delicious.”

Cen Huai’an ate the steamed locust flowers with a spoon, his eating style similar to the little dog beside him that was eagerly eating from the bowl.

Chu Xia reminded him not to eat so fast, since there was plenty of food and no one else was competing with him.

Cen Huai’an tried to slow down, but he still ate faster than Chu Xia.

A few days later, the locust trees in their alley also began to bloom, with some flowers just starting to bud.

Chu Xia enjoyed various locust flower dishes, and like her, Cen Huai’an didn’t get tired of eating them.

Since locust flowers only bloom for a short time, Chu Xia had picked a lot and dried them in the yard to use later when she wanted to make dumplings.

Dried locust flowers were also delicious in dumplings.

As the locust flowers in the alley dwindled, with only a few late bloomers remaining, Chu Xia noticed that the flowers were only at their best when freshly bloomed.

Once they matured, they were less tasty.

Chu Xia looked towards the alley.

Today, Cen Zhengnian hadn’t come back, and Cen Huai’an, with his backpack, was walking home like the other kids in the alley.

When he saw Chu Xia waiting at the door, his previously calm eyes immediately brightened.

“Mom!” He quickened his pace towards her.

Chu Xia reached out to take his backpack, but he didn’t give it to her.

Instead, he said, “Mom, the teacher said we don’t have class tomorrow for Labor Day.”

She was momentarily stunned, realizing how quickly May had arrived with the increasing heat.

Cen Huai’an continued, “With the Sunday break, we have two days off.”

Suddenly, Chu Xia had a strong urge: “Huai’an, do you want to see Dad?”

It had been over twenty days since Cen Zhengnian had come home for Qingming Festival, and apart from a phone call in between, there had been no news from him.

“I do.” Cen Huai’an’s mood immediately fell. “Mom, when will Dad come back?”

Chu Xia shook her head and led him to a small store: “Let’s call Dad and ask if we can visit his workplace.”

If they couldn’t go, Cen Huai’an would be disappointed.

However, Cen Zhengnian was likely busy.

Indeed, the person who answered the phone said they would inform Cen Zhengnian, but when he would call back depended on how late he worked.

Fortunately, this time, the return call came back relatively early, around nine o’clock.

“Zhengnian?”

“It’s me.” Cen Zhengnian’s gentle voice came through the phone, tinged with fatigue.

Chu Xia couldn’t help but think: He must be very tired and busy, working from morning till night without a break.

“Is something wrong at home?”

Not hearing Chu Xia’s response, Cen Zhengnian’s voice grew anxious and worried as he asked her, his brow furrowing.

“No.” Chu Xia came back to her senses. “I just wanted to ask if the research institute allows family visits.”

Cen Zhengnian’s expression relaxed, and his demeanor softened. “Yes, it does.”

There is a family housing area near the research institute with an attached kindergarten and primary school.

Family visits are allowed, but only in the family housing area or at the entrance, not inside the research institute itself.

The family housing area at the research institute is similar to the housing at Chu Xia’s textile factory, with each unit being quite small.

Larger apartments are reserved for higher-ranking officials like the deputy director and director, while Cen Zhengnian lived in a single dormitory.

He and Ye Xingxu, who are of higher rank, had single rooms, while younger, unmarried researchers lived in two- or four-person dormitories.

With a large house available in the capital, Cen Zhengnian didn’t want Chu Xia and Huai’an to squeeze into a small room with him.

Aside from the small living space, the research institute is located in the suburbs, making life less convenient compared to living in a courtyard house.

Relieved by Cen Zhengnian’s confirmation, Chu Xia loosened her grip on the phone line. “The locust flowers are blooming now, and you haven’t had fresh ones, right? Tomorrow, Huai’an and I want to visit you and bring some locust flower dishes. If you don’t have time, we can leave the food at the gate of your family housing area. Is that okay?”

Cen Huai’an, leaning against Chu Xia, perked up his ears, eager to hear his father’s response.

Cen Zhengnian paused when he heard about the locust flowers.

Were they blooming now?

He rubbed his forehead, realizing he hadn’t noticed due to his busy schedule.

Hearing that Chu Xia and Huai’an wanted to visit him, Cen Zhengnian felt an uncontrollable joy, and his gaze became even more gentle. “Sure, what time will you arrive tomorrow?”

Thinking about his work the next day, Cen Zhengnian felt a pang of guilt. “I’ll only have time around noon.”

They would be having lunch then, so he could meet with Chu Xia and Huai’an.

“That’s perfect.” Chu Xia smiled and said lightly, “The food An An and I bring can be your lunch.”

Cen Zhengnian felt warmth in his heart. “Alright.”

Chu Xia let Cen Huai’an talk a bit more with Cen Zhengnian before saying goodnight, as it was getting late.

Initially, when the call started, Cen Huai’an was drowsy and ready to sleep.

But after talking to his dad, he was wide awake and eagerly looking forward to the next day.

At the beginning of summer, she took him home.

Seeing that he still wasn’t asleep, she put the book aside and said, “If you don’t sleep now, you won’t wake up tomorrow and won’t be able to go see Dad.”

Cen Huai’an instantly closed his eyes. “Mom, I’m sleeping.”

…

At the research institute’s family quarters.

Cen Zhengnian walked out of the telephone room where he had been taking a call.

Outside, Ye Xingxiu noticed that his mood had drastically improved, completely different from his previously furrowed brow.

Curiosity got the better of him, even though he had warned himself not to ask about Cen Zhengnian’s calls.

He had overheard the guard say it was a call from his family.

But the difference before and after the call was so obvious that Ye Xingxiu couldn’t resist.

Though he had tried to suppress his curiosity, he asked halfway through, “Cen Zhengnian, why do you seem so happy all of a sudden? What did your family say?”

“It’s nothing much,” Cen Zhengnian said flatly, glancing at Ye Xingxiu. “Just that my wife and son are coming to see me tomorrow.”

Ye Xingxiu’s eyes widened in shock, his envy and jealousy impossible to contain. “Really? You’re not lying, are you?”

Why didn’t his family come to see him?

He had even told his mother that he was going on a blind date, but she hadn’t even sent him anything, saying that once he got married, there would naturally be someone to send him things.

Cen Zhengnian didn’t respond, not even looking at him as he quickened his pace back to the dormitory.

Ye Xingxiu felt like he was making trouble for himself.

Why did he have to ask that extra question?

Now, he was feeling overshadowed by Cen Zhengnian’s subtle show-off.

The worst part was that he had no one or anything to show off about himself.

And tomorrow, Cen Zhengnian would have an even bigger show-off moment.

He resolved not to be curious, not to look at Cen Zhengnian’s wife and son tomorrow. Resist! He couldn’t let himself get hurt again!

Early the next morning, Chuxia got up to check on the medicinal wine she had brewed.

It was almost ready, and she planned to bring it to her grandfather when she visited him tomorrow.

Elderly people always have some ailments, and Grandpa Jiang was no exception.

His legs were bad, a lingering issue from his younger years, and they ached on rainy days.

After noticing this during the last Qingming Festival, Chuxia had asked him a few questions to determine his condition and then brewed some medicinal wine for him.

It wouldn’t completely cure him, but it could ease the pain a bit.

Grandpa Jiang treated her and An’an so well that she couldn’t ignore his health issues.

Brewing medicinal wine was common in households, and some even used small snakes or ginseng for the brew.

So when Chuxia gave Grandpa Jiang the medicinal wine, he would only think she was being considerate.

After Cen Huai’an got up, he kept looking at Chuxia while eating breakfast, eager to set off to find his dad.

Chuxia pretended not to notice his impatience and ate slowly, knowing that even if they left now, they wouldn’t be able to see Cen Zhengnian.

Besides, she still had things to prepare for him.

After breakfast, Cen Huai’an fed the dog and washed the dishes, while Chuxia went to the room to pack Cen Zhengnian’s clothes.

They were clothes she had bought for him recently while shopping for herself and Cen Huai’an.

The weather was warming up, so she and Cen Huai’an needed lighter clothes, especially An’an, whose pants and shoes from last year were already too small.

When she saw suitable clothes for Cen Zhengnian, Chuxia couldn’t resist buying them, and she also got some for Grandpa Jiang.

Cen Zhengnian didn’t have many clothes, and most were worn for years; some inner clothes were patched and repatched.

He never had time to shop, nor did he put much thought into it. Without her, Cen Zhengnian would probably wear the same clothes forever.

After packing, Chuxia called out, “An’an, come with Mom to buy some more things.”

Cen Huai’an ran over immediately, and the two of them went to a grocery store not far from the alley, buying a lot of food items.

There were ready-made foods like braised meat, snacks like bread and twisted dough sticks, and some canned fruits—a big bag full of various items.

She also bought Cen Huai’an his favorite animal crackers and bread and let him carry them home separately.

Once home, Chuxia and An’an picked fresh locust flowers still in bloom, carefully selecting the tender ones.

They made steamed locust flowers, locust flower dumplings, buns, and pancakes.

Chuxia used up all the fresh locust flowers, making a bunch of food.

She and Cen Huai’an each ate a bun, and the rest were packed in iron lunchboxes and bowls, placed in a basket along with the other prepared items.

Then, the two set off for the research institute.

Chuxia had timed it perfectly; they arrived at the institute’s gate just after eleven, and she was sure Cen Zhengnian hadn’t eaten yet.

The guard checked their identities and asked them to wait at the gate.

The sun was already quite hot, not as harsh as in summer, but still enough to feel the heat.

Chuxia held Cen Huai’an’s hand, and they stood under the shade of a tree not far from the gate, both eagerly waiting for Cen Zhengnian to appear.

Not long after, the guard returned, but Cen Zhengnian was not with him.

“They’re busy inside. No one else is allowed in. Do you want to wait, or leave the items here?”

The guard had checked the items for prohibited items, and they could be handed over at the guard post.

If Chuxia hadn’t spoken with Cen Zhengnian on the phone the day before, she would have left the items at the gate.

But Cen Zhengnian had promised to see them.

Moreover, she glanced down at Cen Huai’an, whose eyes were fixed on the institute’s direction, unwilling to look away.

He would be so disappointed if he didn’t see his dad.

Chuxia shook her head. “We’ll wait here.”

The guard left them alone as long as they didn’t try to enter.

Chuxia noticed sweat on Cen Huai’an’s face and took out a handkerchief to wipe it. “Are you tired? You can sit down and rest if you want.”

She offered the handkerchief for him to sit on.

Cen Huai’an shook his head. “Mom, I’m not tired.”

They hadn’t walked far after getting off the bus, and although they carried a lot of things, it wasn’t too heavy.

Cen Huai’an didn’t feel tired, nor did Chuxia, though she was a little thirsty.

She took out the water bottle she brought and drank some water, offering it to Cen Huai’an as well.

Waiting was often the most anxious thing, but when waiting for someone you wanted to see, it wasn’t so bad.

Instead, there was a sense of anticipation and joy.

Chuxia knew she and An’an would have to wait, so she brought her book of mistakes to review under the shade of the tree, feeling that time didn’t pass too slowly.

But Cen Huai’an occasionally asked, “What time is it? Why hasn’t Dad come out yet?”

Without looking up, Chuxia replied, “If you’re impatient, you can recite Go patterns in your mind.”

“I’m not impatient,” Cen Huai’an insisted, though he began silently reciting chess patterns.

“Dad!”

Cen Huai’an’s gaze had never left the direction of the institute.

The moment he saw a familiar figure, he tugged on Chuxia’s clothes and shouted.

Chuxia immediately looked toward the institute.

There, Cen Huai’an was dressed in a white shirt with the sleeves rolled halfway up, striding toward them with long legs.

He had already spotted Chuxia and Cen Huai’an, and his eyes were filled with a smile.