Chapter 145

The kids had been reporting to Minister Jiang’s place for two consecutive summers, and that so-called mysterious promotional booklet finally surfaced this summer.

The booklet was thicker than Su Xiaoxiao had imagined. When she held it in her hands and saw the illustrated cover, there were sketches of the three kids, Xiao Doubao, Xiao Fantuan, and Xiao Zhuzi. 

On the cover, Xiao Doubao was cutely drawing on a small blackboard. The slogan on the blackboard read, “Studying Makes Me Happy: Knowledge Can Change Fate,” which was also considered the core content of the entire booklet. Xiao Fantuan stood beside Doubao, guiding his younger brother in studying, with a chessboard behind him. Xiao Zhuzi sat on a small chair, holding a chess piece in his hand, attentively watching his brother Fantuan teach Doubao.

Su Xiaoxiao felt that this weight couldn’t just be called a booklet; it was almost as thick as a textbook. No wonder it took so long. At the back of the booklet, it read, “The contents of the booklet and all the illustrations in the booklet are independently completed by the three brothers, Fantuan, Zhuzi, and Doubao.”

Such a formal booklet with signatures using their nicknames. Su Xiaoxiao hadn’t expected it to be so interesting. When she flipped through it, she was stunned. 

What kind of promotional booklet was this? It was clearly the kids’ growth diary, with illustrations and texts revolving around their studies and lives. It mainly focused on their learning journey, documenting how they worked hard to study and shared their learning experiences. 

The fonts and drawings progressed gradually from the greenness of two or three years ago to their current maturity. Under each drawing, completion dates were marked. Following the timeline, one could see how the level of writing and drawing matured along with the children’s growth. The booklet mainly recorded their ways and methods of studying, as well as how their great mother, Comrade Su Xiaoxiao, acted as both a teacher and a friend, enlightening them from an early age and enabling them to grow up healthy and happy.

Of course, when it involved Su Xiaoxiao, only her silhouette and profile were shown. The kids tacitly avoided drawing Su Xiaoxiao’s full face. It was almost a subconscious reaction; they didn’t want their beautiful mom to be stared at by others.

Su Xiaoxiao flipped through the pages and could not help being teary-eyed. It seemed like, in the blink of an eye; she had been with Han Cheng in the military district for more than five years. The twins were born, and her little cub had grown into capable young men. 

Xiao Zhuzi, who once had no home, had become a mature and steady elder brother.

These glimpses of life were few, but they played like rewinding scenes in a movie, stirring up endless memories for Su Xiaoxiao.

Seeing Su Xiaoxiao shed tears, the children panicked. Fantuan hugged his petite mother’s shoulder and said, “Mom, why are you crying? Did we draw or write poorly? Should we change it?”

Su Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but laugh and cry, “There’s nothing wrong. It’s just that, this book is so good that it resonates with Mom. But I’m not as good as you thought I am. I’m afraid people will laugh if this gets out.”

Fantuan shook his head, “Mom, you have to believe in yourself. With limited space, we can’t express even one-thousandth of your goodness in the book.”

Xiao Doubao stepped forward and hugged his mother. “Mom is the best mom in the world!”

Su Xiaoxiao rubbed the heads of her two children, “In the blink of an eye, my two big boys have grown up so much. It’s great, but Mom hasn’t even gone to college yet.”

That day, Fantuan overheard a bit of his parents’ conversation and directly asked her, “Mom, are you sure you can resume taking the college entrance exam?”

Su Xiaoxiao didn’t hide it from them, nodding, “It’s almost certain. Mom will work harder. When Mom gets into college, I’ll take you all there. By then, Fantuan and Xiao Doubao will go to elementary school, while Xiao Tangyuan and Xiao Roubao will go to kindergarten. Our whole family will go to school, but you may have to leave your little friends here and establish new relationships with classmates outside. But you can’t talk about it casually outside. Mom just wants you to be mentally prepared in advance, after all, it’s not yet a hundred percent confirmed.”

Su Xiaoxiao knew that the college entrance exam was about to resume, but until the official document was issued, she couldn’t be sure. She was quite confident in herself. If she couldn’t get into college with her and the original owner’s foundation, and ten years of uninterrupted review, then no one could. The subject she needed to reinforce now was politics; she just had to spend more time memorizing various quotations.

Their family never kept any secrets from the children, no matter how big or small the matter was. They even consulted with the children on decisions, and the children had grown accustomed to it.

Xiao Doubao shook his head and said, “It’s okay, wherever Mom and Dad are, that’s where we’ll be.”

Though Xiao Doubao was already seven years old, he still clung to his mother.

As the twins grew older, when their older brothers took them to classes or on holidays, Su Xiaoxiao would take time to sit in the publicity department, and when Xiao Zhuzi came to help take care of his younger siblings, Xiao Doubao would still carry his big rooster backpack and follow his mother to work. He even helped his mother with writing and drawing, being a good help to her.

Comrades in the publicity department all liked this exceptionally handsome boy who wrote and drew so well, especially some older ladies who often joked that Xiao Doubao was the model of their department. They would often bring him snacks, but when Xiao Doubao asked his mother if he could take them home to share with his siblings, most of those snacks ended up in Xiao Roubao’s stomach.

Fantuan thought of a question, “Mom, what about Dad? Are we just leaving him here to be an old man left behind?”

Fantuan said this just as Han Cheng, who was only in his thirties and still in his prime, happened to come home from work. He almost tripped over the threshold when he heard his son’s words, “If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll leave you here as a left-behind child.”

A wise man adapts to circumstances. Fantuan stepped forward, took his father’s briefcase, and pretended to hit his father’s arms and lower back, “My mistake, my mistake, Dad, I’m sorry. You’re not old at all. We’ll always be together as a family, no matter where we go. But seriously, Dad, what are your plans?”

Lately, Fantuan had been listening to the national radio a lot and imitating the broadcasters, even using childish speech at inappropriate times, which made Han Cheng particularly uncomfortable. He rubbed his son’s head and pinched his neck, saying, “Speak properly.”

Fantuan earnestly said, “So, Dad, what are your plans? We just want to know what to expect.”

Han Cheng replied, “What plans can I have? Didn’t you just say we’ll always be together as a family? Wherever your mother goes, I’ll go.”

Fantuan was left speechless, his mouth hanging open. “But Dad, if you lose your job, won’t our whole family be left with nothing?”

Su Xiaoxiao couldn’t bear to listen anymore and said, “Alright, Fantuan, don’t worry. Dad will figure it out. He won’t let you go hungry. We’ve already said we won’t be separated as a family. Go set the table, and Xiao Doubao, go fetch your siblings from Aunt Yali’s house for dinner.”

Two kids were each carrying out their tasks.

Su Xiaoxiao handed the promotional brochure in his hand to Han Cheng and said, “Minister Jiang kept saying it wasn’t the right time before. I never understood what he meant. But it seems the time is now. Look at this campaign encouraging school-age children to go to school, promoting the idea that reading can change destiny. Even adults would feel compelled to go back to school after reading this leaflet. Han Cheng, I have to say, our kids are all amazing. Especially amazing.”

Han Cheng took it and carefully flipped it over, rubbing his wife’s head. “That’s because the moms of these kids are also especially amazing. You’re the great one here.”

Su Xiaoxiao smiled softly. “That’s because the dad of these kids has good taste, finding the best mom for his children.”

Fantuan passed by, carrying a pot of salted fish and eggplant. He couldn’t help but interject, “The dad who has good taste and the best mom, it’s time to eat!”

Xiao Doubao didn’t bring his little brother back, but he brought Xiao Tangyuan back instead. “Mom, Xiao Roubao saw Aunt Yali’s sweet and sour fish and couldn’t move. He even said that our salted fish and eggplant weren’t as delicious as Aunt Yali’s dish and insisted on staying at her place for dinner.”

“Got it, let’s wash up and have dinner.”

Xiao Roubao often did this. All three kids at home inexplicably loved the dishes their mom made. Unless Su Xiaoxiao didn’t cook, no one else’s food tasted as good as hers. But Xiao Roubao was different. He’d eat wherever the food suited his taste. He could even mooch off Xiao Houzi’s family. Su Xiaoxiao had gotten used to it. (Xiao Houzi is Fantuan’s former classmate)

However, apart from Xiao Zhuzi and Xiao Yu’s family, Su Xiaoxiao usually didn’t allow him to eat at other people’s homes. Mainly because she worried about his enormous appetite. Although their standard of living had improved over the past two years, he still only ate his own portion. But his stomach seemed bottomless. No matter how much others served him, he’d politely thank them and finish it all. People nowadays are kind-hearted. Even if he didn’t eat, they’d offer him food. Sometimes he didn’t know if they genuinely meant to share or if it was just courtesy.

Xiao Zhuzi and Xiao Yu’s family were exceptions. The time he went to Xiao Houzi’s house to eat was because he was enticed by a pig’s ear. He hadn’t had one for so long, and when Old Hu brought meat to their house, he noticed the pig’s ear prepared for them to take home. Old Hu was enthusiastic and agreed to take Xiao Roubao back with him on his bike. Su Xiaoxiao couldn’t stop him in time.

One evening, Xiao Houzi brought back Xiao Roubao, who had eaten to his heart’s content. Su Xiaoxiao gave Xiao Houzi a lot of snacks and dry goods to take back.

Later, Han Cheng took Xiao Roubao to the room and lectured him for a long time. He even made him face the wall in reflection. At first, Xiao Roubao argued back, saying Uncle Hu always brought meat to their house every day, and his family had the most meat. He insisted that he wouldn’t go to someone else’s house who doesn’t have much meat than them.

Han Cheng couldn’t help but laugh in frustration. He asked Xiao Roubao how he knew that other families didn’t have more meat than theirs.

Xiao Roubao replied that people with lots of meat at home were all strong, like him, Xiao Houzi, and Xiao Yu. He believed that those skinny brothers from other families definitely didn’t have much meat to eat.

Han Cheng was speechless and frustrated. 

Trying to reason with such a young child seemed futile. 

Afraid he would forget about it the next day, he made Xiao Roubao reflect by facing the wall for an hour. He also forbade him from eating meat that night, hoping he would learn his lesson. 

Xiao Roubao indeed didn’t eat any meat that night, not even the few pieces of his favorite grilled meat that his Brother Doubao had secretly hidden for him.

Before going to bed, Doubao was so hungry that he cried. Su Xiaoxiao made him a bowl of egg noodles and asked if he had learned his lesson. Xiao Roubao claimed he had and promised only to go to Brother Zhuzi’s house and Brother Xiao Yu’s house for meals in the future.

Almost every day, Yali would cook delicious meals for Xiao Zhuzi. Every time Su Xiaoxiao would invite Zhuzi over for dinner each time she cooked a big meal, she would let Yali know in advance. 

As for Xiao Roubao, he would inquire early about what Brother Zhuzi and Brother Xiao Yu’s families were having for dinner. If it was something he liked, he would go there first to mooch a meal. 

In short, both Zhou Yuhua and Yali treated him like he was their half-biological son. Zhou Yuhua especially adored Xiao Roubao. In her words, having Xiao Roubao at the dinner table made the meals taste extra delicious. Occasionally, she would sneak Xiao Roubao back to their house.

…………..
In just a month, the news of “resuming the college entrance examination” had spread like wildfire, especially after the implementation meeting. Many people had quietly picked up their high school textbooks again to cram. 

purchased numerous high school textbooks to send to the Su family village. She also sent a few small booklets drawn by the kids. It was about time to send these books to them.

In her letter, Su Xiaoxiao instructed Su Weimin to distribute the books only when precise information came and to prioritize those who couldn’t afford to buy their own books and had no connections to acquire them.

With the “Studying Makes Me Happy: Knowledge Can Change Fate” booklets spreading throughout the entire army, “Fantuan Zhuzi Xiao Doubao” became widely known. Occasionally, even Da Bao and Xiao Bao, who made guest appearances, along with Xiao Yu, were familiar names to everyone. Su Xiaoxiao herself became renowned throughout the military region. Not only their unit, but Minister Jiang also sent some booklets to other units and to the capital. Almost no one was untouched by the charm of this propaganda booklet.

It was called a promotional booklet, but it wasn’t entirely true. It was also called a storybook, but not entirely that either. In short, the clever combination of words and pictures in these booklets attracted younger children with their drawings, older kids with their talent, adults with their stories, and educators with Su Xiaoxiao’s teaching methods. This small booklet, with its ingenious blend of text and illustrations, appealed to people of all ages and backgrounds.

Publishing houses even approached Minister Jiang, expressing their desire to publish the book nationwide. They also hoped that children would continue to produce new content, using the same storytelling method with illustrations. They suggested serializing it in newspapers, updating it weekly or monthly. It didn’t necessarily have to document real-life events; it could also feature entirely new stories. The key was to serialize it with this combination of text and illustrations.

This was Minister Jiang and the kids’ “masterpiece” that they had worked on tirelessly for two to three years. Naturally, Minister Jiang had to consult the kids first and get their opinions. 

After preliminary discussions about the terms, Minister Jiang had a good idea. With gifts in hand, he drove his small jeep, humming a tune, and went personally to Su Xiaoxiao’s house.