After some discussion, they decided to lower prices to attract customers. Photo studios of different levels had different pricing standards. Shu Yuan asked, “What’s the lowest we can go?”

Master Zhao replied, “We can drop it by ten percent. One black-and-white photo, including shooting and developing, costs five mao (0.5 yuan). The lowest we can offer is four mao five (0.45 yuan). There’ll always be people willing to save a few mao.”

Shu Yuan thought it over and said, “We can’t lower the price outright. We need to find a more creative way to reduce the cost.”

“How do we lower the price creatively?” Wang Youcai and Hu Ziqiang asked in unison.

“Yeah, tell us,” urged Master Zhao.

Shu Yuan said, “We need to go out and promote. For example, we can go to the entrances of large factories and big work units and tell the workers that they’ll get a ten percent discount on photo sessions and film development.”

The four of them listened with great interest. After some discussion, they decided that Shu Yuan would take the two apprentices along to do the promotion whenever she had time.

——

Chen Zai had recently been busy handling his work handover.

If not for the unexpected situation with Xiao Man, he would have continued to shine at the city hospital in this remote border town. But after careful thought, he decided he still needed to be by Xiao Man’s side.

He didn’t want Xiao Man to go through the same childhood he had, growing up without a father’s presence.

Thanks to his persistence, the position of hospital director was not handed over to some administrative personnel with no medical background from another unit. Instead, one of the deputy directors was promoted. This deputy director was highly capable, with strong medical skills and the necessary administrative competence.

The soon-to-be director had been feeling anxious and had been coming to Chen Zai’s office frequently over the past few days. After Chen Zai finished explaining the key points of new drug procurement and handling medical disputes, the deputy director flipped through his densely filled notebook and brought up his usual concern. “Director Chen, the promotion came too suddenly. I’m worried I won’t be able to manage. I only know how to treat orthopedic patients.”

Chen Zai’s tone was calm. “Managing a hospital is the same as treating patients. You have what it takes to lead. No one is more suitable for this position than you. Last year, when those injured soldiers were transferred to our hospital after the avalanche, dozens of them, you organized everything perfectly.”

“But…”

The deputy director wanted to say it had all been under Chen Zai’s command and that he had only played a supporting role. Now that he was being asked to take the lead, he was worried he couldn’t live up to it.

Before he could finish, a nurse knocked and entered, interrupting them with an urgent message. A patient had just been brought in with a crushed and broken leg.

The deputy director hurried out of the office, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the corridor. Hearing the increasingly close cries and wails from the emergency area, he suddenly felt a surge of strength build up inside him.

Director Chen had held his ground under pressure, insisting that someone with medical knowledge should take over the role rather than an administrative outsider. He had chosen him, which meant he believed he had the ability to lead. If Director Chen believed in him, then he had to believe in himself too.

With that thought, the deputy director’s steps became lighter and more resolute. He quickly reached the emergency room and began examining the newly arrived patient.

Not long after the deputy director left, a female doctor entered the office. She stood there hesitantly for a while, until Chen Zai prompted her to speak directly. Only then did she open her mouth. “Director Chen, my hometown is also in Lucheng. If you have the chance in the future, could you transfer me back to Lucheng too?”

“I…”

She had followed Chen Zai to this hospital. Otherwise, who would willingly come to such a remote and desolate place? Now that Chen Zai was leaving, why should she stay?

But while Chen Zai was gentle in professional matters, he was very cold when it came to personal issues. Words like that were ones she didn’t dare say out loud.

As expected, Chen Zai’s tone was indifferent. “I’m only being transferred to Lucheng as an attending physician. I don’t have any authority over personnel matters. I can’t help you.”

She had known she might hit a wall, but she hadn’t expected there to be absolutely no room for negotiation.

He wouldn’t spare her even the slightest warmth, not now, not ever. He wouldn’t even give her a second glance.

“Anything else?” Chen Zai asked as he continued sorting through various documents on his own.

It was phrased as a question, but the meaning was clear: the conversation was over, and she should leave.

The female doctor bit her lower lip, helpless, and could only turn around and walk out.

——

Now that Shu Yuan had a job, Li Hongxia had been focusing her energy on Xiao Man these past few days. She had already made him two sets of clothes, two pairs of black cloth shoes, and was working on two light shirts for when the weather got warmer.

It wasn’t that she was particularly kind to Xiao Man. She just didn’t want Shu Yuan going to the department store to buy clothes and shoes, which would cost money.

That evening at dinner, she noticed Xiao Man using his left hand to hold his chopsticks and asked, “Xiao Man’s left-handed? Sometimes he uses his right hand, sometimes his left.”

Shu Yuan didn’t think much of it. “That just means Xiao Man can use both hands to eat. Left-handed people are smart.”

Li Hongxia was more observant than Shu Yuan and said, “I think his right hand doesn’t seem to have much strength.”

Shu Yuan turned to ask, “Xiao Man, is that true?”

Xiao Man looked at Shu Yuan, his dark eyes bright. He didn’t want Mom to know he had a lot of little issues, but Grandma’s sharp gaze had already seen through him. He couldn’t hide it anymore.

Xiao Man answered honestly, “My right wrist and fingers feel like they were strained. Sometimes they don’t move properly. Maybe it got too cold when I was washing clothes in the river.”

He was a bit worried that the stiffness in his fingers might affect his writing.

Thinking of Zhang Laocai made Shu Yuan’s teeth itch with anger. Forcing a child to break ice in the middle of winter just to do laundry was cruel enough. Worse, he had been a child trafficker hiding among the villagers. She wondered how the public security officers’ investigation into him was going.

Li Hongxia snorted, “Did you think raising a child was just playing around? You didn’t even notice this. Take him to the hospital.”

Seeing Xiao Man’s tense and handsome little face, Shu Yuan smiled and said, “Xiao Man, are you afraid of the doctor again?”

Xiao Man confessed truthfully, “I was afraid it might be something serious. I’d be fine if it was just like my leg before, when it turned out to be synovitis. It got better after a few days.”

The next day, Shu Yuan took leave and brought Xiao Man to the hospital. They went to pediatrics at first, but the pediatrician referred them to orthopedics. At the orthopedics department, the doctor diagnosed it as arthritis and prescribed five patches of medicated plaster, saying it wasn’t serious and that he should avoid cold water.

“Will I still be able to write?” Xiao Man asked anxiously.

The doctor was amused by the little frown on his face. “Oh, this little one’s worried about writing? Just apply the plaster, it’ll heal pretty well. But if you touch cold water again, it might come back. So no more cold water.”

Xiao Man finally relaxed, his tone cheerful. “Okay. Thank you, Uncle.”

After picking up the medicine from the pharmacy, Shu Yuan applied the plaster to his wrist. Even just walking next to him, she could already smell the strong scent of the medicine.

At lunch, Shu Yuan reported the situation to Li Hongxia. Li Hongxia curled her lip and said, “How old is he and already getting arthritis?”

“You didn’t have them check his face while you were at the hospital?” Li Hongxia asked.

Shu Yuan was surprised. “What’s wrong with his face?”

Li Hongxia shot her a glare. This second daughter not only lacked experience with kids, but was also incredibly careless.

“You really can’t see anything wrong with his face?” Li Hongxia countered.

Shu Yuan took a closer look at Xiao Man’s little face: delicate eyebrows, thick lashes, eyes like black grapes, and a straight nose. Such a handsome little face. His skin wasn’t chapped anymore, getting smoother by the day. She didn’t see anything wrong at all.

Li Hongxia didn’t want to dampen their spirits or play the role of the harsh grandmother, but Shu Yuan was just too clueless. So she said it outright. “Haven’t you noticed his mouth is a bit crooked and one eye slightly off?”

Shu Yuan: “……”

She immediately objected, “Mom, you’re exaggerating. That’s just Xiao Man making funny faces. What’s the big deal? Isn’t that kind of thing normal?”

She had noticed it before. Xiao Man’s face did show some little movements. He would quickly puff out his cheeks, then strain to one side, tilting upward, with one corner of his mouth lifting toward his nose.

Under the watchful eyes of both his mom and grandma, Xiao Man stayed very still, his handsome little face tense and free of any extra movement.

“Xiao Man, make a funny face for Grandma,” Shu Yuan said.

Xiao Man looked troubled. “Mom, I can’t do it.”

Li Hongxia chuckled twice. “Mothers always think their kids are cute. But a crooked mouth and misaligned eyes, that’s a condition.”

She backed up her point by giving an example of someone at the factory who had the same issue.

Shu Yuan was speechless for a while. “If you think there’s something wrong with Xiao Man, can you just tell me all at once?”

Li Hongxia replied, “If I told you all at once, you’d feel too much pressure.”

Xiao Man grew uneasy. He couldn’t hide it anymore. Grandma’s eyes were like a hawk’s, always spotting his little problems.

Was he a dishonest child for hiding his small issues from his mom?

After thinking it over the whole evening, Xiao Man decided to come clean with her.

The two of them were squeezed together in bed. Xiao Man lay on his side, facing Shu Yuan, his dark eyes shining nervously as he asked, “Mom, would you dislike me for having little problems?”

Shu Yuan also turned on her side to face him, resting her hand gently on his anxious little shoulder. She smiled and said, “Of course not. What kind of mom would ever dislike her own child?”

Shu Yuan’s relaxed tone and calm demeanor were incredibly soothing. Xiao Man immediately felt more at ease. He decided to share his little secret with her. The child’s expression was serious yet filled with worry. “Mom, besides having a crooked mouth and slanted eyes, I also eat leaves. It’s just too bad there are no leaves to eat in winter.”

Shu Yuan pinched his soft, bouncy little cheeks and asked, “Why does Xiao Man eat leaves? Were you hungry?”

Xiao Man thought for a moment. He had indeed been in a constant state of hunger before, but he told Shu Yuan, “Even when I’m not hungry, I still want to eat leaves. Poplar leaves, elm leaves, Chinese toon leaves. I eat all of them.”

The little guy’s handsome face was half-buried in the pillow, his eyes shining brightly. He looked especially adorable, though his expression was earnest with a hint of distress. Shu Yuan burst out laughing. “Xiao Man is just like a little lamb or a bunny. What a coincidence, I feel like eating leaves too. When the leaves grow out, let’s eat them together.”

Xiao Man’s handsome little face seemed to glow under the light. His big eyes sparkled under the warm yellow glow, all his worries vanishing in an instant. If Mom eats leaves too, then maybe it’s not a problem after all.

“Then… will Dad dislike my little problems?” The child’s worry was almost overflowing now.

He wanted to be a child who was affirmed and loved, not someone abandoned or disliked.

Shu Yuan thought for a moment, gently smoothing Xiao Man’s soft hair as she said, “A father should never dislike his own child. If he does, then the problem is with him, not with Xiao Man.”

Her voice was warm and firm, and Xiao Man completely relaxed. There was no need to worry anymore.

He thought his mom must have a strong heart, and he wanted to learn from her.

The next day, after getting off work in the evening, Shu Yuan went to the telephone bureau. She timed it to match Chen Zai’s off-duty hours and gave him a call.

The call connected, and Chen Zai’s steady, emotionless voice came through. “Is something the matter, Shu Yuan?”

They had agreed to get married, yet he still didn’t want to take Shu Yuan’s calls. Perhaps he was afraid she might do something bizarre and unpredictable to disrupt his calm, orderly life.

Shu Yuan didn’t bother with small talk and got straight to the point. “Xiao Man has a few minor issues. He’s worried you might not want him. If you do mind, then don’t force yourself to marry me. I can raise him on my own.”

Xiao Man clenched his little hands, his palms sweaty. What would Dad say?

In the child’s clear, innocent eyes was a mix of anxiety and hope.

There was a second of silence on Chen Zai’s end before he asked, “What issues does Xiao Man have?”

Shu Yuan replied, “He had synovitis before, but it got better after treatment. Now he has arthritis in his right hand, and he’s wearing medicated patches. His mouth is a little crooked, and his eyes are slightly off. Also, he wants to eat leaves.”

Chen Zai’s voice remained calm. “Shu Yuan, Xiao Man doesn’t have a crooked mouth or misaligned eyes. He has tic disorder. It’s not serious. You don’t need to pay too much attention to it, and there’s no need for medication.”

Shu Yuan paused. “…What kind of illness is tic disorder?”

Chen Zai gave a simple explanation, saying it was a neurological developmental issue in children. He added, “It might be related to the environment he used to live in.”

So, it turned out this father had already noticed his son’s little issues all along, while she had assumed he was just making funny faces.

“Is it really not serious? Then I won’t take him to the hospital,” Shu Yuan said.

Chen Zai replied, “No need to go to the hospital, and no need for medication either. Shu Yuan, children often develop small problems as they grow. Most of them gradually improve with age. You and Xiao Man both need to relax and not worry too much.”

His voice was deep and steady, calm and reassuring. It inspired trust and gave a sense of peace.

Shu Yuan’s voice was cheerful. “Alright, thank you, Doctor Chen. Xiao Man, did you hear that? Daddy said it’s nothing.”

Chen Zai’s voice softened, becoming gentle and slow. “Xiao Man, there’s absolutely nothing to worry about. Daddy won’t ever dislike you.”

Xiao Man’s tightly wound emotions began to ease, his voice sweet and childlike, tinged with excitement. “Thank you, Daddy. I won’t worry anymore.”

He had open-minded and understanding parents. Both of them truly got what it meant to be a child.

The heavy burden in his heart was finally lifted. Now, there was nothing troubling him at all.

One point for Daddy, and one point for Mommy.

As he listened to his parents saying goodbye to each other, Xiao Man quickly leaned close to the receiver and added, “Daddy, Mommy and I will be waiting for you!”

The voice on the other end was gentle. “Alright, Xiao Man. I’ll come as soon as I can.”

That simple sentence tugged at Chen Zai’s heart. He was no longer someone with no attachments, no ties. His life was no longer solitary.

After hanging up, Shu Yuan paid the fee. She and Xiao Man walked out of the telephone bureau hand in hand, both in high spirits as they strolled down the street.

It had been a smooth, efficient conversation. Not a single cent of the phone bill had gone to waste. Shu Yuan hadn’t expected that she and Chen Zai could actually communicate calmly and effectively.

From their first phone call until now, Chen Zai’s attitude had been consistently positive. This made Shu Yuan very satisfied and even gave her some confidence in the life they might build together.

But Chen Zai was lost in thought. From what he knew about Xiao Man’s time in foster care, Shu Yuan had not exactly been a responsible parent. He couldn’t understand how she had suddenly turned into a mother who was attentive to her child’s health and development.

What on earth was she up to?

Back at home, Shu Yuan said to Li Hongxia, who was busy cooking, “Xiao Man’s dad said it’s not a crooked mouth or misaligned eyes. He’ll get better with time. So let’s not mention those four words again.”

Just as her mom was about to speak, Shu Yuan raised her hand and made a hush gesture.

Li Hongxia: “……”

——

Normally, Shu Yuan got off work at five sharp and never wasted a second, always taking Xiao Man straight home. But today, she had to work overtime for promotional outreach. Her first stop, naturally, was her home turf: the electronics factory.

At 4:50, she and the apprentice Wang Youcai arrived at the factory gate, waiting for the five o’clock bell when the workers would leave. As soon as they did, they began handing out discount coupons.

The discount coupons were simple sheets of thin paper, poorly printed, about the size of a movie ticket.

Shu Yuan and Xiao Man, being the most popular faces at the electronics factory, still held their star status. It didn’t take long for them to draw in a crowd of aunties and young women: curious older ladies, young brides, and unmarried girls alike.

One of the aunties asked curiously, “What’s a discount coupon?”

Shu Yuan patiently explained, “It means if you go to Weimin Photo Studio for a photo, you get ten percent off. A photo that normally costs five mao (0.5 yuan) will only cost four mao five (0.45 yuan).”

“That only saves five fen (0.05 yuan).”

“If you take more pictures, the savings add up. Developing a whole roll of film could save you one yuan,” Shu Yuan said.

“You’re working at a photo studio now? What do you do, reception?” one of the women asked.

Shu Yuan answered proudly, “I’m a photographer.”

This was killing two birds with one stone. Not only was she promoting the photo studio, but she was also letting everyone know she now had a job, and a skilled one at that. Her over-a-year-long stint at home living off her mother had officially become a thing of the past.

“You know how to take pictures?” someone asked in disbelief.

Shu Yuan didn’t bother being modest. “I’m really good at it.”

Xiao Man stood beside her, watching as his mom chatted and laughed with the crowd. He was quietly learning from her. His mom was full of confidence, and he hoped one day he could be just like her.

Wang Youcai was thoroughly impressed with Shu Yuan. He had thought they’d have to work hard convincing people to take the discount coupons, but instead, people flocked over, scrambling to get one as if they were afraid they’d miss out.

“When can we meet Xiao Man’s dad? When is he coming to the family housing compound?” a group of women crowded around Shu Yuan and her son, eagerly asking.

Xiao Man’s dad had already become a local celebrity, the ultimate traffic magnet.

Shu Yuan smiled and said, “He’ll definitely come to the family housing compound. I promise you’ll all see him.”

The promotion ended smoothly. After the crowd dispersed, Wang Youcai scratched his head. “So promotion is actually this easy?”

Shu Yuan shared her insight with him. “You have to make people feel like they’re getting a bargain by taking photos and developing film at Weimin Photo Studio. Like they’re being given special treatment.”

Back home, Li Hongxia, always well-informed, had already heard about Shu Yuan promoting the photo studio. Once they were inside, she said to Shu Yuan, “I’ve never seen anyone with a thicker skin than you. Last time you earned money with that ridiculous scheme of yours, and now you’re doing advertising for the photo studio.”

Shu Yuan, all smiles, replied, “If I didn’t take advantage of this flood of attention, I’d be the one losing out.”

“What?” Li Hongxia stared wide-eyed. She didn’t understand.

These days, it was Wang Youcai and Hu Ziqiang who were out running the promotions. They had visited all the nearby factories, as well as the subdistrict office, the grain station, and the coal station. Shu Yuan, on the other hand, preferred staying at the photo studio to take pictures, develop film, retouch, and add color.

The results of the promotion were immediate. More and more customers started coming in thanks to the outreach.

——

After returning to Lucheng, the first thing Chen Zai did was contact the hospital director to confirm his reporting date. The second thing he did was reach out to Shu Yuan.

He didn’t know her exact home address, and Shu Yuan didn’t seem too keen on him appearing near the electronics factory. So, he called Auntie Yang’s home instead.

As soon as Auntie Yang heard that pleasant and easily recognizable voice, her curiosity flared up. She got excited and started chatting away. “You’re Xiao Man’s dad, right? When are you coming to the electronics factory? You’ve got to let us all have a look at you!”

Chen Zai said, “…Auntie, could you please get Shu Yuan for me?”

Hearing how polite he was, Auntie Yang replied cheerfully, “Shu Yuan’s at work. She’s over at Weimin Photo Studio.”

After hanging up the phone, Chen Zai raised his wrist to check the time. It was a little past four in the afternoon. He decided to head to the photo studio and wait for Shu Yuan to get off work.