“Ning girl, take a look at these. These are the mushrooms and wood ear mushrooms I collected. Some are from this year, some from last year, but they all look good. I dried them well, no bugs or moldy smell,” Granny Yang said, holding a basket and offering some of each to Ning Shu. “You can have these first. If you want more, just let me know.”

Ning Shu grabbed some mushrooms and wood ear mushrooms and examined them. They indeed looked good.

She didn’t refuse, saying, “I’ll try them tonight. If they taste good, I’ll discuss with you later. How much more do you have, Auntie?”

Granny Yang’s face lit up with joy, “I have quite a lot. There are about 30 catties of mushrooms and 20 catties of wood ear mushrooms. These are from last year, fresher ones. I also have some from the year before. If you’re interested, I can give you a discount.”

As long as they’re well-preserved, the age of these dried goods doesn’t matter much.

“Got it. I’ll come see you tonight,” Ning Shu said, already planning.

“Alright,” Granny Yang poured out the mushrooms and wood ear mushrooms and left with her basket.

Thinking about dinner, Ning Shu soaked some mushrooms and wood ear mushrooms in water.

After doing this, she told Lin Guodong, who had just finished washing the dishes, “I’m taking Da Mao and Tie Dan to the vet. Can you take the three brothers to the nursery this afternoon?”

“Okay,” Lin Guodong replied.

Ning Shu addressed the three brothers again, “Yi Bao, Er Bao, San Bao, Mommy is taking Da Mao and Tie Dan to get a health checkup. You three need to go to school this afternoon, okay?”

Yi Bao anxiously asked, “Mom, are Da Mao and Tie Dan sick?”

Er Bao also worried, “Mom, what’s wrong with Da Mao and Tie Dan?”

Though San Bao didn’t fully understand, children also have their sense of responsibility.

He hugged Da Mao’s neck, blinking innocently at his mother.

Ning Shu quickly explained to them, “They’re not sick. I’ve told you before, they’ve been on the battlefield and got injured. Although they’ve recovered now, they still need a checkup. So, there’s nothing to worry about. Be good and I’ll bring you some treats when I come back.”

“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll take care of Er Bao and San Bao,” Yi Bao reassured.

“Mom, I’ll listen to big brother and take care of San Bao too,” Er Bao added.

“San Bao, be good and listen,” Ning Shu said.

After Ning Shu reluctantly left with Da Mao and Tie Dan, the three brothers stood at the door, watching them leave.

They only turned their attention when they heard the clinking sound from the yard.

It was Lin Guodong, holding a wooden board and a hammer, hammering away.

The three brothers curiously approached.

Er Bao asked, “Dad, what are you doing? Are you making a stool?”

Lin Guodong replied, “No, I’m building a house for Da Mao and Tie Dan.”

“What?” Er Bao was stunned.

“Do Da Mao and Tie Dan need houses too?” Yi Bao asked, also surprised.

Lin Guodong replied, “Your mom said since we have houses, Da Mao and Tie Dan should have houses too. In the future, they can sleep in their own houses.”

“Wow…” Both brothers’ eyes lit up.

They have houses, and Da Mao and Tie Dan have houses too.

It seemed like a very interesting thing.

So, they watched Dad build houses for Da Mao and Tie Dan, eagerly helping out on the side.

Sometimes they passed over wooden boards, sometimes other things.

They were so busy and happy, as if they were the ones building Da Mao and Tie Dan’s house.

It wasn’t until lunchtime ended, and it was almost time for afternoon classes, that Lin Guodong took the three brothers to school.

As they came out of the house, they ran into Wang Wei coming out from the opposite direction.

“Why didn’t I see your Da Mao and Tie Dan?” Wang Wei, seeing the three brothers, approached enthusiastically.

Er Bao replied, “My mom took Da Mao and Tie Dan to see the doctor.” Usually, Er Bao was the spokesperson for the three brothers.

Only when Er Bao didn’t know what to say did he hand over the speaking role to Yi Bao.

“Oh?” Wang Wei was surprised. “Are Da Mao and Tie Dan sick? Weren’t they fine during our walk yesterday?”

“They’re not sick,” Er Bao explained. “My mom said Da Mao and Tie Dan got injured when they were fighting bad guys on the battlefield. They’ve recovered, but Mom wants to take them for a checkup just in case.”

Wang Wei understood. “Then I’ll come to your house tonight to play with Da Mao and Tie Dan. Are you still going for a walk after dinner?”

Er Bao replied, “Yes, we are. My mom said, ‘After dinner, take a walk, live to ninety-nine.’ Ninety-nine means living a long life. We all want to live to ninety-nine.”

Wang Wei nodded. “Then I’ll join you for a walk too.” Even a 13-year-old boy wanted to live to ninety-nine.

Yi Bao chimed in, “Wang Wei, did you only eat half of your meal today?”

Wang Wei blushed. “No, I finished it. I only ate half of last night’s dinner and was starving at midnight. I finished everything this morning.” He felt embarrassed.

He broke his promise; he couldn’t even make it through one night.

But eating only half a meal was really painful.

He couldn’t endure it after just one night. If he continued, he might starve before he could even get a dog.

Er Bao said, “My mom is better. She never asks us to eat only half.”

Wang Wei chuckled.

His mom was good too.

He wasn’t an unreasonable child. “My mom is good too, but we’re facing food shortages right now. Once we have more food at home, I can have a pet again.”

Yi Bao asked, “What does ‘food shortages’ mean?”

Wang Wei explained, “It means there’s not enough food.”

Yi Bao pondered for a moment. “Then why say ‘food shortages’? Why not just say ‘not enough food’? We understand ‘not enough,’ but we don’t understand ‘shortage.’ It’s weird. Saying ‘not enough’ makes more sense.”

“Wang Wei: “…um…this…you can ask the teacher when you go to school later.” He didn’t know how to respond.

Wait, why was this kid asking such a question? Is this the kind of question kids ask?

Yi Bao immediately asked, “Will the teacher know?”

“Of course,” Wang Wei replied with firmness, “Teachers know everything. Otherwise, how could they be teachers? If there’s anything we don’t know, we can always ask the teacher. Teachers are very knowledgeable.”

Teacher: Thank you!

Yi Bao took this to heart. “Then we don’t have to wait until later. We’re starting school today.”

“Huh? Have you already started school? What grade are you in? Preschool? Or nursery? If it’s preschool, we’re in the same department. I’m in fifth grade in the elementary department. We can go to and from school together in the future,” Wang Wei said.

“We’ll be together with San Bao at the nursery. It’s full of kids,” Yi Bao said.

Today was their first day of school.

The three brothers observed the classroom quietly. In unfamiliar places, they were always quiet.

So quiet that Teacher Jiang felt they were quite cultured and introverted, easy to manage, and good children.

“In the future, we can go to school together. If anyone bullies you at the nursery, you can tell them my name, and I’ll help you,” Wang Wei said boastfully.

He didn’t have younger brothers, only two younger sisters, so he felt quite authoritative in front of the three brothers.

Lin Guodong, listening from the side, furrowed his brows and said to the three brothers, “Study well at school, listen to the teacher, and don’t fight with other kids, okay?”

Yi Bao spoke up, “Okay.”

Er Bao asked, “But what if someone hits us?”

Lin Guodong replied, “Just go tell the teacher.”

Er Bao pouted.

If someone hit them, they would definitely hit back.

But he felt if he said that, Dad would scold them, so he just agreed, “Got it.”

But then he asked, “Wouldn’t that make us tattle-tales?”

Lin Guodong felt it was necessary to explain the concept of tattling to his sons. “Tattling isn’t what you think it is. If someone does something wrong, telling the teacher or their parents is for their own good. It helps them realize their mistakes and become better kids. It’s helping them.

“For example, last time, you were playing ball with the girl next door and punished her by hitting her bottom. She told her parents, which was the right thing to do. Boys shouldn’t hit girls’ bottoms when playing. So, when she told her parents, they informed us, which helped us correct your mistake so you wouldn’t become bad kids. That means she was helping you. So, from now on, you shouldn’t call someone a tattletale. It’s impolite and not something a brave and mature person should do. Understand?”

Yi Bao nodded. “Understood.”

Er Bao was puzzled again. “But her mom isn’t nice. She bullies mom.”

Lin Guodong explained, “Her mom is her mom, and she is herself. I’ve told you before, we can’t judge kids as bad just because their parents aren’t good.”

Wang Wei asked, “Is the girl next door named Zhang Qian?”

Er Bao asked, “Who’s Zhang Qian?”

Wang Wei sighed.

They didn’t know left from right? Don’t nursery kids know left from right? “…She’s on your left.”

Er Bao asked, “Which side is left?”

Wang Wei surrendered.

They didn’t know left from right?

“…She’s from the households next to yours. One has only one girl, and the other has three. I’m talking about Zhang Qian’s family, which has only one girl.”

“Not the family with three sisters,” Yi Bao interjected.

They didn’t know how many sisters the other family had. “Not the family with Baozhu, she’s very nice.”

“Oh, then you’re talking about Zhang Qian. Her mom is a stepmother, so we can’t judge her just because her mom isn’t good,” Wang Wei said.

In many children’s minds, not having a real mom and only having a stepmom was quite pitiful.

Lin Guodong remained silent, contemplating.