Chapter 175

After reading the instruction manual, Han Cheng swiftly arranged the receiving antenna into a shape resembling the Chinese character “王” and asked Fantuan to borrow a ladder from their neighbor, Aunt Bai Lan, because the antenna needed to be placed at the highest point on the roof to receive TV signals.

Fantuan explained the reason, and Chen Ping’an personally brought the ladder over: “Uncle Han, your family has bought a TV. Can you tell me where to install the antenna? I will go up and help you install it.”

Han Cheng replied, “No need, I’ll do it myself. You guys stay downstairs and see if you can pick up any channels.”

Han Cheng plugged in the TV and turned it on, but the screen was filled with snowy static.

Xiao Roubao was extremely disappointed. “Dad, is this all we get to watch on TV? The snow outside is more interesting.”

Han Cheng explained, “We’ll get to see a video once I install the antenna on the roof. Just wait a moment.”

Chen Ping’an added, “Xiao Roubao, don’t worry. We’ll see clear images once the channels are tuned properly.”

Xiao Roubao was partly convinced, as were the other kids.

Han Cheng said, “I’ll adjust the channels up there, and you guys give me feedback from below so I can adjust the direction.”

Han Cheng went up to the roof, found a suitable location, tied it tightly, facing the direction of the signal tower, and shouted down, “Do you see anything now?”

The kids inside stared at the screen, suddenly exclaiming in surprise at the somewhat blurry sound and images that appeared on their TV.

Chen Ping’an shouted, “There is a picture, but it’s blurry with a lot of static. Try adjusting it again.”

Han Cheng made some slight adjustments.

Chen Ping’an shouted again, “Uncle, it’s much better now. Just a little more adjustment.”

After a few minor adjustments by Han Cheng, the TV finally had a clear picture.

Since the end of last year, the Capital TV Station has been broadcasting lectures on English, mathematics, and electronics on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with replays on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. On Sundays, they aired children’s programs such as “The Adventures of Little Red Soldiers,”  “The Great Puppet Show,”  nursery rhymes, and more. 

They also broadcast various revolutionary documentaries and health knowledge. Most importantly, they aired the news broadcast punctually at 7 p.m. every day. 

Major festivals were also broadcast live or rebroadcast on various gala evenings. At that time, TV programming mainly focused on educational lectures and disseminating news and information. Entertainment programs were not as prevalent. Therefore, watching the New Year’s Eve Gala together and having the New Year’s Eve dinner held a special place in the hearts of the people. 

Of course, they also aired TV dramas, but not many. It wasn’t until the 1980s that TV programs started to become richer. For example, the ’86 version of “Journey to the West,”  which Su Xiaoxiao had watched countless times in her previous life, remained a classic in the hearts of several generations even decades later.

At that moment, the black-and-white TV was replaying a lecture on electronics. Xiao Roubao, who had high expectations for TV, was confused after watching for a while. He raised his head and asked his brother, “Big brother, what is the electronic principle? Why can’t I understand anything? Can we eat it?”

Not to mention Xiao Roubao; even Fantuan found the content beyond his understanding. He had thought that TV was for watching singing and dancing performances, but now a teacher was standing in front of a blackboard, explaining knowledge beyond his usual scope.

The clever Xiao Fantuan shook his head and said, “I don’t know. Maybe they’re worried that if the TV breaks, we won’t know how to fix it. They’re teaching us how to repair TVs first. We might have to wait until the teacher finishes teaching before we can watch other programs.”

Xiao Roubao wrinkled his little nose and said, “It’s not fun. This TV is not fun at all. I might as well listen to the radio telling stories.” The little one ran away with a thud and stopped watching the TV.

Su Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but laugh and cry. “TV programs naturally cover a wide range of topics. These are all new knowledge that you can’t learn from existing textbooks. It’s good to have some understanding. It’s already past six o’clock. We can have dinner and catch up on the news later at seven.”

Fantuan is quite interested in this new knowledge. After all, he had a photographic memory, and his clever little brain could store as much knowledge as needed.

Su Xiaoxiao placed two pots of daffodils on both sides of the TV, making it less monotonous. “Ping’an, stay for dinner. We’re about to start.”

Chen Ping’an took the ladder from Han Cheng’s hand and said, “No, my mom cooked a dinner for me. I’ll have food to eat when I go back.”

Bai Lan’s cooking skills are also excellent, so Su Xiaoxiao didn’t insist.

Xiao Doubao wasn’t interested in learning about electronic principles either. He ran to the kitchen to help his mom prepare dinner.

“Xiao Doubao is still the most well-behaved. Your brother can’t resist the TV.” 

Xiao Doubao celebrated his eighth birthday after the New Year. By then, he would skip a grade and join the fourth grade, completing a semester to directly advance to the fifth grade. 

Fantuan will also stay in the sixth grade to take care of Xiao Doubao. Han Cheng has already contacted the school, which is not far from the alley entrance. The primary school is closest to home, even closer than kindergarten.

Both Fantuan and Xiao Doubao had impressive records. The school had reviewed their previous grades and homework. The brothers had excellent handwriting, and except for essays, they almost always scored a perfect score, often ranking first in their grade. Even their essays had earned full marks. Knowing that they were the young artists featured in the newspaper serials, the school didn’t even require an entrance exam. They were accepted directly. With their impressive records and highly educated parents, any school would eagerly accept them. After all, their current elementary school wasn’t considered a prestigious one. With their backgrounds and parental support, any school would be eager to take them.

Xiao Doubao had already self-studied the material for fifth grade. Su Xiaoxiao wanted him to join the fourth grade first to adapt to the learning environment and pace, with time for remedial learning if necessary. If he needed more time to adapt, he could repeat the fourth grade. The foundation had to be solid, especially since he was only eight years old. If he adapted well, he would move up to the fifth grade next semester.

Fantuan originally planned to skip straight to the seventh grade; after all, this intelligent Fantuan had already gone through junior high school knowledge. However, after discussion, Su Xiaoxiao still had some concerns about Xiao Doubao, so she asked Fantuan to finish the second half of sixth grade first.

Xiao Doubao is quite shy and doesn’t like interacting with strangers much. Although the junior high school wasn’t far from the elementary school, Su Xiaoxiao and Han Cheng wouldn’t be able to look after him while attending their own classes. Therefore, Fantuan would have to take care of his younger brother.

When Xiao Doubao was young, he went to school with his two brothers and was well protected. He only attended classes on his own after familiarizing himself with the environment and classmates. In the military elementary school, with his good personality and good temper, he was everyone’s favorite. With his excellent academic performance and two capable older brothers, not to mention his own capabilities, he wasn’t bullied by anyone; not even one spoke loudly to him.

Xiao Doubao has always been very obedient and gentle, and he was more independent-minded. While he might not always listen to his father, he always obeyed his mother. Whatever his mother asked him to do, he would do without question; he was even more clingy to his mother than the twins.

Xiao Doubao handed a spoon to his mother with a shy smile. “I also think the TV isn’t very interesting.”

Su Xiaoxiao took the spoon and added a bit of salt to the spare rib soup. “There will be children’s programs tomorrow. Maybe you’ll like the programs then.”

Xiao Doubao: “Mom, why do you know everything?”

Su Xiaoxiao remembered seeing a list of TV programs from the ’70s and ’80s when she was browsing short videos in her previous life. She glanced at it unintentionally and vaguely remembered that there were children’s programs on Sundays. It was common for there to be designated time slots for children’s programs without specialized children’s channels, unlike in future generations.

Su Xiaoxiao said: “Mom is just guessing. Xiao Doubao, your brother will also attend the sixth grade at the elementary school for a semester, but he will move on to junior high next semester and won’t be in the same school as you. Dad and I will be very busy and won’t be able to look after you, Xiao Doubao. I know you don’t like to interact with strangers, but we also need to learn to make new friends. Friends start as strangers, right? We need to learn to protect ourselves and open our hearts to get along with like-minded friends, help each other, learn from each other, and progress together. Is that okay?”

To be honest, among all the kids, Su Xiaoxiao was most concerned about Xiao Doubao. She would never forget the first time she held him in her arms when she got him from Zhou Cuihua. He was skinny—to thin that he was just skin and bones; his little hand was broken, but he didn’t cry or make a fuss. 

He had endured so much suffering, yet his eyes were as clean as an uncontaminated spring in the mountains. Su Xiaoxiao couldn’t describe the heartache she felt at that time, nor could she forget it. Xiao Doubao was barely heavier than a kitten back then. She had taken care of him meticulously, which led to the handsome and obedient little boy he was now.

But Su Xiaoxiao worried about overprotecting him, afraid he wouldn’t be able to adapt to the outside world in the future, and feared raising him as a mama’s boy. 

Indeed, raising a child was full of worries. Children grow, and so do parents. Both were new to being children and parents for the first time, and they were exploring and growing together.

Xiao Doubao counted the chopsticks and bowls and placed them on the stove, then said with a shy smile to his mother, “Mom, you don’t need to worry about me. Just focus on going to university. I’ll adapt well. Brother doesn’t need to go to elementary school because of me. I can handle it myself, really. Mom, I don’t know what ‘like-minded’ means, but I think I’ll have classmates I can chat with. I’ll also help my favorite classmates study and progress together.”

Su Xiaoxiao rubbed her child’s head and smiled. “Yes, Xiao Doubao is right. However, it’s good for your brother to adapt to elementary school for a semester. Mom also worries that some unruly kids might bully transfer students. Anyway, whatever happens, you must tell your brother and Dad and me.”

Xiao Doubao picked up the bowls and chopsticks. “Mom, I know. I’ve also learned martial arts from Uncle Zhao and run five kilometers every day with my brother to exercise. I can fight three bad guys with one punch and protect my brothers and sisters. I’ve grown up, Mom. You really don’t need to worry about me.”

Su Xiaoxiao rubbed her child’s head. Her little boy had indeed grown up a lot. His height had shot up in the past two years, almost reaching her shoulders. “Okay, okay, Mom will stop nagging. You go get them ready to eat and let Dad come over.” 

Han Cheng appeared at the door at some point. After Xiao Doubao left, he walked over and rubbed his wife’s head. “Don’t worry, Xiao Doubao is my son. He was born into a military family and has the blood of a soldier in him. He’s just obedient in front of you; he won’t be bullied by anyone.”

This son might look easy to bully, but when it came to fighting, Xiao Doubao was no less capable than Fantuan. He was also a decisive child. From climbing mountains and trees to fishing in the sea, he was no less adventurous than his two older brothers. He just obeyed Su Xiaoxiao unconditionally. 

No matter what Su Xiaoxiao asked him to do, he did it without question and happily followed it. But if anyone dared to bully Su Xiaoxiao, Xiao Doubao wouldn’t hesitate to fight back. He wasn’t as obedient to others as he was to Su Xiaoxiao.

Su Xiaoxiao: “I know, the child has grown up quite a bit. I just remembered when I picked him up from Zhou Cuihua; it was a huge difference compared to now. Bring the charcoal stove over and let’s eat.”

Han Cheng: “Children will always grow up, and it’s inevitable for boys to fall, hit, or bump into something. Don’t be so worried.”

……………….

The small charcoal stove simmered the spare ribs with yam. When it was almost time to eat, the cabbage was added for a quick boil. With soup, meat, and vegetables, they served two steaming bowls of rice, even in the coldest winter.

At seven o’clock, as Su Xiaoxiao had said, the news broadcast began on TV.

They were used to listening to news from the radio, which was really different from watching videos and listening to the host talk about the news. 

The visuals, accompanied by various scenes and subtitles related to the news, left a deeper impression.

Having already served himself an extra bowl of rice, Xiao Roubao took a big bite of spare ribs and shoveled a mouthful of rice. “Even though I still don’t understand what these uncles and aunties are saying, having them eat with us makes the food taste even better!”

Su Xiaoxiao picked up a piece of yam for her son. “You’ve already eaten enough.” He had eaten enough to finish five bowls of rice.

Xiao Roubao didn’t mind eating yam and picked it up, took a bite, and said, “I can eat even more deliciously.”

And so, watching the evening news became a daily routine for Su Xiaoxiao’s family.