The eleven kids squatted in the Lin family’s courtyard, washing vegetables.

Though it seemed like a lot of people, the 66 jin (about 33 kilograms) of vegetables only amounted to about 6 jin per person, consisting mainly of easy-to-wash items like cabbage, greens, and eggplant.

It should have been quick work, but except for the three brothers, none of the other kids had ever done household chores.

The Three brothers had already finished washing their share, while the others hadn’t even finished a tenth of theirs.

Yibao said, “You guys go help them wash. I’ll go start threading the vegetables onto the skewers.”

“Alright,” Erbao and Sanbao agreed, and went to help.

The Lin family had a lot of bamboo skewers, thanks to past gatherings in the military family compound, where up to ten or twenty people would come together for barbecues with the Lin, He, Yang, and Cheng families.

So, there were plenty of skewers.

Yibao brought out the skewers and began prepping the vegetables they had washed: slicing potatoes, radishes, and mushrooms, making slits in the eggplants with scissors, and threading the leafy greens directly onto the skewers without cutting.

Once finished, he placed them neatly in a clean basket, ready for grilling later.

The kids who were still washing vegetables watched Yibao’s swift and skillful movements with admiration.

The new kid was amazing! At this moment, none of them found it odd for a boy to be doing household chores—after all, when it comes to food, who cares if it’s a boy or girl doing the work?

They started grilling after the fishing trip, and with buying and washing vegetables, time had flown by.

By the time they were done washing, the adults from the courtyard had returned from work, catching sight of the bustling scene in the Lin family’s yard.

One of them was Yu Chengci’s mother, Li Yue.

She saw her son squatting in the Lin family’s courtyard, washing vegetables, and was momentarily stunned.

“Yu Chengci, what are you doing?” She called out, not angry but genuinely curious, especially since her son wasn’t alone—both her eldest nephew and the Ling family’s child were there, too.

“Mom…” Yu Chengci called back, “Mom, I’m having a barbecue at Lin Haizhi’s house today. All these vegetables are for us to eat. Lin Huirui said we should do it ourselves because ‘self-reliance brings abundant rewards.’”

“Oh, wow, using idioms now, are we? Just don’t cause any trouble for Auntie Lin, alright?” If it were just her son, she would have been reluctant to let him stay again, but with so many kids involved, including her nephew and the Lin children, she didn’t feel the need to call him back.

Kids playing together now would be part of their social circle when they grew up; she wasn’t oblivious to the benefits.

“Got it,” Yu Chengci replied without turning his head.

After Li Yue left, Yu Dasao returned home from work not long after.

She worked in administration at the factory, so her job was easy, but she didn’t have the flexible hours of Li Yue, who worked at the newspaper.

By the time Yu Dasao got home, the kids had finished washing the vegetables and were in the Lin family’s backyard, preparing for the barbecue.

She missed seeing the vegetable-washing scene altogether.

Eleven kids gathered around the Lin family’s barbecue setup.

Ning Shu had modified the barbecue rack; the iron grates were embedded in a cement slab, surrounded by an additional ring of cement to prevent burns.

Even modern people who were familiar with grilling could accidentally get burned, and since barbecuing was new to most people at this time, there was always the risk of kids getting hurt during play.

If someone else’s child got burned, it could lead to conflict, so the cement barrier was added as a precaution.

With this setup, even if someone accidentally bumped into it, the worst they’d get would be a light touch that wouldn’t even cause a blister.

It was very safe.

The kids, apart from the three brothers, stared curiously at the barbecue setup, chattering nonstop.

“So this is used for grilling? How amazing!”

“It’s like a stove, but instead of a pot inside, it has an iron rack.”

Erbao boasted, “Impressive, right? This barbecue is super delicious.”

Yibao added, “There are six baskets of vegetables and one basket of fish, plus my mom’s homemade orange juice and pear juice. Use the small baskets in your hands to pick what you want to eat, but don’t take too much at once. You can always come back for more if you finish. When you have what you want, place it on the iron plate to grill. You can sprinkle a bit of salt and brush some oil on top. Be careful, though—sometimes the oil and salt can splatter, so don’t get too close, or it might splash on your face.”

Erbao said, “If you’re unsure, you can watch how we do it.”

The three brothers then took their little baskets to get some vegetables, placed them in their small colanders, and then poured a cup of juice, setting it on a small table.

Seeing this, the other kids followed suit.

This was a new experience for them, and they found it very interesting.

Soon, laughter filled the backyard as they started the barbecue.

The children where so happy with the new experience that they forgot to ask permission to their parents.

As a result, when mealtime came around, several parents hadn’t seen their children return.

Some were worried about their children’s safety, while others thought they might have lost track of time while playing.

Zhou Guowei, who was 14 and in his first year of junior high, was not very agile and had trouble fitting in with his junior high classmates.

As a result, he usually hung out with Yu Chengci and other elementary school kids.

He was honest and rarely stayed out late without returning home.

Zhou’s mother, seeing that her son hadn’t come back even after waiting for half an hour, grew worried and decided to go look for him.

Just as she was about to leave, she saw the neighbor’s young nanny walking home with a little boy.

The young nanny was Han Hongling’s stepmother, 25 years old, who had married Han’s father and had a 4-year-old son who was attending a preschool.

“Zhou’s wife, are you heading out?” The nanny greeted with a smile.

She knew that people in the courtyard didn’t like her, but she always greeted them with a smile, acting as if she was unaware of their feelings.

She thought that as long as she was doing well, it didn’t matter.

Although Zhou’s wife didn’t like the nanny, she didn’t show it and replied, “Yes, it’s mealtime and our Guowei hasn’t come back yet. I don’t know where he is. I’m going to Yu’s house to see if Chengci knows anything since they usually play together.”

Upon hearing this, the nanny’s eyes lit up. “Oh, I know about that. When I passed by Yu’s house, I saw your Guowei and the Yu family’s kids doing chores and washing vegetables next door.”

“You mean the house next door to Yu’s that’s newly moved in? How did Guowei and the Yu family’s kids end up washing vegetables there?” Zhou’s wife was taken aback.

Realizing the situation, Zhou’s wife slapped her thigh and said, “This is bad.”

She then ran toward the Lin family’s house.

The nanny found this amusing.

Zhou’s wife wasn’t someone easy to deal with, and with her son doing chores for someone else, there would likely be trouble.

She was looking forward to the drama that would unfold after dinner.

Zhou’s wife ran quickly.

The children who had dinner at the Lin family’s house talked excitedly about how delicious the dinner was and how nice the Lin family’s kids’ rooms were.

Since it was so late and they hadn’t come back, and considering they were washing vegetables, she was sure her son was still at the Lin family’s house.

Zhou’s wife wasn’t swayed by the nanny’s comments and quickened her pace.

A woman who saw Zhou’s wife running asked, “What’s going on? Why are you running so fast?”

Zhou’s wife replied, “I’m going to find my Guowei to come back for dinner.” With that, she ran off, leaving the woman bewildered.

The woman’s mother-in-law, who had just arrived, asked, “Mom, why are you out? Is something wrong?”

Seeing her daughter-in-law coming home from work, the old lady said, “I’m looking for your son. It’s almost mealtime and he’s still not back. Didn’t he say he was going fishing with the Yu family’s kids? I’m a bit worried.”

The woman responded, “Zhou’s wife just said she’s looking for her child too. Could it be that the two kids are together? Mom, you should head back. I’ll go look for them.”

“Alright then,” the old lady said.

She was elderly and didn’t want to walk too much, so she preferred not to go looking herself.

The woman then turned and ran in the direction Zhou’s wife had gone.

The barbecue at the Lin family’s place was in full swing, with the kids chatting enthusiastically.

Drinking fruit juice while eating barbecue was just too enjoyable.

“Next time, I’ll buy some soda—lots of soda—so we can have it with the barbecue,” Ling Jiawen said.

There wasn’t enough fruit juice to go around, so they’d need more drinks. Besides, he had the money to spare.

Yu Chengci chimed in, “That’s great! Jiawen, you have to keep your word.” As an elementary schooler, he didn’t have as much money as the middle schooler Ling Jiawen.

Ling Jiawen assured, “I always keep my promises.”

Outside, Ning Shu noticed someone peeking into her yard and went out to greet them.

Before she could say anything, the person spoke up, “Hi there, I’m Zhou Guowei’s mother. My kid didn’t come home for dinner, and someone said they saw him at your place. Is he still here?”

“Oh, so you’re Guowei’s mom! Yes, he’s here, having dinner with us. Please come in and have a seat,” Ning Shu welcomed her warmly, as she had a good impression of the kids and, by extension, their parents.

Zhou’s mother sighed, confirming her suspicion that her son was indeed at the Lin family’s house.

She smiled awkwardly and followed Ning Shu inside, saying, “This kid is so thoughtless. Food is precious everywhere these days, and he’s having dinner at your place again.” Her tone carried a hint of apology.

Ning Shu replied, “Guowei is very well-behaved. He’s quiet but very polite.”

As they chatted, Ning Shu led Zhou’s mother through the hall into the backyard. “They’re all here.”

As soon as Zhou’s mother entered the hall, she heard the lively chatter of the children.

From the back door, she saw a large group of kids gathered around, enjoying the barbecue.

Even her usually quiet and reserved son was eating with gusto.

Zhou Guowei, munching away, suddenly noticed his mom at the back door and widened his eyes. “Mom, why are you here…?” he stammered before quickly explaining, “Mom, I got busy and forgot to come home to tell you I wasn’t eating dinner at home today.”

They’d been so caught up in washing the vegetables that he lost track of time.

“Alright, but don’t forget next time,” Zhou’s mother said, glancing at the large group of kids.

She didn’t say much else but turned to Ning Shu. “Thank you so much. I won’t bother you any longer; my family is waiting for me to come back for dinner.”

Ning Shu smiled, “Take care on your way home.”

Zhou’s mother genuinely did need to get home for dinner, but mostly, it was because it was dinner time, and she felt it wasn’t appropriate to stay longer.

However, she was already thinking about bringing something over to the Lin family, considering her son had eaten here twice now.

As she left the Lin family’s courtyard, she ran into another mother.

The two exchanged a few whispered words before walking off together, as this mother also knew her child was having dinner at the Lin’s and decided not to interrupt.

At the Yu household, the family already knew from Li Yue that several kids, including Ling Jiawen, were eating at the Lin’s, so they didn’t go to fetch them.

However, Deputy Director Yu wrinkled his nose, sniffing the air. “What’s that amazing smell? Who’s cooking?”

With their courtyards adjacent and no garden or field in between, the barbecue’s enticing aroma had drifted right over.

“It’s from next door,” Zhang Cuilan said. “I just took a look from the backyard. I’m not sure what they’re cooking, but there’s a bunch of kids gathered around eating something.”

The two backyards were within view of each other, and Zhang Cuilan had caught a whiff of the aroma long ago.

She couldn’t resist peeking.

Yu’s sister-in-law muttered, “The neighbors sure know how to win people over, inviting the kids to eat again.”

Li Yue frowned, about to speak up, but Grandma Yu cut in, “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. Your son’s been invited to eat, so don’t be ungrateful. Mind your words. The man of the house next door is younger than our eldest, and although they aren’t in the same hierarchy, his rank is higher.”

Yu’s sister-in-law pursed her lips and said no more.

Yu’s eldest son and his wife were once deeply in love; otherwise, he wouldn’t have married her in an era when family background mattered so much.

But now, the love had faded, and what remained was helplessness.

Fortunately, their son didn’t take after his mother, or all his efforts would have gone to waste.

Meanwhile, Ning Shu had no idea about the conversation next door.

She and Lin Guodong were having their dinner—noodles—with several barbecue dishes on the table, brought over by the kids.

As they ate, Lin Guodong mentioned a gathering, “I spoke with Ling Yuanhua. We’re planning a meal together this Sunday afternoon. He’s inviting a few friends, and I suggested they bring their families. Are you okay with that?”

“Sure,” Ning Shu agreed. “We can wash and prep some cold dishes on Saturday night, and then on Sunday, we can cook a few hot dishes for lunch. It’s no trouble. Just let me know the headcount so I can plan how many tables we’ll need.” It was Thursday, so they had two days to prepare.

Lin Guodong nodded, “I’ll confirm with Ling Yuanhua tomorrow.”

The couple continued eating slowly, chatting as they went.

By the time they were almost done, it was fully dark outside, and the kids had finished their barbecue.

Out of the 66 jin of vegetables, about half remained.

The children, led by the three brothers, didn’t leave immediately but instead cleaned up the backyard, washed the utensils, and only then did they say their goodbyes and head home.

After sending the kids off, Erbao sat down next to his father. “Dad, do you know about athletes?”

Lin Guodong nodded, “Of course I do. Why?”

Ning Shu watched expectantly, curious about what Lin Erbao was about to say.

Yibao and Sanbao were also eager to hear.

Erbao continued, “Dad, I’ve been thinking. I find studying harder and harder, and I’m not sure if I can make money as a scientist in the future. But Jiawen said that since I’m good at running and strong, I could be an athlete and bring glory to the country. Athletes who win competitions also get bonuses from the state. I think running isn’t hard—it’s much easier than studying. So, can I try being an athlete first? If it doesn’t work out, I can always come back and study to be a scientist later!”