“Something else?”

In the yard, the sharp voices of the boys and girls made the birds shriek and fly away, not daring to disturb the little troublemakers. The leader was a round-faced boy with a gray whistle in his mouth, Wang Chunlan’s son, Qianghu. He was blowing the whistle irregularly, short and sharp, which was setting off Chen Baozhen’s nerves.

At that moment, she felt like smashing a cello over this child.

What kind of nonsense was this?

“Teacher Chen, smile! Teacher Chen, smile!”

The children grinned widely, revealing their big front teeth, several of them missing, their appearance funny yet filled with an innocent, aggravating charm.

They were ignorant and fearless, without any hatred. They just found Qianghu’s song amusing, clapping and chanting along.

If they angered the adults, they wouldn’t feel scared. Instead, they would feel a sense of superiority, challenging authority.

Many of them had grown up in large compounds, some had peed under the conference room table or caused trouble in generals’ quarters. Being young, the adults didn’t mind, so they had a natural privilege to get away with anything.

Qin Yao asked Chen Baozhen to stay calm while she went inside to get some candy. She smiled warmly and called the children over to the yard.

One, two, three, four, five, six… Qin Yao carefully counted, and there were about ten of them. People back then sure could have many children.

Qin Yao gave each child a candy, speaking kindly, “Thank you for making Teacher Chen smile and bringing her happiness. This candy is for you from Teacher Chen.”

Not only the children, but even Chen Baozhen was confused.

The kids, including Qianghu, stared at the candies in their hands, unsure what to do. Some couldn’t wait to eat them. They weren’t thinking about the logic behind the adult’s words.

She said they made her happy… well, that’s just how it was.

Qin Yao continued, “Here are more candies. If you keep making Teacher Chen smile, I’ll give you another one. For example, you can sing or dance, whatever talent you have, show it to Teacher Chen.”

Chen Baozhen chimed in, “Yes, yes, you have worked hard to show your talents in front of the teacher. Thank you for your efforts to make the teacher happy.”

Chen Baozhen didn’t have any other ideas. Having the children perform was better than shouting and making noise. Now, with the kids lined up, it was much quieter than before.

After receiving the candy and getting the support of adults, a boy with a strong desire to perform jumped out and did a somersault. Qin Yao led the applause and praised him.

“This little guy really knows how to do somersaults. Could he be the Monkey King?”

The girl wasn’t to be outdone. She jumped out and sang in a childish voice. Chen Baozhen ran back inside to get a musical instrument, strumming while encouraging the girl to sing.

“Sunset, the red clouds fly…”

In the end, the group started playing a game of “Eagle catches the little chicken.” Chen Baozhen, who still had a childlike heart, was so happy playing with her good friend and the kids.

The children’s cries and noise became less sharp, and the setting sun in the distance looked like sweet syrup.

“Teacher Chen, your singing is so beautiful.”

“Sister Qin, your voice is so nice, your clothes are pretty, and you’re so white, like toothpaste.”

“Sister, you’re so white.”

…

Surrounded by the children’s compliments, Qin Yao felt a wave of joy. The children were innocent, their eyes free from malice or hatred. Their likes and dislikes were pure, and the compliments they gave were genuine and heartwarming.

In those days, there were few entertainment options. Playing with the children, sweating and having fun, made Qin Yao feel light and happy.

Gu Cheng came out of the kitchen, took off his apron, and stood at the door, gazing tenderly at the warm and lively scene not far away.

Qin Yao was chatting and laughing with the children, her face covered in a golden glow from the sunset, like a hazy oil painting. She stood at the center of the circle, making the scene breathtakingly beautiful.

In the golden light of the sunset, the moon had already risen, hanging among the branches, but no one noticed it before the sun fully set.

Qianghu, however, seemed out of place among the group, feeling a little disheartened. His little friends were all eager to please Qin Yao and Chen Baozhen. The happy smile on Chen Baozhen’s face made him question himself.

Was he really here to make Teacher Chen laugh?

No!

As he hesitated, he noticed Gu Cheng standing at the door, his tail stiffening. He dared not speak any further.

Gu Cheng turned and went back to the kitchen, inhaling the scent of the home-cooked meal. Thinking about the scene just now, his heart felt peaceful and content.

Gao Jianguo was sharpening scissors, the blade of which had rusted over time.

Gu Cheng asked him, “Old Gao, how many kids do you plan to have?”

Gao Jianguo was stunned. He couldn’t believe Gu Cheng was asking him this question, and he felt a bit embarrassed. “Maybe one or two. Kids aren’t something you can just decide to have,” he replied.

He had been married to Chen Baozhen for a while now, but the couple hadn’t had children yet. They planned to wait another year or two until Baozhen got used to life here before considering having kids.

“I want three,” Gu Cheng said lightly.

Gao Jianguo almost choked on his own saliva. He was about to say, “Commander Gu, you’re not even married yet, and you want three?”

“She likes children,” Gu Cheng said, his expression warm and his tone confident.

Gao Jianguo replied, “Then have five, and you’ll have a basketball team.”

Gu Cheng responded, “…Too many.”

“More is better, it makes things more lively.” Gao Jianguo insisted.

“No,” Gu Cheng said firmly. “Three is enough. One like me, one like her, and one half like me, half like her.”

Gao Jianguo: “…” Dream on, there’s no such thing as a perfect arrangement.

Outside, parents were calling their children to come home for dinner. One by one, the children left, sweat on their faces and candy in their mouths. They thought, “It’s fun, but it’s too tiring.”

“Qianghu, will you come back tomorrow to bring Teacher Chen more joy?” one of the kids asked.

“Teacher Chen was so happy today. She even gave us two pieces of candy.” 

Qianghu remained silent, unsure himself.

Qin Yao and Chen Baozhen quickly tidied up the yard. Chen Baozhen rubbed her face, feeling the cool evening breeze on her skin. She thought her face was going to cramp from smiling so much, but despite sweating, she didn’t feel tired. Instead, she felt joy and a sense of calm.

The kids might be noisy, but they were so cute!

Chen Baozhen turned to Qin Yao and asked, “Yaoyao, should I buy more candy? So they can bring me more happiness next time?”

Candy was expensive, but a small piece of fruit candy didn’t matter much to Chen Baozhen. Compared to the money that Wang Chunlan had returned, it was practically nothing.

As the saying goes, “It’s priceless to make someone happy.”

Since the money had been returned, buying candy for a few yuan, even if it was inexpensive fruit candy, didn’t matter.

Qin Yao said, “No need to buy too much. Next time, just give each of them one piece of candy. By the third time, stop giving candy.”

“Ah!” Chen Baozhen widened her eyes. “What if they don’t come back if I don’t give them candy?”

Qin Yao smiled and said, “Isn’t that the point?”

Chen Baozhen laughed and said, “Yaoyao, you really have so many clever ideas. You’ve become so smart.”

Qin Yao laughed, “It’s about being thick-skinned. If they’re willing to keep coming and cheering you up without candy, that’s a good thing.”

“Haha,” Chen Baozhen put her hands on her hips and confidently said, “Yes, they are here to make me happy!”

Even if they weren’t, they had to be!

Inside the house, the men had finished cooking and set the table. Gao Jianguo served a bowl of chicken soup for Chen Baozhen, while Gu Cheng did the same for Qin Yao. The four of them sat down to eat under the light.

Gu Cheng’s cooking wasn’t particularly good, but it wasn’t bad either, especially since Gao Jianguo’s usual cooking was like this. Chen Baozhen was surprised to notice that Gu Cheng even peeled crabs and shrimp for Qin Yao.

His fingers were long and slender, with defined joints, and very nimble. Whether peeling crabs or shrimp, his movements were elegant and graceful, like an artist’s hands.

Chen Baozhen had learned to play an instrument as a child, and her hands were also excellent. However, compared to Gu Cheng’s hands, they were like the hands of a novice.

Chen Baozhen’s thoughts shifted quickly, and she complimented, “Yaoyao, Commander Gu is really skilled. His hands are beautiful too. If you two have kids in the future, they should learn music from me.”

Qin Yao blushed: “You’re thinking too far ahead.”

“It’s not far,” Gu Cheng said with a slight smile. Chen Baozhen’s words really touched him, and now he found her even more pleasant to look at.

Gao Jianguo glanced at this scene and felt something was wrong. Gu Cheng seemed to be lost in that trap of imagining an ideal, artistic married life, just like when he first got together with Chen Baozhen.

But after marriage, what awaited him was the harsh reality—messy yards, chaotic homes, and endless repetitions during Chen Baozhen’s piano practice.

Raise a few kids to go to his house to practice piano?

That idea was too dangerous.

Gao Jianguo broke into a cold sweat. “Eat, stop talking about the future.”

Thinking of married life and children, Gu Cheng’s expression softened, and when he spoke, his handsome face unconsciously carried a smile. “Yaoyao, eat more.”

Qin Yao looked up and met his smile. She froze for a moment. Gu Cheng rarely showed such a smile in front of others. His eyes were curved, with a gentle look that seemed to carry a cup of intoxicating wine.

Chen Baozhen noticed Gu Cheng’s smile and was momentarily stunned. Then she tilted her head, whispering to Gao Jianguo, “How old is Commander Gu this year? Is he only twenty-five? He’s only five or six years older than Yaoyao, which seems fine.”

“Old Gao, how many years older are you than him?”

Gao Jianguo nearly dropped his chopsticks in frustration, feeling as if he were about to choke on his food.

How many years older… How many years older… How many years older…

*

After Wang Chunlan was forced to return the money, she was fuming, lying in bed for several days with no good solution. She could only send her children go to Chen Baozhen to make her unhappy.

Her money… her money!!!

“Qianghu, you’re going out again today, take some people to go ‘play’ at Teacher Chen’s house,” Wang Chunlan said maliciously. She thought of the idea of having the kids sing songs and throw mud at Chen Baozhen’s yard as a way to get back at her.

Children speak without restraint. No matter what the children do, it’s still something they did, and adults can’t be blamed for it.

“Mom.” Qianghu felt tired and frustrated. He scratched his head and said, “Why do you insist I go to Teacher Chen’s house to bring her laughter and happiness?”

He felt like a monkey performing tricks, exhausted and worn out.

Wang Chunlan was stunned. “Who asked you to bring her happiness?”

“But she was so happy! Those little kids were all playing with her,” Qianghu explained, feeling wronged.

“Mom, how about I invite everyone to our house and bring you laughter and happiness instead?” Qianghu suddenly had an idea.

“Should I have them compose a song for you to sing? ‘Chunlan, Chunlan, no worries in the rain, others have umbrellas, I will bloom.’”

Wang Chunlan was almost enraged by his words.