Cheng Rushan spent three cents to buy a food coupon from Qian Bo. Even though Qian Bo said he could have it for free, Cheng Rushan insisted on paying.

Cheng Rushan then went to the supply and marketing cooperative and bought a pound of assorted candies.

When he got home, Jiang Lin and Yan Runzhi were there with Da Bao and Xiao Bao, looking at some fabric they had bought from the county.

Yan Runzhi said, “Dongsheng is really capable. Bao’s mother, you have such good taste. Look at this fabric you bought; it can be used for anything.”

She took out a piece of red fabric with tomato and floral patterns, and said, “I’ll make you a jacket from this red fabric to wear for the New Year. The white fabric with green flowers will make a nice single-layer shirt. We didn’t prepare a dowry or make new clothes for you back then, which was unfair to you.”

Da Bao and Xiao Bao both shouted, “Make a floral skirt!”

They remembered how nice the former educated youth looked in skirts, and thought their mother would look even better.

Jiang Lin said, “We’ll make skirts next year. It will get cold soon this year.”

The two children looked at each other, then peeked out the window at the sunny weather.

They glanced at their own vests and shorts, wondering how it could get cold.

Yan Runzhi explained to the two kids, “Women are different from men. Women get cold easily.”

“Oh,” they understood.

Jiang Lin took out the fabric she planned to use for making a quilt.

Yan Runzhi wanted to make one quilt and another for herself and the two children, leaving Cheng Rushan to use the old one.

They also needed to get new cotton-padded clothes.

Besides the cotton ration tickets, they could buy some cotton in the fall from Miaozi Village, where the brigade had a sideline business of spinning and weaving.

Jiang Lin also planned to make a new set of clothes for Yan Runzhi and for the two children.

Yan Runzhi said, “Why should an old woman like me wear new clothes? Bao’s mother, you’re young and pretty, you should wear them.”

As an old woman, wearing new clothes might give people an excuse to criticize her as a landlord’s wife.

Jiang Lin had her plans and didn’t care what Yan Runzhi said.

She marked each piece of fabric and put them away, planning to work on them once they got the cotton.

She then took out some high-quality cotton cloth intended for making embroidered items.

Besides handkerchiefs, handbags, and wallets, she also wanted to make some children’s bellybands and larger dust covers.

City folks liked to cover their furniture to keep off dust.

When they had better living conditions with a TV and refrigerator, they’d need covers even more, for both beauty and cleanliness.

Cheng Xiaobao draped the tomato-patterned fabric over Cheng Dabao and said, “You pretend to be the bride.”

Cheng Dabao said, “I am a man. You be the bride.” He tried to put the red cloth over Cheng Xiaobao’s head.

Jiang Lin laughed and pulled it down, “You two are boys. Neither of you can be the bride.”

Cheng Xiaobao immediately draped it over her, “Linlin can be the bride.”

Cheng Dabao said, “Mom is Dad’s bride.”

Cheng Xiaobao agreed, “That’s right,” then looked at Yan Runzhi.

Yan Runzhi said, “I am an old lady, I can’t be the bride.”

At this moment, Cheng Rushan came in and placed the candies on the kang (a traditional heated bed).

The two children immediately pounced on them, “Dad bought candy!”

They looked at Yan Runzhi, then at Jiang Lin, “Mom, can we eat it?”

Jiang Lin said, “Go ahead, but only one piece each.”

Cheng Xiaobao, who had grabbed a large handful, froze.

One piece?

How could that be enough?

He quietly slipped a handful under the mat.

Cheng Rushan saw this and reached out to take it, but Cheng Xiaobao clung to his arm and shook his head, “Dongsheng is good, don’t take it.”

He sneaked a glance at Jiang Lin.

Seeing she hadn’t noticed, he winked at Cheng Rushan.

Cheng Rushan’s heart softened at the wink.

He glanced at Jiang Lin, smiled, and let it go.

Seeing his dad let it go, Cheng Xiaobao grew even bolder and tried to hide another handful.

Cheng Dabao grabbed his hand, pulled the candies back out, and gave some to Yan Runzhi and Jiang Lin.

Cheng Rushan took the remaining candies and put them on a shelf on the wall, secured with wooden pegs and a board, where they could easily be reached.

He told the two children, “Mom will keep these and give them to you later.”

Cheng Xiaobao’s gaze at Jiang Lin grew even sweeter than honey.

Yan Runzhi was well aware of the children’s little tricks but didn’t intervene.

Some things needed to be sorted out between the mother and her children.

Bao’s mother had previously not taken care of the kids, but now that she was starting to, she should be responsible for both the good and the bad.

As a grandmother, Yan Runzhi only needed to make good food.

She said to Jiang Lin, “Bao’s mother, you should help Dongsheng pack his things. I am old and forgetful, always losing things.”

Jiang Lin thought about letting Cheng Rushan pack, but couldn’t resist Yan Runzhi’s earnest look, so she agreed.

She got down from the kang but didn’t know what Cheng Rushan needed, so she looked at him.

Cheng Rushan took a cloth bag that Yan Runzhi had sewn with two layers of coarse fabric and put his change of clothes, clean cloth shoes, and personal items like a towel, lunchbox, water bottle, and toothbrush inside.

Cheng Rushan also casually put a small dark blue cloth bag containing money and tickets into the bag.

Jiang Lin said, “You should carry a backpack for these important things. Keep them on you, don’t leave them lying around everywhere.”

Cheng Rushan replied, “It’s fine, no one dares to steal.”

Jiang Lin said, “Even if no one steals, what if you lose it or pick up the wrong thing? It would be a hassle if you needed it urgently.”

Thinking of how he had previously put deposit slips worth several thousand yuan in a big bag with smoked chicken and duck, and even handed it to Qian Bo to keep, she felt he was too carefree.

Yan Runzhi agreed, “Bao’s mother is right. Dongsheng, you can be too careless sometimes.”

Cheng Rushan conceded, “Alright, I got it. I’ll change.”

Jiang Lin gave him her old backpack, which had frayed edges that Yan Runzhi had mended with labor cloth and even embroidered with some lace, making it quite nice.

Yan Runzhi said, “I’ll make some fried sauce and pancakes for you tonight to take with you. It’s handy to have when it’s inconvenient to eat out.”

Cheng Rushan agreed.

Yan Runzhi then went to borrow a griddle from a neighbor.

During summer, most food doesn’t keep well, but pancakes and fried sauce can last a while.

Cheng Rushan went to fetch water, and Jiang Lin tidied up the fabric on the kang. She then noticed the two boys whispering in the yard.

She approached and saw them dividing the candies, one piece for each of them, with Cheng Xiaobao’s mouth full of candy.

Cheng Dabao said, “Mom said only one piece.”

Cheng Xiaobao replied, “I am eating one piece. I’m also eating one for Linlin, one for Dongsheng, one for Grandma, and… one for our little sister. Do you want me to eat one for you too?”

Grandma had said that when Dad and Mom were together, a pretty little sister would come to their house.

Maybe she was already on the train.

Jiang Lin thought, “…”

This kid has a sharp tongue when it comes to eating candy.

And who’s this little sister?

Cheng Dabao said, “You’ll get cavities.”

Cheng Xiaobao replied, “It’s okay, they’ll fall out, and new ones will grow!”

Jiang Lin said, “Ahem.”

Cheng Xiaobao immediately hid the extra candies under a gourd scoop and looked up at Jiang Lin with a smile, “Linlin, what’s up?”

Jiang Lin pretended to be stern, “Call me Mom. Are you supposed to call me Linlin?”

Cheng Xiaobao asked, “Only Dongsheng can call you that?”

Cheng Dabao added, “Grandma can call you that.”

Jiang Lin said, “Stop messing around.”

She originally thought these two kids lacked love, one being sensitive and the other a silly fawn.

It turned out she was too naive.

Seeing her stern face, the two kids immediately stood obediently against the wall, nudging each other, with heads lowered and small mouths pressed tight, though their smiles peeked out from the corners of their eyes and brows.

“Oh, Linlin is angry again.”

The children had noticed that in the past, when their mom got angry, she would scold or hit them.

Now, when Linlin got angry, she would just put on a stern face.

Ha ha.

Children are very perceptive.

Once they realized their mother loved them and wouldn’t scold or hit them, they started to push their limits.

So, when Yan Runzhi and Cheng Rushan came back, they saw the two little ones standing against the wall.

Cheng Xiaobao was teetering on his toes, while Cheng Dabao stood straight and proper.

Jiang Lin held a cotton twig as thick as her pinky and was lecturing them.

“Stand up straight and no smiling!”

Cheng Dabao kept a serious face, while Cheng Xiaobao had his lips pressed tight, still hiding candy inside.

Yan Runzhi started singing, “Today he stole a brick, tomorrow he’ll tear down the wall. If a child doesn’t behave, spank him!”

Jiang Lin tried to hold back her laughter but couldn’t help it when she saw Cheng Dabao mumbling the song with a pout, and Cheng Xiaobao nodding his head and keeping time.

She burst out laughing.

As soon as she laughed, Cheng Xiaobao took the opportunity and hugged her leg.

Yan Runzhi sang, “If a child doesn’t listen to his mother, spank him! Dongsheng was the best kid when he was young, never making his mother angry.”

“Obedient” Cheng Rushan silently poured water into the tank, acting as if he really had always been well-behaved.

He walked away without changing his expression and winked at Jiang Lin.

Cheng Dabao said, “Mom, I was wrong. From now on, I’ll only eat one piece of candy.” He turned to Cheng Xiaobao, “You should eat only one piece too.”

Cheng Xiaobao exclaimed, “!! Are you crazy? How can you eat just one piece of such delicious candy?”

When Cheng Rushan came back with more water, Jiang Lin blocked him at the door, “Look, the kids are getting spoiled because of you.”

Cheng Rushan, carrying the water, looked perfectly calm and asked, “What happened?”

“You know what happened.”

“Isn’t it just about the candy? What kid doesn’t like candy? When I was little, I wanted it but couldn’t get any…”

“You can’t just give them everything you lacked without any principles. I’ve been watching, and Cheng Xiaobao hasn’t stopped eating candy all this time.”

Cheng Rushan thought for a moment, “You’re right, this can’t go on. We need to set some rules.”