“Can’t seem to get math right, huh?” Song Tuan(Song Qingshan) spread the textbook on the table, pointing at Lu Dan’s nose. “Wait here, let Dad show you something good.”

Su Xiangwan thought to herself, What good thing could he possibly have that I haven’t seen before?

Song Tuan stepped out of the room and returned shortly, carrying several machine guns. He clattered them onto the bed and removed the magazine from one. Pointing to it, he asked Lü Dan, “How many bullets are there?”

Lu Dan counted, “Five.”

“That’s correct. Now I’ll give you five more. How many is that now?”

Excited, Lü Dan counted again. “Ten!”

“Good. I’ll add another five. Now how many?” Song Tuan’s questions came faster and faster. “Close your eyes and answer. If you get it right, this gun and all these bullets are yours.”

Lu Dan was thrilled. He closed his eyes and shouted, “Fifteen!”

…

“Now listen. First I’ll give you six bullets, then another six. How many is that in total?” As Song Qingshan tossed bullets onto the bed, Lu Dan closed his eyes, grabbed a handful of bullets, and let them go again, shouting confidently, “Twelve!”

Song Qingshan reloaded all the bullets back into the magazine with a clatter, tossed it onto the bed, and said, “If you can recite the multiplication table by heart tomorrow morning, this gun will belong to Song Donghai.”

Lu Dan glanced at the gun, let out a loud “whoop,” and ran to the next room to memorize the multiplication table.

“Isn’t that a bit reckless?” Su Xiangwan remarked. “That’s a gun, Song Qingshan. A gun and bullets. Teaching him multiplication tables with that? Are you trying to push him into a life of crime?”

Song Qingshan had rolled up his sleeves and was by the washbasin cleaning Zhi Zhi’s face. Laughing, he explained, “That’s a Chauchat M1915. The worst, most unreliable light machine gun in history. It’s a big reason why the French lost so many battles. The bolt is missing on this one. If the kid really manages to learn the tables, let him have it to play with.”

And wouldn’t you know it?

Early the next morning, before six o’clock, Lu Dan knocked on the door.

As soon as he walked in, he closed his eyes and began to recite the multiplication table.

Not only could he recite it forwards, but he could also recite it backwards.

After finishing, he strutted over and proudly carried the light machine gun away.

As the saying goes, know your audience.

The boys, of course, knew better than to take the gun outside.

Without a bolt, it was useless anyway, but they could still play with it in the yard.

Especially that curved magazine—it became Lu Dan’s most treasured possession.

Every night before bed, he would carefully polish it.

Centered around guns and bullets, every day after work, Song Qingshan would come home and start giving Lu Dan math problems.

Lu Dan, carrying a light machine gun almost as tall as himself, would swagger around the yard on patrol.

One moment, he’d aim at the mountains; the next, he’d aim at the chickens.

He could do addition and subtraction within 1,000 off the top of his head, without needing paper.

It was practically miraculous—like turning decay into magic.

By the end of the semester, Lu Dan actually scored 89 on his test.

Just one more point, and he would have ranked in the top three of his class.

In response, Su Xiangwan could only admit defeat.

Recently, Gou Dan had been getting very close to Chen Xiaoli.

The two were inseparable, walking to and from school together.

Now, this Chen Xiaoli was a pretty good kid in other respects.

But, having just returned from Qinzhou, her mother had abandoned her.

Back in the small county town, she now had a stepmother, Fang Baoyu.

While Fang Baoyu tried to win over her husband by being attentive and kind to Chen Xiaoli, the reality was that Chen Xiaoli’s biological mother worked in Qinzhou City and had money.

When she was in Qinzhou, Chen Xiaoli often carried ten-yuan bills in her pocket.

Now, with Fang Baoyu unable to give her money and her father, Chen Jianguo, unwilling to either, Chen Xiaoli—a girl with a sweet tooth—often stood outside the supply and marketing cooperative, drooling over the goods inside.

Eventually, she began begging Gou Dan to buy things for her.

Gou Dan only got fifty cents a month for pocket money. After buying her candy twice and roasted sunflower seeds twice, he ran out of money.

So, Chen Xiaoli resorted to licking her fingers and whispering to Gou Dan, “Song Xiling, why don’t you help me steal a bag of sunflower seeds? Please? Will you?”

If it had been before Su Xiangwan’s influence, Gou Dan would have rushed in and stolen it without a second thought.

But now, Gou Dan at least understood that one should live honestly and not steal.

So, he borrowed another twenty cents from Li Chengze and bought a few more bags of sunflower seeds for Chen Xiaoli.

Chen Xiaoli didn’t care much for classes and, like a squirrel, loved secretly nibbling on sunflower seeds during lessons.

Once winter break started, she’d run off to the old Tusi office every day to hang out with Gou Dan.

Since Lu Dan had gone back to Xiao Song Village to practice martial arts with the old trainer, the house was left with only Li Chengze, who played both father and mother, looking after Gou Dan and Zhi Zhi.

Today, Gou Dan borrowed another twenty cents from him to buy sunflower seeds, leaving Li Chengze without enough money to buy candy for Zhi Zhi.

Li Chengze, who loved teasing Zhi Zhi, often bossed him around to do chores.

When Su Xiangwan was busy and didn’t come home for lunch, Li Chengze would make Zhi Zhi clean their beds, feed the chickens, and take care of the dog.

As a result, Zhi Zhi resented him, grinding his teeth in frustration.

If Li Chengze didn’t give him two candies a day, Zhi Zhi would dislike him even more.

One day, as Li Chengze was heading out with Zhi Zhi, they saw Chen Xiaoli and Gou Dan standing at the door of the supply and marketing cooperative.

That little girl, Chen Xiaoli, really had a craving for everything she saw, while Gou Dan, as if under a spell, insisted on satisfying her every whim.

Li Chengze thought for a while and decided to report everything Gou Dan had been doing during winter break to Su Xiangwan that evening when she came home.

“If he keeps this up, that little girl will lead him astray,” Li Chengze said worriedly. “He’s my little brother, after all. I can’t just stand by and watch him go back to stealing.”

Currently, Gou Dan and Chen Xiaoli were as close as peas in a pod.

Although Gou Dan hadn’t resorted to stealing yet, with Chen Xiaoli constantly asking for things, who knew if he’d eventually give in?

“Don’t worry about this. I’ll handle it,” Su Xiangwan said.

“But I’m sure Gou Dan and Chen Xiaoli aren’t dating—they’re just friends. Don’t get the wrong idea,” Li Chengze added.

Su Xiangwan suddenly stopped. “What do you mean by ‘dating’? How do you even know about dating?”

Li Chengze scoffed, “There are a few couples in my class. They’re always passing notes to each other. I just don’t say anything.”

“Do you have a crush on anyone?” Su Xiangwan leaned in, encouragingly. “I don’t mind early relationships, as long as it doesn’t affect your studies.”

Li Chengze’s face turned red. “Of course not! All the girls are just little yellow-haired kids, uglier than Zhi Zhi. Why would I like them?”

That day, Su Xiangwan bought some hairtail fish, planning to make a hearty stew for the kids.

She cut the fish into three-inch pieces, borrowed a spoonful of fermented bean paste from the neighbor, Mrs. Chen, sliced two large potatoes for the base, and layered the fish pieces on top.

She poured a sauce made of bean paste, five-spice powder, salt, and chili powder over the fish, then topped it with onions and green peppers.

The whole pot of fish was placed on the coal stove to simmer slowly.

Before long, Gou Dan came running home, sweaty and beaming, drawn in by the aroma.

Having grown up eating bean paste hotpot, he threw himself into Su Xiangwan’s arms and exclaimed, “Mom, I’m so happy today!”

“Why are you so happy?” Su Xiangwan asked.

With animated gestures, Gou Dan replied, “You know, Song Fu and Chen Xiaoli are siblings now, but today, Song Fu hit Chen Xiaoli again. I caught him and gave him a good beating!”

Su Xiangwan thought to herself, In the book, you once stayed in a sewer for three days just to steal a piece of beef for her. No wonder Li Chengze is anxious—if Chen Xiaoli keeps leading you on, you might really go astray.

She knew that Song Fu probably hadn’t hit Chen Xiaoli and that her injuries had another source.

But for now, she had other matters to attend to and had to temporarily put Gou Dan’s issues aside.

Not long after, someone strolled in, sniffed the air, and exclaimed, “Smells amazing!”

“Liu Director, come in! Today we’re treating you to some fish,” Su Xiangwan said.

In the depths of winter, Liu Zaiye was undoubtedly the most stylish man in Qingshui County. He wore an army-green leather coat, paired with tall boots, looking like a secret agent straight out of a movie.

“Being all nice for no reason? Must be up to no good. Su Xiangwan, I heard you’ve been looking for me every few days while I was out of town. What’s the deal?” Liu Zaiye leaned against the doorframe, casually brushing his hair with a smug expression.

Goudan stared at him, practically drooling. “Uncle Liu looks so cool!”

Su Xiangwan pointed toward the kitchen. “Sit down. I do have something to discuss with you today.”

Liu Zaiye glanced around, noticing that Song Qingshan wasn’t around. Feeling emboldened, he couldn’t help but tease, “Lately, Deputy Director Su is looking prettier by the day. What skincare are you using? Ever tried Snow Cream?”

Winter, without the harsh sun, was indeed when women’s skin looked its best. Su Xiangwan’s complexion was particularly milky and smooth.

Even she marveled at how much better her skin had become compared to her previous life. If there was a reason, it was likely because she no longer sat in front of a computer all day or endured heavy air pollution.

“Snow Cream? No, I’ve got my trusty Baique Ling,” Su Xiangwan replied.

Before Liu Zaiye could respond, Song Qingshan entered, carrying their daughter on his shoulders, followed by Li Chengze. The family was all smiles.

Song Qingshan headed straight to the kitchen to help Su Xiangwan serve the meal. He uncovered the pot on the coal stove, revealing a simmering dish of braised ribbonfish, its tender meat falling off the bone.