When Mr. Jiang, the homeroom teacher, entered the room, he turned a blind eye to the chaos.

He knew he could deal with the students after the midterm exam if they didn’t perform well.

“Cen Huaian, Zhang Lu, Tang Song…” Mr. Jiang called out a few students, all members of the math competition class.

“This year’s Beijing City High School Math Competition is about to begin. Fill out these registration forms.”

Zhang Lu took the form and looked at Mr. Jiang, puzzled. “Teacher, didn’t you say you didn’t support us participating in competitions in grade 10 and 11?”

Mr. Jiang nodded. “Yes, I don’t support it. But this time, I just want you to test the waters. Don’t put all your energy into it.”

In other words, they were only going to participate casually and experience the competition’s atmosphere without pressure.

As for winning awards, Mr. Jiang didn’t mind—most of the school’s key math competitors were in grade 12.

Cen Huaian filled out his form.

He hadn’t participated in last year’s competition, but now that his Go ranking was settled and grade 11 studies hadn’t become too hectic, it was a good time to join and make use of his extra time.

Teacher Jiang asked Zhang Lu and the others to go back first, keeping Cen Huai’an behind.

He poured him a glass of water and invited him to sit down, chatting like friends.

“Are you still studying Go?” Teacher Jiang asked, recalling how last year, he had talked to Cen Huai’an about choosing between Go and mathematics.

Since then, Cen Huai’an had not requested any leave for Go competitions, so Teacher Jiang hadn’t brought up the subject again.

Cen Huai’an nodded. “I’m still learning it.”

“So, are you planning to pursue a career in professional Go?” Teacher Jiang frowned after asking. “If that’s the case, you should already be in the national Go team, not here in the Fourth High School.”

“Mm.” Cen Huai’an confirmed Teacher Jiang’s assumption. “Learning Go is just a hobby of mine.”

Hearing this, Teacher Jiang became animated. “That’s great! Why don’t you focus on studying mathematics with me? Haven’t you already experienced the beauty of mathematics over the past year?”

Teacher Jiang then passionately listed the many benefits of studying mathematics, his expression dreamy and somewhat fervent—it was clear how much he loved math.

Cen Huai’an shook his head. “I haven’t made up my mind yet. Right now, my interest in mathematics is pretty strong.”

This response already satisfied Teacher Jiang, as very few high school students could determine their future path so early.

“Liking it for now is enough. Prepare well for the city math competition. Who knows, you might even win another award for the school.”

Cen Huai’an responded with a quiet “mm” and bid farewell to Teacher Jiang.

When he returned to class, Zhang Lu approached him with an Olympiad math problem from the holiday homework. “An’an, how do you solve this? I’ve asked several people, but no one could figure it out.”

The ones Zhang Lu had asked were all members of the Olympiad class who had just been called to the office by Teacher Jiang.

They couldn’t solve it either.

Hearing Zhang Lu’s question, several students who had been eavesdropping came over.

Cen Huai’an glanced at the problem, took the scrap paper, and while calculating, explained the solution to Zhang Lu.

After writing down the answer, Cen Huai’an looked at Zhang Lu. “This is the optimal solution using high school math. There’s another, more complex method that might be easier to understand.”

Zhang Lu waved her hand. “No need to explain, I already understand this one.”

However, some other students didn’t get it and asked Cen Huai’an to explain the easier method.

Cen Huai’an didn’t refuse. He flipped the page and continued to explain to the other students.

---

In the Northwest Military Camp

Jiang Shengnan was packing up the things in their small house with Cen Huai’an’s father’s bodyguard.

After living here for decades, she couldn’t bear to throw away any of the things she had personally arranged in the house.

Cen’s father helped her pack, but when she wanted to bring their bed back to Beijing, he stopped her, saying, “You need to learn to let go. Old things must go so new ones can come. Once we’re in Beijing, we’ll have everything we need. Let’s sell these things cheaply to the families here.”

Jiang Shengnan was reluctant. “This bed was custom-made from good wood years ago. We’ve slept on it for so many years; I can’t just sell it. And all the things in Zhen Nian and Zhen Shi’s rooms are filled with memories!”

Cen’s father felt the same way, but Beijing was far from the northwest, and they couldn’t transport everything back, especially not a bed.

“I’ll contact the transport team to help us move the stuff.”

Cen’s father replied, “The shipping costs will be more expensive than buying new things.”

“I don’t care,” Jiang Shengnan was determined not to sell anything.

Unable to persuade her, Cen’s father let her contact the transport team.

Jiang Shengnan eventually arranged for the military train transporting goods to have some empty space on the return trip.

Willing to pay, she managed to get most of the household items transported.

They only carried a small suitcase with them on the flight.

Since they were both getting older and had lingering health issues from their years of work, the long train ride would have been too taxing.

Even though they could have been looked after on the train, they wanted to reach Beijing as quickly as possible.

Cen Zhen Nian and Chu Xia both felt that flying would be the best option for their return.

Initially, Chu Xia and Cen Zhen Nian had planned to travel to the northwest to pick them up.

However, Jiang Shengnan and Cen’s father called, saying their flight would arrive the following night, so there was no time for them to make the trip.

Chu Xia and Cen Zhen Nian were worried. “Mom, you should have told us earlier about your trip to Beijing.”

If they had known earlier, they could have prepared everything better for their parents’ return to the capital.

Jiang Shengnan laughed heartily, saying, “What’s the point of picking us up? Your father and I can still find our way to Beijing. Besides, we’re not traveling alone; the military has arranged for someone to take care of us.”

Both Jiang Shengnan and Cen’s father were high-ranking retired military officers who had contributed significantly.

The military wouldn’t leave their return to Beijing unassisted.

Once in Beijing, they also had housing arranged by the military.

With this assurance, Chu Xia and Cen Zhen Nian finally felt somewhat relieved.

They asked for their flight details and prepared to meet them at the airport the next day.

The next day, Cen Zhen Nian took leave from work, and Chu Xia swapped shifts with her colleague, Feng Xiaoyuan.

She would cover Feng’s shift later in return.

When they arrived at the airport, Cen’s father and Jiang Shengnan hadn’t yet disembarked, so Chu Xia and Cen Zhen Nian waited in the terminal.

Chu Xia glanced at the exit and suddenly said, “Let’s have Dad and Mom stay in the courtyard house in the Dongcheng district. It’s usually empty, and if they don’t live there, no one else will.”

Since both Chu Xia and Cen Zhen Nian worked at the research institute, they lived in the institute’s housing complex.

Whether it was the courtyard house in Dongcheng or the one in Xidan, they wouldn’t be able to live there.

Cen Zhen Nian agreed. “Good idea.”

He had been thinking about where his parents would stay once they returned.

Originally, the courtyard house in Dongcheng had belonged to his parents, but now it had been given to Chu Xia.

Cen Zhengnian hadn’t mentioned it to Chu Xia, but he had been thinking about finding a place close to Grandpa Jiang’s home in Dongcheng.

He hadn’t expected Chu Xia to bring it up first. Cen Zhengnian held her hand, feeling a surge of gratitude. “Chu Xia, thank you.”

Chu Xia stood on her toes, looking toward the exit, and replied nonchalantly, “Why thank me? It’s their house; it’s only natural for them to live there.”

She glanced down at her watch.

The flight had already landed, but no one had come out of the exit.

Chu Xia began to worry, “Do you think the flight has been delayed again?”

Flight delays were common at this time, and it was something that often happened in later years as well.

After all, the weather is unpredictable.

Cen Zhengnian said, “It’s possible.”

He told Chu Xia to lean on him while they waited, as standing for so long was tiring.

After waiting for another two hours at the airport, just as Chu Xia and Cen Zhengnian were getting very worried, Father Cen and Jiang Shengnan finally came out with their luggage, accompanied by a military orderly.

“Chu Xia! Zhengnian!”

Seeing their son and daughter-in-law at the exit, Jiang Shengnan quickened her pace, grabbed Chu Xia’s hand, and smiled so broadly her eyes nearly disappeared. “How long have you been waiting? The flight was delayed, and your dad and I had no way to let you know.”

Cen Zhengnian stepped forward to help with the luggage, but the orderly moved aside and said, “I’ve got it.”

Chu Xia chatted with Jiang Shengnan. “Not too long, but we were a little worried about you and Dad.”

Jiang Shengnan’s eyes squinted in laughter when she heard this, “Don’t worry, your dad and I have flown before.”

They hadn’t just flown on commercial flights, but on various military aircraft. Both Jiang Shengnan and Cen’s father had experience with flying.

Chuxia, listening to Jiang Shengnan’s proud tone, smiled and said, “I forgot, the military has planes too.”

On the way back, having a car proved convenient—they could just drive off without needing to look for a ride or wait for a bus. Cen Zhengnian drove while Jiang Shengnan held Chuxia’s hand, chatting endlessly.

“The furniture from the rooms in your and An’an’s house in the northwest, I’ve had it all brought back to Beijing,” Jiang Shengnan said. “Didn’t you buy a courtyard house in Xidan? You can put everything there.”

Since Chuxia wasn’t planning to live in the Xidan courtyard anytime soon, she hadn’t hired anyone to fix it up yet.

She figured if it was renovated but left unoccupied, the house and the furnishings would deteriorate quickly.

“Sure,” Chuxia agreed, her heart warm at Jiang Shengnan’s thoughtfulness. It touched her deeply that her mother-in-law had gone through the trouble of bringing everything back.

Jiang Shengnan also asked about her own father’s health, as she had done many times before.

Chuxia took her grandfather’s pulse every month to ensure he was still in good health, and she reported her findings truthfully to Jiang Shengnan.

Jiang Shengnan let out a small “harrumph.” “My father has always been like this. He used to sneak off and drink behind my mother’s back, and she’d scold him for it. Ever since she passed away, no one can keep him in check. But now that I’m back, I’ll watch over him.”

Jiang Shengnan then eagerly asked Chuxia about the latest trends in Beijing, already planning shopping trips where they could buy clothes and other things together.

Chuxia and Cen Zhengnian also discussed their plan to have Cen’s father and Jiang Shengnan live in their courtyard house in Dongcheng.

However, they both firmly declined, saying, “We’re going to the military retirement home.”

Both Jiang Shengnan and Cen’s father held high enough positions to qualify for the military retirement facility, where there were guards, staff to care for retired officers, and doctors and nurses on hand.

It was more comfortable than living in a courtyard house on their own.

Hearing this, Chuxia and Cen Zhengnian stopped insisting they live in the courtyard house.

Jiang Shengnan, not wanting them to worry about the courtyard being left empty, quickly added, “Even if we don’t live there, I’ll be visiting your grandpa’s house regularly and will stop by the courtyard house too, so it won’t be left without a soul.”

Cen’s father and Jiang Shengnan had already arranged their stay at the retirement facility in advance, so the car drove directly there.

After showing their documents, they were greeted by staff who helped arrange their accommodations and handled all the necessary procedures.

Chuxia and Cen Zhengnian stayed with them until everything was sorted out and they had moved into their small apartment in the retirement home. Only then did they return to the research institute.

“We’ll make sure to visit them often,” Chuxia said on the way back.

Although Cen’s father and Jiang Shengnan weren’t young anymore, both had injuries and health issues—just like Chuxia’s grandfather—that required proper care.

Before leaving, Chuxia took Cen’s father and Jiang Shengnan’s pulses, leaving behind a prescription for herbal remedies to help Jiang Shengnan with her health.

Jiang Shengnan had not taken proper care of herself during pregnancy and after giving birth, which had led to chronic back pain.

As for Cen’s father, he had many hidden injuries.

He had fought in wars and sustained countless wounds, many of which hadn’t been properly treated at the time.

Some were just quickly bandaged before he had to continue fighting, which left him with unresolved health issues.

He needed more care than Jiang Shengnan did.

Chuxia told Cen’s father that if he was willing, she could treat him with acupuncture and herbal medicine.

At first, Cen’s father stubbornly insisted he didn’t need it, saying, “I’m fine, no need for treatment.”

But the next day, his old arm injury flared up, and he couldn’t even lift it.

Jiang Shengnan teased him while calling Chuxia, and they also brought in other well-known doctors from Beijing.

When Chuxia arrived, the doctor at the retirement home was examining Cen’s father’s arm.

These hidden injuries were hard to treat; the best they could do was provide painkillers and wait for the flare-up to pass.

Chuxia didn’t say anything at first, waiting for the other doctors to leave before speaking. “Dad, let me do some acupuncture for you. Too many Western painkillers will burden your body.”

This time, Cen’s father didn’t argue.

He laid down and let Chuxia perform the acupuncture.

Jiang Shengnan kept teasing him. “Didn’t you say you were fine? How come your old injuries are acting up as soon as we get to Beijing?”