Chuxia and Cen Huai’an followed their routines—one working steadily in the factory and studying at home, and the other studying at school, selling things during breaks, and enjoying his days.

One weekend, Chuxia woke up early, combed her hair, casually braided it into a three-strand braid, loosened it, and draped it over her shoulder.

She wasn’t unaware of more beautiful hairstyles, but she didn’t know how to do them—only the ponytail and the simplest three-strand braid.

She fixed her eyebrows, applied some makeup, and put on lipstick.

Perfect.

When Cen Huai’an woke up, he found his mom looking truly beautiful like a fairy.

Although Chuxia’s complexion still wasn’t very healthy, the makeup and lipstick made her look much better.

On closer inspection, her weariness was still visible.

Just over a month of recovery wasn’t enough to completely heal her long-standing health issues, but she was much better compared to before and no longer got tired from walking a few steps.

“Mom?”

Cen Huai’an couldn’t recognize her at first, but Chuxia laughed heartily and playfully rubbed his hair.

Unfortunately, his hair hadn’t grown long enough to get messed up.

“What’s wrong, don’t you recognize your mom?”

Cen Huai’an quickly shook his head, slid off the bed, and ran out shouting, “Mom, you look so pretty today!”

Chuxia laughed even more and called out to his retreating figure, “Why are you shy? Isn’t it supposed to be right to praise your mom for being pretty?”

Cen Huai’an ran even faster.

For breakfast, Chuxia no longer cooked.

She now only made medicine and used the saved time to study.

Thus, Cen Huai’an had an extra task every morning: going out with his mom to buy breakfast.

Every morning, they could eat something different.

Today, they had meat pies and century egg and lean pork congee, which filled them up for just a few dimes.

“Let’s go, today Mom will take you to visit Liangzhou University.”

Upon hearing Chu Xia’s words, Cen Huai’an immediately looked up at her with surprise in his eyes and asked in a childish voice, “Are we going now?”

“Yes, we are. Didn’t you see that I brought a bag and locked the door? Let’s go.”

“Wait, Mom, I need to tell Bangzi.”

Cen Huai’an had previously agreed with Bangzi to sell things together on the weekend.

Since he was now going to see the university instead, he needed to inform Bangzi.

“Okay, I’ll wait for you outside the alley.”

Chu Xia looked at the main road outside the alley.

A gust of wind blew, and many leaves had fallen from the trees.

It was autumn, and the weather would gradually get colder.

It didn’t take long before Cen Huai’an, along with the four little friends, emerged from the alley.

“What’s going on here?”

Bangzi nudged Cen Huai’an to speak.

Cen Huai’an turned his face away, pretending to look at the trees on the street, trying to appear nonchalant.

However, his clenched hands revealed his nervousness.

Cen Huai’an said, “Bangzi and the others also want to see the university.”

In reality, it wasn’t Bangzi who initially suggested the visit.

He was tempted but hadn’t planned to say anything.

It was his grandmother who, firmly insisting, had told him to go along, her tone harsh: “Go see for yourself! What’s so good about the university that makes that heartless woman abandon you and your father?”

When his grandmother said this, Bangzi fell silent and silently followed Cen Huai’an.

Kuai Zi and Mao Zai exchanged glances and quickly followed suit.

Bangzi was about to say that if she didn’t want to bring them, it was fine.

But Chu Xia took Cen Huai’an’s hand and then grabbed Bangzi’s and the others’ hands, saying, “Alright, let’s all go together. It’ll be more lively.”

She didn’t mind at all and just made sure Cen Huai’an and the others kept up, ensuring no one was left behind when they boarded the bus.

Liangzhou University and the textile factory were in the same district of Liangzhou City.

It wasn’t too far, but the bus ride took over forty minutes due to frequent stops.

As soon as they got off the bus, they were facing the main gate of Liangzhou University, which displayed the red characters: “Celebrate National Day.”

The square stone pillars on both sides of the gate were also engraved with the words “Liangzhou University.”

Before entering the university, Chu Xia could already feel the lush greenery around.

Besides the large square right inside the gate where no trees were planted, the roads on both sides were lined with trees.

Chu Xia told the children to wait and went to ask the security guard at the gate.

She had some items in her bag, including cigarettes she had prepared in advance.

After slipping a cigarette to the security guard and exchanging some pleasantries, she took out her high school diploma and led the four children inside.

University management was generally not strict, and entry was usually permitted as long as the security guard checked your identity and confirmed you were not a threat.

Once inside the university, Chu Xia saw a four-story building at the end of the square directly in front of the gate. It was a long teaching building.

Since it was the weekend, many students were studying in the university.

They were engrossed in their books and paid no attention to their surroundings.

From the moment they entered the university, Cen Huai’an and the others were silent, busy looking around in awe.

Chu Xia also remained quiet and led them on a tour.

Liangzhou University was now very large, and they couldn’t cover it all in one morning.

Chu Xia asked the students for directions and took Cen Huai’an and his friends to see the university library, the largest teaching building, and the cafeteria—some of the university’s iconic landmarks.

The library was crowded, with people everywhere reading, some sitting on the floor when there were no chairs available.

Cen Huai’an’s eyes were glued to the rows of books, which seemed like an endless sea of knowledge.

At noon, Chu Xia used money and food vouchers to buy lunch for the university students, and after eating, she was exhausted.

She leaned back in her chair and asked, “Do you want to keep exploring?”

Cen Huai’an and Bangzi both shook their heads in unison.

On the way back, Cen Huai’an’s excitement was hard to contain, while Bangzi remained silent with his head down, tapping his foot on the ground.

Kuai Zi and Mao Zai were also excited, feeling an unconscious yearning, but they quickly quashed it.

People like them didn’t have the chance to go to school, let alone university.

There was still time, so Cen Huai’an did not go home but followed Bangzi to his house.

As soon as they entered, Bangzi said to Cen Huai’an, “I want to go to university.”

After seeing the university, who wouldn’t be inspired by the idea?

Cen Huai’an told himself, “I must go to university and get into the best one!”

The university and their usual surroundings of the residential compound and textile factory were two entirely different worlds, and it captivated the children’s hearts.

Bangzi had thought about it all the way home and finally voiced his thoughts, feeling relieved.

He believed that studying was valuable; otherwise, why would so many people pursue it?

He didn’t understand it fully yet, but he decided to join in and learn someday.

Cen Huai’an understood Bangzi’s thoughts; they shared the same sentiment.

However, there were practical issues regarding education.

“Bang Ge, do you think your grandmother will agree?”

Bangzi, feeling frustrated, hugged his head and said, “I don’t know.”

While Cen Huai’an and the others waited outside the compound, Bangzi went to ask his grandmother.

Soon, they heard his grandmother’s raspy and firm voice from inside the house: “No way! Books are harmful, you can’t read them or go to school!”

Bangzi seemed to have said something, and there were sounds of objects being thrown around inside.

Bangzi was pushed out of the house.

He showed Cen Huai’an a nonchalant smile, shrugged, and said, “It looks like I can’t go to school with you.”

At that moment, Bangzi’s smile made Cen Huai’an frown and say, “If you don’t want to smile, then don’t.”

Bangzi chuckled and rubbed his hands, “It’s fine, I didn’t plan on going to school anyway.”

Cen Huai’an returned home with a furrowed brow.

Chu Xia, who was doing math problems at home, noticed him and ruffled his hair, asking, “What’s wrong? You were so happy this morning.”

“Bang Ge wants to go to school, but his grandmother won’t let him.”

An obstinate old woman—Chu Xia thought for a moment and said, “You should tell Bangzi to say he wants to go to school to find his mother and see if she’s facing retribution. If he doesn’t go to school, he’ll always be in Liangzhou City and will never find his mother who left.”

“Is that okay?” Cen Huai’an asked.

Chu Xia wasn’t entirely sure, but she said, “Try it and see. If it doesn’t work, we’ll think of another way.”

Cen Huai’an told Bangzi about Chu Xia’s suggestion.

Additionally, Chu Xia asked Cen Huai’an if Bangzi’s grandmother had any friends and suggested using gifts to persuade them to help convince Bangzi’s grandmother.

For example, “You only have this one grandson, can you bear to let him spend his whole life picking up trash or selling things? Don’t you want him to achieve something and make that woman regret leaving him?”

“Bangzi is old enough now. Not going to school and doing menial work isn’t easy. Haven’t you seen how often he’s injured? He’s your only grandson, what if something happens to him…”

Bangzi continued to act particularly dejected at home.

Cen Huai’an conveyed Chu Xia’s words to him and added, “My mom gave you this advice, and whether it works or not, you can’t blame her. Otherwise, we won’t be friends anymore.”

Bangzi understood that Chu Xia was helping him out of consideration for Cen Huai’an, and he appreciated it.

“I’ll be as filial to your mom as I would to my own grandmother!”

Cen Huai’an immediately replied, “No need. My mom already has me to be filial. Just remember that my mom helped you.”

Days went by, and Chu Xia hadn’t asked if Cen Huai’an and Bangzi had succeeded.

Instead, she received another package from her mother-in-law, but this time it wasn’t from Cen Zhengnian.

Her sent letters had also gone unanswered.

It wasn’t until late September, when she saw the daily newspapers, that her heart skipped a beat.