Chapter 61

Chapter 61

Back when Wang Guizhi decided to take in the kids, she had said that if their families couldn’t be found, her family would be willing to adopt one.

Dai Xianghua figured they might adopt Xiao Dizi, but to not put pressure on them, he hadn’t mentioned it since he walked in. Instead, he kept trying to reassure them that even if they didn’t want to adopt, the government would properly settle the three children.

He never expected Wang Guizhi to just come out and say they’d adopt all three.

That really threw him. Dai Xianghua got that after raising them for over half a year, they’d grown attached, but raising kids isn’t like keeping a kitten or a puppy. Times were tough for everyone, and life in the countryside was even harder. Even if the Shen family was a bit better off, Shen Guoqiang and his brothers all had their own families to take care of. How much could they really help the old folks, and for how long? Hard to tell.

Having been a cop for so long, Dai Xianghua had seen plenty of situations like this. Things were fine when times were good, but if something went wrong, it’d lead to a mess of legal trouble.

Besides, Dai Xianghua hesitated and then asked, “Can Uncle Dechang go along with this?”

He knew the old couple had almost gotten divorced over the adoption thing before. Though they didn’t end up splitting, the three brothers had divided up the family property. The old man favored the eldest son’s side—how could he agree to raise other kids instead of his own grandson?

“Well, talk about the devil, here he comes. Ask him yourself,” Wang Guizhi said, nodding toward the gate.

She’d been called back from working in the fields. Shen Dechang, who worked farther off, took longer to get back.

Shen Dechang walked in carrying a bamboo basket with a handful of wild greens and a pile of raspberries on leaves. He chuckled, “I picked these by the ridge where we were turning the soil. Good thing I was quick—Old Liu almost grabbed them.”

Dai Xianghua greeted him, “Uncle, sorry to interrupt you and Auntie’s work.”

Shen Dechang shook his head with a smile, “Ah, the fieldwork’s not busy, and we’re almost done anyway. The scorekeeper won’t dock us points.” He asked curiously, “You made a special trip—something up?”

Wang Guizhi cut in, “He’s here to tell us the county’s planning to relocate the three kids.”

Shen Dechang’s smile vanished, his face darkening. He was about to offer some berries to Dai Xianghua but pulled his hand back, setting the basket in a corner of the yard.

Dai Xianghua: “…”

The old man pulled up a stool and sat down, staying silent for a long time with a grim look.

Wang Guizhi said, “Xianghua says the county will take care of things properly. If no one adopts them, they’ll send the kids to the city’s welfare home. I don’t know when that welfare home was built, but he says the conditions are okay, right, Xianghua?”

Dai Xianghua looked at Wang Guizhi’s straight face, thinking, Should I say yes or no?

His hesitation, to honest Shen Dechang, meant the conditions were “really bad.” The old man’s brow furrowed even more, and he said gloomily, “Can’t we just keep on raising the kids?”

Wang Guizhi replied, “But the government can’t keep giving us grain and money forever.”

Shen Dechang frowned, “Then we won’t take the grain or money. We’ll work harder and cut back. We won’t starve, at least.”

Wang Guizhi slapped her thigh, “Fine, then we’ll adopt all three kids.”

Shen Dechang looked blank, “Huh?”

Wang Guizhi raised an eyebrow, “If we don’t take grain or money and raise these little ones ourselves, isn’t that the same as adopting?”

Shen Dechang had only been thinking about keeping the kids, never about the adoption part. Hearing Wang Guizhi put it that way, it seemed to click. He hesitated, then nodded, “Then we’ll adopt.”

Dai Xianghua: “…”

With the old man’s nature, it was lucky he married someone as sharp as Auntie Wang; otherwise, he’d get cheated and still count the money for them.

Since the old couple had made up their minds, what more could Dai Xianghua say? Deep down, he really hoped the Shen family would adopt the kids. All three were good kids, and he wouldn’t feel right leaving them with someone else.

He thought for a moment and said, “Adopting means going to the county to do the paperwork. I’ll also try to work something out for you. The county and commune won’t just leave you hanging—you should be able to get some help.”

With that settled, Dai Xianghua said his goodbyes. He still needed to report to the commune leaders.

After he left, Wang Guizhi got up to clean the wild greens, asking as she did, “Adopting these three kids—aren’t you worried the eldest will kick up a fuss?”

Shen Dechang picked up a small handful of greens to trim. After a bit, he said, “He agreed to give us grain and money for our old age, but he hasn’t given a thing. What right does he have to say no?” When the family property was divided, it was agreed that each son would give the old couple fifty jin of grain and ten yuan annually. Even if the eldest couldn’t spare the money, he should at least send some grain. But since the split, not a single grain had arrived.

Shen Dechang wasn’t unaware of his eldest son’s character—that’s why he’d agreed to the division in the first place. He knew deep down he couldn’t rely on the eldest for support in his old age, but seeing the reality still stung with disappointment.

Behind Wang Guizhi’s back, the old man had wiped away tears more than once. Now, he’d come to terms with it. At least he still had two other sons to depend on, and the kids at home seemed more reliable than the eldest couple.

Wang Guizhi didn’t press further. The important thing was that the old man had willingly agreed to adopt the children. Everything else was secondary.

But she did bring up another matter: “Earlier, when I was coming back from the fields, I passed by the east end of the village and saw that eldest daughter-in-law of the Hu family at the old house. That woman never has good intentions. A few days ago, Aihua had Xiao Yue and the others come back to say the Hu family is looking for a match for Aizhen—someone from deep in the mountains of Qishan Commune. I suspect that woman came about that.”

Wang Guizhi frowned, “I heard before that this woman married off her own daughter to someone in a remote mountain valley. No one wants to marry into deep mountains, so the bride price is higher than usual. Could the Hu family be setting their sights on Shen Aizhen?”

Shen Dechang’s hand trembled, and the cleaned greens fell to the ground. His just-relaxed brow tightened again. “How can they do this? Aizhen is our Shen family’s child…”

Wang Guizhi said, “If Guoxing and his wife don’t agree, they can’t force it.”

Shen Dechang fell silent. After a long pause, he murmured, “You… could you…?”

Wang Guizhi shot him a look, “Could I meddle? That girl is no ordinary person. If she’s willing herself, and I argue with her mother, she’d throw boiling water at me. If I stick my nose in, what if she comes at me with a cleaver?”

Shen Dechang was left speechless again. Wang Guizhi finished cleaning the greens and glanced at the pile of red raspberries, saying, “It’s up to her. If she doesn’t want it, even the brigade leader won’t stand by.”

Shen Dechang thought that made sense and nodded.

When the three children came home from school, Wang Guizhi had lunch ready. During the meal, Shen Banyue casually asked if Dai Xianghua had visited. Wang Guizhi was startled, “How did you know?”

Shen Banyue understood—that meant he had been there.

“Some kids saw him and told us on the way.”

Ever since they’d gone to the county to receive the “Brave and Just Little Hero” awards from the County Public Security Bureau, along with an enamel mug, a military-green satchel, and a copy of “Quotations from Chairman Mao” each, they’d become quite popular among the village kids. Children would run up to greet them on the road.

Today, someone spotted Dai Xianghua in his “grass-green” uniform heading to the Shen house and immediately reported it to Shen Banyue.

Wang Guizhi had been planning to talk to the two older kids about it in the next couple of days. Since the topic had come up, she decided to speak now. “When I first brought you all back, I promised Uncle Dai I’d look after you for a while. It’s been quite some time now, and there’s still no news from your families. The government wants to find you a permanent home so you can live more comfortably.” She tried to put a positive spin on it.

Just as she’d expected.

The human trafficking case was over, and Dai Xianghua’s visit to Xiaodun Brigade likely had to do with them.

Shen Banyue had already guessed as much. She glanced at Lin Mian, who didn’t seem surprised either. Only Xiao Dizi stared with wide, bright eyes, a mouthful of rice halfway to being swallowed, her expression pitiful.

“Grandma doesn’t want Sister, Brother Mian, or Xiao Dizi anymore?”

If Wang Guizhi had said yes, the little one would have burst into tears.

Wang Guizhi was caught between laughter and exasperation. “Oh, you little one, did you even understand what Grandma said? Grandma didn’t say she doesn’t want you. Just eat your meal.”

Xiao Dizi looked around, finally settling her gaze on Shen Dechang. “Grandpa, you won’t throw Xiao Dizi away, right?”

Shen Dechang nodded repeatedly, “No, no. Eat up.”

Shen Banyue glanced at Little Dizi and said subtly, "If the county wants to place Lin Mian and me elsewhere, Grandma, could you ask Uncle Dai not to send us too far away?"

Lin Mian, his small face serious, also said, "Can we not leave Yunling Commune?"

Wang Guizhi's heart suddenly softened with a pang of emotion. She put on a stern face on purpose and said, "I'm not even done talking, and you're already chiming in one after another, not letting me get a word in. The county is considering it, but when did I ever say I wouldn't take care of you? I've already settled it with your Uncle Dai—all three of you are staying. Little Dizi will be handed over to your Uncle Guoqiang to raise, and you two will stay in the village. We old folks can still work for a few more years, and helping you until you can make it on your own shouldn't be too big a problem."

Even Shen Banyue hadn't expected Wang Guizhi to make such a decision.

She opened her mouth a few times, but her throat felt like it was clogged, leaving her, for once, with nothing to say.

Lin Mian was stunned too. He stared at Wang Guizhi, muttering in disbelief, "Grandma Wang, are you really willing to take us in?"

In the dark, gloomy room, the man's face was hidden in the deep dark, his angry voice crazy and harsh: "Why don't you go die? Why didn't you die with your mother? You shouldn't even exist. You're gonna get me killed, you'll get me killed..." The man's voice echoed, all crazy-like, through the cold room, like it was crossing time and space, ringing in the boy's head.

Lin Mian looked down.

Wasn't Grandma Wang scared he'd get them killed?

Wang Guizhi patted both kids on the head. "Grandma Wang doesn't feel comfortable handing you over to others. But if you stay with me, don't expect to be eating fancy meals."

Lin Mian blinked, and a few tears dropped onto the table. Wang Guizhi, her heart aching, hugged him. "Oh dear, our Xiao Mian is crying too. Don't worry, Grandma Wang and your Grandpa Shen have talked it over. We'll all live together, young and old, and we'll make life good and happy."

Shen Banyue blinked too, holding back tears, and smiled. "Grandma, you can't take that back."

Wang Guizhi lightly tapped her. "When have I ever gone back on my word?"

Then she patted Little Dizi's head. "As for Little Dizi, she's gotta go to Jiangcheng."

The kid was supposed to be adopted by Shen Guoqiang and his wife, so she couldn't stay in the brigade forever.

With that settled, the next day, Wang Guizhi went to the commune and called Shen Guoqiang. Two days later, they got a message from Dai Xianghua. The old couple put on clothes with no patches, got cleaned up, and took the three kids to the commune.

Commune Director Gong personally met them. After talking with the old couple for a whole hour, making sure of what they wanted, he gave them a certificate. Then Dai Xianghua took them to the county town again.

Shen Guoqiang and Lin Xiaohui had taken time off specially and were waiting for them in Shanxi County Town. Even Shen Guoqing had taken time off and joined them at the station to pick them up.

After meeting them, Lin Xiaohui looked over the three kids again and again. She secretly tugged at Shen Guoqiang's sleeve and whispered, "They're all good kids. Can't we take all three back to Jiangcheng?"

Shen Guoqiang said helplessly, "Our place can't fit them."

They had never had kids, and in previous years, they had magnanimously given up their spacious rooms to those with families. Their own place was only big enough to squeeze in Little Dizi. Besides, if his parents weren't coming to Jiangcheng, how could they manage three kids?

Shen Guoqing tugged at Shen Banyue's braid and muttered quietly, "How about you two become my kids?"

Shen Banyue yanked her braid back and made a face at him. "Sister Zhou will probably have her own baby soon, right? You'll be too busy with your own kid to trick us into babysitting for you—no way!"

"Hey, you little girl!"

Shen Guoqing, with a careless attitude, tugged her braid again. "It's fine. My parents adopting you is the same thing—we're all family anyway. I'll chip in more for the old lady later, so it's like we're raising you together."

Shen Banyue couldn't help asking, "Have you paid off all your debts yet?"

Shen Guoqing: "..."

This little girl really knew how to hit where it hurt.

With Dai Xianghua's help, the process of handling the paperwork went smoothly. First, they got a certificate from the department handling the human trafficking case, then from the department responsible for resettling the involved parties. Due to the special circumstances, with these documents, the three kids' household registrations were first registered at the Shanxi County Town Police Station, then transferred to Jiangcheng and Yunling Commune. This way, if their identities ever needed to be traced later, it would be easier.

For the household registration, names had to be reported. Lin Mian was the simplest—he just used his original name. For Little Dizi's name, after discussion among the adults, they decided on the single character "Di," so she would be called Shen Di. When it came to Shen Banyue, she naturally wanted to use her own name: "I want to be called Shen Banyue."

The kid was willing to take the Shen surname, which delighted the family. Since her nickname contained the character "Yue," everyone thought "Shen Yue" would be a good choice. But she took a different path and insisted on "Banyue."

Shen Guoqing expressed his confusion: "Banyue isn't as nice as Xiao Yue. Why not just call yourself Shen Xiaoyue?"

Shen Banyue lifted her chin and retorted, "What's so nice about Shen Xiaoyue? Banyue, put together, means 'fat'—it means I'll always have enough to eat and grow plump." This was the name the old director had given her in her past life, because she had been left at the orphanage gate on the Lantern Festival, when the first half of the first lunar month had just passed, and she was as skinny as a monkey. The director had said that in life, nothing else mattered more than having enough to eat and living well. Being thin as a kid was fine, but she should always aim to fatten herself up.

Wang Guizhi, upon hearing this, decisively said, "Alright, then that's the name—Shen Banyue."

After the household registration was recorded, the staff issued a transfer document, and everything was done.

The old couple rarely came to the county town, and since it was a happy occasion of "adding a new member" to the family, the whole family, along with Dai Xianghua, went to the state-run restaurant for a good meal.

After the meal, Shen Guoqiang and Lin Xiaohui took Little Dizi's documents back to Jiangcheng. Although the kid had been adopted, they weren't yet familiar with her, and there was no preparation in Jiangcheng, so they couldn't take her right away.

Lin Xiaohui, a teacher, planned to wait until summer break to stay in Xiaodun Brigade for a while to bond with Little Dizi before taking her away, so the kid could adjust better.

Shen Guoqing returned to the factory, while the old couple and Dai Xianghua took the three kids back to Yunling Commune.

Shen Banyue and Lin Mian's household registrations were to be placed in Xiaodun Brigade, so that when the brigade distributed grain, they could get their share.

The main reason was that transferring household registration to Jiangcheng was difficult. Shen Guoqiang and his wife had no kids, so adopting one was legitimate. But adopting three and transferring three registrations wouldn't be approved by the street office.

Besides, in those days, city kids of age had to go to the countryside for re-education. The Shen family thought, why go through all that trouble? It was better to just register them in the brigade.

Once the registrations were settled, everyone in Xiaodun Brigade knew that the Shen family had adopted three kids.

Some were surprised, some laughed behind Wang Guizhi and Shen Dechang's backs for being foolish, but many thought it was expected. How much the old couple doted on those three kids! And besides, the kids were indeed well-behaved, capable, and each one more good-looking than the last.

Well-behaved, capable, and good-looking—these were kids many families longed for but couldn't have!

—

At a secret base in the northwest.

A group of white-haired old experts chatted and laughed as they walked into the cafeteria. At the front was an old man wearing a pair of glasses as thick as beer bottle bottoms. Squinting, he looked around and pointed at a large wooden barrel, asking, "Old Qin, what's in that barrel?"

Chef Old Qin, holding a long-handled iron ladle, said with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "Professor Zhai, please ask logistics to get you a new pair of glasses. Can't you see that big barrel full of zongzi? If you can't even see zongzi, how can you work properly?"

Professor Zhai adjusted his glasses and smiled. "I can still see a bit, just not clearly. I have a magnifying glass for work, so it's no big deal. The logistics folks are busy too. Getting us food must be giving them a headache. I'll bring up this small matter when they have time."

Old Qin thought to himself, when would logistics have time? He decided to mention it when they came to eat later.

Those folks were indeed busy. If Professor Zhai didn't bring it up, they probably wouldn't notice.

Professor Zhai handed over his lunchbox and asked casually, "Is it Dragon Boat Festival today?"

Old Qin served him food, fished out a zongzi, placed it on the lid of the lunchbox, and handed it back. "Still a few days away. We've got a good amount of glutinous rice this time—I reckon we can make two batches. Today's are sweet, and on Dragon Boat Festival, I'll make savory ones."

Professor Zhai was clearly a foodie, not picky about sweet or savory.

He nodded cheerfully and turned to call out, "Old Lin! Hey, walk faster—there are zongzi today!"

An old professor waiting in line teased, "Do you think Old Lin is like you? When it's mealtime, you move like you've got wind-powered wheels on your feet."

Professor Zhai retorted matter-of-factly, "Not being eager to eat means there's something wrong with your thinking."

He waited until "Old Lin" had gotten his food before sitting across from him. As soon as he sat down, he started discussing the morning's problem.

Old Qin sighed and couldn't help calling out, "Professor Zhai, you two should eat first. Yesterday, Dr. Zhong specifically came by to tell me to keep an eye on your eating. Professor Lin's stomach hasn't been great lately, and you're not much better off either."

Professor Zhai tried to pretend he hadn’t heard, but Professor Lin, sitting across from him, smiled and said, “Eating won’t take more than a few minutes. Don’t put Old Qin in a tough spot. Let’s finish up and head back to the office to discuss.”

Professor Zhai grumbled a bit but finally backed down and focused on his zongzi. “Ah, this is good. Eat it while it’s hot.”

As Professor Lin peeled his zongzi, he suddenly sighed. “Back when I left home, it was almost the Dragon Boat Festival. My boy, Xiao Mian, was eating zongzi for the first time. My daughter-in-law’s red bean paste was sweet and creamy—the little guy loved it.”

Professor Zhai had never married, had no kids, and no real attachments, so he couldn’t fully empathize. He just asked offhandedly, “Your grandson must be seven or eight by now, huh?”

Professor Lin shook his head. “He’s nine now.”

Professor Zhai tried to comfort him. “His mother passed away from illness, but his father’s still around. He’s his own kid, so of course he’ll take good care of him. In a couple of years, when our project makes a breakthrough, you can take leave and go see him.”

Professor Lin paused in peeling his zongzi. He wanted to say the problem was that his son was unreliable, but in the end, he said nothing.

Thinking about how he hadn’t received a single letter from home in over half a year, a knot of unease settled in his chest. As he ate, he told himself to write a letter home in the next couple of days to check on things.

With no academic topics to discuss, Professor Zhai couldn’t help but bring up something else. “Remember that Xiao Zhao from S Province who came to hand over materials? He always had a scowl on his face, like someone owed him money. Old Qian later found out that before coming here, he had lost his only child.”

Professor Lin couldn’t help but say, “You and Old Qian have the energy to dig into things like that?”

Professor Zhai chuckled. “Work and rest need balance. Gives the brain a break sometimes.”

As he ate, Professor Lin asked, “How did he lose the child? Was the child found? I remember he stayed here for quite a while back then.”

Professor Zhai sighed. “The kid was playing at his grandmother’s place when a kidnapper took him. The couple searched for a long time but couldn’t find him. Then he got the assignment and came here. I heard his wife stayed at the guesthouse for families outside the base, her eyes red as a rabbit’s every day. Pitiful! But Xiao Zhao came again yesterday—he said the child was found. Almost sold by traffickers, but luckily the local police caught them all.”

Professor Lin’s chopsticks paused. A vague unease stirred in his chest. After a long silence, he sighed. “Raising a child safely to adulthood isn’t easy!”

He made up his mind to write a letter to the capital as soon as he finished eating.