CHAPTER 21: CHAPTER 21: HELPING IN SECRET

Liu Xiue likes to add chili when stir-frying snails, a big plate of bright red is placed on the table, and before eating, sweat starts to bead at the tip of the tongue.

Shi Yang likes to go to Zhao Meimei’s house to eat, partly because it’s fresh, but also because sitting at the round table with Zhao Meimei’s family of three feels especially homey.

Zhao Dazhuang has thick eyebrows and small eyes, with a naturally smiling face that looks kind and amiable, making people feel a good impression and especially approachable.

Liu Xiue is warm and hospitable, usually speaking directly, unlike other adults who like to put on airs.

As time went by and she got familiar with Shi Yang, Liu Xiue would always pick a dish for Shi Yang whenever she picked one for Zhao Meimei during meals.

Zhao Dazhuang started to enjoy having a couple of drinks in the past two months. He doesn’t have much tolerance, but seeing colleagues at the factory experimenting with herbal infusions, he found it interesting and followed suit, making a big glass jar of ginseng goji berry wine.

After being steeped for a long time, the wine turned dark red. It would be a waste not to drink it, so he took a sip now and then.

Zhao Dazhuang was acting a bit unusual today, drinking three glasses in one go before letting out a long sigh.

Shi Yang asked, "Uncle, what’s wrong?"

Zhao Dazhuang picked up a snail, "Nothing, just tired from running around in this hot weather."

Today is Monday, Zhao Dazhuang specifically took a day off from the factory to run some errands.

Seeing his worried expression, Shi Yang felt a jolt in his heart, "Uncle, what were you up to today?"

Zhao Dazhuang sipped the spicy broth from the snail shell, feeling the alcohol rising, he burped before saying, "Running errands for Meimei’s school."

Liu Xiue’s face also showed signs of melancholy, she picked up snails with chopsticks, peeled them, and stacked them on the plate in front of her without eating.

Shi Yang poked the snail with a toothpick, "Was it the enrollment quota for the Sixth Primary School not worked out?"

Zhao Dazhuang burped again, his eyes starting to redden from the alcohol, he nodded, "Yes, it’s not going smoothly."

Liu Xiue hadn’t asked in detail before, fearing Zhao Dazhuang would get upset. Now as the conversation unfolded, she asked, "Didn’t you reach out to your factory leadership?"

Zhao Dazhuang sighed again, "Our leader said our new factory director took over this year, and the connections haven’t been established yet. He promised to help inquire, but so far there’s no definite response, and the enrollment deadline is approaching. If not handled, Meimei might have to attend the nearby primary school first."

Liu Xiue had previously been against Zhao Meimei attending the Sixth Primary School, feeling it was too far and inconvenient for pick-up and drop-off. But after Zhao Dazhuang persuaded her, she understood that the foundation laid in primary school would directly impact the child’s future middle and high school performance, and hearing this, she suddenly became anxious too.

Liu Xiue said, "What should we do? Who did you talk to today? Did you not handle things properly?"

The meaning in Liu Xiue’s words was clear, suggesting Zhao Dazhuang perhaps give gifts like others do, but it wasn’t convenient to say this in front of the two children.

Zhao Dazhuang poured himself another glass, holding the cup, sighing, "I didn’t even get to see the factory leadership today. They said there was a meeting. I went in the morning and didn’t see anyone until the afternoon."

He downed the glass, realizing the saying that alcohol exacerbates sorrow was true as he began to feel dizzy after several drinks.

Zhao Dazhuang indeed drank a bit too much, complaining to Liu Xiue under the influence, "When it comes down to it, it’s me lacking capability. If I had some connections, people who could help, I wouldn’t need to hit walls left and right pleading."

Liu Xiue also felt anxious, she distributed the prepared snail meat equally among Zhao Dazhuang, Shi Yang, and their son, making it fair.

Zhao Meimei listened to her father’s words, somewhat understanding, and chimed in, "Then why don’t I just attend the elementary school in our kindergarten? I’m familiar with it."

Zhao Dazhuang patted Zhao Meimei’s head, "If nothing works out, we’ll have to. But let me try again, maybe I’ll manage to sort it out. I’ll take another day off tomorrow and go once more."

Liu Xiue handed the snail meat to Shi Yang and saw he wasn’t eating, so she urged, "Yangyang, eat up."

Shi Yang asked, "Uncle, were you not able to meet the factory director at the factory today?"

Zhao Dazhuang shook his head, "How could I meet the director? I wanted to see if the factory secretary was around to inquire if there were any available slots. I thought even if it required some money, it’d be worth it."

Shi Yang paused in silence for a moment, "Uncle, my mom knows someone in the factory leadership."

Zhao Dazhuang didn’t believe him, "Your mom knows the leadership? How could that be? She doesn’t work and even if she did know someone, it’s no use. I heard admissions to their subsidiary school have to go through the factory union chairman, and without strong connections, it’s tough."

Shi Yang gripped his chopsticks, "Then, Uncle, why don’t you try again tomorrow?"

Zhao Dazhuang nodded, "I’ll definitely try, in case it works out. I have to at least make a final effort, right?"

Zhao Dazhuang patted Shi Yang’s shoulder like a close older brother, "I know you care for Meimei, don’t worry, as long as there’s even a slim chance, I won’t give up. There’s still a bit more than half a month until the registration deadline, I definitely need to try again."

When Shi Yang mentioned his mother knowing the factory leadership, Zhao Dazhuang and Liu Xiue didn’t think much of it. In their minds, they only considered Shi Yang and his mother to belong to the well-off, but still within the scope of their residential area.

Shi Yang’s mother was seen idling at home every day, besides occasionally visiting his father in the city, usually just staying between their small villa and Liu Xiue’s grocery store.

How could such a typical housewife know anyone significant?

They had never seen Shi Yang’s father and only regarded him as a name, with no conceptual image.

So, they didn’t think along these lines.

The next day, Zhao Dazhuang indeed went to the factory again. He arrived close to lunch break, still hungover with a pounding headache from last night’s drinking.

Zhao Dazhuang, familiar with the procedure, went to the guard room to fill in the registration form. The guard, recognizing his name, took back the form and pointed to the factory office building, "The leadership instructed that you should go straight to the secretary’s office when you arrive. Someone will assist you."

Even when Zhao Dazhuang received the admission registration form for the Sixth Primary School from the secretary, he still felt he hadn’t sobered up. He pinched his face, it hurt, it wasn’t a dream.

What was this all about?

Zhao Dazhuang carefully put the registration form in his pocket and quickly pedaled home, eager to share this fantastic news with Liu Xiue.

In the factory manager’s office, Shi Yang stood by the window, watching as Zhao Dazhuang hastily left the office building, and only after seeing him out of the factory gate did he retract his gaze.

Shi Yang said coldly to his father, "I’m leaving."

His father, looking disappointed, tried to persuade him, "You hardly come by, let’s have a meal together?"

Shi Yang glanced at him icyly, "What if someone asks about our relationship? How will you explain?"

His father was left speechless.

With a mocking curl of his lips, Shi Yang turned and headed for the office door. He paused at the door handle, looking back at his father, "Don’t tell mom about today, I don’t want her worrying."

His father opened his mouth to respond, but the sound of the door slamming shut cut off his words.

Shi Yang stood a few steps away from the office door, glancing back at it tightly closed, a quick flash of disappointment crossing his eyes, he only looked for a moment, then turned and walked away without looking back.