Chapter 192: Hero Fountain Pen

You have to understand, the elementary schools in many counties were still far from being able to get a landline installed, yet Wen Yaozu’s hometown was the Beijing Capital.

But it was in the deep countryside, part of an impoverished county.

A few years ago, it had been a designated location for the Sent-down Youth program.

"We do! Our principal has a landline in his office. When the workers came to the school to install it, all the teachers and students gathered to watch the excitement."

This morning, he had used the landline in the living room to call the female soldier operating the military district switchboard, asking her to help connect him to his school in the county.

Once the call went through, he openly gave his name and asked the principal to find Teacher Li, the one who knew how to use a computer.

He wanted to ask Teacher Li how to operate the computer.

He also chatted with his friends at school.

She stopped teasing Wen Yaozu and explained with a smile, "Your brother-in-law will be back in a few days, and he’ll bring the computer with him then."

"Great!"

Wen Yaozu lifted his shirt, revealing his round belly. He patted it a couple of times. "Sis, look! I’ve lost so much weight."

"Have you?"

"I have."

A couple of days ago, he’d dug out a grain scale from the cluttered storage room and had been weighing himself on it every day.

A proud expression appeared on Wen Yaozu’s face. He hitched up his pants and declared smugly, "I’ve lost over ten pounds! I won’t be the fat kid at school anymore when I go back."

"That’s great. Keep it up."

’At this age, what Wen Yaozu needs most is praise. Once he loses the weight and gets his studies in order, his future will be limitless.’

Seeing he was covered in sweat, Wen Ci said, "Go take a shower. When you’re done, I’ll take you to the mall for a bit."

"What for?"

"Shower first."

Wen Yaozu realized his sister wanted to buy him clothes and shook his head. "You don’t have to buy me clothes! I’m still losing weight, they won’t fit for long!"

"True, you’re losing weight, but you’re also in the middle of a growth spurt. In a couple of years, you might be taller than me. A size L could last you until high school."

"Oh."

Boys tend to have their biggest growth spurts in junior high.

Wen Yaozu had always drunk his milk and everything else, so while he was chubby, he was also much taller than other kids his age. This was what had made him the top dog at school.

Watching Wen Yaozu’s back as he returned to his room, Wen Ci’s eyes curved into a smile. She planned to meet a few business associates at the mall and buy him a couple of outfits while she was there.

The clothes Wen Yaozu was wearing were the ones he’d brought from school. Now that he’d lost over ten pounds, his pants were loose and baggy.

’I’ll buy him two sets of clothes that fit, and a Hero-brand fountain pen. It won’t be long before Wen Yaozu starts junior high.’

In junior high, unlike elementary, you have to start using pens instead of pencils.

Hero-brand fountain pens were one of the most iconic gifts of the eighties. Whenever top-tier city schools held competitions, a Hero pen was often the first-place prize.

She hoped Wen Yaozu would be inspired to strive for success.

-

「Meanwhile, at the Jiang Family’s home.」

Jiang Ye fidgeted on the sofa, unable to sit still. She kept sneaking glances at Mrs. Jiang, biting her lower lip as she struggled to maintain her concentration.

"Mom..."

When Mrs. Jiang didn’t react, Jiang Ye took a moment to gather her emotions, then fell to her knees at her mother’s feet with a THUD. Grabbing Mrs. Jiang’s hand, she tried to make her mother slap her face with it, her voice choked with tears as she wailed:

"Mom, I was wrong. Even though I was only a few years old when the Wen Family’s parents threatened me, what’s done is done. Please, just hit me. It’ll help you feel better, won’t it?"

The limp hand felt like nothing as it struck Jiang Ye’s face.

On the surface, Jiang Ye was admitting her mistake, but in reality, she was arguing that she had been too young to distinguish good from evil.