Return to School

The next day, Chen Hao woke up with a splitting headache.

He vaguely remembered that after the farewell drinks, Big Bird had carried him back. He'd then handed over the money for the membership cards from his bag to his mom, over 50,000 yuan in total, before heading straight to his bedroom to collapse, completely out of it.

As expected, alcohol tolerance was a programmer's Achilles' heel. He'd barely managed six bottles before teetering on the edge of blacking out.

Chen Hao glanced at his watch; it was already past 10 AM.

Gulp, gulp, gulp. He downed the cup of cooled boiled water beside his bed, moistening his parched throat.

His mom had left food in the kitchen, and the millet porridge was still warm. After eating a bowl, with something in his stomach, Chen Hao felt much better.

Today was his last day at home before he returned to school.

Chen Hao first made a trip to the bookstore, browsing for a while and picking out a few books. Then, he went to the internet cafe. Big Bird was there too.

Upon entering, he saw it was packed. There were about a dozen people in the waiting area. He walked up to the counter and placed his books from his backpack on it.

The books included titles like "Software Engineering," "Data Structures," "C Language: From Beginner to Grave," "Java Programming: From Grave to Heaven," and "Internet Development Guide."

Chen Hao said to Old Ban, "I'm giving you a month. See how much you can learn! You'll help me out then, so I need to ask for your opinion first."

Pang Ban thought for a moment and nodded.

"Then it's settled!"

His mom was indeed efficient. By noon, she had found a young lady with a delicate appearance to work as the network administrator. Chen Hao planned to have her start in the afternoon to get a feel for the job and see if there were any issues.

If everything was fine, she could officially start the next day.

The young lady was a bit shy as she was new. Xu Pengkun saw this and thought, Ah, I know this situation well. He immediately volunteered to take on the mentoring role.

Chen Hao, like a seasoned veteran or a powerful figure in the martial world, waited until the end to answer all sorts of newbie questions. Then, he went to the waiting area to chat, regaling them with obscure historical anecdotes and secrets about Legend of Mir, leaving them utterly captivated.

In the afternoon, after observing for a while, Chen Hao saw that the young lady had become very proficient, like an experienced driver cruising at sixty kilometers per hour, perfectly steady.

Chen Hao and his two friends were relieved. Following their usual routine, they headed straight to the bathhouse.

Bathhouses in the Northeast typically had large communal pools for collective bathing. Everyone was naked, and there was no sense of embarrassment among the men, unlike in the South.

At that time, the bathhouses in the county town were still simple, just for bathing, costing 5 yuan per person. It was unlike later times when you could get a massage upstairs after bathing, add an hour, and for 199 yuan, you could feel like you were in heaven, while 298 yuan would send you soaring.

The three of them stripped and entered, immersing themselves in the steamy, high-temperature pool.

After soaking thoroughly, the three, with their skin flushed red, stood under the showerheads. Chen Hao and Xu Pengkun were just over 1.8 meters tall, while Pang Ban was slightly shorter. They formed a U-shape, each holding a bath scrub and vigorously scrubbing themselves.

However, Chen Hao envied Old Ban's muscular physique. It was like a perfect ancient deity, with streamlined muscle lines, sharp angles, and a rich layering. Though not as prominent as the bulkier muscles from a gym, it was still impressive.

Finally, it was time for the customary back-scrubbing, like a train. The men lined up, and each person scrubbed the person in front of them with considerable force. The result was that everyone winced in pain, though Old Ban maintained his poker face. However, the observant Chen Hao noticed a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth.

After bathing, the three of them got haircuts together. A full wash, cut, and blow-dry cost only 10 yuan.

Chen Hao had his hair cut short and thinned. Pang Ban got his usual buzz cut, while Xu Pengkun didn't change much but opted for a new hairstyle.

With their routine completed, the three stood at the entrance of the internet cafe. Pang Ban was staying on duty. As expected, they wouldn't see each other again for at least another six months.

Pang Ban hugged both of them and patted their backs, a silent farewell.

A sense of parting filled the air. Chen Hao silently hugged his close friend.

"Get lost, we're taking the same car!"

Chen Hao cried out in mock dismay, "You heartless wretch, you've ruined this poignant farewell atmosphere."

After saying goodbye to Old Ban, the two of them playfully bickered their way back to the residential complex, each heading to their own homes.

Different homes, but the same tradition: the Spring Festival essential – making dumplings!

There's an old saying in the Northeast: dumplings before departure, noodles upon arrival. This means the meal before leaving must be dumplings, and the first meal after arriving at your destination must be noodles.

This saying has been around for a long time. Dumplings are filling and help stave off hunger during long train journeys. After a long trip, the digestive system is relatively weak, and it needs gentler foods like noodles. Of course, dumplings also symbolize reunion, and noodles represent longevity, both blessings for the traveler.

The dumplings they made were Chen Hao's favorite, filled with three delicacies.

While eating dumplings, Chen Hao grinned at his mother, Wu Xiuhua, "My dearest mom, you wouldn't forget anything, would you?"

"Hmm? You mean the coins? I've put them in."

"Not that."

Seeing her son repeatedly rub his thumb and forefinger together, Wu Xiuhua suddenly realized, "Oh, I've transferred your living expenses to your bankbook. The first month is a bit more, 1,000 yuan. Spend it wisely."

"No, Mom, it's the profit sharing, the profit sharing~~"

As expected, the moment had arrived. Wu Xiuhua said earnestly, "Mom calculated it last night. These past two days, with card applications and top-ups, it's over 120,000 yuan. According to our agreement, that's over 12,000 yuan. Your dad and I discussed it, and we'll round up the odd numbers as your profit share, making it 20,000!"

"Mom is generous! Dad is wise!" Chen Hao's eyes lit up.

"But!" Wu Xiuhua's tone shifted, "You have to promise me you won't spend this money carelessly."

Chen Hao said righteously, "I'm graduating from university soon. I'll use this money as startup capital to start a business."

"This society is so complicated now. Don't think just because you've been doing so well these past few days; people in big cities are cunning. Be careful not to get taken advantage of out there!"

"Oh, your son is very sharp, don't worry. Let's eat. The dumplings are getting cold, and I have a train to catch."

Chen Xingguo urged, waving a hand at his wife, signaling her not to bring it up again.

Before he left, Wu Xiuhua packed a pile of things – sauces, pickles, clothes, fruit – into his bag. In the blink of an eye, the small bag became a large one, regardless of whether her son could carry it.

In the past, with this much weight, he would have been exhausted just carrying it. Chen Hao definitely would have left without it, slinging his backpack over his shoulder and walking away light as a feather.

Every year, he came back just like this. Recalling how he didn't understand and didn't bring these things in the past, and the subtle disappointment hidden on his mother's face – he really was so clueless back then!

But even so, his mother was always happy to do this every time. It was a mother's fear that her son would go hungry or get cold while away from home.

Now, the reborn Chen Hao understood. Although fruits, cookies, and the like were available in the big city, these were brought by his mother, so they meant something different!

Even if he didn't like the snacks she brought, or the clothes might end up stuffed in a closet upon his return, as long as he took them, his mother would be happy.

Chen Hao helped his mother pack the parcels. He could clearly feel the joy in his mother's reluctance, mixed with the happiness of a child who had finally grown up.

Time was running out.

Wu Xiuhua didn't come to see him off. She was afraid she wouldn't be able to control her emotions; she was always afraid at this moment.

She hugged her eldest son, constantly repeating her instructions, "Remember to eat breakfast, and don't..."

Chen Hao leaned his head on his mother's shoulder and softly finished, "Don't stay up late, don't play computer games too much, study hard, exercise more. Mom, I know."

Looking at her handsome son, who was taller than her, Wu Xiuhua felt very proud. She gave him a gentle push.

"Go on, have a safe trip. Call home when you arrive!"

"Mom, I'm leaving!"

With that, Chen Hao turned and headed downstairs. With a large backpack on, he waved goodbye to those behind him, without looking back.