Chapter Six: Picking Someone Up from Kindergarten

A heavy snow had just fallen two days ago. The pedestrians on the street all hurried along with their heads down, not sparing a single moment to appreciate the old city of Beijing draped in silver and white. Occasionally, someone would glance at Chen Liang, who was looking around with curiosity, and think him a fool—what was there to see in the snow-covered streets?

If Chen Liang had known what they were thinking, he would have argued passionately with them. How could a group of philistines possibly understand his soul, so attuned to discovering and admiring beauty? A bunch of vulgar mortals—he scoffed at them!

Usually, it was his sister-in-law who picked up and dropped off Chen Hong at kindergarten, but since he had a good relationship with the girl, he took on the task today.

When Chen Liang finally arrived at Red Star Kindergarten, school had just let out. Kindergartens now were nothing like the ones in his past life, where the gates would be swarmed with crowds at dismissal—here, only a handful of people lingered, scattered and sparse.

Chen Liang jogged up to the gatekeeper’s booth, pulled out a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes, and offered one to the old doorman. “Sir, I’m Chen Hong’s second uncle from Class Two. Would you mind calling her out for me?”

Who would smoke those mass-produced, low-grade cigarettes anymore, with no filter and a mouthful of tobacco bits after every puff? Even rinsing took several spits to clear the taste.

“Zhonghua cigarettes! You’re quite the generous one!” The doorman, Old Qin, looked surprised as he eyed the pack and then Chen Liang. In those days, Zhonghua was a special supply—no amount of money or ration tickets could buy them. Beyond special allocations, you could only find them at the Friendship Store, a place reserved for foreign guests or those with a government-issued letter of introduction. Even then, purchases required foreign exchange certificates; local currency was not accepted. To work at the Friendship Store was to live in luxury.

So, if an ordinary person was seen smoking Zhonghua, it meant they had serious connections. Otherwise, it was impossible to get them.

But Chen Liang knew nothing of this! He’d only been here a few days and couldn’t even recognize more complicated traditional characters, let alone grasp the nuances of Zhonghua cigarettes.

After lighting up the cigarette, the doorman glanced at Chen Liang. “Class Two, right? Wait here,” he said curtly before heading inside to fetch the child.

Honestly, his tone was grating.

After a short wait, Chen Hong came out, skipping and holding a teacher’s hand.

The clothing of the era was dominated by blacks, greys, blues, and greens. From a distance, Chen Liang hadn’t paid much attention to what the teacher looked like, and the drab colors only made her blend in more.

But as he took Chen Hong from the teacher, he finally got a good look at her.

Good heavens! Which fairy had descended to earth? She was strikingly beautiful!

A true connoisseur of women always started their gaze from the feet up; only clueless boys cared solely about a woman’s face.

Chen Liang considered himself an expert, but in this deep winter, everyone was bundled up tightly, and even the most alluring figure was hidden beneath padded coats and trousers.

Yet, with his keen eye honed by a decade undercover in his past life—a life that nearly cost him his kidneys—he judged that this extraordinary woman before him was easily a ninety-six out of a hundred, a true earthly beauty.

Her features carried an exotic, western borderland charm, breathtaking and regal. Every gesture, every smile, radiated an irresistible allure.

And her voice, when she spoke a few simple words—“Thank you, teacher, you’ve worked hard,” “Not at all, it’s my duty”—was soft, sweet, with a hint of huskiness, so melodious it could make one’s ears swoon.

The ears protested: No, not me! He’s the one being shameless, ogling the teacher—I’m perfectly innocent!

No wonder, he thought, the emperors of old so often set their sights on the western borders—there was reason behind their ambitions. To take such a beauty home to warm your bed—what a delicious thought!

“Goodbye, Miss Xiaoyu!” Chen Hong, clinging to Chen Liang’s leg, waved to the teacher. Chen Liang then reached into his small satchel and pulled out the large apple he’d prepared for Chen Hong.

He caught the child’s eye, signaling her with a subtle look. She hesitated, then her little face filled with discontent.

The two of them had long since developed a tacit understanding; Chen Hong’s heart collapsed in silent outrage.

Scoundrel! Men are all pigs—show them a pretty face and they lose all sense! Scum! Utter scum!

Alas, why must I bear such a heavy burden at such a tender age? Truly, no one sees children as people.

Resigned to her fate as his wingman, Chen Hong put aside her sorrow when she caught her uncle’s look that brooked no refusal.

Then, just as Miss Xiaoyu was turning to leave, Chen Hong called out, “Miss Xiaoyu, wait a moment! My uncle brought apples—I’d like to share one with you!”

She pattered over on her short legs, suppressing her reluctance, and offered the apple to Miss Xiaoyu.

Oh, my apple! I won’t get another bite today!

But, never mind. For the sake of my dear second uncle, I’ll help him out this once.

“Thank you, Chen Hong, but the teacher doesn’t need it—you keep it for yourself.” Miss Xiaoyu was tempted; in the depths of winter, an apple was a rare treat.

Woman, don’t be ungrateful! I’ve spared no expense to offer you this apple—don’t turn it down, or I might just lose my patience!

Torn between her apple and her uncle, Chen Hong saw him produce a second large apple from his satchel. At that, her mind was made up.

Such an easy choice—this was an insult to her intelligence! Even a fool knows to choose plenty over scarcity.

“Please, Miss Xiaoyu, take it. My uncle still has more,” she insisted, pressing the apple into the teacher’s hands before running back to latch onto Chen Liang’s leg.

Unable to refuse, Miss Xiaoyu accepted the apple at last. After bidding farewell to uncle and niece, she returned to the classroom and couldn’t resist taking a bite. The crisp sweetness of the apple filled her mouth, a flavor both fresh and pure.

“This is delicious, Uncle, you’re just too stingy—having apples this good and only bringing them out now!” Sitting atop Chen Liang’s shoulders, Chen Hong munched happily, then grumbled discontentedly, “Uncle, you’re really something. If you hadn’t seen Miss Xiaoyu today, would you have given your dear niece an apple at all?”