Sixteen

By December, military training had ended, and the first final exams of high school loomed ahead. The students of Class Eight had all been top scorers in the city’s entrance exams; after a semester, everyone was eager for the new rankings, as if a martial arts tournament was about to reshuffle the order of the strongest heroes. The weekend passed in a flash, and when Monday came, the playful, joking atmosphere of military training vanished without a trace.

What delighted Huang Qi was receiving a letter from Xiao Ying upon her return to school. He wrote that he'd already gone to the hospital for a tetanus shot and told her not to worry; that the military training had given the troublemakers a harsh lesson and now no one bothered him anymore, so she needn’t be concerned; that the city was organizing a special training class for a primary school math competition, and Sasa had done well—her aunt was working hard to get her into the Experimental Primary School. Perhaps worried the letter was too short or that she wouldn’t know how to reply, he even attached a physics problem with a diagram, asking her for advice.

Xiao Ying’s handwriting was neat and graceful. Huang Qi cherished the letter, reading it over and over again. She carefully wrote out the solution to the problem in detail, then recopied her recent notes, filling a thick notebook, and sent them all to Xiao Ying.

After a couple of weeks, another letter from Xiao Ying arrived, sharing his recent events and listing questions on parts of the notes he couldn’t quite understand. Huang Qi answered them one by one and included her latest updates.

Thus, their correspondence continued—purely as study partners and pen pals, exchanging two or three letters each month. Sometimes, Lord Huang’s emotions would surge, and she’d nearly write something like “I miss you so much.” But, comparing it to the surrounding serious academic discussion, she’d blush and quickly erase such words. After all, they were still in high school; studies came first, and early romance was out of the question. Mutual encouragement and progress were the priority. When they turned eighteen and went to university, everything could be discussed then, she chuckled to herself.

Her life was busy but fulfilling; checking the mailroom for letters became her greatest joy and anticipation. Even if there was nothing for her, she never felt disheartened—it simply meant she could come again tomorrow and keep looking forward to it.

The only thing that truly troubled Huang Qi was not being able to see Xiao Ying in person. She often brought up studying together on weekends in her letters, but Xiao Ying either claimed to be busy or ignored the suggestion entirely. Only at New Year, when some of their middle school classmates gathered, did she finally see him again.

She noticed Xiao Ying had grown taller. During military training, she’d found she stood level with his eyes, but after just over three months, her head barely reached his cheekbones. The realization made her both happy and a little disheartened.

In this way, their correspondence lasted through more than a semester, and the relatively relaxed first year of high school quickly passed. The final exams of the second semester were a citywide standardized test. Huang Qi scored 640 points, ranking in the twenties in her class and just over seventieth in the city.

She was eager to know how Xiao Ying had done. At the homeroom teacher’s office, she checked the list of the city’s top five hundred students—Xiao Ying’s name was nowhere to be found, nor was there anyone from the Technical School.

She stared at the list for a long while when someone spoke behind her, “Huang Qi, you did pretty well this time. Planning to stick with science and stay in Class Eight?” She turned and was surprised to see Bai Luyao. “Yes. What about you?”

In their school, after the first year, students chose between arts and sciences. With the city’s strong emphasis on sciences, there was only one arts class. Students transferring into it were selected from across the eight classes, and this final exam was the most important basis for sorting.

She’d asked casually, not expecting Bai Luyao to answer, “I’m planning to move to Class Nine.”

Huang Qi was surprised. “Aren’t your science grades pretty good? Why switch to arts?”

Given the city’s focus on science, only those who truly struggled with science would reluctantly switch to the arts. Bai Luyao’s grades were balanced and she’d scored over 620, quite a good result.

“My grades only put me in the middle of Class Eight. I’m not as strong as you in math, physics, and chemistry; I’ve only managed to keep up thanks to tutoring and extra work. If things go on like this, the best I could hope for is a good second-tier university. My parents… they have high expectations. If I go to the arts class, my strengths will stand out, especially since I’m better at math than most there.”

“You really think ahead. I never considered those things—I just go with the flow,” Huang Qi said, scratching her head self-consciously. She realized Bai Luyao had matured a lot since the start of high school—her thinking was now thorough and decisive, nothing like the confused, careless girl she used to be. Perhaps what happened really did affect her deeply.

After returning from military training, Bai Luyao had undergone three months of counseling. She’d started school early and was still young; her parents wanted her to take a year off, but she insisted on catching up with tutoring during the winter break and returned on schedule. Her grades didn’t slip, which Huang Qi admired.

Because of Huang Qi’s heroism during military training, she had won the hearts of many, and Bai Luyao as well as Zhu Xinyi had become her close friends at her new school. Unfortunately, both were heading to the arts class.

One had to admit, Bai Luyao’s choice was farsighted. With her middle-of-the-pack grades in Class Eight, she maintained a leading position in the arts class and was eventually admitted to Peking University’s sociology department with the city’s fourth-highest arts score, outshining many from Class Eight. In this, Huang Qi was somewhat envious.

But that was all in the future. As her first year ended, Huang Qi was simply relieved to have done well enough to stay in Class Eight and knew she needed to work even harder. Where she’d go for university, what she’d study—she had no idea at all.

While they chatted by the office door, a few other students from different classes came to check the rankings. Among them was Li Mingzhi. He glanced at Huang Qi, then quickly looked away, clearly not wanting to greet her. Huang Qi stayed silent and stepped aside.

Li Mingzhi studied the list for a long time, then turned to Huang Qi with a tone that feigned concern but was actually mocking, “Weren’t you nineteenth in the city for the entrance exams? How’d you drop to seventieth? Class Eight must be tough—can you handle it?”

Huang Qi replied curtly, “I’m fine, thanks for your concern.”

Striking a victorious pose, Li Mingzhi continued, “Girls only do well early on because they work hard, but in high school, their brains can’t keep up with us boys.” He left with the others, full of self-satisfaction.

Huang Qi hadn’t paid any attention to Li Mingzhi’s results, but now she saw he had scored eight points higher than her, ranking in the top twenty. No wonder he was so smug.

Once they were gone, Bai Luyao asked indignantly, “Who was that? How could he talk like that?”

“A middle school classmate,” Huang Qi replied.

“He’s obviously treating you as a rival, desperate to beat you. Who says girls can’t excel in high school? Huang Qi, you have to work hard! Don’t let him look down on us! You’re so capable, I know you can do it!” Bai Luyao clenched her fists, her cheeks flushed with righteous anger, suddenly looking much more like a fourteen-year-old girl. Huang Qi couldn’t help but laugh.

“What are you two up to, laughing so much?” Wu Ziqing came up the stairs, arms full of summer assignments. “Huang Qi, there’s someone at the gate asking for you; you should go.”

“Who is it?” Huang Qi’s first thought was Xiao Ying, but that seemed unlikely. He always declined to meet, so why would he show up now?

“It’s a little girl, waiting in the mailroom. You’ll know when you get there.”

It wasn’t Xiao Ying, but it was someone connected to him—his cousin Sasa. The little girl was still tanned and skinny, her hair in two neat ponytails, her lively eyes curiously scanning every corner of the campus.

When she saw Huang Qi, Sasa bounded over and, before Huang Qi could ask, blurted out, “Sister Qi! It’s me, Sasa! I’m transferring to Experimental Primary School for sixth grade next semester! I’m here early to catch up on English. I heard the high school is nearby, so I asked around and found you all by myself!”

Huang Qi let herself be pulled along, laughing, “You found your way here alone? That’s impressive!”

“Yeah! Now that we’ll be close, I can visit you all the time!” Sasa caught her breath after jumping around. “But I only dared come this far—any farther and I’d get lost. I want to go see Brother Xiao Ying. They say his school is an hour’s bus ride from here… Sister Qi, will you take me to see him?”

Huang Qi pulled her to the roadside. “Why do you want to see him? Don’t you two meet often?”

Sasa pouted sadly. “Brother Xiao Ying hardly ever comes home. I know he doesn’t like living with our parents… Since New Year, he’s only been home for Tomb Sweeping Day. I miss him so much! Doesn’t he miss me?”

Huang Qi found it odd, too. Xiao Ying didn’t go home on weekends, his school didn’t have extra classes, and he always said he was busy when she asked him out. What was he up to?

Sasa tugged at her sleeve, pleading, “Sister Qi, do you have time this afternoon? Come with me to see Brother Xiao Ying? My mom rented a place near school and watches me all the time, but I told her I had extra classes so I could sneak out. Please?”

Looking at her hopeful face, Huang Qi nodded. “Let’s go find him together.”

The two heroines set out at once. Huang Qi checked her pockets—she had enough money for bus fare. Conveniently, a bus to the university district pulled up, and she and Sasa hopped on.

After a year, the area around the Technical School was even more chaotic. The street outside was being demolished, dust hung in the air, and stubborn residents still lived among the ruins. Vendors selling snacks and clothes set up wherever they could, and the whole place was a cacophony of shouts and noise.

Huang Qi found the school gate by memory. This time, the campus was lively; boys played basketball on the field. The security guard stopped them. “You two aren’t from here, are you? What do you want? School’s closed for the break.”

Sasa piped up, “I’m here to see my brother. He’s in Class Three, a boarder. Uncle, do you know where the boys’ dormitory is?”

“The boys’ dorm? That’s Building Eleven. Walk west to the wall.” The guard gave them a meaningful look. “If you’ve got the guts, go ahead and look for him.”

Building Eleven was a shabby four-story block with wooden window frames, some panes patched with cardboard. Iron wires and bamboo poles jutted out, hung with boys’ vests and shorts. The main door stood open; no supervisors or guards were in sight. From the lobby, they could hear boys shouting and laughing, sometimes mixed with girls’ giggles. Shirtless boys walked by with washbasins, whistling at the girls.

Remembering her earlier experiences with the Technical School boys, Huang Qi gripped Sasa’s hand and stayed near the entrance.

The little girl, oblivious, looked around. “It’s so dirty and run-down. How can Brother Xiao Ying stand it? Hey, there’s a list by the stairs! Maybe it has names!”

“Stay with me, don’t wander,” Huang Qi said, pulling her back.

Sasa looked up, puzzled, but obediently stayed by her side.

After ten minutes, a neat, bespectacled boy emerged from the building. Huang Qi hurried over. “Excuse me, do you know which room the boys from Class Three are in?”

He stopped. “Everyone’s mixed together here, not by class. I know a few guys from Class Three. Who are you looking for?”

“Sha Zhouyin.”

The boy paused, studying them. “How are you related to him?”

From his tone, he knew Xiao Ying. Huang Qi brightened, but Sasa answered first, “I’m his cousin. His real cousin!”

“So he has family after all.” The boy’s expression cooled. “He always works part-time during breaks. Didn’t you know?”

“Part-time?” Huang Qi and Sasa exchanged glances. “Do you know where?”

“I heard he works at a construction site for some foreman named Uncle Biao or Uncle Bao. He goes over during lunchtime. It must be nearby. That’s all I know.”

They thanked him profusely. As they left, Sasa suddenly remembered, “Uncle Biao! During Tomb Sweeping Day, when Brother Xiao Ying came back to honor Aunt and Uncle, a man rode in on a motorcycle, and he called him Uncle Biao! But I can’t remember what he looked like. If only I’d asked him then.” She pulled at her braids in frustration.

Huang Qi straightened her hair. “It’s fine. If it’s nearby, we’ll check every street until we find him. We have plenty of time.”

Hand in hand, Sasa worried aloud, “Brother Xiao Ying is working on a construction site—does that mean he’s carrying bricks? He’s only four years older than me! It must be because my mom always complains about his school fees. He hardly ever comes home—where does he get his living expenses? Does he earn it all himself? Last time, he even bought me a set of paints and brushes that cost 180 yuan at the bookstore! How many bricks does he have to move for that?”

As she spoke, tears welled up and she followed Huang Qi, sobbing.

Huang Qi’s heart ached, but she tried to comfort her. “Don’t think your brother has it so rough. He’s very capable. Let’s find him first.”