Han Xiaorui nodded and said with emotion, "This is also why I didn’t want to leave after the divorce. Yang Jianming is a piece of trash, but Pingping and An’an’s grandfather is a good man."
"I heard that raising small animals can help with a child’s autism, so he had chickens, ducks, geese, cats, and dogs sent over in the afternoon."
"He’s really putting his heart into it," Han Xiaoqing said with a smile, encouraging Han Xiaorui. "Sis, don’t be afraid. Everything will be alright."
After dinner, she washed up the two children, went to the bedroom early, and coaxed them to sleep.
Han Xiaorui opened the picture book Expert Wang had lent her. With a little cutie on each side, she slowed her speech, softened her voice, and enunciated each word as clearly as possible.
Halfway through the book, Pingping and An’an fell asleep.
Han Xiaorui kissed her little babies’ chubby cheeks and adjusted their sleeping positions to make them more comfortable.
Walking out into the living room, Han Xiaorui stretched lazily. Once her mind relaxed, a wave of exhaustion washed over her.
Han Xiaoqing was in the living room, flipping through the book from Expert Wang while writing down the words her two nieces had said that day in a notebook.
Han Xiaorui was slightly taken aback. "Xiao Jing, I’ve realized you’re even more meticulous than I am."
Han Xiaoqing smiled, a little embarrassed. "Back then, I applied to East China Normal University, but I didn’t get in. I wanted to be a teacher, but I never got the chance."
"Now, with Pingping and An’an, my wish to be a teacher has come true. Sis, don’t worry. I can help you take good care of Pingping and An’an. Don’t rush, and don’t be impatient."
Han Xiaorui suddenly thought of something. She blinked, a question forming in her mind. ’Xiao Jing, I remember your grades used to be excellent. Getting into East China Normal University should have been no problem. Could it be that the exam was really hard and you didn’t perform well?’
A bitter look appeared in Han Xiaoqing’s eyes. She scratched her head. "During the exam, I answered all the questions. They weren’t any harder than the ones on our usual practice tests."
"But when school started, I never received an acceptance letter. And you know how Mom and Dad are—they scolded me all day, saying school was useless and just a waste of money. I couldn’t stand it at home, so I packed my things and came to you, and I’ve been working here ever since."
Han Xiaorui patted her sister’s shoulder encouragingly. "If you want to study and further your education, there are other ways. Don’t worry for now. Once I find someone to help, you can go to night school. You can get a technical school diploma that way."
In those days, the diplomas from night school training were highly valued.
But opportunities like that were usually reserved for people from good work units or those with connections.
Ordinary people couldn’t even dream of attending; they wouldn’t even hear about them before all the spots were snapped up internally.
Han Xiaoqing was optimistic, and in turn, she comforted Han Xiaorui. "Sis, if I were still back home, I might have felt bitter. But here in a place like Shencheng, there are so many more opportunities. I could make more money just finding a spot to sell scallion pancakes than I ever could back home. Things will definitely get better and better for us!"
Han Xiaorui smiled and nodded. "Yes, better and better. I’ve already tidied up the large bedroom next to mine for you. Get some rest."
"Okay!" Han Xiaoqing nodded. She hugged her books and went back to her room, wanting to continue reading.
Back in her room, lying next to her children with her sister’s help, Han Xiaorui felt one step closer to her goal of sea fishing.
Early the next morning, after breakfast and feeding the chickens, ducks, and geese, Han Xiaorui took her sister and two daughters, got into Song Sixth’s minivan, and headed straight for the hospital.
The sisters, Han Xiaorui and Han Xiaoqing, were both tall, standing no shorter than five-foot-six. They had lovely features and were strikingly beautiful.
The original Han Xiaorui had suffered from depression. Worrying about her two daughters, combined with her husband’s infidelity and her mother-in-law’s torment, had left her incredibly thin.
At five-foot-six, she had weighed less than ninety pounds.
Now that she was Han Xiaorui, the tough woman from the apocalypse, she was eating well, drinking well, and sleeping well. In just two days, she had gained a pound.
Although Han Xiaoqing worked hard at the factory, her spirit wasn’t broken. At nineteen, she wore her hair in two braided pigtails. Since she didn’t get much sun, her skin was fair.
Wearing her sister’s old clothes, she had a completely different air about her.
Expert Wang was very pleased to see Han Xiaorui arrive early with her children. "Xiao Han, how were the kids after they went home yesterday?"
Han Xiaorui opened her sister’s notebook. "Expert Wang, this is my sister, Han Xiaoqing. From now on, she’ll be the one bringing the children for their intervention classes. I need to work and earn money to provide for them financially."
"My sister is very meticulous. This is what she recorded yesterday based on the children’s behavior. They made more eye contact and said ’Mama,’ ’eat shrimp,’ ’Grandpa,’ ’thank you’..."
Expert Wang saw the elegant handwriting in the notebook and was stunned as she read the notes carefully.
The notebook detailed the children’s behavior in exhaustive detail and even included a summary.
"Excellent," Expert Wang praised. "Xiao Han, both you and your sister are very dedicated. Believe me, as long as you put in the effort, the intervention will be very effective for your children."
This field was still a blank slate in the country. She had started paying attention to it in 1980, later going abroad to study and conduct research. After careful observation of her surroundings, she discovered there were many children around with similar issues.
It was just that many people didn’t realize that the condition could be improved through scientific intervention and treatment, so they let the children be.
Han Xiaorui nodded. "Yes, Expert Wang. We will definitely cooperate with the treatment."
During the class, Han Xiaoqing kept her eyes glued to the small glass window on the door.
She observed very closely and was thrilled to discover that her two nieces could actually understand most of the doctors’ instructions and were able to follow them.
The doctors’ questioning methods and the training exercises they had the children do were also targeted, not just random.
To better understand the connections, Han Xiaoqing took the initiative to borrow books from Expert Wang. However, there were too few related books available in the country; Expert Wang only had English versions.
"Expert Wang, I’ve studied English. For any words I don’t know, I’ll look them up in a dictionary," Han Xiaoqing said with a smile. "If there’s anything I don’t understand, I’ll ask for your guidance."
Expert Wang couldn’t have been happier to see such a dedicated parent. She quickly lent Han Xiaoqing two books. "Alright. When you finish these, come back and swap them for more."
"Thank you!" Han Xiaoqing bowed to Expert Wang, deeply grateful. These foreign books looked very expensive at a glance.
While Han Xiaoqing was accompanying the children in class, Han Xiaorui ran to the main gate and handed the gatekeeper a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes.
The gatekeeper, Uncle Liu, was taken aback and didn’t accept the cigarettes. "What can I do for you, young lady?"
Han Xiaorui smiled. "Uncle Liu, I’m looking to hire a car long-term, and I wanted to ask you about the ’turtle car’ drivers at the hospital gate. Do you know which ones have a good character and are trustworthy?"
When Uncle Liu heard it wasn’t anything serious, he reached out, took the cigarettes from Han Xiaorui, and tucked them into his pocket. He chuckled. "You came to the right person for that. I’ve been the gatekeeper here for thirty years."
"Wait a moment. I’ll introduce you to a distant nephew of mine from my clan. He’s been driving fares from the hospital gate for three years. Si Hai, come over here."
Just then, a dark-skinned, middle-aged man in his forties hurried over from his car. "Uncle, what can I do for you?"
Uncle Liu had pulled some strings to help him buy his car, so his attitude was especially respectful.
Hearing this, Han Xiaorui actually felt relieved.
Someone whose background was known wouldn’t dare to cause any trouble, for the sake of his job.