Cafeteria Inspection

By this time, many who had ordered buns from Fang Chang'an had already finished eating. Over in Class Two, with no sign of the buns and no trace of Fang Ying, some who knew people from other classes couldn’t help but go over to take a look and ask around. When they returned, even those who hadn’t ordered began murmuring quietly.

“Do you think Fang Ying ran off with the money?”

“How could that be possible?”

“Maybe she went to buy them herself instead.”

“Wasn’t it supposed to be Fang Chang'an from Class Four going?”

“Fang Ying and Fang Chang'an are from the same village, aren’t they? Maybe they went together?”

“No, I just asked. Fang Chang'an didn’t even know anyone from our class had ordered anything.”

“Then Fang Ying must have gone by herself.”

“But why?”

“If you buy that many buns at once, you’ll probably get a discount. At least she’d eat for free—maybe that’s what Fang Ying is after.”

“Makes sense…”

“Then why did we ask Fang Chang'an to do it?”

“Why don’t you go yourself, then?”

“Me…?”

“She has to go so far every day to buy buns. It’s only fair if she gets a few extra out of it.”

“Oh, I’m not worried about that—I’m just starving!”

“Me too.”

Seventy buns, carried from the bike shed behind the teaching building up to the third floor, left Fang Ying short of breath and exhausted. As soon as she entered the classroom, several classmates called out to her:

“You’re here!”

“You finally made it!”

“What took you so long?”

“Fang Chang'an and the others have already finished eating!”

A boy helped take the bag from her. Fang Ying wiped the sweat from her brow, straightened up, and panted, “Sorry, sorry—I’m really late. I’m exhausted. Everyone, come get yours.”

There were only ten people in total, so Fang Ying handed them out quickly. But before she could finish, someone who’d just received their bun complained, “The buns are really small today.”

Someone else chimed in, “I think so too.”

“Fang Ying, where did you buy these?”

Fang Ying had noticed herself that these buns were smaller than the ones Fang Chang'an used to buy, but she wouldn’t admit it. “Aren’t they about the same? Come on, just eat. I came all this way to get them.”

Everyone had eaten buns from the street before—they knew these were normal, if a bit disappointing. No one pressed Fang Ying further.

But someone was curious and asked, “Fang Ying, did you get a discount for buying seventy buns?”

“Discount? I made this trip for nothing and I’m dead tired.”

There were sixty-six people in the class. Fang Ying bought seventy buns, gave away two, and ate six herself. However she looked at it, it didn’t seem worth it. She hesitated, thinking maybe she should let Fang Chang'an handle it from now on, but she couldn’t quite resign herself, so she wouldn’t admit to having gotten a good deal.

The others could see she wouldn’t admit it, so they let the matter drop. But none of them really believed she’d run errands without getting something out of it.

The last class of the morning was Chinese. During the lesson, Cheng Mengfei kept glancing at Fang Chang'an, looking at him so strangely he felt uneasy. Only after school did he finally understand why.

Shen Chengyan was waiting right outside the classroom!

Cheng Mengfei left the classroom, flashing a fawning smile at Shen Chengyan, but he ignored her, rolled his eyes, and headed straight for the office. Shen Chengyan didn’t pay her any mind and, standing by the window, gestured for Fang Chang'an to come over.

Shen Mo was just about to tell Fang Chang'an she was leaving when she followed his gaze and saw her uncle outside, her eyes widening in surprise.

Seeing Shen Chengyan beckon, she thought he was calling her. She hurriedly said to Fang Chang'an, “I’m off!” then dashed out of the classroom and up to Shen Chengyan, calling sweetly, “Uncle, what brings you here?”

Shen Chengyan smiled, “I’m here for Fang Chang'an. You go find your aunt.”

Shen Mo hadn’t expected that after running over, it wasn’t her he wanted. She pouted in indignation. Just then, Fang Chang'an called out, “Uncle Shen,” and walked over. She turned to look at him, then turned away, making it clear she was displeased.

Shen Chengyan laughed, “Come on, let’s have lunch in your cafeteria.”

Fang Chang'an smiled. “All right, I’ll risk my life to keep Uncle company.”

“Is it that dramatic?” Shen Chengyan chuckled, then said to Shen Mo, “Come, let’s find your aunt first.”

Shen Mo thought for a moment, then let her uncle take her hand. Together they walked to the office at the end of the corridor, Fang Chang'an on Shen Chengyan’s other side. It looked for all the world like two children being led by a parent.

Fang Ying sat at her desk, still undecided about whether she should keep reselling buns. She suddenly saw Fang Chang'an walk past the window and instinctively wanted to call out, but thought better of it—it was just after school, too many people around to talk. She decided to wait for a quieter moment to ask him where he got his buns.

Fang Chang'an and Shen Mo followed Shen Chengyan to the office. Cheng Mengfei had just picked up her keys and bag. She looked as if she was still a bit annoyed at Shen Chengyan, but in front of the two children, she didn’t show it.

Shen Chengyan smiled and asked, “Are you going home?”

“What else? What about Momo?”

Her tone was tinged with emotion, but she soon sighed, her gaze a little helpless, though with a touch of tenderness. “I’ll take Momo to Mom’s and then come back. Order me some food.”

Shen Chengyan hesitated. “Never mind, I’ll just try it for myself. You won’t like it.”

“How would you know if I haven’t tried it?” Cheng Mengfei huffed, then softened. “If you can eat it, so can I.”

Fang Chang'an hadn’t expected to be force-fed dog food at such a young age and secretly made a face.

Just then Shen Mo asked, “Auntie, are you both having lunch in the cafeteria?”

Before anyone could answer, she added excitedly, “Can I come too?”

Cheng Mengfei bent down, patted her head, and smiled, “Go home for lunch. I’ll take you.”

Shen Mo pouted, “But I want to go. I’ve never eaten in the cafeteria… Wait, I ate lunch at school in elementary school. It was delicious.”

“That’s not the same.”

Cheng Mengfei was about to persuade her, but Shen Chengyan said, “Let her come if she’s curious. It’s no harm.”

Cheng Mengfei still wanted to object, but finally just sighed. Turning to Fang Chang'an and Shen Mo, she said, “All right, let’s go. My treat.”

Fang Chang'an laughed, “Teacher Cheng, I’m half a host in the cafeteria. Let me treat you. It’s much cheaper than eating outside.”

Cheng Mengfei shot him a glare. “With adults here, it’s not your place to pay.”

Fang Chang'an made a face, and Shen Mo stifled a giggle.

The four of them went downstairs together. As they walked past the moon gate outside the cafeteria, Chang Wei, Zhao Xu, Liu Yan, and a few others were just coming out. Seeing Fang Chang'an, they instinctively greeted him, but when they noticed Cheng Mengfei and Shen Chengyan beside him, they all looked surprised.

Chang Wei recognized Shen Chengyan, and last time at the school gate he’d also seen Cheng Mengfei. Liu Yan and Zhao Xu had heard about them from Chang Wei. All of them were startled—never expecting to encounter them here, they even forgot to speak.

Fang Chang'an waved at them; Chang Wei and the others hurriedly waved back, watching as the four went through the moon gate, not daring to say a word.

“Isn’t that…?” Zhao Xu whispered to Chang Wei, glancing back at Fang Chang'an and the others.

Chang Wei nodded but didn’t reply. Liu Yan asked, “Why did Fang Chang'an bring them here?”

Zhao Xu shook his head.

Chang Wei watched as Fang Chang'an led the three into the cafeteria, then turned to Liu Yan and the others with an expression of deep gravity, as if facing a great event. “Did you forget what Fang Chang'an said last night?”

Zhao Xu and Liu Yan exchanged bewildered glances. The other two boys hadn’t been there last night and looked even more confused.

“Are you all pigs?” Chang Wei muttered, lowering his voice. “Fang Chang'an said if we keep this up, the cafeteria won’t allow it when they find out. We need connections…”

He nodded meaningfully, his tone mysterious and deep. “Understand now?”

Whether they understood or not, all four realized this must be something significant and nodded in turn.

—

Meanwhile, Shen Chengyan was asking Fang Chang'an, “How much do you get for pocket money each day?”

Fang Chang'an hesitated. “Normally about two yuan.”

Both Shen Mo and Cheng Mengfei looked a little surprised. Shen Chengyan seemed taken aback as well, though he didn’t show it, and just said, “So, one yuan at most for lunch, I’ll stick to that.”

Fang Chang'an smiled, “Uncle Shen, not every student is as poor as me. It’s fine to spend a little more; no need to help Teacher Cheng save money.”

Cheng Mengfei laughed and gently poked his head with a finger, pretending to scold him. “Heartless boy!”

Fang Chang'an grinned sheepishly. “It’s just that I haven’t had a good meal in the cafeteria yet. I don’t want Teacher Cheng or Shen Mo to go hungry.”

It was not long after school, and the long tables under the awning outside were already full of students. Inside was even more crowded. Cheng Mengfei didn’t want to squeeze in, and Shen Chengyan didn’t want his wife to either, so he said, “Let’s wait and see what everyone else is eating.”

He observed the students’ trays: most had a plate of vegetables and two steamed buns stuck together. The dishes were mostly greens, potatoes, and thick glass noodles, all cut roughly and stir-fried in water with barely any oil.

It hardly whetted the appetite.

Cheng Mengfei asked quietly, “How much for a plate of vegetables?”

“Fifty cents for a vegetarian dish, one yuan for meat. Two steamed buns together cost forty cents.”

Cheng Mengfei nodded, saying nothing, but seemed to sigh softly.

Shen Mo stared wide-eyed at the students eating around her, her bright eyes filled with curiosity and questions.

Many students nearby were also sizing up the four of them. Shen Chengyan and Cheng Mengfei were both strikingly well-dressed, especially Cheng Mengfei, who was dazzling in her beauty. Shen Mo, though still a child, was delicate and fair as porcelain. By contrast, Fang Chang'an, though he stood tall, looked a little shabby in his clothes.

They stood waiting for quite a while until the crowd inside thinned a bit. Only then did Shen Chengyan and Cheng Mengfei each take a child by the hand and go inside.

There were two cafeterias, and the one outside was to the right of the entrance. Among a bunch of students, Shen Chengyan and Cheng Mengfei stood out. The moment they entered, the boss noticed them. While serving students, he greeted them warmly, “Take a look, what would you like?”

Shen Chengyan glanced at the selection. The only meat dish was spicy chicken, which was really just chicken stir-fried with chili peppers. The rest were stir-fried potatoes and cabbage. He ordered one meat dish, two vegetarian dishes, and two big steamed buns. He set them down at an empty spot, then said, “I’ll go check inside.”

Cheng Mengfei took out a napkin to wipe the bench but found it coated in grime. She frowned. “I’ll come too.”

Shen Chengyan nodded. “You two wait here,” he said to Fang Chang'an and Shen Mo.

The couple went inside together. Shen Mo glanced at Fang Chang'an, then at the bench and her brand-new white dress, hesitating. Fang Chang'an just smiled and said nothing.

She looked at him again, then slowly sat down, smoothing her skirt. She took the chopsticks from Fang Chang'an and examined them before looking up at him with a hint of grievance, whispering, “Is there a cleaner pair?”

Fang Chang'an sat beside her, shaking his head with a smile.

The little girl pouted, picked up a thick slice of potato, stared at it for several seconds, opened her mouth, but couldn’t muster the courage to eat it. Still holding the slice, she turned to Fang Chang'an for help, looking utterly helpless.

Fang Chang'an smiled and opened his mouth wide. “Aah—”