Chapter 3: Reunion of Loved Ones

  The bell finally rang after a long wait, and twenty or thirty little brats cheered and rushed out of the classroom, shouting loudly and starting various "hand games".

  Liu Jia Shan Primary School doesn't have a basketball court or a ping-pong table, all recreational sports facilities are zero, can't you just use your bare hands?

  I slowly walked out of the classroom, staring blankly at my "classmates" who were wildly running and chasing each other on the playground, kicking up clouds of dust, and unwittingly curled up a bitter smile at the corner of my mouth.

  Is this going to be my entertainment for the next few years?

  In my previous life, whenever I had some free time, I would hide in the dormitory surfing the internet and chatting with friends from all over the world whose names and genders I didn't know. Or I would watch movies or play games. Despite this, I still felt lonely and unbearable, spending my days in a daze, with nothing but obscene thoughts in my mind, thinking about having a one-night stand to stimulate myself.

  Going back to 1976, computers were still nowhere to be seen.

  It's indeed as Li Yi'an said in one of his poems - "This time around, how can I express my worries?"

  "Hey - Xiao Jun!"

  A clear and crisp cry startled me out of my reverie.

  "Ah..."

  I casually responded with a sentence, looked up and oh my god, it was San Jie.

  At that time, San Jie was just a little girl under the age of ten, with two braids, and although I was confused about time and space, I still recognized her at a glance. In an instant, all my worries and annoyances were thrown far away, and my heart was so joyful that it seemed to be bursting.

  "Third sister, you're still here, that's really great..."

  I threw my arms around San Jie and was so happy I shouted and screamed.

  Not long ago, I was really worried that after crossing over, several sisters would disappear. Now it seems that this worry is unnecessary.

  My unexpectedly fervent reaction stunned San Jie, who hastily pushed me away and cried out: "Xiao Jun, Xiao Jun, what's wrong with you? What happened? Er Jie, Er Jie, come quickly..."

  Is second sister also here? Wow, so prosperous, haha!

  Second sister should be twelve years old this year, or maybe thirteen, can't remember exactly. It's really embarrassing, from the past life, I couldn't remember the birthdays and exact ages of several sisters. But in my memory, second sister is five to six years older than me, when I was in first grade, she should be in fifth grade. Liujiashan only has one elementary school, so she naturally attended this school as well. Eldest sister should be attending junior high school at the Commune Middle School this year.

  Second sister heard and ran over hastily, shouting: "What's wrong? What's wrong with Little Jun?"

  I immediately reacted and hurriedly smiled: "I'm fine, great. Second sister, third sister, why didn't you wait for me to go to school together this morning?"

  "Huh? Didn't I tell you earlier that we have class earlier than you and don't go to school together? How did you forget again?"

  The third sister is very strange.

  So that's how it is, I was worried for nothing.

  Second sister said: "Yes, Xiao Jun, anyway home to school is very close, you alone are not afraid?"

  "What's there to be afraid of?"

  "It doesn't matter."

  My second sister gently patted my head and asked: "Why don't you play with your classmates?"

  Heavens, it's always the case of "whichever pot is not opened, that's the one to be lifted". I'm a 40-year-old grown man, and yet I'm running around with a bunch of little brats, playing a game of eagle catching chickens? Spare me, Second Sister!

  The problem is, these little brats are really and truly my classmates.

  My head is killing me.

  I was just about to go out and have some fun.

  I spoke as I ran towards the playground, using the corner of my eye to glance at them, seeing that Second Sister and Third Sister were no longer paying attention to me. Immediately, I secretly made a turn, slipping behind a pillar in the school corridor, leaning against the pillar and starting to daydream.

  Heaven is really making things difficult for me, you have shown great mercy and allowed me to be reborn. I am grateful beyond words. However, please don't turn me back into a 7-year-old again! If only I could go back to being 17 years old, that would be wonderful! The problems of "difficult characters" and "1+1=2" that have been troubling me would be easily solved. In 1986, China was undergoing intense social change, with opportunities everywhere. At the age of 17, wouldn't I be able to make a great show of myself?

  I'm a bit suspicious that when God sent me through time and space, he slightly lost his mind and miscalculated the timing.

  I finally got through the four morning classes, and it's time for lunch break. I was so excited that I jumped high and rushed out of the classroom with my backpack on. Oh my god, I almost suffocated myself.

  As soon as I walked out of the classroom door, I was stopped by my second sister.

  She looked at me strangely: "Xiao Jun, what are you doing?"

  I found it even stranger: "Go home after school, okay? Second sister, aren't you going back for dinner?"

  As soon as I mentioned eating, I felt that my stomach was really hungry. Although I'm only a seven-year-old kid and don't eat much. But one roasted sweet potato is not enough to sustain me for too long.

  My second sister looked at me with an expression as if she didn't recognize me.

  Did I say something wrong?

  That's not right, is it? Shouldn't I be going home for lunch after school in the afternoon? I racked my brains to recall memories of elementary school from my past life, hoping to gain some inspiration.

  "Xiao Jun, lunch is always sent by Xiao Shu. We eat at school."

  My second sister walked over and touched my forehead while telling me the truth. She suspected that I might have a slight fever.

  How did this happen?

  Yes, I remember now. At that time, rural areas had dinner very late, breakfast was usually around 10 o'clock, lunch was between 2 to 3 pm, and as for dinner, it was truly a "night meal", if it wasn't dark, you wouldn't be able to eat.

  The school's schedule is uniformly regulated by the county, and the class schedule is arranged according to the county town's schedule. As a result, children have to eat lunch at school and then attend three more classes, usually getting out of school around 3 pm.

  "I'm fine, nothing's wrong."

  I dodged Second Sister's hand, muttering under my breath and walked back to the classroom with my head hung low.

  "Second sister, Xiao Jun, come quickly, Dad has brought lunch."

  The third sister suddenly ran over and shouted loudly.

  What? Dad came to deliver lunch? Didn't say that my little uncle would deliver lunch? In my memory, when I was a kid, my parents could only come home once in a while, and they usually worked outside.

  What's wrong? Did something unexpected happen after crossing over? Is Dad no longer a working personnel? That's terrible, life at home will be even harder.

  I couldn't bear it anymore, I randomly threw down my school bag and rushed out of the classroom like a fugitive.

  Heavens, it's really Dad.

  At that time, my father was really young, about thirty-six or seven years old, wearing a white shirt, looking spirited, carrying a bamboo basket, and smiling towards the three of us siblings.

  Unconsciously, my tears burst out like a flood of water.

  Why so excited?

  Because in my previous life, my father had passed away for two years. The feelings between us as father and son were very deep, after my father's passing, I often dreamed of him.

  I never thought I'd actually see my old man again, and to top it off, he's so young and handsome. As far as I recall, my dad died of a sudden heart attack on August 21st, 2007. Given this second chance at life, I'll naturally take precautions early on, how could I let that damned "sudden heart attack" knock him down again? Even if history is truly irreversible and he's still going to pass away in 2007, we've still got thirty years together!

  Heavens, you're really generous!

  Compared with being able to reunite with my father again after thirty years, what's a mere five-year elementary school "iron window"?

  My crying has confused both Dad and Second Sister and Third Sister.

  Dad hastily put down the bamboo basket, and with one hand, he picked me up and lifted my clothes to start examining my body.

  It seems that Dad misunderstood, thinking I was hurt somewhere and in severe pain. It's also true, how could he think that this son of his is now a man who has traveled back from 2009, and in terms of mental age, is several years older than him?

  I hastily wiped away tears and put on a smiling face, saying: "Dad, I'm fine, really fine. I'm happy."

  Dad didn't care, after carefully checking and making sure I wasn't hurt, he finally let out a long sigh of relief, smiled and said: "As long as Xiao Jun is fine, that's all that matters. You must be hungry, come on, everyone, let's eat."