First Position

Chapter Five – The School

“Keep them just for fun? And not eat them?” Ren Xiaosu was baffled. “That’s such a waste—this is good meat!”

“You wouldn’t understand the ways of the wealthy,” Old Wang chuckled. “They say that hundreds of years ago, the rich used to train hawks just for sport. Hawks are too big and dangerous now, so they’ve settled for sparrows instead. Just look at these—fierce little creatures. That’s the new fashion among the elite.”

Ren Xiaosu fell silent, contemplating. So even when most people couldn’t afford to fill their stomachs, the rich were already entertaining themselves by training sparrows...

“But you’ll have to pay extra for live ones,” he added. “These things are dangerous—they could scratch a man to death if you're not careful!”

Then, a thought struck Ren Xiaosu. The refugees outside the walls were deemed contaminated—yet were these sparrows not exposed as well? Or did the strongholds only need labor from the outside, while the walls served merely as a divide between the classes?

“High risks, high rewards,” Old Wang said with a smile. “If you can stay up all night training them, you’re not ordinary. Catch a live one and your fortune might turn—you won’t have to lift a finger for half a year. Ever thought of saving up to marry a wife?”

“Marry my ass,” Ren Xiaosu muttered irritably.

Old Wang leaned in conspiratorially. “The girl next door, Old Li’s daughter, attends school with your little brother, Six Yuan. She’s a proper young lady…”

“If that’s the case, shouldn’t I just sell my sparrow directly to Old Li then? Why would I need your help?” Ren Xiaosu turned to Yan Liuyuan. “You and that girl classmates?”

“Yes,” Yan nodded. “She’s… pretty sturdy.”

“Bah, get lost,” Old Wang scolded. “Forget I said anything. Kindness wasted on pigs!”

Just as Ren Xiaosu and Yan Liuyuan were about to turn the conversation into a comedic skit, Old Wang quickly changed the subject. “Remember, if you catch a live one next time, come straight to me.”

“Sure,” Ren Xiaosu nodded. It was risky, but not impossible. He glanced toward the shop. “How much for the cotton-padded coat?”

“Just in—500 per piece! You know the market. I paid 490 for them myself—I’m not making a cent on this. If it saves even one life from the cold, it's worth it.”

“Aren’t you the kind one,” Ren Xiaosu said absentmindedly. “Alright, give me one. Check what size Liuyuan needs.”

“You should get one too, brother,” Yan Liuyuan urged.

“Adults are speaking, kids stay quiet,” Ren Xiaosu frowned. “I’m not cold.”

Money was a precious thing. The corporations controlling the strongholds issued currency to facilitate trade—convenient, yes, but without money, survival became near impossible.

Winter was fast approaching, but still a month away. He figured he could delay buying one for himself, especially if he could catch more sparrows. More importantly, it was time for Yan Liuyuan to pay his monthly tuition.

Ren Xiaosu’s gaze drifted to the counter behind Old Wang. “How much for antibiotics?”

“You’re buying medicine?” Old Wang now noticed the blood seeping through the cloth on Ren Xiaosu’s hand. “You’re hurt? You better treat that before it gets infected!”

“I asked you the price!” Ren Xiaosu snapped.

“210 per pill,” Old Wang replied. “You’ll need a full course—three days. I’ll give you three pills for 620 and throw in a free dose of iodine. I’ve only got ten pills left.”

Ren Xiaosu hesitated. “Cut me a deal…”

“If you’re thinking of knocking off the zero at the end of 620, you can forget it,” Old Wang said sharply.

Ren Xiaosu smacked his lips, reluctantly turning his gaze away. “Forget it. In winter, infections aren’t common.”

He took Yan Liuyuan to school. On the way, they stopped at the grain store and bought a long, black loaf of bread. Its strange texture scraped his throat raw as he swallowed.

“Brother, maybe you should enroll too. You always say you want to study,” Yan Liuyuan said as he chewed.

“I have to hunt,” Ren Xiaosu replied. “Besides, Old Wang said your school’s got quite a few girls from decent families. You better not fall in love too early.”

“I heard people used to get married at thirteen or fourteen,” Yan Liuyuan retorted. He hadn’t thought much about love, but bickering with his brother always brought joy.

Finding joy in hardship—perhaps humanity’s greatest strength.

Ren Xiaosu lightly smacked the back of Liuyuan’s head. “You think it’s like the old days? You’re still a kid. Whoever you date now is just someone else’s wife in the future…”

He smacked his lips again. “Someone else’s wife… sounds oddly exciting…”

“What’re you saying, brother? I don’t get it,” Yan Liuyuan blinked innocently.

“Get lost, stop playing dumb,” Ren Xiaosu said, annoyed.

…

The school was the cleanest and most orderly place in town—also the only residence with a private courtyard. From the outside, one could see tidy rows of green onions, garlic shoots, potatoes, and cabbage growing inside.

Ren Xiaosu once thought schools should be planted with bamboo or something poetic, but in these times, food was hard to come by. A small garden was a blessing.

That was why his wish for Yan Liuyuan was to become a teacher one day—not because he revered the profession, but because teachers were safe, had private yards, and nobody dared steal from them. What a wonderful life that would be.

Ren Xiaosu’s dreams were, in general, quite… humble.

As Liuyuan entered to pay his tuition, Ren Xiaosu perched on the wall, listening to the reading voices from within. He couldn’t afford the fee, so eavesdropping was all he had.

Sometimes, the teacher would speak of the glories of past civilizations. Truth be told, he’d never seen that world himself—only heard stories passed down through generations, distorted over time.

Still, Ren Xiaosu was fascinated.

Often, he would ask Liuyuan about things he hadn’t fully understood. It annoyed Liuyuan, since failing to answer meant he hadn’t paid enough attention. So whenever his brother eavesdropped, Liuyuan studied extra hard.

And for some reason, Liuyuan had to admit—his brother looked pretty cool when he was focused on learning. No wonder Sister Xiaoyu liked him so much.

Inside, the teacher looked down at the dozing students, then glanced out the window at Ren Xiaosu perched on the wall. Turning to Liuyuan, he said, “Tell your brother he can come inside the courtyard to listen from now on.”

“Got it!” Liuyuan grinned from ear to ear.