The school’s National Day holiday lasted from September 30th to October 7th. During this period, Jiang Yubai declined his parents’ proposal to take him on a vacation to Hainan Island. He had arranged a schedule for himself with four mathematics classes every day.

He persisted with his exercise routine, went to bed early and rose early, studied diligently, and strived to enrich himself in the limited time available. He was full of upward spirit and fighting will, but his mathematics tutor couldn’t keep up.

The math tutor tactfully said to him: “Relaxation is also part of life.”

Jiang Yubai maintained a skeptical attitude: “Is it?”

The math tutor smiled and earnestly advised: “You are the smartest of all the students I’ve taught. When you grow up, you’ll discover the importance of balancing work and life.”

“Have you ever met a genius?” Jiang Yubai explained, “My deskmate is a genius.”

The teacher smiled: “A little genius who can get first place in every exam?”

Jiang Yubai gazed toward the garden outside the window, where lush leaves swayed in the wind. He suddenly said: “Teacher, exams are not the only evaluation standard.”

The teacher smiled more heartily: “Sometimes, you are like a little adult. Well, enough digression, let’s return to the specific applications of fractional equations…” He used a marker to write equations on the blackboard. At this moment, someone suddenly knocked on the study door.

The wooden door of the study was slightly ajar, and Jiang Shaoqi stepped forward. Jiang Shaoqi was Jiang Yubai’s uncle, yet only twenty-four years old this year. Having heard that his nephew had been cooped up at home studying these past few days, he planned to take his nephew out for some fun.

Jiang Shaoqi wore casual clothes, a black baseball cap on his head, and black gloves on his hands. He was tall with long legs, his eyes filled with smiles, looking just like a handsome young college student.

Jiang Yubai politely greeted: “Hello, Uncle.”

“Your dad and mom are vacationing in Hainan,” Jiang Shaoqi sighed, “and they’ve left you all alone at home. Even your grandparents couldn’t bear to hear it. Today, your uncle—the best uncle in the world—that is, me, will take you out for a spin.”

Jiang Yubai waved his hand: “No, Uncle. I want to stay home and study.”

“No, you’re coming out with me.” Jiang Shaoqi walked over. He whispered a few words to the tutor, who repeatedly agreed, constantly saying philosophical things like “holidays are for relaxation,” “children shouldn’t be too tired,” “Rome wasn’t built in a day, and mathematics can’t be learned in one day,” and so on.

Then, the teacher hurriedly packed his bag, thanked Jiang Shaoqi, and ran away as if his feet were greased, jubilantly escaping from the Jiang family estate.

Jiang Shaoqi pulled over a wooden chair, sat down beside Jiang Yubai, and said helplessly: “You, child, forcing the teacher to give lessons every day, do you know how exhausted you’ve made him? This is the first time I’ve seen a teacher happier than the student when class ends.”

Jiang Yubai stood up silently. He held a cup of clear tea and walked on the deep red, soft carpet.

This spacious study belonged to Jiang Yubai. There were fourteen rows of bookshelves inside, each set of shelves made from quality mahogany, with corners carved with meander palm leaf patterns and inlaid with dark green jade.

It is said that the tradition of embedding gems into furniture originated in Italy. In medieval Italy, “pietredure” meant both gemstones and referred to furniture studded with gems.

Jiang Shaoqi questioned: “Jiang Yubai, you think the bookshelf looks good, so you just stand there, ignoring your uncle?”

Jiang Yubai answered: “I’m thinking.”

Jiang Shaoqi asked again: “Thinking about what?”

“More efficient ways to study,” Jiang Yubai honestly replied.

Jiang Shaoqi laughed: “Learning is an abstract concept, not necessarily achieved in a study. Come, go out with your uncle today, broaden your horizons.”

Jiang Yubai’s father had inherited the family business, while Jiang Shaoqi was the first violin in a top orchestra.

In Jiang Yubai’s eyes, his uncle was very different from his father. His uncle was freer, more able to act according to his nature. His uncle could ignore everything else and focus solely on practicing the violin, becoming the youngest first violin in the history of his orchestra.

Today, his uncle asked him: “Jiang Yubai, would you like to visit a new industrial park? The industrial park that officially went into production a few years ago has seen continually rising profits these two years, and your father is very pleased.”

Jiang Yubai took a sip of clear tea before asking: “Has Dad started a new company?”

“Not exactly…” Jiang Shaoqi briefly answered, “Many companies in this park are controlled by your father, and there are also two foreign cooperative enterprises. The actual shareholder is not necessarily the actual controller, you understand this principle, right?”

Jiang Yubai turned his head to look at his uncle: “Uncle, as a first violin, do you also have to…”

Jiang Shaoqi guessed what Jiang Yubai meant. He chuckled lightly and answered cheerfully: “Yes, your uncle also makes some investments regularly. But my pressure is far less than your father’s. Ah, your father was born ten years before me and has endured much more hardship. Fortunately, I’m his brother, so I don’t have to bear as many responsibilities… This holiday, he goes on vacation, and I come to help him take care of his child! Well, come to think of it, I’m not just a good uncle, I’m also a good brother!”

He was self-satisfied and full of confidence.

Jiang Yubai pondered for a moment and decided to visit the industrial park with his uncle.

First, Jiang Yubai indeed had never seen the new park. Second, he felt that spending more time with his uncle might help him learn that inexplicable confidence his uncle possessed—Einstein once said: “Confidence is the first step toward success.”

Before leaving, Jiang Yubai brought his camera.

*

At one o’clock in the afternoon, Jiang Shaoqi took Jiang Yubai to an industrial park in the suburbs.

As the first violin of a top orchestra, Jiang Shaoqi took extreme care of his hands. Jiang Shaoqi’s hands could be described as flawless, with long fingers, distinct knuckles, and tendons extending to the back of his hands, containing both the strength characteristic of masculinity and an elegant beauty that transcended gender.

When Jiang Shaoqi went out, no matter how hot the weather was, he would definitely wear gloves.

He also extended a hand to Jiang Yubai: “Don’t run off, you must stay with your uncle.”

Jiang Yubai took Jiang Shaoqi’s hand with slight hesitation: “I’m 9 years old, I won’t get lost.”

“Why do you always… not act like a child in front of your uncle?” Jiang Shaoqi suddenly asked him, “You seem not to trust your uncle much.”

Jiang Yubai casually answered: “Because uncle is an adult.”

Jiang Shaoqi smiled and squatted in front of him: “Although I’m twenty-four and have been an adult for a while, I still have a childlike heart. Why can’t you treat me like one of your school friends? Don’t you feel that your uncle and you have a lot in common?”

“I don’t know,” Jiang Yubai perfunctorily replied.

Jiang Shaoqi patted his nephew’s head: “You truly are my brother’s son. I heard that my brother was also a bit precocious when he was young.”

“I’m very lively at school,” Jiang Yubai defended himself.

“Really?” Jiang Shaoqi questioned him, “Do many children play with you?”

Jiang Yubai cited a specific example: “My deskmate said I’m her best friend.” After giving this example, Jiang Yubai paused in his breathing. How could he use Lin Zhixia as a typical case of “best friend” to tell his uncle?

Jiang Shaoqi made an exaggerated “wow” sound: “Impressive! Just one month into the school year, and you already have a best friend. As expected of my nephew, such good social skills.”

The industrial park’s receptionist, department manager, workshop security, and others all followed Jiang Shaoqi. They wore uniforms and held walkie-talkies, occasionally saying a word or two into them. The department manager was a tall woman in her forties, rather thin, and efficient in her work. She told Jiang Shaoqi: “The factory has been on rotating shifts these days, with fewer workshop employees than usual, but the production line hasn’t stopped.”

In truth, Jiang Shaoqi knew nothing about factories, workshops, or production.

He could only pretend to be thoughtful, nodding repeatedly: “Good, very good.”

He also squatted down to ask Jiang Yubai: “Little Jiang, what do you think?”

Little Jiang raised his camera: “Can I take pictures?”

The department manager smiled and responded: “Of course. Would you like to give me your camera, and I’ll take photos for you?”

Jiang Yubai politely declined the manager. He stood on the second-floor circular glass corridor, looking down at the sterile cold filling production line on the first floor. He discovered that the “strawberry milk” that Lin Zhixia loved to drink came from these massive machines. He also saw several employees in blue protective suits walking within the workshop. Glass partitions crisscrossed, dividing the first-floor production area into seven major sections.

The air carried no trace of food scent, only a cold sensation conveyed by steel plates, glass, and the humming of machines.

Jiang Yubai pressed the shutter, taking a photograph.

“Our company has ranches in four provinces nationwide, with our logistics, storage, and complete supply chain management,” the department manager introduced, “We ensure the safety of milk sources from the roots…”

She led the way at the front, and when Jiang Yubai crossed the threshold, she bent down to remind him: “Slowly, be careful, this way please.”

Jiang Yubai felt a bit uncomfortable. He wasn’t used to people lowering themselves before him, though he knew this might be what adults called “respect.”

Jiang Yubai held his uncle’s hand with his left hand, carried the camera with his right, and continued to follow the manager, receptionist, and the group forward.

Ahead was the production garden for yogurt, condensed milk, ice cream, and other dairy products. The dairy products produced in the park would be transported to supermarkets and wholesalers in this province and other provinces. Glancing around, Jiang Yubai spotted the yogurt he drank every morning. He pointed to a plastic sign and said: “This is good.”

“We’ve prepared gift bags,” the manager immediately responded.

The food park was just a small part of this industrial park, surrounded by pharmaceutical factories, auto parts factories, storage equipment factories, and precision instrument manufacturing companies. As the sky gradually darkened, and the sunset was falling, Jiang Yubai hadn’t had time to visit the “precision instruments” before his uncle had to take him home.

Besides leaving with many photographs, Jiang Yubai also received a gift bag. The bag contained a cat plush toy, a box of dairy pastries, a gold-stamped fortune card, and four bottles of yogurt—clearly, the yogurt was added later.

The evening glow was as red as a burning fire. Jiang Yubai held the bag, gazing at the vast industrial park, seemingly lost in thought. After a while, he said softly: “When I grow up, I will work hard like Dad.”

The cool breeze messed up his hair.

His uncle Jiang Shaoqi was deeply moved.

Jiang Shaoqi raised one hand and put it around Jiang Yubai’s shoulders: “You are a good child, and your uncle is such a good educator. I’ve only taught you for a short day, and you already know how to understand your father, work hard, maintain family honor, and build a better tomorrow. Good, very good, worthy of being our family’s child.”

After expressing his feelings, Jiang Shaoqi thought Jiang Yubai would argue with him again.

But this time, Jiang Yubai showed no intention of rebutting. He smiled, looked up at his uncle, and responded: “Yes.”