“Sigh…” I responded absentmindedly, then looked up—My God, it was Third Sister.

At this time, Third Sister was just a girl of less than ten, with two pigtails. Even though time and space were all mixed up, I recognized her at a glance. In an instant, all my worries and gloom were thrown to the winds, and my heart was bursting with joy.

“Third Sister, so you’re still here, that’s wonderful…” I hugged Third Sister tightly, shouting and laughing with happiness.

Not long ago, I had really been worried that after time-traveling, my sisters might all be gone. Now it seemed that worry was unnecessary.

My unexpectedly enthusiastic reaction left Third Sister completely bewildered. She quickly pushed me away and shouted, “Little John, Little John, what’s wrong with you? What happened? Second SisterSecond Sister, come quick…” Second Sister is here too? Wow, I’ve hit the jackpot, haha!

Second Sister should be twelve this year, maybe thirteen—I can’t remember exactly. Honestly, it’s embarrassing; in my previous life, I could never remember my sisters’ birthdays or exact ages. But as far as I recall, Second Sister is five or six years older than me. When I was in first grade, she should have been in fifth. There was only one elementary school in Liujia Mountain, so of course she went there too. Big Sister should be in junior high at the commune’s middle school this year.

Hearing the commotion, Second Sister ran over, calling, “What’s going on? What’s wrong with Little John?” I snapped back to my senses and quickly smiled, “I’m fine, really. Second Sister, Third Sister, why didn’t you wait for me to go to school together this morning?”

“Huh? Didn’t I tell you before? Our classes start earlier than yours, so we don’t go to school with you. Did you forget again?” Third Sister said, puzzled.

So that’s how it was. I’d worried for nothing.

Second Sister said, “Yeah, Little John, anyway, home is close to school. You’re not scared to go alone, are you?”

“Not at all, what’s there to be afraid of?”

“As long as you’re not scared.” Second Sister affectionately patted my head and asked, “Why aren’t you playing with your classmates?” Oh man, talk about hitting a sore spot. I’m a forty-year-old man—running around with a bunch of little kids, playing tag or ‘Eagle Catches Chicks’? Spare me, Second Sister!

The problem is, these little kids really are my classmates, no doubt about it.

My head was pounding.

“I was just about to go play.” I said as I ran toward the playground, glancing out of the corner of my eye to make sure Second Sister and Third Sister weren’t watching me anymore. Then I quickly turned and slipped behind a pillar in the school corridor, leaning against it and spacing out.

Heavens, you really have a sense of humor. You’ve shown great mercy by letting me be reborn, and I, John Walker, am deeply grateful. But did you have to send me back to when I was seven? If only I could be ten years older, wouldn’t that be great? All those troublesome “new words” and “1+1=2” problems would be a breeze. In 1986, the country was going through dramatic social changes, opportunities everywhere—if I were seventeen, wouldn’t that be the perfect time to shine?

I can’t help but suspect that when Heaven sent me back, there was a moment of distraction and the timing got messed up.

After painfully enduring four morning classes, it was finally time for the midday break. I was so happy I jumped for joy, grabbed my backpack, and dashed out of the classroom. Good grief, I was about to suffocate.

But I’d barely taken a few steps out the door when Second Sister called me back.

She looked at me strangely. “Little John, what are you doing?” I was even more puzzled. “Going home for lunch, of course. Second Sister, aren’t you going home to eat?” As soon as I mentioned food, I realized I really was hungry. Even though I was just a seven-year-old kid with a small appetite, a roasted sweet potato wasn’t enough to last long.

Second Sister looked at me as if she didn’t recognize me.

Did I say something wrong?

No, I don’t think so, right? Isn’t it normal to go home for lunch after school? I racked my brain for memories of first grade, hoping for a clue.

“Little John, lunch is brought by uncle. We eat at school.” Second Sister told me the truth as she walked over and felt my forehead. She probably suspected I had a fever.

How could this be?

Wait, now I remember. Back then, people in the countryside ate late—breakfast was usually around ten, lunch in the afternoon between two and three, and as for dinner, that was truly “night meal”—you wouldn’t eat before dark, no way.

But the school’s schedule was set by the county, following the county town’s timetable. So the kids had to eat lunch at school, then have three more classes, and school would end around three in the afternoon.

“I’m fine, really.” I dodged Second Sister’s hand, muttered under my breath, and dejectedly returned to the classroom.

“Second Sister, Little John, come quick, Dad’s here with lunch!” Third Sister suddenly ran over, shouting.

What? Dad’s bringing lunch? Wasn’t it supposed to be uncle? In my memory, when I was little, Dad and Mom could only come home every so often—they usually worked away from home.

Could something have changed after I time-traveled? Is Dad not working anymore? That would be bad—life at home would be even tougher.

No time to think, I tossed my backpack aside and dashed out of the classroom.

Oh my God, it really was Dad.