The two of them discussed some specific work arrangements and then parted ways. Henry Faulkner returned to his team to assign the tasks for this stage. At present, the relationship between the country and its southern neighbor was a bit tense, and Henry Faulkner's factory was supplying strategic materials to the navy, so new tasks kept coming down, with the heaviest burden falling on the final assembly section. Naturally, the greatest pressure was on the main team, which was the one Henry Faulkner was in charge of.

Being prepared for a rainy day, Henry Faulkner naturally understood the importance of maintaining morale. No matter who took on the role of director, the work had to be done well first! This understanding was something no one would disagree with.

What happened next was no surprise. In those days, cadres didn’t have much to gain, so the competition Edward Faulkner imagined simply didn’t exist. Seeing Henry Faulkner willing to take on the responsibility, the factory leaders were relieved. After all, the final assembly workshop was the most critical part of the factory, and no one wanted to see it entrusted to the wrong person. Now, at last, there was an answer. The workers in the workshop also supported Henry Faulkner becoming the new director. Having a leader with many years of technical experience and good character was far better than having someone who knew nothing and only caused trouble.

When Edward Faulkner, who was diligently working on self-improvement, heard that his father had become the director, he didn’t react much, as if it was only natural. After all, he had risked being seen as a weirdo to earnestly persuade them; it couldn’t have all been for nothing.

What Edward Faulkner cared about most now was that he was almost old enough to start kindergarten.

What to do? That was the question!

Thinking about being penned up in kindergarten with a bunch of ignorant little kids dragging long, snotty noses, subjected to the torment of strange aunties, Edward Faulkner felt a mix of emotions. After thinking it over for a long time, he decided he had to do something about it. He couldn’t just suffer through it—after all, he was someone who had been reborn, wasn’t he?

While Edward Faulkner was worrying, Henry Faulkner and Grace Bolton were also troubled about whether Edward Faulkner should go to kindergarten.

The couple knew exactly what kind of child their son was. From birth, he was different from other kids, and as he grew, he seemed like a little adult. What’s more, he actually had independent thinking skills and could analyze, judge, and even offer advice on adult matters! Just thinking about it made Henry Faulkner and Grace Bolton a little scared!

If you put a little lamb among lions, the lamb might be influenced by the lions and become braver. But if you put a little lion among sheep, the lion would only become as docile as the sheep and would never surpass what it once was.

That was exactly Edward Faulkner's situation. Henry Faulkner and Grace Bolton discussed it for a long time but couldn’t come up with a good solution. But one thing was very clear to both of them: sending Edward Faulkner to kindergarten would only ruin the child!

“But what else can we do if we don’t send him to kindergarten? Your vacation is almost over; you can’t just not go to work.” Henry Faulkner said to Grace Bolton, troubled.

Both of them had answered the call to support national construction and military industry, coming alone to this newly built city, so there was no family to help take care of the child. If they really had to keep Edward Faulkner at home, there was only one way: Grace Bolton would have to quit her job. After all, taking long-term leave wasn’t a solution, and the workplace and colleagues would have opinions.

“Don’t worry, I’ll just go to school with Mom.” While the couple was still fretting, Edward Faulkner ran in from outside and solved their dilemma with a single sentence.

Chapter 9: Spring Draws Near

Edward Faulkner had a very shrewd plan.

He certainly couldn’t let his mother Grace Bolton give up her job just to look after him. If she lost her job, she would probably regret it in the future.

Right now, prices were very stable, and there were few consumer goods on the market. Henry Faulkner's salary alone was enough for the family to live a simple life. But Edward Faulkner knew very well that in a few years, due to economic transition and various other factors, the whole country would go through a difficult period. State-owned enterprises would be hit especially hard, with many facing bankruptcy and closure, workers losing their jobs, and state assets being lost. This would become a common phenomenon for a time. Putting the whole family’s burden on his father alone would be too cruel.

Although Edward Faulkner had a mental ledger and ideas about using his foresight to make some money, he was still too young, and some ideas could only stay in his head for now. So he had to plan for everything. His mother’s job absolutely could not be lost because of him.

So, in the spring of 1978, Edward Faulkner went to school with his mother Grace Bolton.