My IQ has been increasing year by year.

evening.

Chen Jianguo came home from get off work.

Liu Xiuying also cooked a large pot of braised beef, and the whole house was filled with the aroma of braised beef.

After dinner.

The sky grew completely dark.

Liu Xiuying cleaned the dining table, washed her hands, and went into Chen Zhuo's bedroom.

She took the newly bought dark red hard-shell combination lock suitcase down from the top of the wardrobe.

Liu Xiuying placed the box flat in the center of the living room and pressed the combination lock.

Chen Jianguo sat on the sofa, a toothpick dangling from his mouth, and was changing the remote control in his hand.

Chen Zhuo also came out of the house and sat on a small stool next to him, watching.

Liu Xiuying began carrying clothes out.

A stack of short-sleeved shirts, a few pairs of athletic shorts, and two long-sleeved shirts for autumn.

She neatly stacked the thin clothes on the left side of the box and pressed them down with her hands.

"Take these T-shirts with you when you get there. If they get dirty, learn to wash them yourself. Don't just leave them piled up and let them smell."

Liu Xiuying folded the paper while muttering to herself.

Chen Zhuo responded while watching TV.

After folding the thin clothes, Liu Xiuying turned around and went back into the bedroom.

When she came out again, she was carrying a large object in her arms.

It was a thick black coat.

The material is very thick, and there's a fur trim around the collar; it looks warm.

Liu Xiuying stuffed the thick clothes into the right half of the box, instantly filling the previously empty box to more than half full.

Chen Jianguo, who had been watching from the sidelines, finally couldn't hold back any longer.

He removed the toothpick from his mouth.

"I'm telling you, it's only the end of August, and it's over 30 degrees Celsius outside. Why are you putting such a thick down jacket on him? It takes up most of the space." "You don't know anything."

Liu Xiuying didn't even look up; she directly retorted.

"I've heard that it's even colder in Huizhou than here. The winters are damp and chilly, the wind seeps into your bones. Xiao Zhuo is going to school, and he'll be gone for a whole semester, only getting a break during the Lunar New Year. If he doesn't bring these clothes, what will he wear when it snows in November or December?"

Chen Jianguo frowned.

"Then we can just buy it there in winter. This big suitcase is too heavy to drag around."

"Is it free to buy it now?" Liu Xiuying glared at him.

"The clothes at home are perfectly fine, why waste money? Besides, he's just a kid, what clothes can he buy for himself? What if he buys clothes that are too thin and catches a cold? There won't even be anyone around to pour him water."

Chen Jianguo was rendered speechless by his wife's rapid-fire questions, so he simply shut up and continued watching TV.

Chen Zhuo sat to the side, not daring to say a word.

Although he wanted to say that the thick coat was completely superfluous in a physical sense.

Liu Xiuying struggled to roll up the garment and flattened it with all her might.

Then pull the elastic band on the suitcase and fasten it tightly.

"Alright."

Liu Xiuying let out a long sigh and wiped the sweat from her brow.

She then went to get the other odds and ends.

Two new towels, a plastic box containing Safeguard soap, a new toothbrush, and thick socks.

Liu Xiuying stuffed these things little by little into the gaps at the edge of her clothes, like filling cement seams.

Not a single inch of space is wasted.

"Don't bring a washbasin or thermos. These things take up space and are easily broken. The logistics department will definitely provide them when you arrive at the school registration area," Liu Xiuying instructed.

What could Chen Zhuo say? He simply nodded obediently.

The clothes are all packed.

Liu Xiuying stood up, went to the kitchen to wash her hands, and dried them with a towel.

She walked to the window.

With a whoosh.

Liu Xiuying closed the living room windows tightly.

Then, she reached out and pulled the curtains on both sides, tugging hard until the gap in the middle was completely sealed, preventing any light from getting through.

Upon seeing this action, Chen Jianguo silently turned the TV volume down a few notches.

Liu Xiuying went into her bedroom.

After a while, she came out.

He was clutching a small white cotton pouch, the opening of which was tied with a thin red string.

She walked to the coffee table, pulled over a small stool, and sat down.

"Xiao Zhuo, come here." Liu Xiuying beckoned.

Chen Zhuo got up and walked to the coffee table.

Liu Xiuying untied the red rope and poured the contents of the cloth bag onto the glass coffee table.

One coin, and an ICBC bank card.

"This card contains your bonus for this exam, 18,000 yuan. The password is your birthday, a six-digit number."

Liu Xiuying pointed to the green card and lowered her voice.

"Your father and I haven't touched a single penny of this money; it's all with you."

She picked up the stack of cash again.

He put his thumb on his lips, moistened it with saliva, and started counting the money.

I counted it once, and it was two thousand yuan, not a penny less.

"Keep this two thousand yuan in cash for self-defense. It's better to be prepared when you're traveling, as you'll need money in many places."

Liu Xiuying looked at Chen Zhuo with eyes full of instructions.

"Your special program for gifted children, although it waives tuition and accommodation fees, there are still some things that cost money."

"Once you get there, buy whatever you want to eat. Don't skimp on food. Use the money in this card wisely."

Chen Zhuo looked at the money and cards on the coffee table.

"I understand," Chen Zhuo said.

Liu Xiuying neatly arranged the two thousand yuan and stacked it together with the bank card.

It was stuffed back into the white cloth bag.

He tied the red string tightly, round and round, into a knot that wouldn't fall apart.

She turned around and pulled the briefcase that was lying flat on the ground over to her.

The left half of the box has a gray nylon lining that is zipped up.

Liu Xiuying unzipped the box, revealing the hard shell inside and the metal pull rod track.

She took out a pair of scissors and a sewing kit from the drawer under the coffee table.

Using scissors, I carefully made a small opening at the bottom seam of the nylon lining.

It's about the width of a palm.

Then, she stuffed the white cloth bag full of money and cards into the opening.

They kept pushing it in until they reached the very bottom corner of the box.

I touched the outside with my hand, and it was flat and smooth; I couldn't feel anything.

Liu Xiuying opened the sewing box.

He took out a thick black thread, threaded it through the eye of the needle, and tied a knot at the end of the thread.

She squatted on the ground and, by the light of the living room lamp, began to sew up the tear.

She sewed very carefully.

The needle pierced the nylon cloth, tightened the black thread, and stitch after stitch, the stitches were dense and numerous.

Chen Jianguo sat on the sofa without saying a word, quietly watching his wife do her work.

This method of guarding against and hiding money seems clumsy and unnecessary in the later era when one could do everything with a mobile phone.

But in 2002, this was the best precaution for traveling far away.

After a while.

Liu Xiuying finished sewing the last stitch.

She bit off the thread and tugged hard at the stitched area; it was very sturdy, and there was no sign of tampering.

"Alright."

Liu Xiuying stood up and clapped her hands.

She zipped up the nylon lining again.

He raised his head and looked straight at Chen Zhuo.

His tone was more serious than ever before.

"Xiao Zhuo, listen carefully."

"At the bottom of this box is a considerable sum of money from our family, the foundation for your education over the past few years."

"We're setting off tomorrow, and this box must never leave your hands."

Liu Xiuying pointed to the red hard-shell box.

"When you're in the car, put your suitcase in the trunk. When you get to a service area and need to use the restroom, the three of us should take turns. There should always be two people watching the car." "When you get to Huizhou, once you get off the car, you have to carry your own suitcase. Don't give it to anyone who tries to help you."

"Until I entered your dorm room and the door was closed."

Liu Xiuying slowed down her speech.

"Find a pair of scissors, cut open the thread at the bottom, take out the money and cards, and put them safely inside your body. Do you understand?"

"I understand. The money and cards are at the bottom of the box, and the box is never left unattended," Chen Zhuo repeated.

Liu Xiuying finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She crouched down and closed the two sides of the box together.

Because of the thick winter coat stuffed inside, the box couldn't be closed quite well.

Liu Xiuying pressed down on the lid of the box with her knee, pushing it down hard.

Chen Jianguo came over, lent a hand, and helped align the latches on both sides.

pat.

pat.

Two crisp sounds.

The combination lock is engaged.

Liu Xiuying casually scrambled the number dial on the lock.

"call...."

Liu Xiuying stood up and rubbed her aching back.

"I've packed everything. Time to wash up and go to bed. I'll get up at 5:30 tomorrow morning and leave promptly at 6:00."

Chen Jianguo went to open the window a crack again to let in some fresh air.

Chen Zhuo returned to his small bedroom.

He neatly arranged the pen holder on the desk and pushed the chair under the desk.

The lights were turned off.

Lying on a single bed.

The night breeze blew in through the window, stirring the curtains.

Chen Zhuo closed his eyes.

The red suitcase was placed by the living room door.

In a hidden compartment at the bottom of the box lay cash from this era and a bank card with the PIN being the recipient's birthday.

Tomorrow, when the sun rises.

We're about to set off.