Just as we were about to leave, the woman called out,
"Wait."
We stopped.
She turned toward the boys and said, "Come here, all of you."
They gathered quickly.
Standing together, they really did look alike. Their faces were similar, their builds close, and even the way they stood carried the same quiet restraint.
For a moment, I just looked at them.
Then I said, "This will be confusing."
One of the boys frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"You all look too similar," I replied. "If I call one, five of you might answer."
A few of them almost smiled.
I continued,
"I will give you numbers for now, just to keep things clear while we work."
They exchanged looks but did not argue.
"That is fine," the eldest said.
I nodded.
"Good," I said. "You will still keep your names, but during work, I will call you by number."
I paused, then added,
"Tell me your surname."
The eldest answered first.
"Zhao."
The others nodded.
"Zhao," I repeated. "Alright."
