On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Sun Jingfei went to the kitchen early to help. She shooed Mother Sun out, saying she should rest and that dinner would be handled by her and her sister-in-law.
Mother Sun sat on the sofa for a while, but the longer she sat, the more uncomfortable she felt, always sensing it wasn’t quite right to sit idle without helping. Sun Jingfei said she was born to toil, and got slapped for it, with Mother Sun scolding her for being disrespectful.
Second Sister-in-law leaned against the kitchen doorway making grand pronouncements, saying once you touch up one part of your face, you’ll end up doing everything eventually. The ones who get work done are weak-willed; confident people simply wouldn’t do it. Then she asked Zhou Yu, since there had been no activity in her belly, was it her problem or was Fourth Brother no good? Better discover it early and get treatment! This made Zhou Yu’s face flush bright red, and she ignored her.
Mother Sun told her to stop gossiping and stuffed a basket of yellow bean sprouts into her hands, telling her to pick out all the husks.
Eldest Sister-in-law was worried about two things: first, Sun Yuyi’s dating situation; second, this morning’s incident of Sun Yuyan staring at a little girl peeing. The girl’s mother wouldn’t let it go and came straight to their door.
Second Sister-in-law thought it wasn’t a big deal. “What does a four-year-old understand? He was just curious.”
“The child doesn’t understand, but the parents think this is an education problem.” Eldest Sister-in-law shredded the cooked chicken breast into strips, preparing to make cold dressed chicken shreds for the children. “There are two gift boxes at home. I’m having your eldest brother take them over tomorrow to apologize. I don’t even have the face to go.”
“Has Eldest Brother returned from his business trip?”
“He said he’d be home at two. He’s probably catching up on sleep now.”
Eldest Brother had originally planned to nap, but the entire residential complex had a power outage for electrical circuit repairs. His phone was about to die, so he simply took his charger to the clinic. He didn’t go upstairs though, and drank tea downstairs with Sun Youping.
His work was special—his phone had to be on 24 hours a day.
After sitting downstairs for about half an hour, he gradually began to doze off. Sun Youping told him to go upstairs to sleep, but he was too lazy to go, finding the children too noisy. He suggested hiring a nanny, worried that Mother Sun’s health couldn’t take it.
Sun Youping poured him another cup of tea. “Let your mom take care of them herself. It gives her something to do.”
He was worried about Sun Yuyi’s situation; also, he didn’t know what to chat about between father and son. If Second Brother or Third Brother were here, it would be better—they could liven things up.
Before, he never felt there was anything wrong with silence between father and son, because everyone was the same. But as he aged, especially these past two years, he really wanted to chat with his father about something, or even if there was nothing to talk about, just keeping him company over tea would be good. Thinking this, he searched for topics and mentioned Sun Yuyi secretly dating. He didn’t oppose dating, but felt that college should be focused on studying—dating was for after leaving campus.
After a long while, Sun Youping replied, “Think of it another way—Yuyi hasn’t killed anyone or gone against society, hasn’t caused trouble for the police. What’s wrong with dating?”
Eldest Brother caught on and laughed heartily. Sun Youping really held grudges.
Sun Jingcheng came upstairs first looking for Zhou Yu. The two had bickered this morning. He’d forgotten exactly why they argued, but he knew Zhou Yu was still angry.
Sun Jingfei told him she was in the bathroom, then for the eight hundredth time corrected Mother Sun that toilet paper rolls are for the toilet, toilet paper rolls are for the toilet… while demonstrating, “Remember this—pull, pull, pull, tissue boxes can go in the living room.”
“What’s wrong with putting toilet paper rolls in the living room?”
“It’s inelegant!”
…
Zhou Yu had just opened the bathroom door when Sun Jingcheng blocked her back inside, asking if she was still angry. Zhou Yu couldn’t be bothered with him. “Who said I’m angry?”
“I did.”
“Who are you?”
“The roundworm in your belly.” After saying this, he imitated the form of a roundworm, twisting back and forth on her body.
…
Zhou Yu laughed in exasperation. “You really have no shame.”
“Not angry anymore?”
“I wasn’t angry.” Zhou Yu pushed him aside to leave.
“I don’t believe you.” Sun Jingcheng wouldn’t let her out.
“Oh my, the kitchen is busy.”
Sun Jingcheng didn’t care, squirming on her like a roundworm, saying, “I’m a roundworm, I’m a roundworm.”
…
Zhou Yu understood he’d come to collect on this morning’s bet. She told him, “Stand properly.”
Sun Jingcheng stood properly.
Zhou Yu kissed him on the cheek. “There, satisfied?”
…
Sun Jingcheng disliked her tone and kissed her cheek in return. “Giving it back to you. I don’t want it.”
Zhou Yu was shocked. “Look how capable you are!”
Sun Jingcheng laughed loudly.
Coming out, he saw Sun Jingfei standing there munching on a pear. He turned the pear in her hand and took a big bite from the other side. Sun Jingfei wanted to scold him but didn’t. Instead, she rubbed against him back and forth, parroting, “I’m a roundworm, I’m a roundworm, I’m a roundworm…” Then burst out laughing!
“Eavesdropping is truly shameful.” Sun Jingcheng said without changing expression.
“Little brother, you’re really something.” Sun Jingfei hooked his shoulder, speaking meaningfully. Just then Mother Sun came back from the balcony, saying that so-and-so downstairs had once pursued her, but she’d found him ugly and looked down on him. Now he was very successful, with a happy marriage and both son and daughter, owning two properties in Shanghai paid in full.
Sun Jingfei went to the balcony to look. Eldest and Second Sisters-in-law also gathered around. Sun Jingfei took a bite of pear and said, “Two properties paid in full, so what? I still wouldn’t like him.”
“He’s settled in Shanghai now. Said to have an annual income of several million.”
“Settled, so what? Several million, so what? I wouldn’t go even if you asked me to.”
“Biting a shit stick and acting smug.” Mother Sun wasn’t afraid of her stubbornness. “Back then when he pursued you so persistently, you held onto a turd like it was a treasure.” Seeing Sun Jingfei’s face darken, she held back and stopped engaging with her.
Insisting on marrying Ke Yong back then—now she’s tasting the bitter fruit, isn’t she?
Sun Jingfei turned back and sat on the sofa, no longer going to the kitchen.