After leaving the clinic, Second Brother and his wife, Sun Jingcheng and his wife, and Sun Jingfei all went to Eldest Sister-in-law’s home together.
Coming out from Eldest Sister-in-law’s place, they all walked silently without anyone making a sound. Reaching the parking area, no one rushed to get in their cars. Each stood there—those who smoked smoked, those who stayed silent stayed silent. Eldest Sister-in-law had changed dramatically, thin to the point of being gaunt, and the house was piled with clutter everywhere.
Second Brother stubbed out his cigarette and spoke first. “When Yuyi goes abroad later, I’ll cover the expenses.”
Sun Jingfei said, “The three of us should split it…”
“One year isn’t worth splitting.” Second Brother said. “If she wants to continue her studies afterward, we three siblings can discuss it then.”
Sun Jingcheng and his sister nodded.
“You women are more attentive. Come visit often from now on.” Second Brother instructed. “Eldest Brother is gone, but Eldest Sister-in-law is still our sister-in-law. In a couple years if she wants to… that’s a matter for later.”
“Dad also said the two kids should follow Eldest Sister-in-law’s and the children’s wishes. We won’t force anything on our side. Wherever they go in the future, as uncles and aunts, we’ll help them wholeheartedly as if they were our own children.” Second Brother finished, looking at them. “Starting today, Eldest Brother’s matter is past. Handle what needs handling, move forward where we need to move forward.”
On the drive home after saying goodbye, Second Sister-in-law couldn’t help scolding him—first about Jiarui’s situation, second about Yuyi going abroad. Women say a few words, they say a few words. After so many years together, Second Brother let her talk without responding much.
“You’ll never change your habit of playing the big shot.”
“Alright, wife.” Second Brother promised her. “The money your brother took—if we get it back, it’s your private savings. If we don’t get it back, consider it blown away by the wind.”
“Why shouldn’t we demand it!” Second Sister-in-law said this, but had her answer in her heart. Five years ago, her brother had contracted a project and took 1.2 million from her over time. Later the project lost money, and that 1.2 million disappeared like throwing meat buns at a dog, never to return.
“If he doesn’t give it to me, he’ll owe me for life, never able to hold his head up in front of me!” Bringing up her own brother, she spoke through gritted teeth. These past two years, demanding this money back had long exhausted the siblings’ affection.
Those two got lazy when they got home—no exercise, no dancing. After washing up, they lay sprawled on the bed reading books. One read leisure reading, the other read medical licensing exam textbooks.
After each reading for about half an hour, Sun Jingcheng replied to a text message and casually asked her, “What are you reading?”
Zhou Yu cleared her throat and read him a poem, by Hong Kong poet Ma Ruo’s “Photo of Deng Alan and Me Sent by Yesi—Response”: “Who can give me a clear indication, whether the direction of the stars’ rising and falling has fixed positions, heaven knows about the days ahead, worldly affairs and human feelings are always both unclear, best to wake up, you have returned, and bring joyful verses…”
“My favorite poem, sharing it with you.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you like it?”
“I like what you like.” Sun Jingcheng tongue-twistered.
Zhou Yu looked at his fingers and asked him, “Want to play piano?”
“That would disturb the neighbors.”
“You’re so civic-minded.” Zhou Yu’s tone was ambiguous.
“Thank you.”
…
“Hey, the café outside the complex is hiring a pianist.” Zhou Yu suggested. “You could play to your heart’s content and even earn money.”
“How much?”
“At least three to five hundred per hour, right? My colleague’s kid’s hired tutor for home lessons charges five hundred an hour.”
“I play, you sit there listening, and we can earn five hundred?” Sun Jingcheng looked at her.
“If you play for two hours, wouldn’t that earn a thousand?” Zhou Yu chimed in.
The two money-grubbers got carried away, thinking about it more and more happily. But when they reached the café, they ordered two coffees and sat in the outdoor leisure area enjoying the breeze—it was just an excuse to come out for a walk, neither took it seriously.
They hadn’t even changed out of their loungewear.
The two sat idle without feeling bored. The breeze was too gentle, too comforting. A nearby locust tree was about to bloom, with a faint, light fragrance. Zhou Yu let her hair down, leaning against the chair back letting the wind blow.
Sun Jingcheng was also very relaxed, chatting casually with her in a meandering way, wherever the conversation led. The first half of a sentence talked about his trip to western Hunan, the next half said even when starving don’t kill the plowing ox, even when poor don’t kill the guard dog, then he explained to her the differences between water buffalo and yellow cattle, and native dogs from various provinces.
“When I was little, I raised a genuine Beijing dog, called a lion dog. White, long-haired, with short little legs. Sun Jingfei and I had to regularly trim the hair on its head—too long, always drooping down covering its eyes.” Sun Jingcheng said. “Back then the streets were full of native dogs… in today’s terms, Chinese rural dogs—there were chai dogs, meat dogs, stupid dogs… Because they were too common, too prevalent, so prevalent they inspired contempt in people, so wherever they went, people would pick up stones to chase them away.”
“These years seeing those fashionable foreign dogs on the streets, I think about those native dogs that did nothing wrong, were constantly scorned and chased away, and gradually disappeared.”
“Native dogs were mainly for guarding homes and property. Now that’s not needed, so naturally there are fewer of them.” Zhou Yu said.
“When we’re old, I wonder if we’ll live with more dignity than native dogs.” Sun Jingcheng mused. “If I can’t move anymore in the future, you’ll take care of me, right?”
“I’ll throw you on the street.” Zhou Yu answered without hesitation.
…
“The most venomous heart belongs to a woman.” Sun Jingcheng swung his crossed leg, looking at her leisurely. “Throwing someone on the street is abandonment—I’ll report you to the police!”
“Mm, go ahead and arrest me.” Zhou Yu combed through her hair with five fingers, massaging her scalp, feeling very content in the breeze, sincerely sighing, “Spring is truly wonderful.” Just then Sun Jingcheng’s hands reached toward her chest. She was about to slap them away when she saw him buttoning up her loungewear, saying she was becoming more and more improper.
The two had come out on a whim to enjoy the breeze. She’d forgotten she wasn’t wearing a bra, and didn’t know when the button on her chest had come undone. Thinking about it, her face reddened slightly, but she said nothing. She never wore loungewear outside—this was the first time.
Sun Jingcheng helped her button up, then taught her about the various acupressure points on her head, telling her how to massage her scalp for maximum comfort. Zhou Yu listened absentmindedly, praising his technique as professional, so comfortable she almost fell asleep.
“You’re such a kiss-up.” Sun Jingcheng said.
Zhou Yu didn’t mind at all. As long as it benefited her, she was willing to be a kiss-up.
Sun Jingcheng massaged her and sniffed his fingers. “How many days since you washed your hair?”
“Two days maybe?”
Sun Jingcheng was nearly disgusted to death, but still patiently continued massaging her a bit longer. School work was busy. Yesterday she’d gotten up at five for early self-study supervision duty. When she came home at night, she complained of a headache, saying she was losing hair by the handful.
“Comfortable?”