“They’re looking for Xiao Lan.”
After Mrs. Chen hung up, Chen Wang Da wondered, “Looking for that girl Xiao Lan – why were you so nervous just talking?”
Mrs. Chen couldn’t explain it herself: “Just hearing their voice made me inexplicably nervous.”
It was a middle-aged male voice, speaking quite politely, but Mrs. Chen couldn’t help feeling tense. She completely lost control, speaking to him more respectfully than she did to her father-in-law Chen Wang Da.
“Well, go tell Xiao Lan to return the call – might be something urgent.”
Glad for an interruption to Chen Wang Da’s lecturing, Mrs. Chen scurried away faster than a rabbit. Walking through the snow to Xia Xiao Lan’s door, she happened to meet Grandmother Yu.
This old lady was the landlord for Xia Xiao Lan and her mother in Shangdu. Mrs. Chen found the old lady imposing.
Grandmother Yu remembered Mrs. Chen and stopped her: “Here to matchmake for Fen again?”
Mrs. Chen blushed deeply. “No, there’s a call from Pengcheng for Xiao Lan. I came to tell her.”
“Wait – who called from Pengcheng?”
“They just said their surname was Tang.”
Grandmother Yu grabbed Mrs. Chen’s arm. “That call was for me. Come, I’ll return it.”
For this old lady?
Mrs. Chen was skeptical, but the caller had been vague, just asking if Xia Xiao Lan was home for New Year’s. Perhaps they wanted to know if their landlady had come too?
Mrs. Chen was no match for Grandmother Yu in conversation. In a few words, Yu redirected her attention. With the ground slippery from snow, Grandmother Yu held tightly to Mrs. Chen’s hand as they returned to the village committee. In just a few exchanges, Grandmother Yu had extracted Mrs. Chen’s whole story – learning she was the village chief’s eldest daughter-in-law, her son was Xiao Lan’s former classmate now studying in Beijing and hadn’t returned for winter break.
Ah, this must be the Chen Qing that Liu Fen had mentioned.
When Mrs. Chen tried to inquire about Xia Xiao Lan’s relationship status, Grandmother Yu immediately understood – did the Chen family’s son have his eye on Xiao Lan? That wouldn’t do. It wasn’t that Grandmother Yu looked down on rural young men; she looked down on Mrs. Chen.
Half an hour later, the phone rang again. When Grandmother Yu answered, she immediately stared at Mrs. Chen.
People have little privacy these days. When relatives called, the whole village would strain to listen. Mrs. Chen showed no self-awareness, so Grandmother Yu spoke directly:
“I’m sorry, but I have some private matters to discuss.”
Grandmother Yu’s eyes bore into her. Mrs. Chen belatedly understood her meaning. No one had ever dismissed her like this before. Face burning, she stumbled out.
Grandmother Yu muttered quietly during the several-minute call. Mrs. Chen secretly spat in disgust – acting like some important figure, being all mysterious about a phone call. But when Grandmother Yu emerged, Mrs. Chen forced a smile.
Grandmother Yu despised such people who treated others differently based on status. If she weren’t from the city, would Mrs. Chen act this way toward her?
“Thank you. I won’t trouble you further during the New Year. Come early tomorrow to eat.”
When Mrs. Chen offered to help her back, Grandmother Yu repeatedly declined, finding a wooden stick to walk with. Though old, she maintained a perfect posture, walking with distinctive grace.
Mrs. Chen’s smile vanished. “Hmph, what’s so special? Still has to spend New Year’s in the countryside.”
Not all city people had power or money, and Xiao Lan wasn’t the only university student – her son was too. In a few years when Chen Qing graduated and became successful, he could be a city person too!
…
“Grandmother Yu, where did you go?”
Grandmother Yu’s cotton leather shoes were soaked. Xiao Lan had bought them in Pengcheng – leather outside with thick fur inside. Walking through snow in winter, just wipe the outside with a cloth and your feet stay warm.
“I took a walk around the village.”
Grandmother Yu didn’t mention the phone call, and Xiao Lan didn’t think anything of it. For the New Year’s Eve dinner, preparations started a day ahead. With Xiao Lan’s spacious courtyard and impressive new house, they’d agreed to host this year’s dinner there.
Liu Yong had planned to build a house but was so disgusted by the Tian family that his desire to return home in glory had dimmed. He no longer mentioned buildings in the village.
Preparing several tables of food required cooking chicken a day ahead, frying fish and meatballs, and preparing various vegetables – peeling what needed peeling, cutting what needed cutting.
Grandmother Yu surveyed the preparations. “Don’t braise all the lamb. Save half to make soup. Fen, you’re good at this – you make it.”
Liu Yong had bought two legs of lamb from the county town, planning to braise them all, when Grandmother Yu suddenly mentioned wanting lamb soup.
Good-natured Liu Fen, having already untied her apron, got busy again. She lit the stove and chopped half a leg for soup.
It wasn’t unusual for the old lady to want lamb. Diabetics should avoid foods high in sugar and starch, but lamb didn’t affect blood sugar. Liu Fen made clear soup without potatoes.
Xiao Lan found it strange – Grandmother Yu usually ate whatever was served. This was her first time making a request. Had she truly started treating them like family?
Liu Fen was determined not to go out. After paying respects at her parents’ graves post-New Year, she’d rush back to the provincial capital. This kept the Tian family tossing and turning at night. Xia Xiao Lan’s words had left them losing face. Village people were superstitious about speaking auspiciously during New Year’s, but Xiao Lan had openly said the Tian family was dead – they grew angrier the more they thought about it.
Liu Yong’s New Year’s dinner didn’t include the Tian family.
Word spread that Liu Yong was hiring masons for 10 yuan daily wages, again excluding the Tian family.
“I’ll go ask tomorrow – we’re from the same village, why weren’t we invited?”
Third Tiger Tian, drunk on cheap alcohol, started acting up.
“Yeah, they looked down on our Third Brother for marriage, but surely they could let him work? That’s two or three hundred a month at least – good money. With that wage, supporting Xiao Yan and her brother would be nothing!”
Third Tiger Tian found this reasoning compelling.
Liu Yong used to be like him, idle and avoiding honest work.
Why should Liu Yong get rich while he stays poor in the village?
If they wouldn’t accept him as a son-in-law, Liu Yong should pay some dues – spend money to support him monthly, or he’d never leave the Liu family alone!
Third Tiger Tian, hiccuping drunkenly, called his daughter Tian Xiao Yan, who trembled at the shoulders.
Third Tiger Tian showed a rare smile, breathing heavy alcohol fumes:
“Xiao Yan, Dad won’t hit you. I’ll never hit you or your brother again. I’ll buy you new clothes, let you eat meat, send you to school… If your dad has money, you can have whatever you want. Tomorrow, kneel at the Liu family’s door until your Uncle Yong agrees to let me work. Don’t get up until he agrees.”
Tian Xiao Yan had just been lectured by Xia Xiao Lan. In front of so many people, Xiao Lan hadn’t agreed to take her and her brother – would Uncle Yong agree to her request?
“Dad, what if Uncle Yong doesn’t agree?”
“Then you’ll kneel at his door until you die!”