During the days Ke Yu came back, he was either watching movies with Sun Yuyi, huddled in a room whispering, or stuck at home reviewing. Moreover, both of them were weighed down with worries, frowning constantly, walking with drooping shoulders like a pair of little old man and woman exhausted from running around.
Zhou Yu was curious what boys and girls had to chat about. When she was in school, boys played with boys, girls played with girls—clearly divided. Even cousins were like this.
Sun Jingcheng criticized this as a stereotype, saying she was supposedly a teacher yet his best friend was his sister, and his sister’s best friend was also himself.
Zhou Yu stopped responding. This pair of siblings were plastic enough. At home they’d sprawl there together, heads touching, either gossiping about eldest brother or slandering second brother, or jointly angering Sun Youping.
Eldest and second brothers disdained associating with them. One told Mother Sun they were in cahoots, the other told Sun Youping they were birds of a feather.
Last time, eldest brother was eating fried dough in the kitchen while sneakily tattling to Mother Sun, saying these two were exactly like a pair of male-female bandits his bureau had just arrested. He asked when these two committed crimes in the future, should he as the eldest brother uphold righteousness over family ties, or what? Mother Sun answered without hesitation—uphold righteousness over family ties, absolutely couldn’t affect his work. As the words fell, she saw the siblings standing ghost-like at the doorway in complete silence.
These four siblings’ grievances went way back, traceable to childhood. Legend had it that back when Sun Jingfei and Sun Jingcheng were grabbing objects at their first birthday ceremony, Sun Jingcheng grabbed the police badge Mother Sun had borrowed, but eldest brother viciously bit him and snatched it away, hiding it in his mouth where it couldn’t be pried out. Sun Jingfei grabbed a small abacus, which second brother traded for a red plastic building block.
This pair of siblings believed their lives had been usurped entirely because of eldest and second brothers. Sun Jingfei had once demanded second brother give her half his wealth.
The reason this pair of siblings were called plastic flowers was that when disaster struck, each flew away faster than the other.
This day, Mother Sun complained in the group chat that she’d chopped her hand while chopping oxtail. Chopped—showing its severity. The four siblings agreed to come home. Before leaving, he received a WeChat from Sun Jingfei asking where he was. He said he’d already been upstairs half an hour ago.
When they reached the clinic entrance, the siblings got out of their cars simultaneously… then by tacit understanding stood under the Chinese parasol tree exchanging friendly greetings. Soon second brother arrived, eldest brother also came, and only then did the two finally go upstairs.
Going upstairs, Mother Sun’s originally smiling face changed when she saw them, saying dutiful children appear at critical moments. By the time grass on her grave grew three feet tall, it would be too late to come back. Eldest brother’s bureau was so busy, yet hearing Mom cut her hand he immediately came back. These two idlers…
Anyway, whatever she said, she was right.
Finally, the siblings negotiated for their common interests—from now on they’d stagger their arrivals. This one would arrive first today, that one first tomorrow.
Mother Sun’s hand had been cut, but not that seriously. Sun Youping had sprinkled medicine powder on it and simply bandaged it. After Zhou Yu finished helping Ke Yu with homework, she went to the clinic. Naturally Mother Sun couldn’t cook dinner. Eldest sister-in-law had matters, second sister-in-law was busy with work, so it could only be her.
Originally Sun Jingfei planned to cook, but seeing her arrive, untied her apron and went to attend to proper business. The realtor had arranged yesterday for her to check the utilities. Mother Sun bought groceries and came back. Not seeing Sun Jingfei, she was too lazy to manage her again. She found a rubber glove to wear and went to the kitchen to help Zhou Yu.
Zhou Yu quickly said she could manage. Mother Sun said it was fine, she wasn’t that delicate, as long as the wound didn’t touch water.
Originally she’d wanted to take the opportunity to rest, but Sun Jingfei had run out again. She couldn’t have Zhou Yu busy alone. The family had many daughters-in-law—favoring this one meant slighting that one. Even if the daughters-in-law didn’t say anything openly, privately complaining to their sons would affect the couples’ relationships.
Eldest daughter-in-law was busy, second daughter-in-law was slippery, her daughter wasn’t considerate either. Whenever the family had matters, it was Zhou Yu who quietly came over to help. She was already very content—what more could she say?
Mother Sun sighed deeply in her heart. Still that saying—many children and grandchildren, many enemies.
“Mom, no salt?” Zhou Yu asked.
“Here, here.” Mother Sun went to the dining table to get it. “Just bought it.”
Zhou Yu opened it and poured a spoonful into the clay pot where oxtail bones were stewing.
Mother Sun deliberated for a while—part probing, part intimate talk. “You and the fourth son aren’t young anymore. If you’re planning to have a child, make plans while I can still help you look after them. Your mom’s health is just so-so, and she still has to look after your grandmother. That illness is most draining on one’s spirit, harder than me watching two kids. Your grandmother’s illness wears people down more than looking after two children.”
“Okay, I’ll go back and discuss it with Jingcheng.” Zhou Yu agreed.
Mother Sun’s mood improved considerably. Looking at fourth son’s changes during this period, she clearly felt the two were like they’d returned to newlywed days. Thinking this brought involuntary pleasure. The children living well was better than anything—she could eat an extra bowl of rice.
Peeling the garlic in her hands, she continued, “Yesterday at the market I saw your mom. Her eyes had almost no spirit left, and she’d grown a lot more white hair. Your grandmother is quite sturdy though, carrying a basket following behind your mom buying vegetables, like an old child.”
“Tomorrow I’ll have your dad prepare some Chinese medicine to replenish qi and blood. When it’s ready, you can take it back.”
Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law chatted while cooking dinner. This was the first gathering meal this year since New Year’s Eve.
In the evening when Sun Jingcheng came back and saw over ten dishes of prepared ingredients on the table, with Zhou Yu wearing an apron busy alone in the kitchen, he went over and sincerely said, “Wife, you’ve worked hard.”
“Go away.” Zhou Yu was annoyed with him.
“Where’s my sister?”
“Went to take care of business.” Zhou Yu replied casually.
Sun Jingcheng was a bit unhappy. But when he saw a large blister on Zhou Yu’s hand, he asked her, “What happened?”
“Scalded by hot steam.”
Sun Jingcheng turned off the stove, wanting to pull her downstairs to bandage it. Zhou Yu said it didn’t hurt anymore, she’d bandage it after cooking. Sun Jingcheng got angry and shouted loudly, “Mom!”
Mother Sun came out of the bathroom. “What?”
“Where did Sun Jingfei go?”
“That busy person, who knows where…” Seeing Sun Jingfei return, she pointed. “There she is.”
“What are you running around for all day? Don’t you know Mom cut her hand?” Sun Jingcheng’s tone was very harsh.
“My running around is none of your business!” Sun Jingfei had worked all afternoon for nothing and also had a bellyful of anger.
“Don’t you know to help cook one meal?” Sun Jingcheng pointed at the prepared ingredients on the table. “Such a huge table of food, all for Zhou Yu to cook alone!”
“Then why didn’t you help?” Sun Jingfei looked at him.
“What use are you?”
“Eating!” Sun Jingfei replied concisely.
“You dare eat one bite tonight, try it!”
“I’m going to eat!”
“This is food my wife cooked!” Sun Jingcheng glared.
“This is still food my mom bought!” Sun Jingfei shoved him. “What’s wrong with your wife cooking once? Is she a fairy? This is her duty as a daughter-in-law!”
“Enough!” Mother Sun scolded her. “You don’t help and you still think you’re right?”
“Still, it’s not his place to criticize me!”
Sun Jingcheng was furious. He went over and turned off the stove, wanting to pull Zhou Yu home. Zhou Yu was dying of embarrassment, forcing a smile to ease the atmosphere, saying she’d cooked the meal together with Mom.
“Did you hear? Mom’s hand was cut and she still had to cook!” Sun Jingcheng said to her.
“Only you’re filial!”
“I am more filial than you!” Sun Jingcheng replied. “Mom cut her hand, my wife scalded her hand, and still had to cook for you all!”
“Why are you yelling at me? Am I a soft persimmon?” Sun Jingfei snapped back. “If you have the guts, yell at eldest and second brothers.”
Sun Youping heard the commotion and came upstairs, looking at each of them. Sun Jingcheng just stood there stubbornly. Sun Jingfei tied on an apron and went to the kitchen. Mother Sun urged Zhou Yu to go downstairs for bandaging.
Upstairs was in complete chaos. Sun Youping roughly guessed what happened. He said nothing else, just had Zhou Yu follow him down to treat the wound.
After Zhou Yu and Sun Jingcheng went downstairs one after another, Mother Sun angrily poked Sun Jingfei’s head—only growing in age, not in brains! “These past few days your son has been getting tutoring at Zhou Yu’s place. Let’s see if you have the face to send him there tomorrow.”
Not long after, two chefs came from Sun Jinghui’s restaurant. Mother Sun was surprised—did that brainless fourth son call second son?
Sun Jingfei replied calmly, “Probably Dad.”
Downstairs, Sun Youping treated Zhou Yu’s wound, first lancing the blister, then sterilizing and applying medicine powder. He instructed that it temporarily couldn’t touch water and would heal in two days. Sun Jingcheng just stood to the side watching silently.
Zhou Yu looked at Sun Youping’s expression—same as usual—so she mentioned Feng Yiqun’s condition. Knowing he had a principle of not prescribing without seeing the patient, she added, “My grandmother can’t be left alone, my mom can’t come conveniently.”
Sun Youping didn’t mind. “Then I’ll go over early tomorrow morning.”
“Huh?” Zhou Yu was momentarily stunned. Reacting, she quickly said, “Dad, no need. I’ll go back and watch Grandma, let my mom come instead.”
“That works too.” Sun Youping said.
“Let Grandma come too.” Sun Jingcheng said. “Let Dad check on her while he’s at it.”
“How’s the old lady’s appetite?” Sun Youping asked.
“Very good, she can eat two bowls of rice.”
As they spoke, they saw eldest sister-in-law arrive… Second brother and sister-in-law also parked their car and walked around to the community entrance. Now, aside from this pair of siblings, everyone including four-year-old Sun Yuyan had to go upstairs from the community entrance.
The clinic wasn’t busy. Sun Youping took off his white coat and went upstairs with them. The chefs were efficient—ready in half an hour. Mother Sun was very polite, saying she’d specifically troubled them to make this trip, then saw them downstairs. Coming back, second son said she was too polite to them.
All the dishes were on the table. People in the room took their seats. After several rounds of wine and dishes, Sun Jingfei stood up and poured Zhou Yu a glass of red wine. Without saying anything else, she drained it in one gulp. Eldest and second sisters-in-law didn’t know why, but didn’t ask either.
They ate quietly until eldest brother came back from work. Sun Youping rinsed his mouth but didn’t go downstairs, sitting there waiting for him to eat.
Second brother first proposed that from now on, weekly gatherings should have restaurant chefs come, so Mom could also rest. Second sister-in-law seconded, Sun Jingfei seconded, eldest brother also seconded while picking up food. Eldest sister-in-law didn’t state her position, Zhou Yu and Sun Jingcheng also didn’t state theirs. Mother Sun folded a toothpick without speaking. Sun Youping waited until eldest brother finished eating, then looked at Mother Sun. “What do you think?”
Mother Sun tossed down the toothpick. “Then everyone mind their own business, stop gathering.”
Sun Youping nodded. “Then listen to your mother.”
Eldest brother had no clue what had happened. He looked at his wife. Eldest sister-in-law lightly kicked him, telling him to eat more and talk less. Then she smiled and said, “If we hire chefs it loses meaning. Let’s keep it as usual, scheduled for Saturdays. Zhou Yu and I can both come help. With the whole family bustling together, the meal will be ready. We won’t depend on second sister-in-law—she can’t tell soy sauce from vinegar anyway. If someday we’re too busy, then hire chefs.”
Zhou Yu agreed. “I agree with eldest sister-in-law.”
Sun Jingcheng also agreed. “Family cooking has meaning.”
Sun Jingfei read the room. “I agree with eldest sister-in-law.”… Then eldest brother, second brother, second sister-in-law all agreed. The situation completely reversed.
Eldest sister-in-law looked at Mother Sun. “Mom, what do you think?”
Mother Sun said ambiguously, “Listen to your father.”
Sun Youping made the decision. “As Weihua said, everything as usual.”
With this matter settled, Sun Youping was silent for a long while before slowly speaking. “I have one more thing to say.”
“This house, I plan to transfer to Yuyi. In the future when your mom and I are both gone, the house will belong to Yuyi and her brother.”
Sun Jingcheng and his wife had no objection. Sun Jingfei had even less objection. The Sun Jinghui couple said they had no objection at the dinner table. In the car going home, Lin Jing complained a couple of sentences but also appropriately stopped. The daughters-in-law didn’t have much say in Sun family matters.
Sun Jinghui didn’t take it to heart. This decision was within reason and expectation. Lin Jing brought up cooking again, saying they weren’t willing to hire chefs, but if you don’t help they gossip. She knew how to cook, just wasn’t willing to. Her natal family used to sell seafood at the market. When she was still a daughter at home, she often helped the family cook. Back then she swore that when she got married, she’d absolutely never be a cooking wife.
Sun Jinghui didn’t pick up her words, knowing she spoke without thinking, just complained privately for a couple of sentences. The car stopped at the traffic light. Sun Jinghui unscrewed the thermos and gave it to her. “Thirsty?”
Lin Jing smiled. This matter passed. Then she mentioned that today was the fifteenth year of their marriage. Sun Jinghui turned the car around to accompany his wife for coffee.
Lin Jing looked at the scenes passing outside the window. Beyond exhaustion, there was more of the peaceful years after weathering storms. She’d met Sun Jinghui at fifteen, married him at twenty-seven, and was now forty-two.
Twenty-seven years—in the blink of an eye, they’d endured such difficult days.
She met Sun Jinghui when she’d just started technical school studying early childhood education. At that time, Sun Jinghui hadn’t gotten into university and was apprenticing at the largest auto repair shop by their school gate.
Sun Jinghui was handsome with peach blossom eyes. Even though just an apprentice, he had a girlfriend, yet still hooked girls into repeatedly pretending to pass by the auto repair shop accidentally. His nature was flirtatious. Even with his girlfriend waiting at the door, it didn’t stop him from flirting with other girls.
He didn’t think it was flirting. He just always spoke in that tone, even for the most ordinary words. But those girls and his girlfriends didn’t think so. In his one year at the auto repair shop, he’d changed girlfriends three times.
As for how Lin Jing painstakingly maneuvered to meet him, stood out among those warblers and swallows, and stayed by his side for twelve years before entering the Sun family gate—the hardships and sorrows couldn’t be explained to outsiders.
What could she do? There were so many honest men, but she just happened to like Sun Jinghui.
The two had also fought, separated, cursed at each other, physically battled. But during each other’s most difficult and downtrodden moments, they’d always accompanied each other. If you asked Lin Jing to summarize these twenty-seven years, a thousand words surged to her heart, rolling and rolling, boiling and boiling, until all emotions returned to calm. With the wind, a smile: “Just like that.”