◎ Confession ◎

Gu Qiao’s two younger sisters also came out.

Gu Qiao’s second younger sister was in her third year of middle school this year, and since starting secondary school, she had never once placed lower than first in her class. The books and study aids Gu Qiao had brought back from the city this time were ones she had nearly finished reading through. In the plans her parents and elder sister had for her, she would naturally go on to university. But she herself had other ideas. Although the family’s debts had been gradually paid off, the canning workshop was right before her eyes, and she understood very well how difficult it was to earn money. As for her elder sister — though Gu Qiao always spoke of her work in positive terms — she had long since come to understand through reading just how hard it must be for someone to leave home and depend on others.

The second sister was naturally more perceptive than most. Although Lou Deyu had never mentioned in front of her how the elderly third-time groom and their maternal cousin had treated him dismissively at the wedding that year, she could well imagine what her cousin’s attitude toward the family must be, given that she hadn’t returned to the village all these years. When Gu Qiao had gone to her door for help after the family trouble, she would naturally not have been received as an honored guest. She had, however, heard Gu Qiao mention their older male cousin once — that was in the first year Gu Qiao had left home. Gu Qiao had spoken of this cousin in an admiring tone, saying he had graduated from University Z and was going to study abroad in America. But listening to it, the second sister had felt a pang of sorrow for her elder sister — living under the same roof, yet in such different circumstances. Later, when her sister moved out and her business grew, she was genuinely happy for her.

The second sister had decided not to attend high school and instead go straight to a vocational secondary school — not only would it not cost the family money, but there would even be a stipend. She hadn’t yet brought this plan up with anyone at home, not even Gu Qiao. Upon first seeing this older male cousin, the second sister immediately sensed how out of place he seemed. In the context of their home, his appearance and manner were entirely incongruous. For reasons she couldn’t quite explain, she immediately thought of how out of place Gu Qiao herself had seemed the first time she went to the city.

The youngest sister was nothing like her second elder sister in terms of imaginative associations. Accustomed as she was to the snotty-nosed boys in her class, her first impression was simply that this older cousin was remarkably good-looking. Every descriptive word she knew seemed to fail her — she could only think that this person was somehow impossibly handsome. But before long, she had begun to dislike him.

The grand-uncle-by-seniority had been delayed because someone had stopped to chat with the old man just earlier, and he only arrived at Gu Qiao’s home as she was about to head out.

When the old man learned from Lou Deyu that Luo Peiyin was Gu Jinghui’s stepson, he immediately smiled with even greater warmth. Long ago, he had heard that Gu Jinghui had married a man of considerable standing in the capital. When fundraising to restore the Gu family ancestral hall, the grand-uncle had often thought of Gu Jinghui. Now, seeing Gu Jinghui’s stepson before him, the grand-uncle immediately formed his judgment and offered his praise: “One look and you can tell he’s a cultivated man — his bearing is simply different.”

Hearing these words, Lou Deyu standing nearby found them simply outrageous. He had never detected the slightest trace of scholarly refinement in Luo Peiyin — a disposition of idleness and pure pleasure-seeking would be far more accurate. To call him cultured when he didn’t even wear glasses — that was truly impossible to see. Lou Deyu may not have detected any culture in Luo Peiyin, but he did pick up on the old man’s habit of flattering one person while putting down everyone else.

Concerned that the young man before him might not know who he was, the grand-uncle introduced himself to Luo Peiyin: “You are of the same generation as Gu Qiao, so you should also address me as Grand-Uncle. I was formerly the principal of the village primary school. The current Secretary Liu of the township and Deputy Director Wu of the county education bureau were both once my students…” The grand-uncle proceeded to list a string of students he considered outstanding. Though he had also taught Lou Deyu and Gu Qiao, the two of them did not rank among the outstanding in his estimation, so he made no mention of them to the young man before him. After the self-introduction, he asked: “I have long wished to invite your parents here to take a look at our village, but I imagine your father is occupied day and night with matters of great importance and surely cannot get away. Having men like your father is truly a blessing for us ordinary people.”

Though such pleasantries were nothing unusual, hearing a white-bearded old man deliver them so earnestly in these surroundings — and in this particular manner invoking his father — Luo Peiyin found it genuinely amusing. But before the irony in his smile could fully form, it shifted into a politely diplomatic expression.

The grand-uncle extended a direct invitation to Luo Peiyin: “Your great-aunt’s family is in the canning business now, and space in the house is tight. Our home has plenty of room — come stay with us tonight. You’ve come such a long way; we must observe the proper hospitality. Why don’t you come have lunch at our place? We’re all family, no need to stand on ceremony. I watched your mother grow up…”

It took Luo Peiyin several seconds to work out whom this old man meant by “your mother.” Rather than explaining to this stranger that his only mother was his birth mother, Madam Liao, he simply cut him off: “Thank you, but please don’t trouble yourself.”

“What trouble could it be? My grandchildren are all studying at universities in the provincial capital — they’ve come home for the winter holidays and are here now. You’re all educated people; you’d have things to talk about. Unlike here…”

This time Luo Peiyin did not take the bait from the old man. He looked directly at Gu Qiao instead: “Gu Qiao, weren’t you going to take me out for a look around?”

Luo Peiyin reached over and took Gu Qiao’s hand. Gu Qiao’s first instinct was to pull away, but he held on firmly. If Gu Qiao had been concealing the nature of their relationship out of uncertainty about the future, then he was telling her: he was very certain. That was the only reason he could accept. He gripped tightly at first, leaving her no room to struggle, then gradually loosened his hold.

This sudden handholding was entirely unexpected to Gu Qiao. Yet she had a feeling — if she were to pull her hand free from Luo Peiyin’s at this moment, the two of them might simply be over.

The grand-uncle claimed to have witnessed many grand scenes in his time, but the sight of this young couple holding hands still made him lower his gaze. In the era he had lived through, even first cousins being together was not unheard of — let alone this degree of cousinhood.

At this point Gu Qiao’s mother spoke up: “We’re about to sit down for a meal — why don’t you go out for a walk a little later? Grand-Uncle, would you like to stay and have a bite?”

It was a signal to see him off. The grand-uncle understood, and it was only after stepping outside that he thought to invite the young man over for dinner. But just as he was about to turn back, the door had already closed.

Seeing that there was no way to keep this hidden any longer, Gu Qiao steeled herself and confessed outright: “Mom, I and my cou— him… we…”

Gu Jingshu seemed unsurprised. She said to Gu Qiao: “Whatever it is, let’s wait until after we’ve eaten. Our guest has come a long way and must be hungry by now.”

Since the matter was already out in the open, Gu Qiao no longer tried to conceal it. She straightforwardly began introducing the gifts Luo Peiyin had brought to her family. She spoke of them warmly, but the family’s responses and expressions of gratitude were subdued.

Gu Jingshu smiled at Luo Peiyin: “Thank you for carrying all these things such a long way for us. Please also convey our regards to your father and to Gu Auntie.”

Luo Peiyin had no intention of waiting until after the meal to speak: “Auntie, Gu Qiao and I are together.”

Gu Qiao’s youngest sister, who had been quite fond of the chocolate this older cousin had brought her, immediately took a dislike to this very good-looking man the moment she heard those words.

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