Ni Kairen was still in Hong Kong. After Huang Xi Tang completed all the work for the film “Late Spring,” she finally began her vacation. Xi Tang accompanied her mother back to Xianju to relax and visit old neighbors. When the mother and daughter returned, the small landlord next door was moving.

The small landlord drove to the station to pick them up, then took them to the family restaurant for a meal. Soon after, the small landlord’s wife arrived with their child, her face beaming with joy: “Sister, we were planning to go to Shanghai tomorrow.”

The little child also liked pretty people, breaking into a smile upon seeing Xi Tang. Xi Tang reached out to hold the child while asking: “Are you taking the child out for fun?”

The small landlord’s wife spoke quickly: “Not this time. The paperwork for the new shop came through, and we’re in a hurry to renovate.”

Xi Tang was somewhat surprised: “So fast?”

During the time when her mother was hospitalized, the small landlord had visited twice. After her mother was discharged, the small landlord messaged Xi Tang saying, “His wife was urging him to develop business in Shanghai, and he agreed.”

Xi Tang knew that the young woman had always envied life in Hangzhou and Shanghai, coming up several times each month. The small landlord had bought his wife a house in both Shanghai and Hangzhou, but all their business was in their hometown, and he had never planned to relocate. Unexpectedly this time, the small landlord had decided to agree.

But it had only been a little over a month, and for Shanghai’s restaurant approval procedures to be completed so quickly was almost impossible.

The small landlord said to her at the dinner table: “Nieyniey, I’m giving you a ten percent share for free.”

Xi Tang hurriedly declined.

The small landlord immediately became anxious: “Nieyniey, if you don’t take it, I won’t open it!”

Now it was the small landlord’s wife who became anxious: “That won’t do!”

Xi Tang laughed immediately: “See, your wife doesn’t want to give it away.”

The small landlord’s wife quickly placed her child in his grandmother’s arms rushed over, and clung tightly to Xi Tang: “That’s not what I meant! Dear sister, you’ve been working so hard alone in Shanghai. With our family there, we can look after each other. My good fortune depends on you!”

Her mother watched them arguing at the dinner table, holding the child on her lap, her face beaming with joy.

The autumn that year was pleasant.

Around the Double Ninth Festival, the small landlord’s Xianju restaurant officially opened after a week of trial operations. On the opening day, Xi Tang reserved the largest private room to show her support. Ni Kairen brought her child—in June of that year, Ni Kairen had given birth to a baby boy via C-section in Hong Kong. One of her cousins had accompanied her to the delivery room. Xi Tang had worked twenty consecutive hours on the film set to earn half a day off to fly to Hong Kong. When she arrived, the baby was just being carried out by the nurse—thick black hair, crying loudly, attracting relatives from all over the corridor to come look. The nursery caretaker waited outside to take the baby away. Xi Tang went in to see the new mother. Ni Kairen lay on the delivery bed, crying with joy. She still hadn’t discussed who the child’s father was. When the baby turned one month old, she brought him back to Shanghai. Xi Tang’s mother sent generous gifts. Ni Kairen didn’t say much, simply calling her “Aunt Grandmother” when expressing thanks, which meant they were now considered relatives.

Xi Tang brought her mother, Dr. Xie also came, and the whole lively gathering of family and friends enjoyed a meal together.

Xi Tang drank a little alcohol.

She had never experienced such a bustling, abundant day before, and felt peaceful and happy.

The small landlord’s wife was discussing with Ni Kairen their plans to sell their previous Shanghai house and buy a larger one, as their child would start kindergarten in Shanghai that autumn.

Xi Tang rarely indulged in a hearty meal without dietary restrictions, and her expression was joyful, her smile radiant. She patted the small landlord’s arm and lowered her voice to ask: “Small landlord, who arranged for you and your wife to develop a business in Shanghai?”

Hearing this, the small landlord’s expression froze momentarily. Then, looking at Xi Tang, he dared not speak, only smiling sheepishly at her.

At the Zhao family courtyard house in Guosheng Hutong.

The driver parked the car in front of the courtyard gate. Teacher Zhou sat in the back seat and patted Yu Xiaoying’s hand: “Staying at home tonight? I’ll have Zhouzi come back later. I haven’t seen him for quite some time.”

Yu Xiaoying didn’t agree, only smiling and saying: “Mom, I’ll accompany you inside first.”

Teacher Zhou nodded: “Come in for tea, it helps digestion.”

After Zhao Pingjin got married, if he wasn’t traveling for work, the young couple would generally return once a week to have dinner with the old master and mistress. Today, because Zhao Pingjin had work, and Teacher Zhou had returned to Beijing, Yu Xiaoying accompanied her to visit her in-laws.

The driver came to open the car door on Teacher Zhou’s side.

Yu Xiaoying got out of the car herself, came over to help Teacher Zhou with her scarf and coat, and stepped over the threshold into the courtyard.

Hearing sounds from the front hall, the housekeeper came out from the inner room to make tea.

The television was turned on. Yu Xiaoying accompanied her mother-in-law drinking tea in the living room. Teacher Zhou asked about recent family matters and also inquired about her in-laws. Although she spent most of her time in the Nanjing Military Region with her husband, she was well-informed about affairs in Beijing. Zhao Pingjin had made some significant moves at Zhongyuan recently, and Teacher Zhou could only hint at certain matters. Teacher Zhou caringly asked in turn about the health of Yu Xiaoying’s parents and grandparents.

Yu Xiaoying replied that all was well.

Yu Xiaoying looked at her mother-in-law and carefully called out: “Mom.”

Teacher Zhou glanced at her, knowing from the moment they entered that her daughter-in-law had something to say: “Child, don’t be so formal. If you have something to tell Mom, just say it. Is Zhouzi bullying you?”

Yu Xiaoying’s eyes welled with tears, hesitating: “Please don’t be angry with me. Every time at Grandfather and Grandmother’s house, you and the old lady always talk about having children, and I really…”

A flash passed through Teacher Zhou’s eyes, and she unconsciously sat up straight. She moved closer and took Yu Xiaoying’s hand: “Yingzi, it’s just us women here. Tell Mom what’s wrong.”

Yu Xiaoying closed her eyes, seeming to steel herself before saying: “It’s Zhouzi who refuses to have children.”

As she finished speaking, tears streamed down her face.

Teacher Zhou asked a few more questions, her expression gradually darkening. Ten minutes later, she stood up and walked out of the living room, calling the attendant: “Where is Zhouzhou tonight? Call him and tell him to come home.”

Zhao Pingjin walked into Guosheng Hutong.

It was after nine in the evening, with lights glowing under the eaves. The weather had turned cold. After heating began in November, Beijing’s smoggy days came one after another, enveloping the entire city in a gray haze.

He stood at the entrance to the main hall, wiping the dust from the soles of his shoes.

The door curtain rustled. Looking up, he saw Yu Xiaoying about to walk out, her white down jacket unzipped, her eyes red.

Teacher Zhou was following her out. Seeing Zhao Pingjin standing at the door, she gave him a very displeased glare while grabbing Yu Xiaoying’s arm: “Yingzi, stay here. Mom won’t let you be wronged today.”

Yu Xiaoying hesitated for a second, and Teacher Zhou took the opportunity to pull her back inside.

Zhao Pingjin followed them in.

He remained calm and unhurried. Standing in the entryway, the housekeeper came to attend to him, helping him take off his coat, bringing a hot towel to wipe his hands, and serving tea.

Teacher Zhou stood motionless in the living room watching the housekeeper bustle about, her face stormy. She lowered her voice to order: “Auntie, you may go now. Stop spoiling him so much. I think he simply doesn’t know his place anymore.”

Zhao Pingjin maintained his smiling demeanor, drank the hot tea in one gulp, casually placed the teacup on the entryway cabinet, and said to the housekeeper with a smile: “Please rest. Teacher Zhou’s authority as head of the household hasn’t diminished at all.”

He walked into the room.

In the living room, neither woman was seated. Yu Xiaoying stood at a distance, separated from him by a sofa. Teacher Zhou blocked his path, her face displeased, visibly angry. Zhao Pingjin probably already knew what had happened.

Yu Xiaoying going to his mother was inevitable sooner or later.

Zhao Pingjin asked his mother: “What’s wrong?”

Teacher Zhou looked at her son, her expression severe but still carrying a glimmer of hope: “Zhouzi, your wife says you don’t want children. Is this true?”

Zhao Pingjin frowned slightly, still controlling his temper, and only answered: “Mom, this is a matter between us young people.”

Teacher Zhou was filled with anger, showing no intention of letting the matter rest: “Is it that both of you don’t want children, or just you who doesn’t want them?”

Zhao Pingjin raised his eyebrows, deciding to extinguish her hope completely, his tone becoming involuntarily harsh: “It’s me who doesn’t want children for now.”

Teacher Zhou looked at her son showing no signs of remorse, and the last glimmer of hope in her heart slowly extinguished.

“Since you’ve been married, is there anything about your wife that you’re dissatisfied with?”

“No.”

“You’re not getting any younger. Why won’t you have children?”

Zhao Pingjin impatiently replied: “Mom, can you stop interfering in our affairs?”

Yu Xiaoying covered her mouth and began to sob quietly.

Standing in her living room, hearing her daughter-in-law’s crying, Teacher Zhou felt humiliated, her chest heaving with emotion, her anger rising in waves: “This isn’t just your business. Your wife has been wronged, and I, as your mother, have failed to raise you properly. I’m ashamed! I’ve let down the old Yu family! They gave their good daughter to you in marriage, not for you to treat her like this. I ask you, what do you plan to do?”

Zhao Pingjin didn’t answer his mother. He turned and walked a few steps, restraining his temper and saying gently: “Yingzi, let’s discuss this at home.”

Yu Xiaoying kept her head down, tearfully sobbing: “Don’t lie to me anymore. I know you don’t want to. It’s because of that female celebrity outside—”

Zhao Pingjin was stunned for a second: “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Teacher Zhou shouted: “Let her speak!”

Yu Xiaoying suddenly raised her head, her thin voice rising sharply: “Rushing to go to Xining at 3:30 in the morning—why did you go to Qinghai? Who was filming in Qinghai? What nonsense am I talking about? The news is all over the internet, who can’t see it?”

Zhao Pingjin’s face darkened for a second, though his smile remained: “You know my schedule so clearly? Then haven’t you also discovered that I didn’t do anything inappropriate?”

Yu Xiaoying was so angry she kept crying. That day, torrential rain poured in Xining City. Her husband had landed in the early morning, and the car drove directly to the Xining Flood and Drought Prevention Headquarters. After leaving the stationed troops, Zhao Pingjin went straight back to the hotel to sleep soundly. He returned to Beijing that afternoon, having stayed in Qinghai for less than ten hours. He hadn’t even left his hotel room, and the only person who had entered his room was that childhood friend from the Hu family.

If he had truly done something to wrong her, she would have had reason to make a scene. But as things stood, she had no choice but to endure in silence.

Zhao Pingjin stood there, thinking for a moment, his face gradually growing dark, though his voice remained calm: “Yingzi, regardless of who around me is reporting my schedule to you, I’m telling you, they’d better be careful.”

Teacher Zhou shouted angrily: “Zhouzi, who do you think you’re talking to?!”

Yu Xiaoying burst into loud sobs, grabbed her scarf and handbag from the sofa, and ran out. Teacher Zhou followed, trying to stop her from leaving. Yu Xiaoying continued sobbing, standing in the courtyard refusing to move. Teacher Zhou looked back at the house—she understood perfectly well what kind of relationship this young couple had. Zhao Pingjin would not come out to comfort anyone. After trying to persuade her a few times, Teacher Zhou had no choice but to call the driver to take her home.