Friendship Snowflake Cream wasn’t easy to buy. The brand was too old—it was only sold at one shopping mall’s toiletries section, on the very bottom shelf. After leaving the mall, Sun Jingcheng picked her up and the two headed to the family compound.
Before marriage, Zhou Yu had lived in the family compound with her mother and grandmother. Her father had died of illness twenty years ago; during his lifetime he was a railway bureau employee. Her mother Feng Yiqun was a famously good daughter-in-law. After her husband died, she worked while supporting her in-laws. Later her father-in-law passed away, and her mother-in-law gradually developed dementia. Feng Yiqun retired at home to care for her mother-in-law attentively.
Oh right, there was one more thing. Zhou Yu originally also had an older brother. It seems that during the later stages of Feng Yiqun’s pregnancy there was oxygen deprivation, which affected the fetus’s intellectual development. He was born slow and foolish, couldn’t understand traffic lights even at twelve or thirteen years old, and was later run over by a car on the road.
In short, in others’ eyes, Feng Yiqun’s life was difficult, full of hardships, and unfortunate. But no one ever saw her complain or lose her temper. She was always gentle and kind to people. Whether among relatives, colleagues and friends, or neighbors and students, Feng Yiqun’s good character was universally praised, fully worthy of her title as Provincial Outstanding Teacher.
Some elderly people even wrote letters to the district suggesting that if there was an opportunity to report to higher authorities, they should nominate Feng Yiqun as one of the Top Ten Most Moving People in China!
As they say, like mother like daughter. Zhou Yu basked in her mother’s glory and was also a far and wide renowned “good child.” Before she had even graduated from university, people coming to propose marriage to Zhou Yu nearly wore down the threshold. Feng Yiqun had rejected no less than fifty people, or at least thirty. Seeing that Zhou Yu was about to turn thirty, Feng Yiqun wasn’t anxious. Neighbors all watched with wide eyes, wondering if Feng Yiqun was being stubborn about not marrying her off—did she want her daughter to find someone from heaven?
The turning point came when Zhou Yu was twenty-nine. It was an ordinary day. Zhou Yu was rolling out dumpling wrappers while Feng Yiqun pinched the dumpling edges, saying casually: “The youngest son of the Sun family has been back for half a year. If you’re agreeable, I’ll go propose on your behalf.”
Zhou Yu was stunned at the time and blurted out, “Which Sun family?”
“The Sun family of Sun Youping’s clinic.”
Zhou Yu didn’t respond at the time and didn’t take it seriously. She had dated two others that hadn’t worked out. It wasn’t until half a month later when Feng Yiqun brought it up again as a serious matter, asking her to consider it carefully. Right now Sun Jingcheng wasn’t dating anyone either, and the two families knew each other well. Zhou Yu thought for a long time and said if you think it’s suitable, that’s fine. Later Feng Yiqun visited the Sun home to personally broker the match.
It’s said that after Feng Yiqun left, Mother Sun was so shocked her jaw dropped, unable to recover for a long time. First, she had never experienced in-laws personally coming to propose a match; second, her instinctive reaction was like hitting the jackpot.
At that time Sun Jingcheng was about to turn thirty-four and was still drifting about aimlessly every day. Father Sun didn’t speak to him openly, but had always held a grudge in his heart, feeling that the family indulged his temperament too much and had spoiled him. Sun Jingcheng had two older brothers above him, plus a twin sister. As they say, the palm and back of the hand are both flesh, but in their hearts Father and Mother Sun favored their youngest son the most.
While in university, Sun Jingcheng had already visited many domestic scenic spots. Where remote places had no transportation, he’d carry a tent and hike, sleeping wherever he went. He couldn’t be found during entire winter and summer breaks. If you asked where his money came from, it was either secretly given by Mother Sun or given by his two brothers. His sister said he treated money like dirt, especially other people’s money like dirt. This wasn’t false at all.
After graduating and working for two years, having made some quick money, he went abroad to drift around. He went to Korea, Japan, India, Kenya, to Istanbul and Greece, to Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Denmark… When he’d blown through his money he’d come back, come back to continue earning, earn more to go play again. In between he even taught as a volunteer in Guizhou for two years. It wasn’t until after turning thirty that he gradually settled down, doing foreign trade with classmates in Guangzhou. Later, unable to resist family persuasion—saying the central government had issued documents, that the hometown also had great development potential, that they were building a “National Central City”—and since Sun Jingcheng was tired of being away at that time, he happened to return home.
The reason Sun Jingcheng could drift around so carefree was thanks to having two brothers six or seven years older. Back then Mother Sun’s pregnancy with him was completely unexpected, and later they said it was twins, which the older generation treasured endlessly. The eldest brother became a criminal police officer, the second brother was a fairly successful businessman, and the twin sister was also thriving in the real estate sales office. These older siblings diverted their parents’ attention, especially the eldest brother, whom Father Sun was very proud to mention. Combined with Sun Jingcheng never having any perseverance and being difficult to teach, Father Sun adopted an out-of-sight, out-of-mind attitude toward him, as long as he didn’t waste resources or harm people.
When the entire family had no expectations for Sun Jingcheng, Feng Yiqun personally came to propose a match—this absolutely thrilled the Sun family! Even the usually stern-faced Father Sun looked at Sun Jingcheng much more favorably that day.
Meanwhile, the person in question who had always followed the principle that things would work out naturally was completely indifferent—meet if they’re going to meet, talk if they can talk, part ways if they can’t, neither holding the other hostage.
Speaking of which, the Sun home was very close to the Feng home. Coming out of the Sun clinic and turning three corners ahead, less than a kilometer away. Usually when neighbors came to the clinic for treatment, with nothing better to do they would praise Feng Yiqun profusely, especially for continuing to support her in-laws for twenty years after her only son husband died—ordinary people couldn’t do this. Particularly elderly people with unfilial daughters-in-law would constantly bring up Feng Yiqun for comparison.
And her only daughter Zhou Yu was also quite outstanding—learned and reasonable, graceful and proper. Whenever you saw her, she was like a flower bud, standing behind Feng Yiqun with natural poise. Her bone structure was cast from the same mold as her mother—she looked upright just by appearance.
This girl wasn’t delicate either. At fourteen or fifteen she learned cooking from Feng Yiqun. Whenever her mother came home late from work, she would cook for her grandfather and grandmother. During winter and summer breaks when her mother tutored students, this child would study at home while taking care of the elderly. And from her schooling through work, everything went smoothly. Thanks to her mother being a teacher, she attended key middle school, key high school, and got into a top-tier normal university as hoped, then came back to teach!
What a good girl! Nothing to pick on!
When neighbors learned she was dating Sun Jingcheng, they were greatly disappointed. Even if she couldn’t marry someone exceptional, shouldn’t she marry a company CEO? A rising political star? A business elite? At the very least shouldn’t it be a professor or second-generation rich kid?!
What did Sun Jingcheng the wild monkey have? He’d pick an ear of corn and toss it aside to pick another, ending up with nothing. What a waste! What a waste! The immortal peach was snatched by the monkey!
Besides the well-known title of “Piano Little Prince,” Feng Yiqun had deep connections with Sun Jingcheng. She had taught Sun Jingcheng for three years of middle school, was his math teacher and homeroom teacher. And in the final sprint year of his senior year of high school, he came to Feng Yiqun’s home for weekend tutoring. Later when he dropped out in his sophomore year and repeated the year, it was also Feng Yiqun who tutored him.
At that time teachers could earn extra income through tutoring, and the school turned a blind eye—it was considered teachers’ gray income. All the children in that area went to Feng Yiqun for tutoring, on one hand because it was close, on the other hand neighbors all looked after each other, feeling that Feng Yiqun with elderly above and young below, a woman’s life was hard.
So naturally Zhou Yu also knew Sun Jingcheng. From childhood she had heard the name “Piano Little Prince” like thunder in her ears. It’s just that the two attended different schools and had never spoken. Sun Jingcheng was precociously intelligent, always a prominent figure at school, knew many instruments, looked clean-cut, and was very popular with girls. When he came for tutoring in senior year, he always brought his little girlfriend.
Later when WeChat became widespread, during New Year Feng Yiqun saw Sun Jingcheng on the street, asked about his situation. He said he was currently teaching as a volunteer in Guizhou, then the two exchanged WeChat and exchanged greetings on holidays.
The family compound was built in the 1980s. The main entrance was in a passage only wide enough for two cars side by side. If relatives and friends visited, hosts would remind them in advance to park with some distance between cars, otherwise blocking the way would earn them scolding.
If you came on a weekend at mealtime, there wouldn’t be a single empty parking spot. Now the compound was mostly inhabited by elderly people. The younger generation had all purchased new homes elsewhere, and as if by agreement, they all clustered back on weekends.
After Sun Jingcheng drove around in circles, he finally found a parking spot. Although it was quite far from the compound entrance. The two carried things through a long path. On both sides were the compound’s granular-textured exterior walls, covered with withered ivy vines. The utility poles were covered with torn and re-posted advertisements, from which you could vaguely guess the ad copy: drain pipe repair, locksmith services, seeking/offering rentals, treating venereal diseases, solving difficult problems of infertility…
Sun Jingcheng pointed at the withered ivy, “In summer I’ll bring you here to take photos, absolutely beautiful.”
Zhou Yu didn’t respond.
Sun Jingcheng’s home was on a branch road with four lanes going both directions on the street, with rows of lush plane trees on both sides. In spring and autumn many people came to photograph the tree-lined path. The Sun family’s first floor was the clinic storefront, the second floor was residential. From Sun Jingcheng’s bedroom window, reaching out your hand you could just barely touch the plane tree leaves by the curb.
Speaking of beauty, nowhere was more beautiful for photos than in front of the Sun home.
Feng Yiqun was cooking in the kitchen. Seeing them return, she asked Zhou Yu, “Did you buy it?”
“Bought it.” Zhou Yu took out three bottles of Friendship Snowflake Cream from her bag and followed Sun Jingcheng to the bathroom to wash hands. Coming out, she opened the snowflake cream and scooped out a bit to apply to her hands.
“You two spray some disinfectant. Try to go to crowded places less. They say Spring Festival controls will be stricter, visiting relatives and friends is not recommended.” Feng Yiqun called out from the kitchen.
Sun Jingcheng went to the kitchen, “Yes, there are controls. Banquets can’t be extravagant, all must be reported and registered in advance.”
Feng Yiqun scooped out two sections of oxtail into a small bowl and handed him chopsticks, “Taste it.”
Sun Jingcheng tasted a piece, carried the bowl out to give Zhou Yu the other piece. Feng Yiqun asked: “Is it flavorful?”
“Very flavorful, slightly a bit bland.” Sun Jingcheng said.
Zhou Yu didn’t take the bowl, called toward the bedroom, “Grandma?”
“Your grandma just lay down, exhausted from the sun.” Feng Yiqun responded.
Zhou Yu slowed her movements and sat down on the sofa. Sun Jingcheng handed her the small bowl again, “Taste it, see if it’s bland?”
Only then did Zhou Yu take it, sipped the broth, “Not bland, just reduce the sauce a bit more and it’ll be enough.”
Sun Jingcheng returned to the kitchen, standing there chatting with Feng Yiqun. Grandma’s cat came from the balcony. Zhou Yu clapped at it and the cat jumped into her lap.
“The cat has fleas, I haven’t had time to deal with it.” Feng Yiqun said when she saw.
Zhou Yu skillfully found the flea powder and squatted on the balcony sprinkling it on the cat’s back. After playing with it for a while, she went to wash her hands, stood there with the remote control watching TV. Sun Jingcheng successively brought dishes to the table. She turned off the TV and went to serve rice.
Four dishes and a soup, all cooked to Sun Jingcheng’s taste. Three people sat eating. Sun Jingcheng and Feng Yiqun chatted from time to time. Zhou Yu didn’t participate, just picked at the braised oxtail. Hearing movement in the kitchen, she looked over. Feng Yiqun said meat was stewing on the stove for Grandma.
After a while Grandma woke up. Zhou Yu put a bib on her, scooped out several pieces of beef and carrots, mashed them, and brought them out for her to eat.
At the dining table Grandma had already started talking to Sun Jingcheng, calling him Yaohui, putting meat in his bowl, urging him to eat and then go to work. Can’t delay public work!
Yaohui was Zhou Yu’s father’s name. Last time Sun Jingcheng was mistaken for Ming Zhang, which was Zhou Yu’s grandfather’s name.
Sun Jingcheng didn’t correct her, went along with her conversation, asked about her appetite and sleep. Grandma responded vigorously, “Very good, everything’s very good. Yiqun’s cooking suits my taste very well. Don’t worry about things at home, just go to work properly.”
After the meal Zhou Yu was taking Grandma to the bathhouse. Sun Jingcheng left after eating. Feng Yiqun was packing Grandma’s change of clothes in the room. Zhou Yu was washing up in the kitchen. After finishing, mother and daughter met in the living room. Feng Yiqun asked her, “What’s going on between you and Jingcheng?”
Zhou Yu dried her hands, applying snowflake cream and said: “Nothing’s going on.”
Feng Yiqun understood she wouldn’t get the truth, and said pointedly, “When a couple lives together, appropriately yielding is also a kind of great wisdom.”
“I’m doing quite well.” Zhou Yu said.
“That’s good then.” Feng Yiqun picked up a small plastic stool, hooked the bath basket over her arm, “Help Grandma down the stairs.”
Grandma was very happy, insisting on carrying the small plastic stool herself. She really liked going to the bathhouse to bathe, liked putting bubbles in her sparse hair, and liked the liveliness there even more. Thanks to the old lady’s blessing, Zhou Yu learned about different types of breasts’… colloquialisms. Such as: gourd breasts, cloth bag breasts, splayed breasts, asymmetrical breasts, jade plate breasts, pearl breasts…
Don’t let Grandma’s age fool you—her body was quite robust. Last year when Feng Yiqun was washing and nearly fainted in the bathhouse, it was Grandma who helped her to the changing room. Since then, whenever Grandma bathed, Zhou Yu always went along.