Zhou Yu returned to the marital home before evening.

It was a two to three kilometer walk. She walked back, weighing some chestnuts along the way, planning to braise them with shiitake mushrooms for dinner.

Arriving home, she first unwound her scarf, wool gloves, took off her down jacket and hung it up, then went to the kitchen to soak the shiitake mushrooms. After finishing her tasks and her body had thoroughly warmed up, she made a cup of tea and leisurely sat on the sofa looking at her phone.

She happened to scroll to a video from a friend. Sun Jingcheng and several friends were bent over drilling through ice to fish. Three short videos total—one of drilling ice, one of fishing, one of Sun Jingcheng ice skating on the surface. The camera lens was practically shoved in his face, asking how they’d eat the fish tonight? He pushed the camera away with his hand, telling the person recording to stop talking nonsense. A voice came from the distance, saying they’d find a farm to stew it tonight!

The camera turned to reveal an old weathered face, shouting for follows and likes, promising handsome guys every day in the future! At the end he didn’t forget to advertise: Bring your car here for spray painting, let the car take you to show off!

……

The nearest river was in the suburbs twenty kilometers away. Zhou Yu went to the kitchen to take out the soaked shiitake mushrooms, put away the chestnuts she had planned to peel, and went back to the bedroom to sleep. She tossed and turned without sleeping, went back to the kitchen to soak the shiitake mushrooms again, came back and continued sitting on the sofa looking at her Moments.

Now she scrolled to a WeChat post from Sun Jingcheng’s twin sister: Before picking on others’ faults, look more in the mirror, trim your nose hair and wipe your eye crud. What kind of people are these!

……

Remembering the book she hadn’t finished reading in the morning, she picked it up again. Reading and reading, she fell asleep again. When she woke up frozen it was already seven in the evening. She went back to the kitchen and braised chestnuts with shiitake mushrooms, steamed a bowl of rice. There was too much rice, so she put the other half in the refrigerator to make fried rice tomorrow.

After dinner she went downstairs to digest. After the square dancing ended she came back with them, soaked her feet, washed up, applied a face mask and went to bed. Before sleeping she checked her phone—not a single message. She covered herself with the quilt and went to sleep.

The next day Sun Jingcheng came to pick her up, having agreed to go to the full moon celebration. Zhou Yu was putting on makeup in the bedroom while he played piano freely in the living room. Usually when he came home late, playing piano at night would disturb neighbors.

After playing for about half an hour, seeing Zhou Yu come over, he switched to the cheerful “Two Tigers,” then looked at her with a smile. When they were newlyweds, Sun Jingcheng had taught her to play piano. Her fingers weren’t nimble, and she barely learned “Two Tigers,” playing it extremely dull and boring. Sun Jingcheng said she played it like a tiger that had just lost its cubs.

But Sun Jingcheng played it very cheerfully, full of childlike interest. It didn’t sound like two tigers, but rather like a group of playful tiger cubs, making people feel happy along with it.

Sun Jingcheng showed off, playing incredibly fast, watching her proudly while playing.

Seeing him like that, Zhou Yu completely ignored him.

Sun Jingcheng patted the bench, wanting her to sit over. He stood behind her teaching her hand by hand. Not only did Zhou Yu not improve, she played more and more chaotically, finally giving up completely and just playing randomly.

Sun Jingcheng smacked the back of her hand, asking if she had a grudge against the piano keys? Then played with one hand to show her, “Look, how simple, how simple!”

Zhou Yu turned her face to look at him, “Sun Jingcheng.”

“Mm?”

“How old are you this year?”

“Sixteen.”

“Surprisingly self-aware.”

Sun Jingcheng laughed heartily, covered the piano keys with the dust cover, “Let’s go, let’s go to the celebration.”

The two went to the hotel. Just as they had parked and gotten out, Old Jiang came forward from afar, teasing, “A fairy! I thought you hibernated in winter too!”

“Who are you insulting?” Sun Jingcheng said to him.

“School work has been busy this semester.” Zhou Yu said apologetically.

“Understand, understand, it’s good you could come.” Old Jiang became serious, patting Sun Jingcheng’s shoulder, “First table in the front row, you lead Zhou Yu over to sit first.”

Zhou Yu followed Sun Jingcheng into the hotel. She took out a red envelope from her bag to register at the entrance, but was stopped by Sun Jingcheng, “Wait until after eating.”

……

Sun Jingcheng considered, “Why don’t you give it to Old Jiang?”

……

Zhou Yu went back to give it to Old Jiang. Old Jiang wasn’t polite either, quickly stuffing it in his pocket.

……

Sun Jingcheng arranged for her to sit down, gave a few instructions, then went out to the entrance to greet guests with Old Jiang. Old Jiang didn’t give him a good look, saying, “Where does that leave my dignity? Completely exposed my family status.” Then he added: “Pass word to the other guys on the road—just give the red envelopes directly to me, don’t trouble the women.”

Sun Jingcheng immediately sent a message in their childhood friends group, telling everyone to just give the red envelopes directly to Old Jiang. Old Jiang scolded him for not knowing how to handle things—he was still in the group himself!

Sun Jingcheng said casually: “We’re all our own people, mutual understanding.”

Old Jiang rubbed his hands from the cold, urging him, “Go back and keep the fairy company.”

“No rush, I’ll stand here a while longer.”

“What’s with this outfit?” Old Jiang looked at his outdoor clothes and hiking boots.

“Going to Hefei this afternoon for business, climbing Mount Huang on the way.”

“Good grief! You’re really carefree, like a bachelor.” Old Jiang jerked his chin toward the banquet hall, “Your wife has no objections?”

“We agreed before marriage, Zhou Yu doesn’t control these things.” Sun Jingcheng rubbed his neck with his other hand, “Busy all night last night, climbing will help relieve the pressure.”

Old Jiang understood. With the pandemic going on for almost a year now, foreign trade business wasn’t easy. He patted his shoulder consolingly, “It’ll be over soon.”

Sun Jingcheng looked at the sparrows on the road, then at the azure sky, squinting and saying: “When there’s good weather, I’ll bring the wife to the riverside for a barbecue.”

“Sounds good, let’s plan it.” Old Jiang said to him, “You should also get glasses.”

“Got them a couple days ago, will pick them up when I have time.”

Friends and colleagues arrived one after another. Old Jiang directed them to the banquet hall, then said to him: “Speaking seriously, you and Zhou Yu should also put it on the agenda.”

“What agenda?”

“A child! Having a child really makes a difference.” Old Jiang said earnestly: “What’s the fun in just the two of you? With a child, the house is noisy and lively—that’s what living is.” He took out photos to show him, “Look, it’s cold, didn’t dare bring the baby out, just your sister-in-law came today. I thought it was too cold standing at the entrance, so I had her stay in the banquet hall.”

Sun Jingcheng glanced—his instinctive reaction was that it was really ugly, like a wrinkled mouse. But the child’s father didn’t think so at all, saying the child had high jaundice levels, and would be even more beautiful once it went down!

Sun Jingcheng looked toward the banquet hall. Old Jiang’s wife was similarly holding up her phone showing Zhou Yu. Zhou Yu’s instinctive reaction was also that it was ugly, but she smiled gracefully and praised that the child’s eyes were somewhat elongated—when they developed they’d be a beautiful pair of eyes. Old Jiang’s wife was very happy, praised to the heart, because Old Jiang was famously ugly-eyed.

Sun Jingcheng led childhood friends over together, and after greeting Zhou Yu they sat down. Then they teased Sun Jingcheng, saying he was holding the country back!

“Don’t just talk about loving the country, you need to show it through actual actions. The country needs you now, let’s see your performance!”

Everyone at the table joined in the teasing.

Among peers, only the Sun Jingcheng couple didn’t have children yet; everyone else averaged two. Someone stood up counting. Others asked: “Counting what?”

“Holy cow.” This person sat down, “Eight tables and five pregnant women! Looks like nobody’s been idle during the pandemic.”

Someone asked why they didn’t see the bride’s family. Old Jiang said the bride’s family was arranged for tomorrow. Due to pandemic controls, they split it over three days.

“Originally my mom arranged it for the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, when everyone from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen would be back, perfect timing to catch everyone at once. But then she thought what if the pandemic flared up again, might as well do it now.”

Everyone at the table laughed. Someone else asked Sun Jingcheng why he was dressed like that. Sun Jingcheng responded: “Going to Hefei on business this afternoon, climbing a mountain on the way.”

Zhou Yu suddenly looked at him. He acted like nothing was wrong, turning away to chat with people at the next table.

Throughout the entire banquet Zhou Yu ate absent-mindedly. When Old Jiang and his wife came to toast, people at the table made a fuss, insisting Sun Jingcheng and Zhou Yu drink a toast together. Sun Jingcheng wouldn’t drink—he had to take the high-speed train later. Zhou Yu couldn’t avoid it and sipped two small cups.

After the banquet ended and they returned home, after saying goodbye to friends in the car, Zhou Yu rolled up the car window and said: “Stop at the metro station.”

“I’ll drive you back…”

“No need, don’t want to delay your high-speed train.”

Only then did Sun Jingcheng sense something was wrong, probing: “You’re angry?”

“Let me out at the metro station.” Zhou Yu reiterated.

“You change faces so fast! Everything was fine at the banquet, but you turn hostile as soon as you get in the car.” Sun Jingcheng found it baffling.

Zhou Yu turned her head to look out the car window, not listening to him.

Sun Jingcheng’s expression also darkened. Neither paid attention to the other.

Seeing the metro station about to pass, Sun Jingcheng showed no sign of stopping. Zhou Yu looked at him, “If you don’t stop I’ll jump out!”

Sun Jingcheng signaled and stopped the car. Zhou Yu prepared to get out but was grabbed by the arm, “What are you angry about now?”

Zhou Yu was held by the arm, unable to get out of the car, but stubbornly refused to speak.

“You’re always like this.” Sun Jingcheng let go of her hand, planning to give up on communication, “You’ve had alcohol, I’ll drive you back.”

Zhou Yu didn’t try to get out again. Sun Jingcheng drove in silence, both their expressions looking bad. After a long while, Zhou Yu asked him, “I’m always like what?”

Sun Jingcheng summarized, “Moody.”

Zhou Yu scoffed, “And what about yourself?”

“I’m very satisfied with myself.”

“You’re excessively self-centered, willful and reckless, lacking family responsibility.” Zhou Yu slowly enumerated, “Someone like you shouldn’t have a family. It’s best you just live in your own world.”

“That’s what you think.” Sun Jingcheng replied, “I’m very happy, don’t feel wronged at all. My family and friends have no complaints about me.”

Zhou Yu looked at him and said nothing more.

“And you, stubborn about face, strong self-esteem, sulking with a long face.” Sun Jingcheng also enumerated her faults, “You were holding it in at the banquet, right? Didn’t make a scene until you got in the car.”

“I found it embarrassing!”

“That’s why I say you’re stubborn about face.”

“Just bear with it, we’ll be done after New Year.” Zhou Yu couldn’t be bothered with him.

“Arguing with you is so boring. From start to finish I don’t even know what we’re arguing about. If we’re going to argue, give a reason, argue thoroughly and satisfyingly. If that doesn’t work, then let’s get physical.” Sun Jingcheng said carelessly.

“Stop the car.”

“I won’t stop.”

“If you don’t stop, you’ll have to bear with it!”

“I’m so happy! I’m about to go on a business trip, I’m going to climb a mountain! You can just sulk alone in your cold bed!”

“Are you stopping or not?” Seeing Zhou Yu about to explode, Sun Jingcheng pulled over to let her out. After driving a stretch he looked at the person in the rearview mirror. When the fire in his heart slowly died down, he found a place to turn around and chase after her.

Just as he was about to catch up, he saw Zhou Yu had flagged down a car by the roadside. He stopped chasing and quietly followed behind the car back to the marital home.

Watching Zhou Yu enter the residential complex, he also turned around and went back to his own home. He hadn’t brought the building access card, so after taking his temperature he went around through the clinic to the second floor. There were quite a few people in the clinic for consultations, sitting scattered about wearing masks—all coming for Sun Youping’s reputation.

Just from smelling the Chinese medicine, he could deduce the patients’ conditions. He had grown up steeped in Chinese medicine smells since childhood. In his early elementary school years, a deskmate had reported to the teacher that they didn’t want to sit with him because he had a strange smell.

Sun Youping glanced at him while taking someone’s pulse, naturally not bothering with him. Upstairs Mother Sun was stewing lamb and angelica soup, saying that with the coldest nine days beginning, it was time for nourishing food to strengthen the body. In the bedroom, three half-grown children were huddled together gaming as a team. Hearing the door open, they all panicked and hid their phones. Seeing who it was, they complained with false alarm, “Uncle, you scared us to death!”

“Number Four, have Zhou Yu come drink soup this evening.” Mother Sun wore an apron, busy in the palm-sized kitchen, “During the coldest time of year, drinking more nourishing soup can replenish deficiencies.”

“You all drink it, she’s not feeling well.” Sun Jingcheng went to look in the kitchen, then came back and collapsed on the sofa.

“What’s wrong? Caught a cold?” Mother Sun came out wiping her hands on her apron.

“Don’t worry about it, probably just overworked.”

“Then I’ll put it in a thermos for you to take back to her. It’s so cold, don’t make her run back and forth.”

Sun Jingcheng sprawled there sleeping, making no sound.

“Did you two have a fight?” Mother Sun guessed wildly.

“Didn’t sleep well last night, let me sleep a bit.” Sun Jingcheng yawned.

Mother Sun went to the inner room, “You all keep your voices down. Later I’ll have your mom come discipline you. Not doing homework, just holding phones all day playing.”

“Homework’s been done long ago!” The grandchildren said in unison.

“If it’s done then go review, final exams are coming up soon.”

“We’ve reviewed everything too!”

“If you’ve reviewed, review again. Review the old to learn the new!”

“Ugh… We know everything already!” The grandchildren started getting impatient.

“Those are your words. If you don’t get first place, you’ll get a beating!” Mother Sun took out a blanket and covered Sun Jingcheng on the sofa.

Sun Jingcheng’s heart was heavy, so naturally he couldn’t sleep. He also regretted that knowing Zhou Yu’s temper, why did he have to stoop to her level? After tossing and turning a while, he went to the kitchen, “Mom, is the lamb soup ready?”

Mother Sun packed the soup for him. He carried it back to the marital home.