At lunch they made dumplings. Sun Jingfei mixed the filling, and Sun Youping didn’t praise it as delicious, but he ate two plates with garlic cloves. Usually he only had one bowl and rarely went back for more. After eating the dumplings he even drank a bowl of plain broth—the water the dumplings were boiled in.

Those two kids were courting death—they refused to eat, each using their own skills to make half-cooked instant noodles.

After the meal with nothing to do, Sun Jingfei helped tidy up the whole house, then squatted under the plane tree at the clinic entrance. She yawned, eyes brimming with tears as she watched passersby.

Sun Jingcheng came back from the warehouse with Chinese medicine, sorted it by category, and after preparing it had the assistant go boil it. Turning his head to look at the plane tree outside the window, he couldn’t help but yawn too. After busying himself for another while, he asked Sun Jingfei who was squatting by the curb, “Shall I accompany you to pick up Ke Yu this evening?”

Sun Jingfei turned to look at him, “You go ahead with your work, I can manage on my own.”

Sun Jingcheng checked the time, and while Sun Youping wasn’t paying attention, snuck back upstairs to raid the refrigerator. Mother Sun heard the commotion and came over, cutting the beef tongue hidden in the very back for him, urging: “Eat quickly, don’t let your sister see…” Catching sight of someone coming up, she nimbly snatched the beef tongue from his hands, “Don’t just think of yourself, leave some for your sister!”

……

Sun Jingfei cut the beef tongue into small slices, dipped them in sauce and watched him eat, not giving him a single piece. The siblings both loved eating sheep’s eyes and beef tongue.

Sun Jingcheng turned to look at Mother Sun, who was frantically busy, collecting socks from the balcony before returning to the inner room.

……

Sun Jingcheng ignored her and went to the bathroom. Sun Jingfei had a few pieces she didn’t hold properly that fell on the floor—she quickly picked them up, blew off the dust, and put them on the plate for Sun Jingcheng to eat.

The two kids came back from playing and seeing their mouths moving, gathered around clamoring, “Auntie what are you eating?”

“Little Uncle what are you eating?”

Mother Sun heard and came out, “Can’t stand seeing adults’ mouths move!” After speaking she took out the hidden cheese sticks and gave one to each of them.

So sleepy—the siblings collapsed on the sofa yawning, staring blankly at the clock on the wall. How could they still be so tired even though it was already autumn?

Sun Jingfei asked out of boredom: “Is Zhou Yu at the family housing?”

“Mm.” Sun Jingcheng responded with his eyes closed. He was truly tired. In the past no matter how exhausting work at the company was, weekends gave him something to look forward to, and after recovering for two days he could be fully revived. Now weekends required coming to observe clinical practice, and his entire energy level was much worse than before. He yawned and asked: “Where’s sister-in-law?”

“Went to second sister-in-law’s place, said she was going to get the mole on her neck removed.”

“How can you just remove moles randomly?”

“Dad said hers can be removed.”

The siblings had nothing more to say, each closing their eyes to rest for a while. Sun Jingfei said on a whim: “Let’s take Mom and Dad up the mountain to enjoy autumn?”

“Dad probably won’t go.” Sun Jingcheng said.

“Hard to say.” Sun Jingfei tried hard to think of where nearby they could view autumn leaves. After thinking for a long time she said again: “How about we go see the large-scale drama ‘Henan Again,’ my friend has tickets, I haven’t seen it yet.”

“‘Henan Again’?” Sun Jingcheng was curious.

“Or is it ‘Goodbye Henan’? That one… the one Jianye invested billions in.”

“Isn’t it ‘Only Henan’?”

“Whatever Henan it is, are we going or not?”

“That’s not suitable for Mom and Dad to watch, right?” Sun Jingcheng said: “We can take Ke Yu and Yuyi, but Mom and Dad can’t watch it.”

Sun Jingfei craned her head to look toward the inner room, saying in a low voice: “As long as it doesn’t cost money, Mom can watch anything!”

Sun Jingcheng laughed heartily, then the siblings put their heads together and began gossiping about Mother Sun. Yesterday at the intersection there was a big cart selling oranges, the seller let people taste freely, saying if they weren’t sweet no payment needed. Mother Sun first had Sun Yuyan taste one, then quietly had Sun Jiarui taste one, even though in the end she also bought ten pounds. But this habit of taking small advantages—no matter how many times it’s been mentioned, she never changes.

The two were just talking when Sun Youping called from downstairs, and Sun Jingcheng quickly went down. Sun Jingfei could hear Sun Youping’s scolding voice even from the sofa: If you won’t properly observe and learn, then don’t learn at all.

She played mobile games idly for a while, then messaged the second brother to consult him about opening a hot pot restaurant. During Mid-Autumn Festival, second brother said since she was idle with nothing to do, she might as well open a hot pot restaurant—he could help with marketing.

The two chatted for a bit, and the second brother recommended a location, saying currently the foot traffic wasn’t very high, but parking was very convenient and rent wasn’t that expensive either. That area had great development prospects for the future.

She quickly made a decision, asking second brother to help keep an eye out for vacant shop spaces. Then she messaged Jiang Jin—he had mentioned once that he knew people in that commercial district.

The two briefly chatted for a few sentences, and ten minutes later Jiang Jin responded, saying he’d take her to look at shop spaces tomorrow. Then she took her phone downstairs and sat under the plane tree at the entrance again, chatting with him sporadically while blowing in the autumn breeze. Uncle came over on his bicycle and asked her, “What are you squatting here for?”

Sun Jingfei greeted him, saying she was enjoying the idle breeze.

Uncle opened the bag in his hand, telling her to grab a handful of dry-roasted peanuts, then went back into the clinic to drink tea with Sun Youping. The clinic was crowded with people, especially elderly people. They couldn’t bear to go to big hospitals, and big hospitals required registration, queuing, waiting for consultation, getting medicine… they’d have to trouble their children to accompany them to go. Generally they were unwilling to cause their children trouble.

When there were many people there was much idle talk. Somehow the topic turned to elderly care. Several old men were unwilling to go to nursing homes, but nowadays caregivers cost several thousand a month. Someone came up with an idea—several people could live together and hire one caregiver, that way when each person split the cost wouldn’t it be less money?

Sun Jingfei listened to their idle chat, her head buried in her arms nearly dying of laughter. She checked the time and sent a WeChat to Ke Yu: “Shall I come pick you up now?”

Ke Yu replied: “No need Mom, I’m planning to take the bus back.”

Sun Jingfei asked: “What’s wrong? I’m idle with nothing to do anyway.”

Ke Yu, carrying his backpack, walked alone on the long road, replying to her: “I can come back on my own.”

Sun Jingfei didn’t insist further: “Do you want me to pick you up at the station?”

Ke Yu replied: “No need, I’ll transfer to the subway and go straight home.” After sending this he put on his earphones and went to the bus stop. He just wanted to have a period of quiet time that belonged to himself, without having to talk to anyone, just staying by himself quietly. Getting on the bus he found a window seat in the very last row, hugging his backpack and looking at the scenery outside the window, listening to slightly melancholic English songs.

Sun Jingfei originally wanted to ask: What do you want to eat tonight? Mom will make it for you. But sensing she was talking too much, she ultimately didn’t send it.

After hesitating for a long time she messaged Zhou Yu, discussing Ke Yu’s situation over these two months. He was still as obedient as before, even more considerate, occasionally helping with some housework or heavy tasks, but it was just hard to describe… he had become much more taciturn.

Zhou Yu chatted with her for a while, telling her to relax, to give Ke Yu some time to be alone, and he would work everything out himself. She would also pay more attention to him at school.

Sun Jingfei breathed a light sigh of relief, replying: “Thank you for your trouble.”

Zhou Yu replied: “It’s nothing.”

She got up and went upstairs, drank a cup of tea, and said to Mother Sun who was watching TV while dozing: “Mom, for your and Dad’s 45th wedding anniversary, I was the first one to think of it and tell Dad.”

Mother Sun glanced at her and made an acknowledging sound.

Sun Jingfei went back downstairs. Not two minutes later, Sun Jingcheng came up to use the bathroom, and coming out he also said: “Mom, for your and Dad’s forty-fifth anniversary, I was the first one to tell Dad.”

Mother Sun also glanced at him and made an acknowledging sound.

“Don’t listen to my sister.” Sun Jingcheng, afraid his sister would steal the credit, honestly said: “This matter was thought of by Zhou Yu who reminded me first, but I stupidly… told my sister first, and then my sister turned around and told my dad!” After speaking he hurried downstairs, afraid Sun Youping would scold him again.

……

When the season changed, the clinic got busy—all kinds of minor ailments came in. Just for autumn diarrhea patches applied to the navel, they could dispense over a hundred patches a day. This day they were busy until eight in the evening before finally getting off work. Sun Jingcheng went to the family housing to pick up Zhou Yu. Usually he drove there, but this day he quite leisurely walked along the street, the evening breeze gentle—he also wanted to be alone for a while.

Ahead at the mall entrance was a temporary food festival with all kinds of local snacks from various places. Having nothing better to do, he turned over there, planning to buy something good for Zhou Yu if he came across it. The very first stall was Changsha stinky tofu. He was deeply attracted to it—their advertising slogan was: Changsha stinky tofu, stinky tofu personally inscribed by Chairman Mao, the gold medal snack used by Hunan Provincial Committee to entertain foreign guests…

He turned his face away and stood to the side laughing for a long time. The fatigue on his body also dissipated with it, then he took a photo and sent it to Zhou Yu.

Zhou Yu asked him: “Walking over?”

He replied: “Yes, I’ll be there in five more minutes.”

Zhou Yu replied: “Don’t come up, shall I accompany you for a walk?”

He gently replied: “Good.”

On the road to the family housing, he also bought a bunch of sunflowers at a roadside stall from an elderly woman sitting on a small folding stool selling them. He saw them and felt happy, so he bought them on a whim.

When he turned onto the road to the family housing, he saw Zhou Yu standing under a streetlight from far away. He waved the sunflowers in his hand and shouted loudly, “Wife!” Then twisted with flamboyant dance steps, singing as he went toward her: “Wife, wife, wife wife!”

Singing and singing he stopped his steps… watching with his own eyes as Zhou Yu looked left and right, then as if embarrassed fled back into the family housing.

……

He stood in place not moving. After a long while he saw Zhou Yu first poke out her little head… then pretending she’d just seen him, she jogged over, took the sunflowers from his hand, sniffed them deeply, and said exaggeratedly: “They’re really beautiful!”

……

Since she had already repented, he’d magnanimously not hold it against her. Sun Jingcheng continued in good spirits: “A gift for you.”

“Great!” Zhou Yu looked at the sunflowers and asked him, “Can I put them in Grandma’s room?”

“You can.” Sun Jingcheng was very generous.

Zhou Yu went back upstairs to arrange the sunflowers. Sun Jingcheng waited by the roadside, when he heard an elderly couple chatting in what they thought were low voices. The woman asked the man how old Teacher Feng’s son-in-law was? The man said judging by his immature appearance, maybe in his twenties? The woman said that didn’t seem right, saying Teacher Feng’s daughter was already in her thirties, how could she possibly marry someone in his twenties? The man said you lack experience, nowadays it’s popular for women to be older than men!

Sun Jingcheng listened to every word, picked up a yellowing ginkgo leaf at his feet, and replied with a smile: “I just turned 39.” As he finished speaking he saw Zhou Yu jogging out, and he extended his arm toward her. She naturally hooked her arm through his and they strolled along the roadside.

Recently the two had been getting along especially harmoniously, not doing things detrimental to their unity. Zhou Yu went for morning runs every weekend and could easily run five kilometers. On workdays she went to school early and had no time to run. Sun Jingcheng on the other hand ran on workdays, wanting to sleep in well on weekends. The two couldn’t coordinate their schedules, but didn’t force it either—each ran their own.

Zhou Yu previously didn’t like exercise at all, but this past year gradually influenced by Sun Jingcheng, she also came to enjoy mountain climbing and camping, solo travel, playing badminton, and morning runs.

Last month on Teachers’ Day, in the badminton competition for all faculty and staff, she won first place. Speaking of Teachers’ Day, she rarely complained to Sun Jingcheng—if they weren’t going to give the day off then fine, but why did the school have to organize cultural and sports performances… blah blah blah a whole bunch. Besides participating in badminton, she also signed up for ethnic dance. In previous years she never stood out, but teachers’ performance brought honor to their classes, so this year she signed up too.

The two strolled aimlessly along the roadside plane trees at a leisurely pace, chattering away, discussing Mother Sun’s upcoming 45th wedding anniversary and what gift they should prepare that would be unexpected, decisive in defeating Sun Jingfei with one move, and solidify his position as the family’s darling.

In these past two months the siblings’ relationship had undergone subtle changes—to put it unkindly it was mutual competition, even more unkindly it was two people whose ages added up to nearly eighty competing for favor in front of Mom and Dad.

These past few times when Sun Jingcheng returned from business trips he would bring gifts for family members—for Father Sun and Mother Sun, for Zhou Yu, and for that group of children too. He never used to bring anything, but after accepting his wife’s re-education, he began consciously bringing gifts.

At first Sun Jingfei didn’t take it seriously, until one day when Sun Youping also began obviously favoring Sun Jingcheng, speaking to him with kind eyes and an amiable demeanor. She suddenly realized Mother Sun hadn’t criticized Sun Jingcheng for quite a while, only finding fault with her! Only then did she become alarmed and develop a true sense of crisis.

Whatever Sun Jingcheng bought for the family, she bought something better and more expensive; when Sun Jingcheng massaged Mother Sun’s shoulders, she brought a basin of foot-washing water, saying with sweet words: Mama, let me wash your feet; when Sun Jingcheng accompanied Sun Youping for tea, she also had to participate… In short, she vowed to share blessings with him and take scoldings together.

The key point was that Sun Jingfei’s tactics worked. Mother Sun ate up her approach and began praising Sun Jingfei in front of Sun Jingcheng, and praising Sun Jingcheng in front of Sun Jingfei.

This is how the siblings started competing.

The couple strolled along, with Sun Jingcheng pointing at this thing on the street asking her if she wanted to eat it, then seeing that thing and asking if she wanted it.

Zhou Yu shook her head, saying with amusement: “I’m not a child.”

Sun Jingcheng also smiled, saying nothing.