“I’m married.”
Mu Jing had married even earlier than her brother. However, her reluctance to transfer wasn’t because of marriage, but because she was about to be promoted to lecturer. If she could transfer and still become a lecturer, she wouldn’t mind the distance, but such a possibility was extremely slim.
On her wedding day, Mu Jing learned that her husband married her because she resembled his deceased former girlfriend. Upon learning this, she accepted it with remarkable calm. She needed a husband with a good background, and whether this husband loved her wasn’t particularly important—she didn’t care much either. Since her first love ended their relationship, she felt that romance was all the same, that it didn’t matter who she married. Yet when her brother wrote to say he had married the girl who had cared for him, Mu Jing still felt happy for him—there were still people who married for pure love.
Mu Jing’s father-in-law had once been an apprentice at her grandfather’s factory and held no fondness for her family background. He was a militant man who despised scholarly intellectuals. However, he admired her life-saving brother and voluntarily offered to take in Fang Muyang, who was still hospitalized, saying that since they were family now through marriage, it was natural to help family members in need. His house was a two-story building with enough rooms for Fang Muyang.
When she received Fang Muyang’s letter, Mu Jing knew her brother had recovered and no longer needed to live with her. After learning of Fang Muyang’s recovery, her father-in-law even asked her to tell Fang Muyang that their whole family welcomed him to stay, even long-term. Mu Jing hadn’t passed on her father-in-law’s message to Fang Muyang at the time, nor had she told her parents about her marriage. Regarding marriage, she had far less desire to confide than her brother and didn’t feel it was news worth sharing. Her married life was uneventful—not exactly happy, but nothing worth divorcing over.
When her father-in-law learned she was coming for a family reunion, despite his dissatisfaction with her family, he still had her mother-in-law prepare some gifts, including local specialties, fabric, cigarettes, and alcohol. He asked Mu Jing to convey to his parents and brother that they were welcome to visit him, especially her brother—though he, of course, wouldn’t condescend to visit them.
Though surprised, Fei Ni didn’t show much reaction. Marrying during such a period without telling one’s family—Fei Ni guessed Mu Jing must have had her reasons. She didn’t probe, only saying that the family thought of her and always hoped for her return. Mu Jing understood Fei Ni’s meaning—no matter what, she always had a home to return to. As a child, she had always wanted a sister but instead got a brother. If young Fang Muyang had accepted being dressed up as a girl by Mu Jing, their sibling relationship might have been better, but he never accepted it. Current Fang Muyang was handsome, but as a child, he had been beautiful—androgynously beautiful. He wasn’t born annoying; his later irritating nature came entirely from being too energetic.
Mu Jing said to Fei Ni, “Muyang was lucky to meet you. You helped him when he was at his lowest.” Not everyone was so fortunate. At crucial moments, just one helping hand could make the difference between getting up or staying down forever. What family couldn’t do, Fei Ni had done.
Hearing this, Fei Ni only felt ashamed. She remembered the mix of truths and lies she had told Mu Jing when Fang Muyang was hospitalized, when she had said “It’s my honor to care for Fang Muyang.”
Faced with this praise, Fei Ni chose silence. She could hardly tell Mu Jing that her care for Fang Muyang had largely been motivated by her desire to attend university.
When Mu Jing met her parents, the three sat in wordless silence. People too close can’t exchange pleasantries, but separated by so many years, though they could write letters, nothing had the impact of standing face to face. When they had left their son, he was just starting elementary school, changing day by day, but those changes were positive ones, generally getting better. Though there were various disappointments, overall it was gratifying. Their daughter had changed less, mainly in temperament—her pride had been tempered, losing the vigor of youth. Old Fang felt guilty every time he saw his children.
Fei Ni broke the silence, showing Mu Jing the room specially prepared for her. On the desk sat a porcelain vase filled with plump white chrysanthemums—bought by Fang Muyang, who had purchased many, with some displayed in their new home. Fei Ni and Fang Muyang’s gift for his sister sat on the table, specially wrapped in bright paper with a beautiful bow tied by Fang Muyang. Fei Ni had also written a card using the pen and ink Old Fang had given her.
Seeing these gifts, Mu Jing turned away, fighting back tears. For over a year, no matter what happened, she hadn’t cried, but seeing the room her parents and brother had prepared for her brought her to the verge of tears.
After touring her parents’ new house and seeing all the rooms, Mu Jing couldn’t help asking Fei Ni, “Which room do you live in?” In her father’s letters, he had mentioned living with Fang Muyang.
“We’ve rented a small courtyard.”
Mu Jing vaguely felt that her brother and sister-in-law moving out of their parent’s home had something to do with her. If she had told them about her marriage earlier, perhaps her brother wouldn’t have moved out.
When Old Fang learned his daughter had been married for over a year, he couldn’t control his expression, shock, and dismay written all over his face, but he quickly regained his composure with his wife’s help.
“Why didn’t Little Qu come with you?”
“His surgery schedule is full lately.” Mu Jing’s husband, Doctor Qu, was indeed busy with his promising career.
Old Fang was satisfied with his son-in-law’s profession.
Though Mu Jing didn’t mention the connection between her grandfather and father-in-law, Old Fang understood from the basic situation that the two sides wouldn’t get along, so he didn’t ask further.
Mu Jing brought out the gifts her father-in-law had prepared, not just for Old Fang and his wife, but also for Fang Muyang and Fei Ni.
Old Fang hadn’t expected his in-laws to be so thoughtful, even remembering his wayward son.
What Old Fang didn’t know was that the gifts were mainly for Fang Muyang, with his share just incidental. Mu Jing had only recently learned that her in-laws, despite their disapproval of her parents, had agreed to her marriage because of her brother who had saved someone and lay in the hospital. Because of this brother, they believed Mu Jing and her parents were different.
Old Fang asked Mu Jing, “When will your in-laws come to meet us?” He felt the groom’s family should take the initiative.
Mu Jing didn’t tell her father that if there were to be a meeting, the other side also hoped they would make the first move.
“Everyone’s busy, let’s not meet for now.” A meeting between the parents would likely result in nothing but mutual disdain.
Mu Jing specifically gave Fei Ni and Fang Muyang a camera as a belated wedding gift.
Old Fang extracted detailed information about his son-in-law from his daughter, estimating that his son-in-law was reliable, but still not completely at ease. He thought he should make a trip for a thorough investigation. His wife, wayward son, and daughter-in-law all had jobs; only he was unemployed at home. But going alone seemed too casual. After careful consideration, he decided he would have to ask his wayward son to take leave and accompany him.
Just as he was thinking about Fang Muyang, Fang Muyang arrived with his elder sister-in-law and nephew.
Despite the years apart, Fang Muyang’s elder sister-in-law quickly recognized him in the crowd, not just by his face but by his demeanor. While others were rushing to pick up their relatives, Fang Muyang was observing the crowd, as if he weren’t there to wait for someone but to sketch at the train station. Years ago, when she saw Fang Muyang shortly after his elementary school graduation, she wondered why this child seemed so unbothered when his parents were in trouble.
The elder sister-in-law still didn’t know about Fang Muyang’s hospitalization after saving someone. News of his comatose state had been sent to the false address her husband had left, and no one else in the family had told her. She didn’t know how Fang Muyang and Fei Ni had come together, nor what Fei Ni looked like, but upon seeing Fei Ni, she instantly knew this was her sister-in-law. Even if not at home, she could have recognized her anywhere. When Fei Ni rushed to open the door, that glance she exchanged with Fang Muyang, that flowing gaze, spoke volumes. There was a smile in her eyes, meant only for Fang Muyang, but upon noticing others, that smile quickly spread out and distributed evenly to everyone else.
Fei Ni smiled and greeted her sister-in-law and young nephew.
The young nephew called Fei Ni “Sister,” and his mother immediately corrected him, saying he should call her “Aunt.”
But the nephew didn’t change his address, continuing to call Fang Muyang “Little Uncle” and Fei Ni “Sister.”
Fei Ni took out a prepared red envelope for her nephew.
Before the nephew could get his hands on the red envelope, Fang Muyang snatched it, saying, “There’s no tradition of giving red envelopes between peers.” Brothers and sisters were, of course, peers.
Fei Ni reached for the red envelope in Fang Muyang’s hand, and in front of the family, Fang Muyang easily let her take it.
Fei Ni smiled at Fang Muyang, saying, “Don’t cause trouble.”
She bent down to explain to her nephew that she and Fang Muyang were husband and wife—if he called Fang Muyang uncle, he should call her aunt.
Everyone in the family had prepared gifts, and the exchange took some time.
Dinner was at home, prepared by Auntie Yang. After the meal, Mother Mu took out three paper packages wrapped in newspaper and distributed them to her two daughters-in-law and daughter. Each package contained money. Mother Mu and Old Fang’s back pay had been kept separate. Mother Mu’s salary was higher than any of her children’s, and she felt it was more than enough if she didn’t share it with Old Fang. Because of her and Old Fang’s problems, their children had been affected, so now that the back pay had arrived, it was natural to compensate the children.