When Yan Xi pressed the doorbell, it was Wen’s mother who opened the door.
He hastily shoved a small package into her arms, speaking urgently: “Well, Mom, could you watch the baby for a bit? Ah Heng and I need to go clean up our place—it’s all dusty and choking in there.”
Then, like a gust of wind, he vanished.
Mother Wen stood dazed, feeling something soft in her arms. Looking down, she saw big eyes, very big eyes, giggling, drooling, and an angelic little face.
Three seconds later, the elderly woman came to her senses and shouted with full force at the neighbors next door: “Wen Heng, Yan Xi, you pair of rascals! This is my grandson, not a doll, you little brats!”
Ah Heng was embarrassed.
Yan Xi was embarrassed.
That evening, Mr. Yan and Mrs. Yan came to their mother-in-law’s house for dinner, only to be thoroughly scolded by the old lady: “I can see right through you two—are you trying to starve my grandson? Look at him, he’s more attached to his milk bottle than to either of you. Just how much have you been starving him, huh?”
Yan Xi watched his son gulping down milk from the bottle like a starved soul and pouted: “Who’s starving him? Just look at that tiny mouth of his—smaller than a cherry! Every time my wife tries to nurse him, the little devil nearly chokes himself.”
Ah Heng rubbed her nose, feeling wronged: “Mom, it’s not my fault. Your grandson doesn’t know when he’s full—he has such a good appetite, I feed him eight times a day.”
Yan Xi nodded, extending his finger to poke his son’s cheek, only to have it swatted away by his mother-in-law. The old lady said: “I’ve never seen such irresponsible parents! Luckily, you got kicked out of France—if you’d stayed a few more months, you would have tortured my precious baby to death.”
The old lady held her grandson tenderly, cooing “Oh my precious baby, my little darling,” her face beaming with affection as she couldn’t stop kissing him.
Si Wan shuddered: “Mom, aren’t you nauseated by your sweet talk?”
But Si Er widened her eyes: “Get lost! He’s my nephew, my nephew! Mom can kiss him however she wants—you to spend your time on blind dates instead.”
Si Wan felt dejected, clutching Ah Heng’s hand with tears in her eyes: “Sister, sister, I’m losing all my status at home. Thank goodness you’re back—they’re all bullying me.”
Ah Heng smiled gently and said: “Brother, brother, what are you afraid of? Didn’t you say you wanted a girlfriend? Tomorrow when I go to work, I’ll scout out some angel-in-white nurses for you at the hospital.”
Ah Heng had received Edward’s letter of recommendation and the board’s appointment letter. She would now work at the Beijing N.T.S Medical Research Branch as the head of the ENT department, with quarterly work reports to be delivered in France.
Si Wan broke into a cold sweat, stammering: “No need, no need, things are fine as they are, really…”
Meanwhile, Si Er was practically grinding her teeth, letting out a cold snort without saying a word.
Yan Xi held his son, his eyes curved in a smile, and said: “Mom, Grandpa, we should head home now.”
Old Man Wen had been sitting on another sofa set all along. Though he’d been playing with his bird, he’d stolen hundreds of glances at baby Yan throughout the day. Hearing that his great-grandson was leaving, he wanted them to stay but felt too awkward to ask, so he just gave a light cough.
Ah Heng knew that Grandfather still harbored some reservations about Yan Xi. She took the baby from Yan Xi’s arms, crouched down by Grandfather’s sofa, and smiled gently: “Little darling, give Great-grandpa a kiss—we’ll see him tomorrow.”
She held the little one up to plant a big wet kiss on Grandfather’s face. The formidable Old Man Wen blushed, stiffened, and then smiled, his wrinkled hand gently patting baby Yan’s head.
The big-eyed baby squealed with delight, kicking his chubby legs in his mother’s arms, staring at his great-grandfather with wide eyes. His tiny hands grabbed the white beard as he giggled.
Si Wan secretly glanced at Yan Xi. Yan Xi watched him with curved eyebrows, ruffling his hair: “Si Wan, how old are you now?”
Si Wan grinned: “Brother-in-law, quick, call me brother, quick!”
Yan Xi rolled his eyes, left arm around Ah Heng, right arm wrapping around his son: “There’s a crazy person here—let’s go home!”
Outside, the sky was filled with stars.
Mother Wen watched her daughter and son-in-law’s retreating figures, and as she smiled, tears suddenly fell.
Si Er was surprised: “Mom, what’s wrong?”
Mother Wen said: “I’ve watched Ah Heng walk this path before, and I’ve watched little Xi too. They always walked alone, and each time it worried me. This is the first time I’ve watched them and sensed true happiness.”
She muttered about getting old but then turned to grab the phone, sighing with acceptance. She said: “Sister-in-law, come settle down in B City. Ah Heng has a child now—let’s watch him grow up together.”
Baby Yan had big eyes, and a tiny mouth, and was quite the amusing baby.
At five months old, Xin Dayi would hold baby Yan and grin, telling everyone he met: “This is my nephew—how about that, isn’t he beautiful? Haha?”
People would smirk—how did your nephew turn out so beautiful when you look like that?
Dayi felt the time was so short, taking him back twenty-six years. He said: “In this life, my reputation’s been ruined by you and your pretty daddy.”
Baby Yan feigned sincerity, grabbed his uncle’s face, and gave it a couple of nibbles in consolation.
At six months, baby Yan learned to talk—”Ah ah ah.” Every request was a single sound: “Ah.” Whether for milk, for the toilet, or fighting with daddy for mommy’s attention, it was always “ah.” Baby’s daddy bit the quilt: “This is my wife—go back to your nursery!”
Baby nestled in mommy’s arms drinking milk, big eyes glancing sideways, “Ah ah.” According to the author’s translation, it probably meant “you go.”
Baby’s mommy said: “Yan Xi, are you only three years old this year?”
Baby’s daddy continued biting the quilt, blinking his big eyes: “Wife, you can treat me like I’m three, as long as I can sleep in your arms.”
Baby released the nipple and turned his little head, turning and turning to look at Daddy, small hands clutching the quilt with teary eyes: “Ah.”
“Think you’re great because you can say ‘ah’? I can too—ah ah ah ah! Always playing pitifully. Wifey, don’t believe him, this little devil is just acting.”
“Ah ah.”
“Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah, hmph, I can do it too.”
Baby Yan looked pitifully at Daddy with his big eyes.
Baby’s daddy also looked pitifully at baby’s mommy with his big eyes.
Baby’s mommy was speechless, sleeping in the middle, left arm around her son, right arm around baby’s daddy.
Half a minute later, baby’s daddy was trembling; baby’s mommy refused to tremble. One minute later, baby’s daddy wrapped in the quilt made baby’s mommy tremble too.
Baby blinked his big eyes, sucking his thumb, confused…
Where’s Daddy…
Where’s mommy…
Where are they where are they…
When baby Yan was seven months old, Ah Heng received a letter from Paris.
At the French Oil Painting Competition, Yan Xi’s carefully prepared work “Mother” won the sole gold award. The promotional text on the invitation read: “His Gentle Wife.”
Never had there been such a perspective, interpreting one’s wife from a husband’s viewpoint.
Mother.
The award citation in the bottom right corner of the invitation read: “The love beyond your imagination.”
Overnight fame, born for love.
Ah Heng gazed at her husband in the distance. But he was just lowering his head, patiently feeding their son rice porridge.
When Yan’s baby was eight months old, watching radio calisthenics on TV, he followed along with absolute righteousness in his father’s arms, bouncing happily in his split-crotch pants with the children on TV.
After Yan Xi’s paintings won awards and were hyped up to a million yuan each, they had some money at home. Mr. Yan, still reminiscing about his previously sacrificed Ferrari, bought another one.
While Ah Heng was in Paris reporting her work, Gu Feibai and Du Qing’s wedding invitation arrived at home.
Ah Heng’s dormitory big sister, third sister, fourth sister, and little five strongly demanded to see their nephew. Ah Heng asked Yan Xi to drive over with the baby while she headed straight to the wedding after her flight landed.
The venue was crowded with guests, with all the notable figures from Jiangnan in attendance.
When Yan Xi arrived at the venue carrying baby Yan, Ah Heng hadn’t arrived yet.
Little Five’s eyes lit up, standing on a chair and waving, excited: “Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, over here, over here, quick quick quick!”
No one in the hall had a louder voice than this fellow—suddenly everyone fell silent, looking at the entrance.
Yan Xi was mortified.
The baby had just woken up, holding onto daddy’s neck, wearing overalls, big eyes turning here and there.
Gu Feibai in a white suit looked at Yan Xi and the child in his arms, slightly dazed.
Du Qing in her wedding dress walked over, gently stroked the little one’s hair, and smiled: “Brother-in-law, where’s my sixth sister?”
Yan Xi: “Ah, oh, Ah Heng hasn’t landed yet, probably needs a little while more.”
Baby Yan looked at the fragrant bride and gave a big sneeze.
Du Qing felt somewhat awkward.
Little Five flew over from her seat, snatching the baby from Yan Xi: “Oh my, my precious, how did you grow up to be so handsome? Even more handsome than your dad. Haha, call auntie, auntie.”
The baby pouted his little mouth, then touched his fifth aunt’s face and smiled, giggling.
The older generation of the Yan family in attendance had already recognized Yan Xi, awkward, unsure whether to greet him or not.
The younger generation’s eyes lit up, glancing at Yan Xi and whispering, is that DJ Yan? Is it him?
The rest studied him briefly, then suddenly smiled—it’s the creator of “Mother”—Yan Xi.
In this lifetime, who still needs to rely on others for fame?
Ah Heng’s mentor, Professor Li, walked over wearing reading glasses, studied Yan Xi for a while, then smiled: “I know you.”
Yan Xi bowed deeply: “Sir, I know you too. Thank you for taking care of my wife.”
Professor Li smiled faintly, looked at Gu Feibai, and then spoke gently to Yan Xi: “Among all my students in life, only Feibai and Ah Heng made me proud. You’re very fortunate—you must cherish her.”
Gu Feibai looked at Yan Xi, his lips moving, but his gaze fixed on Du Qing, unable to speak.
There were clear running footsteps outside, and the door was pushed open—it was Ah Heng, still in her white coat, beautiful as a painting.
She wiped her sweat and smiled slightly: “Good, I’m not late.”
Baby Yan saw Mommy and reached out his little hands, calling “Ah ah.” Ah Heng took the baby from Little Five’s arms, her eyes gentle, apologetically addressing Gu Feibai: “Senior Gu, I came in a hurry to your and your sister-in-law’s wedding and didn’t bring a gift. May I make it up in a few days?”
Yan Xi had only received the invitation card the day before the wedding—aside from giving money, the couple hadn’t had time to prepare gifts.
Gu Feibai looked at her and spoke coolly: “It’s fine. I hear Yan Xi’s paintings are priceless now—how about painting one right here as a wedding gift?”
Yan Xi raised an eyebrow, smiling: “Painting? Painting probably won’t work—I specialize in oil paintings.”
Oil paintings require some time.
Gu Feibai shook his head, expression cold: “Then how about calligraphy? Ah Heng gave a piece of calligraphy for my engagement—you could give another piece to echo it.”
Gu Feibai had always been good at calligraphy; back then, he felt that perhaps the only thing he and Ah Heng had in common was calligraphy.
Du Qing’s expression grew increasingly uncomfortable.
Yan Xi looked lovingly at Ah Heng: “Mrs. Yan, to match yours with mine—my reputation would be ruined.”
Ah Heng blushed slightly, pretending not to hear.
Slender fingers picked up the brush, and Mr. Yan smiled gently. He said: “Gu Feibai, today is about my wife’s lonely brushwork—otherwise, how could you be worthy of my calligraphy?”
A momentous occasion, rich ink flowing.
A pair of couplets.
“To be like paired fish, what fear is death?
Only envying warm words, not envying immortals.”
Autumn 2008.
Ah Heng and Yan Xi returned to Wushui.