Xie Guoli’s stomach had been troubling him for the past two years.
It wasn’t cancer or any tumor, but these minor ailments can be the most tormenting.
After some recent herbal treatments, he had just started to feel better when, for some reason, his condition suddenly worsened again these past couple of days.
He felt nauseous after eating anything, with occasional stomach pains and vomiting, forcing Yang Ying to constantly find new ways to prepare soft, appetizing meals for him.
On Sunday, his good friend Li Kun came to visit. Seeing how thin Xie had become, Li asked with concern, “What’s going on with you?”
“Nothing serious, just my usual stomach problems.”
Li Kun sighed, “We’re getting old – all our parts are starting to wear out.”
Yang Ying made tea for them, preparing a cup of tea in a glass for Li Kun while adding dried dates and longan to Xie Guoli’s thermos – as the doctor had recommended.
“You two chat, I’ll go prepare the meal.”
Li Kun immediately noticed the brand new, handsome thermos on the table. “Oh, you got a new thermos?”
Xie Guoli wore a proud smile. “My son bought it for me.”
Li Kun laughed heartily, pointing at him. “Look how pleased you are! Your old thermos wasn’t even broken yet, and you’re already using the new one.”
Xie Guoli was particularly happy today and admitted openly: “Well, since you were coming today, I brought it out to make you jealous.”
Li Kun had previously worked at the same factory as Xie Guoli but had resigned due to some issues. Now he made a living doing odd jobs for people. Despite his age, he had never married.
Xie Guoli had urged him several times to find someone, to which Li would always sigh and say, “I’m perfectly content being alone.”
“Xie Guoli, you’re really something to envy. First you married the most beautiful girl in our area, Yuan Ningwan, who gave you such a handsome son. Then later you married,” he glanced toward the kitchen in the yard, “married this one, who’s also beautiful as a flower. You’ve managed to get all the good things in life.”
Xie Guoli waved his hand dismissively, chatting more and more animatedly with his old friend.
Xie Yucheng came home to get something, parking his motorcycle outside the courtyard gate before striding in. The chick in the chicken coop was flapping its wings in the cage. He glanced toward the kitchen and saw only Yang Ying there.
When Yang Ying saw him, she frowned, feeling displeased. Why had this guy been coming home so frequently lately?
Entering the living room and seeing Li Kun, Xie Yucheng raised an eyebrow and grinned cheekily. “Well, if it isn’t Uncle Li gracing us with your presence! Sorry this junior didn’t properly welcome you.”
Li Kun’s sharp eyes lit up as he pointed at him. “This kid, always with the slick talk.”
“Learned from the master himself, though I could never match even one ten-thousandth of your skill.”
Li Kun made a show of getting up to hit him, but Xie Yucheng dodged and slipped into his room.
After getting whatever he needed from his room, he came out again shortly.
Seeing him about to leave in a hurry, Xie Guoli said, “Aren’t you staying for dinner? Your Uncle Li is here – have a couple drinks with him.”
Xie Yucheng’s gaze fell on the open door of the adjacent room, noticing the familiar small figure was missing. After a moment’s thought, he clicked his tongue and said, “Alright then, drinks it is.”
Yang Ying brought a freshly cooked dish to the dining table. Xie Guoli asked, “Isn’t Shi Qing coming back for lunch?”
“She’s been running wild these past couple days, always going out. Says she’s meeting classmates – and we all know which classmate she means. I suspect it’s that Zhou Chen who came for the blind date last time.”
Xie Yucheng held a cigarette slantwise between his lips, lowering his head to light it with a lighter. After two failed attempts, he cursed under his breath, fighting the urge to toss the useless thing away.
Yang Ying had just finished setting the table when a sprite-like girl rushed into the courtyard, her forehead glistening with sweat.
“Nannan, why are you back at this hour?”
Xie Yucheng’s gaze drifted over at the sound, unexpectedly meeting hers before they both subtly looked away.
“I came home for lunch.” Wen Shiqing walked to the well to wash her face.
These past two days, a classmate had recommended her for a tutoring job, allowing her to earn some pocket money.
She didn’t want to remain under Yang Ying’s constant control, nor did she wish to depend like a parasite on Xie Guoli’s salary. Now that she had graduated, financial independence was her first step toward breaking free.
Her temple hairs were damp from washing, droplets clinging to her delicate, fair complexion. Wen Shiqing casually wiped her face with a towel before setting down her bag and taking a seat at the table.
She addressed Li Kun respectfully, “Uncle Li.”
Li Kun teased that the young lady grew more beautiful with each passing day. She responded with a light laugh, picking up her chopsticks to quietly serve herself some food.
Xie Guoli and Li Kun made scattered conversation. Since Xie Guoli couldn’t drink alcohol, Xie Yucheng kept him company by downing several shots of erguotou.
Wen Shiqing sat with Yang Ying on her left and Xie Yucheng on her right.
Beside him, she always felt like a short stump—whether standing or sitting, he towered over her.
Sometimes Wen Shiqing wondered if this man had been secretly consuming some miraculous growth supplement to reach such height.
His presence carried an innate dominance, the potent masculinity at her side impossible to ignore.
During the meal, her leg kept inadvertently brushing against his trousers.
Wen Shiqing glanced down and saw his long legs bent, the slightly loose dress pants concealing firm, muscular thighs.
She averted her eyes, quietly shifting her stool closer to her mother.
Amid the clinking of glasses, Xie Yucheng’s brow twitched almost imperceptibly before relaxing.
The dining table was large, and the sweet and sour pork ribs Wen Shiqing loved were placed far from her. When guests were present, she never stood to reach for dishes, maintaining decorum by only eating what was within reach—though her gaze repeatedly drifted toward the ribs like a craving kitten.
While chatting and laughing with Uncle Li over drinks, Xie Yucheng seized the moment when Yang Ying went to the kitchen to refill rice and subtly swapped the plate of ribs to Wen Shiqing’s vicinity.
This wasn’t the first time he’d done such a thing.
Xie Guoli noticed but remained silent.
The girl’s cheeks flushed slightly as she bowed her head and quietly picked up a rib to nibble.
When she wanted a spoon to drizzle soup over her rice, her eyes scanned the table—only to find the man beside her, as if reading her mind, producing a small spoon from nowhere and placing it by her bowl.
He continued chatting with Uncle Li, these effortless small gestures executed with seamless ease.
Grains of rice distinct, she poured several spoonfuls of sweet and sour sauce over them, mixed thoroughly, and shoveled a large mouthful.
Her cheeks puffed out like a contented little hamster storing food.
After lunch, Uncle Li lingered briefly before taking his leave.
Noting Xie Yucheng’s rare visit home, Yang Ying seized the opportunity to say, “Yucheng, your father’s stomach issues have flared up again. We plan to visit the major hospital in Haishi tomorrow.”
Xie Yucheng glanced at his father, concern etching his features. “I’ll take you.”
Xie Guoli shook his head, “You focus on your work. Let your Aunt Yang take me there.”
As he spoke, he poured out the tea from the new insulated cup, rinsed it with water, put it away, and took out the old one to continue using.
“I’m not busy lately. I’ll accompany you there.”
Xie Guoli still refused, waving his hand, “It’s not a big issue. I’ll treat this trip as taking your Aunt Yang out for a trip to relax.”
“Alright.” Xie Yucheng didn’t insist further.
He packed a couple of clothes and left on his motorcycle.
Yang Ying knew he hadn’t been coming home often these past two years, which put her more at ease.
That evening, she slipped Wen Shiqing some money and ration coupons, reminding her that there was malt extract at home to make a drink in the mornings, and that she had bought sponge cakes and small breads for her, stored in the cupboard. If she wanted steamed buns, she could go to the newly opened shop on East Street—they had thin skins and generous fillings.
She could go to the state-run restaurant for lunch, but shouldn’t eat too much in the evening—it wouldn’t look good for a young lady to gain weight.
After a long, rambling speech, Wen Shiqing was exhausted and yawned as she pushed her out: “Mom, I know~ I’m not a child anymore. You and Uncle Xie can go with peace of mind.”
Yang Ying reached the doorway, then remembered something and asked, “Nannan, how are things with that Zhou family boy?”
Her gaze drifted to the expensive watch on her daughter’s wrist, and the corners of her mouth lifted as she waited for her to confess.
Wen Shiqing knew what her mother was scheming. If she said it wasn’t working out or that they weren’t even dating, her mother would surely nag endlessly and set up more blind dates. So she just lied to placate her: “It’s alright.”
Seeing that her daughter didn’t want to mention Zhou Chen giving her the watch, Yang Ying didn’t press further.
“Let me tell you, his parents are both cadres. I’ve looked into it—their family conditions are truly superior, and he’s their only son. You must seize this opportunity. If you don’t find someone while you’re young and beautiful, all that’ll be left later are the rejects.”
“Ugh, I know already.” She closed the door and shooed Yang Ying out.
Early the next morning, Yang Ying and Xie Guoli set off in the morning mist. As they reached the door, Yang Ying glanced at her bag and suddenly remembered something. She slapped her forehead and hurried back inside.
When she came out, she was holding Xie Guoli’s insulated cup.
“You, you’re always forgetting things.”
Xie Guoli smiled, “That’s why I have you. You’re the careful one.”
The two left arm in arm, intimately.