The day the Pei and Min families agreed to meet, the weather was poor. The entire city was shrouded in a dull gray, and in the distance, churning black clouds pressed down on the horizon, brewing a storm.
The two families had arranged a dinner party, and the Min Residence was chosen as the venue. Min Zhuozhou and Pei Che traveled separately, one from home, the other from the office.
Min Zhuozhou arrived first. Upon entering, he saw the elders of both families already there. Pei Yudong and Min Xing were seated opposite each other at a chessboard in the hall. Pei Yudong was dressed casually, while Min Xing had carefully chosen a traditional tangzhuang, sitting with a formal posture.
“Father,” Min Zhuozhou greeted as he entered. He was carrying several items: in one hand, a set of expensive gifts prepared out of courtesy; in the other, a large bag of plush toys Pei Che had bought for Min Hua.
“Ah, Zhuozhou is here. Why are you carrying so much alone? Didn’t that boy Pei Che come with you?” Pei Yudong looked up from the chessboard, his tone casual and his gaze kind.
“He’ll be coming straight from the office in a bit,” Min Zhuozhou said gently, handing the expensive gifts to a nearby housekeeper. “He just got back from a business trip and brought some tea. He specifically reminded me this morning to bring it over for you.”
“Just him? If that boy were half as thoughtful as you, I wouldn’t have a care in the world,” Pei Yudong laughed heartily. “You’ve gone to a lot of trouble, Zhuozhou.”
Min Xing adjusted his glasses, his gaze sweeping over Min Zhuozhou from head to toe before settling on the bag in his other hand. “What’s in that bag?”
“Just some little trinkets for Min Hua,” Min Zhuozhou replied. The words “Pei Che prepared them too” were already halfway out of his throat, but he swallowed them back as Min Xing remarked with disapproval, “How old are you, still playing around with a child?”
Min Zhuozhou’s eyes flickered, and he kept the rest of his words to himself, offering only a silent smile.
“Old Min, don’t be so harsh,” Pei Yudong interjected, trying to smooth things over. He pointed to the chessboard. “Hey, it’s your turn. Have you decided on your move?”
“I’m just a terrible chess player,” Min Xing said, his gaze shifting back to the board. His expression softened into one of humble companionship as he placed a piece, shaking his head in feigned helplessness. “How could I possibly match President Pei’s brilliant strategies?”
“Hey, what ‘President Pei’?” Pei Yudong chuckled as he made a move on the board. He turned to Min Zhuozhou and said, “I’m just an old man with too much time on his hands, playing chess and walking the dog. I brought Pei Laicai along today, and he’s playing with the little one. Zhuozhou, would you like to go see them?”
Min Zhuozhou replied with a polite “Alright” and walked past the main hall toward the backyard.
The osmanthus blossoms of late autumn had already fallen. Only the deep green, ink-dark leaves intertwined with the shadows of bamboo. The night breeze rustled the rice paper left on Min Zaiming’s desk, which had not yet been put away; thankfully, a white jade paperweight held it down.
A small lamp burned on the desk, its dim yellow glow creating a circle of gentle light. Min Hua stood in the only place of color within the ink-black night, his soft, small body snuggled against a Samoyed his own size. The child and the dog were huddled together, whispering secrets.
As Min Zhuozhou approached, the big dog, Pei Laicai, suddenly twitched his wet nose. He lifted his head, tilted it toward the newcomer, and stared foolishly with a pair of round, innocent eyes.
Min Zhuozhou called out, “Laicai?”
“Woof!”
Hearing the familiar voice, Pei Laicai let out an excited bark. His tail wagged like a propeller; so happy, he looked ready to take flight.
Min Hua also looked up. He froze for a moment, then his eyes lit up. He called out to Min Zhuozhou in a milky voice, “Little Uncle!”
“Hua Hua, baby,” Min Zhuozhou said as he walked over and scooped the child up, bouncing him gently in his arms. He asked tenderly, “Where is Uncle Zaiming?”
“Uncle is shopping with Madam Meng and another Madam Wei, who seems to be a visiting guest…” Min Hua answered obediently. The child thought for a moment, unable to recall everyone’s name, and added, “And another uncle.”
Min Zhuozhou pinched the little one’s cheek. “Alright, I understand. Thank you, Hua Hua.”
The “Madam Meng” Min Hua mentioned was Meng Fan, Min Xing’s legal wife. “Madam Wei” was Pei Che’s aunt, Wei Ya. Ever since his mother passed away, she had been managing the internal affairs of the Pei family. The “other uncle” was likely Pei Che’s cousin, Wei Ya’s son, Pei Xi.
So many people are coming this time?
Min Zhuozhou narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
Pei Che hadn’t told him the exact nature of today’s family banquet, but he could pretty much guess. Although the Pei and Min families were joined by marriage, it was only a superficial alliance. In reality, they rarely interacted; after all, the Min family had done some rather undignified things back then just to climb their way into the Pei family’s good graces.
With the agreement nearing its expiration, this banquet, while perhaps not quite a “farewell dinner,” still carried the unmistakable air of a final meeting before the end.
“Little Uncle?”
Hearing Min Hua call him from his arms, Min Zhuozhou withdrew from his thoughts. He set the little one down and beamed, showing him the large bag overflowing with plush animals. “Look what good things I brought you!”
Min Hua hugged the big bag with both arms, peeking inside curiously. His small face instantly flushed red, and he murmured, “Little Uncle, I’m all grown up now. I’m not at the age to play with stuffed toys anymore!”
“But these little animals are so cute! I’m almost thirty, and I still love them,” Min Zhuozhou smiled gently, pretending to ponder. “Or should I take them back with me?”
“Then please don’t trouble yourself,” Min Hua immediately changed his tune, silently hugging the bag a little tighter.
Min Zhuozhou gently smoothed the little one’s hair. The boy had never shown much interest in typical toys; no small cars, building blocks, or LEGO sets ever caught his eye. His only hobby had always been reading, but now he had added “loving small animals” to the list.
Though the little one claimed he was “too old,” his eyes still sparkled. He tugged on Min Zhuozhou’s hand and said obediently, “Thank you, Little Uncle.”
“I didn’t get this for you. You should thank…” Min Zhuozhou’s words trailed off as he suddenly stumbled, unsure of what Min Hua should call Pei Che.
What did the boy call him last time?
Min Hua’s thick eyelashes fluttered as he tentatively asked, “Little Auntie?”
“?” Min Zhuozhou froze, looking down at the little one. “What did you just call me?”
Min Hua’s face flushed even redder. He ran over to hug Pei Laicai, burying his face in the big dog’s warm fur, refusing to respond further.
Min Zhuozhou took a moment to process this. He couldn’t help but let out a small laugh, but the amusement in his eyes quickly faded, replaced by a faint, wistful sigh. This kid is way too smart for his age, he thought. He probably knew about “Pei Che” all along, but just kept it to himself because I’ve been so secretive about it.
Min Zhuozhou knelt, wrapping one arm around Min Hua while petting Laicai’s head with the other. After a moment’s thought, he said softly, “You can call him Uncle Pei.”
“Oh,” Min Hua replied, a flicker of doubt crossing his eyes. He tightened his hug around Min Zhuozhou’s neck and whispered in his ear, “Are Little Uncle and Uncle Pei… together?”
“Um…” Min Zhuozhou found himself strangely at a loss for words when faced with the child’s pure, earnest gaze. He decided to deflect, saying, “We live together.”
“And you’re married,” Min Hua said softly.
“Yes,” Min Zhuozhou replied, holding the child close. He spoke with genuine patience. “But our relationship is a bit complicated. When you’re older, Hua Hua, you’ll understand better.”
“Is that why Little Uncle married him? Because of me?”
Min Hua leaned against Min Zhuozhou’s shoulder, completely unaware that his innocent question had just dropped a bombshell.
“What?”
Min Zhuozhou’s arm tightened around the child. A sudden, hidden chill, like the onset of an autumn storm, crept up his spine. The bamboo shadows swayed incessantly. Even Pei Laicai, lying on the ground, twitched his nose and shifted restlessly.
Min Zhuozhou’s brow furrowed deeply. “Who told my precious baby that?”
“Madam Wei,” the little one said, his tone tinged with a need to confide. “She brought her dog over, squatted down to greet me, and then told me… she said if it weren’t for my existence, you would never have agreed to that.”
“Hua Hua,” Min Zhuozhou pulled Min Hua from his embrace and cupped the boy’s small face. His tone was deadly serious. “It’s not like she said.”
“But why am I with Uncle Zaiming?” Min Hua frowned, his confusion evident. “I’m not a child of the Min family. Why would Grandpa Min take me in?”
Min Zhuozhou answered instinctively, “Because our Hua Hua is so lovable, of course.”
Unfortunately, Min Hua was not a child who could be easily fooled. A tangible sorrow gathered in his clear eyes as he gazed quietly at Min Zhuozhou, his lips moving slightly, but he said nothing more.
Of course, Min Hua knew that “Grandpa Min” didn’t like him.
When adults treat a child as a burden, the child is no fool. He could feel Min Xing’s coldness, his neglect, and even his arrogant disdain and grinding hatred.
Min Zhuozhou squeezed the child’s small hand tightly and asked, “Are you unhappy here?”
“Uncle Zaiming is very good to me, just as good as you are,” Min Hua thought simply, then squeezed Min Zhuozhou’s hand back, saying guiltily, “But if my living here means Little Uncle has to marry someone else and live with them, then I don’t want to live here anymore.”
It’s not like that, Min Zhuozhou said silently to himself.
Even without Min Hua’s presence, given how much Min Xing controlled him, he likely wouldn’t have been able to refuse this marriage contract. The little one’s arrival was at most a catalyst; the true root of the conflict lay elsewhere.
Seeing the mist of tears welling up in Min Hua’s pure, bright eyes, Min Zhuozhou felt a surge of anxiety mixed with a hint of annoyance. He almost wanted to blame Madam Wei for telling the child something so reckless.
“There are so many guests at the house,” Min Hua asked softly. “Uncle Zaiming told me it’s almost over. Does that mean Little Uncle won’t have to be with Uncle Pei anymore?”
Not have to be with him anymore…
A trace of bitterness touched Min Zhuozhou’s tongue. He would never reveal the faint, unacknowledged desires buried deep within his heart to an innocent child. Instead, he simply pulled Min Hua into a gentle embrace, soothing him. “Yes, it’s almost over. When it is, I’ll bring you to live with me, alright?”
A heavy rain was imminent. The bamboo shadows swayed wildly in a sudden gust of wind. Yet, amidst the storm, Min Zhuozhou heard a voice, barely a whisper, call his name from behind the trees,
“Min Zhuozhou.”
Pei Che had been standing there for who knew how long, perhaps long enough for the autumn wind to seep through his clothes and chill him to the bone.
“What did you just say?”
Pei Che’s tone was softer than usual, almost impossibly patient and gentle.
A gray mist had also settled in his eyes.