A warm light flickered in Zhou Jihuai’s eyes: “It’s already been twenty-three years.”
Shu Cheng’an recalled the past, a trace of disgust surfacing on his face.
He quickly adjusted his expression and said cheerfully, “My grandma was just saying the other day that she wanted to meet the good comrade-in-arms I’ve been talking about. Can you see her now?”
“Yes.” Zhou Jihuai gripped the steering wheel, his long eyelashes concealing his regret.
Shu Cheng’an patted his shoulder lightly a couple of times. Their squad had special circumstances—leave was rarely granted, and they couldn’t reveal to outsiders that they were comrades in the same squad. Sure enough…
The jeep maintained a steady speed on the road and soon reached the entrance of the hutong.
Mudan Hutong was relatively spacious, so Zhou Jihuai drove straight in.
At the end of the hutong, outside an old courtyard, a kind-faced elderly woman sat in the shade of a tree. She smiled and waved when she saw the person in the passenger seat.
Shu Cheng’an got out of the car and ran toward her: “Grandma, I bought you some shrimp. Look who I brought?”
Qu Jinghong glanced toward Zhou Jihuai, who had parked the car and was walking over. After watching him for a moment, she replied, “Is that the comrade who saved your life, the one you often mention?”
“Come in quickly. Grandma will make braised shrimp for you at noon.”
She spoke unhurriedly, wearing an exquisitely tailored and embroidered Autumn Fragrance Qipao, her white hair neatly pinned up with a wooden hairpin.
Even with a face full of wrinkles, one could still see the elegance and refinement of her youth.
Zhou Jihuai helped her into the house: “Grandma Qu, no need to trouble yourself. Let Xiao Shu do it—he’s a good cook.”
Shu Cheng’an stepped over the threshold with one foot: “That’s right, Grandma, I’m a good cook, unlike Brother Huai, whose cooking is terrible! By the way, Brother Huai’s full name is Zhou Jihuai.”
She knew her own grandson well—Cheng’an’s cooking was anything but “good.” Qu Jinghong listened with a smile as they teased each other. Hearing this, she looked carefully at Zhou Jihuai: “Xiao Zhou, have you left the service too?”
Zhou Jihuai gave an affirmative hum: “I transferred to a regular unit. No need for secrecy anymore.”
Qu Jinghong looked ahead, her eyes holding a distant depth: “It’s good that you transferred. Nothing is more important than life.”
“Your grandma will surely be very happy to know. Has she returned?”
Zhou Jihuai froze.
Shu Cheng’an, carrying the shrimp and a basin to clean them at the hand-pump well, happened to hear this as he came out and also froze: “Grandma, you know Grandma Zhou?”
Qu Jinghong recalled the past: “You should call her Grandma Ye. Xiao Zhou’s grandmother’s surname is Ye, isn’t that right, Xiao Zhou?”
Zhou Jihuai: “Yes.”
The three of them sat down in the shaded area of the courtyard. Shu Cheng’an cleaned the shrimp while listening to his grandmother speak.
“Old Shu, Old Zhou, Xiao Qin, and I were sent down to the same place. After I returned in ’76, I kept in touch with your grandmother through letters. In her last letter, she said she would be returning soon to celebrate her birthday.”
“The year we were sent down, you were only one year old. Your grandparents often talked about you. When Cheng’an just said your name, and I took a look at your appearance, I was sure.”
“You look like your grandfather.”
Zhou Jihuai gave a slight smile: “My parents say that too.”
“The day after tomorrow is my grandmother’s birthday. I’ve come to take you to my home.”
“Wonderful.” Qu Jinghong had been smiling cheerfully all along.
She had already agreed to it in her letter to Ye Qin.
“Xiao Zhou, you’re twenty-four this year, right? Are you seeing anyone?”
The somewhat heavy atmosphere from moments ago was instantly dispelled by this question. Shu Cheng’an laughed: “Grandma, Brother Huai is a bachelor like me.”
The old man smiled until his eyes curved: “It’s a pity your cousin is still too young, otherwise I’d introduce her to Xiao Zhou.”
Shu Cheng’an instantly wiped the smile off his face: “She wishes.”
Qu Jinghong sighed inwardly: “Cheng’an, she’s your aunt’s daughter, your own cousin. This matter is between the two of us – your relationship with her shouldn’t turn sour.”
Shu Cheng’an remained silent, wiped his wet hands on his open police uniform, picked up the basin and went into the kitchen.
Feeling uncomfortable, Qu Jinghong also stood up: “Xiao Zhou, I’m going to watch some TV inside. You and Cheng’an go have fun.”
Chapter 5: She’s Your Biological Cousin, Your Relationship Can’t Be Strained
A warmth flashed in Zhou Jihuai’s eyes. “It’s been twenty-three years already.”
Shu Cheng’an recalled the past, and a flicker of disgust appeared on his face.
He quickly adjusted his expression and said with a cheerful laugh, “My grandma was just nagging a few days ago that she wanted to meet the good comrade-in-arms I’m always talking about. Can you meet her now?”
“I can.” Zhou Jihuai held the steering wheel, his long eyelashes hiding his regret.
Shu Cheng’an patted his shoulder lightly a couple of times. Their squad’s situation was special; leave was not easily granted, and they certainly couldn’t reveal their relationship as comrades from the same squad to outsiders. As expected…
The Jeep drove steadily down the road, reaching the entrance of the hutong in a short while.
Mudan Hutong was quite spacious, so Zhou Jihuai drove the car directly inside.
At the old courtyard house at the end of the hutong, a kind-faced old woman was sitting in the shade of a tree outside the gate. Upon seeing the person in the passenger seat, she smiled and waved.
Shu Cheng’an got out of the car and ran toward her. “Grandma, I brought you some shrimp. And look who I brought with me!”
Qu Jinghong looked toward Zhou Jihuai, who had parked the car and was now walking over. She watched him for a moment before answering, “Is this the comrade-in-arms you often mention, the one who saved your life?”
“Come in, quickly. Grandma will make you braised shrimp for lunch.”
She spoke in a slow, unhurried manner, dressed in an Autumn Fragrance Qipao of superior cut and embroidery. Her white hair was coiled into a bun at the back of her head with a wooden hairpin, not a single strand out of place.
Even with a face full of wrinkles, one could still see the elegance and refinement of her youth.
Zhou Jihuai helped her into the house. “Grandma Qu, please don’t trouble yourself. Just let Little Shu do it. He’s a good cook.”
Shu Cheng’an stepped over the threshold. “That’s right, Grandma, I’m a good cook, unlike Brother Huai, whose cooking is terrible! By the way, Brother Huai’s full name is Zhou Jihuai.”
Knowing her own grandson well, Qu Jinghong knew Cheng An’s cooking skills were more than just “good.” She listened with a smile as they bantered, and upon hearing the name, she looked at Zhou Jihuai carefully. “Little Zhou, you’ve retired from service too?”
Zhou Jihuai hummed in affirmation. “I’ve transferred to a regular unit. I don’t need to maintain secrecy anymore.”
Qu Jinghong looked ahead again, her eyes holding a distant look. “It’s good that you transferred. Nothing is more important than your life.”
“Your grandma will surely be very happy to know. Has she returned?”
Zhou Jihuai froze.
Shu Cheng’an, who was carrying the shrimp and a basin to the hand-pump well to wash them, happened to hear this as he came out. He also froze. “Grandma, you know Grandma Zhou?”
Qu Jinghong recalled the past. “You should call her Grandma Ye. Little Zhou’s grandma’s surname is Ye, isn’t that right, Little Zhou?”
Zhou Jihuai replied, “Yes, it is.”
The three of them sat down in a shady spot in the courtyard. Shu Cheng’an cleaned the shrimp while listening to his grandma speak.
“I, Old Shu, Old Zhou, and Little Qin were all sent down to the same place. After I came back in ’76, your grandma and I kept in touch through letters. In her last letter, she mentioned she would be coming back for her birthday soon.”
“You were only one year old when we were sent down. Your grandparents often mentioned you. When Cheng An said your name just now, and I took another look at your face, I was certain.”
“You look like your grandfather.”
Zhou Jihuai’s lips twitched into a slight smile. “My parents say the same thing.”
“The day after tomorrow is my grandma’s birthday. I’ll come pick you up and take you to my home.”
“Alright.” Qu Jinghong was all smiles.
She had already agreed to Ye Qin’s invitation in her letters.
“Little Zhou, you’re twenty-four this year, right? Are you seeing anyone?”
The slightly somber atmosphere was instantly dispelled by this question. Shu Cheng’an laughed out loud. “Grandma, Brother Huai is a bachelor, just like me.”
The old woman’s eyes curved as she smiled. “It’s a pity your cousin is still too young, or I would have introduced her to Little Zhou.”
Shu Cheng’an’s smile vanished in an instant. “In her dreams.”
Qu Jinghong sighed inwardly. “Cheng An, she’s your aunt’s daughter, your biological cousin. The issue is between the two of us. Your relationship with her can’t be strained.”
Shu Cheng’an remained silent. He wiped his water-drenched hands on his unbuttoned police uniform and carried the basin into the kitchen.
Qu Jinghong felt a pang of sadness and also stood up. “Little Zhou, I’m going inside to watch some TV. You and Cheng An go and have fun.”