This week it was Yang Cuilian’s turn to take kitchen duty. When she saw everyone had almost finished eating, she went to the scullery to wash up.
Before long, Chen Haobei snuck over to find her, flustered and breathless: “Mom, Mom! I think I’m dying…”
Yang Cuilian stopped what she was doing. “What nonsense are you spouting?”
Chen Haobei squatted down, his teeth chattering: “Mom, I really think I’m dying. Hurry up and find… find a Taoist priest or a monk, someone to save me!”
As the eldest brother, Chen Haobei had always been the bravest one — but now the more he thought about it, the more terrified he grew, and his eyes welled up.
“Oh right! And Haonan too!”
“Your younger sister-in-law just smiled at both of us… No, wait!”
His eyes suddenly went wide, as if his soul had been scared out of him. “…Mom, she smiled at everyone in the room! She might have stolen all our souls away. If we don’t get a master soon, we might all die!”
Yang Cuilian’s first instinct was to smack him, but then a thought flashed through her mind, and she froze.
…Just now, when that sickly girl had smiled at her, her heart really had skipped a beat.
Goodness gracious, she’d wondered why she’d suddenly changed so much! Could it be that she really got possessed by something unclean?
Yang Cuilian didn’t even bother finishing the dishes. She leaned out the scullery door and shouted: “Sister-in-law! Come quick! I need to talk to you!”
The earthen house felt stuffy in the afternoon. Yu Sanmei lay on the kang, picked up a newspaper, and fanned herself slowly.
Hearing the faint rustling sounds outside, she smiled with relief and gratitude.
It’s so good… so good.
What a wonderful life this is — lively, warm, and full of care.
She must have been out of her mind in her past life, not seeing such precious happiness right in front of her, and never knowing contentment!
After leaving home, Chen Jinsheng wound his way through many lanes and alleys until he reached a house.
A large character was written in chalk on the door: Hemp.
The gate was half-open. Just as he was about to step in, a bald boy came over with a thermos, excited: “Brother Sheng!”
This was one of Chen Jinsheng’s many buddies — everyone called him “Big Fart” because he farted so often.
Big Fart was about to say more, but stopped short and pointed at his face: “Brother Sheng, are you sick?”
“…Do you have a fever? Why is your face so red?”
As soon as he finished speaking, two thin guys pushed past him and shoved Big Fart aside. “Get lost, don’t talk nonsense! Brother Sheng’s built like a rock — how could he get sick?”
One of them had a Ma Zied face, so everyone called him “Ma Zi”. The taller one was called “Gan Zi”. They’d grown up together and were inseparable.
They were also the two who flattered Chen Jinsheng the most.
With all three pairs of eyes on him, Chen Jinsheng quickly wiped his face and tried to sound casual: “That’s right — why would I be sick?”
“It’s just… it’s so hot today, the sun got to me on the way over!”
Ma Zi and Gan Zi flanked him, fawning all over: “Exactly! Brother Sheng is so manly, so imposing!”
“We haven’t seen you for days since you got married — we’ve missed you like crazy!”
Gan Zi chuckled, his tone a little suggestive: “Can’t blame you, Brother Sheng — your wife…”
The word “wife” made Chen Jinsheng’s scalp prickle. “Hey!” he cut him off sharply. “Wife this, wife that — what kind of man talks about his wife all the time? Does that sound right to you? Huh?!”
He quickly pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and tossed it over, clearing his throat and putting on a haughty air: “Here — got these from the city. Be grateful!”
Ma Zi and Gan Zi snatched them up, almost drooling: “Wow, only Brother Sheng would have the good stuff! Only real big shots smoke Front Gate cigarettes!”
Chen Jinsheng swaggered into the courtyard amid the clatter of mahjong tiles, huffing: “You’d better thank me for not smoking when I don’t drink — I’d never finish them all myself.”
“Consider them a gift!”
Ma Zi and Gan Zi exchanged a look, and their expressions changed instantly.
As soon as Chen Jinsheng disappeared into one of the rooms, they slung their arms around each other, squatted down, and pulled out two cigarettes.
Ma Zi held his cigarette under his nose, sniffed it, and sneered: “What an idiot — a little praise and he loses all sense, giving away anything good he has.”
“Like we don’t know he doesn’t even smoke! He doesn’t even inhale properly — what a waste on him!”
Gan Zi lit his first, took a long drag, and frowned: “Yeah, I know right? Makes no sense — can’t smoke but acts like he does, can’t hold his drink but still drinks… and fighting too!”
“He’s always the first to rush over for petty scuffles, but the moment things get serious and someone pulls out a weapon — he doesn’t hesitate to turn tail and run!”
Ma Zi rolled his eyes: “It’s obvious — he’s just a coward who likes to pretend he’s some big-time gangster. Never actually gets anything done.”
“Remember last time we asked him to come steal a bike with us? He just laughed it off and made an excuse.”
“What’s that even called? Just kids playing house!”
Big Fart heard every single word, and was so angry he felt like his chest would burst — but he held back for now.
It was past three o’clock when Chen Jinsheng finished his mahjong game and came out. Ma Zi and Gan Zi had already left. Big Fart immediately pulled him aside, fuming.
“…Brother Sheng, can you stop hanging out with Ma Zi and Gan Zi?”
“Can’t you see they’re no good at all?”
Chen Jinsheng’s face darkened instantly. “You think I’m stupid? Can’t I tell who’s who? Do I need you to teach me?!”
Big Fart fell silent.
Chen Jinsheng clicked his tongue, pulled out a ten-cent coin and handed it to him. “Here — for the venue.”
“Let’s go home for dinner.”
Big Fart stared, then hurried after him. “Brother Sheng, please listen to me — they really aren’t good people!”
Chen Jinsheng stopped short, raising his hand. “Are you looking for a beating? I’ve said it before — I hate being lectured the most!”
Big Fart instinctively covered his head. “I’m sorry, Brother Sheng!”
It’s not like I’m lecturing you…
Chen Jinsheng’s mood lifted at once. He grinned and flicked Big Fart lightly on the forehead.
Just as he was about to leave, Big Fart’s grandfather came shuffling over, waving: “Big Fart! …Oh, Jinsheng’s here too!”
“Grandpa?! Why did you go out alone again?”
Big Fart hurried over to help him, with Chen Jinsheng following close behind.
“Grandpa Zhuang,” Chen Jinsheng greeted him politely.
“Ah, ah.” Grandpa Zhuang was getting forgetful, and often couldn’t make sense of things.
He was quite fond of Chen Jinsheng — he liked how sharp and upright he looked, and how clear and confident he spoke.
He sighed to Big Fart. “Our apples are going to rot soon and no one’s come to buy them. I was just going out to ask around…”
“…Apples?” Chen Jinsheng’s ears perked up, and his eyes lit up.