After exploring the study, Li Dahai led him to the right side of the main hall. “Here’s the dining room. It’s connected to the kitchen.”
Inside the dining room, there was only an Eight Immortals table[1] alongside four long benches. Time had etched its story into the worn edges and corners of the furniture, whispering tales of countless gatherings and shared meals.
“Grandpa Su said that this dining table set has been passed down from the ancestors. They’re made from huang… huang…” Li Dahai paused, his frustration evident as he racked his brain for the name of the material. What was it called again…? Li Dahai inwardly groaned as he smacked his forehead irritably, desperately attempting to dredge that name up in his mind.
“Huanghuali wood[2],” Su Ling remarked.
“Yes, that’s right! It’s huanghuali wood!” Li Dahai exclaimed and gave a resounding clap.
Su Ling extended his slender finger and ran it along the tabletop gently. When he lifted it, a layer of dust clung to his fingertip.
He gasped, ”It’s an antique!”
Often referred to as fragrant rosewood and Chinese rosewood[3], huanghuali wood was prized for its golden-yellow color and fine grain. It was often used in crafting hardwood furniture, garnering great favor among artisans of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Evidently, the Su family’s ancestors must have been affluent enough to have passed down such an incredible set of antique table and chairs.
Yet, stepping into the kitchen revealed a scene that seemed almost too ordinary at first glance. A typical rural stove[4] stood in the room, accompanied by a lone vertical cabinet against the wall. Neatly stacked in the corner were an assortment of farming tools and bamboo baskets.
Beyond the kitchen’s back door lay a backyard, complete with a well, a vegetable garden overgrown with weeds, and a separate small building.
Su Ling inquired, “What’s kept in that place?”
Li Dahai shook his head and admitted, “I don’t know.”
Caving into the torment of his curiosity, Su Ling could not help but reach for the bundle of keys once more. With a determined focus, he slid each key into the lock, turning them one by one. Finally, a satisfying click resonated in the air on the sixth attempt as the door unlocked.
Creak!
The door was pushed open, revealing rows and rows of old memorial tablets. Su Ling’s breath caught in his throat as his eyes widened in disbelief, transfixed by the solemn scene laid out before him.
Curiosity dancing in his eyes, Li Dahai peered inside and let out a startled exclamation before hastily backing away.
They’re the Su family’s memorial tablets and censers!
As for Su Ling, his throat tightened as he took in the sheer number of memorial tablets for the first time. A chill crept down his spine as he paid his respects with a solemn bow, his heart heavy with the weight of the departed. With a silent prayer, he swiftly closed the door behind him, ensuring its lock was secure.
Li Dahai had turned deathly white from fear, his eyes wide with terror as he gazed up at Su Ling. With a comforting smile, Su Ling reached out and ruffled his hair. “Don’t worry,” Su Ling reassured, “the Su family ancestors won’t hold it against us.”
“Oh, there you are!”
Suddenly, a shrill voice pierced the air from behind, causing Su Ling and Li Dahai to jump out of their skins.
“Eh? What’s the matter with you two?” With a curious tilt of her head, a middle-aged woman in her forties or fifties peeked out from the kitchen, revealing slender eyes framed by a round, amiable face.
“Aunt[5] Zhang! You scared the living daylights out of me!” Li Dahai exclaimed, his hand clutching his chest as he heaved a deep sigh of relief.
Aunt Zhang puzzled, “What’s there to be afraid of in broad daylight?”
Su Ling reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, wiping the beads of cold sweat from his forehead.
After glancing at the row of memorial tablets, a chilling fear gripped their hearts, sending a ripple of unease through their senses. Then, out of nowhere, a voice pierced the silence, jolting them into a primal state of panic.
“You must be Second Master Su’s grandson, right?” With an amiable demeanor, Aunt Zhang exclaimed, “My, aren’t you a dashing one!”
Su Ling greeted politely, “Hello, I’m Su Ling.”
In eager response, Aunt Zhang’s head bobbed with enthusiasm. “Well, hello there! My surname’s Zhang. Just like Dahai, you can call me Aunt Zhang.”
Su Ling acquiesced readily, “Of course, Aunt Zhang.”
In all her life, Aunt Zhang had never crossed paths with a city dweller as charmingly handsome and impeccably polite as the one standing before her. With each word he spoke, her smile blossomed into a radiant expression of delight.
“Well, the thing is… Xiao[6] Su… Is it okay if I call you that?” Noticing Su Ling’s affirmative nod, Aunt Zhang continued, “I bumped into Old Liu in the village earlier and heard from him that Second Master Su’s grandson had arrived, so I just had to swing by and see for myself.”
With unwavering patience, Su Ling began to initiate an explanation as to why they had come to this very place.
“Ah, it’s actually nothing much…” Aunt Zhang pleaded shamelessly, “Back when Second Master Su was with us, I helped tend to this place and also earned 600 yuan[7] a month. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d gladly stay on for just 500 yuan[8]!”
In the rustic countryside, job opportunities were as rare as summer rain. Yet, Aunt Zhang defied the odds, pouring over a decade of her life into the Su Clan Ancestral House. From drawing a meager 200 yuan[9] a month to a modest 600 yuan, her perseverance sparked whispers of envy among her peers. But when tragedy struck with Second Master Su’s sudden passing, Aunt Zhang found herself adrift without employment. Two agonizing months passed until a glimmer of hope emerged with news of Second Master Su’s grandson. Today, as the word reached her ears, she raced to the estate, fearing another might snatch the opportunity she clung to so desperately.
Su Ling’s brows furrowed in silent question as his gaze locked onto Li Dahai’s. Across from him, Li Dahai responded with a mischievous wink.
After receiving Li Dahai’s confirmation, Su Ling beamed at Aunt Zhang and stated, “I’ll be relying on you again, Aunt Zhang. Just like before, your salary will be 600 yuan.”
Standing in the vast courtyard, with the sizeable house looming large, he felt a surge of uncertainty swept through him. The enormity of his mission weighed heavily on his shoulders. Just as doubt crept into his mind, a welcomed surprise arrived to rescue him from his plight.
“That would be great!” Aunt Zhang’s eyes crinkled with delight as she smiled from ear to ear. She had anticipated it all along — he shared the same warm-heartedness as Second Master Su. Undeterred by her husband’s cautionary words, Aunt Zhang’s thick skin and resilient spirit paid off as she fearlessly went after what she wanted and ultimately clinched the job.
With her reputation for diligence, Aunt Zhang wasted no time and rolled up her sleeves, ready to tackle the tasks at hand.
Sensing the diminishing daylight, Su Ling had Aunt Zhang clean the main house first, leaving the task of removing the weeds in both the front and back yards for the next day.
In any case, he could consider himself lucky that while the ancestral house retained its historic beauty, it was fitted with modern amenities, such as electricity and running water.
As the day wound down, Aunt Zhang’s chores came to an end, and she departed the main house alongside Li Dahai. Left to his own devices, Su Ling sank into a bench at the Eight Immortals table, wearing an expression that mirrored the fading twilight — a mix of loneliness and frustration. With a heavy sigh, he reached for his bowl of instant noodles, resigned to the simple comfort it offered in the midst of his solitude.
Ring, ring!
The silence was abruptly shattered by the ringing of the phone, its sound emanating from the table where it sat. Su Ling’s eyes scanned the screen, and he caught sight of an incoming WeChat video call. With a tap of his finger, Lin Zhou’s attractive visage filled the entire screen instantly.
“Hi, Xiao Ling!” He greeted with a wave of his hand, a bright smile lighting up his face.
With a mouthful of instant noodles, Su Ling steadied his grip on the phone, aiming the camera at himself.
“… What’s that you’re eating?” Lin Zhou’s eyes widened in astonishment, zeroing in on the sight before him.
Su Ling slurped up the strands of instant noodles into his mouth before chewing and swallowing them down.
He answered, “Instant noodles.”
“Instant noodles? Instant noodles! Instant noodles—” Lin Zhou’s voice rang out in alarm. “Young Master Su, you haven’t been in the countryside for even a single day, and you’re already resorting to eating instant noodles?!”
Su Ling moved his phone aside slightly and sighed with resignation, “I’m lucky to have even found something to eat.”
In all of Stone Creek Village, there was only a mini-mart that sold a diverse variety of items. It was there that Su Ling purchased a hundred yuan’s worth of daily necessities and some instant noodles, just enough to tide him over.
Lin Zhou’s heart swelled with anguish and frustration as he lamented Su Ling’s decision to forsake the comforts of the city for the countryside, only to find him settling for a bowl of instant noodles for dinner!
He inquired, “Is it not possible to get some food delivered?”
Su Ling replied, “Food delivery? I wish, mate!”
Stone Creek Village was nothing but a remote rural settlement, so far from development that even courier services were nonexistent, let alone the luxury of food delivery.
“This is truly heartbreaking! Oh, how pitiable!” Lin Zhou exclaimed, hastily grabbing a tissue to dab away the invisible tears lingering at the corners of his eyes.
With a wry grin, Su Ling chuckled halfheartedly. “Come now, cut it out.”
Lin Zhou cleared his throat, regaining his composure. In a voice laced with serious undertones, he disclosed, “It’s Lin Feng, Su Ling. He gave me a call.”
Caught off guard, Su Ling’s grip faltered, and the plastic fork fell into the instant cup noodles below.
[1] 八仙桌 (bā xiān zhuō): It is a square dining table with 2 seats on each side, commonly used for family gatherings, celebrations, and feasts. It is named after the Eight Immortals from Chinese mythology, who are said to have various magical powers and represent different aspects of life and nature. You can read more about the Eight Immortals here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight_ImmortalsThe table often features intricate designs, including carvings or paintings depicting the Eight Immortals or other auspicious motifs. This traditional piece of furniture has been part of Chinese culture for generations.
[2] 黄花梨木 (huáng huā lí mù): It is a rare species of rosewood that emits a sweet aroma. It has been traditionally used in Chinese furniture making, particularly during the Ming and Qing dynasties. On top of that, it also has a golden sheen when polished, which gives an almost translucent quality and is resistant to insects.
[3] You can read more about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalbergia_odorifera
[4] 农村土灶台 (nóng cūn tǔ zào tái): It refers to a traditional rural stove or hearth in Chinese villages. The cooking is done over an open fire.
[5] In Chinese culture, addressing older women as “Aunt” (阿姨 āyí or 婶 shěn) is a sign of respect and affection, regardless of blood relation. It reflects Confucian values of honoring elders and fostering familial bonds, creating a sense of warmth and community.
[6] Adding “小” (xiǎo) before someone’s name in Chinese culture is a way to show affection, familiarity, or respect. It’s like calling them “little” in English and can also be used to create nicknames or distinguish between individuals with the same name.
[7] CNY 600 is approximately US $83.41.
[8] CNY 500 is approximately US $69.51.
[9] CNY 200 is approximately US $27.80.