“What? Is it not allowed?” Xing Zhaozhao asked, “I heard that place hasn’t been inhabited for years. It should be fine, right?”
Captain Gao looked at Xing Zhaozhao with concern: “Do you know who used to live in that house?”
Xing Zhaozhao nodded: “I’ve heard about it.”
It happened thirty years ago, during the war era. A father and daughter fleeing famine encountered Japanese soldiers on the road. The daughter was violated and, though she survived, became completely deranged. Fearing she might accidentally harm others, the father built a house halfway up the mountain, far from the village. During the famine years, the father starved to death, and the deranged daughter disappeared without a trace. People said she was probably dragged away and eaten by starving wild beasts in the mountains.
“That place is too far from the village and too close to the mountains. If wild beasts come, no one would hear you even if you screamed for help. It’s too dangerous,” Captain Gao said.
Xing Zhaozhao remained firm: “Haven’t there been no man-eating beasts spotted in those mountains for years? Besides, I noticed the walls around that house are quite high. Safety shouldn’t be an issue. If any beasts really do come, my strength will come in handy. If I manage to hunt one down, it could provide some extra meat for the children.”
The main issue was that although Gao Mingcheng’s salary over the years wasn’t low, he had to send money home for living expenses, support disabled veteran comrades, assist the families of fallen comrades, and raise two children. They hadn’t managed to save much, and now Xing Zhaozhao only had a few hundred yuan left.
While this wasn’t a small amount in the village, she currently had no grain rations and would have to buy everything for the next year. Even if she started working immediately to earn work points, she could only make a maximum of ten work points per day. The grain ration she’d receive after a year might not even be enough to feed them, especially with two growing boys in the family.
Xiao Hongling was a premature baby. Though she seemed healthy now, there was no guarantee she wouldn’t fall ill someday, which would require money.
Both Hongfei and Hongyu had reached school age.
Calculating everything carefully, Xing Zhaozhao felt tremendous pressure.
If they lived close to the village, with so many eyes watching, she wouldn’t be able to do anything even if she wanted to.
Living halfway up the mountain would be different. It would be convenient to gather firewood, pick wild fruits, or hunt in the mountains. She could find a hidden spot to clear land and grow something without anyone knowing.
Thinking this, Xing Zhaozhao became even more determined.
“Please let me live in that house, Brigade leader,” Xing Zhaozhao pleaded, looking at Captain Gao. “We could stay there temporarily first. If it really doesn’t work out, I’ll apply for a homestead to build a house. The main thing is, with a family of four including a newborn baby, it’s inconvenient to stay anywhere else. Don’t you agree?”
Captain Gao thought it over and had to admit she was right. After hesitating a moment longer, he finally agreed: “Alright then. You can stay there temporarily. If it doesn’t suit you, don’t force yourself. Let me know as soon as possible, and I’ll find another solution for you.”
Xing Zhaozhao immediately smiled and nodded: “Thank you, Brigade leader.”
With that, Xing Zhaozhao took Xiao Hongling from Hao Xiuning’s arms, picked up the large bundle with one hand, and led the two boys toward the house halfway up the mountain: “Let’s go. We’re going home.”
The two little ones, holding hands and skipping along, followed behind: “Great, we can go home now.”
This time it was their own home, no longer having to worry about being driven out or enduring others’ disdainful looks.
The house halfway up the mountain was built of stone. Though it had been vacant for some years, it remained sturdy. The only issue was the courtyard overgrown with weeds, which needed thorough tidying up.
Once inside the courtyard gate, Xing Zhaozhao casually set down the bundle she was carrying. Then, holding Xiao Hongling and leading the two children, she took a look around inside.
Though the house wasn’t large, it had all the essentials.
Past the main gate and through the courtyard was the central hall. Behind the hall were two side rooms, both equipped with heated brick beds (kang). To the right was the kitchen, which included a small storage room. The outhouse was in another part of the yard. In the front courtyard, there was a small well, so water wouldn’t be a problem. To Xing Zhaozhao’s surprise, there was also a cellar hidden in a corner of the backyard—now they had a place to store things.
Xing Zhaozhao first tidied up one of the side rooms with the children, so the family of four would have a place to stay. Then she opened the bundle, took out some dried pastries, and they made do with this as their first meal in their new home.
Just after they finished eating, Aunt Hao arrived with her daughter Xiuning, carrying all sorts of food, supplies, and even a pot.
“How come you brought so much?” Xing Zhaozhao asked in surprise.
Aunt Hao shot her a reproachful look. “You’ve just moved in and have nothing. If I didn’t bring some things over, what would you eat or use? Were you planning to live on air?”
Xing Zhaozhao knew they were short on many things and smiled sheepishly, not refusing the offer. “Then I won’t stand on ceremony with you, Auntie.”
“What’s there to be polite about? If you dare be polite with me, I’ll get angry.” As she spoke, Aunt Hao briskly carried the items into the house, quickly looking around inside and out, and helped put everything in its proper place.
“I knew you wouldn’t have a pot, so I brought our old one. It’s chipped on the side, but it’ll do for now. Make do with it until market day, then you can buy a new one.”
“Okay.”
“These tables and chairs have been sitting too long and are rotten. Just chop them up for firewood. I’ll have your Uncle Hao make you new ones when I get back—he used to be a carpenter.”
“Alright.”
“Why are you still following me? You’ve just given birth and are in your confinement month. You shouldn’t overexert yourself. Go back and rest with your little girl. Leave this to me and Xiuning. I’ll have everything tidy by dark.”
“This… doesn’t seem right.”
“If you still call me Auntie, then listen to me. Otherwise, I’ll be upset.”
“Well… alright then.”
Xing Zhaozhao was shooed back to the side room by Aunt Hao. She lay down with her daughter for a while, nursed her, but couldn’t stay still any longer.
It didn’t feel right to have guests cleaning while she lounged around.
However, she didn’t dare go near Aunt Hao, afraid of being sent back again, so she quietly slipped off to the cellar in the backyard alone, intending to tidy it up for future use.
The cellar wasn’t very large and was currently empty, with nothing inside.
Xing Zhaozhao took a broom, swept the floor, dusted a bit, and was about to leave.
Suddenly, something caught the corner of her eye. She paused and turned to look curiously.
There, in an inconspicuous corner of the cellar, stood a door about the height of a person, gleaming with a metallic sheen.
When did it appear?
She was certain she hadn’t seen it while cleaning earlier.
Xing Zhaozhao hesitated for a moment, then turned and walked over to the door. After staring at it for a while, she couldn’t resist reaching out and gently pushing it open.
“Creak…”