The icy tap water trickled slowly from the faucet. Su Guiying stamped her foot in frustration and turned to go back inside for the thermos of hot water.
Grandma Su said, “One thermos of hot water won’t be enough to clean that big fish. Tell Lifeng to take the fish to the well in the backyard to prepare it. The well water is warmer.”
Underground well water maintains a fairly stable temperature year-round. In winter, it’s around ten degrees Celsius, much warmer than tap water.
“Right.” Su Guiying nodded but still carried the thermos outside.
Since running water had been installed in the courtyard, fewer people used the well. However, in winter, everyone still preferred to come here to wash things.
“Oh, Guiying, you two are here so early!”
“Where did you get such a big fish? Goodness, it must be a meter long!”
“Accountant Su really cares for his daughter and son-in-law, buying such a huge fish.”
Everyone in the courtyard were long-time neighbors. Seeing the couple arrive, they smilingly made room for them.
Jiang Lifeng used a knife to bleed the fish. For such a large fish, if the blood isn’t fully drained, it would taste fishy when cooked. He turned his head to Su Guiying. “Go back inside. I’ll have this done quickly.”
“Such a big fish—how long would it take you to do it alone?” Su Guiying squatted beside him, using a scraper to remove the scales.
Inside the house, Grandpa Su took off his military coat and felt cap, settling leisurely onto the sofa.
Jiang Qingning dutifully ran over to massage his shoulders. “You must be tired, Grandpa. Let me massage your shoulders for you.”
Grandpa Su leaned back on the sofa contentedly, took a sip of water from his large enamel mug, and let out a long sigh. “Ah… Qingning is the most well-behaved. She’s known how to care for Grandpa since she was little.”
As he spoke, he patted his clothes, searching for a pocket. He smacked his forehead and pointed to the Sun Yat-sen jacket hanging on the coat rack. “Oh, right, Qingning, go check the pockets of that jacket.”
Jiang Qingning’s eyebrows shot up. She hurried over to the coat rack and, with practiced ease, reached into the large pocket. Ever since she was little, whenever Grandpa came home from outside, he’d have her check his pockets, where she’d always find something good.
Sure enough, the pocket held a large red envelope wrapped in red paper.
“Grandpa, what’s this?” Jiang Qingning asked, holding the red envelope in both hands, pretending not to know.
Grandpa Su chuckled. “That’s Grandpa’s birthday gift for you. I was afraid you might not like what I bought, so I just gave you a red envelope directly. Buy whatever you like with it.”
“Wow~” Jiang Qingning happily leaned over and planted a kiss on Grandpa Su’s cheek. “Thank you, Grandpa~ You’re the greatest!” A stream of sweet compliments flowed effortlessly from her lips.
Grandpa Su smiled until his eyes crinkled, sipping his tea while listening to the sweet flattery.
Grandma Su walked out of the room and cleared her throat. “Qingning, look, what’s in Grandma’s hand?”
Jiang Qingning turned her little head, her eyes lighting up. She opened her mouth wide. “Wow, Grandma has a red envelope too!”
Grandma Su waved the red envelope in her hand, smiling. “That’s right. Grandma also prepared a big red envelope for you. It’s just as good as your grandpa’s.”
Jiang Qingning ran over and hugged Grandma Su’s leg, looking up with a sweet expression. “Thank you, Grandma~ I love you the most~”
Holding a big red envelope in each hand, Jiang Qingning felt extremely pleased.
Having received gifts, she felt obliged to show extra affection. She spent a while massaging Grandpa’s shoulders, then snuggled into Grandma’s arms for some whispered secrets, making both elders beam with joy.
“Your aunt and her family will be here soon. Let’s put the red envelopes away for now, okay?” Grandma Su whispered to Jiang Qingning, tucking both red envelopes into the handbag Su Guiying had brought.
Jiang Qingning, of course, nodded obediently.
Jiang Lifeng, after cleaning the fish, took it directly to the kitchen. Su Guiying tied an apron around her waist and busied herself in the kitchen with practiced ease.
The kitchen was outside the Su family’s door, a later addition—more of a small shed, really. Jiang Lifeng had to stoop slightly inside.
“You go sit inside. I can manage here,” Su Guiying said, seeing how his tall frame made it difficult to move around in the cramped space.
Jiang Lifeng smiled. “I’ll stay and help you. This fish is too big; you might have trouble cutting it. Let me chop it into pieces first.” As he spoke, he deftly placed the fish on the chopping board and, with swift strokes of the knife, cut it into several large sections.
Grandma Su, who had appeared at the kitchen door at some point, said to her daughter and son-in-law inside, “Lifeng, go sit inside and keep your dad company. Yingzi, you too. I can manage here alone.”
Su Guiying replied, “It’s fine. Staying in the kitchen is warmer. Mom, you go inside.”
Jiang Lifeng also nodded. “Right, the kitchen’s small, and with two coal stoves burning, it’s quite warm.”
Grandma Su then said, “Alright then. Yingzi, the pork knuckle and chicken were stewed before I went to bed last night; they’re fall-off-the-bone tender. Just serve them up later. We won’t finish the fish at noon; just stew the fish head. Add two pieces of tofu from the basin. Qingning loves that.”
“Got it,” Su Guiying nodded.
…
The siheyuan where the Su family lived had two courtyards, front and back, housing seven or eight households. Su Guiying’s generation happened to coincide with the post-liberation baby boom. It was common for families to have seven or eight children. The Su family, with only three children, were among the families with the fewest children in the compound.
Today was the day for married daughters to visit their parents. The sounds of daughters and sons-in-law returning home with children could be heard from the neighbors on both sides, creating a lively atmosphere.
As noon approached, the compound bustled with even more activity. The delicious aromas wafting from various kitchens made mouths water.
Jiang Qingning finished her two bottles of cola, burped, sniffed the air, and turned to Grandma Su beside her. “Grandma, I’m hungry. When are we eating?”
Grandma Su glanced at the large pendulum clock on the cabinet; it was already eleven. “Your aunt should be here soon. We’ll eat as soon as they arrive.”
“Oh, alright then,” Jiang Qingning pouted reluctantly.
Grandma Su muttered, “Your aunt, always the latest every year. In our whole compound, she’s the last to visit her parents’ home.”
Grandpa Su said, “She lives far away. Plus, she’s bringing two kids. Naturally, it takes time.”
“The Chen family’s daughter in the back courtyard lives in Changping. Did you hear? Their daughter came back too,” Grandma Su said, her displeasure growing. “If you ask me, they’re too used to living in big houses to appreciate our humble hutongs.”
“What nonsense are you talking?” Grandpa Su shot his wife a look.
“Hmph, nonsense? Last Mid-Autumn Festival…”
As the elderly couple bickered, there was finally movement at the door.
“Dad, Mom, we’re back.”
The door curtain was lifted, and a couple entered. Seeing them, Jiang Qingning quickly greeted, “Uncle, Aunt, Happy New Year!”
It was Su Guilin and his wife.
“Oh, Qingning’s here! Where are your parents?” Su Guilin asked as he took off his overcoat.
“They’re in the kitchen cooking.”
“Guiying works hard every time she visits, always doing the cooking,” said Auntie Ye Yunxia.
“Why are you back so early? Did your in-laws have lunch early today?” Grandma Su asked curiously.
Su Guilin walked over to the sofa and sat down with a smile. “We didn’t eat there. Today is Qingning’s birthday, so we hurried back to have the meal together.”
Auntie Ye also walked over, smiling. “Exactly. It’s the child’s birthday. How could her uncle be absent?” She glanced around the room. “Has Second Sister and her husband not arrived yet?”
Grandma Su pursed her lips discreetly and gave a stiff “Hmm.”
She knew her son and daughter-in-law well enough. Their sweet talk about specially returning to celebrate Qingning’s birthday was really just an excuse to curry favor with someone else.
Ye Yunxia’s smile remained unchanged. “They must be delayed on the way. They live far from us; it takes quite a bit of effort to get here.”
Grandma Su said, “Right. The western area is all high-ranking cadre families. How could we ordinary folks compare?” Her tone was clearly unhappy.
Ye Yunxia’s expression stiffened slightly. She glanced at her husband sitting on the sofa and gave him a meaningful look.
Su Guilin coughed forcefully and chuckled, changing the subject. “By the way, the cake ordered for Qingning should be ready soon. I’ll go pick it up.”
Hearing this, Grandma Su’s tone softened. “Didn’t they say it would be ready in the afternoon?”
Su Guilin said, “I passed by the bakery this morning and asked them to hurry. They said it could be ready before our meal. I’ll go get it now.” He stood up to fetch his coat from the rack.
Grandpa Su finally shifted his attention from the TV. “Where’s Xiao Jie? Didn’t he come back with you?”
“He ran into a bunch of kids at the alley entrance and went off to set off firecrackers,” Su Guilin replied, putting on his coat to leave. Jiang Qingning’s eyes darted, and she jumped up from the sofa. “Uncle, I want to go get the cake too!”
Just outside the alley entrance, they encountered a group of teenage boys huddled together, up to who knows what.
“Uncle, Cousin Xiao Jie is over there!” Jiang Qingning’s sharp eyes spotted her cousin, Su Yuanjie.
Su Guilin shouted in that direction, “Su Yuanjie! What are you doing there? It’s almost lunchtime, and you don’t know to come home!”
Su Yuanjie flinched, turning to see his father standing not far away with a dark expression, and his little cousin grinning beside him.
“My dad’s calling me. Let’s talk more this afternoon.”
“What, are you chickening out?” a raspy, adolescent voice asked from the side.
“Hmph, as if I’d be scared of you. Just wait for this afternoon.”
Su Yuanjie walked over somewhat unhappily. Jiang Qingning clasped her hands in a New Year’s greeting. “Cousin Xiao Jie, Happy New Year~ Congratulations and prosperity, hand over the red envelope!”
Smack! Su Yuanjie slapped something into Jiang Qingning’s hand.
“Here, a reward for you,” Su Yuanjie said with a toss of his head and a hmph.
Su Guilin glared at him. “Is that any way to talk to your cousin?”
Jiang Qingning looked down at what was in her hand—a small box of firecrackers. Displeased, she threw it back. “I don’t want to play with this. I want a red envelope.”
“Hey! Don’t just throw that!” Su Yuanjie caught it with quick reflexes. “These are snap-and-pops. They’ll explode if they hit the ground. You almost wasted the whole box just now.”
Jiang Qingning huffed. “I didn’t know that.”
Su Guilin tapped his son’s head. “You know it’s dangerous, and you still give it to your cousin? Hurry home. Your grandpa was just looking for you.”
Su Yuanjie asked instead, “Where are you guys going?”
Jiang Qingning, standing on tiptoe beside him, answered eagerly, “We’re going to get the cake. It’s my birthday cake.”
Su Yuanjie stuffed the firecrackers into his pocket. “I’m going too.”
Well, all three of them went together.
The three of them exited the alley, turned left, and walked two streets to reach the bakery. It was open even on the second day of the Lunar New Year, with a long line of customers outside, each holding eggs.
The bakery’s main business was making sponge cakes. Customers could bring their own eggs, and the shop would charge only a processing fee.
The shop wasn’t large and was packed inside. Su Guilin told the two kids to wait outside while he went in to get the cake.
“Xiao Jie, you still haven’t given me a red envelope,” Jiang Qingning poked the boy beside her with her elbow.
Su Yuanjie retorted irritably, “It’s not ‘Xiao Jie,’ call me ‘brother!'” He tugged on one of Jiang Qingning’s little braids.
“Ow! Stop pulling my hair!” Jiang Qingning yelled, punching him.
“Who told you, little brat, not to behave?”
Jiang Qingning’s eyes gleamed with an idea. “If you don’t give me a red envelope, then take me ice skating. I know you’re going to Shichahai to play tomorrow.”
Su Yuanjie shook his head. “No way! I’m not taking a little tagalong like you.”
Jiang Qingning put her hands on her hips, tilting her head back. “If you don’t take me, I’ll tell Uncle and Aunt that you snuck off to the arcade again the other day.”
“You…” Su Yuanjie glanced at the bakery. Su Guilin was already coming out with the cake.
“Uncle!” Jiang Qingning waved her arms and yelled loudly. “Brother Xiao Jie…”
Su Yuanjie hurriedly covered the little tattletale’s mouth, reluctantly giving in. “Fine, fine! I’ll take you, okay?”
“Hehe.”
Jiang Qingning was delighted.
Su Guilin emerged carrying a large cake box. Seeing the siblings’ interaction, he asked, “What are you two doing? Xiao Jie, are you bullying your cousin?”
Su Yuanjie snorted. “As if I’d dare bully her!”
Jiang Qingning beamed. “Uncle, Brother Xiao Jie said he’d take me out to play this afternoon.” Her eyes fell on the large cake box, and she quickly changed the subject. “Uncle, this cake is so big!”
“Your grandma specially told me to order a double-layered one. Of course it’s big,” Su Guilin said with a smile. “Let’s head back.”
“Okay~” Jiang Qingning nodded obediently.
The three had just walked back to the alley entrance when they suddenly heard a sharp pop! They all jumped.
Jiang Qingning felt like she’d stepped on something, followed immediately by an explosive bang right under her foot. It startled her so much she froze on the spot.
“Er Mao! Did you throw a firecracker at my cousin’s feet?” Su Yuanjie glared angrily at a snickering boy in front.
“Haha, she stepped on it herself. Can’t blame me.”
“You sneaky little jerk, picking on a little girl. How cowardly!” Enraged, Su Yuanjie rushed over, ready to fight.
Two teenage boys quickly got into a scuffle, while a few others gathered around, egging them on. Su Guilin hurried over to separate them.
“It’s the New Year! What are you fighting for? Lunch is almost ready. All of you, go home right now!”
The little troublemakers ran off laughing.
Jiang Qingning remained frozen, her eyes vacant, seemingly in shock.
“Qingning, Qingning, what’s wrong? Are you hurt anywhere?” Su Guilin rushed to his niece’s side, carefully examining her. Apart from a small blackened spot on her right shoe from the firecracker, she didn’t appear injured.
“Whoa! My cousin got blasted silly!” Su Yuanjie exclaimed.
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
Su Yuanjie waved his hand in front of Jiang Qingning’s face. “Hey, hey, Jiang Qingning, can you see me?”
Gradually, focus returned to Jiang Qingning’s eyes. She batted the hand away. “Why are you waving your hand in my face?”
“I should ask you what you were doing, standing there like a fool.”
Su Guilin leaned down, concerned. “Qingning, are you feeling unwell anywhere?”
Jiang Qingning shook her head. “No, I was just startled.”
Su Guilin nodded. “That’s good. Let’s get back quickly.”
“Mhm.”
The three walked home. Jiang Qingning kept her head down. No one noticed the uncharacteristically deep, thoughtful look in her eyes—a depth that didn’t belong to a child her age.