Back To The 80s

Upon hearing this, Gu Xiaobei also became a little nervous. She had heard that giving birth is quite painful, it seemed that she should stick to eating smaller meals more frequently.

"How has Jiujiu been lately?" Xiaobei asked about Jiujiu as soon as she took a seat.

"She’s grown taller again and always scores one hundred percent in her tests." Zhuang Shuxian lit up when talking about Jiujiu: "Your Uncle Jin and I decided to let Jiujiu skip a grade and go directly to third grade this autumn. Otherwise, she will be older than her classmates, and the other children might make fun of her."

Xiaobei nodded: "Yes, Jiujiu is rather sensitive. We wouldn’t want her to feel burdened."

Zhuang Shuxian noticed Xiaobei frequently rubbing her belly while speaking, and sternly warned: "Stop touching your belly without reason, it might cause the baby to turn into the wrong position."

Upon hearing that, Xiaobei immediately removed her hands: "Really? I’ve been doing that frequently."

"Well, you should stop. By the way, I’ve made some monk clothes for the baby, as well as small blankets, mattresses and changing pads."

Zhuang Shuxian got up and returned with an armful of clothes and blankets. They were bundled with a red cloth string and handed over to Xiaobei: "The blankets are filled with new cotton, they are very warm. The changing pads are filled with new cotton too, you can just wash them in water if they get stained. My eyesight isn’t what it used to be, so the stitching might be a bit uneven."

Xiaobei looked at the simple and appealing baby blankets and was very pleased: "Auntie, you did a great job. I haven’t started making the blankets yet, so now I won’t have to." Saying so, she picked up the monk clothes made of thin cotton, which were only the size of two palms.

"Auntie, isn’t this too small?" Xiaobei asked hesitantly.

"What are you talking about? You think newborns are bigger? I made them a bit bigger just to be safe." Zhuang Shuxian said, laughing.

Xiaobei awkwardly scratched her head. She folded the clothes and blankets neatly before at last she remembered Chen had passed away, and Jiujiu still didn’t know.

"Auntie, Chen, Jiujiu’s foster mother, passed away last month."

Zhuang Shuxian was taken aback and sighed: "Chen was a pitiful woman. We owe her a debt of gratitude, she did manage to raise Jiujiu. If not for her, who knows if Jiujiu might have been tossed aside a long time ago. Now that she is gone, we probably won’t see each other in this life."

Xiaobei also agreed with Zhuang Shuxian, even though Jiujiu had been abused, it wasn’t Chen’s fault.

After letting out a sigh, Zhuang Shuxian continued: "Once Jiujiu is on school holidays, we should take her to visit Chen’s grave and burn some paper money for her. We cannot forget those who have cared for us."

When Jiujiu came home at noon and saw Xiaobei, she was thrilled and held Xiaobei’s hand: "Auntie, how come you are here? Grandma said she would take me to see you when the weather gets warmer."

Xiaobei stroked Jiujiu’s face: "Auntie misses you so I came to see you. You’ve grown taller again."

"Indeed, she’s grown taller, but she’s still a bit short compared to her peers. I was thinking of buying a pregnant goat to enhance Jiujiu’s nutrition." Zhuang Shuxian started chopping the meat and leek Xiaobei had brought, preparing to make dumplings.

For better conversation, they decided to chop the meat on the dining table in the living room.

"Where will we raise the goat?" Xiaobei was taken aback by Zhuang Shuxian’s idea. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"In the small vegetable garden on the first floor. I can go down to pluck some grass every day." Zhuang Shuxian had it all planned out.

"Well, if that works, goat milk is nutritious. Drinking it is good for the body. Jiujiu, come and help me pick out the leek." Xiaobei, having nothing else to do, helped Jiujiu sort out the leeks.

As Zhuang Shuxian chopped the meat filling, she stopped from time to time to talk to Xiaobei: "Xiaobei, you should persuade Lily when you get the chance. She looks lively, but she is rather stubborn. She insists on quitting her job at the end of the month no matter what anyone else says."

Xiaobei continued to sort out the leek, simply nodding and saying, "Mm-hmm." She knew about Qin Li’s persistence. If she wasn’t allowed to do what she wants, Qin Li may never get out of her emotional shackles. Being busy with another matter might not be a bad idea.

Zhuang Shuxian sighed again: "What a pity. She is such a good girl, but the Jin family is just not fortunate enough. Chengzi..." Then Zhuang Shuxian went quiet. Her sons were always a thorn in her heart, constantly causing her pain.

Xiaobei nudged Jiujiu and she immediately understood, dropped the leek she was holding, ran over, held Zhuang Shuxian’s arm and comforted her: "Grandma, I will always stay with you and grandpa and not go anywhere. When I start making money, I will take care of both of you."

Zhuang Shuxian was amused: "Ah, Jiujiu. She’s like the perfect medicine for me. With her around, we start feeling alive again."

Xiaobei knew that Jiujiu was like a beam of sunshine bringing warmth to this broken household. Plus, ever since Jiujiu arrived, Zhuang Shuxian’s smile is becoming more and more frequent and her spirits are lifting up.

A word from Zhuang Shuxian: "For Jiujiu, we old folks have to live well for a few more years, and help her start a family."

Spring in Canger Cliff comes later than other parts. The top of the cliff is still not devoid of snow cover.

Lu Zhanguo parked his car halfway up the mountain, holding a bottle of wine and some yellow paper and made his way up the cliff.

As soon as he reached the top, he saw Qin Li kneeling by Jin Cheng’s grave. Her slender back, strands of hair swaying in the spring breeze all around, looked incredibly lonely.

Lu Zhanguo quietly walked over, knelt down, and started to burn the yellow paper, one by one.

Qin Li silently watched as Lu Zhanguo burned all the paper. Only then did she find her voice again: "Brother-in-law, do you believe in reincarnation?"

Lu Zhanguo was stunned, hesitating before he nodded. He was a believer in materialism and hence, didn’t believe in ghosts or spirits, but to comfort Qin Li, he nodded anyway.

A slight smile crossed Qin Li’s lips as she said: "Brother-in-law, I know you don’t believe. But I do. Last night, I dreamt of Jin Cheng. He said that we would need to experience the agony of three partings to meet each other again in the next world. This morning, I saw a rainbow, and I saw Jin Cheng too. He really did come back." After Qin Li finished speaking softly, her eyes were filled with anticipation and satisfaction.

Having heard what she said, Lu Zhanguo felt somewhat stifled. At this very moment he wished that, in this world, there truly were ghosts, spirits, supernatural powers and life after death.

The two of them didn’t speak. Lu Zhanguo quietly opened the wine bottle and poured the liquid onto the ground little by little.

That’s when Shen Heng arrived. He nodded towards Lu Zhanguo and Qin Li, knelt down, and burned a bundle of yellow paper money himself.

After a while, Lu Zhanguo finally spoke: "Is it all over?"

Shen Heng nodded: "Yes, it’s all over. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have the nerve to come see Jin Cheng."

Qin Li glanced at Shen Heng but said nothing.

Shen Heng, looking at the ashes scattered by the wind, commented helplessly: "I’ve transferred to the public security system in G Province."

Lu Zhanguo was somewhat confused: "How can there be a cross-system transfer? And it’s still a demotion?"

Shen Heng sighed: "It was my father’s idea. As for being stationed in G Province, it was my request." He did this for a particular person.

Shen Heng then turned to the silent Qin Li and asked: "Qin Li, are you going to the Tibetan Area?"

Qin Li confirmed resolutely: "I will go after the 1st of May holiday."

Lu Zhanguo frowned and advised, "You’d better go a bit later. The roads in the Tibetan Area are not easy to travel on, and the snow melts late. It’s safer to go in June or July. Don’t add to your family’s worries."