Chapter 8

◎ It was already past seven in the evening when Bei Bitang returned home. As soon as she entered the house, the eaves crackled...◎

It was already past seven in the evening when Bei Bitang returned home. As soon as she entered the house, the eaves crackled and the rain fell quickly and heavily.

Miao Xiuxiu and several old ladies used the stairwell as their base, playing poker enthusiastically.

Hearing the noise, she stuck her head out and saw that it was Bei Bitang coming upstairs. Seeing that her face was not right, and that she was going to meet the man's parents again today, Miao Xiuxiu threw down the cards, stood up and said, "You guys continue playing, I'll be back soon."

Bei Bitang sat on the bed in the inner room, hugging the quilt with her back to the door.

Seeing her like this, Miao Xiuxiu sighed and said, "Dad and Mom are not happy with you? Luckily I didn't tell anyone, otherwise the whole thing would have fallen through as soon as I said it. How embarrassing."

Bei Bitang didn't respond and buried her head in the quilt, like a quail.

Miao Xiuxiu continued reading, "There are more men than women, it's been like this since ancient times. You're not bad looking, and you're from Shanghai, so just find another one. We waited for you for a long time, but you didn't come back, so we had dinner first. I left some food in the cupboard for you, so you can eat it later. My uncle took Bilan and Xiao Maotou to the park. And Bili called and said she'd come over for dinner tomorrow night and meet you."

Bei Bitang remained silent. Seeing her return empty-handed, Miao Xiuxiu lost her patience and said angrily, "It's not working out. You're so stupid! You're leaving all those good things for others. What a waste!"

Cry, cry, it will feel better after crying. She has experience in this matter. Miao Xiuxiu, thinking about her cards, turned around and went out.

After a while, a faint whimpering sound was heard in the house. The sound was very small, and it was powerless and weak under the sound of rain outside the window.

Bei Bitang cried for a long time, then looked up to see a large wet patch on the quilt. She rubbed her eyes vigorously with her sleeve, wiped away her tears, and took out a spare quilt from the box. She changed the quilt and placed the wet quilt in the washbasin, intending to wash it with her clothes tonight.

People are like iron and rice is like steel. If you don't eat for a meal, you will feel hungry. Bei Bitang silently opened the cupboard and took out the food left for her.

A large white porcelain bowl was piled with dark yellow greens and preserved vegetables. The only meaty touch was a shattered egg custard. Bei Bitang had no appetite, but she still slowly finished her meal, leaving nothing behind.

She went to the sink downstairs to wash the dishes, changed her clothes, and put on floral trousers and a short-sleeved shirt.

Bei Bitang couldn't think of anything else to do. She was so busy all the time. She sat on a chair by the window, watching the raindrops.

Slowly the rain became lighter and lighter and finally stopped.

After the card table was over, Miao Xiuxiu went home to take a shower. Seeing Bei Bitang changing her shoes and preparing to go out, she said in dissatisfaction, "We're still sleeping, why are you going out?"

Bei Bitang said, "I'll be right back."

There is only one phone in the street telephone room, which is very expensive. It is watched by special aunties in shifts 24 hours a day. When a call comes in, they will call the person who is supposed to answer the phone.

There was an incandescent bulb hanging in the telephone room. Under the dim yellow light, an energetic aunt wearing a pair of reading glasses was squinting her eyes as she read a comic book.

Bei Bitang took the initiative to introduce herself, saying, "Auntie Wang, I'm Bei Bitang, the youngest daughter of Miao Xiuxiu from Building 12. Do you remember me? I'd like to ask if anyone has called tonight looking for me?"

The old lady was watching Sun Wukong fight the White Bone Demon with great interest. Without even looking up, she said coldly, "No!"

Bei Bitang refused to give up and continued to ask, "Really? Aunt Wang, are you thinking about it carefully?"

Upon hearing this, the old lady became furious. She put the comic book down, adjusted the frame, and said coldly, "If I say there's no answer, then there's no answer. Are you questioning my memory? I've been answering the phone for years! I've never made a mistake!"

When the old lady saw Bei Bitang's face clearly, the anger on her face instantly extinguished. She smiled and said, "Bitang, you're back."

Bei Bitang smiled and said, "Well, I'm back. Aunt Wang, I'm leaving first."

Unable to conceal the disappointment on her face, the old aunt comforted the lovable Bei Bitang, saying, "Don't worry. If there's a call looking for you, I'll be the first one to come to you. Don't worry."

Bei Bitang smiled and said, "Thank you, Aunt Wang."

Bei Bitang walked back and met many people wearing slippers and carrying bathtubs to take a bath.

She was absent-minded and almost bumped into someone. Bei Bitang raised her head and looked. The large V-neck revealed the fair and smooth skin of her chest, and above it was a bright face.

Kong Baoer was wearing a pink nightgown with loose puff sleeves, her long hair was casually scattered, and she smiled coquettishly and said, "Bitang doesn't recognize me?"

Bei Bitang looked carefully, frowned and thought, and a figure who always wore a skirt appeared in her mind and said, "It's you, Sister Baoer, long time no see."

Kong Baoer smiled sweetly and said, "Long time no see. Come to my house when you have time and play with me."

After saying this, without waiting for Bei Bitang to reply, she walked towards the other end of the alley like curling smoke.

Bei Bitang sniffed. Although Kong Baoer had left, she left behind a sweet fragrance that Bei Bitang had never smelled on any other girl. It was not like the smell of face cream.

Later, Bei Bitang realized that it was the smell of perfume. Her first bottle of perfume was given to her by Gu Wangxi.

The encounter with Kong Baoer actually diverted Bei Bitang's attention away from Xu Zeli.

Kong Baoer is a famous girl in this area. She is three years older than Bei Bitang. This age difference is not that big, but the two of them can't play together. First, it's a personality issue. Kong Baoer is cheerful and likes to be lively and playful, while Bei Bitang is quiet and delicate. She likes quietness and can sit on a small stool for half a day.

The second reason was family. Kong Baoer's father was a seaman, earning more than a skilled tradesman, and her mother was an accountant. They had only one child, and they loved her dearly. Bei Bitang never asked Miao Xiuxiu for anything; she had whatever Miao Xiuxiu gave her.

Bei Bitang would never dare to approach someone as brilliant as Kong Baoer.

When Bei Bitang went to the countryside, Kong Baoer was still in high school. Kong Baoer was an only child, so she didn't have to worry about going to the countryside. She didn't like studying, but her parents still sent her to high school and let her hang out there, not wanting her precious daughter to be corrupted by the hooligans outside.

After graduating from high school, her parents found her a job in a department store. Kong Baoer worked for two weeks and felt it was too tiring. She quit the job without telling her parents in advance. She was so willful and had the financial resources.

After she stopped working, Kong Baoer stayed at home and was well taken care of, receiving pocket money every month. Her parents didn't care about the rumors outside and were happy to love their daughter.

After Xu Zeli accompanied Zeng Linlin and her roommates back to school to get their books, they continued studying in the school library until after nine o'clock before leaving the school and taking the last bus home.

He put the key in the basket, looked at the tightly wrapped gift, and couldn't help asking, "Are there any guests coming today?"

Xu Huiqiu, who was mending clothes, said nothing and pretended not to hear.

Xu Zhengqing looked at his son with a complicated expression and said, "Bei Bitang brought it here. She came today, but she couldn't wait for you, so she left. She asked you to come back and call her."

Xu Huiqiu threw the clothes in her hands and said angrily, "You're asking for trouble! Why did you tell your son? Why did you call him? You think it's not troublesome enough? She came over today and almost scared me to death. Fortunately, I didn't make an appointment with the Zeng family to meet today. If we bumped into each other, it would be over."

Xu Zeli's face was tense, his teeth were clenched, and he sat down suddenly with his head down, staring at the floor.

After a while, he stood up and walked out. Xu Huiqiu's face changed drastically and she shouted, "Xiao Ze, what are you doing?! You can't be so stupid."

Xu Zhengqing said, "Let him go. Give Bei Bitang an explanation and get married cleanly, otherwise it will be a mess. Linlin's father and the rest of the Zeng family are no pushovers. They're all shrewd people. If they knew about this, would they still agree to let Linlin marry Xiaoze? Our family is of humble origins to begin with."

Lin Bilan and Huang Dashan brought the little one back. Bei Bitang quickly packed her pajamas, took her toiletries, and was about to take a shower.

Aunt Wang shouted from downstairs, "Bei Bitang from Miao Xiuxiu's house in Building 12, someone's looking for you! Xu Zeli is calling for you! Bei Bitang is calling! Come to the phone booth quickly! Come to the phone booth quickly!"

Bei Bitang put down the basin in her hand with a bang, and ran downstairs in a hurry with a smile on her face.

Huang Dashan looked at the scene and said, "Who's looking for my little sister? This is the first time I've seen her so flustered. She's never been like this, even when the food was burnt."

Lin Bilan said, "Xu Zeli? It sounds like a man's name."

Miao Xiuxiu, who knew a little about the truth, said nothing and gently coaxed the little boy to change his clothes.

"Hello, is this Bitang? I'm Zeli."

Xu Zeli's voice came from the other end of the phone, and Bei Bitang didn't know what to say. She had never thought that one day she and Xu Zeli would reach the point where they had nothing to say to each other.

No one answered, so Xu Zeli called "Hello" several times. Bei Bitang's fingers were wrapped around the phone cord as she whispered, "It's me, Zeli."

After waiting for Bei Bitang's answer, Xu Zeli hesitated for a moment and asked in a low voice: "Bitang, what did you bring to my house?"

Xu Zeli's voice was still so gentle, as if this was a normal phone call between lovers.

Bei Bitang's eyes began to burn again, and her voice choked slightly as she said, "Nothing much, just a bag of raisins, a bag of cordyceps, two bags of red dates, a bag of yam jerky, and... I can't remember. They're all common things we eat in the northwest."

As she spoke, Bei Bitang's voice became a little unclear.

Xu Zeli clenched his fists, looked up at the night sky, sighed, and said, "Bitang, you know, right?"

Bei Bitang swallowed back her sobs and said coldly, "What do I know? Zeli, tell me. What do I not know? Tell me. We haven't had a long talk in a long time."

Xu Zeli avoided answering and said in a gentle tone: "Bitang, I'm sorry for you. You can scold me, I'm a heartless person."

Bei Bitang had a hint of sneer on her lips, but her tone was gentle. "Why would I scold you? I'm not the kind of person who makes trouble for no reason. When you got into university, you told me to find a way to return to Shanghai as soon as possible. When I got back, you told me to meet my parents and get married right away. You couldn't wait."

"I did what I promised you. Now I'm back, so I'm going to find you to marry me. When will you marry me, as you promised me?"

Bei Bitang's voice was faint and seemed a bit ghostly in the dead of night.

Xu Zeli had no choice but to say, "Bitang, let's break up. I've thought about it and I think we're not really suitable for each other."

Xu Zeli still refused to be honest. Bei Bitang felt that her heart was broken, for all the years she had given him and for not being able to see through Xu Zeli's character.

Bei Bitang, who was usually gentle in front of Xu Zeli, pressed the issue, "What's wrong with us? You didn't say it wasn't right after being in the Northwest for several years? And you've only been back in Shanghai for a few months? And you're saying it's not right?"

"Zheli, many of our generation of educated youth abandoned their families. After you returned to Shanghai, I met many of them in the northwest, but I never doubted you. Although we were separated after you returned to Shanghai, I believe this was only temporary. I am not Du Liniang, and you are not Li Jia, right?"

Bei Bitang paused for a moment and then said directly, "Zeli, I'll come to you tomorrow with my household registration and we'll go get a marriage certificate."