Chapter 2
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The whistle sounded louder and louder. Bei Bitang turned her head to
The whistle sounded louder and louder, and Bei Bitang fell backward. The feeling of weightlessness woke her up from her sleep.
The green train sped through the mountains. Bei Bitang looked out the window and after a moment realized that she was on a train back to Shanghai, not in the summer of 1974.
She rubbed her eyes with her hands, and somehow she dreamed about what happened before she left Shanghai.
Four years have passed. Bei Bitang went to the Northwest with the same mood and returned to Shanghai with the same mood.
Bei Bitang glanced down at her feet. Inside a large green net bag were two red-bottomed washbasins, an enamel mug with a lid, a tin thermos, an aluminum lunchbox, a notebook, and two pencils. Another army green duffel bag was filled with her clothes and important items. She hadn't brought her quilt and mat back with her, leaving them with the women on the farm.
Thinking of her carefully woven straw mat, which was without a single burr, soft and had a hint of plant fragrance, Bei Bitang felt a little regretful.
Fortunately, she returned to Shanghai alone without any companions, fell asleep on the way, and her luggage was not lost.
Opposite Bei Bitang sat a middle-aged lady wearing glasses, holding several folded newspapers in her hands.
Bei Bitang had been envious ever since the auntie who came up took out the newspaper. Perhaps being close to home gave her courage, she couldn't help but ask, "Auntie, can you lend me a newspaper?"
The middle-aged woman looked up and thought to herself, "This girl is always beautiful no matter how many times I see her. She's wearing a green military uniform, the hem tucked into her trousers, showing off her slender waist. She has two shiny black braids, her skin is fair and clear, her eyes are calm and bright, her eyebrows are curved and thin, her lips are red and her teeth are white. This look makes people feel refreshed."
The middle-aged woman readily handed the newspaper to Bei Bitang, "Here, young comrade, you can pick whichever one you want to read."
Bei Bitang thanked him politely and picked up the newspaper at the bottom to read.
…
"The 'News Broadcast' officially started broadcasting on January 1 this year"
"This year's college entrance examination will be held from July 20 to July 22."
"All the freshmen of the class of 1977 have entered the campus to study and live."
…
Bei Bitang was mesmerized by the scene until a powerful and graceful announcement suddenly rang out from the train, "Dear passengers, this train is about to reach its final destination, Shanghai Railway Station. Please take your luggage, do not move around, and prepare to disembark."
Bei Bitang got off the train carrying a luggage bag on her back and a net bag in one hand.
She didn't rush to leave the station. She stood inside the train station and watched the people coming and going. The train station in her hometown was still the same, unchanged. She wondered if other places in Shanghai had changed?
Bei Bitang was not disappointed even though no relatives came to pick her up. She had become accustomed to relying on herself for everything after all these years as an educated youth.
She took the tram for three stops, then took a bus and got off at the entrance of the alley.
The streets are lined with shops with wooden signs. The small shop selling her favorite steamed buns is still there, the bicycle shed is still in its original location, and there are still retired ladies wearing red armbands walking up and down the street.
The Phoenix brand bicycles are still as long as before. Shanghai girls wear fashionable Dacron shirts with false collars, and some have thin bangs.
Shanghai is still the Shanghai that leads the national fashion trends.
Bei Bitang closed her eyes and gently sniffed the scent coming from the alley: the smell of shampoo, yellow croaker, and coal stove... It was still the Shikumen and alley she was familiar with.
Bei Bitang pushed open the light blue curtain and walked in. Miao Xiuxiu was sitting in front of the window, concentrating on rolling up the paper box in her hand.
Although Bei Bitang had not been back for four years, Miao Xiuxiu's back was a little bent and several hairs had turned white, but Bei Bitang still recognized her mother at a glance.
Miao Xiuxiu heard the sound, turned around and saw Bei Bitang. She did not stand up, nor did she put down the paper box in her hand. Her face was indifferent, as if it was not her biological daughter whom she had not seen for four years who came back, but a neighbor with whom she had no close relationship.
Seeing Bei Bitang coming back alone, she casually asked, "Where's the second uncle? Didn't he come up to have a drink of water and rest his feet?"
In the autumn of the second year after Bei Bitang went to the northwest, Wei Bili got married to a driver. This driver was an extraordinary person and a very popular truck driver.
After Wei Bili married out of the Shikumen house quickly and quietly, people in several nearby alleys said that Wei Bili was hit by a pie in the sky.
Bei Bitang received the letter a month after her second sister got married, and hurriedly sent ten kilograms of new cotton back as a wedding gift for Wei Bili.
Bei Bitang put down her luggage and said calmly, "I didn't see my second brother-in-law. I came back by car by myself."
Before she came back, her family sent her a telegram with only four words on it: Second brother-in-law will answer.
Bei Bitang didn't see her second brother-in-law, whom she had never met before, at the train station. Instead of leaving immediately, she waited for half an hour. When she still didn't see him, she decided not to wait any longer and took public transportation back.
Sitting on the bus that was packed like sardines in a can, Bei Bitang was very glad that she could send people off as needed, so she didn't have to carry too much luggage and didn't have to waste the precious mat.
Miao Xiuxiu didn't react much to her second son-in-law's absence from picking up her youngest daughter. She said lightly, "Your second brother-in-law might have had something urgent to do, or his boss wanted him and he couldn't leave. You were able to come back on your own, so nothing happened. Don't tell your second sister that your second brother-in-law didn't pick you up, so she doesn't get angry about you and start arguing with her husband."
Bei Bitang was silent for two or three seconds, then nodded in agreement. She bent down to open the chest of drawers, wanting to take out the cup she used before leaving home to pour a glass of water. She was exhausted from the journey and felt a little thirsty.
I looked around but couldn't find the water cup that belonged to me.
Miao Xiuxiu asked, "What are you looking for?"
Bei Bitang replied, "Where's my water cup? Mom, where did you hide it?"
"Oh, that cup? I didn't hide it, but the naughty little kid broke it." Miao Xiuxiu's tone finally had a hint of pampering.
There was only one little boy in the family, the child born to her eldest sister, Lin Kangquan. After he was born, her eldest sister never got pregnant again, and her second sister has not gotten pregnant since she got married.
Bei Bitang gently closed the door, untied the knot, took out the enamel cup, poured herself a glass of water, and drank it slowly to calm her emotions.
After finishing her water, she wiped the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand and asked, "Where's the little brat?"
"Your eldest sister took me to a colleague's wedding and attended the wedding banquet." Miao Xiuxiu said with a smile. This was the first smile she showed after Bei Bitang came in.
Bei Bitang's voice was sour, "Mom, I'm hungry."
Miao Xiuxiu said indifferently, "The cabinet is not locked. Go make yourself a bowl of noodles. Don't touch those eggs. They are the little brat's rations."
Four years seemed to have worn away the little bit of mother-daughter love between Miao Xiuxiu and Bei Bitang.
Before Bei Bitang went to the countryside, Miao Xiuxiu treated her all equally. Bei Bitang was neglected but never felt wronged. She had everything the older sisters had, and since they couldn't afford three new sets of clothes, Miao Xiuxiu let them take turns wearing new clothes and shoes. As the youngest, Bei Bitang didn't pick up the old things of the older sisters.
But now, the three daughters have the same educational background. The eldest daughter has a job and has brought a man home to support the family. The family has a pillar and continues the Lin family line that Miao Xiuxiu has always cared about.
The second daughter married into a wealthy family. Although she didn't have a job yet, she had a driver son-in-law, and everyone in the Shikumen looked up to her. The third daughter had been exposed to the wind and rain of the northwest for many years and was still the most beautiful of the three daughters, but that little beauty was left to be discussed.
Her parents were also very snobbish. Their daughter Miao Xiuxiu didn't lack anything; she already had three. Besides, her relationship with Bei Bitang wasn't deep to begin with.
Bei Bitang stood in front of the coal stove and wasted several matches before she regained her skills and lit the coal stove.
She filled a small aluminum pot with water, put it on the stove and waited for the water to boil, then added some thin noodles and used chopsticks to push the noodles into the water. She turned off the stove, covered the pot with a lid and let it simmer for a while. Then she opened the lid, added some salt, a few drops of soy sauce and sesame oil.
Fragrant oil floated on the light brown soup noodles, and white steam climbed up Bei Bitang's moon-like face. She shook her clothes, picked up the pot and started eating.
Miao Xiuxiu, who had her back to her, smelled the fragrance and suddenly asked, "Didn't you beat the eggs?"
Bei Bitang's eyes were filled with heat. "I didn't beat it. I saved it for the little one."
Miao Xiuxiu stopped talking again.
The upstairs neighbor came up from downstairs, passed by the door, and then turned back. He looked at Bei Bitang and said in surprise, "Hey, isn't that Bitang? You're back? You're not leaving now, are you? I haven't seen you in all these years, and you haven't changed much. You're still as beautiful as ever."
Bei Bitang put down the aluminum pot, swallowed the noodles, and said, "Aunt Liu, I just got back today."
Aunt Liu still looks the same as I remember her, she hasn’t aged at all, which shows that she has lived a happy life over the years.
Aunt Liu looked Bei Bitang up and down and said with a sigh, "It's good to be back. It's great. Shanghai is still the best city. No other city can compare. Bitang, you've grown taller in the Northwest, haven't you? You were only fifteen when you went there to endure hardships, so it's no surprise you grew taller. Now you're a graceful young lady. It's a pity, little girl, you've suffered so much and lost so much weight. Ask your mother to take care of your complexion."
She glanced at the stairs, leaned against the doorframe, and leaned in, asking in a low voice, "You didn't make any friends in the northwest, did you? Don't lose your mind and get confused."
Bei Bitang smiled and shook her head.
Miao Xiuxiu stood up and walked over to Aunt Liu and said, "That's right. I've been looking forward to her return, but I'm also worried that she'll find me a son-in-law from the countryside. Now that she's back, I, as her mother, will never let her leave. I'll find her a local man. As the aunt next door, please take a look."
Aunt Liu was a little embarrassed when she heard this, but looking at Bei Bitang's beautiful face, she patted her chest and said, "Leave it to me."
Bei Bitang said suddenly, "Aunt Liu, don't worry, I'll find it myself."
Aunt Liu's eyes nearly popped out of her sockets. How could the quiet and reserved Bei Bitang be a completely different person after returning home? She was looking for it herself. No matter who said this before, it would never have come from Bei Bitang's mouth.
"Find it yourself?" Aunt Liu found her voice again. "Then what kind do you want to find? Tell Aunt Liu."
Miao Xiuxiu waved her hand, gently nudged Aunt Liu's shoulder, and said, "Old neighbor, let's talk first."
Aunt Liu refused to leave, saying, "It won't delay me. I'll listen too."
Miao Xiuxiu ignored her and turned back to the house. Looking at Bei Bitang who was quietly eating noodles, Aunt Liu curled her lips and walked away with a twist of her waist.
Leaving behind a mutter, "If you don't want to tell me, then don't tell me."
Miao Xiuxiu's intense gaze fell on Bei Bitang's face. Bei Bitang didn't move her eyebrows and ate her noodles slowly.
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