Chapter 22
◎ At 11 o'clock in the morning, Zeng Linlin took a car from Xuhui District to Xu Zeli's place.
At 11 o'clock in the morning, Zeng Linlin took a car from Xuhui District to Xu Zeli's place. In the car were gifts prepared by the elders of her family, including two cans of milk powder, a box of red ginseng, a bottle of Moutai, a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes and a net bag of Red Fuji apples.
Xu Zeli had been waiting at the door of his house for a long time. He looked up and saw the conspicuous car from afar. He walked a short distance forward.
The car door opened, and Zeng Linlin, wearing a pink and white dress with a nipped waist, got out of the car. She put her arm around Xu Zeli's arm intimately and smiled at him.
The driver took out the gift and Xu Zeli quickly reached out to take it.
Zeng Linlin told the driver to pick her up at 7 p.m., and then they held hands and walked into the alley. From behind, Zeng Linlin seemed to have fallen on Xu Zeli.
Zeng Linlin had never seen a Shikumen; she lived far from the nearest alleyway. Despite being Shanghai's most distinctive and common residential building, it felt unfamiliar to her. Xu Zeli began to introduce it to her in a gentle manner.
Xu Zeli remembered that Zeng Linlin wanted to eat the fried pork chops from the nearby noodle shop, but seeing that Zeng Linlin had forgotten about it, it seemed that Zeng Linlin's request for it was just a casual mention by the young lady, and Xu Zeli did not mention it.
Every household lit a coal stove, and in the sweltering heat, the alley dwellers used the back of their hands to pull their hair back from their foreheads while constantly stirring the food in the wok. A variety of aromas—fragrant, fresh, spicy, pungent—filled everyone's noses.
The fragrance wafting from the Xu family's house today is particularly strong and prominent.
The polished square table was already set with ten dishes, four cold and six hot, and a few bottles of orange soda on the edge. Xu Zhengqing and Xu Huiqiu waited eagerly in the stairwell, chatting with neighbors as they went up and down, their smiles never faltering.
Amidst the crackling sounds, Xu Huiqiu accurately recognized her son's footsteps. Her smile became even more genuine, and she turned to Xu Zhengqing and said, "Here he comes, here he comes."
Zeng Linlin was escorted into the house and, hand in hand with her future mother-in-law, Xu Huiqiu, she sat down. The four of them sat down, and Xu Zhengqing asked Zeng Linlin to take the main seat. When Xu Huiqiu sat down, the smile on her face was no longer genuine.
Xu Zhengqing looked at Zeng Linlin and said, "Linlin, Xiaoze said you like fried eel shreds and curry beef. Xiaoze's mother went to the market early this morning to buy the ingredients."
Zeng Linlin smiled implicitly.
Xu Zhengqing looked at Xu Zeli and said, "Xiao Ze, pick some food for Linlin and see if your mother's cooking suits her taste."
Xu Zeli glanced at the silent Xu Huiqiu, picked up the chopsticks and picked up a piece of beef for Zeng Linlin.
Zeng Linlin took a bite and said, "I like beef the most. I don't like chicken, duck, or fish that much. But among all kinds of beef, I like curry beef the best."
Xu Zeli smiled at her, but stretched out his chopsticks to pick up a piece of beef for Xu Huiqiu as well.
Xu Huiqiu quickly picked up the bowl and avoided the chopsticks extended by Xu Zeli, leaving the piece of beef empty.
Xu Huiqiu said calmly, "Xiao Ze can eat it. Mom won't. This beef is not only expensive but also hard to buy. Once you buy it, you have to use coal to simmer it for over two hours. The coal cakes used for this dish are enough for your father and me to use for a week. I made it for the first time since Lin Lin came over. I made it especially for you young people, so you should eat more."
Xu Zeli put the beef into his bowl awkwardly. He knew that his mother was upset again and was being sarcastic.
Zeng Linlin seemed oblivious. She finished a piece of beef in two or three bites, her eyes crooked as she said, "Auntie, you're eating too. Isn't it worth it to eat when you're old? I want to eat until my teeth fall out."
Xu Zhengqing said: "Xiao Ze's mother is like this. She doesn't know how to enjoy the blessings she has. She is satisfied with just eating rice soaked in water every day. She feels uncomfortable when asked to eat meat."
Xu Huiqiu's face became even gloomier.
Xu Huiqiu suppressed her anger and said, "This beef is three yuan a pound, twice as expensive as the spareribs. You don't manage the household, so you don't know how expensive firewood, rice, oil, and salt are. It shrinks a lot after stewing. Such a big piece of beef, but only a little bit is served on the table. We old people eat it, so what are you young people going to eat?"
Xu Zhengqing also held his breath when he heard this. If Zeng Linlin, the distinguished guest, hadn't been there, he would have told the old woman to shut up. Now he could only remain silent.
Xu Zeli smiled and said, "Don't worry, Mom. I'll be able to get a salary of 56 yuan as soon as I graduate. Then you won't have to worry so much about the family expenses."
Xu Huiqiu smiled and said, "Yes, yes, whatever you can take, Linlin can take as well. 56 yuan each, that's over 100 yuan a month for both of us."
After hearing this, Zeng Linlin secretly glared at Xu Zeli. Xu Zeli picked up another piece of beef for her to comfort her.
Now, Xu Huiqiu's face turned ugly again.
The meal was rich in dishes, but the four of them did not enjoy it very much. The atmosphere was just like the rainy day.
After lunch, Zeng Linlin sat naturally on the sofa, drinking tea and eating fruit.
As Xu Huiqiu cleared the dishes, she smiled and said, "Things are different now. When I first visited Xiaoze's grandmother, she told me to cook and wash the dishes. I've endured that kind of hardship before, and I can't let Linlin go through it. Linlin, is the fruit delicious? I bought the expensive ones on purpose, so you should eat more."
Zeng Linlin put the bamboo stick down and said to Xu Zeli angrily, "Zeli, you're such a jerk. Auntie has been working all day. She went to the market early in the morning to buy vegetables, and then she cooked and worked hard to entertain me. She's exhausted, and you don't even help her. Zeli, why don't you wash the dishes and let Auntie sit down and chat with me."
Xu Zeli's face flushed slightly. He wanted to go over and help, but Xu Zhengqing glared at him and said to Xu Huiqiu, "Old woman, put down the dishes first and come talk to Linlin. How can you behave like that? Who would abandon the guests to work? What's more important, the guests or washing the dishes?"
Xu Huiqiu had no choice but to come over and sit down to chat, but there was nothing much to talk about, as both parties knew the situation in each other's families.
After sitting for more than half an hour, Xu Zeli took Zeng Linlin out for a walk to help digest the food.
The two of them walked out of the alley and slowly walked on the street in front of their home. Seeing that Zeng Linlin didn't look very interested, Xu Zeli suggested, "Linlin, let me take you to the cinema to see a movie."
Zeng Linlin said, "What are you watching? It can't be another model opera, right? Eight model operas, eight hundred million people watched them over eight years, commonly known as the three eights, or 'fa fa fa'."
As she spoke, she still stretched out three fingers and gestured vividly.
Xu Zeli said, "There's Swan Lake, do you want to see it?"
Zeng Linlin shook her head and said, "The abridged version isn't that great. Zeli, you haven't seen the unabridged version of Swan Lake, have you? Do you want to see it? Come find me at the compound and I'll take you to see it."
Xu Zeli's expression changed slightly, but he didn't say anything.
Zeng Linlin turned to look at Xu Zeli's face. Seeing that he looked a little stern, she immediately shook his hand and said, "Okay, okay, I love watching movies, especially with you. Let's go to the movies now. Come on! You lead the way! Don't lose me."
When I arrived at the nearest cinema, I saw that there were quite a few movies being shown.
Xu Zeli said: "If you want to see something emotional, watch a Romanian film. If you want something deeply moving, watch a North Korean film. If you want to guess, choose an Albanian film. If you want to see something intense, buy a ticket for a Vietnamese film. If you don't want to watch anything, read the Chinese film news bulletin."
Zeng Linlin was amused by Xu Zeli's "brilliant opinion". She laughed for a long time before covering her mouth and saying, "I must tell my classmates what you just said and see if they still call you a jade-faced genius."
Xu Zeli smiled and said, "Then what do you want to see?"
Zeng Linlin said, "I'd rather go for Swan Lake. I never get tired of watching it. The songs are beautiful, the actors are beautiful, and the images are beautiful. Besides, I have a ballet dream."
Xu Zeli responded with an "ok" and asked her to wait in the open space while he went to the window to queue up to buy tickets.
When buying the ticket alone, Xu Zeli couldn't help but think of Bei Bitang. When he was in the northwest, watching a movie was a privilege only available during the Chinese New Year and other festivals. Only at these times would the movie projectionist come to the local area.
They had been looking forward to the movie for a long time, but when the projectionist actually came, they didn't rush for the front seats. Instead, they brought their small stools and sat behind the crowd, holding hands from time to time and smiling at each other.
After buying the tickets and checking in to take their seats, Xu Zeli habitually put his arm around Zeng Linlin's shoulders.
After the movie ended, it was still early, so the two of them went to a nearby small park for a leisurely stroll.
Looking at the shadows of the trees overhead, Zeng Linlin suddenly asked, "Zheli, you've been in the Northwest for five years, and there are so many female educated youth there. It's normal for a group of young people in their late teens and early twenties to develop feelings for each other, especially if they're in the same boat."
"I never asked you if you had a girlfriend when you were in the Northwest? Zeli, have you ever had one?" Zeng Linlin asked with a melancholy tone, staring into Xu Zeli's eyes.
Xu Zeli was silent for two or three seconds, then said, "Yes, one."
A sad look appeared on Zeng Linlin's pretty face, and she asked quietly, "How long did you talk?"
Xu Zeli did not answer Zeng Linlin's question, but said: "Linlin, I have broken up with her."
Zeng Linlin snorted coldly and said, "Not breaking up? Who is standing next to you now?"
Xu Zeli said, "Linlin, let's not talk about this anymore, okay?"
Zeng Linlin pestered him, saying, "No, I'm jealous. I want to know what's going on between you two so I can tell you which relationship you're more committed to."
Xu Zeli smiled gently and said, "Of course I'm more attentive to you."
Zeng Linlin didn't say anything and continued to stare into his eyes.
Faced with Zeng Linlin's stubborn temper, Xu Zeli had no choice but to say, "I've been dating her for two years. But we didn't spend a lot of time together. Linlin, you don't know how hard it was to be an educated youth. You worked from dusk till dawn, and you didn't want to think about anything but lying in bed."
Zeng Linlin continued to ask: "Why did you break up?"
Xu Zeli said: "We were too young when we were together, it was just a joke, then the feelings gradually faded and we broke up."
Zeng Linlin said in a daze: "Are you kidding me too? Will things between us be like between you and her?"
Xu Zeli said seriously, "Of course it's different. She and I are just boyfriend and girlfriend. Linlin, you're my fiancée now. Have you forgotten? We're getting engaged and married soon."
Zeng Linlin's expression showed no sign of improvement. She asked fiercely, "Did you have sex?"
It happened again, like this again? Zeng Linlin once again left Xu Zeli speechless. He remained silent as usual, yet it seemed as if he had spoken.
Zeng Linlin's breathing became heavier and she was about to get angry.
Xu Zeli quickly glanced around, lowered his head and kissed Zeng Linlin fiercely.
Coming out of the small park, Zeng Linlin's face was flushed, her lips were swollen, and she seemed to be still angry.
Xu Zeli held her hand and smiled without saying a word.
After a moment, Zeng Linlin said hesitantly, "Zelili, I have something to tell you."
Zeng Linlin was born into wealth, so there was nothing for her to worry about or hesitate about.
Hearing Zeng Linlin's tone, Xu Zeli's face became serious, but his tone was still gentle. He said, "You say."
Zeng Linlin said, "It's about my mother. My mother is back."
It was originally about his mother-in-law, but in Xu Zeli's mind, his mother-in-law was a paper tiger. As long as he could please her in the early stages, she would be the one to please him later because she was worried that you would treat her daughter badly. The same principle applied even if the other person had a high social status.
The person who deserves the most serious and cautious treatment is your father-in-law. You must be respectful to him until you grow into a towering tree with his help and then you can get rid of his shadow.
Xu Zeli breathed a sigh of relief and said, "What's wrong? Is her current husband treating her badly? Does she want to come back and remarry her uncle?"
Xu Zeli only knew that Zeng Linlin's parents divorced when she was very young due to some incompatible ideas. She then remarried and moved to another place. Zeng Linlin was raised by her father single-handedly. Worried that his daughter would suffer, Zeng Linlin's father did not remarry and lived alone all these years.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
