Chapter 38
◎ The two finally believed it, turned around, and slowly removed their hands that were covering their eyes.
◎
The two of them finally believed it, turned around, and slowly removed their hands that were covering their eyes.
Kong Baoer said unhappily, "We are all girls, and we go to the bathhouse quite often. How come you two have such a big reaction as if you have never seen the same sex's body before?"
Bei Bitang weakly retorted, "That's different. When we go to the bathhouse, everyone is busy taking a bath. Who has time to stare at other people's bodies?"
Kong Baoer lowered her voice and said leisurely: "That's not necessarily true, maybe..."
Feng Guangmei quickly interrupted her next words, "Sister Baoer!"
Kong Baoer waved her hand and said, "Okay, I won't tease you anymore. I'll go get the good stuff I'm not wearing and show you."
She went to her little room and came out with a grayish-white drawstring cloth bag after a while.
Kong Baoer didn't open the bag herself, but placed it on the sofa between Bei Bitang and Feng Guangmei, raised her chin towards them and said, "Open it and take a look."
Feng Guangmei glanced at Bei Bitang, and Bei Bitang had no choice but to pick up the cloth bag and open the drawstring. When she saw clearly what was inside, her snow-white face turned red.
Seeing Bei Bitang's reaction, Feng Guangmei hurried over and looked into the open cloth bag.
Inside were underwear, unlike the small cotton tank tops and floral boxer briefs they had seen before. These underwear were mostly triangular and round, with smaller fabric areas and colorful colors. The material was smooth and flowing silk, embroidered with lace and embroidery patterns.
Kong Baoer blinked her eyes proudly and said, "Looks good, doesn't it? If I had a big house, I would hang these things up, put them in glass covers, and put small neon bulbs inside.
Bei Bitang and Feng Guangmei both nodded and said, "It looks good."
Feng Guangmei's heart was inevitably moved when she saw this. She couldn't help but ask, "Sister Bao'er, did your father bring these back from abroad too?"
Even Bei Bitang couldn't help but look forward to owning a bra. Baoerjie's bras fit her breasts perfectly and have a certain thickness, which is much better than a small vest. If she had one before, she wouldn't have to walk with her head down and dare not look at people.
Kong Baoer shook her head and said, "How could my father, a grown man, buy these things? My mother found the materials and made them herself."
Feng Guangmei couldn't help but admire, "Sister Baoer, your mother's craftsmanship is really good. You can go to be a tailor and get the salary of a master tailor."
Bei Bitang knew more about Kong Baoer's family situation than Feng Guangmei. She said, "Sister Baoer's mother is from Suzhou. Her grandmother used to be a famous embroiderer. Rich families would ask her to embroider their wedding gowns."
Kong Baoer said, "No, my mother would be better off being an accountant. She picked up a needle at the age of three and learned Su embroidery from my grandmother. Later, my grandmother became half blind from embroidery so much that she threw away all her needles. That's when she switched to learning how to use an abacus."
Feng Guangmei said, "Sister Baoer, your mother is very clever and deft. She can learn everything from holding a needle to holding an abacus."
Kong Baoer said proudly, "That's right! By the way, I'll give each of you a bra, you can pick one out for yourselves. These are all brand new, I've never worn them once, so I specially brought out new ones."
Both of them wanted it, but both of them rejected Kong Baoer. They didn't even dare to touch it with their hands, so how could they wear it out?
There is no privacy living in a Shikumen house. The public laundry room, even the wardrobes and boxes are shared by the whole family. Parents-in-law, sisters-in-law, uncles, nephews and nieces can all rummage through the wardrobe.
What's more, when people hang clothes to dry in the alleys, they just put a rope outside the window and extend it into the alley. The clothes are hung on the rope and passers-by in the alley can see it just by looking up.
There are also some little hooligans who use long bamboo poles to steal underwear.
Bei Bitang shook her head and said, "No, Sister Baoer, I don't need it."
When she was in junior high school, she had just put on a small vest and felt uncomfortable all over. She didn't want to go out because she felt that people would look at her. Gradually, as she wore more, she felt that it was nothing. Those men walked around the streets and alleys with their shirts bare all summer.
Every summer, she envied men. She initially thought a small vest was too thin, but in the summer, she felt that wearing nothing underneath was the most comfortable.
If her mother didn't dislike it, she would really want to hide behind the curtains all summer without wearing a vest.
Feng Guangmei glanced at the exquisite underwear in the cloth bag reluctantly, and said with a determined heart, "Sister Baoer, I'm preparing to review for the college entrance examination next year. If you gave me such a beautiful bra, I would definitely think about how to hide from people all day long. Wearing it on my body would be too tiring, and my brain is not enough."
Feng Guangmei could not hide the fact that she went to the middle school to take the night shift to prepare for the college entrance examination after get off work. As early as the first time she came back from the middle school, the news spread throughout the Shikumen.
Kong Baoer felt a little regretful that she couldn't share good things with people she got along with, but she was a person who was very good at self-regulation and comforting herself.
After a few seconds, she said nonchalantly, "Well, how about this? Wait until Guangmei finishes the college entrance examination next year, and then you can come here. And Bitang..."
Kong Baoer paused for a moment. Thinking of Bei Bitang's brother-in-law, she couldn't help but frown. She quickly continued, "When Bitang gets married, I'll give you one as a wedding gift."
Bei Bitang's neck turned red. She shook her head fiercely and said, "No, Sister Baoer, I don't want to get married yet. I'm still a long way from getting married!"
She was now most afraid of people proposing marriage to her or introducing her to someone on a whim; she really didn't want to get married. Although she had a very low-paying, hard job with no future prospects, she sometimes felt that a simple life like this wouldn't be bad if she could live it for the rest of her life.
Marriage? She didn't even want to meet any young men she knew better.
Bei Bitang looked at the Western clock on the wall. It was almost four o'clock. She said to Kong Baoer, "Sister Baoer, I have to go back. My family's food is still in my hands."
Feng Guangmei also said: "Then I will go back with Bitang, I also have to make dinner."
The two of them really had something to do, and Kong Baoer didn't try to persuade them to stay.
She saw the two of them out the door, and politely asked Bei Bitang and Feng Guangmei to come to her house again next time, otherwise she would be really bored. It was very happy to chat with them, and time passed quickly.
Bei Bitang and Feng Guangmei were at a loss whether to laugh or cry after hearing what she said.
Bei Bitang was carrying the marinated duck and greeting the enthusiastic neighbors.
"Wow, Bitang's dishes are pretty good tonight." The neighbor joked as he looked at the black sauced duck that Bei Bitang was carrying.
Bei Bitang could only smile and respond politely.
The door was open, and a cool breeze blew in from the dark stairwell into the hot and narrow room.
Bei Bitang lifted the curtain and Miao Xiuxiu stood in front of the window, turning over the eels in the bamboo basket.
Living in a shikumen house, drying clothes, bedding, and dried goods required considerable thought, as each household had limited sunlight. Dried eels were best hung to dry, allowing the entire body to bask in the scorching sun.
But for Bei Bitang's family, this way of drying the clothes is too luxurious. If they are placed in the open space downstairs, they will be stolen.
The eels in the basket were not big. Miao Xiuxiu and some old sisters got them together early in the morning and took the bus to Waixiangua Street on the bank of the Huangpu River to compare prices from dozens of stores.
The bigger the eel, the tastier it is, but when dried, its stench can spread far and wide. Those who rarely eat it find it stinky, but those who buy some at home every year find it both stinky and fragrant.
It is a standard New Year's item for every Shikumen household. Even the clean-loving Bei Bitang likes the unique stinky smell of eel.
It sounds simple to make jerky eel, which is actually a kind of salted fish. However, it is very particular and requires some thought to make. It is not just a matter of smearing coarse sea salt on the fish and then drying it.
It should be neither too dry, too salty, nor too wet to be authentic. If you can't eat a whole piece, you can cut off a large piece, steam it, and then tear it into strips after it cools down a bit, then eat it with vinegar.
Miao Xiuxiu heard the noise and turned around. Seeing the marinated duck in Bei Bitang's hand, she frowned and said, "Why did you buy duck from Hangzhou? It's so dry and hard. How can my little one and I eat it without teeth?"
Bei Bitang didn't take Miao Xiuxiu's disappointing words to heart. If she had remembered every word in her heart and thought about it several times, she would have cried herself blind long ago.
She said, "I'll chop it finer and steam it longer."
Miao Xiuxiu was still not satisfied. She said, "That would be a waste of coal cakes."
Bei Bitang could only reply calmly, "My brother-in-law loves to eat it."
As long as it's delicious, what doesn't Huang Dashan love? He's not alone; everyone in this generation is like this. While others might consider their own finances, he doesn't. He even makes a menu for his family. Even children are acutely aware of their family's financial situation and won't demand this or that.
Miao Xiuxiu was now at a loss for words, so she mumbled, "Then put some more bamboo shoots underneath."
Bei Bitang replied, "I understand," as she walked towards the kitchen with the dried marinated duck.
A few days had passed since Bei Bitang went to East China Normal University to visit Zeng Linlin. Bei Bitang walked to work in the dark every day and took the bus home smelling of fish. She had completely forgotten about the incident.
As soon as she heard the start broadcast, Bei Bitang put the weight on the scale bar. Bursts of noise came from the side of the small vegetable market near the gate.
The fish stall welcomed its first customer, followed by the second, and the third. Master and apprentice Jin Jianghai and Bei Bitang simultaneously attacked, and for a moment, silver and blood flew everywhere.
Bei Bitang was busy removing the gills of a fish. When she heard someone calling her, she wiped the sweat from her face with her shoulder and looked up.
Feng Jiaqing stood before her, smiling broadly, carrying a basket of vegetables. Since she first saw Feng Jiaqing buying fish at the fish stall, Bei Bitang had seen her several times at the small market, but neither of them had ever said hello.
What was the matter this time? Bei Bitang was puzzled, but she quickly put on a smile.
To avoid being scolded by her elder sister when she returned, Bei Bitang smiled and said, "Chairman Feng, are you here to buy some fish?"
A hint of dissatisfaction flashed across Feng Jiaqing's eyes. She raised her hand, patted He Dafei's shoulder, and said with a smile, "Yes, Bitang, my son is free today to accompany me to the small vegetable market to buy vegetables."
The smile on Bei Bitang's lips froze for a moment, and the uncomfortable gaze from the man in the attic that evening suddenly emerged in her mind.
She did not follow Feng Jiaqing's words, looked at her son, or say a few polite words like "your son is so filial and thoughtful."
Bei Bitang looked at the customer at the front of the line and asked loudly, "What kind of fish do you want?"
Bei Bitang ignored them, and Feng Jiaqing stopped interrupting her while she was working, so Bei Bitang mistakenly thought they had left.
After this group of customers left with the fish, only Feng Jiaqing and He Dafei were left standing in front of the stall. Bei Bitang couldn't ignore them even if she wanted to.
In terms of patience and insight, Bei Bitang, at that time, was only a 19-year-old Shikumen girl, and could not compare with Feng Jiaqing, who was over 50 years old and had been involved in the factory union for more than 30 years.
Bei Bitang just looked at Feng Jiaqing and said, "What do you two want to buy?"
Feng Jiaqing didn't rush to answer. She smiled and asked, "Bitang, this salary is hard to come by, right?"
Her voice was gentle, as if she was an elder close to Bei Bitang.
But Bei Bitang only felt that Feng Jiaqing was like a leader who was condescendingly comforting his subordinates.
This kind of person is really annoying. Mom is right. Bei Bitang thought to herself, she pulled the corner of her mouth and said perfunctorily, "Not bad."
Feng Jiaqing's mouth curled up even wider as she said, "Bitang, your mother and I are so close, and you're sensible and well-loved. If you encounter any difficulties at work in the future, you can talk to your aunt and she'll give you some advice."
Bei Bitang gave a quick fake smile and said, "Chairman Feng is busy with work, so I won't bother you. My master and colleagues are very nice, so the work won't be difficult."
The smile on Feng Jiaqing's face looked like it was carved out of a bronze statue. She said, "Bitang, don't be embarrassed. We are all neighbors, and we will live together for decades to come."
Decades? Did Feng Jiaqing and her family find the living environment in the Shikumen house good? Did they not plan to move back to the cadre building in the factory?
Thinking of He Dafei, Bei Bitang felt inexplicably annoyed, and she didn't say anything.
Feng Jiaqing continued, "Bitang, Auntie wants to buy a steamed sea bass. Pick one for Auntie. Auntie trusts you."
As soon as he finished speaking, He Dafei, who had been silent all the time, snatched the basket of vegetables from Feng Jiaqing's hand. Then he touched his hair, stood to the front, and handed the basket of vegetables to Bei Bitang with a red face.
Feng Jiaqing looked at him with a smile on her face, and seemed a little proud, as if her son was going to stand on the podium at a commendation ceremony.
Bei Bitang didn't take it. She bent down and fished out the nearest sea bass, weighed it, and asked with lowered eyes, "Chairman Feng, do you want to kill it?"
Feng Jiaqing deliberately did not answer, giving the opportunity to talk to Bei Bitang to her son.
After a long while, He Dafei stammered, "No... no, kill."
He Dafei was showing off his skills, and Feng Jiaqing quickly tried to make amends for her son, saying, "Bitang, Dafei isn't usually like this. He's very talkative and makes his grandmother laugh. He's a very honest man and rarely plays tricks with girls. He was so shy talking to a beautiful girl like you that he was speechless."
Bei Bitang felt more and more that what Feng Jiaqing said was extremely strange.
She showed no reaction on her face. With her eyes downcast, she threw the sea bass into the basket, took the banknotes from Feng Jiaqing's hand, and said quickly, "Goodbye, both of you."
He Dafei walked to Feng Jiaqing unhappily. Feng Jiaqing smiled at him and comforted her son.
Then she said to Bei Bitang, "Bitang, I heard your mom said you really like steamed sea bass. Why don't you come to your aunt's house for dinner tonight?"
Bei Bitang's bad premonition grew stronger and stronger. She put on a serious face and refused, saying, "Chairman Feng, you and I are not related, this is not appropriate."
He Dafei moved his swollen purple mouth and wanted to say something, but Feng Jiaqing stopped him with her eyes.
Feng Jiaqing's face always had a smile on it. She said softly, "That can only be done next time. We'll be leaving first. Bitang, you go ahead and get busy."
Seeing the two of them leave, Bei Bitang finally breathed a sigh of relief.
At this time, an unmarried young man who was selling ducks next door came over and said, "Comrade Bei, let's go to the boiler room to heat up some food."
Bei Bitang looked at the other person's expression and said with a hint of refusal, "Comrade Qian, you go first. I'll wait and see if anyone comes to buy fish."
The unmarried young man wanted to say, "I'll wait a little longer." But when he saw Bei Bitang's cold and indifferent look, he turned away angrily without saying anything.
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