194 Little bastard
It wasn't until late January, with the Spring Festival just around the corner, that Dingxiang finally carried her quilts and clothes home to prepare for the New Year.
Ding Laoda and Ding Da Sao would boast to everyone they met: "Oh dear, our Dingxiang is going to work at the post office. It's closer to her workplace, so it's more convenient for her to live at home."
The most envious couple were Mr. and Mrs. Xu, who lived in the same courtyard.
They were all of the same generation, with unremarkable jobs and mediocre sons, but Ding, the eldest son, had managed to raise a daughter who went on to become a college graduate and later got a job at the post office, reportedly enjoying cadre benefits. Suddenly, they felt resentful.
Old Master Xu suppressed his sourness and deliberately brought up Ding Xianguang, "Speaking of which, there's still no news about your Xianguang? If he gets caught, he'll probably be executed, right? It would have been better if he hadn't run away. His uncle committed such a serious crime and wasn't executed back then, but who knows now..."
And so, in courtyard number three, the Xu family and the Ding family started hurling insults at each other.
Dingxiang, who had just returned from grocery shopping, frowned as she heard the commotion in the courtyard. Neighbors from the alley were crowding at the gate to watch the excitement. She stood outside the courtyard, with no desire to go in.
Suddenly, Aunt Bai made two whooshing sounds, waved to her, and called her into courtyard number two. She covered her mouth with her hand and said a lot of things.
Dingxiang grew increasingly distressed as she listened. She only knew that her parents wanted to introduce her to a potential partner, but if Aunt Bai hadn't mentioned it, she wouldn't have known that her parents actually wanted to find her a partner from a neighborhood in the alley.
Her parents used to think that once she got a job and was allocated an apartment, they would live with her.
It's likely that her parents know it's becoming increasingly difficult for companies to allocate housing these days. They know that even college graduates aren't guaranteed housing right after graduation. Most companies only allocate housing after marriage. Unmarried people can apply for company dormitories, but they have to live with other people and can't bring their spouses.
The other older women all chimed in, advising her to take a long-term view.
Especially Aunt Bai, who said, "If a woman has a good job, finding a partner is easy, isn't it? Three-legged bastards are hard to find, but two-legged men are everywhere."
The words may be rough, but the principle is sound.
Dingxiang kept nodding while trying not to laugh, completely oblivious to the aunties' nagging and meddling.
After listening to the advice of the older women, I had just come out of the No. 2 courtyard when I ran into Guan Yuehua, who was bringing Gu Yu back.
Dingxiang was momentarily dazed.
When she was little, she hoped that when she grew up she would be a beautiful girl like Aunt Yuehua, who never lacked new clothes and shoes.
When she gets older, I hope she can be like Aunt Yuehua, get into university, and be assigned to a good company in the future.
When she came home this morning, her parents kept nagging her, saying that she was almost twenty-four and if she didn't find a boyfriend soon, it would be too late and she wouldn't be able to find a good one.
But looking at Aunt Yuehua, who was already over thirty, she felt that Yuehua's wonderful life was just beginning. And Aunt Sitian, who got married at thirty, wasn't necessarily too late or unable to find someone better.
Noticing someone staring at her, Guan Yuehua looked up and stared for a few seconds before saying with some surprise, "Dingxiang? I almost didn't recognize you."
It's true what they say, a girl changes a lot as she grows up. The little girl who used to be inconspicuous even standing in the middle of a crowd has become a radiant young woman after three and a half years of university.
Dingxiang smiled shyly, pursing her lips.
"You're graduating soon, right? Have you been assigned a job yet?"
Upon learning that Dingxiang had been assigned to the post office, Guan Yuehua offered her congratulations.
Given the age difference between them and the fact that they weren't very familiar with each other, Guan Yuehua didn't chat any further.
When she entered the No. 3 courtyard, she overheard Sister-in-law Ding saying with her hands tucked in her pockets that she wanted to introduce Dingxiang to a good match.
Guan Yuehua gave Ding Dasao a cold look. "Arranging marriages without regard to women's wishes is illegal. If you want to get shot, then introduce two more people to your husbands. You two can go down to the underworld and discuss with your ancestors which one is better."
Courtyard No. 3 suddenly became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Ding Laoda and Ding Dasao felt like they had been choked and wanted to argue, but Guan Yuehua was too lazy to say anything more to them and just walked away.
Ding Laoda and his wife dared not mention the matter of introducing potential partners again, for fear of being arrested and shot.
It's all thanks to the recent crackdown that was so effective in deterring people. Truckloads of criminals were brought out, lined up in rows, and the public could watch as these people were shot.
Dingxiang never expected this! Now she was no longer frowning, and happily helped her second sister-in-law prepare for the New Year. She even ate an extra half bowl of rice that day.
Aunt Yuehua is as majestic as ever!
"Look at Er Ya, she's really different after going to university. I never realized she was so pretty..."
Before the old man could finish speaking, the old woman next to him interrupted him, "What 'Er Ya'? Her name is Ding Xiang!"
"Girls change a lot as they grow up, what's so strange about that? Yuehe only grew up later too, right? If we're talking about girls who are pretty from childhood to adulthood, then it has to be Yuehua and Xu Xiaomei... Oh my, here they come."
"Is your younger sister bringing her child back to visit her parents?"
Xu Xiaomei snorted irritably, "I'm back to collect my debt!"
The elderly men and women exchanged glances, then got up and followed. They watched as Xu Xiaomei cornered the Xu family in the house, demanding that they return the money, or she would report them to the police and have her nephew arrested.
Aunt Xie clicked her tongue and shook her head. Whether it was Guan Yuehua or Xu Xiaomei, they were always talking about breaking the law and reporting to the police. They were like two firecrackers.
But there are still some differences. Guan Yuehua is aggressive both at home and outside, while Xu Xiaomei only dares to be a bully at home.
"It's really lively."
Before Guan Yuehe had even finished preparing all the New Year's goods, she listened to all the interesting things happening in the alley.
However, she didn't have time to listen to gossip. As the end of the year approached, both she and Lin Yiku were busy. On their rare days off, they both had to go out to buy things for the New Year.
"Hey! What are you two doing hoarding liquor? Is it for the boss?" Guan Canghai came over to help repair the wooden door of the cellar and was puzzled when he saw Guan Yuehe carrying a case of Moutai liquor into the house.
In this small family, it's his daughter who only remembers to have a drink during holidays and festivals. She doesn't like to drink because she remembers the bitter past. She doesn't drink normally either, saying she's afraid it will interfere with her work.
A person probably doesn't drink more than two bottles a year, so why hoard so much alcohol at home?
Guan Yuehe quickly corrected her, "Don't talk nonsense. Neither of us was thinking of giving gifts to the leaders."
But when a friend or colleague you have a good relationship with is having a wedding and you don't know what to give as a gift, bringing a bottle of wine is always a safe bet.
Most importantly, it's a hobby of hers. With other things, she's afraid they'll expire and become unusable, or they'll lose value over time. But wine doesn't have that problem; it won't spoil.
"I've done my research, and this year's wine is a bit more expensive than last year's."
Guan Canghai still didn't understand, "Why are you researching this?"
"I'm just bored."
Guan Canghai: "......"
She leaves early and returns late every day; it would be strange if she had nothing to do.
Guan Yuehe urged him to hurry up and repair the wooden door, then change into old clothes and do a thorough cleaning of the house.
Half an hour later, Guan Yuehe swept up a bunch of tin frogs from every corner of her house.
"Lin Ting! You little bastard, do you still want your tin frog?"
Lin ran back from the house across the street, exclaiming as if he had discovered a treasure, and happily went to pick up the tin frogs and put them away.
But Guan Yuehe knew that these tin frogs would soon be hidden away in various corners of the house by Lin Ting.
"Guan Yuehe, come out and get the letter!"
"Me, me, me!" Lin Ting, with her sharp ears, rushed out to get the letter.
The mailman was an old acquaintance; seeing her come out, he deliberately teased her, "Are you Guan Yuehe?"
"I am Lin Ting." Lin Ting stretched out her hand, but the mailman still didn't give her the letter. "When you can write, you can come and help your mother collect the mail."
Just as Guan Yuehe finished putting away the letter, she saw a group of young people rushing out of the house, each of them dressed in bright and stylish clothes.
Several familiar faces were among them: Zhou Baoning, Tingting, Jinhua, Southwest...
Where are you going?
"We're going to perform a show representing the factory's children, and we're on our way to the factory's auditorium to rehearse. Sister Yuehe, come watch our performance!"
Watching the group of young people ride off like a gust of wind, Guan Yuehe smiled and waved. Just as she was about to take her daughter home, she saw Zhang Quanbin also pushing his motorcycle out the door, muttering anxiously, "He just left like that, without even waiting for me."
Guan Yuehe was surprised, "Why are you getting involved when these young people are putting on a show?"
Zhang Quanbin's face turned red with anger. "I'm not that old!"
Guan Yuehe said "oh" and called Lin Ting to go home.
"Mom, lift her up." Lin Ting refused to move, so Guan Yuehe had no choice but to grab her by the back of her collar and carry her back.
—
"Are you buying fireworks again this year?"
"Sure, are you buying?"
"Of course we have to buy it. We only celebrate Chinese New Year once a year, so we have to make it a big celebration."
Guan Yuehe spent last year's Spring Festival abroad, and she especially missed the fireworks that lasted for a short while during the Spring Festival.
When I heard my neighbors talking about fireworks this year, I slapped my forehead and realized that I had actually forgotten about fireworks.
"Lin Ting, Mom is going out to buy fireworks, do you want to come?"
"What are fireworks?" Lin Ting was happily eating fried meatballs at her grandma's house when she heard her mother call out, so she poked her little head out.
"It looks nice, but you can't eat it." Guan Yuehe asked again if she wanted to go or not.
Lin Ting didn't have time to answer, nodding as she ate the fried meatballs. Guan Yuehe didn't rush her either, picked up her chopsticks and ate two as well. Only after Lin Ting finished eating did she help her put on her clothes and go out.
"It's cold outside, come back early after you've finished shopping," Aunt Fang reminded her as she followed them out.
"knew."
The supply and marketing cooperatives and state-run stores outside were packed with people, and the markets that were temporarily opened for the Spring Festival were even more bustling.
To make sure Lin Ting could see clearly, Guan Yuehe put her on her shoulders and led her step by step into the crowd.
Lin Ting was overjoyed. Whether she went out with her father or her mother, she could sit high up and have a clear view of all the goods on the counter.
Nobody told her that Chinese New Year is so much fun!
—
As Guan Yuehe walked back, she carried fireworks in one hand and occasionally lifted Lin Ting up with the other.
Lin Yiku rode his motorcycle home and saw the mother and daughter from afar. Half of Changhu Street was filled with Lin Ting's cheerful laughter.
Before he could ride his bike up and call out to anyone, Lin Ting turned around and called out to his father. Guan Yuehe also looked over at this moment, pulled off the scarf that was covering half of her face, and smiled at him with her eyes crinkling.
The family of three didn't go home immediately, but instead turned back towards the state-run store. This time, Guan Yuehe had help, making the squeeze much smoother.
"Comrade, you've worked hard. Could you get me that canned fish, and two packets of the new pastries? Oh, I want the new ones. Thank you so much! You're truly a good comrade who wholeheartedly serves the people!"
The sales clerk was overwhelmed by her string of flattering words. Seeing that she was always smiling, he suppressed his anger and turned to get her the newly released pastry.
Guan Yuehe led Lin Yiku and Lin Tingzong out of the state-run store with satisfaction.
"This year is definitely going to be a good year!"
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