Chapter Twenty-Six: Heartbreaking
Separated by a wall, Sun Yaozu listened to the light, cheerful female voice, unsure of what to feel. He hadn't realized she could be so gentle and graceful. Sitting there waiting for her meal, she even made a request. He was going to spend his whole life with her; how could he not know she loved sour soup dumplings?
"Yaozu, you chop the filling so we can prepare things for the New Year."
"Dad, how could I know how?"
"If you don't know how, then learn," the old man said fiercely. "I don't believe we two won't get through this New Year."
Sun Yaozu was forced into this task; the family of four had less than three pounds of meat in total, and he chopped off more than half of it. Because he didn't know how to prepare it, he started chopping it into large chunks, which took quite a bit of effort.
"Dad, what else do we need to add after we've chopped the meat?"
"How would I know? Go ask your mother."
"Are you sure my mother's cooking skills are up to par?"
"Whether it works or not, we have to get through this year. I don't believe we can be thrown into the new year."
The mother's cooking is barely edible, but these past few days, the father and son's cooking has been either burnt or undercooked. The porridge is undercooked, and the beans are so hard they're gritty. They have absolutely no idea how to knead dough, and they've been eating a pot of mushy porridge for two days straight, leaving the three of them with dazed and listless expressions.
"Grate the radish into shreds, blanch it, and soak it in cold water for two hours. Squeeze out the water and chop it together with the meat. Oh, and scallions too. Remember to add salt and Sichuan peppercorn powder, and mix it with the flour."
"Why is it so complicated?" Sun Yaozu exclaimed, not expecting that eating dumplings would be so much trouble. And this is just the filling. "Do we also need to knead the dough, divide it into portions, and wrap them up?"
"Oh." Sun's mother looked distressed. "You've suffered, my son. If you're like this, bring me the cutting board, I'll knead the dough."
Although his mother was kneading the dough, making dumplings still kept them busy from morning till night. The filling he chopped was indescribably bad; it tasted bitter and astringent, with a hint of earthiness, the fishy smell of radish, and the fishy smell of meat.
“This…” Mr. Sun, always picky, put down his chopsticks after eating one piece. “You’ve wasted more than two pounds of meat.”
Sun Yaozu was also annoyed and unhappy. "I can't cook. A gentleman keeps away from the kitchen, isn't that what you said? Meng Xi was here, but you wouldn't let me go pick her up."
"Go?" Mr. Sun trembled with anger, pointing to the door. "Go! Go and apologize to her, humbling yourself. If she rides on your head like that, see how you'll live in the future!"
Even Sun's mother thought the dumplings were awful. Although hers weren't good either, these were on a whole new level of awfulness. Things weren't like before; it wasn't easy to have dumplings like this even once a year. And on such a rare occasion, they were completely ruined.
"Alright." Seeing that the father and son were arguing and not saying anything, she quickly tried to smooth things over. "If you drag this out any longer, she won't be able to hold on for much longer. As long as you absolutely refuse to agree to a divorce, she can't leave. She can't stay at her parents' home, so she'll have to come back."
Sun Yaozu sighed; what his mother said seemed to make sense. Shu Yao could use the situation to claim that the child bride was unwilling and that the government would arrange a divorce, but Meng Xi had married willingly. As long as he didn't divorce her, she couldn't leave.
Having figured things out, I accepted the unpalatable dumplings. The New Year passed bleakly, and I couldn't sleep at night. Next door, the Su family's house was filled with laughter and chatter; I often heard their two little ones giggling or calling for their parents.
He pulled the blanket over his head, not wanting to hear such happy sounds. It was as if he suddenly remembered that he had once been just as happy.
With his children by his side and his beloved wife in his arms—oh wait, I mean, his beloved wife in the kitchen. Shu Yao is an exceptionally skilled cook; she can even make ordinary whole grains taste delicious.
Shu Yao was unaware that someone missed her cooking skills; she hadn't stepped into the kitchen in a long time. It seemed that ever since her third aunt came, she hadn't had to worry about such chores anymore. Before, when it was just the two of them, she would do housework after getting off work early, even though Su Xiangdong had repeatedly told her not to, she still couldn't stay idle.
Now that his third aunt is here, she comes back to stay home and take care of the children. The laundry, cooking, and everything else are done by his third aunt and Su Xiangdong. Just before the New Year, he quickly washed all the dirty clothes he had taken off, and since the weather outside was bad, he brought them all home to dry by the stove.
He carefully laid out his son and daughter's little clothes and socks. He hung her clothes on hangers, shaking each piece smooth and carefully folding them up. Shu Yao had worried he wouldn't know how, but he turned out to be quite good at housework.
"I've been alone for so many years, how could I not know these things?"
He said it with a smile, and she laughed along, unsure what to say. Hanging clothes to dry seemed like such a simple task, but she had told Sun Yaozu about it countless times, and he never seemed to know how. Looking back now, perhaps it wasn't that he couldn't, but that he simply didn't want to. If he had the will, how could he not know how to do something so small?
The two children saw their father hanging up the clothes and reached out to grab them, but Shuyao picked them up and put them on the kang (a heated brick bed). "No. Sit still, Mommy will make you something delicious."
It was New Year's Eve, and Auntie San came in after cleaning the kitchen. This place still retains the custom that one shouldn't spend the New Year at their daughter's house, nor should a daughter stay at her parents' house, so Uncle San went to his son's house for the New Year. Auntie San didn't go anywhere, and neither of her sons came to pick her up.
The son she raised didn't even mention taking her back home for the New Year, which left Auntie feeling uneasy. Sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed), she looked at her two children with eyes full of tenderness and sorrow.
"Third Aunt, don't be sad. You can live with us from now on, and Xiangdong and I will take care of you in your old age."
What she didn't hear from her daughter-in-law, she heard from her niece-in-law. She did the same work—taking care of the children and doing housework. But her daughter-in-law often criticized her, saying she was no good in this way or that way. But her niece-in-law never said a word of complaint; she always cooked whatever was made and ate it, never uttering a single word of dissatisfaction.
"That won't do." She sighed silently, feeling uncertain. She was getting old, but had no pension or land security. She could still find work in the countryside, but there was nowhere to go in the city. She relied on her children for support, but they all saw her as a burden.
"The old man should still have some savings, but I don't know if it's enough for his retirement. I can't give it all to my son at once; he needs to keep some money while he's still alive."
"Third Aunt," Su Xiangdong said as he came in, "Don't worry, you can stay here with me. You can help us take care of the children now, and we'll take care of you in your old age."
Shu Yao nodded. Her third aunt was such a kind old woman, and she was happy to live under the same roof with her. "Third Aunt, don't worry. Starting next year, we'll give you six yuan a month. It'll be your payment for helping take care of the children. But you can't tell anyone else, or you'll be accused of something."
"No, no, I don't want the money. I can still help you take care of your children, I can still do it now." Auntie San said, quickly wiping away her tears. "I trust you, Auntie San. If I can't work anymore, just give me some food to eat."
Shu Yao went over and hugged her. It's really tough being old. If she had a pension, it would be alright, but for someone like her who has no job and no pension, and who has encountered such children and such a man, it's no wonder she's full of worries.
"Third Aunt, don't be sad or worried. We promised to take care of you in your old age, and we will definitely keep our word. Don't worry, as long as we have food, you will never go hungry."
We still need to give her the money; my aunt has already helped a lot here. Giving her money will give her peace of mind, and it's not like she's getting free labor. As for the future, we'll take care of the old lady; it's just a matter of adding another pair of chopsticks.
In my memory, it was also he who helped cure my third aunt's illness. She then lived with him here for several years. Ten years later, Su Xiangdong was dismissed from his post and sent to a farm; I heard that my third aunt went with him. Their relationship was closer than that of mother and son.
The couple assured her that they would take care of her in her old age, which comforted her somewhat. They were both good people, kind and capable. She had a plan in mind: if she developed some kind of paralysis or other debilitating illness, she would end her own life. If she remained self-sufficient, the couple would certainly not let her go hungry.
"Sigh, I'm relieved to hear you say that." She knew that the two-year agreement was valid because her nephew genuinely needed the money, and also because she couldn't let the old man and her son extort her. "My money wasn't given for nothing; don't even think about getting involved."
Now, the two-year period is almost up. Even though they didn't come to pick her up for the New Year, they will come to take her away later. Both of her sons' families need their mother to work and take care of the children. But she doesn't want to go; she wants to stay here and live with her nephew's family.
Putting aside the fact that her nephew and his wife are easy to get along with and make her feel comfortable, she definitely can't go to her son's place for the sake of the future. Right now, they're fighting over her because they need her, but once they don't need her anymore, they'll definitely kick her out.
Hearing her nephew and his wife's promise, Auntie San finally smiled. After a lifetime together, who knew that in old age, her husband and son wouldn't be reliable? It was her nephew who made her feel at ease.
The Su family has few relatives, and Su Xiangdong has no relatives left on his mother's side. He also doesn't want to visit his father's relatives, so he didn't even consider visiting relatives during the Spring Festival.
"I'm going to wish a few leaders a Happy New Year, that's all."
"Okay." On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the two of them each dressed the child in new clothes. The little guy was very curious about the noises outside. The son couldn't wait to see what was going on outside. The sound of firecrackers, along with the banging of pots and drums, made him unable to sit still.
"Su Hexu, be good. How can Daddy dress you if you keep moving around like this? Be good, and Daddy will take you outside to see the world once you're dressed."
Compared to Su Hexu, who was twisting like a pretzel, Su Heyi was incredibly well-behaved. The little girl was quite brave; she wasn't afraid of the noise at all. She sat obediently as her mother dressed her, her big eyes filled with the same curiosity about what was happening outside.
"It's Chinese New Year! It's a big Chinese New Year! Yiyi and her brother have grown a year older this year, they're two years old now!" These days, people use the traditional Chinese age system (or lunar age), so the two children, who are less than a year old, are already considered two years old. The little one didn't seem to understand her mother's words, but she nodded and smiled at her.
"Good boy/girl." After dressing the two children, washing their faces, and putting on their hats, the couple each carried one of them out the door.
It was just getting light outside; they hadn't gotten up particularly early. The two little ones listened to the sounds of gongs, drums, and firecrackers all around, their eyes filled with excitement and confusion. Their big eyes seemed to be saying, "Why is today different from usual?"
Happy Chinese New Year!
Happy Chinese New Year!
People passing by would clasp their hands in greeting to wish them a Happy New Year. The couple would exchange auspicious words with them while teaching their two children how to do the same. The little ones were very happy; they couldn't babble out "New Year" yet, but they could say "hello," and they would clasp their hands in greeting to everyone they saw.
Two adorable little ones, dressed in red cotton-padded jackets and looking just like lucky dolls, greeted everyone with clasped hands in a New Year's greeting. Their festive and cute appearance melted the hearts of all the adults. The surrounding neighbors couldn't help but laugh and tease the children, some even bringing out candy from their houses for them in these times of scarcity.
"Oh my, they're so cute! Why are they so affectionate?"
"Yiyi, let Grandma hug you, okay?" Old Mrs. Xu, the neighbor, teased Heyi. The little one, who was smiling, immediately turned and hugged her father's neck when she saw Heyi reach out to hug her. Her big eyes rolled around, as if afraid someone would take her away.
"Haha," the old lady gently patted her little bottom. "How clever you are, you only want your dad, don't you want anyone else?"
"dad,"
The little one can now call out "Dad" very clearly, hugging his neck and calling out "Dad," showing her complete attachment to him. When she calls out, He Xu also calls out "Dad" along with her. The sight of his two children calling "Dad" together makes Su Xiangdong incredibly happy, and it also makes all the neighbors extremely envious.
"Look at Station Master Su, he's so happy he's practically snotting out of his nose."
"That's right, if I had such a beautiful pair of children, I would be incredibly beautiful too."
Which parent doesn't enjoy showing off their child? Hearing others praise their child makes them happier than winning an award themselves. For parents, this is the highest reward.
Sun Yaozu came out to set off firecrackers; according to custom, three shots were required at the main gate. He held three firecrackers in one hand and a lit cigarette in the other. Seeing the joyful laughter from the Su family's side, and hearing Su Xiangdong's two children calling him "Dad" repeatedly, his heart felt as if it were soaking in rice porridge.
The wet, slippery, sticky feeling made it hard for him to breathe, his gaze fixed on the father and his two sons. His hands were clenched into fists, and he subconsciously gritted his teeth.
It felt like being pricked deeply by fine needles, a dull, persistent pain spreading through her heart. Shu Yao had deceived everyone, including Su Xiangdong. That fool must have thought it really was his child, his affection written all over his face. But she couldn't fool him; it was his, Sun Yaozu's, child.
"dad,"
"dad,"
The two children's voices rose and fell, their innocent cries both adorable and tender. In his past life, they had melted his heart, but now each call felt like a sharp blade, piercing his soul. Although the children favored their mother, they were still his children, and they should call him Dad.
Su Xiangdong hadn't had enough of showing off his baby when Shu Yao dragged him home. "It's time to eat."
"Okay, okay, let's eat."
The Su family made dumplings with plenty of meat on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year—a classic winter filling in northern China: pork, scallions, and radish. Auntie Su was a skilled cook; her dumplings were both beautiful and delicious.
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