Chapter 10 Chapter 10
Grandpa Bai strode over, patted his grandson on the shoulder, and felt that he was still strong and powerful, so he smiled with satisfaction.
But when she saw the huge bags in his hands, her face darkened, and she raised her eyebrows and said unhappily, "What did you buy this time? I've told you so many times, we have everything at home, don't spend money recklessly."
"That's right. You are young now, so you should earn more and save more. You can come back whenever you want. There is no need to buy these things. Grandpa and grandma all know how filial you are." Grandma Bai followed.
The two old people kept talking, and Bai He couldn't help but smile. He really missed them a lot when he was away from home.
He would nod his head from time to time to express his approval or to give sincere assurances. But words are one thing and actions are another.
The two old men were both people who loved their grandson, and after a few words, Grandpa Bai couldn't help but pull Bai He to the living room and said, "It just so happens that I brewed a new batch of wine the day before yesterday. Can you have a few drinks with me?"
Grandpa Bai was good in every way except for his drinking habit. When he was young and powerful, he could drink several kilograms of alcohol in one sitting. To this day, he is still known as a drunkard in the village. But after drinking so much that he ended up in the hospital, Grandpa Bai no longer dared to drink so recklessly.
Especially when you get older, you are afraid that you will develop some health problems from eating too much and become a burden to young people.
However, his addiction to alcohol, instilled in him by his father since childhood, was ingrained in him, and he couldn't quit. Under his family's control, Grandpa Bai could only drink a small glass of alcohol before meals to satisfy his cravings.
"Okay." Bai He agreed immediately.
Grandpa Bai loved wine, but his two sons were not good drinkers, so he often drank alone at home. It was not until his grandson Bai He inherited his drinking ability that he finally had a drinking companion at home.
Bai He doesn't usually talk about it, but when he's outside he'll pay special attention to some rare or unusual wines.
For example, this time he came back, he brought two bottles of medicinal wine for Grandpa Bai. It was quite expensive, but of course the effect was amazing. It can remove dampness and treat bone pain. Drinking a glass before bed will make your whole body feel warm.
"Grandpa, I bought this medicinal wine from a Chinese medicine practitioner. If you drink a little before bed, your knee pain should be better. Grandma, you can drink it too."
Before Grandpa Bai could reply, Grandma Bai couldn't help but complain, "You're still buying wine for your grandfather. The wine he brewed just two days ago cost him thousands of yuan."
Grandma Bai's chanting skills were amazing. Grandpa Bai shook his head after hearing it. He changed the subject repeatedly, "Bai He is already here. Let's go eat first."
Nothing is more important than eating, Grandma Bai really doesn’t need to say more.
When I walked into the living room, my uncle was sitting at a seat next to the dining table and my aunt was eating.
Seeing this, Bai He said with some disapproval: "Uncle, you don't have to wait for me to eat together. Just leave some food for me." People in the countryside have to work during the day and basically have breakfast at seven o'clock.
"It's a buffet! Eat one at seven and one at nine. You don't have to work today, so it's okay to eat later." Grandpa Bai glared at Bai He.
The others followed suit.
"sit down."
Rural labor requires physical effort, so most families eat breakfast in the morning. Having oil as a base prevents sluggish hands and feet from getting tired while working. Therefore, there's no particular emphasis on a light breakfast. My aunt-in-law stir-fried a large pot of twice-cooked pork and chili chicken, and also cut up a plate of beef she'd braised herself. The only vegetable was cabbage from her own garden. Even this cabbage was stir-fried in lard, making it shiny and crispy.
In addition to white rice, the staple food also comes with a bowl of white, soft and fluffy buns. The buns are not big, only half the size of an adult's fist. The bun skin is very thin, and some parts have been soaked with oil. You can vaguely see the plump meat filling inside, which is really tempting.
"Don't just stare, eat quickly. You like buns, and these are made by your grandma this morning. I've frozen the others in the refrigerator. You can take them home later and have them as a midnight snack when you're hungry."
As she spoke, my aunt picked up a bun and took a big bite. The aroma of meat and green onions filled the air, and my aunt's eyes narrowed in enjoyment.
"Only when you come back can we eat the buns your grandma made."
The Bai family were all from the south, and none of them knew how to make pastries. But Grandma Bai, a village chef in her youth, not only knew how to make pastries but also how to make stuffing, making the children drool over it. However, making baozi (stuffed buns) required kneading, proofing, and mixing the filling, and as she aged, Grandma Bai disliked the process. Whenever her daughter-in-law and son made suggestions, she was often rudely rejected.
However, it is said that generations apart are close to each other, so every time Bai He comes back, Grandma Bai will make preparations early.
"My grandma loves me the most." Bai He looked at Grandma Bai opposite him with a smile.
Grandma Bai was a rather old-fashioned and feudal old lady. Faced with her grandson's sweet talk, she couldn't help but glare at him at first. But as she lowered her head to eat, she couldn't help but smile, revealing her missing teeth.
During dinner, the family couldn't help but discuss the recent severe pneumonia epidemic. Lin City, where the outbreak first occurred, has now been completely locked down. Cases have been reported across the country, and the virus's terrifying infectiousness and harmful effects are terrifying.
The state has strict supervision and control. Even if there is no outbreak in Gaolin City for the time being, anyone who enters a public area without wearing a mask will be warned and fined.
"It's a good thing you came back first. Your grandma would have called you in two days." Grandpa Bai clinked his glasses with his grandson and took a sip of wine happily.
Grandma Bai glared at Grandpa Bai and said, "Haven't you seen the news about how serious the epidemic is right now? There are already over a hundred cases of infection in Qing City. How can I feel at ease if Bai He stays there alone?"
"Bai He, don't go to Qing City for the time being. Stay home." The horror of the virus has now become fully apparent. Lin City's current situation can be seen on some platforms. The mortality rate is extremely high. The hospital is like a cemetery. While crematorium vehicles rumble in and out non-stop, the hospital's beds and aisles are almost entirely filled with cold, uncarried bodies. The sick and the recently deceased are sharing the same space.
Grandma Bai has been missing her grandchildren who are away from home lately. She said, "I not only want to beat Bai He, I also want to call Bai Yu back."
Grandpa Bai shook his head repeatedly after hearing this.
"Dad, don't laugh at Mom. I'm afraid this year's epidemic is even more terrifying than SARS ten years ago. Bai Chen called me a while ago and said that all the troops had to return to their hometowns and be on standby. Bai He made the right decision by returning this time." It was Uncle Bai who spoke. Bai Chen was Uncle Bai's son. He had joined the army after graduating from high school and had been in the army for over a decade.
"That's right, you see, masks are hard to come by right now. If the government hadn't distributed masks to every household, I'm afraid we wouldn't be able to leave the house."
"Mom is right. I have to call Sister Yu. Doesn't she happen to have a boyfriend? I should ask her to bring him back to see him."
The meal passed in conversation. Grandma Bai felt sorry for Bai He, who was working alone outside, and kept giving him food and buns. Bai He couldn't refuse the old lady's kindness, and in the end, Bai He undoubtedly ate too much.
Before Bai He could get up, his aunt snatched the bowl from his hand and handed him a bowl of fruit. It contained pineapple cut into small pieces, bright yellow, and sprinkled with a layer of white sugar.
Bai He sat lazily on the sofa, his mouth puffed out, and his usually sleepy eyes now revealed a sense of comfort like cat ears.
"Remember to come here for dinner at twelve o'clock. Your aunt bought pork belly this morning, and we'll have braised pork for lunch today." Uncle Bai instructed Bai He as he went out carrying a load of food.
Bai He was placed in Bai Tiancheng’s home by his wife just after he learned to walk. But after living together for a long time, Bai He could be said to be their second son.
"Uncle, I won't be eating at home today. I have to go to the hospital."
The sun was radiating its light and heat with a vengeance, the brightness blinding the eyes. The fan overhead was whirring, and the heat in the air was suffocating.
Uncle Bai paused on his way out and turned back to look at Bai He with a look of worry.
"Hey! It's nothing. I'm in good condition now. Just a checkup as usual." Bai waved at him as if nothing had happened, grinning and revealing his neat white teeth.
Look! What a sunny and handsome boy.
But Uncle Bai felt extremely sad and uncomfortable, his heart felt like it was lying in a pile of needles, and it was aching.
Uncle Bai really loves this child. In the past, Bai He was so smart and sensible, and the family had countless awards and medals. He was his younger brother and the pride of their Bai family.
But how could I get such a disease?
Uncle Bai hated the damn Guo Wenjuan and also blamed his own short-lived brother.
If he hadn't received a notice from the mental hospital demanding payment a few years ago, and if his son hadn't been at home, he wouldn't have known that his nephew, who should have been studying at school, was sent to a mental hospital by his mother.
He would never forget seeing Bai He in the mental hospital. He was tied to the bed by the doctors and nurses without any dignity. He was over 5 feet tall but weighed less than 100 kilograms. There was no flesh on his body, only skin covering his bones.
Thinking of the scene at that time, even Uncle Bai, a grown man, couldn't help but feel a lump in his throat.
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