“I submitted my marriage application before, and when the group leader found out I was bringing my family, he said he would treat us to a meal at the canteen.”
Please? Go to the cafeteria?
"Uh, is there a rule here that you can't treat others?"
His simple thoughts were written all over his face; Qin Qinghuai didn't even need to guess.
"There's no such thing as inviting guests. It's just like when we build a new house and warmly welcome guests in the countryside. We only invite close relatives and friends."
You're not familiar with this place, and I'm not much better off. The only one I'm somewhat familiar with is Lin Tuan, since we're partners and spend all our time together. We're getting along quite well now.
However, his family is a bit special.
Qin Qinghuai paused for a moment,
"He only has two family members: his elderly father who has a broken leg, and his four-year-old son, or rather, his five-year-old son now."
His hometown is in the mountains, where it's inconvenient to get in and out. In winter, the mountains are truly blocked by heavy snow.
Last winter's snow disaster lasted three whole days before Brother Chao and his team were able to clear a road to get in and carry out rescues. Most of the houses in the village were mud-brick and thatched houses, and his house was also crushed. His elderly mother and sister-in-law did not survive.
The old man was saved, but he only managed to keep one leg, and his health is reportedly very poor now.
The child was shielded beneath them and was unharmed, but it is said that the child has stopped speaking since then.
Neither cry nor laugh.
They'll eat if given food, and won't complain even if they're stuffed; they won't ask for food if not given any.
He doesn't say a word even when he's bullied by other kids.
I've only seen him twice in the month or so I've been here. Once he was standing blankly in the courtyard, and the other time Lin Tuan was holding him while he ate in the cafeteria. The child was clean and tidy, but he seemed listless and unresponsive to his surroundings.
After a brief thought,
"The child may be experiencing stress-induced autism,"
The term "autism" was quite new at this time. Qin Qinghuai smiled.
"You even know that? That's impressive."
My first reaction was the same. However, there's a shortage of psychologists right now, and it's unlikely that the higher-ups would assign one just for a family member.
"Um,"
She simply nodded in agreement. She had only had basic exposure to psychology, but she had seen quite a few case studies.
"Furthermore, I don't think psychologists will be very effective. I'm not very familiar with this field. However, I always feel that since it may be caused by the suffering of family members, it means that family members are very important to the child. Therefore, the companionship and warmth of family members should be helpful."
Qin Qinghuai leaned back.
"We've never even met, so how come you seem to know this child so well?"
"Some pains have something in common; it's just that few people understand them."
"yes,"
Qin Qinghuai sighed.
"There are some rumors circulating in the family compound here, saying things like the child is stupid. Lin Tuan has a bad temper and gets very angry every time, but he is too embarrassed to argue with the family members, so he can only scold the people below him."
Zheng Aiguo has been here for several years. He said that in the past, the old man would sometimes take the children out for a walk. There were also a few children in the family compound, so they could keep each other company.
Now, the father and son are confined to the yard almost all day. Apart from the guard who brings them food, the yard is eerily quiet from morning till night—it's so quiet it's frightening.
After a moment of silence, Jian Dan finally asked,
"So what are you thinking? Knowing his family situation, won't it be difficult for him to come over alone?"
If I invite family members as well, they'll probably feel uncomfortable.
But as you said, he's just an acquaintance of ours, and we just got married and moved here. It wouldn't be appropriate not to invite him, would it?"
In terms of interpersonal relationships, Jian Dan has always respected other people's opinions.
Qin Huaiqing sighed softly.
"Seeing him makes me almost afraid to be happy."
"Life is lived, not compared."
Anyway, you said you're very familiar with him. Why don't you find a day when you're not busy and have Lin Tuan, Qin Yi, and Zheng Aiguo, who are close to you, be around you? They must be very familiar with Lin Tuan too, right?
Let's just get together, and forget about inviting him to dinner. Let's just bring some things and have a get-together in his yard.
How about it?"
Qin Qinghuai's eyes lit up.
"you mean?"
"We don't need to bring anything too valuable. Just bring a little meat, some vegetables, and steamed buns. We also have a few frozen fish inside, so bring those too."
They probably have some vegetables stored up at home, right? Let them take some cabbage and potatoes.
I'll bring some barbecue seasoning. You guys make a wire mesh, and let's have a barbecue in his yard, shall we?
Barbecue isn't filling enough, so we can stew two fish with lots of other vegetables and less meat. That way, it's all ordinary stuff, and they won't feel embarrassed, right?
"Exactly, won't it sound bad if this gets out?"
Qin Qinghuai thought for a moment, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.
"You know what, it's actually pretty good."
"Okay, let's get the meat and fish. I'll have Qin Yi and Zheng Aiguo go to the canteen and get some cornbread."
"No need. Let them have their cornmeal. We can stick some flatbread around the edge of the pot. It's not expensive, but it'll fill them up. If they pay for it, they'll feel more at ease eating it."
Qin Qinghuai clapped his hands,
"Great, you just handed in the meat. The cafeteria is serving meat tonight too, so we can just take the meat without drawing attention."
There's a river not far ahead. People occasionally go there to dig holes and catch fish in the winter, so that's easy to say.
That little rascal was clamoring for meat all morning, practically begging to come over for a free meal.
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