Fang Meixiang moved closer to Fang Damiao and asked, "Meixiang, it's been almost two years. Do you miss me?" Fang Damiao's voice was a little hoarse.
Fang Meixiang didn't respond, but instead pressed her body even closer.
Fang Damiao's heart was also ablaze with anger. "I'll spend the New Year with you at home." He had already taken off Fang Meixiang's clothes and pants.
Fang Damiao's house was old to begin with, and no one had lived there for the past two years; it was now inhabited by rats.
Although it had been cleaned, a musty smell still lingered in the air. The roof tiles must have been leaking, and the draft made the room even colder. The occasional scurrying of mice against the wall could be heard, and the wooden chest at the foot of the bed was cracked, revealing old clothes inside.
Fang Meixiang didn't care about any of this, as long as Fang Damiao was around. Even when Fang Damiao returned home, there was no place like their own humble abode, no matter how luxurious the place.
“Houses in big cities are different from ours. You don’t need to put a chamber pot in the house. There’s a white porcelain thing installed at the base of the wall. After you’re done urinating or defecating, you just press a switch, and the water rushes out and it’s all gone. It’s clean and convenient.” Fang Damiao said, his hand resting on Fang Meixiang’s back, as if he were already lying in such a room.
Fang Meixiang listened with great interest; she loved hearing everything Fang Damiao said.
“There are more opportunities to make money outside. When I get rich, we’ll build a house like this too. We won’t need to empty chamber pots. Just press a switch and all the urine and feces will be flushed away. With a house like this, Dongqiang will stay home and won’t want to go anywhere.”
The next morning, after a hot breakfast, Fang Damiao pushed out his old-fashioned bicycle. Fang Dongqiang hopped over and, before Fang Damiao could say anything, nimbly climbed onto the crossbar and gripped the handlebars tightly with his little hands.
After Fang Damiao sat on the bicycle, he braced one foot on the ground to secure it, and Fang Meixiang's mother helped Fang Meixiang onto the back seat.
"Meixiang, sit in the back and pull Da Miao's clothes up tight. Dongqiang, don't wander off in town. Stay with Dad and keep an eye on Mom," Fang Meixiang's mother instructed worriedly from the side.
"Got it." Fang Dongqiang crossed his two dangling feet.
"Sit still and make sure your feet are in the right place. You saw Xiao Liang get his feet caught last time." Fang Meixiang's mother held Fang Dongqiang's feet firmly with both hands to prevent him from swaying.
"Oh!" Fang Dongqiang immediately straightened his back, obediently put his feet in place, and dared not move again.
"Da Miao, there will be a lot of people on the streets during the New Year. Keep an eye on the two of them. Remind Dong Qiang not to let his feet swing out in front of him, or he might get his foot caught in the sand." Finally, Da Miao had to be given some instructions.
"Alright! I'll go see Meili later. I haven't met her daughter yet, so I should give her a red envelope."
"Alright, alright, we should give him something. Mei Li always brings Dong Qiang something every time she comes over." Fang Mei's mother's eyes lit up when she heard this, and she praised, "Da Miao, you're so thoughtful."
"Hehe, I remember how Meili Mei treated Dong Qiang."
After Fang Damiao settled in, he stepped on the pedal with his left foot and pushed hard on the ground with his right foot. The bike slid forward half a meter. He then pulled his right leg back and alternated between the pedals. The chain clicked softly, and the wheels rolled steadily forward along the road.
The wind blew through the bare branches, scattering a few dry leaves in the middle of the road. Occasionally, villagers on their way to the market would greet them with smiles from afar, "Da Miao, when did you get back?"
"Yesterday, I went to the market in town to buy some New Year's goods!" Fang Damiao answered cheerfully and loudly, staring at his bicycle.
"Dongqiang, your dad made some money, go to the street and buy more."
Fang Dongqiang pressed the bicycle bell with his little hand holding the handlebars to express his happiness. He had imagined this scene before: his father riding the bicycle, him sitting in front, and his mother sitting behind. Now he had forgotten his past imagination and was full of excitement about going to the market.
Fang Meixiang tightened her grip on Fang Damiao's clothes, then quietly loosened it. Her eyes darted around curiously, looking at the frost-covered withered grass by the roadside, at the rising sun in the sky, and even the cool breeze blowing past her ears felt fresh to her. A faint smile played on her lips, and she sat more energetic than usual, as if harboring an indescribable joy.
The bicycle crunched softly over the frosty pavement. Fang Damiao pedaled steadily, while Fang Dongqiang chattered away on the crossbar, and Fang Damiao glanced at his little head bobbing on the crossbar and responded cheerfully.
Upon arriving in town, the market was already bustling with activity. The stalls selling red Spring Festival couplets were crowded with people picking and choosing, and the stall owners were writing them on the spot with calligraphy brushes. The aroma of roasted chestnuts mixed with the crisp sound of fried dough sticks filled the streets, and children squeezed their way to the snack stalls, clutching their parents' hands. Occasionally, a bicycle bell would ring out, carrying a basket full of New Year's goods on the back, and even the wind seemed to carry a lively sense of anticipation.
As the sun slowly rose higher, Fang Damiao's bicycle basket was already full of snacks and New Year's goods, and frozen fish hung on the handlebars.
"Are you going to my second aunt's place?" Fang Damiao asked.
"Go away!" Fang Dongqiang jumped up and down.
“Let’s go to Meili’s place,” Fang Damiao said to Fang Meixiang as he turned around. Fang Meixiang smiled and nodded.
"How much should we weigh? We should buy more for the New Year so we can better entertain our guests." Fang Meili was busy in the shop.
"Second Aunt!" Dongqiang called out as he entered the door.
Fang Meili looked up and saw Fang Damiao and Fang Meixiang first. "Oh! You're back!"
"Yes, I came back yesterday to buy some New Year's goods."
Fang Meili glanced at the New Year's goods Fang Damiao was carrying, "Okay, I'll get back to work here."
Yuan Xinkang called out from the side, "Brother, you're back?"
Fang Damiao walked over and said, "Xin Kang, this store has everything, just like the supply and marketing cooperative."
"Bring over some of the best-selling items, so customers can buy whatever they want. This stuff is selling like hotcakes. Brother, what kind of business have you found outside?"
Fang Damiao looked at the two of them and said, "There is a lot of business outside, but some of it is difficult for me to do alone without a partner. I will go to the construction site again this year."
“Yes, it’s better for someone to work and earn a stable wage when they’re out in the world. It’s not easy to run a business and have inventory to work on.” Fang Meili chimed in from the side.
"Meili, where's your daughter?" Fang Damiao asked.
"Her grandmother was leading the way from behind."
“I’ve never seen her before, so I came to see her.”
"Xin Kang, go call him," Fang Meili said as she took things into the container.
Yuan Xinkang's mother carried Tingting out. Tingting, wrapped in a dark red cotton-padded jacket, had soft hair that lay flat against her scalp. She had short hair that reached her ears, and her bangs were tied into a small bow with a red string.
Fang Damiao took out two 10-yuan bills from his pocket and handed them to Yuan Tingting. "Oh, Damiao, you're so polite!" Yuan Xinkang's mother called out to Fang Meili, "Meili, look how polite Damiao is to come over here."
"Brother, you work hard to earn money outside, no need." Yuan Xinkang came over and returned the money to Fang Damiao.
“Yes, we’ll keep it for Dongqiang. We have enough.” Fang Meili also came over.
“You have yours, but this is for Tingting. Here you go.”
“Okay, then we’ll take one.” Fang Meili took the money, returned one bill to Fang Damiao, and said, “We’ve already taken one.”
“Take them all. You’ve been so good to Dongqiang, but I’ve never given Tingting anything.”
Hearing this, Fang Meili looked at Fang Dongqiang. The greatest reward was that her efforts had been recognized. "I've already taken it. You can take this back. It's the thought that counts."
“Okay, okay, here you go, Tingting. Thank you, Uncle. Damiao, you can have lunch here,” said Yuan Xinkang’s mother.
"No, we'll go back later."
"Second Aunt, call my little sister down so I can hold her. She always wants me to hold her when we go to Grandma's house."
Fang Meili picked up her daughter and put her on the ground. "My little sister can walk now."
Fang Dongqiang took a few steps back, clapped his hands, and opened his arms. "Come on, little sister, come to your brother."
Yuan Tingting staggered towards Fang Dongqiang and threw herself into his arms. Fang Dongqiang touched the bow on her head and said, "Hehehe, it's so pretty!"
"Give me a few candles," a customer called out.
"Meili, go get it, I'll watch it." Fang Damiao squatted down and looked at Yuan Tingting. Fang Meixiang saw her squat down and squatted down next to her as well.
Fang Meixiang glanced at the bow on Yuan Tingting's head, touched it briefly, but then hesitated.
Yuan Xinkang's mother bought soy sauce for the customer and then came over to hug Yuan Tingting. "Da Miao, come to the back and sit down at home."
"No, no, we're going back."
Fang Meili packed some snacks. "Dongqiang, come and see which pencil case you like?"
Fang Dongqiang immediately ran over, saying, "I can write at home now."
"Okay, your second aunt will put your pencil and eraser in there too. Study hard with your little aunt. Take a notebook with you too."
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