I shook the key, quickened my pace, and knocked on the study door.
"You're really obsessed with money. The first thing I heard you talking about was money as soon as you got back!"
"So late? You! Why didn't you even call if you weren't coming home for dinner?!" my sister started nagging again.
"Sister! I'm twenty-three, not three!" I looked at her. "Where's Xiao Ming?"
"I went to the Great Wall at Gubeikou with my classmates and won't be back tonight."
"Keep a close eye on him, this kid's going crazy with fun. Don't let him end up failing to get into college and making all your efforts go to waste."
"What about you? Do you have any plans for the New Year?" Fang Cheng saved the file, turned off the computer, and then looked up at me.
"I want to take the postgraduate entrance exam! For the past six months, I've been wanting to write something, but I've found that I have too many preconceived notions in my mind, and being too good at studying has also become a problem. So I'm thinking of switching majors to literary theory, or literature and history research or something like that."
"Then resign! Focus on your studies. It will be very difficult to get a government-funded scholarship if you switch majors. Not only are there few spots, but they are reserved for professors' own students. Are you confident?" He wasn't surprised; he knew I would make this decision, but he just wanted to remind me.
"I study only to learn, I never ask if I'm sure I can succeed!" I said with a faint smile. He nodded, knowing that this was my honest opinion.
“Let’s go back to Shuicheng for the New Year!” He remembered something else, looking at his sister and me. “So that some people won’t say I don’t respect you. Go back and visit Grandpa for the New Year; this is Xiao Ming’s father’s first year of mourning, you should go and sweep his grave too; for Xiao Ming’s sake!” He looked at his sister, ‘For Xiao Ming!’ Yes, we have to go back for Xiao Ming’s sake, his sister could only nod. We can’t hurt the feelings of the living for the sake of the dead!
The period before the Lunar New Year was the busiest time for the magazine, and we didn't finish until the afternoon of New Year's Eve. When I arrived at the airport, my sister and Xiao Ming were already sitting quietly waiting. My sister seemed a little quiet, which was understandable given that she was about to meet her father-in-law. Xiao Ming carefully stayed by her side. I went over to support her, and she gave me a weak smile, which I returned. Fang Cheng remained silent from beginning to end, until we arrived at Shuicheng Airport, when it was completely dark.
A light drizzle was falling over Shuicheng. Although it was in the south, the weather felt colder and more gloomy than the dry weather in the north. I couldn't help but shiver. Fang Cheng sat down in the front of the taxi. After we were all seated, the driver looked at him because he hadn't said where we were going, and we looked at him too.
"The Provincial Party Committee compound!" He seemed to have made a huge decision, and we were all stunned. The Provincial Party Committee compound? I always knew he came from an distinguished background, but I never imagined he was actually born into a privileged family! I looked at him again; he seemed even more annoyed than we were. I looked at my sister, but she turned her head to look out the car window. All we could do was wait.
The car stopped at the gate of the compound. Fang Cheng showed his family ID and led us into the quiet courtyard. There were detached villas on both sides of the path; it wasn't hard to imagine what kind of family lived behind each window. I had an urge to run away. I was just an ordinary woman, and I didn't want my sister to be humiliated by the Fang family. But for my sister's sake, I took a deep breath and took her arm. This time, she couldn't even manage a smile.
That tree-lined avenue seemed endless. Luxury cars would occasionally pass by on the path, and I could see people glancing at us casually in their rearview mirrors, a hint of surprise in their eyes. The people walking in the compound already seemed odd. And I felt as if a heavy stone was pressing down on my heart, making it hard to breathe.
Another car passed by, but shortly after it drove off, it reversed, and a young man got out. He wore a well-tailored leather overcoat over a smart suit, and even though it was evening, he was wearing sunglasses. He removed his glasses with his gloved hands.
"Fang Cheng?!" he called out to Fang Cheng. Fang Cheng smiled faintly at him, offering no further comment or introduction. However, the man seemed to have grown accustomed to Fang Cheng's nonchalance, extending his right hand familiarly to his sister, then retracting it after a moment's thought, before extending his hand again with the glove he had removed.
“Zhang Jiayu, Fang Cheng’s classmate in elementary school. Look, this is a keepsake he left for me!” He deliberately brushed aside his hair to show his sister a small, barely visible scar. His sister smiled, shook his hand, and subtly withdrew it without saying a word.
Let me think... an elementary school classmate? I should know them, but why can't I remember them at all? And then Zhang Jiayu turned to look at me, flashing a big smile.
"Xiao Ying! You haven't forgotten me, have you? I gave you chocolates!"
I smiled at him, but I really couldn't remember him. Elementary school? Heaven knows how many years have passed. In elementary school, many people gave me food, but I never ate it. I either refused or gave it away to others. Who knows who is who?
"You live here too?" I had no choice but to speak up; I couldn't let him perform a monologue all by himself.
"Yes, that building over there!" He pointed in a direction, but none of us looked over. Every house there was a villa, nothing much to see. He must be some rich kid! Looking at Fang Cheng, he looked like a country bumpkin. Why such a big difference between people from the same background? But Fang Cheng still seemed much more pleasing to the eye.
Zhang Jiayu then looked at his sister, his eyes filled with curiosity. Wait, he knew his sister was Fang Cheng's wife. Was there no secret here, or was there some other reason?
"My dad is waiting for us, so I'm leaving now!" Fang Cheng finally spoke.
"You still dare to go home? Aren't you afraid your old man will kill you?" he blurted out. He looked at us, realized his mistake, and quickly opened the car door. "Let me take you in! It's still quite a distance! Besides..." He hesitated for a moment.
"Besides what?" the older sister asked.
“Besides, the Zhou family is on this road too. It wouldn’t be good to run into them!” Zhang Jiayu said in a low voice. My sister’s face immediately turned pale. The Zhou family? Uncle Zhou’s house? I’ve been to his villa before. It’s not here. Besides, how could a big-shot lawyer live here? I looked at my sister.
"Thank you! But it's alright, I have a teacher-student relationship with Attorney Zhou, it would be great if we could meet!" The older sister ultimately declined with a smile.
Zhang Jiayu gave my sister a deep look and laughed. Turning to me, he said, "Give your old classmate some face and stay for a few days. I treated you really well back then!" He seemed quite interested in me too. Why?
"Thanks! We'll see about that later. I don't know what the arrangements will be!" I gave a perfunctory smile, and Zhang Jiayu shrugged and left.
We fell silent, a chill settling in our hearts. Finally, deep within the compound, Fang Cheng stopped in front of an old-fashioned villa. We had arrived. Looking around, the place seemed solemn and desolate. Was Fang Cheng really born here? I glanced at him; he stared intently at the door, and after a long while, as if making a decision, he reached out and pressed the doorbell.
"You brat, is that you?" An old woman opened the door immediately, as if she had been waiting there all along.
"Aunt Liu!" Fang Cheng gave the old lady a big hug, his voice sweet enough to be sickening.
"Get away from me, you brat! Aunt Liu doesn't want to talk to you!" She nimbly pushed him aside and turned to face us. Her eyes were fixed on my sister, like a mother-in-law scrutinizing her daughter-in-law. Wasn't she just the Fang family's nanny? Could she really be a lowly maidservant from the Prime Minister's mansion? What about those two people in the Fang family?! I felt my heart tremble, but my sister had already calmed down and smiled at her: "Hello!"
"You're prettier than in the photos!" she nodded affirmatively. Photos? I suddenly remembered what my sister had said: our photos were already on the Fang family's desk. I looked at Fang Cheng; he was expressionless.
"Let's go inside! It's so cold outside!" I smiled; that was the only way I could help my sister out of the predicament.
"Yes, I'm getting senile. Come on in!" Aunt Liu smiled and ushered us into the house, where a wave of warmth washed over us. Shuicheng is a southern city, and houses here usually don't have heating, but this one did. It really is different in an official's home. I don't know if it was because I felt resentful, but I couldn't stand anything about this place. Aunt Liu's attention started to shift to me, and her gaze made me feel uneasy.
"What's up?"
"You don't smile as much as you did when you were little! You were such a well-behaved child back then, and now you've become pretty, but you're not as sweet as you used to be!" I was startled. Was I really that famous in the Fang family? Even the nanny had seen me as a child.
"Have you seen Second Sister when she was little?" Xiao Ming couldn't help but interject, as if he had been ignored for far too long.
"I've seen her! Fang Cheng was ten years old when he came here. What grade was he in? Right, fourth grade. I went to his parent-teacher conference. Xiao Ying was the grade representative responsible for receiving parents; she had a little name tag on her chest. She was so cute, with lots of stripes on her arms—she looked so energetic. No wonder his Uncle Li said, 'Comparison is the thief of joy.' How come she's grown up and can't even smile anymore?" She seemed to know me very well, but I couldn't remember her at all. Why does everyone know us? I looked at Fang Cheng; he seemed a little embarrassed.
"Aunt Liu, is the room ready?" He was quite clever.
"Alright! Your dad and Uncle Li are talking in the study. Be careful, Uncle Li said at noon he was going to break your legs!" She glared at him, then grabbed her sister's hand. "I'll take you to see Fang Cheng's room. After he went to university in Beijing, it's just been left like that, it's a mess. It'll show you how naughty he was when he was little." She liked her sister, but what good was it? And who was Uncle Li in this family? Uncle Li seemed to care more about Fang Cheng than her father. What kind of family was this? Who was Fang Cheng's father?!
We were led upstairs, and the first room Liu Ma opened was Fang Cheng's. Just as Liu Ma had said, the room was a complete mess. Clothes were thrown on the bed, and a book lay on the floor, as if the owner had only left five minutes ago. It must have taken Liu Ma a lot of effort to keep it this way! I bent down and picked up the book from the floor—it was *The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants*! The very same book our teacher used to wave around. The ink smudge on the cover was still there, obediently! I was pleasantly surprised. Opening it, I found his annotations inside. It seemed he had been studying diligently ever since.
"Sister!" Xiao Ming nudged me, and I suddenly realized what was happening. "Aunt Liu is taking us to see the rooms."
"Hmm! Brother-in-law Fang, I'll take this book with me." I waved the book at Fang Cheng. Actually, even if he didn't give it to me, I didn't intend to return it to him.
"You're still reading in my house? Do you want me to get beaten to death before you're satisfied?" he groaned through gritted teeth.
"Just because I'm at your house doesn't mean I can't read! You're no match for me anyway, so just accept it!" I smiled, still holding the book in my hand, showing no intention of putting it down. Aunt Liu smiled and led us to our room, right across from Fang Cheng's. The two rooms shared a bathroom, which they said had hot water 24 hours a day. I noticed that when Aunt Liu led us out, my sister was sitting absentmindedly on Fang Cheng's messy bed.
After Aunt Liu settled us in, she went downstairs. I sat on the bed and suddenly realized that coming back for the New Year was not a good idea.
"Second Sister!" Xiao Ming came over and sat down next to me, looking a little awkward. I smiled, knowing without looking in the mirror how unpleasant my smile was; I didn't want to talk. Suddenly, I remembered the scene in *Love Story* where Jenny first visited Oliver's house. I never thought I'd have a day like this, even though I wasn't the main character! Thank goodness it wasn't me!
"Why are you still sitting there? Go downstairs and get ready for the New Year's Eve dinner. Oh, right, I need to go call Fang Cheng; his dad wants to see him!"
“I’ll go!” I stood up, and she smiled at me again. Her smile contained tolerance and something else, but I didn’t want to figure out what it was.
"Xiao Ming, come down and help Aunt Liu set the table!" She pulled Xiao Ming downstairs. It seems that one really has to be capable to stay in the leader's house for so many years.
When I got to their room door, just as I was about to knock, I heard my sister's weak voice: "Let's break up!"
"Listen to me, we can go to the guesthouse and not have to see them again. My father won't and can't do anything to you!"
"Why not Xiao Ying! If she were the one who came back with you today, things would be very different!" Her voice sounded so lacking in confidence for the first time.
“Yes, if she were the one coming back with me today, it would be so different. Uncle would pick us up from the airport; Dad would be waiting for us at the door; Aunt Liu would put a big gold bracelet on her wrist! But what about me? Why didn't anyone ask me what I wanted?” He was getting anxious. “Xiao Ying is wonderful. I've never seen such a perfect girl, you understand? She's good at studying, willing to help others, and she's willing to give her heart and time to everyone. What's even more remarkable is that she never thinks she's outstanding; she always treats herself with a normal heart. She's someone who's easy to like, regardless of age. I like her, I really like her, but it's not love! I also like Venus!”
"She has no hands!"
"Even if she had hands, it wouldn't matter! When we were little, I really disliked her. I was a bad student, and she was a good student, so naturally we weren't on the same path. It wasn't until we were in the same class in high school that I realized she was truly a pitiful person, you know? Pitiful! In our senior year, we sat together, and that's when we started to understand each other. Kind, innocent, and lovely—back then, nobody tutored anyone, but she spent a whole year helping me. At that time, I felt that besides Aunt Liu and Uncle Li, she was the only person who genuinely cared about me. She wanted me to get into university more than anyone else. From that moment on, I told myself that I was willing to spend my whole life protecting her perfection! Do you understand?"
I didn't know I was so good to him, but what's the use of being good? He's just an ordinary man; all he wants is an ordinary family. My perfection only highlights his imperfections! Pathetic! He's always felt sorry for me because I've always paid the price for my perfection. I knocked on the door and went in. My sister was still in the same position, her face looking terrible. I walked up to her and gently rubbed her face.
"The old man has summoned me!"
My sister sighed, looking bewildered. I looked at her again; she wore a beige fitted sweater, black wool trousers, and her hair, which she liked to wear in a bun, I let down for her. Her long hair was permed into big curls, making her look beautiful. After giving her one last look, I nodded and smiled, "Alright! Anyway, we're in Beijing, so if he yells at us, just consider it filial piety! Don't hold it in; come back and kick his son a few times, and you'll get your revenge."
"His son?" The sister didn't understand at first.
I kicked it at her, and amidst Fang Cheng's scream was my sister's helpless smile. I pushed them to the doorway; Fang Cheng was also terrified, looking at me pitifully. "Let's go together!"
"Are you out of your mind?!" I glared at him.
"If you don't like the place, I can book a guesthouse!" I realized I wasn't the only one who wanted to escape.
"It's a rare opportunity for me to stay at the leader's house and enjoy the privileges of the privileged class. Please make yourself at home!" I said with a smile and ran downstairs to see what I could do to help. As soon as I went downstairs, I saw a sweet-looking girl who looked about fifteen or sixteen years old. "Sister Xiao Ying! Hello, I'm Li Xinyu, you can call me Sweetie!" She seemed overly enthusiastic. I realized that I was really 'familiar' in this house.
"You also saw my photo?" I couldn't help but wonder.
"Ye!" A typical modern child! And who is she?! Li! That Uncle Li's child? I thought he was someone without a home or children!
"My sister is my idol! Dad said that only you can turn Cheng-ge, that piece of rotten wood, into a talent."
“If he were truly a piece of trash, he could never amount to anything! Besides, I haven’t seen him become anything special either. Have you become anything special?” I glanced at him from behind.
"Compared to you, there are few who can be considered successful." He said with a forced smile, "Sweetie, come here!" He led his sister to her.
“We’ve met! I told Dad that day that Cheng-ge definitely wants to marry you, but Dad didn’t believe me. See?” She shook her little head proudly, but Fang Cheng slapped her on the forehead.
"Call for help!"
"Should I call you sister-in-law? How about Sister Qin? Sister-in-law sounds so old-fashioned!" Her pretty little face scrunched up.
"Uncle Li's daughter, nicknamed Tiantian! She eats the New Year's Eve dinner with us every year!" Fang Cheng explained to her sister, who smiled at her and gave her a red envelope.
"Thank you, Sister Qin!" She seemed to be easily happy. I glanced at the closed door on the side; it was the study. The patriarch of the Fang family and Uncle Li were waiting for my sister inside. I pulled over Tian Tian, who still wanted to say something.
"Go inside quickly!" I said, trying to sound casual. Fang Cheng took a breath, his arms around his sister's waist with a solemn air, as if he were going to his execution. I had never seen Fang Cheng so serious before. What kind of person was the Fang family patriarch?
"Brother Cheng is going to be in trouble!" Tian Tian muttered to herself.
Will his father be very strict?
"It's not his dad, it's my dad! My dad will definitely kill him!" Sweetie said with certainty.
"Your dad really loves him, doesn't he?" I remembered that he had just said that besides Aunt Liu and Uncle Li, I was the only one who truly cared about him. So he had always known that Mr. Li was someone who genuinely loved him.
"Of course! Cheng-gege's mother is my dad's first love!" She glanced around and whispered, "And my dad was raised by Cheng-gege's maternal grandmother! Understand? My dad grew up on Cheng-gege's maternal grandmother's milk, and Cheng-gege's maternal grandfather paid for my dad's tuition. So my dad treats Cheng-gege like his own son, no! Even a real son wouldn't worry about him like that. He beat and scolded Cheng-gege from a young age, using all ten of the most cruel tortures of the Qing Dynasty! Sigh! Seeing him like that, I made up my mind from a young age that I must study hard and never let him treat me like that!" She talked to herself. I laughed. This Uncle Li really is... Just as I was thinking this, the door opened! The first person to appear before me was a dignified elder, whose eyes occasionally flashed with sharpness. My intuition told me that this must be Fang Cheng's father!
"Uncle Fang, Happy New Year!" I leaned forward slightly.
"Hello, Xiao Ying! Where's Xiao Ming?" He looked around; he really knew us very well.
"He's helping Aunt Liu set the table!" Tian Tian quickly interjected.
"Really? Well then, Li Li, look at how they raise their children! The three Xiao siblings are all outstanding!" he said to a middle-aged man behind him. The man was around forty years old, looked quite refined, but had a serious expression and tightly closed lips, as if etched into stone. But when he saw me, he actually smiled slightly. I could only return his smile, "Hello!"
"Don't you recognize me?" he laughed! I had a bit of a headache; why did everyone expect me to know him? I had to look closely, desperately trying to remember where I'd seen him before. He laughed and said to Uncle Fang, "She was only ten years old when she first received the 'Top Ten Outstanding Young Pioneers of the Province,' the youngest at the time. I only found out from the records that she and Fang Cheng were from the same school and in the same grade. After the meeting, we had lunch together, a buffet style, to test the children's self-care abilities. Good grades don't necessarily mean true excellence. I specifically observed her then. Being the youngest, what would she do? She obediently took a plate and lined up to get food. While other children picked and chose their food, she didn't. She took it carefully, only taking a small plateful before returning to her seat. I asked her why she ate so little. She countered with, 'Can I only take one?' Even when eating, for the less appealing food, the other children..." She didn't just leave it on the table. I saw her eat a bitter melon; her brow furrowed, but she didn't spit it out; she swallowed it. I asked her why she didn't spit it out, and she said, "How will I know it's bad if I don't eat it? Anyway, I only took one piece!" She was very willing to try new things! And she was willing to take responsibility for her decisions. What impressed me most was that after eating, plates were scattered everywhere. Children are used to not caring about anything after eating. But she didn't. She put her used plate in the dirty plate collection area. There were big signs on the wall explaining where dirty plates should be put, and that day she was the only one who put her plate there. No one, including the adults, thought to do such a trivial thing, but she did it naturally. She was only ten years old that year!
Good heavens! He remembers things so clearly about when I was ten? I don't even remember anything like that happening when I was ten! I could only smile!
“No wonder you like her. She’s shown the qualities of an outstanding person since she was little! She consciously follows the rules and is very confident in what she can get. However, I don’t appreciate the part where she swallowed the bitter melon. From another perspective, she’s unwilling to admit her mistake. She’ll just swallow the bitterness and won’t admit that her choice was wrong. And from that moment on, she won’t eat bitter melon anymore, which is not good!” I laughed. I don’t eat bitter melon, so why have I forgotten? Could it be just because I’ve eaten it before? Thinking about it again, Uncle Fang seemed to be implying something. I couldn’t help but look up at him, and he smiled at me affectionately.
"Let's eat!" Aunt Liu came out and ushered us into the dining room, with Xiao Ming following behind her. Uncle Fang went in first, and I waited a moment before seeing my sister, who remained silent. Fang Cheng also looked dejected.
"What's the matter?"
"It's nothing!" he said sullenly.
"What?" I didn't understand!
"It's nothing. Nothing at all. Dad didn't say anything, just asked why I was in such a hurry, asked about my work in Beijing, and that's it!" He looked puzzled. I understood what he meant; he was confused as to why it was so easy to get through. He felt hurt again; his father ignored him, and even after such a big incident, he only asked a few questions. What did he want? To be beaten by his father? What's wrong with people these days? The Fang family is really strange. And look at my sister, shouldn't she be relieved? Why does she look like that!
"Did they make things difficult for you?"
"Don't overthink it, let's go in!" She smiled at me, and we went into the dining room together. Uncle Fang was chatting and laughing with Xiao Ming. Seeing us come in, Xiao Ming said with a smile, "Sis, Uncle Fang wants to mix us some drinks!"
"Crossing a bar?" I glanced at Fang Cheng, who remained expressionless, while my sister sat quietly to the side. I could only laugh and say, "That must be incredibly difficult. Do you even know how?"