Back to 1988 79

Chapter 79: Torrential Rain

Bai Luochuan woke up very early. When Mi Yang woke up, he had already gone for a run and come back.

Mi Yang was still drowsy. He saw him and yawned. “Why are you up so early? Didn’t you sleep well?”

Bai Luochuan said, “I slept very well. I just got up to move around. The air outside is nice. I also bought some soy milk and fried dough sticks. Do you want to get up and eat some?”

Mi Yang nodded, went to wash up, and then went to eat breakfast with him.

The Cheng family was particularly quiet this morning. The little ones had been catching golden cicadas and observing them last night, and they had been so excited they hadn’t slept much. Now, they were all sleeping as soundly as little pigs. The old Mrs. Cheng didn’t call them, just got up and cooked some congee, had a simple meal, and then went to tend to her small vegetable garden.

Bai Luochuan put the fried dough sticks on a plate and brought them out. Seeing them, he asked, “Isn’t Grandma eating with us?”

Mi Yang served two bowls of congee and sat down. “She’s already eaten. She has to look at the small vegetable garden in front every morning. It’ll probably be a while before she comes back. We can just eat by ourselves.”

He picked up a fried dough stick, split it in two, and gave half to Bai Luochuan. He was so used to sharing food for so many years that his actions were faster than his thoughts. When the young master Bai took it, he didn’t feel that anything was wrong at all. The two of them just ate like that. The fried dough sticks were freshly fried, with a golden and crispy skin and a soft and fluffy inside, very chewy. Mi Yang tore them into pieces and ate them with his congee. The old Mrs. Cheng had cooked lean meat congee, with a sprinkle of pepper and green onions. A bowl of hot and salty congee, the taste was indescribably delicious.

After a small bowl, he was awake and energized.

Bai Luochuan also ate a bowl and sat there, talking to him, “In a couple of days, when there’s nothing to do, I’ll take you to the mountains.”

Mi Yang said, “Why do you suddenly want to go to the mountains?”

Bai Luochuan said, “Didn’t you want to go fishing? I’ve already asked. There’s a small stream in the mountains that’s very clear. People usually go there to fish. They say there’s a path that’s quite flat. We can also take Wule for a run. It’s been bored at home these past two days. It’s a good time to take it for a walk.”

Mi Yang nodded. “Alright. Let’s see the weather. If it’s good, we’ll go.”

Summer was the rainy season. Although it wouldn’t be drizzling for days on end here, the weather in the north was like the temper of the local people, coming and going quickly. There would be a sudden downpour, catching people off guard.

Bai Luochuan said, “Mm, it was supposed to rain yesterday, but it didn’t.”

The two of them chatted in low voices as they ate. Bai Luochuan didn’t stay here for long. The driver came to pick him up in a bit.

Mi Yang walked him to the courtyard gate, then called out to him, went back, and got him a small pomegranate and a small bag of winter dates. “I kept forgetting to give these to you. Here. These are the only two good ones that grew on Grandpa’s pomegranate tree. I picked them last time. I saved these for you.”

Bai Luochuan put the small pomegranate in his pocket. “What about the other one?”

Mi Yang felt that this was too familiar and smiled. “Why are you asking that too? I gave the other one to Xiaoxue. She’s been eyeing the one in your hand. Hurry up and take it. I won’t be able to save it for you if you wait a couple more days.”

Bai Luochuan said, “She wouldn’t dare.”

He was so righteous in bullying a child. The young master Bai took the things and left, leaving Mi Yang with a paper bag containing a copybook.

Mi Yang got up, finished his breakfast, and flipped through the copybook for a while. Mi Xue and the others then woke up. His little cousin, who was eight years old, also came out with them, wearing a pair of frame glasses that made him look a little dorky. He would occasionally use his hand to gently push up the glasses that were about to slide down his nose. When he saw Mi Yang, he called out, “Cousin.”

Mi Xue went to her brother’s side and acted cute with him. Mi Yang played with the little girl for a while. Mi Xue hugged him and asked, “Is brother still going out today?”

Mi Yang nodded. “Yes.”

Mi Xue then ran to the room and got him an umbrella, seriously reminding him, “Grandma said it’s going to rain today. The dragonflies were flying very low last night, and there were also snails crawling out in the vegetable garden. Brother, take an umbrella. You’ll get sick if you get caught in the rain.”

Mi Yang stroked her little head and smiled. “Okay.”

Mi Yang looked at the copybook for a while, then went to find Wang Bing.

Wang Bing’s side hadn’t expected him to come so early. He was holding an English textbook and reading aloud with a thick tongue. He was a little embarrassed to be seen by Mi Yang and said with a red face, “I, I was just looking.”

Mi Yang said, “You’re reading very well.”

Wang Bing breathed a sigh of relief.

Mi Yang said again, “Your pronunciation is very similar to Jiang Yuan’s. You’ve learned well.”

Wang Bing was so embarrassed his face turned bright red. He put down the book. “Hey, can we talk about something else?”

Mi Yang nodded and asked him, “Have you told Zhao Haisheng and the others?”

Wang Bing said, “I have. You wait for me for a bit. I’ll get something and go and find the two brothers with you.”

Mi Yang waited on the side. Wang Bing took a set of school uniforms, folded them, and put them in a bag. The school uniform looked like it had been worn before, a little old, but it was washed very clean and had no damage.

Mi Yang asked from the side, “What are you doing with the school uniform?”

Wang Bing, while packing, said, “It’s for Haisheng’s cousin, that Fu Qisheng. You don’t know, his family is very pitiful. His dad has been sick all the time, lying in bed like a medicine pot, and he and his mom have been supporting him. He’s been cooking for his dad since he was four, standing on his tiptoes. When he was a little older, he would go and pick up bottles and newspapers. One time, I saw him with a rope tied to his wrist, with a magnet he had picked up from somewhere, and he would drag it on the ground all the way, trying to pick up a few pieces of iron a day… Don’t look at him being so quiet. He’s actually a very good person, very filial. You can say anything to him, and he won’t say a word, but if you say a single word about his mom, he will definitely fight you to the death.”

Mi Yang listened seriously and asked, “They didn’t live in the town before, right? I heard they moved over?”

Wang Bing also put a few of his extra workbooks in. “That’s right. They were in the town next door before. His dad didn’t make it through last winter and passed away. Qisheng and his mom then moved over to live with their relatives. If you ask me, his dad’s passing was a release for the mother and son. Qisheng is much stronger now. Before, he was just a bag of bones.”

He packed his things, picked up the bag, and said to Mi Yang, “Alright, let’s go.”

Mi Yang looked at his bag of clothes and thought for a moment. “I also have a few old school uniforms…”

Wang Bing chuckled. “Come on, young master. Those are Shanghai school uniforms. They’re not the same as ours here. Besides, Qisheng has transferred to our school. These few sets of mine will fit him just right. I’ll accept your kind intentions on Qisheng’s behalf. Don’t you worry about it.”

Mi Yang nodded and didn’t insist.

When Wang Bing led him to Zhao Haisheng’s house, the two cousins were buried in their summer vacation homework.

The Zhao family’s conditions were average, and there were not many rooms. After Fu Qisheng came, a small bed was placed in his cousin Zhao Haisheng’s bedroom. A small desk was also placed between their two beds, and they would squeeze together to use it. They seemed to have a very good relationship, and Zhao Haisheng also took special care of this cousin. Fu Qisheng also had a set of the stationery he used on the desk. Fu Qisheng had them arranged neatly, and you could tell that he cherished them very much.

Zhao Haisheng was frowning as he was doing his math problems, biting the tip of his pen until it was almost bald. He was relieved to see Wang Bing come in. “Great, great, you’re here. I really, really can’t do my math. Let’s switch. I, I’ll do the English?”

Wang Bing said, “No way. I’ve already talked to Jiang Yuanyuan. I even called her yesterday to ask about the reading comprehension. I’m not switching. You can just keep at it.” He placed the bag of clothes on the bed and said, “Qisheng, these are the school uniforms I wore last year that are too small for me. My mom has already washed them. Don’t you mind. You can take them and wear them.”

Fu Qisheng was a little reserved. His lips moved, but he didn’t know what to say. Zhao Haisheng said nonchalantly, “Alright, just put them there. That set of mine is too big for Qisheng. Yours is just right.”

Mi Yang glanced at it and knew that this was the same as the old tradition. One person would do one subject of homework, and then they would all get together to copy it. He used to be in charge of Chinese and also had to help write dozens of weekly diaries. He had to write about going to the mountains to fish seven or eight times in different ways.

Wang Bing asked him, “Mi Yang, don’t you have summer vacation homework?”

Mi Yang said, “I’m a graduate. I have a little, but not much. I’ve already finished it.”

Only then did Wang Bing remember that the one beside him was a good student who had skipped a grade. He had already graduated from middle school and would be going to high school next. His vacation was also longer than theirs. He probably didn’t care about that little bit of homework and could probably finish it in a matter of minutes. His speed of answering questions was much faster than their guessing.

Mi Yang was still waiting on the side. Wang Bing glanced at Zhao Haisheng. Zhao Haisheng understood and closed his book. “Let’s go, let’s go and talk outside. I’m getting a headache from writing this.”

Zhao Haisheng called his cousin, and the four of them went outside together. They didn’t dare to be at home, for fear that the adults would hear. They deliberately walked a little further to a big tree at the end of the street. There were a few stone benches, so they sat there and talked for a while.

Mi Yang looked at Fu Qisheng and asked, “You and Bai Luochuan, what on earth is going on?”

Fu Qisheng was taciturn, his eyes dark and gloomy. He looked at the ground for a long while before he said, “I didn’t steal anything.”

Mi Yang said, “Then why did he accuse you?”

This was said with a bit of a subjective bias. Wang Bing frowned and gently pushed Mi Yang. “Hey, don’t always stand on that Bai’s side. What do you mean, ‘then why did he accuse you’? I want to ask him why he hit someone!”

Zhao Haisheng stood in the middle and said a fair word, “They, they’re close, it’s normal! Don’t we also help Qisheng?”

Wang Bing pursed his lips and didn’t say anything.

Fu Qisheng sat there without a word, as silent as a rock, as if he wouldn’t react no matter what others asked.

Mi Yang was also helpless. The young master Bai wouldn’t say, and this one was also silent. They had just had a fight for no reason. Both parties felt that they were not wrong, but neither was willing to stand up and explain.

After asking for a long time and not getting anything useful, Mi Yang could only give up and get up to go back.

Zhao Haisheng also took his cousin back. Wang Bing stood up and whispered, “Qisheng is very honest. He won’t say a word even if someone hits him in the face. He’ll only fight back if he’s really provoked. I think it must have been your young master who provoked him first.”

Mi Yang shook his head. “Bai Luochuan is not that kind of person.”

Wang Bing was still muttering. He took two steps and, seeing that Mi Yang was not following, he turned back and asked, “Hey, what are you looking at? Let’s go?”

Mi Yang was still looking in the direction Fu Qisheng had left. He was still a little puzzled. He really had no impression of this person.

Wang Bing was dissatisfied. “I think you just think Qisheng is lying. Your heart is all biased towards the Bai family’s old residence!”

Mi Yang said, “It’s not that biased.”

Wang Bing said angrily, “So you are biased! Listen, you’ve admitted it yourself!”

Mi Yang chuckled and ignored him.

Wang Bing was just muttering a couple of sentences. In the afternoon, he brought the group of playmates to find Mi Yang again and asked him, “Hey, are you going to the mountains to fish? Qisheng’s former classmates are coming. We’ve already discussed it. We’ll go and scout the path first. When they come, we’ll take them to play.”

Mi Yang looked at the sky. It was only a little after two, but it was already looking a little cloudy, and the sky had darkened a little. He said, “It looks like it’s going to rain. You shouldn’t go either. The mountain roads are slippery and not safe.”

The few of them laughed. “It’s fine. You don’t come often, so you don’t know. It’s not going to rain today. If nothing else, we’re more experienced than you when it comes to playing in the mountains!”

The old Mrs. Cheng heard the noise and came over to have a look. Seeing the few children on their bicycles and carrying their fishing rods and other things, she said, “Oh, you’re going to the mountains to fish? Not today. It’s going to rain. You should all go home too. Be careful not to catch a cold if you get caught in the rain…”

Wang Bing was most afraid of the old lady’s nagging. His family usually nagged him enough. He immediately turned his bike around. “Hey, Grandma Cheng, we’re going home now!”

The old Mrs. Cheng was satisfied. “That’s right. Go home and take shelter from the rain. You have to take care of your bodies!”

The few of them rode their bicycles and scattered, shouting “going home to take shelter from the rain” and running even faster. It looked like they were going towards the end of the street, but whether they would cross the road to the mountains was uncertain.

The old Mrs. Cheng patted Mi Yang’s shoulder. “Yangyang, we’re not going. In a few days, I’ll have your uncle-in-law take you to the mountains to play. You’re not like these brats. You were raised in the city and haven’t been exposed to the wind. You’ll definitely get sick if you get caught in the rain. You’re also not wearing much today. Go and put on some more clothes. You must not catch a cold.”

Mi Yang helped the old lady into the room. “Mm, I’m not going. I’ll play chess with you.”

Mi Xue and the others had found a set of Chinese checkers and had been playing with it with great enthusiasm these past few days. The little girls loved to be clean and tidy. The Chinese checkers marbles were wiped until they were like transparent candy balls, and they would be sorted by color and put away every day. They could be played with as soon as they were taken out.

In the time it took for Mi Yang to play a game of chess with the old Mrs. Cheng, the weather outside had changed. Dark clouds rolled in, and the sky suddenly darkened. The old Mrs. Cheng’s eyesight was not good, so Mi Yang went to turn on the living room light. The old lady even put on her reading glasses and continued to play the game of chess very seriously. She was about to win!

Mi Yang had a few of his own chess pieces in his pocket. As he was inconspicuously helping the old lady, he also looked up at the outside, a little worried about Wang Bing and the others.

But it was fine. It was just that the situation looked serious. After being cloudy for a while, it slowly cleared up, and the sun was even bigger, so hot that the people by the window also started to feel warm. Mi Yang took off his coat, squinted his eyes at the outside, and whispered, “Their luck is quite good.”

The old Mrs. Cheng heard him and thought he was talking about the game of chess she had just won. She immediately retorted, “What do you mean, good luck? Grandma was very good at chess back then. When your grandpa was still around, he would lose to me every time!”

Mi Yang smiled. “Yes, yes, you’re the best. Shall we play another game?”

The old Mrs. Cheng was satisfied. “Alright then. Don’t cry if you lose. Xiaoxue even cried once yesterday!”

Mi Yang was surprised. “She even cried?”

The old Mrs. Cheng smiled. “Of course. She was crying on one hand and not letting us tell you on the other. This pride of hers is not like your mom’s when she was a child. Your mom would hold it in and be determined to win back. She wouldn’t shed a single tear. I think she’s like your old Mi family!”

Mi Yang rubbed the tip of his nose, a dimple appearing on one side of his smile.

For several days, the weather outside was not very good. Wang Bing and the others had gone to scout the path several times. Although they had never encountered a heavy downpour, one time they were a little late coming home and were caught in the rain, their hair wet and their clothes dotted with raindrops. They were scolded by the adults at home and were not allowed to go out again.

Wang Bing was also very depressed. Every time they went, it didn’t rain. But the weather was always changing, always looking like it was about to have a heavy downpour. Fu Qisheng’s classmates also kept postponing, and after a few times, he was also annoyed.

But looking at Fu Qisheng’s silent appearance, he gritted his teeth. “Qisheng, don’t worry. Brother will definitely help you get your pride back! Our place is about to be rated as a tourist attraction. Everything is better than the town you used to live in. Don’t you worry. Your classmates will definitely be envious of you when they come!”

Zhao Haisheng smiled. “My little brother, I, I’ll take care of him. Don’t you worry.”

Although he said that, the weather was not cooperative, and it slowly started to rain again.

It rained quite heavily for several days in a row. The raindrops hit the ground with a pitter-patter, leaving a dent each time. It was so heavy that the umbrella ribs would feel heavy after walking for a short distance. The pedestrians on the road did not linger and all wrapped their clothes and hurried home to take shelter from the rain.

The few children at the old Mrs. Cheng’s house also couldn’t go out and were cooped up at home for several days. They all lay by the window and looked out with expectant eyes. Mi Xue was timid and didn’t dare to get close to the window. She hid in Mi Yang’s arms, covering her ears and secretly looking outside, whispering, “Brother, I’m scared.”

Mi Yang held her and helped her cover her ears. “Don’t be scared. Brother is here.”

The little girl was a little braver. She tilted her head to look, and just as a flash of lightning streaked across the half-dark sky, she was so scared that she shrunk back into Mi Yang’s arms.

Mi Yang lowered his head and kissed the top of her head. “It’s fine, it’s fine. It’ll be fine when the rain stops.”

The little girl said timidly in a low voice, “When will it stop?”

Mi Yang glanced outside and was not sure. He hesitated. “Soon, I guess.”

It was common to have a few heavy downpours in the summer, and the people of Shanhai Town were used to it. The adults would even discuss it when they were idle at home. Just like this heavy rain, after several days, the clouds finally parted, and the sun came out.

The sun was hanging in the sky again. The rainwater had not yet completely dried, but the small puddles on the road were so hot they were like they were being baked, and it was back to the heat of summer.

Bai Luochuan called and said to Mi Yang, “I won’t be coming over for the next two days. The family has hired a master to re-shoe Wule. It’s too disobedient. The last master couldn’t even do it…”

As he was speaking, he heard the old Mr. Bai’s unconvinced voice, “He’s only three years old. He’s so small. You have to coax him, right!”

Bai Luochuan didn’t avoid Mi Yang and argued with Old Bai for a few sentences. “Look at the state of the iron shoes he used last time. You’re just always spoiling him. Other little horses can be shoed at 9 months. How can he be so difficult? Besides, the keratin layer on his hooves is so thick. It doesn’t hurt at all. It’s like wearing a pair of shoes. How much effort can it be!”

The old Mr. Bai said, “It’s not an effort to wear shoes? It was hard to get you to wear shoes when you were a child. You even threw your shoes out of the train window. Have you forgotten?”

Bai Luochuan: “…Why are you always bringing me up!”

Mi Yang could hear how lively it was on the other end of the phone and couldn’t help but laugh. He said to him, “You can go and be with Wule first. I’ll go and see it in two days too.”

The other side sounded like they were going up the stairs, as if they had gone into a room, and the surroundings became much quieter. The young master Bai snorted. “You’re just coming to see it?”

Mi Yang said, “I’ll also go and see Grandpa Bai.”

Bai Luochuan said, “What about me? You’re not going to see me?”

Mi Yang smiled. “I’ll also see you.”

The other side also chuckled. “Then I’ll be waiting for you.”