Chapter 109: Allotment
On the fifth day of the new year, Mi Yang went back to Shanhai Town with Cheng Qing.
Mi Zehai did not go with them this time. He still had to work, and the little girl, Mi Xue, had also signed up for an interest class and had to go to the Children’s Palace to study during this time. So, only Cheng Qing and Mi Yang, mother and son, went back to visit the old folks.
Cheng Qing had not been back for a long time. As soon as she arrived this time, she saw that Shanhai Town had changed.
The town had started to build tourist attractions in the past one or two years. The housing demolition was basically completed. The original houses had all been moved to the collective buildings near the city. In front were villas and Western-style houses, and behind were high-rises. The roads had also been widened and repaired, making it much more convenient to go to the city.
Cheng Qing had not expected it to be so well-built. She was very surprised and happy on the way. Mi Yang joked with her, “Mom, Grandma’s house has also moved. Can you guess where our house is now?”
Cheng Qing smiled. “You can’t stump me with that. Your grandma was so afraid I wouldn’t be able to find the way that she even drew a route map for me. And, the old elm tree in our courtyard is still there. It’s so tall. You can tell where it is at a glance.”
The old Mrs. Cheng had specially brought the old tree with her when she moved. In the spring, when the elm money grew, it was a string of green, very likable. The old lady would sometimes have a poor appetite and would like to eat something fresh. She would pick some, mix it with flour, and steam it, then add some pickled vegetables, soy sauce, vinegar, and sesame seeds. It was just to her taste. Cheng Qing also had feelings for the old tree. As she walked, she said to Mi Yang, “The year I was born, there was a famine. Aiyo, I heard that in other places, they even ate the bark of trees. Our family was alright, especially since we had an elm money tree at home. We could at least have something to eat. This tree was also very promising. It produced a lot of elm money that spring and saved several families!”
Mi Yang asked her, “Did you also mix it with flour and steam it to eat at that time?”
Cheng Qing smiled. “What are you thinking? It was already good if the family could mix in some cornmeal or sweet potato flour. And it wasn’t just elm money; we also had to mix in some leaves. As long as we didn’t starve to death. Haven’t you noticed that your dad doesn’t eat sweet potatoes now? He was scared of them when he was a child, hehe!”
Mi Yang also smiled. When he looked up, he saw a tall and straight tree stretching out from the courtyard of a small villa in front. The leaves had all fallen in the winter, leaving only bare branches. As he was trying to identify it, Cheng Qing, on the side, had already confirmed, “We’re here. This is it!”
Mi Yang was a little surprised. “You can recognize it even like this?”
Cheng Qing smiled. “It’s our own home. What’s there not to recognize? I’ve been climbing that tree since I was a child. I can recognize it better than I can recognize you!”
After taking a few steps forward, it was indeed the old Mrs. Cheng’s house.
The one who opened the door was the third sister, Cheng Ru. She had married in Shanhai Town and was also the one who visited the old lady the most. During the New Year, she would come every two or three days to bring new year’s goods. She had received Cheng Qing’s call early this morning and had specially come to wait for her older sister. The two sisters had not seen each other for a long time and were very affectionate when they met. Cheng Ru took the bag from her older sister’s hand and didn’t even want her favorite nephew anymore, just kept talking to her sister. She was like a little girl again, with endless things to say to her older sister.
“I tidied up the room for you a couple of days ago. Our mom is so biased. She’s saved a room for all of you, and Yangyang also has a separate one, but she didn’t save one for me! I was so angry that I bought the one next door. I’m going to come and ask the old lady every day why she’s so biased! We’re all her daughters. Why is it that I’m in the town, but there’s no share for me?” Cheng Ru was still complaining to her sister, but the smile in her eyes could not be hidden. “Sis, do you want to buy a set in our house? This house is very cheap. It’s a good deal to save a set for Yangyang. A set of apartments is less than thirty thousand, and a villa is about one hundred and seventy thousand.”
Cheng Qing was surprised. “It’s that cheap?”
Cheng Ru was a fast talker and was talking to her older sister about the house as they walked. “Only you think it’s cheap. It’s still considered expensive here! Many families don’t want it. Didn’t the city allocate housing at the beginning of the year? There are still people waiting for their work units to allocate housing, wanting to live in the city.”
Mi Yang recalled the future housing prices. In fact, the prices in the suburbs were not low. His house at that time was in the new district, and it was also fifteen or sixteen thousand per square meter. Now, a set was only a little over a hundred thousand. It was really a price from more than ten years ago.
After Cheng Ru finished talking about this, she smiled again. “Look at my memory. I almost forgot that Yangyang’s grandfather’s side also bought a set of apartments.”
Cheng Qing didn’t even know about this and quickly asked, “My father-in-law also bought one?”
Cheng Ru said, “Of course. I also heard people talk about it a few days ago. But it’s strange. After he bought it, he didn’t go and live there. He’s still living in the small wooden house on the forest ranger’s side.”
Cheng Qing sighed. “Yes, he’s become more and more reclusive these past two years. Last Mid-Autumn Festival, Mi Zehai went over to celebrate with him and just mentioned taking him to live with us, and he was kicked out. It’s not easy for the old man either. He’s suffering in his heart. Let him be. Let him live as he pleases.”
Mi Hong had bought a house but was not willing to live in it himself. It was obviously to be left for his children and grandchildren.
Just thinking of this, Mi Yang felt a little uneasy in his heart.
He had thought of it, and Cheng Qing naturally had too. After resting at home for a bit, she immediately wanted to go and visit.
The old Mrs. Cheng had been looking at her eldest daughter as if she couldn’t get enough of her since she had entered the door. The moment Cheng Qing was about to leave, she subconsciously also wanted to follow. The third sister, Cheng Ru, on the side, chided, “Mom, my sister is going to her in-laws’ house. Why are you following?”
The old Mrs. Cheng’s face flushed red. “Oh, I forgot. I just wanted to go and have a look, and it’s also been a while since I’ve visited my in-laws…”
Cheng Ru took her hand and smiled. “You want to visit your in-laws so much? That’s great. You can go to my in-laws’ house later. My mother-in-law was just talking about having you come and stay for two days a few days ago. I’ve also had a set of Eight Immortals table and chairs made for you. You can see if they’re easy to use. If they’re suitable, you can take them back with you.”
The old Mrs. Cheng was held back and could only stay at home. Cheng Ru winked at her sister, and Cheng Qing immediately smiled and went over with Mi Yang.
Mi Hong lived in a small wooden house in that grove of camphor trees. It was only two and a half small rooms. The half-room was a small pavilion that had been built. You could sit there in the summer, and in the winter, it was piled with coal and firewood, all neatly stacked there.
Cheng Qing had brought him a lot of things. Some were from Shanghai, and some were vegetables and fruits from home. She knocked on the door and called out a few times before Mi Hong opened the door. But when he saw the things in their hands, he frowned. “I don’t need these. Leave the basket of vegetables. You can take the rest back.”
His voice was cold and hard, and he was not any more polite just because Cheng Qing was his daughter-in-law.
Cheng Qing was about to say more when Mi Yang had already left the basket of vegetables and had left the rest outside without bringing them in. He smiled. “Grandpa, I’m here to wish you a happy new year. Happy New Year!”
Only then did Mi Hong’s face soften a little. He nodded at him. “Come in. It’s cold outside. It’s warmer inside.”
A stove was lit in the small wooden house, and an iron kettle for boiling water was on it, gurgling with boiling water.
Mi Hong got them some cups, and Mi Yang went over to help make the tea. He had spent more time with Mi Hong and also knew some of his habits, so he did these things very smoothly. Cheng Qing sat there and carefully chatted with Mi Hong, but out of the three questions she asked, it was good if Mi Hong answered one. The old man’s personality was even colder than before. It was only when Mi Yang whispered to him about his craft that he would say a couple more words.
Cheng Qing wanted to say a couple of words too, but she didn’t know anything about these crafts. After a short while, she was just sitting there, a listener. When she could occasionally interject, she would quickly ask, “Dad, do you need anything at home? Zehai specially asked me to bring you some…”
Mi Hong said, “No need.”
Cheng Qing bit back the last word “money” and didn’t dare to say it.
Mi Hong looked up at her. “Yangyang can stay and talk with me for a bit. You can go back first. It’s not easy to come all this way. Go and be with your mom.”
Cheng Qing thought for a moment and nodded with a smile. “Okay! Then let Yangyang stay here for dinner. He’s recently learned to cook, and he’s very good at it. You can try his cooking!”
Mi Hong nodded.
Cheng Qing was not polite either and went back first. Most of the gifts she had brought could only be taken with her. The old man in the wooden house had said he didn’t want them, so he really wouldn’t accept these things.
Mi Yang stayed to be with him. After he had asked all the questions he had accumulated, he saw that it was about time, rolled up his sleeves, and tidied up the vegetables he had brought. He made two or three of his signature dishes for the old man on the small stove.
Mi Yang smiled. “Grandpa, you wait. This dish of mine is a secret recipe of the Cheng family, the kind that is passed down to the daughters and not the sons. I learned it secretly! When it’s out of the pot in a bit, you can eat a little more.”
After being busy for a while, he made two dishes and a soup: minced meat with eggplant, wood ear fungus with yam, and winter melon and pork rib soup.
They were all the light flavors that Mi Hong usually liked to eat. When the dishes were ready, the rice in the rice cooker was also just right. Mi Yang served the rice and sat down to eat with the old man.
Mi Hong took a bite and, for once, praised him, “You’ve learned to cook. That’s good.”
Mi Yang smiled. “Is it even more delicious than what my dad makes? Xiaoxue gave me a score the other day. Besides my mom, I got the highest score in our family.”
The corner of Mi Hong’s mouth moved, and he nodded. “You’ve done well. It’ll be easier to get a wife in the future.”
Mi Yang, sitting opposite him, smiled again.
The old man had only said these two sentences during the whole meal. He didn’t eat much and looked even thinner than before. But a forest ranger had to go out often, so on the contrary, he looked a little stronger, like a candle that had burned to its last bit, quiet and silent, but standing there steadily, fulfilling his promise.
After the meal, Mi Hong also rushed Mi Yang to go back. His place was small, and there was no place for him to stay.
Mi Yang took two steps away, then secretly went back and peeked. He was worried about the old man being alone here. Although the water and electricity were complete, he still felt sorry for Mi Hong being all alone.
Through the window, he could see Mi Hong bent over, seriously wiping the table again, then placing a palm-sized photo frame on the table and talking to the photo inside.
Mi Yang couldn’t hear what he was saying through the window, but when the old man was talking in a low voice, his expression was serious, and his gaze was also much softer.
Mi Hong had never been greedy for pleasure. The only thing he had ever been greedy for was probably the person he had been with through thick and thin.
That person was gone, and he himself had nothing more to want.
The old man handled his daily chores neatly every day. For him, on the contrary, he was looking forward to going to another world. There was no fear, only full of expectation, the expectation of being reunited with the person he had been with for so many years in that other world.
He talked to the photo frame by himself for a while. A rare smile appeared on his old, stern face. He raised his hand and carefully wiped the photo frame, his fingers landing on the photo and he couldn’t help but rub it, calling her name softly.
Mi Yang watched for a while, then, at ease, he quietly left.
