Chapter 30
May 1st, a short holiday.
In the bustling scenic area, Jian Wu squeezed his way out of the crowd with great effort.
He was carrying a large backpack, several bottles of water, and a camera, his forehead covered in sweat.
Ms. Jian Yu, draped in a red cape, was posing with a beautiful smile by the landmark stone tablet in the scenic area. Perhaps because she had been waiting impatiently, the beautiful smile was slightly strained: “Are you done yet? My face is about to freeze from smiling.”
“Alright, alright,” Jian Wu quickly put away his camera and showed her the photos, “Take a look.”
Jian Yu handed him a small handheld fan, admiring the photos of herself, and nodded: “Okay, not bad, good job.”
A refined-looking man in a Zhongshan suit stood beside her and said with concern: “Xiao Wu, if you’re hot, I can carry the backpack.”
“No need, Uncle Zhao,” Jian Wu waved his hand, “Just enjoy yourselves, you and Mom.”
This Uncle Zhao was his mother’s boyfriend. They had met in middle age and had been together for five or six years, getting along quite well.
Zhao Bin, hearing him say this, partly to appease Jian Yu, partly out of genuine envy, said: “Xiao Wu is so sensible, unlike my brat.”
Young people usually had few holidays and generally didn’t like the crowds in scenic areas. But Jian Yu’s son knew his mother loved traveling, and since online booking wasn’t very user-friendly for the elderly, he would usually set aside time during longer holidays to accompany his mother.
Jian Yu glanced at Jian Wu, her voice seemingly amused, but with a more complex emotion than simple appreciation: “He’s rebellious.”
Jian Wu lowered his head, putting away his camera, and chuckled: “Mom’s right, I’m very rebellious.”
He put on the tour guide microphone he had borrowed from the school, held up a small flag, and changed the subject: “There are even more people up ahead, follow me closely.”
Whenever Jian Wu accompanied his mother on trips, he always acted as a tour guide, from booking flights and accommodations to planning the itinerary and even using his professional knowledge to explain the sights, he took care of everything.
He had done his “homework” thoroughly the night before, and his explanations were so good that many people actually took him for a tour guide, following along and listening.
Jian Wu even turned up the volume slightly to make sure everyone could hear.
They walked until the sun was high in the sky, the increasingly intense sun, which had been hiding behind the clouds, now shining down directly. The group of uncles and aunts, with their kind smiles, were listening intently and were about to continue walking when Jian Wu, parched, finally stopped: “No, I really need to rest for a bit.”
He found a pavilion for Jian Yu and Zhao Bin to sit down, but a few uncles and aunts who were particularly fond of him immediately surrounded him, inquiring about his relationship status.
Jian Wu was used to this kind of scene, but it still took him quite some effort to escape the elders’ “concern.” He sat down beside Jian Yu, somewhat flustered, and let out a long sigh.
“My son is indeed a handsome young man,” Jian Yu teased him, “So popular wherever he goes.”
“Where’s Uncle Zhao?” Jian Wu, sensing the direction of the conversation, was afraid his mother would start talking about relationships again, so he looked around for Zhao Bin to change the subject.
Jian Yu didn’t give him the chance: “He went to the restroom.”
Jian Wu, unable to escape, simply gave up.
There was still plenty of space in the pavilion. Jian Wu put down his bags, his forehead covered in sweat. He turned on the fan and asked: “Mom, just say what you want to say.”
Jian Yu looked at him and said: “Speaking of which, I heard from Aunt Xu that you and Shuci are in contact again?”
“…” Jian Wu said, “Why does Aunt Xu tell you everything?”
“Of course,” Jian Yu raised an eyebrow and patted him, “You’ve only known Shuci for twenty-some years, Aunt Xu and I have been friends for forty or fifty years.”
“Alright, alright, I know you two are close.”
“…I just forgot to tell you that day he went to B Medical University,” Jian Wu fiddled with his fingers, confessing, “And then we ran into each other.”
“That’s quite a coincidence,” Jian Yu said.
“What coincidence,” Jian Wu complained, “Our school is too small.”
“Jian Wu.”
Being called by his full name by his mother usually meant nothing good. Jian Wu looked up: “Ah?”
Jian Yu stared at him, a hint of scrutiny in her beautiful eyes, which were identical to his. “Mom’s asking you, do you two still have feelings for each other?”
The late spring air was already dry and hot. Jian Wu pursed his lips and avoided the question: “Do you want us to… or not?”
Jian Yu looked at him and didn’t speak immediately.
Actually, in the first few years after he came out, his mother strongly opposed it.
Not just his mother, but also Song Shuci’s parents. The three of them would discuss strategies together, saying hurtful things and even resorting to violence to separate them. The biggest pressure was cutting off their tuition and living expenses, forcing him and Song Shuci to work multiple part-time jobs while studying.
After a year or two, perhaps because none of their tactics worked, the three adults calmed down a lot, and their scheming turned into comforting each other.
Song Shuci’s parents changed their stance a little earlier, partly because Song Shuci came out to them two or three years earlier than he did, so the most intense emotions had already passed.
The other reason was that, knowing their son was gay, the fact that he was dating a boy they both liked and knew well was considered a blessing in disguise.
But Jian Wu’s mother was different.
Jian Yu had never really accepted his relationship with Song Shuci. She had compromised and stopped her strong opposition back then because of her friendship with Aunt Xu, but secretly, she still controlled Jian Wu’s living expenses, not allowing the Song family to give him money, hoping to slowly wear them down.
So, hearing his mother say this, Jian Wu’s first reaction was that she was testing him.
Unexpectedly, Jian Yu was silent for a moment, then also started reminiscing about their past attempts to break them up.
“Xiao Wu, do you remember, when the three of us adults found out about you and Xiao Song, we took you to your dad’s grave and asked if you would break up? Xiao Song immediately knelt down in front of your dad’s grave and said he was sorry to your dad, sorry to us.”
Jian Yu’s description was so vivid that it was hard not to remember. Jian Wu tried to dispel the overly clear memory by looking at the scenery: “That was so long ago… I’ve forgotten.”
“You forgot, but I haven’t,” Jian Yu snorted, but the anger from back then was gone, “I still remember, you knelt down with Xiao Song, like two stubborn rocks. We couldn’t even pull you up. You knelt there all night, and the three of us stayed with you. At dawn, Uncle Song asked you again if you would break up, and you still said no… We were so angry, we took you to the hospital while wishing we could stuff you back into our bellies and give birth to you again.”
Jian Wu was amused by her words, but also felt a sense of nostalgia.
Perhaps any emotion would gradually fade with time. This trivial, old story was only something his mother would bring up.
A hint of reminiscence flashed in Jian Yu’s eyes: “Actually, Mom’s saying this because I dreamed about your dad last night.”
Jian Wu’s father had been a well-known kind man, never arguing with his mother. After his death, perhaps afraid of disturbing his family, he rarely appeared in their dreams. Whenever he did, Jian Yu would always cry.
“Dad… is he doing well over there?” Jian Wu asked.
“He was dressed well, so he should be doing okay,” Jian Yu said, “He kept asking me how you were doing.”
Jian Wu fiddled with the fan’s switch, following his mother’s words: “I’m doing great, tell him to ask me himself next time.”
“He really should ask you himself,” Jian Yu patted Jian Wu’s hand, “Your dad also asked me yesterday, how did two people who insisted on being together, inseparable even with our opposition, just break up?”
Jian Wu’s fingers, playing with the fan, paused.
Both his parents were reserved people, not prone to directly expressing their true thoughts and feelings. When they didn’t want to say something directly, they would use metaphors.
Although Jian Wu wasn’t sure what Jian Yu was trying to express, he could guess that whether or not his dad had asked this question, it was at least something Jian Yu herself wanted to ask.
Jian Yu wanted to know why they broke up.
This was strange, because after he first told Jian Yu he and Song Shuci had broken up, his mother had never shown any curiosity, more like a sense of relief, and the words “That’s good, I also hope you can go back to being brothers.”
Jian Wu leaned back, his gaze falling on the clouds. A flock of birds flew across the sky, he couldn’t tell what kind.
He thought for a while, then, also using the Jian family’s indirect language, half-truthfully said to his mother: “Maybe because of a nest of swallows.”
Jian Yu, sensing her son’s subtle resistance to her roundabout questioning, smiled and decided to be straightforward: “Shuci is a good boy. If the reason for your breakup wasn’t some irreconcilable difference, and neither of you has found another suitable partner, you could try dating again.”
Jian Wu looked at his mother in shock, clearly surprised by her change of heart.
“Don’t look at me like that,” Jian Yu said, “When your grandpa passed away a while ago, I told you, arguing with your child your whole life, only to regret it in your old age, seems rather pointless. And you inherited your dad’s stubbornness, arguing with you would probably only hurt both of us.”
“Mom used to be afraid of people gossiping about you, always wanting to force you to be ‘normal.’ Now that I’m older, I realize life isn’t lived for others. Aunt Xu is right, since you can’t go back to liking girls, it’s better to be with Xiao Song than someone I don’t know, at least he’s someone we know well.”
Jian Wu’s mother was an only child. When they got married, her parents insisted that her husband had to marry into her family. Jian Wu’s father, a man with a gentle temper his whole life, only stood his ground on this matter, insisting on being with Jian Yu even if it meant marrying into her family. This angered his grandparents, who refused to see him again until he was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer, which was when Jian Wu met his grandparents for the first time.
Not long ago, his grandfather was critically ill, and he and his mother rushed back to take care of him. Before passing away, the old man wiped away his tears and said the only thing he regretted in his life was arguing with his son. He kept calling his father’s name until his last breath, perhaps his deceased son had really come to take him away.
Jian Wu remembered that Jian Yu seemed quite moved that day. He hadn’t expected her to think so much about it.
But this belated understanding was still belated. He and Song Shuci wouldn’t change their minds for their parents’ wishes before, and they wouldn’t now.
“Mom,” Jian Wu sighed, remembering the argument with Song Shuci in the hallway that day, “You and Aunt Xu shouldn’t worry about this anymore, we’re really impossible.”
Perhaps she had anticipated this, or perhaps as she grew older, Jian Yu became less and less inclined to lecture her child. Faced with Jian Wu’s blunt refusal, she just smiled regretfully: “I just dreamed about your dad, it was just a casual remark, don’t feel pressured.”
Seeing Jian Wu didn’t want to continue this topic, she changed the subject: “Xiao Wu, actually, there’s something else I want to tell you.”
“What is it?”
Jian Yu glanced at the direction where Zhao Bin had gone to the restroom: “Your Uncle Zhao and I… are planning to get married.” She smiled, “I wonder if your dad appeared in my dream because of this.”
Jian Wu was stunned for a moment before saying: “Uncle Zhao’s son isn’t causing trouble anymore?”
Zhao Bin’s situation was similar to theirs. His wife had passed away years ago, leaving him to raise their child alone. It wasn’t until his son went to university in another city that he started socializing and met his mother.
Actually, the two elders had planned to get married last year, but Zhao Bin’s son had been against it, so it was delayed.
“After you talked to him last time, he seemed to have changed his mind,” Jian Yu said.
“That’s great,” Jian Wu smiled, “Congratulations, Mom.”
He looked at his mother. Age hadn’t diminished her beauty. Despite experiencing the double blow of his father’s early death and his coming out, raising him alone from middle school to university, Ms. Jian Yu was still elegant and beautiful, only with more gray hair at her temples and more wrinkles around her beautiful double eyelids.
He knew, half of them were for his father, half for him.
Fortunately, his mother had now found someone to be with her.
“Actually, Mom always felt a little guilty,” Jian Yu said, “When Zhao’s son didn’t agree with our marriage, I was also worried you would disagree. I didn’t expect you to agree without hesitation. It reminded me of a few years ago, when you and Xiao Song were together, I always felt that if I hadn’t opposed you so strongly, maybe you would also have someone by your side now.”
“Aiya,” Jian Wu, seeing his mother still dwelling on this, hurriedly said, “People change, no one can predict the future. Isn’t it a bit much to criticize your past self based on your current thoughts? I already said it has nothing to do with you, can you stop blaming yourself for everything? Besides, your son is a grown man, it’s not like I don’t have internet or entertainment, I won’t die of loneliness.”
He stood up, clearly not wanting to continue this topic.
“Let’s go find Uncle Zhao, he’s been in the restroom for so long, he might be lost.”
Jian Yu, helped up by him, could only sigh helplessly and stop her nagging.
Zhao Bin, having just relieved himself, came out of the restroom feeling refreshed and saw both of them looking for him. He asked in surprise: “Why are you both here?”
Seeing Jian Yu didn’t speak, he asked sensitively: “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
“My mom’s feeling a little hot and stuffy sitting there,” Jian Wu said evasively, “So I’m taking her for a walk.”
“Then I’ll go buy you guys some ice cream?” Zhao Bin suggested, “I just saw they’re selling Qiao Le Zi over there, Xiao Yu likes that.”
Zhao Bin was better at coaxing Jian Yu than he was. Seeing Jian Yu smile again, Jian Wu breathed a sigh of relief and checked his phone.
Lou Xi had told him a while ago that he had found a tenant and wanted to come over to see the apartment, but with the mid-term exams approaching, he had been very busy. When he got home, he just wanted to lie down and watch some mindless variety shows. He really didn’t want to entertain guests. He had finally gotten a May Day holiday, and he had to spend it with his family, so naturally, he couldn’t care about the tenant.
Fortunately, Lou Xi was enthusiastic and said he would take the person to see the apartment himself. If they liked it, they could sign the contract directly.
Jian Wu simply gave the signed rental contract to Lou Xi and asked him to handle it. Lou Xi had just sent him several messages, saying the person had arrived and asking if he wanted to join a video call to see the apartment together, but he had been busy chatting with Jian Yu and hadn’t paid attention.
Now he replied to the messages. Lou Xi said the person had already left.
He called Lou Xi: “How did it go?”
“He was quite satisfied,” Lou Xi said, “He already signed the contract.”
“He signed it already?” Jian Wu said, “Didn’t he want to meet me? Isn’t he afraid I’m not a good person?”
Lou Xi chuckled: “Mainly because I won’t be here after May Day, and you’ll only get busier, so I just let him sign it. I told him you’re a teacher at our affiliated middle school, a reliable person. And I also told him the initial contract is for three months, if you two don’t get along, you just have to tolerate each other for three months at most.”
Unlike other landlords, Jian Wu preferred signing a three-month contract for the first time, mainly because the person would be living with him, and if their living habits clashed, earning the money wouldn’t be worth the hassle.
“Who wouldn’t get along with me,” Jian Wu joked, “If we don’t get along, it’s his problem.”
“Indeed,” Lou Xi fully supported him, “No one is easier to get along with than Jian Ge.”
He then sent Jian Wu a transfer: “I gave him your WeChat, but I told him you’re traveling and might not be able to check your phone, so he transferred the money to me first, three months’ rent and one month’s deposit in total. Jian Ge, please accept it.”
Jian Wu hummed in agreement, opened his phone, and accepted the transfer, then asked: “When is he moving in?”
“He could move in now, but he heard you’re not here recently, so he said he would wait until you’re back,” Lou Xi said considerately, “I told him to come on the last day of the holiday, you should be back by then, right?”
“I’m back, I came back the day before yesterday.”
“Okay, Jian Ge, don’t worry, I’ve already cleaned my room, he can move in directly when he arrives.”
“Thanks for your trouble,” Jian Wu asked with concern, “When are you leaving?”
“The overnight train tonight.”
“Tonight?”
“Yes,” Lou Xi sounded excited, “I’ve been looking at travel guides for City A these past two days. If I have time after I arrive, I want to travel around. Jian Ge, do you think City A is fun?”
To be fair, although City A was a bit competitive, it was indeed quite fun.
Receiving Jian Wu’s affirmative answer, Lou Xi said happily: “I’m even more excited now, I’m afraid I won’t be able to sleep on the train tonight.”
Hearing his excitement, Jian Wu couldn’t help but recall his first time going to City A.
He had just escaped the misery of his senior year of high school and, with good luck, achieved his best score, getting accepted into a university even better than his target school. He was full of anticipation for City A and his future life, imagining a wonderful university life with fun clubs, leisure time, and his boyfriend, a truly glorious moment in his life.
He remembered that before going to City A, he, like Lou Xi, had made a bunch of travel plans. Song Shuci said everything was good in City A, except for the food, which was too bland. So, during that time, he and Song Shuci went to all the good restaurants in City B, each dish spicy enough to make them gasp for air, enjoying the spicy food to their hearts’ content before going to City A.
Because Song Shuci said it was difficult to find such spicy food in City A.
Thinking of this, Jian Wu suddenly felt a craving.
“By the way, ask the tenant if he eats spicy food,” he asked Lou Xi.
Lou Xi immediately guessed: “Are you planning something?”
“Mm,” Jian Wu said, “To showcase my culinary skills to the new tenant.”
“Holy crap, is Chef Jian returning to the culinary world?” Lou Xi said, “That’s so nice of you!”
“Of course,” Jian Wu said, “My goal is to become City B’s top ten landlords, making all my tenants feel the warmth of home.”
Lou Xi instantly felt envious: “Jian Ge, I also want to eat–”
“No share for you, you’ll be gone by the time I get back,” Jian Wu chuckled, “Besides, I cooked for you when you first arrived.”
“It was so delicious that I miss it even more! You haven’t cooked in so long.”
“Then come find me next time you’re back in City B. By the way, what do you think of my Maoxuewang?” Jian Wu smiled, comforting Lou Xi while quickly typing on his phone, thinking about the ingredients he needed to prepare.
Lou Xi said resentfully: “You’re so fickle.”
“Should I add some pickled pepper beef and dry-fried green beans?”
“That’s too much!”
“Or would spicy beef and ox tongue slices be better?”
“Okay, okay, they’re all good! It’s not like I can eat them anyway.” Lou Xi hung up the phone, drooling.
Jian Wu shook his head and chuckled, clicking “save” on the memo he had just written.
Perfect.
Everything was ready, all he needed was the tenant.
