Chapter 48

Chapter 48

"Let's not talk about that for now." Wang Wanru put down her teacup, took Ji Yunshu's hand, and stood up. A gentle smile returned to her face as she decided to lightly brush aside those unpleasant topics. "Let me take you upstairs to see your room."

"Your eldest brother and sister-in-law live in the middle of the second floor, your father and I live on the east side, and Lizi's room is in between. The rooms on the west side were originally for guests, but now they're used as temporary offices for the comrades who come to inventory the cultural relics. Your room is across from your father's and mine, with the best sunlight. It used to be your father's study when you were little, and now we've cleared it out for you."

She led Ji Yunshu up the stairs as she spoke. The stairs were made of wood, and the craftsmanship was solid—they felt very steady underfoot. The second-floor hallway was designed like many Western-style mansions, with oil paintings lining both walls, though some walls were bare—the relics there had apparently already been catalogued and shipped off.

At the end of the hallway was a small window through which the branches of a ginkgo tree could be seen. Morning sunlight filtered through the bare branches, casting dappled light across the wooden floor. Wang Wanru pushed open a door in the middle of the hallway and stepped aside to let Ji Yunshu enter first.

The room was much larger than she had imagined. The high ceiling had a simple ring of plaster molding, and the walls were painted a soft cream, giving the room a gentle, peaceful feel. The window was large, facing the garden outside, and thanks to the building's height, she could just make out the pond in the middle of the garden.

Wang Wanru explained that the curtains were new—she'd sewn them herself. The old curtains had gotten dusty over time and were hard to wash, and since the household staff had been let go, she'd just swapped in new ones. The light blue cotton had tiny white floral prints—not too heavy—and added a bit of life to the room.

In the middle of the room sat a big carved rosewood bed with fluffy, soft bedding. Because of the cold weather, Wang Wanru had worried Ji Yunshu might not be used to the cold, so she'd put out two thick quilts for her to use as needed. The bedsheet was also light blue, matching the curtains, and the pillowcases were washed spotless, with corners ironed perfectly flat.

By the window sat a desk and a rattan chair with a woven back. A sheet of glass covered the desk, and under it was an old photo of the Meng family. On the desk sat a small vase holding a few branches of wintersweet freshly cut from the garden. The pale yellow petals were almost translucent in the winter sun, giving off a faint, elusive cold scent. The wardrobe was an antique rosewood piece with carved lotus-vine patterns on the doors and brass handles polished to a shine. Ji Yunshu opened the wardrobe doors to find two new quilts neatly folded inside, plus a set of spare sheets. In the corner was a little sachet sewn from fabric scraps that smelled faintly of osmanthus—probably something Wang Wanru had made herself.

"The room's a bit plain. We had to hand over so many of the family's relics, so the house feels emptier now. I made the sheets and curtains myself. I didn't know what color you'd like, so I picked this—figured light blue would go with anything. If you don't like it, I can get some other fabric and make new ones." Wang Wanru stood at the door watching her, hands clasped in front of her, her tone a little hesitant, like she was afraid she hadn't done enough, afraid her daughter might be disappointed.

Ji Yunshu turned around, eyes bright, her voice filled with undisguised delight: "It's beautiful, really beautiful. The color of these curtains is the same as a dress I love, and the quilts are so soft." She walked over to the bed and pressed down on the mattress—soft and springy. The bedding was thick cotton, so she wouldn't get cold at night.

Seeing the sincerity in Ji Yunshu's eyes, Wang Wanru's hesitation slowly melted away. She came over to stand beside Ji Yunshu and showed her the bathroom attached to the suite: "You've been on the train for two days—you must be exhausted. Take a hot bath and get a good sleep. I've already heated up the water."

Ji Yunshu was about to nod when something came to her: "Mom, are you going to the subdistrict office this afternoon?"

Wang Wanru nodded. "I signed up for volunteer work this afternoon too. We're going to clean the canal outside the garden in the next alley, scooping out fallen leaves and duckweed. There are a lot of fallen leaves in winter—if we don't clear them, they'll clog the canal and it'll stink by spring."

Hearing this, that sour feeling rose up in Ji Yunshu's chest again. She'd experienced Suzhou's winter firsthand that morning—the river wind stung her face like little knives. Wang Wanru was over fifty now, and she still had to bend over by the river scooping duckweed. Ji Yunshu immediately said, "Then I'll come with you. I'll just take a nap at noon—I actually slept a lot on the train, so I'm not that tired."

Wang Wanru quickly shook her head, her tone full of both worry and determination: "No, the wind by the river is strong. You're frail, and your anemia hasn't fully cleared up yet. What if you catch a cold? You stay home and rest. I'll be back soon after I'm done."

But Ji Yunshu was even more determined. She reached out and took Wang Wanru's hand—her hand had gotten a bit rough from the volunteer work these past weeks. Ji Yunshu looked into Wang Wanru's eyes and said slowly, word by word: "Mom, I came all the way from the island to see you. I didn't come here to sit at home waiting for you to finish your work. Your volunteer work is my volunteer work too. I'm coming with you."

Wang Wanru looked at the determination in her eyes, froze for a moment, and then her eyes got red again. She didn't refuse again, just gently patted the back of Ji Yunshu's hand and said, "Alright."

Ji Yunshu took a bath and slept for about an hour before waking up on her own. The wardrobe had clothes Wang Wanru had bought for her—only three sets, but enough to rotate through during her stay.

Ji Yunshu changed and came downstairs to find Wang Wanru had already laid out two pairs of thick work gloves, two bamboo rain hats, and two long bamboo pole nets. The two of them headed out together. Ji Yunshu first went to the subdistrict office with Wang Wanru to check in.

When Wang Wanru led Ji Yunshu into the brick bungalow of the Subdistrict Office, several staff members inside were hard at work, while a few residents gathered around the stove, warming themselves and chatting.

When they saw Wang Wanru come in, most people just glanced up, gave an indifferent look, and went back to their conversations. But some staff members greeted her with smiles, asking if she needed anything.

Wang Wanru introduced Ji Yunshu to them: "This is my daughter, just got back. She's here to join me in the volunteer work."

The staff member nodded and asked, "Alright, what's your name?"

"Ji Yunshu," she introduced herself. "I'm the biological daughter of Wang Wanru and Meng Guangze. I'm currently living on the military base on Qiongzhou Island. I came back this week just to visit my parents."

As Ji Yunshu's words fell, the staff member exclaimed in surprise, "Comrade, you're a military family member?"

"Yes, my husband is a soldier, a Deputy Regiment Level cadre, currently working at the Qiongzhou Island Military District." Although most people around hadn't said anything, Ji Yunshu could sense from the subtle atmosphere that some people didn't treat Wang Wanru well. Since she was here, she wasn't going to just stand by and do nothing.

Ji Yunshu took out her revolutionary military family member certificate. The inside page recorded the soldier's name, unit designation, position, and the certificate holder—her own name, relationship, and address—stamped with the large red seal of the Armed Forces Department, noting that she was entitled to preferential treatment for military families. ①

The staff member took the certificate, saw the bright red official seal, and their attitude immediately improved: "Comrade Ji, you don't actually need to do volunteer work at our subdistrict office. Military family members have preferential policies—we understand. Just let us know if you need anything."

A staff member who looked like the director, who had been sitting nearby, immediately stood up and said, "So you're a military family member! You must be tired from the long journey. Actually, Auntie Wang doesn't need to come for volunteer work so often either. She's getting on in years—there are plenty of us young people to handle these things."

Ji Yunshu glanced at Wang Wanru. She was standing quietly to the side, holding the two bamboo pole nets, her face expressionless—neither flattered by the director's enthusiasm toward her daughter nor showing any discontent about the cold treatment she usually received when checking in. She just stood there quietly, like an old tree that had stood in the wind for many years and grown accustomed to its direction.

Ji Yunshu turned to the director and smiled, her voice clear and candid: "Thank you for your kindness, but I'm here to accompany my mother. She wants to contribute to the community, and as her daughter, I should support her. Besides, labor is the most glorious thing."

"Military family members truly have great awareness. Comrade Xiao Ji, you're excellent." The director praised her repeatedly.

After his words, most of the probing or contemptuous looks finally withdrew, and no one cast those subtle glances at Wang Wanru anymore.

After registering at the subdistrict office, Wang Wanru led Ji Yunshu to the site of the volunteer work.

The location was outside the garden in the neighboring alley. The canal wasn't wide, but it wound its way along the garden's outer wall. The surface was covered with withered plane tree leaves and patches of dark green duckweed. The winter river water was gray, reflecting the bare branches on the bank and the grayish-white sky.

Joining them in clearing the canal were several neighborhood activists, mostly wearing gray cotton-padded jackets with red armbands on their sleeves. They gathered in small groups, chatting while scooping duckweed, occasionally bursting into laughter. Some of them, upon seeing Wang Wanru, wore expressions of obvious disgust. Others pretended not to see her. Some looked at her with seemingly friendly eyes, but not one dared to speak to her.

Wang Wanru seemed entirely accustomed to this. She didn't say much, simply finding a spot with Ji Yunshu where the duckweed and leaves hadn't yet been cleared.

Ji Yunshu and Wang Wanru stood side by side on the bluestone steps by the river, each holding a long bamboo pole net. Wang Wanru demonstrated—extend the net flat against the water's surface, twist the wrist, scoop up a layer of leaves and duckweed, then flip it over to dump into the bamboo basket beside them.

Ji Yunshu followed her lead. At first she was clumsy, slapping the net against the water several times without catching anything. Wang Wanru moved to stand beside her, reaching out to help adjust the angle of the pole, her voice soft and gentle: "Twist your wrist, don't use too much force. Keep it close to the water's surface."

Ji Yunshu learned quickly and was soon scooping quite proficiently. The two of them worked quietly, and although no one came to talk to them, Ji Yunshu could occasionally feel gazes drifting toward her and Wang Wanru.

Ji Yunshu understood. Although the Meng family had ostensibly shed the "capitalist" label, stopped the fixed interest payments, and turned over their family wealth, in many people's hearts, the Meng family was still different from them. The Meng family was too wealthy, Meng Guangze and Wang Wanru had no airs about them, and they had no relatives with particularly good class backgrounds—so the Meng family became fodder for gossip over tea and meals.

"That wife of the Meng family who used to be so rich—now she has to do volunteer work and clean up just like us?"

"Be grateful they're even allowed out. They say they turned over their wealth, but who knows if they hid some?"

"So-and-so said the Meng boss was a good person. If he were a good person, could he be a capitalist? Those two words don't go together!"

Ji Yunshu could easily imagine what these people said about Wang Wanru and Meng Guangze behind their backs.

Just then, Wang Wanru's net accidentally tangled with the net of a stout woman beside her. She quickly apologized, her tone warm and sincere. The stout woman snorted through her nose, yanked her net free, and turned back to continue chatting with the person next to her, not even giving Wang Wanru a proper look.

A tall, thin woman nearby said in a voice just loud enough to be carried by the wind, "The capitalist lady is scooping river mud too—the sun must be rising from the west," which drew a burst of laughter from the women around her. Wang Wanru acted as if she hadn't heard, simply extending her net again and continuing to scoop duckweed.

But Ji Yunshu heard it. Her fingers gripping the bamboo pole tightened suddenly, her fingertips pressing into the cold bamboo, fury surging through her as blood rushed to her head. She was about to open her mouth when Wang Wanru's hand reached over and gently pressed down on her wrist. The pressure was light, yet carried an unshakeable firmness, as if telling her: don't argue with them, it's not worth it.

Ji Yunshu turned to look at Wang Wanru. Wang Wanru wasn't looking at her—her gaze rested on the thick layer of leaves on the river's surface, and she said softly to Ji Yunshu: "It's fine, don't bother with them. They're just running their mouths. It's cold out—let's finish quickly and go home to warm up."

Ji Yunshu swallowed the words that had risen to her lips and silently continued swinging her net. She watched Wang Wanru's back as she bent over to scoop duckweed. The cuffs of Wang Wanru's dark gray wool coat were slightly worn, and a few strands of hair had escaped into the river wind without her bothering to tuck them back, but she remained focused, extending her net to the densest patches of duckweed, scooping again and again.

Ji Yunshu suddenly realized that Wang Wanru had experienced far more cold stares in her lifetime than she could probably imagine—enough that she could say "let's finish quickly and go home" with such calm. The calmness made Ji Yunshu feel as if her heart were filled with sourness, swelling until her eyes ached.

In the end, Ji Yunshu obediently completed the volunteer work as Wang Wanru had instructed, and the two of them quickly returned home.

After finishing the volunteer work, Ji Yunshu told Wang Wanru she wanted to go to the post office to call Pei Yufeng and let him know she'd arrived safely. Wang Wanru wrapped a scarf around her and told her to go quickly and come right back.

It happened to be Pei Yufeng's off-work time. Ji Yunshu made the call, and the operator quickly connected the long-distance line. Through the receiver came Pei Yufeng's deep voice, accompanied by the faint static of long-distance lines, but the moment his voice reached her ears, Ji Yunshu felt the tension that had gripped her nerves all afternoon suddenly release.

"It's me," Pei Yufeng said on the other end. "Is it cold there? Did you bring enough warm clothes?"

"Enough. Mom also prepared thick clothes for me here—sweaters and padded jackets. I arrived home safely, don't worry. Mom and Dad are both doing well. The house is bigger than I imagined. I'll tell you all about it later." Ji Yunshu gripped the receiver, trying to make her voice sound light and cheerful.

But Pei Yufeng's words on the other end of the line cut through all her pretense: "Your voice sounds low. Did something happen?"

Ji Yunshu's fingers around the receiver tightened slightly. She leaned against the cold wooden wall of the post office and briefly told him about what had happened that afternoon. When she mentioned the stout woman's look, her voice trembled slightly despite herself, but she quickly pushed the sourness back down and laughed into the receiver: "I knew this would happen. I expected it. The capitalist label has been removed, but the impression in people's minds isn't so easily erased. It's fine. I just feel bad for Mom. I'll be fine after a good night's sleep. Don't worry about me—I'm doing well."

"You..."

Before Pei Yufeng could speak again, Ji Yunshu quickly said, "There's really nothing wrong. It's just that I wasn't quite used to it at first, but the military family member certificate really works well. I showed it at the street office and it really gave my mom a boost of face!"

Seeing that Ji Yunshu didn't want to continue discussing what had just happened, Pei Yufeng changed the subject: "Why didn't Mom take you to the department stores in Su City? Did you bring enough money? If there's something you like, buy it—don't worry about saving for me."

"Well, I still have to be frugal. It's not like I want to buy everything." Ji Yunshu hummed in response. "Alright, long-distance calls are expensive, so I'll hang up now. Don't worry about me."

After hanging up, she gathered her scarf tighter around her, took a deep breath of Su City's cold winter air, and walked home with Wang Wanru.

When they got home, Meng Chongwen and Gan Tang had already returned. Winter had arrived, and the number of patients at the hospital had surged, keeping the two of them busy at the pharmacy. Gan Tang's baby bump was just starting to show, and she was wearing loose clothing. She was delighted to see Ji Yunshu and beckoned her over for a chat.

But Meng Chongwen didn't treat Ji Yunshu warmly. When he saw her, he barely acknowledged her before walking off, clearly still upset that Ji Yunshu had advised Wang Wanru to give up the fixed interest payments.

But Ji Yunshu held her ground with quiet dignity, and no one in the family supported Meng Chongwen's view, so he could only leave in a huff, fuming.

The next two days passed quietly but busily. During the day, Wang Wanru volunteered her time to patch and mend clothes for the orphanage children, and Ji Yunshu accompanied her, helping her organize things. Sometimes Ji Yunshu also helped Meng Guangze sort through the ancient books that were to be inventoried. She carefully used a soft brush to whisk the accumulated dust off the book spines bit by bit, then wrapped them in tissue paper and placed them in wooden crates.

Meng Guangze didn't say much, but every time Ji Yunshu finished wrapping a book, he would take it and carefully inspect it, then give a slight nod and say, "Well wrapped." Ji Yunshu couldn't help but think about how many ups and downs Meng Guangze and Wang Wanru had weathered in their lives to be able to sit so calmly beside her during this painful moment of handing over their family assets piece by piece. If she hadn't had that prophetic dream, she might have been crying and refusing to go along with it, convinced that others were trying to cheat her.

Indeed, Meng Guangze and Wang Wanru had a strong sense of the bigger picture; otherwise, the Meng family business wouldn't have grown so large, nor would they have been so wealthy.

On the evening of December 6th, Ji Yunshu accompanied Wang Wanru to deliver the finished clothes and bedding to the orphanage. On their way back, it started snowing in Su City.

Ji Yunshu had never seen snow in Su City before, and it was very different from the snow back in the capital. The snow in the capital fell early and heavily, quickly forming a thick layer on the ground. When she was a child, she often had snowball fights with Ji Yunting in the family compound, grabbing handfuls and throwing them at his face.

But the snow in Su City was different. It was mixed with rain, and the snowflakes were tiny, melting into water the moment they landed in her palm. The ground was wet, making it hard to tell whether there was more rain or snow.

Ji Yunshu really wanted to tell Pei Yufeng about this peculiar difference. How strange—though they were in the same country, at the same moment, the island was still bathed in sunshine, where she could wear just a thin long skirt and Pei Yufeng only a simple shirt. But in Su City, it was damp and cold, with moisture permeating the air and a biting wind that stung the face—different from the capital's cold wind as well. Even in places where it snowed, the snow was different.

Wang Wanru told Ji Yunshu to walk carefully, because after the snow fell, the water on the ground would quickly turn to ice, making it easy to slip.

Ji Yunshu acknowledged this, hooking her arm affectionately through Wang Wanru's as the two of them, wearing thick hats, hurried home as fast as they could.

Just as they reached the entrance of the alley, she spotted a familiar figure at the mouth of the lane.

A figure she had never expected to see.

The dim yellow streetlamp in the alley cast its light on that tall, upright silhouette, making it appear even more elongated.

Pei Yufeng stood beneath the streetlamp, wearing a heavy military overcoat, a thin layer of snowflakes dusting his shoulders, and holding a dark brown suitcase in his hand. Frost particles clung to his eyebrows, and his lips were chapped and peeling, as if he hadn't had water in a long time—clearly he had come straight from the train.

But those eyes were quietly, intently fixed on her.

Ji Yunshu's breath caught for a moment. Her mind hadn't yet processed the scene—Why was Pei Yufeng here? When did he get leave? From the island to Su City required a boat ride and then a train transfer, taking nearly two full days and nights. How had he arrived so quickly?

Before Ji Yunshu could think further, her body reacted even before her mind did. By the time she realized it, she was already sprinting toward Pei Yufeng.

"Why are you here?" Ji Yunshu practically ran to him in three quick strides. Stopping in front of him, she looked up at his face, her voice crisp and clear in the quiet alley, the tail end trembling slightly. "Wasn't I about to come back soon? Do you even have leave left? Will the military allow you to just run off like this? Isn't it the preparation period now? You—"

"It's fine, I already requested leave." Pei Yufeng slowly began to answer her questions one by one. He set the suitcase down on the ground, reached out to retie her scarf, which had come loose from her running, and his knuckles brushed lightly across her chin. His hands were cold, his fingertips carrying the rough sensation of winter night chill, but the gesture was as gentle as if he were touching something precious and fragile.

"Your voice on the phone sounded off." Pei Yufeng's voice was rendered especially deep by the silence of the winter night, each word turning into a small puff of white mist in the cold air. "I took leave to come see you."

Author's note:

Thank you for reading. Paragraph ① is a quotation.