Chapter 53

The people of the Li family all cherished children. Seeing Mingxi so dispirited, they became extremely anxious. Grandma Li was afraid that the more she tried to comfort Mingxi, the worse he would feel. Not only did she refrain from saying anything herself, but she also forbade Li Muwu and Wang Sufen from consoling him, fearing that it would only make the child feel even worse. A group of adults squatted outside in worry, unable to do anything but let Mingnan and Mingbei keep him company. However, Mingxi, lacking energy, didn’t want to say a single word—he just wanted to be alone for a while.

Zhenzhen moved closer to Mingxi. Seeing him so out of sorts, she didn’t say much either, instead pondering what kind of appetite-boosting food she could bring back. In Zhenzhen’s view, nothing in the world was more important than eating. No matter how unhappy one was, having a good meal could improve one’s mood.

Seizing a moment when Grandma Li wasn’t paying attention, Zhenzhen once again slipped off to Ice City and secretly filled in the five large pits. What she didn’t know was that, not long after she left, the unwilling Miao Fuhai, still doubtful about whether he had taken the wrong path, insisted on coming back for another look. Otherwise, he simply wouldn’t be able to let it go. But when the group returned to the spot, some of the more timid ones immediately burst into tears, and one coward even wet his pants in fear.

“My god, we just turned around for a moment, and those massive pits disappeared without a trace? This place is definitely haunted—this is terrifying!”

Although “smashing the Four Olds” was in full swing, the Northeast was still full of strange and mysterious stories. These people had all grown up listening to tales about weasels and fox spirits and had watched many spirit-calling rituals in their childhood. Even though they now outwardly supported the movement, deep down, they still believed in supernatural occurrences.

In less than twelve hours, they had experienced one eerie event after another. Even the boldest among them, Miao Fuhai, was now terrified. When they got home, some developed fevers, others had nightmares. The elders in their families muttered that they had encountered spirits. Though they didn’t dare to openly burn offerings, their families still went out at night when no one was around to perform soul-calling rituals in secret.

As for the owners of the Western-style houses, only Meng Qingxiang had left the province early. The other four families, after leaving Ice City, finally discovered the large yellow croakers in their trunks. Seeing the heavy gold and the note that came with it, they were moved to tears. At this moment, what was the most practical thing? It had to be gold! Thinking back, there wasn’t much worth reminiscing about in the belongings they had left behind—no treasure was worth more than the lives of their families. Though they had no intention of ever redeeming those lost possessions, they all kept the note without discussing it, hoping that one day, when the world was at peace, they could return and thank the mysterious benefactor who had come to their aid in their time of need.

There are no walls in the world that don’t leak air. Miao Fuhai and the others didn’t dare to spread the news too openly, but within a few days, rumors were flying everywhere. Many curious onlookers came to see for themselves. Even some wealthy merchants living nearby sneaked over for a look. It was unclear whether they were uneasy about the current political climate or simply afraid of these bizarre events, but many capitalists and businessmen chose to leave Ice City.

Zhenzhen secretly visited various families, and if any of them had the intention of selling their possessions, she disguised herself and bought back their antiques and calligraphy. But that was a story for another time.

After filling the pits in Ice City, Zhenzhen didn’t busy herself with anything else. Instead, she carried a chair out from her treehouse and sat outside, studying where those buildings had gone. A whole night had passed, yet she still couldn’t figure out where exactly her space had hidden them.

Zhenzhen first touched her forehead. She still remembered that when she had traveled back to the 1960s, it had been because a drop of golden blood had struck her. But after feeling around for a long time, she couldn’t detect anything special—her body didn’t even react. She was still sitting steadily in her chair.

Since it wasn’t her forehead, Zhenzhen started searching for any unique features on her body. But her skin was fair and smooth, without a single mole. Frustrated, she retrieved a bag of dried apricots from her treehouse and absentmindedly tossed one into her mouth, gloomily ruminating on how she had managed to hide things in the first place.

It seemed like she had said something back then… Zhenzhen’s gaze fell on the dried apricots in her hand. After hesitating for a moment, she whispered, “Put away the dried apricots.” Almost instantly, the dried apricots in her hand disappeared.

Zhenzhen immediately stood up and looked around. Summoning her courage, she said again, “Put me away too.”

Suddenly, a passage appeared before her, glowing faintly. Summoning all her courage, Zhenzhen stepped in. The passage vanished, and she found herself in a strange place. Looking up, she could see the sun and clouds. She could feel the breeze on her skin and the solid ground beneath her feet. But there was no grass, no trees—only five Western-style houses standing starkly in the middle.

“This place feels lifeless. It’d look much better with some grass.”

As soon as she spoke, tiny green sprouts emerged from the ground, and in the blink of an eye, a lush, soft green lawn stretched out before her.

Previously, whenever Zhenzhen controlled plant growth, she needed at least some seeds. But this time, it happened just by saying it. She wasn’t sure if her abilities had leveled up or if this space was simply special.

Even through the thin soles of her shoes, she could feel the soft texture of the grass. She decided to take off her shoes and ran barefoot across the lawn. When she finally tired out, she walked up to one of the Western-style houses. The once tightly locked door slowly opened with just a light touch.

Zhenzhen patted her chest and gave a wry smile. “This feels like a horror movie. It’s way too creepy.”

Taking a look inside, she could still see traces of the owners’ hasty departure. She circled the living room once before habitually heading to the kitchen—she wanted to see if there was anything to eat.

As soon as Zhenzhen stepped into the kitchen, she was drawn in by the aroma of food. Following the scent, she walked over and saw a freshly pan-seared steak sizzling in a frying pan on the gas stove. Oil splattered as if the owner had left in a hurry, leaving the oily spatula abandoned at the side, teetering on the edge. On another burner, a pot of stew was simmering. Lifting the lid, she saw tomato-braised beef brisket inside. Zhenzhen couldn’t quite grasp this fusion of Chinese and Western cuisine, but she eagerly decided to devour the steak first.

She opened a cabinet, took out a beautiful plate and a silver knife and fork, carefully placed the steak on the plate, and found some black pepper sauce from the seasoning area, which she drizzled beside the steak.

Humming a tune, Zhenzhen carried the steak to the dining table. She slowly cut off a piece of meat with her fine silver knife and placed it in her mouth, chewing carefully. She had no idea which cut of beef this was, but it was thick, tender, and incredibly juicy. One bite in, and she couldn’t stop. If she weren’t underage, she would have poured herself a glass of red wine to go with it.

The steak was enough for two people, yet Zhenzhen, who had just eaten breakfast not long ago, finished it all. She patted her belly after a satisfied burp, deciding to do more work to digest the heavy meal.

Yesterday, after making dozens of trips, she had completely emptied Meng Qingxiang’s house. Now, she had to move everything back piece by piece. Most things were manageable, but the Ming Dynasty furniture and expensive antiques couldn’t be left outside for too long. If they were exposed to Beicha’s harsh winters, with temperatures dropping to minus thirty or forty degrees and snow reaching thigh-high depths, the furniture would crack within a few years.

After working all morning, Zhenzhen finally moved everything back. However, she left the treehouse untouched—building it had been too much effort to just dismantle overnight. Besides, if a snowstorm or heavy rain hit, it could provide shelter for the nearby wild animals. The treehouse was deep in the primeval forest, hidden in an area teeming with fierce beasts. No one had set foot here for centuries, so there was no concern about it being discovered.

Zhenzhen took a walk around the Western-style buildings and picked out a slab of beef. Examining the marbled fat, she guessed it was from the lower rib section—perfectly fatty and delicious. But by now, it was almost noon, and there wasn’t enough time to prepare the beef. Instead, she rummaged through the pantry for seasonings, grabbed a bucket from the kitchen, and in a flash, transported herself to the Yongcui River. Within minutes, she had filled the bucket with plump crabs and shrimp, returning home satisfied.

Grandma Li was sitting at the entrance, smoking, and when she saw Zhenzhen carrying things in both hands, she quickly came over. “Wow, why’d you catch so many crabs? And you even brought them back in water—must be heavy.”

“This is nothing for me,” Zhenzhen replied. Seeing that Grandma Li insisted on helping, she handed her the cloth bag in her hand. “How about you carry the beef instead?”

“Beef?” Grandma Li opened the bag and looked at Zhenzhen in surprise. “Where did this come from?”

Zhenzhen scratched her face awkwardly. “Well… I ran into a cow…”

Grandma Li rolled her eyes, clearly skeptical. Since childhood, this granddaughter of hers had never been like an ordinary person. The abilities she possessed were practically godly. Over the years, Zhenzhen had brought home plenty of wild game, fish, and shrimp, but this was the first time she had returned with an entire slab of meat. Looking at her seriously, Grandma Li lowered her voice. “You didn’t steal or rob, did you?”

Zhenzhen immediately looked offended. “Grandma, how little do you think of me? Am I that greedy?”

Grandma Li nodded without hesitation. “You’re the greediest one in the family.”

Zhenzhen looked at her helplessly and lowered her voice. “Actually, I bought it from someone. I just didn’t tell you right away because I knew you’d scold me.”

Grandma Li knew Zhenzhen had money. Years ago, the big yellow croaker that Li Muwen had taken had fetched a good price. Although Grandma Li had used some of it to buy a bicycle and improve their living conditions, she always felt the money rightfully belonged to Zhenzhen. Over the years, she had secretly stuffed money into Zhenzhen’s pockets whenever she could. By her rough estimate, the little handkerchief Zhenzhen used to store her private stash probably had forty or fifty yuan in it by now.

“You’re spending money recklessly again. Next time, I won’t give you any more,” Grandma Li scolded, though she still took the beef and helped carry the water bucket inside.

Mingbei had just come out of the garden with a basket of persimmons. Seeing the bucket full of lively crabs, he grinned from ear to ear. “Sis, I really admire your skills in hunting, fishing, and catching crabs. No one around here is as capable as you. I get that maybe a big yellow dog helps you catch rabbits, but what, is there something in the river helping you catch these too?”

Zhenzhen made a playful face at him, but before she could respond, Grandma Li suddenly asked, “Who’s Big Yellow?”

Zhenzhen: …

Mingbei shivered at the eerie smile on Zhenzhen’s face and quickly scurried inside with the bucket. Grandma Li turned to Zhenzhen. “Who’s Big Yellow?”

Zhenzhen chuckled awkwardly. “Oh, it’s just a monkey from the mountains. It’s all yellow, so I call it Big Yellow.”

Zhenzhen had brought back a lot of crabs and shrimp. Aside from steaming some, Wang Sufen began preparing spicy shrimp and fragrant chili crabs according to Zhenzhen’s instructions. A few years ago, the Li family only knew how to steam crabs, but ever since Zhenzhen grew older, their meals had become increasingly diverse and unusual. The main reason was that Zhenzhen loved ordering dishes and often directed Wang Sufen in the kitchen. These dishes weren’t just oil-heavy but also sugar-intensive, wasting plenty of ingredients.

As usual, Wang Sufen grumbled about the extravagance, but smelling the spicy aroma filling the room, she looked at Zhenzhen helplessly. “It’s the middle of summer, and you’re dumping half a bowl of chili in there. Aren’t you afraid you’ll get blisters on your mouth?”

“It has to be spicy to taste good! Otherwise, what’s the point of adding chili? Besides, spicy food increases appetite and lifts the mood,” Zhenzhen said, glancing toward the inner room. She grabbed Wang Sufen’s arm and whispered, “Mom, just watch. After my brother eats this spicy shrimp and chili crab, he’ll definitely cheer up.”

“You think your brother is as much of a foodie as you?” Wang Sufen shot her a look. Zhenzhen just grinned and pushed her back into the kitchen. “Mom, keep an eye on the pot. Don’t burn my crabs! I’m going to call my brother for dinner.”

Mingxi was in the inner room, leaning against the kang, listening to the radio. His furrowed brows made Zhenzhen anxious. “Second Brother, you listen to a different broadcast than I do. I laugh every time, but you look like your eyebrows are about to tie themselves in knots.”

“You don’t understand,” Mingxi said, glancing at her, clearly unwilling to explain.

“How do I not understand? I listen to the radio every day—I probably know more than you.” Zhenzhen plopped onto the kang, mimicking his posture. “The radio may sound lively, but I think things are getting a little messy. One careless move and people could get dragged into it. Big Brother, don’t get involved in any movements. Also, they canceled college entrance exams this year. I have a feeling that college students won’t be as valued in the future.”

Mingxi chuckled and ruffled her hair. “For a little girl, you sure know a lot.”

“Of course,” Zhenzhen beamed. “I’m a smart cookie.”

Seeing that she had successfully amused him, she quickly tugged him off the kang. “Enough with the radio, come eat. Can’t you smell the food? Isn’t your mouth watering?”

“What food? The whole house reeks of spice. This must be another one of your wild ideas,” Mingxi tapped her forehead, amused. “No one in the family is as much trouble as you.”

Just as Zhenzhen was about to respond, she looked up and saw Mingdong entering from outside, carrying a sack. “Big Brother’s back! He’s got great timing—just in time for a feast.” Mingxi’s face lit up as well, and he rushed out to help Mingdong with his things.

Mingdong washed off the sweat from his face and body, then lifted Meat Bun high in the air, curiously asking, “Do you still remember Dad? Do you miss him?”

Meat Bun giggled uncontrollably from being teased. Ming Dong smiled, kissed his little face, and set him down on the ground. “Where’s your mom?”

“She’s fixing Dou Bao’s bellyband,” Meat Bun answered before running off toward the backyard on his short legs. “I’ll go call my mom.”

Since Ming Dong had left for the university to work as a lecturer at the beginning of the year, this was his first time coming home. Grandma Li naturally asked how he was doing at school. Ming Dong brushed it off with a simple “pretty good.” Though Grandma Li was smiling, she couldn’t help but feel uneasy as she looked at his tanned skin and rough palms. “It’s only been half a year, and you already look like this. You don’t look like a teacher—you look like you’ve been working manual labor.”

A dish of fragrant, spicy crab covered in red chili oil was served. Zhen Zhen picked one up and handed it to Ming Xi. “Second Brother, try it and see if it’s good.”

Ming Bei looked at Zhen Zhen with indignation. “I’m the one who plays with you at home all the time, but as soon as Second Brother comes back, you forget all about me. You’re heartless.”

Zhen Zhen picked up a spicy shrimp and shoved it straight into his mouth, finally bringing some peace and quiet.

Maybe spicy food really does lift the spirits. Ming Xi had only eaten half a crab, and there was already a hint of a smile on his face. After finishing one, he picked up another plump crab and cracked its claws with a loud crunch.

The whole family happily finished their meal. Once Grandma Li went for her afternoon nap, the brothers went to the west room, shut the door, and began whispering. Ming Xi lowered his voice and asked, “Many lecturers are being targeted, paraded around, and ‘reformed.’ Are you in any trouble?”

Ming Dong shook his head. “I’m keeping a low profile, only speaking when I lecture and saying nothing else. Anbei is even more isolated than Beicha, but that has its advantages—those students don’t do much aside from putting up big-character posters.”

Ming Xi sighed. “You’re fine for now, but with the radio spreading news and the movement growing, it’ll reach you sooner or later. Have you thought of a way out?”

Ming Dong gave a bitter smile and shook his head. “What can I do? I can only wait and see.” He took a cigarette from the pack and put it in his mouth, but no matter how he tried, he couldn’t light it with the match. Ming Xi sighed, took the matchbox, and lit it for him.

After taking a couple of puffs, Ming Dong looked at his three younger brothers. “To be honest, this leave was specially approved by the principal…” He didn’t finish the sentence, but everyone understood what he meant—it was a chance to reunite with family, because who knew when he might be publicly denounced.

“I have deep red roots—three generations of poor farmers—so I won’t be denounced, but I might be sent for labor reform. Just a few days ago, Anbei Farm brought in some university lecturers and even a principal.” Ming Dong took another drag of his cigarette and continued, “Actually, our principal secretly inquired about it. They’re just farming. Since that’s my field of study, it’s a chance to gain practical experience—no real harm in it. The only issue is, once I go in, I don’t know when I’ll be able to come out.”

Just as he finished speaking, a piercing cry suddenly rang out from outside. Ming Dong quickly tossed his cigarette aside and leaned over the windowsill to look. His gaze met the tear-filled eyes of Guihua.

“A proper lecturer, and now he has to go through labor reform? We haven’t done anything wrong to anyone! Is it because of my background dragging you down? If that’s the case, let’s get divorced. I’ll tell them clearly that we have nothing to do with each other.”

Ming Dong helplessly wiped her face through the window. “This has nothing to do with you.”

Guihua’s sobs were sharp and urgent. Grandma Li, who had been napping on the heated brick bed, sat up, and Wang Sufen rushed over from the garden, grabbing Guihua’s arm. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

“Mom, Ming Dong said all the lecturers are being sent for labor reform,” Guihua sobbed, barely able to catch her breath.

Grandma Li, who had been walking over, stopped in her tracks upon hearing this. She suddenly recalled what Zhen Zhen had said when Ming Dong was first assigned his job and immediately turned back to the east room.

Zhen Zhen had been busy all morning, ate a big lunch, and fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. Grandma Li patted her arm, and when she opened her eyes, she immediately asked, “Bao’er, when your eldest brother became a lecturer, you said you felt uneasy about it. Why?”

Zhen Zhen’s face changed instantly. “Is my eldest brother being sent for labor reform?”

“How did you know?” Grandma Li quickly asked.

Zhen Zhen pointed to the radio on the cabinet. “It talks about it every day. Many places are in turmoil now.”

“What should we do? If we had known, we wouldn’t have let him go to university. I’ve ruined his life.” Grandma Li started crying, tears streaming down her face.

Since the day she was born, Zhen Zhen had always known Grandma Li to be a strong woman. This was the first time she had seen her cry like this.

“Grandma, don’t worry. It’s not that serious,” Zhen Zhen reassured her, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe her tears.

Grandma Li immediately grabbed her hand. “Bao’er, tell me why it’s not serious.”

Zhen Zhen thought for a moment before explaining, “Think about it—my brother studied agriculture. His job is to teach people how to grow more food. Our country has so many people, and most of them don’t have enough to eat. Food is crucial, both for the people and for the nation. In the past two years, only a few hundred students have graduated from agricultural universities, and they’ve been assigned all over the country in very small numbers. Anbei University is huge, but my eldest brother is the only one who graduated from the agriculture department. Plus, he can endure hardships. I bet they’ll be chasing him to learn how to farm.”

Grandma Li listened carefully to Zhen Zhen’s analysis, feeling slightly reassured. But the thought of Ming Dong being locked away indefinitely still made her uneasy.

Zhen Zhen quickly added, “Right now, all the universities are shut down, but this won’t last long. Just wait and see—within a year, my brother will be back teaching.”

“Really?” Grandma Li asked eagerly.

Zhen Zhen immediately nodded, patted her chest, and said with absolute confidence, “I’m sure of it.”

If someone else had said this, Grandma Li might not have believed it. But since it was Zhen Zhen, she felt completely reassured. If nothing else, her intuition was far sharper than most. When Ming Dong first got his job assignment, she had said it wasn’t a good thing, and sure enough, she had been right.

Grandma Li quickly got off the heated bed. “I’m going to tell Ming Dong.”

Seeing this, Zhen Zhen quickly called out, “Don’t say it was me.”

Grandma Li pushed Zhen Zhen back down onto the bed. “Don’t worry, your grandma isn’t foolish.” Then, she briskly walked next door, asked about the situation, and repeated what Zhen Zhen had said as if it were her own analysis.

Ming Xi stared at Grandma Li in shock. “Grandma, since when do you analyze political trends? Aren’t you always listening to Journey to the West?”

“They don’t broadcast that anymore,” Grandma Li said, tapping her tobacco pipe and stuffing it with fresh leaves. “I listen to the news now. Ming Dong, listen to your grandma—if you really do have to go for reform, don’t be afraid. You’ll be out within a year.” She thumped her chest three times. “I guarantee it.”

—

#Author’s Note:

In the next chapter, we’ll jump ahead a bit. There won’t be much more about the movement—we’ll be focusing on Zhen Zhen’s story.

As for Ming Dong, he won’t suffer too much. His expertise is too valuable. Oops, did I just spoil something?~~