Chapter 83

After the last class in the afternoon, Zhenzhen slung her backpack over her shoulder and headed to the law department to wait for Wang Xinwen so they could have dinner together. Wang Xinwen was just over a month pregnant. Though she wasn’t experiencing any major symptoms of early pregnancy, Zhenzhen still worried about her a little.

Students from the law program were leaving the classroom in groups. Standing at the doorway, Zhenzhen rose on tiptoe and waved toward Wang Xinwen, who was still inside organizing her notes. “Sister-in-law!”

Wang Xinwen looked up and immediately smiled. “You’re here? Come in. Let me just finish this line and we’ll go eat.”

“Okay.” Zhenzhen waited until the other students had left before entering. She saw Wang Xinwen copying notes from the blackboard, her calligraphy fluid and lively—completely at odds with her petite and sweet face, but it did match her strong-willed, never-back-down personality.

Wang Xinwen quickly finished the last line of notes, yawned, unscrewed her water bottle to take a couple of sips, and began packing her things. Zhenzhen helped tidy the books on the desk and asked, “After a full day of classes, does your back feel sore?”

“Not bad, really. I don’t feel much, just keep yawning. My eyes won’t stop tearing up,” Wang Xinwen said with a slightly embarrassed smile. “Good thing I told the department right away. Otherwise, the professor might have kicked me out.”

Zhenzhen grinned. “Yawning is super contagious. Anyone sitting next to you in class would need strong willpower to resist.”

Just as they finished packing and headed downstairs, they saw Mingbei waiting below the teaching building. The moment he spotted them, he hurried over and took both Wang Xinwen and Zhenzhen’s backpacks, slinging them over his shoulder.

Zhenzhen smirked. “You used to only show up two or three days a week. Now look at you—showing up on the very first day of school. Tell me, are you worried about my sister-in-law or the baby in her belly?”

Mingbei quickly moved next to Wang Xinwen, pledging loyalty. “Of course I’m worried about your sister-in-law! Sitting through a whole day of classes on those hard desks and benches—I was afraid her back wouldn’t take it. After dinner, I’ll get two thermoses of hot water for her so she’ll have enough for tomorrow. The water room’s damp—if she slips, that’d be terrible.”

“She’s not that delicate. Back when I was pregnant with Mian Tiao, it was Mom and Milk who took over the heavy work. But even then, I still had to wash and clean every day. Now I just sit in class and maybe wash a bit of laundry at night—hardly exhausting.”

“It’s not like there’s that much laundry in a week. Don’t wash it yourself. Just bring it all home on the weekend—I’ll wash it for you in one go. We’ve got that big courtyard; drying clothes there is way better than hanging them out the window.” Mingbei looked at Wang Xinwen with such care, as if he wished he could cradle her in the palm of his hand.

Wang Xinwen was so touched her eyes turned red. Not caring if anyone saw, she grabbed Mingbei’s hand, a sweet smile on her face. “Mingbei-ge, why are you so good to me?”

“Silly.” Mingbei beamed as he pinched her cheek. “You’re my wife. If I’m not good to you, who should I be good to?”

Seeing the two of them gazing into each other’s eyes, Zhenzhen immediately raised her hand to cover her own. “Are you bullying me because I’m not married yet?”

Mingbei laughed and ruffled her neatly tied high ponytail, making it puff out into a fuzzy mess before letting go with smug satisfaction. Zhenzhen didn’t even have to look—she knew what a mess her hair must be. She shot him a glare, untied her hair, and let her sleek black locks fall gracefully down her shoulders, making her already beautiful face appear even more delicate and fair.

After running her fingers through her hair a few times, she tied it back up with a hair tie. Mingbei clicked his tongue twice. “Who combs their hair in public like that? You see that guy earlier? He was so distracted watching you he almost ran into a pillar.”

The three of them laughed and chatted all the way to the cafeteria. Wang Xinwen picked a window-side table for four and put both her and Zhenzhen’s backpacks aside. Mingbei and Zhenzhen went to get food with their meal tickets and soon came back with three trays.

Zhenzhen had eaten lunch with Xi Junjie, who had ordered seven or eight dishes. She was still full, so she only got a bowl of rice porridge and a plate of vegetables.

Mingbei was surprised when he saw the entirely green tray in front of her. “This doesn’t look like you at all. I remember back when you could talk, it was always meat, meat, meat. What’s with the new you today?”

Zhenzhen stared blankly at her porridge. “I ate too much at lunch. I’m not hungry at all.”

“You actually got full?” Mingbei looked even more shocked. He handed over two chicken legs he’d bought, giving one each to Wang Xinwen and Zhenzhen. “I remember you used to eat two roast rabbits and still not be full. What’d you do at lunch—eat a whole pig?”

Zhenzhen stuffed the chicken leg into Mingbei’s mouth. “Eat your food. Who asked for your commentary?”

Wang Xinwen gave him a disapproving look. “Zhenzhen’s a grown lady now. Don’t talk nonsense.”

Mingbei nodded repeatedly with the chicken leg still in his mouth, making Wang Xinwen giggle. “You look just like our Ming Zhong.”

At the mention of Ming Zhong, Mingbei quickly took the chicken leg out of his mouth. “I wonder how Ming Zhong’s doing at Third Uncle’s place. He probably doesn’t get to eat meat every day like he did with us. I hope he hasn’t lost weight.”

“Didn’t you send a letter home asking about him? Has there been a reply?” Wang Xinwen asked, taking a bite of steamed bun.

“No reply yet.” Mingbei looked worried. “If nothing comes by Sunday, I’ll go to the post office and call the neighborhood committee. I just keep thinking about it. Our Mingzhong’s getting old. I’m always worried something might happen to him.”

Zhenzhen thought about it—it had been two days since she last brought food for Li Mingzhong. Tonight would be a good time to check on him. After dinner, Mingbei walked Wang Xinwen back to her dorm and fetched hot water for her. Zhenzhen made an excuse about going to the library and parted ways with them outside the cafeteria.

Once she found a quiet spot with no one around, she flashed back to Beicha. Standing on the mountain, she gazed at her familiar hometown. Smoke curled from chimneys above the little courtyards. People getting off work hurried home, and the small town of Lincheng quickly came alive.

Zhenzhen scanned Li Musen’s house with her mind and saw the front gate locked. Mingzhong and Tianhu were lying in the courtyard yawning.

Since no one was home, Zhenzhen didn’t call for Li Mingzhong. She flashed straight into the courtyard. Sensing the familiar presence behind him, Mingzhong immediately stood up and lunged into Zhenzhen’s arms.

He was about as tall as she was now, his front paws resting on her shoulders. Zhenzhen reached out and rubbed his head. “Where did Third Uncle and Aunt go?”

“They went to Mingguang’s grandma’s place. Said they’ll be back early tomorrow.” Mingzhong replied through spiritual sense.

Since no one would be home tonight, Zhenzhen boldly brought out a basin of meat. Mingzhong had meat fairly often, so he wasn’t particularly excited. But it was different for Tianhu—he only got bones during the New Year, and his teeth weren’t great anymore. He didn’t dare bite too hard and would spend three days just licking one big bone.

Mingzhong was especially patient with his slow-witted younger brother. Seeing Tianhu pounce on the food, he didn’t fight for it and let him eat first. Instead, he stood up and nudged Zhenzhen, hinting for her to help groom his fur.

Sitting on a small stool in the courtyard, Zhenzhen stroked Mingzhong’s fur again and again as he lay sprawled at her feet. Not until Tianhu had eaten his fill and wagged his tail at her did Mingzhong lazily walk over, tap his brother on the head with a paw, and finally begin to eat.

Maybe it was because he’d spent so long with Zhenzhen, but Mingzhong didn’t look or act like an old dog at all. He was still full of energy, no different from his younger days. But with Zhenzhen no longer living at home, he had little interest in hunting. He now spent his days either walking nearby with Tianhu or heading up the mountain to chat with Big Huang.

Li Mingzhong had a great appetite and finished a whole basin of stewed meat in no time. Zhenzhen took the basin away, gently patted his head, and said, “If staying here gets too boring, I’ll figure out a way to get you to the Imperial Capital.”

A flash of joy appeared in Li Mingzhong’s eyes, and he was about to nod, but when he saw Tian Hu lying nearby, he calmed down. “If I leave, Tian Hu will be left alone. That silly dog will be miserable. I’d better keep it company for now. When it’s gone, I’ll go to the Imperial Capital.”

“Alright, it’s up to you,” Zhenzhen said, nourishing Mingzhong’s body with her own aura. While at it, she asked about the family. “Did Big Brother and Sister-in-law come back during the summer?”

Li Mingzhong, whose eyes had just closed, opened them again. He looked back at Zhenzhen and communicated to her through consciousness, “Big Brother and Sister-in-law came back and stayed for a month. They cleaned up all the houses. Roubao is taking the college entrance exam next year—he’s been studying really hard, reciting his textbooks by the river early in the morning. He’s doing much better than Mingrong and Mingguang.”

“So, did Mingrong and Mingguang get into any schools this year? Strange, I didn’t hear anything from Third Aunt. Grandma’s still asking about them at home,” Zhenzhen said, stroking Li Mingzhong’s shiny fur.

“Mingrong didn’t pass, but Mingguang got into a technical school. Third Aunt had him write a letter last month, probably arrived by now,” Mingzhong said with a yawn, eyelids drooping. “Third Aunt was pretty happy. She said if he studies hard, maybe he could become an eighth-level technician someday.”

Zhenzhen sighed. “Third Aunt still doesn’t have much of an eye for these things. The best thing that ever happened to our family was having Grandma live with us. With her at the helm, our family will never go astray.”
—

After Xie Yanan finished the last dose of her third round of herbal medicine, Mr. Zhang didn’t prescribe more. Instead, he gave her several medicinal meal recipes suited to her constitution and advised her to focus on dietary therapy.

After a month of drinking Chinese medicine, Xie Yanan’s health had greatly improved. Her backaches and the chill in her limbs were gone, and she no longer woke up during the night. Now that the new school term had begun, Mingxi’s son Yuanxiao was done with his carefree days and was attending school regularly.

With the child out of the house, Xie Yanan suddenly felt much more relaxed. Every morning she would go to the garden to pick the freshest vegetables, then cook a bowl of hot noodle soup, or buy some fried dough sticks, soy milk, buns, or meat pies from outside—very convenient. After breakfast, Li Muwu would carry Li Muwen’s fishing rod and head to the back stream to fish. Back when they lived in Beicha, Li Muwu used to be busy with work every day, and the only time he went fishing with a net was to improve the family’s meals. Once the kids got older, they took over that task, and it had been years since Li Muwu had touched a fishing rod.

Now, fishing was just for leisure. Chatting with people nearby, exchanging tips—it was much better than sitting at home bored. Though his fishing skills weren’t great and he only managed to catch a moderately sized fish every three or four days, Li Muwu still enjoyed it thoroughly. It usually took several calls before he’d come home for lunch.

After cleaning up the dishes, Mingxi and Xie Yanan would set a table and two chairs in the courtyard and drink tea while reading. Since she was preparing to have a baby, Xie Yanan drank fruit tea that Zhenzhen had given her. Mingxi usually had a bowl of green tea in front of him as he studied a dense, difficult professional book, occasionally sipping as he read.

After over a decade of busyness, this was the first time the couple had such leisure. They relished their rare moments together, staying glued to each other all day, much to Grandma Li’s delight.

By National Day, Xie Yanan successfully confirmed her pregnancy. Mingxi was so thrilled he spun around in circles, and Grandma Li laughed heartily. “Mingxi’s just like when he was seventeen or eighteen—whenever he’s happy, he starts spinning. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was a donkey in a past life. He’s never going to change that habit!”

There weren’t any long holidays around National Day back then, but the day itself was a holiday, and it happened to fall near a weekend and the Mid-Autumn Festival. So Imperial Capital University and National University both gave a three-day break.

Zhenzhen had already arranged with Mingbei and Wang Xinwen to head home right after their big lecture Friday afternoon. After an hour-long tram ride, the three siblings turned into the back stream and immediately spotted Li Muwu fishing by the river.

Zhenzhen glanced at the empty bucket, shook her head helplessly, walked over, and picked up his fishing rod. She re-baited it and cast it into the river. Less than a minute later, the fishing line started shaking rapidly, and the rod dipped down.

With a tug, Zhenzhen reeled in a three-pound carp from the water. Li Muwu quickly scooped it up with a net. Zhenzhen deftly removed the hook, rebaited, and within a minute or so, she caught a five-to-six-pound catfish.

She handed the rod back to Li Muwu and passed the heavy bucket to Mingbei. “Take it home. We’re having catfish and eggplant stew tonight.”

Watching Zhenzhen’s cool and skillful moves, the nearby fishermen were all stunned. “Old Li, your daughter’s way better at fishing than you! When are you gonna learn from her?”

Li Muwu’s face was full of pride. “Not to brag, but nobody in our whole family can beat my daughter.”

Looking around at the people nearby, the usually quiet Li Muwu couldn’t help speaking up. “Do you know where my daughter goes to school?”

Everyone shook their heads in unison.

Li Muwu lifted his chin proudly. “Imperial Capital University—top of our province!”