Zili didn’t know what was happening and hurriedly called out, “Dawa, Dawa, come down.”
“What’s going on?” Zhong Dawa pushed open the window. “Are you calling for spirits or something?”
Song Zhaodi said sternly, “Come down!”
Dawa shivered. “Right away!” He quickly ran downstairs. “What’s the matter, Mom?”
Song Zhaodi said, “Your dad is now a regiment commander. If nothing goes wrong, he has a promising future ahead. Your grandmother definitely doesn’t want to lose our family as relatives. But we want to cut ties with the Bai family. As long as there’s one smart person in your grandmother’s family, they’ll send someone over to visit, maintain contact, and strengthen family ties.”
“Grandma can’t come, though,” Zhong Dawa said. “You said so, and Dad said so too.”
Song Zhaodi replied, “Your uncle and aunt are workers, members of the proletariat. Your grandmother and grandfather’s issues shouldn’t implicate them. Shencheng isn’t far from here. If they wanted to come, taking two days off would be enough.”
“My aunt and uncle?” Zhong Dawa frowned. “I don’t even remember what they look like. Why would they come?”
Zili was surprised. “You forgot your uncle?”
“Dawa was just over three years old when we moved here,” Song Zhaodi explained. “I had to take care of all of them, and it wasn’t convenient for me to visit my family. Since his uncle and aunt never came over, Dawa was too young to remember them. It’s normal for him to forget.”
Zhong Dawa wasn’t interested in what his aunt and uncle looked like. “Mom, are you saying they might come?”
“There’s about a seventy percent chance,” Song Zhaodi estimated. “If they do come, how should I handle it? Last time your grandmother came, your other grandmother kicked her out.”
Zili was confused again. “Isn’t his grandmother really bad?”
“Dawa can tell you all about that later. He remembers.” Song Zhaodi said, “If your uncle really shows up and you don’t recognize him, I’ll just say I don’t recognize him either and call him a scammer. We won’t let him in. How about that, Dawa?”
Zhong Dawa looked a little disappointed. “I was hoping to chase him out with a broom.”
Zili and Gengsheng were dumbfounded.
Song Zhaodi wasn’t surprised at all. “Last time his grandmother came, he wanted to kill her. Since you don’t want to acknowledge them, we’ll go with my plan. That’s settled.”
That afternoon, after salting and hanging up a duck to dry, Song Zhaodi brought out a large table and started making cotton-padded clothes for Zili and Gengsheng.
Duan dasao came over to help. However, in just a short while, Song Zhaodi had already finished cutting the fabric. Duan dasao was startled and quickly said, “Xiao Song, let’s take our time. We can finish before dark.”
“I’m not in a hurry,” Song Zhaodi said, putting down the scissors. She noticed Duan dasao’s complicated expression and asked with concern, “Auntie, what’s wrong?”
Duan dasao wasn’t one to meddle, but she felt that as Song Zhaodi’s elder, she had to say something. “I know you’re skilled, but I think you should be a little more careful when making clothes. Let’s get it right the first time so Zili and Gengsheng can wear them tomorrow.”
“Are you worried I’ll mess up and have to redo them?” Song Zhaodi asked with a smile.
Duan dasao waved her hand. “That’s not what I meant.”
Song Zhaodi thought to herself, That’s exactly what you mean. “Auntie, you might not know this, but I sew all our family’s clothes. To exaggerate a little, I could do this with my eyes closed and not make a mistake.”
Children’s clothes weren’t complicated. Sewing two pieces of fabric together made a pant leg. While Duan dasao was still sewing a cotton-padded jacket, Song Zhaodi had already finished an entire pair of cotton pants.
She immediately called Gengsheng over. “Try them on.”
“Thank you, Auntie.” Gengsheng smiled happily.
Duan dasao blinked in surprise. “You finished everything?”
“Yes.” Gengsheng was still wearing his inner clothes, and since it was warmer downstairs than upstairs, Song Zhaodi didn’t make him go up to change.
As soon as he put on the new cotton pants, Gengsheng noticed something was off. “Auntie, there’s no place for a waistband?”
“No need for a belt.” Children’s belts weren’t available on the market, and kids on the island usually tied a rope around their waists to keep their pants up. Song Zhaodi didn’t like that. Last year, when she made cotton pants for Dawa and Erwa, she added three buttons instead.
Gengsheng’s pants were made the same way. “Let me explain the three buttons. When you’re hungry and your belly is flat, use the innermost button. After eating, use the middle one. If you’re too full and feel tight, use the outermost button.”
Duan dasao leaned over to check and saw three buttons on the waistband. She couldn’t help but exclaim, “Xiao Song, you—you—what’s the word for it?”
“Clever and skillful?” Zili suggested.
Duan dasao clapped her hands. “Yes, that’s it! Clever and skillful.”
Song Zhaodi chuckled. “I just like to tinker with things in my spare time.”
“There are plenty of people who like to tinker, but not many can actually come up with something useful.” Duan dasao praised her.
Song Zhaodi just smiled and changed the subject. “Auntie, I’m planning to use knotted buttons for Zili and Gengsheng’s cotton jackets. I made extras before, so we still have a few dozen left.”
“I know where they are,” Erwa pointed at his cotton jacket. “Same as mine, they’re in the cabinet.”
Song Zhaodi said, “Then you and Zili go upstairs and bring them down for Grandma.” She turned to Zili and suddenly noticed something was off with his hands. “Zili, are your hands swollen from the cold?”
“They’ve been swollen for days,” Dawa said.
Song Zhaodi frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Zili wouldn’t let me,” Dawa said.
Song Zhaodi immediately asked, “When did they get frostbitten?”
“I got too hot in bed at night, so I stuck my hands out. The next morning, they were swollen,” Zili admitted sheepishly.
Song Zhaodi was speechless. “You should have told me.” After a pause, she said, “Go upstairs first. We need to finish your clothes today. Tomorrow, we have to go up the mountain. After that, there won’t be time.”
The next morning, after returning from the mountain with Duan dasao, Song Zhaodi stir-fried a dish of winter bamboo shoots and lettuce. Once the five kids finished eating, she cleaned up the kitchen and took out Sanwa’s old clothes.
“Mom, you’re taking apart clothes again?” Sanwa had grown fast, and by the end of the year, his clothes from the beginning of the year no longer fit. Since Dawa often helped him get dressed, he recognised the clothes in Song Zhaodi’s hands. “Are you making us shoes?”
Song Zhaodi glanced at his cotton shoes, which were still in good condition. “No, I’m making gloves for you. There’s a ball of leftover cotton from the clothes I made yesterday, just enough for five pairs.”
“You never made them before, but now that Zili is here, you’re making some.” Zhong Erwa pouted, his little face full of discontent.
Song Zhaodi rolled her eyes at him. “Think for yourself. Have I ever asked you all before whether your hands were cold? You said they weren’t. If they weren’t cold, why would I make anything?”
Zhong Erwa turned and ran outside.
Zili was startled, and he and Gengsheng quickly chased after him.
“Stop.” Song Zhaodi said, “Erwa’s just embarrassed. He was the one who said his hands weren’t cold back then. Dawa, go bring him back. What’s wrong with all of you? Running outside just because you’re upset.”
Zhong Dawa said, “I didn’t run. You’re talking about Erwa, don’t drag me into it.” Then, he went out and dragged Erwa back in.
“Mom…” Zhong Erwa asked cautiously, “Are you going to hit me?”
Song Zhaodi glanced at him. “Why would I hit you? You tell me.”
“Mom, I’m sorry.” Erwa’s eyes darted around. “I forgot.”
Song Zhaodi snorted. “Jealousy makes people ugly. Zhong Erwa, you don’t want to become ugly, do you?”
“I’m not ugly.” Zhong Erwa quickly said.
Song Zhaodi said, “There’s a saying: ‘Appearance is shaped by the heart.’ What does it mean? It means that if you harbour ugly thoughts in your heart, over time, your face will also become repulsive.”
“Really?” Erwa asked hurriedly.
Song Zhaodi didn’t answer. “I didn’t make this up. ‘Appearance is shaped by the heart’ and ‘repulsive features’ have been around for ages.”
Erwa turned to Dawa. Is that true?
Dawa had vaguely heard of it before, but he wasn’t sure. So, he turned to Zili, who was a little over a year older than him.
“Aunt is right.” Zili nodded and even explained to his younger brothers what ‘repulsive features’ meant.
Erwa quickly covered his face, muttering repeatedly, “I don’t want to be ugly. I don’t want to be ugly—”
“Shut up!” Dawa was annoyed with him. “Go upstairs and bring down the rope. Let’s jump rope.”
Zili stepped forward. “I’ll go.” With that, he ran to the stairs.
Song Zhaodi beckoned Gengsheng over, compared his hand to hers, then started cutting fabric to make gloves.
With so many children, Song Zhaodi made fingerless mittens and tied the two gloves together with a string, hanging them around Gengsheng’s neck.
Dawa and Erwa knew that fabric was scarce at home. Even if they threw tantrums for new clothes, Song Zhaodi and Zhong Jianguo wouldn’t be able to do anything about it. Because of this, the two boys subconsciously believed that there was no extra fabric or cotton at home. After all, their schoolbags were made from fabric scraps pieced together by Song Zhaodi.
The cotton-padded jackets Song Zhaodi made for them had long sleeves, so when their hands were cold, they could just tuck them into their sleeves. Even when they saw other kids with gloves, they never thought to ask Song Zhaodi to make some for them.
Now, seeing Gengsheng with gloves hanging around his neck, looking quite nice, the children no longer wanted to jump rope in the yard. Instead, they surrounded Song Zhaodi, waiting for their own gloves.
By the time she finished making gloves for all five children, it was past seven in the evening, and the sky outside was pitch black.
After working for so long, Song Zhaodi was too tired to cook. She asked the children if she could just heat up some steamed buns for them to eat with plain water.
With new gloves to show off to their friends, even the gluttonous Dawa had no complaints. He even ran to the kitchen to help Song Zhaodi stoke the fire.
Seeing this, Song Zhaodi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Speaking of which, Zhong Jianguo had told her that he wouldn’t be home for the New Year this year. Song Zhaodi also knew that the troops would have extra food for the holiday. So, on the morning of New Year’s Eve, she cooked both ducks they had, leaving none for Zhong Jianguo. They ate one on New Year’s Eve and one on New Year’s Day.
Song Zhaodi was generous with buying vegetables and fish, always coming up with new ways to prepare meals for the children. By the fifth day of the new year, when Zhong Jianguo returned, he immediately noticed that Zili and Gengsheng seemed to have put on weight.
Thinking about how the commander had been concerned about the two children, Zhong Jianguo asked, “Zili, Gengsheng, have you two gained weight?”
“Maybe a little.” Zili wasn’t sure. “I can feel the flesh on my fingers now.”
Zhong Jianguo chuckled. “Then even your fingers have gained weight. In a few days, you and Dawa can go out to play.”
“We can go out?” Zili asked eagerly.
“Of course,” Zhong Jianguo said. “But remember, no matter what anyone asks, don’t feel guilty. Just say what Teacher Song taught you before. The children on the island are simple. As long as you don’t slip up, there won’t be any problems. However, you are not allowed to go to the Lin family or Ma Zhenxing’s house.”
“Why?” Zhong Dawa asked, confused.
Zhong Jianguo replied, “Ma Zhenxing’s father likes to make trouble for me, and Lin Zhong’s mother is cunning. I’m worried they might trick Zili and Gengsheng. The family of Zili and Gengsheng was harmed by someone, but I don’t know who that person is.
“If that person is hiding on the island and learns something from Ma Zhonghua or Chen dasao, Zili and Gengsheng could be in danger. They are your older and younger brothers, so you must protect them.”
“I don’t like Lin Zhong’s mother or Ma Zhenxing’s father either.” Zhong Dawa said, “Then we just won’t go. But if we go out and you’re not home, what if Uncle barges in? What about Mom? Uncle is a man. Women can’t beat men. Mom can’t beat Uncle.”
Zhong Jianguo was puzzled. “What uncle?”
Since the letter had already been burned, Song Zhaodi had Dawa explain it to him.
After hearing the explanation, Zhong Jianguo couldn’t help but sigh. “If only we could cut ties with the Bai family.”
“The Bai family are close relatives. Even if you want to cut ties, they don’t. You’ll never be able to, unless the entire Bai family dies out,” Song Zhaodi said. “Your father’s side is the same. If murder weren’t illegal, I would’ve dealt with them long ago. Then they wouldn’t have any chance to come to the island.”
Zili and Gengsheng exchanged glances. Teacher Song was ruthless!
Zhong Jianguo sighed again. “Even if killing weren’t illegal, you wouldn’t need to do it yourself.”
Zili and Gengsheng shuddered, instinctively grabbing each other’s hands. Why were all the Zhong family members so ruthless?
“So what do we do?” Zhong Dawa thought for a moment. “Mom, how about sewing a big pocket on your clothes and keeping scissors in it?”
Song Zhaodi laughed. “That’s a great idea. I’ll do what Dawa says.”
“You can’t go wrong listening to me.” Zhong Dawa felt satisfied with his plan. On the twelfth day of the new year, when the weather cleared, he took his brothers out to play.
Since Zhong Jianguo had forbidden them from going to the Ma family, Zhong Dawa led his brothers to the part of the island where the fishermen lived, planning to play with the fishermen’s children. However, halfway there, they heard someone asking for directions to Zhong Jianguo’s house.
“Who are they?” Zili whispered.
Dawa followed Zili’s gaze and saw a middle-aged man and woman, each carrying a small travel bag. After thinking for a moment, he said, “Zili, go over and tell them to keep walking south. When they reach the end of the road, they’ll see Zhong Jianguo’s house.”
Zili instinctively turned to go but suddenly remembered something. “Dawa, yesterday when Aunt took us up the mountain to dig bamboo shoots, we passed the training zone, and she told us we couldn’t go that way. She also said the warships are docked in the south, and that area is a restricted zone. We can’t go there either.”
“I know.” Zhong Dawa nodded. “Last summer, we got curious about what the warships looked like, so we snuck over there and got scolded by Commander Wu. I remember it better than you do.”
Zili frowned. “Then why did you—” His eyes widened in shock. “You did that on purpose?”
“Yep.” Zhong Dawa admitted without hesitation.
Zili was in disbelief. “That’s your aunt and uncle! If they trespass into a restricted zone, the sentries are allowed to shoot on sight.”
“They won’t.” Zhong Dawa said confidently. “The sentries will give a warning first. ‘Who goes there? Stop!’”
Zili opened his mouth but hesitated. “…I believe you really have been there before.”
“Hurry, Zili! They’re heading toward our house!” Dawa urged when he saw the two people nearing the street corner. “Stop hesitating!”
Zili grew anxious and asked, “What should I do?”
“Go around them, then bump into them.” Zhong Dawa instructed. “You’re older than me. You don’t need me to teach you everything, right?”
Zili thought to himself, Even if I were three years older than you, I still wouldn’t have as many tricks up my sleeve as you do. “Should I ask them where they’re going?”
“What do you think?” Dawa retorted.
Zili hesitated for a moment before dashing toward the middle-aged couple and deliberately crashing into them. The impact made him stagger, and he instinctively apologised.
The woman immediately questioned him in a Shanghai dialect, “How do you walk without watching where you’re going?”
Zili instinctively wanted to reply in the same dialect but caught himself just in time. He was Zhong Zili now, the adopted son of the Zhong family. So instead, he responded in Mandarin, “I’m sorry.” Then he asked, “Your accent doesn’t sound local. Are you here visiting relatives?”
Zhong Jianguo had become a regiment commander at a young age and was also a university graduate. The woman was eager for everyone on the island to know they were related to such a distinguished person, so she didn’t hide it from Zili.
Zili pressed his lips together, suppressing a smile, and told them, “You’re going the wrong way. The Zhong family’s house is to the south.”
The woman had just asked an adult for directions, so she didn’t trust a child’s words. “Someone else just told us to go north.”
Zili’s breath caught for a second before he quickly said, “That’s where I live. My dad—my dad is Regiment Commander Ma.”
The middle-aged couple didn’t know who Regiment Commander Ma was, but the title “Regiment Commander” put them at ease. Cursing the adult who misdirected them, they thanked Zili.
Zili responded, “You’re welcome,” before running back to Dawa.
“They’re from Shanghai, right?” Dawa asked before Zili even had a chance to catch his breath.
Zili nodded, patting his chest to calm his racing heart. “That was my first time doing something like that. I nearly died of fright.”
“You’ll get used to it after a few more times.” Dawa waved a hand dismissively. “Let’s go.”
Zili gulped. A few more times? No thanks. Seeing the direction Dawa was heading, he quickly asked, “Dawa, aren’t we going home?”
“Nope.” Zhong Dawa shook his head. “If we’re not home, Mom won’t recognise Uncle and Aunt, so she can turn them away more easily. Hey, Zili, let’s go to the beach.”
Zili asked, “Is the beach far from here?”
“Pretty far.” Dawa admitted. “I want to pick up sea snails and crabs, but Mom won’t let me go.”
Leave a Reply