Zili was puzzled. “Then why are you still going?”
“Lin Zhong said that the conches and crabs on the shore belong to whoever picks them up,” Zhong Dawa counted on his fingers. “There are five of us. If each of us picks a little, we can make a whole pot. Don’t you want to eat?”
Zili sighed—this glutton. “I do, but I’m more afraid of Aunt getting mad.”
“I’m afraid of Mom getting mad too,” Zhong Dawa admitted, but he wasn’t ready to give up. “Tomorrow, we’ll bring Mom with us. Let’s go play now. Follow me!”
By nine o’clock, as the sun climbed higher, Song Zhaodi took out all the household’s bedding to air out. Then she harvested a basket of spinach, washed it clean, and set it aside in the kitchen cupboard for making spinach and egg soup at noon.
Coming out of the house, Song Zhaodi noticed that Zhong Jianguo had already washed all the family’s clothes and shoes. With nothing urgent left to do, she packed the high school textbooks she had salvaged from the junkyard before the New Year, locked the door, and headed to the principal’s house with her cloth bag.
By eleven o’clock, she returned from the principal’s house and saw a man and a woman sitting outside her door before she even reached it.
Her first thought was, were they beggars? But just as the idea flashed through her mind, she recalled the letter that Dawa had burned, the one their entire family had almost forgotten about.
Guessing who they were, Song Zhaodi calmly walked up and deliberately asked, “Who are you? What are you doing sitting outside my house? Are you beggars? Wait here, I’ll get you some steamed buns.” She opened the door, stepped inside, and bolted it behind her.
The man and woman were stunned. It took them a moment to react before they both stood up and spoke in unison. “Are you Song Zhaodi?”
Song Zhaodi feigned surprise. “You know me?”
“Of course,” the man said. “I’m Dawa’s uncle, and she is Dawa’s maternal aunt. You… open the door and let us in first.”
Song Zhaodi sized him up, her face full of disdain. “Just because you say so? I could say I’m Bai Hua, Dawa’s real mother. Who would believe that?”
The man choked.
Song Zhaodi sneered. “I thought you were starving and couldn’t walk any further, so I wanted to bring you some steamed buns. Turns out you’re just scammers.” She turned to head inside.
“You—you stop right there! Who are you calling a scammer?!” the woman shouted.
Song Zhaodi paused. As she turned back, she noticed Chen dasao and Duan dasao standing under the eaves, watching the scene unfold. She suddenly wanted to kick the Bai siblings all the way to Shencheng. Unfortunately, she was Zhong Jianguo’s wife, a middle school teacher. She had to be civilised and well-mannered.
Walking back over, Song Zhaodi said, “Of course, I’m talking about you.”
The woman held her breath. “I—I am Dawa’s aunt, Bai Zao, and he is Dawa’s uncle, Bai Lin. I don’t believe you don’t know that!”
“I really don’t know,” Song Zhaodi turned to Chen dasao. “Sister-in-law, have you seen them before?”
Chen dasao waved her hand and loudly said, “Nope, never.”
Song Zhaodi then turned to Duan dasao. “Auntie, they claim to be Dawa’s uncle and aunt. When Dawa’s mother passed away, did you see them?”
Duan dasao walked to the fence, stood on tiptoe, and said, “No one from the Bai family came when Dawa’s mother died. I don’t know if they’re who they say they are.”
“No one from the Bai family came at all?” Song Zhaodi raised her voice, making sure everyone around could hear. “Your own sister died, and none of you came. So what are you here for now? To give Zhong Jianguo and me a New Year’s greeting? Who do you think you’re fooling?” Her face full of disgust, she added, “Go wherever you need to go, but don’t make a scene at my door.”
Bai Zao opened her mouth, ready to curse, but the tightly shut bamboo gate reminded her. If she cursed Song Zhaodi now, she wouldn’t get in today or any other day. So she forced herself to hold back. “Call Zhong Jianguo out. I want to talk to him.”
“Oh, you even know Dawa’s dad’s name?” Song Zhaodi said with a sarcastic smile. “Looks like you did your homework before coming. Did you also find out that Zhong Jianguo won’t be home at noon and won’t return until nightfall?”
Bai Zao choked. “Then—then call Dawa out.”
“You think Dawa even remembers who his aunt is?” Song Zhaodi retorted. “If you’re really Dawa’s aunt, think back, when was the last time Dawa saw you?”
Bai Lin tugged at his sister’s sleeve and muttered, “When Dawa was three.”
Song Zhaodi didn’t hear him, but she saw his lips move. She deliberately asked, “You don’t remember? I’ll give you another chance. When is Dawa’s birthday?”
“Lantern Festival, the fifteenth of the first lunar month,” Bai Lin blurted out. “That’s the one thing I remember clearly.”
Song Zhaodi had seen too much in her past life to get worked up over strangers, but when she heard Bai Lin’s words, she couldn’t help but curse. “My Dawa’s birthday is January 11th. Three ones. So easy to remember, yet you got it wrong? And you claim to be his uncle? What a joke!” With that, she turned and went inside.
Duan dasao and Chen dasao had never seen Bai Zao and Bai Lin before, but their eyes were exactly like Bai Hua’s – narrow and long. That alone was enough to confirm their identities as Bai Hua’s siblings.
Song Zhaodi was sharp. If they had noticed it, she certainly had too. Since Song Zhaodi clearly didn’t want to acknowledge them, they didn’t meddle. They turned and went inside to start preparing lunch.
Before coming here, Mother Bai had warned her son and daughter that Song Zhaodi was a tough one and that they needed to tread carefully on Wengzhou Island.
At the time, Bai Zao had scoffed, “No matter how tough she is, she can’t keep us from entering the house.”
Now, with Song Zhaodi actually shutting them out, the two were completely dumbfounded.
Bai Lin looked at Bai Zao. “What do we do now?”
“You’re asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?” Bai Zao was exhausted. She had gotten up before dawn, gone to her mother’s house, eaten porridge and a salted bun, and then rushed to the dock with Bai Lin.
After arriving on the island, they hadn’t even had time to rest before some brat had tricked them into running around, nearly scaring them out of their wits.
Finally, when they sat down outside the Zhong house for a moment, Song Zhaodi had shown up. Now, Bai Zao wasn’t just physically tired. She was mentally drained too. “I told you before that our little sister is dead. Zhong Jianguo is hardly ever home, and Song Zhaodi is clearly the one in charge now. Coming here was a mistake. Your wife insisted we come, and now look, she’s left us standing outside.”
Bai Lin muttered, “You weren’t saying that when we left.”
Bai Zao choked for a moment. “If Mom hadn’t insisted, I wouldn’t have come.”
“Then why don’t you go back now?” Bai Lin asked.
Bai Zao was stuck. “I’m already here. This is my nephew’s home. Why should I leave?” With that, she turned around and sat down on the ground. “I refuse to believe Zhong Jianguo won’t come back today.”
Song Zhaodi planned to make spinach and egg soup with extra eggs and duck eggs, one big bowl per person, along with mixed-grain steamed buns.
The children and Zhong Jianguo weren’t back yet, but when they returned, Bai Lin and Bai Zao would definitely come in as well. Song Zhaodi wasn’t willing to see the eggs laid by the chickens and ducks she painstakingly raised end up in the Bai siblings’ stomachs.
After thinking for a moment, Song Zhaodi grabbed some scallions and made a dish of scrambled eggs with scallions.
Once the dish was done, she didn’t bother washing the pan or adding oil. She simply tossed in the spinach and stir-fried it. Then, she poured two ladles of water into the large iron pot, placed the steamer on top, and heated the buns.
When the water boiled, she put the spinach and scrambled eggs with scallions on the steamer rack to keep them warm. However, even after all that, Zhong Jianguo and the children still hadn’t returned.
Song Zhaodi found it odd. Could it be that Dawa saw the two people at the door and ran to the camp to inform Zhong Jianguo?
Meanwhile, Zhong Dawa and his younger brothers, upon seeing the two people at the door, didn’t go to find Zhong Jianguo but instead went to the Liu family to borrow a long bench.
Hearing a “thud, thud” sound, Song Zhaodi instinctively thought it was a rat and quickly followed the noise.
“Mom, over here.”
Song Zhaodi’s heart skipped a beat. She turned her head and was immediately furious. She rushed to open the window and lifted Sanwa down. “What are you doing here?”
“Mom, we’re all here.” Erwa’s head popped into view.
The Song family’s windows didn’t have steel bars, only two wooden sticks, so a child could squeeze through sideways. Since every household’s windows were the same, both upstairs and downstairs, Song Zhaodi had never realised there was an issue. “Dawa, was this your idea?”
“It was everyone’s idea,” Zhong Dawa said. “Mom, enough talking. Hurry up and pull us in. We’re starving.”
Song Zhaodi peered outside. “Where did the bench come from?”
“Grandma Liu gave it to us,” Zhong Dawa replied. “I told her we’d return it in the afternoon.”
Song Zhaodi poked his forehead. “You little troublemaker!” Then she said, “Gengsheng, Zili, be careful.”
“Auntie, are those two people Dawa’s uncle and aunt?” Zili asked as he climbed in.
Song Zhaodi answered, “That’s his aunt and uncle. Ignore them. I’m going to get water so you can wash up before eating.” But just as she stepped out, she saw a car pull up at the door. The car door opened, and out stepped Zhong Jianguo.
Song Zhaodi was instantly annoyed. He couldn’t have come earlier or later; he had to show up just as the kids had snuck in and were about to eat.
Still, she didn’t rush to open the door. Instead, she carried the water basin into the kitchen. “Dawa, carry the dishes. Zili, carry the buns. Gengsheng, grab the chopsticks. Go upstairs to eat.”
Zhong Dawa glanced at the scrambled eggs with scallions, then at the spinach. “Mom, aren’t you eating the eggs?”
“I was going to, but your dad came back at the worst time.” The moment Song Zhaodi finished speaking, Zhong Jianguo called out for her to open the door. “I made the spinach for your aunt and uncle. Your dad has no sense. He should’ve climbed over the side instead.”
Zhong Dawa hesitated. “Then… should we go up?”
“Go on.” Song Zhaodi waved them off. Once they were upstairs, she finally went to open the door. As soon as she did, she asked Zhong Jianguo, “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t be back at noon? I didn’t make your meal.”
Zhong Jianguo hesitated for a second. This woman was always full of nonsense. “You’re cooking right now.”
“I just finished,” Song Zhaodi said, then looked at Bai Lin and Bai Zao and deliberately asked, “Who are they?”
Zhong Jianguo shot her a look. This woman was a great actor. “Dawa’s uncle and aunt.”
“You’re not lying?” Song Zhaodi feigned surprise. “Then why don’t they even know Dawa’s birthday?” Without giving them a chance to respond, she continued, “Don’t tell me they don’t even know Dawa’s mother’s death anniversary?”
Zhong Jianguo frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Nothing,” Bai Lin quickly interjected. “Brother-in-law, let’s go inside first. This isn’t the place to talk.”
Song Zhaodi nodded. “Right, let’s go in. Otherwise, everyone will know that Dawa’s uncle doesn’t even know his birthday.” She paused. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think Jianguo purposely didn’t tell you.”
“Song Zhaodi,” Zhong Jianguo warned with a frown. “Go serve the food.”
Song Zhaodi smiled. “Alright.”
Zhong Jianguo felt a headache coming on. He wanted to ask what new scheme she was plotting, but with these two uninvited guests around, he held back. Instead, he turned to Bai Lin and Bai Zao. “Big Sister, Big Brother, let’s go inside.”
Once inside, he said, “Put your things on the chair. I’ll fetch some water to wash up before we eat.”
“The basin is in the kitchen,” Song Zhaodi called out, kicking the wooden basin toward him.
Bai Lin nudged Bai Zao. “You talk to Zhong Jianguo.”
Bai Zao nodded and followed Zhong Jianguo out, while Bai Lin stayed in the living room, watching Song Zhaodi work in the kitchen.
“Why isn’t your brother coming to wash up?” Zhong Jianguo asked as he set the basin by the hand pump. Seeing that Bai Zao was alone, he found it strange.
“He’ll wash up later,” Bai Zao replied. Afraid that Song Zhaodi would suddenly appear, she got straight to the point. “Jianguo, Mom asked me to ask you why you haven’t sent anything home for the past two years during the holidays. Is it because Song Zhaodi won’t let you?”
Zhong Jianguo paused briefly before continuing to pump water. “It has nothing to do with Song Zhaodi.”
“Then you just don’t want to send anything?” Bai Zao pressed.
Zhong Jianguo smirked. “That’s right.”
Bai Zao was stunned, staring at him in disbelief. How had he become like this?
Ignoring her, Zhong Jianguo squatted down to wash his hands.
As he stood up to leave, Bai Zao quickly asked, “Why? Mom never treated you badly. Every time one of your children was born, she stayed for two or three months to help.”
“Yes,” Zhong Jianguo agreed. “You’re right. But did she tell you how much I paid her each month for helping with the kids? Or how much she tricked out of Bai Hua? You think she never wronged me? Well, I never owed her anything either.
“She’s Bai Hua’s mother. Bai Hua died because of her. I didn’t go after her for that, yet she keeps coming to my house to stir up trouble. I’ve had enough. Let me tell you, after this meal, leave the way you came. My house doesn’t welcome you. Don’t wait for me to have you sent back.”
Bai Zao’s breathing quickened, her eyes widening. “You—”
“What?” Zhong Jianguo said. “This is the Zhong family, not the Bai family.”
Bai Zao felt a buzzing in her head. She blurted out, “Are you cutting ties with our Bai family?”
“Yes.” Zhong Jianguo sneered. “It’s rare that someone from the Bai family actually figured it out.” He paused. “Since you’ve guessed it, tell your mother not to come here again.”
Bai Zao took a deep breath, suppressing her anger. “My mother is Dawa’s grandmother, and I am his aunt—”
If Bai Zao hadn’t brought up the past, Zhong Jianguo wouldn’t have been upset. But seeing her attempt to play the family card again, he couldn’t be bothered to argue and cut her off. “Dawa just turned eight yesterday. He’s not a little kid anymore. He understands things. I’ll call him over now. If he acknowledges you as his aunt and his grandmother, then I’ll take back what I said.”
“Dad, no need to call me. I heard everything.” Zhong Dawa had been eavesdropping by the window with the other children, too afraid to go downstairs without Song Zhaodi’s permission. “I don’t know her. Tell her to leave.”
Bai Zao stumbled back a step.
After Bai Hua’s death, neither Bai Zao nor Bai Lin had even sent a letter, let alone come to see the children. Zhong Jianguo wasn’t surprised by Dawa’s response. “You heard? Then go back inside and eat. As for you two, finish your meal and leave.”
Standing near the door, Bai Lin had heard every word of the conversation. He suddenly spoke up. “Zhong Jianguo, my sister Bai Hua gave you three sons.”
Before Zhong Jianguo could react, Song Zhaodi interjected, “What do you mean? Bai Lin, are you here to take the children away?”
Bai Lin was taken aback and only responded after a long pause. “I… I didn’t mean that.”
“Then what did you mean?” Zhong Jianguo hadn’t known how to respond, but Song Zhaodi’s words pointed him in the right direction. “Doesn’t what you just said imply that you’re here to take the children?”
Raising an eyebrow, Song Zhaodi added, “Is that the case? I’ll go pack their things right now.”
Bai Lin’s face changed drastically. “I don’t want the kids! I already have three or four of my own. Why would I take yours?”
“Oh? Then what were you trying to say?” Song Zhaodi feigned disappointment.
To Bai Zao, a stepmother inevitably meant a stepfather as well. She feared that Song Zhaodi and Zhong Jianguo might push the children back onto the Bai family and have more of their own. Afraid to directly address the issue, she hesitated before saying, “What Bai Lin means is that for the sake of the children—”
“You want money in the children’s name?” Song Zhaodi cut in. “You want Zhong Jianguo to give your family some money out of filial piety to Bai Hua’s parents? Dream on. These three children are Bai Hua and Zhong Jianguo’s. You people indirectly caused Bai Hua’s death, leaving them motherless.
“Zhong Jianguo had no choice but to marry me. To do that, he had to spend two hundred yuan. He didn’t ask you for a cent, and you should count yourselves lucky for that. Yet you dare come here asking for money? Where do you get the nerve?”
Bai Lin and Bai Zao were speechless.
Zhong Jianguo almost wanted to applaud her, but now wasn’t the time. “So you came here for money too? Just like Dawa’s grandmother last time?”
“No, no!” Bai Lin quickly denied. “What I mean is, just because Bai Hua is gone, that doesn’t mean our two families should cut ties. When the children grow up, if people ask about their uncle or aunt, what are they supposed to say?
“Are they just supposed to tell people they’ve severed ties with their mother’s family? What will others think? They’ll say it was all Song Zhaodi’s doing. That wouldn’t be good for her reputation.”
Song Zhaodi replied, “That doesn’t matter. I’m a stepmother. No matter how well I treat the children, people will assume I’m cruel to them. When I married Zhong Jianguo, I was already prepared for that. One more accusation won’t make a difference. You don’t have to worry about me.”
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