第三章

The boy originally wanted to stand up.

But immediately someone behind him shouted:

"Kneel properly! If you dare to stand up, I'll break your legs!"

The boy didn't move at once.

He knelt on the ground, his back straight, looking up at Qingqing.

Qingqing also looked at him.

His hair was very short, his eyebrows dark and thick. Qingqing felt that he looked like a boy who often gets into trouble.

She had just been crying. But seeing him kneeling before her, she couldn't help laughing.

When she smiled, two small dimples appeared at the corners of her mouth.

The boy saw her smile and his face became even worse.

He frowned, signaling with his eyes for her to go away.

Qingqing didn't understand, only felt that he seemed very angry.

Grandma smiled and asked, "Xiao Chen, don't be angry. Has your second son gotten into trouble again?"

A grandfather next to them also said, "Boys are all naughty when they are young; they will be fine when they grow up."

Aunt Chen was so angry that she panted.

"This time it's different! We have an old clock, handed down from his father's family. He took it apart and messed up everything inside."

Grandma was startled when she heard this.

"Is it that very valuable clock of yours?"

"Yes! If it can't be reassembled, when his father comes back, the whole family will have no good days."

Grandma and the grandfather both said, "Too bold, he needs to be properly taught."

The boy, kneeling on the ground, secretly winked at Qingqing.

Qingqing didn't understand.

She thought for a moment and assumed he was asking for a meeting gift.

In Xinjiang, sometimes children bow to adults and adults give money. Now this boy is kneeling in front of her, does he also want money?

Qingqing felt a little reluctant to give.

She clutched her small schoolbag and whispered, "You can get up."

The boy glared at her.

"Go away."

Qingqing thought: Sure enough, he is angry.

At this moment, Aunt Chen finally noticed Qingqing.

She looked at Grandma and asked, "Is this Yang Wenjie's daughter?"

Grandma nodded.

"Yes. Wenjie can't come back, so she asked a colleague to bring Qingqing back to Shanghai."

Aunt Chen sighed.

She had known Yang Wenjie since childhood. Hearing this, she also felt bad.

She said, "It's good that the child is back. One who can come back is one."

Several adults looked at Qingqing together.

Qingqing was a little nervous.

She remembered her mother's words. Before leaving Xinjiang, her mother kept telling her: When you get to Shanghai, be polite, listen to Grandma, and don't be annoying.

Qingqing bit her lip.

She lowered her head, opened her small schoolbag, rummaged for a long time, and took out five yuan.

She handed the money to the boy.

"Here you go, a meeting gift."

Everyone was stunned.

The boy was also stunned.

After a while, Aunt Chen started laughing first.

She threw the broom, nearly hitting the boy's head.

She bent down, picked up Qingqing, and put the five yuan back into her small schoolbag.

"You give him money? He doesn't deserve it!"

After saying that, she glared at the boy again.

Then she gently asked Qingqing, "What's your name? How old are you?"

Qingqing looked at Aunt Chen.

Aunt Chen had short hair and thick eyebrows. Qingqing suddenly felt that she looked a bit like her mother.

She answered, "My name is Qingqing. I'm ten years old and in fourth grade."

Aunt Chen asked again, "Can you speak Shanghainese?"

Qingqing shook her head.

Aunt Chen felt a little sorry for her.

She said to Grandma, "This child is too thin; she needs to be well nourished. When she grows up, she will definitely be a beautiful girl."

Grandma smiled.

"Xinjiang has strong winds, and she got tanned. After coming back and being raised for two years, she'll be fine."

Aunt Chen pointed to the boy still kneeling on the ground and said to Qingqing,

"His name is Cheng Kun, the bad boy of our family. If he bullies you, just tell me."

Qingqing looked at the boy.

So his name is Cheng Kun.

She felt the name was a bit old-fashioned.

Grandma took the opportunity to help Cheng Kun up.

She said with a smile, "You know you were wrong, right? If you can take it apart, you must know how to put it back. Otherwise, even Grandma can't help you."

Cheng Kun's knees were red from kneeling.

He whispered, "Thank you, Grandma."

He turned around and was about to run.

Aunt Chen shouted again, "Don't you want the broom?"

Cheng Kun quickly picked up the broom and ran away in an instant.

Everyone around laughed.

Aunt Chen put Qingqing down and said, "I still need to go to the small market to buy wonton wrappers. I don't want to cook tonight; wontons are convenient."

After everyone said goodbye, Grandma held Qingqing's hand and continued walking deeper into the alley.

Jianqiang had already delivered the sacks and luggage and was returning empty-handed.

Grandma stopped him and said seriously, "You must listen to your parents' words. Young people can't act only on impulse."

Jianqiang didn't say anything, just nodded and left.

Qingqing followed Grandma through a door.

Inside was a kitchen shared by the whole building, very dark.

Grandma felt a rope, pulled it, and the light came on.

Qingqing saw several electric meters on the wall. The wires were tangled. Below were tables for each household, with pots, bowls, and bottles on them. Next to them was a row of coal briquette stoves.

It was narrow and messy here.

The air had the smell of food and coal smoke.

Qingqing had never seen a kitchen like this.

Grandma took her upstairs.

The stairs were made of wood, creaking when stepped on.

Grandma walked and taught her at the same time:

"Don't run on the stairs; you'll disturb others. Here is a rope; pull it and the light goes off. Always remember to turn off the light, otherwise you'll waste electricity and get scolded."

Qingqing didn't say anything.

She thought to herself: What does this have to do with me? Uncle Liu will come to take me back to Xinjiang in a few days.

She didn't like it here at all.