第四章

Grandma took Qingqing upstairs.

She walked and said, "Many people live in this building. Aunt Chen's home is on the second floor, and above is the beef noodle restaurant owner."

Qingqing followed Grandma to the fourth floor.

Grandma pulled open the green screen door and said, "Go in quickly, there are mosquitoes."

Qingqing walked in. Grandma took out a pair of new blue slippers.

"Change slippers."

Qingqing changed into the slippers, and imitating Grandma, put her own sandals into the cabinet.

At this moment, a tall, strong man came out. He was bare-chested, only wearing shorts.

Grandma asked, "Aren't you going to work today?"

The man said, "I'm off today."

Grandma said to Qingqing, "This is your uncle, Yang Xiaojun."

She then said to uncle, "The little girl is here, why don't you go put on a vest!"

Qingqing couldn't help smiling.

Uncle went to put on clothes. Grandma took Qingqing into the room.

Qingqing stared at the room, stunned.

It was very small, but filled with beds, cabinets, and tables and chairs. She stood at the door, not knowing where to go.

Mom had said before that Shanghai people's houses are very small, everything has to be squeezed together. Qingqing now understood that it was true.

Grandma said, "There is chrysanthemum tea on the table. If you want to drink, pour it yourself."

Qingqing was not thirsty, and didn't dare to move around.

From the mosquito net on the bed, suddenly came the voice of a young woman.

"Can you be quiet? Do you still let people sleep?"

Grandma immediately lowered her voice and asked uncle, "Where is the luggage?"

Uncle pointed to the balcony.

In the gunny sack were potatoes. In the suitcase were raisins, beef jerky, and some medicinal herbs. Grandma also took out a cloth bundle, which contained a stack of money. She sat down and counted one by one.

Uncle looked at Qingqing and asked, "You can't speak Shanghainese?"

Qingqing said, "No."

Uncle laughed, "If you come to Shanghai, you have to learn Shanghainese."

Qingqing said seriously, "No need to learn. In a few days, Uncle Liu will come to take me back to Xinjiang. In Xinjiang, they don't speak Shanghainese."

Uncle was stunned for a moment and looked at Grandma.

"Mom, is she going back to Xinjiang?"

Grandma didn't explain, only said, "Go divide the potatoes."

Uncle didn't ask further, squatting on the balcony to pack the potatoes.

Qingqing walked to the edge of the balcony and looked down.

Downstairs, Cheng Kun was playing soccer. The alley was too narrow, the ball hit something, and someone immediately scolded him.

Cheng Kun suddenly ran away and disappeared.

Qingqing thought, Xinjiang is better after all. The place is big there, you can run as you like.

At this moment, she heard a "coo coo" sound from the corner of the balcony.

She walked over and saw a little hen. One of the hen's legs was tied with a rope.

So Grandma had also bought a chicken.

After a while, Grandma and uncle returned to the room. Qingqing also went in, found a small chair and sat down.

A young girl sat up on the sofa. Her hair was messy, her face a bit pale, she looked like she hadn't woken up.

Grandma asked, "Didn't you work the night shift yesterday? Why aren't you sleeping?"

The girl said unhappily, "You're too noisy, how can I sleep?"

Grandma beckoned to Qingqing.

"Qingqing, come here. This is your aunt, Yang Zhixia. She works as a nurse in the hospital."

Qingqing stood up and said seriously, "Hello, aunt."

The aunt looked at her and smiled.

"Mom, look at her, so serious, really funny."

The aunt also joked that uncle didn't even ask Qingqing's name clearly. Uncle wasn't angry either. The siblings joked a few words, and the room became lively.

Grandma also smiled. But when she saw Qingqing sitting nearby, her smile gradually faded.

She thought of her daughter still in Xinjiang.

Grandma said to uncle, "I bought a hen. Go kill it and make soup for Qingqing."

She then said to aunt, "Call Qingwen and ask him to come for dinner too."

The aunt pouted.

"He's busy, he has to work."

Grandma sensed something wrong.

"Fighting again? When will you change your temper?"

The aunt didn't want to listen, stood up and walked towards the bed.

"I'm going to sleep, don't bother me."

Uncle grabbed the hen from the balcony and prepared to go downstairs.

He saw Qingqing sitting still and asked with a smile, "Do you want to watch me kill the chicken? If you want to see, come along."

Qingqing actually didn't want to watch.

But she thought for a moment, then stood up and followed uncle downstairs.