第八章

Qingqing gently pushed open the door, poked her head in and called, 'Aunt!'

There was music playing in the room. Xueqin was playing a new cassette. Yang Zhixia sat on the bed, flipping through a movie magazine. As soon as the music started, Yang Zhixia shouted, 'Leslie Cheung! A Chinese Ghost Story!' Xueqin smiled and said, 'I had someone record it for me.'

She took out a beautiful tin box and handed it to Qingqing. 'Take whatever you want to eat.' The box was full of candies. The wrappers were shiny and pretty. Qingqing's eyes widened. She immediately forgot that she was there to call someone, and lowered her head to carefully choose a candy.

Xueqin and Yang Zhixia listened to music and chatted. They talked about Leslie Cheung, Fei Xiang, and then Qi Qin. Qingqing didn't quite understand; she just felt they were very happy when they said those names.

Later, Xueqin asked, 'What's going on with you and Xiao Zhao?' Yang Zhixia put down the magazine, her voice dropping a little. 'My mom is urging me to get married soon. But Xiao Zhao's family doesn't have a house. If we get married, I can only live in the attic.' She frowned. 'Attics are cold in winter, hot in summer, and small.

I don't want that.' Xueqin said, 'Didn't he say there's a house in Pudong?' Yang Zhixia became more unhappy. 'Yes, but that place is far and shabby, and it costs twenty thousand. I don't want to go there.' Xueqin tried to persuade her, 'I heard that Pudong will develop in the future.

Suffer a little now, and it might be better later.' Yang Zhixia shook her head. 'Twenty thousand is not a small amount. What if I make a wrong purchase?' She didn't want to talk about it anymore, so she changed the subject.

Qingqing had already eaten two candies. At that moment, she remembered the real matter. She quickly said, 'Aunt, Uncle Zhao is upstairs waiting for you.' Yang Zhixia was taken aback. 'Which Uncle Zhao?' Xueqin laughed.

'You've forgotten your own boyfriend?' Yang Zhixia also laughed. 'She suddenly spoke Mandarin to me; I didn't react.' Yang Zhixia got out of bed, put on slippers, and prepared to go back. Xueqin lent her a cassette and casually handed it to Qingqing to hold. Qingqing looked at the man on the cassette cover and suddenly remembered.

'Uncle Zhao looks like him.' Yang Zhixia and Xueqin both were surprised. They leaned in to look, and after a while, they both laughed. Xueqin said, 'Children have interesting ways of seeing people.'

When they walked to the door to change shoes, Cheng Kun passed by just after taking a shower. His hair was wet, and he had a nice smell. Qingqing glanced at him. Cheng Kun also glanced at her, but said nothing.

After returning upstairs, Zhao Qingwen and Yang Zhixia quickly went out together. Grandma said they were probably going for a walk to talk things over. Yang Xiaojun and Zhang Aiyu also took small stools and went downstairs to enjoy the cool air. Only Grandma and Qingqing were left in the room.

Grandma moved a large foot-washing basin to the middle of the room and poured in hot and cold water. 'Qingqing, take off your clothes, take a bath.' Qingqing suddenly became nervous. She was already in fourth grade and didn't want Grandma to help her bathe. She tugged at her vest and said, 'I can wash myself.' Grandma sniffed her hair and frowned, saying, 'You smell of sweat. Take it off quickly.'

Qingqing got anxious. 'I'll wash myself. Grandma, go out!' Grandma didn't understand her thoughts and had no patience. She quickly pushed Qingqing into the basin. The water was a bit hot, and Qingqing cried out, 'It's hot! Add cold water!'

Grandma tested the water with her hand. 'It's not hot. It will cool down in a moment.' Grandma sat on a small stool and began to wash Qingqing's hair. As she washed, she used a comb to untangle Qingqing's knotted hair. Qingqing screamed in pain. But Grandma said, 'Your hair is all tangled.

Tomorrow I'll take you to the hairdresser for a bowl cut, to save trouble.' As soon as Qingqing heard, tears immediately fell. 'I don't want a haircut!' The more she thought, the angrier she got, crying, 'Grandma, I hate you!' Grandma laughed. 'You ungrateful little thing.'

But she didn't stop; she continued to wash Qingqing thoroughly clean.

After taking a bath, Grandma led Qingqing downstairs to enjoy the cool. The alley at night was much livelier than during the day. Many people brought out small stools and sat chatting at the door. Some were waving fans, others were listening to the radio. Grandma sat down and fanned Qingqing. Qingqing's hair was still wet after the bath. She leaned against Grandma and gradually felt a bit sleepy.

At that moment, a gentle female voice came over. 'Master Sun, have some watermelon. Mother Yang, you too.' Qingqing was almost asleep. Hearing the word 'watermelon', she immediately opened her eyes. She looked up and saw a fair-skinned, tall and thin aunt walking over. Behind the aunt was a boy carrying a watermelon. Qingqing instantly became alert. Wasn't that Chen Ming?