Chapter Forty-Five: Going Ice Skating Together

After Chen Hong finished kowtowing, she stretched out her little hand and shook her head, looking absolutely adorable. Chen Liang laughed, pulled out two yuan, handed it to her, and patted her head. “Come on, today your second uncle is taking you to ice skate at Shichahai. Want to go?”

Tossing aside her little stool, Chen Hong immediately wrapped her arms around Chen Liang’s leg. “Second uncle, you have to keep your word. If you lie, you’re a little puppy!”

Damn, it’s been a while since Chen Hong and I practiced our telepathic games; now I can hardly tell what all her winking and grimacing means anymore.

“Don’t worry, second uncle always keeps his promises. Let’s go right now!” Chen Liang said.

But Chen Hong glanced suspiciously at her uncle. “Second uncle, where’s second aunt? Aren’t you two usually inseparable?”

Chen Liang looked a little embarrassed. “You and your questions! Your second aunt went to bed late last night and will get up later. Here—another two yuan for your New Year’s money. Let’s hurry so we don’t disturb her rest.”

But Chen Hong was shrewd beyond her years. “No, if I take New Year’s money from you now, I’ll have to hand it in anyway. I’ll ask second aunt for hers later—maybe I’ll get to keep it for myself.”

Indeed, no matter the era, New Year’s money is just a ruse to amuse children. In the end, parents always find a way to take it back with one excuse or another. It’s simply too cruel! How could you bully children like this?

Last night, Chen Liang and his beloved Xiaoyu had been fooling around, so they didn’t stay up to make dumplings. After a bowl of his mother’s lovingly made dumplings in the morning, Chen Liang took Chen Hong to pay a New Year’s visit to the Deaf Old Lady.

Passing by Shazhu’s house, they saw him standing there with two big dark circles under his eyes, looking complicated and worn out. Last night, after sobering up in the middle of the night, Shazhu couldn’t fall back asleep.

Shazhu’s house was just a few meters from Chen Liang’s, and with the thin walls of the era, you could hardly avoid hearing everything at night. In those days, that’s just how things were. Before Chen Liang got married, he’d often overhear his eldest brother’s bed creaking.

They greeted Shazhu, who, upon learning they were off to visit the Deaf Old Lady, called He Yushui to join them. The Deaf Old Lady’s room, the quietest one in the courtyard, was a perfect fit for her despite its small size.

“Happy New Year, Great-Grandma!” Chen Hong was the first to enter, bowing her head in greeting. Her words were as sweet as honey, making the Deaf Old Lady beam with delight.

“Happy New Year, Grandma!” echoed the others—Chen Liang, Shazhu, and the rest—each offering their wishes in turn.

The Deaf Old Lady happily stood up. “Come, come, have a seat. Great-Grandma has red envelopes for you!”

After receiving generous red envelopes and chatting with the old lady for a good while, the group finally took their leave.

It was nearly noon by the time Xiaoyu woke up, and she was mortified by the teasing look on her sister-in-law’s face. She could have curled up and dug a three-bedroom apartment with her toes, all thanks to Chen Liang. If he hadn’t tossed and turned so much last night, would she have slept so deeply?

Chen Liang looked at the fresh, radiant Xiaoyu and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. It hasn’t even been that long! His beloved Xiaoyu had already passed out of her novice stage and was now rapidly growing in strength. In a while, she’d reach full maturity—truly gifted beyond compare.

Xiaoyu’s talent was overwhelming—even just looking at her figure, you could tell she’d be the end of any man. Yet Chen Liang never expected it would be this overwhelming. She didn’t leave a single man alive in her wake!

For lunch, the whole family enjoyed a lively meal of leftovers—what Northerners call “one-pot stew”—all the leftovers from last night tossed together and simmered. The older generation never wasted a scrap of food; much like those elderly folks in later years who’d buy a basket of apples and, reluctant to eat them, would wait until they spoiled before eating only the rotten ones—ending up eating a whole basket of rotten apples!

After lunch, Chen Liang planned to take Xiaoyu and Chen Hong ice skating, but Chen Rong found out, roped in He Yushui, and even dragged the drowsy Shazhu along. The group set out together, four bicycles in all, heading grandly for Shichahai Park.

On the way, Chen Liang grumbled to Shazhu, who was riding on his back seat, “Shazhu, don’t you have any sense? Why insist on riding with me?”

“You think I want to be here? I wanted a nap! Since I’m here, don’t think you can just flaunt your happy couple in my face. Real men are here to make trouble!” Shazhu rolled his eyes. “Enough already—it’s just a short ride, and you’ve been complaining nonstop!”

Grass—it’s just a plant.

Why did you come with me, anyway? You should have gone with someone else! Thanks to you, I didn’t even get to enjoy the perks of riding with my wife. My big brother and sister-in-law shared one bike, He Yushui and Chen Rong another, and Shazhu was supposed to ride his own. But the bastard refused, insisting on riding with me, so in the end, my beloved Xiaoyu had to ride solo with Chen Hong.

Shazhu endured endless complaints the entire way. He’d had enough, but still refused to budge. Not being able to nap was bad enough, but being force-fed displays of affection was unbearable! He’d rather roll his eyes in frustration than see another couple happy. This is the last dignity of a single man!

The group of four bikes drew plenty of attention. Aside from Shazhu falling a bit short, the rest were handsome men and beautiful women—not to mention the adorable little one.

On the first day of the New Year, with the whole country on holiday, Shichahai Park was packed. Young couples and newlyweds took the chance to skate and relax.

As Chen Liang’s group reached the park entrance, their four bicycles marked them as people of means. The ice skate scalpers, hoping to make a few coins, swarmed over to peddle their secondhand skates.

“Move along, move along! We brought our own,” Shazhu said, hurrying over with three or four pairs of skates slung around his neck, shooing the scalpers away. With these guys, you couldn’t afford to be polite, or they’d never leave you alone, pestering you like flies.

It took some effort, but Shazhu finally managed to drive them off. The others, having parked their bikes and bought tickets, joined him.

At the skating rink, Chen Liang first helped Xiaoyu into her skates, then put on his own. In his hand, he held a homemade little sled.

Chen Hong was too small, so Chen Liang didn’t trust her to skate alone. He had built her a sled, planning to pull her along so she could have just as much fun!