Chapter 020 Waiting for Your Return

Early the next morning, someone woke me up. It wasn't anyone else but the eldest brother and sister-in-law of San Quezi. San Quezi's eldest brother and second brother were both honest farmers. However, their wives were quite tough, comparable to Fengxia. In particular, San Quezi's eldest sister-in-law's younger brother was said to be a powerful figure in another village, somewhat like a local bully. But that's just what people said, and I had never seen him. "Aunt Ma, I heard that my younger brother was scared in your house. When I went to see him today, why did I find him acting so weird?" I heard the voice and got up, stretching my neck to look towards the door. I saw Grandma take out a folded piece of talisman paper and hand it to him. "Take this back and burn it for Lao San. After he drinks the ashes dissolved in water, he'll be fine. The neighbors all saw this. It was your younger brother who came to our house to cause trouble. I'm his elder, and he even hit me and your uncle." "Yes, yes, yes. My younger brother was in the wrong in this matter. You know, he can be quite unreasonable sometimes!" San Quezi's eldest brother responded repeatedly and took the talisman paper Grandma handed over. "Thank you, Aunt Ma. Are you and Uncle okay?" Grandma shook her head. Before she could reply, San Quezi's eldest sister-in-law spoke up. "Aunt Ma, my younger brother can be a bit of a rascal, but he wouldn't just go to any house. Before I came, I also asked around. Those who saw it said that my younger brother claimed he was going to your house to get his thing. What exactly was he going to get that could scare him like that?" "Well, you can go back and ask your younger brother." Grandma retorted. "What do you think is something of Lao San's in my house?" "Ah, anyway, it was my younger brother's fault. I'm sorry, Aunt Ma. No matter what, he shouldn't have hit people." San Quezi's eldest brother said as he reached out and pulled his wife towards the door. "Let's go home! I told you not to come, but you insisted. Don't you know what kind of person Lao San is? We're in the wrong in this matter, do you understand?"

As soon as I saw them leave, I turned over and looked out of the window directly. San Quezi's eldest sister-in-law left reluctantly. Being pulled by her husband, she kept saying, "Even though Lao San is no good, he's not someone who would suffer losses easily! How could he go to Aunt Ma's house for no reason? I just want to know what Aunt Ma's family took from our Lao San!" "Shut up! What does Lao San have? What could anyone take from him!!!" "Jiaolong, what are you looking at?" I was straining my ears to listen to the couple's conversation when Grandma's voice suddenly rang out behind me. I turned around and looked at Grandma, pointing outside the window. "Grandma, will this matter be resolved like this?" Grandma looked at me, let out a sigh, and sat on the edge of the kang. "What's meant to come will always come. All right, don't worry. Grandma is here." "San Quezi won't tell others about Shengzi, will he?" Grandma's expression became a bit solemn, and she shook her head. "It's okay. He can't say it." Although Grandma's words were meant to reassure me, I always felt that there was something wrong with her expression, as if she had a premonition that something would happen. Since I was going to the big city, Xu Meijin came to find me after we finished our meal. She looked rather depressed and kept saying, "Jiaolong, when will you be back?" Grandma looked at the two of us and directly said, "Jiaolong, you can go out and play with Daya. Grandma needs to do divination at home." I gave an "oh" and led Xu Meijin to the courtyard. She looked at me curiously. "Jiaolong, what is divination?" "It's like fortune-telling." "Who is Grandma going to do the fortune-telling for?" I shook my head. "I don't know." Actually, Xu Meijin really asked me a good question. Usually, Grandma only did divination when someone came to the house to ask about something. The process of divination was quite complicated. Grandma had three copper coins, which should be considered cultural relics now. She would first write down the birth date and hour of the person asking the question, then spread it on the kang. She would toss the copper coins six times and carefully observe the front and back sides of the coins and their movements. Incense would be lit at home at the same time, and she would also have to get up from time to time to check the state of the incense... Although I didn't quite understand it, I also knew that Grandma rarely did divination. Each divination would take at least an afternoon. I didn't know why Grandma wanted to do divination just before we left. It felt rather strange. "Jiaolong, actually, it's not bad for you to stay here. Why go to the big city?" Xu Meijin timely changed the topic and brought my wandering thoughts back. The two of us sat on the stone stools in front of my house. I looked at her. "Because Grandma said that the doctors in the big city can tell me whether I'm a boy or a girl and why I'm different from you all." "Why do you have to be the same? Grandma Ma said you're not an ordinary person. Jiaolong, you don't have to be a boy or a girl. You're just you." Xu Meijin looked at me and said seriously. I felt a bit helpless. "But I don't want to be like this. If my classmates know, they'll laugh at me. I want to be a boy." "I know, but I also..." Xu Meijin said, clearing her throat as she looked at me. "I was naive back then, so I said those thoughtless words. But I think you're fine the way you are. Actually, whether you're a boy or a girl, as long as you're Jiaolong and my good friend, that's enough." I smiled and looked at her. "Yes, you're also my good friend." "Then can we never be separated? Can we be good friends for a lifetime? Jiaolong, my dad said you might go back to the county town and study at your mom's place in the future. Please don't go, okay? What will I do if you leave?" I looked at her. "Daya, I won't go to my mom's. She doesn't even like me. Why would I go there?" "You said that! Don't go there for sure. You're my only good friend." Xu Meijin said anxiously. I nodded. "Yes, I won't go." "Daya!!! What are you doing there? Come back! Your Aunt Yanhong is here! Hurry up!" Xu Gang shouted at us from the gate of their house. I was taken aback for a moment and looked at Xu Meijin who stood up. "Daya, who is Aunt Yanhong?" Xu Meijin's eyes dimmed. "She might be my stepmom in the future." I also stood up. "Your dad found someone so soon? Will your stepmom treat you well?" Xu Meijin shook her head. "I don't know. But she also has a daughter who is a year younger than me. My dad said that if I'm not obedient, he won't let me go to junior high school. Whether she treats me well or not, I have to call her mom." My heart ached, and I reached out to hold her hand. "Daya, you still have me. I'll treat you well. I'll tell Grandma to let you come to my house then." Xu Meijin gave me a pale smile. "Jiaolong, as long as you don't leave. Just don't leave me alone here. You're my only friend. Come back early from the big city this time. I'll be waiting for you at home." I nodded. Looking at Xu Meijin's figure as she walked home with her head down, I shouted, "Daya, I'll bring you delicious food from the city when I'm back!" Xu Meijin turned around and smiled at me again. "I don't want delicious food. Just come back early."