Childhood Affection - Chapter 13 - National Day Holiday (Part One)

After enduring seven days of classes, the National Day holiday finally arrived. The alleys were bustling with activity: children running around and screaming, relatives visiting in droves, and cars filling the streets outside the alley entrance.

“Brother, when will your jujube tree be ready to harvest?”

“When you get into college.” Qianyang had just woken up and was entertaining guests in the courtyard. “There are pomegranates available right now. Take a couple each and go play, just don’t bother me.”

One of the kids, Little Glasses, said, “Brother, my mom says you’re training in sports now.”

Qianyang, sitting on a small stool and propping up his chin, replied, “How does your mom know everything? Are you and Little Fatty from the same mom? I always see you two together.”

Little Fatty retorted, “Not the same mom, but might as well be. We also see you hanging out with Shan-Ge all the time.”

“Smart mouth on you,” Qianyang found it amusing and went back inside to grab three popsicles. After giving one to Little Glasses and Little Fatty, he had one left. “Here’s a mission for you, take this to Shan-Ge and tell him to come for a meeting.”

Little Glasses said, “You need to get one more, there’s also Yu-Ge.”

Qianyang tricked the kids, “Yu-Ge can’t have cold stuff these days; it gives him a stomachache.”

“Just like my mom.” Little Fatty and Little Glasses took their popsicles and left on their mission. Qianyang was laughing so hard at the table that he got hungry. He shouted into the house, “Sis, I want some steamed egg custard, and put extra sesame oil on it.”

Yin Qianjie, fully made up and ready to go out, heard him and turned back into the kitchen. She added water to the eggs, chopped only the tender parts of the scallions, and steamed the mixture. She also fried up some steamed bun slices.

Qianyang lounged in the courtyard like a young master, waiting for his meal. Nie Weishan showed up, freshly awoken and still damp from washing his face.

“Meeting time, let’s discuss the travel plans.” Qianyang grabbed his phone, called Bingbing on speaker, and said, “Bingbing, come over, let’s talk about the trip.”

Bingbing, sounding nasal, replied, “Why are you always so lively, like a moth? I’ll sleep for three more hours and then come over for lunch.”

The next meal was uncertain as the University of Science and Technology organized a staff trip that included family members. Yin Xiangdong took Bai Meixian with him, leaving only the siblings at home. Yin Qianjie, with her bag over her shoulder, announced, “It’s ready. Eat and wash the dishes. If I come back and find them unwashed, just you wait.”

Qianyang thought his sister looked really beautiful, almost dreamily so: “I won’t try, I’ll wash them as soon as I finish eating.”

Nie Weishan joined for breakfast just as the two kids returned. Qianyang, sipping his egg custard, ignored them. Nie Weishan remarked, “Don’t just stare at the steamed bun slices, I haven’t had enough yet.”

Little Fatty asked, “Shan-Ge, why don’t you train in sports?”

Nie Weishan replied, “Brother doesn’t like competitive activities.”

Little Glasses chimed in, “Do you like card and board games then? My mom said you could play poker when you were in kindergarten.”

“How does your mom know everyone’s business? She part of the neighborhood committee?” Qianyang got up to wash the dishes and turned to find Nie Weishan already playing in the courtyard with the kids.

“Come on, let’s play Fight the Landlord¹. Loser drinks cold water.” Nie Weishan played cards with the kids, and Qianyang joined them later for some gobang. The four engaged in a lively session of card and board games.

By noon, Little Glasses and Little Fatty nearly burst their bellies from drinking too much water. Everyone went home for lunch. Nie Weishan and Qianyang were about to head to their third uncle’s place when someone unexpected showed up.

It wasn’t Bingbing but Qin Zhan.

“Your place was easy to find. I was worried I’d get lost in these alleys.” Qin Zhan carried a bag from the Sports School, which contained the team uniform Qianyang had forgotten to take. “They clean the locker rooms even during the holidays. I saw it and thought I’d bring it over. Don’t forget it next time.”

“Thanks, I’ll remember next time.” Qianyang took it inside to wash.

Left in the courtyard, Nie Weishan and Qin Zhan exchanged words. Nie Weishan said, “You used to beat him up and chase him, and now you’re being so considerate. It’s a bit unsettling.”

Qin Zhan looked slightly aggrieved. “Didn’t you tell me to take care of him?”

Nie Weishan was at a loss for words, having forgotten his own advice. He indeed hoped his teammates would treat Qianyang well, but at the moment, he felt annoyed and said, “You’re quite straightforward.”

“I’m not really straightforward,” Qin Zhan recalled the night he was beaten up. “Shan-Ge, a person you care so much about must be remarkable. Though I’ve tried hard to see it, I still haven’t found anything.”

Nie Weishan scoffed, “You’d have a hard time even with a microscope.”

As they spoke, Bingbing arrived. The four young men sat around the small table, staring blankly at each other. Unable to stand the boredom any longer, Qianyang ordered takeout while Nie Weishan bought some liangpi. Bingbing cut a watermelon, and Qin Zhan continued his quiet observations.

After the meal, Qianyang said, “I think Tianshui Mountain is a good choice. It’s close, and it has a waterfall group. I’ve always wanted to taste if the waterfall water is sweet.”

Bingbing responded, “Ah! I also looked it up online. They’ve built quite a few hostels in the past two years, all pretty nice.”

“I have no objections. Either is fine,” Nie Weishan agreed. As an outsider, Qin Zhan had no say and softly asked, “Are you going hiking? Can I join?”

Eventually, it was decided that all four would go together. Qianyang told Nie Weishan, “Ask Yu-Ge if he wants to come when you get home. That guy is always studying; he needs to relax too.”

The next morning, the four of them took a bus to Tianshui Mountain scenic spot. Nie Yingyu didn’t come. After over three hours, they arrived, and Nie Weishan asked, “Should we decide to stay at a farm stay or a hostel first? Once we decide, we can drop off our bags and start hiking.”

Bingbing and Qin Zhan said, “Stay at the hostel, they’re beautiful.”

Qianyang, looking at the corn cobs hanging on a distant wall, said, “I heard the stewed chicken at the farm stay is really fragrant.”

“Then Bingbing and Qin Zhan can stay at the hostel, and we’ll stay at the farm stay. They’re quite close anyway,” Nie Weishan concluded. However, neither Qin Zhan nor Bingbing agreed. Qin Zhan suddenly said, “I also want to stay at the farm stay now.”

Qianyang thought for a moment. Bingbing and Qin Zhan’s relationship was just a ‘hospital battle,’ no wonder Bingbing was reluctant. He then proposed, “How about Qin Zhan and Shan-Ge stay at the farm stay, and I’ll stay with Bingbing at the hostel? We’ll come to you for the chicken.”

That settled it for the time being. They dropped off their bags and prepared to hike. For today, they would climb one section. Some steps were neatly arranged, others were just piled stones. Qianyang and Bingbing took selfies on the steps, beside a small waterfall, and in front of a snack shop. Nothing in nature could cleanse their flamboyance.

At a low bridge with a nice view, the railings were made of wooden posts. Qianyang leaned against it for a photo, trying to appear taller by tiptoeing, his butt perched on the narrow post.

Bingbing, panting, rested nearby, while Qin Zhan played with a squirrel at the bridgehead. Only Nie Weishan, idle and energetic, was left. Qianyang waved him over, “Quick, take a low-angle shot of me. After that, I’ll take one of you.”

Nie Weishan, too lazy to bend down, held the camera at his stomach level and said, “I’ll make you look as beautiful as Aunt Xian’s name.”

After Qianyang shouted “Cheese” and smiled, Nie Weishan snapped a few photos: “White, beautiful, fairy².”

Realizing the compliment, Qianyang looked up and laughed. Nie Weishan had only praised his sister before, and this sudden compliment made him uncontrollably happy. He laughed too hard, tipped his head back too far, and his butt slipped off the post, his feet leaving the ground, almost falling off the bridge.

A scream of terror echoed through the mountains, and a tragedy seemed imminent!

Nie Weishan was terrified, rushing over to grab Qianyang’s legs and pull him back, pressing him tightly to his chest.

Once sure there was no danger, he burst out, “Can you not stay still for a minute! You scared the life out of me!”

Qianyang clung to Nie Weishan’s neck, “I was so scared, I almost died. If I had fallen, my brains would have been splattered.”

Bingbing kicked Qianyang, “You’re really hopeless! Talking about brains, I think you don’t have any!” At the bridgehead, Qin Zhan, holding a squirrel, was more puzzled about Qianyang’s qualities.

Nie Weishan still held Qianyang, turning his white neck red from the pinch. Qianyang felt the pain but didn’t resist, complaining, “Why did you have to praise me as ‘white, beautiful, and fairy’? I got so disoriented.”

Nie Weishan set him down, “Fine, if I praise you again, I’m an idiot.”

For the rest of the journey, Nie Weishan found a stick, pulling one end while letting Qianyang pull the other, completing the tour of the area in a dog-walking style.

Back home, everyone was out except for Yin Qianjie. She was watching TV when she received a call from Qianyang, “Sis, are you home? If not, come back early. It’s dark in the alley at night. Lock the courtyard door when you get home and the house door before you sleep.”

Yin Qianjie responded, “I know. How’s your trip? Didn’t bump into anything, did you?”

From Qianyang’s evasive humming, she understood, “Hopeless, I’ll have to leash you next time. Stay put in the hostel tonight, don’t wander around.”

After exchanging a few more words, Yin Qianjie hung up to lock the door. The courtyard door was closed; she just needed to lock it. Approaching, she heard the sound of pages turning. Opening the door, she found Nie Yingyu sitting on the doorstep, studying.

Yin Qianjie was surprised, “Yu, what are you doing here?”

Nie Yingyu, a bit embarrassed, stood up, “Yang-Ge and my brother are out, and you’re alone at home. I was worried about your safety, so I stayed outside to watch.”

Yin Qianjie couldn’t bear it, “It’s okay, I’ll lock the door. You should go home, it’s cold at night.”

“Big sister, don’t worry about me.” Nie Yingyu clenched his workbook, then suddenly blurted out, “Qianjie, I really want to date you!”

Yin Qianjie was flustered, “What are you talking about? You’re just a sophomore of high school, and I’m already a junior. Go home and sleep!”

Nie Yingyu, now determined, exclaimed, “An older woman makes for a golden marriage!”

“Golden marriage my foot,” Yin Qianjie thought she hadn’t seen such stubbornness in the kid before but feared her words might hurt his pride, “Yu, you and Shan, just like our Qianyang, are all treasures to me, got it? Now go home, or I’ll call your third aunt.”

Reluctantly, Nie Yingyu stepped down, “Then you lock the door…”

As he reached the alley entrance, he felt overwhelmingly sad and sat on a small stone lion, calling Nie Weishan, “Bro, I confessed to Jie-Jie, but she rejected me.”

“What the fuck, hold on, are you crying right now?” Nie Weishan was also frustrated. A simple trip had turned into such a mess. Nie Yingyu hadn’t cried yet, but now he felt like it, “She didn’t want to hurt my pride, just said I was too young. But other than being young, I don’t see any other flaws. I’m handsome, tall, do well in school, and live nearby…”

Nie Weishan interrupted, “Stop, are you listing your marriage qualifications?”

Nie Yingyu felt even more wronged, “I also have true feelings! Isn’t that the most important thing?”

Nie Weishan retorted, “I’m fucking sincere towards Jiangang, does that mean he should pass me?”

Footnote:

1. Fight the Landlord(斗地主):Fight the Landlord (斗地主, Dòu Dì Zhǔ) is a popular Chinese card game played with a standard deck of cards. It involves three players, where one player takes the role of the “landlord” and the other two laborers form a team to compete against the landlord.
2. White, Beautiful, Fairy(白美仙):Aunt Xian’s name, Bai Meixian, directly translates to “White, Beautiful, Fairy” in English, reflecting the meaning of her name.