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Wang Qian was surprised to see Wang Zhenhe return with a bag in hand. She wondered what could have made her father so happy on the first day of the lunar year. Could it be that, like Mingyuan and the others, he had brought back a bag of snacks? But this didn’t seem like her father’s style.
“Daughter, don’t just stand there, look at what Dad has brought for you,” Wang Zhenhe said, placing the bag on the kang. Fortunately, the children who had come for New Year’s greetings had left, leaving only their family in the room. Wang Qian’s eyes widened as she looked at the contents on the kang.
“Dad, you’re amazing! You managed to bring back so much after visiting relatives. I’m impressed,” she exclaimed, giving her father a thumbs up.
“Do you see these things? Do you like them? If you do, then my trip wasn’t in vain,” Wang Zhenhe replied.
On the kang, there was a pile of items including old copper coins, paper currency issued just after liberation, and even a Yuan Dynasty silver dollar. There was also a beautiful porcelain jar. Although she didn’t know which dynasty it belonged to, its exquisite exterior made it quite appealing. Wang Qian had no idea about the potential future value of these items, but she was certain she wouldn’t sell them.
Her face lit up with delight. “Dad, these are great. I’ll take care of all of this. I’ll work even harder in the future,” she said with a big smile.
Mingyuan examined a banknote and widened his eyes. “Dad, what kind of money is this? It’s such a large denomination. And look, there’s even a three-yuan note. I’ve never seen these before.”
The children on the kang took turns looking at the banknotes, all amazed. “Wow, there’s so much money! If we used this to buy candy, we could buy a lot,” one of them exclaimed.
While the children were comparing the money to buying treats, Wang Zhenhe gently patted his son’s head. “Mingyuan, this money is no longer in use. It was issued just after liberation. Now, it’s just pieces of paper. If you take this to the cooperative, no one will sell anything to you.”
Wang Qian carefully organized the banknotes, placing them in a notebook. She put the copper coins in a paper box, intending to store them safely in a secluded space at night. After all, it was money, and she didn’t feel comfortable leaving it out in the open.
When the elderly men returned, they heard about the copper coins from Zuo Yu and eagerly asked to see them. Although they couldn’t identify the specific eras of the coins, they advised Wang Qian to keep them safe. While they couldn’t explain why, they believed these items were valuable.
Time passed quickly, and the three-day New Year celebration came to an end. Despite everyone’s reluctance to part ways, their time together was fleeting. First, Geng Lianhua and her husband departed, followed by Zuo Xiangcheng and his three children.
Zhang Lan packed a large bag of dried seafood and salted fish she had prepared for them, along with cured pork, lard, and anything else that could be of use. Meanwhile, Hao Lianchun brought out her grandchildren’s clothes, discreetly wiping away her tears as she packed.
Originally, Zhang Lan hadn’t intended to cry, but seeing the children’s faces, she couldn’t contain her emotions. Zuo He looked at Wang Qian with a tinge of sadness in his eyes.
Their acquaintance began under the sun at midday, and now, two years later, Zuo He considered this place his home. The people here were his closest family.
“Sister Qianqian, you must remember me. Please don’t forget about me,” he said.
Wang Qian looked at the handsome young man before her and nodded vigorously. “Zuo He, take care. Write to us whenever you can,” she replied.
Two years might seem long or short, but in the hearts of the family, the bond was indelible. This was especially true for Wang Qian and her friends, who had grown up alongside Zuo He. They were usually inseparable, and the sudden parting was hard for Mingyuan and the others to bear.
One by one, they all had so much to say to Zuo He. Zhang Lan tearfully hugged each child and discreetly slipped ten yuan into each of their pockets.
Though they weren’t her own children, Zhang Lan had genuine affection for these three kids. She would never forget the scene that unfolded at her family’s home, where these three boys had stood up for her safety.
“Auntie, I’ll miss you. Please take care of yourself. If I have the chance, I’ll come back,” Zuo He said, his words tinged with sadness.
Holding her grandson, Hao Lianchun’s tears flowed like broken pearls. Zuo He reached out to wipe her tears, his own eyes welling up.
“Grandpa, don’t cry. We’ll reunite in the future,” Zuo Yu said, holding Zuo Zhanshan with reluctance. The elderly man occasionally instructed the two boys. The sky outside was overcast. As they left the courtyard, snowflakes had already begun to fall. Wang Zhenhe and Zuo Xiangcheng loaded their belongings onto the military truck that had come to pick them up.
To avoid being affected by the snow, Wang Zhenhe and Zuo Xiangcheng urged everyone to board the vehicle. Peng Ziyun embraced Zhang Lan tightly. “Take care, sister. I entrust my parents to you. We’ll meet again in the future,” she said.
Wang Zhenhe helped the three children onto the bus, and the elderly men loaded their luggage into the carriage. Zuo Xiangcheng and Wang Zhenhe exchanged a firm handshake before boarding the truck. As the vehicle slowly started and drove away, they waved goodbye amidst the falling snow.
“Alas, guests must part ways, no matter how far apart,” remarked Old Chen with a touch of emotion.
Wang Qian turned to look at the somewhat downcast elderly man and said with a smile, “Grandpa Chen, there’s also a saying: ‘Fate brings people together from a thousand miles away, while without fate, they won’t meet even if they’re face to face.’ We are all fated to meet. We’ll gather again in the future. As long as we wish, anything is possible.”
Old Chen smiled and patted her head. “Indeed, we are fated. It’s because of words like these that we will meet Zuo He again.”
After Zuo He and his family left, the Wang family took some time to adjust to the quieter atmosphere. The lively presence of the mischievous kids brought vibrancy to the household, and without them, Mingyuan could only obediently study under the guidance of the elderly men.
Soon it was the day of “Long Tai Tou” (Dragon Raises its Head) on the second day of the second lunar month. On this day, according to rural customs, men would get their hair cut. It was believed that cutting hair was not allowed until this day. According to the elders, if someone had an uncle and cut their hair earlier, the uncle would die. Thus, Mingyuan and the others had waited until this day to cut their hair.
In rural areas, there were no barbershops at this time, so family members or neighbors helped with the haircuts. Wang Zhenhe used a razor to cut the hair of his two sons, and then it was Zhang Lan’s turn to cut his hair. For men, cutting hair on this day symbolized vitality for the year, so Zhang Lan also helped trim the hair of the elderly men.
Wang Qian and her sister Wang Xuan had started growing their hair out, so they didn’t need haircuts. Zhang Lan simply trimmed their bangs.
In the northeastern rural areas, another tradition on the second day of the second lunar month is to eat pancakes. Zhang Lan and the elderly lady mixed white flour and cornmeal into a thick, sticky liquid. Using a spoon, they poured it along the edge of a hot pan, spreading it out into a large, thin pancake. Then, they wrapped the pre-cooked sour cabbage and vermicelli, along with diced meat, in the pancake to make what Wang Qian and the others were currently eating. The pancakes were quite large, several times bigger than spring pancakes, and were layered. The Wang family used two fillings today, the other being bean sprouts.
For lunch, everyone had congee with pancakes. The meal was substantial, and the Wang family, though not extravagant in other ways, used plenty of oil in cooking, leaving the elderly men loosening their belts after the hearty meal.
Mingyuan took his sister to class, Zhang Lan finished tidying up, and then began to feed the newly acquired piglets. Hao Lianchun, watching the contented piglets, couldn’t help but think about how the children had reacted when they saw the pigs being taken away during the New Year.
Sighing, she said, “With Zuo He and the others gone, we won’t be able to enjoy pork for a while. Thinking about the children feeding the pigs, it feels like I’m in a dream. But when I wake up, they’re not here.”
Zhang Lan understood that the elderly lady was missing her grandsons. “Auntie, when we slaughter a pig for the New Year, we’ll have Zuo He and the others come over to join in. They’ll be on winter break then. This year, I’ll make sure they eat to their heart’s content. I wonder how the three of them are doing up north. Sometimes it feels like they’re still here at home.”
The elderly lady nodded in agreement. “Exactly, I’m worried that Zuo He might not adapt well up there. I’m constantly anxious about it.”
As they spoke, the familiar sound of a car horn could be heard outside on the street.
Hao Lianchun exclaimed excitedly, “Lan, could it be a letter from Zuo He and the others? I need to go and check.”
The elderly lady hurried to the front gate, and indeed, the mail carrier, Xiao Bai, appeared at the Wang family’s door. For the elderly lady, seeing Xiao Bai was like encountering a liberating soldier. Her smile never faded, and at that moment, Xiao Bai was more than an angel in her eyes. He brought news of her grandsons.
“Madam, here’s your mail. Take care,” Xiao Bai said.
Hao Lianchun quickly glanced at the letter, confirming that it was Zuo He’s handwriting. She thanked Xiao Bai profusely and exclaimed, “Lan, it’s a letter from Zuo He. Let’s go back inside and read it.”
Receiving a letter from her grandson, Hao Lianchun practically sprinted back, with Zhang Lan struggling to keep up. Once inside, they eagerly tore open the envelope and began to read the contents.
Aside from expressing how much he missed them, the letter also detailed their current situation, providing the very information the elderly lady had been eager to know. Zuo He wrote that everything was going very well where he was. He was attending a school run by the military, and most of the students were children of military personnel.
After reading the letter, the elderly lady couldn’t resist a final compliment. “My grandson’s handwriting is still so neat and beautiful.”
Zhang Lan smiled warmly at the excited elderly lady. “Auntie, you can finally rest assured. Our Zuo He is a good kid no matter where he goes. Look, the letter says he’s getting along well with his classmates. With Zuo Hao and Zuo Yu there, no one can bully your grandson.”
The elderly lady’s worries were revealed by Zhang Lan’s words, and she couldn’t help but playfully slap her. “You little rascal, always so perceptive. I’m not worried, and now that everything’s fine with the kids, I don’t have much to worry about.”