Chapter 36

In front of them was a place to buy fruits, a row of five or six shops, none of which had counters. They were all piled with fruits—apples, pears, oranges—stacked in bags. Outside the shops, there were boxes of fruits, and an acquaintance was picking some. Mei Qiuping went up to him and asked if he had seen Feng Zhenchang, who said Feng Zhenchang had gone to the fish section.

As they walked further, they saw a pile of red peppers, resembling a small hill. The peppers looked very authentic, as they were quite spicy just by the smell. Many people around were sneezing from the spiciness.

The fish section was also quite large, with rubber sheets on the ground forming pools about two to three meters in diameter. Inside, plastic sheets were laid, filled with water, and densely packed with fish.

Feng Yiping didn't see Feng Zhenchang there either. He thought for a moment and then pulled Mei Qiuping towards the market. Sure enough, at a clothing stall, Mei Jianzhong and Feng Zhenchang were squatting and smoking, while Mei Yiliang and the shop owner were packing the bought clothes.

Mei Qiuping was about to speak, but Mei Jianzhong interrupted him, "Let's not talk about it. Qiuping and I will buy sugar, sunflower seeds, cookies, and firecrackers. Zhenchang, you and Yiliang go buy other things. Yiping, you carry these clothes and wait for us at the parking area."

Feng Yiping carried two large bags of clothes and walked back with difficulty. The four adults split into two groups. Mei Yiliang lit a cigarette for Feng Zhenchang, "Brother, don't be angry. You know your sister's temper. She hasn't changed despite so many years and so many talks. What can you do? You have to endure it; you're a man! In a couple's argument, do you really need to determine a winner?"

Feng Zhenchang said, "I don't even want to mention it. You know your sister's temper. I've endured it from the beginning of the year to the end. But during the New Year, she made a scene in front of so many people. What more can I endure?"

Mei Jianzhong was also scolding Mei Qiuping, "You don't need to say anything. I just want to ask you, why do you have no regard for your husband's face? No matter how right you are, in public, in front of everyone, why do you lose your temper? Where does he put his face? This kind of behavior, do you think it looks good? I've told you so many times, why don't you change?"

Mei Qiuping, puffed up with anger, managed to hold back and didn't say anything more.

Feng Yiping knew that for most people, this wasn't a big deal, but for his parents, it was a matter of each having their own reasons, and it was impossible to resolve.

Fortunately, his grandfather was still around and could keep them in check.

The owner of the mutton stall was right; during the New Year, everyone wanted to be happy. So, even if they were still upset, Feng Zhenchang and Mei Qiuping still brought back bags of New Year's goods, piling them in front of Feng Yiping, and then went back to buy more.

Mei Qiuping also grabbed a handful of candy and cookies and stuffed them into his pocket. Feng Yiping wasn't very interested in these, so he found some sunflower seeds, sat on a bag of apples, and started cracking them while looking around. Indeed, the people passing by, regardless of how much they were carrying, all had smiles on their faces, all happy, unlike his parents, who were quite rare.

He paused for two seconds when he saw two girls holding hands. Hey, one of them looked familiar. The girl called out, "Feng Yiping."

Oh, it was Huang Jingping. He clapped his hands and went up to her, "Are you here to buy New Year's goods too?"

"Yes, these are all from your family."

"Sure, come, have some candy." Feng Yiping handed the candy in his pocket to them. The long-haired girl smiled, "Why do you treat us like kids?"

"Feng Yiping, you did well on the exam, and you're also good at buying New Year's goods," someone nearby said.

Feng Yiping looked over and saw that the person standing next to Huang Jingping with a few burlap bags was none other than her second uncle, Mr. Huang, who taught politics. How had he not noticed him earlier?

"Hello, Mr. Huang, it's not that I did well, but mainly because you taught well," he flattered smoothly.

The three of them laughed, and Feng Yiping ran to the pile of New Year's goods, found a pack of cigarettes, and handed it to Mr. Huang with both hands, "Mr. Huang, I didn't expect to meet you here. Consider this as my New Year's greeting. Please accept this pack of cigarettes. It's not a good brand, but it represents my gratitude."

Huang Jingping and the girl found this amusing, and Mr. Huang, who knew Feng Yiping and his good grades but had no private relationship with him at school, was a bit hesitant.

The long-haired girl spoke up, "Dad, he's being so sincere, just accept it."

Feng Yiping added, "This is my junior, and she's said it. Mr. Huang, please accept it. Right, Huang Jingping?"

Huang Jingping smiled at him, "Second Uncle, just accept it."

Mr. Huang took the cigarettes, "Thank you, this is better than the ones I usually smoke. Please also give my regards to your parents."

Perhaps it was because they weren't at school, but Huang Jingping was much more lively and cheerful, "Feng Yiping, do you have more of this soft candy? It's quite tasty. Where did you buy it?"

Feng Yiping smiled and brought over the bag of candy, "I don't know where I bought it. I didn't buy it; I'm just in charge of watching the stuff. There's more here, you can take it all."

Huang Jingping and the girl each picked a few, "Thanks, we'll find it ourselves. Goodbye."

Mr. Huang nodded at him and reminded him, "Be careful on your own." Then he led the two girls into the bustling crowd.

It was past lunchtime by the time they finally finished buying the New Year's goods. They were reluctant to eat on the street, and even Mei Qiuping didn't want to buy a few fried cakes, "We're almost home, why spend the money?"

This time, they had a lot of stuff, so they spent five yuan to hire a tricycle to transport everything, including the people, back to Mei Jiawan.

When they arrived home, the eldest uncle's family had already finished lunch. Mei Qiuping quickly made a large pot of noodles. They were all hungry, and the five of them gathered around, slurping the noodles, and finished them in no time.

After a short rest, Mei Yiliang helped carry two large bags back to Wutangwan. On the way, they met several groups of people going to town and several groups returning. Both parents greeted them warmly, but they didn't say a word to each other.

When they got home, the neighbors from both sides came out to welcome them. Feng Weidong came over to help carry the bags from Mei Yiliang, "You're a guest here, give them to me."

His wife also came over, "Uncle, Aunt, it looks like you've had a good year. You bought so much."

Feng Jiasheng's wife also said, "Yes, you must have bought the whole street."

Mei Qiuping, experienced in such situations, replied, "Oh, these are just some cheap things. You always buy the expensive stuff. Our house is a mess; I'll clean up and then you can come over."

Back in the long-missed home, they started a fire in the hearth and boiled a pot of water. Mei Yiliang drank two cups of tea and then got up to leave. Mei Qiuping wanted to keep him overnight, but he said he had a mahjong game and would come up during the New Year.

Once Mei Yiliang left, the house became quiet. This kind of cold war was something Feng Yiping had experienced many times and was already used to.

Mei Qiuping was organizing the bought items, putting away what they wouldn't need and finding what they would use. Feng Zhenchang sat in the innermost part, where there were the most cigarettes, half-asleep. Feng Yiping, with a washboard, started doing his winter vacation homework.

In the afternoon, people started coming over. Some were there to collect debts. Feng Zhenchang settled the accounts with them and paid them on the spot. They were very happy and said, "It looks like you made a lot of money outside."

Feng Zhenchang replied, "I've owed you for so long, it's really not right. No matter what, I couldn't keep delaying your money. I had to go out and find a way. I didn't make a lot of money, just a bit more than farming, and it was hard-earned."

Many families had slaughtered pigs for the New Year and invited Feng Zhenchang and Mei Qiuping to dinner. The custom in the village was that if you slaughtered a pig, you had to invite people from the same clan and close friends to dinner. So, during the twelfth lunar month, it was common to have dinner at someone else's house one day and have them over the next.

In the afternoon, when they heard they had returned, Second Uncle brought Dongming and delivered over twenty pounds of meat, also inviting Feng Yiping's family to dinner.

Dinner was early, with only two dishes: stir-fried meat with peppers and stir-fried meat with carrots. The portions were generous. Feng Zhenchang ate quickly today, drinking only one cup of white wine and a bit of the dishes, but no rice. Then he took the money and the account book and went out.

This was the first time in recent years that he had proactively gone to pay off debts at the end of the year.

Feng Yiping went to bed early. When he heard the front door open, it was already late. It sounded like someone had brought Feng Zhenchang to the door. He heard Feng Zhenchang speaking and his footsteps, indicating he was drunk. Feng Yiping heard his mother get up to support him, but Feng Zhenchang said, "I'm not drunk, I don't need your help."

On the twenty-seventh of the twelfth lunar month, Feng Zhenchang was still out running around. These two days, he was particularly energetic, even though he was paying off debts, he was always in high spirits.

Feng Yiping and his mother cleaned the house, inside and out, every nook and cranny, including the dust on the walls and ceiling, all swept clean. They took out all the pots, bowls, spoons, and chopsticks, and washed them one by one.

On the twenty-eighth, Feng Zhenchang finally finished paying off all the debts. It was clear that both parents felt a great relief and were much more relaxed.

At dinner, Mei Qiuping said, "We've finally paid off all the debts. I feel like my back is straighter. I have to thank you, son."

Feng Zhenchang, drinking a little wine, actually smiled and said to Feng Yiping, "Yiping, you did well."

Feng Yiping was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion!

This was the first time his father had praised him in person. Even when Feng Yiping had achieved some success later, his father had never praised him in person. Of course, Feng Zhenchang might have praised his son in front of others, but praising him in person was absolutely unprecedented.

Since he could remember, Feng Zhenchang had rarely smiled at Feng Yiping. This might be because their life had not been smooth, and Feng Zhenchang had few happy moments.

In short, Feng Zhenchang, born before the liberation, was an old-fashioned father with many feudal patriarchal traits and was very strict with his son.

Sometimes, Feng Yiping felt that his father treated him like a boss at work. Doing well was expected, and there was no praise or reward. Doing poorly would always result in severe criticism or even punishment, without considering any objective reasons.

Later, once, after dinner, Feng Yiping was walking with Zhang Yan and his son and overheard their conversation. At first, he was unsure if they were father and son because their conversation was so different from what he was used to.

They were walking side by side, talking loudly. The son was very happy, "I only asked for twenty, but you gave me fifty. Why are you so good to me?"

The father also had a big smile, "Of course, I'm good to you because you're my son."

The son happily put his arm around his father's shoulder, "Dad, you're so good! I love you so much!"

Honestly, at that moment, Feng Yiping envied this father-son pair, especially the son, for the equality and affection in their relationship.

Reborn, Feng Yiping didn't have such high hopes. Given Feng Zhenchang's education and upbringing, it was already quite rare and difficult for him to smile and praise him in person.

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