Reborn in 1966

Chapter Twelve: Departure

Grandma said, "You're a sensible child. In the future, you must come and talk to your great-grandmother if anything happens. Don't take what those people in the village say to heart. Just live a good life with your parents."

After lunch, before going to work, Grandma talked to Shen's mother about it. Grandma said, "Peihua's mother, when you go to work, talk to your sister-in-law Shengquan about this. Jinhua is getting older and there are some things she needs to know. As for how to tell her, you should have your sister-in-law Shengquan think about it carefully. Jinhua has been pampered by her all these years, so she shouldn't be unable to handle it all at once."

Mother Shen nodded and said, "Mother, don't worry, I'll talk to Sister-in-law Shengquan about this."

She added, "Mother, why is Hong Gen's family so nosy, meddling in other people's business?"

Grandma said, "You don't have much contact with Honggen's family. Back then, Honggen's mother was the most formidable daughter-in-law in our village. She controlled her mother-in-law so much that she didn't dare to raise her voice. Ever since Honggen's wife entered the family, look how obedient Honggen's mother has become. Honggen's wife is a formidable woman, not only in her words but also in her cunning."

A few days later, one evening shortly after dinner, the entire Sheng family rushed to the Shen family's house, anxiously asking, "Auntie, is my Jinhua home?"

Grandma said, "She's not here. She hasn't come over in the last couple of days."

Seeing the state of the whole family, Grandma asked anxiously, "What happened? Why isn't Jinhua home right now?"

With a sob in her voice, Sheng Quan's family said, "Auntie, I said a few words to Jinhua this afternoon, and Jinhua went out. I was wondering if she would come back for dinner, but it's already this late and she still hasn't returned. What am I going to do if something happens to her?"

After finishing her sentence, Sheng Quan's family started sobbing. When Grandma heard this, she became anxious. It was already dark outside. What if something happened to a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl outside?

Grandma quickly called out to everyone in the family, asking them to help search around the village.

Mother Shen was also anxious and called Peitian and Peizhi over, saying, "You two stay home and look after your younger sister. I'll help you find your sister Jinhua. If your sister Jinhua comes to our house, you should let her wait here, understand?"

The two children nodded, and Shen's mother put Pei Yin on the kang (a heated brick bed), surrounded her with a quilt, and then went out with her family.

The adults in the family had all gone out, and a dim oil lamp was lit on the kang table in the room. Peizhi asked Peitian, "Third Brother, where did Sister Jinhua go?"

Pei-Tian said, "I don't know either. Hey, Pei-Zhi, has Sister Jin-Hua said anything to you these past two days?"

Peizhi said, "She didn't say anything. It was only two days after Jinhua came to see Grandma that I heard Erniu say that Honggen's little girl said that Jinhua wasn't Aunt Shengquan's child, but was picked up from outside. Do you think Jinhua went to find her biological mother?"

Peitian said, "Who knows? It's so dark outside, and Jinhua is such a scaredy-cat, she must be afraid."

Pei-Chih said, "I won't leave if I suffer any injustice in the future. It's so much better at home. Outside, I can't even get a drink of water. If I run into a kidnapper and get abducted, that would be terrible."

Peitian nodded and said, "That's right. If your parents scold you in the future, you can't run away alone. If you're wronged, tell your brothers. With so many brothers in our family, we'll definitely be able to avenge you."

Pei-Chih said, "Sigh, if only Sister Jin-Hua had an older brother."

The family had all gone to look for Jinhua. Peiyin was worried about what kind of danger a teenage girl might encounter alone outside. Hearing a noise at the door, Peizhi asked first, "Is it Jinhua who's back?"

Peitian ran to the outer room, called out "Third Grandma," and then lifted the curtain, allowing Third Grandma to enter the room.

I don't see Third Grandma Peiyin very often. The Shen family compound has a backyard where some vegetables are grown, and there is a small gate. Third Grandma usually comes in and out from there. She only comes out to eat with the younger generation during festivals when the whole family is eating together. She usually lives alone in the backyard.

Third Grandma was a woman of few words. Her white hair was neatly combed and tied into a small bun at the back of her head, with a black net covering the bun. Her face was smooth and her skin was fair. Although she was very thin, she did not look dark or thin.

As Third Grandma entered the room, she asked Peitian and Peizhi, "Are you two scared?"

Peizhi rolled her eyes and said, "Third Grandma, we won't be afraid if you're here with us."

Pei-Tian said, "Third Grandma, I am a man, and I will protect my sisters."

Grandma San smiled and said, "Yes, you two are both good children."

Pei Yin felt an urgent need to urinate, so she turned over and called out "Oh oh" to her third grandmother.

Third Grandma picked up Pei-Yin and said, "Little Yin-Yin, what are you doing?"

Peitian, who was standing nearby, said, "Third Grandma, I know, Peiyin needs to pee."

Third Grandma asked, "How did you know?"

Peitian said, "Grandma said that if Peiyin is lying down and suddenly turns over, it's either because she needs to poop or pee."

Peizhi had already brought over a small earthenware basin from in front of the kang (heated brick bed) and said to Third Grandma, "Third Grandma, let me hold the basin for you."

Grandma San listened to the two children's opinions and helped Pei Yin urinate.

Pei Yin's face was already red. She had been holding in her pee for a long time, and if no one came, she probably would have peed in bed.

Third Grandma put Peiyin in the quilt that Shen's mother was wrapped in, and said to Peizhi and Peitian, "You two are good children, and now you can take care of your little sister."

Pei-Tian said, "I'm the older brother, so I should take care of my younger brothers and sisters. My older brothers take good care of me."

After putting Pei Yin down, Third Grandma took out a small oil paper packet from the pocket of her diagonally-fastened long gown and said, "Third Grandma is here with you to give the two good children some treats."

Peitian accepted it and politely said, "Thank you, Third Grandma."

Third Grandma patted Peitian's head and said, "Eat with your sister."

Inside the oil paper package were two round, beige peach shortbreads with a fragrant aroma. The two children's eyes lit up at the sight. Peizhi took the piece her brother handed her, broke off a small piece, and gave the larger piece to her third grandmother: "Third grandmother, you have some too."

Grandma San smiled and said, "Peizhi can eat it, Grandma San won't eat it."

Peizhi then sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), held the small peach shortbread in her hands, and slowly savored it.

Peitian also broke off a small piece, and wrapped the larger piece in oil paper again. Third Aunt asked him, "Peitian, why did you wrap it up again?"

Pei-Tian said, "I'm leaving this for my grandparents, parents, and brothers so they can have a taste too."

Grandma San sighed and said, "It's rare to see you two good children, thinking of your family even with such a small treat."

Pei-Chih said, "My brother always saves the good food for us, Third Grandma. When my brother gives me something delicious, I always think that when I have something delicious, I will definitely save it for my brothers to try too."

Grandma San affectionately patted the two children's heads and whispered, "With children like these, how can we worry about not building a family fortune? Only by staying true to our original aspirations can we achieve our goals. Difficult circumstances are the best way to temper one's willpower. You can find joy even in such adversity and raise your children so well. Your reflections have never changed."

Pei Yin was half asleep when she heard a noise. She opened her eyes and saw that, under the dim oil lamp, her second brother Pei Jun, with the help of her third grandmother, was slowly putting Jin Hua on the kang (a heated brick bed). At this moment, she didn't know whether Shen Jin Hua was fast asleep or unconscious.

Peijun said, "Third Grandma, watch over Jinhua first. I'll go and call Aunt Shengquan over."

Third Grandma quickly went to the outer room to pour water, wrung out a towel, and helped Jinhua wipe her face. Jinhua's face was covered in mud streaks, and there were some withered grass leaves on her head.

Peizhi asked timidly, "Third Brother, do you think Sister Jinhua is asleep or dead?"

Peitian swallowed hard and whispered, "Don't talk nonsense. Go outside and get a bowl of water. Let's feed it to Sister Jinhua first."

Pei-zhi said fearfully, "Third Brother, I'm scared."

Grandma San was busy with her work and gently said to the two children, "Jinhua is fine, you two don't need to be afraid. Grandma will give Jinhua some water in a little while."

Peijun said, "Third Grandma, let me get you some water."

Peizhi followed behind. Third Grandma cleaned Jinhua up and then went to the outer room with the two children.

Pei Yin rolled over and looked at Jin Hua lying on the other side of the kang in the dim light. She guessed that Jin Hua was exhausted, with some dry branches in her hair, but her clothes were still intact.

She rolled down into her own bed and lay down. Just as she settled down, she heard the door open. Third Grandma entered the room, holding Peizhi's hand in one hand and carrying a black porcelain bowl in the other. She looked at Jinhua lying on the bed, sighed, and said, "Your sister Jinhua is exhausted. I'll give Jinhua some water. You two stay here and watch over her. Third Grandma will go and make her something to eat."

Grandma San first placed the bowl on the kang table, then took off her shoes and climbed onto the kang. She helped Jinhua lean against the wall, put a pillow under her back, and brought the bowl to Jinhua's lips, saying, "Drink some water and rest. You're such a bold girl. Don't you know there are wolves in the hills during this lean season? How dare you stay out so late by yourself?"

Jinhua slowly woke up at this moment, her body limp against the wall. Listening to Third Grandmother's words, she gulped down the water in the bowl, a clear tear rolling down her cheek.

Third Grandma said, "Alright, when your mother comes later, apologize to her. Your mother has worried herself sick over you. When you were little, you were sickly, and your mother would carry you all night and walk around the yard in the middle of the night. In the summer, when it was hot, your mother would fan you and get heat rash herself. You were seven or eight years old, and in the summer, when you fell asleep on the street with the other children in our family, your mother wouldn't wake you up but would carry you home. Tell me, which girl in our village is raised so carefully by her mother?"

Jinhua was exhausted, but after drinking some water she felt better. Now she was leaning against the wall, silently shedding tears.

Third Grandma sighed and said, "Don't cry. Your mother should be here soon. If she's awake, she'll be alright. Are you hungry? You and your younger siblings wait here. Third Grandma will go and make you something to eat."