"The Mortal Chapter Of Qing Zhuan" - Chapter 4

The Regret of the University Student (Part 1)

I woke up early and found the University Student chatting with my dad in the courtyard. I excitedly ran over to him. “Uncle University Student! You’re here! I haven’t seen you in so long! Where have you been recently?”

He smiled kindly. “Little girl, it’s been a while. Have you been slacking off on your studies lately?”

I immediately replied, “No, I wouldn’t dare. I’ve always kept what you told me in my heart!”

He patted my head and smiled with a gentle warmth. “That’s good, that’s good. I’ve been on a long trip recently. And I even brought you a little gift!” I was ecstatic. “A gift? For me? Thank you, Uncle!”

His old, calloused hand slowly reached into his inner coat pocket and pulled out a fountain pen. He handed it to me and said, “I bought this pen from the Beijing Cultural Memorial Hall. It’s said to be a replica of one Chairman Mao once used! Look, it even has an inscription: ‘Nothing in the world is difficult for one who is willing to climb.‘ Those are Chairman Mao’s words! I’m giving this pen to you! You must make something of yourself in the future, serve your country, and serve your parents! I believe in you. You have the right stuff! Don’t disappoint me!”

I nodded, looking at him with determination. “Don’t worry, Uncle. I will study hard and serve my country, my parents, and you! Hehe…”

The University Student’s eyes crinkled into crescent moons as he patted my head and nodded. “Good! Good! Good! I’m waiting for your good news!”

My dad, who was standing beside us, laughed. “Third Brother, this… this gift is too valuable! She’s just a little girl, this…”

The University Student interrupted him. “It’s alright, Second Brother, don’t say another word. Although Yuanyuan is still young, I believe that with time, this child will surely make something of herself! I’m giving her this pen in the hope that she will always remember that phrase: ‘Nothing in the world is difficult for one who is willing to climb.‘”

I nodded and replied, “Don’t worry, Uncle, I will always remember it!”

Just then, my mom poked her head out of the kitchen and called out, “You three, go wash your hands and get ready for lunch! My dear girl, set the table! Old Man, bring the dishes! Third Brother, grab a chair…”

At my mom’s ankle, Mimi was already weaving in and out, rubbing against her. My mom gently pushed the cat away with her foot, looking annoyed. “Oh, meow meow. Go outside to eat, kitty kitty…”

My mom gently called Mimi, and the cat trotted over, meowing, and sat under the table, waiting to eat.

During the meal, my dad kept putting food on the University Student’s plate. “Third Brother, it’s been so long since you’ve been here! Try this fried fish. It’s especially delicious with this corn cake! And try this little cold salad we made ourselves…” The University Student’s face was beaming with a smile, and the sunlight made him look even more kind.

He took a small bite of my mom’s golden-brown fried fish, paired with a piece of corn cake, and after chewing, he repeatedly gave my mom a thumbs-up. Then he picked up a piece of the freshly mixed cucumber salad. It was so delicious that his eyebrows twitched, and his eyes suddenly brightened. He then took a sip of the cornmeal porridge and smiled contentedly. “Ah, it’s the everyday warmth of life that is the most comforting to an ordinary heart! This is so good. Second Brother, I really envy you!”

As he spoke, his eyes turned red, and he choked up, nodding as he looked at us. “Thank you all. This old man, Chen Yaozu, has finally experienced what it feels like to come home! You’ve let me experience human warmth! My life has been worth it…”

With that, he wiped his tears with his rough, dry hand. I quickly ran over to wipe his tears away, my eyes turning red. “What are you talking about, Uncle? We’re all family! Oh, and my Uncle Li, he went to help Old Yin move some goods this morning. Otherwise, he’d scold you if he saw you like this!”

The University Student smiled bitterly. “Your Uncle Li, he’s such a good man! When we were students, he would often bring me steamed buns. Thinking back to those days, it makes me so nostalgic…”

My dad didn’t say anything, just looked down. From his eyes, I saw a hint of sadness, and I started to wonder to myself, Does Uncle University Student have some kind of illness? When he’s visited before, he’s never been this sad! It feels like he’s saying goodbye! I have to find a chance to ask my dad…

Just then, Uncle Li pushed the door open, wiping sweat from his brow. “I’m exhausted. So many goods. Old Yin bought some new tables and chairs, and I got covered in dust!” He looked up and saw the University Student. Overjoyed, he shouted, “Yaozu, you rascal! How long has it been! Where have you been?”

Listening to Uncle Li’s spot-on imitation of the Shaanxi dialect, we all laughed. The University Student replied, “Hahaha, Old Rascal, you’ve gotten fat! You look strong! Not bad, not bad!”

My dad turned away, and I quickly ran to him. Sure enough, my dad blinked his red eyes and waved to me, signaling me to get Uncle Li some food. I understood and quickly got a bowl of food for Uncle Li.

Uncle Li took a big slurp of the cornmeal porridge and asked, “Yaozu, where have you been recently! I haven’t seen you in so long! How come you’ve gotten so thin!”

The University Student replied, “Hahaha, I’ve been on a diet recently!”

Uncle Li spit his food out in laughter. My mom quickly grabbed the cat and rinsed it with water. My dad was also amused by the University Student’s words. My mom and I were on the side, washing the rice off the cat. My mom couldn’t stop laughing at the cat’s expression and appearance.

Uncle Li asked, “You’re on a diet? You’re as skinny as a stick! Hurry up and eat more!”

After finishing a bowl of porridge, he said to my dad, “Second Brother, I’m going to go kill a big rooster in a bit, and then go check the fishing nets in the river. You stay home and pluck the feathers and wash it. Then stew it for lunch!” He turned to my mom and shouted, “Stew the chicken until it’s dry and flaky, with soft, mushy potatoes! That’s the best!”

My mom replied, “Don’t worry, Brother, I know! Should I add some sweet potato noodles?”

The University Student, who was sitting on the side, immediately brightened up. He chimed in, “Adding noodles is a great idea! Noodles in a chicken pot are the most delicious thing in the world!”

Uncle Li looked at the University Student with a doting smile. “It has to be an educated person like you to know what’s good to eat!” He turned to my mom and said, “Add lots of sweet potato noodles! He loves them!” My mom nodded with a smile. “Alright.”

At that moment, a shriek from Mimi caught everyone’s attention. We looked in the direction of the sound and saw Mimi fighting with a muscular tabby cat.

I quickly ran over and shouted, “Mimi, come back!” Mimi saw me and immediately jumped off the wall into my arms. Her eyes looked wronged. I looked at the little tabby, who was still meowing at me, and said, “If you bully her again, there won’t be any good food for you next time! You still meowing?”

The most surprising thing was that the little tabby seemed to understand me. It stopped meowing, sat cross-legged, and just stood there, watching me. I looked at its expression, then at Mimi in my arms, and smiled at the tabby. “That’s a good boy. Come down and eat, kitty kitty…”

We all watched the two cats eating side by side. It was too cute, and everyone’s faces were filled with happy smiles.

The sun was getting higher, and under the clear blue sky, there wasn’t a single breeze. A big cat was already lazily swaying on the rocking chair under the grape arbor.

After the meal, my mom and I washed the dishes. My dad and the University Student were chatting under the grape arbor. Their voices were low, so I couldn’t hear what they were talking about.

My mom leaned in and whispered to me, “My dear girl, your Third Uncle is acting a little strangely. This visit is different from before.”

I nodded. “I think so too! Mom, do you think something happened to Third Uncle? I feel like he’s holding something inside!”

My mom sighed. “He’s had it so rough! But at least fortune favors the simple-minded…”

My dad said to the University Student, “Third Brother, actually, there are ways to prolong life with this liver cancer! You just won’t listen to me! Sigh! What were you thinking?!”

The University Student smiled. “Second Brother, I know my fate. I don’t have a life of wealth. My life is destined to be one of repaying debts! This is good. I can finish my mission in this life early and finally get a good night’s sleep!”

My dad’s eyes turned red again. He said softly, “You… You joined the Party, you passed the exam, and you got your poverty assistance approved! Now you even get a monthly subsidy. Life was finally getting better step by step, but you’re giving up on all of it! Sigh!”

The University Student sat on the rocking chair, stroking the cat and calmly saying, “They say, if Heaven doesn’t have a good time, the sun and moon are dim; if the Earth doesn’t have a good time, plants won’t grow; if water doesn’t have a good time, there will be no calm waves; if a person doesn’t have a good time, their luck won’t be smooth. But fortune and destiny are already predetermined! Alas! It is the time, the luck, and the fate! Everything is predestined, and we have no control over it! Second Brother! Being friends with you in this life is worth more than a thousand pieces of gold! It was worth it! Hahahaha…”

My dad looked down and laughed. “Third Brother, what a talented writer! The university that missed out on a talent like you must be filled with great regret!”

The University Student coughed. “Cough cough, cough cough cough, alas! Soon. I know my time is near! Don’t be sad. I will protect you all! Hahahaha, cough cough cough…”

My dad looked down, his eyes filled with tears. The University Student patted his chest, took a deep breath, and slowly walked toward the house…

My mom and I were still talking when the University Student pushed the door curtain open and looked at me. “Yuanyuan, let’s go with your Uncle Li and see how many fish he caught.”

Our conversation was interrupted. My mom gave me a knowing look. I turned to the University Student and said, “Okay, Third Uncle, let’s go.”

As we walked out, my mom quickly called my dad into the house and asked, “Old Man, what’s wrong with you? Why are your eyes red? Did Third Brother…?”

My dad sighed. “Alas! It’s late-stage liver cancer!”

My mom looked tense and asked in disbelief, “What? Is there nothing that can be done?”

My dad took a puff of his cigarette, exhaled a big puff of smoke, and sighed. “There are ways, but Third Brother has given up! Sigh! His life has been so hard! When he was young, he lost his mother, and his father didn’t care for him, and his brothers didn’t love him. When he grew up, he finally got into a university, but his father couldn’t afford to pay for it. When he should have been getting married, he missed his chance at a good match to pay for his father’s medical bills! He was poor and destitute for half his life. He finally had a chance for a good life, but instead of happiness, he got late-stage cancer!”

My mom couldn’t help but sob softly. “Third Brother’s life has been so difficult! What are we going to do about his funeral?”

My dad sighed. “He told me that he’ll give all his money to me so I can handle his funeral. He said he’d feel at ease and could pass on peacefully!”

My mom sighed. “I’m just afraid that the Chen family will try to bleed him dry! He must have saved a lot of money from his subsidies over the years, and they’re probably going to come after it!”

My dad clenched his fist. “They wouldn’t dare!” He then threw his cigarette on the ground and stomped on it.

The University Student and I followed Uncle Li to the small river. Uncle Li smiled at us. “Want to come down? The water is great, so cool. Come on, you two, let’s play.”

The University Student looked at me and said, “Let’s go, let’s help him check the nets, hahaha.” I nodded. “Mmm, let’s go…”

The three of us looked at the fish and shrimp in the net and suddenly saw a very big fish. The University Student couldn’t stop smiling. He laughed, “What a big fish! Hahahaha!”

He went to pick up the big fish. The fish thrashed its tail and opened its mouth, struggling and flapping its body against his thin frame. It splashed water everywhere, and Uncle Li and I got soaked.

Uncle Li was collecting the net, a smile on his face as he watched him. I looked at the University Student, who was laughing so innocently, and a pang of sadness rose in my heart. I was so saddened by how unfair his life had been! Life gave him hardships, but he returned them with optimism!

The willows on the riverbank were green and lush. The sunlight shone on the water. The two old friends laughed so hard by the river they were bent over. I imagined in my mind, Maybe they were just as happy when they were young, playing in this river. But as time went on, their lives went in completely different directions. One got married and had children, while the other remained single his whole life. But no matter what, they must be the happiest they’ve been right now! This short morning was the long-overdue happy time for the two old friends.

When we got back to the bank, the three of us carried a big bucket of our harvest and walked toward home. We could already smell the stewed chicken cooking from behind the house. Uncle Li said to me, “Yuanyuan, take this big fish to your mom and tell her to stew it for lunch!” I nodded, picked up the fish, and ran toward the house.

The two men sat under the shade of a tree on the green grass. The University Student smiled at Uncle Li. “Old Li, having a friend like you in this life is a huge blessing! Do you remember that year, when we were also fishing in this river and rescued someone?”

Uncle Li laughed. “Of course I remember! It’s a shame that the girl liked you, though! Hahaha…”

The University Student’s face turned red. He said, “Yuqin… I wonder where she is now, and if she’s doing well…”

Uncle Li must have sensed that something was off, so he asked, “Old Rascal, why are you asking about this out of the blue? Are you playing dumb? Yuqin passed away ten years ago! You’re talking nonsense! I’ll beat you up!”

The University Student fell silent. He looked down at the scar on his calf and didn’t speak for a long time. Uncle Li seemed to understand what he was thinking. He said, “That scar on your leg must have hurt you like hell back then, and it wore me out too!”