Chapter 14

Chapter 14: He Is Like a... After the paperwork for Linji was returned, Lin Meiyan became busy. She kept Xiao Linji running while quietly going to the housing management office to complete the transfer of ownership for the Lao Linji property deed. Transferring a property deed was no easy task—it took her over a week of running back and forth before all the procedures were finally completed. The registered owner on Linji's property deed was Lin Tonghe, her father. When all the documents were ready and she returned to the housing management office, the clerk handed her the original deed. "Take a look—is this the one?" Lin Meiyan took it and examined the yellowed property deed. Written on it was the owner's name—Lin Tonghe. She raised her hand and touched the old deed again and again, her fingertips tracing the three characters of Lin Tonghe's name over and over. This was one of the few remaining ties between her father and this world. After the transfer... She would become the owner of Lao Linji. And the traces her father had left behind would slowly fade with time. Now, the name Lin Tonghe on the deed was about to be erased. Lin Meiyan paused, as if feeling the name one last time. The staff member urged her, "Comrade, are you still proceeding with the transfer?" Lin Meiyan lowered her lashes. She took out her household register, residence permit, and other assorted documents, and handed everything to the housing management office staff. The clerk took them, verified everything was correct, and then wrote Lin Meiyan's name on the property deed. The moment the deed was in her hands, a sense of relief finally settled in her heart. After all these years... She had finally obtained the property deed for Linji. This was a good thing. When Lin Meiyan walked out of the housing management office, she looked up at the sky over Jiangcheng. She had never felt the sky looked so beautiful. Blue sky, white clouds, not a trace of gloom. The sunlight fell on her face, bright and pure as ever. Lin Meiyan pressed her lips together and murmured softly, "Dad, I got Linji back." Clutching the freshly issued property deed, Lin Meiyan headed straight back to Linji. She had been busy on both fronts lately—to keep Linji's old customers, she had never once closed the doors of Xiao Linji on this side either. When she returned, Gu Kaihua and Ye Qiuju were helping out. In the summer, the best-selling items at Linji were the cold dishes. Things like fried peanuts, braised lotus root slices, and cold tossed edamame—she had prepared them all in advance. If a customer ordered any, they could be served directly. Gu Kaihua and Ye Qiuju only needed to help bring out the dishes. Even four-year-old Qiaoqiao was helping inside. The little girl was carrying bowls of mung bean water, greeting the customers. "My mom said that Linji has been too busy to take care of everyone these days, so all our regular customers who come to support us get a free bowl of mung bean water." "Uncles, grandpas, grandmas—when Linji moves, will you still come?" Qiaoqiao blinked her big, sparkling eyes, looking at them with hopeful expectation. Uncle Wang was the first to cave. He reached out and patted Qiaoqiao's head. "Of course we'll come. Why wouldn't we?" "Linji's food is delicious and affordable—wouldn't it be a shame not to come?" Qiaoqiao pressed her lips together and smiled sweetly. "Then Grandpa Wang gets a bowl of mung bean water with extra sugar." That girl really knew how to charm people. This was no ordinary four-year-old—calling her a natural-born little business prodigy wouldn't be an exaggeration. With just a few words, she had the several customers sitting in the shop all beaming with joy. It was at this moment that Lin Meiyan returned. She stood at the door watching for a while, feeling both proud and a little heartbroken. It was Qiaoqiao who spotted her first. "Mommy, mommy, mommy!" The little girl stood on the steps, and only when she saw Lin Meiyan did she show a bit of childlike innocence befitting her age. Lin Meiyan didn't hide this time. She walked up the steps gracefully, wearing an apricot-colored fitted long dress that revealed a slender stretch of pale ankle. She looked gentle and elegant. Perhaps having resolved the major issue of Linji's property, she seemed much more relaxed overall—her brows were smooth, her expression bright and striking. Qiaoqiao rushed over first, her cheeks flushed pink. "Mommy, you're so pretty!" Though her mother was always pretty, she couldn't quite explain it—her mother's usual beauty carried a hint of indescribable melancholy. But now it was gone! Lin Meiyan gently held her. "You're such a sweet-talker." She took Qiaoqiao's hand and walked up. The neighbors and customers eating nearby chimed in, "Qiaoqiao isn't just sweet-talking—she's telling the truth." "Meiyan, you must have run into some good fortune. I can see it all over your face—you're glowing." When luck is on your side, it shows on your face. Lin Meiyan was exactly that now. She smiled without hiding anything. "The Linji my father left me—the policy has been implemented and it's been returned to me." The moment she said this, the others exchanged glances. "That's wonderful news." "Yes, you've been hoping to get Linji back for so many years—you've finally gotten your wish." "Gotten her wish? I'd say Luosiban finally did something right for once." It's not good to badmouth someone's workplace behind their back, so Uncle Wang quickly changed the subject. "So if your Linji is coming back, what about this little shop now?" The current one was also called Linji, but this Linji was rented and not very big—the kitchen included, it was only about thirty square meters. Lin Meiyan glanced at the menu she'd just ordered from, already knowing what she was going to say. She replied unhurriedly, "We'll move over there." "Moving is good—small shop becomes a big shop." "If you ask me, that snobbish old lady Zhao isn't all bad. This time, raising the rent actually helped you out." Gu Kaihua couldn't stand to hear that. He immediately poked his head out of the kitchen. "That's not how you put it. Old Lady Zhao made the first move—she raised the rent without any reason. Our Meiyan had no choice but to try her luck at Luosiban, and that's how she got Linji back." "But bullying is bullying. Don't think that just because it turned out well, you can just wipe away the fact that Old Lady Zhao was bullying her." At that, everyone exchanged awkward glances. Uncle Wang took the lead. "Right, right, right. Old Lady Zhao really is no good." "But Meiyan, when are you moving?" These people were all regular customers, mostly retirees living on their pensions. Living alone, they couldn't be bothered to cook at home, so coming to Linji for a meal was both clean and filling. Why wouldn't they? Lin Meiyan said, "Probably around the end of July." "The place over there needs to be taken back first. After that, it needs some simple renovations—tables, chairs, stoves, all that." There was no way it could be done in less than ten days or half a month. The others understood. "And what about this place of yours?" "This one will keep running. We'll operate normally every day until the new place opens, and only then will this one close." She'd already paid Old Lady Zhao the rent for July. With that said, everyone felt reassured. "That's good then. Meiyan, your Linji has to stay open." "Linji is the old taste of Simenkou. If you closed it down, we old-timers would be the ones suffering, unable to eat it anymore." Lin Meiyan smiled and nodded. "It will stay open." It would always stay open. Linji had been passed down since her grandfather's generation, so she naturally wouldn't let it slip away. After finishing with the last table of customers, Lin Meiyan went to tidy up the tables and chairs, but Gu Kaihua beat her to it. "Your aunt and I will handle it." The two of them worked quickly, and in just over ten minutes, they had the little shop cleaned up spotless. With no outsiders left, Gu Kaihua finally asked cautiously, "Did you really get the property deed for Linji back?" Lin Meiyan nodded. She took out the property deed that had been transferred to her name just today, and on the yellowed paper, the owner's name was clearly written—Lin Meiyan. When Gu Kaihua saw those words, he couldn't help but rub his eyes. "After all these years, you've finally gotten the house back." "If your father knew from above, he'd be so happy." He'd actually worked as a helper at Linji for three years back then, but he had no talent for cooking. Later, he'd learned the craft of making pastries from Lin Meiyan's father. With that pastry-making skill, he'd managed to get into the biscuit factory. Over the years, he hadn't become wealthy, but at least he had stable work—poor but respectable. Lin Meiyan nodded and said softly, "He would be happy." If she managed to build Linji up, her father would be even happier. Gu Kaihua hesitated for a moment. "Yanyan." The moment he called her Yanyan, Lin Meiyan knew he was about to talk about something serious. She looked up, her apricot eyes widening slightly. "Hmm?" Lin Meiyan was truly beautiful—delicate features like a painting, rosy lips, and white teeth. When she looked at Gu Kaihua with those big eyes, even he couldn't handle it. He clutched his chest. "Takes after the family, takes after the family." "A nephew takes after his uncle—she looks just as good as me." Ye Qiuju gave him an elbow to the ribs to let him feel it himself. Gu Kaihua cleared his throat. "She looks exactly like your mother." That was the real point. "Yanyan, about getting Linji back—what do you think about me telling your mother?" His tone carried a hint of probing, along with a cautious sense of seeking her opinion. Lin Meiyan paused. She lowered her gaze, hiding most of her emotions. "Uncle, if you want to tell her, then tell her." Gu Kaihua didn't catch it, but Ye Qiuju did. There was a hint of anticipation in her voice. Ye Qiuju paused and sighed softly in her heart. There wasn't a daughter in the world who didn't miss her mother, and Lin Meiyan was no exception. Gu Kaihua moved quickly. After going back and finding his sister's phone number, he thought about it all night. The next morning, he still went to the little shop at Simenkou. He borrowed the phone and dialed the string of numbers from the phone book. The phone rang several times with a dull buzz before someone picked up. "Hello." It was an unfamiliar voice. Gu Kaihua frowned slightly. He pulled the receiver away to check, making sure he hadn't dialed the wrong number, then said, "I'm Gu Kaihua, Gu Qiuyuan's younger brother." The person on the other end said to hold on a moment. After a moment, Gu Qiuyuan, a woman past fifty yet elegantly dressed and gracefully beautiful, took the call. Her first question was not about whether Lin Meiyan was doing well, nor whether Gu Kaihua was doing well. Instead, she calmly reproached. "Didn't I say not to call me?" From the day she remarried, she had completely severed ties with the Lin family and her past. Gu Kaihua paused, gripping the receiver a little tighter. In truth, over all these years since his sister remarried, he had barely made a handful of calls. The first call was when Lin Meiyan, heavily pregnant, returned alone to Jiangcheng with nowhere to go. The second call was when Lin Meiyan went through a difficult labor, spending three full days before finally giving birth. This was the third. Gu Kaihua's voice was slightly strained. "Sis, Meiyan and I don't intend to burden you." On the other end, Gu Qiuyuan let out a soft sigh. "Kaihua—" Before she could finish, Gu Kaihua cut her off. "I'm only calling to tell you that Meiyan got the Linji house back." "That's all." Gu Qiuyuan was stunned. In that instant, the images flashing through her mind were of her time at Linji—the happy picture of their family of four. But that image quickly scattered. Her former husband had hanged himself, Linji had been sealed off, her eldest daughter had nearly been sent back by her in-laws, and her youngest daughter's future was uncertain. Only she had remained a beautiful widow. After writing the letters severing ties with her two daughters, she had held onto Linji for three years, but in the end, she couldn't keep it. From the moment someone else moved into Linji, Gu Qiuyuan understood that they could never go back. She swiftly picked a suitable target from among her former husband's old acquaintances and remarried. She also drew a clear line between herself and the past. Gu Qiuyuan was silent for a long time before she said in a low voice, "Congratulate her for me." "She did better than I did." Gu Kaihua was somewhat angry. "That's it?" "Sis, have you forgotten? Yanyan is also a child you carried for ten months. You once held great hopes for her. You once told me she was your life." The reason Gu Kaihua doted on Lin Meiyan so much was not unrelated to Gu Qiuyuan's influence. When Gu Qiuyuan had her first child, she was still young and didn't know how to be a good mother. When she had her second child, Lin Tonghe had already made a name for Linji, and the Lin family was on the rise. Gu Qiuyuan poured all her love, money, and time into Lin Meiyan. Gu Kaihua had seen how Gu Qiuyuan loved Lin Meiyan, so he couldn't accept how coldly Gu Qiuyuan treated her now. Gu Qiuyuan held the phone, looking at her reflection in the glass cabinet. She wore a silk dress, fine lines at the corners of her eyes, and white hairs at her temples. She was no longer young—her features still striking, living a life of comfort and ease. But more than anything, it was the fading of beauty with age. "Kaihua, if I go and care for Yanyan now, then what?" "You're forty-seven, and I'm already fifty." "I'm old and aging. The fact that my current husband supports me—that's something I earned with my own flesh and skin. It's what I deserve." "And for me to go and be kind to Yanyan now—that wouldn't be fair to her." From the day she remarried, she had severed ties with the past. The more thoroughly she cut herself off from the past, the easier her two daughters' futures would be. They wouldn't owe her anything, nor would they need to support her in her old age. Both sides only needed to know that the other was doing well. Gu Kaihua gripped the receiver and said after a long pause, "Sis, you're always like this." Always making such clear-headed choices. Always so infuriating. Even the subsidies—he had to secretly give them without Lin Meiyan knowing. Gu Kaihua hung up the phone and stood there, rubbing his face hard, because he didn't know how to tell Lin Meiyan. Lin Meiyan had also been busy and hadn't asked. But he couldn't put it off any longer. Gu Kaihua spoke up. "Yanyan." Lin Meiyan had made a cold mixed sour-spicy lotus root dish. She wiped a white porcelain plate clean, placed a purple flower on top, and turned to hand it to a customer. Only then did she look at Gu Kaihua, her brows and eyes soft and gentle. "Uncle, if it's not convenient for you to say, or if it's hard to say, then don't say it." Though she longed for her mother, if it would disturb her, that would be her own fault. The more she acted this way, the harder it was for Gu Kaihua. "No, there's nothing I can't say." "Your mother said you did very well—better than her." Lin Meiyan was taken aback. Gu Kaihua thought she would ask, but she didn't. She didn't ask about herself, nor did she ask why there was only that one sentence. Lin Meiyan said softly, "And her? Is she doing well?" Gu Kaihua let out an "mm," as if deflating, or perhaps mocking. "Living a dignified life in a wealthy household—how could she not be well?" "Much better off than us." "Forget it, forget it. Let's just focus on living our own lives well." Monday was generally the worst day for business at Linji. After the weekend, there were no more children around, and naturally fewer people came to eat. Lin Meiyan deliberately chose this day. Only after the evening business had wound down did she make her way to Linji. Only, this Linji was not the Linji of before. Standing once again beneath the Linji building, she no longer felt the old reverence, envy, and nostalgia—only certainty. This was the Linji her father had left behind. And now, this was her Linji. With that thought, Lin Meiyan stepped up onto the stairs. The moment she arrived, the Li and Yu families downstairs wore uneasy expressions. Because the rooms they now occupied belonged to the Lin family—belonged to Lin Meiyan's family. As long as Luosiban didn't return the house to the Lin family, they could turn a blind eye. After all, no one above had ordered them to move out, so they would simply continue living here. But in the past few days, word had come from Linji that Luosiban had returned the house to her. The five families living in Linji were all anxious. Some had already gone out looking for new housing, while others still leaned on their seniority, believing that as long as Lin Meiyan didn't come demanding the house, it would remain theirs. And now Lin Meiyan was standing right at the Lin family's doorstep. How could they not feel guilty? "Meiyan? Come in and have a drink of water?" Lin Meiyan didn't go in. She stood at the door. "Auntie Yu, could you help me pass the word? Ask all five families living in Linji to come out—I'd like to say a few words to them." Auntie Yu paused, hesitating. "Or, you could just pass along a message for me?" Lin Meiyan took the initiative. Auntie Yu didn't want to relay messages—it was thankless work. She could only go upstairs and knock on each door, calling out everyone who was home. Lin Meiyan had chosen her timing well: nine o'clock in the evening, when almost every household had people in. After about five minutes. All five families had gathered on the first floor. Like Auntie Yu, most of them looked at Lin Meiyan with some discomfort. Lin Meiyan paid no mind to that. She counted heads, and seeing that everyone was present, she stated her purpose. "Uncles, aunties, younger brothers and sisters, you all know why I'm here." They exchanged glances but said nothing. Lin Meiyan's voice was soft and gentle. That was her nature—she never wanted to make things ugly. She hadn't before, and she wouldn't now. "Luosiban has returned the Linji house to me. I also went to the housing office yesterday morning and completed the property transfer." A word to the wise is sufficient. Auntie Yu beside her was the first to speak up. "We've all heard about this." The news of Lin Meiyan reclaiming Linji from Luosiban had long since spread throughout all of Simenkou, thanks to Granny Zhao's big mouth. "Our family is already looking for a place. Give us a little time—three days at the earliest, a week at the latest—and we'll move out on our own." After the Yu family's statement, another family spoke up. "We've already found a place. We'll move out tomorrow." That settled two of the five families leaving. The remaining three exchanged uneasy looks. They made no statement, said nothing. Lin Meiyan understood what they meant. She stood at the door, moonlight falling upon her, her brow relaxed, her bearing gentle. "I don't want to burn bridges with any of you, because in a certain sense, I'm grateful to you." They didn't understand why she would say that, and couldn't help exchanging glances. Lin Meiyan spoke. "Everyone knows that houses have a spirit. If they go too long without being lived in, they fall into ruin." She paused, then looked up at the three families who hadn't responded, her gaze sincere. "My father passed away so many years ago. Our family scattered in all directions, and Linji was sealed. If things had gone on that way, this house would surely have fallen into disrepair." "But when you uncles and aunties moved in, you nurtured the house—and you nurtured Linji." "That's why this building has remained intact after all these years. So I say thank you to all of you." Those whom Lin Meiyan had looked at felt a pang in their hearts. "Meiyan, you're being too kind. It's not that we nurtured Linji—it's that Linji gave us all a home." At that, the Li family also stepped forward. "Sister Meiyan, the Li family will find a place too. We can move out in three days at the earliest." That left two families: the Cao and Wang families. Before coming, they had agreed to stand united and protect their homes. But after Lin Meiyan's few words, three of the five families had already surrendered. Uncle Cao and Sister Wang exchanged a glance. Neither spoke. Lin Meiyan took note of their reaction. She spoke unhurriedly. "I lost my father at sixteen. That same year, I lost my home and went far away to the islands to be sent down as a Zhiqing." "Everyone knows how harsh life on the islands was. In all those years there, there wasn't a single day I didn't miss home. I survived and came back—but I no longer had a home." From the moment her father hanged himself, Lin Meiyan's home had shattered. Later, her mother remarried and took away the other half of the broken home. "And now—" Lin Meiyan bowed to Uncle Cao and Sister Wang, her words earnest. "Uncle Cao, Sister Wang, the place you live in is the home I once had." “My father passed away, and my mother remarried. Now, the only home I have left is this house before me, the place where my family was once reunited.” “Uncle Cao, Sister Wang, I hope you can return the house to me.” Sister Wang saw Lin Meiyan like this, sighed, and stepped forward to help her up. "Alright, alright, you poor girl, it hasn't been easy for you either." "This house—my family will clear it out soon. Just give me some time." Lin Meiyan's eyes grew warm. "Thank you, Sister Wang." Sister Wang patted her hand. "May everything go well for you from now on." They were ordinary people too. Perhaps they had their own little schemes, but when faced with something like this, making them betray their conscience and do something utterly heartless— That, they couldn't do. They weren't born wicked, nor were they people of sinister intent. It was impossible for them to see Lin Meiyan like this and remain unmoved. The last one was Uncle Cao. He said nothing. Lin Meiyan wasn't anxious either. She waited quietly—she was a person with plenty of patience. Uncle Cao had also been one of the instigators against Lin Meiyan, refusing to return the house. His family had been the first to move in, and he had long come to treat Linji as his own home. Moreover, he had four children. How easy was it to move out? Didn't moving out mean paying rent? Lin Meiyan waited a long time, but Uncle Cao still didn't speak. So she could only say, "Uncle Cao, I'll give you three days as well." "Three days from now, I'll come for an answer." This was the last face she was willing to give Uncle Cao. They were all neighbors on the same street. Unless it came to the final moment, she truly didn't want to burn bridges. She had her weaknesses—she had Qiaoqiao, and she had Linji. Being kind to others was what her father had taught her. Lin Meiyan had remembered it to this day. Uncle Cao was silent for a long time before he finally spoke. "This matter isn't mine to decide alone. I need to discuss it with my wife." Lin Meiyan gave an "mm" and then left. The moment she stepped out of Linji, Gu Kaihua came running over. "Yanyan, how did it go?" Gu's two sons and one daughter had also come, all of them present. One could say the whole family had turned out. Should Lin Meiyan be bullied while trying to reclaim Linji, the Gu family would swarm in all at once. Lin Meiyan took Qiaoqiao's hand and only then said, "It's settled with four families. They've all agreed to move out." Gu Kaihua was a bit surprised. "They actually agreed?" His rolled-up sleeves hadn't even been lowered yet. Beside him, Ye Qiuju said, "See, it was right to listen to Yanyan. She said courtesy before force—most people soften, don't they?" "If we'd done it your way, charging in swinging and shouting from the start, that would've been a disaster." Gu Kaihua was sharpening his blade. "What about the last family?" "Who's refusing?" Lin Meiyan glanced back. The Lin family building stood in the middle of the street, every room brightly lit. That was something she had once been unable to reach. She thought for a moment. "Only the Cao family hasn't agreed." Gu Kaihua looked down, searching for a knife. "Where's the knife? Where's my knife?" When he'd come, he'd even brought his cleaver along. All so he could lend a hand in the house fight, at least protect Lin Meiyan from being bullied, right? Qiaoqiao held up the cleaver, poking her little head out, looking sly. "It's right here with me." "Grand-uncle, my mom told me to keep an eye on you, to make sure you don't do anything rash." Gu Kaihua was impulsive by nature, and once he got impulsive, everything went to hell. The little girl holding up a big cleaver startled everyone present. It was Ye Qiuju who took the cleaver back and gave Gu Kaihua a scolding. "I told you not to bring a knife." Gu Kaihua, now scolded, wasn't angry. "So what do we do now?" Lin Meiyan said, "I told him he has three days to think it over." "Uncle, let's go home first." Gu Kaihua grumbled, "He got off easy." "Meiyan, it's just that you have a good temper. If it were me, I'd go up and give him a slash right away. Still won't give it back?" "Then I'd give him another." Before he could finish, his wife Ye Qiuju slapped him across the head. "I'll give you a slash, more like." "Don't end up not helping Yanyan at all, just causing her more trouble." Gu Kaihua felt wronged. Gu Kaihua said nothing. Jianghai Dicai. Yu Jianghai had been keeping an eye on the matter of the Linji house being returned. He asked Secretary Shen, "How's it going over there?" Secretary Shen had sent people to keep watch, afraid something might happen without them knowing. He recounted the events in a few brief sentences, then couldn't help but remark, "Ms. Lin is truly impressive." Yu Jianghai gave an "mm." Secretary Shen wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he thought he caught a fleeting smile on his boss's face. When Secretary Shen looked over, Yu Jianghai looked away. Yu Jianghai tapped the table. "Keep an eye on things these next few days, especially after three days—" He looked into Secretary Shen's eyes, his tone brooking no argument. "Three days from now, I don't want those mother and daughter to come to any harm." Secretary Shen nodded. "Understood, boss." Just then, Lu Qingyuan pushed open the door and walked in, unable to resist teasing, "Old Yu, if you care so much, why not just show yourself?" Why do things so secretively? Yu Jianghai said nothing. He watched the rain falling outside the window. Jianghai Dicai was named for the river and sea, and below the building, an artificial lake had been built to match. Raindrops pattered onto the lake's surface, sending ripples scattering across the water. He turned back, looking at Lu Qingyuan with unruffled composure. "Qingyuan, do you remember our days on the island?" Lu Qingyuan's brow twitched. His smile faltered for just a moment before he quickly regained his calm. "Old Yu, what about the island?" They had spent so many years on that island—more things had happened there than could be counted on one hand. Yu Jianghai tugged at the corner of his mouth but said nothing. He was simply thinking that if Lin Meiyan could slip away right under his nose on the island, then she could do the same here in Jiangcheng. This time, he wouldn't give her any chance to leave. "Nothing," he said flatly. Yu Jianghai watched coldly as the rain formed a curtain of threads, fine and dense like a fishing net, leaving the fish no chance to escape. "It's July soon. Time to head out to sea for the catch." An abrupt, seemingly random remark—but Lu Qingyuan understood in an instant. "Right. Every July on the island, I always feared I wouldn't make it through." In July, the island was battered by violent typhoons and towering waves. Going out to sea on those boats—ships wrecked and lives lost—was all too common. No one could guarantee they wouldn't be the next to die. He was one of the lucky ones. So was Yu Jianghai. Even Lin Meiyan was. They were all survivors who had made it back from that island. Three days later—the end of June, on the cusp of July—it began to rain again in Jiangcheng. Lin Meiyan held her umbrella and arrived at the base of the Lin family building. This time, she came alone. Apart from Qiaoqiao, who was at school, everyone from the Gu family was there. The cleaver Gu Kaihua had been holding had been swapped by Ye Qiuju for a large iron ladle before they left—long handle, big scoop. At first, Gu Kaihua wasn't too pleased with the change. But one sentence from Ye Qiuju set him straight: "He won't move? If he won't move, you swing that big iron ladle at him." "Beat him to death." Sure enough—two people who share a bed never turn out all that different. At their core, Ye Qiuju and Gu Kaihua were equally ruthless. Gu Kaihua was satisfied. He stroked his iron ladle and muttered, "If only I could coat this thing with some poison." "Something like Ruangu San, or Huagu Shui, would be perfect." The moment those words left his mouth, everyone around turned to stare at him. Gu Xiaolin couldn't take it anymore. "Dad, maybe you should watch a little less Legend of the Condor Heroes." Gu Kaihua thought to himself, How could I possibly do that? Legend of the Condor Heroes was his lifeblood. He had to watch it every single day, glued to the TV. Lin Meiyan couldn't listen to any more of this. She cleared her throat and gave her instructions: "Auntie, Uncle, and Cousin—when we get there, I'll speak first. Everyone stand behind me and don't say anything." She was afraid that if she didn't lay down the rules, the Gu family would tear the place apart, and then they'd lose the moral high ground even when they were in the right. Ye Qiuju said, "Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on everyone." And she meant every word. While Lin Meiyan called out to the people up front, Ye Qiuju held the crowd in check from behind—a single look from her was enough to lower the restless iron ladle in Gu Kaihua's hand by several degrees. When Lin Meiyan arrived, Auntie Yu and the others were already packing their things. The Yu family had found a new place, and so had the other three families. Only the Cao family had neither packed a single box nor looked for a new home. For three days, they had sat as steady as Mount Tai, going about their lives as if nothing was happening. Lin Meiyan pretended not to notice. She got straight to the point: "Uncle Cao, I've waited three days for you. What's your decision?" Uncle Cao said nothing, his head hanging low. But his wife, Auntie Cao, stepped forward instead. "Meiyan, dear, why would you ask a man like Old Cao, who can't even read a word, about something this important?" "When has he ever been the one calling the shots?" That was almost laughable. Lin Meiyan tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Well, if Uncle Cao can't make the decision, then who's in charge of the Cao family?" She already knew the answer—she was just asking to make a point. Auntie Cao stiffened for a moment. "I am, of course." "Our family runs on feminine energy. The women wear the pants." Behind her, Gu Kaihua could barely contain himself. He wanted to swing his iron ladle and give everyone a live demonstration of ladle-based violence. But Ye Qiuju held him back, shooting him a look. "Wait." Wait until Meiyan gives the word. Don't move until then. Up front, Lin Meiyan didn't lose her temper. She waved her hand, signaling Ye Qiuju and the others to hold off. She walked over to Auntie Cao, gave her a once-over, and then said, "So since the Cao family runs on feminine energy, that means you're the one in charge, Auntie Cao?" "That's right." "Then what's the Cao family's decision? Are you moving or not? Are you paying back or not?" One question left Auntie Cao with no room to dodge. She let out a dry laugh. "What's all this about moving or not moving, paying or not paying?" "Meiyan, you say this Lin house is your home—but isn't it our home too?" "The Cao family moved in back in '77. It's been almost fifteen years now." "To us Caos, this place is our home." "You tell us to move—where are we supposed to go?" This was pure shamelessness. The other four families all knew that these houses had been assigned by the street office back then, because they'd felt sorry for these people who had nowhere to go. It just so happened that the Revolutionary Committee had seized the Lin property at the time, and they needed somewhere to house these families. They tore off the Lin family's seal and divided the house among those who had no place to live. But after living there for over a decade, the Cao family had come to treat the house as their own. Auntie Yu had been packing her things, but upon hearing this, she simply couldn't listen any longer. "Family Cao, when we first moved in, the street office made it very clear—this house was given to us for temporary lodging." None of them even had a property deed for this house, so how could they claim it as their own? "That's right," Uncle Li chimed in. "The Lin family letting us live here rent-free for all these years is already a favor we've taken advantage of." "We need to act with a clear conscience. We're living in the Lin family's house while making Meiyan and her child depend on others for shelter—that's not right." "What's not right about it?" Auntie Cao immediately stiffened her neck and retorted, "I never said Lin Meiyan and her child couldn't move in. This house belongs to the Lin family, sure, but it's also the Cao family's." "I'm fine with sharing the house with them." With the Lin house being this big, four families had moved out, and now Lin Meiyan and Qiaoqiao, mother and daughter, were moving in—however you looked at it, the Cao family came out ahead. Her calculation was obvious: I won't move out, but I won't stop you from moving in either. Lin Meiyan, who was always gentle and soft-spoken, now had a changed expression—somewhat cold, somewhat disgusted. "You're fine with it?" "I'm not." Courtesy before force was her principle in dealing with people. Since reasoning wasn't getting through, it was time for force. She glanced back at Gu Kaihua, and in an instant, he was like a wolfhound off its leash, snapping at everyone in sight. Of course, using that description for an elder like Gu Kaihua wasn't quite appropriate. But his expression and movements at that moment were far too much like a wolfhound that had broken loose. He swung his big iron ladle, unleashing a torrent of abuse: "Go to hell, you think you can share a house with my Meiyan? You're fine with it? I'll show you fine—you goddamn bastards." "Who owns this house? Others might not know, but do you?" "My Meiyan's father died, and she inherited this house from him. What, did your Cao family's father die too? Did you inherit it from yours?" Those words were harsh. Cao's father was still alive, over seventy this year, and his health was still quite robust. Uncle Cao immediately took offense. "Gu Kaihua, how dare you speak like that?" Gu Kaihua spat. "This is exactly how I talk. So you know your father hasn't died, do you? Didn't your father leave you anything to inherit? You have to come steal what someone else's father left behind—have you no shame?" "Filthy dog, are you even a seed of the Lin family? Have you burned paper offerings for the Lins? Kowtowed? Visited their graves? Called him father?" "You don't even call him father, you haven't changed your surname, and you still want to inherit the Lin family's house? I spit on that!" "Three keys for a buck—do you even deserve it?" Uncle Cao was never good with words, and now he couldn't even lift his head from the scolding. "Mr. Gu, y-y-y-you're being uncivilized." "I'll show you uncivilized! You want to talk civility with me? When you were trying to steal the Lin house and play son to my brother-in-law, where was your civility then?" Uncle Cao: "..." Wait, when did he ever become a son to that capitalist Lin Tonghe? "Watch your mouth." "You don't deserve it." Gu Kaihua fought the whole room single-handedly. "Filthy dog, lowborn scum—your own father had no ability and left you nothing to inherit, so you come to rob my niece? Have you got any shame at all?" "If you really want to rob, fine—come with me." He grabbed Uncle Cao by the neck and started dragging him out. "Go get your household register. From this moment on, every single one of you surnamed Cao will change your surname to Lin." "Carve your name on my brother-in-law's tombstone, and I'll acknowledge you as my nephew today." "Otherwise, get the hell out of here." Uncle Cao: "..." Uncle Cao was scolded so badly he couldn't open his eyes. It was Auntie Cao who couldn't stand it anymore. She immediately threw herself on the ground. "Insults! Is there anyone to stop this? They're breaking in and robbing us!" She hadn't even finished. Ye Qiuju slammed a rolling pin down at her. "Quiet down. Who gave you the right to speak?" Auntie Cao: "..." Auntie Cao: "..." Auntie Cao covered her swollen mouth, speaking with a lisp, "You bunch of robbers, why are you throwing your weight around at me? If you've got guts, go to the street office! Go to Luosiban!" "Why are you bullying a common folk like me?" Gu Kaihua swung his iron ladle, scaring Auntie Cao into stumbling back several steps. Gu Kaihua sneered. "You think I'm stupid? I'm an honest, simple citizen—why would I go looking for trouble with the authorities? Do I have a death wish?" "The Gu family has always been reasonable, living as meek as quails all these years. Let me tell you, the Gu family doesn't fear trouble, but we don't start it either. Now Luosiban and the housing office have returned this house to my niece." "If you won't give it back, that's your problem. It's only natural I come after you." "Don't try to drag me into your nonsense." Seeing that Gu Kaihua was completely unmoved, Auntie Cao clutched her face and began to wail, "Who will do me justice? This is the new China, and still a big landlord comes to my door to seize my house!" This was utterly unreasonable! Qiaoqiao watched her mother's expression change, and immediately threw herself on the ground, rolling and crying, sitting up and crying, lying flat and crying, "Grandpa, look, you're dead, and the house you left for Mama is being taken away too." "Grandpa, Mama said you died at the Lin family's place. Open your eyes and look." "Me and Mama are being bullied like this by this old woman." "Grandpa, will you go find this old woman tonight?" "Grandpa, will you take this old woman away?" "Grandpa, if you take the old woman away, me and Mama won't be bullied anymore." With every word Qiaoqiao spoke, the surroundings grew quieter. By the end, the area in front of the Lin family's door was dead silent. Auntie Cao forgot how to cry, her face filled with terror, "You child, what nonsense are you talking about?" Qiaoqiao pointed behind Auntie Cao, her face beaming with delight, "Grandpa, I knew you loved me the most." "Knowing me and Mama were being bullied, you came out to help us get revenge." She walked up to Auntie Cao, tilted her head up, and spoke to the air, "Grandpa, look, this is the wicked old woman. She wants to take our house." A four-year-old child, talking to the air, calling out "Grandpa" again and again, holding hands with the air to beat up the villain. No matter how you looked at it, this scene was utterly horrifying. Finally, Auntie Cao trembled all over, her face full of fear, "Lin Qiaoqiao, this is the new China. The new China has long forbidden spirits and demons from becoming sentient. Stop your nonsense." Qiaoqiao opened her big eyes wide, looking completely innocent, and said, "But Grandpa isn't a spirit or demon. Grandpa is just my grandpa." She looked up, smiling sweetly at the air, "Isn't that right, Grandpa?" "Remember to come find this wicked old woman tonight."