Chapter 23
T/n:
Italicized “you(s)” show the use of the formal/respectful ‘您’, compared to the casual ‘你’. When referring to soone of higher authority or an elder ‘您’ is used.
WeChat is a Chinese ssenger app, kinda like WhatsApp. (I may have forgotten to ntion this last ti)
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After Han Yang finished taking his exams, he did not return ho. This was because he still had to go over to Dr. Chen Qingqing’s, since his course of treatnt had yet to be completed.
Normally, when returning to his ho town, Han Yang would take a train given how affordable its fare was, in addition to student only having to pay half the price. So, despite the fact the journey was indeed much longer, he would also have the opportunity to get a bed. But this ti around, Helian Qing had given him a plane ticket, and when the day for him to leave ca, that man also dropped him off at the airport.
Helian Qing had originally intended to go back with him, but at the end of the year his company had beco considerably busier, and for the ti being, he was still unable to leave. So all he could do now, was wear a sour-look on his face as he sent the other person off.
“You always look so handso, don’t put such a sour look on your face, okay?” Han Yang pinched the man’s cheek, teasing him.
Helian Qing, in turn, looked at him expressionlessly, silently displaying his irritation.
Using the man’s shoulders for support, Han Yang—tiptoeing slightly—kissed the other on his lips, coaxing, “I’ll be back at the start of the new school term. You’ll be fine at ho with Aunty Su and the others.”
With the lad’s kiss Helian Qing’s complexion got a little better, but upon hearing what he said afterwards he simply felt unhappy, asking stiffly, “The start of the school term?” When you leave now there’s still almost a month before the sester begins.
“I want to spend more ti at ho with Grandpa.” Han Yang squeezed the man’s hands held within his own, “You know he’s the only one at ho, and it’s very lonely there.”
Helian Qing humd, changing the topic, “Have you thought it over?”
Han Yang listened to him as he asked this again, coughing lightly, before saying, “First I’ll go back and talk to Grandpa.”
The last ti he asked that question was at the press conference. Then on that sa night he returned, pressed Han Yang against a wall to ask that very question once more. With regard to their wedding, Han Yang actually had no objections—in fact, it could be said he looked forward to it. After all, he too wanted to have a formal ceremony with his loved ones in attendance, but he also wanted to discuss it with his grandfather first. Since if he truly wanted to do this, he hoped that his grandfather would be there, and he would get the elder man’s blessings.
Helian Qing naturally understood the lad’s way of thinking, as well as knowing how important his sole relative was to him. If he had not, he would have kidnapped that Salted Fish and taken him to a church a long ti ago!
Seeing the man’s lips pursed along with his silence, Han Yang pinched the corners of the man’s mouth with his fingers, smiling as he said, “I promise you, it’ll be soon. Grandpa is a very good person; I definitely will not turn my back on you.”
“Ha.” Helian Qing laughed coldly. “Who exactly would turn their back on who?”
“Don’t turn your back on .” Han Yang imdiately modified his last statent, “Satisfied now?”
Helian Qing was a bit satisfied at the mont, again reaching out to encircle the scarf Han Yang wore around his neck, saying, “Where a bit more layers when you return, and wait for to co et you.”
“What eting...” the sharp gaze the man swept towards Han Yang made him switch his topic, “Alright, I’ll wait for you to co et .”
It was currently already the ti for the security check, so Han Yang took his suitcase and said, “I have to go now. You should hurry and get back ho, I’ll call you when I get there.”
With arms outstretched, Helian Qing took the other man into his embrace—hugging him vigorously—then let him go, shooing him away, “Go on, hurry!”
Han Yang thought the gesture he made to drive him off was rather funny. Pulling his suitcase behind him, he went over to the security check point.
Done with the inspection Han Yang took a look back, discovering Helian Qing still stood in the sa spot with his gaze turned towards him. He waved at the man, who nodded in return, then made an “I call you” gesture with his hands before he turned and left.
Once he arrived at Y-City, Han Yang gave Helian Qing a call as soon as he was out of the airport. He told him he had already gotten off the plane, and was planning to head straight to the transfer station then back to his village. Helian Qing was presently in the middle of a eting, so after urging him to be careful on his way there, he ended the call.
By the ti Han Yang made it to the station the train had just arrived when Grandpa called, asking him when he planned on coming back ho.
Han Yang had not ntioned to his grandfather that this day was the one he would be returning ho because every ti he went back, the elderly man would always wait for him at the entrance to their village. Han Yang would then worry about whether he had waited a long ti, so for this reason he simply did not tell.
“I’m coming back today, and I’m already on my way.” Since he had already made it halfway there, Han Yang did not hide it.
“Really? Why didn’t you tell ? I should hurry and go buy so groceries to give you a tasty al then!” Grandpa’s voice sounded very excited.
“There’s no need for you to rush, I’ll go with you when I get there,” Han Yang said with a laugh.
“Okay, alright,” Grandpa replied giddily. “Oh, by the way, you coming back today is really great, because there sothing I really need you to co back and confirm.”
“What is it?” Han Yang asked.
“I’ll wait until you get here to tell you, so let’s not talk about it now, alright—phone calls are pricey. Rember to be careful on your way, you understand right?” Grandpa kept him in suspense, but from the way he said it, it should be a good thing.
“Yeah. You shouldn’t co out to wait for , okay,” Han Yang added before he hung up the phone.
After ending the call, he had planned on taking a nap until he saw there was a WeChat ssage Qing Gége had sent. Han Yang opened it to see that it was a picture of a salted fish carrying a bag on it’s back, walking under the sun.
Was this describing him? Han Yang laughed.
Salted Fish: Is your eting over?
Qing Gége: Yeah. Where are you?
Salted Fish: I’m just about halfway there. Where did you get so many salted fish, huh?
Qing Gége: They’re kept[1] at ho.
Because of his clowning around, Han Yang held on to his phone and chatted along with him on WeChat. The account Helian Qing used was the one Han Yang had set up last ti, where the na was just Qing Gége and the profile picture was a cartoon princess’ headdress. His, however, was nad Saltfish, and his profile picture was a cartoon salted fish. For his signature, Han Yang had: My Qing Gége; while Helian Qing’s was: My Saltfish. One ti, when he was in class, Han Yang had his chat with Helian Qing seen by She Zhang, who cried out “It’s burning my eyes” [2], before saying, “They won’t give us single fellas a way to survive at all!”
After ssaging each other for a while, Helian Qing got busy with work again, so Han Yang put his phone back into his bag then got so rest.
Getting to the small town at the outskirts of the city took two hours, and following his arrival to this town, Han Yang went to find a motorcycle taxi to take him to his village.
When the vehicle arrived at the village’s entrance, Han Yang got off, then gave out a few snacks he brought back with him to the children of a couple families who lived near the entrance. Han Yang’s house was not far from the entrance, just about three to five minutes away. Plus, the road to the village was also paved, so dragging along a suitcase posed no difficulty for him as well.
Finally making his way to the front yard of his house, Han Yang pushed open the gate, calling out, “Grandpa!” then went in. Just as his call ended, a short old man wearing an army green cotton-padded coat along with a matching cap, ca out from inside the house.
“Oh my gosh, my baby boy finally ca back!” Grandpa giddily scuttled over to et him, trying to take the the suitcase the lad had in tow.
Han Yang evaded his hands, grinning as he said, “I can carry it myself. Let’s get inside quickly, it’s too cold out here.”
“Yeah, that’s right. Get inside quickly and warm up by the fire. So, was the trip here cold?” Grandpa pulled him into the house.
“No, it wasn’t cold. I wore enough layers.” Han Yang grinned as he went inside with him, adding while walking beside him, “But, the house is also nice and toasty, and warming up next to you by the fire is the warst of all.”
“That’s true. Grandpa will get you a baked sweet potato; have you had lunch as yet?” Grandpa asked.
“I have. You don’t need to busy yourself, if there’s anything I can...”
Han Yang’s words ca to an abrupt halt. With one foot still outside the threshold, he stared at the two people inside the house for a while without the slightest reaction.
Seeing he was rather uneasy, the other party did not dare look at him while they stood beside the fireplace.
Han Yang pulled his suitcase inside, knitted his brows slightly, looking at them, “Why are the two of you here?”
Currently standing in that room were the two who used him to repay their debt to Helian Qing—his parents. Han Yang had thought he would never again lay eyes on them, even more so, that it would happen at his ho.
Upon noticing his displeasure, those people grew even more anxious; avoiding his gaze by turning their attention towards his grandfather.
Grandpa pulled Han Yang aside, explaining, “Xiao Yang, these two guests just ca to our place today, saying they wanted to find the son they had lost many years ago, and the description they gave of their child was remarkably similar to you at that age. They just happened to be are the village’s entrance when they ran into A’Gui’s wife, who just brought them over. I even asked them a few things about you, and it was also really similar! So can you check them out quickly to see whether or not they’re your mama and papa?”
“Xiao Yang...” the middle aged woman called out to him.
Han Yang threw her a glance, not responding, and instead turned to his grandfather to say, “Grandpa, didn’t I tell you not to bring any and everyone back ho. You’re here alone, what if sothing happened to you?”
“No... we’re not...” the middle-aged man tried to explain but Han Yang interrupted him, stating: “I was not talking to you.”
The middle aged man was struck dumb, his mouth gaping, not knowing what to say.
Grandpa, ignoring that, added, “What could I do? A’Gui’s wife was here with from the start, and only left just a mont ago.”
“Xiao Yang, you mustn’t misunderstand, we don’t have any other intentions. We were just celebrating the New Year and thought of coming to see you,” the middle-aged woman elaborated, her eyes carrying concern.
Han Yang did not look at her, choosing to help Grandpa take a seat before he said, “Now you’ve seen , so now both of you can go.”
“Xiao Yang...” the middle-aged woman still wanted to say sothing, but Han Yang cut her off to say: “Leave.”
“Leave? What’s going on here?” Grandpa, not understanding the situation, asked. Turning to look at those three persons, before questioning Han Yang, “Xiao Yang, do you know them? Are they not your parents?”
“Yes-yes-yes! We are!” the middle-aged woman declared excitedly, fearing Han Yang would overrule them. “We are Xiao Yang’s—”
“Not anymore!” Han Yang interjected in a slightly raised tone, turning to look at the woman after he spoke, then repeated, “Now, you aren’t anymore.”
The middle-aged woman seed to as if she were in contemplation, remained mum for a few seconds before craning her head downwards then covering her mouth; appearing to now be in tears. Beside her, the middle-aged man also wore a rigid expression, as he just stood there awkwardly.
“So are they or aren’t they, huh?” Grandpa was simply confused by them.
Hang Yang pursed his lips, not saying a word. But the middle-aged man, after a period of hesitation, then said, “Xiao Yang, we know we don’t deserve you, but we don’t want to do anything other than spend New Year’s with you.”
“New Year’s?” Han Yang repeated, then asked, “Then why, in all those years that have gone by, didn’t you co find to celebrate the New Year? Since you were able to find here now, why exactly were you unable to do so before?”
The man’s face was forced to fluster because of the younger man’s gaze, with even more sha forming within his heart, as he then hurriedly explained, “I know you still bla us for using you to repay out debts, but you must also understand that we were at the end of our ropes! Plus, despite the fact that Mr. Helian is a man, you being married off to him isn’t without benefits. You see, right not you may not be doing well but—”
“Shut up!” Han Yang yelled in anger, cutting him off, looking back at his grandfather who did not understand, then shouted towards those people to drive them out: “I told you to leave my house, now!”
“What debt? What man?” Grandpa held on to a few key words.
“It’s alright, Grandpa. You don’t have to worry.” Han Yang patted the older gentleman’s shoulder.
As a man who lived most of his life, Grandpa had seen quite a lot of people and things, so imdiately—just from witnessing Han Yang’s attitude—he had discerned that they have already t. Besides that, he could also tell that those two had done sothing bad to Han Yang. Otherwise Han Yang, given his temperant, would be very unlikely to have treated them so coldly. Although he still did not know the specific details regarding the matter, he did however rember that his precious grandson may have been wronged, thus the shield over his heart exploded. Searching beside him, Grandpa grabbed hold of a broom and drove those people out. “Get the hell out! Go, get out, leave! Don’t be a nuisance in our ho!” Literally shooing those people away, bringing the matter to a close.
“I’m so pissed.” Grandpa took a seat on a stool, panting, broom still in hand. “I went and invited those wolves into the house!”
Han Yang took the broom from the old man, putting it aside, then stroked his back.
After he caught his breath, Grandpa turned to the lad and asked, “What’s going on? Xiao Yang, are those two really your parents?”
Han Yang nodded. Although he did not want to admit it, they were however, his parents by blood.
“Then what did those things they said an? Have you t them before?” Grandpa continued to ask.
“We t.” Han Yang sat beside him, then told him about the situation regarding his parents’ debt repaynt.
“Utterly unconscionable [3]!!”Finding out Han Yang’s birth-givers had used him to pay off their debt made Grandpa infuriated to the point where he rose to his feet, took up the broom, intending to chase after those people and beat them up, prompting Han Yang to hurriedly move to hold him him back.
“How could such a callous set of parents exist in this world!” Grandpa cursed. “They even went as far as using their own son as reimbursent!”
If it was before, maybe Han Yang would have felt sad, but now, he simply felt nothing at all. Not caring about one’s own blood relations was no different than saying they were not worth having one’s concern.
After ranted on for a good while, Grandpa stopped, recalling sothing else which prompted him to ask, “What was that ‘you being married’ thing that son of a bitch ntioned? Didn’t you repay the debt with labour? So why are you married again?”
Han Yang, rubbed his nose, then revealed he and Helian Wing had already registered their marriage.
“What?!” Grandpa jumped from his seat upon hearing wat the lad had said. “Did that guy force you? Grandpa will go sort him out!” Yet again going to grab his broom while Han Yang struggled to hold him back. “It’s alright, I’m alright. Grandpa, you have to listen to everything I have to say first!”
“Explain.” Grandpa sat down, resting the broom across his lap, wearing an “After you’re done explaining—I’m still gonna to go get him” look.
Han Yang was detailed in his explanation of the situation between Helian Qing and himself; putting a lot of emphasis on the part where Helian Qing made arrangents for a doctor to treat his legs, as well as the man’s own efforts to learn the massages to help him rub them.
Grandpa, still doubtful about the matter, asked, “Really? You’re not trying to trick Grandpa, right?”
“Really.” Han Yang replied in assurance. “Didn’t I ntion to you before that I was having my legs treated, well the one who arranged it was him.”
“So, how are you doing now—did it work?” Grandpa reached out to rub Han Yang’s knee, asking regretfully, “Do they still hurt?”
“No, it doesn’t hurt. You don’t have to worry,” Han Yang said with a smile. After this stage of his treatnt, to so degree his knee really did get better; and Dr. Chen had said if they kept at it, it would get much better in the future.
“That’s good, that’s really good,” Grandpa, feeling a sense of gratitude, nodded. From the beginning he had been distressed over Han Yang’s legs, and always blad himself for not having run into Han Yang earlier.
Han Yang embraced him around his shoulders, saying, “Don’t worry, okay. He’s very good to .”
Grandpa nodded, then asked, “Then why didn’t he co back here with you?”
“He’s busy at work. He’s been working overti for the past few days,” Han Yang replied.
“Oh... Striving to better oneself is good thing,” Grandpa stated. “Didn’t you say a little while ago that his grandfather wanted to play a ga of Chinese Chess with ?”
“Yeah. Lao Yezi heard that you taught all of my chess skills, and wishes very much to be able to play a round with you.” Han Yang passed on Lao Yezi’s words.
Having heard him, Grandpa could not help but straighten his back and proudly declaring, “Of course I will! I’m soone who started playing chess when I was just six years old. When I have so ti, I make sure to go find him to play a round or two and frustrate his spirit to no end!”
Witnessing such a fierce side coming from the older man, Han Yang fawned all over him—being swept away by his grandfather’s racket, and completely forgetting about his matter with Helian Qing.
Later that night when Han Yang was in bed, he video chatted with Helian Qing—not at all telling him that his grandfather already knew about them, as he planned to give him that surprise upon his return.
Following the end of their chat, Han Yang hugging a pillow, rolled around on his bed, discovering he could not fall asleep. This had only been the first day since his departure, yet he already began missing Helian Qing. Previously, being alone had felt good to him, but now, he had grown accustod to sleeping as a pair; and to his surprise, even the covers felt a little cold.
Rolling around in a good few circles, Han Yang could not help but send Helian Qing another ssage via WeChat. Quite a while passed since the ssage had been sent with no response in return, so all he could then do was put aside his phone, and force himself to get so rest.
After so ti, he really did manage to fall asleep; completely unaware that after Helian Qing returned from his bath then saw the ssage: “I can’t sleep without you”, would end up spending the rest of his night sleepless.
The next day, Han Yang had thoroughly co to understand the saying: a day apart seems like a lifeti [4]. Everyday, without fail, he would video chat with Helian Qing, but he would also feel like it was not enough. Because he could not touch him, he missed Helian Qing’s embrace; because he could not feel him, he missed the heat of his body.
When the thought of there still being almost an entire month until he could et the other man, Han Yang felt it was too hard to bear; but when he thought of going back earlier, he hated the idea of having to part with his grandfather so soon.
Those feelings carried on until the night of that very day when he received a call from Helian Qing. A strange feeling filled him the mont he saw the I’m coming call from the man, after all, they had just chatted a little while ago, why would he be calling all of a sudden.
“Why did you call all of a sudden?” Han Yang answered the call and asked.
“Do I have to ask for permission to call you?” Helian Qing responded to his question with his own.
“Of course you don’t! For you, there’s a 24-hour standby,” Han Yang said in jest, poking the coal inside the fire pit with a poker.
“Good to know.” Helian Qing, now satisfied, paid his comnt no mind to then ask, “Where are you?”
“At ho, by the fire. Where are you? And how big did the rumour get?” Han Yang asked out of curiosity.
“Tch! The signal from there is too poor,” Helian Qing said with disdain, “Move to sowhere with a better signal, talking right now is too difficult.”
“Oh, wait a bit, I’ll go to the patio.” Han Yang stood up then went outside. When he got to the patio he asked, “Is it better now? It’s windy outside, can you hear clearly?”
“I can hear you clearly, I can see you clearly too,” Helian Qing revealed. “Turn around, look to your nine o’clock [5].”
“What nine o’clock, what are you...” his words ca to an abrupt stop, while his fingers were almost unable to hold onto the phone.
Outside the low wall bordering the yard, wearing a long black overcoat, with the dark grey scarf Han Yang had gifted him wrapped around his neck, was Helian Qing, who then said into the phone held in his hand, “It’s so damn cold.”
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Notes:
[1] 养: yǎng: keep/support/raise. On the surface he’s saying the salted fish are raised/taken care of like pets or whatnot. But by now we all know this guy loves his word play.
[2] 辣眼睛: là yǎnjìng: lit. hot (spicy/burning) eyes, aning – seeing sothing you aren’t supposed to see. (Usually sothing indecent~)
[3] 狼心狗肺: làng xīn gǒu fèi: lit. wolf’s heart, dog lungs. aning – cruel & heartless. (Shit people! Not shitty, people who are literal shit! Curse them both all the way to hell and back! *SPITS* *pelts broom*)
[4] 一日不见, 如隔三秋: yī rì bù jiàn, rú gé sān qiū: lit. not seeing you for one day, seems like spending three autumns apart. aning, to miss soone so much a mont seems like forever.
[5] look to your 9 (o’clock), just ans to look left. The others: 12-North (look in front), 3-East (to your right), 6-South (behind you). I’m at your six right now in spirit, don’t turn around:)
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