Chapter 29

The wheat of Baijia Village was all carted to the threshing ground, waiting to be threshed and dried, the state quota handed over and the rest shared out to the households.

The Chens did their work and came home in the afternoon. They had been worn out these few days, and there was still the ploughing, the levelling and the sowing to come, and the soil to be looked at. A good fall of rain would help.

"We'll eat properly these few days. We've the good flour, haven't we? Mix it with cornmeal and griddle it with plenty of oil, and the cakes come out crisp and sweet." Old Mrs. Chen thought of what was in the kitchen. "Put a few eggs in the dough, it tastes better."

Yao Shangqing said yes and turned to get on with it.

"And we won't have gruel tonight." If they were eating well, she thought, then let it all be good.

Li Yue'e had just washed and come over, and this surprised her. "Ma, isn't that enough? It's too much."

Old Mrs. Chen paid no attention and followed her into the kitchen. "Second son's wife, you come too. Griddle cakes and salt soup tonight."

Li Yue'e knew what salt soup was. It tasted wonderful.

Along the wall outside they grew a climbing green that lived through anything and came up by itself with no looking after. You picked the dark green leaves off it. It tastes much like wood ear fungus, and wood ear is dear. Then you cut a strip off the cured meat hanging under the eaves, slice it, fry it with the greens in oil, fill the pot with water and bring it up, put the sweet potato noodles in, and when they have softened you pour beaten egg round the edge of the pot, and when the egg floats up you scatter spring onion over it and drop sesame oil in, and the smell of it, there's one word for it.

Even Yao Shangqing was startled. "Ma, isn't this wasteful?"

Old Mrs. Chen thought her two daughters-in-law were young, and less willing than an old woman to spend on food. "Waste nothing. You've all worked that long and you can't eat something decent? And there's the sowing still to come. Go on, I'm starving."

Li Yue'e did ache for the things being used, but with her mother-in-law speaking like that she got on with it quickly, and the two of them worked away in the kitchen in high spirits.

Even the children hung about the kitchen door and wouldn't go out to play. The smell was too much.

Chen Yougong found a reason to go out. He hadn't dared tell his wife. He meant to go and see for himself first.

Zhou Jiefang was waiting for him at the end of the village. The light had gone grey by now, and the two of them walked along talking quietly.

"It isn't bad. I got the man who used to be our barefoot doctor to look at her. She's weak, that's all, and the weather's hot, and she went over. She's awake. I had my wife make egg tea and take it over just now."

Egg tea. Chen Yougong was deeply grateful. "I can't let you do that. Egg tea's too dear."

"It's nothing much, two eggs in it. We haven't got that much at home either, so don't take it amiss." Zhou Jiefang had three children, two boys and a little girl, and his parents, and he was the only strong worker. They lived close to the bone as well, and two eggs really weren't easy.

"If there's ever anything I can do for you, say the word." Chen Yougong left the rest of the thanks unsaid.

Zhou Jiefang knew what sort of man he was.

The two of them got there quietly. The village houses were nothing much, mud brick, and the people sent down had less than that, a lean-to put up anyhow.

Zhou Jiefang stood at the door and waved him in.

Chen Yougong looked round him and went in on his own.

Yao Shangqing's father was a professor at Peking University, Yao Zhizhao. Her mother was Zhou Xingyue. Before liberation the family had been capitalists, and she had studied abroad and spoke several languages, and after she came back she translated for the largest publishing house in the country. She should never have been sent down, in fact. Her background was bad, but her parents had done their share and given money to the cause. It was Yao Shangqing's eldest brother who reported them, to save himself and get his promotion, and then the second brother announced he was cutting the family off. Yao Shangqing chose to be sent down with her parents.

"Dad. Ma." He called out as soon as he was in.

For a moment Yao Zhizhao couldn't take it in, somebody suddenly in the room.

Zhou Xingyue was frail but better now, and sitting mending clothes.

"How are you here? So suddenly?" Yao Zhizhao put down the old newspaper in his hand. It was a month or two out of date, and with nothing to do he read it over and over.

Chen Yougong found somewhere to sit. "I heard Ma had collapsed. I didn't dare tell Shangqing. I came to see first."

"I'm all right now. Whatever you do, don't tell her. You live your life well, that's all I want, and don't come out here to see us." Zhou Xingyue's heart was all for her daughter, and her one wish was that she should have her own life.

Chen Yougong didn't know how to start, and wanted to say something cheerful.

"Oh, I should tell you. Last time I came to see you, on the way home I found a baby at the side of the road and took her home. A little girl. She's over a year now, and by November she'll be two. She's lovely, and sensible, and clever."

Yao Zhizhao and Zhou Xingyue looked at each other. Their eldest grandson was seven and they had never seen him.

"That's good. The two of you make a good life and don't be running out here. We do well enough." Yao Zhizhao doted on his youngest daughter and wanted nothing of his to touch her.

Chen Yougong didn't tell them his wife wanted to come.

Zhou Jiefang coughed at the door.

Chen Yougong knew it was time.

"Then I'll come again, Dad, Ma. Look after yourselves. Shangqing wants the family together again."

Yao Zhizhao took it better. Zhou Xingyue's eyes filled, and she stood up, and she couldn't go out to see him off, so she only stood and watched.

Chen Yougong waved, and went back with Zhou Jiefang.

"I won't make a speech about it, but thank you, leader Zhou."

Zhou Jiefang clapped his shoulder. "I'm a rough sort, I don't know what counts as a crime these days. The two of them are decent, steady people, and I'll look out for them where I can."

"I'll bring my wife over tomorrow night, then. There's a pause now in the rush, and we have to wait for rain before sowing, so there's time. I'll have to trouble you again." Chen Yougong thought he might as well settle it in one go.

Zhou Jiefang thought that would do. Everyone was worn out just now and nobody would be wandering about outside. Most people went home and slept early.

Once it was arranged, Chen Yougong went home.

They had been griddling cakes at the Chen house, which takes time, and by the time he got back the cakes were done and they were starting the soup.

Old Mrs. Chen had been watching the kitchen from outside, and remembered that today's eggs hadn't been collected. She slapped her thigh and hurried to the pen.

"How are there more today than yesterday? That's odd." Old Mrs. Chen muttered to herself as she picked them up one by one, seven or eight of them. Somebody must think they had worked hard these few days and laid extra specially. My word, the gods were polite. Whatever it was, collecting eggs was a fine thing.

Chen Yougong pushed the gate open at that moment and gave her a fright.

"Ma, what are you doing?"

She mustn't be caught at it. She coughed twice. "Collecting the eggs. Where have you been? Off work and nowhere to be seen." She changed the subject quickly.

Seeing his wife's parents had left Chen Yougong low.

"Ma, I want to talk something over with you."

Old Mrs. Chen hid the eggs in her hands, and with the dark it was only that which kept him from seeing. First she had to get him out of the way.

"Whatever it is, it'll keep. You've worked all day and you haven't washed your hands or your face. Go and wash."

He was going to say he had washed his hands, only not his face, and he didn't argue. He went off obediently to wash.

Old Mrs. Chen let out a great breath, got the eggs out quickly, carried them in and put them in the cupboard.

He washed his face, dried it, looked into the kitchen from the doorway and was about to go to his room.

Yuanyuan saw her dad appear and came trotting over and hugged his leg. "Dad. You. Come. Eat."

He hadn't got a word out.

Old Mrs. Chen had just come out of the main room. "Yuanyuan, let go of your dad. He's worked all day and he hasn't changed, he's filthy."

Chen Yougong's arms froze as he went to pick her up.

Yuanyuan looked up at old Mrs. Chen, then at her dad, then turned round and went back to her little stool in the kitchen.

He looked down at himself, rather taken aback, and hurried off to change.

Old Mrs. Chen raised an eyebrow at him. "There you are, you see. Yuanyuan's the clean one in this house."

His wife's parents were still on Chen Yougong's mind. He glanced at Yao Shangqing busy in the kitchen and drew his mother quietly aside.

"Ma, listen. My wife's mother fainted in the field today."

That brought old Mrs. Chen's brows down. Once she hadn't cared for her son's in-laws. Now it was different. Her daughter-in-law was a good one, so her parents must be good as well, and educated besides. She didn't understand policies. She knew that out here in the countryside they were family.

"What's to be done? Have you been to see them?" she asked.

He nodded. "Leader Zhou from the next village, I get on with him. He gave me a bit of help. We've arranged that I take Shangqing over tomorrow evening. It's been years. She hasn't seen her mum and dad, and it must be eating at her."

Old Mrs. Chen understood that. "Right. I won't go out to work tomorrow. I'll stay in and cook something for you to take tomorrow night. You two go to the fields as usual."

That was all of it, and there was nothing else to settle.

"Go on, change your clothes. I'll wash them for you tomorrow while I'm at home."

Chen Yougong laughed, embarrassed, and went to change.

In the kitchen Yao Shangqing and Li Yue'e were on the last of it, and the salt soup was nearly done.

The sweet potato noodles were in, and the children were all in the kitchen now and wouldn't move.

Only Yuanyuan sat on her stool like a good girl with her lip stuck out.

"Mum, is this soup good?" Chen Chengcai thought he would die of hunger. What was this? How could it smell like that? He had never seen it.

Li Yue'e looked at him drooling and laughed. "You'll be drinking it in a minute, then you'll know."

Yao Shangqing dropped the sesame oil in, and it was done.

Old Mrs. Chen came in and sent the children out, so nobody got knocked into while the soup was carried.

"Good. That soup's a good one." It had been a long time since she had any. These last few years had been easier, but they had been hungry too long, and she still couldn't bring herself to spend. Everything wanted putting away.

Li Yue'e took the fire out from under the pot, stood up and washed the bowls and set them out and filled them.

"Yougang, Yougong, come and carry." Old Mrs. Chen called, and went off to the main room with two bowls herself.

Chen Shaoyuan carried the basket of griddle cakes and put it on the table.

The two brothers carried soup through, and a few trips did it.

Chen Yuanyuan went back and forth after them. She was hungry too. It smelled so good.

On the table were the cakes, crisp outside and soft within, and the salt soup with the egg flowering on top and the oil shining, and it was better than New Year.

Li Guilan could smell it at her house and wondered what her old friend was making.

The eldest Chen's house next door, more so.

Chen Youliang and Zhao Qinhua looked at the fried wild greens on their table, and the pickles, and a bowl of gruel, and there was more in that than can be said.

"Chengzhuang, go to your granny's and see what they're eating. Say you want some too." Zhao Qinhua pulled Chen Chengzhuang over. The two girls had gone last time and got a full meal out of it, so the boy could go this time and eat well.

Chen Youliang raised his eyes and glared at her, and his face was a grim thing. "He's not going. It's shameful. I'm not having the shame of it."

She started to answer back and the look on him frightened her, and she didn't dare.

Li Yue'e looked at the table and thought of the eggs that had gone into it, seven or eight, at seven cents each, which came to half a yuan. Far too dear.

"Eat. Don't sit there. While it's hot." Old Mrs. Chen smiled and gave the word.

Nobody stood on ceremony after that.

Yuanyuan held her bowl in both hands and drank hard. It really was good.

There were no noodles in hers, only egg and the greens. Noodles were too much for her.

Yao Shangqing picked the soft insides out of a griddle cake and fed her, and before long her stomach was round and she hiccupped.

"There now. You've had enough, go and play." Yao Shangqing lifted her off the stool.

Chen Shaoyuan and the others had finished long ago, being boys, and bigger.

Yuanyuan trotted off to find them. They were teasing the rabbits.

"Second. Brother. Not eat." She remembered what he had said last time, and the sight of him feeding her rabbits frightened her.

Chen Shaoyuan didn't know what had happened. "What is it, Yuanyuan?"

Chen Shao'er knew exactly what it was about and rubbed the back of his head. "Oh, I was teasing you. I haven't eaten your rabbits."

Chen Shaoyuan picked her up. "Stop teasing Yuanyuan. She found those rabbits. She's keeping them."

Chen Shao'er pressed his lips together, helpless. "Yuanyuan, I won't eat your rabbits. Haven't I been helping you feed them?"

Yuanyuan was not so easily won round, and went on staring at him.

"All right, I promise, I really, really promise. I won't eat your rabbits." Chen Shao'er put his hand up and said it very seriously.

Yuanyuan held on to Chen Shaoyuan with both arms. "Big. Big brother. Eat." And she narrowed her eyes and smiled.

That Chen Shao'er would not have. What was this? He couldn't eat them, only his brother could? The horrible little girl.

Chen Shaoyuan was delighted and didn't miss his chance. "Something for you to think over."

Chen Shao'er was so cross he wouldn't help feed them any more, and a little while later he went back to it.

The Chens finished their supper and cleared up.

Chen Yougong told Yao Shangqing what was arranged for tomorrow.

She was too excited to sleep half the night.

The next day, after breakfast, old Mrs. Chen was the only one of the Chens not going out. There was only light work in the fields.

Chen Shaoyuan and the others went off to school.

Old Mrs. Chen felt for Dayu and Xiaoyu, and pushed an egg into each of their hands that morning.

Chen Shao'er took Chen Yuanyuan out to play again.

Chen Juanjuan said she was going to find Zhao Qingqing today and didn't go with them.

Old Mrs. Chen started on the washing in the yard.

Next door, Zhao Qinhua caught hold of the duck. The hen she swapped last time hadn't laid, and she wasn't giving up. She would try a duck. She looked over into the yard first and saw nobody, and assumed they were all out in the fields again.

She went straight over and got as far as the pen, and hadn't put the duck down.

And old Mrs. Chen came out of the main room. She had only gone in to fetch more clothes.

"Zhao Qinhua. What do you think you're doing?" Old Mrs. Chen had a voice on her, and she used all of it.

It frightened Zhao Qinhua into sitting down hard in the pen.

"I've got you now, haven't I. Go on, tell me what you're at." Old Mrs. Chen came at a trot to her own pen and fixed her with a stare.

Zhao Qinhua hadn't expected to be caught in the act. The old woman hadn't gone out to work. She got up off the floor of the pen, which was not clean, and her trousers had a great deal of it on them.

"Ma, you're at home as well?" Zhao Qinhua put on a wide smile.

Old Mrs. Chen wasn't having any of it. She set her hands on her hips, lifted her chin, narrowed her eyes at the duck in the woman's hands, and worked it out in a moment.

"You want to swap ducks with us?"

Having been guessed, Zhao Qinhua didn't trouble with anything else. She coughed a couple of times. "Ma, look, our chicken and duck won't lay. Chengzhuang, and Dayu and Xiaoyu, none of them get eggs, they're getting nothing out of it. There's nothing else I can do, so I came to swap quietly."

Old Mrs. Chen thought of the hens behaving strangely these last two days. So she had swapped them, and the hen had laid the moment it changed houses. As for what the woman said, it was all wind. Dayu and Xiaoyu indeed.

"Fine. Swap away."

Zhao Qinhua stood in the pen with her eyes nearly coming out of her head. She hadn't expected her mother-in-law to be so accommodating.

"Do you mean it, Ma?"

Old Mrs. Chen nodded. "I do. Are you swapping or not? If you are, be quick."

Zhao Qinhua moved at once. She had been watching a long time and knew which one laid most often, and she had it in her hands in a moment.

Old Mrs. Chen's mouth twitched. That duck could lay. It would break her heart.

Zhao Qinhua came out of the pen smiling with the duck.

Old Mrs. Chen coughed twice and waved her off quickly.

The duck that had been swapped back quacked twice. "I'm home at last. This is what laying in freedom feels like."

Old Mrs. Chen looked at the well-fed duck in the pen. "You get laying for me, now."

The duck quacked twice, as though answering her.