Sha Zhu's Rebirth in the Courtyard: Starting with Hitting Someone in the Head

Chapter 109 The Last Supper

In the evening, Jia Zhangshi cleaned up the hen that Jia Dongxu had bought from the black market the day before, removing all its feathers. She wrapped the feathers in old newspapers and stuffed them next to the stove, thinking they could still be sold for money.

Steam rose from the iron pot on the stove, and the aroma of chicken soup wafted from the west wing. Banggeng stood by the stove, tiptoeing, his eyes fixed on the bubbling chicken pieces in the pot, his saliva almost dripping onto the stove.

"Milk, when will the chicken be ready?"

"Almost done, almost done. Just simmer it a little longer, and the bones will be tender enough to eat." Madam Jia stirred the soup in the pot with a spoon, scooping up a few chicken bones from the bottom. The meat was already tender enough to fall off the bone. She placed the spoon on the edge of the pot, turned and called into the inner room, "Huai Ru, bring Xiao Dang over, it's time to eat."

Qin Huairu carried Xiaodang out of the inner room, placed Xiaodang on a small stool by the table, and then went to get bowls and chopsticks to set them out.

Jia Dongxu had just come home from get off work. He washed his hands in the sink, shook off the water droplets, and went into the house to sit down at the table. He looked at the pot of steaming stewed chicken on the table, and then at Banggeng staring at the chicken and swallowing his saliva. A smile appeared on his lips.

"Dinner is served." Madam Jia brought a plate of cornbread to the table. She first gave Banggeng one, then half a cornbread to Xiaodang, and one and a half to her son. She and Qin Huairu each had a cornbread, and she also gave everyone a bowl of chicken soup. Xiaodang also had half a small bowl.

Jia Dongxu picked up his chopsticks, rummaged around in the bowl, picked up a chicken leg, and put it into Banggeng's bowl. Banggeng was stunned for a moment, looked up at his father, then at the shiny chicken leg in the bowl, his mouth agape.

"Dad, can I have the chicken leg?"

"Here you go. Eat more, so you can grow taller." Jia Dongxu scooped up another chicken leg and put it in Qin Huairu's bowl. Qin Huairu looked at the chicken leg in her bowl, glanced up at Jia Dongxu, and moved her lips as if to say something. Jia Dongxu had already lowered his head, scooped up a chicken wing and a large piece of breast meat from the basin, put them in Jia Zhangshi's bowl, and then gave the other chicken wing to Xiao Dang.

"Dongxu, why did you divide up all the chicken legs? Don't you eat any yourself?" Qin Huairu picked up a chicken leg from her bowl and tried to put it in his bowl.

Jia Dongxu held out his chopsticks to stop him. "You eat, there's still one left in your belly. Eat more." He picked up a piece of chicken breast for himself, chewed it slowly, and then picked up his bowl to drink some soup.

The chicken soup was thin and contained a lot of dried wild vegetables, but it still tasted like meat. It was warming and comforting, warming you from your throat all the way to your stomach.

Banggeng held the chicken leg in both hands, his mouth glistening with oil. After finishing the meat on the bone, he used chopsticks to poke at the marrow inside the bone, sucking it out with a sizzling sound.

Jia Zhangshi chewed the chicken wing, bones and all, and swallowed it. Then she slowly chewed the chicken breast. Suddenly, she put down her chopsticks and stared at her son for a moment.

"Dongxu, you're acting strange today?"

"What's strange about that?"

"You're not usually like this. You've already divided up the chicken legs, but you only eat a piece of chicken breast for yourself."

"I just want to eat chicken breast. Don't overthink it, have some soup." Jia Dongxu picked up the bowl and took a sip of soup.

Jia Zhangshi didn't ask any further questions. She scooped up a few more pieces of chicken and put them in the bowl, then ladled some soup into it. Qin Huairu took a bite of the chicken leg that Jia Dongxu had given her and put it into the bowl with the broth.

Jia Dongxu finished the chicken in his bowl, ate the cornbread soaked in chicken broth, and put the bowl down. He looked at the family at the table; Banggeng was licking the oil off his fingers after finishing his chicken leg. Qin Huairu lowered her head to wipe Xiaodang's mouth. He reached out and gently touched Qin Huairu's belly, his palm resting on her skin for a moment.

"Give this child a good rest and raise him well. And Mom, you can't spoil the child; you still have to discipline him when necessary."

Qin Huairu looked up at him, feeling that his words were a little strange tonight, but she couldn't quite put her finger on why. Dongxu wasn't usually like this; he was quiet and reserved, and never talked about these things. She opened her mouth as if to ask.

Jia Dongxu had already withdrawn his hand, stood up, and put the bowls and chopsticks into the pot on the stove.

"Go to sleep early. You have to go to work tomorrow." He hung his coat behind the door, walked to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), sat down, and started taking off his shoes.

As night fell and the courtyard quieted down, Jia Dongxu lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), listening to Qin Huairu's even breathing beside him, knowing she was asleep. He turned to his side and gently stroked her face, his fingers brushing against her cheek. She stirred, but didn't wake up.

He lit half a cigarette and, by the firelight, glanced at Banggeng and Xiaodang. Banggeng was sleeping sprawled out, the blanket kicked to one side, one leg draped over Xiaodang, mumbling something incoherently. Xiaodang was curled up next to Banggeng, her little fists gripping the corner of the blanket, her mouth slightly open, her breathing shallow and even.

Jia Dongxu reached over and pulled the blanket up for Bang Geng, then gently pried Xiao Dang's hand from the corner of the blanket and tucked it under the covers. He lay back down, staring at the ceiling, his left hand touching his right hand, missing its index finger. This crippled hand couldn't hold a file, couldn't protect his family. He clenched his right fist and gently tapped it against his heart, telling himself that this was the best choice.

The next morning, when Jia Dongxu got up, Qin Huairu was still asleep. He tiptoed off the bed, went to the stove to start a fire, reheated the leftover chicken soup from the night before, and also heated up a few wild vegetable buns.

He went back to the bedroom and woke up Banggeng.

"Dad, why are you up so early?"

"Come on, let Dad dress you." Jia Dongxu dressed his son, fastened his belt, and used his fingers to smooth down the hair sticking up on his head. "Eat your meal and go to school, don't be late."

Banggeng sat at the table eating a cornbread bun. Jia Dongxu ladled out a bowl of hot chicken soup for him and placed it next to him. He picked up his own bowl, took a couple of sips, then broke off half of the cornbread bun and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing for a while before putting it down again.

He walked to the doorway of the inner room and stood there for a moment.

Qin Huairu was already awake and was leaning against the headboard dressing Xiaodang. Jia Dongxu went over, picked up Xiaodang, and kissed her on the cheek. Xiaodang giggled and reached out to grab his nose. He put Xiaodang down, bent down, and hugged Qin Huairu, his arms tightening slightly.

"Dongxu, what's wrong with you today?" Qin Huairu was a little breathless from his hug and gently patted his back.

"It's okay. Everything will be alright." Jia Dongxu released her, looked at her face, then at her stomach, and gently patted it. "I'm going to work."

"What's wrong with you now?" Jia Zhangshi turned around from the stove, holding an enamel mug. "You're acting all weird this morning. Yesterday you were sharing chicken legs, and today you're hugging this person and that person. Hurry up and go to work, don't be late."

Jia Dongxu smiled, hugged her, turned around, pushed open the door, and walked out. Jia Zhangshi placed the enamel mug on the stove and muttered, "Why is this silly boy hugging his old mother today and laughing so happily?"

Qin Huairu carried Xiaodang to the door, watching Jia Dongxu's back as he walked across the courtyard. He walked slowly, his steps steady, his right hand in his pocket.

Qin Huairu stood at the door, and suddenly felt a pang in her heart.

In the morning, Jia Dongxu was working in the workshop when he went to borrow meal tickets from a coworker. The coworker pulled out a few crumpled meal tickets and handed them to him, saying, "Dongxu, why are you eating so much today?" He smiled and said, "I didn't eat enough yesterday, so I'm making up for it today."

At lunchtime in the cafeteria, he got two portions of food and sat in a corner to eat slowly. He ate cornbread with stewed cabbage, chewing and swallowing it bite by bite, even using the cornbread to soak up all the soup from the lunchbox.

In the afternoon, the machines roared in the workshop. Jia Dongxu stood in front of his lathe, placing the workpiece in his hand on the control table, but not installing it.

He glanced back at his coworkers in the workshop; they were all engrossed in their work at their stations, and no one was paying attention to him. He turned the lathe to its fastest speed, closed his eyes, and leaned his head towards the rotating cutting edge.