Siheyuan (traditional courtyard house): Starting with the Korean War, returning home to take charge

Two red papers were pasted on the door of the Jia family's house, with crookedly written "囍" (double happiness) characters on them. The paste wasn't spread evenly, and the edges were curled up, making a rustling sound when the wind blew.

He Yushui squatted in the yard washing vegetables. A basin of cabbage had turned white from soaking, and she separated the leaves one by one, throwing the yellowed leaves aside. Jia Zhangshi came out of the house, carrying a tin bucket, and slammed it down at her feet.

"Wash these too."

The bucket contained half a bag of potatoes, covered in mud, some of which had sprouted, their eyes turning bluish-purple.

He Yushui looked up: "Aunt Jia, these potatoes have sprouted."

Jia Zhangshi didn't even lift her eyelids: "Just pick them off if they sprout, it's not like you're allowed to eat them."

He Yushui didn't say anything and continued washing with her head down.

Qin Huairu sat down next to her, helping her pick vegetables, and glanced at Jia Zhangshi. Jia Zhangshi had already turned and gone back into the house, muttering something as she pulled down the curtain.

"Has she always been like this in this courtyard?"

He Yushui shook her head: "She's usually alright. Today is her son's wedding, so she's busy."

Qin Huairu didn't ask any more questions.

Four tables were set up in the courtyard, borrowed from the street. The tabletops were pitted and uneven, and newspapers were laid out as tablecloths. The stools were collected from various households, of different heights, some with three legs, and supported by roof tiles.

Yan Bugui arrived early, strolled around the courtyard, touched the table, and muttered, "Who's going to eat all this food?"

There were only four dishes on the table: one plate of peanuts, one plate of melon seeds, one plate of hard candy, and another plate of some kind of pastry that was black in color and could break your teeth if you took a bite.

Liu Haizhong sat in the corner, shelling peanuts, without saying a word. His wife, Second Aunt, stood beside him, holding a child in her arms, her eyes glancing towards the Jia family's house.

More and more people arrived in the courtyard. Aunt Zhang came with the skinny child in her hand. Grandpa Wang came with his cane and sat next to Yan Bugui. There were also a few others whose names He Yushui couldn't recall, probably relatives of the Jia family.

Madam Jia came out of the house carrying an enamel basin with a red paper packet inside. She placed the basin on the table and said in a loud voice that could be heard throughout the courtyard, "Come, come, put your gift here. It's our old custom; it's just a token of our appreciation. I'm not picky."

Yan Bugui stood up, took out two yuan from his pocket, and put it into the basin: "Congratulations, Old Jia's family."

Madam Jia smiled so much her eyes narrowed into slits: "Third Master, you're too kind."

Liu Zhonghai followed behind and put down 50 cents. Jia Zhangshi glanced at it, her smile fading slightly, and she didn't say anything. Aunt Erda tugged at Liu Zhonghai's sleeve, and he lowered his head and sat back down.

The money in the basin kept piling up. There were one-yuan notes, two-yuan notes, and a few small bills. Jia Zhangshi stood to the side, her eyes fixed on it, watching who put in how much.

The wedding ceremony was rather simple.

Jia Dongxu, wearing a borrowed Zhongshan suit with a red paper flower pinned to his chest, stood in the courtyard grinning foolishly. His new wife, Yu Li, wore a red cotton-padded jacket, her head bowed, her face obscured.

Madam Jia arranged for everyone to be seated, and then began serving the dishes.

A pot of stewed cabbage with glass noodles, a pot of shredded potatoes, a pot of radish soup, plus a dish of pickled vegetables.

Yan Bugui looked at the dishes, his chopsticks pausing for a moment: "Old Jia's family, is that... all?"

Madam Jia's face hardened: "What? You think it's too little? You think you can get a full meal with just two dollars?"

Yan Bugui's face turned red, and he opened his mouth but couldn't say a word.

Liu Haizhong kept his head down, silently shoveling food into his mouth. Aunt Er, holding her child, didn't touch her chopsticks. Aunt Zhang put two pieces of cabbage on the child's plate; the child ate them, then stared longingly at the bowl of shredded potatoes.

He Yushui sat in the corner, watching this scene without saying a word.

Qin Huairu sat down next to her and sighed softly.

After the meal, Jia Zhangshi began to count the money given as gifts.

She sat in the room, counting the bills one by one, counting them over and over again. Jia Dongxu stood beside her, rubbing his hands together: "Mom, how many?"

Jia Zhangshi rolled her eyes at him: "One hundred and twenty-three yuan. That's enough for the banquet."

Jia Dongxu was taken aback: "The cost of the banquet? Didn't we not spend much on the banquet?"

Madam Jia put the money away: "Use the rest to buy your wife a new dress."

Jia Dongxu fell silent.

Yu Li stood at the door, glanced at Jia Zhangshi, and then lowered her head.

He Yushui and Qin Huairu were cleaning up the dishes in the yard.

Qin Huairu stacked the bowls and lowered her voice: "Yushui, has your brother written to us recently?"

He Yushui nodded: "He came. He said he was busy and would come back for the New Year."

Qin Huairu remained silent for a long while, the bowl in her hand soaking in the water, motionless.

"Rainwater, your brother... did he mention me in his letters?"

He Yushui looked at her, this time without smiling, and asked seriously, "Sister Qin, do you want to hear the truth or a lie?"

Qin Huairu clenched her hand in the water for a moment, and the bowls collided, making a crisp sound.

"...That's a lie."

"The lie is that my brother greeted Sister Qin."

Qin Huairu's lips twitched, but she couldn't manage a smile.

"And what about the truth?"

He Yushui lowered her head and fished the bowl out: "The truth is... he didn't mention anything."

These words were like a dull knife; they didn't draw blood, but Qin Huairu felt as if her heart had been violently pulled.

She didn't reply, but kept washing the dishes, only her movements slowed down, causing the water to splash even higher.

Yu Li came out of the house, walked into the yard, and squatted down next to He Yushui.

"Rain, you're so skillful; you've washed it so clean."

He Yushui looked up and smiled: "I'm used to it."

Yu Li picked up a bowl and helped wash it, casually asking, "Your brother works at the steel rolling mill, right? He's a permanent employee, isn't he? I heard the factory's been really busy lately, apparently working on some new technology?"

He Yushui paused for a moment while washing vegetables, water droplets dripping down between her fingers.

She remembered what her brother had said: "If anyone comes to the courtyard in the future, just let me know."

She didn't look up, only saying, "I don't know, my brother didn't say."

Yu Li nodded, didn't ask any more questions, stacked the washed dishes aside, stood up and went back into the house.

Qin Huairu frowned as she watched Yu Li's retreating figure.

He Yushui didn't notice and continued washing the dishes, only her movements were a little slower than before.

That night, He Yushui lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

She recalled Yu Li's question: Is the steel rolling mill working on some new technology?

She remembered what her brother had said before: "If anyone comes to the courtyard in the future, just let me know."

She sat up and looked out the window.

The moon was very bright, illuminating the courtyard in a white light. The Jia family's lights were already out.

The courtyard fell silent, save for the two red papers hanging at the Jia family's door, still rustling in the wind. Their edges were completely curled up, but no one bothered with them anymore.