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

It snowed in Beijing on New Year's Day.

He Yuzhu stood at the entrance of the courtyard house, staring at the two dark wooden doors. The red paper pasted on the doors was soaked with snow, one corner drooping and fluttering in the wind. He took his hands out of his pockets, breathed on them, and rubbed them. Snowflakes crept into his collar, making him shiver, but he didn't shrink back; he just stood there.

Qin Huairu stood beside him, wearing the blue cotton-padded jacket and a gray scarf, her face slightly red from the cold. She followed his gaze and saw the drooping corner of the red paper.

"It's windy," she said.

He Yuzhu didn't reply, but reached out and pushed open the door.

The door hinges turned with a creak.

The snow in the yard had been swept, but some white snow remained piled up in the corner. He Yushui was squatting there building a snowman, pressing two black lumps of coal onto its face. Hearing the door open, she turned around, paused, and dropped the lumps of coal, which rolled twice on the ground.

"elder brother!"

She ran over, but halfway there, she saw Qin Huairu and stopped abruptly, almost falling into a snowdrift.

"Sister Qin?"

Qin Huairu smiled.

"rainwater."

He Yushui's eyes lit up, more dazzling than the pile of snow behind her. She ran over, grabbed Qin Huairu's hand, and the cold made Qin Huairu shiver.

"Sister Qin, what brings you here? Did my brother trick you into coming? Or have you finally come to your senses?"

Qin Huairu glanced at He Yuzhu.

"Your brother picked me up."

He Yushui looked at her, then at He Yuzhu, her neck darting around like a rattle drum. She suddenly leaned closer to Qin Huairu and whispered, "My brother didn't bully you on the way, did he?"

Qin Huairu was taken aback, and her face turned red again.

He Yuzhu ignored them and walked into the courtyard.

The deaf old woman's door was ajar, and you could see shadowy figures moving inside.

The old woman sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), clutching a string of Buddhist prayer beads in her hand, turning them one by one, the beads clinking together. Hearing footsteps, she looked up.

"You're back?"

He Yuzhu nodded and stepped aside.

Qin Huairu stood at the door, but did not come in.

The old lady stared at her for several seconds.

"Come inside, it's cold outside."

Qin Huairu walked in and stood next to He Yuzhu. The old lady looked her up and down, her gaze lingering on the gray scarf before settling on her hands, which were red from the cold.

"Give me your hand."

Qin Huairu was stunned for a moment, then reached out her hand.

The old woman took her hand, turned it over, and looked at her palm. The palm was rough and calloused, the result of years of hard work. The old woman didn't say anything, but rubbed her thumb on it a couple of times.

Qin Huairu's hand trembled slightly.

The old woman loosened her grip and pulled a small cloth bag from the head of the kang (a heated brick bed). It was made of blue cloth, washed until it was faded, and the edges were frayed, revealing the cotton wadding inside. She opened the bag, and inside was a jade bracelet, bluish-white in color. Holding it up to the snowy light outside the window, one could see the fine, delicate patterns inside, like clouds frozen in ice.

She handed the bracelet to Qin Huairu.

"Take it."

Qin Huairu did not answer.

"Grandma, this is too precious..."

The old lady looked at her.

"I wore this when I was young. It's been sitting there for thirty years, and I'm giving it to you today."

Qin Huairu turned to look at He Yuzhu. He Yuzhu stood there, motionless, but his Adam's apple bobbed.

She looked at the old woman again. The old woman's eyes were bright, looking directly at her. There was no smile in them, but they were warmer than any smile.

She reached out and took the bracelet.

"Thank you, Grandma."

The old lady smiled, and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes deepened.

"Put it on and let me see."

Qin Huairu lowered her head and slipped the bracelet onto her wrist. Her wrist was slender, and it went on easily. The bluish-white jade clung to her rough wrist, making her skin appear even whiter.

She looked up, her eyes a little red.

The old lady nodded.

"Good. It looks good."

He Yushui poked half her head in from the doorway.

"Grandma, dinner is ready, let's eat."

The old lady stood up, and Qin Huairu quickly helped her. The three of them walked out, with He Yuzhu following behind. When they reached the door, he looked back at the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), where the marks of where she had sat were still visible.

A small table was set up in the main room, with four dishes and a soup, all steaming hot. He Yushui set out the bowls and chopsticks, let the old lady sit in the seat of honor, and then sat down next to her. Qin Huairu sat on the other side, and He Yuzhu sat opposite her.

He Yushui picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks, put it in her mouth, and while chewing, she suddenly laughed.

"Brother, when are you and Sister Qin going to let me start calling her 'sister-in-law'?"

He Yuzhu's chopsticks stopped in mid-air.

Qin Huairu's face flushed red, all the way to her ears.

The old lady glanced at He Yushui.

"Even eating can't shut you up."

He Yushui chuckled twice and lowered her head to eat. After a couple of bites, she looked up again, her eyes darting between He Yuzhu and Qin Huairu.

Qin Huairu picked up a piece of meat and put it into the old lady's bowl.

"Grandma, please eat more."

The old lady nodded.

"Good boy."

He Yuzhu didn't say anything, but picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and put it into Qin Huairu's bowl.

Qin Huairu glanced at him, lowered her head, and ate the bite of food.

Halfway through the meal, a shout came from the courtyard gate.

"Director He, there's a phone call!"

He Yuzhu put down his chopsticks and went outside. The messenger stood at the door, his breath steaming in the cold air, his face red from the cold, clutching a piece of paper in his hand.

"Just arrived, it's urgent."

He Yuzhu took the note and glanced at it.

"The satellite project requires sending someone to the Soviet Union. Get ready, you'll be leaving in three days."

He folded the note and stuffed it into his pocket.

Walking back into the main room, the three people were still eating. He Yushui was talking to Qin Huairu, laughing so hard she almost dropped her chopsticks. The old lady also had a smile on her face, slowly chewing her food with relish.

Qin Huairu raised her head and looked at him.

"What's wrong?"

He Yuzhu sat down and picked up his bowl.

"It's nothing. Let's eat."

He took a bite of rice, chewed it, and swallowed it. Then he took another bite.

Qin Huairu glanced at him but didn't ask any more questions.

Outside the window, the snow was still falling, heavier than when we arrived. Flakes landed on the windowpane, then melted into water and trickled down.

Qin Huairu lowered her head, and the jade bracelet on her wrist touched the edge of the table with a soft sound.

He Yushui suddenly stopped laughing.

She looked at He Yuzhu, then at Qin Huairu, opened her mouth, but didn't say anything.

The old lady slowly put down her chopsticks.

"Pillar, is something wrong?"

He Yuzhu raised his head.

"It's nothing. It's work-related; I'll be going on a business trip in a couple of days."

The old lady nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

Qin Huairu lowered her head, picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks, put it in her mouth, and chewed it slowly.

He Yuzhu looked at her and noticed the jade bracelet on her wrist, bluish-white, gleaming under the light. He looked away, picked up his bowl, and shoveled the last mouthful of rice into his mouth.

Chew it, then swallow it.

Qin Huairu never looked up.

Snowflakes fell on the windowpane, one after another, melting into water and trickling down.