Chapter 75: Chapter 66: Broadening Horizons, Buying Things
Xiao Man and Grandpa left the way they had come. As their oxcart departed from the large compound, a group of children followed them to the gate before being called back by the adults.
Xiao Man asked Grandpa, "We brought the cart in loaded with goods and left with it empty. Won’t anyone get suspicious or start gossiping? This is a huge compound, after all. There are so many people and so many prying eyes!"
Grandpa glanced back and said in a low voice, "How would they dare? Even the little children are ordered to keep their mouths shut! Everyone in this compound, and many others besides, rely entirely on the Sun Family to survive! Why else do you think they’re so desperately buying up herbs in secret? They don’t have jobs, they can’t do other work, and they have no fields or land of their own. If the Sun Family didn’t find a way to support them, they’d never make it!"
Xiao Man nodded in understanding.
After about a dozen meters, Grandpa led the oxcart into a small alley and then into another large courtyard. This one didn’t look residential; it was far dirtier and messier than the last. Straw and reed mats were strewn everywhere. A number of oxen and horses were tethered under a tarpaper shed built against the wall, and cart frames were piled haphazardly in the center of the yard. Grandpa explained that this was the rear courtyard of an inn. For a small fee, they would take in, watch over, and feed people’s livestock.
It was four in the afternoon. Since they would have to travel by night anyway, Grandpa decided to leave the oxcart here and take Xiao Man for a stroll down the main street. It counted as a trip into the city, and at the very least, she could learn her way around. As Grandma would say, it was time to let Xiao Man "broaden her horizons."
Grandpa slung the large bundle onto his back, and Xiao Man stuck close by his side. As they walked, Grandpa pointed things out for her, and she carefully committed the route to memory. Before long, they reached the Workers’ Cultural Hall.
Grandpa pointed to the Workers’ Cultural Hall, explaining that inside there was a park, a three-story building where the city’s workers went for cultural studies, and a movie theater. He said the park was large and fun to explore. People with work permits could go in for free, but people like them had to buy a ticket.
Hearing that they’d have to buy a ticket, Xiao Man pulled Grandpa away.
Fifty meters further, they saw a four-story building. Grandpa smiled and said, "This is the department store. Let’s go take a look. Whatever you want to buy, Xiao Man, Grandpa will get it for you!"
Xiao Man glanced around. In this era, there were no idle hands, and city folk relied on their jobs to get by, so the streets were nearly empty. She wasn’t worried about being overheard. Xiao Man asked:
"Grandpa, how much money did we get for selling those herbs?"
"Hey, a kid like you shouldn’t be asking about such things."
"I just want to know! What’s wrong with telling me?"
Resigned, Grandpa glanced from side to side before whispering, "Including the two hundred and some from last time that we hadn’t been paid for yet, the total comes to seven hundred and fifty-eight yuan. I’ve bundled up seven hundred and set aside fifty-eight. That’s more than enough for you to buy a few things, but keep it quiet!"
"Oh, seven hundred... When we get back, are you giving it all to Grandma to hold onto?"
"Er... yes!"
"Liar! You already promised to lend Ahua two hundred yuan!"
Grandpa froze. "You little rascal! How did you know?"
Xiao Man said, "I was right behind the door. I heard everything! And Liang Xiaoju was with me—she heard it too! Grandpa, what if Liang Xiaoju goes back and tells her grandma? Her grandma will probably come running to borrow money, too!"
Grandpa’s face scrunched up. "She already has. The last time I took Xiaoju home, your Great-Aunt said she wanted two hundred yuan, too!"
"And you agreed, Grandpa?"
"I didn’t agree to two hundred. Your Great-Aunt said your younger cousin just gave birth, but her in-laws didn’t look after her properly during her postpartum confinement, so her health is suffering. She needs better nutrition and asked me for fifty yuan to buy chicken, eggs, a few pounds of brown sugar, and things like that. We were at her village entrance, and she was making such an embarrassing scene, grabbing at me... I had no choice but to agree."
"Don’t give it to her, even if you promised! So what if your cousin is unwell and needs nutrition? Grandma’s eyesight is failing, and she needs surgery! You’ve been scraping money together for ages and it’s still not enough. Who’s going to chip in a little extra to fix Grandma’s eyes?"
Grandpa sighed, his face wrinkling as if he’d aged several years in an instant.
Xiao Man tugged his sleeve. "Grandpa," she coaxed, "there’s a saying, ’speak human to humans, and ghost to ghosts.’ I think it’s true. If you try to talk to a ghost like it’s a person, it won’t understand, right? Keeping your word with someone heartless is a waste of your good faith! Great-Aunt is a heartless person. She knows perfectly well that Grandma’s eyesight is poor and what you’ve been working so hard to save money for, but she still tries to take it from you. She’s unreasonable and inconsiderate, so we don’t have to be honorable with her. Don’t give her the money!"
"I don’t want to give it to her either," Grandpa said. "But your Great-Aunt is an expert at causing trouble. I’m afraid your Grandma wouldn’t be able to handle her."
"Don’t worry! Our courtyard gate is sturdy. If she comes asking for money, we’ll just shut her out! And Grandpa, don’t you forget! You still have to pay back the three hundred yuan to the team headquarters. You signed an IOU!"
Grandpa’s expression grew solemn. "Yikes, you’re right! I still have to pay back three hundred there. I’d completely forgotten about that! After paying off all these things, there won’t be much left at all! That fifty yuan your Great-Aunt wants... I’m not giving it to her!"
"And Ahua..."
"That was promised a long time ago. We have to give her that! Xiao Man, this is a debt of gratitude your grandma and I must repay. Mrs. Zhiping... her family used to own land; they were better off than most. During the years I was away from home, she helped look after my parents. When my mother passed away, she was only wrapped in a reed mat. It was Mrs. Zhiping who rushed over and bought a simple coffin and a set of burial clothes so my mother could be laid to rest with dignity... It’s true she followed your great-aunt’s lead and caused some trouble for your grandma for a while, but she doesn’t have a bad heart. Your grandma doesn’t blame her."
Xiao Man nodded obediently. "I don’t know about what happened back then, so I’ll listen to what Grandpa and Grandma say!"
Grandpa smiled and patted the back of her head. "Come on, let’s go into the department store and broaden your horizons!"
The two of them wandered through the department store, from the first floor to the third. When they came out, Xiao Man was wearing a new, grass-green canvas satchel. Grandpa said it could serve as her schoolbag. Other families had sewing machines and could make pretty, floral-print book bags for their daughters, but their family couldn’t afford that right now, so a store-bought one would have to do.
The satchel was stuffed full. Inside was a wide variety of things, all for Xiao Man. There were a few stationery items, and the rest were hair clips, hairnets, wire headbands, and colorful, shiny ribbons... There was also a string of small trinkets woven from clear plastic filament, shaped like shrimp, little fish, butterflies, and dragonflies. They were the kind of cheap charms you’d normally find on a keychain, but they were bright, pretty, and cute. In a world awash in shades of blue, black, and gray, these little ornaments were a source of vibrant daydreams.
In her past life, Xiao Man had always been envious of people who had cute little charms like these hanging from their keychains, but she’d never had the chance to own one herself.
Now, Grandpa had bought her a whole string of six, letting her do with them as she pleased!
Xiao Man bought five or six of the colorful, shiny ribbons. She didn’t necessarily intend to wear them all herself; she wanted to give some to her friends as gifts.
The satchel also held three new toothbrushes and a tube of toothpaste. At eleven years old, Xiao Man still didn’t have her own toothbrush; she just rinsed her mouth with warm water each day. Grandpa and Grandma had brushes, but theirs were ridiculously worn out, so when Xiao Man suggested buying new ones, Grandpa agreed at once.
There were two three-cell flashlights. Grandpa said they’d keep one for their family and give the other to Uncle Man Cang. It would be more convenient for him when he went to check his fish traps by the river at night, saving him from having to use a smoky, fiery torch that also made for a big, obvious target.
Uncle Man Cang’s family was in a difficult situation. He had to support his two elderly parents and four school-aged children, and his wife had been ill and bedridden for many years. Life was very hard for him.
