Chapter 8: The Water Flows, Yet the Canal Remains Unfinished (Part 4)
The dishes were excellent, possessing color, aroma, and taste in perfect harmony—far superior to anything served at Shazhou College. The rice was also top quality, authentic Northeastern grain that released a rich fragrance with every bite. Yet, for Hou Weidong, who had eaten plain white rice for twenty-two years, this was the most uncomfortable meal he had ever endured.
Chen Qingrong finished her bowl in just a few bites, slammed it onto the table, and walked into the living room to watch television. Shortly after, Zhang Yuanzheng followed suit, setting his bowl down with a similar thud and joining her on the sofa.
Hou Weidong had never been treated this way in his life. A faint anger rose within him, mixed with a sense of dejection. He forced himself to suppress his emotions, slowly accompanying Xiaojia through the meal. He now understood the true meaning of the phrase "tasting like chewing wax."
Xiaojia had once mentioned that her mother held absolute authority in the household. As a daughter, she had almost no memory of acting spoiled or seeking affection from Chen Qingrong. Hou Weidong had been skeptical then, but seeing the scene unfold today, he began to believe it.
Hou Weidong was the second son and the youngest child in his family. When his father was working far away in Guangdong, his mother raised both brothers alone in Kangding. Naturally, his bond with her was exceptionally close. As the youngest, he benefited from the old saying: "Emperors favor their eldest sons, but commoners dote on their youngest." Although his mother tried to treat both sons equally, she harbored a subtle, special affection for her mischievous youngest son. Because of this indulgence, Hou Weidong was far more unruly than his older brother. He often clashed with his mother, sometimes even driving her to tears.
According to his mother’s philosophy, "You can beat a domestic chicken until it spins in circles, but a wild chicken will fly away into the sky." Since he was the youngest, he fell into the category of the domestic chicken. No matter how much they argued or sulked, the conflict would last only half a day. Soon, mother and son would reconcile as if nothing had happened, leaving no trace of the previous discord.
Hou Weidong simply could not comprehend the relationship between Xiaojia and her mother.
Taking advantage of her parents’ absence from the table, Xiaojia tenderly placed a plump chicken leg on Hou Weidong’s plate. The skin of the leg gleamed with an inviting golden hue, and a few drops of rich broth slid down its smooth surface. However, the aroma of the chicken leg could not overcome the awkward atmosphere filling the room. Hou Weidong forced himself to swallow the delicacy, then sat at the table, watching Xiaojia eat with a gentle expression.
The living room was barely large enough to stand in. If one did not sit at the dining table, the only option was the sofa beside it. Hou Weidong had no choice but to wait for Xiaojia.
Just as Xiaojia began to clear the dishes, Chen Qingrong stood up and walked to the dining table. She looked sternly at the remaining food and said, "Come to the inner room. I have something to say to you."
The time for the final confrontation had arrived. Xiaojia’s heart pounded wildly. Chen Qingrong, her face devoid of expression, told her, "Go wash the dishes. Do not come over."
As Hou Weidong followed Chen Qingrong into the inner room, he took a deep breath. "What must come will come. Even if I die, my testicles face the sky; why should I fear anything?"
"Even if I die, my testicles face the sky; why should I fear anything?" This was a crude catchphrase often used by Jiang Dali in their dormitory. True to his name, Jiang Dali was the most bold and reckless character among them, often making startling moves. For instance, to earn money, he had rented a one-hundred-square-meter apartment off-campus for three hundred yuan a month. Using his silver tongue, he had persuaded the landlord to accept payment at the end of each month. He then rented a VCD player and a twenty-one-inch television from a small karaoke hall downstairs, using them only in the mornings and returning them in the afternoon.
Once the apartment and equipment were ready, Jiang Dali spread rumors through his network of friends that there was a private screening room for adult films nearby. As expected, the business boomed. Every morning, more than twenty students with free periods or skipping class would come to watch the videos, paying three yuan each. This brought Jiang Dali an income of seventy to eighty yuan daily. However, guarding the venue in the mornings caused him to miss too many classes. Consequently, Chen Shu and a chubby student from the neighboring dorm joined Jiang Dali’s team. The three of them took turns monitoring the screenings, splitting the profits in a 6-2-2 ratio after deducting rent, utilities, and equipment fees. Jiang Dali took sixty percent, while Chen Shu and the chubby student each took twenty percent.
By the end of the month, Jiang Dali had earned fifteen hundred yuan, while Chen Shu and the chubby student each received five hundred. For students who only needed one hundred yuan a month for living expenses, this was undoubtedly a fortune.
Two months later, the underground screening room was finally discovered by the university’s Security Department. They planned to catch the operators in the act, but Hou Weidong, the deputy captain of the campus discipline patrol, accidentally overheard their plan. Out of loyalty to his dormitory brother, he quietly tipped off Jiang Dali. Director Hu of the Security Department waited in ambush several times, only to come up empty-handed. This left the "Sherlocks" of the Security Department frustrated for a long time.
Hou Weidong was closest to Jiang Dali, and he had picked up Jiang’s catchphrase. Whenever he faced difficulties, he liked to use "Even if I die, my testicles face the sky" to boost his morale.
Chen Qingrong sat in the inner room, her back to the window, which made her facial expression appear even gloomier. The room was small, leaving Hou Weidong no choice but to sit opposite her. Strong sunlight pierced through the half-drawn curtains, shining directly on Hou Weidong. Instinctively, he shifted his chair back to avoid the beam of light.
Chen Qingrong’s voice was slightly hoarse. She asked calmly, "Where have you been assigned after graduation?" In truth, Xiaojia had already briefed her on the key points when she entered the room, but sometimes such questions were asked simply to go through the motions.
Hou Weidong knew the interrogation had officially begun. As long as she was asking questions, there was still hope. Clinging to this slender thread of possibility, he answered honestly, "I passed the civil service examination for Yiyang County. I am not yet sure of my specific work location."
Chen Qingrong thought to herself, "Even if he is a state cadre, what good is that in Yiyang County?" Her expression remained unchanged as she asked, "What do your parents do?"
"My father works at the Wu Hai County Public Security Bureau. My mother is a primary school teacher. I also have an older brother who works at the Wu Hai County Public Security Bureau."
Wu Hai County and Yiyang County were at the same administrative level, both under the jurisdiction of Shazhou City. Chen Qingrong had visited Wu Hai County and had a slightly better impression of it than Yiyang. She said, "The conditions in Wu Hai County are acceptable. Why didn’t you go back there?"
"This year, Yiyang County wanted to select a batch of students from our college to fill positions in the townships. They said it was for training, with the promise of transferring to the county office after a few years. I thought this was an opportunity, so I took the Yiyang County exam."
Chen Qingrong was satisfied with Hou Weidong’s family background. With more and more enterprises undergoing restructuring or bankruptcy, the "iron rice bowl" had been shattered. A friend of hers, whose entire family worked at a furniture factory, was now struggling to make ends meet after the factory went bankrupt. Thinking of this, her gaze toward Hou Weidong softened slightly. However, she then remembered the three-plus-hour journey from Yiyang County to Shazhou City, and she hid that trace of warmth, her facial expression hardening like a walnut shell once more.
"Xiaojia will work at the Shazhou Landscaping Bureau. If you work in a township in Yiyang, you will inevitably face a long-distance separation. Household registration in Shazhou is strictly controlled. My husband and I both work in enterprises and do not have the ability to help you transfer. Your father is in the Public Security Bureau; surely he has some connections. Is there a way to transfer you to Shazhou?"
Hou Weidong thought for a moment and said, "My father works at the Dongyang Town police station and is nearing retirement. He does not have the power to transfer me to Shazhou. Moreover, when I took the Yiyang exam, I signed a responsibility agreement with the county government, requiring me to serve for five years before being allowed to transfer." Regarding the last point, Hou Weidong did not tell the whole truth. He had not actually signed such an agreement. Since graduating, his ambitions had been sky-high, and he wanted to develop his career properly. Although being assigned to a township seemed modest, the potential for growth was significant. Deep down, he was unwilling to give up this opportunity.
Chen Qingrong’s expression darkened. She said, "We do not wish to interfere too much in young people’s affairs. However, we have only one daughter, and we want her to stay by our side. I believe you can understand this."
"I understand."
"My husband and I have been separated for many years. When Xiaojia was young, we had to leave her with her grandparents. It was only after much hardship that we were reunited. We do not want Xiaojia to endure a life of separation again. Furthermore, the conditions in Shazhou are far better than in Yiyang or Wu Hai. We will not agree to let Xiaojia leave Shazhou. You are a university graduate, an intellectual. We hope you can empathize with the difficulties of parents."
Hou Weidong understood the implication. He said with some difficulty, "Auntie, does this mean you do not approve of us being together?"
Seeing the pain on Hou Weidong’s face, Chen Qingrong spoke tactfully, "We have no objection to you personally, and we respect the feelings between you two. However, you have now left school and are adults. You must consider realistic issues."
Hou Weidong lowered his head and remained silent.
Chen Qingrong had previously read the letters Hou Weidong had written to Xiaojia. They contained descriptions of fights, which had given her a terrible first impression of him. However, meeting him in person, she found him quite polite. His appearance matched Xiaojia’s, and his physique was good. Judging him purely as an individual, she could find no major faults. Yet, she hardened her heart and intensified her tone, saying, "If you truly love Xiaojia, you must ensure her happiness. I hope you have the responsibility of a man. Cut the Gordian knot quickly and break up with Xiaojia."
Hou Weidong had anticipated this situation. However, when the words were finally spoken plainly, it felt as though his heart, liver, and lungs were being crushed by a giant hand. He could not speak for a long time. Finally, he said, "My mind is very confused right now. I cannot give a clear answer. Please, Auntie Chen, give me some time."