Chapter 9: The Water Flows, But the Canal Remains Unfinished (5)
While Chen Qingrong was laying her cards on the table with Hou Weidong, Zhang Yuanzheng sat on the sofa, lighting a cigarette and smoking it slowly. Xiaojia, her heart heavy with worry, had already tidied up the living room. She sat in front of the television, picking up the remote control and flipping through channels aimlessly.
"Stop changing channels. Just watch the NBA. Give me the remote." Zhang Yuanzheng noticed the NBA broadcast on the screen and suddenly remembered there was a Bulls game today. Because Hou Weidong had arrived uninvited, disrupting the peace of their home, he had even forgotten about the most exciting match of the day.
According to their temporary division of labor, Chen Qingrong was to confront Hou Weidong, while Zhang Yuanzheng was responsible for doing ideological work with their daughter, Xiaojia. However, the moment Michael Jordan’s figure appeared on the screen, Zhang Yuanzheng was immediately captivated. Although he was fifty years old, he had an astonishing obsession with the NBA. Whenever there was a key game, he would even swap shifts to stay home and watch. At this moment, he watched the game with great enthusiasm, completely forgetting his duty to educate his daughter.
In the inner room, Chen Qingrong had made her stance clear, but Hou Weidong refused to give a direct answer. Feeling a slight irritation, she said, "Hou Weidong, I am speaking honestly, and it is for everyone's good. Think it over carefully."
She walked out into the living room and saw Zhang Yuanzheng watching the NBA with great excitement. A surge of nameless anger rose within her.
"Look at you, watching all day. With the NBA, you don't even need a family anymore. Go live your life with the NBA."
Seeing her mother’s displeased expression and glancing at the somewhat dejected Hou Weidong, Xiaojia knew things had definitely fallen apart. Tears flowed down her cheeks uncontrollably, like water from a faucet with a stripped thread.
The living room was originally narrow. With all four of them standing there, the already cramped space felt even more suffocating. Outside, the scorching sun beat down, heating the ground until it was extremely hot. Hot air rose continuously from the ground, forming gusts of warm wind that drifted past the buildings.
A gust of hot wind, seeking an outlet, rushed out from the balcony, hit Hou Weidong, split apart, and then gathered again before rushing out from the other side of the balcony.
Hou Weidong’s back was soaked with sweat, and beads of sweat the size of soybeans covered his forehead. He looked at Xiaojia. Although a thousand different feelings churned in his heart, he could not utter a single word.
On the television, the NBA game was intense, with players trading blows. The commentator’s voice was hoarse from shouting, heightening the atmosphere to a fever pitch. It was the final minute of the game, and it was still uncertain which team would win. Zhang Yuanzheng stared tightly at the screen, his palms sweating from tension. Chen Qingrong crossed her arms. Seeing that her husband ignored her and remained immersed in the game, her anger finally became uncontrollable. She no longer cared about Zhang Yuanzheng’s face; she reached out, took the remote control, and cleanly turned off the television.
Zhang Yuanzheng was in the middle of the excitement when the TV was turned off. He felt as if a hundred cats were scratching at his heart. However, seeing his wife’s unfriendly expression and remembering the major problem facing their family, he dared not say much. He angrily took out a cigarette, preparing to go to the balcony to smoke. Chen Qingrong said coldly, "You, go there."
Zhang Yuanzheng stood frozen beside the sofa, as if Sun Wukong had cast a spell on him, unable to move his feet.
Xiaojia knew her mother Chen Qingrong had a fiery temper. Seeing her treat her father this way, her heart pounded violently. She worried that one careless word might anger her mother, leading to Hou Weidong being driven out of the house.
Hou Weidong’s mood was quite complex at this moment. He cursed silently in his heart, If I die, my balls face the sky; what is there to fear? He took a deep breath, looked directly at Chen Qingrong, and said, "Aunt Chen, I have a few words to say." Through their brief interaction, Hou Weidong had confirmed Xiaojia’s description: the mother was the Section Chief, the father was the Deputy Section Chief, and Xiaojia was merely a clerk. Therefore, he focused his attention entirely on Xiaojia’s mother as he spoke.
As soon as he finished speaking, the Section Chief, the Deputy Section Chief, and the clerk all focused their gaze on Hou Weidong, as if he had come from a giant panda nature reserve.
"Aunt Chen, Uncle Zhang, although you do not agree with Xiaojia and me continuing our relationship, I do not blame you. I understand that you are doing this wholeheartedly for Xiaojia’s sake."
Xiaojia’s face changed suddenly. Her legs went weak, and she nearly sat on the floor. She supported herself with her hand on the sofa, her face pale, listening to Hou Weidong’s final statement. It reminded her of a cross-department speech three years ago, where she had watched a sturdy male student from the Political Science and Law Department make his final statement. That brilliant speech had left the shadow of Hou Weidong in her mind. This time, she had no idea whether this final statement could move the two parents and create a miracle to turn the tide.
At this moment, Hou Weidong’s thinking became exceptionally clear. He continued, "Xiaojia and I have a good relationship. Even if Aunt and Uncle firmly oppose us, I will not give up. With our joint efforts, we will surely have a good future. Please believe in this."
Xiaojia casually took a tissue from the table and wiped away her tears and the snot that was about to run.
Chen Qingrong did not easily soften her stance. She said firmly yet gently, "I believe you have a good future, but the gap between Yiyang and Shazhou is not something one person can bridge. We have been through this, and we look at problems realistically. Please understand this point as well."
Hou Weidong understood that this kind of argument would not solve the problem. He straightened his chest and said, "I have caused you trouble today. I will take my leave."
Xiaojia did not expect things to develop this way. Ignoring her parents’ presence, she grabbed Hou Weidong’s arm, unable to say a word.
Seeing her daughter’s state, Chen Qingrong’s heart softened slightly, but she quickly hardened again. She said to Zhang Yuanzheng, "You accompany him to the station and buy him a ticket."
Hou Weidong politely shook his head and said, "Thank you, Aunt. It is not necessary."
At this moment, Xiaojia’s stubbornness surfaced. She raised her head and said, "I am going with Hou Weidong."
Zhang Yuanzheng widened his eyes and said, "If you dare to leave, you are not allowed to come back."
Hou Weidong remained calm. He said, "Aunt, may I have a few words with Xiaojia?"
Chen Qingrong deliberately kept a cold face and nodded, saying, "You can talk in the inner room."
When Hou Weidong and Xiaojia walked into the inner room, Zhang Yuanzheng whispered, "This young man seems not bad."
Chen Qingrong glanced into the inner room. Seeing that the two had closed the door, she said, "He is more mature than Xiaojia, and his family conditions are also good. If he worked in Shazhou, I would definitely not oppose it. I would even raise both hands in approval."
Zhang Yuanzheng could not resist smoking his cigarette. Chen Qingrong sat on the sofa and said, "You should smoke less. You cough every day."
Seeing that his wife’s opposition was not too severe, Zhang Yuanzheng took two deep puffs. Chen Qingrong frowned and added, "Xiaojia appears gentle on the surface, but when she gets stubborn, ten oxen cannot pull her back. I am afraid she will not break up easily. We need to keep a close eye on her these next few days to prevent any extreme behavior. Also, do not say anything provocative, lest the young people act rashly."
Zhang Yuanzheng was an engineer at the factory, dealing with machines every day. His familiarity with machines far exceeded his understanding of human nature. He usually did not manage household affairs much. He said indifferently, "It is not that serious. We forbid them from seeing each other, and they are so far apart. In a few days, it will naturally fade."
On the sofa, Chen Qingrong’s tough posture finally relaxed. She said, "I am afraid not. Hou Weidong has quite a personality, and Xiaojia is also stubborn. To make them completely cut ties, I do not know how much effort it will take. Old man, this time you must not be a hands-off manager. You need to do more work with Xiaojia."
Inside the inner room, Hou Weidong tightly hugged Xiaojia. The door was not closed, but they blocked it with their bodies, effectively locking it. Hou Weidong kissed Xiaojia wildly, holding her tightly. Xiaojia responded actively. Their tongues intertwined, clinging to each other desperately. Because Xiaojia’s parents were just outside the door and Hou Weidong was about to return to Yiyang, this desperate entanglement felt格外 stimulating.
After a while, Hou Weidong wiped his mouth with his arm. His mouth was full of the taste of Xiaojia’s saliva, a flavor he was deeply fond of and loved.
"Just stay at home. I will talk to them," Xiaojia said, her eyes filled with hope.
"Forget it. Your mother has already issued an eviction order. No matter how thick-skinned I am, I would not feel comfortable staying here." Seeing Xiaojia’s resentful expression, Hou Weidong felt a sting in his heart. He comforted her, saying, "We both need to hold on. The difficulties are temporary. Bread will always come."
Xiaojia raised her head, seeing determination in Hou Weidong’s expression. She said, "I will go to Yiyang with you."
Hou Weidong hugged Xiaojia tightly and said, "You cannot go with me. If you follow me, the relationship will be completely ruined, and there will be no way back. For now, let everyone’s emotions settle down, and then we will plan for the long term."
Hou Weidong kissed Xiaojia hard and then released his hands. Xiaojia whispered, "Hold me for a while longer."
Xiaojia’s expression was somewhat strange. Her eyes held a look of surrender. She whispered in Hou Weidong’s ear, "Swear to me that no matter what happens, you will not leave me."
"I swear. We will always be together."
A glint of spirit flashed in Xiaojia’s eyes. She said, "I want you to never forget me." She slowly knelt down and pulled the zipper of Hou Weidong’s pants with one hand.
Hou Weidong was startled and said, "Xiaojia, what are you doing?"
"I want you to never forget me." Xiaojia’s hand had already reached inside through the zipper.