Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 1109 Sudden Change in the Fei Family
In the private room on the second floor of Fengzeyuan, most of the people sitting there were classmates from the Fifth Middle School. Wang Zhan knew some of them and there was no awkwardness when they met. Others were familiar faces but he hadn't had much contact with them. Fei Qing must have invited people who were close to him, and Wang Zhan treated them warmly out of respect for Fei Qing.

After chatting with Wang Zhan for a while, Yu Fei couldn't wait to run over to Xu Damao. When Xu Damao saw Wang Zhan looking over, he smiled at him. Wang Zhan was quite puzzled because he remembered that Xu Damao should only be two or three years younger than Sha Zhu, so he should be twenty-one or twenty-two this year, while Yu Fei was only seventeen. How did these two get together?

Wang Zhan couldn't help but lower his voice and ask Xiao Si next to him. Xiao Si said that he hadn't seen Yu Fei for a long time. However, since Xu Damao was able to come, he must know Fei Qing. It shouldn't be that Yu Fei brought him.

Wang Zhan decided to put it aside for the time being and ask Fei Qing when he had time. Xiao Si poured Wang Zhan a glass of wine, and Wang Zhan started drinking with everyone else. After a while, Fei Qing returned from another private room and saw Wang Zhan as soon as he entered. Fei Qing walked over to Wang Zhan, who seemed very agitated. Wang Zhan instinctively stood up, and Fei Qing hugged him tightly and burst into tears. Wang Zhan was completely bewildered. What was going on? Could someone explain it to him?

Wang Zhan looked around and finally focused his gaze on Fei Lanlan. It turned out that Fei Lanlan had seen her brother crying so sadly that she had also buried her face in the little girl next to her and started crying too.

The meal was ruined by the brother and sister's tearful outburst. When the people in the next private room found out what was going on, they ended the drinking session, put their money and tickets under their glasses, and then quietly left.

The students and friends in the private room also stood up and came over to comfort the brother and sister. Even Wang Li's eyes reddened when she saw Fei Lanlan crying, and she handed her her handkerchief.

Wang Zhan knew that now was not the time to ask questions. Fei Qing had seen him and found an outlet for his emotions, which was why he lost his composure. Wang Zhan said to the others, "I'm sorry, everyone. Fei Qing has had a bit too much to drink. I'll take them home first. I've spoiled the fun for everyone today. Let's get together another day."

Wang Zhan was extremely anxious. He desperately wanted to know what was wrong with Fei Qing, what had happened, and why he was celebrating his enlistment in the army so grandly. Only now did Wang Zhan realize that this was very unusual and not Fei Qing's usual style.

The drinking party started and ended hastily. After leaving Fengzeyuan, Wang Zhan and his sister, along with Fei Qing and his sister, and Xiao Si and Fei Lanlan's friend, returned to No. 47 Yu'er Hutong.

Fei Qing kept his head down and didn't speak the whole way, but he looked like he was in a really bad state. Xiao Si would ask him a few questions from time to time, and he would just answer with "uh-huh" or "yeah". It was hard to tell what he was thinking.

Wang Zhan opened the gate and let everyone in, leading them directly to the main room in the backyard. Wang Li took off her coat and went to her room to bring out various snacks and fruits to entertain the two newly acquainted sisters. The other girl was from the same compound as him. The girl's father and the father of the Fei siblings were not only comrades-in-arms but also classmates at the military academy in the south, and even in the same class. The girl's name was Cheng Xue.

Wang Zhan looked at Fei Qing and said, "Let's go, come with me to the study for a while. Xiao Si, do you want to play with your three younger sisters, or come to the study with us?"

Xiao Si glared at him and said, "What are you talking about? How can I not go? You, Wang Zhan, have you started to look down on me after just a few days?"

"Just kidding, what's the rush? Life needs some fun too," Wang Zhan joked.

The three men, carrying teapots and teaware, along with two thermos flasks, left the main room. Fei Qing kept his head down and remained silent. Wang Zhan teased, "Where did that spirited, unruly, and shrewd Fei go? How did he suddenly become like Lin Daiyu, only knowing how to bow his head and weep?" Xiao Si felt that Wang Zhan's words were a bit harsh, so he nudged Fei Qing in the ribs. Fei Qing still kept his head down and then said, "My family is finished."

Wang Zhan and Xiao Si were both shocked. If someone else had said this, they might have thought it was a joke or an exaggeration, especially Xiao Wu. But if Fei Qing said it, it meant that Fei Qing's family had undergone a huge change and there was no turning back. They knew Fei Qing too well. He never spoke of uncertain things. Even when he discussed his thoughts with his brothers, it was always after careful consideration and never without reason.

Xiao Si knew that Wang Zhan was the backbone of the group, and they always asked for his opinion first. So as soon as Xiao Si entered the room, he started pouring tea for the three of them, adjusting the stove to warm up the study. Wang Zhan and Xiao Si had already sat down facing each other.

Wang Zhan didn't waste any words and asked directly, "Xiao Fei, we've been friends for a long time, we know each other well. What happened to you? Why didn't you contact us? Or do you not consider us friends?"

Fei Qing shook his head and said, "Don't mention it. Things happened very suddenly. This is not something we can solve. It's a problem between my dad and mom. Asking you will only cause you more trouble, and there's nothing I can do. Besides, I don't have time. Things happened very suddenly, and it was settled in just a few days. I could only watch it happen and was powerless to do anything about it."

Wang Zhan was getting anxious. "You've been talking for so long, what exactly happened? Just tell me!" Wang Zhan urged Fei Qing. Fei Qing hesitated. Xiao Si said from the side, "Do you even consider us your brothers?"

Fei Qing looked up at Xiao Si before recounting what had happened.

It turns out that Fei Qing's father had defected to the army. Because he had been working in the flight squadron, the leaders of the unit here valued him highly and entrusted him with important responsibilities. Fei Qing's father lived up to expectations, made many meritorious contributions, and contributed everything he had to the cause of liberation. Logically speaking, Fei Qing's father was now in a high position and should be enjoying a smooth life.

Unexpectedly, an accident changed the life of this family. In the autumn of 1959, when the famine first appeared and spread rapidly, a fire broke out, causing great damage to the base. The person directly responsible for the base was Fei Qing's father, and his responsibility was beyond doubt.

Isn't it a coincidence that Fei Qing's father was the direct commander of the flight squadron to which those two idiots belonged? Even so, the higher-ups have always been lenient towards those involved in this incident, intending to hold the directly responsible person accountable and have other personnel punished according to their different levels.

But it's not that good things are inevitable, it's that bad people are inevitable. A ground crew director jumped out and directly reported that Fei Qing's father had a problematic past, which immediately put Fei Qing's father in the spotlight.

That's how it is. When you become the target of everyone's criticism, your fate is no longer in your own hands. In just a few days, the matter was resolved. Fei Qing's father and mother were both transferred. Of course, the higher-ups didn't completely reject them. Considering their merits, they specially agreed to let Fei Qing join the army without being given special treatment. However, the rest of Fei's family members were to be sent down to the countryside. Fei Qing's father was a scholar who only had one request: that his work for the rest of his life be related to his profession. So, his family was sent down to Sichuan and Chongqing because there was a manufacturing plant there.

(End of this chapter)