Journey 1995:Non-Stop

Chapter 56 Mistake
On January 1, 1996, New Year's Day, it snowed heavily and the temperature was minus 13 degrees Celsius.

Yan Hui was alone in the hut, burning a charcoal brazier, but still felt freezing cold.

I used to hear migrant workers say that in the north, "it's not cold when it snows, but it's cold when the snow melts." It wasn't until I came to Northeast China that I realized this wasn't true. Once winter arrives in Northeast China, it's just as cold even when it snows.

Tuk-tuk-tuk.
Hearing someone knocking on the door, Yan Hui stood up, opened the door, and saw Lao Guo standing at the door.

Ever since Lao Guo got into trouble last time, he has been under house arrest by his father and was only released recently.

"Come in, it's too cold outside." Yan Hui pulled Lao Guo into the room and closed the door.

There was only a little warmth in the room. If it dissipated, I didn't know how long it would take for the temperature to return to zero.

"You're reluctant to put wood in the charcoal brazier? Why is the room still so cold?" Old Guo found a wooden stake to sit on and casually put a few pieces of wood into the charcoal brazier.

"Let's make do with it. With so many stores closed now, it's hard to get rid of the wood."

"It's a pity that my family deals in rosewood," Old Guo sighed, "But, Old Song should have quite a lot, right?"

"I can't keep going there to get them, and I don't want to buy them." You can pick up some wood chips in the market, but Yan Hui is reluctant to buy them.

"Your room is too cold, why don't you come and squeeze in with me at night.

"I have an electric blanket and the bed is fine, but I won't go there." It's not that Yan Hui has never slept at Lao Guo's place, the problem is that Lao Guo's place is too crowded. The last time he went there, he was squeezed to the ground.

"Okay, I'm finally free these days. By the way, when are you planning on going back? Didn't you say you were leaving at the end of last month?"

"I earned a few hundred yuan in December, so I don't have much to do if I go home. I think I'll leave in a few days. It's too late for the New Year this year."

"Row"

The two were chatting when someone knocked on the door again.

"Who is it? Old Song?" Old Guo said, opening the door, and it turned out to be his fourth uncle standing outside.

"Hello, Uncle Yan," Old Guo stepped forward and made room for Yan Zhihang.

"Xiao Guo, you're here too," Fourth Uncle nodded, then pointed at Yan Hui expressionlessly, "When are you going back home?"

"Huh?" Yan Hui was stunned. "I haven't made a plan yet. Probably around mid-January."

"Then why did you tell your aunt that you would be back in mid-to-late December? Also, why didn't you come and tell me?" Fourth Uncle sounded a little unhappy.

"I" Yan Hui suddenly didn't know how to explain what his fourth uncle said, so he could only ask, "Uncle, what's wrong? What happened?"

"At the beginning of last month, you came to tell your fourth aunt that you would be back home in a dozen days, and your fourth aunt also told me. I haven't seen you recently and thought you had left. Today is New Year's Day, and I called home and asked if you had gone home. As a result, my father said you hadn't gone back, and my father scolded me. I didn't know how to respond." Fourth Uncle said it directly.

"Ah, I went there around December 10th, but my aunt was busy, so I didn't tell her. I..." Yan Hui suddenly didn't know how to explain.

"Are you planning to go back in the middle of this month? Remember to tell me before you go!" Fourth Uncle said this, turned around and walked away in the snow. Yan Hui looked at Fourth Uncle's back, wanting to say something, but couldn't utter a word.

He hadn't been working with his fourth uncle since he left. Over the past year, he'd gotten used to checking in with his second brother. At the beginning of last month, he'd visited his fourth uncle and said he'd be leaving in a few days. But then he realized the Chinese New Year wasn't going to be until a long time, so he decided to delay his departure by a month. He'd gone to his fourth uncle's place once, but his fourth aunt hadn't been available to talk to him. After that, Yan Hui hadn't been there for over half a month.

Judging from Fourth Uncle's expression, Grandpa must have scolded him for not caring about him.
"Your fourth uncle really doesn't care about you. He spends every other day with Brother Shan. You and Brother Shan live in the same yard. If he shows any concern or talks to Brother Shan about you, he knows that you are still here." Old Guo knew the whole story.

Actually, Lao Guo hadn't noticed that the Chinese New Year was a month later this year, so he prepared things to take home in advance. Fortunately, most of the things he prepared were long-lasting items such as cigarettes, alcohol, sugar, and tea.

"Don't blame him for this, blame me. I used to go there every now and then, but since I decided not to write letters recently, I haven't thought about it. I used to write at least four or five letters every month, but now I'm preparing to go home, so I didn't write and forgot about it." Yan Hui felt a little guilty.

"I can't say much about your family, but I think your uncle is being unkind. Your room is so cold! He just gave you an electric blanket and thought everything would be fine?"

"It's good to have a place to stay," Yan Hui stood up. "Old Guo, you go back first. I'm going to visit my uncle."

"Why are you going there now? Won't you get scolded if you go there? If my dad shows any signs of scolding me, I always hide in advance." Lao Guo was a little puzzled.

"That's your dad."

"Your uncle is the same. Besides, what can you do there now? There's no point in explaining a lot. Going there will only get you scolded."

"I'm just going there to get scolded. My uncle probably hasn't gotten over his anger yet, and it's inconvenient for him if you're here." Yan Hui finished speaking and nodded. "Then I'll go over first and come play with you later. It's warmer over there."

"Okay, you have your ideas. By the way, I came here to give you a gift." As he said that, Lao Guo took out two small red cloth bags from his pocket. There was the word "Fu" written on them, and the fabric looked pretty good.

"What is this?" Yan Hui took it.

When I opened it, I saw a wooden peace locket inside. The workmanship was not complicated, but the quality was very good.

"What is this?" Yan Hui suddenly thought of something. "Is this made on the mountain?"

"The two apprentices my dad sent over here already have some basic carving skills. They learned this in the mountains. This is carved from agarwood, and it's not cheap. My dad always uses it as a gift for distinguished guests." Old Guo pointed at the wooden buckle and said, "Smell it."

This peace locket is very small, about 4 cm in diameter, but it smells good and feels comfortable to touch.

After Yan Hui finished smelling it, he nodded with satisfaction: "Not bad, Lao Guo, you are bleeding heavily this time."

"We're on good terms!" Old Guo laughed. He'd apparently later learned from Old Song that Yan Hui had paid to "redeem" him. He knew that if Yan Hui hadn't mentioned it, there was no point in giving him the money. It would be better to exchange gifts and strengthen their friendship.

"How to give it to us?"

"Don't you have a sister? Give her one when you go back."

"Okay, thanks!" Yan Hui put both bags into his pocket and pointed outside. "Then I'll go to my uncle's place first. I'll come find you when I'm done."

(End of this chapter)