Era: Rise from the Wilderness

Back in my familiar little courtyard, the light in the main room was still on.

Pushing open the door, I found my mother, He Ling, was indeed awake, sitting in an old rattan chair knitting a sweater in the dim light of a 15-watt bulb.

Hearing the door open, she immediately looked up, her knitting needles stopping in her hand.

"You're back?"

"How is it?"

"Did it go smoothly?"

"So late?"

She asked a series of questions, her eyes sweeping across the father and son's faces with a barely perceptible worry.

"We brought it back and put it in the store. It's fine."

Li Hongfeng changed out of his coat, which reeked of alcohol and dust, a relaxed smile on his face after completing his task. He tried to keep his tone light, "It was that kid Ma Youcai who tried to raise the price at the last minute, dragging his feet for ages."

"Luckily, Lao Liu and Lao Wang were there, and they didn't succeed. In the end, they still managed to get it back as agreed."

He omitted all the confrontations, threats, and the fleeting snapback, simplifying the process to a successful "negotiation."

Finally, he added, "Old Liu and Old Wang have been running around doing all this work, so I treated them to a simple meal at 'Siji Chun' as a way of thanking them."

"When you have time another day, make some dumplings and invite them over for a visit."

Upon hearing this, He Ling's worried expression faded, she patted her chest, and let out a long sigh of relief: "It's good that you've brought it back!"

"I've been thinking about you so much."

"I really should thank them properly. I'll buy more meat next time and make some three-delicacy filling!"

She didn't ask any more questions and turned to fetch water.

The main room fell silent, with only the sound of running water coming from the kitchen.

Li Yunjing and his father exchanged a glance, neither of them mentioning Ma Youcai's resentful face or the potential trouble that might follow.

Some things, like undercurrents in deep water, only exist in a man's silence and the exchange of glances.

They didn't want their mothers (wives) to worry about this kind of thing. Men should handle their own affairs. As for Ma Youcai's revenge?

When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it!

Just do it!

Once they arrived in town, it was their own small plot of land. Needless to say, not only did they have connections with their father, but the four families living in the courtyard were also not to be trifled with.

If you go to borrow money, your neighbor will definitely tell you that you don't have any!

If some outsiders come and bully people, do you think your neighbors will step in?

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, the rooster in the courtyard crowed loudly, each crow louder than the last.

Li Hongfeng and He Ling quietly got out of bed.

Soon, the kitchen was filled with the sounds of boiling water and chopping vegetables, and the air was filled with the aroma of scallions being sautéed.

Today we have important business to attend to; my parents are going to the ice cream factory in town to buy supplies.

The freezer is already in place, and that "big block of ice" can't be empty; it has to be filled with colorful popsicles and ice cream, waiting for the students' pockets to jingle with coins after school starts.

He Ling took this matter very seriously.

The ice cream factory was where she worked in her early years. Later, the factory's profits declined, and like many of her coworkers, she received a meager compensation and went home.

Now, as a "convenience store owner," I'm going back to buy supplies. My feelings are mixed. There's a sense of triumphant anticipation, but also a touch of melancholy at the desolate state of my old workplace.

Li Hongfeng's bread truck still had mud splatters on it from yesterday's hauling of the freezer.

The couple folded down the back seats of the truck, emptied the cargo area, and prepared it for loading goods.

"Yun Jing, I left you some porridge, steamed buns, and pickled vegetables in the pot. Heat them up and eat them yourself."

As He Ling put on a slightly worn but clean floral shirt, she told her son, who had just stepped out of the room, "Your dad and I are going to the ice cream factory. We probably won't be back until noon. Make do with whatever you have."

"Okay, Mom."

Li Yunjing agreed, filled a basin with cool tap water, and began brushing his teeth and washing his face.

The cool water splashed on my face, dispelling the last trace of sleepiness.

He looked up and watched his parents start the car, carefully back the van out of the narrow gate, and then drive along the misty dirt road toward the east end of town, quickly disappearing into the gray-white fog.

The courtyard has returned to its quiet state.

Only the rooster paced along the wall, and the morning news broadcast from the radio next door whirred and crackled.

Li Yunjing ate breakfast hastily and washed the dishes.

Instead of flipping through the newspaper or pondering his "business strategy" as usual, he went back to his room and pulled the heavy canvas backpack out from under his bed.

Inside the schoolbag, neatly wrapped treasury bonds, a few rusty "Yuan Shikai silver dollars," a small string of copper coins, and other scattered "old objects" lay quietly.

He gently touched it, feeling the cool texture of the paper and metal.

I'm going to Bincheng tomorrow.

But today he has to see Lü Ruoxi first.

Yesterday, due to an unexpected situation at home, I stood someone up, and I have to give an explanation.

Furthermore, the details regarding tomorrow's departure also need to be finalized in person.

He changed into a clean white crew-neck t-shirt and ordinary blue sweatpants, and carefully hid his canvas backpack under the bed.

Before leaving, he looked at himself in the mirror on the wall.

The boy in the mirror had clear, bright eyes, and a bit of green stubble on his chin.

He took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and went out.

On a July morning, before the fog had completely dissipated, the sunlight struggled to penetrate, gilding the rooftops and treetops of the town with a pale gold hue.

The streets gradually filled with pedestrians, the crisp sound of bicycle bells, the sizzling of oil in the breakfast stalls, and the air filled with the aroma of fried cakes, soy milk, and the dust of freshly swept streets.

Li Yunjing rode his bicycle through the familiar streets.

It was 8:30 a.m. when we finally arrived at the newly built residential building where Lü Ruoxi's family lived.

He went downstairs, parked his car, and looked up at the window on the third floor with pink curtains hanging on it.

The curtains were drawn, and all was quiet.

At this time, her parents should have already gone to work.

He didn't go upstairs directly, but stood under the old locust tree in front of the building for a while.

The trees provided dense shade, and the ground was covered with scattered locust blossoms.

Several elderly women who were out for an early morning stroll passed by carrying shopping baskets and glanced at him curiously.

He only stepped into the stairwell when he felt it was about time and guessed that Lü Ruoxi should have gotten up.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

The hallway was very clean. I walked up to the dark brown security door on the third floor, raised my hand, and gently knocked on the door.

"Who is it?"

A clear, yet slightly wary voice came from inside.

It seems she took Li Yunjing's advice about "safety" to heart.

"I am Li Yunjing."

The door opened quickly.

Lu Ruoxi appeared at the door. Today she was wearing a light pink cotton dress, her hair was loosely tied back, and her face still had the sleepiness of someone who had just woken up, but her eyes were bright and sparkling.

"Why are you here?"

She was a little surprised and stepped aside to let him in. "Come in quickly."

Stepping into this clean and bright space, so different from his own courtyard, Li Yunjing still felt somewhat uneasy.