Chapter 58**

  Early the next morning, Zheng Sen and Daniu went to his grandfather's pce. Heizi had already prepared the stove, and the two of them installed it themselves without needing help. They also tidied up the kitchen, built a cabinet, and installed a table so that meals could be eaten in the kitchen without having to move back and forth.

  The small courtyard looked quite nice after the cleanup. Zheng Sen also arranged for a local woman to come over daily to cook, though only for lunch. In the morning, there was a state-run restaurant at the intersection where people could get breakfast like soy milk and fried dough sticks without needing coupons. Alternatively, he could make porridge at home and buy a couple of meat pies, which wouldn’t cost much in grain coupons. The old man had his own rationed grain and the coupons provided by the family, so it was enough. Lunch could be made in rger portions, and the leftovers could be reheated for dinner. The woman would also help with undry and tidying up the house.

  The woman was very enthusiastic. For five yuan a month and twenty pounds of cornmeal, she was happy to take on the job and didn’t take much time anyway.

  They agreed that she would start after the New Year. With his grandfather settled, Zheng Sen felt relieved, and Heizi also promised to drop by occasionally to check on things.

  On the morning of the 26th, a few of Zheng Sen’s childhood friends came over. Zheng Sen had gone to the supply and marketing cooperative early to buy meat and alcohol for the gathering, which also served as Daniu's introduction to everyone.

  Daniu found the group quite interesting and very talkative.

  After lunch, the group went out for a while and returned with two carpenters, who went to inspect the southern wing of the house.

  "What is this fort?" Daniu asked.

  "The neighborhood committee approached me earlier. I thought since the house can’t stay empty for long, I’d register it with the committee and figure things out ter when we return. When my grandfather passed away, the deed was already transferred. We can leave three main rooms vacant for when we come," Zheng Sen expined.

  Daniu thought about how policies might change in the future, and the house could be recimed. But she pointed to the front and asked, "Then what’s this for?"

  Zheng Sen led Daniu to the backyard. "This is for the paintings you bought." They walked past the main rooms and into the backyard, eventually reaching a storage room that hadn’t been opened in a long time. When they opened it, dust filled the air. Daniu was surprised to find the room filled with furniture.

  "These were the original furnishings from my grandfather’s rooms. I moved them here to prevent others from taking them while I was away."

  Zheng Sen led her to the west side of the room, where there was a staircase. Instead of going upstairs, they went underneath it. There were several rge stones there. Zheng Sen moved the stones and pressed something, revealing an entrance in the floor.

  "Is this a secret room?" Daniu asked, amazed. She had heard that many courtyard houses had underground rooms, but she never expected to see one.

  "This secret room was constructed after my grandfather bought the property. Originally, it was just a row of seven small single-story houses. The basement was built at the same time."

  Zheng Sen took out a fshlight and led the way down. Daniu followed, Be careful." No one came here for a long time.

  The underground area was quite rge, about five meters high with a vaulted ceiling. It was divided into three spacious sections, mostly empty. "Back in the day, we stored some grain here, but nothing else since then."

  "This is much bigger than the space above," Daniu remarked.

  "Yes, the entire four-courtyard house has an empty space underneath," Zheng Sen said as they walked further in. The fshlight’s beam wasn’t very strong, but the underground area, aside from being dusty, wasn’t stuffy.

  Zheng Sen led her to a wall and shone the fshlight on it. He pressed something, and a door suddenly popped open. "There’s a hidden room here." He opened the door, revealing a narrow space about three meters wide and nearly thirty meters long, roughly the width of the courtyard.

  "Earlier, I talked to my friends. Zhao Qian works at the neighborhood supply and marketing cooperative. Their unit is short on space, and you know how busy our area is. Their director has been looking for a pce to use as a warehouse. This works out perfectly. I thought renting it to them would be better than letting the neighborhood committee handle it. The cooperative has already agreed, but they need to open up the southern wing for easier access to move goods in and out."

  Daniu nodded. This was the best solution, as it would make reciming the house easier in the future.

  That day, Zheng Sen finalized the deal. He rented out the first two sections of the house to the cooperative for ten years—a timeframe Daniu had suggested, as things would likely be clearer by then. The rental agreement included a cuse to protect the integrity of the courtyard. While Zheng Sen mentioned this, he knew there wasn’t much they could do if the property was damaged.

  The house was twenty-four meters wide with seven rooms across. The second room on the east side of the southern wing was the main entrance, taking up one room. The middle three rooms had windows and doors. The first three sections were rented out, while the third section was a garden. Although there weren’t many flowers left, there were two rge Taihu stones. Zheng Sen had them moved to the fourth section. The third section was left empty for now, but if more space was needed, a warehouse could be built there. However, Zheng Sen put forward a condition that the two big trees in the yard cannot be moved, as it would be a shame to cut them down. The same applied to the trees in the main courtyard.

  The rental agreement was handled through the neighborhood committee, and any future issues would be dealt with through them as well.

  The fourth section wasn’t rented out but was still registered under the cooperative. For this, Zheng Sen only charged twenty yuan a month in rent, practically giving it away for free.

  The back building faced the street, so Zheng Sen opened a door near the staircase. This would serve as their entrance and exit whenever they came to the capital, making things more convenient.

  It took over a day to sort everything out. Before the front yard was fully prepared, Zheng Sen and Daniu moved some of their belongings to the back. If it weren’t for the ck of a heated bed (kang) in the back, which made it too cold at night, they would have moved in immediately.

  The back building had twenty-two rooms upstairs and downstairs—quite a lot of space. If it hadn’t been registered with the cooperative, many people might have ended up moving there.

  In the afternoon, Zheng Sen’s older brother, Zheng Jianye, came over to invite him for dinner. Only he and their grandfather knew about the courtyard, so he was the one who came to fetch Zheng Sen.

  Zheng Sen said he was busy with tasks like opening the back door and installing a stove at home, so he wouldn’t be able to join for dinner. He promised to bring their grandfather over on New Year’s Eve and have the meal together then.

  Zheng Jianye noticed the mess in the courtyard and didn’t insist on staying. However, he added, "Aunt Tong called home and asked you to come over for dinner on the 29th."

  Zheng Sen nodded. "I got it." The Aunt Tong Zheng Jianye mentioned was Zheng Sen’s mother, who now worked as a doctor at a Beijing hospital. She was always busy, and Zheng Sen wasn’t sure how she found out he had returned.

  Daniu overheard the conversation and wondered about the strained retionship between Zheng Sen and his mother. Since returning to Beijing, Zheng Sen hadn’t mentioned visiting her.

  After his brother left, Zheng Sen didn’t say much. He simply took Daniu to the back building to sort through the pile of furniture.

  The furniture was of excellent quality, carefully selected by his grandfather back in the day. However, some pieces were no longer practical for the current era. Zheng Sen decided to store the smaller items directly in the basement, while the rger pieces, like the four-door cabinets, luohan beds, and canopy beds, were disassembled before being moved downstairs. They also took measures to prevent moisture damage. Additionally, Zheng Sen bought some camphorwood chests to store the calligraphy and paintings.

  It wasn’t until the evening of the 28th that they finally finished organizing everything. The back door was installed—a sturdy wooden door next to the staircase. Zheng Sen chose this location because anyone entering would likely overlook the area near the stairs, providing some security. The entrance to the basement was specially designed, with a stone sb that didn’t sound hollow when tapped. The kitchen was set up downstairs on the east side, and the two adjacent rooms were prepared for them to live in temporarily. A single stove connected both rooms, providing enough warmth for them to sleep comfortably, even though they were used to the colder climate of the northeast.

  After moving their final belongings, Zheng Sen sealed off the gate to the fourth courtyard, completely separating it from the front sections.

  Just as they finished dinner that evening, there was a knock at the door. Zheng Sen went to answer it and found the carpenter who had repaired their door earlier. He had come by tricycle to deliver several wooden chests.

  "Master Qiao, thank you for making the trip," Zheng Sen said, quickly stepping out to help carry the chests.

  "No problem. With the New Year approaching, this is my st delivery for the year. Take a look at these chests and see if you are okay with them," said Carpenter Qiao as they carried the chests inside. "You mentioned needing some new chests, and I happened to know a family selling a few. I thought they might suit your needs. If they don’t, I can always make new ones for you."

  Zheng Sen inspected the chests. There were four of them, each measuring 1.2 meters long, 80 centimeters wide, and 60 centimeters tall. He crouched down and noticed a faint, pleasant aroma. "Master Qiao, are these camphorwood chests?"

  "Yes, they’re old camphorwood chests. Look at the thickness of the wood and the copper fittings—they’re all high-quality. Even the locks are original," Carpenter Qiao expined.

  Zheng Sen was quite satisfied. "These will do. How much are they?"

  Carpenter Qiao hesitated slightly. "My brother-in-w collected these. He’s asking for ten yuan per chest. It’s a bit pricey, but they’re sturdy and excellent for keeping out moisture and pests."

  Zheng Sen nodded, took out forty yuan from his pocket, and added an extra two yuan. "Master Qiao, here’s the payment for the chests, and this is for your trouble."

  "No, no, that’s not necessary," Carpenter Qiao said, feeling a bit embarrassed.

  "Please take it. I’ll likely need your help again in the future," Zheng Sen insisted. Carpenter Qiao was a skilled craftsman who had even repaired the decorative gate of Zheng Sen’s grandfather’s house when he was still an apprentice.

  Hearing this, Carpenter Qiao finally accepted the money.

  After seeing him off, Zheng Sen moved the chests into the house. "These chests are really well-preserved."

  Daniu also examined them closely. The chests were simple in design but exquisitely crafted, with seamless joints. When opened, the thick, solid wood was evident.

  They quickly brought over the calligraphy and paintings. The artworks were already in protective boxes, so they didn’t need to unpack them. They lined the bottom of the chests with rice paper and carefully pced the boxes inside, one by one.

  "Hey, if we wanted to store more things, what do you think would be worth keeping? What will be valuable in the future?" Zheng Sen suddenly asked.

  "Why do you ask?" Daniu replied.

  "Well, you said these calligraphy and paintings would appreciate in value and could be passed down as family heirlooms," Zheng Sen said. "I was thinking about the gold my grandfather left behind. Do you think it’s better to keep the gold or these artworks?"

  "Gold will also appreciate in value, and it’s easy to store. If you’re not sure what to keep, gold is a safe bet," Daniu said after some thought. "But I believe these calligraphy and paintings, if stored properly, will be even more valuable than gold in the long run."

  She paused and added, "Antiques are also quite cheap now, but their prices will definitely rise in the future. I’ve heard there are foreign trade stores that sell many authentic antiques. Although they’re more expensive than picking up bargains elsewhere, as long as you hold onto them for ten or twenty years, you’ll see a significant return."

  "Antiques are definitely valuable," Zheng Sen agreed. "My grandfather used to tell me that in chaotic times, gold is precious, but in prosperous times, antiques are the treasure. As the country improves, their prices will rise. You’re right about the foreign trade stores—they do have a lot of items, but you need foreign currency to buy things there."

  "Besides antiques, there are many other things worth collecting," Daniu said. "For example, paintings by modern artists, rare books, high-quality furniture materials, and even stamps. I remember there’s a ‘Blue Army Stamp’ that was issued but quickly recalled, so very few exist today. It’s bound to increase in value. Also, properties like our courtyard house will definitely appreciate over time."

  "Properties too? Right now, houses are being allocated. Who would buy them?" Zheng Sen asked.

  "Policies aren’t set in stone," Daniu replied. "Courtyard houses like ours carry historical and cultural significance. Every one that’s demolished means one less, just like antiques. They’re irrepceable."

  Zheng Sen thought about it and realized she was right. His initial desire to keep the house was mostly out of respect for his grandfather, but Daniu’s perspective made him see the bigger picture.

  Noticing that Zheng Sen was deep in thought, Daniu didn’t disturb him further. She carefully packed away the st few calligraphy pieces and paintings. These artworks alone would ensure her a comfortable life in the future, though it would take time for their value to fully materialize.

  Together, they carried the boxes downstairs. The boxes had handles on both sides, making them easy to lift. They stored everything in the secret room.

  By the time they returned upstairs, the back building was completely empty. Both of them were covered in dust. Checking the time, Daniu said, "Let’s go take a bath. The public bathhouse is still open for another two hours."

  "Let’s go," Daniu said.

  The two of them grabbed their things and headed to the public bathhouse. Zheng Sen even bought Daniu a scrubbing ticket, reminding her to be careful with her injured arm.

  Back home, they usually bathed in a tub, but in their hometown, if they wanted a proper bath, they had to go to the only bathhouse in the commune, which was always crowded and far away. It wasn’t a pleasant experience.

  The bathhouse here was less crowded in the evening, and Daniu was able to enjoy a proper bath. When she came out, she felt much more rexed.

  Walking back slowly with Zheng Sen, they savored the quiet night, which had its own unique charm.

  * * *

  On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month (a lunar year has 13 months), Daniu and Zheng Sen had breakfast and went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some groceries. Zheng Sen then took her to Beihai Park for a stroll. They had lunch at a local eatery specializing in Beijing snacks. By four in the afternoon, they made their way to the residential building near the Beijing Military Hospital.

  Entering the compound, Zheng Sen led her to Building 3, Unit 1, and knocked on the door.

  The door was opened by an auntie, who smiled when she saw Zheng Sen. "It’s Xiao Zheng!"

  Zheng Sen smiled back. "This is Auntie Wu. She’s been taking care of my mom for a long time. I grew up eating her cooking. Auntie Wu, this is my fiancée, Ma Shun."

  Daniu greeted her warmly. "Hello, Auntie Wu."

  "Shun, you’re so pretty. Come in, both of you, and make yourselves at home," Auntie Wu said, ushering them inside. "Your mom had a surgery this afternoon. Uncle Lin said he’d be back early today, so he should be home soon." As she spoke, she gnced at the clock on the cabinet.

  They entered the apartment, and Daniu looked around. The pce was simple and tidy, with three bedrooms, a living room, a dining area, and a kitchen. Although the yout was a bit old-fashioned, it was clear that the apartment was well-maintained.

  Auntie Wu went to the kitchen and came back with a pte of rge apples. "These were distributed by your mom’s workpce. I took them out of the celr at noon. They’re really fresh."

  Zheng Sen picked the reddest apple and handed it to Daniu. "Do you want me to peel it for you?"

  Daniu shook her head. "No need; I like eating the skin." She took a bite—it was crisp and delicious.

  Zheng Sen also took an apple and started eating. Seeing that they were eating, Auntie Wu returned to the kitchen, where a pot of stew was simmering.

  Daniu stood up, thinking of helping in the kitchen, when the door opened. A man in his fifties walked in. He was tall and had a lively demeanor.

  Zheng Sen stood up. "Uncle Lin."

  Lin Zhibo smiled when he saw Zheng Sen. "Zheng Sen, you’re here! You’ve been back for days and didn’t come to see us."

  "Aren't you all busy? Zheng Sen replied with a smile.

  Lin Zhibo chuckled and pointed at him. "You…" Then he turned to Daniu. "You must be Ma Shun. Zheng Sen mentioned you in his letters. You’re even prettier in person."

  "Hello, Uncle Lin," Daniu said politely.

  "Make yourself at home. Zheng Sen doesn’t come here often, but we get along well. Don’t be too formal," Lin Zhibo said. Then he noticed Daniu’s arm. "Did you injure your arm?"

  "Yes, Uncle Lin. She fractured her shoulder and colrbone," Zheng Sen expined.

  Lin Zhibo gestured for Daniu to sit down. "Let me take a look."

  Daniu sat on the sofa, and Lin Zhibo washed his hands before returning. He asked her to remove her coat, leaving her in her shirt, and then gently pressed around her shoulder and colrbone. "It’s healing well, no misalignment. How long ago did this happen? Two months?"

  "Less than a month," Zheng Sen replied.

  "Really? That's an impressive recovery," Lin Zhibo said. He instructed Daniu to perform a few lifting and bending motions. "You’re healing nicely. You can start moving it slowly. Do these exercises every day." He demonstrated the movements. "Stick to it, and it’ll help speed up your recovery."

  Daniu nodded and put her coat back on.

  Afterward, Daniu went to the kitchen to help Auntie Wu with dinner. By five o’clock, the meal was ready, and Auntie Wu went home, but Zheng Sen’s mother, Tong Yafang, still hadn’t returned.

  However, Lin Zhibo and Zheng Sen were used to this and didn’t seem concerned. It wasn’t until almost six o’clock that Tong Yafang finally arrived.

  This was Daniu’s first time meeting Tong Yafang. She was a reserved woman, and when she saw Zheng Sen and Daniu, she only offered a faint smile, not showing much emotion.

  "Why didn’t you start eating without me?" Tong Yafang asked.

  "How could we have a family reunion dinner without you?" Lin Zhibo said with a smile and went to the kitchen to bring out the dishes.

  During the meal, Tong Yafang barely spoke. Only when Lin Zhibo asked about their wedding pns did she say, "Wait a while before having children. It’s not good for your health." She gnced at Daniu as she spoke.

  For some reason, Daniu felt that her future mother-in-w wasn’t so bad after all.

  The dinner was quiet and uneventful. As they were leaving, Lin Zhibo brought out a rge cloth bag from the kitchen. "These are the apples your mom and I received. Take them home. We won’t see you on the 30th or the 1st, but come over for dinner on the 2nd. Your mom and I will be free that day, so come early."

  Zheng Sen nodded and took the bag, which was quite heavy.

  Leaving the residential compound, they hurried to catch the bus. By then, there were only a few passengers left, and they sat at the back.

  "Did Auntie and Uncle Lin not have any children?" Daniu asked.

  Zheng Sen shook his head. "Officially, it’s said that Uncle Lin can’t have children, but actually, it’s my mom who didn’t want any. After giving birth to me, she had some emotional issues. At first, no one noticed, but when I returned to my grandfather’s side and didn’t see her again until I was three, she didn’t want to get close to me." By then, he was old enough to remember. His mother, who he had been looking forward to for a long time, pushed him away.

  "Uncle Lin has been good to me. He knew there were issues between me and my mom and talked to me about it. He said my mom might have some psychological problems."

  Daniu thought for a moment. "Could it be postpartum depression?"

  Zheng Sen considered this. "Uncle Lin didn’t give it a name, but it was reted to my birth. She might have recovered, but you know about my father’s situation—it probably triggered her again. That’s why she acted that way when I saw her. Uncle Lin said my mom was afraid of seeing me, worried she might hurt me, and she didn’t dare have another child."

  Hearing this, Daniu sighed. "It's not easy for Aunty either." Postpartum depression was a well-documented condition in ter years, and it could be severe, sometimes even recurring. Daniu shared what she knew about postpartum depression with Zheng Sen.

  Zheng Sen fell silent for a long time after hearing Daniu’s expnation.

  "I didn’t know any of this," he said softly. He had always thought his mother was just emotionally unstable. Sometimes she would seem cheerful, but her mood could change abruptly. There was even a time when she took him to the railway tracks and walked along them for a long time. When a train approached, she didn’t move away until he screamed and pulled her back.

  After that incident, he rarely saw his mother.

  He had no idea she had been suffering from such a serious condition.

  "After all these years, she should be better now," Daniu said gently.

  Zheng Sen didn’t know how to respond. He had always felt that his mother hated him, so he stayed away from her as much as possible.

  "I think Uncle Lin and Auntie get along well," Daniu said, trying to shift the conversation to lighter ground.

  "Uncle Lin is a very open-minded person. He studied abroad and fought in battles. When my mom's mental health repsed, Uncle Lin was the one who stayed by her side and helped her through it. He even chose not to have children for her sake. But I think they’ve found a good bance in their retionship," Zheng Sen expined.

  "I can tell Auntie cares about you, even though she seems cold. Auntie Wu mentioned that the bag of apples was something Auntie asked her to prepare for you before she left this morning," Daniu said.

  Zheng Sen was stunned into silence.

  "It’s never too te to mend things. As long as you’re willing, no distance is too far," Daniu said, hoping to encourage Zheng Sen to reconcile with his mother. No matter how old you are, the desire for family bonds never fades.

  Zheng Sen didn't say anything until he got home. Daniu knew he needed time to process everything, so she didn’t press him further.

  * * *

  The next day was New Year’s Eve. Early in the morning, they went to the Princess Tomb area. As previously arranged, a car was sent to pick them up, and they followed it back to the family home. Despite the emotional turmoil of the previous night, Zheng Sen seemed to be in better spirits, even showing signs of happiness.