The night sky was heavy.
In the bedroom of the courtyard house, Dong Xuebing opened his eyes and realized it was already dark. Yawning, he checked his phone and saw that it was already past nine. He had slept for over six hours, from 3 p.m. till now. No wonder he felt so rested. Dong Xuebing hadn’t slept a wink the previous night. He stretched lazily and quickly got out of bed. When putting on his shoes, he noticed that Xie Hui Lan and the child were nowhere to be seen.
He opened the door and went outside, noticing that the light in the guest bedroom across the hall was dim.
Dong Xuebing entered the room and found Xie Hui Lan coaxing the baby to sleep. The baby, eyes half-closed, was comfortably lying there, almost asleep.
“Shh,” Xie Hui Lan whispered, placing a finger over her lips.
Dong Xuebing asked, “It’s this late, why didn’t you wake me up?”
Xie Hui Lan replied, “Mom said you should sleep longer. Dinner is ready for you.”
Dong Xuebing blinked and asked, “Then why are you two sleeping here?”
“When a family has a grandson, the attention shifts to him. But mom, she’s different. She always thinks of you first, even after the grandson arrived. All her attention is still on you.”
Dong Xuebing smiled. “Of course, she’s my mother. Since the baby isn’t asleep yet, you two should move to the other room. This room is dark, and the bamboo mat is uncomfortable.”
“I thought so too,” Xie Hui Lan agreed, standing up with the baby.
Dong Xuebing said, “I’ll go heat the food first. Is my mom asleep?”
Xie Hui Lan looked outside. “I heard the door open earlier. She might have gone out. I’m not sure.”
“Out? At this hour? What’s she doing outside?” Dong Xuebing furrowed his brows. “Don’t worry about it, I’ll go check.”
With that, Dong Xuebing stepped out, shirtless, in his slippers, strolling with the casual pace he had grown accustomed to from his childhood in Beijing. In the summer, it was common for men of all ages to walk around shirtless, especially in the alleys, a tradition of sorts. Now that he wasn’t at work or in his county, he let go of unnecessary pretenses. This was the real him. Even though he had achieved much in life and reached a high position, at heart, he was still that young man walking through the alleys, proudly wearing his casual attire.
He didn’t see anyone in the courtyard.
He went outside into the alley but still didn’t find anyone.
When Dong Xuebing returned, he heated his food and decided to eat outside under the tree by the stone table, not bothering with the mosquitoes.
The gate creaked open.
Luan Xiaoping came in, carrying a bag. “Oh, you’re up.”
Dong Xuebing swallowed his food quickly and said, “Where did you go at this hour? You could have asked Hui Lan to help.”
Luan Xiaoping replied, “She wouldn’t know what to buy.”
Dong Xuebing focused and saw a small bundle of paper money in the bag. He paused and remembered, “I almost forgot, tomorrow is Dad’s memorial day.”
Luan Xiaoping looked towards the north room and whispered, “Keep it down. Don’t let your wife hear.”
Dong Xuebing sighed, “What’s the big deal? It’s not like she’s superstitious.”
Luan Xiaoping said, “You don’t know. Today is your son’s 100-day celebration, a happy occasion. Even though it’s not the same day, it’s close. Your wife’s family is big, and they may have their customs. She might not want to talk about it. Once midnight passes, you and I will go burn the paper money.”
Dong Xuebing waved his hand, “It’s no big deal. Hui Lan’s family isn’t that strict about these things.”
Luan Xiaoping said sternly, “Keep it down. Eat your food.”
After dinner, Dong Xuebing checked on the baby and Hui Lan, who were both asleep. He quietly closed the door and stepped outside.
Luan Xiaoping came out of the room. “Let’s go.”
Dong Xuebing had been waiting in the courtyard. He nodded and, with his mother, exited the alley. They went to a street corner, where Luan Xiaoping started preparing the items. Dong Xuebing helped her out. The area was empty at this hour, and the noise came from the bar street, not the residential area.
Luan Xiaoping muttered while burning paper money, “Old Dong, I came here with our son again. I haven’t had time to talk to you properly. You wouldn’t believe it, but our son is doing well. Guess what position he holds now? He’s a county party secretary and a department-level official. Remember your old friend Sun? He’s only a division-level official at over fifty years old. But look at our son, just twenty-seven and already a county party secretary. Quite impressive! I heard Sun passed away last year. If you see him in the afterlife, maybe you can rub it in a bit, huh? Haha. There’s even better news. You remember I told you our son married a beautiful woman, right? Well, she’s also getting promoted now. Guess what her new position is? She’s a municipal party secretary, responsible for hundreds of thousands of people. Very capable. Now, she has given us a grandson named Dong Chong. What a handsome kid! He looks just like his mother, and when he grows up, he’ll be more successful than our son.”
Dong Xuebing also burned some paper, “Dad, I’ve been so busy these past years, I haven’t been able to visit you much. I haven’t spent much time with Mom either. I’m not a filial son, but at least Uncle Yang is here to care for her.”
He paused and then turned his head. “Is it okay if I mention Uncle Yang?”
Luan Xiaoping nodded, “I told your dad about him. Knowing someone’s looking out for us, he can rest easy. He’s always been like that. As long as you and I are doing well.”
Luan Xiaoping’s eyes turned red as she spoke, and her tears began to flow. She sobbed, “That’s why it’s so hard to accept. If your dad were still here, he could have seen his grandson.”
Suddenly, Xie Hui Lan’s voice came from behind, “Dad can still see him. I brought the baby.”