Old Fang felt his in-law’s prolonged absence was a grave breach of etiquette, deeming him utterly unworthy of being family. While he was dissatisfied with his in-law, he held his son-in-law in high regard. His criteria for selecting a son-in-law were far stricter than those for choosing a daughter-in-law. For a daughter-in-law, the most important quality was character—someone who could stand by his sons through hardship. Both of his daughters-in-law far exceeded his expectations. Of course, even if they fell short, there was little he could do, as his sons never listened to him anyway.
Choosing a son-in-law, however, was different. He had a comprehensive set of standards, much like the Tang Dynasty’s selection of officials. The foremost requirement was a tall stature and dignified appearance; those with unsightly features were immediately disqualified. Fortunately, his daughter was more compliant than his sons and took her old father’s words to heart.
His son-in-law had visited him once while on a business trip. His demeanor was impeccable—not the least bit obsequious. Though he spoke sparingly, every word was measured and conveyed profound respect for his elderly father-in-law. Old Fang had specially inscribed a couplet for his daughter and son-in-law, featuring a heptasyllabic regulated verse he had composed. In his youth, he had written modern poetry, but in his later years, he had grown fond of classical forms. The poem expressed his heartfelt blessings for the couple. Upon receiving it, his son-in-law indicated that he intended to have it framed and hung in their bedroom. Such respect was something his own sons had never shown him—the poems he had inscribed for those rebellious boys still lay untouched in his study. From his daughter’s letters, he also learned that his son-in-law was highly skilled in his profession. All things considered, he barely met Old Fang’s passing standard for a son-in-law.
Qu Hua’s visit was brief, and Fang Muyang happened to be sketching in the countryside, so he missed the chance to meet his brother-in-law. Fei Ni, who had come to deliver Old Fang’s edited manuscripts, happened to run into her second brother-in-law.
Fei Ni was exceptionally busy these days. Between attending classes, studying, organizing Old Fang’s manuscripts, and working on a translation project, her schedule was packed. After delivering the manuscripts and exchanging greetings with her brother-in-law, she hurried off to attend to her own affairs.
When Fang Muyang returned from the countryside, Fei Ni treated him to a meal at a restaurant.
Now that Fei Ni was attending school, she still received a salary and earned extra income from translation work. Fang Muyang, however, had stopped drawing sequential pictures. The paintings he now wanted to create not only failed to generate income but also consumed more resources the more he painted. Awards brought him prestige but no financial gain. Fei Ni wondered how he managed to afford gifts and meals for her. Although the family’s savings were in her care, and the monthly allowance she gave Fang Muyang was by no means meager, it still seemed insufficient for his frequent generosity.
She later discovered that Fang Muyang had taken on a new side job—repairing broken watches and reselling them. She urged him to stop, arguing that with their savings and her income, there was no immediate need for him to earn money. If times ever grew truly desperate, he could always fall back on watch repair. Fang Muyang, however, insisted that his watch repair had nothing to do with money. It was purely to hone his observational skills for his art. To prove his point, he showed Fei Ni the tiny components he worked with. He wasn’t deceiving her—as he immersed himself in the task, he genuinely came to see it that way. Finding joy in small things had never been difficult for him.Fei Ni was now no less generous than Fang Muyang. While attending school, she also earned money—enough not only for expenses but also to save a small sum. Fang Muyang ate her food with a clear conscience, occasionally boasting to others that his wife supported him while studying, covering not just his living expenses but even his art paper purchases, as if it were some remarkable honor to have a wife providing for him, something to be proud of. People back then were still quite simple and didn’t hold the backward notion that artists ought to be supported by others. Even female classmates who still harbored feelings for him despite knowing he had a wife came to recognize his exploitative nature. Fang Muyang and Fei Ni’s household was practically a miniature capitalist society, full of exploitation and being exploited, with the exploiter actually smug and self-satisfied.
More traditional men who heard this looked down on Fang Muyang while also feeling sorry for Fei Ni—how could a fine girl marry a man who lived off her? Throughout history, men in the arts were never reliable. Fei Ni sometimes wanted to clarify things for Fang Muyang when she heard such talk, but since Fang Muyang didn’t take it seriously, she decided to let people think what they wanted. It might even help ward off some admirers for Fang Muyang; a man who spent his wife’s money, no matter how handsome or talented, ultimately lacked some appeal.
After eating, the two watched two internal movies in a row. On their way back, most of the city’s lights had gone out, leaving only the two of them. Fei Ni sat on the back of Fang Muyang’s bicycle, reporting the stars in the sky to him.
Back home, they lay on the rug in the studio, listening to music and gazing at the stars through the skylight, occasionally exchanging glances. Fei Ni mentioned her second brother-in-law’s solo visit to their home. Fang Muyang asked what he looked like, and Fei Ni said she hadn’t seen him clearly. So Fang Muyang sketched it out for her on paper. He drew the eyes first; Fei Ni shook her head—the eye sockets needed to be deeper. He then drew the nose; Fei Ni rested her chin in her hand, thinking for a moment, and said the nose should be more prominent. Next, he drew the mouth; Fei Ni pointed at the paper and said the lips weren’t as thick as he’d drawn, and the face shape wasn’t that square.
Looking at her husband’s sketch, Fei Ni said, “Second brother-in-law is much better-looking than your drawing. He and Second Sister are quite a match.”
Fang Muyang asked, “Didn’t you say you didn’t see him clearly?”
Fei Ni laughed at Fang Muyang’s sketch of her second brother-in-law. “I have a general impression. Second Sister would be upset if she saw your drawing—you’ve made her beloved look like this.”
Fang Muyang teased her on purpose: “Didn’t you say a man’s appearance is quite unimportant? My sister might not be as shallow as you in that regard.”
“The men I referred to are limited to those outside of marriage prospects. As long as they’re not marrying me, anyone’s looks, male or female, are none of my business.”
“But I remember you described your classmates’ faces very accurately. You must’ve observed them quite a bit.”
Lately, Fang Muyang had taken up a new drawing project: having Fei Ni describe the appearances of male classmates in her department, which he would then sketch. A few drawings earned Fei Ni’s praise for their likeness. Through her descriptions, Fang Muyang gleaned which male classmates had left a strong impression on her. He noticed that the ones Fei Ni paid more attention to didn’t align with conventional aesthetics, while those who might fit general standards of attractiveness appeared vague in her memory."I see you often enough, of course I remember. You're one to talk." At this point, Fei Ni snorted. "I'm not like you, staring at people at the ice rink. Anyone who didn't know better would think you're a creep."
"What creep stares at men?" And a man in his forties at that. It was simply because his skating technique was too impressive, and Fang Muyang happened to be trying to capture a sense of movement in his static paintings at the time, so he deliberately studied his movements for a long time, striving to find a frame that could be frozen in a particular moment.
"That was in front of me." When she wasn't around, he had painted plenty of young nurses. To show she wasn't jealous, Fei Ni added, "Of course I support your work. Observing women is perfectly normal—you can't paint portraits without studying people. You didn't start learning painting just to have an excuse to watch girls, did you?"
"I learned to paint long before I met you." For a child who hadn't even started elementary school yet, a slingshot was far more appealing than girls. It wasn't until long after he met Fei Ni that he developed an awareness of observing girls, by which time he had already been painting for years.
Before Fang Muyang could paint a new portrait of his second brother-in-law, Fei Ni ordered him to go play the violin for him.
By the time they went to his second sister's house, Fang Muyang still hadn't managed to capture his brother-in-law's exact likeness.
Since his in-laws had delayed visiting him, Old Fang couldn't help but feel his daughter wasn't getting the respect she deserved over there. He had always wanted his daughter to stay close to him, and this only strengthened his resolve. Plus, he was quite satisfied with his son-in-law. He not only began considering transferring his daughter to a local workplace but extended the same consideration to his son-in-law. He was efficient in such matters and soon found a position for his son-in-law, waiting only for his approval.
His wife neither supported nor opposed his plans.
During summer break, his unfilial son wanted to travel with his daughter-in-law and visit his sister along the way, asking if he had any gifts to send. Old Fang decided to deliver them himself. Since his in-laws hadn't come to pay their respects, he would condescend to visit them instead, and take the opportunity to transfer his daughter and son-in-law's work assignments. Teacher Mu also wanted to see their daughter.
Old Fang said, "You shouldn't go." If his wife went too, it would seem too ceremonious. They hadn't come to visit him, yet his whole family would appear at their doorstep, as if they were desperate to be related to the Qu family.
Once his daughter and son-in-law were transferred, there would be no need to maintain contact with those relatives.
But Fang Muyang said, "We should all go—not to show respect to their family, but to show respect for my sister."
Old Fang had to admit his unfilial son had a point.
Old Fang decided to have his wife fly to visit their daughter. Given his savings and salary, the airfare, while not insignificant, was still affordable. After his wife returned to work, she had become indifferent to all material comforts, and he rarely found opportunities to spend money on her. Though flying wasn't exactly a luxury, it was a gesture of his affection. As for himself, he felt the money spent on a plane ticket was far less worthwhile than buying calligraphy or paintings. His wife needed a companion, and his daughter-in-law was naturally the best choice. Of course, he would cover his daughter-in-law's airfare too—even without the family connection, wasn't her help in organizing his manuscripts worth a plane ticket?As for his son, of course he would take the train with him—this was also a good opportunity for father and son to spend time together. Although they had many chances to gather ordinarily, such a long stretch of time was a first. He could impart some discipline to his wayward son.
Fei Ni naturally disagreed. If her father-in-law had bought two tickets, then of course the elderly couple should sit together. What would it look like for her to sit with her mother-in-law? A plane ticket was too extravagant for her, and she wanted to be with Fang Muyang. Fang Muyang also felt his old father was being unreasonable—this was clearly his and Fei Ni’s trip, yet now his father was rearranging them by gender. He didn’t know why his father overestimated his own appeal so much.
However, he recalled that Fei Ni had never flown before and thought she ought to experience it this time. Besides, he and Fei Ni would have plenty of chances to be together in the future, so he directly agreed on Fei Ni’s behalf. Fang Muyang and his father boarded the train first. To demonstrate his frugality, Old Fang sat in a hard seat with his wayward son. Fang Muyang occasionally glanced at the scenery outside the window, then captured it on paper with his sketches, while his old father lectured him beside him.
In the end, Fang Muyang found the train conductor and paid out of his own pocket to get his old father a Sleeper Ticket, while he himself remained in the hard seat.
Old Fang was deeply moved—his wayward son had truly become both filial and frugal.
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