Fei Ni never expected to become neighbors with Wang Xiaoman. Wang Xiaoman had failed to move into her new home and could only remain in the old allocated house, though her place was more spacious than Fei Ni’s, with both an inner and outer room.
Fei Ni took advantage of her off-duty hours to inspect the house and happened to run into Wang Xiaoman braising pork ribs. Her family used a gas tank, which wasn’t yet fully common at the time, as many households still cooked with coal. Fei Ni quickly glanced at the stoves in the hallway and gave up the idea of cooking at home.
The door to the Wang residence was open, and the television set inside was playing The Flower-Selling Girl. Television programming was quite limited back then—aside from the news, it mostly featured old films and opera performances. That television set had been purchased using the Television Ticket Fei Ni provided. In return, Fei Ni’s brother had secured a position in the propaganda department of the hat factory.
Wang Xiaoman also hadn’t anticipated becoming neighbors with Fei Ni. She had assumed Fei Ni’s husband was quite influential, with at least an independent residence. Now, it seemed she had overestimated Fei Ni’s husband, yet Fei Ni’s rank and seniority wouldn’t have qualified her for housing allocation.
With this doubt in mind, Wang Xiaoman scrutinized Fei Ni up and down, her attention caught by the wristwatch on Fei Ni’s wrist. She was familiar with all the watch styles on the market, but this one was unlike any she had seen.
“Fei Ni, which factory made this watch of yours?”
“I don’t know. My husband gave it to me.”
“Is it also a foreign product?”
“I’m not quite sure.”
Fei Ni used her key to open the door and inspect her unit. The white walls had yellowed with time, and the paint on the windowpanes was peeling badly. Wang Xiaoman spoke to her from outside the door, her tone inquisitive: “So you’ll be living here from now on?”
Fei Ni confirmed it while mentally planning the room layout. Such a small space made partitioning with walls impractical; even if divided into two sections, it would have to be with curtains, and it could only fit two single beds. Even if she could prevent neighbors like Wang Xiaoman from visiting, she couldn’t very well bar her own family. A newlywed couple sleeping in separate beds would inevitably arouse suspicion.
They still needed a double bed.
Since Fang Muyang was delayed in returning, Fei Ni had no choice but to truthfully explain his trip to Tangshan. Her parents were uneasy about Fang Muyang and even more concerned for her, urging her to stay at home until his return before moving. But Fei Ni couldn’t think of a reason not to move into the new place. The new home needed to be set up promptly, and besides, her family’s home was too cramped. With her there, her brother had to sleep on a folding bed in the outer room, making things inconvenient for everyone.
Fei Ni had intended to paint the walls herself, but before she could start, Fei Ting bought putty powder and went straight after work to paint them for her. Her brother also repainted the white window frames. The place was small, so the work was quickly finished.
Fei Ting gave her a red envelope as a belated wedding gift. Feeling the length and thickness of the money inside, Fei Ni guessed it was his entire just-received salary, handed over before it had even warmed in his pocket. Having only worked for a month, this was likely all his savings.
Fei Ni handed the red envelope back to him. “Don’t think you can slack off. I don’t want money—you have to buy me things instead.” She immediately made her request: she wanted Fei Ting to buy her white linen to make curtains and a bed canopy.Feeling sorry for their youngest daughter, the parents decided to use their savings to buy her a few pieces of furniture for temporary use. They also made a list of kitchen essentials: a gas tank, stainless steel pot, wok, kettle, various saucers, bowls, knives, kitchen knife, fruit knife... These items might seem insignificant individually, but together they added up to a considerable sum.
Fei Ni had no intention of cooking herself. The cooking environment was too cramped, troublesome, and costly—far less convenient than the cafeteria. If she occasionally wanted to improve her meals, a small electric hot plate would suffice.
But she knew she couldn't persuade her parents. They stubbornly believed that a household without a functioning kitchen couldn't be called a proper home.
She said to Fei Ma, who managed the family finances, "Give me the money, and I'll buy the things myself. What you choose might not suit my taste."
Fei Ma thought her daughter made a valid point and handed over all the money she had saved for Fei Ni's dowry.
Fei Ma said, "Take this radio with you too."
"You and Dad keep it. I can't just empty the house every time I visit."
"This radio was bought by Xiao Fang. He asked your father to pass it to you, but your dad..."
Before her mother could finish, Fei Ni had already guessed. At that time, she was dating Ye Feng, and to avoid ruining her promising relationship, her parents had lied.
But even if she had known then that the radio was from Fang Muyang, it wouldn't have changed anything. At most, she would have returned it, so Fang Muyang wouldn't have been so poor as to sell his woolen coat.
All the things Fang Muyang had left behind were stored by her in a tin box. She respected his privacy and hadn't looked inside, but from the weight, she could tell the woolen coat was missing.
Fei Ni counted out enough money for a sewing machine and returned it to Fei Ma, "I'll take my old sewing machine with me. You can buy a new one."
"No need, I still have money."
"My brother is getting married this year too. You'll have plenty of expenses."
On Sunday, Fei Ni went to the bank early in the morning, kept thirty yuan from the money her mother had given her, and deposited the rest into a savings account. This money was for emergencies, not for immediate use. After leaving the bank, she went to the secondhand market, picked out two bunk beds, and bought a faded long table for one yuan. She hired someone to move them to her new home, where she placed the two beds together with the longer side against the wall.
Fei Ni's new home was quickly set up. When the elderly couple visited, they couldn't hide their disappointment, especially Fei Ma, who regretted giving Fei Ni the money. If she had handled the purchases herself, it would never have been so spartan.
Fei Ni's home was entirely white. In such a small room, any darker colors would feel oppressive.
White linen curtains, white linen bed canopies—Fei Ni had made canopies for both the upper and lower bunks. The lower bunk had blue-and-white checkered bedsheets and pillows. Since her parents were visiting, Fei Ni removed the blue-and-white checkered dust cover, revealing a ginger-yellow quilt cover with gardenia patterns. The upper bunk held the bedsheets, quilts, and pillows Fei Ni had brought from home, along with the Pillow Towel and pillowcase gifted by Sister Mei.
"Why did you get bunk beds?"
Fei Ni explained, "The space here is small. The upper bed is for storing things." In reality, the upper bunk was hers.
Fei Ma sighed again, "Even if you don't want a wardrobe or cabinet, you should at least have a set of table and chairs.""The table and chairs can wait until Fang Muyang returns. It's quite fine as it is now. Have you noticed this camphor wood chest I brought from home? When opened, it can store clothes; when closed, it serves as a stool. The sewing machine can perfectly function as a table when not in use—suitable for both writing and eating."
Fei Ma couldn't muster a smile. Fei Ni pointed out the advantages of the house to her mother, "Mom, don't you think this place is quite spacious and bright?"
Fei Ma thought to herself, With nothing in it, of course it's spacious and bright.
Apart from the bed, the home consisted of the camphor wood chest and the sewing machine. Against the wall stood a long table with peeling paint, covered by a white tablecloth. On the tablecloth rested a tray holding a glass pot and four thick-bottomed glass cups. Beside the tray was a large glass vase with a few flower branches—one of the few bright spots in the room.
Flowers also adorned the windowsill, growing in white pots, all transplanted by Fei Ni from her parents' home. Looking up, the ceiling was white too, with a glass light bulb hanging right in the center. Fei Ni had recently replaced it with a high-wattage bulb.
Fei Ma couldn't bring herself to praise the house. "If your neighbors come to see your new home, who knows how they'll laugh at you behind your back."
Fei Ni replied, "Is there anything wrong with being frugal and simple? Even if they gossip, they wouldn't dare say it to my face. As long as I don't know, they can think whatever they want."
Fei Ni might not care about others' opinions, but she couldn't ignore her mother's. She had to comfort Fei Ma, assuring her that once Fang Muyang returned and made new furniture, the home would surely take on a different appearance.
Although Fei Ni didn't think the current state was all that bad.
"When will Xiao Fang be back? Has he sent you any news?"
"He'll be back soon." It had been over a month since Fang Muyang left, and Fei Ni hadn't received a single telegram. Telegrams were a scarce resource under such circumstances, and she knew that not receiving any was actually a good sign.
Fei Ma felt anxious for her daughter. They had only been married a few days before being separated, so it was understandable that she hadn't put much effort into decorating.
The only thing that shouldn't have been done was painting everything white. Although Fei Ma was an atheist, she still felt a newlywed home should be more festive.
The elderly Fei couple also inspected Fei Ni's kitchen stove, only to find it held no practical purpose for her.
They interpreted this as Fei Ni having no heart to cook with Fang Muyang away.
As Fei Ni saw her parents out, Fei Ma said, "Come back with us. I'll make you something delicious."
"I still have some matters to attend to. I'll come home in the evening."
After seeing her parents onto the tram, Fei Ni cycled to the pastry shop. Though the Mid-Autumn Festival was still days away, a queue had already formed of people buying mooncakes, many opting for the syrup-filled variety. Fei Ni's parents both preferred Zilaihong and Zilaibai mooncakes, while she herself liked the flaky kind. No one in her family enjoyed the syrup-filled type. But unsure of Fang Muyang's preference, she bought half a catty each of the old-style flaky mooncakes and the syrup-filled ones. She was only allotted one catty of mooncakes; any more would exceed her quota.
The shop assistant wrapped the mooncakes in oil paper, then added a layer of straw paper, finally sealing it with a red sticker and tying it with hemp rope in a cross pattern, leaving a loop handle to hand to Fei Ni. Finding the mooncakes insufficient, Fei Ni also bought two large pomegranates.
After her purchases, she headed straight to President Fu's home. She had memorized the address Fang Muyang had given her and no longer needed to check it.She knew Fang Muyang would certainly not have any mooncakes to eat at this time. If any of his colleagues were going to the earthquake zone soon, she could ask them to bring some to him. If not, she would give them as a gift to President Fu instead. She thought, since Fang Muyang had gone to the earthquake zone for work, he would surely have to send telegrams to his unit during this period. President Fu would certainly have more information about Fang Muyang than she did.
The Fu family lived on the third floor. After confirming the house number was correct, Fei Ni knocked on the door.
Before the door opened, Fei Ni had already prepared a smile, and even when she saw that the person answering was Ling Yi, she did not retract it.
OpenNovel