Chapter Thirty Entering the Suburbs to Visit Relatives

  Xu Cuifeng downed a catty of white wine in one minute, relying solely on her courage and determination. After finishing the drink, her eyes became blurry, but she still managed to stand upright with the help of the table, fueled by her unyielding spirit. With her blurred vision fixed intently on Xue Xiang, she seemed to be saying: "It's your turn now; if you don't drink, I won't rest my eyes."

  So many people are watching, Xue Xiang can't lose face, he knows Xu Cuifeng won't last long. Without saying a word, the five cups of wine were poured into his belly faster than hers. After drinking these five cups of wine, Xue Xiang's stomach churned like a stormy sea, and he could no longer hold back the effects of the alcohol. His consciousness gradually became blurry, and he fell to the ground. Luckily, Kang Tong had anticipated that Xue Xiang would be in trouble and was standing guard on the side. Seeing Xue Xiang fall, he quickly supported him with one hand. Xu Cuifeng had fallen asleep on the table after Xue Xiang's third cup of wine, a smile still on her lips, clearly very satisfied that Xue Xiang had kept his promise.

  ………..

  At dawn, the first ray of sunlight shone into Xue Xiang's eyes, and he woke up. He shook his head, still feeling a bit dizzy, and the room was still filled with the faint smell of alcohol. Xue Xiang thought to get out of bed to relieve himself, but as soon as he lifted his arm, he felt it was a bit heavy. Only then did he realize that the little guy was still sleeping on his arm. The little guy was woken up by Xue Xiang's moving arm, yawned, rubbed his eyes, and found that the big brother who had been carried back like a dead pig last night was staring at him. The little guy pouted, hugged Xue Xiang's arm, turned over, and seemed to still be angry. Hugging Xue Xiang's arm also meant that he wouldn't let him get up.

  Xue turned around and gently pushed the little guy's shoulder, saying: "Little treasure, big brother needs to go to the bathroom, hurry up and let go, or else you'll wet the bed."

  The little guy hugged even tighter and said in a milking voice: "Who told you to drink so much wine yesterday, don't let go, I still want to sleep, don't make noise."

  Xue couldn't help it, and continued to beg her: "Little treasure, can you loosen your grip on my arm when you sleep? It's more comfortable to sleep that way, hurry up, big brother is suffocating."

  The little guy was secretly amused, now you know how formidable I am, see if you dare to offend me again. The little guy pretended to be nonchalant and said: "I like to sleep with my arm around you, but you pulled away, and now I'm wide awake. Big brother can't hold it in anymore, so just pee on the bed, haha, big brother has never peed on the bed before! Don't be shy, okay? Just don't pee on my side when you do, that's all, I won't talk to you anymore, I'll go back to sleep."

  Xue didn't realize that the little guy was playing tricks on him, and when did he become so cunning? Xue poked the little guy's armpit with his hand, and the little guy couldn't help but feel ticklish and burst out laughing. His arms around Xue's waist also loosened, allowing Xue to successfully escape. Xue quickly put on his slippers and ran outside, while the little guy laughed loudly behind him.

  ……

  Xue Xiang drove his tricycle steadily on the wide Nanjing Road, today was another sunny day, not yet 9 o'clock, the scorching sun gradually began to show its power. Xue Xiang wore sunglasses, feeling very comfortable in the sunlight, there was no congestion on the road, few motor vehicles, mostly bicycles. Fortunately, it had passed the peak hour of the morning rush, at this time, the road was wide enough for Xue Xiang to speed up. The weather was sweltering, only by speeding up could he feel the cool breeze blowing against his face.

  The little guy sat in front of Xue Xiang's chest, shouting "Faster, faster!" This was probably the first time the little guy had ridden a motorcycle since she could remember, and she seemed very "dynamic", not showing any fear or panic at all. Xue Xiang drove fast, but the little guy still thought it wasn't enough. Xue Xiang didn't realize that his youngest sister actually had a potential need for speed. Xiao Yi and Xiao Wan sat in the sidecar, their hands tightly grasping the front frame, their small faces flushed red with excitement and tension. Unlike the little guy, they were not fearless, but instead felt both fear and thrill from the high speed. Originally, Xue Xiang had planned to have the little guy and Xiao Yi sit in the sidecar, with Xiao Wan sitting behind him, but the little guy insisted on sitting next to Xue Xiang. Her small hands couldn't grasp Xue Xiang's thick waist, so he had to put her in front of him, letting her hold onto his pants pocket.

  Xue Xiang woke up from his hangover and decided to take a few younger ones to the northern suburbs farm to visit his uncle. He had been transferred for more than three months but hadn't visited this uncle yet. The original young man rarely visited this uncle, especially after his older brother, who was also his uncle's eldest son, died in the chaotic fighting, and his older sister went to the southern border as a sent-down youth. The original young man was afraid of seeing his uncle's sorrowful eyes, just like he was afraid of seeing his younger siblings after his parents passed away. Although the original young man seemed bold and generous, he was actually emotionally fragile.

  After Xue's rebirth, this problem did not exist. He had been busy making money for the past few months, and the time allowed for visiting relatives was only a few days each month, so Xue had no chance to visit his uncle. Yesterday, he finally settled all matters and went to the deputy food store and cooked food store early in the morning with three small motorcycles to buy some things for his uncle.

  Xue Xiang prepared many things for Xue An Yuan, including two bars of soap, a box of Maotai liquor, five packs of Feicui cigarettes, three sets of cotton-padded jackets and trousers, over ten kilograms of cooked food such as braised pig's ears and trotters, all packed into two large paper boxes. Xiao Wan and Xiao Yi carried a box of Maotai liquor and clothes in the trunk, while Xue Xiang tied up the rest of the things with a big box on the back seat of the car.

  The North Suburbs Farm was a famous "cadre school" where military officers above the rank of regimental commander and government officials above the deputy ministerial level were sent down. The farm was located in a hilly area fifty kilometers outside the urban area of Beijing, but unlike other cadre schools which were built in rural areas to allow cadres to receive education from poor and lower-middle peasants as instructed by the great leader, there were no peasants in this area, not even any signs of human habitation. However, the lack of human habitation did not mean it was desolate, but rather a beautiful place with lush green trees and blooming flowers, comparable to a sanatorium. In fact, the North Suburbs Farm was established after a certain event in 1971, and by 1972, many cadres had been released, leaving the farm gradually empty. Later, "stubborn" cadres from various places were transferred here, so the North Suburbs Farm did not close like other cadre schools, but instead became more prosperous. After that event, the school's policy changed, no longer forcing old cadres to participate in physical labor, but rather just keeping them under control, providing food and shelter, but not releasing them, with occasional ideological education sessions every few days. Therefore, Xue Anru did not suffer any physical harm, only the pain of losing his son, which cannot be compared to physical harm.

  ……..

  "Old Xue, let me take back one move, just one move. I was burned by the smoke just now and wasn't paying attention, letting you young whippersnapper take advantage of me." An old man wearing a white short-sleeved shirt said excitedly, his face flushed red, spitting as he spoke.

  "Li Da, you're a big stick, playing chess like fighting a war, no room for regret. Oh, you're at war with the enemy, surrounded, and then you go over and say, 'Hey, I wasn't paying attention earlier, can we start again?' Is that even possible? No wonder back when we were fighting Liao Yaoxiang in the Northeast, your division was so weak. If it weren't for Old Xue arriving just in time, you'd be sleeping on Qibao Mountain by now. And at that time, I reckon you wouldn't have even made it to Qibao Mountain, just some random mound of dirt would've been enough." Old Xue sneered.

  Li the old man was done, threw away the chess pieces in his hand and shouted: "Old Xue, Old Xue, isn't it just playing chess? Look at you, an old fellow, making a big deal out of nothing. How come I never discovered your eloquence before? Why didn't you become a political commissar? You're so capable, why didn't you mix with the generals back then? Why did I end up becoming a general instead? By the way, weren't you leading the ace troops at that time?"

  Mr. Li seemed to have touched Mr. Xue's sore spot, and Mr. Xue slammed the chessboard, scolding: "You still have the face to say that when we were fighting against the Americans, you ran to the old chief to report that my wife was about to give birth, how can I abandon my wife and child now? It's because of your favoritism that you got to the front line. Is this general position yours or not? Tell me yes or no!" Mr. Xue grabbed Mr. Li's arm, as if he had to get an answer out of him.

  Li Lao Tou also secretly regretted, why did he choose to say this matter. He saw Xue Lao Tou seemed really anxious and hurriedly said: "Yes, yes, it's a robbery, this should be fine. I was also good intentioned at the time, you have to admit that, who made me Li Lao Tou so lucky, ended up mixed with a lieutenant general, this is called fate has its way, no fate can't be forced." Li Lao Tou originally intended to comfort Xue Lao Tou, but ended up boasting again.

  Xue Lao Tou knew what he was getting at, and suddenly stood up and shouted out the window: "Report, there are Party members here discussing fate, I want to report his..."

  Xue old man didn't finish speaking, his mouth was covered by Li old man. Li old man hastily said: "No, no, no! You're being too unreasonable, okay, let's just say that I, old Li, owe you a general rank."

  Xue Lao said with satisfaction: "This is more like it. I'll just take the general's debt from you in exchange for that piece of meat at noon."

  Li Lao Tou was shocked and hastily said: "No way, is the general more important or is meat more important? Exchanging anything else would be fine, but exchanging meat won't do, even if it means splitting heaven and earth."

  "You..."

  "Comrade Xue Anyuan, come out for a moment, there are relatives here to visit." The two were in the midst of a heated debate over who should get the piece of meat from Old Li's lunchtime ration when they were suddenly interrupted by the voice of an official from the cadre school's visiting group.

  "Old Xue, I've been here for almost two years now. Except for a kid who came once, no one has come to visit you again. Is it because your third child came?" Old Xue was somewhat puzzled.

  "It can't be Lao San, my problem won't be solved and he can't leave the unit either. I'm also puzzled, why don't I just go out and take a look to know?"