Bask in the Sun

BY YUAN LIANGCAI

THE screeching north wind kept the wires above the village lanes screaming like a ghost.It brought freezing weather that chilled all the villagers to the bone,even though it had yet to snow.

At this time of year,the old people liked to gather and bask in the sun under the south wall of the “breeding room,” at the village entrance.The“breeding room” was old and was more than half collapsed.However,the southern side of the wall was still standing,though nearing its last breath.Next to the wall stood a ginkgo tree that was so large it took two people to reach around it.The tree had lost its leaves in the cold wind and seemed to be standing there naked and ashamed.

This location faced the highway that bustled with people and cars.The lively scene became more pronounced as the New Year approached.The old people,who were standing,squatting,or sitting in groups of three to five,gossiped with each other in idle chatter.Their eager eyes,however,were all drawn to the road.They hoped a car would suddenly pull up or roll into the village.Instead,they were repeatedly disappointed.Loneliness and helplessness blinded their cloudy eyes.

As in previous years,the old people prepared the New Year’s pigs,tofu,glutinous rice wine,and frozen rice candies.Every day,when all this was finished,they gathered in the sun at the village entrance.Their eyes seemed pulled so tightly by the highway that their hearts ached.

“Qifa,your son Xianglong still doesn’t plan to return home for the Spring Festival this year?” someone asked,in a thick voice.

“He says he’s tied up with company business.He promises to take me to Dongguan for the Spring Festival at some point!”

“He is really somebody now,managing thousands of employees as head of the company.Why do you still stay here with us? Hurry to the city! Even at my age,I’ve never been to the county town.”

Unexpectedly,Qifa became angry and shouted at the man: “I don’t want to go there! I don’t care about it! As the saying goes: ‘Where there are the elders,there is the family.’ Do I have to visit my son if he doesn’t come home to celebrate Chinese New Year? Is he my father? Anyway,I won’t go there!”

The other old people momentarily turned grim and silent,with the warm sun fearlessly bouncing off their furrowed faces.Nevertheless,they still tightened the sleeves of their cotton jackets and unconsciously moved toward the wall.

A three-wheeled vehicle loaded with New Year’s goods roared like an old ox along the highway’s steep slope.The spewing smoke looked like a blackened face.One after another,the elderly stood up and walked to the highway,and stood around the back of the three-wheeled vehicle.With a shout from Qifa,everyone struggled to push the three-wheeled vehicle from behind until it chugged away.The words “Thank you all” then came in the north wind.Unfortunately,not many of the old people heard this because they were hard of hearing.

“Business is getting better at the store.Those young people who leave home for work are expected to return soon,” someone mumbled.

The elderly went back to the wall and continued to bask in the sun.Looking up,they saw the sun sinking in the west.These old ‘kids’ apparently forgot about their embarrassment and continued chatting.

“Niujin,your son Zhigang is not a businessman.He just works in an office in the provincial city.He will be home,right?” This time,it was Qifa who asked.

Niujin was puffing on his long-stemmed pipe,his blade-shaped face dim in the smoke.He kept silent a while,then answered with a palpable sense of frustration and dissatisfaction in his voice.

“He who cares little about his father after marriage is so heartless.He still plans to go to his father-in-law’s home in Hainan for the Spring Festival,saying his wife and children are not used to staying here in the countryside,where it’s so freezing cold that their pee would freeze.He also promises to give me more money.Who cares about his stinking money!”

Hearing this,everyone shook their heads and sighed.A few old women even wiped their tears.

Niujin looked like he was sulking,tilting his feet and hitting the pipe to shake off the ashes.“Changgen is working in Wenzhou and won’t come back?” he asked an old woman beside him,who was about to burst into tears.

“Changgen says the ticket from Wenzhou costs 500-600 yuan,and it would cost him 2,000 yuan for a family of three,nearly a month’s wages.It’s not economically sound.Instead of coming back,he would rather send me 1,000 yuan so I can have a good Spring Festival,” the woman sobbed.

“Money,money,money,it’s all about money! Do they really believe money can cure everything? These bastards!” Qifa finally broke into a rage: “I don’t even know how to use the air conditioner,Internet,and IPTV.Besides,it’s very boring to stay inside all day!”

One of the old people was a haircutter,whom the old fellows called “Barber Wang.” Fewer and fewer people were coming to him for haircuts,so he spent his days basking in the sun with a sorrowful look on his face.Occasionally,he would get some shaving work,such as a close-cropped cut for an old man or an “ear haircut” for an old woman,which he performed while basking in the sun.

“Stop sulking,Barber Wang.” Qifa touched Niujin’s bald head.“Two groups of people came this morning,saying they came to care for the elderly.One group cut Niujin’s long hair,making it short.The other group shaved off all Niujin’s short hair!It’s just too sad for tears! You’re the only one we trust,Barber Wang.”

The sun was about to set,the north wind was howling harder,and the cold air from the ground was rising.The old coats seemed no longer able to resist the cold.The elderly had lost their patience for watching the highway.They were ready to go home and prepare for dinner.

At this moment,a bus pulled up to the village entrance and a man got out.He hurriedly walked toward the village with his head down,as if deliberately avoiding eye contact.The man was wearing a crumpled jacket and jeans.His bald head was particularly striking in the low light of dusk.

Niujin shouted: “Another bald head! Isn’t that Jinhu? Has he been released from prison?”

Qifa slapped his thigh in excitement: “That IS Jinhu! You’ve lived a long life,can’t you talk like a human being? Jinhu is back! Barber Wang,let’s make it clear beforehand,Jinhu is back.Don’t scold him! Everyone makes mistakes.We’re human.People can change.No one will despise him if he doesn’t lower himself!”

“You’re lucky to have a reunion with your son.The joy of family is an invaluable blessing.”

“Exactly.Unlike us,despite a lot of children and grandchildren,we have been reduced to...” Niujin was puffing away on his pipe as a feeling of sadness,like a curl of smoke,lingered in his mind.

“Empty nesters.”

Finally,Barber Wang muttered a few words.

“The birds have returned to the nests.Why are you still dawdling around? Go home and cook something delicious.” Qifa urged Barber Wang while asking all the people to leave.He added: “On the first day of the first Chinese lunar month,I will invite Jinhu and Xiaocui home for a banquet.Think of it as my son coming home to spend the Spring Festival with me.”

“We’ll take the second day!” Niujin,with a rush,jumped in.

“The third day.”

...

Eventually,Qifa said: “Barber Wang,can you ask Jinhu to call the courier company and order a special car tomorrow,so everything we’ve prepared for the Spring Festival can be mailed to our children!”

Everyone was shivering,but their hearts were full of warmth.

Heavy snow began to swirl in the air.