Chapter 87: Farewell

Grandfather, upon hearing they were going to eat at a restaurant, shook his head like a rattle and said, "Why waste money on that? We brought our own cornbread, you have fire and hot water here, let's just drink some water and eat cornbread. My dear grandson, you must be frugal in life."
Grandmother nodded in agreement, and Xiao Pingle, sitting nearby, still wore his silly grin—he probably wouldn't mind skipping a meal.
But Xiao Weijun and his two sisters, upon hearing their big brother wanted to take them to a city restaurant, bounced with excitement. Yet, after listening to Grandfather say they'd just have hot water and cornbread, they hung their heads in disappointment.
Xiao Weiguo had anticipated this response, so he hurried to reassure Grandfather, "Now that we're in the city, you should listen to me. I'll take care of everything, don't worry about wasting money."
With gentle persuasion and insistence, he managed to lead Grandfather and Grandmother out of the room, heading for the Bayi Restaurant they'd visited yesterday. He had eaten there with Quan Linglan and found the food delicious, reasonably priced, and the tables big enough to seat the whole family.
Upon arrival, Xiao Weiguo guided the cautious group—none of whom had ever been to a restaurant before—to a table and had them sit down.
He asked if anyone had a preference for dishes.
Except for Grandmother, who hailed from a landlord's family and was quite composed, everyone else, including Grandfather, sat rigidly and didn’t dare look around.
Grandmother told Xiao Weiguo, "Weiguo, just order as you see fit, but not too much, or we'll waste it."
Xiao Weiguo nodded and checked the daily specials on the blackboard. There was braised pork today, so he ordered two portions.
In addition to the braised pork, he chose a plate of twice-cooked pork, seven lion's head meatballs—one for each person;
For vegetables, he ordered braised eggplant, stir-fried green beans, sautéed cabbage, and clear stewed winter melon;
A large serving of seaweed and egg soup;
Twenty big white steamed buns, which could be packed up if unfinished.
Four meat dishes, four vegetable dishes, and a soup—this should be enough.
He handed the money and meal tickets to the waitress, who recognized him as yesterday's generous customer and, rare for the times, gave him a smile.
He also ordered a bottle of Beijing Arctic Ocean soda for each of the three children, and took one for himself, not daring to buy any for the adults—lest they protest and leave the meal uneaten.
Such poverty: the money spent on this meal, if converted to grain, could probably feed them for a month.
Xiao Weiguo handed the sodas to Xiao Hongmei, Xiao Weijun, and Xiao Lianxin, leaving the three children wide-eyed and astounded.
Xiao Weijun thought to himself, I’ve never had a drink like this in my life. He took a cautious sip, and the orange flavor surged through him—how delicious!
Hongmei and Lianxin also tried it carefully, their eyes curving into joyful crescents.

Before Grandfather could speak, Xiao Pingle chided Xiao Weiguo, "Weiguo, why buy them this? It doesn’t fill them up or quench thirst. Next time, just give them water."
They had no idea the soda cost fifteen cents a bottle—worth as much as a jin of white flour. Xiao Weiguo didn’t disclose the price, lest he get scolded.
Xiao Weiguo was flush with cash now, more than four hundred openly, and untold amounts hidden away.
So, within reason, he wanted his family to live well and broaden their horizons. He saw nothing wrong with that, as long as it was done with care.
Soon, the dishes were ready, and he brought them to the table one by one.
The family marveled at the eight dishes, one soup, and twenty steamed buns—their mouths agape in astonishment.
Grandfather stood up, gripping his dry tobacco pipe, and made to strike Xiao Weiguo on the head, muttering, "You spendthrift, you spendthrift—how much money and how many meal tickets did this cost?"
Grandmother looked at the feast and kept repeating, "A sin, such a sin."
Xiao Weiguo dodged Grandfather’s blow and pleaded, "Grandpa, we’re out in public, give me some face."
Meanwhile, Xiao Hongmei and her siblings, oblivious to the cost, eagerly brandished their chopsticks, ready to feast.
Grandfather sat down, face long with displeasure.
Xiao Weiguo said, "Grandpa, Grandma, Dad—just this meal, let’s call it a housewarming banquet for my new home, all right?"
That softened the expressions of the three elders.
Grandfather looked at the dishes and addressed everyone, "Eat your fill, but don’t leave leftovers. From now on, Weiguo, you mustn’t do this again. We farm folk are used to frugality—if times turn bad, this money is what saves lives."
Xiao Weiguo agreed readily.
Then everyone began to eat, with Xiao Weijun devouring food fastest—his chopsticks flashing like sparks.
He thought to himself, I’ve never eaten such delicious food in my life, and now I can claim to have dined out. He was already scheming how to brag to his friends back at the brigade.
Xiao Weiguo ate slowly, making sure his two sisters got enough—they couldn’t compete with Weijun and only reached for the vegetables nearest them. This wouldn’t do, so he quickly gave them some braised pork.
Soon, the eight dishes and soup were nearly finished; six buns remained—not because they couldn’t eat them, but because Grandfather insisted on saving some for the journey home.
Xiao Weiguo offered to buy a few more, but seeing Grandfather’s look, he kept silent.
They lingered in the restaurant, chatting about where to go in the afternoon. Xiao Hongmei piped up, "Tiananmen!"

Beside her, Xiao Lianxin and Xiao Weijun nodded eagerly, their faces full of anticipation.
"All right, we’ll go to Tiananmen together," Xiao Weiguo said to his siblings.
Fortunately, Nanluoguxiang was not far from Tiananmen.
Since the donkey they brought hadn't been fed, after leaving the restaurant, they returned briefly to Courtyard No. 98, where Xiao Pingle fed it some hay.
Grandmother, because of her bound feet, decided to wait in Weiguo’s room for the others.
The rest of the group walked toward Tiananmen.
It must be said, in this era and later, a visit to the capital was incomplete without seeing Tiananmen—it was the symbol of the spirit of the times.
As afternoon deepened, Grandfather urged everyone to head home; any later, and they'd be traveling at night.
So, with Xiao Weijun and the others reluctant to leave, they hurried back to Nanluoguxiang.
Back in the courtyard, they found Grandmother chatting merrily with the other women. Xiao Weiguo thought, Oh no, I’ll have no secrets—these aunties will know everything about my childhood, even when I wet the bed.
He quickly called Grandmother back to the rear courtyard.
Returning to his room, he found it spotless, thanks to Grandmother’s cleaning; a warm feeling flooded his heart. If the aunties knew about his bed-wetting, so be it—Grandmother was good to him.
After a short rest, Grandfather took the lead in preparing to return to the village, reassured that his grandson was doing well.
Xiao Weiguo pretended to fetch something from the cabinet, but actually pulled out a bag of white steamed buns from his storage space, to serve as dinner for the elders on the road.
They didn't bring water, so he borrowed a few glass infusion bottles from the courtyard, filled them with boiled water, and placed them on the donkey cart for the journey.
Thus, Xiao Weiguo stood alone at the door, watching them ride away in the donkey cart, gradually disappearing from sight.
Hongmei and Lianxin waved goodbye.
From afar, Xiao Weijun made a funny face at his big brother, and Xiao Weiguo smiled.
The happiness of youth is always so easily found.