pjbooks Chapter 25: Borrowing a Knife
Chapter 25: Borrowing a Knife
This season, people's clothing on the streets is becoming increasingly varied. Some are wearing thick coats, while others are wearing white short-sleeved cadre uniforms with their watches showing, and some older women are still wrapped in cotton-padded coats.
"Second brother, where are we going?"
"Where do you want to go?"
Tang Hongxin gripped her second brother's clothes tightly with both hands, tilting her head and thinking for a long time but unable to recall any place names. This was her first time in the city, so she said the only place she knew: "Shall we go to Tiananmen Square?"
"No problem, we'll be passing by in a bit."
"Can I meet Grandpa Leader?"
"Once you start wearing the red scarf, who knows, you might have a chance."
Full of energy and with a pilgrimage-like longing, Tang Hongxin said, "Dad said that maybe I can go to school next year. I will definitely study hard then, and I want to wear a red scarf and salute."
"Hey buddy, slow down! You almost hit someone, you know? Hey, you're Tang's kid, right?"
At a bend in an alley, Tang Zhenghong was riding very slowly, but he almost bumped into the old man who suddenly appeared in front of him.
"Who are you?"
"Don't you recognize me? That's right, we haven't seen each other for years. Let me bring something up. Back then, when I bought a bowl of wontons from Yan's Wonton Shop, you were really getting a good deal."
When this was mentioned, Tang Zhenghong found a vague impression in the original owner's memories. The person in front of him should be surnamed Du. He liked to save up some money to gamble and try to change his fate. When they met again more than ten years later, he was still the same. It was clear that he had not changed his life through such "efforts".
If I remember correctly, his real name was Du Yu, so everyone gave him the nickname "Timely Rain" because he would always give away all the money he saved up at the casino.
However, there were also times when he was "lucky". Once, this old man Du won a lot of money and was unusually generous. He treated old man Tang and the others to wontons. The old man felt sorry for his grandson and only took two bites before eating them all.
"Are you Grandpa Du?"
Perhaps because he had seen his old friend's grandson, Du Yu was exceptionally enthusiastic today: "It's me! You're still the same as when you were a kid, always in such a hurry. What are you doing here?"
"I'm just showing my sister around for a bit. And you? You must be over sixty, still driving around?"
Du Yu sighed, "I'm not as lucky as Old Man Tang, who had a filial grandson. I have to earn money to support myself. Sigh... Why am I saying this? He's gone. I still find it hard to accept. A perfectly healthy person just disappears like that."
Before Tang Zhenghong could speak, Du Yu looked around mysteriously and asked, "By the way, Old Man Tang sacrificed himself for a meritorious cause, which is admirable. I, Du Yu, don't have that kind of courage. However, there's something I don't know whether I should tell you or not."
Tang Zhenghong lit a cigarette for him and asked, "Are you referring to that?"
"I heard, but it's just hearsay, I don't have any definite information. Back then, the job that Old Tang was doing was with people from your courtyard, and there were two other people with him. I've been wondering, why was it just your grandfather who..."
Tang Zhenghong's expression was uncertain as he squinted and carefully examined Du Yu.
Tang Zhenghong was still wearing his railway police uniform today, and with him being stared at like this, Du Yu couldn't help but swallow hard and chuckle awkwardly, "Hey, I only heard it secondhand. You'll have to find out the details yourself. Alright, I have some work to do. Let's get together sometime."
Tang Zhenghong's smile returned as he politely said goodbye. Just before leaving, he suddenly turned back and asked, "Where are you going on this job? Do you need any help?"
"Go to Xinzhong Street."
After a pause, Du Yu quickly declined, "No need, no need. Take your sister to see the sights of Beijing. See you later."
Tang Zhenghong stared at Du Yu's back until he could no longer see him and did not look away.
Tang Hongxin could clearly sense that her second brother seemed preoccupied after talking with the old man. She tugged at her sleeve and asked timidly, "Second brother, are you in a bad mood? Why don't we go back?"
Tang Zhenghong composed himself and patted Hongxin's head reassuringly, "Second brother is alright. Let's go to Wangfujing."
The Wangfujing Department Store in Beijing, which has been popular since its opening in 1955 due to its wide variety of goods, will be renamed Wangfujing Department Store Building after the building is completed next year.
Tang Zhenghong locked his bicycle and took his younger sister into the department store. The little girl was dazzled by the sights, her mouth slightly open as she was led by her second brother like a puppet.
"Comrade, do you have a dress that my sister can wear?"
The sales clerk glanced at Tang Zhenghong, who was enthusiastically peering at Tang Hongxin, and said, "Yes, we have one, a little big, but it'll fit. It's a style from the celebration parade back then. Want it?"
Do you have any dresses?
The other party's attitude cooled considerably: "We don't have that. You can try looking in a children's goods store."
The New China Children's Products Store was established last year. It is located next to the Dong'an Market, not far from the department store.
While Tang Zhenghong was shopping for clothes and shoes with his sister, Du Yu also arrived at the delivery location.
"How is it?"
"Guest, don't you trust me, Du Yu, to handle things? Look at the remaining money..."
The middle-aged man handed the money to Du Yu, who then spat and happily counted it, looking slightly disgusted: "What kind of attitude was that kid?"
"The money is correct. Please let me know if you need any more work like this. That kid is different from when he was a kid. If I hadn't asked someone to inform him as you said, I wouldn't have recognized him. His attitude... he stared at me for a long time with that fake smile, it was really creepy. Sir, if I may ask, did you give him this information?"
"Don't ask what you shouldn't ask; knowing too much is no good."
"Yes, I won't ask. I, Du Yu, am known for my tight-lipped nature."
The middle-aged man's expression softened for a moment, and he patted Du Yu on the shoulder: "You and Old Man Tang were old friends, weren't you? We can't let the old man die without knowing why. You know, the three of them were clearly together back then, so why did the enemy agents specifically target Old Man Tang?"
Du Yu's eyes narrowed, and he shrank even further, his face contorted with a mournful expression: "Guest, I only earn a meager living through hard work, I dare not get involved in this matter."
"What are you afraid of? We're just trying to be helpful by giving that kid a heads-up. What happens to him is none of our business."
Having lived most of his life, Du Yu had seen all sorts of people. He could guess that this middle-aged man was using someone else to deal with the other two who had been with Old Master Tang. It was best to avoid such people in the future; they were very insidious.
After Du Yu loaded the remaining broken furniture from the courtyard onto the truck, the middle-aged man looked at the empty courtyard and muttered, "Rich people really waste money. They just abandon such a nice courtyard like that."
Tang Zhenghong spent most of the day shopping with the little girl, from Wangfujing back to Shichahai. Just buying things to eat, such as roast duck and snacks, cost him almost half a month's salary.
However, the little girl was overjoyed today, still clutching the remaining duck carcass in her arms: "Second Brother, I want to eat it again next time, when can we come again?"
"There won't be a next time. My salary is barely enough for a few meals. You should focus on your studies. I'm waiting for you to get a job so I can treat you to a meal."
Tang Hongxin freed a hand to rub her round little belly, licked her lips, and replied generously, "Of course! You're my second brother, how could I forget you when there's something good to eat?"
"Second brother, can I wear a skirt when we go back?"
"No, we can't wait until it gets warmer."
"Can I wear the other outfit I bought today?"
"We'll talk about it when we get back."
Tang Hongxin buried her head in her second brother's back, her voice muffled as she spoke: "Second brother, you're so good to me."
"Who was it this morning who was crying and threatening to go back to their hometown to complain to their parents?"
"Hehe, I was just scaring my second brother. I'm not stupid. I learned it from our mother. When she and Dad had a fight, she would pack her things and say she was going to walk back to our hometown in Sichuan Province. Dad would immediately stop being angry and run after Mom."