Chapter 5: Sisters

After pouring hot water, washing up, tidying Ning Lei, and sending him over to Ning Weidong's place, Ning Weiguo and his wife lay down before nine o'clock, talking while listening to a radio play.

The main reason they stuffed their son into the earthquake shelter to live with his uncle wasn't that they had run out of room, but that Wang Yuzhen was planning on having a second child.

Last year, policy began to tighten; if they didn't have one now, there would be no chance left.

"Hey~ you should take what Dad said to you today to heart." Wang Yuzhen nudged Ning Weiguo: "Dad's health hasn't been great these past few years. Although he has returned to work now, his age and health are what they are; he'll have to step back to the second line in three or four years... These next few years are the critical period. You must step up so you can have prospects later. Once Dad really retires, the weight of your words will be different."

Ning Weiguo let out an "Mm": "I know."

Wang Yuzhen rolled her eyes: "Don't just 'mm' me. You must get that Correspondence Education diploma this year no matter what! The college entrance exam was reinstated the year before last; once this batch of college students graduates the year after next, there will be hundreds of thousands of college students every year. A Secondary Specialized School Diploma won't be worth showing off anymore."

Ning Weiguo frowned and said: "Is it really that serious?"

The difference in their family backgrounds was reflected right then.

Ning Weiguo's intelligence and ability were both above average, but some things require being immersed in them from a young age.

Ever since she was old enough to understand, Wang Yuzhen had listened to her parents discuss certain matters—things that Ning Weiguo still hadn't been exposed to even now.

Wang Yuzhen curled her lip and didn't argue further, changing the subject: "By the way, there was talk in your bureau last year about building family housing. Now that the New Year is over, there should be news soon. Don't be so muddled all day; keep your mind on it for me."

Ning Weiguo turned over, his hands starting to get restless: "Sigh~ you worry too much. Could I be vague about this?"

Wang Yuzhen said crossly: "I worry, and I only worry for your Ning Family! With a grown man like the third brother stuck there, if we don't think of a way to move out and clear the space, how can he arrange a match? In that little earthquake shelter in the lower room, what girl would agree to that?"

At the mention of this, Ning Weiguo was suddenly speechless.

Others might not know, but he knew best in his heart that all these years, Wang Yuzhen had truly been an impeccable sister-in-law.

Wang Yuzhen added: "And there's Bai Fengyu. It's not that I have a prejudice against her; look at Shi Xiaonan in the front yard—isn't she prettier? Why don't I say anything about her? You didn't see it, but last summer when the third brother was wiping himself in the yard with his shirt off, the look in her eyes..."

Ning Weiguo was stunned: "There's such a thing?" He truly didn't know.

Wang Yuzhen huffed: "Anyway, I'm putting it out there: hurry up and find a match for the third brother. Once there's a woman in the house watching him, those on the outside won't dare to covet him."

The next morning.

Ning Weidong stretched and sat up.

Since the New Year had just passed and school hadn't started yet, Ning Lei didn't have to go to class. Yesterday, he had gotten over a dozen *General Yang* comic books from his grandfather's house and didn't go to sleep until past ten. He was sleeping like a dead pig; the creaking sound hadn't woken him up.

Ning Weidong put on his clothes and tidied himself up a bit.

In this day and age, washing clothes in winter was quite a chore. After struggling to wash them clean and hanging them outside, they would freeze stiff, and before they could dry, they would be covered in a layer of coal ash.

The original owner found it troublesome himself and was too embarrassed to ask his sister-in-law to wash them for him, so he just made do.

Ning Weidong, however, was unwilling to make do. He pulled a small wooden box from under the bed and dug out an outer garment; although it was wrinkled, it was at least clean.

He looked at himself in the small mirror next to the alarm clock on the windowsill.

He hadn't washed his face, there was sleep in the corners of his eyes, and his medium-length hair was greasy.

He combed it a few times, thinking about where to get a haircut, and walked out carrying his toothbrushing mug.

Everyone was heading to work in the morning, and the courtyard suddenly became lively.

Although faucets had been installed in the rooms, there were many people living in the house; with everyone washing their faces, brushing their teeth, and cooking breakfast in the morning, it was impossible for everyone to crowd inside.

Most people used mugs to fetch water, brushed their teeth by the sewer in the middle of the courtyard, and then went back to their rooms to splash some water on their faces at the washbasin stand. There was a bus at seven o'clock, and it took about forty minutes to get to the Red Star Steel Factory.

Ning Weidong was preparing to go to work, chewing the last bite of an oil cake. As he came out of the Upper Room, he saw the door to Bai Fengyu's house open, and a girl wearing a floral cotton-padded jacket with two braided pigtails came out.

She looked to be seventeen or eighteen, eight parts similar to Bai Fengyu. Her skin was just as glowing white as Bai Fengyu's, but with a bit more youthful, healthy ruddiness; she was quite beautiful.

Ning Weidong was slightly surprised, remembering that there had been someone at Bai Fengyu's house yesterday afternoon—it turned out to be this girl.

Judging by her looks, she was likely a relative, like a younger sister from Bai Fengyu's maiden family.

Bai Fengyu followed her out.

Ning Weidong didn't feel the slightest bit unnatural because of yesterday's events. Seeing Bai Fengyu, he smiled, nodded, and called out "Sister."

A hint of resentment lingered in the depths of Bai Fengyu's eyes as she introduced: "This is my second younger sister, Bai Fengqin." She then said to the girl beside her: "Fengqin, call him Brother Weidong."

Bai Fengqin looked Ning Weidong over, with a hint of scrutiny, and said crisply: "Brother Weidong, hello~"

Ning Weidong nodded. Although Bai Fengqin was very beautiful, he didn't want to say much.

Bai Fengqin's appearance was very abrupt.

Besides, without getting that two hundred yuan, Bai Fengyu wouldn't let the matter rest.

Ning Weidong said: "Sister, I'm going to be late for work, I'm heading out first~" As he said this, he walked quickly out of the Moon Gate as if he were truly in a rush.

Bai Fengqin hadn't expected this reaction from Ning Weidong.

Bai Fengyu didn't have time to say what was on her mind either.

Ever since yesterday morning, when Ning Weidong gave her the money, suddenly fainted, and then woke up again, she had felt that he was different.

Before, when Ning Weidong looked at her, whether he was shy or dull, there was light in his eyes, but just now, it was gone.

"Sister~" Bai Fengqin pouted and stamped her foot.

Bai Fengyu grabbed her hand and squeezed it: "Go to school first~ we'll talk about it when you get back."

Ning Weidong exited the side courtyard and exchanged various greetings in the front yard.

The front yard was the main courtyard of this Siheyuan. In the early years, there had been a Chuihua Gate, but it was later demolished for convenience.

The current front yard was actually two courtyards combined; the south rooms in the yard were the original entrance-facing rooms.

With a large area, there were naturally many residents. The side courtyard where the Ning Family lived only had five households, but this side had a full nine households, with over fifty people.

Ning Weidong exchanged pleasantries all the way out of the courtyard gate and couldn't help but let out a long breath.

He walked quickly along the alley to the main road.

Having walked the route once before, he was familiar with the way and smoothly boarded the bus with his monthly pass.

The bus was packed full, and the enclosed carriage was filled with the smell of gasoline as it swayed toward the Red Star Steel Factory.

(End of chapter)