Chapter 51: Retirement Life
"Who's here?" Yang Jiabo stepped outside and saw a black car parked on the stone-paved path in front of the bamboo house.
Wei Jing stood at the back of the car, opening the trunk, which was stuffed full of things - food, daily necessities, and even a large suitcase. Wei Jing had cut his hair into a neat, short style and was dressed simply in a white shirt and black dress pants. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up, revealing sturdy arms that looked strong. Standing at around 183 cm, Wei Jing had the natural build of a model, even simple clothes looked effortlessly stylish and sharp on him.
Yang Jiabo felt a twinge of envy. No matter how hard he tried, his height had stubbornly stopped at 178 cm.
"Morning, Jiajia." Hearing his voice, Wei Jing turned around with a smile. His voice was pleasant, Yang Jiabo thought to himself. This must be what people mean by 'voice kink' perks.
"Are you moving in or fleeing some disaster?"
"Most of this is gifts for you. If you don’t want them, I can take them back," Wei Jing said with a laugh.
"Of course I want them! I was just telling my dad you were coming, and here you are." Yang Jiabo stepped forward to help.
"Brother Jing, did you bring anything for me?" Yang Qing asked.
"You’re a grown man now, what do you need gifts for?" Yang Jiabo shot him a look.
"Brother Jiajia, you’re older than me!" Yang Qing retorted.
"Ever heard the saying, the magistrates are free to burn down houses, but the common people aren’t allowed to light lamps?" Yang Jiabo smirked.
[只许州官放火，不许百姓点灯 (zhǐ xǔ zhōu guān fàng huǒ, bù xǔ bǎi xìng diǎn dēng): lit. The magistrates are free to burn down houses, but the common people aren’t allowed to light lamps; fig. One rule for the powerful, another for the rest]
"You hypocritical dog." Yang Qing had even picked up this phrase from Yang Jiabo.
"You two are six of one and half a catty of the other, both acting like kids," Wei Jing said, handing Yang Qing a box. "A language repeater for you, to help with your foreign language studies."
[六两对半斤 (liù liǎng duì bàn jīn): lit. Six taels vs. half a catty of the other; fig. no real difference]
"Thanks." Yang Qing deflated a little. If he could choose, he’d have preferred something else.
Yang Jiabo grinned. "Perfect for you. Keep it up, kid!"
"Different fates for different folks. Ah, life’s unfair." Yang Qing sighed dramatically before hoisting the largest suitcase. "Where should I put this?"
Wei Jing: "In Jiajia’s room."
Yang Jiabo: "Isn’t that your luggage?"
Wei Jing nodded matter-of-factly. "Yeah."
"You have your own room, don’t you?" Yang Jiabo was puzzled. Why did they have to squeeze together?
Wei Jing: "We haven’t seen each other in ages. We’ll talk deep into the night by candlelight."
Yang Qing looked between them. "So, have you two decided? Where’s it going?"
Wei Jing: "Jiajia’s room."
Yang Jiabo: "Put it in his room."
Yang Qing rolled his eyes and lugged the suitcase, huffing and puffing, straight to Yang Jiabo’s room. Yang Jiabo stared in disbelief, this little opportunist.
"Fine, whatever. How long are you staying this time?" Yang Jiabo finally gave in.
"About a week. There’s still a lot to handle back in Beijing."
"Oh, how’s Wei Feng been? Haven’t heard from him in a while."
"I heard he’s in some training program, no contact with the outside world for a long time. He keeps saying he wants to stay at your farmhouse for a bit, but he’s never free. You wouldn’t recognize him now, he is as tanned as charcoal. If he fell into a coal pit, you’d never find him."
"Same as Yang Qing. That guy turns unbearably dark the second he steps into the sun. Tell Wei Feng to come whenever he’s on break, food and lodging are on me." Yang Jiabo was feeling generous.
"By the way, where are all the guests?" Wei Jing asked.
"It’s still early. They’ll start trickling in soon."
"Jiajia, I want your braised carp, poached spicy pork slices, and stewed chicken soup." Wei Jing was a carnivore - meat lover, veggie hater.
"Sure, I’ll make them for you later."
As they chatted, they carried the items inside like ants moving house. Most of Wei Jing’s gifts were sweets such as toffees, assorted chocolates, cookies - so sweet it was almost nauseating to look at, but Yang Jiabo was thrilled.
"Brother Jiajia, how are your teeth holding up?" Yang Qing asked before turning to Wei Jing. "Aren’t you worried he’ll get diabetes?"
"Scram! Don’t jinx it. This is my one and only hobby, no one’s taking it away from me." Yang Jiabo shooed him away like a fly.
"Fine, you two chat. I’ll take Dahei and Xiaohei on patrol." Yang Qing hummed as he left. "The Great King ordered me to patrol the mountains, so I’ll wander the human world…"
[A humorous folk song about a minor deity patrolling the mountains, popularized by a 2016 comedy film]
Yang Jiabo hadn’t expected the song he’d absentmindedly hummed to stick with Yang Qing. Thankfully, he hadn’t picked up much, and it hadn’t spread.
Yang Jiabo: "That’s everything. I’ll go prep lunch. You organize your stuff."
Wei Jing: "I’ll come with you."
"Alright, let’s go catch a fish first."
At the lotus pond, Yang Jiabo handed Wei Jing a net that looked like something between a butterfly net and a fishing tool. "Your turn. Pick whichever fish you want and scoop it up."
"Will this even work?" Wei Jing eyed the makeshift net skeptically - sturdy bamboo pole with a circular metal ring attached to a funnel-shaped net.
"Of course." Yang Jiabo nodded, then settled in to watch the show.
It was peak lotus season, the pond was filled with pink and white blooms. Two small wooden boats rested by the shore, ready to drift through the gaps between the lotus leaves. Romantic visitors often reenacted scenes from dramas, paddling out to nap among the greenery.
Yang Jiabo had secretly tried it himself when no one was around. The cool water, the gentle rocking - it was soothing and poetic. If only there weren’t so many mosquitoes.
But today, they skipped the boats and walked along the shore to a shallow spot. Plump fish darted through the water. Wei Jing studied them, then the net, before making his move.
He targeted a carp weighing about two pounds, carefully positioning the net before swiftly scooping. Only for the fish to flick its tail, twist, and escape.
No comments:
Post a Comment