Chapter 32: The Engaged Couple
‘So, you still haven’t gone back.’
Bai Sha lay on Zhou Haochen’s bed, having decided to sleep there and return home the next day, as it was already too late.
By the small desk, Xiao Yu clutched an old storybook, tugging at Zhou Haochen to tell her a tale.
Truth be told, Bai Sha had never read “One Thousand and One Nights” or “Grimm’s Fairy Tales” as a child, only having heard some of the more classic stories. She was, in her early days, quite the “cloud dweller” (TL Note: “云小鬼” or ‘yun xiaogui’ is a playful term referring to someone who lives in their own world or is detached from common knowledge, often because they spend time online or in their own imagination).
Zhou Haochen’s room had been completely taken over by the mother and daughter; he would soon be heading to the guest room next door. Being on a different floor from the elders actually felt quite comfortable, Bai Sha thought, sensing no awkwardness whatsoever.
“Shouldn’t Xiao Yu be sleeping in her own room by now?”
Xiao Yu, who had been listening intently to her father’s story, uttered, “Huh?”
“Perhaps?” Zhou Haochen mused, “I’ll ask my parents later when I started sleeping in my own bed.”
Xiao Yu’s plump, rosy face crumpled, and she scurried to her mother’s side, clutching Bai Sha’s clothes, appearing on the verge of tears.
“Baby doesn’t want to sleep alone, I’m scared…”
Seeing Xiao Yu’s watery eyes, Bai Sha’s heart immediately softened. She picked her up and cooed, “Alright, alright, Baby will sleep with Mama. No sleeping alone, okay? Good girl, don’t cry, don’t cry.”
Zhou Haochen was rather surprised. Why would such a sensible child be so resistant?
Bai Sha, however, instantly understood. The events from her dream were things she had recounted to Zhou Haochen, but he hadn’t experienced them with the same profound empathy she had. Xiao Yu was afraid of waking up to find her parents gone again.
She needed to hug her parents every time she slept to feel secure. Their own situation, then, was somewhat complicated.
Sniffling, Xiao Yu asked with a tearful voice, “Really?”
“Truly! Mama loves Xiao Yu the most; how could Mama sleep separately from Xiao Yu?”
Xiao Yu broke into a smile through her tears, muttering, “I love Mama the most too.”
Zhou Haochen, sitting nearby, asked with a smile, “What about Papa?”
“I love Papa the most too.”
Later that evening, Zhou Haochen was relegated to the next room, while Bai Sha lay in bed, embracing Xiao Yu. As she gazed at her sleeping face, a hint of melancholy settled over Bai Sha.
Witnessing the death of one’s parents firsthand would affect even the most cheerful child. Thankfully, fate had allowed Xiao Yu to find them.
Nothing should ever be taken for granted; only through loss does one truly learn to cherish. Bai Sha kissed Xiao Yu’s forehead.
“Good night. Mama will always be by your side.”
In the dead of night, Xiao Yu stirred, turning to embrace her mother before drifting back into a deep sleep, a faint, fleeting smile gracing her lips, as if dreaming a sweet dream of reunion.
****
The next morning, the family had to rush back to S City.
The elderly couple were bidding farewell to the family.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to drive you up? You didn’t bring your car down, and you’ll have to take the coach later.”
“It’s boring up there. Your father and I are much more comfortable here.”
Zhou Senior, laden with numerous bags and packages, was about to load them into the trunk. His haul far surpassed the items Bai Sha had brought.
“Uncle, please stop. We won’t be able to finish all of this. You and Auntie should keep them for yourselves.”
Zhou Senior had brought out several boxes of milk and drinks, gifts received during their recent visits to relatives.
“Oh, it’s fine! You can give the extras to your uncles and aunts; just consider it a small token of our affection!”
Seeing that she couldn’t stop him, Bai Sha could only let Zhou Senior have his way.
Once everything was ready and the family of three had settled into the car, Zhou’s parents waved to them from their doorstep, calling out, “Drive slowly on the road, and give us a call when you arrive.”
Zhou Haochen rolled down the car window. “Alright!”
Xiao Yu also poked her head out. “Goodbye, Grandpa and Grandma! 👋”
“Goodbye, Uncle and Auntie. Please take care of yourselves.”
The BMW slowly drove out of the village. As it was a holiday, the road was dotted with idle folk, loafers, old people, and children, all strolling leisurely or playfully bickering.
Bai Sha pondered that Xiao Yu, spending every day cooped up at home with her, didn’t even have a single playmate her age. Fortunately, she would be starting kindergarten next year.
After a journey of approximately three hours, the car entered S City. Having met the parents, it seemed they would likely prepare for their engagement next year.
Bai Sha looked at Zhou Haochen, who was driving, and asked, “Are we considered fiancés now?”
“Not really, I suppose? We haven’t officially gotten engaged yet. But we’re already living together, and we have a child, so you won’t be escaping my grasp anytime soon.”
Bai Sha raised an eyebrow; Zhou Haochen had become a bit too smug these past few days, acting as if he couldn’t distinguish between the king and ace (TL Note: “分不清谁是大小王” is a Chinese idiom, meaning to be so arrogant or pleased with oneself that one loses perspective and can’t distinguish between superiors and subordinates, or important and less important matters).
“It’s not certain who won’t escape whose grasp!”
“Alright, you’re right! It is I who have fallen at my lady’s feet.”
She hadn’t worn a skirt, apart from that one time trying on clothes; she had worn long pants all winter. She probably wouldn’t wear them much in the future either. This was ‘his’ last stand of stubbornness!
“Is Mama Monkey King? Why can’t she escape Papa’s palm?” Xiao Yu innocently asked.
“Because Mama will be Papa’s person from now on, just like the Buddha Tathagata could keep Monkey King from leaving his palm.”
Xiao Yu scratched her head, puzzled. “But Mama is more like Buddha Tathagata; she can always keep Papa in check.”
Zhou Haochen, driving, replied, “That’s because Papa loves Mama, just like Papa always lets you have your way.”
“Don’t listen to your papa. There’s no ‘letting’ anyone have their way. Papa needs to understand Mama, and Mama needs to be considerate of Papa. Love is mutual; that’s how Papa and Mama can be together.”
Embracing Xiao Yu, Bai Sha lectured, “In the future, whether it’s others or Papa, if they yield to you, Baby, you must understand in your heart that perhaps they love you, or perhaps they need something from you. Baby must not take an inch and ask for a mile…”
“How old is she? She won’t understand any of that.”
“But she needs to be subtly influenced from a young age! What if she ends up like those people who love to take advantage?” (TL Note: “蹬鼻子上脸” or ‘deng bizi shang lian’ is a Chinese idiom meaning to take advantage of someone’s kindness, to push one’s luck, or to take an inch and ask for a mile.)
Xiao Yu stood with her hands on her hips, refuting with full confidence, “I’m not stupid! How could I not understand!?”
Both Zhou Haochen and Bai Sha chuckled, asking, “Then tell Papa and Mama what lesson you’ve understood.”
“Papa likes Mama!”
“And what else?” they prompted, encouragingly.
“Um… Papa likes Baby!”
“Anything else?” they asked, probing.
“Nope!” she declared with an air of righteous indignation, despite her lack of a clear point!
Bai Sha was speechless; how could this child be so adept at grasping the main point!
****
Upon returning home.
Xiao Yu went to take a bath. Bai Sha and Zhou Haochen sat at the small bar counter, both feeling considerably more settled now that the past few days’ activities were complete.
“Did you say Lily also went to meet Sun Weijie’s parents?”
Zhou Haochen set down his cup and replied, “Yes, she actually met Lily’s parents too. It was after the holiday, much earlier than us.”
“How did it go, then?” As Bai Sha’s only female friend she could truly talk to at the moment, she was quite concerned about Lily’s relationship.
“Not very smoothly,” Zhou Haochen shook his head. “Lily is from S City, but ‘Oldest Brother’ (TL Note: ‘老大’ or ‘laoda’ is a common way to refer to one’s boyfriend/girlfriend or partner, especially in a more casual or affectionate context, or simply ‘the boss/leader’ in a group of friends) has a county household registration. Her family is demanding that he buy an apartment in S City.”
Bai Sha fell silent. She had only managed to grit her teeth and buy her own apartment after winning the competition. For a university student, even one from an A-list university, earning enough money for that within a few years of graduation would undoubtedly be an immense challenge.
Zhou Haochen continued, “They also want a car and a bride price of 150,000 yuan.”
Bai Sha was puzzled. “Why should they give a bride price when forming a new family? Shouldn’t they save that money to live well?”
Zhou Haochen didn’t know either; he simply drank, hoping that ‘Oldest Brother’s’ relationship could overcome this hurdle.
Bai Sha recalled that her own sister hadn’t even demanded a house, though she had asked for a bride price of 200,000 yuan. However, the difficulty of acquiring a house versus merely a bride price was not comparable; it was significantly greater.
“Fortunately, I have money,” Bai Sha sighed emotionally. “You’ll definitely be rich in the future too! These outdated customs!”
In the past, when marriages occurred, the woman would move into the man’s family, and families rarely split up, so it was inevitable for the bride’s parents to demand a bride price. However, most young people nowadays establish their own new households after marriage.
Yet, when it came to both sets of parents, there was often a greater leaning towards the groom’s side, and ironically, the bride price only grew more expensive. How strange, indeed!