hotmtlnovel Chapter 1511 The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind
Chapter 1511 The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind
Chapter 1511 The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind
February 9, 1994, Lunar New Year's Eve.
Before dawn, the sound of firecrackers in Donglin City never stopped. The crackling sounds rose and fell, and the smell of gunpowder mixed with the crisp, cold air after the snow drifted through the streets and alleys.
Every household had brand-new Spring Festival couplets pasted on their doors, the red paper and black characters looking especially festive against the backdrop of the white snow. The snow in the yard had been swept to one side and piled up, and children dressed in new clothes ran around everywhere, holding small firecrackers in their hands, throwing one every now and then, which would explode with a "pop" and bring a burst of laughter.
Qin Hao arrived at Grandpa Cui's house early in the morning. He carried two carefully prepared gift boxes of pastries and a bottle of fine wine, and pushed open the familiar courtyard gate.
The yard was covered with a thick layer of snow, at least half a foot deep. Qin Hao put down his things, picked up the broom leaning against the corner of the wall, and began to sweep. The broom swept across the snow, making a "swish, swish" sound, and snowflakes flew up. He swept very carefully, from the yard gate all the way to the house door, clearing a clean path.
As they were sweeping, the courtyard gate was pushed open. Cui Guomin strode in, beaming with pride, followed by Li Xiaozhen and Cui Meng, their hands full of bags and packages of gifts. He paused for a moment when he saw Qin Hao sweeping snow, then smiled and said, "Oh, so early."
Before Qin Hao could speak, Old Master Cui poked his head out from the doorway. Upon seeing Cui Guomin's nonchalant demeanor, he immediately glared at him: "You still have the nerve to say that! Ji Qiang came over early this morning to help out, and look at the time! The sun's already high in the sky!"
Cui Guomin awkwardly scratched his face, chuckled, and quickly pushed his daughter Cui Meng out.
Cui Meng was wearing a red padded jacket; she was pretty and quiet. She obediently greeted, "Happy New Year, Grandpa."
The old man's expression softened a bit for his granddaughter's sake. He snatched the broom from Qin Hao and tossed it to Cui Guomin: "Ji Qiang, go inside and warm up. Let him sweep! It's the New Year, how can we let you do chores?"
Li Xiaozhen quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes, Ji Qiang, you take a break first, we'll handle the rest. You're our guest."
Qin Hao readily agreed, tossing the broom to Cui Guomin, brushing the snow off his hands, and following the old man into the house.
The house was warm and cozy, with the stove burning brightly. The old lady was busy preparing the New Year's Eve dinner, and a delicious aroma wafted from the kitchen. Seeing Qin Hao come in, she quickly greeted him, "Ji Qiang, come in and sit down! You must be freezing. Have some hot tea to warm yourself up."
Qin Hao smiled and took the teacup, sitting down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed). The room was decorated festively, with newly bought New Year pictures on the walls and melon seeds, peanuts, and candies on the table. The television was on, showing a story from the editorial department.
Erpang was already sitting in front of the TV, clutching a mountain of snacks—potato chips, shrimp crackers, sunflower seeds, and peanuts. He stuffed them into his mouth while staring intently at the TV, his cheeks bulging out like a hamster hoarding food.
The old lady held Cui Meng's hand, pouring hot water and offering snacks. Cui Meng glared at Erpang with some disdain, then sat down on a chair and quietly watched TV.
After a while, Cui Guomin and Li Xiaozhen finished shoveling the snow and went inside. Li Xiaozhen went to help in the kitchen, while Cui Guomin sat down next to Erpang and asked in a low voice, "Erpang, where's your dad?"
Erpang glanced cautiously at Grandpa Cui, and seeing that he was talking to Qin Hao and not paying attention to them, he whispered in Cui Guomin's ear, "I asked him to come to Grandpa's house for the New Year, but he absolutely refused. He's probably celebrating the New Year with Uncle Hongwei right now."
It's funny, really. Despite Huo Dongfeng's burly build and ability to single-handedly take down a whole gang in a fight, he's terrified of this skinny old man. Every time Old Master Cui is mentioned, he runs away like a mouse before a cat.
Cui Guomin looked at Qin Hao again, his eyes questioning. Qin Hao spread his hands and lowered his voice: "Don't look at me, I've already called him, but I can't drag him away. You know how stubborn he is."
Ultimately, Huo Dongfeng still felt guilty towards Old Master Cui. Years ago, he had gotten the girl pregnant, then went to prison, forcing Cui Xiaohong to leave her hometown for Japan, unable to return home for so many years. He felt ashamed to face the old man, ashamed to step into this house.
Choi Kookmin sighed and said nothing more.
Grandpa Cui saw his son's little tricks and glared at him. He put down his teacup and said sternly, "Don't get cocky just because you've made some money lately! You're not a guaranteed job anymore; you're self-employed. You're a grown man now, be more mature! Don't let Xiao Zhen and Meng Meng live in fear because of you."
Cui Guomin quickly sat up straight, patted his chest, and promised, "Dad, don't worry! I promise I'll make sure they live a good life! Next year, next year I'll be able to get Mengmeng a car! I mean what I say!"
Looking at his son's nonchalant attitude, Grandpa Cui wanted to scold him, but it was the New Year, and he couldn't lose his temper in front of his granddaughter. He could only shake his head helplessly and sigh.
Just then, the old lady poked her head out of the kitchen, holding a spatula in her hand: "Guomin, isn't Xiaohong supposed to be back today? Why hasn't she arrived yet? Go to the alley entrance and meet her, in case she doesn't know the way."
Cui Guomin was about to get up when his grandfather stopped him. The old man's face darkened: "What are you welcoming me for? They're not guests! They can't even find their own home, what are they doing back here?"
The old lady also lost her temper, slammed the spatula on the cutting board, and shouted at Cui Guomin, "I told you to go, so go! Don't pay any attention to him!"
Caught in the middle, Cui Guomin was torn. He looked at his grandfather and then at his grandmother, and finally ran out to prevent the situation from escalating further. He knew his parents too well—they argued fiercely, but deep down they both wanted his sister to come back. His grandfather was tough on the outside but soft on the inside; he might say harsh words, but who knew how much he was thinking about her?
Li Xiaozhen quickly came out of the kitchen and persuaded the old lady to go back: "Mom, don't be angry, it's the New Year. Dad is just saying it, he must be happy inside. Let's finish cooking first, and when Sister Xiaohong arrives, we can have a hot reunion dinner."
The old lady calmed down and went back to the kitchen to get busy.
……
It was nearly noon when Cui Guomin returned, covered in snow and shivering. Behind him followed a woman in a burgundy coat, carrying a red suitcase.
The woman was about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, tall, with fair skin and delicate features, bearing a resemblance to Choi Kookmin in her eyes and brows. She wore a well-tailored burgundy cashmere coat and black leather boots, and her hair was styled in fashionable large waves.
Cui Meng and Erpang were both stunned, staring intently at the woman who was both strange and familiar.
Erpang's gaze was particularly complex. His lips trembled slightly, and the two words rolled around in his throat several times, but he never uttered them.
Until the old lady rushed out of the kitchen.
The moment she saw the woman, she froze. Tears streamed down her face, her lips trembled, and she couldn't speak for a long time. Then she hugged the woman tightly, as if afraid she would run away again.
"Xiaohong! My daughter! You're finally back!" The old lady's voice choked with sobs, and tears soaked the woman's shoulders.
"Mom!" Cui Xiaohong hugged the old lady tightly, sobbing uncontrollably. Ten years had passed, and she had finally returned to this home, finally seen the mother she had longed for day and night.
Old Master Cui stood to the side, watching this scene, his eyes also reddening. His lips moved, as if he wanted to say something, but nothing came out. In front of everyone, he forced his head up, stubbornly holding back his tears. But in his cloudy eyes, a clear, crystalline light shone.
It took a while before the mother and daughter let go of each other.
Cui Xiaohong wiped away her tears and scanned the room. She saw Cui Meng, then Qin Hao, and finally her gaze settled on Erpang.
Erpang stood there, his chubby body trembling slightly, his eyes filled with tears, but he stubbornly refused to let them fall.
"Mom," Erpang finally called out, grabbing Cui Xiaohong's leg tightly.
Cui Xiaohong looked down at Erpang's chubby face, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. There was guilt, heartache, but perhaps also a hint of... disgust?
She bent down and patted Erpang's head: "Erpang, how have you been all these years??"
Grandpa Cui saw this and snorted coldly, "Your mother and I are doing alright, we wouldn't mistreat Erpang. Don't worry, he won't go hungry!"
"We weren't being too harsh, look how fat he's become..." Cui Xiaohong pinched Erpang's cheek and muttered softly. Her tone was teasing, but also a little unnatural.
Erpang was stunned for a moment, and the smile on his face froze.
Seeing that Grandpa Cui was about to lose his temper again, Grandma quickly interrupted: "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back! Mom made your favorite fried pork, come and try it, is it still the same as when you were a child! Come on, everyone, sit down and eat and chat!"
Then everyone sat down around the dining table.
The table was laden with dishes—fried crispy pork, braised pork belly, stewed ribs, pickled cabbage and pork belly, chicken stew with mushrooms, stir-fried potatoes, green peppers, and eggplant... The table was overflowing with food, steaming hot and fragrant.
Cui Xiaohong picked up a piece of fried crispy pork, put it in her mouth, and chewed slowly. She nodded, her eyes reddening again: "It tastes like I was a child. Mom, I've been craving this taste for so many years."
Upon hearing this, the old lady burst into tears again.
After everyone started eating, Cui Xiaohong noticed Qin Hao. Cui Guomin then briefly explained Qin Hao's situation.
Upon hearing this, Cui Xiaohong's eyes lit up. She picked up a piece of pastry that Qin Hao had brought, took a bite, and savored it.
"Ji Qiang, your skills are really good." Cui Xiaohong put down the pastries and said seriously, "Why don't you come to Japan with me? My husband owns a cake shop there, and he needs a pastry chef like you. The salary in Japan is much better than in China. You can earn two or three hundred thousand yen a month, which is equivalent to ten or twenty thousand yuan. You can work in my husband's shop for a few years, save enough money, and then come back to open your own shop. Wouldn't that be better than staying here?"
Qin Hao found it amusing. They actually dared to try and poach his employees?
"Not interested," he said casually, picking up his teacup and taking a sip.
Cui Xiaohong wasn't giving up and continued, "Don't rush to refuse. Japan is a developed country with many opportunities and broadens your horizons. You can learn a lot and earn money there. It's much better than working hard here making bread from dawn till dusk. Besides, you don't have any relatives in China..."
Before Qin Hao could even refuse, Old Master Cui became displeased. He slammed his chopsticks on the table, his face ashen: "You want to go abroad, no one's stopping you! But don't keep dragging others down with you! No matter how good foreign countries are, that's not home! Don't forget where your roots are!"
Cui Guomin kept giving Cui Xiaohong meaningful glances.
But Cui Xiaohong didn't take it seriously.
"Dad, those are outdated ideas. Everyone's eager to go abroad these days; everyone wants to see the wider world. What's wrong with going out and making a name for yourself? Do you want to stay stuck in this small place your whole life?"
Before he could finish speaking, Old Master Cui slammed his hand on the table, and with a loud "bang," the bowls and chopsticks jumped up.
"Who said Ji Qiang has no relatives?!" The old man glared, his voice shaking the roof. "Your mother and I are Ji Qiang's relatives! Since you speak so highly of foreign countries, why did you come back?"
Cui Xiaohong hadn't expected the old man to get so angry. She was stunned for a moment, then her eyes reddened, and she covered her mouth and ran out.
"Xiaohong!" the old lady called out a few times from behind, then shouted at Cui Guomin, "Guomin, hurry! Go after your sister! Go now!"
Cui Guomin then realized what was happening and quickly chased after him.
The old lady rarely lost her temper with Grandpa Cui. Pointing at him, her fingers trembling, she yelled, "Old man! Our daughter finally comes home! If you drive her away, I'll never forgive you!"
Grandpa Cui stiffened his neck, wanting to say something, but seeing his wife's expression, he ultimately remained silent.
Li Xiaozhen and Cui Meng looked at each other, unsure whether to comfort the old man or soothe the old woman first.
Erpang sat there, a far cry from his usual gluttonous self. He gazed towards the door and muttered to himself, "Mom, I'm still here."
……
It wasn't until the afternoon, before the New Year's Eve dinner, that Cui Guomin brought Cui Xiaohong back.
Cui Xiaohong's eyes were red, clearly from crying. She walked up to Grandpa Cui, head bowed, her voice muffled: "Dad, I'm sorry. I spoke without thinking, please don't be angry."
Grandpa Cui looked at her and remained silent for several seconds. Then he sighed and waved his hand, "Alright, it's good that you're back. Let's eat."
Cui Xiaohong nodded and returned to her seat.
The New Year's Eve dinner was rather tasteless. Although the table was still laden with dishes, the atmosphere was completely different. Everyone was preoccupied with their own thoughts, and hardly anyone spoke. The old lady served food to Cui Xiaohong, who ate silently. Erpang tried to talk to his mother several times, but looking at her distant face, he swallowed his words.
After a hasty end to the event, Qin Hao helped clear the dishes and then said goodbye and left.
Night had fallen, and the occasional sound of firecrackers echoed through the streets. The snow crunched underfoot, and a chilly wind swept down my neck.
Qin Hao returned to the rented room, and as soon as he opened the door, Huo Dongfeng ran out from the inner room.
He was wearing an old cotton-padded coat, his hair was messy, and his face showed obvious nervousness and anticipation. When he saw Qin Hao, he hesitated, rubbing his hands, and didn't say a word for a long time.
"What? You want to ask about Cui Xiaohong?" Qin Hao bluntly asked.
Huo Dongfeng was a little embarrassed and scratched his head: "You figured it out?"
"Your feelings are written all over your face." Qin Hao took off his coat and hung it on the coat rack behind the door. "You're out of luck. She's already remarried in Japan, maybe even has kids."
Upon hearing this, Huo Dongfeng froze on the spot.
After a long while, he finally moved. He gave a self-deprecating laugh, a laugh more painful than a grimace: "Yeah, it's been over ten years. People should have their own lives by now, why should they wait for me? Who do I think I am?"
Qin Hao patted him on the shoulder: "Alright, stop forcing yourself. Call Hongwei over, let's have a drink together. It's the New Year, let's get together as brothers."
"Hmm, have a drink." Huo Dongfeng nodded, winking. But a single tear slipped through the net, sliding down his cheek. He quickly wiped it away with his sleeve, pretending nothing had happened.
Qin Hao pretended not to see and turned to go into the kitchen.
He prepared a few simple dishes to go with the drinks—smashed cucumber, peanuts, scrambled eggs, and a plate of braised meat he brought back from the shop. Before he even put them on the table, Huo Dongfeng and Hongwei had already started drinking.
They drank a bottle of loose liquor, taking turns sipping until it was empty. Huo Dongfeng's face was already flushed with drunkenness, and his eyes were glazed over.
Qin Hao brought the dishes over and poured himself a glass.
Huo Dongfeng put a hand on Qin Hao's shoulder, his tongue a little thick: "Brother, let me tell you. When I heard the news that Cui Xiaohong got married in Japan, my first reaction was indeed a little heartbroken. But to be honest, I was mostly relieved."
Qin Hao looked at him but didn't say anything.
"Tell me, if she really waited for me all these years, how can I repay her?" Huo Dongfeng said, tears streaming down his face again.
He wiped his tears with his sleeve and took a deep breath: "But no matter what, I still have to thank her. Really, thank you. At least she left me with Erpang."
"From now on, I don't want anything else. I just want to take good care of Erpang. I don't care if he brings honor to the family. As long as he's well and safe, my life, Huo Dongfeng, will have been worthwhile!"
Qin Hao punched him on the shoulder and said with a stern face, "Brother, what you're saying doesn't make sense."
Huo Dongfeng was stunned.
"How old are you now? Just over forty! You have a long life ahead of you, and many opportunities await you!" Qin Hao said earnestly, "Now is the time to build your career. You have to make up for the ten years you lost! Not for yourself, but for Erpang. You have to make him proud of you, instead of making him feel like he has a useless father."
"Big brother, I think Brother Ji Qiang is right," Hongwei chimed in. "Even if it's just for Erpang's sake, we have to achieve something. Even if Erpang turns out to be neither good at academics nor martial arts in the future, we'll still have our backs!"
Upon hearing this, Huo Dongfeng's eyes regained their light. The light grew brighter and brighter, dispelling the gloom from before.
He waved his hand and said fiercely, "Alright! From now on, we brothers will work together and make something of ourselves!"
"That's more like it!" Qin Hao raised his glass. "Come on, let's have a drink!"
"Dry!"
The three wine glasses clinked together, making a crisp sound.
……
On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Cui Xiaohong returned to Japan.
The day she left, the old lady saw her off at the alley entrance, holding her and crying for a long time. Cui Xiaohong simply patted her mother's back and said, "Mom, I'll call often. Once I'm settled over there, I'll take you to live in Japan."
The old lady shook her head and said nothing.
Cui Xiaohong got into a taxi and disappeared around the street corner. The old lady stood in the snow, watching the car drive away, motionless for a long time.
Grandpa Cui stood at the courtyard gate, watching from afar. He neither approached nor spoke. But his cloudy eyes were clearly filled with disappointment.
Back in the house, the old lady didn't speak to Mr. Cui for three days.
No matter what the old man said, she pretended not to hear. She only cooked for herself and ate her meals in her own room.
The old man had no choice but to tighten all the bottles and jars in the house—his usual way of "making peace." Every time he angered the old lady, he would tighten the soy sauce, vinegar, and oil bottles, waiting for her to open them. If she couldn't open them, she would naturally have to talk to him.
In the past, the old lady would have readily agreed. Unfortunately, this time, the tactic backfired.
The old lady got even angrier when she saw the tightly sealed bottles and jars. She packed up her things and went to live at Cui Guomin's house, leaving the old man alone at home and not even cooking for him.
Two days later, after much persuasion from Mr. and Mrs. Cui, the old lady calmed down and moved back in. However, she still didn't talk to the old man much, and would just cook an extra portion and leave it on the table without calling him.
The old man didn't mind at all, and ate happily, saying, "My wife's cooking is just so delicious."
The old lady had her back to him, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, but she quickly suppressed it.
……
After the New Year, Grandpa Cui went to Dingqinglou to finish his last two weeks of work.
Actually, he could have retired before the new year. He was sixty, had worked his whole life, and deserved a rest. But the old man had too deep an affection for Dingqinglou and couldn't bear to leave like that. He insisted on standing guard until the very end, explaining everything clearly and finishing all the work he had on hand.
On his last day off work, he stood at the entrance of Dingqinglou, looking at the old plaque for a very long time.
That plaque was personally inscribed by Xu Shichang. Over a hundred years ago, it has weathered many storms and still hangs above the door. He has been looking at this plaque since he was an apprentice at the age of sixteen, for over forty years.
He reached out and gently stroked the edge of the plaque, as if stroking the face of an old friend.
"Old friend, I'm leaving." He said softly, "You stay here and watch this shop for me."
Then he turned around and slowly walked away.
Behind me, the signboard of Dingqinglou gleamed in the setting sun.
After Mr. Cui retired, Manager Tang, who succeeded him, finally took office.
The portly middle-aged man, on his first day of work, was impeccably dressed, his hair meticulously combed. He stood at the entrance of Dingqinglou, hands on his hips, gazing at the plaque with a smug smile on his face.
Then, he started his crazy antics.
First, under the guise of "increasing revenue and reducing expenditure," they seized control of the kitchen's supply procurement. Previously, the head chef would personally go to the market to select the freshest vegetables. Now, that's no longer possible; they have to go through suppliers designated by them, and the prices are even higher than before.
The head chef in the kitchen was trained by Grandpa Cui and had worked for him for over twenty years. He was extremely intolerant of any imperfections. When he saw that the vegetables delivered by the new supplier were all wilted and the meat was all frozen, he was immediately furious and went to confront Manager Tang.
Manager Tang was sitting in his office drinking tea when he heard the head chef's question. Without even lifting his eyelids, he said, "This is company policy. Do you have any objections? If you don't obey management, you're fired."
The head chef had never been treated like this before. He immediately took off his apron, slammed it on the table, and shouted, "Fine, I'm leaving! I quit!"
Without hesitation, Manager Tang brought in a "master chef" from outside. He was said to have worked at the Southern Grand Hotel and was highly skilled.
As a result, the dishes prepared by that "chef" made regular customers frown upon tasting them. The flavor was wrong, and the cooking time was off.
From then on, Dingqinglou's business plummeted.
The bustling scene of long queues at mealtimes is gone; now there are only a few tables occupied, and sometimes hardly any customers all day. The waiters are so bored that they just huddle together and chat.
When Grandpa Cui heard about it, he was frantic. He ran to the entrance of Dingqing Restaurant, and seeing how deserted it was inside, he stamped his feet in distress. He wanted to go in and argue with Manager Tang, but he stopped at the door. He was retired, no longer the manager, and had no right to interfere.
He could only stand at the door, looking at the old plaque, and sigh deeply.
Qin Hao stood at the entrance of the cake shop, watching everything unfold.
Watching the portly Manager Tang come and go from Dingqinglou every day with a smug smile on his face, Qin Hao's lips curled into a smile.
The mantis catches the cicada, and the oriole is behind.
It all comes down to who has the last laugh.