Chapter 28

Young and Innocent

I’m talking about me, Stupid!

On the train back to E City, Pang Qian slept against Gu Mingxi’s shoulder. Gu Mingxi didn’t feel like sleeping at all. He kept his head turned toward the window.

The train traveled through the city and then through the countryside. The high rises in front of his eyes turned into patches of fields. Gu Mingxi watched the regressing scenery, and he felt a bit perplexed.

Li Han had never mentioned the things that Pang Qian had told him about. Gu Mingxi always tested 1st in the grade, so Li Han would rarely ask about how his studies were going. There was still a year before the high school entrance exams, and she had never asked him what high school he planned to go to.

But Gu Mingxi had once overheard his parents talking. He hid in the kitchen and heard Gu Guoxiang tell Li Han, “We don’t need to think about what school Gu Mingxi can test into. We have to consider which school will accept him.”

In the past years, Gu Mingxi had spent a lot of effort studying. The characters he wrote with his foot were very beautiful. He even wrote English really well, his letters ending with a beautiful little tail. Using his foot, he made clean and precise geometric shapes with his triangle ruler and protractor. All his math papers could be used as a model for the correct answers. His memory and comprehension ability were outstanding. Even in elective cla.s.ses, he performed well and was never insincere about learning for them. And with the help of his cla.s.smates, he was even able to do experiments with his feet.

Gu Mingxi’s life was simple and pure, and would probably be considered rather boring. He spent most of his time studying, and in his remaining free time, he drew and painted. The rest of his time was usually spent on something related to Pang Qian.

Watching the TV series that she recommended, listening to her favorite music, reading the comics that she liked. Thank goodness there was a Pang Qian to make Gu Mingxi’s life more rich and colorful.

It was true that he hadn’t thought about what the future would hold. After all, he still hadn’t graduated from junior high yet. Three years of high school, four years of university, or even longer. How could the current Gu Mingxi be thinking of his future profession?

But Li Han had already thought about it. She wanted him to work in finance. Gu Mingxi didn’t know anything about that line of work. He knew that Jin Ai’hua was a treasurer. She always sat at a desk, calculating with an abacus. Gu Mingxi felt a bit stuffy. If he had to use his feet to calculate with an abacus, it would be very, very slow.

He didn’t want to work in finance at all.

—

When Gu Mingxi and Pang Qian got home, it was already 7:30. After the past three days and two nights, the two kids had gotten tanner, and they looked a bit unkempt. Pang Qian was really hungry. When she got home, she started calling out about eating dinner. When Gu Mingxi got home, and with his father’s help, he took a dump.

The night before, he’d felt a bit of a need to go, but it wasn’t very strong. So he just held it back, for an entire night and another day.

After his amputation, this had become a sort of specialty of his. Unless he had diarrhea, Gu Mingxi could hold it for two or three days without issue.

After Pang Qian finished eating the fried rice Pang Shuisheng made for her, she sat at the table eating grapes. Jin Ai’hua was fanning herself as she sat down next to Pang Qian. She asked her daughter, “Qian Qian, tell me the truth. How many of you went to Shanghai to play?”

Pang Qian spit out a piece of grape skin, and she replied guiltily, “I told you already. There were four of us.”

“There were really four?”

“Really.”

Jin Ai’hua put Pang Qian’s camera onto the table. “When I go develop these pictures, if there aren’t four people in them, you figure out what you’re going to do.”

Pang Qian panicked. She hadn’t expected Jin Ai’hua to have this trick. Pitifully, she said, “Mom, at the start, they said they would go…”

Jin Ai’hua was angry to death, her hand reaching out to pull on Pang Qian’s ear. “You crazy girl! Do you want to die?! If your Uncle Gu didn’t tell me, I wouldn’t know that you and Gu Mingxi were by yourselves in Shanghai! When did you learn to lie?! Ah?! Aren’t you ashamed?!”

Pang Qian cried out in pain, “It hurts, it hurts! Mom! Of course I’m ashamed!”

Jin Ai’hua was furious as she shouted at the back of her head. “Still won’t admit your mistake! Gu Mingxi is a boy! You’re a girl! Can the two of you go out together? And overnight too! And in the same room! Your Auntie Li said that when Gu Mingxi goes out, he can’t use the washroom by himself! Did you know?!”

Pang Qian hid her head in her arms, “I know!”

Jin Ai’hua paled from shock, “You know?! You know and you still went out with him?! Answer me this. When you were in Shanghai, did you ever have to help Gu Mingxi use the restroom?”

Pang Qian refused to respond. Jin Ai’hua exploded, “I’m asking you a question!”

Pang Shuisheng was attracted to the commotion in the living room. He walked over slowly and said, “Qian Qian just got home, and she just finished eating. Why are you scolding her again?”

Jin Ai’hua hit the table and said, “You ask your precious daughter! Gu Mingxi is already a 15 year old boy! When the two of them go out, how can Gu Mingxi use the toilet!”

Pang Shuisheng looked towards Pang Qian uncertainly. Pang Qian hesitated before she said, “Gu Mingxi can use the bathroom on his own! I only helped him…once…a little.”

Her voice grew quieter, because she realized her parents were glaring at her with wide eyes.

Pang Qian finished with her final struggle, “It’s nothing. Really, it just once. When we were younger, didn’t I always bathe with Gu Mingxi? We always touched here and there…”

…

Li Han was putting away the clothes, and then said to Gu Guoxiang, “What’s going on next door? Didn’t Qian Qian just get home? Why is Ai’hua already hitting her? Qian Qian’s crying is really loud.”

Gu Guoxiang ignored her. He was leaning against the bed, engrossed in his book.

Li Hun folded all the clothes and put them into the cabinet. Then she went to shower and came back into the bedroom wearing a camisole nightgown.

She laid down next to Gu Guoxiang. After aimlessly s.h.i.+fting around a bit, she asked a bit shyly, “Guoxiang, today…is my that day.”

Gu Guoxiang didn’t even lift his eyes from his book as he asked, “What day?”

“When I’m ovulating.” Li Han lowered her eyes and moved closer to Gu Guoxiang. “It’s been a long time since we’ve done it. Let’s try today, okay?”

Gu Guoxiang was silent for a moment. Then he put down his book, took off his gla.s.ses, and pinched the bridge of his nose. He said, “Ah Han, I’m really tired today.”

Li Han was disappointed. After all, the ovulation period was only one or two days a month. If they missed this month’s, they would have to wait another month. But she wouldn’t go against Gu Guoxiang.

Li Han said, “Mm,” and then turned off the TV. She left the bed and got a cup of milk. “I’m going to sleep first. When you’re tired, drink this milk, and then go to sleep.”

She laid down on the bed sideways, her back facing Gu Guoxiang. After awhile, she heard the sound of him drinking the milk. Then he turned off the lights and also laid down on the bed.

Gu Guoxiang wrapped his arms around Li Han, from behind her. Li Han didn’t make a sound. She understood Gu Guoxiang too well, she knew that there was something he wanted to say to her.

Indeed, after a bit of silence, Gu Guoxiang started speaking. “Do you remember I told you about Lin Weibin before? My friend in Shanghai. I’ve known him for ten years.”

“I remember,” Li Han said.

“He called me today, and he was apologizing nonstop.”

“Why?”

“Yesterday, I asked him to help Mingxi and Qian Qian arrange a place to stay. This afternoon, he took his wife and daughter out, and invited Mingxi and Qian Qian to lunch. There was a bit of trouble when they were eating, and everyone ended up unhappy.”

Gu Guoxiang’s tone was very even, and Li Han wasn’t sure what he was getting at. She asked, “What happened?”

“Lin Weibin said that his daughter, she’s 11, was a big startled by our Mingxi. She’s young and doesn’t understand things, so she said some excessive things.”

Li Han, “…”

“Ah Han, I have a lot of friends in Shanghai. Every time I go there for a business trip, they always arrange to go out to eat. They call me Chief Engineer Gu. They send me cigarettes, alcohol, and someone’s even given me money before. When we’re eating, everyone always talks about their kids. Someone asked me before, ‘Chief Engineer Gu, how old is your kid?’ ‘Son or daughter?’ So I said I had a son, he was in junior high. They asked when I would bring my son along to Shanghai. After all, E City isn’t very far away. I could only say that my son was busy with school, so he didn’t have time. I said my son was always first in the grade. During school breaks, he studied painting. Then they’d say, ‘First in the grade? Then your son will definitely be very talented in the future.'”

Li Han, “…”

“Now that Lin Weibin knows about Gu Mingxi’s situation, it won’t be long before all my friends in Shanghai know. What will they say then? Will they think I was bluffing? Gu Guoxiang’s son doesn’t even have arms, but he draws? And he’s first in his grade?”

When he said that, Gu Guoxiang chuckled quietly. “Ah Han ah… I often think about if the baby inside you had stayed back then, they would be 4 or 5 months old now, right?”

There were already tears streaming from Li Han’s eyes, but she clenched her teeth tightly, so as not to make a sound. Gu Guoxiang let out a sigh, then loosened his hold. He said, “Alright, goodnight.”

—

School started again in September, and Gu Mingxi and Pang Qian started their third year of junior high. Even if Origin of Flight wasn’t an amazing school, the students in the fast cla.s.s still started to become nervous and tense.

At the end of the year, it would be the turn of the century. On December 31st, Pang Shuisheng took his wife and daughter to his parents’ house for dinner. When they returned home, there were sounds of firecrackers and fireworks all around.

Pang Qian didn’t like to release fireworks. She was a bit scared of fire, and she particularly hated the smell of gunfire after a firework was set off.

With fireworks sounding off loudly outside the house, Pang Qian carried a box of chocolates over to Gu Mingxi’s house and knocked on their door.

She politely greeted Gu Guoxiang and Li Han with New Year’s greetings. Then she walked into Gu Mingxi’s room.

He was doing his homework. Pang Qian really admired [that?]. After she pushed a chocolate piece into his mouth, she sat down on the edge of his bed, swinging her legs back and forth.

Gu Mingxi turned to look at her, a slight smile on his face. Beaming, Pang Qian asked him, “Does it taste good? My little uncle brought it back from his trip abroad.”

“It’s pretty good.” Gu Mingxi stood up, then sat down next to her on the bed. “Is there something you needed?”

Pang Qian glared at him angrily, “I can’t come over unless I need something?!”

“Really fierce… That’s not what I meant. Didn’t you go out to eat dinner?” Gu Mingxi asked. “I thought there was something, so you came to look for me.”

Pang Qian grumbled, “There’s nothing. I just came over to play. Hey, do you have any new comics?”

“Yeah, I secretly bought a few editions of Kindaichi.” Gu Mingxi sat down at the chair in front of his desk. He bent over, and reached his leg into his desk drawers. Eventually, he pulled out a comic book. He repeated this until he’d taken out four books.”

Pang Qian was extremely happy. “Why do you hide them like me? Hey… It’s all dusty.”

“What else can I do? If my mom finds out about it, she’ll definitely confiscate them.” Gu Mingxi returned to Pang Qian’s side. Pang Qian opened two pieces of chocolate. She ate one, and she fed the other to Gu Mingxi. She flipped through the comic and said, “I haven’t read this one yet. Let me borrow it.”

“Okay, but don’t lose it.”

“When have I ever lose one?”

“You’ve lost four of my comics! One book of Rurouni Kens.h.i.+n, two books of Yu Yu Hakusho, and one book of Hunter x Hunter!”

Pang Qian looked at him doubtfully, “I lost them?”

“Of course!” Gu Mingxi was eating his chocolate as he said, “No matter what, I can’t find them!”

“So petty. I’ve lent you my comics to read too. And I’m even giving you chocolates!” Pang Qian curled her lips, “Gu Mingxi, you’re really so petty. After today, it’s a new year. You’re still counting our debts. What’s the big deal. I can buy them and replace them for you.”

“…” When faced with her brazenness, Gu Mingxi could only ever glare at her.

After awhile, Pang Qian had already kicked off her slippers and was lying on Gu Mingxi’s bed. She ate chocolates as she flipped through the comic. Her legs were raised behind her, continuously swinging back and forth.

Gu Mingxi sat next to her, watching her. He suddenly thought of something and said, “Pang Pang, do you know? The new living quarters west of the city completed construction.”

“Eh?” Pang Qian was very interested in this. In an instant, she sat up. “Really?”

“Mm,” Gu Mingxi nodded slightly, both his feet also on the bed. With his chin on his knees, he said, “My dad said it, so it’s definitely true. They’re at the final stages of setting up the houses. They’ll probably start a.s.signing them in July. And if it’s quick, we should be able to move in at the end of the year.”

“Wah! That means, if I get into First High, then I can move into a new house after just half a year? And it has an elevator?”

Seeing her so happy, Gu Mingxi also felt happy. Even his eyes smiled, as he said, “Yeah, just half a year.”

“That’s awesome!” Pang Qian lied back down on Gu Mingxi’s bed and wrapped her arms around one of his pillows. “I wonder if we’ll be able to be neighbors.”

Gu Mingxi shrugged his shoulders. “Living in the same community is already really good. If we really want to be neighbors, then my dad will just have to think of something.”

“Awesome!” Pang Qian was elated. Her school performance was very stable. Her chances of getting into Vast Voyage or Ninth High weren’t that good, but as long as she keeps up her work, getting into First High shouldn’t be a problem.”

Gu Mingxi bit his lip, then continued, “Pang Pang, if we’re still going to live in the same place, I think it’s better if I go to First High.”

Pang Qian was still for a moment, and the sat up.

Gu Mingxi watched her, not evading her gaze. He said, “A few days ago, my mom brought me to Vast Voyage. The recruiting teacher there saw my records, but the people there told me not to choose Vast Voyage.”

Pang Qian, “…”

“The same thing with Ninth High. I went there too, but they didn’t want me either.” Gu Mingxi smiled a little. “I told my mom that I wanted to test for First High. Since you’re testing for First High, my mom promised to take me there to see the teachers and ask about it later.”

Pang Qian asked anxiously, “What if First High doesn’t agree to it either?”

“Then there’s nothing I can do.” Gu Mingxi lowered his eyes and looked to the sides, at his empty, flattened sleeves. “But I figure there has to be at least one school that will take me, right? I’m not going to bring them a mountain of trouble or anything.”

Pang Qian nodded numbly, unsure of how to comfort Gu Mingxi. After thinking for a long time, she said, “Gu Mingxi, good luck. When you go to visit the teacher at First High, tell them that you have a very close friend that will also go there. The school can arrange for the two of you to be in the same cla.s.s, as deskmates. Your friend can help you with your daily activities, and no one else has to be inconvenienced.”

Gu Mingxi stared at her, his lips twitching. He asked uncertainly, “You’re not…talking about Xie Yi, right?”

“Are you crazy? How could I ask Xie Yi to help you?!” Pang Qian reached out to pinch his waist. Then she pat her own chest, “I’m talking about me, Stupid!”

Although her pinch had been pretty painful, Gu Mingxi was smiling happily.

And so, the two of them happily agreed on which high school they would test for.

Maybe he was just fortunate, but when the recruiting teacher at First High saw Gu Mingxi’s transcript, and even had a live demonstration of him using his foot to write, turn pages of a book, taking off his jacket, etc., they expressed their willingness to accept him. So, when it was time for students to fill out which school they would apply to, Pang Qian and Gu Mingxi both wrote in E City’s First High. Pang Qian wasn’t particularly concerned over where Xie Yi chose. Whether he picked Vast Voyage, Ninth High, or Second, Third, Fifth High, Pang Qian still wouldn’t change her decision.

But when she found out that Xie Yi had also picked E City’s First High, she still felt rather happy.

The high school entrance exam was held in June 2000. At the end of June, the results were released. Pang Qian and Gu Mingxi both performed very well. Especially Gu Mingxi. Not only did he score first in Origin of Flight, he was also first in the whole school district.

At the start of July, the admissions for each school were posted. Pang Qian was successfully admitted to First High. After calling to find out, she ran over next door. She was holding onto Gu Mingxi’s exam card as she helped make the call for him.

Gu Mingxi was dumbfounded, unsure if he should laugh or cry. “My test scores were better than yours. You got in, how could I not get in?”

“Be quiet.” Pang Qian listened carefully to the phone. Finally, she smiled, “Gu Mingxi, Gu Mingxi! We both got into First High!”

Gu Mingxi was also very happy. He said, “We should go out to celebrate. I’ll treat you to McDonald’s!”

“I can’t worry about eating yet!” Pang Qian cried out cheerfully. “I have to go ask my dad. I got into a good high school, so he should keep his promise! Ah, ah, Gu Mingxi, I’m so happy! At the end of the year, we’ll be neighbors again in a new house!”

Gu Mingxi nodded. “When your dad gives you the good news, I’ll treat you to a meal then!”

But Pang Qian’s good news never came. During this summer break, Pang Qian disappeared without a trace for three days.

Gu Mingxi went over and knocked on the door to Apt. 501. Jin Ai’hua opened the door for him. She said, “Mingxi, we have some family problems. Pang Qian can’t go out to play for now. In a few days, I’ll let her go over to find you.”

Gu Mingxi was very worried about Pang Qian, but hearing Jin Ai’hua say this, what could he do. He could only go home, slightly angry. He asked Li Han, and though she seemed to know something, she wouldn’t say anything.

The next time Gu Mingxi saw Pang Qian, it was already a week after the admission announcements.

Pang Qian went over to his house, his parents were both at work. Pang Qian sat in a daze in front of Gu Mingxi for a long time. And Gu Mingxi didn’t press for any answers, just sitting with her quietly. Finally, Pang Qian said, “Gu Mingxi, can you go somewhere with me?”

They walked a very long way, and they asked a lot of people for directions, before they finally found the public bus they wanted.

There wasn’t air conditioning on the bus, so it was really stuffy, like they were inside of a can. Gu Mingxi was sweating like rain. Pang Qian sat beside him, staring off blankly like a blockhead.

The scenery outside changed from a bustling city to a desolate wilderness. There were even a few farm fields. Gu Mingxi looked out the window startlingly. The bus doors swung open a few more times before they reached the terminal. Gu Mingxi and Pang Qian got off the bus. It was a shocking scene, a wide, open emptiness.

The sun in the sky s.h.i.+ned brightly, baking the earth below. Gu Mingxi’s lips were so dry that they were nearly peeling. He narrowed his eyes and looked around. Then he turned to the side, rubbing his chin on his shoulder to wipe off the sweat. He turned to look at Pang Qian, “Let’s find someone to ask directions. I’ve never been there either.”

Pang Qian nodded. The two kids walked for about 10 minutes before they saw a man dressed like a construction worker. Gu Mingxi asked for directions, glad that they hadn’t gone the wrong way.

They followed the direction that the man pointed in, and finally found their destination. It was under construction, a large, open factory. And to the side of the factory, there were blocks of completed, tall buildings. The walls were beige, and the windowsills were brown. It had a very textured look. The clear view of the apartments under the sun looked just like the advertis.e.m.e.nts had shown. The s.h.i.+ning gla.s.s dazzled Pang Qian’s eyes.

Gu Mingxi and Pang Qian stood at the bottom of the buildings and looked up. After awhile, Pang Qian suddenly burst into tears.

Gu Mingxi didn’t know what to do, and continued to comfort and coax her. He asked her what was wrong, why she was feeling upset. Pang Qian didn’t answer, and only cried louder.

She cried for a full 10 minutes, before she gradually quieted. She wiped away her tears with the backs of her hands. She turned to look at Gu Mingxi. His body and face were soaked with sweat, his eyes full of anxiety and worry. Seeing Pang Qian calm down, he finally said, “Pang Pang, don’t cry. What happened? Tell me.”

“Gu Mingxi, “Pang Qian sobbed and sniffled as she looked at him. Her eyes were swollen, like two peaches. “Did your dad tell you that after the move to the new factory, there will be restructuring?”

“Restructuring?” Gu Mingxi shook his head. “I don’t know.”

“I never heard my dad mention it either. They kept it from me for a long time.” As Pang Qian spoke, she started to cry again, her tears like loose beads falling down. “Gu Mingxi, my dad’s been laid off. He was laid off a bunch of months ago. He and my mom hid it from me because they thought it would affect my high school entrance exam. Now that the test is done, they finally told me. So…”

Gu Mingxi’s eyes grew gloomier and gloomier, as she said, “So, Gu Mingxi, we can’t be neighbors anymore.”

[End of Part 1]