Zhao Dazhuang led Zhao Meimei to sit on Brother Yangyang's pure leather sofa, looking at the luxurious home appliances in the living room, trying hard not to look around like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden.
Brother Yangyang didn't expect Zhao Meimei and her dad would bring dumplings to him on New Year's Eve. He was caught off guard and felt a bit apprehensive in front of Zhao Dazhuang, a stranger older than him.
Zhao Dazhuang took the initiative to say, "You are Shi Yang, right? My surname is Zhao, and I'm Meimei's dad. You can just call me Uncle Zhao."
Brother Yangyang nodded and politely greeted, "Hello, Uncle Zhao, you can just call me Yangyang. That's how my mom calls me."
Zhao Dazhuang asked with concern, "Is it okay for you to live here alone tonight? Do you want to come to my house to stay up for New Year's Eve together?"
Brother Yangyang politely declined, "No, I've gotten used to it."
Brother Yangyang turned to the cabinet to get some snacks to entertain Zhao Meimei.
Zhao Dazhuang quickly stopped him, "No need. As soon as Meimei's mother took the dumplings out of the pot, she sent us over here. After delivering the food to you, we have to go back."
Zhao Dazhuang, with heavy eyebrows and small eyes, naturally had a smile, appearing amiable. He took the dumplings from the bag, instructed Brother Yangyang to fetch a clean plate, poured the dumplings onto it, and placed the pig trotters next to them.
Zhao Dazhuang commented, "Meimei's mother newly marinated these pig trotters, learned from Meimei's grandmother, they taste really good. Since you're alone, I didn't take too much. If it's not enough, go to the grocery store tomorrow to find Meimei's mom, there's more at home."
Zhao Dazhuang packed up the plates and bowls brought with him, repackaged them into the bag, and pulled Zhao Meimei up from the sofa, "Eat some while they're hot, it's New Year after all. You ought to have some dumplings for luck, and we'll head back first."
Zhao Dazhuang told Zhao Meimei, "Weren't you insisting on paying New Year greetings to Brother Yangyang at home?"
Zhao Meimei wasn't shy at all, quite liked Brother Yangyang, thinking this big brother had a good temper, looked good, and was nice.
Zhao Meimei wished Brother Yangyang, "Brother Yangyang, Happy New Year."
Brother Yangyang lifted his handsome face, smiled at Zhao Meimei, "Meimei, Happy New Year."
Brother Yangyang was touched and thanked Zhao Dazhuang, "Uncle Zhao, thank you and Auntie, please convey my gratitude to Auntie when you return, wishing you both a Happy New Year."
Brother Yangyang was well-liked among the adolescents for his good looks and clean attire. From the first glance, Zhao Dazhuang liked him, feeling that he was a good kid, polite, and very well-mannered.
Zhao Dazhuang smiled kindly, "No need to be so formal, consider us acquainted now. You call me uncle, and I'll recognize you as my big nephew, feel free to visit our home."
Brother Yangyang nodded in agreement.
Zhao Meimei, hearing they were about to leave, tilted her head, her bright and shiny dark eyes blinked at Brother Yangyang, took two steps forward, and pulled candy from her pocket.
The candy wrappers rustled, Zhao Meimei's small hand needed three tries to get them all out, she stuffed the candy into Brother Yangyang's hand, cheerfully saying, "Brother Yangyang, keep this candy, tomorrow when I come over to play, we'll eat it together."
Brother Yangyang, holding a handful of candy, chuckled and agreed, "Okay, I'll leave it on the coffee table, waiting for you to come tomorrow to eat together."
Zhao Dazhuang, both amused and exasperated, lightly swiped Zhao Meimei's head, "This kid!" he said indulgently.
Zhao Dazhuang led Zhao Meimei out, and as they stepped outside, Zhao Meimei inadvertently turned back, and saw Brother Yangyang flashing her a look: Are you really coming over tomorrow?
Zhao Meimei nodded repeatedly, smacking her lips: I've handed over my candy, I definitely have to come over!
Her funny little face showed a serious expression, which looked both comical and a bit adorable.
Brother Yangyang couldn't help but chuckle again.
Zhao Meimei turned back too, grinning widely. She didn't quite understand what Brother Yangyang found amusing, just seeing him laugh made her want to laugh along.
Brother Yangyang, barefoot in slippers, stood in the courtyard, sending Zhao Meimei and her dad out the big iron gate. Through the fence gate, he watched Zhao Meimei swinging on her dad's arm like a monkey, eyes showing a glimpse of envy, quietly watching for a long time.
The next morning, Zhao Meimei just crawled out of bed, wearing a vest and shorts with hair tousled like a bird's nest, clamoring to go to the small western-style building to find Brother Yangyang to play.
Liu Xiue hurried to cover her back in bed, "It's cold inside, quickly, put on clothes so you don't catch a cold."
Zhao Meimei stretched her arms and legs, she cooperated to put on the clothes.
While helping her dress, Liu Xiue muttered, "I sewed your new cotton jacket last night, the new clothes, you insist on tearing it, luckily it's on the collar where it's not noticeable, if it's torn on the front, I'd just patch it!"
Zhao Meimei just woke up, initially eager to go out and play, now hearing those two words from her mom, sleepiness crept back, her head sunk into the pillow, she asked in a daze, "Will I become Grandma Zhao from Building Three if I wear it?"
Liu Xiue paused, realizing she meant the lonely elder Aunt Zhao from Building Three.
Previously, Aunt Zhao had a son working in the factory, later he got severely ill and couldn't be saved, the family's money was handed over to the hospital, the old lady lived off the thirty-plus yuan monthly aid from the factory.
At that time, factory workers only earned a little over two hundred yuan a month, and Zhao Dazhuang, with technical posts and all allowances combined, barely made three hundred twenty yuan.
Aunt Zhao, living alone, scrimped to save for burial expenses, when clothes were worn out, she simply patch them. Zhao Meimei watched curiously, approached Aunt Zhao, and asked, "Grandma, you have many floral patches on your clothes, they look nice."
Aunt Zhao liked children, though Zhao Meimei's face wasn't much to look at, she was sweet, wasn't shy, and knew how to be accommodating. Aunt Zhao cherished her, and replied smilingly, "These are called patches, when clothes are torn, you sew a piece over, when I was young, everyone wore clothes like this, but it's not fashionable now."
That day, Zhao Meimei returned home and pestered Liu Xiue, insisting on sewing patches onto her new clothes. Liu Xiue, upon hearing, felt sympathetic toward Aunt Zhao, and on festivals, asked Zhao Dazhuang to buy some fruits and a pack of snacks to send over.
Zhao Meimei ran a grocery store and Zhao Dazhuang's high salary from the technical sector, aside from sending a hundred yuan to each of their elderly family members monthly, they lived fairly well.
Their elders were all in the south, they couldn't bear to see anyone unkind to the elderly, or like Aunt Zhao's pitiful days, often encouraged Zhao Meimei to visit Aunt Zhao's house, keeping her company and chatting.
Liu Xiue educated Zhao Meimei then, "What's the use of being good-looking? The most important thing is inner beauty. Being kind, compassionate, respectful to the elderly, loving the young, polite, makes one recognized by everyone."
Zhao Meimei, half-understood, nodded. Anyway, whatever her mom said seemed right to her. Liu Xiue, seeing Zhao Meimei's face wasn't quite beautiful, was determined to cultivate her from a young age, teaching Zhao Meimei to become kind-hearted and compassionate.