Chapter 49  Huazi: You Won’t Leave Me Behind

On the rooftop of the little courtyard on Flower Street. This used to be the place the group of boys and girls would go when they were in a bad mood.

Tonight, Xia Fenghua was the first to go up. Then Xie Wanghe followed. After that, Ma Siyi went up. Finally, even Bai Zimo went up. That left only Shao Xingchi and Zhou Haikuo down below. Their families were a bit different.

Shao Xingchi’s father had a stable government job, so their life was manageable. Zhou Haikuo’s family was well-off, and he had all his relatives around him. He was probably the happiest of the group right now. Normally, this would be a cheerful group. But instead, the four sat there in silence.

One after another, they came up—each of them feeling a mess inside. It was as if everything had been joyful, but in the blink of an eye, the good times were gone. In the end, Huazi couldn’t hold it in anymore.

“Xie Wanghe, why is your family arguing?”

“Money, obviously. What else?”

Huazi let out a sigh.

“Sigh, if I ever get married, I don’t care if he has money or not, but he absolutely can’t be blindly filial.”

“Why not?”

“Because after all the hard work of making money, it all goes to his mother, and nothing’s left for our own home.”

Xie Wanghe shook his head.

“Then just find someone rich—problem solved.”

Easier said than done.

Where in the world could you really find something that perfect?—Wait, actually, there might be!

Huazi felt a bit lucky inside!

There was Bai Zimo!

He could earn money, had no parents—he was basically the ideal man.

“Zimo! What about you? Why did you come up?”

“I’m okay, just came to get some fresh air!”

“Liar!”

“My grandma is old. Eventually, she’ll leave me. Then I really won’t have any family left.”

_____

People are not plants—how can they be without feelings?

Bai Zimo was raised by his grandmother.

And then the old lady suddenly said, “I’m worried that after I’m gone, my dear grandson will truly have no one to love him.”

How could anyone hear that and not feel heartbroken?

“Heh, well, at least you’ve still got me! Grandma Lin’s health is pretty good.”

“Right!”

Suddenly, Ma Siyi started sobbing.

“Wait, Siyi, why are you suddenly crying?”

Huazi felt overwhelmed.

She was already upset herself. Trying to get answers from Xie Wanghe, showing concern for Bai Zimo, and now she had to comfort Ma Siyi too.

“I feel like my grandma is starting to talk about the end. She said her health isn’t good, and she’s scared something might happen!”

Tears flowed uncontrollably.

Ma Siyi choked up as she cried. Bai Zimo gently patted her on the shoulder.

“Your grandma wants you to grow up strong, not be sad. Cry if you must… then learn to be strong!”

“Mm-hmm!”

“Alright then, let’s comfort each other.”

Sigh!

They all sighed!

The four of them looked up at the sky at the same time. It really was true—life is mostly disappointment.

“Zimo, how did things end up like this?”

“Huazi’s family and Wanghe’s family are alike. Running boats doesn’t earn money anymore. When there’s no money, all kinds of problems come up.”

Poverty causes sorrow in marriages—leads to fights!

“Your family’s like Zimo’s—grandma is old and sick, and there’s no other close family.”

Birth, aging, illness, and death—no one escapes it. It was all so bleak. Bai Zimo took a deep breath.

“No money. So, find a way to make money. But when someone’s old, all we can do is spend more time with them.”

“Don’t all be so gloomy. If we’re all down, what’s going to happen to this courtyard?”

Huazi used to be the little sunshine of Flower Street. She was always the quickest to bounce back emotionally.

_____

Huazi nudged Bai Zimo with her shoulder.

“Zimo, say something cheerful. If you get rich in the future…”

“I’ll take you with me!”

Xia Fenghua clenched her little fist.

“Yes! I knew it, you wouldn’t leave me behind!”

“What about you, Xie Wanghe?”

“If I get rich, I’ll buy my dad’s boat, make him retire, and then buy them a house in the city.”

“If I’m buying, I’ll get one with a garden. Let them walk birds, grow flowers, bask in the sun—live stress-free.”

They could tell Xie Wanghe had some dreams.

“That sounds so boring. They’d die of boredom.”

“You just don’t know how lucky you are. You’re blind to your parents’ hard work.”

“Pfft, like you’re the model child.”

Bai Zimo chimed in, “Wanghe may be a bit idealistic, but he’s not wrong about buying a house. With the economy growing and new policies, if you’ve got money, buy property.”

Xie Wanghe was surprised.

“You’re not planning to start a business?”

“They’re not mutually exclusive. Buy a house within your means. These days, even borrowing to pay the down payment isn’t a loss—the value will only go up.”

“That’s nuts! You’re crazy! If I had money, why would I tie it up in real estate? Obviously, I’d use it to start a business! Make money grow money!”

“Well, I said my piece!”

“Enough already, stop arguing. Siyi, what about you?”

“Me?”

Ma Siyi looked at Bai Zimo with teary eyes.

“Sigh, forget it. Let Zimo take care of you too!”

“…How did you know that’s exactly what my grandma said?”

“…Ah…”

Huazi was a little stunned. Did Grandma Ma actually entrust her granddaughter to Bai Zimo?