188 Meeting Familiar Faces in a Distant Place, a Fortuitous Encounter (1/2)
”How about going with me to buy some things first?” After lunch, Wang Yao and Chen Ying were leaving the house.
”Okay, what are we getting?”
”We'll decide when we get to the supermarket. I haven't thought about it.”
Chen Ying and Wang Yao got into the car and drove to the nearest supermarket.
Wang Yao bought some things from the supermarket, spending a few thousand yuan. Following which, he found out the details of his aunt's residence through his mother, which he passed to Chen Ying. He spent the rest of the time in the car admiring Beijing's city streets.
His second aunt's residence was rather remote, in Beijing's 5th Ring Road. Along the way, Wang Yao saw a never-ending stream of cars. There were really a lot of cars in Beijing!
After roughly two hours, the car arrived in a small area of town.
”We're here, Doctor Wang,” Chen Ying said as she stopped the car.
”Okay, I'm going to trouble you to wait here for me.” Wang Yao got out the car with some gifts in his hand and proceeded up to his aunt's residence. After knocking for a while, however, there was no reply.
”There's no one home; they've all gone out to work,” at that moment, the neighbor next door told Wang Yao.
”Oh, thank you,” Wang Yao replied. He realized his blunder; at this time, most people would be at work.
After confirming with the lady that this was indeed his second aunt's residence, he left with the gifts still in his hands.
”What's wrong?” Chen Ying saw him coming back and asked.
”No one's home.”
”You didn't call to check beforehand?”
”I didn't. I wanted to give them a surprise,” Wang Yao replied. ”My apologies, I've made you come all the way here for nothing.”
”No problem, I'd be happy to bring you around. We didn't go far last night,” Chen Ying said.
”Shall we come again at night?”
”Sure, but you should probably call to check first.”
”Yeah,” Wang Yao agreed and took out his phone to send a message to his aunt.
In a particular departmental store in Beijing, in the elevator, a yellow-faced middle-aged lady looked down at her phone. Suddenly, she beamed in delight. She immediately made a phone call.
At the other end of the line, Wang Yao picked up the phone, hung up, and then called back.
”Second Aunt, this is Yao.”
”Yes, I'm currently in Beijing. I'm planning to come over tonight to visit you, Uncle, and Cousin. Will you be home?
”Nope, I won't be eating, thanks.”
After hanging up, Wang Yao felt his heart warming up. His second aunt was always very concerned about him. She asked him what he was doing in Beijing and whether he needed any help. She even insisted on making dinner for him.
Isn't it fortunate to meet familiar faces in a foreign land? Furthermore, they were family members too.
By the time he got back to the small yard, He Qisheng was already waiting outside. He had brought another batch of herbs for Regather soup, as well as a dinner invitation from the master of the Guo Family.
”My apologies, I've already made arrangements for tonight,” Wang Yao declined politely. ”Help me convey my thanks to Master Guo.”
”Then, how about another day?”
”Sure.”
After Chen Ying returned, she informed Wang Yao about her plans and left the house. Then, she headed over to the Su household to meet Su Xiaoxue's father.
”Elder, he also has relatives in Beijing.”
”Okay, where is it?”
”Ansheng district, in the 5th Ring Road. It's his second aunt,” Chen Ying answered.
”The whole family is in Beijing?”
”Yes. He's even going over to her house for dinner today.”
”Okay, I've got it. Good job,” the man replied.
”Then I'll head back first.”
”Go ahead.”
At about 5 pm that evening, Chen Ying drove the car out with Wang Yao. This just happened to be the hour in which Beijing's traffic was at its peak. The speed at which they were traveling at was very slow, and one could literally describe it as ”moving like a turtle.” By the time he reached his aunt's place, it was already close to 8pm. Yet, even at this time, his uncle still hadn't returned.
”Second Aunt,” Wang Yao had not seen his second aunt in close to two years. She was of middle built and was slightly on the fat side. Her complexion was yellowing, and she looked to be getting more and more tired.
”Why did you still buy things?” His second aunt scolded him, as she saw the gifts he brought.
”I bought these for you and Uncle; it's good for your health. You don't look too good recently, is there anywhere on your body that's in pain?” Wang Yao asked, concerned. An aunt was just like a half-mother, and this second aunt used to treat him very well during his childhood.
”Quick, come in.”
”What about Uncle and Li Na?”
”Your uncle is still on the way home; your cousin is at night school.”
After entering the house, Wang Yao looked around his aunt's Beijing house. It wasn't too big, around seventy square meters, and was furnished simply. After all, his aunt's family was considered working class, and it was pretty considerable that they already managed to afford a house.
”Drink some water first. I'll go get the rice.”
Wang Yao sat down for a while and then the door opened. His second uncle had returned.
At around forty years of age his body was rather thin and his eyes big. His hands were carrying some items as well as some cooked foods. Wang Yao immediately went up to help him.
”Uncle.”
”Oh, Yao, you're here.”
His uncle brought the food items into the kitchen and then returned to the living room to talk with him. Soon, dinner was ready.
”Time to eat,” Wang Yao's second aunt called.
”What about Li Na?”
”She'll only be back around 9 pm. We won't wait for her.”
In order to welcome Wang Yao, his aunt had busied herself for a while to prepare a large feast.
”Wow, what a spread!”
”Eat more.”
”Okay.”
The three of them sat down, talking as they ate.