After walking through the rooms, Zhang Guoqing found that Old Mrs. Cheng must have already had soone ticulously clean them before. Aside from a layer of new dust, even the storage room was spotlessly clean.
The small courtyard, though not large, had everything. The main house and the left and right wing rooms were all fitted with kangs. The south room, used as a study after serving as the living room, was simply furnished.
In the courtyard, there was a tall jujube tree on the left, under which was the entrance to the cellar. In the middle of the courtyard was a pogranate tree loaded with fruit. At that mont, Ping’an was looking up, circling around the courtyard’s pogranate tree.
There’s an old saying in Beijing: "Awnings, fish tanks, pogranate trees." It refers to the unique sumr scenery in Beijing’s courtyard houses. In earlier tis, the houses often used pogranate trees, symbolizing many descendants, as decorations, with fish tanks scattered among them.
Every sumr, awnings were erected to block the blazing sun, allowing leisurely strolls between the pogranate trees and fish tanks. How pleasant that was!
Nowadays, the awnings are gone, and the remaining fish tanks have been repurposed. Zhang Guoqing imagined that leaving pogranate and other fruit trees in the family’s three courtyards was intentional, especially with seasonal fruits becoming scarce, to stave off cravings.
"Dad, there’s so here too."
Zhang Guoqing smiled knowingly and said, "When the fruit matures in a while, Grandma Wu from the courtyard over there will bring so. I’ll bring you here to pick so then."
Hearing this, Ping’an broke into a bright smile, bouncing towards the jujube tree. The half-green, half-red jujube fruits covered the branches, bending them downwards, presenting a festive sight.
"Dad, can we pick the jujubes now?"
"Wait a little longer. ’July for the red circle, August for the falling stick.’ There’s no rush to pick them now. Be careful of the hairy caterpillars stinging you."
Ping’an eagerly nodded. In a while, he would definitely co, not at all worried about his little buddies stealing them. When he ca in, he noticed that almost every courtyard had jujube trees.
As people passed through the alley, they could see from outside the courtyard walls, with so trees even extending beyond the courtyard. His family’s tree was good, growing inwards, ensuring no benefits were lost to outsiders.
Zhang Guoqing chuckled. Climbing walls, climbing trees, picking jujubes, and playing soccer in the alleys—these were activities he’d let his son indulge in, forming beautiful mories for the future.
"Dad, what should we do next?"
"Let’s go back. We’ll co over again when your mom gets back."
Ping’an ran towards him, and he picked him up, looking up with a beaming smile, asking, "Dad, can you take out to play today?"
Zhang Guoqing found it amusing, watching him ask so sweetly and softly, he couldn’t bear to say no. Walking towards the door, he laughed and said, "Sure! You pick a place."
"I knew you were the best, Dad."
Zhang Guoqing closed the door and patted him on the butt, "Stop buttering up your dad. So, where do you want to go today? Nowhere far."
"Can’t we go to the countryside?" Ping’an looked disappointed, poking him, "When Mom cos back, let’s go hunting. Grandma Chen said I’ve gotten thin."
Zhang Guoqing laughed heartily. This little rascal, thin? Wanting to practice his skills is more like it.
"Dad?"
"Okay, as long as your mom agrees, we can go anywhere."
"You’re so uncommitted."
A white-haired, spirited old man ca out of the neighboring courtyard, curiously observing the father and son. Hearing the child’s innocent words, he chuckled along.
Zhang Guoqing stopped, put Ping’an down, "Hello, sir. Son, greet your great-grandpa."
"Hello, great-grandpa."
The old man cheerfully replied, "Hello, little one. Are you moving in? Need any help? I’ve got a big family, just give a shout if you need anything."
Zhang Guoqing laughed and shook his head, "Thank you, sir. My wife is on a business trip, so we have to wait a bit more. Where are you heading?"
"Just wandering around. Are you leaving?"
Zhang Guoqing nodded with a smile.
"You’d better hurry, it’s getting hotter, and the kid will suffer."
Zhang Guoqing picked up Ping’an again. As the father and son bid farewell, they could still hear the old man’s hearty invitation for them to visit his ho next ti. What a hospitable old man.
When they got ho, both father and son were covered in sweat. They grabbed so fresh clothes, took a shower, and finally felt relieved.
Aunt Chen saw them return to the living room and brought over two bowls of green bean soup, "Drink these to cool off. As soon as you left this morning, Da Yi and a few others ca looking for you, asking you to contact them."
"Dad, you’re so busy."
Aunt Chen chuckled, "You’re not bad either. Just now, a few from the front, including Shuanzi, ca looking for you. Is it ti for your gathering?"
Zhang Guoqing teased right after, "Son, do you want to sponsor so liquor for your gathering this ti?"
Ping’an giggled, "I didn’t get drunk last ti, I just fell asleep."
"Whose turn is it this ti?"
"It’s at Fatty’s house. But she got a beating from her mom and said we have to wait. Her mom won’t give her pocket money right now. Once her grandma returns, she won’t be scared."
Speaking of their gatherings, it’s always full of surprises and excitent.
They started with plain water, and finally saved up enough for the soda they longed for. They were overjoyed. After a month or two, one weekend they planned another gathering, pooling one unit and a half units each, but ended up with only twenty cents. What to do?
The kids sat in a circle to discuss and unanimously agreed to buy a twenty-cent orange-flavored Beibingyang soda, so everyone could have a taste, and spend the remaining money on popsicles.
That plan was quite good. They gathered at Old Sir Mo’s house. His six-year-old great-granddaughter, Mo Xiaobei, was a daring little girl. When she saw that one bottle of soda wasn’t enough for everyone to drink, she sneaked into the study and stole an open bottle of liquor when no one was ho.
Following her lead, the little buddies took a small bucket. Now it was a ss; they poured in soda, popsicles, and liquor altogether. That wasn’t all; a fat little girl of five or six ran ho to steal a bottle of honey from her mom and added it in, while making the others promise to keep it a secret.
The kids were thrilled. Yes, they could drink alcohol, they were adults now. These little ones, always longing to grow up, each took a cup. Even though it was a bit spicy, the cool, sweet taste tempted them.
Now they were truly drunk. Except for Ping’an, who stopped after a small cup, almost a kilo of liquor was consud by the six or seven kids.
When Old Mrs. Mo returned with the maid after shopping, she walked into the living room to find five or six flushed, sleeping kids sprawled around, with two others energetically singing and dancing wrapped in sheets.
Old Mrs. Mo slled the alcohol and knew what happened, laughing heartily, she quickly called the neighboring grannies to co and enjoy the scene.
After this event, the little rascals didn’t gather for a long ti. But with the long sumr holiday, it seed they were eager to start again. Zhang Guoqing was a bit envious of their antics.
A beautiful childhood should be like this. These childhood blunders will accompany them as they grow, becoming their most cherished mories.
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