Paying a Visit

Just past dusk, the alleyway grew bustling. The word received by the Gong household was that the screenwriter of Romance on Mount Lu and Tai Chi—who was also their daughter's good friend—was in Shanghai on business and dropping by for a visit. How could Mom and Dad neglect such a guest? To put it plainly, he was the great benefactor who had propelled their daughter to stardom. Mother Gong took half a day off specifically to shop for ingredients, and made arrangements with the two neighbor families sharing the floor to secure the kitchen first. "Mom! Buying duck was one thing, but ribs too?" "He's a distinguished guest! Without his help and guidance, where would you be today? He's coming to our home, so how could we not have meat on the table? Come over here and give me a hand." Mother Gong cooked personally, and Gong Xue obediently helped, though she felt a strange unease inside. She naturally wanted to treat Chen Qi, but the sheer spectacle before her was a bit too grand—duck, meat, and rice cakes, just like celebrating Spring Festival. Right now, Mother was preparing the ribs in the Shanghai style. She asked, "Xiaoxue, can he eat sweet things?" "I'm not really sure. He's from Beijing." "Oh, then he definitely won't be used to sweet ribs. I'll put in a bit less." Once Mother finished the ribs and turned to the duck, Gong Xue snuck a taste and pursed her lips. To him, this level of sweetness would definitely qualify as dark cuisine, but she didn't want to make a sound; she just wanted to watch him eat it. "Sis~" While they were busy, Gong Ying suddenly poked her head in. Gong Xue leaned in close. "What are you doing?" "Is he the one you helped draw pictures for?" "What about it?" "What's your relationship with him?" "Just friends!" "Then could you talk to your friend and recommend me for a role? You know I've always wanted to act." Gong Xue was in an awkward spot. She didn't want Chen Qi to open backdoors for her family, but she didn't want to hurt her sister's feelings either, so she said, "I'll find a chance to mention it to him, but I can't guarantee anything will come of it." "Got it! Thanks, Sis!" *** On the other side. Chen Qi casually bought some dried fruits and candied treats, carrying them as he headed over. Since it was in the nature of friends, there was no need for expensive gifts; in fact, coming empty-handed would have been fine, but out of politeness, he had bought a little something anyway. Arriving at the entrance of the alley, he looked inside. This was nothing like the modernized, packaged alleyways of later generations; it was authentic and raw. Everywhere he looked were bamboo clothes-drying poles. Several neighbors peered out from their windows. Like the courtyard compounds in the north, nothing stayed secret in an alleyway. Everyone knew the Gong family was hosting a guest today. "You're here!" Gong Xue had been waiting by the entrance for a while. Seeing him, she ran over and said, "Perfect timing, my mom just finished cooking... Pay attention later, no funny business, and don't let anything slip." "I know, I know!" Stepping through the door, Gong Ying came running downstairs first. Sizing him up, she exclaimed, "Big Screenwriter, you're even younger than I imagined! I heard you're only twenty?" "Xiaoying, mind your manners!" "I'm just surprised... You're even younger than me! Comparisons really drive people mad; my whole life has been a waste." "You're youthful and gorgeous. If your life is a waste, wouldn't everyone else have to go jump into the Huangpu River?" Chen Qi laughed. "You sure have a way with words. Come upstairs, Mom and Dad are waiting!" The three went upstairs, greeting two neighbor families on the way up, who both welcomed him warmly. Everyone knew who he was—the writer of Romance on Mount Lu, which was still screening in theaters. "Hello, Uncle, Auntie. Forgive the intrusion, I've brought you trouble!" "No trouble at all, no trouble! Xiaoxue told us everything. The two of us should be thanking you in person for giving her such immense help." Mother Gong and Father Gong were intellectuals—gentle, refined, and scholarly. Seeing how handsome and capable Chen Qi looked, they got a fine impression of him. Right away, dinner was served. Gong Xue's older brother and sister weren't there; they were still at work. "Xiao Chen, are you on a business trip this time?" "Yes. I wrote a television screenplay and accompanied the director here for casting. I also need to make a trip to Zhejiang myself." "What genre is it?" "It's about Bao Zheng solving cases, like The Case of Chen Shimei and such." "That's a good story. It has broad appeal among the public. Is the casting going smoothly?" "We have a few candidates, but there are many characters, so we still need to pick. The director originally wanted Sister Gong Xue to play Qin Xianglian, but the schedule clashed with a film of ours, so she couldn't take it." "You as Qin Xianglian? You really do look the part," Gong Ying giggled. "Mind your food!" Mother gave her a light swat. She hesitated, wanting to ask a favor for her daughter, but thought it inappropriate on someone's first visit. Chen Qi, already knowing Gong Ying wanted to act, took the initiative to say, "The director's standards are very strict—she only selects good-looking actors and actresses. Sister Gong Ying's appearance fits quite nicely." "Cough, cough!" Gong Xue suddenly choked, struggling to suppress her reaction. What do you mean, calling my younger sister "Sister"? Even if she really is older than you! "We leave for Hangzhou tomorrow at noon. You can come over in the morning to meet the director. A lead role is probably out of the question, but a supporting role should be possible." "Oh my, how could we possibly impose like this? This is your first time here, and you're already doing such a huge favor!" "It's nothing. We're casting anyway, so anyone suitable is welcome." Mom and Dad felt a little embarrassed, but since their daughter had her heart set on it, they could only express their gratitude. Gong Ying didn't care about any of that; overjoyed, she nodded vigorously. "Mm-hmm! I'll definitely go!" With this favor established, Mom and Dad became even warmer and more hospitable. Chen Qi chimed in harmoniously with the elders, creating a warm and lively atmosphere. Mother Gong suffered from the usual elder trait. As they chatted, she asked, "Xiao Chen, are you married?" "Not yet." "Oh, right, you haven't reached the legal marriage age yet." "..." Gong Xue lowered her head, clenching her hands beneath the table. "Then do you have a girlfriend?" "Not yet, either!" "You could find one! Someone young and talented like you ought to be paired with a youthful, beautiful girl of good character... Hey, there's one in my work unit—twenty years old, pretty, and gentle. Would you like to meet her?" "He lives in Beijing! If he finds someone in Shanghai, what's he supposed to do in the future? Don't go setting people up blindly. Xiao Chen is so outstanding, and there are plenty of young women around; surely plenty of people like him," Father Gong stopped his wife. "..." Their obedient daughter kept her head lowered, veins bulging on her clenched hands. After a moment, she suddenly looked up and said, "Mom, why don't you get him a piece of ribs to try?" "Oh, right, right! I almost forgot. Here, Xiao Chen, this is my specialty dish." Mother picked up a piece with her chopsticks and put it in his bowl. Chen Qi thought it looked great, rich in color, aroma, and presentation. He happily popped it into his mouth—and immediately, his throat began to feel cloyed with sweetness. He had eaten sweet-and-sour ribs and the like before, but he had never encountered ribs of this degree of sweetness. If Shanghai people had a sweet tooth, Mother Gong was truly at the pinnacle of the craft. He couldn't very well spit it out, so he had to swallow it down and nod in praise. "Auntie, your cooking is wonderful!" "I was worried you wouldn't be used to it, so I deliberately held back on the sugar. It's all right, isn't it?" "It's good, very good!" "Then have a few more pieces! Eat up!" Just as Chen Qi's sugar levels were about to max out, he hurriedly wolfed down the rest of his rice and announced he was full. Mom and Dad felt the reception had been a great success, bringing honor to their daughter. Gong Ying was thrilled as well to have a shot at acting. After dinner, Chen Qi didn't linger; he rose to take his leave, and the whole family saw him down. "Xiao Chen, come by more often whenever you have the chance!" "It isn't easy for Xiaoxue staying in Beijing. We'll have to trouble you to look after her." "Certainly, of course!" Chen Qi waved his hand. It wasn't convenient to speak privately, so his gaze merely lingered on her face for a moment. Gong Xue felt a swirl of complex emotions. Only after watching him leave the lane and vanish from sight did she silently turn back inside. *** Night fell. After chattering excitedly for ages, Gong Ying finally fell asleep. Gong Xue lay beside her sister, devoid of sleepiness. Her parents' behavior during the day had been completely normal, but it was precisely because it was so normal that she felt the pressure—in her parents' minds, the thought that the two could share any other kind of relationship had never even crossed their minds. Then she thought of Chen Qi's parents... Even decades later, children's romantic choices were hardly so free, let alone now.