[A Brief Chat About Trivial Matters]

"Damn it! I knew you, old woman, took my money! Still denying it..." If he had truly lost more than a hundred yuan, he couldn't have remained so calm. So, by morning, Fang Lujun was already convinced that the money was with his wife.

Just before noon, he finally found the money under the pillow and started arguing with Congrong. "See? Isn't this it? I told you, you took it!"

Congrong replied, "Did I even need to take it? After a few drinks, do you even know who's who? Last night, you nearly swore brotherhood with your own son, and handed it to him yourself."

"You're talking nonsense! Stole my money and now slandering me..." Fang Lujun vaguely remembered, but of course, he wouldn't admit it.

"Ask Chang'an, see if I'm right," Congrong said, turning to call a witness.

"Dad, Mom, I'm going over to Qiuqiu's house to make a phone call!"

Fang Chang'an wanted no part in the quarrel, lest he be caught in the crossfire. He quickly lowered his head and slipped out.

The door to Fang Dianqiu's house was open. He walked straight in. Fang Changfeng's wife, Liu Xiqin, was in the west room making food. Fang Chang'an poked his head in and greeted her, "Sister Qin, cooking?"

Liu Xiqin was kneading dough. She looked up at him, her face beaming. "Oh, the top student in the school is here? Qiuqiu is watching TV in the room."

Fang Chang'an smiled shyly, not picking up her teasing. "I'd like to borrow your phone to call a classmate."

"Go ahead, use it. I'm busy with the dough, so I won't come over. You know how to use it anyway."

The two families had lived across from each other for years. There had been some unpleasantness, but they were kin and generally got along well, treating each other's children kindly. Liu Xiqin didn't act distant with Fang Chang'an.

Fang Chang'an felt the same. He walked to the main room, where Fang Dianqiu and Fang Tiantian sat on small stools watching TV. Fang Dianzhou was outside playing with Fang Changming.

They had clearly heard the commotion outside. Fang Dianqiu leaned over, watching Fang Chang'an come in, and asked, "Who are you calling?"

On the TV, "Journey to the West: The Afterstory" was playing, with the eldest disciple flipping acrobatically. Fang Chang'an glanced at it, surprised that the show aired so early, and replied:

"My homeroom teacher. I borrowed a book from her and plan to return it soon."

Fang Dianqiu asked, "When are you leaving?"

"After lunch. There's nothing much to do anyway."

Fang Dianqiu hesitated. Most girls were more attached to home than boys, and at eleven, she wanted to stay home as long as possible, not leave for school early.

Fang Chang'an laughed, "Maybe you can leave later with Fang Ying. I'll go after lunch; I'm afraid if I go late, her family might be busy."

Fang Dianqiu still hesitated, wanting both to stay home longer and to leave with him. Finally, she said, "I'll ask Yingying later."

"Alright."

The phone was installed in the inner room. Fang Chang'an went over, saw Fang Dianqiu's messy bed, ignored it, and picked up the phone to dial Shen Mo's number.

The phone rang three times before someone answered. A woman's voice asked, "Hello, who is this?"

Fang Chang'an replied, "Hello, Auntie, I'm Shen Mo's classmate, may I speak to her?"

The woman paused, and Fang Chang'an heard another, older woman's voice ask, "Sister Liang, who is it?"

The woman who answered said, "She says she's Mo Mo's classmate, looking for her."

A few seconds of silence passed. The woman then gently said, "Classmate, please wait a moment, Shen Mo will be here soon."

"Thank you, Auntie," Fang Chang'an replied, waited about ten seconds, and heard Shen Mo's voice approaching, "Who is it? Is it Fang Chang'an?"

Then her crisp, youthful voice sounded, "Hello?"

Fang Chang'an smiled, "It's me."

"I knew it was you," the girl's voice was both delighted and proud. "Fang Chang'an, what are you doing?"

"I'm calling you!"

Using someone else's phone, Fang Chang'an couldn't chat idly; every minute cost two buns. "I wanted to ask you something, hope I'm not disturbing you?"

"Not at all, what's up?"

"I'll be at Teacher Cheng's house around two o'clock to return her book. I was worried she might be busy and didn't call her, so I'm asking you—will she be free then? If not, I'll go later."

Shen Mo replied, "She'll be free, Auntie is always at home. Just come straight over."

Fang Chang'an smiled, "Alright, got it. I won't interrupt your studying anymore."

Shen Mo grumbled, "I'm not watching TV, I'm doing homework... Oh, no, not homework, I am watching TV."

Fang Chang'an suppressed his laughter, "Alright, enjoy. Phone calls are expensive, let's chat for free when we meet."

"Okay." The girl wanted to talk more, felt disappointed when he was about to hang up, but also amused, wanting to laugh, "I'll go to Auntie's house later too, we can talk then."

"Alright, I'm hanging up now, bye."

"Mm."

Fang Chang'an hung up and returned to the main room. Fang Dianqiu and Fang Tiantian stared at him, "Who did you call?"

Before he could answer, Fang Dianqiu quickly asked, "Your classmate?"

And continued,

"A girl?"

"That Shen Mo?"

Fang Chang'an pursed his lips, "Watch TV, watch TV."

Fang Dianqiu grumbled, "You don't have to say it, I know, definitely Shen Mo... Are you two close?"

"Not as close as you and me."

"We've been playmates since childhood, that doesn't count." Fang Dianqiu clearly wanted more gossip, but with her sister present, worried gossip might get out and Fang Chang'an might get beaten, she held back.

Fang Chang'an watched TV for a while, but his mind wasn't on the monkey. Fairy Biyou was so beautiful, and Bai Lianhua too... Why hadn't he noticed before? Seems "Journey to the West" was the same... That monkey led me astray!

Back home, his parents were already cooking. Since Fang Chang'an had to return to school in the afternoon, Fang Lujun had gone to the market and bought a kilo of pork.

Majia Gou didn't have gatherings on the first, fourth, or seventh days, but people from surrounding villages came to buy and sell. Today was September 14th in the solar calendar, August 18th lunar, not a market day, but after so many years, some vendors were open every day—a general store and a butcher, also surnamed Fang, who had leftover pork from the previous day's slaughter.

Fang Chang'an asked about the price—seven yuan a kilo. It was far cheaper than in later years, but they ate meat much less often.

Pork, cabbage, vermicelli, and dried green beans were stewed together, with thick pancakes stuck to the pot. The scent filled the courtyard. After the pancakes were done, Fang Lujun served a bowl and had Fang Changming take it to his grandparents.

A kilo of meat wasn't much for the family, and truthfully, the other side was well-off and hardly needed this. Congrong was obviously a bit unhappy but said nothing, urging Fang Changming to deliver it.

After lunch, Fang Chang'an said, "Dad, Mom, I need to go to our homeroom teacher's house to return her book. I'll leave after eating."

Both parents were surprised, but didn't object. Fang Lujun asked, "How much money do you have left? How much do you need?"

"The school wants to order uniforms, forty yuan. I haven't spent much. Mom gave me ten, and I still have thirty-five. If you give me fifteen more, that's enough."

Fang Chang'an then explained about selling buns at school, omitting the detail of earning two cents per bun, and told it much as he had to Fang Lusheng, saying he could eat more buns this way.

Not that he distrusted his father, but the man couldn't keep a secret; after a few drinks he'd brag to everyone. It wasn't exactly a secret, but being cautious never hurt.

Besides, he wanted to keep a low profile. After all, "a middle schooler earns buns by delivering them for classmates" was very different from "shocking! So-and-so started spotting business opportunities at twelve and profited by reselling buns."

Currently, Fang Chang'an had thirty yuan, but hadn't mentioned the money his grandmother gave him, so he claimed thirty-five. As for saying his mom gave him ten, that was just to make things look reasonable to his father.

Congrong glanced at her son but said nothing.

Fang Lujun was slightly better off, calculated Fang Chang'an's expenses over the past week, worried he might run out of money unexpectedly, so gave him twenty-five, ensuring he'd have twenty left after paying for the uniform.

"If you're visiting your teacher, you shouldn't go empty-handed," Fang Lujun said. He lacked self-control, but understood social etiquette. After discussing with Congrong, they decided Cheng Mengfei's family was wealthy and it was their son visiting, so there was no need to buy anything. Instead, Fang Lujun went to the field to pick something for Fang Chang'an to bring.

No sooner had his father left, Fang Chang'an pulled out ten yuan and handed it to his mother, grinning, "I didn't tell Dad the truth because he'd talk everywhere. I can earn money; ten yuan is more than enough, Mom, you keep it."

Congrong hesitated, then silently accepted it.

Fang Chang'an wasn't being dramatic; he understood the family's situation. This year, watermelons didn't sell for much, debts had been repaid, and the hundred yuan his father had might well be all the family's savings. His mother's money probably didn't even match his own.

Salt, rice, oil, and firewood—often, it was ten yuan that made all the difference.

An empty house, this was the real reason Fang Lujun "so easily" agreed to go work out of town. Fang Chang'an's push was only a catalyst.