Chapter 104: Pulling the Red Thread

There were many people at dinner that night, so they set up two large tables, everyone crowding together in a lively bustle, even more boisterous than during the New Year. All the dishes were country-style: the pork came from grain-fed pigs raised in the mountains, the vegetables had grown with natural fertilizer, and there was fragrant, chewy cured meat, tender wild greens cooked with eggs, and even simple wild greens blanched and lightly dressed—a refreshing treat in themselves.

After dinner, everyone agreed to take a walk up the mountain. There was no need to climb very high—about a hundred meters up stood a pavilion built as a scenic lookout, from which one could see the waterfall cascading down the mountain opposite. It was said the hot spring’s source was discovered downstream from this very waterfall.

“Hey, since the hot spring is downstream from the waterfall, do you think the waterfall itself could be hot?”

“You can go check it out. If it is, you could even take a shower under it.” The group burst into laughter at Yibai’s wild line of thought.

“I’m serious! Isn’t there any real hot spring waterfall?” he insisted.

“There is,” Chen Xin interjected.

Not many knew about it yet, but in a few years it would likely be developed. The locals, however, were already aware of its existence.

“There’s an autonomous region of a minority group where a hot spring waterfall can be found on the mountain. It should be the largest in the country, though I’m not sure if it’s the only one—I just heard about it from someone.”

It was no surprise Chen Xin knew so much; she enjoyed chatting with people online. Liu Chunyan was intrigued and urged her to tell them more.

“I’ve only heard about it secondhand. It’s not developed yet, but the locals know it well. The hot spring emerges from the mountainside, and over the years, the water has carved out many pools as it flows down. The locals usually soak in these pools. I’ve never been, but if I have the chance, I’d really like to see it myself.”

Not only Chen Xin, but everyone else was also tempted by the idea. People like Zhou Hao and Yibai, who had fixed work schedules, couldn’t just go, but Liu Chunyan could, and so could Cheng Jie, who was always finding excuses to travel for business. As long as she brought back contracts, her bosses didn’t mind her frequent trips.

“Oh, come on, what’s the point in thinking about that now? The place isn’t even developed. If you go, you won’t have anything to do except maybe soak in mud pits on the cliff like the locals!” Cheng Jie waved her hand dismissively. “Let’s go enjoy the hot springs here instead. I just chatted with the hostess; this resort has family pools and public baths, and every room has a small private tub. You can even play mahjong in the family pools. Who’s in?”

The draw of mahjong was clear as several people immediately stood up and headed down the mountain.

Grandpa and Grandma Liu, with two young children in tow, opted for the private hot spring in their room. Cheng Jie’s daughter insisted on playing with Zhang Zhang, and the children had a wonderful time in the water. Conveniently, the two families’ rooms were next door, so they split up by gender: three grandmothers and a nanny took the kids in one room, while the two grandfathers and Liu Chunyan’s husband, Teacher Song, stayed in the other.

The younger folks gathered together, taking turns at the mahjong table, laughter and banter filling the air.

The elderly didn’t like to soak for long. After a short while, they got out, changed into pajamas, and sat by the window to cool off, watching over the children and chatting.

All three grandmothers were retired professionals, and conversation flowed easily, spanning from their youth to the present, eventually turning to their children.

Each family had its own complaints. Old Mrs. Song grumbled that her son and daughter-in-law refused to have another child. She’d even arranged a plan: her daughter-in-law could “go for further studies” somewhere, give birth, and they’d send the baby to the countryside to be registered with a relative, then bring it back later on, transferring the registration when the time was right. But her son and daughter-in-law would have none of it, insisting that one child was enough. She couldn’t see the benefit of having just one—there was no one to discuss things with in case of trouble.

In contrast, Old Mrs. Liu said having one wasn’t so bad, either. She had two—a son and a daughter who got along well now—but back then, her daughter-in-law nearly drove her to her wits’ end.

Hearing her friends’ woes, Yibai’s mother suddenly felt that her son’s lack of a romantic life might not be such a big deal. But looking at Zhang Zhang and her little girl, she pouted—she wanted a grandchild too! She didn’t care if it was a boy or a girl, just one would do!

Seeing her wistful expression, the other two grandmothers asked gently what was wrong. Yibai’s mother poured out her troubles.

“That just shows Officer Yi is ambitious,” Mrs. Song declared. “But a man can’t really make a life for himself until he settles down. So he still needs to date, and you still have to push him. You’re his mother—if you don’t worry, who will? These young people just want to be free, but do they ever think about who will care for them when they’re old? By then, they’ll regret it bitterly.”

Old Mrs. Liu didn’t quite agree, but seeing the look between Yibai’s mother and Mrs. Song, she wisely kept her silence and nodded with a gentle smile.

“That’s exactly how I feel, but Yibai just won’t listen. His father’s the same—he says let the boy do as he pleases and not to meddle too much. But like you said, I’m his mother; if I don’t care, who will?”

At that moment, the nanny came in, having finished bathing and dressing the children. She overheard and chimed in, saying mothers always had to worry. Her own son was the same way—talk to him about dating and it was like asking for his life. All he did was sit at the computer. If he’s so attached, maybe he should just marry the computer and see if it gives him children!

A band of mothers united in their complaints, while the men in the next room caught snatches of the conversation and exchanged knowing glances.

“Hey,” one of the women asked, “what about your Officer Yi and that classmate Bai? They seemed to get along well—are you sure they’re not secretly dating?”

Old Mrs. Liu was startled and looked up in surprise. “Really? I haven’t heard Xiao Xin mention anything. That girl, Bai Mengqing, isn’t in the best health and has been recuperating at home. When did she meet Officer Yi?”

Yibai’s mother was actually quite satisfied with Bai Mengqing—she thought the girl was talented, pretty, and kind-hearted. From what she’d heard, the Bai family’s circumstances weren’t bad, either. They didn’t need to rely on their daughter-in-law’s family money, but it was always easier if both families were well matched—less likely to cause disputes. Otherwise, if one side kept sending money home, sooner or later there’d be trouble.

Yibai’s mother recounted how the two had accidentally met, leading to Bai Mengqing’s stay in the hospital. She concluded, “I think it’s fate. The two are well suited—it’s just I don’t know what Bai thinks of my silly son.”

“That’s easy. I’ll find a chance to ask for you,” Mrs. Song said, patting her chest with confidence. She’d worked in women’s affairs before—she was an expert at feeling out people’s intentions.