Xiao Qi returned to her aunt's dormitory after 2:30 in the afternoon.
It was her aunt's busy time, so she did not disturb her.
The sound of her friends circle on her phone was not turned off, and there was a ding ding ding sound. She took a glance and saw many likes and comments.
Probably because she rarely posted, but suddenly posted something, even her elementary school classmate Zhang Juan left a comment: Too awesome (thumbs up), and curious questions: You actually know how to swim?
Various praises and curious comments, at a glance, were longer than a screen. She didn't know how to respond. She had never had the experience of not replying to messages before. She should reply to every one of them, right? Thinking this way, she felt posting on Friends Circle was a waste of time.
She was a little tired. In fact, swimming today was not as tiring as the usual training. She had not seen so many people and the atmosphere of the competition. Now that it was over, her whole body felt very tired, heavy, not just physically, but mentally as well.
At this moment, the phone rang. Xiao Qi saw that it was a call from home and quickly picked it up.
Her parents did not make calls lightly. Her relationship with her parents was not like Jiajia, who was spoiled by her mother. Although Xiao Qi would occasionally act spoiled with her mother, she was still very reserved. At most, she would ask her mother to cook something delicious. So when her parents took the initiative to call her, she always felt something was wrong.
Moreover, her parents could never figure out when it was best to call her. They probably thought she was taking a noon break now, but if it was a normal Tuesday at this time, she would actually be in class. She still could not get her schedule across to her parents. Xiao Qi answered the phone.
"Dear daughter, this Saturday, your cousin is getting married. Can you attend?" It was her mother speaking first.
She heard her father speaking in the background: "Ask our daughter first if she is busy or doing anything important. If she is busy, call her later."
"I'm not busy Dad. I'll go home Friday afternoon and we can go there together from home on Saturday," Xiao Qi replied after calculating her schedule.
"There are no buses running in the afternoon. It would be too dangerous for you to walk home alone. On Saturday, you can take the bus directly to Uncle's house. Your dad and I will walk over," said Sheng Juanhua. Her maiden home was in Dafang Village, not far from Gumula Village, just ten kilometers away, which would take them two hours to walk there.
Xiao Qi wanted to go with her parents, but did not argue further, otherwise her mother would definitely shout for her father to come and pick her up Friday afternoon and accompany her walking.
"Mom, I participated in that swimming competition and won an award," she said.
The phone was probably on speaker. Her father Su Youfu's voice came through again.
"The swimming you mentioned last time? There's even a competition? Our girl is quite capable," he said.
"But don't dare go swimming in the Lv River. I heard people get washed away every year," said Sheng Juanhua.
Without a concept of a swimming competition, let alone winning awards, the village people did not understand these kinds of athletic competitions very well, and probably thought it was some sort of game. Xiao Qi could not explain clearly, she just said, "Coach said it would be broadcast tonight at 8pm on Lvshan News. Can you receive the Lu Shan Channel at home? Or it might be broadcast this afternoon on Lu Shan Channel 5."
Her aunt here did not have a TV, so Xiao Qi did not know what content would be aired, but she heard Coach say there was live streaming, which would then be rebroadcasted. The sports content should be on Lu Shan Channel 5.
Lvshan News broadcasted at 8 pm to stagger with the national news.
Sheng Juanhua and Su Youfu were startled to hear there would even be TV broadcasts.
Both imagined their daughter might have participated in this event, and perhaps the camera would get a glance of her face on TV, like that one time when reporters came to the village to interview the poor households and support beneficiaries. Everyone nearby watched with interest at the scene, and got swept over by the camera, but everyone was able to recognize themselves.
As for their own daughter, even if she was seen in a sweep, appearing on TV would be a really big deal.
Sheng Juanhua and Su Youfu hastily hung up the phone. Su Youfu did not even keep weaving his bamboo basket, preparing to go out into the village and walk around.
Sheng Juanhua also went off to those card room houses where women often gather and play, to wander around and say her daughter is going to be on TV, for everyone to watch tonight.
It seemed like they could not get the Lu Shan Channel 5 at their home. Those with dishes installed in the house should be able to receive it.
Xiao Qi always had things left to say when she telephoned her parents, who would hurriedly end the call. She was exasperated.
She had not yet explained that she won first place and prize money. Her main point was to tell them that the tuition fees don't need to worry about here, and she also earned a good amount from tutoring employment, which was going to last her several face value months of living expenses.
But thinking she would be home again Friday, she would just tell them in person. It would be hard to explain clearly over the phone. Otherwise, hearing about so much money, her parents might feel uneasy if she did not reassure them in person, and be arriving at her place tomorrow.
As soon as Sheng Juanhua came into the village accountant Old Yang's home, there sat a group of women at the card table in the living room, with many more gathered around watching them play.
Accountant Old Yang's daughter-in-law liked playing cards. Old Yang's family was also well off and had opened a small grocery store. His daughter-in-law did not have to do farm work like other women, never going up the hills or down to the fields. She was raised nice and plump at home just playing cards and bringing together her card friends to play everyday.
Their location was also central with lots of space. With small sales at the store and card games hosted, they spent days very comfortable.
In contrast, Sheng Juanhua did not often appear here. Sheng Juanhua was born very nicely. Tall and fair, slender phoenix eyes, delicate nose, nice lips, her appearance outstanding that she could pass as the land owner's first wife, appearing very blessed.
Among so many village beauties at Gumula, this woman married from outside did not lose out one bit. But beautiful village women who failed to bear sons were useless. There was much gossip. At first Xiao Qi's grandmother even demanded separating the eldest son or finding another wife who could bear a son. Later after hearing from someone the congenital limpness could require lots of dowry money to take another wife, and if the younger brothers had to help pay for the eldest brother's new wife, the grandmother finally stopped making a fuss.
Sheng Juanhua herself worked very hard, going along doing hills and field work. Often when other women were playing cards, she would be seen passing by carrying a load of firewood she had chopped, or bundles of bamboo she had culled, basically taking on a strong man's labor. This was because Xiao Qi's father Su Youfu indeed had limited mobility to keep up with farm work, so the couple working together could barely finish the tasks.
Moreover, although the couple only had one daughter, they were still financing her through high school and intended to support her going to university.
Seeing Sheng Juanhua actually come out and wander around, the group of card players started to tease.
"A rare guest! Juanhua, want to buy some snacks? Or are your in-laws coming?" hollered one of the joking women at the card table.
The others also laughed along. Sheng Juanhua did not normally come to play cards. She would only occasionally come to the convenience store when her daughter came home to buy ingredients to cook up dishes for the precious "ancestor" who was out to marry soon. Every time the daughter came back she wanted to buy meat and fish.
Old Yang's daughter-in-law chimed in laughing, "What do you want to buy? There was a fresh grass carp yesterday, do you want it?"
Sheng Juanhua shook her head. "Not buying anything. Don't you have a satellite TV here? Can you receive Lu Shan Channel 5? My daughter said she entered a competition that's being shown on TV. We don't get that channel at home to watch. Just want to come here to see if I can watch it. Please, you all continue playing cards."
