Peaches and Plums Don’t Speak – Chapter 25

The Final Stage of Elementary School

Midway through the spring semester of fourth grade, Anzhi took the initiative to tell her Homeroom Teacher that she wanted to take this year’s Primary School Promotion Exam.¹

Her math teacher, who had taught her for four years, supported the decision. He added that there was no need for the special small stove² tutoring anymore, as they were already covering junior high material. The Homeroom Teacher considered this for a moment, then agreed to speak with Anzhi’s guardian before making a final decision.

Anzhi nodded. Then, she suddenly said, “Teacher, I don’t feel well. Can I go home?”

In the afternoon, the school campus was quiet during class hours, with only the occasional sound of reading drifting from classroom windows. Anzhi slung her schoolbag over her shoulder and walked out of the main gate.

The Homeroom Teacher will probably call Yan Xi, she thought, even though she knew her teacher was aware that her home wasn’t far from the school.

Anzhi kept her head slightly bowed, her honey-toned cheeks devoid of a smile. Her hair was finally long enough to be tied into a ponytail. She kicked her feet in small steps as she slowly made her way home.

Grandmother Liu’s son had a baby, so she had to go help with the baby. Now, she only came in the afternoons to pick Anzhi up and would leave after making dinner. Yan Xi had wanted to find a replacement for her, but she hadn’t found anyone suitable. Besides, Anzhi didn’t like other people. Fortunately, she had spent the last few years learning to cook from Grandmother Liu, so food wasn’t an issue.

Yan Xi’s television program was a huge success. The station had even outsourced to a PR firm to promote it online, sparking a brief but intense public discussion. A second season was quickly approved.

Her show aired at 9:30 PM, a time slot well past the bedtime Yan Xi had set for her, so she was never able to watch it live. She had only seen it once or twice.

Onscreen, Yan Xi was stunning. Her manner was graceful and poised, her voice was as clear and crisp as a bell, and she commanded the stage with ease. To Anzhi, the woman on the television was both familiar and a little strange. She couldn’t quite put her finger on the feeling—it was a mix of pride and happiness, yet tinged with a faint melancholy.

Yes, melancholy.

She was still so busy. Anzhi was sensible enough not to bother her, but she wasn’t happy.

Her classmates had their own ways of dealing with things. “When my dad is too busy with work to take me out, I just cry! I cry until he agrees to take me! And if that doesn’t work, he has to at least buy me something!”

“Me too! Or I’ll just leave my exam paper blank! The teacher will tell my mom, and we’ll see if she increases my allowance or not!”

“Basically, they’ll always give in to me! I’m not afraid of getting spanked. When I get spanked, my mom hurts more than I do! So I just won’t do my homework!”

Her classmates all seemed to have a whole bag of tricks for handling their parents.

Anzhi wasn’t sure if she could do the same. Yan Xi had always been generous with her when it came to material things, buying her clothes and giving her plenty of allowance. She got basically anything she asked for, and sometimes Yan Xi would buy her things she hadn’t even thought of herself. When she complained that the children’s clothes in the department stores were ugly, Yan Xi had Liu Yiyi, the fashion editor, buy her designer children’s wear. As a result, Anzhi’s clothes were always the best-looking in her entire grade. During an elementary school English recitation contest in the third grade, Anzhi had worn a lotus-root purple tulle dress with black Mary Janes. Surrounded by a sea of contestants in bright red and green, she had looked as beautiful as a little princess.

Yan Xi had been in the audience, capturing the entire thing with her camera.

Even though she was busy, she never missed Anzhi’s important events. She was always there for her.

April in Beicheng City was a time of willow catkins dancing on the wind, nestled in the shade of green poplars. The sun was bright, the sky a perfect clear blue.

Anzhi didn’t walk in the direction of home. At the intersection, she turned the other way.

There was a park over there with a fountain in its center, sunken a few steps below the main path. A statue of a woman stood in the middle of the pool, and water lilies floated in the water around her flowing skirt.

She sat on a wooden bench for a while, watching the willow and poplar catkins drift down and land on the lily pads.

It finally dawned on Anzhi that she had been out for a while. Yan Xi’s call might have already reached the house.

She ran home in a hurry. Sure enough, the phone rang just as she walked through the door.

“Taotao? Are you not feeling well? Your teacher said you came home?” Yan Xi’s voice held a faint trace of anxiety.

“I…” Anzhi stammered. “I… I’m not sick. I just…”

“Hm?”

“…I don’t want to go to school.”

“…” Silence on the other end.

Anzhi’s heart began to pound. Is she angry?

“…I understand. Your teacher called me at three. I called home at three-thirty, but no one answered. Where were you for that hour?”

Anzhi: “…”

Hearing no answer, Yan Xi fell silent again.

After a few seconds, she said, “I’ll be home soon. Grandmother Liu’s grandson isn’t well today, so she can’t come over. For dinner…”

“I’ll make dinner… I’ll go buy groceries…” Anzhi said quickly.

Yan Xi cut her off. “Don’t. You be good and stay home. I’ll buy something on my way back.”

The sudden, slightly stern tone of her voice made Anzhi choke up, not daring to say anything more.

The line crackled with static.

Yan Xi seemed to let out a soft sigh. “Hang up and wait for me at home.”

Anzhi bit her lip.

“Taotao…” Yan Xi’s voice softened a little. “Be good. We’ll talk when I get home.”

After hanging up, Anzhi scratched her hair and rubbed her face, not knowing what to do.

It’s over, it’s over. I think Yan Xi is really mad. She remembered the time when she was six and had wanted to run back to her old hometown. Yan Xi had looked both frantic and angry then. Anzhi wrung her hands, filled with regret.

But maybe it’s okay? She didn’t sound that angry at the end, did she? When they called, Yan Xi never hung up on her first.

An hour later, Yan Xi arrived home. As she parked the car, she kept telling herself to stay calm. Is Anzhi’s Rebellious Phase³ starting? When she had called home earlier and no one answered, she was reminded of the panic she’d felt that time she had searched the entire world for her.

As she walked, she reviewed recent events in her mind. There must have been a trigger. She’s still just a child. Something must have made her feel insecure again.

Before entering the house, Yan Xi quickly composed herself.

Anzhi was waiting for her on the first floor.

“Let’s eat. I bought your favorite croquettes.”⁴

Anzhi stared at her, slightly dazed.

“Go on, eat. They’re not as good when they get cold. The convenience store just fried them.”

The croquettes were fresh from the fryer, filled with minced chicken. They were fried to a perfect golden-brown crisp and served with tartar sauce.⁵ They were delicious. Yan Xi had also bought Preserved Egg and Lean Pork Congee⁶ to go with Grandmother Liu’s pickled vegetables. The two of them ate until they were full.

“First, eat your fill. Then, we talk.”

This was a saying of Grandfather Yan. Whenever the four siblings made a mistake, their grandfather would never forbid them from eating. Instead, they would resolve the problem only after their bellies were full.

“Come here…” Yan Xi beckoned Anzhi over. Anzhi walked up to her.

“Your teacher told me you want to take the Primary School Promotion Exam. Is that right?” After thinking it over, Yan Xi decided not to bring up the fact that she had lied about being sick to skip school.

“Mhm…”

“I’ve already agreed. Don’t worry, just go and take the test.”

“…What if I don’t pass…?” Anzhi asked suddenly.

Yan Xi smiled. “Then you’ll just continue with fifth grade. However…” She stroked Anzhi’s hair. It had grown past her shoulders and fell down her back, dark and silky smooth. She was starting to have a growth spurt,⁷ her limbs becoming long and flexible. Her eyes were even rounder now, and when she looked at people, her gaze was soft, timid, and innocent. “I’m sure you can do it.”

Anzhi ducked her head slightly under her touch and said in a tiny voice, “How… how do you know I can? You haven’t looked at my homework in so long.”

Yan Xi froze for a second, then a look of understanding dawned on her face. She reached out and gathered Anzhi into her arms, settling her onto her lap in that same old, familiar way. “I’m sorry. I’ve been too busy…”

Anzhi rested her head against Yan Xi’s shoulder and said in a soft, sticky voice, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have skipped class.”

Yan Xi smiled. “You can skip class.”

Huh? Anzhi looked up.

“It’s okay to skip class.” Yan Xi winked. “What student doesn’t skip class… It’s just,” she said, her expression turning slightly more serious, “you have to tell me. I was so worried… You can’t just run off by yourself like last time.”

A layer of mist clouded Anzhi’s eyes. She nodded.

Yan Xi smoothed her hair and murmured, “Mmm… I really am too busy right now. What should I do?” She furrowed her brow slightly, as if she were genuinely troubled and searching for a solution.

Anzhi watched her closely, and her heart felt like it had been pricked by something sharp. She grabbed Yan Xi’s sleeve. “It’s okay. When I go to junior high, I’ll have more homework, and I’ll be busy too.”

Yan Xi had to have her own life. Just like Auntie Xiao said, adults have to be busy with their own work and have their own careers. Besides, the Yan Xi on television was truly beautiful.

Yan Xi looked at her, her gaze soothing. She nuzzled the top of Anzhi’s head but didn’t say anything.

“You’re not happy…” Yan Xi stated.

“That’s because…” Anzhi paused. “Why haven’t I gotten any taller? Can I really grow as tall as you? Da Pang and Xiao Pang still call me Shorty.”

Yan Xi let out a soft laugh. “Don’t pay any attention to them. I don’t even want to hold them anymore; they’re heavy as bricks.” Of course, the twins were even bigger terrors now. At seven or eight, they were at an age that even dogs despise.⁸

“I actually hope you don’t grow up so fast. I want to hold you for a few more years, Taotao.” Her voice was incredibly gentle in the quiet, warm, and dimly lit room.

Suddenly, Anzhi’s eyes widened slightly. A soft flower petal seemed to touch her forehead—or perhaps it was a snowflake, gently landing upon her skin.

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