Phi-Fic Chapter 278 It's Time to Live for Yourself
Chapter 278 It's Time to Live for Yourself
Returning from the neighboring courtyard house, Xiaoshan and Pingping were still immersed in their dreams of future courtyard life, arguing all the way about what flowers to plant in the yard, while the adults chatted in twos and threes about their impressions of the house they had just seen, occasionally letting out a few sighs.
As soon as I entered the courtyard, I saw Brother Lin carrying a large stack of red paper, smiling broadly as he greeted me: "I've come to bring you the 'New Year's spirit'!"
He placed the red paper on the stone table, and Xiaoshan and Pingping immediately gathered around. They saw various paper-cut window decorations and couplets with ink still wet on them. "These are paper-cut window decorations that I specially asked an intangible cultural heritage inheritor to cut, and the couplets were also written by a famous calligrapher!"
"Wow! This little tiger is so cute!" Pingping picked up a tiger-shaped paper-cut window decoration, her eyes sparkling.
Xiaoshan then pulled out a couplet that read, "Red plum blossoms defy the winter snow, green willows sprout catkins to welcome the new spring," and waved his hand: "I want to put this one up!"
Brother Lin picked up the paste and began teaching the children how to paste paper-cut window decorations: "First, spread paste evenly on the back of the decoration, then gently stick it onto the window, smoothing it outwards from the center..."
Xiaoshan and Pingping learned very well, and in no time, the originally plain window was covered with "red plum blossoms" and "golden tigers". Sunlight shone through the paper-cuts and cast gorgeous patterns on the ground.
Mr. Yuan and his uncle brought over a ladder to prepare for pasting up the Spring Festival couplets.
Standing on the ladder, Mr. Yuan gestured with the Spring Festival couplets in his hand: "The first line is on the right, and the second line is on the left. Don't put them up backwards."
The uncle, holding the ladder from below, smiled and said, "Don't worry, I have that much common sense!" Working together seamlessly, the bright red Spring Festival couplets were quickly pasted on both sides of the front door.
The bold and powerful characters, "May Heaven add years to your life and may spring fill the universe and may blessings fill your home," add a strong festive atmosphere to the courtyard house.
While everyone was busy, Yuan Bao pulled his mother to the winter plum tree in the corner.
The winter plum blossoms were in full bloom, their subtle fragrance wafting through the air, yet they could not conceal the worry between Yuan Bao's brows.
She glanced around, then lowered her voice and said, "Mom, there's something I've been wanting to tell you. You see, Auntie has suffered so much at Uncle's hands all these years, she's always looking so miserable..."
Aunt Yuan sighed softly, her eyes full of heartache: "Alas, how could I not know? Your uncle has a bad temper, he doesn't care about anything at home or outside, and he often lets his children scold your aunt."
Your aunt has been unable to have children because of her health condition, so she has been enduring it all this time…
"But after enduring all these years, is she happy?"
Yuan Bao held her mother's hand and said firmly, "I don't think Auntie should keep putting herself through this. If she can't get the respect and happiness she deserves in this marriage, divorce might be a relief."
After a moment of silence, Aunt Yuan nodded: "I've thought about that too, but your aunt is weak-willed and worried about being gossiped about after the divorce, so she hasn't been able to make up her mind."
"What era are we living in? Why do we still care about those things!"
Yuan Bao said eagerly, "And once we settle down in Beijing, Auntie can come live with us after her divorce. There are more opportunities here, and she can find a job she likes and start her life anew. Grandpa and Grandma also want Auntie to leave that family, but they're just too shy to say it."
Aunt Yuan looked thoughtfully at her aunt who was pasting paper-cut window decorations in the distance.
The aunt was smiling as she instructed Xiaoshan on how to paste the window decorations more neatly, but there was always a hint of weariness in that smile.
“You’re right,” Yuan’s mother squeezed Yuan Bao’s hand. “It’s time to find an opportunity to have a good talk with your aunt. It’s better for our family to look after each other in Beijing than for her to suffer alone in her hometown.”
“I think we can take advantage of the Chinese New Year to get everyone together in a good atmosphere and work on my aunt so that she can find time to divorce her husband after the New Year.”
Yuan Bao said, "And with so many of us supporting her, she should have the courage to make a change."
Yuan's mother patted Yuan Bao's hand: "My daughter is so thoughtful. When everyone is free tonight, I'll give your aunt a heads-up."
Just then, Xiaoshan's voice came from afar: "Sister Bao! Come quickly and help me see if this paper-cut window decoration is pasted straight?"
Yuan Bao responded and turned to his mother, saying, "Mom, let's go help first. This can't be rushed. Let's persuade her slowly. I believe Auntie will understand."
The two walked back to the center of the courtyard and joined the group putting up paper-cut window decorations.
Xiaoshan held up a "福" (Fu, meaning good fortune) character and asked loudly, "Sister Bao, should this '福' character also be pasted upside down?"
Yuan Bao nodded with a smile: "Yes, pasting it upside down means 'good fortune has arrived'!"
Amidst laughter and joy, the doors and windows of the courtyard house were all given a makeover.
The bright red paper-cut window decorations and Spring Festival couplets brought warm smiles to everyone's faces.
Both Yuan's mother and Yuan Bao felt that this matter should be dealt with sooner rather than later. Taking advantage of the moment when their aunt was alone in the kitchen cleaning up the dishes, they pulled Yuan Bao inside and whispered, "Big sister, let Bao and I help you."
Auntie waved her hand quickly: "It's nothing, I'll finish this little bit of work right away."
Aunt Yuan took her aunt's hand, and Yuan Bao silently began to fold the washed dishes.
Under the warm yellow light of the kitchen, amidst the rising steam, Yuan's mother broke the silence first: "Eldest sister, all these years, you've single-handedly supported this family; it hasn't been easy for you."
The aunt paused, her voice hoarse: "Why say all this? Isn't it all for the sake of making a living?"
“Your uncle’s children are all grown up. They and your uncle have never been good to you. We just want you to have a better life.”
Yuan Bao put down her bowl and looked at her aunt seriously. "Every time we go to your house, or you come to our house, you never have a smile on your face. It breaks our hearts to see that."
The aunt's eyes instantly reddened, and the bowl in her hand made a soft sound as it hit the sink: "What can I do? My health wasn't good before, and I couldn't have children. If I get divorced again, what will people think of me? How will I live my life?"
“Your life is your own, not something you live for others to see.” Aunt Yuan held her aunt’s hand. “Look at you now, doing laundry, cooking, taking care of the elderly and children, isn’t everything you’re worried about?”
"What about your uncle? He's never thought about you. He and his children bully you. We've all seen the suffering you've endured over the years."
Yuan Bao continued, "Auntie, you've given everything for this family, but what have you gotten in return? If marriage is just suffering, why stay?"
She softened her tone, "If you get divorced, come live with us in Beijing. There are many opportunities here. You like doing handicrafts, so you can open a small shop and start over."
The aunt wiped away her tears, still hesitant: "But divorce isn't that simple..."
“We’re here for you!” Aunt Yuan said firmly. “Your uncle’s children are probably hoping you and your uncle will get divorced as soon as possible! If not, we’ll go and talk to them together.”
A lawyer who can make sense if they can, and a reliable lawyer if they can't.
Auntie, don't be afraid. From now on, our family will support each other.
Yuan Bao pulled out a newspaper he had prepared that morning and showed photos of the nearby handicraft market: "Auntie, look at these handicrafts, yours are even better. When you come to Beijing in the future, we'll help you find a stall."
The aunt stared at the photo, her fingertips trembling slightly. After a long while, she took a deep breath, her voice filled with relief: "Okay, I'll leave. Just like you all said, it's time for me to live for myself for once."
Yuan Ma and Yuan Bao smiled at each other, and the three of them hugged each other tightly.
Outside the kitchen, the laughter of Xiaoshan and Pingping chasing and playing could be heard, mingling with the release of pent-up emotions inside the house, adding a touch of hope for rebirth to this unusual New Year.