Christmas Eve, the night of peace.
After dinner, Su Cui saw Su Baixue holding an apple and smiling foolishly from time to time. She couldn't help teasing her: "Has this apple gone bad? If it has, give it to Grandma, and you eat the new ones I bought!" With that, she reached for the apple.
Su Baixue looked shy and shook her head. "It's not bad, Grandma."
After a moment, she added, "Grandma, this is the first time I've received a Christmas Eve apple!"
"Who gave it to you?" Su Cui picked up the dishes and took them into the kitchen. Su Baixue immediately put down the apple and went to help, answering as she worked.
"It's from Shao Li in Class 2!"
"From Class 2?" Su Cui opened the window a bit. "A new friend of Bai Xue's?"
"...She's a very good person. She helped me before." Su Baixue's mood suddenly dropped. Su Cui noticed and changed the subject.
"There's a Christmas tree in the square today, and some activities. Do you want to go with Grandma later?"
"But I haven't reviewed today's lessons yet..." Su Baixue shook her head.
"Oh, you have homework every day. It's rare for us to spend Christmas Eve together. Come with Grandma."
Su Baixue thought of previous Christmas Eves and suddenly understood. She had never paid much attention to this holiday before and often forgot about it. On Christmas Eve, the store where she worked was usually very busy, and she came home late, often too tired to eat, let alone have the leisure to eat an apple. This year, for the first time, she was spending the holiday peacefully with her grandmother. Her spirits immediately lifted.
"Okay! Grandma, let's go early!"
Before leaving, Su Cui took out two new Santa hats from her bag. Under Su Baixue's delighted gaze, she put one on her granddaughter's head, then lowered her own head so Su Baixue could put the other on her.
Besides the Santa hat, Su Cui had also prepared a gift that Su Baixue would find on her bedside table when she woke up tomorrow.
After changing shoes, they both adjusted their thick scarves and pushed open the door.
With a bang, the door closed.
The aged big hand held the small, fair hand. The old woman and the young girl braved the cold wind and went out.
Even in such a remote area, there was a way to celebrate. It hadn't snowed yet this year, lacking a bit of winter atmosphere. The surrounding shops were still selling Christmas-related items. On the way, Su Cui met Li Guizhi and a few other elderly people she often danced with.
Among these elderly people, few had grandchildren with them. They were all curious to see Su Baixue.
"Bai Xue came out with Grandma? Cuihua, your granddaughter is getting more and more beautiful!"
"I heard she ranked second in the midterm exam. Such a smart child!"
The enthusiastic elderly people made Su Baixue blush deeply.
"Cuihua, my grandson brought me two boxes of something called 'Yule log cake.' I got diabetes this year, so I can't eat it. Let Bai Xue take it and share it later." Two boxes of cake were shoved into Su Baixue's hands.
Li Guizhi looked at Su Cui's hat and laughed. "Nice hat, fits the occasion."
"Guizhi, what are we dancing tonight?" They chatted and laughed as they walked, soon arriving at the square.
"Hahaha, let me tell you, my old man—I told him to buy apples, and he bought a few sour green ones. How ridiculous is that!"
"Hahaha."
It was the first time Su Baixue had been with so many people, most of them elderly with kind faces like her grandmother's. Although she couldn't join the conversation, she felt very warm in this lively atmosphere.
The small square near the old neighborhood was the most popular place around. No matter what time you came, there were always more people than elsewhere.
Though a bit cold, there was a lucky draw today, and everyone could scan a code to get some small Christmas-themed souvenirs. Many people with children came to join the fun.
The group arrived at the square. At this time, the old square was crowded. In the center stood a medium-sized Christmas tree decorated with stars and lights, twinkling brightly. The square's music had also changed to "Merry Christmas."
"We wish you a merry Christmas; we wish you a merry Christmas; we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy..."
Li Guizhi called Su Cui over. "Cuihua, there's a small church here. Everyone wants to go over in a bit. Does Bai Xue have school tomorrow? If not, you can bring her and come with us."
"Tomorrow's Saturday, so no school!" Su Cuihua agreed with a smile. "I didn't know there was a church. Where is it?"
"It's a bit out of the way. We'll all walk together—it'll be quick. Let's play in the square for a while first. How are the dance steps I taught you last time?"
"OK!" Su Cui made a proud gesture.
Li Guizhi laughed. "Alright, there's a new old gentleman here. You don't have to dance with me today. I'll introduce you!"
"Old gentleman? Not from our neighborhood?"
"Probably not. Today is Christmas Eve. This old man was standing alone on the supermarket steps. Old Li passed by to shop and saw him standing there for a long time, so he invited him to come and play."
"You know, his demeanor is really unusual. He doesn't seem like someone from around here. I heard his children and grandchildren are not doing well and are unfilial. He's alone at home, lonely. So he came out for a walk."
"Most of us are like that, alas." Grandma Li sighed beside them. "Don't even talk about this foreign holiday. Last Spring Festival, my son and daughter didn't even call me proactively. I don't know what they're so busy with outside."
Su Cui asked, "What's his surname?"
"His surname is Zhou, Zhou Shixiang." Li Guizhi looked around and pointed. "That one, see? The really tall one!"
Su Cui followed her finger and looked. She was somewhat amazed: "This old gentleman is something else. Must have been about 1.9 meters tall when he was young."
Not far ahead stood an old man with graying temples, wearing a black down jacket. His back was slightly hunched, but due to his height, he still appeared more slender and spirited than the other elderly people around. He had a quite refined face, but it was cold and full of authority.
"He doesn't seem very easy to get along with," Su Cui muttered.
When it was time to dance, the two elderly people—one short and stout, the other tall and thin—looked particularly awkward and mismatched, even their shadows on the ground seemed comical. Su Cui felt even more frustrated.
If not for the height difference, Su Cui felt she looked more like the man.
After dancing for a while, Su Cui accidentally stepped on the other's foot. She apologized repeatedly: "Sorry, I haven't danced for a few days. Getting old, my hands and feet don't obey. I think I'm extending my left foot but end up with my right."
Zhou Shixiang frowned but didn't take it to heart. He comforted her, "It's not like when we were young. It's good enough that we can still dance now."
"You don't sound like you're from A City," Su Cui casually remarked.
"I'm originally from C City. I only came to A City this year with my eldest son." Zhou Shixiang's eyes held a weathered steadiness. "May I ask how I should address you?"
"My name is Su Cuihua. No need for formalities—just call me Cuihua." Su Cui felt compelled to address the elderly man with respect, but when she heard him add a respectful tone to her name, it felt awkward.
Zhou Shixiang asked her, "Are you spending the holiday alone?"
Su Cui looked at where Su Baixue was sitting and laughed. "My granddaughter is with me. Right there, the prettiest little girl."
Zhou Shixiang glanced over. Seeing her grandmother looking her way, Su Baixue showed a smiling face, teeth showing, a bit silly, and even clapped for Su Cui.
"Mm, a rather delicate girl... She looks a lot like my wife when she was young."
Looks a lot??? Su Cui hadn't forgotten what kind of book world she had entered. She looked the old man up and down. "Why didn't your wife come out with you?"
"She passed away... many years ago."
Zhou Shixiang's gaze went vacant, with a sorrowful expression in his brows that Su Cui couldn't understand, yet he was very calm overall. This calm was full of contradiction.