108 | On the Same Track
Gu Mingxi, why are you looking at me like that? Are you really unhappy? Just yell at me a bit then.

On August 3rd, Gu Mingxi and Pang Qian registered their marriage.

It was a very ordinary Friday. E City was still in the midst of its hot summer season, and the asphalt could fry an egg. There weren’t very many people lined up to get married. Pang Qian and Gu Mingxi arrived to to the registrar at 3 o’clock, and they were the only new couple there.

All the staff members circled them, as if they were VIP members. Even the photographer was very patient. He said, “Take a look after we finish. If there’s anything you’re not satisfied with, we can retake the photos.”

Gu Mingxi wore a white dress s.h.i.+rt and his hair was made tidy and neat. Pang Qian wore a sea blue dress, her hair flowing onto her shoulders, and her eyes s.h.i.+ning brightly. She stood close to Gu Mingxi, and the two of them smiled at the camera. The photographer took photos as he said, “The groom’s so handsome! And the bride is also very beautiful! This is the best wedding photo I’ve taken recently!”

Not long after, this photo was printed onto their new marriage certificate.

That evening, the newly married Mr Gu officially consummated his marriage with his Mrs Gu. The first time, it was pa.s.sionate. The second time, he became gentle. She fell onto him, her body limp and weak for the rest of the night.

Panting and sweating, the two of them laid side by side on the bed, just talking and discussing the events to follow.

“I want to have the wedding reception on National Day (October 1st),” Pang Qian said. “I don’t want to push if off until next year. It’s too cold to get married in the winter.”

He kissed her shoulder and nodded. “Okay.”

But then she hesitated again. “Then we’ll have to take our wedding photos soon, but… It’s too hot to take wedding photos in August.”

“We can take them in September.”

“It’ll be too late to get them done by National Day.”

“Pay more to rush it.”

“I guess that’s all we can do… I originally wanted to take the photos in Sanya,” Pang Qian said regretfully. “Too bad it’s typhoon season there now.”

Gu Mingxi kept kissing her shoulder, licking, biting, and enjoying himself. He casually said, “We can go to Sanya later to take another set of photos. We can go to Sanya for vacation. Uncle’s retiring at the end of the year, so we can take them along.”

“What are you calling Dad?” Pang Qian laughed. Gu Mingxi raised his eyes and looked at her, his lips curving into a smile. “At the end of the year, we can take Mom and Dad to visit Sanya for some sun, okay?”

Pang Qian wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her forehead against his. “Does that count as a honeymoon?”

“If you want it to, it can be. If you don’t, it won’t be,” he said. “Pang Pang, where do you want to go? Europe? Maldives? America? Australia? Wherever you want to go, I’ll go with you.”

“I’ll remember that.” She giggled and bit his nose. “We’ll send Mom and Dad to Sanya over winter, and then we’ll go on a honeymoon.”

His nose hurt and he frowned. Pang Qian helped him rub his nose and then suddenly whispered into his ear, “Husband, I love you.”

Gu Mingxi was startled, indeed a bit unaccustomed to this name. After he thought about it a bit though, he decided it wasn’t bad.

A long time ago in Z City, before Li Han had gotten sick, she used to chat with Gu Mingxi. One time, he and his mother had an argument. They were discussing whether someone’s closest family was their parents, their brothers and sisters, or their husband or wife.

Gu Mingxi thought it was your parents, but Li Han said it was your significant other.

“Mingxi, you’ll be together with your wife from the age of 20 something. If you’re lucky, the two of you will stay together until you’re 80 or 90 years old. Fifty years together, day and night. The relations.h.i.+p between parents and their children can’t compare to those feelings and that intimacy. Parents will grow old, and their kids will inevitably leave them. Mingxi, while you’re young, you might believe that your parents are the most important, but when you reach 40 years old,  you’ll have to take care of your parents and your kids. You’ll realize who exactly it is who undertakes the family responsibilities and goes through thick and thin with you.”

At the time, Gu Mingxi didn’t think it was the case. “Mom, I don’t think that Dad takes on the responsibilities with you or goes through thick and thin with you.”

Li Han didn’t get angry. She just smiled and said, “Your father’s and my marriage has been a failure, so of course you can’t use it as an example. Actually, Qian Qian’s parents are a good example. I just wanted to tell you that when you get married, you have to treat your wife well. You should know that being your wife won’t be an easy thing. No matter who it is, she’ll have to carry a certain pressure. It will come from her family, from her friends, from all around her. If she’s willing to marry you despite it all, you mustn’t ever let her down.”

Gu Mingxi said, “What if she fights with you? Relations.h.i.+ps between mothers-in-law and daughters are hard to be a part of. I don’t want to get sandwiched between.”

“I won’t live with you guys,” Li Han laughed. “Your (paternal) grandparents never liked me, so I know how much it hurts. That’s why I won’t be critical of your wife. Moreover, I trust in your insight.”

……

Pang Qian didn’t wait for Gu Mingxi to call her ‘Wife.’ Too tired, she just went to sleep.

Gu Mingxi didn’t feel like sleeping at all. He sat up and grabbed his marriage certificate book from the bedside table. Pang Qian had kept holding onto it earlier and laughing as she looked it over.

Under the lamp light, Gu Mingxi opened up the marriage certificate and saw his photo with Pang Qian.

The photographer had avoided photographing his crippled arms. His right shoulder was behind Pang Qian and his empty left sleeve was cut off at the edge of the photo. So from the photo, you wouldn’t be able to tell that he was a person without arms.

As he looked carefully at the two smiling persons in the photo, Gu Mingxi suddenly realized that they weren’t so young anymore. He suddenly felt a bout of panic and thought about the words his mother once told him. Things can change. There can be accidents, illnesses, natural disasters… There are lots of stories unfolding every day in the world. Every day, someone at the hospital is found to have a terminal illness. Having already walked back from death’s door as a child, Gu Mingxi understood this more clearly than others. More than anyone else, he really had to treasure his life.

Gu Mingxi turned to look at his sleeping wife and he made a vow to himself.

For all my life, I won’t leave you.

After Pang Qian and Gu Mingxi agreed about the matter of their wedding, they grew very busy. She, Gu Mingxi, and Pang Shuisheng went around to various large restaurants in E City. After they estimated how many guests there would be, they reserved the ballroom at a four star hotel.

Next, they bought their wedding suit and gown, ordered wedding sweets and presents (to give to guests), and hired a wedding company to organize. After taking care of the major wedding arrangements, they still needed to take wedding photos… Mr Gu didn’t much care for this at all, so he left it to Mrs Gu to take care of. He just stayed at home drawing and saw Pang Qian rus.h.i.+ng in and out of the house delightedly. Occasionally, she would run over to him to ask his opinion about something, like how was this or how was that.

Gu Mingxi was already starting to add color for the draft of his new book. He insisted on painting it with traditional medium. Although he could use the computer to add color, but he always thought that traditional painting moved people more. He grabbed onto a pen with his toes and added color, stroke after stroke, and he felt that the readers would be able to feel his sincerity.

 

One day in the middle of August, Jiang Qi came to visit Gu Mingxi in E City with an editor for a Taiwan publis.h.i.+ng company. They wanted to discuss the copyright for traditional (character) print publications. Coincidentally, Pang Qian was expecting several wedding gifts to arrive, so she stayed at home instead of accompanying him.

That afternoon, the doorbell rang. Pang Qian thought it was a delivery, so she opened the door to see. She stood there quiet for a moment, because standing in front of the door was actually Gu Guoxiang and Gu Ziyue.

“Uncle Gu.”

Although Pang Qian was shocked, she kept her manners. She invited the two into the house and then brought them some house slippers.

Gu Guoxiang carried in a bag of fruit and he looked around the house. He said, “The place is nicely decorated.”

“Ah, it’s nothing special.” Pang Qian pat her thighs as they were a bit cramped. Gu Ziyue looked pretty obedient as she stood still next to her father. She even greeted Pang Qian.

Pang Qian invited them into the living room and let them sit on the sofa. She brewed some tea for Gu Guoxiang and brought out a drink for Gu Ziyue. She tried to feel him out as she asked, “Uncle, are you looking for Gu Mingxi? He’s gone out.”

Gu Guoxiang said, “I know. I called him and he said you were home.”

“Ah…” Pang Qian didn’t understand his meaning. “Gu Mingxi went out for some work matters. He’ll probably have lunch before coming back.”

“He told me,” Gu Guoxiang said. “Qian Qian, I came over this time to ask you two for a favor.”

Gu Ziyue quietly drank her drink and looked around curiously. Pang Qian said, “What is it? Did you talk it over with Gu Mingxi yet?”

“No, I didn’t tell him.” Gu Guoxiang laughed. “He said he wasn’t home, but you were, so I decided it would be best to come over to discuss with you first.”

Pang Qian picked up her tea and took a sip. “Uncle, tell me. If there’s something that we can help with, we will. If we can’t help, well then, nothing can be done about that.”

“You’ll definitely be able to help.” Gu Guoxiang’s expression was very confident. “It’s like this. You know that I’m busy with work. Right now, Ziyue’s on summer vacation, so I usually have my sister help take care of her during the day. But next week, my sister and her family are going on vacation to Hong Kong. I originally wanted to ask a neighbor to help take care of Ziyue during the day, but I was just notified that I’d have to take a business trip to Taiyuan next week. So… I was thinking. You and Gu Mingxi would both be at home, and Mingxi is Ziyue’s older brother. If nothing else, your mother has also retired. What I mean is that next week, for the six days that my sister will be in Hong Kong, you guys… Can you help take care of Ziyue for a bit? I’d like her to stay here, and she’s very obedient. Moreover… She can get to know Mingxi more.”

Pang Qian listened calmly to him. After Gu Guoxiang finished, she took another sip of tea. “What about Ziyue’s mom? She’s not in the city?”

Gu Guoxiang’s complexion paled. “I won’t let her mother take care of her.”

Pang Qian blinked. “Why?”

“That person isn’t fit to be a mother.”

Sitting on the sofa, Gu Ziyue’s face sank. Pang Qian glanced at her and then suddenly stood up. She said, “Uncle, let’s talk somewhere else.”

Pang Qian turned on the TV for Gu Ziyue and then she brought over some snacks and fruit, leaving Ziyue to play in the living room by herself. She and Gu Guoxiang headed out onto the terrace.

The sliding door out to the terrace was double paneled gla.s.s, so the sound insulation was very good. When Gu Guoxiang got outside, he lit a cigarette. He looked at Pang Qian and said, “Ziyue’s mother currently has a boyfriend and they’re living together. It’s not suitable for Ziyue to stay there.”

Pang Qian had her arms crossed as she contemplated. Gu Guoxiang continued, “It’s just six days. When my sister comes back, she’ll take Ziyue home. Qian Qian, I know that you and Mingxi are starting school in September, so you two are resting at home now, right?”

Pang Qian finally lifter her head to look at him. Softly and clearly, she said, “Uncle, I’m sorry but we can’t help you with this.”

Gu Guoxiang examined her tone and expression, and he realized she was being serious. A bit angry, he responded, “Qian Qian, Ziyue is Mingxi’s younger sister. I came to visit you first to give a greeting, but if I were to call Mingxi, he would definitely agree.”

“Go ahead and call then.” Pang Qian laughed. “This is my home, my house, and I’m the one who decides who can stay here. I won’t agree to let Gu Ziyue stay here. I’m sorry.”

“Your house?” Gu Guoxiang’s eyes squinted behind his gla.s.ses. “This is Mingxi’s house! You two haven’t married yet, so you don’t have the right to make any decisions for him!”

Pang Qian smiled. “The right to make decisions… Uncle, would you like me to bring out our marriage certificate for you to see?”

Gu Guoxiang had no idea that Gu Mingxi and Pang Qian had already registered their marriage. As a father, it was really disgraceful.

Now that they’d come to this point, Pang Qian no longer had any regard for older or younger generations. She looked into Gu Guoxiang’s eyes and said, “Uncle, Mingxi doesn’t have arms. No matter what he can do, he can’t be entirely self dependent. Usually I’m the one who takes care of him. It’s enough that we don’t come to trouble you, so how can you ask us to take care of Gu Ziyue? Do you think that someone like him, without arms, can take care of a child? And you even wanted my mom to help? You must be joking. My mom was Auntie Ah Han’s best friend!”

Gu Guoxiang’s face darkened. Hearing how sharp her words were, he softened his tone. “Qian Qian, I know that all of you have some misunderstandings toward me and Ziyue, but Ziyue is a child and she’s innocent in all this. To be honest, I can hire a 24-hour nanny to take care of Ziyue, but I thought and hoped that since Mingxi and Ziyue were sister and brother, they could get to know each other better. After all, the affairs of adults… I know that I was the bad one, that I’ve wronged Mingxi’s mother, but that’s why I’d like for Mingxi and Ziyue to get along. Everyone is family, so when I get older, it will be best if the two of them can take care of each other…”

Pang Qian scoffed. “Ziyue is a child and she’s innocent. But Uncle, before your affair, Gu Mingxi was also a child, a disabled child. Was he not also innocent?!”

Her finger moved to the door. “I know that you treat Ziyue like she’s your treasure. She’s very pretty, very smart, and most importantly, very healthy. She’s your pride and your hopes, someone you can show off to others! None of us will interfere in your ability to love her! I know that in your eyes, Gu Mingxi can’t compare to her. He’s a disabled person. When he walks down the street, everyone turns his way. When he does things, he has to use his feet! He quit school. He doesn’t have a stable job. In the end, he doesn’t even have a mother! But Uncle Gu, let me tell you! In my heart, ten of your Ziyues, a hundred Ziyues, a thousand Ziyues– Still won’t be able to compare to one toe of my Gu Mingxi!”

She glared angrily at Gu Guoxiang, her courage already reaching the skies. “Gu Ziyue’s mother was the third party who broke up Auntie Ah Han and your marriage! And in my eyes, you are an utter hypocrite! The two of you are the culprits that caused Auntie’s physical and mental exhaustion that finally led to her illness! Don’t you dare deny it! If Auntie Ah Han was living happily and carefree, where would she have gotten liver disease?! It was caused by exhaustion! Because of you two! Uncle Gu, how much courage do you have to think that based on this little blood relation that Gu Mingxi would want to get along with Gu Ziyue?! How much courage do you have that you would believe that in Gu Mingxi’s heart, you are all still one family?!”

“Pang Qian! Don’t act so impertinently! Do you know who you’re talking with right now?! Since you and Gu Mingxi have gotten married, you’re speaking to your father!” Gu Guoxiang suddenly screamed out loudly. His body trembled, and it was obvious how angry he was. But Pang Qian wasn’t at all scared. She sneered. “Uncle Gu, don’t talk to me like you’re my boss. I’m not your subordinate, and I don’t have to kiss your a.s.s. I just want to say one thing. I don’t care how Gu Mingxi treats you, but I, Pang Qian, won’t call you ‘Father’ in this lifetime, because Auntie Ah Han is my mother and she’s already divorced you!”

Gu Guoxiang’s cigarette nearly burned his finger. Pang Qian added her final words, “Let me say one more thing. This is my and Gu Mingxi’s home, my and Gu Mingxi’s house. As long as I’m here, I will never agree for Gu Ziyue to stay here, not even for half a day! I won’t agree to it now, and I won’t agree to it later. If you think you can convince Gu Mingxi, go ahead and call him. Ask him if he’d rather have his father and sister or if he’d rather have his wife!”

And then, she pulled open the door and headed back into the living room.

When she got back to the living room, she was shocked. She’d just been gone for a short while and the entire room had changed.

Gu Ziyue had probably gone into Gu Mingxi’s studio and found the paints on his work table. She’d dipped her hand into the paint and covered the sky blue walls in handprints.

She’d dropped paintings all over the floor, all large pieces that Gu Mingxi had been working on for his new draft.

They’d been graffitied over with paint, fingerprints, and footprints. Pang Qian looked at Gu Ziyue who was holding a crystal picture frame that used to sit on the TV stand. It was a picture of Gu Mingxi and Li Han. Gu Ziyue glanced over at Pang Qian and shot her a strange smile before smas.h.i.+ng the frame to the floor, which shattered into little pieces.

Gu Guoxiang had just stepped into the living room and he called out, “Ziyue! What are you doing?!”

He walked over to his daughter and reached out to hit her. Surprisingly, Gu Ziyue didn’t try to avoid him. Instead, she held her head firm and stared defiantly at Gu Guoxiang. Gu Guoxiang’s hand hung in the air, unable to hit her.

“Apologize to your sister!” he said heavily.

Gu Ziyue clenched her teeth. “No! I don’t want to live here! I want to stay with my mom!”

“Apologize!” Gu Guoxiang couldn’t hold it in any longer and raised his hand. Pa! He smacked her across the face. Gu Ziyue immediately started crying and dropped down to sit on the floor.

Gu Ziyue’s piercing cry sounded in the living room. Pang Qian was deaf to it all though, as she crouched down and picked up Gu Mingxi’s paintings. She looked at them, unable to be fixed, and merciless tears welled in her eyes. Pang Qian told herself she couldn’t cry in front of Gu Guoxiang and Gu Ziyue. She walked over to Gu Guoxiang and showed him the paintings.

“Gu Mingxi drew this with his feet. One painting takes three or four days. He’s already spent more than a month on these. When he paints, his feet often cramp. But he doesn’t rest because he’s someone who chases perfection. Whatever he does, he has to do the best he’s able to.”

Gu Ziyue was still crying and Pang Qian grew agitated.

She put down the paintings on the table and then pointed at the handprint covered wall. “The walls can be repainted.”

Then she picked up Gu Mingxi and Li Han’s photo, shaking off the crushed frame. She pointed to the frame fragments and said, “You brought this frame back from abroad. To be honest, I wanted to get rid of it a long time ago. Now that it’s broken, we can buy a new one.”

She looked firmly at Gu Guoxiang and said, “If they’re messed up, Gu Mingxi’s paintings can be repainted. All of it’s in his head anyway. No matter how many pieces get messed up, he can still repaint them. But Uncle Gu, there are some things that can’t be fixed once they’re broken. Don’t think that blood ties can accomplish everything. On this point, I trust that Gu Mingxi and I believe the same thing. In the future, when you get old, we can pay for you to see the doctor if you get sick. We can hire a nurse and pay for your expenses, but please don’t expect us to personally take care of you. We’re not scheming to get any of your a.s.sets, so please stop dreaming that we will accept Gu Ziyue.”

Gu Guoxiang’s face turned ashen.

“Finally, please take your precious daughter out of my house.” Pang Qian crossed her arms and looked at him coldly.

 

When Gu Mingxi returned home, Pang Qian was kneeling on the floor, taking stock of the wedding gifts they’d bought. There were several boxes of stuffed dolls, some large and some small. Gu Mingxi walked over to her and looked at the gifts curiously. He couldn’t help laughing and then asked “Why does the house look like a kindergarten?”

Pang Qian kept her head lowered, and Gu Mingxi finally felt that something wasn’t quite right. He kneeled down onto the ground and turned to look at her face. Pang Qian turned her head away but couldn’t hide her face, and Gu Mingxi saw her swollen eyes still s.h.i.+ning with tears.

“Pang Pang! What’s wrong?” Gu Mingxi suddenly felt very anxious and he leaned into her. He asked, “What happened? Why are you crying? Pang Pang, don’t cry…”

Pang Qian dropped the doll in her hand and hugged him. She spoke into his chest, “Gu Mingxi, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

“What’s wrong? What happened?” Suddenly, he seemed to recall something. “Did my dad call you?”

“No, he came over.” Pang Qian wiped at her eyes and then stood up. “Let me show you something. Don’t hit me.”

Gu Mingxi, “…”

Pang Qian brought over the messed up paintings and sat down on the floor with Gu Mingxi. She told him what had happened that morning and then pointed at the handprints all over the wall.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to protect your paintings.” Pang Qian’s mouth hung open and her eyes were red. She grabbed onto a stuffed tortoise and poked its back. “I was very absolute. I don’t think your dad will ever want to see me again. But Gu Mingxi, I don’t regret it at all. I don’t like Gu Ziyue and I don’t want her staying at our house.”

Gu Mingxi didn’t say anything, so Pang Qian looked up at him uneasily. “Are you angry? I know I should have discussed it with you, but there’s really no room for discussion on this matter. Gu Mingxi, why are you looking at me like that? Are you really unhappy? Just yell at me a bit then.”

Gu Mingxi chuckled. He stretched out his leg and nudged her leg with his right foot. “Why would I yell at you? I didn’t say you did anything wrong. But… You really should have discussed with me first and then let me reject my dad. Why are you always so impulsive? We should at least try to hold up appearances.”

Pang Qian pushed the stuffed tortoise into him and responded, “What’s the point of keeping up appearances? Then it will just happen a second time, a third time, and then will you still have an excuse later? In the future, over every summer and winter break, won’t he start looking for us? It’s better to just settle things, once and for all.”

Gu Mingxi realized that he couldn’t beat her with words.

Pang Qian lowered her head and sat still stuffily. She suddenly said, “Gu Mingxi, there’s something I think we ought to talk about. We’re married now, we’re husband and wife. You have relatives and I have relatives. What I’m trying to say is that with regards on my side of the family, no matter what they may think of you, I’ll always be on the same track as you (‘same side as you’). I definitely won’t let my family bully you or wrong you, even if its my parents. So I hope that when it comes to your family, you’ll also be on the same track as me. I’m saying this to you because… You’re too good and kindhearted of a person. I know that you’re softhearted, so just let me be the bad guy. If you think that I’ve gone overboard sometimes, just think of your mom.”

Gu Mingxi thought about her words. After a moment, Pang Qian cautiously asked, “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Yeah.” He nodded solemnly. “Pang Pang, I can’t say that you were completely right in your actions today, but your intent was the same as mine. I agree with you, and I don’t want Gu Ziyue living in our house. So don’t worry, in front of my dad, I’ll definitely be on the same track as you.”

Pang Qian smiled. She didn’t expect his next words. “But, Wife, are you really against having a kid stay in our house? Even if it’s just for a week?”

Pang Qian didn’t understand, “Mm?”

Gu Mingxi smiled. “I called Dou Dou’s mom today and invited him over for a few days. I promised him last year, so I can’t go back on my word.”

Pang Qian let out a sigh. “You nearly scared me to death. I was wondering what you could be thinking! Of course I welcome Ding Jiangkang to E City! Don’t worry, you can busy yourself with your paintings. I’ll take him out to play!”