Chapter 22: A New Year’s Revelation

Lin Duo’s holiday differed from other students’ in one significant way: she wasn’t burdened with various cram schools. Similarly, she wasn’t confined to her bedroom all day, solving problems; instead, she would lend a hand at the shop whenever her studies grew tiresome.

Yue Renhui and Wu Bijuan’s approach was straightforward. They didn’t believe that keeping a child cooped up studying all day would yield optimal results. Lin Duo’s consistent, albeit gradual, improvement in major exams indirectly validated their parenting philosophy.

Soon, the Lunar New Year approached. Many office workers began their holidays, returning home and filling the streets outside the shop with a liveliness not seen on ordinary days. Occasionally, mischievous children could be spotted setting off firecrackers, scattering them wildly to startle passersby.

At times, Lin Duo’s thoughts would drift back to her hometown, to her biological parents. Despite the harsh beating Lin Fu had inflicted that day, her resentment towards him had slowly faded with the passage of time. She knew that if her biological parents had been able to accept her desire to live as a girl, she would never have run away.

However, Lin Duo was acutely aware of one crucial point: if her true identity as a boy were ever exposed, even her foster parents might not support her. After all, the act of changing one’s gender was, in the eyes of most, a rebellious act, a defiance of human ethics. Few could understand, not even close family.

Lin Duo had often imagined the scenario. Should her true self be revealed, her tranquil daily life would instantly crumble. Her two already few friends would likely shun her, and she would once again face daily torment from the boys at school. Even the teachers’ gazes would likely be tinged with disdain.

Thus, Lin Duo had always been meticulously careful in safeguarding her little secret. She would double-check that the bathroom door was locked every time she showered and never appeared in her underwear before others. She bought her medication only once every few months, and the pills were hidden with utmost caution.

So far, her efforts had been remarkably successful; no one in Nan’an City had ever suspected her female identity.

****

This New Year’s Eve, Yue Renhui had no plans to return to his hometown. For one, his parents were no longer alive, and his siblings were mostly scattered across the country, leaving little reason to visit. Secondly, the New Year period marked the peak season for the shop’s turnover, and staying meant significantly higher earnings.

On New Year’s Eve, the fruit shop, for the first time ever, closed its doors at two in the afternoon. Wu Bijuan ventured to the nearby wet market, returning with an abundance of ingredients before diving straight into the kitchen, bustling with activity.

Yue Renhui, meanwhile, sat with Lin Duo on the sofa, watching television and chatting about everyday matters, enjoying the comfortable camaraderie of father and daughter.

Both Yue Renhui and Wu Bijuan hailed from Yong’an Province, which bordered Nan’an City, so their cooking naturally reflected that regional flavor. Lin Duo, originating from the North, wasn’t truly accustomed to it, yet she never showed it, nor did she ever pick at her food.

After dinner, Lin Duo helped her mother wash the dishes and wipe the floor. Afterward, the family of three squeezed onto their small, old sofa, cracking sunflower seeds as they watched the Spring Festival Gala.

Lin Duo sat squarely in the middle, cradled carefully by her foster parents like a precious pearl, her heart overflowing with sweetness.

As midnight approached, Yue Renhui stood up. “The New Year is almost here! Let’s go outside and set off some firecrackers!”

Though it was late, the streets were far from quiet. Firecrackers exploded incessantly from all directions, resembling dancing will-o’-the-wisps in the dark night. Yue Renhui arranged the ‘Myriad Year Bang’ firecrackers on the ground and handed the lighter to Lin Duo. “My girl, do you dare to light it?”

Wu Bijuan pulled Lin Duo into an embrace. “Don’t let our daughter do that, it’s dangerous.”

“It’s fine, I dare!” Lin Duo, unafraid, took the lighter and lit the fuse. The family then retreated a few steps, watching the firecrackers flash and crackle in the night.

Once the firecrackers finished, Yue Renhui arranged several fireworks on the ground. He and Lin Duo lit them separately, and soon, fiery red spheres shot skyward, transforming into streaks of light that pierced the night. Lin Duo leaned into Wu Bijuan’s embrace, gazing up as beautiful fireworks bloomed brilliantly overhead, her eyes welling up with tears once more.

They returned indoors a little past midnight. Lin Duo, understanding the custom, respectfully bowed before her foster parents. “Happy New Year, Papa and Mama! I wish you good health and a prosperous business in the new year.”

Wu Bijuan’s smile was so wide it almost split her face. “Look at our girl, how sensible she is!”

Yue Renhui pulled out a prepared red packet from his pocket. “Here, take this. You’re a girl, after all; buy yourself any clothes or trinkets you like.”

After paying her respects, Lin Duo returned to her small room and opened the red packet. Inside lay a generous 1000 yuan. Her biological parents’ largest red packet had only ever contained 300 yuan.

Lin Duo happily pressed the red packet to her chest, wondering if she should find time to buy a few pretty little dresses.

****

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, the fruit shop opened as usual. Despite the passing night, the intermittent sounds of firecrackers still echoed outside, and the stream of customers buying fruit was exceptionally large.

Soon after opening, a familiar, plump figure mingled among the customers, squeezing his way to Lin Duo with a beaming face. “Lin Duo, Happy New Year!”

“Happy New Year to you too. Wang Linshu, a text message would have sufficed for New Year’s greetings. Why did you bother coming in person?” Lin Duo asked, as she sorted out and discarded spoiled fruit.

Wang Linshu was prepared. He pulled a practice book from his backpack. “I have a few problems I don’t understand, even after looking at the answers. I had no choice but to come find you.”

Lin Duo seemed a little helpless. “As you can see, we have so many customers today. I’m quite busy.”

Wang Linshu glanced around, scratched his head, and offered, “How about I help you?”

“Help me? I can’t pay you a salary.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. We’re classmates; we should help each other out in friendship.”

Seeing Wang Linshu’s persistence, and realizing she was indeed quite busy, Lin Duo assigned him a task. “Alright, those fruits over there might be getting frosted. Take this hairdryer and warm them up a bit.”

Wang Linshu executed the task Lin Duo assigned with exceptional seriousness, meticulously ensuring the fruit maintained a normal temperature so customers wouldn’t feel cold when picking them. Furthermore, he mimicked Lin Duo’s actions, handling fully or partially rotten fruit and watching for any customers with sticky fingers, completely adopting the demeanor of someone diligently at work.

In the blink of an eye, it was noon. Four boxes of rice with toppings arrived from the small restaurant next door. Due to their work, the foster parents and Lin Duo always had their lunch delivered from there. The neighboring establishment was a husband-and-wife shop, and over time, they had grown close to the Yue family, often coming over to sit and chat during quiet moments.

Wu Bijuan handed a lunchbox to Wang Linshu. “You must be hungry too. I specially ordered an extra box. I hope it suits your taste.”

“Thank you, Auntie!” Wang Linshu respectfully took the meal box and sat with Lin Duo at the cash register to eat, chatting about school trivialities along the way.

Mid-meal, Wang Linshu glanced at his phone, a hint of impatience on his face. “I’ve only been out for a little while, and they’re already rushing me home, honestly.”

“Your family worries about you! Besides, you’re not an employee here, so you shouldn’t be doing these chores. Go home after you’ve eaten!” Although Lin Duo was young, she had always been a little more mature than other children her age.

Wang Linshu’s face fell slightly. “I really wish I could stay with you longer.”

“We’re deskmates, aren’t we? There’ll be plenty of time once school starts again.” Lin Duo smiled. “Here, I don’t really like fatty meat. You can have it, right?”

Wang Linshu gazed at the fresh lion’s head that Lin Duo had just picked up for him, a wave of secret excitement washing over him. After all, this meat had touched Lin Duo’s chopsticks, making it a kind of indirect kiss. He swallowed it down, brimming with emotion.

After eating, Lin Duo personally saw Wang Linshu out of the shop, not forgetting to remind him, “Don’t get lazy during the winter break, either. Although your grades are improving quickly, you’re still a bit short of schools like Nanli Affiliated High School.”

“I will definitely get in!” Wang Linshu’s expression was resolute.

Lin Duo’s lips curved upward. “Well, confidence is a good thing. And thank you for your help today.”

‘For you, I’d be willing to do even more.’ Wang Linshu thought to himself, but he dared not say it aloud, merely waving goodbye to Lin Duo.

****

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, a familiar elderly man entered the shop. The busy Yue Renhui quickly excused himself, pulled out a chair, and greeted him warmly, “Uncle Wang, you’re here!”

Uncle Wang settled into the chair, pulled a water pipe from his pocket, lit it, and slowly drawled, “You go about your business. I just came to sit for a while.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine, there are fewer customers now.” Yue Renhui sat with Uncle Wang, chatting about old business anecdotes.

After exhausting old stories, they moved on to new ones. Uncle Wang brought up something he found quite peculiar. “You know, I’m not that rigid when it comes to raising my children. Every day, I make sure my grandson goes out to play and relax a bit; kids get sick if they sit still all the time. But this past couple of months, this boy has been a bit odd. Every time he goes out to play, he brings back some fruit, saying it’s to nourish my body. He was never this filial before.”

Yue Renhui paused slightly. “Uncle Wang, you don’t know yet?”

“Know what?”

Yue Renhui leaned closer to Uncle Wang and whispered a few words.

“So that’s it!” Uncle Wang looked towards Lin Duo at the cash register, enlightened. “Haha, no wonder that boy suddenly became so serious about studying and suddenly wants to get into Nanli Affiliated High School. So that’s the reason!”

At this moment, Lin Duo was busy ringing up customers and didn’t pay much attention to what her foster father and Uncle Wang were discussing.

Just then, Uncle Wang stood up and walked over to Lin Duo, his face kind. “Little Lin, how did you do on your final exams?”

“Not ideally, 33rd in my grade.” Lin Duo was indeed not satisfied with her score, as it was still just a little short for Nanli Affiliated High School.

Uncle Wang nodded. “Little girls are certainly more academically driven than little boys. By the way, how is my grandson, your deskmate Wang Linshu, usually in class? Does he pay attention?”

“He’s quite serious in class. He used to occasionally sneak glances at his phone during English and Chinese lessons, but he corrected himself later,” Lin Duo answered truthfully.

“Hmm, very good.” Uncle Wang looked at the pretty and well-behaved Lin Duo, his smile deepening. “The high school entrance exam is in six months. I’d appreciate it if you could help me supervise him more once school starts, don’t let that boy get lazy.”

Lin Duo quickly shook her head. “Uncle Wang, you’re too polite! Wang Linshu is my deskmate; I already have an obligation to encourage him to work hard.”

“Good! Good!” Uncle Wang seemed to be in high spirits. He returned to chat with Yue Renhui for a few more moments before slowly leaving, still puffing on his water pipe.