Chapter Five: Lin Xia's Family

Summer’s mother, like most housewives in China, was the absolute authority when it came to getting things done around the house. But her temper? Well, her love of chattering had been imprinted on Summer’s heart since she was a child, so much so that whenever she saw her mother, she felt an overwhelming urge to make a run for it.

Summer made her way through the main hall to the kitchen. The moment she reached the doorway, a rush of cooking smoke hit her, making her cough uncontrollably. Seeing this, her mother called out in a loud, brash voice, “Summer, the smoke’s thick—keep your distance.”

“Okay,” Summer replied, finding a small stool and sitting a little ways off, cradling Ah Mao in her arms, absentmindedly stroking the soft fur on its forehead.

Noticing Ah Mao scratching its nose with its paw in an unbearably adorable way, Summer quickly rolled the dog over, exposing its white belly fur, and began tickling it with both hands. The girl and her dog played happily together.

Her mother, taking a quick glance their way while tossing salt into the pot with her left hand and expertly stirring with her right, said, “Summer, the dog’s filthy. It’s fine to pet it, but remember to wash your hands. Ah Mao is always running wild who knows where, and comes back covered in dirt. I just gave it a bath.”

“Alright, got it. Where’s Dad?” Summer stopped playing with Ah Mao, got up to wash her hands, and asked casually.

“He’s in his room watching TV. Honestly, you’re already a teenager and still can’t keep your own room tidy. It’s one thing if you don’t clean up, but I went in after coming back from selling vegetables and, goodness, what a mess! Go take a look for yourself, tidy it up a bit. You can’t expect your mother to clean up after you forever.”

“I know, I know, Mom. Can you stop nagging? I’ll clean my room, okay?”

At that moment, Summer’s father emerged from his room, joining the conversation. “She’s right. I’ve been listening to your mother’s nagging for years. It’s only fair you get your share too, so you understand the hardships your old man goes through.”

Summer said sympathetically, “Dad, you have my deepest sympathy. Thank you for everything you do for this family. On behalf of the Party and the people, on behalf of myself and Lin Hui, I salute you.”

With that, she stepped forward, reached out her paw—er, hand—to shake her father’s, giving it a few solemn pumps.

Her father looked at her with a serious expression. “It’s nothing. As a Party member, wherever you go, it’s all about serving the people. As long as you and Lin Hui are doing well, your father is content.”

Summer gazed at her father with mock gravity, her face full of emotion. “Dad, you’ve worked hard.”

Her father replied, “It’s nothing, Summer.”

From the kitchen, her mother poked her head out. “What are you two up to? Summer, stop dawdling and go clean your doghouse. Lin Hui, come help me serve the dishes.”

At the sound of her mother’s voice, the two quickly let go of each other. Summer’s father beamed, ingratiatingly, “Coming, coming.”

Summer shot her father a look of deep disdain, only to hear her mother shout, “Summer, what are you standing there for? Go on, lunch is almost ready. Clean your doghouse before you eat.”

Startled, Summer quickly answered, “Got it, going now!” With that, she dashed upstairs.

Standing in her little bedroom, Summer silently berated herself: You’re almost thirty, and you still can’t escape your mother’s iron rule. How useless.

Then she thought of her parents, who’d been together for decades, and realized they too were still living under her mother’s tyranny. That thought brought her a sense of balance. She looked around her small bedroom.

It was just a ten-odd square meter room, roughly finished, nothing like the spacious apartment she’d owned in her previous life. But now, everything seemed so dear and cozy in her eyes.

She flopped onto her bed, hugging the now-faded brown teddy bear by her pillow, examining it closely. Youth was a wonderful thing—even this bear, worn with years, seemed adorable to her now.

It was her only childhood toy, her companion through all those years. Later, in high school, swept up in the urge to compare and compete like every teenager, she’d tossed it aside without a second thought. Only much later, when nostalgia set in and she’d learned the value of memories, did she regret it—but by then, it was long gone. All she could do was sigh in her heart.

She gave the little brown bear a gentle kiss and set it by her pillow, then began tidying her room.

Her mother had called it messy, but it really wasn’t so bad—after all, how messy could a girl’s room get? The bed was unmade, the desk piled high with books in a jumble, giving an impression of disorder.

Summer had never been in the habit of making her bed; she’d always thought there was no point since she’d be getting back in soon enough. Besides, her bedroom was private—who would see it but family? Her mother had tried to teach her to keep it tidy during middle school, but when repeated lessons failed, she eventually gave up, only complaining about it from time to time.

Even before her rebirth, Summer had never been one to make her bed—after all, some habits were decades old. Her mother’s hope that she’d turn over a new, tidy leaf seemed destined for disappointment.

Sprawled on the bed, Summer really didn’t want to get up. She’d only mess up the bed again for her afternoon nap. With that in mind, she left the bed as it was and instead sat at her desk, organizing her books.

She cleared away stacks of extracurricular materials—her mother had clearly taken her and her brother’s studies seriously. Leafing through the pile, she found a copy of “Dream of the Red Chamber,” and then “Three Hundred Tang Poems,” and, at the very bottom, “An Analysis of Song Lyrics.” Clearly, her younger self hadn’t cared much for classical literature, seeing as these brand-new books were buried under everything else.

Halfway through tidying, she heard Lin Hui call from downstairs, “Sister, come eat!”

“Coming!” Summer put down her book, washed her hands, and bounded downstairs.

Seeing her elementary-school-aged brother, Summer was overcome with emotion—this was how cute he’d been as a child! Who could have guessed the rakish, devilishly handsome young man he would become?

Just thinking about how rebellious Lin Hui would be in the future, how he’d drive her mad, filled Summer with exasperation. No, she couldn’t let him go astray—his education had to start young.

Summer resolved to keep a close eye on Lin Hui from now on. If this were a comic, the family would see a pair of dark wings sprouting from Summer’s back as she plotted her brother’s reformation, grinning wickedly. Poor Lin Hui, head bent over his rice bowl, had no idea his elder sister was already scheming to shape his destiny.

That meal was as warm and comfortable as any other, but it marked the beginning of Lin Hui’s tragic new life.