Side Story 2-2
Auntie Zheng had been feeling troubled lately.
She hadn’t felt troubled in a long time, so when she woke up this morning and realized that her happy dance practice would be interrupted, she froze.
Her phone alarm rang on time, it was time for breakfast. There were some leftover dumplings from yesterday, she could pan-fry them and make a seaweed and egg drop soup.
The thought of food cheered her up.
Her son had posted a picture of himself studying in the morning, the angle carefully chosen to make him look studious and handsome. Auntie Zheng gave him a like.
The “Sunshine Dance Group” WeChat group was buzzing with activity, mostly “good morning” stickers and links to articles. Auntie Zheng scrolled through them, looking for the group leader’s announcement.
The group leader said the weather was good today, they could practice a little longer to prepare for the performance next month.
Thinking about the performance being a fundraiser for a children’s library in a rural area, Auntie Zheng felt a surge of motivation.
She quickly finished her breakfast, changed into comfortable clothes, tied up her hair, then hesitated for a moment before taking out her lipstick and applying a touch of color.
She had fair skin and naturally light hair. The touch of color brightened her complexion, making her look more vibrant.
She was pleased with her appearance.
When she arrived at the practice room by the plaza, the sun was just rising.
The group leader was carrying the stereo outside. Auntie Zheng helped him carry the microphone and a small stool, chatting with him, “How many people are coming today?”
“Everyone except for those two from Weishui Garden, they said they would come.”
“So we can start choreographing the dance?”
“Yes, the teacher is here.”
“Have we decided on the song?”
“Yes, didn’t I send it to you guys? ‘Mwah Mwah’, young people like it.”
“Yes, we have to keep up with the times,” Auntie Zheng said, clenching her fist.
As they started the first rehearsal, the young dance instructor led them through warm-up exercises. Auntie Zheng stretched her legs, glancing around, but that annoying person wasn’t there.
She breathed a sigh of relief. As the instructor started breaking down the dance moves, she focused on learning. They were just amateurs, many of them having only started dancing recently, their clumsy movements making her chuckle.
After the third run-through, the instructor said to Auntie Zheng, “Auntie, your movements are very good, can you come to the front and demonstrate for everyone?”
Auntie Zheng wasn’t shy, and she was indeed the best dancer among them, so she readily went to the front.
“Please bear with us, teacher,” she said with a smile.
The young instructor’s eyes crinkled into crescents, “Of course, I’ll keep teaching until everyone gets it.”
The music started again, and the group leader, sitting to the side, took out his erhu and started playing along.
The plaza was filled with the sounds of music and laughter, children on their way to school and adults on their way to work, cars passing by, the small city coming to life.
The Master, having finally shaken off Zhuo Zhi and Li Qinyue, turned a corner and headed towards the plaza.
As she approached, a shop owner splashed a bucket of water onto the street, almost hitting her feet.
The Master jumped back. Looking over, she saw a young girl’s smiling face, apologizing profusely, “I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you there…”
“It’s fine,” the Master said calmly, then looked up at the shop sign, paused, and asked, “Are you open?”
The girl was confused, “Huh?”
The Master: “Are you selling?”
After a long pause, the girl’s eyes widened, “Yes!”
After practicing the basic movements, the instructor suggested they try on their costumes and use their props.
A group of uncles, aunties, grandpas, and grandmas walked towards the activity center and entered the changing rooms.
Auntie Zheng’s locker was at the very back. As she walked in, many people were already trying on their costumes excitedly.
But when she opened her locker, it was empty.
Auntie Zheng was stunned. She checked again, making sure she had the right locker, and that she hadn’t taken her costume home.
She raised her voice, “Where’s my costume?”
Everyone in the changing room froze.
The costumes had been purchased with funds pooled by the group members, supplemented by some subsidies. They were all getting on in years and were very careful with their money, they couldn’t afford any losses.
Now, with the dress rehearsal approaching, a missing costume was a serious matter. Their expressions varied, an older lady already rolling up her sleeves, ready for action.
“Where did you put it?”
“Didn’t we just get the costumes the other day? They were handed out yesterday.”
“Did you take it home to wash?”
“Did anyone come into the activity center?”
“We have security cameras! Check the footage!”
As the room filled with chatter, Auntie Zheng looked at them, realizing that this wasn’t a joke, and it didn’t seem like someone had deliberately hidden her costume.
She was always kind to others and was known for her gentle nature. She had lived in this area for over ten years and had no enemies.
The only conflict she could think of was with that strange person recently.
The one who had come out of nowhere, complaining about their square dancing being too noisy.
She had shown them the permit and the agreement, but the person had just glanced at them and said, “Am I not a person?”
“You are,” Auntie Zheng had said, Who insults themselves like that?
“Then you’re disturbing me,” the person had said, pouting.
If it weren’t for the fact that the person looked decent, was a woman, and had spoken in such a pitiful tone, Auntie Zheng would have called security to chase her away.
If you’re being disturbed, just leave. But the person hadn’t left, she had just squatted on the steps nearby, watching them dance, her chin resting in her hands.
Sometimes she would mock their clumsy movements, sometimes she would complain about their music, it was incredibly annoying.
When the group leader had tried to confront her, a German Shepherd, off its leash, had run towards them, causing chaos.
The dog, for some reason, was agitated, jumping and barking. The annoying person, amidst the screams, had rushed towards the dog and, like Wu Song fighting a tiger, knocked it down with two punches.
Everyone had scattered, except for her, standing there, holding the dog’s collar like a hero.
She hadn’t looked like a middle-aged woman, but rather, a spirited young man.
Stopping a rampaging dog, then dealing with the dog’s owner, wasn’t something most people would be willing to do.
But this person had not only calmed the dog down but also taken it to the police station. Auntie Zheng had followed them, but the dog owner hadn’t even shown up, the problem had been solved just like that. The dog hadn’t hurt anyone, and no one had hurt the dog.
Auntie Zheng thought that it was because of this incident that she had tolerated the person’s constant criticisms and complaints afterwards.
So… now, staring at her empty locker, with a woman’s intuition, Auntie Zheng connected the missing costume to that person.
She remembered the person’s face clearly, but she hadn’t taken any pictures.
As for the name, it seemed to be Zhuo, but she wasn’t sure if it was real.
If it was really her who had taken it, would they be able to find her? Would they be able to get the costume back?
“What’s going on?” the group leader called out from the door.
After everyone explained the situation, the group leader immediately said, “The security cameras are working, they were just checked last week, we’ll go check the footage.”
Seeing the group heading towards the office, Auntie Zheng blurted out, “Wait.”
Everyone looked at her.
Auntie Zheng wrung her hands, the sudden lie making her throat dry, “I might have left it in the car.”
“Huh?” Everyone stared at her.
“I think… I might have put it in my bag after trying it on yesterday…”
She waved her hands frantically, “You guys go ahead and practice, I’ll go look for it. If I can’t find it, we’ll check the footage, it’ll take a long time to go through hours of recordings…”
As everyone discussed amongst themselves, Auntie Zheng walked to the door, her voice firm, “A missing costume is a small matter, delaying practice is a big matter. The instructor is waiting, if I really can’t find it, I’ll just buy a new one, there’s still time.”
Hearing her last sentence, everyone relaxed.
If she was willing to bear the cost herself, there was no need for them to worry too much.
They went back to changing and chatting. Auntie Zheng left the activity center and, looking towards the plaza, for the first time, hoped to see that annoying person.
A street sprinkler drove past, spraying water, creating a misty curtain.
Auntie Zheng stared at the water spray and counted silently, three, two, one…
A figure emerged from the mist, a bright, colorful jacket standing out against the gray sky.
Auntie Zheng couldn’t help but smile.
The person scanned the plaza, her gaze lingering on their usual dance spot, then landed on Auntie Zheng.
Auntie Zheng wanted to wave her over, then remembered that she should be acting like she was looking for a thief. She coughed, straightened her back, and walked towards the center of the plaza.
The person didn’t move, just stared at her.
As Auntie Zheng walked, she felt a slight discomfort in her legs, probably from practicing too hard recently.
After what felt like an eternity, she finally reached the person.
“Miss Zhuo, there are some things I don’t want to spell out,” Auntie Zheng coughed, “But I think you should know what I’m talking about.”
Miss Zhuo raised an eyebrow.
“You should return what you took,” Although looking into this person’s eyes always made her nervous, Auntie Zheng bravely met her gaze.
The person suddenly smiled and said, seemingly out of nowhere, “Your wife?”
“Huh?” Auntie Zheng’s jaw dropped, she didn’t understand what she meant.
Miss Zhuo put her hands behind her back, looking around, then said, still as annoying as ever, “Forget about the costume, it’s ugly.”
“It’s not ugly! It’s the latest style, chosen by Auntie Li!” Auntie Zheng protested.
“Do you really think it’s pretty? And that song, do you really think it’s good?” Miss Zhuo looked at her with a smile.
“It’s…” Auntie Zheng was stunned for a moment, then quickly said, “I’m telling you again, it’s none of your business! If you want to complain, join our group, but we have requirements, and you have to follow the majority.”
“Can family members join through the back door?” Miss Zhuo asked.
“Who’s your family?” Auntie Zheng frowned.
“You.”
“How am I your family?!”
“I know you,” Miss Zhuo said, “And you know me, you have to take me in.”
“How can you be so…”
“Shameless?” Miss Zhuo looked into her eyes, “I saw you say that.”
“Ahem,” Auntie Zheng blushed, embarrassed at being exposed.
“Okay,” Miss Zhuo stretched her legs, “Let’s not beat around the bush. We’ve known each other for a while now, you have to do me this small favor. You can’t have the costume back. Either you quit that ‘Sunshine’ group, or you bring me in, let me revitalize your group…”
“Based on…” Auntie Zheng started to say.
“Based on the fact that we’ve made up, we’re friends now,” Miss Zhuo said, bringing her hands from behind her back, holding a bouquet of pink roses, still dewy and fresh, incredibly beautiful.
Auntie Zheng’s jaw dropped, she couldn’t speak.
The erhu music and the annoying “Mwah Mwah” song filled the plaza again. A group of colorfully dressed uncles, aunties, grandpas, and grandmas waved their sparkly fans, dancing in the sunlight.
Auntie Zheng, clutching the roses, her face burning, finally managed to ask, “Why did you buy flowers?”
“The florist said they were on sale, she wouldn’t be able to sell them otherwise,” Miss Zhuo said.
“Really? They’re still buds, they look fine,” Auntie Zheng said.
“Who knows, maybe she was lying,” Miss Zhuo said.
“And you believed her?”
“I wanted to, I like young girls.”
“Who doesn’t like young girls? Then you should go to a school playground and soak up the youthful atmosphere, why are you always here, finding fault with us?”
“To look at a young girl, of course.”
“Where’s the young girl here?”
“You, you’re always dressed so stylishly, dancing for hours without getting tired, always smiling, aren’t you a young girl?”
Auntie Zheng, exasperated, raised her hand as if to hit Miss Zhuo, but stopped, not wanting to damage the roses. She stomped her foot, “At your age, you have no respect for your elders.”
“I do what I want,” Miss Zhuo’s smile was as bold and unreasonable as her appearance, yet also strangely charming.
[The End]