novelonline Chapter 1499 A Dream
Chapter 1499 A Dream
Chapter 1499 A Ten-Year Dream
In 1993, autumn came exceptionally early in Northeast China. In the afternoon of mid-September, the sunlight had already shed the scorching heat of midsummer and turned golden, warmly shining on the bluestone slabs of the back alley of Dingqinglou.
"Ji Qiang, are you doing math problems again?"
A gentle female voice rang out in front of him. Qin Hao recognized the voice; he heard it almost every day. He instinctively looked up. Sunlight streamed in from behind her, the golden rays stinging his eyes, blurring his vision. In that instant, a flood of memories rushed into his mind—
The original owner's name was Ji Qiang. In the early 80s, he was admitted to a prestigious university in Beijing, but he was forced to give up his enrollment because his father could not afford the tuition and travel expenses. His father committed suicide by jumping into a well out of guilt and self-blame. This double blow caused Ji Qiang to suffer a mental breakdown and fall into a state of madness, becoming a homeless person outside Dingqinglou.
Throughout those ten years of madness, Old Master Cui, Cui Dexin, and his son Cui Guomin, the owners of Dingqinglou Restaurant, always held a deep compassion for this poor man. Every day, Old Master Cui would have the kitchen reheat leftovers, sometimes even saving extra meat for his daughter-in-law, Li Xiaozhen, or the waitress, Sister Zhou, to deliver. In the bitter cold of winter, Old Master Cui would secretly take an old quilt from the restaurant and cover Ji Qiang with it under the cover of darkness. If it weren't for the father and son's unwavering care over those ten years, Ji Qiang would have long since frozen or starved to death in that alley.
"What are you looking at? Don't you recognize me, Ji Qiang?"
A fair hand waved in front of him, its fingers slender and its nails neatly trimmed. Qin Hao then snapped out of his daze, his gaze focusing on the woman in front of him—she looked to be in her early thirties, wearing a plain polyester shirt with a beige cardigan over it, her hair tied in a simple bun at the back of her head, her eyes gentle, and she was looking at him with concern.
"Yes, I know her. She's Sister Li, Old Master Cui's daughter-in-law." Qin Hao heard his voice was a little hoarse, as if he hadn't spoken properly in a long time.
Li Xiaozhen was visibly stunned, her eyes widening slightly and her mouth agape, as if she had heard something unbelievable. Then she abruptly turned her head and shouted into Dingqing Tower, "Dad! Dad! Come out and see!"
"What's wrong? What's wrong with Ji Qiang? He's not eating again?" A slightly aged but strong voice came from inside the building, accompanied by hurried footsteps. A moment later, a small old man with half-gray hair came out. He was not tall, but his back was straight. He was wearing a faded Zhongshan suit, and his face had the ruddy complexion of someone who had been exposed to cooking fumes for many years.
Li Xiaozhen immediately helped the old man to Qin Hao's side, her voice filled with barely suppressed excitement: "No, just now Ji Qiang... he recognized me! He even called me Sister Li!"
"Hey, I thought it was something serious." Old Master Cui shook his head, not taking it seriously: "It's normal for Ji Qiang to know you. For ten years, you've been bringing him food every day. He might have some mental issues, but he's not stupid."
"No, I don't mean that kind of acquaintance..." Li Xiaozhen didn't know how to explain for a moment, and waved her hands anxiously. She turned to look at Qin Hao, her eyes filled with expectation and probing: "Ji Qiang, take another look, do you know who this is?"
Qin Hao's gaze shifted to Old Master Cui's face. He nodded hesitantly and said clearly, "I know him. Old Master Cui is the manager of Dingqing Restaurant. He's your father-in-law."
The air seemed to freeze for a few seconds.
Grandpa Cui's expression shifted from doubt to surprise, his eyes widening gradually. He took two steps forward, getting closer to Qin Hao, and looked the young man sitting on the steps up and down—although his clothes were tattered and his hair was tangled, his clean face now had clear eyes, completely unlike the empty and bewildered look he had had in the past ten years.
"You...really recognize me?" Old Master Cui's voice trembled slightly.
"I recognize it." Qin Hao nodded seriously.
Li Xiaozhen rubbed her hands excitedly, "Dad, look! I told you Ji Qiang was a little different today!"
Grandpa Cui finally came to his senses. He took a deep breath, squatted down, looked Qin Hao straight in the eye, and spoke very softly, as if afraid of disturbing something: "Then... can you remember what happened before?"
Qin Hao lowered his eyelids, seemingly trying to recall. After a while, he raised his head, pointed to his stomach with one finger, and rubbed his stomach with the other hand, making a "hungry" gesture.
Grandpa Cui stared at the familiar gesture for two seconds, then suddenly burst out laughing, his smile spreading across his face and the wrinkles around his eyes crinkling together: "Hey! He even knows to ask for food now! It seems... it seems he really is different from before!"
As he spoke, he extended his hand: "Come on, don't sit here anymore. Let's go inside, and I'll have the kitchen make you something hot to eat."
Qin Hao looked at the calloused yet warm and thick hand, hesitated for a moment, and then placed his hand on it. Grandpa Cui pulled him up from the ground. Ten years of living huddled in a corner had left his legs a little weak, and Qin Hao staggered. Li Xiaozhen quickly supported him from the other side.
"Take it easy, no rush." Old Master Cui said gently as he helped Qin Hao walk step by step toward Dingqing Tower.
"Sir, what... what's going on?" A waitress in her forties put down her rag and hurried over, her eyes fixed on Qin Hao. This was Sister Zhou, a long-time employee of Dingqing Restaurant and one of the people who often delivered meals to Ji Qiang.
Grandpa Cui waved his hand, a smile on his face: "I don't know what's going on either, but it looks like a good thing. Sister Zhou, have the kitchen prepare some food, something hot, like shredded pork noodles, with extra meat."
"Okay!" Sister Zhou replied, turned around and walked towards the kitchen, but halfway there she looked back at Qin Hao, her eyes full of surprise and doubt.
Grandpa Cui and Li Xiaozhen led Qin Hao through the front hall, down a short corridor, and upstairs to the general manager's office.
The office was small, about fifteen or sixteen square meters. An old-fashioned solid wood desk stood by the window, piled high with ledgers and documents. Two filing cabinets lined the wall, their glass doors crammed with various materials. Most striking were the several black-and-white photographs hanging on the wall—one depicting the opening of Dingqinglou, and another a young photo of Mr. Cui with his master.
Dingqinglou is a renowned old brand in this city and even the entire province. It is said that in the early years of the Republic of China, a famous chef from Beijing, Master Zhang, fled to Northeast China due to the war. He established himself locally with his superb culinary skills and opened this restaurant. At the time of the opening, then-President Xu Shichang was inspecting Northeast China. After tasting Master Zhang's dishes, he praised them highly and personally inscribed the three characters "Dingqinglou" as the signboard. This signboard was risked to be hidden by Master Cui during the turbulent years and was only re-hung after the reform and opening up.
Grandpa Cui came to Dingqinglou at the age of sixteen from his hometown in Shandong, fleeing famine. He became an apprentice under Grandpa Zhang, learning the craft. He started by washing dishes and pots, working his way up to cutting and preparing ingredients, then cooking, and finally becoming the head chef. After the reform and opening up, Dingqinglou underwent restructuring, and Grandpa Cui, with his excellent skills and character, was elected general manager, a position he held for most of his life. Every table and chair in this office is imbued with decades of his hard work.
"Sit down, Ji Qiang, don't stand." Old Master Cui pointed to a chair in front of his desk. After Qin Hao sat down, he turned to Li Xiaozhen and said, "Xiaozhen, pour me a cup of tea."
Li Xiaozhen responded, walked to the coffee table in the corner, picked up the thermos, poured a cup of tea for Grandpa Cui first, hesitated for a moment, and then looked at Qin Hao: "Ji Qiang, are you thirsty? Why don't you drink some water first?"
Qin Hao nodded slightly.
Li Xiaozhen and Grandpa Cui exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes. She took another cup, poured some tea, and carefully placed it in front of Qin Hao. Then the two of them stood there, staring intently at Qin Hao.
Qin Hao picked up his teacup. It was an old-fashioned enamel cup with the words "Advanced Worker" printed in red on the rim, and the edge was slightly chipped. The tea was ordinary jasmine tea, steaming gently and carrying a delicate fragrance. He blew on it to cool it, then carefully took a sip. The warm liquid slid down his throat, and a warm feeling spread from his stomach.
The office was quiet, save for the ticking of the old-fashioned wall clock. Grandpa Cui and Li Xiaozhen stood there, watching Qin Hao sip his tea, neither of them speaking.
About ten minutes later, there was a gentle knock on the office door, and Sister Zhou came in carrying a large bowl: "Grandpa, the noodles are ready, Ji Qiang, eat them while they're hot."
It was a large bowl of steaming hot shredded pork noodles. The hand-rolled noodles were of uniform thickness and soaked in milky white bone broth. A thick layer of stir-fried, glistening shredded pork was placed on top, along with a few pieces of bright green vegetables, chopped scallions, and cilantro. The aroma wafted straight into my nose.
Qin Hao took the bowl, looked up at Sister Zhou, and forced a smile: "Thank you, Sister Zhou."
Sister Zhou's hand trembled, almost dropping the tray. Her eyes widened as she looked at Qin Hao, then at Grandpa Cui and Li Xiaozhen, her mouth opening and closing repeatedly before finally managing to stammer out, "What...what did you call me?"
"Sister Zhou," Qin Hao said again.
Sister Zhou was also stunned, standing there motionless, her eyes fixed on Qin Hao.
Grandpa Cui pulled up another chair and sat down, looking at Qin Hao with a complicated expression. Li Xiaozhen leaned close to his ear, lowered her voice, and said with barely suppressed excitement, "Dad, I think Ji Qiang seems... he's better. He's really better. He could never remember so many things before, and he can explain them so clearly."
Grandpa Cui was still a little worried. He leaned forward, crossed his hands on the table, and said in a gentle but serious tone, "Ji Qiang, think carefully again. Do you still remember what happened before?"
Qin Hao had already finished most of the bowl of shredded pork noodles, and he felt warm all over. The feeling of fullness in his stomach almost made him let out a satisfied sigh. He put down his chopsticks, handed the bowl to Li Xiaozhen who was standing next to him, and then made a gesture that he was still not full.
Sister Zhou understood and took the bowl downstairs.
Facing the concerned gazes of Grandpa Cui and Li Xiaozhen, Qin Hao took a breath and began to recount the memories that flooded his mind: "I remember. My name is Ji Qiang, and my hometown is Jijiatun, under Wuchang County, Heilongjiang Province. In 1982, I took the college entrance examination and ranked third in the county. I was admitted to Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, majoring in aircraft design and engineering..."
Grandpa Cui sighed deeply and patted Qin Hao's shoulder. His hand was warm and strong, and the rough calluses on his palm transmitted real warmth through the thin clothes.
"Child, you've suffered." His voice was a little hoarse. "It's good that you're alright, it's good that you're alright! It's better than anything else that you've regained consciousness."
As they were talking, Sister Zhou brought in another bowl of noodles. This time she didn't say anything, but simply placed the bowl gently in front of Qin Hao, gave him a complicated look, and turned to leave.
Qin Hao took the bowl. This time, he didn't wolf down his food. Instead, he picked up his chopsticks and ate slowly, saying in a muffled but clear voice, "Grandpa, if it weren't for your family bringing me food every day for the past ten years, I would have died long ago. You are all good people. I will remember this kindness and repay you tenfold or a hundredfold in the future."
Grandpa Cui didn't care at all, chuckling and waving his hand: "Hey, it's just some leftovers, not worth mentioning. As long as you're alright, that's better than anything else."
Li Xiaozhen leaned close to Grandpa Cui's ear and whispered, "Dad, now that Ji Qiang... has woken up, is it really appropriate to let him stay in that corner? It's getting colder and colder."
Grandpa Cui slapped his forehead: "Look at me, I was so happy that I forgot about that!"
"After you've eaten, come home with me, take a good shower, and change into clean clothes. You can stay at our house for now, and we'll talk about the future later. We'll always find a way out."
Qin Hao paused, the noodles hanging in mid-air. He looked up at Grandpa Cui, his eyes filled with gratitude and hesitation: "No need to trouble you, Grandpa. I've troubled you for ten years already, I can't be a burden to you any longer. I'll find a place to stay myself."
"What do you mean by being a burden!" Old Master Cui waved his hand and raised his voice, "What are you saying, child! Ten years have passed, what's a little more? Besides, you've just woken up, you don't have a penny on you, where can you go? Sleep under a bridge?"
Li Xiaozhen chimed in, her tone gentle but firm: "Yes, Ji Qiang, you've finally... come to your senses. If something else happens, wouldn't that make us even more worried? Just listen to your father and stay at our house for now. Once you're settled, you can move out later if you want."
Looking into the sincere concern in the eyes of the old man and the young man, Qin Hao felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He remained silent for a few seconds before finally nodding, "Then... I'll have to trouble you."
"What trouble? It's just a matter of adding a pair of chopsticks." Grandpa Cui smiled, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothing out. "You can sleep in the same room as my grandson Erpang. It's not too late to move out after you've settled in."
Qin Hao didn't say anything more, but simply finished the rest of his noodles. He knew that refusing now would be pretentious and would only make the person who genuinely helped him feel uncomfortable. It was better to accept their kindness for now and repay them when he was able to.
After eating and drinking his fill, Grandpa Cui glanced at the wall clock—3:20 PM. He stood up and said, “Let’s go. Let’s go home and settle down while things are still a bit calm. Zhen, keep an eye on the shop. I’ll be right back.”
"Don't worry, Dad," Li Xiaozhen replied.
Grandpa Cui led Qin Hao out of Dingqing Tower through the back door. The afternoon sun slanted across the bluestone slabs, and stray cats in the alley curled up against the wall to bask in the sun, only lazily raising their eyes when they saw people approaching. After walking for about ten minutes, they turned into an even narrower alley and finally stopped in front of a red-lacquered wooden door.
This is a typical old-style house in Northeast China, a detached house with a courtyard, blue bricks and gray tiles, and a low courtyard wall. You can see several persimmon trees planted in the yard, which are full of orange-red fruits, but they are not very big and probably not ripe yet.
Grandpa Cui took out his key, unlocked the door, and went inside. The courtyard was spotless, with a grape trellis against the wall and a stone table and benches underneath.
"Oh, old man, why are you back so early? And..." A kind-faced old lady poked her head out of the kitchen, wearing a blue apron around her waist and holding a spatula in her hand. Upon seeing Qin Hao behind Grandpa Cui, she visibly paused, almost dropping the spatula: "You brought Ji Qiang back?"
"This can't be explained in a short time," said Grandpa Cui as he took off his coat. "Find two old clothes from the common people and let Ji Qiang take a shower. We can talk about it after he's cleaned up."
Although the old lady looked puzzled and her brows were furrowed, she immediately put down the spatula and turned to go into the inner room. A moment later, she came out carrying a set of clothes—gray polyester trousers and a dark blue work shirt. Although they were old, they were very clean, neatly folded, and had a faint smell of soap.
"Here, put these on first." The old lady handed the clothes to Qin Hao, her eyes still filled with inquiry and doubt.
Qin Hao took the clothes and bowed slightly, saying, "Thank you, Auntie."
The old woman froze for a moment, watching Qin Hao carry the clothes into the small wooden bathroom in the corner of the yard. Her mouth remained agape for a long time. Only after the bathroom door closed and the sound of water came from inside did she suddenly turn to her husband and ask in a low voice, "Old man, what's going on? Ji Qiang... he just spoke to me? He even called me 'Auntie'?"
Grandpa Cui then recounted how Qin Hao had recovered, from Li Xiaozhen noticing the abnormality to Qin Hao accurately recounting his past, and finally their decision to temporarily take him in. The old lady was stunned, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"You mean... Ji Qiang was insane for ten years, and suddenly he recovered? He can still remember things from before?" The old lady's voice was full of disbelief.
"Absolutely true." Old Master Cui nodded.
The old lady was silent for a few seconds, processing this shocking news. Then, as if remembering something, her brows furrowed again: "So, Ji Qiang will be living with us from now on?"
Just as Grandpa Cui was about to nod, he saw the old lady's brows furrow even more. He asked, "You don't agree?"
“It’s not that I disagree,” the old lady sighed, her tone troubled. “Ji Qiang is a pitiful child, and it’s only right that we help him. But… we only have two rooms. You and I share one, and Erpang has his own. Now that Ji Qiang wants to stay, he’ll have to share a bed with Erpang. Erpang is so fat; I’m worried that two people can’t sleep in a single bed…”
Grandpa Cui scratched his head; this was indeed a practical problem. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Let's leave it at that for now. Ji Qiang has only just started to recover; we can't let him be homeless, can we? It's getting colder outside. What if something happens to him and he goes back to being as muddle-headed as before? Would you be at ease with that?"
"This..." The old lady hesitated. She was kind-hearted by nature, and for the past ten years, she had felt bad every time she saw Ji Qiang huddled in the corner.
"That's true." The old lady finally nodded: "Then we'll just have to make do with Erpang for now. That kid doesn't sleep well and likes to turn over, so we shouldn't push Jiqiang onto the floor again."
At this point, she suddenly remembered something, and her eyes dimmed: "I wonder how Erpang's mother is doing now. She's alone abroad... I haven't heard from her for several years."
Hearing his wife mention their daughter, Old Master Cui's smile vanished instantly, replaced by obvious displeasure and disappointment. He snorted coldly, his voice turning icy: "Hmph, if she really cared about Erpang, she would have come back long ago. I've seen plenty of fathers who dote on their children, but I've never seen a mother who doesn't. She made such nice promises when she left, saying she'd bring Erpang over once everything was settled. And what happened? She sent two letters in the first six months, then completely disappeared. I bet she's living a good life abroad and has forgotten all about us!"
Upon hearing this, the old lady's eyes reddened, her lips trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes. She wanted to say something in defense of her daughter, but the facts were undeniable, and any words she uttered seemed futile.
Just as the old lady was about to say something, she suddenly heard the bathroom door creak open. She quickly turned away, wiped her eyes with her apron, and forced back her tears.
Qin Hao emerged from the bathroom, wearing Cui Guomin's old clothes—the pants were a bit short, revealing his ankles, and the shirt was too narrow at the shoulders, but it was still much better than the tattered clothes he was wearing. Most surprisingly, Ji Qiang, after washing his face and combing his hair, was actually a handsome young man. Although long-term malnutrition had left his complexion somewhat pale and his cheeks sunken, his features were delicate, his brow bones well-defined, and especially his eyes, which were now bright and alert, making it impossible to tell that he had been mentally unstable for ten years.
"Uncle, Aunt, I'm sorry to have troubled you." Qin Hao bowed slightly, his tone sincere.
Grandpa Cui and Grandma Cui exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes. Grandma Cui looked Qin Hao up and down, and it took her a while to come to her senses before she said repeatedly, "No trouble at all, no trouble at all, it's just a matter of adding an extra pair of chopsticks. Ji Qiang, please make yourself at home here, don't be shy."
As she spoke, she seemed to remember something and turned to walk into the house: "Come, let me show you the room."
Qin Hao followed the old lady through the main room to a small room on the west side. The old lady pushed open the door, and a faint smell of mothballs wafted out. The room was small, about eight or nine square meters. A single bed stood by the window, with a small cabinet beside it, and an old-fashioned wardrobe against the wall. The room was very tidy; the blankets were neatly folded, and the books on the table were stacked neatly. Several celebrity posters were pasted on the wall—one of Zhao Yazhi, one of Chow Yun-fat, and one of Michael Jackson.
"This is Erpang's room," the old lady explained. "Erpang is my grandson, he's ten years old and in fourth grade. His dad... well, anyway, this child is temporarily staying with us. When you arrive, you can squeeze in with him for a bit. This bed looks small, but it's actually quite sturdy."
Qin Hao entered the room and looked around. The bed was indeed a single bed, about 1.5 meters wide; two adults would definitely feel cramped. But he didn't show any dissatisfaction; instead, he said gratefully, "It's already very good, Auntie. Thank you."
"Then you should rest for a while..." the old lady said kindly. "Just let me know if you need anything. There's water in the kitchen; help yourself if you're thirsty. I... I'll go prepare lunch."
Qin Hao nodded: "Okay, you're busy."
After the old lady closed the door and left, Qin Hao sat down on the edge of the bed. The bed frame made a slight creaking sound.
He lay down on the bed, closed his eyes, but couldn't fall asleep. His mind raced, pondering a real and pressing question: How to make money? How to become independent as soon as possible and stop being a burden on Grandpa Cui's family?
Suddenly, a thought flashed through my mind—that's right, the TV station is holding a citywide karaoke competition this year, and the champion will receive a prize of 30,000 yuan! 30,000 yuan was no small sum in 1993. An ordinary worker's monthly salary was only two or three hundred yuan, so 30,000 yuan was equivalent to ten years' income!
After making up his mind, Qin Hao sat up and went to the main room, only to find that Grandpa Cui and Grandma Cui had both gone out. So he found Erpang's paper and pen, left a note for the two elders, and also went out.
……
Walking through the streets of Northeast China in 1993, Qin Hao felt as if he had stepped into another world. Many shops on both sides of the street had tape recorders playing the most popular songs of the time. Almost the entire street was looping the theme song of "The Legend of the White Snake."
"Ha ha ha ha, ha ha ha ha, the West Lake is beautiful in March, the spring rain is like wine and the willows are like smoke..."
The video store window displayed a poster of Zhao Yazhi, dressed in white, exuding an ethereal beauty. Next to her were posters of Brigitte Lin and Joey Wong, all among the most popular actresses of their time.
1993 was a special year.
Just a year ago, that old man's Southern Tour speeches completely quelled the debate over whether something was "capitalist" or "socialist," injecting a powerful boost into reform and opening up. Ideological arguments ceased in the newspapers; everyone reached a consensus: make money, develop the economy!
Also in that year, grain coupons officially disappeared from the historical stage. The coupon economy that had lasted for nearly forty years came to a complete end, and the door to the market economy was fully opened.
The streets were bustling with people, and the sound of bicycle bells filled the air. Women wore brightly colored dresses and sported fashionable wavy hair; men, some in suits and others in jackets, hurried along. To Qin Hao's surprise, the number of cars on the street was quite considerable—although bicycles still dominated, Volga, Lada, and Shanghai-brand cars occasionally drove by, and he could even spot a few imported Japanese Toyota Crowns.
But then Qin Hao thought about it again and understood. It was 1993, five years before the massive layoffs that swept through Northeast China in 1998. During those five years, Northeast China remained China's most important industrial base, with thousands of state-owned factories still operating and millions of worker families still enjoying the stability of their "iron rice bowls." These workers received wages and benefits, and their consumption supported the city's prosperity.
Everything will change in five years.
Qin Hao shook his head, trying to clear his mind of those thoughts. Right now, he wasn't thinking about the macroeconomy, but rather how to survive and how to earn his first pot of gold.
Before he knew it, he had arrived at the entrance of the city television station. It was a five-story old-fashioned building with gray exterior walls and old-fashioned wooden-framed glass windows. A sign reading "City Radio and Television Bureau" hung at the entrance, next to a large poster.
“全市卡拉OK大赛火热报名中！冠军奖金三万元！亚军两万元！季军一万元！报名时间：即日起至9月30日。比赛时间：10月15日-11月15日。”
The poster depicts a stylish young man singing with a microphone against a backdrop of flashing neon lights. Three lines of prize money figures are highlighted in striking red, attracting the attention of every passerby.
Qin Hao took a deep breath and walked into the television station building. The lobby was quite crowded, mostly with young people registering for the competition; they were all stylishly dressed and brimming with confidence. A long table stood in the center of the lobby, behind which two staff members were registering applicants.
Qin Hao waited in line for more than ten minutes before it was finally his turn.
"Name?" the staff member asked without looking up, holding a pen in hand to take notes.
"Ji Qiang."
"age?"
Thirty-three.
The staff member looked up at him, a hint of surprise flashing in their eyes—most of those registering were young people in their early twenties, and thirty-three was indeed considered "old." But he didn't say anything, and continued to ask, "Work unit?"
"Uh... I'm currently unemployed."
"address?"
Qin Hao gave out the address of Grandpa Cui's house.
After the staff member finished recording, they took out a form from the drawer: "Fill this out, and then pay a ten-yuan registration fee."
Qin Hao took the form, which required him to fill in basic information, the piece he was competing in, and so on. He picked up the pen provided on the table and began to fill it out. Name, age, gender... these were all easy to fill in. But when he got to the "ID number" section, he froze.
ID card? Where did he get an ID card?
The original owner had been insane for ten years and had always been a homeless person. How could he possibly have an ID card? Let alone an ID card, he didn't even know where his household registration was—his hometown must have canceled his registration long ago. After all, a person who had been insane for ten years and had disappeared without a trace would likely be thought to be dead by his family.
"Um... comrade, I don't have an ID card," Qin Hao said somewhat awkwardly.
The staff member looked up, frowning. "No ID card? What about your household registration booklet? Or a letter of introduction from your employer?"
"No... I was out of town before, and I just got back," Qin Hao explained vaguely.
The staff member shook his head and took the form back: "That won't work. According to regulations, you must have identification. Otherwise, how can we verify who you are?"
The people in line behind them started to urge impatiently, "Hurry up, we're still waiting!"
Qin Hao knew that there was no point in continuing the argument, so he stepped aside.
The sun was already setting in the west, and its golden afterglow was spilling onto the street.
As he was thinking this, Qin Hao had already walked back to the alley where Grandpa Cui's house was located. Just as he reached the door, he heard children making noise and adults talking inside. He pushed the door open and went in; there were several people standing in the courtyard.
Grandpa Cui was talking to a man in his thirties. The man was of medium build, wearing blue overalls, and had a simple smile on his face—this was Cui Guomin, Grandpa Cui's son, an engineer at a state-owned machinery factory. Standing next to him was a chubby boy of about ten years old, with a round face and big eyes; this must be Erpang.
"Dad, why is Ji Qiang here? And he's wearing... are those my clothes?" Cui Guomin was clearly taken aback when he saw Qin Hao.
The old lady patted her son and said in a low voice, "Keep your voice down! Ji Qiang is... all better now, just like a normal person. He'll stay with us for the time being."
"He's better?" Cui Guomin's eyes widened as he looked Qin Hao up and down, his gaze filled with disbelief. "Really? Wasn't he crazy? Ten years!"
“He’s really better.” Old Master Cui took over the conversation, his tone certain: “He suddenly became lucid this afternoon and remembers everything. Let him stay here for now, and we’ll talk more once he’s settled.”
Cui Guomin was processing this astonishing news for a long time before nodding, "That...that's good news. But," he looked at his nephew, "that means Ji Qiang and Erpang will be sharing a room?"
Erpang immediately objected, his little mouth pouting so much it could hang an oil bottle: "No way! My bed is too small, it's too crowded for two people! Besides, who is he? I don't even know him!"
Cui Guomin was amused by his nephew and teased, "Are you sure it's because the bed is too small, and not because you're too fat? Look at your belly, it's almost as big as your grandpa's frying pan!"
"Uncle!" Erpang stomped his foot angrily, his round face turning bright red.
The old lady quickly came over, patted Erpang's head, and soothed him in a kind tone, "Alright, alright, Erpang, be a good boy. Uncle Ji Qiang doesn't have anywhere to stay for the time being, so he'll stay with us for a few days. Grandma will make you braised pork ribs tonight, okay?"
Upon hearing the words "braised pork ribs," Erpang's eyes lit up. He swallowed hard, hesitated for a few seconds, and finally nodded reluctantly: "Well... okay then."
Everyone laughed. Qin Hao chuckled too; this chubby little guy was quite the glutton.
Only then did Grandpa Cui ask, "Ji Qiang, you went out this afternoon? What did you do?"
Qin Hao made up an excuse and then brought up the matter of the ID card. Although Grandpa Cui didn't know what Qin Hao needed the ID card for, he readily agreed to help him get one by pulling strings.