"Um, I'm Meng Jingwei's friend, just visiting," Han Yu, a criminal investigator, understood what she was signing because his work required him to be familiar with everyday sign language.
"So you're Sister Meng Jingwei's friend! I just heard them mention you."
The girl continued to sign, a smile illuminating her face. That smile was exceptionally bright, devoid of any impurity, so pure and likable that it was impossible to refuse.
"I'm Han Yu, what's your name?" he asked, walking up to her.
"My name is Cheng Xiaorui," Cheng Xiaorui introduced herself with a smile.
"Cheng Xiaorui, what are you dawdling for? Hurry up and wash these blankets for me too."
At that moment, a plump woman with a fierce expression walked over from not far away, pointing at Cheng Xiaorui and scolding her. Han Yu noticed she was holding blankets, at least three based on their color. Regardless of it being New Year's Day, with temperatures below freezing, even the reservoir was covered in thick ice. Only the area for washing clothes had been chipped clear of ice to allow for washing. This woman was actually making a girl wash so many clothes and blankets!
Han Yu, usually a man of few words, couldn't help but speak up, "Shouldn't people be visiting and paying New Year's calls on the first day of the Lunar New Year? Why are you making a girl wash so many clothes?"
Villagers lived in self-built houses with private courtyards. On New Year's Day, they would visit each household. Moreover, there was a custom of wearing new clothes on the first day, but the pale green cotton-padded jacket worn by the girl named Cheng Xiaorui had been washed so much that it was faded and had several mended patches. He never expected that even in this era, some people still wore such clothes.
The woman placed the blankets next to Cheng Xiaorui and glared at Han Yu, "Meddling busybody." Then, pointing at Cheng Xiaorui again, "Wash them quickly for me, do you hear!"
Cheng Xiaorui nodded, gave Han Yu a meaningful look, and then lowered her head to continue washing clothes. Han Yu stood aside, smoking a cigarette silently, just listening to the sound of water and the thudding of the washboard.
Before long, Cheng Xiaorui finished washing the clothes and put them in a large basin. She then started washing the blankets one by one. However, the blankets were too thick and heavy. Once wet, she couldn't even lift them. She slipped and almost fell into the water.
"Careful." Han Yu, agile, quickly stepped forward and grabbed her arm, "Are you alright?"
The girl, having almost fallen into the reservoir, was pale with fright. She looked back at Han Yu, smiled brightly, and shook her head. She put down the blanket and gestured to Han Yu, "You're Han Yu, right? Thank you, Brother Han Yu."
That silent "Brother Han Yu" stirred Han Yu's heart. He flicked his cigarette butt aside and said to Cheng Xiaorui, "Let me help you."
"No need, the water is too cold..." Cheng Xiaorui was signing, but Han Yu had already rolled up his sleeves and taken the wet, heavy blankets from her. He knew the water was cold, but when he actually touched the icy water, he realized how bitingly cold it was. Standing closer, he also clearly saw that Cheng Xiaorui's hands were covered in chilblains and cracks, making them look pitiful. Han Yu couldn't understand, it was already the 21st century, how could there still be such a pitiful young girl?
With a splash, he wrung out the water and placed the blanket on the stone slab. Cheng Xiaorui smiled indulgently at him, then applied laundry detergent and vigorously beat the blanket with the washboard. However, because Han Yu was standing too close, he was splashed all over with foam.
Cheng Xiaorui looked at him and was momentarily stunned, "I'm sorry, I didn't do it on purpose. You... you should stand further away." She pointed to where Han Yu had been standing and said. Han Yu looked down at the foam splashed on his trouser legs and couldn't help but chuckle, "It's fine." He moved aside, not to hinder her washing.
Perhaps out of a sense of police responsibility, he was worried she might fall into the river while washing heavy clothes. He waited until she finished washing, and just as he was about to leave, he noticed that the girl's large basin was full of clothes, piled up like a small mountain, and she couldn't carry it.
"Let me help you." Han Yu walked forward to help Cheng Xiaorui, but he saw her place the two blankets back on the clean stone slab and then, carrying a large basin by herself, walk away with staggering steps. From the riverside to the top, there was a small slope. The icy road on a snowy day was slippery, but she was wearing boots that were very slip-resistant. Just as she had almost made it up, she still slipped and fell. The whole person, along with the basin, slid down the slope, looking very disheveled.
Seeing this, Han Yu immediately ran over, grabbed her arm with his large palm, and pulled her up, "Are you alright?" Cheng Xiaorui didn't look at Han Yu but stared at the clothes scattered from the basin, stained with a bit of mud. Angrily, she picked up the clothes, stubbornly picked them up, and returned to the stone slab by the river to sit down and wash them again. She didn't say anything, but Han Yu saw her wiping away tears from time to time and felt a pang of sympathy. But there were countless pitiable people in the world; how could he pity them all? Han Yu frowned and finally turned to leave.
Back at Meng Jingwei's house, the 'onlooking' villagers had already left. Qing Muyun was still chopping wood, and Meng Jingwei brought him a cup of hot tea. Seeing Han Yu approach, she asked, "Where did you go? I thought you got lost and was about to look for you."
"It's nothing, just wandering around," he said. Han Yu then thought of what he had seen earlier and casually said, "I happened to see a little mute girl over there."
"Oh, you mean Cheng Xiaorui? That poor girl. Her mother married Cheng Xiaorui's father and was often abused. After too many beatings, her mother became mentally ill. The Cheng family wanted to abandon her mother, but because her mother was pregnant with Cheng Xiaorui and the public security bureau intervened, the Cheng family reluctantly supported her and her daughter."
"Cheng Xiaorui never spoke after she was born. By the time she was three, they realized she was mute. The Cheng family was angry and upset, wanting to abandon her but unable to, so they could only keep her. Later, her mother passed away, and the Cheng family took in a second wife, who constantly scolded her. Alas..." Meng Jingwei sighed, "She's quite an unfortunate girl."
Even though her life was hard, as an outsider, Meng Jingwei naturally couldn't interfere in their family affairs without any kinship. Qing Muyun, sweating profusely, held the hot tea and slowly sipped the fragrant tea, his gaze sharp and cold, fixed on Han Yu, a faint, almost imperceptible curve at the corner of his lips. Han Yu caught his smiling-yet-not-smiling expression, which caused Han Yu's brow to furrow, and he left immediately.
"Take a break. The wood you've chopped is enough for a month's heating," Meng Jingwei felt a bit guilty. After all, it was New Year's Day, and Qing Muyun came to visit, yet she made him chop wood. It was really not right.
"It's fine," Qing Muyun handed the cup to Meng Jingwei, "I'll finish chopping this wood first."
"No need, Qing..." Meng Jingwei wanted to say something more, but she saw Qing Muyun turn and pick up a piece of wood, placing it on the ground. Just as he was about to swing his axe, he turned back to Meng Jingwei and said, "Stand back, it's dangerous."