The printing shop was currently doing well enough to be self-sufficient. Chen Hong hoped his sister could marry and have children in their hometown instead of leaving to suffer the hardships of big city life. Here, she could take care of their parents for him, too.
“That’s nice,” said Chang Jinxing.
“What about you?” Then, noticing Chang Jinxing curling up like a worm, he asked, “Are you cold?”
“Not too cold.” Chang Jinxing’s eyelids were heavy with sleep. “Your room’s a little damp.”
Chen Hong turned up the temperature on the electric heater. “I haven’t been back in a long time. Hey, do me a favor tomorrow. A friend of mine is holding a funeral at his house. Help me take a few photos, will you?”
I knew it, Chang Jinxing thought. Of course you invited me over because you wanted me to help you.
“Are there any superstitions where you come from?” Chen Hong asked. “About attending funerals?”
“Okay… Sure… Nope…” Chang Jinxing was so sleepy he was almost out of it. “We’ll go tomorrow…”
Chen Hong’s room was damp and cold, but Chang Jinxing slept much more comfortably than he had on the cruise ship.
It was nearly nine o’clock the next morning when Chang Jinxing yawned and got up, feeling rejuvenated after a dreamless sleep. Chen Hong’s sister was cleaning up in the living room. “Xing, you’re up,” she said when she saw him.
Chang Jinxing was the same age as her. He wasn’t used to being addressed that way, but he just smiled. “Where’s your brother? He asked me to help with taking photos today. I think he said it’s for a funeral at a friend’s house?”
“My brother and parents left early to go help out.” Chen Hong’s sister was very curious about Chang Jinxing. Chen Hong rarely brought his friends from Jiangdong back home. “I’ll get you some breakfast. We’ll go over around eleven. No rush.”
“Oh, no, it’s fine.”
“I haven’t had breakfast yet either, so…”
“I’ll cook,” Chang Jinxing said spontaneously. He entered the kitchen. “Noodles okay for you?”
He opened the fridge, took out the eggs, and began beating them with practiced ease. Just then, Chen Hong returned on his electric motorcycle. “Didn’t I tell you to go out and buy something outside?” he said to his sister. “How can you let a guest cook?” Then he turned to Chang Jinxing. “What are you making? Give me a bowl too. I’m hungry.”
“I don’t have black clothes,” Chang Jinxing told him.
Chen Hong put down his chopsticks. “I have an extra set that I used to wear.”
Chang Jinxing changed into one of Chen Hong’s black suits. To his surprise, it fit him well. “This definitely isn’t yours,” Chang Jinxing said, chuckling.
Chen Hong made a hushing gesture, reminding Chang Jinxing that his sister was still outside. Chang Jinxing went back to admiring the dashing figure in the mirror.
Chen Hong looked at him silently for a moment, then tied Chang Jinxing’s tie for him with rough, quick movements, as if he had pent-up frustration to get out and Chang Jinxing was a punching bag.
“Choking… You’re choking me… Hong-ge…” Chang Jinxing nearly suffocated.
“Done,” Chen Hong said. He had such a deep voice. “Very handsome.” Then he patted Chang Jinxing on the face and turned to leave. But Chang Jinxing touched his shoulder, prompting him to turn around, and when he did, Chang Jinxing cupped his cheek with one hand and moved in to kiss him.
Chen Hong made an indignant noise. “Stop fooling around!” he hissed, grabbing hold of Chang Jinxing’s hand.
Chang Jinxing had done it out of mischief. He figured the suit must have belonged to Chen Hong’s ex and that, through Chang Jinxing, Chen Hong was seeing his former boyfriend. He was more than happy to kiss Chen Hong so that he could relive a love once lost.
After the siblings finished Chang Jinxing’s noodles, Chen Hong drove Chang Jinxing through town to the other family’s home. He made his sister ride her bicycle.
“About that ex of yours,” Chang Jinxing said. “How long were you with him? You’ve got good taste. How did you find such a handsome guy?”
“A month,” Chen Hong replied calmly. “He’s a far cry from you, but he’s rich and dresses well.”
Chang Jinxing wrapped his arms around Chen Hong’s waist. They were both in suits and motorcycle helmets. Chen Hong accelerated and sped along the country road. “No need to be so modest…”
“I’m serious.” Chen Hong turned his head slightly. “He’s not as handsome as you or even Yuwen. No, he’s leagues away from you guys. I don’t know why I liked him.”
Chang Jinxing didn’t ask Chen Hong if he still liked him. His attitude toward the black suit said it all: He couldn’t put his ex behind him.
The towns in Lanqiu County were underdeveloped: There was only one bus, which was now crowded with people coming to pay their respects to the deceased. The streets were full of funeral wreaths, and everyone seemed to know each other, exchanging greetings when they crossed paths and addressing each other by name.
Chang Jinxing was taken to the mourning hall. Chen Hong had already gone to greet people, so Chang Jinxing stepped forward, pulled aside the black drapes to let in some light, and started taking photos. The deceased person was an old man who had lived for exactly one hundred years. A hale and hearty man, he had declined any care or companionship offered to him.
There was heavy snowfall on Christmas day, though. When the old man went out for his usual stroll with his cane, he slipped and fell into the snow. No one noticed his absence, and he lay freezing in the snow for two hours before someone found him and brought him back. By then, it was too late. A few days later, he passed away quietly in bed during the winter night.
The guests wept, and the children of the deceased bowed in thanks. The eldest grandson held the old man’s portrait in both hands, his face expressionless. Once in a while, he looked around. Chang Jinxing, who was snapping pictures, thought the grandson looked very handsome with the black clothes accentuating his fair complexion and solemn demeanor, so he took a few extra shots of him.
Chen Hong was popular. Everyone sought him out for a conversation. The older mourners also noticed his fair, slim, and stunning photographer friend, and they were curious about who he was. When Chen Hong glanced over at Chang Jinxing, he found him comforting the teary-eyed grandson, doing his utmost to play the gentle older brother. Concerned that Chang Jinxing would bang the grandson at the back of the mourning hall later, Chen Hong glared daggers at him and forcibly dragged him away.
After they paid their final respects to the deceased, Chen Hong said, “Let’s eat. Thanks for your hard work.”
“It’s nothing.” Chang Jinxing was used to doing things like this.
A feast had been laid out outside the mourning hall. After helping the host all morning, Chen Hong finally had his chance to come over and have a meal and a drink with Chang Jinxing.
The host came by to offer a toast. Chang Jinxing rushed through his meal and took his laptop off to the side of the table to export the photos, batch edit them, and email them to the host. “I don’t think I’ll live to a hundred,” Chang Jinxing said suddenly.