Super Zoo

Second Uncle was in his sixties this year, a tall man with a sturdy body from years of labor. When he saw Suming and his son, Second Uncle burst into a hearty laugh, his laughter reminiscent of the Lion's Roar Skill from martial arts novels, even managing to drown out the crackling fireworks outside.

"Happy New Year, Second Uncle!" As soon as he walked in, Suming greeted Second Uncle with cupped hands and a beaming smile.

Second Uncle walked over and gave Suming a hearty slap on the shoulder, exclaiming loudly, "Suming, how come you're still so skinny after a year?"

Having once been a fitter, Second Uncle's hands were exceptionally strong. Hit by one of Second Uncle's hefty pats, Suming staggered, nearly getting knocked to the ground, grimacing with an apologetic smile, "Second Uncle, I'm just built this way, can't put on weight no matter how much I eat."

Mrs. Su also laughed along. Ever since Suming was young, Second Uncle would always say the same thing whenever he saw him: How come you're still so thin?

However, Second Uncle always had different reasons for Suming's thinness at each stage of his life: 'Is your mom not feeding you meat? Come eat at Second Uncle's home!' when he was younger, and after Suming started school it would be 'The boy studies too hard, worn himself thin,' and the like.

True to form, Second Uncle then started to grumble with a huff, "Tell Second Uncle, is it because your work in the city isn't satisfying? I always say you young people, all of you are so eager to live in the city, but is money that easy to make there? If you ask me, just quit your city job. Our town might be poor, but life here is carefree. I'll talk to the mayor and get you a clerical job in town, you could make over eight hundred a month. Then have your mom find you a wife and get your uncle to help build a house, and there you go, you'll be set for life."

The referred-to 'uncle' was Second Uncle's son, a mason in the county not much older than Suming. He was also in the room and upon hearing his father speak like this, walked over with a somewhat reproachful look at Second Uncle, saying, "Dad, what are you saying? Suming went to university; he earns a few thousand a month in the city. Asking him to come back to town for a clerical job would be setting him back."

While speaking, he shot an apologetic smile at Suming and Mrs. Su, saying, "My dad is old and talks a lot, but he means well. Don't take it to heart."

"How could I? You've watched me grow up, and Uncle, it was you who helped find people to build that two-story house for us back then."

The three of them seated themselves in the main room and began the formalities of wishing each other New Year's greetings, and then Uncle called out his daughter Xiao Ya to greet Suming. Xiao Ya was two years younger than Chengcheng, and a bit shy, hiding behind her father and timidly saying, "Happy New Year, Fourth Brother!"

Suming himself couldn't quite grasp how the family tree was organized to make him 'Fourth Brother,' but since she called him that, he responded in kind, while Mrs. Su chuckled, "Let Fourth Brother give you some New Year's money."

In town, it was customary to save New Year's money once one starts working, and even though Suming was one of the younger ones, Second Uncle didn't need to give him any. Suming pulled out a red envelope and handed it to Xiao Ya, saying, "Here, take this, girl."

"Take it and give it to your mom to keep safe." Uncle nodded and Xiao Ya, building up her courage, took the red envelope and ran into the back room.

Suming brought out the New Year's gifts he had brought and placed them on the table, saying, "Uncle, I've brought a few bottles of alcohol for you and Second Uncle to keep for New Year's."

The alcohol was originally wrapped in a red cloth, so no one saw what was inside. When Uncle took a look, he was somewhat stunned—a small box of Moutai. He looked up somewhat distressed at Suming, saying, "Why'd you buy such expensive alcohol? My dad and I would never have the heart to drink it!" Working as a mason in the county, his usual drink was cheap liquor, and even treating the foreman to a drink would break the bank at fifty or sixty yuan.

Along with the alcohol, there were also two cartons of Zhonghua cigarettes.

"It was also a gift from a friend in the city, I don't drink that much myself," Suming said with a smile, and it truly was a 'friend' who had given it. The day he visited Zhao Yun's house to wish him an early Happy New Year, it looked as if his house had been robbed by a liquor store. Fine tobacco and liquor were piled up like mountains in the living room, and by the time he left, they insisted on packing his trunk full.

Mrs. Su also smiled and said, "Uncle, Elder Uncle, Suming can make money now. You have always been kind to him since he was little, so it's only right that he shows his filial piety."

Uncle chuckled, "That's right, that's right. I heard that Suming drove a nice car back home. Finally, our town has someone who has made it."

Elder Uncle leaned over for a look and immediately said, "That won't do! Earning some money as young people out there is not easy, so why be so wasteful! This amount of tobacco and alcohol must cost you two months' salary, doesn't it? I'll keep one bottle of liquor, and you should take the rest with you when you visit other homes to wish them well."

"My dear Elder Uncle, it's the New Year, and I've already brought the gifts inside. If you make me take them back, it's like slapping me in the face! How can I face anyone in town after this!" Suming pretended to be aggrieved.

Having said that, Elder Uncle could not say much more. Uncle thanked Suming a few times, turned his head toward the inner room, and called his wife out to properly store the tobacco and alcohol for future use, like giving it to the school principal when Er Ya goes to school.

Aunt wasn't even thirty, but she looked closer to a woman in her forties. She was cooking in the back. Hearing that Uncle had called her to the front hall, she first greeted Suming and Mrs. Su, then she tugged at Uncle's sleeve and whispered something in his ear.

Upon hearing it, Uncle stood up immediately, his eyes wide as he looked at Suming and said, "Suming, you gave Er Ya a red envelope with three thousand yuan!"

It was a town custom to give hefty red packets during the New Year for good fortune and face, though the individual bills weren't usually of high denomination—some were just five or ten yuan, and sometimes even one or two yuan bills. Suming had handed over a thick red packet earlier, and Uncle hadn't thought much of it. But after Er Ya brought it to her mother and opened it, they realized it was all hundred-yuan notes.

"Please, Uncle, take a seat. I heard from my mom that Er Ya will be going to school next year, and the county schools all have boarding. This money is for her to buy some stationery and to eat well at school so she doesn't have a hard time," Suming said.
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"Keep it, it's Suming's heartfelt gesture." Uncle nodded at Aunt, then gave Suming a wry smile, "Ah, it's enough for a girl to just learn a few characters. After middle school, she'll go work. We've pampered her since she was a little; she won't be able to handle hardship later."

Many children in the town do not continue their education, in part due to poor grades but more often due to poor family circumstances that can't afford it. Especially girls—if there's a younger brother at home, they usually just go as far as middle school before going out to work to save for the brother's future school fees. Uncle and Aunt aren't old, and with only one daughter, Er Ya, the likelihood is that they'll try for a son later on.

The tradition of favoring boys over girls has continued for many years in Huaxia and can be considered a vice, but from another perspective, in particularly poor rural areas, it has its reasons. In the future, a son can secure a household and do heavy labor. Having a son at home means outsiders won't dare to bully, but a daughter grows up and will marry off; even her residence registration doesn't count as part of her family's. Any government subsidies or benefits don't extend to her family.

Of course, this is a consequence of economic backwardness, where naturally, the power of the male takes precedence over the female. In cities with a decent economy, the preference for boys over girls simply becomes an old and vicious concept.

It's not just about girls—the poorer the place, the lower the level of socialization among its people, and thus the higher the presence of animalistic behavior. The strong protect the weak, the elder care for the young, and stories of older brothers dropping out of school to work and support their younger siblings' education are all too common.

"It's my fault for having no ability, unlike you who managed to go to college and make big money in big cities... Ah, what's the point of talking about this during the New Year. Sister-in-Law, have some sweets, Suming, have a smoke," Uncle quickly changed the subject, grabbing a handful of candies for Mrs. Su and offering a cheap cigarette to Suming with a smile, "It's a bad habit, but you'll just have to make do with it."

Seeing the brand of the cigarette, Suming couldn't help but laugh; it was the eight-yuan-a-pack kind he used to smoke right after graduating. Lighting one up, he said, "Uncle, I'm doing okay for myself out there, and this time coming back, I was thinking of helping out in town but didn't know where to start. Tell me about the town's situation, would you?"