Chapter 11 Our Home
In the end Gu Feng didn't get into a key high school, but he went to the city's best vocational school and studied auto repair, the hottest major back then.
He had no complaints. Instead he was happy, saying he wasn't cut out for books. Learning a trade early meant earning money to support the family sooner.
He said it lightly, but I knew every weekend he went to an auto shop as an apprentice, came home covered in oil, yet still stuffed his saved pocket money to me for the newest workbooks.
When he handed me the dirty bills he always turned his head away pretending to be impatient:
"Don't think I don't know—you're too cheap to buy those crappy materials the teacher asks for. Take it. Hurry up. If you don't get into university I'll smack you."
Aunt's business got better and better. She rented a proper stall in the market—no more open-air stand in wind and sun.
Uncle's skills were solid. He was promoted to team leader in the workshop. Salary and bonuses rose.
Finally Aunt and Uncle saved enough for a down payment and bought their own three-bedroom apartment.
It wasn't big and the location was a bit out of the way, but the day they got the property certificate, they held it and looked at it all night.
The day we moved in, Aunt gave Gu Feng and me each a big red envelope.
Then she held my hand and said:
"Qiaoqiao, from now on this is your home. No one can chase you out."
My eyes turned red instantly.
I finally had a home that truly belonged to me.