In December of 1983, Beijing saw its first snowfall since the beginning of winter.
Wen Nuan hadn't seen Lao Zhong for several years. He happened to come to Beijing on a mission, and after finishing his business, he went to find Wen Nuan to reminisce about the past.
The moment Wen Nuan saw Lao Zhong, she almost didn't recognize him, because Lao Zhong was no longer wearing the military uniform, but a police uniform.
But his spirit remained the same, and his voice was still as loud as before: "Comrade Wen Nuan, I haven't seen you for a few years, why are you still the same?"
Time seemed to have left no trace on her warm face. She still had long black hair, but it was previously tied in a braid, but now it was half-braided and let down.
But if you look closely, apart from slight changes in her hair and clothes, her facial features and skin seem to have not changed at all.
Especially her big watery eyes were still bright and clear, her skin was fair and smooth, her lips were red and her teeth were white. She looked like a girl in her early twenties.
It's really hard to associate her with the three children.
Wen Nuan listened to what Lao Zhong said and said with a smile: "Captain Zhong, I should call you Deputy Director Zhong now. You haven't changed much. You are still as energetic and brisk as before!"
Old Zhong smiled cheerfully, "Same here."
Wen Nuan looked at the snow outside and said, "It's cold, let's find a place to sit and have a good chat."
She glanced at Lao Zhong and asked, "How about going to Donglaishun for mutton hotpot?"
Old Zhong waved his hand and said, "Comrade Wen Nuan, you opened a restaurant, didn't you? Take me to see it. I've missed your cooking so much over the years. After you left, the guys in the kitchen kept talking about you."
He knew about Wen Nuan opening a restaurant a long time ago.
However, after arriving in Beijing, I found out that Wen Nuan had opened a new hotel, and it was quite large. It could even be said to be very large and luxurious, and it was well-known in the city.
He knew before that Wen Nuan had great ambitions, and it seemed that she was realizing her blueprint step by step.
Wen Nuan smiled slightly: "Deputy Director Zhong, I'm glad you don't mind. Then let's go to my small restaurant and I'll cook two dishes you like."
Lao Zhong smiled cheerfully and said, "Just call me Lao Zhong. I'd like to show off to you. It's a blessing for me to eat your cooking again. I'll show off in front of the quartermaster."
The two talked as they walked, and soon arrived at a warm restaurant.
As soon as I entered the door, two female comrades in small suits came up to me and said with a smile: "Boss Zhen, you are here? Please come in."
Then the man took Wen Nuan and Lao Zhong to a quiet booth, where Wen Nuan usually liked to entertain friends.
She asked: "Mr. Zhen, what would you like to eat today? What kind of food does this comrade like?"
Wen Nuan introduced him to the lobby manager, "This is my old comrade. I'll take care of him here. You can go take care of the others."
Then she looked at Lao Zhong and asked, "Lao Zhong, what do you want to eat today?"
Lao Zhong looked around the warm restaurant. It was really big and had quite a few customers. In particular, he could see foreigners dining there.
It seems that Wen Nuan restaurant is doing very well.
But it's true, with Wen Nuan's cooking skills, there are really few people who can compare with her.
When Lao Zhong heard Wen Nuan's words, he smiled and said, "Just do it like before. I'll go and help you."
Although Lao Zhong was the squad leader in the past, he spent most of his time helping Wen Nuan. The reason was that Wen Nuan's cooking skills were much better than his.
Thinking about it now, I still miss the time I spent in the kitchen.
Wen Nuan frowned and said with a smile: "You are a guest, how can I let you do it? Then I will just make a few dishes for you."
When Lao Zhong heard this, his face turned stern: "Why do you have to be so polite with me? Where is the kitchen? We can just go over there and cook two dishes."
Having said this, Wen Nuan didn't bother to be polite with her and took Lao Zhong into the kitchen.
When Lao Zhong entered the kitchen, he exclaimed: "Times are advancing. Back then, our kitchen had wood stoves, but now we can use liquefied gas."
"Yes, thanks to the strength of our motherland." Wen Nuan has taken off his coat, leaving room for the stove.
Lao Zhong rolled up his sleeves, glanced at the lamb chops, lamb offal and beef on the side, and said, "What I miss most is the roasted whole lamb. It's a pity that we are so few in number. If we could get together with our old comrades, we would definitely do it again! Let's make some lamb offal soup now. In such cold weather, a bowl of hot lamb offal soup is really delicious."
Wen Nuan also missed her old friends and said, "It would be great if we could really get together. I miss them so much."
Old Zhong sighed and talked about the past in North City: "Don't tell me, when you first came to Beijing, Sister Juxiang and Sister Guihua were listless for a long time and couldn't do anything. The quartermaster and Xiao Zhu also kept talking about you all day long."
Wen Nuan cut up the cleaned mutton offal directly and said, "Qinglan also told me that she really missed them after not seeing them for so many years."
Although Beijing is a good city with convenient life, Wen Nuan has lived here for so long and still hasn't found friends who can get along as well as Sister Guihua and Sister Juxiang.
Lao Zhong cut some green onions and helped Wen Nuan heat up the pot. He said, "Then find a chance to get everyone together and have a drink at your restaurant!"
Wen Nuan smiled and said, "Okay, I'll take care of everyone's eating, drinking, playing and sleeping. I'm just afraid you won't want to come!"
Lao Zhong: "Who said you don't want to? We just can't get together."
That's right. When Zhou Jianshe came to Beijing before, Sister Guihua wanted to come with him, but her youngest son happened to have a fever, so she didn't come.
Sister-in-law Juxiang was the same. She planned to deliver goods to Beijing several times, but missed it every time due to various reasons.
Wen Nuan smiled and said, "It's okay. There will definitely be a chance in the future. Then please come to Beijing and have a good time for a few days."
When they cooked a few dishes, Gu Qinghan, Gu Qinglan and Li Daxiang came over. The first thing they said when they saw Lao Zhong was, "Lao Zhong, you really haven't changed at all."
Old Zhong looked at Gu Qinghan. He knew that Gu Qinghan had been promoted, so he said with a smile: "Chief of Staff Gu, please stop making fun of me. I am already middle-aged, how can I compare with before?"
Gu Qinghan, on the other hand, has changed a lot.
He has shed the immaturity of a young man, and is now full of vigor and vitality, with a mature and steady temperament on his face, and a bit of the majesty of a superior.
Gu Qinglan was no longer as carefree as before. She tied her hair up and looked much more intellectual.
Li Daxiang is even more so. He used to be a soldier, but now he is the deputy captain of the flight team. Promotion is a matter of time.
Seeing that everyone is living so well, Lao Zhong feels relieved and thinks that this job is really worth it.
Wen Nuan smiled and said, "Please take a seat, everyone. Lao Zhong and I prepared today's dishes together. Let's try them and see if our cooking skills have deteriorated."
Gu Qinglan was starving. She had just come from the hospital and hadn't finished her breakfast this morning.
She looked at the table full of delicious dishes and said, "The two chefs in charge of the kitchen are cooking it themselves, so the standard must be first-class!"
*
After dinner, Lao Zhong thought of Lele, whom he hadn't seen for several years, and asked, "Where's Lele? Is the little girl in junior high school?"
Recalling the time when I was in the Beicheng Army, Lele was still a baby carried on Wen Nuan's back. I didn't expect that in the blink of an eye, the child was already in junior high school.
Wen Nuan said, "Le Le is already in the third year of junior high school. She is preparing for her final exams during this period. I will let her come over after school."
Old Zhong recalled for a moment and said in surprise, "It's already the third year of junior high school so soon?"
Wen Nuan: "Yes, Lele skipped a grade in elementary school, so she entered junior high school a year earlier."
"No wonder, Lele's brain is just like yours. He is also a good student and will definitely be admitted to a good university in the future." Lao Zhong checked the time. "But I may not be able to make it in time to see our Lele. My train ticket is at 6pm. I should rush to the train station later."
He sighed and said, "There's nothing I can do. I came here on official business and I have to go back to report on my work."
Wen Nuan said, "I understand. Let's find some time to get together again."
Old Zhong sighed and said, "We really need to get together. Otherwise, in a few years, we won't recognize each other when we meet."
If everyone is not changing jobs or being transferred, we can go back to the Beicheng Army and get together.
But it's probably not very realistic now.
Wen Nuan said, "Then I'll make the arrangements. I'll take you to the train station first."
Lao Zhong waved his hand and said, "No, Qinglan and I are going in the same direction. We will go directly to the train station after picking up our luggage."
After leaving the restaurant, Lao Zhong looked at Wen Nuan and said, "Comrade Wen Nuan, I am really happy to see you again. I hope we can meet again next time."
Wen Nuan knew that Lao Zhong didn't like to say these things. Even before she left Beicheng, she didn't say a single sentimental word.
Wen Nuan nodded: "We will definitely meet again someday, Lao Zhong, have a safe journey."
Old Zhong looked at Wen Nuan and Gu Qinghan and nodded: "Okay, I also wish you further success in your career."
*
As soon as Lao Zhong left, Wen Nuan and Gu Qinghan had nothing to do, so they went to the school to pick up a few children.
The elementary school finished early, so Lu Zhengyang and Lu Zhengqi got directly into the car, clamoring to go back to the courtyard.
However, since she hadn't picked up Lele yet, Wen Nuan ignored their quarreling and drove straight to the Fourth Middle School.
Lele has been busy with final exams recently, and has lost some weight. She has also grown a little taller than in the summer, and her ponytail swings when she walks.
She walked out of the campus with Liu Huaqing and said, "It's the end of the semester now. I haven't had time to read the novels you lent me yet. Can I return them to you next semester?"
Liu Huaqing nodded: "Okay, you can keep it. I've seen it anyway."
Gu Wanyue said, "I'll return it to you after I finish reading it. By the way, are you going back to your hometown during this winter vacation? Can you help me bring some things to my brother and sister?"
It was only last year that Gu Wanyue found out that Liu Huaqing was also from their hometown.
Because it would take more than half a month to send the package, and it was Chinese New Year at that time, and Tingting and Youyou probably couldn't wait, so they asked him to help take it.
Liu Huaqing nodded: "No problem, just give it to me when the time comes, and I will help you give it to them when I get back."
After saying that, Liu Huaqing looked at the car not far away and said, "Your parents are here to pick you up. I'll leave first. See you tomorrow."
Gu Wanyue said "Oh", "Okay, see you tomorrow."
As she spoke, Gu Wanyue trotted towards the warm car.
Liu Huaqing didn't leave. He nodded and said hello to Wen Nuan before riding his bicycle and leaving.
Wen Nuan saw that Wan Yue had already boarded the car, so she said, "Le Le, Uncle Zhong is coming to Beijing. Do you remember him?"
Gu Wanyue first put down her heavy schoolbag and nodded: "Of course I remember. Uncle Zhong gave me so many delicious foods before. Oh, I also remember a little brother Zhu."
"Where is Uncle Zhong now? Is he at our house?"
Wen Nuan turned the steering wheel and said, "No, he's in a hurry to catch the six o'clock train. He's probably already waiting at the train station."
Gu Wanyue looked at the watch on her wrist. It was already 5:50, so she said, "What a perfect miss. Sigh."
Lu Zhengyang asked curiously: "Sister, who is Uncle Zhong?"
How come only my sister knows about this and they don’t
Gu Wanyue said, "That was an uncle who worked in the kitchen of the North City Army. He was very kind to me and often gave me a lot of delicious food. My biggest wish at that time was to work in the kitchen."
Lu Zhengqi burst into laughter when she heard this: "Sister, what's so fun about the kitchen team? Isn't it just cooking?"
Gu Wanyue glanced at the little guy and said, "That's definitely not the case. I remember there were a lot of fun things in the kitchen, including raising pigs and fish, and there were a lot of fruits and vegetables, and a vegetable garden. Anyway, it was so much fun. You weren't even born at that time, so you know nothing!"
"Besides, it can snow really hard in the north city. In the past, my dad and mom would often go with me to make snowmen, and we could do it in the yard in front of our house."
When Lu Zhengyang and Lu Zhengqi heard this, their eyes lit up: "Then can we still ski?"
Gu Wanyue nodded: "Of course you can! I remember when I was in kindergarten, my mother took me to slide in a small stroller. It was so much fun."
The three children in the back row chattered about their past experience in the North City Army.
Wen Nuan listened to Lele's story and glanced at Gu Qinghan: "When Lele talks about it now, it feels like it happened just yesterday. But when I think about it, we've been in Beijing for almost eight years."
Gu Qinghan smiled and looked at his wife who was driving seriously. "Well, although life in North City was quite hard before, when I think about it now, there were still many happy moments in the past."
Wen Nuan smiled and said, "Of course. Lele was very well behaved before. She was so serious when she sat on your stroller. People in the family compound said she was cute when they saw her."
Gu Wanyue heard Wen Nuan say this, so she came up and asked, "Mom, is that true? I remember you said I was chubby before."
Wen Nuan smiled and said, "Children are cute only when they are fat. In the past, you were a carnivore and loved to eat meat."
However, Lele seems to like eating meat since he was a child, and he still likes it now, but he is not as picky as before, and he will eat some vegetables without being reminded by adults.
Gu Wanyue smiled and said, "I love it now, too. Mom, I want to eat a big chicken drumstick tonight!"
When Lu Zhengyang heard this, he also shouted: "I want to eat the big chicken leg too!"
Lu Zhengqi took the lead: "I want to eat pickled fish!"
"And braised spareribs!"
"Another small stir-fried meat."
“I’d like some boiled beef, too.”
Gu Qinghan turned his head to look at the children, "Okay, I'll make you a full banquet tonight."
Wen Nuan shook her head helplessly: "You guys really can eat!"
*
After December, it was quickly the year 1984.
Although life has not undergone earth-shaking changes, there are visibly more cars on the streets, and there are also many more comrades speaking different dialects on the streets.
Lesbians love to wear all kinds of brightly colored skirts and have their hair in all kinds of curly styles.
These changes are hidden in people's food, clothing, housing and transportation.
After the New Year, Sister Guihua called Wen Nuan, but she called from her hometown. Sister Guihua said that her father-in-law had passed away and she planned to stay in her hometown for a while.
Sister Juxiang is also not free. Her husband Zhao Yongfu changed his job and returned to his hometown. Sister Juxiang also opened a store and is now very busy.
After Wen Nuan contacted her two sisters-in-law, she had to give up for the time being because they couldn't find the time.
After the high school entrance exam, Gu Wanyue was successfully admitted to the high school department of the Fourth Middle School. It was also in the summer of that year that the little girl had her first orgasm.
That day, Lele, Cai Siling, Huahua and others gathered around the TV to watch the Barbara Yung version of The Legend of the Condor Heroes.
Cai Siling said, "Oh my god, the heroine is so beautiful. When I read this novel, I thought it would be great if it could be made into a TV series. I didn't expect it to be made into a TV series."
Gu Wanyue felt a little uncomfortable in her stomach, so she sat next to Bei'er and said, "By the way, who has the novel now? We have to return it to Liu Huaqing."
Bei Er responded, "It's here with me, but I haven't finished reading it. Please talk to Liu Huaqing for me."
Gu Wanyue frowned: "Hurry up and take a look. How long have you borrowed it? I feel ashamed for you."
Bei Er sighed: "It's because of the music group lessons that I don't have time. I really envy Wan Yue. She can get first place in the exam and practice the piano at the same time."
Cai Siling said: "The most abominable thing is that this guy actually has time to read all kinds of books without any delay."
After saying that, Cai Siling noticed that something was wrong with Gu Wanyue and asked, "What's wrong with you?"
Gu Wanyue shook her head: "I don't know if I ate something wrong, my stomach has been hurting all the time."
Huahua said, "We all had lunch together at noon, and we are all fine."
Gu Wanyue waved her hand: "No, I'll go back and lie down for a while, you guys watch."
This time, Gu Wanyue lay down until she returned home warmly.
Wen Nuan knew that Lele was not feeling well, so she went into her room to check on her. Unexpectedly, she saw Lele crying.
Wen Nuan rushed over, looked at her with a pale face, and asked, "Le Le, what's wrong with you?"
When Lele saw Wen Nuan, he immediately threw himself into her arms and hugged her: "Wow, mom, I might die... I—"
"What?" Wen Nuan was frightened by her and broke out in a cold sweat. She looked at her and said, "Don't scare me. What's wrong with you?"
Lele burst into tears: "My stomach hurts so much, and it's bleeding again, so much, it's all over the place, wuwuwu..."
Wen Nuan was stunned. She thought for several seconds before reacting. She tentatively said, "Let mom check first to see if there's blood on your pants too."
Lele's eyes turned red from crying, and she nodded: "Yeah."
Gu Qinghan, who heard Lele crying, also came over from the kitchen, "What's wrong? What happened to Lele?"
Wen Nuan frowned and said, "It's okay. Go cook first and help us close the door."
Although Gu Qinghan was worried, he stepped out after hearing Wen Nuan's words and closed the door for her.
Wen Nuan hugged Le Le and said, "It's okay, silly child. You are having your period. You have grown up. Don't you remember that Hua Hua and Si Ling also have it?"
Wen Nuan was worried at first whether Lele was not getting enough nutrition. Cai Siling had her period in the first grade of the new year, but Lele's period was still not coming.
If Lele hadn't been growing, Wen Nuan would have been a little worried that she wasn't getting enough nutrition.
Lele was confused. She looked up at Wen Nuan and asked, "Is this what menstruation is like? Bleeding all the time? I won't die from excessive bleeding, will I?"
Although Siling and the others were having their periods, Lele didn't know exactly what it was like. She just knew that they occasionally had stomach aches and had to buy sanitary napkins.
"Silly child, no." Wen Nuan comforted her, "It doesn't happen all the time. It's just that it's very heavy in the first two or three days. It usually stops in six or seven days, and then comes again next month."
Gu Wanyue was dumbfounded: "Is it always like this in the future?"
Wen Nuan nodded: "Well, normally there are a few days like this every month."
Gu Wanyue panicked again and choked up, "Then I won't die from excessive bleeding, right?"
Wen Nuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "No, Mom is like this every month. Siling and the others are also fine, aren't they?"
Gu Wanyue looked at Wen Nuan and asked, "Does that mean everyone will have a stomachache?"
Wen Nuan: "Not everyone will have this problem, but some people may have this problem, so you should keep warm, don't do strenuous exercise, get more rest, and eat less frozen food like popsicles and ice cream. If you feel pain, you can take painkillers. Anyway, don't force yourself. If you feel uncomfortable, you should speak up, okay?"
Gu Wanyue nodded: "Oh, then I understand."
Wen Nuan touched the child's hair and said, "Then find some clean clothes and pants first. I'll go get you a pack of sanitary napkins and teach you how to do it later."
Lele nodded: "Okay, then mom, please come back quickly."
*
After Wen Nuan came out, Gu Qinghan came over worriedly and asked, "What happened to Le Le? Is she okay? Why is she crying so hard?"
Wen Nuan glanced at Lele's room and said in a low voice, "Lele has grown up. She cried because she thought she was not feeling well during her period. Go get two buckets of hot water in the bathroom and let her take a hot bath later."
Gu Qinghan was stunned for a moment, but quickly nodded: "Okay, I'll go now."
Wen Nuan quickly brought back the sanitary napkins. Influenced by the economic opening-up, some factories had already started producing adhesive sanitary napkins in the past two years, and now they are basically popular in Beijing.
Wen Nuan brought two packs over, then opened one and taught Lele, saying, "First, tear off the adhesive paper of the sanitary napkin, and then stick it on the middle of your panties. Like this—"
Gu Wanyue looked at it carefully, holding her stomach, and asked, "Is this all right?"
Wen Nuan nodded: "Yes, that's fine, but you can't just use one piece. If the amount is large, you have to change it frequently, otherwise it will easily stain your pants. Even if the amount is small, you have to change it every few hours."
Gu Wanyue frowned: "Is it so troublesome?"
Wen Nuan: "What's the problem? You'll feel better if you change more often."
Gu Wanyue said in distress: "Can't you just not let it come?"
I feel like it's affecting my life. Can't I even eat popsicles and ice cream
warmth:"… "
"I've thought about this, but maybe I'll have to wait until menopause."
Gu Wanyue: "When is menopause?"
Wen Nuan: "About fifty? I don't remember exactly, you can ask your aunt later."
Gu Wanyue said "Oh", holding the small panties with a sanitary napkin attached, and sighed in distress.
Wen Nuan ignored her and just said, "I've asked your father to bring hot water to the bathroom. You can take a shower and change into clean clothes. Mom will make your bed."
Gu Wanyue nodded: "Okay, then I'll go take a shower first."
The house was peaceful and quiet. Except for Wen Nuan and Gu Wanyue, no one seemed to know about this.
But Lele went to bed very early that night, and even pulled Wen Nuan back to her room and asked, "Mom, sleep with me tonight."
Wen Nuan nodded: "Okay, call me if you feel uncomfortable."
Gu Wanyue hugged the warm arms and said with a smile: "Dad won't be angry, right? I snatched away his most beloved daughter-in-law."
Wen Nuan listened to the child's words and didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Your father is busy, he is not as stingy as you say."
Gu Wanyue sighed again: "I had an appointment with Liu Huaqing to go to the library, but I don't want to go anymore."
Wen Nuan thought for a moment and asked, "I heard that Hua Qing's uncle went back to the south to develop his career. What should Hua Qing do now? Should he stay in Beijing to study or go back to his hometown?"
Wen Nuan got in touch with Liu Mingfei, who used to be the director of a state-owned factory, but said last year that he wanted to resign.
In March of this year, Wen Nuan met him in a restaurant. He said that he was going to Shenzhen in May. It seemed that he had decided to go into the adult industry.
I just don’t know how Liu Huaqing will deal with it.
Gu Qinghan said that Shen Bairong and his wife went to the aviation research base, and it might be several years before that, and they would probably only be able to come back to Beijing occasionally.
Gu Wanyue said, "He said he would stay in Beijing. He should be able to take care of himself."
In Gu Wanyue's impression, Liu Huaqing seemed to know everything, and cooking was not a problem for him.
Wen Nuan: "No matter how capable you are, you are still a child. Although you can take care of yourself, it is not safe to be alone."
With the implementation of economic opening up, a lot of immigrants have flocked to Beijing. With a large population, there is a mixed crowd. Liu Huaqing is probably a little more than half a year older than Lele, but he is only about thirteen or fourteen years old.
Gu Wanyue: "Mom, didn't you tell me during the day that I had grown up? Why is Liu Huaqing just a child when it comes to him?"
warmth:"… "
Gu Wanyue yawned, "Mom, my stomach hurts again, please tell me a story."
Wen Nuan had a headache. "Don't think I don't know. You often buy all kinds of novels to read. Your story content is higher than mine now. Why don't you tell me?"
Lele likes going to the library very much. He buys a lot of books every time he goes there. In addition to novels, he also buys some strange books, including books on nature, science, and humanities. He usually talks about knowledge points with Lu Zhengyang and Lu Zhengqi directly.
Gu Wanyue said, "I don't want to say it. Why don't you sing a song for me, mom? I like to listen to Teresa Teng's songs."
Wen Nuan smiled and said, "That's not difficult. How about I sing a sweet song for you?"
Gu Wanyue perked up when she heard this and said, "I'll play the piano and you sing, mom."
Wen Nuan: "… Your stomach doesn't hurt anymore?"
Gu Wanyue stuck out her tongue and said, "It hurts, but I'm so happy that mommy will sleep with me tonight."
Wen Nuan was also very happy with her daughter's words, so she said, "Then you play the piano and I will sing."
Then, a melodious piano sound rang out in Lele's room.
Lu Zhengyang listened to the piano music and looked at Gu Qinghan: "Dad, my sister lied. She said she was going back to sleep."
Lu Zhengqi had just been beaten up by his sister, "That's right, she didn't let me into her room, and she said she was going to sleep!"
Gu Qinghan looked at his two sons who had only finished half of their homework, and couldn't help but tap them with his fingers: "Focus, finish your homework quickly!"
Lu Zhengyang and Lu Zhengqi looked at each other and said, "Biased!"
Gu Qinghan folded his hands and looked at them: "If you were half as self-aware as your sister, I would also be partial to you."
The two brothers looked at each other and said: Well, it’s more fun to play.
*
After August, school will start soon.
Although Gu Wanyue went to high school, she was still in the Fourth Middle School. She didn't have any difficulty adapting to it, but the time for studying became more and more tight, and the time for reading extracurricular books became less and less.
However, Gu Wanyue did not give up the piano and would set aside three hours every day at noon to practice the piano.
Lu Zhengyang and Lu Zhengqi also skipped a grade this year and went directly to the fifth grade. Wen Nuan was very relieved about this.
Although the two sons still love to play around, at least they can keep up with their studies and it is not too much of a headache.
In 1985, Commander Lu decided to retire and return home to enjoy his old age.
After Wen Nuan learned the news, she rushed back to the family compound without stopping.