In the open: In the old days, almost everything was communal, from bathing to cooking and eating. PHOTO BY GAO ERQIANG / china daily

Sunshine, sunshine

As much as me and other children loved the idea of sleeping in on sunny Sundays, that was hardly ever possible as our parents would be quick to drag our quilts away to the courtyard to catch the sun’s rays, a rare commodity during winter. There would be hundreds of quilts between the lane houses, transforming the small space into a labyrinth.

Having lived in lane houses their whole life, the old people knew where to find the ideal corner among the ocean of quilts to enjoy the sunshine. They could spend an entire afternoon just enjoying the warmth afforded by the rays. That is, until they were awoken by the occasional arguments that ensued, usually because one family’s wet clothes got another family’s quilt damp, or because a housewife “invaded” another family’s “territory” when hanging her quilt.

The fights were like a storm in a teacup and would often swell until several people were involved. Dozens of other neighbors would look on, seemingly enjoying the show and making moral judgements, which often involved colorful language.

As there were no individual bathrooms in lane houses, having a bath was a big weekly event, especially on sunny days. Residents would go to public bathrooms or to those in big State-owned factories that allowed employees and their family members to enjoy a hot bath for a very low price.

Small groups of young women with happy expressions and rosy cheeks would smilingly comb their wet hair on the way home after a long shower. Such scenes would probably be considered unusual or inappropriate today, but during a time when people had their meals, slept or had family fights in public, it was not a big deal at all.

Contact the writer at xuxiaomin@chinadaily.com.cn