Chapter 16: Engagement

Lin Yingying saw through the look in his eyes, and her heart grew even more joyful. His large hands, placed properly on his knees, did not dare to move at all because she was holding them.

Just as adorable as the man himself.

She spoke softly. “It’s hot in here. Go outside and get some air. I’ll come find you after I finish the call.”

Huo Qingshan curled his five fingers, suppressing the urge to return her grip, and, knowing she wanted to make the call herself, nodded. “Alright.”

Although both her parents had agreed to call at ten, Lin Yingying was not worried at all that they would overlap, because her mother would definitely call her earlier. Sure enough, at nine-thirty, Mother Lin called.

Mother Lin had a naturally rich and melodious voice, truly pleasant to the ear. Especially when speaking to her precious darling, the warmth and gentleness radiating from her heart made Lin Yingying’s eyes instantly brim with tears, and her tears, like melon seeds, began to fall one by one with little plops.

She lingered in affectionate chatter with her mother for quite a while before getting to the main topic, giving Huo Qingshan a very objective round of praise.

Mother Lin was noncommittal about the other reasons, things like whether he was handsome or ambitious—those were all superficial to her. What she valued most was that Huo Qingshan had good character and made her daughter feel at ease. As long as her daughter liked him, she could marry him; everything else was of no consequence.

An outstanding young military officer who had risen through his own merit on the battlefield without any family backing—just a little guidance would make him far more dependable than those young masters living off their parents. She had no concern at all that her daughter would suffer if she married Huo Qingshan.

Besides, her daughter had no interest in Ye Zhiting, and that alone made Mother Lin feel triumphant. Ever since Mother Ye had deliberately tried to make her daughter get close to Ye Zhiting and he had not refused, she had given up on him as a future son-in-law.

In a good mood, Mother Lin’s voice carried a bewitching smile. “The moment your father heard you’d found yourself a grassroots officer, he said you had good taste and weren’t snobbish. But in the next breath, he was sulking, grumbling that the man wanted to steal his prized cabbage, and he swore he would keep raising you for another ten or twenty years. From the sound of it, I think he regrets sending you to the countryside.”

Lin Yingying said proudly, “Well, that’s too bad. He’s the one who married me off to the countryside.”

Mother Lin said, “Your father actually misses you. He’s as stubborn as if a millstone were hanging from his mouth, yet every day he still finds excuses to go spend a while in your room. Oh, and he secretly asked someone to get meat ration coupons from your place. Most likely, he plans to send them to you.”

Lin Yingying retorted, “Maybe they’re for his goddaughter.”

Mother Lin gently comforted her daughter. “Baby, don’t be jealous. He just pities her for not having a father. You’re still the one he loves most.”

Of course Lin Yingying knew that. She just enjoyed poking fun at Comrade Old Lin and making him feel guilty so he would treat her even better.

Mother Lin soothed her daughter with a few more words. “If you think Huo Qingshan is good, then just go ahead and get married. As for your father, don’t bother with him for now. Out there in the wilderness, he’s powerless to interfere. Even if he doesn’t agree, there’s nothing he can do. I’ll talk to him in a bit.”

Lin Yingying knew her mother was worried she might quarrel with her father. In the past, she often lost control of her temper and angered Comrade Old Lin. Now, she definitely wouldn’t do that. Still, she followed her mother’s advice and let her handle the conversation with her father first.

She missed her mother so much that she couldn’t help tugging on the phone cord and acting spoiled with her, wishing she could crawl right through and throw herself into her mother’s arms to nuzzle, asking whether she was overworked or tired.

Mother Lin’s voice grew even softer. “We’re just experiencing life here, not tired at all. But you, baby, have been the one to suffer. I’ll have your Little Uncle get you some more canned luncheon meat later, so you can keep it to improve your meals.”

As she spoke, Mother Lin’s voice even choked a little. The precious darling she had held in her hands for fear of letting her fall had been thrown into the countryside to be tempered through hardship. It made her heart ache terribly. Thankfully, her baby had found a man she liked because of this misfortune, and that was the only reason she could breathe a little easier.

Although Lin Yingying was pampered, she was well-behaved and considerate with her family. “Mom, don’t worry. Huo Qingshan and his mom are really good to me. They help me harvest wheat and cook for me, and their cooking is quite delicious.”

Mother Lin sniffed. “Just wait a while. I’ll have your Eldest Uncle transfer you back.”

Lin Yingying immediately began acting spoiled again, asking her mother not to interfere with Huo Qingshan. He was a man with dignity and did not want to cling to anyone for advantage. She swayed her shoulders coquettishly, her soft and lilting voice making the female operator by the window’s ears itch, so much so that she exchanged gossipy glances with her colleague.

Once Mother Lin agreed not to interfere in matters concerning Huo Qingshan, Lin Yingying brought up the matter of Mother Ye visiting their home.

Mother Lin gave a mocking laugh. “I know about that. Seeing how eager she was, I solemnly entrusted her with the largest vegetable plot belonging to the theatre troupe, so she would have something to keep her busy.”

Back when Mother Ye had come with her daughter to seek refuge, Father Lin had arranged for them to live in the collective dormitory area of the compound, while Mother Lin had assigned her to the drama troupe to inspect props, mend costumes, and run errands. It was not physically exhausting, but extremely trivial, and at times it kept her so busy her feet barely touched the ground.

At first, Mother Ye cried almost every day, saying she had a bitter life, and Mother Lin privately nicknamed her Xianglin Sao^[1]Xianglin Sao (祥林嫂): A tragic female character from the short story The New Year’s Sacrifice by the Chinese writer Lu Xun (1881–1936). Xianglin Sao is portrayed as a pitiful, widowed servant … Continue reading. Later, when the tears stopped, she began to regard herself as a relative from Father Lin’s hometown, assuming that Mother Lin did not know how to manage household chores and taking the initiative to help. Mother Lin never refused; whenever Mother Ye appeared, she would have her do this and that, keeping her spinning around like a servant, just as she seemed to wish.

Rising on her toes, Lin Yingying peeked out through the glass window and saw Huo Qingshan standing under a parasol tree outside.

The phoenix tree leaves rustled softly, the breeze whispered gently, and his tall, handsome figure stood there in silence, as steady as a mountain.

Lin Yingying’s heart was filled with tenderness, and she said coquettishly, “Mom, tell Comrade Old Lin that if he stirs up trouble, I’ll settle old scores and new ones together, and I won’t speak to him for the rest of my life.”

Saying she wouldn’t speak to him for the rest of her life was her greatest threat to Father Lin, and it always worked.

Mother Lin told her not to worry, to simply do what she liked and marry the man she liked. “Mom wants her baby to be happy for her whole life.”

Lin Yingying made a string of mwah-mwah sounds into the phone, then promised to write home, and hung up.

She darted out like a bird. “Huo Qingshan, your father-in-law and mother-in-law have agreed. They told you to hurry and put in the marriage application!”

Huo Qingshan slowly turned around, and those clear, handsome eyes of his lit up.

Still, he was a little doubtful. Just earlier, her parents had clearly been of different opinions—how could one phone call make them agree? Was it that she could persuade, or that she could deceive?

Lin Yingying reached out and grabbed his large hand.

Huo Qingshan quickly pulled away. “It’s broad daylight. Don’t be getting handsy.” Yet his voice no longer held the same coldness as before.

Lin Yingying pouted, clasping her hands behind her back and tilting her head to give him a sideways glance. “Comrade Huo Qingshan, why are you acting like such an old stick-in-the-mud? We’re already engaged!”

Huo Qingshan replied with utter seriousness, “We’re not married yet.” As long as they weren’t wed, he would not touch her.

Lin Yingying gave him a gentle roll of her eyes, the light in them flowing with such enchanting allure that it made Huo Qingshan’s head grow hot.

She then said she wanted to buy things like cigarettes, liquor, candies, and tea to serve the guests at the wedding.

Huo Qingshan said, “I’ll buy the cigarettes, liquor, and wedding candies, and I’ll prepare the wedding arrangements. It’s just that…”

Lin Yingying looked at him. “It’s just what?”

Huo Qingshan pressed his lips together and said calmly, “It will wrong you a bit. A countryside wedding is very simple.”

Lin Yingying laughed and said sweetly, “Do you think I care about an eight-carried bridal sedan? Speaking of which, Blacky counts as our matchmaker, doesn’t it? It carried you to save me, and it will carry me to marry you. How romantic~~”

She tilted her head to gaze at him, her voice soft and alluring. “…When we reach the doorway, you could carry me on your back or in your arms as we enter. I’d like that even more~”

Even with Huo Qingshan’s calm and self-restraint, her fiery and candid words made his dark eyes grow deep and burn brightly. Curling his fingers, he rubbed them lightly. “Let’s head back first.”

He would give her one last day. If she changed her mind, that would be the end of it. If she did not, tomorrow he would apply for marriage.

Once they left the supply and marketing cooperative, he gestured for Lin Yingying to mount the horse.

Lin Yingying tilted her head up to look at him, her gaze full of hints, and coquettishly gave her shoulders a little twist.

Huo Qingshan said, “Hm?”

Lin Yingying gave a shy smile. “One second ago we got engaged. You can carry me up now.”

Huo Qingshan patted the horse’s neck. “Blacky, kneel.”

Sure enough, the black stallion lowered itself down, lying flat in front of Lin Yingying.

Lin Yingying: “……”

Why is it that I can never take advantage of you! Hmph, I’m mad—won’t talk to you for three seconds!

She stomped her foot, then climbed onto the horse in a huff. The black stallion rose steadily to its feet and began carrying her back.

After riding in the breeze for a while, Lin Yingying’s mood grew even brighter. She felt a surge of boldness stirring in her chest—she had found both the right medicine and the right man. What a joyful occasion!

“Huo Qingshan, let me sing a song for you.”

Huo Qingshan said, “Alright.”

Lin Yingying began to sing. “Qingshan yingying~~ the waters stretch far, the wheat waves roll~~ the wind sighs softly…” She improvised nonsense lyrics, but borrowed the lilting melody of a gentle folk tune. Coupled with her soft, tender, and crisp voice, the song became especially melodious and intoxicating.

When she finished, she tilted her head and sought praise. “Did it sound good?”

Huo Qingshan said, “It sounded good.”

Lin Yingying said, “If it sounded good, give me a round of applause.”

Huo Qingshan clapped his hands.

Lin Yingying grinned mischievously and gave him a look full of innuendo. “Mm, clap for love. Pa pa pa.”

Huo Qingshan lifted his gaze to her, clearly sensing that her sly smile hid some sort of joke, though he could not tell exactly what she was teasing him about.

With an utterly serious face, Lin Yingying asked, “Can I visit your house today?”

Huo Qingshan said, “…Mother said she would make dumplings for you.”

Lin Yingying instantly began to salivate. Squeezing her legs around the horse’s belly, she urged Blacky into a run.

Huo Qingshan’s expression changed, and he quickly moved to catch up. But Lin Yingying only laughed gleefully, urging the horse to go faster. “Blacky, run quick, don’t let him catch up!”

Huo Qingshan could see that her posture on horseback was extremely clumsy and unfamiliar. She clearly did not know how to ride, and if the horse ran any faster she would definitely fall off. He immediately gave a whistle, and Blacky slowed down, returning to a steady clip-clop walk.

Lin Yingying glanced back at him. “You’re so overbearing.”

Huo Qingshan said, “Only just realizing that now?”

Too late.

But Lin Yingying tilted her head with a proud smile. “I like it!”

She was both coquettish and proud, her brows and eyes as lovely as a painting, dazzling Huo Qingshan’s sight.

In the end, Lin Yingying did not make it to Huo Qingshan’s house at noon.

Because his younger brother and sister were fighting at home, Mother Huo decisively canceled the idea of having her prospective daughter-in-law visit. She packed up the dumplings she had prepared, brought along the betrothal gifts, and went with Huo Qingshan to the Educated Youth Point to see Lin Yingying.

Huo Qingshan was somewhat opposed. “She’s going to find out about the family situation sooner or later.”

Mother Huo said, “Once she’s through the door, she’ll be the eldest sister-in-law. She’ll have authority. What’s there to be afraid of?”

If Lin Yingying were to see those unruly children, who had never been properly disciplined without a father, before the marriage, she might be frightened off. Right now, nothing—not even the sky falling—was more important than her eldest son’s wedding.

Huo Qingshan asked, “Mom, shouldn’t we invite Third Aunt to come along?”

Since when did a mother-in-law personally go to receive a bride-to-be without a matchmaker?

Mother Huo shot him a glare. “Who knows better, you or me? Have you ever been married, or received a bride before?”

Huo Qingshan fell silent.

Mother Huo went on, “For her to dare say in public that she’s going to marry you—do you know how much courage that takes? If the girl isn’t afraid of being shy, why should I, her mother-in-law, be afraid to bring her a bowl of dumplings?” She then pulled a stern face. “If you ask me, you’re the one in the wrong. If you were embarrassed, you could have held back a little, but you just kept on being difficult. Making her chase after you and forcing her parents to state their stance—that’s something you should have gone to them for and asked in person.”

She feared her son’s taciturn nature, worried that his unsweet tongue and unsmiling face would make the girl dislike him.

Huo Qingshan said, “Mom, I was wrong.”

In front of his mother, admitting fault was the safest route; whatever he said otherwise would be wrong.

Looking at her nearly 1.9-meter-tall son being so obedient before her, Mother Huo still couldn’t help but scold him with a touch of reluctance. She patted his sun-darkened arm and reminded him, “Your wife is a city girl. Being pampered is only natural. But from what I can tell, she’s a kind and simple girl, at most with a bit of temper. When you need to coax her, coax her, and when you need to give in, give in. If she’s not used to country life and throws a little temper, don’t pull a long face at her.”

Huo Qingshan pictured Lin Yingying’s sly smile in his mind and thought to himself… How would I even dare?

She gave one reminder after another, each time thinking of something new, afraid that if she didn’t say it in time her son might make a mistake and offend Lin Yingying.

“Anyway, from what I can see, your wife is quite good—much easier to get along with than those scheming types.” Mother Huo adjusted the food container that Huo Qingshan was holding so steadily, worried the dumplings might spill. “She’s a bit free-handed with spending, but I can also see that her personality is open and generous, not petty or calculating. A wife like that is easy to live with. When the wedding comes, we have to be open and generous too, so she won’t look down on us.”

Huo Qingshan nodded.

“My son has finally come through the hardships and is bringing home a celestial fairy. Your mother is feeling mighty proud too!”

The little old lady held her head high and puffed out her chest, as proud as she had been on her own wedding day.