Chapter 51

In another room, Yu Jiashun looked distressed, like a father worried about his daughter’s innocence. “I wonder how Nian Nian will sleep tonight?”

Zhao Ruozhu rolled her eyes. “How else can she sleep? Do you think they’ll actually do anything?”

Yu Jiashun reproachfully said, “You know they won’t do anything, yet you still make them sleep together.”

Zhao Ruozhu replied, “If I don’t help break this barrier between them, they’ll always sleep separately. Relationships need to develop slowly. Sleep together once, and there will be a second time. A husband and wife being together is inevitable!”

After a pause, she added, “Just go to sleep! What are you worried about? Cheng Jingmo won’t eat your daughter.”

Yu Xiangnian didn’t know when Cheng Jingmo left. When she woke up, his side of the bed was already cold.

She looked at her sleeping position and saw that she had taken up two-thirds of the bed, facing where Cheng Jingmo had been, with her head on his pillow.

Great! She must have touched him again last night!

Remembering her vow of “If I touch you, I’m a dog,” Yu Xiangnian comforted herself by thinking that Cheng Jingmo was asleep and wouldn’t have noticed.

The rest of the family had gone to work, leaving only the housekeeper and Yu Xiangnian at home.

The housekeeper, Xu Huandi, was in her forties and had been working for Zhao Ruozhu’s family for a long time.

She had been cooking, cleaning, and looking after the children since Yu Xiangnian could remember.

Zhao Ruozhu was the daughter of a capitalist, educated, and trained in medicine. She joined the revolution at a young age, achieving many merits before marrying Yu Jiashun.

Although their family property was confiscated later, she retained her status.

Xu Huandi cooked pig trotter noodles for Yu Xiangnian.

Having eaten pig trotters for two consecutive days, Yu Xiangnian felt she could even smell pig manure.

She pushed the bowl away. “I don’t want pig trotter noodles. What else is there?”

“These were bought especially for you by the son-in-law.”

Yu Xiangnian said, “Who cares about pig trotters!”

Xu Huandi spoke earnestly, “The son-in-law is showing he cares about you. Fish and shrimp are expensive, yet he bought them for you. Yesterday at the market, fish and shrimp were nearly three yuan per jin. I couldn’t bear to buy them.”

Yu Xiangnian was indifferent. “He didn’t buy them for me. It was a holiday yesterday; a son-in-law visiting must bring something.”

Xu Huandi continued, “Other sons-in-law might bring a jin or two of meat at most. But he bought so much fish and shrimp.”

“He did that to please my dad.”

“Pleasing Comrade Yu is also for your sake,” Xu Huandi added. “Did you and the son-in-law have a fight? Last night I saw him sitting alone in the main hall for a long time before returning to the room.”

“The son-in-law may not talk much, but I can’t find any other fault with him. Nian Nian, all couples argue. There’s a saying: quarrels at the head of the bed are made up at the foot. Give him a way to make up…”

“Stop, stop.” Yu Xiangnian interrupted, “I’ll eat the pig trotter noodles.”

Everyone in her family kept praising how good Cheng Jingmo was.

A man can be perfect in every way, but if his heart isn’t here, what’s the point?

Yu Xiangnian enjoyed a comfortable life at home these few days.

She ate well, slept well, and was pampered.

Whenever she thought of Cheng Jingmo and Xiao Jie, she immediately dismissed the thoughts.

There are plenty of men and children in the world. Who cares about them!

But Bai Mei was having a tough time.

She didn’t dare tell her family about buying a watch and bicycle, nor could she find anyone at work to lend her money.

The past two days, she had come to reconcile with Yu Xiangnian but hadn’t even seen her shadow.

Seeing that today was already Friday, she and Ding Yunfei went to Yu Xiangnian’s doorstep again.

Bai Mei silently vowed that today, she would camp at Yu Xiangnian’s door if needed, to finally meet her.

The two of them kept knocking on the door, calling out in turns, “Yu Xiangnian, Comrade Yu…”

After calling for a long time with no answer, Bai Mei kept knocking on the door. The noise finally annoyed Liu Zhen, their neighbor, who came out of her house.

Seeing Ding Yunfei, she wore a displeased expression. It was this man who had been frequently visiting Yu Xiangnian’s house when Deputy Commander Cheng wasn’t around.

“Stop knocking! The plaster on our walls is starting to fall off!” Liu Zhen said irritably.

Bai Mei quickly approached Liu Zhen, speaking respectfully, “Sorry for disturbing you, sister. We’re just trying to find Nian Nian.”

Liu Zhen didn’t know Bai Mei’s relationship with Yu Xiangnian. Hearing her call Yu Xiangnian “Nian Nian,” she assumed they were close.

She softened her tone, “Comrade Yu isn’t home.”

“Where did she go?” Bai Mei asked.

“Deputy Commander Cheng mentioned she’s staying at her parents’ house for a few days,” Liu Zhen replied.

Bai Mei’s face turned pale. This meant she couldn’t see Yu Xiangnian today! It was impossible to apologize and ask her to take back what she said.

Tomorrow was Saturday. If she couldn’t produce the items in front of everyone, how could she face them?

“When will she be back?” Ding Yunfei asked, growing anxious. Yu Xiangnian had been avoiding him for days, and it seemed she wanted to sever ties with him completely. He regretted siding with Bai Mei that day.

Liu Zhen glared at him, “How would I know? With all the pests coming around every day, who would want to come home?”

Ding Yunfei’s face tightened. “Who are you calling pests?”

“Whoever wants to claim it!” Liu Zhen retorted.

Ding Yunfei couldn’t afford to get into a dispute with a family member. If word got out, it would be embarrassing.

He angrily shook his hand and turned to Bai Mei, “Let’s go back!”

Bai Mei hurried after Ding Yunfei, crying as she thought about having to pay for the bicycle and watch.

Already in a bad mood, Ding Yunfei couldn’t stand her crying and snapped, “What are you crying for? Are you satisfied with how things turned out?”

Bai Mei, enduring the scolding, sobbed, “Ding Yunfei, what should we do now?”

“How should I know?” Furious at Bai Mei for causing this mess, Ding Yunfei said, “If you hadn’t schemed for her 200 yuan, would we be in this situation?”

“She schemed against me first!” Bai Mei cried, “She willingly lent me the money but now demands I pay her back with new items! And you all took her side!”

Ding Yunfei’s face turned red with anger. “You’re so short-sighted! If you had accepted her terms initially, you could have discussed it later.”

Feeling wronged, Bai Mei clung to Ding Yunfei’s sleeve. “Ding Yunfei, you’re the only one who can help me now.”

“How can I help? You dragged me into this mess, and now I can’t even see her. How can I help?”

Bai Mei stammered, “Can you lend me some money? I’ll buy the bicycle and watch, and you can keep the 200 yuan from Yu Xiangnian. I’ll repay the rest slowly.”

Ding Yunfei knew Bai Mei would never repay the money. “I don’t have any money either!” He shook her off, “Go borrow from someone else!”