Chapter 65.2

These past two days, Jiang Nian had been staying at home. She was afraid of the cold and avoided going out if she could. She sat by the stove with Feng Mei, warming herself. She casually asked, “Sister Feng, will Commander Song be going out in a few days?”

Feng Mei shook her head, “I don’t know.”

In the afternoon, the woman opposite of their house came over. As soon as she arrived, she sat on the kang and cried, saying her husband had scolded her, calling her an eggless hen. Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao frowned, watching the woman cry in distress and grievance. Feng Mei remembered what Jiang Nian had said the day before yesterday and said to the woman, “If I were you, I’d take your husband to the hospital for a check-up. What if it’s his problem?”

That woman was stunned for a while, and finally, under Feng Mei’s persuasion, she returned shortly after.

It wasn’t until dark that Lu Yu and the others returned. Jiang Nian hadn’t found a chance to speak with Commander Song alone. It wasn’t until the third day, early in the morning, that Lu Yu and the others went to the mountains. Zhang Xiao sat on the kang and talked with Jiang Nian, who seemed distracted.

It was not until noon that a military guard came to Feng Mei’s house and said he was looking for Deputy Division Commander Song.

Jiang Nian was stunned for a moment before she came to her senses. Commander Song had been promoted to Deputy Division Commander. She heard Feng Mei ask, “What’s wrong? Are they calling Old Song for another meeting? He went to the mountains. I’ll tell him when he gets back.”

The military guard said, “There are leaders coming from Donggou County. The division commander called and said the deputy division commander needs to go because he has something else to do and can’t leave.”

Feng Mei scratched her head in a dilemma. “When?”

The military guard replied, “Tonight’s train. If they hurry, they’ll arrive early in the morning.”

This put Feng Mei in a difficult spot. She scratched her head and said, “Let me see this afternoon. If  Old Song hasn’t returned by then, I’ll let you know.”

Jiang Nian hadn’t snapped out of her daze until the military guard left.

Zhang Xiao nudged Jiang Nian. “Sister Jiang, what’s wrong with you?”

Jiang Nian shook her head. “Nothing.” Then she turned to Feng Mei and asked, “Sister Feng, will Lu Yu and the others be back in the afternoon?”

Feng Mei wasn’t sure. “They left before dawn. They walk fast, so they should be back by the afternoon.”

Jiang Nian looked down at the stove. Commander Song had an accident early in 1973. Now she was immensely grateful that Lu Yu had suggested going to the mountains to hunt rabbits and taking Commander Song away. Otherwise, when the military guards came, Commander Song would have followed them, and in this way, he would have repeated the same path as in his previous life.

Jiang Nian hoped Commander Song would return as late as possible tonight, just as long as he didn’t catch the train tonight.

If Commander Song returned in the afternoon, she would have to find a way to delay him.

Jiang Nian didn’t eat much of the corn pancakes Feng Mei made at noon. Zhang Xiao noticed her mood wasn’t right and worriedly touched her forehead. “Sister Jiang, are you running a fever?”

Jiang Nian smiled. “No, I’m just feeling a bit cold.”

Upon hearing Jiang Nian was cold, Feng Mei quickly added more firewood to the stove.

They endured until the afternoon. Lu Yu and the others still hadn’t returned, so Feng Mei reluctantly went out to inform the military guard to call the division commander back. When Feng Mei returned, it was already dusk. As soon as she entered, Song Xiangdong asked, “Mom, why haven’t Dad and the others returned? Did they encounter wolves?”

At this time, wolves came out to hunt in the mountains, and these mountains were vast, not just wolves but also tigers.

Feng Mei was somewhat uneasy. “What nonsense are you talking about? Your dad and the others didn’t go deep into the mountains. They just wandered around the mountains. Maybe the snow on the mountain was too heavy, so they walked slowly.”

Jiang Nian’s heart was still hanging. She asked Feng Mei, “Sister Feng, is Commander Song unable to go to Donggou County?”

Feng Mei nodded in response. “He can’t go anymore. This is the only train tonight. Even if he comes back, it’ll be useless to go tomorrow.”

Jiang Nian’s tense heart finally relaxed.

“I’ll go make dinner for you.”

Feng Mei went into the kitchen. Song Xiangdong and Song Xianghong stayed with Zhang Xiao and Jiang Nian. After they had dinner and talked a bit, they couldn’t hold on and went back to their rooms to sleep. It wasn’t until midnight that there was movement outside. Feng Mei got up, put on her clothes, and rushed out of the house. Jiang Nian also heard the commotion. She lay quietly on the kang, listening to the voices outside.

“Why did you only come back now?”

Feng Mei poured hot water for them.

Commander Song sat by the stove, wiping the snow off his head. “We went far this time and didn’t find anything. We only hunted a few rabbits back. There was heavy snow on the mountain. Lu Yu’s wound was hurting, so we rested in place for two hours before heading back.”

When Feng Mei heard that Lu Yu’s wound was hurting, she hurriedly asked, “How are you?”

Lu Yu sat by the kang, holding his hip, and smiled, “I’m fine.”

Feng Mei sighed. “You’re unbelievable. You’re injured and still running around the mountains. Isn’t that asking for trouble?” After speaking, she told Commander Song about the afternoon’s events. Commander Song rubbed his face. “It’s too late. I’ll call the division commander tomorrow.”

“Sister-in-law, we’re hungry.”

Song Bai sat on the bench with his long legs crossed, his clothes covered with snow. Feng Mei said, “Wait, I’ll go cook for you.”

Commander Song looked at Lu Yu and asked, “Are you really okay with your injury? Do you want to go to the clinic?”

Lu Yu said, “No need.”

Jiang Nian put on her coat and came out from the inner room. Seeing Lu Yu sitting by the kang, his tall figure with long legs, one leg straight and the other bent, his hand covering the position of his hip, with snow on his shoulders. When Jiang Nian came out, Lu Yu moved his hand away and casually placed it on his leg. “Did I wake you up?”

“I didn’t sleep much.”

Jiang Nian looked at Lu Yu. “Why don’t you go to the clinic just in case?”

She was worried that Lu Yu’s injury might lead to some hidden disease.

Lu Yu smiled. “Really, I’m fine.”

“I’ll go get some medicine for him.”

Song Bai got up and patted the snow on his shoulders. “Sister-in-law, don’t worry. I’ll bring back some medicine to apply to Lu Yu.”

Lu Yu didn’t say anything. Jiang Nian smiled. “Okay, thank you.”

Song Bai smiled. “It’s no trouble.”

After saying that, he left.

Commander Song was fine, and Jiang Nian’s heart finally relaxed. She went to the kitchen to help Feng Mei. After a few people had eaten dinner, Jiang Nian went back to her room to sleep. She slept particularly soundly this time, but it was hard for Feng Mei, who slept next to her. All night, she was either squeezed by Jiang Nian or tightly hugged by her. Sometimes Jiang Nian’s cold arm would accidentally hit her.

Feng Mei woke up before dawn, got up, put on her clothes, and poked Jiang Nian’s forehead. “You, oh you, you haven’t slept as well as my Xianghong.”

Jiang Nian slept soundly and didn’t respond.

Feng Mei walked out of the inner room. Everyone in the outer room was already up. They had developed the habit of getting up before dawn every day. Commander Song saw Feng Mei’s slightly dark eye circles and exclaimed, “Did you fight the Japanese last night? Why are your eye circles so dark?”

Feng Mei: …

She poured water to wash her face, saying as she washed, “Jiang Nian squeezed me so tightly all night, nearly suffocating me. Just as she finally turned over, she swung her arm and almost scared me to death.”

Commander Song:…

He never thought Lu Yu’s sister-in-law would be less honest in her sleep than his youngest son.

Lu Yu lowered his eyes and smiled.

After spending two nights on the train, both Song Bai and Zhu Jun had gained some insight.

Feng Mei splashed the water out and said, “In the future, when Jiang Nian remarries, she must make it clear to others that she’s restless in her sleep, or she might scare people to death at night.”

Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao got up a while later. Feng Mei had already prepared breakfast. After everyone ate, Lu Yu and the others were in the yard cleaning up the rabbits they had hunted last night. Jiang Nian planned to make some rabbit meat dishes for lunch.

Lu Yu and the others weren’t bothered by the cold. They rinsed the rabbits directly with cold water, cleaned them, and brought them in an enamel basin. Jiang Nian stood at the kitchen door. When Lu Yu approached her, she felt a chill coming from him and stepped back.

Lu Yu’s brow furrowed imperceptibly, and he asked softly, “What’s wrong?”

He sniffed himself but didn’t smell any blood.

Jiang Nian whispered, “You’re too cold.”

Lu Yu smiled, “I’ll warm up by the stove in a bit.”

Feng Mei chopped the meat, and Jiang Nian handled the vegetables. When the fragrant smell of meat filled the air, Commander Song said, “Hey, this smells good!”

Zhu Jun also said, “Really fragrant.”

Zhang Xiao sat by the stove and laughed, “Sister Jiang, they’re drooling over there.”

Jiang Nian laughed, “Aren’t you drooling too?”

Zhang Xiao embarrassedly said, “Me too.”

The last pot was spicy rabbit heads. As soon as the chili hit the pot, Feng Mei choked heavily. Zhang Xiao also coughed badly. Feng Mei said, “Get out quickly, don’t choke on the child.”

“Jiang Nian, why does every spicy dish you make choke us like this?”

Jiang Nian’s eyes reddened from being choked, her eyelashes moist, and her nose red. She coughed twice, and the spicy smell spread outside. People outside also coughed a few times. If they didn’t know better, they’d think this family had caught a cold.

After the rabbit meat was cooked, Jiang Nian ran out to the outer room to catch her breath, then splashed her face with water from the basin.

Lu Yu added some hot water to the basin and watched the water droplets fall from Jiang Nian’s face, her eyes moist and red, as if she had just cried. He put down the thermos, his voice hoarse, “Feeling better?”

Jiang Nian nodded, “Much better.”

She wiped her face and then went to the window to get some fresh air. Commander Song turned his head and glanced, “Don’t stand too close to the window, careful not to catch a cold.”

Jiang Nian said, “Got it.”

Song Bai came out of the kitchen with dishes and saw Jiang Nian’s slender figure in an apron, with a thin waist encircled by it. He lowered his head to look at his own waist, wondering why hers was so slim that it seemed like it could be snapped with a little effort.

Song Bai suddenly stopped, put down the dishes, and rushed back into the kitchen. As he turned, he almost bumped into Feng Mei. Feng Mei was startled, “Be careful.”

Song Bai’s face looked a bit unnatural, “I wasn’t paying attention.”

“Jiang Nian, why are you still there?”

Feng Mei urged, and Jiang Nian beckoned her over. Curiously, Feng Mei walked over to her and peeked out the window with her. She saw a couple from the house opposite, dressed in thick cotton coats, arguing as soon as they came back from outside.

“Old Song, the Dou family opposite is fighting.”

Commander Song got up suddenly and walked out. Feng Mei followed. Zhang Xiao ran to Jiang Nian’s side and looked out with her. Lu Yu came out of the kitchen and saw the two of them craning their necks to look at the excitement outside.

There was a lot of noise outside for a while. The house is not soundproof and the woman has a loud voice.

Jiang Nian listened to the woman and said, “Now it’s confirmed. The doctor said it’s you who can’t have children! You, the Dou family, have bullied me for so many years, calling me a hen that doesn’t lay eggs. I’ve been scolded by you for so many years, and I’ve been looked down upon by so many people—”

She talked a lot, venting all the grievances she had suffered over the years.

The woman’s voice was so loud that all the neighbors came out to watch the fun. Commander Song told them to go back with a stern face, saying that family disgrace should not be made public and that it was unacceptable to talk about one’s husband outside. Captain Dou’s face turned purple and ugly, and Jiang Nian felt that he could crawl into a crack in the ground.

Zhang Xiao said, “Sister Jiang, you are right. That man is infertile.”

Jiang Nian also felt sorry for this woman. After so many years of being looked down upon and insulted, she finally got her revenge at this moment. So she said, “I guessed it, too.”

The couple was pushed in by Feng Mei. After watching the fun, Jiang Nian turned around and saw Lu Yu and the others looking at her and Zhang Xiao.

Jiang Nian: …

I was so busy watching the fun that I almost forgot there were three other people in the room.

She coughed lightly and wanted to go to the kitchen to avoid embarrassment. Unexpectedly, Song Bai said, “Sister-in-law, the food’s already on the table.”

As he spoke, there was laughter in his voice.

Jiang Nian: …

After a while, Feng Mei and Commander Song returned. Everyone sat on the kang and ate. Feng Mei began to talk about how that woman had been mistreated by the Dou family all these years.