Chapter 8

These past few years, Gu Shi’an had been serving in the military and could only return home a few times a year. He regularly sent his salary and allowances home and made sure to call his parents monthly to reassure them.

This time, not only did Gu Shi’an call home, but he also sent a large, bulging package. The postman delivered it to the steel mill during the day, and the gatekeeper brought it along to the courtyard.

When the gatekeeper arrived, Gu Mancang was happily munching on fried peanuts and sipping a little wine.

Lin Yao and the other two had run off to Aunt Dafu’s house next door to see the newly born rabbits.

As soon as they heard it was a call from their eldest son…

Gu Mancang’s eyes crinkled with joy, and despite his simple-mindedness, he knew to first entertain the guest. “Anzi called. No rush, brother. We have wine and peanuts at home. How about we have a drink before you go?”

The gatekeeper waved his hand repeatedly. “Oh, don’t be so polite with me. The kid’s waiting. Hurry up and stop dawdling.”

Gu Mancang made a sound of agreement. Zhang Cuilan came out of the kitchen, handing over a small bamboo basket with a smile. “Homegrown tomatoes and cucumbers. They’re not anything special, but take them and give them a try.”

In those times, fresh vegetables were hard to come by. Even in Yunshui County, many households had small vegetable patches in their courtyards, growing a few greens, radishes, potatoes, and so on. It wasn’t about having a lot, but at least having something to cook when vegetables were scarce.

Zhang Cuilan was usually very frugal and also quite skilled at growing vegetables. She had grown up in the countryside.

A countrywoman not knowing how to grow vegetables? That’s impossible!

That was one of the reasons why Grandma Gu had chosen Zhang Cuilan as a daughter-in-law.

Zhang Cuilan knew how to grow vegetables, and with careful fertilization in the small garden, the tomatoes were red and juicy, and the cucumbers were tender and fresh, with little yellow flowers still on them. They were fresher than anything bought from the street vendor.

The gatekeeper immediately grinned, “Yesterday, my wife was still complaining about not finding good vegetables. Now, we’re getting a taste of your family’s goodness.”

“It’s nothing special. Just a few cucumbers.”

“Even so, it saves me from running around.”

…

The gatekeeper carried the basket, smiling, and left the courtyard with Gu Mancang.

Zhang Cuilan looked at the package her eldest son had sent home, and her smile grew even deeper.

She continued to busy herself in the kitchen.

Before long, Gu Shidong returned from next door.

The smell from the kitchen had tempted him back home.

The kitchen was steaming with the aroma of meat dumplings. Zhang Cuilan lifted the steamer lid, and the smell of the dumplings was irresistible.

As soon as the buns were steamed, Gu Shidong, who had been running around in the yard, quickly brought a small stool and stood at the kitchen door, eagerly waiting for the first bite of the meat dumplings.

After five or six minutes, Lin Yao and Gu Chunmei came back from Aunt Da Fu’s house, chatting excitedly about the little rabbits there.

The rabbits were cute and chubby, like little balls. They would curl up into a fluffy ball if fed a piece of carrot, and their little mouths would wiggle as they lay there, ready to be petted.

Lin Yao’s eyes sparkled with excitement, and Gu Chunmei’s eyes also flashed with delight.

As soon as they got home, the two sisters huddled together, chattering excitedly about getting their own little rabbits.

Gu Shidong, oblivious to everything else, focused solely on the dumplings.

Zhang Cuilan came out to check and shook her head with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

Three silly kids, none of them mature.

As a mother, she brought over the freshly washed cucumbers and said to her eldest son, “Be careful, or you’ll drool all over.”

Gu Shidong let out a laugh, swallowed his saliva, and continued staring intently at the steamer.

Ten minutes later, the delicious mushroom meat dumplings were finally ready.

Gu Mancang hadn’t returned from taking the call yet.

Zhang Cuilan muttered to herself and waited by the door for a while, watching as her youngest son grew increasingly impatient.

She decided not to wait any longer. After all, there would be plenty of dumplings at home today!

Lin Yao had just put the prepared garlic sauce and vinegar on the table when Gu Shidong immediately grabbed a dumpling, dipped it in the sauce, and stuffed it into his mouth.

The dumplings with thin wrappers and fragrant filling, dipped in garlic sauce and vinegar, were incredibly tasty.

The family only had dumplings during the New Year or when Gu Shi’an came home. The dumplings today were far better than any they had ever had.

The whole family was engrossed in eating.

Lin Yao, who had been lacking oil and water in her diet, hadn’t enjoyed dumplings like this for a long time. She held her chopsticks tightly and ate with great satisfaction.

The delicious meal almost made them forget that Gu Mancang had gone to take the call and hadn’t come home yet.

When Gu Mancang finally came home, Zhang Cuilan suddenly remembered that he hadn’t eaten yet!

She rolled up her sleeves and personally brought a large bowl of dumplings to Gu Mancang, urging him to eat quickly.

Gu Mancang was somewhat taken aback.

“Is this for me?”

“Of course. Can’t you eat it?”

Zhang Cuilan gave him a sideways glance.

Gu Mancang grinned and said, “Of course I can eat it. If Cuilan serves me dumplings, I could eat two bowls.”

The couple’s affectionate interaction made Zhang Cuilan’s face flush with embarrassment, and she retreated to the room.

Lin Yao and Gu Chunmei exchanged smiles.

Gu Shidong continued to eat dumplings voraciously, oblivious to everything else.

In this call home, Gu Shi’an not only reported his safety but also mentioned that he would be going on a mission with his unit soon and wouldn’t be able to call home next month.

Over the years, Gu Mancang had grown used to his son going on missions from time to time. As a father, he reminded his son to stay safe, knowing that the mission of a soldier was to protect the country.

After a brief conversation, Gu Shi’an quickly hung up.

Gu Mancang wanted to go home, but the gatekeeper insisted on keeping him for tea and a chat.

The two talked about various topics until the factory leaders came for an inspection, and only then did Gu Mancang leave.

After dinner, Gu Chunmei and Lin Yao cleaned up, one tidying the table, the other sweeping the floor.

Gu Shidong clattered away in the kitchen, washing dishes.

Zhang Cuilan and her husband were in the room, looking at the package sent by their eldest son.

When they opened it, they were surprised by how much was inside.

There were two cans of meat, a package of biscuits, a can of malted milk, a large piece of red silk with peonies, a pair of women’s leather shoes, and various other items like food tickets, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and towels, all neatly packed, showcasing Gu Shi’an’s careful and organized nature.

In addition to the package, Zhang Cuilan received three pairs of nylon stockings, a bottle of her favorite brand of cooking oil, and Gu Shidong received a cowhide notebook. Gu Mancang also received two bottles of Xifeng liquor, specially prepared by his son.

Gu Mancang doesn’t smoke but enjoys a small drink from time to time. Though the Gu family’s life is manageable, good liquor is hard to come by. Nowadays, buying alcohol requires a liquor ticket, and as a Level 5 fitter, where could he get such a ticket? Only factory leaders and county officials get those tickets.

So, Gu Mancang had to make do with homemade inferior local wine, which was hardly enjoyable, but it was better than nothing.

The red silk fabric was for Gu Chunmei’s wedding. She is getting married in October, and according to Yunshui County customs, the bride’s family needs to prepare a piece of festive red silk to wrap the bride’s dowry items, including pillows, sheets, and other fabric.

Finding red silk in those days was quite difficult. Zhang Cuilan ran around the county’s supply and marketing cooperatives to find a piece of red silk for her daughter.

When she couldn’t find it, she thought about using the rough fabric from the countryside, dyed red, but she didn’t want to compromise her daughter’s special day. She was determined to ensure her daughter’s wedding was splendid.

Zhang Cuilan had mentioned this in a phone call to Gu Shi’an, and he had remembered it well.

Even though her eldest son wasn’t physically present, Zhang Cuilan was delighted by his thoughtful and meticulous gesture. She felt as if she had drunk honey water, her heart was so sweet.

She touched the pair of women’s leather shoes, estimating them to be size 35 or 36. These delicate shoes couldn’t possibly be for Chunmei, who had large feet and wore size 39. Zhang Cuilan remembered how the elderly used to say Chunmei was lucky not to have her feet bound.

“Oh, these must be for Yaoyao,” Zhang Cuilan realized with a smile.

She was pleased that her eldest son, who had always been reserved and quiet, had thought of buying shoes for Yaoyao. Zhang Cuilan felt proud and happy, knowing her son was thoughtful and considerate.

Zhang Cuilan happily put away the shoes and their box in the south wing of the house, ignoring Gu Mancang’s calls.

Lin Yao was reading in her room, which had been cleaned and arranged with a warm, inviting touch. The antique wooden bed had a bamboo mat, and the pillow and thin quilt were made of white fabric with pink flowers. The old, coarse curtains had been replaced, and a small bamboo basket on the simple wardrobe held little trinkets Lin Yao liked.

The room had a vase with freshly picked jasmine flowers, filling the air with fragrance.

Zhang Cuilan knocked on the door, and Lin Yao responded cheerfully. After their conversation, Zhang Cuilan left with a smile that didn’t fade.

Gu Chunmei was sleeping soundly in the south wing.

Lin Yao looked at the pair of shoes on the floor and sighed.

To be honest, she felt a bit sorry for Gu Shi’an. Despite his handsome appearance and promising future, his cold personality meant he remained single and alone until old age.

In the original story, after Gu Shi’an and Lin Hongna divorced, he spent the rest of his life alone, even into his old age.