“By the way, your sister sent a telegram saying she wants to bring Wang Hongbing with her when she comes. I haven’t met Wang Hongbing before, Comrade Chen, could you tell me about him?”

With the firewall lit, Nie Bozhao’s office—which also served as a small bedroom—was warm and cozy.

“My brother-in-law? He’s a good man, a high school graduate, used to work at the Hydropower Bureau. But because he has an aunt who fled to Taiwan before Liberation, he was branded as a capitalist sympathizer. Well, once reforms come, he’ll go back to the hydropower plant and be the factory director.”

“What’s reform?”

Chen Lina gave him a sideways glance. “I’ll tell you what reform is after you accept that I’m your little princess.”

“You don’t need to explain; I think I get it. It’s a change in policy, a macro-level adjustment—a major directional policy shift.” Okay, he really did understand.

Outside, there was the familiar ding-ding-ding sound of a bell, and the kids ran out to see the postman arriving.

Nie Bozhao was still tending to the firewall, so Chen Lina wiped her hands and stepped out. “Comrade Wang, is there any mail for us?”

“There’s a ‘feathered letter’—five feathers, meant specifically for Engineer Nie. It’s from Urumqi, but he needs to sign for it personally.”

Even in these times, with higher authorities’ approval, people like Nie Bozhao were required to read a set number of foreign journals monthly to stay updated on global technological advancements.

However, only he could see them; even Secretary Ah and Chief Engineer Wang couldn’t access this information.

After all, not everyone was allowed exposure to the ‘vestiges of capitalism.’

So, of course, he couldn’t hand them over to his family members.

Nie Bozhao quickly came out, signed for the package, asked the postman about the road conditions, if the bridge over the Poplar River was fixed, or if he had to take a detour.

He even inquired if the postman’s chilblains needed any ointment, showing feigned concern.

Postman Xiao Wang replied with a smile and rode off on his bike.

The large envelope felt bulky, like it contained several boxes.

Chen Lina wasn’t particularly curious, but what surprised her was that Nie Bozhao handed her the package and seriously instructed, “Store it in the small storeroom, and make sure the kids don’t see it.”

“What’s so important that the kids can’t see? Is it food or candy?” Curious, Chen Lina started to open it in front of everyone.

Tiantian ran over first. “Auntie, is there candy?”

Nowadays, candy was probably what kids craved the most.

Chen Lina pulled it open and quickly said, “It’s not candy; it’s medicine. Auntie’s medicine.”

“I don’t believe you. Let me see.”

Little Chen Tiantian tiptoed to look and saw a small brown paper package.

She exclaimed, “Auntie, you don’t understand; this isn’t medicine—it’s balloons!”

Nie Bozhao’s face turned red instantly. “I told you to put it away! If the kids see it, they’ll start blowing balloons again.”

Sure enough, Tiantian snatched one from Chen Lina, opened it deftly, and started calling, “Da Dan, Gou Dan, come! Let’s see who can blow the biggest balloon!”

It was a box of condoms from the Guilin Latex Factory.

The outer box featured an illustration of a man and woman in swimsuits, and inside were two condoms.

The brown paper wrapper had a note: “After use, clean thoroughly, dust with talcum powder, and store for multiple uses.”

There was also a small line of instructions: “Before each use, inflate to check for leaks.”

The kids clearly knew what they were doing.

They each took turns blowing into one until it was a huge balloon, tied it with a string, and started bouncing it around the room.

When Chen Lina first arrived at the base, she often saw the kids playing with these balloons.

At first, she thought they were just pig bladders like the ones kids played with back in the countryside during Chinese New Year.

Well, now she finally understood—they were using their parents’ condoms as balloons.

She went to the storeroom, grabbed a handful of candy, and managed to trade it for the two condoms.

“Oh my, Comrade Nie, the poor postman’s chilblains were so swollen, and you made him come out just for this?”

“Well, you have to be prepared for everything,” Nie Bozhao said.

As he saw her about to leave, he suddenly changed his tone.

He was tall, blocking her path, looking even younger than he would in his forties, with his dark blue shirt tucked into his pants and a belt cinched tightly—he was quite the figure.

Pointing to the firewall, he said, “Look, the firewall is up, and we’re married. Comrade Chen, tonight we’re sleeping in this room.”

Chen Lina chuckled.

Okay, now she finally understood why he insisted on lighting an extra firewall despite the coal shortage.

It was for this.

Too bad, though.

In her previous life, she had been infertile, so there was no need for such precautions.

However, his mentality was still problematic.

Even though they were married, he wanted to be intimate without wanting children.

This mindset had serious issues.

“Aren’t you worried the kids will kick off their blankets?”

“I’ll go right over once we’re done. You sleep here. Don’t worry; I’ll come by in the middle of the night to add coal, making sure the fire doesn’t go out.”

“That contradicts your intentions. After all, you still doubt my origins.”

Suddenly, she seemed to transform.

Her eyes sparkled, her lips looked particularly full, and her fair skin had been soothed with snow cream, making it appear exceptionally delicate under the light.

“I may not be as experienced as that apricot tree, but I believe I can distinguish between private and public matters. Since we’re married, we still have to follow the proper steps,” Nie Bozhao replied.

“Hmm, you still think there’s no apricot tree, no past-life Nie Bozhao. Maybe all my experience comes from my cousin Nie Guozhu.”

“Chen Lina, you’re being petty. I never thought that.”

“Well, even if you didn’t think it, it’s still not happening. I agreed to get the certificate and help you raise the kids, but I didn’t agree to be intimate with you so soon.”

“If we’re not sleeping together, then what kind of marriage is this?” Nie Bozhao couldn’t understand.

“I am a person with aspirations. Without love, there is no sex life.

As for marriage, it’s because I, this old fool, wanted to avoid the revolution, and you wanted someone to raise your children, so I ended up tricking you with a bad brain.

But you managed to deceive me with your mother-in-law, who is as fierce as a tigress, and with such tough conditions, so you need to figure this out.”

Nie Bozhao thought for a moment and then asked, “So, we don’t have love right now?”

“You and your past life still have a long way to go,” Chen Lina said, shaking her head meaningfully.

Convincing Nie Bozhao to believe in past lives was as hard as convincing him that his two sons would one day join the mafia.

How could he possibly believe that?

Alright, so that evening, the reusable condom didn’t serve its purpose and quietly lay in the storage room with the other odds and ends.

The next morning, Nie Weimin was in a bad mood.

Of course, it was the same noodle soup and steamed buns made from low-quality flour.

The children were picky eaters, used to better food, and couldn’t stomach it when the meal lacked oil or flavor.

They nibbled on the buns half-heartedly, with their heads down.

Chen Lina had used up all the cooking oil in the house.

If there had been some oil in the noodle soup, it would have tasted better.

Nie Bozhao, spoiled by these habits, didn’t want to eat the steamed buns made from such poor flour and said, “Comrade Xiao Chen, can we have a different flavor?”

Chen Lina gave him a sideways glance, “Do you know how much a bucket of cooking oil costs on the black market?”

“How much?”

“Thirty yuan, and it’s a blend of sunflower seed and peanut oil, the taste isn’t that good.”

“I already gave you all my salary, royalties, and overtime pay. You can spend it as you wish. It’s nothing. We can’t just let Wei Min keep wearing that cotton jacket, we need to get him a coat to go over it. San Dan’s coat is getting small too, we need to make a new one for him.”

Look, money talks.

Sitting there, Nie Bozhao acted like the boss, thinking that as long as he opened his mouth, all these things would somehow materialize.

“But I need a place to buy it, and my only trusted Kazakh middleman doesn’t have any cooking oil. The coat also can’t be made from ordinary cotton, it needs to be the kind of windproof fabric from the Soviet Union. I even asked around for it. If I want to buy it, I’ll have to go out of the base. Once I leave, if the security guards check my background and ask about my class status, it’ll be a hassle.”

She was quite aware of the situation. When at home, she could speak freely because she knew that no matter how much she bullied Nie Bozhao, he wouldn’t give her away.

But outside, it was a different story. In these dangerous times, one wrong word in front of unfamiliar people could cost her her life.

Nie Weimin said, “Liu Xiaohong’s family also has things for sale. Her mom is asking around the base about who needs good stuff. You can ask her.”

“Liu Xiaohong’s mom isn’t alive anymore. When did she get a new one?” Both Chen Lina and Nie Bozhao were shocked.

Nie Weimin, slurping his soup and shaking his round little head, said, “She’s new, and she’s actually my little aunt. She’ll give me candy.”

“I knew it! You didn’t hang out with Liu Xiaogang before, but now you’ve started. It must be because of this. Xiao Nie, tell me, who is she?” Chen Lina asked again.

“My little aunt,” Nie Weimin replied.

“Sun Xia Ai? Isn’t she married to a soldier who died? She’s a martyr’s widow, how could she marry Liu Han?” Nie Bozhao was surprised.

Liu Xiaohong’s father was a truck driver who smoked, drank, spat everywhere, and liked to beat his kids.

Of course, he also frequently visited prostitutes.

Nie Bozhao hated that man and had to hold his breath every time he rode in his truck.

As for the family that moved from Zhang County because of Sun Zhuannan’s influence, all the girls married young men with prospects, with successful careers, all arranged by Sun Zhuannan himself.

There was no shortage of good men among her family, from the personnel department in the mining district to the factory directors and border defense officials.

Nie Bozhao was almost unable to believe that Sun Xia Ai had married Liu Han.

“Alright, you find a way to get us some cooking oil. I really can’t eat lamb oil, I’m a Han man with half a stomach full of iron filings, not a Kazakh with half a stomach of wool. Comrade Chen, I’m counting on you.” In daily life, Nie Bozhao now completely depended on Chen Lina.

Honestly, he had struggled with his thoughts.

What if she were really a Soviet spy, or a secret agent sent by the Anglo-American countries?

But once her sister arrived, she would have to settle here.

If she thought she could win him over, well, he had plans to win her over too!

When Chen Lina saw he hadn’t eaten much and was about to leave, she called him back. “Wait, I have something for you. Take it before you go.”

“What is it? Can we eat it? Also, give me a balloon to blow up, mom.” The three brothers jumped up when they saw Chen Lina opening the small storage room door.

The candy and balloons were locked up inside, and whenever she opened the door, they knew they’d get something good.

“Coffee? This can’t be cheap,” Nie Bozhao said, stunned when he saw the can of coffee.

Chen Lina rolled her eyes at him. “Yes, you give me seventy yuan a month, but you want all the good stuff. I’ve been saving up money to buy you coffee, one can costs thirty yuan. I took the money out of my own pocket to buy this. Tell me, do you feel ashamed?”

Ashamed, Nie Bozhao really did feel ashamed.

He always thought that she, like his mother-in-law, used the household money to save for her own family, not to feed the children.

Of course, drinking coffee was a sign of bourgeois decadence.

If the leaders found out, he’d be severely criticized.

But Nie Bozhao spent long hours in the lab, working hard, and often needed a cup of this.

After some thought, he poured the coffee into a medicine bottle he had bought for San Dan, and took it with him.