The three children were still waiting at Chen Tiantian’s house.

On the large kang (a traditional heated brick bed), the kids had played themselves to exhaustion but were still eagerly waiting for their parents to pick them up.

Suddenly, Nie Weimin snuck off the kang, slipped on his little leather shoes, and was about to sneak out.

“Da Dan, where are you going?” Chen Zili asked.

“I’m going to check if my dad’s back.”

“Your dad told me he’s going far tonight, so he won’t be back.”

“That’s impossible. He didn’t even leave the base, and his car’s still parked.”

“He said he’s not coming back, so he’s not coming back. Hurry up and sleep—you’ll all be spending the night at my place.”

“Little Chen has been here a few months already, hasn’t she? Could tonight be the night?” Tiantian’s mother entered, carrying the chill of the night air, stretching her hands toward the kang for warmth.

Chen Zili exchanged a knowing smile with his wife and pulled her hands toward the warmth of the bed.

For a family with many children, a couple trying to have some alone time was practically like conducting a spy operation.

Meanwhile, back with Chen Lina and Nie Bozhao, who had just returned from watching the movie, her cheeks were flushed and her heart was still pounding.

She was wrapped in Nie Bozhao’s wool coat, feeling warm after the film.

Along the way, dogs barked, snoring could be heard from nearby homes, and the air was filled with the smell of coal smoke.

“Where are you going?” Nie Bozhao asked as he saw Chen Lina about to knock on the door next door.

“To pick up the kids—they probably want to come home too.”

“It’s so late, if you bring them out, they’ll catch colds. I already arranged for them to spend the night next door. Tomorrow, you can bring Little Wang a basket of snacks as a thank-you. It’s no big deal among neighbors.”

“Comrade Nie, I’m getting the feeling your intentions aren’t pure. Do you just want to sleep with me?”

“Not at all. I’m still planning on a hundred more rounds of romance, until I finally win Comrade Xiao Chen’s heart.”

Toothache, sweetness overload—this sugary talk was almost unbearable, but she seemed to enjoy it.

What kind of weakness was this? Sweet words, after all, aren’t edible.

“Alright, fine. It’s New Year’s, and tonight I’ll have a nice, uninterrupted sleep.”

Entering the room, they added more coal, and soon the space warmed up.

Having lived an entire lifetime, Chen Lina could clearly see through his intentions.

After washing her face, brushing her teeth, and washing her feet, she went in and out of the storage room three times.

The last time, she caught him blowing up a balloon and holding his breath, listening carefully, probably to check if it was leaking.

He was wearing a navy blue liberation uniform, which normally looked outdated, but given his good looks, he somehow made it look stylish.

Yet, it was probably because he kept blowing up balloons like that that the children had mistaken the condoms for balloons.

This was simply, utterly ridiculous.

Chen Lina, heart silently screaming, thought, ‘With this attitude, even if you’re romantic a hundred times, I won’t agree to anything, no matter how tempted.’

Nie Bozhao even took out their marriage certificate from the small bedroom and placed it on the sewing machine, just in case anyone barged in.

With this license, he’d be legally “on duty,” and he could act without fear.

When it came to planning, he was thorough and meticulous.

But at least this time wasn’t as absurd as last time.

The most absurd time had been in her previous life, during her wedding night with Nie Guozhu.

Villagers had gathered for a raucous celebration, and the two of them had even had to swear an oath together.

Of course, there were eavesdroppers that night, so every word had to be perfect.

The groom said, “The people have risen to become their own masters. I will proceed.”

The bride replied, “Remain vigilant, never forget the revolution. Proceed.”

Only after that little ritual could they proceed.

Even then, there were people listening at the door.

Chen Lina and Nie Bozhao hadn’t noticed, and Nie Bozhao had muttered quietly, “I bet Lin Biao is a traitor; that guy has a sneaky look.”

The next day, he was reported for that comment, and a member of the red family spent six months in the cowshed (a form of punishment during the Cultural Revolution).

Thinking about the past life, this life seemed like sheer fortune.

They each took a quilt—he took the smaller one, and she took the larger one.

On the kang, they each took a side.

Oddly enough, the heated brick bed didn’t feel warm tonight.

“Old Nie, go check if there’s a dead piece of coal or if the flue’s blocked. Why is it so cold?”

“I’m cold too. If you want to check, go check yourself.”

Chen Lina got up and checked for a while, but the fire was burning brightly.

How strange! Usually, with the whole family crowded together, they’d be sweating from the heat in the middle of the night.

Why was it so cold tonight?

Probably because there was no “SanDan” her little “stove,” she thought.

Fine, I’ll just go back to sleep.

But the more she tried, the colder it felt.

By around 11 p.m., she was still unable to fall asleep.

“So…are you thinking about it too?” In the dark, she heard some clinking sounds and immediately began to struggle, “Old Nie, getting bold, are you? I haven’t even agreed yet.”

With a quick motion, he cuffed both her hands with his belt.

With another yank, he seemed to have tied the belt to the large, sturdy wardrobe at the head of the kang.

It was pure solid wood, rugged and sturdy.

She still wanted to struggle, but with one swift move, he had already yanked down her thermal pants.

Another condom—the distinctive crinkling sound of thick plastic.

Honestly, the plastic now was so rough, nowhere near as nice as Durex, Okamoto, or Sagami.

Amused yet frustrated, she laughed and raged at the same time. “I’m telling you, I haven’t gotten my proposal yet. You don’t even know what I want you to call me. If you keep this up, I’ll divorce you tomorrow.”

“In the old days, a princess would ride her prince, but in the West, a princess is to be conquered by a knight.

The Qing Dynasty is long gone; this is the Republic, where people are the masters. If you’re a princess, I’ll treat you like one, but I’m not your prince. I’m your knight here to conquer you…”

He gasped for breath, then said in a hoarse voice, “Miss Chen, am I at least as good as that peach tree branch?”

In that instant, Chen Lina’s resistance softened, and she stopped struggling.

Alright, in her previous life, from their very first meeting, he had called her “Miss Chen.”

As the winds of reform blew across the land, she had plenty of suitors, but only he, with a single “Miss Chen,” had captured her heart.

“What’s wrong? Still not satisfied?”

“Don’t you feel like this kang (heated bed) is about to collapse?”

“I’m just asking you—who’s stronger, me or that apricot tree branch?”

“You, it’s you. Can we stop now?”

Outside, wisps of smoke continuously drifted from the chimney, curling around the frost that had formed.

It melted and refroze, gradually building up into thick layers of ice.

Near dawn, a shout erupted from inside the house, “Nie Bozhao, if you blow up one more balloon, I’m divorcing you tomorrow!”

Early the next morning, before the sun was up, the two were still sleeping under the covers when a loud knocking came at the door.

Chen Lina didn’t want to get up, so Nie Bozhao had to go open the door himself.

Nie Weimin, with a look of grievance, held his younger brother Sandan’s hand, looking up at his father with a sad expression. “I knew you’d be here.”

As usual in the morning, they started cooking porridge.

They still had plenty of mahua (twisted fried dough) and sanzi (deep-fried noodles) left from the Spring Festival, but the kids were tired of it and wanted spring pancakes.

Chen Lina, with an aching back, kneaded the dough and began preparing the pancakes.

“Mom, Dad is working hard today—he’s even sweeping the kang.” Erdan popped in and out of the room, noticing his dad staring intently at the kang. “Dad, what are you looking at?”

“Mom, Dad keeps staring at the kang.” The kids were surprised; after all, Nie Bozhao was usually engrossed in his books.

It was unusual for him to not read for a day.

Lighting the stove, Chen Lina set a small aluminum pan inside a larger pot once the water boiled.

She raised her eyebrows, saying, “Tell him, if there’s nothing there, then there’s nothing there. He can look a hundred times, and still, there will be nothing.”

Erdan, with a peanut he’d swiped from the district chief’s house, said, “Dad, Mom says there’s nothing there. Even if you look a hundred times, there’s nothing. But… are you looking for money?”

Feeling awkward, Nie Bozhao handed his son a dime. “Found it on the kang—it’s your lucky money.”

“Wow, a dime! Brother, I got a dime! Let’s go buy sunflower seeds!” During the New Year, the supply co-op had brought out their truck to sell seeds and sweets at the base.

The kids, armed with five cents or a dime in pocket money, naturally went to buy sweets and seeds.

A pack of seeds, or a pack of sunflower seeds, was barely enough for a handful.

Five cents or a dime could get them two packs, so the older two ran off with the shorter Sandan chasing behind them.

The porridge was ready, and the cold dishes were prepared.

Sitting down to eat, Chen Lina deliberately picked up a thin spring pancake, poked at it with her finger, and asked, “It’s torn. You still want it?”

“I don’t care about that; all I know is, I’m way better than your apricot tree branch.”

“Saying that just shows you still care. I’ll tell you what—if you really care, we can go get a divorce certificate right now, and I won’t bat an eye.”

“I don’t care, I really don’t. Believe me or not.” Nie Bozhao raised his right hand, clenched it into a fist, like he was pledging an oath. “I swear to our leader, I don’t care. But, when my in-laws visit, make sure they bring that apricot branch.”

“And what would you do with it?”

“Chop it for firewood.”

“On a serious note, when are you going to write to the province to request personnel? I know the governor is a good friend of your father’s. If you want to get people, I’m sure you can.”

“Do you really have to be that factory director?”

“Yes, I have to.”

“Alright, I’ll write today. But if you can’t handle it…”

“Don’t worry, I can.”

Nie Bozhao smiled, thinking, This little Comrade Chen really has some skills.

He turned and went into the study, pulling out his address book.

From family friends his father knew to classmates from high school and college, he had everyone’s contact information, postal codes, and current occupations meticulously noted.

If Chen Lina had really been a Soviet or Western spy, Comrade Old Nie would have had everything disclosed to her except for the lab’s core secrets.

In the afternoon, there was another emergency assembly, and they were hustled off for military training in the desert.

Rumor had it that some Western leaders were planning a secret visit to the Republic, and there was concern that the Soviet Union might make a move since troops were amassed at the border.

Chen Lina, well-read in history, knew these situations were temporary.

Soon, international relations would be reshuffled, declassification campaigns would start, and her own springtime would arrive.

“Mom, even Dogdan (a friend) has two dimes in New Year’s money. Can I have another dime, please?” For the first time having bought something himself, Erdan was hooked and begged from outside the window.

The sewing machine rattled away as Chen Lina replied, “No, and look at those dirty little hands! Tell me, how many pieces of candy did you have today?”

“I’m not telling you. A good mom doesn’t ask how many pieces of candy her child has.”

“Too much candy will rot your teeth. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Also, I’m just a bad mom.” She glanced at the scissors she wanted to reach but was too tired to move. “Erdan, get me the scissors from the windowsill.”

“You give me a dime, and I’ll help you get it.” Oh, he’s negotiating now.

Chen Lina got up and fetched the scissors herself, snipping away with a click-clack.

The little guy, however, snuck back into the room, feeling around on the kang.

Learning good habits takes three years, but bad ones only three days—just this morning his dad had given him a dime, and now he was already searching the kang for more money.

Finding nothing, the little one eyed the cabinet by the bed with a thoughtful gaze.

Their mother actually had plenty of money.

Between the three kids, they received thirty yuan a month in child support, and their dad made a lot.

People said their family was the wealthiest on the base.

Candy, sunflower seeds, and even little balloons.

Erdan and Nie Weimin were set to become tough guys someday.

Be it education or natural inclination, Chen Lina’s goal in life was clear, she’d rather break than bend and would not let them tarnish Nie Bozhao’s good reputation.

“Ugh, I feel terrible.” Suddenly, Chen Lina said this, and Erdan turned his head, “What’s wrong, Mom?”

“Every time I see scissors, I think of Secretary Ah’s grandmother. I heard she stole money as a child and her mom cut off three of her fingers. Now she only has two left.”

“Mom, I swear, I would never steal your money,” Erdan replied, imagining how difficult it would be to grab candy with only two fingers.

Nie Weimin, after playing outside, came in covered in dust and sweat.

He cleaned himself off outside before bringing in a small coal bucket to gather coal.

“Stop lying to kids, Comrade Chen. Erdan takes you seriously.” He commented.

Chen Lina paused, amused, looking at the pseudo-mature Weimin. “How could I be lying? If anyone dared to steal my money, I’d cut off their fingers. But why are you so diligent today?”

“Isn’t it because you need to rest?” He said, pretending to be indifferent.

Is this even a child?