Chapter 10

“With Those Scrawny Arms and Legs, Who Could He Possibly Fight?”

“What?” Liao Mei stared blankly at Xu Jiayi. “Wasn’t he your fiancé?”

Xu Jiayi gave a disgusted look. “He was my ex-fiancé. My current partner is a soldier, and not just any soldier—he’s a deputy battalion commander, and he’s handsome too.”

As Xu Jiayi mentioned Shen Yuebai, her face lit up with a radiant smile. She showed off the watch on her wrist. “He bought this for me. Normally, for a wedding, you’d get the three spins and one ring, but we didn’t have enough time to get the tickets.”

Liao Mei was bursting with envy as she carefully touched the watch. “My dad said these tickets are the hardest to get, and the watches themselves aren’t cheap.”

Xu Jiayi shared the price: “One hundred and eighty.”

Liao Mei gasped audibly. “Oh my gosh! That much? I thought it was just one hundred and twenty?”

“The price depends on the style,” Xu Jiayi explained.

Liao Mei was full of envy and admiration. Then, as if struck by a thought, she looked at Xu Jiayi with a fiery gaze. “We’re best friends, aren’t we?”

Her intense stare startled Xu Jiayi, who instinctively pulled her collar tighter and stepped back. “What do you want?”

Liao Mei laughed at her reaction. “What do you think I want?”

Xu Jiayi pushed her away. “Speak properly, and don’t get so close.”

Liao Mei noticed how much more outgoing and playful her friend had become. Clearing her throat, she got to the point. “I want to find a soldier too, but I don’t have the connections. Could your partner introduce me to one?”

The more she thought about it, the better the idea seemed. “I’m not picky—just someone who can take me with him, someone responsible.”

Xu Jiayi didn’t dare make any promises. “I’ll ask him for you.”

Liao Mei, however, was anxious. “The sooner, the better. I’m worried that if it takes too long, I’ll end up sent to the countryside as a sent-down youth.”

Xu Jiayi nodded. “Alright.”

After leaving Liao Mei’s house, Xu Jiayi went to the meatpacking plant to visit another classmate.

This classmate was a man named Wang Jun.

He wasn’t particularly good-looking, short in stature, and while he appeared honest, he was actually quite sly. Still, he was loyal to his friends. If you asked him for help, he would do whatever he could to assist.

When Xu Jiayi told him what she needed, Wang Jun almost choked on his own saliva. “Sis, did I hear you right? You said you need how much meat?”

Xu Jiayi casually stated her request. “About seven pounds. If you can get more, an extra two or three pounds would be fine too.”

Wang Jun nearly cried. “No way. From today on, you’re not my sister; you’re my aunt! Seven pounds is already impossible, and you want more? Why don’t you just ask me to bring down the moon while you’re at it?”

Xu Jiayi took out three pounds’ worth of meat coupons that Song Hanyong had given her. “Relax, I won’t make things hard for you. With these coupons, isn’t it a little easier?”

Seeing the coupons, Wang Jun’s distressed expression softened into a slight smile. “Seven pounds, no more than that. I’ll have to ask my coworkers for help, or I can only get five pounds.”

Xu Jiayi readily agreed. “Alright. At six mao per pound, seven pounds is four yuan and two mao. I’ll give you six yuan and two mao. Use the extra two yuan to buy your coworkers some cigarettes.”

Wang Jun, who had known Xu Jiayi for three years, was surprised by her generosity. “Cigarettes don’t even cost a yuan. You’re giving too much.”

Xu Jiayi understood the value of maintaining relationships. “Use the extra to buy a pack for yourself too.”

Wang Jun grinned. “We’re classmates. Why be so formal?”

Xu Jiayi smiled. “It’s just a small gesture. Don’t think it’s too little.”

Wang Jun wouldn’t think it was too little—he was just impressed by how considerate she was. “Come pick up the meat tomorrow morning.”

Xu Jiayi nodded. “Got it.”

By the time Xu Jiayi and Shen Yuebai returned home, it was already 7 PM.

Grandma Xu had left food for them on the table. “Have you eaten yet? I figured you’d come back around this time, so I kept the food warm.”

Xu Jiayi gave her a thumbs-up and praised her with a smile. “Grandma, you’re amazing. You even guessed that.”

After a brief pause, she added, “We’ve eaten, but we’re hungry again. We’ll have a little more.”

Even if she wasn’t hungry, she had to eat.

This was her grandmother’s love, and she couldn’t let it go to waste.

Grandma Xu grabbed the kerosene lamp and headed for the kitchen to get some rice, but Xu Jiayi stopped her. “Grandma, you sit down. I’ll do it.”

Shen Yuebai, as a Man, Couldn’t Let Xu Jiayi Do All the Work

Shen Yuebai, a grown man, couldn’t possibly let Xu Jiayi handle the chores. He set down the two burlap sacks he was carrying and said, “Let me do it.”

Xu Jiayi didn’t argue. Instead, she pulled out a newly purchased flashlight from her pocket and handed it to him. “The kitchen has only one pot for cooking. You’ll see it as soon as you go in.”

Shen Yuebai turned on the flashlight, and its bright beam cut through the darkness of the kitchen, instantly illuminating it. He walked over, found a bowl, and lifted the lid off the pot to serve the rice.

Grandma Xu, watching the beam of light, took a moment to react before asking, “Is this new?”

Xu Jiayi nodded and immediately began praising Shen Yuebai for his thoughtfulness. “Yes, Ah Yue said it would be convenient for us to use at night. He bought it specifically for you.”

Grandma Xu’s eyes grew moist. Such a good child, yet he had been mistreated by Shen Dazhu and his wife. “Jiayi, you must treat Xiao Shen well in the future. He’s had a hard life.”

Xu Jiayi patted her chest with confidence. “He’s my husband! If I don’t treat him well, who will? Don’t worry, Grandma. If anyone dares to bully him, I’ll teach them a lesson!”

Grandma Xu chuckled at her boldness. “With those scrawny arms and legs, who could you possibly fight?”

Xu Jiayi clenched her fists and waved them in front of her grandmother. “Don’t underestimate me, Grandma. I’m pretty tough!”

Xu Jiayi firmly believed that regardless of the era, women needed to have the ability to protect themselves. Even in her past life, no matter how busy she was, she set aside two hours a week to learn Taekwondo.

Recalling the scene where Xu Jiayi had taken down Li Chengye at the state-run restaurant, Grandma Xu nodded in agreement. “You are indeed tough!”

Hearing the conversation between the two, Shen Yuebai felt a warm sense of belonging. For the first time, he experienced what having a family felt like.

Although his uncles had treated him well, their wives were difficult to get along with. They often targeted him and even warned him not to visit their homes. This forced him to enlist in the military at a young age.

At that time, he was undernourished, skinny, and short, standing at less than 1.6 meters at 16 years old. Fortunately, the recruitment requirements were not too strict back then.

“Jiayi, have some food first.” Now that the wedding date was set, Shen Yuebai stopped calling her “Comrade Xu” and simply called her “Jiayi.”

The family didn’t have much to serve. Grandma Xu had exchanged for some eggs and prepared two simple cold dishes. Despite their simplicity, such dishes were a luxury in everyday life.

“Xiao Shen, we don’t have much. Don’t mind it, just eat what you can,” Grandma Xu said.

Shen Yuebai found the eggs especially delicious tonight. “With so many dishes, how could I mind?”

After they finished eating, the two of them brought out the items they had purchased: a mirror, enamel basins, enamel mugs, bedding, sheets, pillowcases, and so on.

The bedding, in particular, was bright red. These items, typically made by the bride’s family, symbolized blessings for the newlyweds.

Grandma Xu ran her hands over the soft bedding, her weathered face full of emotion. “Time flies so fast. Jiayi is getting married already.”

Xu Jiayi hugged her grandmother tightly. “Grandma, you and Dad raised me. I’ll stay with you for the rest of your lives.”

Grandma Xu’s smile was full of kindness. “But you’ll be following your husband to the army. How can you stay with us forever? Just take care of your little family. Your dad and I will manage just fine.”

Shen Yuebai cherished this warm family atmosphere and suggested, “Grandma, when the time comes, I’ll apply for a larger house so you and Dad can come live with us.”

Grandma Xu shook her head. “No need. The army has its own rules and discipline. You should live in whatever size house they assign you. Your dad and I will be fine staying here.”

The next morning, before dawn, Grandma Xu got up and brought out the cotton she had been saving for years. She planned to make one 12-pound quilt, two 10-pound quilts, and one 8-pound quilt for Xu Jiayi.

Xu Jiayi stumbled out of bed with her hair in a mess and yawned when she saw Grandma Xu sewing. “Grandma, let me help you.”

Grandma Xu shooed her away. “Wash up and eat your breakfast. Don’t get in the way here.”

Rubbing her eyes, Xu Jiayi nodded. “Alright.”

Just as she finished washing up, a woman burst into the courtyard, shouting angrily toward the main hall, “Old woman Xu, get out here right now!”