Chapter 37.2

The news of the pharmaceutical factory hiring caused quite a stir in the commune. Xiao Ma and the others didn’t wait until after the New Year. As soon as the factory was built before the New Year, they posted the recruitment notice.

A primary school diploma was enough, but the main requirement was whether a person was diligent and willing to work. If too many people applied, there would be an exam, and those who passed would become workers at the pharmaceutical factory.

It was easy to predict that, in a rural area, when a factory opened up for recruitment, many people would definitely apply.

Li Da and his wife, along with Li Tao and her husband, all met the recruitment conditions and were sure to apply when the time came.

With such a big event before the New Year, even the pork stew wasn’t enough to attract attention. Everyone stayed home, scratching their heads and studying hard. Every extra point in the exam meant pushing a hundred others aside, and perhaps the next year, they would have jobs with a salary and status.

As the news spread, it reached beyond just their commune. People from other communes, having heard a few words here and there, came to inquire.

Near the mouth of the valley, there was a local military officer, so no one dared to go there. Instead, they all ran to Qingsong Brigade.

For a time, Qingsong Brigade became bustling with activity. Outsiders came every day. Some had distant relatives in the brigade, while others, even without any familial ties, came to the village shamelessly to ask for a bowl of water.

At this time, along with the bustle in Qingsong Brigade, there was also the rising interest in marriage and relationships among the young men and women of the brigade. With life being so good in Qingsong Brigade, many girls wanted to marry in, and even some young men wanted to come as “son-in-laws.”

Guan Yue didn’t know about these matters and spent her January in a flurry of activity. By the end of January, Gu Ci arrived, and they prepared to depart for Beijing.

Gu Ci said: “Good gracious, can one pig really make this many sausages and cured meats?”

Guan Yue went to the mountain villa to pack, while Gu Sui and Gu Ci, the two brothers, packed their bags at the wooden house.

Gu Sui replied: “It’s not that much. Guan Yue likes to eat them, and by the time autumn comes, they’ll be gone.”

Gu Ci clicked his tongue. “Then how much are you planning to send to your parents?”

Gu Sui said: “Take three sausages of each kind, five pieces of cured meat, and as for the dried chickens and rabbits, take as many as you want.”

Guan Yue tried to act generous, insisting that Gu Sui take half of the meat to Beijing, but Gu Sui couldn’t bear to deprive her of her food. He took a little less sausage and cured meat but took plenty of rabbits and wild chickens, knowing they wouldn’t run out of these.

Gu Ci wasn’t shy either, taking six dried chickens and six dried rabbits.

When Guan Yue came out of the mountain, she saw the sausages and cured meats on the wall. “Haven’t you packed them yet?”

Gu Sui replied: “Packed. There are more chickens and rabbits, but fewer sausages and cured meats.”

Guan Yue smiled and said: “I’ll listen to you.”

Gu Sui truly felt sorry for her.

After everything was packed, they headed down the mountain. Just as they were leaving, Xiao Ma and the others were heading into the city, so they gave Guan Yue and the others a ride to the county to catch the train.

Once they were on the train, Guan Yue suddenly remembered. “Oh no, I forgot to visit Uncle Cai’s family to wish them a Happy New Year.”

Gu Sui reassured her: “We can visit when we come back. It’ll still be before the Lantern Festival, so it’ll count as celebrating the New Year.”

“Then we should buy more local specialties to bring back.”

“Mm.”

Gu Ci had already lain down on the lower bunk, his hands tucked behind his head. “It’s been so many years since I’ve been back. I wonder what the family is like now.”

Their tickets were bought by Xiao Ma, who had arranged sleeper tickets, so all three of them were in the same carriage.

Gu Sui put away his luggage, nudged Gu Ci’s leg, and when Gu Ci shifted to make room, Gu Sui sat down at the edge of the bed. “On this trip back, I need to visit a few uncles who’ve helped our family a lot over the years. I should go thank them.”

First, they had sent word to help his family escape the turmoil, and later, they had assisted in resolving the issues with the Wang family.

Guan Yue asked: “Was it them who helped solve the trouble with your childhood sweetheart, Wang Lu, when she caused problems for me?”

Gu Sui’s face darkened. “What childhood sweetheart? She’s just a neighbor.”

“It wasn’t me who said it, it was Wang Lu who told me.”

“Why are you only listening to her? Why not listen to me? Don’t bring it up again. If you keep making up stories, you’ll cook your own meals from now on.”

Guan Yue didn’t dare to provoke him, huffing and climbing to the upper bunk to sleep, not wanting to talk to him.

Gu Sui watched her and warned: “Be careful, step carefully, don’t fall.”

Gu Ci laughed and hiccupped. “Is this how you two usually get along?”

Gu Sui gave him a side glance. “Do you have a problem with it?”

Gu Ci burst into laughter. “No problem at all. Who am I to have a problem?”

Guan Yue was still angry and didn’t speak to Gu Sui for the rest of the day. Gu Sui, feeling anxious, tried to coax her with food. “Come down, I’ll make you a bowl of noodles.”

The noodles Gu Sui referred to were made using instant noodles, but he had deep-fried them and added a delicious seasoning packet, full of meat, which Guan Yue particularly loved.

Guan Yue glanced at him but ignored him. She had secretly eaten something under the covers earlier and wasn’t hungry at all.

Gu Sui persisted: “Come down, this morning it was my fault. I shouldn’t have been harsh with you.”

Guan Yue propped herself up on her arm, looking at him smugly. “So, you admit you were wrong?”

Gu Sui nodded.

Gu Ci laughed uncontrollably, rolling on the bed with joy.

Guan Yue smiled. “Then make me a bowl with extra meat.”

“Alright, come down first.”

Guan Yue wasn’t really angry; she was just teasing Gu Sui. As soon as he coaxed her, she calmed down.

She climbed down from the upper bunk, and Gu Sui reached out his hand to her. Guan Yue grabbed his hand and jumped down.

Gu Sui truly wanted to have a serious talk with her, but the train was crowded, and there was no private space, so he had to hold back.

Guan Yue shot Gu Ci a glare. “Still watching the show, huh?”

Gu Ci chuckled. “I’m not watching the show, I’m just happy.”

Guan Yue rolled her eyes. “Make some room, I want to sit.”

“Okay, okay, you can sit. Grandma, please take a seat.”

Gu Sui went to get a kettle of hot water and made Guan Yue a bowl of noodles. When he opened the lid, the steaming noodles were topped with a layer of meat—deliciously fragrant.

Gu Ci, tempted, swallowed his saliva and climbed out of bed to make a bowl for himself.

If he’d known the food would be this good, why bother with steamed buns or dumplings?

The train rattled as it reached the next station. Three new passengers boarded, filling the six seats in their carriage. The train continued its journey, and a few days later, they finally arrived at Beijing Railway Station.

Gu Ci and Gu Sui could easily carry the things they brought, while Guan Yue walked behind Gu Sui empty-handed.

Once they exited the station, Gu Ci spotted a familiar face in the crowd. “Let’s go, the car to pick us up is here.”

The man also saw them and called out: “Brother Gu.”

Gu Ci introduced Gu Sui and Guan Yue: “This is Wang Ze, my classmate from university. He’s in the Beijing Military District now and came specially to pick us up today.”

After exchanging greetings, everyone quickly got into the car. It was incredibly cold outside.

Gu Ci sat in the front passenger seat, chatting enthusiastically with Wang Ze. Wang Ze dropped them off at the family compound building and left.

Gu Ci said: “I’ll come find you in a few days, let’s get together.”

“Alright, Brother Gu, I’ll head out now, see you later.”

Wang Ze drove away, and Gu Ci and Gu Sui grabbed their things. “Let’s go home.” Gu Ci said.

As soon as they entered the family compound, many old neighbors greeted them.

“Yo, the Gu brothers are back for the New Year?”

“Your parents were just talking about you the other day.”

“Was the trip smooth?”

“Who’s this girl?”

Gu Sui smiled and explained: “This is my girlfriend.”

“Gu Sui has a girlfriend now, what about you, Gu Ci? Do you have a girlfriend?”

Gu Ci answered nonchalantly: “My girlfriend? She’s at my mother-in-law’s house.”

“Where’s your mother-in-law from?”

Gu Ci replied: “I’ll tell Auntie once I find the door.”

Everyone laughed heartily. The boy still didn’t have a girlfriend and was making up stories.

The three of them went upstairs. Gu Ci walked ahead and knocked on the door, calling out loudly: “Mom, I’m back, open the door!”

Zhang Limin was busy in the kitchen. Hearing the noise, she quickly rushed over to open the door.

The door opened, and Gu Ci threw his things on the floor. Smiling, he extended his hand and said: “Mom, did you miss me? Give me a hug.”

Zhang Limin smiled and gave her eldest son a hug. “I missed you, I think about you every day. Why didn’t you let me know you were coming back, so I could pick you up?”

Gu Ci replied: “I didn’t want you to be tired. Look, there’s someone else who’s come back too.”

Gu Ci stepped inside and moved aside.

Gu Sui smiled. “Mom, this is Guan Yue.”

Guan Yue said: “Hello, Aunt.”

Zhang Limin quickly responded: “Hello, we’re all good, and you’re good too.”

As soon as Zhang Limin saw Guan Yue, she was extremely happy. How could this girl be so beautiful? Just looking at her eyes, they were so clean, clearly showing she was a good girl.

“Come in, come in, Aunt has been looking forward to having you at our home.”

Gu Sui held her hand and led her inside. Guan Yue wasn’t nervous at all. 

She could tell that Gu Sui’s mom really liked her.

Zhang Limin pulled Guan Yue to sit down and glanced at Gu Ci. “What are you standing there for? Go make some tea!”

Gu Sui said: “I’ll go. I brought some medicinal tea that Guan Yue made. It’s good for your health. You should try it too.”

“Alright, you go ahead.”

Zhang Limin looked at Guan Yue, her eyes narrowing with a smile.

This girl looked so delicate. She was almost twenty, but looked like a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl.

Zhang Limin knew that Guan Yue was an orphan, so she didn’t ask about her family. Instead, she asked where her teacher lived.

“When should we visit Teacher?” Zhang Limin asked.

Gu Sui came out holding the medicinal tea. “We can’t visit Guan Yue’s teacher, it’s not convenient. I’ve already met with him, and he promised us that when we get married, he will definitely come.”

Zhang Limin looked worried. “Has something happened? Why can’t we go?”

Gu Sui went over to close the door before coming back and whispered: “Teacher is in Hong Kong.”

Zhang Limin was startled. “Hong Kong? Can he come over? Quietly come over?”

Zhang Limin almost said “sneak across” but changed her words before speaking them aloud.

Gu Ci laughed heartily. “Look at how my mom speaks, saying ‘quietly come over’.”

Zhang Limin, annoyed, slapped Gu Ci lightly. “Be serious.”

Guan Yue smiled slightly. “It’s a bit complicated, but he didn’t come quietly.”

Gu Sui added: “Our sanatorium is managed by the military district, so ordinary people can’t just enter.”

Hearing this, Zhang Limin understood. Even though Guan Yue’s teacher was in Hong Kong, it seemed that he could come through proper channels.

Zhang Limin asked: “Have you eaten breakfast? Are you hungry? If you’re hungry, I can make you some noodles.”

“Mom, no need. I had breakfast on the train before I got off. Is the bed made? Let’s go to the bathhouse for a shower and then take a nap.”

“Alright, go ahead. Come back early. I’ll make you something delicious for lunch.”

Guan Yue grabbed her change of clothes and toiletries, following Gu Sui to the bathhouse. She hadn’t seen what the bathhouse looked like yet.

When they reached the door of the bathhouse, Gu Sui tugged on her hand. “If there are too many people inside and you’re not used to it, you can wait outside.”

Gu Ci added: “What do you mean, too many people? It’s neither early nor late, there won’t be many people at the bathhouse. Wait a little longer, and by noon, some grandmas will bring their grandchildren for a scrub, so there will be even more people.”

Curious, Guan Yue walked inside. In the mist, she saw two pale, naked bodies. She glanced at them quickly and hurriedly moved away.

She found an empty corner, quickly showered, changed clothes, and went outside.

Guan Yue waited at the door for quite a while before Gu Sui finally came out of the men’s bathhouse.

When Gu Sui saw Guan Yue, he smiled. “Not used to it, huh?”

Guan Yue nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Gu Sui said: “This afternoon, we’ll go see your siheyuan. Everything is ready, and we’ll stay there tonight. We’ll come back here on New Year’s Eve.”

The siheyuan definitely had bathroom facilities, which would be more convenient.

Gu Ci asked: “Aren’t you staying at home?”

Guan Yue understood that Gu Sui had suggested staying at the siheyuan to take better care of her.

Guan Yue replied: “Let’s stay at your house. Uncle and Aunt haven’t seen you for a long time, they probably have a lot to talk to you about.”

Not to mention how long it had been since they’d been apart, even when her parents were around, she would go to school every day, and her parents would come in the evening, always having so much to ask her—whether anyone had bullied her and other things like that.

Gu Sui reached out and touched her half-dried hair. “Let’s go back first. It’s cold outside, don’t catch a cold.”

By the time they returned home, it wasn’t yet time for lunch. Zhang Limin was busy in the kitchen, and Gu Ci leaned over to help her wash the vegetables.

Gu Sui grabbed an absorbent cloth. “Sit here, I’ll dry your hair for you.”

Guan Yue reached out to take the cloth from his hand. “You go help Aunt with the cooking. I can do it myself.”

Gu Sui refused to let her. “It’s fine, my brother can help. You sit down.”

Since Zhang Limin hadn’t expected them to return today, she hadn’t prepared many dishes. For lunch, there was one meat dish and two vegetable dishes, totaling three dishes.

The only meat dish was made with the cured pork they had brought and stir-fried with potato slices.

After lunch, Zhang Limin picked up a basket and said she was going out. “You three stay home and rest. I’m going to the reservoir to buy a fish.”

Gu Sui replied: “It’s fine if you can’t buy one, we’ve got vegetables at home.”

Zhang Limin ignored him: “How can you celebrate the New Year without fish? I’m going now.”

Gu Ci went inside to rest, and Guan Yue glanced at Gu Sui, quietly saying: “There are plenty of fish in the jade pendant space, frozen.”

“Mm, we’ll go see the siheyuan in a bit. We can bring some vegetables back when we return.” Gu Sui said.

Guan Yue nodded.

The siheyuan assigned to Guan Yue was in Huitong Alley. The courtyard there was well-preserved, not far from the family compound. It would take at most half an hour to walk there, and Gu Sui knew the way.

When they arrived at Huitong Alley, Gu Sui was looking at the house numbers. At that moment, a group of people rushed toward them from the other end of the alley.

“Quick, find him! Qin Lie ran in earlier, he’s definitely ahead.”

Gu Sui pulled Guan Yue aside to let the group pass.

Guan Yue asked: “Aren’t you curious about where the person they’re looking for is?”

“What person?”

Guan Yue nodded toward the right front. “In the third courtyard.”

She had seen the fresh footprints on the wall.

Gu Sui glanced at the note in his hand. The courtyard they were assigned was indeed the third courtyard.