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Chapter 30
Lin Ting thought the matter would end at lunch, but that night, her husband was relentless. He kept pestering her in their bedroom, hoping she’d change how she addressed him.
She finally gave in and, imitating how young women spoke to their partners, reluctantly called him “brother.”
Huo Xiao was so pleased that Lin Ting ended up waking late the next morning.
Too embarrassed to meet her mother-in-law’s gaze, Lin Ting focused on her breakfast. Meanwhile, Hu Xiu, her mother-in-law, was pretending to be calm but was clearly blushing.
“Xiao Xiao brought back pork, and I’ve stewed the bones. Let’s have a simple lunch—corn cakes and bone soup,” Hu Xiu suggested.
Lin Ting agreed. “Where’s Huo Xiao?”
It was Sunday, his day off, and she expected him to stay home and help.
Hu Xiu perked up. “The brigade commander took him fishing in the back mountain.”
Lin Ting was puzzled. Why was her mother-in-law so excited about this?
Before she could ask, Hu Xiu continued emotionally, “Captain Wei came to call for him. I opened the door, and since Xiao Xiao was in the kitchen, I didn’t know who the man was at first. I chatted with him for a while, and only when Xiao Xiao returned did I realize it was the brigade commander.”
From her words, Lin Ting guessed that Captain Wei was an approachable man. She smiled and asked, “Did you find him particularly friendly?”
“He’s not… ahem… just an ordinary old man,” Hu Xiu mumbled, lowering her voice.
Lin Ting knew her mother-in-law was somewhat intimidated by high-ranking officials. It was common for ordinary people of the time to feel that way—even village committee secretaries were enough to make people nervous, let alone a brigade commander.
Thinking of this, Lin Ting comforted, “Actually, we’re all the same—two eyes, one nose.”
Hu Xiu, who had already met the man, nodded. “That’s right. Commander Wei isn’t arrogant at all. But I wonder what kind of person Political Commissar Liu is. Will he come to our house for dinner tonight?”
Hearing this, Lin Ting thought of Liu Wenyan’s style and didn’t hold much hope. Whether the political commissar was easygoing or not wouldn’t affect her relationship with her mother-in-law. As for a superior attending a subordinate’s family gathering, she doubted it. So, she changed the subject: “Did Huo Xiao go alone with the brigade commander?”
Hu Xiu shook her head. “No, Xiao Cao, who visited yesterday, also went.”
Oh no! Lin Ting sensed trouble. More people meant more preparations—probably three tables. Luckily, in the family compound, it was an unwritten rule that military wives who got along well would come early to help.
Lin Ting had just joined the army, and her only close acquaintance was Wen Lan, her next-door neighbor. But by afternoon, aside from Tang Wenlan, many other military wives from the regiment came to help. Lin Ting welcomed everyone warmly, whether they came sincerely or because Huo Xiao was their superior.
With too many people, some moved outside, chatting while working. Just then, Principal Huang arrived. Seeing the room full of women, he didn’t enter but simply informed Lin Ting to go to the principal’s office before 7 AM the next day to complete formalities, then left.
Principal Huang was usually serious, and most people were in awe of him. No one dared to speak while he was around, but as soon as he left, the military wives started buzzing about Lin Ting getting a respectable job.
Some indirectly asked how she got it, while others were more straightforward, their faces almost turning green with envy. Jobs for military wives were scarce, and most were idle at home. But Lin Ting, who had just arrived, got a job as a junior high school teacher with a salary of 38 yuan and additional subsidies!
Tang Wenlan finally spoke up. “Alright, stop being jealous. Tingting got this job through her own ability—she’s a college graduate.”
Everyone was shocked. Tang Wenlan continued, “Principal Huang personally hired her. She studied hard and is now reaping the rewards. I really admire her. Too bad we didn’t study…”
Upon learning that Lin Ting, the young and beautiful wife of the regiment leader, was a college graduate, they stopped questioning her.
To lighten the mood, Wang Juanjuan, the second battalion commander’s wife, said, “Sister-in-law, how do you say that in English?”
The third battalion commander’s wife chimed in, “Yes, yes! Teach us a few phrases, especially insults.”
“Hey, Dong Qin, who are you planning to insult in a foreign language?” someone asked.
Dong Qin smirked. “Anyone who annoys me. I’ll insult them with a smile. Since they won’t understand, I’ll say I’m complimenting them, and they’ll believe me. Doesn’t that sound satisfying?”
Everyone laughed. “Yes, yes! Let’s all learn how foreigners curse!”
One military wife, who had never seen a foreigner, was puzzled. “Foreigners have blue eyes and green noses?”
Lin Ting suppressed a laugh. “No green noses, but some have blue or green eyes.”
Even after her explanation, they were still amazed. “That’s terrifying! Green eyes? Why?!”
They became so engrossed in discussing foreign eye colors that they forgot their work. Seeing this, Lin Ting relaxed and started considering which military wives she could befriend in the future.
Dinner was prepared for two tables. Guests had to bring their own bowls, chopsticks, and stools due to shortages. Instead of each family gathering extra dishes, it was easier for guests to bring their own.
To Lin Ting’s surprise, both Brigade Commander Wei and Political Commissar Liu arrived.
Brigade Commander Wei was in his fifties—short, thin, and dark-skinned. Despite his loud voice, he wasn’t arrogant at all, resembling an ordinary farmer more than a military leader.
Political Commissar Liu, on the other hand, was short but stocky and didn’t look like a civilian at all. Unlike the brigade commander, he brought his family.
This was Lin Ting’s first time meeting Liu Wenyan, whom she had only heard about. She and her father looked alike, but no matter who spoke to her, she wore an arrogant expression.
With a powerful father, she had reasons to be proud, but Wen Lan was right—it was best to keep a distance from her.
Still, Lin Ting had to be polite. Just as she was about to greet everyone, Cao Wenzhe, who had just stepped inside, suddenly turned around and hurried off.
He wasn’t quite running, but close to it.
Still, he wasn’t fast enough to escape.
Seeing Cao Wenzhe avoid her like the plague, Liu Wenyan was so furious that she lost her composure and chased after him.
_
Suddenly, the air grew heavy, and no one dared to look at Political Commissar Liu’s face.
The brigade commander smoothed things over, and soon the atmosphere became lively again.
Lin Ting glanced at Tang Wenlan beside her.
Both felt a bit of sympathy for Cao Wenzhe. Not only was he entangled with Liu Wenyan, but his lack of respect earlier might have angered Political Commissar Liu.
After dinner, the military wives stayed to clean up before leaving in a cheerful mood, pleased with the delicious meal.
Once Lin Ting and Huo Xiao saw off the last few guests, they finally relaxed.
Seeing his wife exhausted, Huo Xiao felt concerned. “Rest for a bit. I’ll get some water for you to soak your feet.”
Lin Ting shook her head. She was covered in dust and preferred to shower.
Huo Xiao disagreed. “It’s too much trouble to go to the bathroom now. Let me bring you some warm water to wipe off. You can shower tomorrow.”
Thinking about how tired she was, Lin Ting nodded.
However, when Huo Xiao went to get the water, she didn’t rest. Instead, she picked up the lesson plan she had written the day before.
After years of teaching, she was quite experienced, but the thought of starting again tomorrow made her feel a little excited.
“Are you really that happy to be a teacher?” Huo Xiao asked when he returned, seeing her engrossed in her book.
Lin Ting smiled. “It’s always good to be prepared.”
She wasn’t obsessed with teaching. She just didn’t have other ways to earn a living in this era.
If she had arrived a few years earlier or later, she could have made a fortune through translation.
She still remembered how, during college, she searched for part-time translation jobs and came across an article about translation payment rates over the past century.
Before 1966 and again after 1978, translation paid around 60-80 yuan per thousand words, with little income gap between newcomers and veterans. In this era, that was a top-tier salary.
Unfortunately, she was born at the wrong time. To be safe, she had to keep teaching.
But she remained optimistic. By 1978, she would be only 32. Translators would still be in high demand until the mid-to-late 1990s. There were still opportunities to earn well.
Thinking about this, she unconsciously smiled.
“What are you smiling about?”
Lin Ting snapped back to reality and noticed her shoes and socks had been removed, her feet already soaking in warm water.
She blinked and looked at Huo Xiao, who was now taking off his own shoes. Her heart warmed.
Huo Xiao laughed. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Lin Ting narrowed her eyes. “I think you’re wonderful.” So wonderful, she wanted to love him more.
Huo Xiao put his feet in the wooden basin, letting her soft feet rest on his. “If you think I’m wonderful, call me Brother Xiao.”
Lin Ting changed the subject. “The brigade commander took you and Battalion Commander Cao fishing this morning. Was he trying to set up Liu Wenyan?”
Huo Xiao teased, “Call me Brother Xiao first.”
Lin Ting huffed, “You’re so annoying!”
***
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Vyl[Translator]
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