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Standing at the gates of the textile factory, Bi Chunliu tightened her grip on her bag straps. Even though she hadn’t set foot here in a long time, based on her memory, she was confident she could handle it!
“Chunliu, Bi Chunliu!”
She turned her head and smiled. She still remembered this colleague-sister, and replied, “Xiao Jun.”
Wang Xiaojun jogged up to her and asked in a low voice,
“You’re back? How’s your grandma’s health?”
Since they worked in the same room, she naturally knew the reason for Chunliu’s leave. Back then, Chunliu had looked so pale she thought Grandma Bi wasn’t going to make it.
Chunliu said, “She’s fine now, just old and a bit weak.”
“Hehe, that’s good. Now that you’re back, I’ve got a partner again—to eat with, go to the bathroom with, and chat with.” Wang Xiaojun happily linked arms with her. “Oh right, my sister-in-law said their provisions store is getting two whole pigs tomorrow. Do you want to buy some?”
Two pigs?! Chunliu’s eyes lit up, nodding quickly.
“I do, I do! But it’s not the year-end yet, how come two pigs suddenly?”
“Not farm pigs—wild boars. My sister-in-law said last night she overheard her manager talking to a man. That man said their village spotted three altogether. One they’ll keep, the other two they’re sending over. Big ones too, probably over two hundred jin each! Tsk, who knows what wild boars eat to get so fat. But hey, fatter is better for us—more meat to go around!” Wang Xiaojun grinned, miming a fat belly with her hands.
“Great. Hey, can I let the aunties in our courtyard know? I’m worried I won’t make it in time, maybe they can help me buy some.” Chunliu figured she’d never beat the rush—by the time her shift ended, there’d be nothing left but scraps.
“Of course! Just tell them tonight when you get home. The meat won’t arrive till tomorrow morning anyway.”
“Okay! Thanks, Xiao Jun.”
“Oh come on, what are we? Next time you make chili paste, just save me some, that’s thanks enough. I swear your chili paste with steamed buns is the best!” Wang Xiaojun gave her a big thumbs-up.
“Haha, if you like it, I’ll make more next time—maybe even with meat. It’ll taste even better!” Chunliu really did know how to make chili paste. She had learned it from her grandmother Xu, a Korean woman famous for her sauces. Not just the traditional ones, but her chili paste was especially fragrant. Chunliu’s mother and two aunts made decent versions, but Chunliu’s was on par with her grandma’s. Xu Granny used to say at least her family’s craft hadn’t been wasted.
“Hehe, I knew you’re the best!” Wang Xiaojun laughed, swinging Chunliu’s hand.
Still chatting, the two soon reached the office. Chunliu immediately recognized her desk among the four—simply because it was the plainest one. The labor union office wasn’t big, just one room split in half: one side for the chairman, the other with four desks for the staffers.
“Sister Zhao and my cousin haven’t come yet. Should we fetch some water first?” Wang Xiaojun suggested as she put down her bag.
“Sure.”
The “cousin” she mentioned was Wang Hongxia, the deputy chairwoman of the union. In fact, it was thanks to her that Wang Xiaojun got her job there. The other, Sister Zhao, was Zhao Mei. Both were long-time factory hands—if there was any news in the plant, they always knew first.
While fetching water, Chunliu also reacquainted herself with the factory layout. The water room was right next to the canteen. Along the way, they ran into Xiaojun’s older sister, Wang Xiaoman. Their mother had originally worked in the canteen, but Xiaoman had taken her position.
Watching her sister’s hurried figure disappearing into work, Xiaojun sighed,
“Chunliu, why do we women have to get married? My mom and sister fought over it again.”
Chunliu didn’t know how to respond—after all, in her previous life she had never married. “Maybe people worry no one will care for them when they’re old? How old is your sister?”
“She’s only twenty. But my mom says if she doesn’t marry soon, she’ll be too old and all the good ones will be taken.”
At twenty herself, Chunliu felt that arrow strike her heart. “And what did your sister say?”
“She disagrees, says she’s not in a hurry. But…” Xiaojun glanced around, then whispered, “I think she already has someone.”
“Oh? How do you know?”
“She gets letters every month. Claims they’re from a female classmate, but I know all her classmates—none of them are soldiers! So tell me, who else could be writing? Hmph!” Xiaojun pouted angrily.
Chunliu couldn’t help laughing. She herself never had fantasies about soldier-boyfriends, but back in this era, soldiers were seen as steady and reliable.
“No matter what, you can’t really decide this for her.”
“I know… I just worry she’ll be tricked. If she really ends up with some soldier stationed far away, it won’t be easy for us to see her again.”
“That’s true. But if you want to know, why not ask her directly? See what she thinks. Maybe it really is just a classmate.” Chunliu tried to reassure her.
“Mm, yeah, maybe.”
By then their kettle was full. The two returned to the office.