Chapter 34

Finally squeezing out half a day off from heavy tasks and studies,

Li Xiang, thinking of the meat sent home earlier, grabbed his good buddy, got a pass from the instructor, and headed straight to the bus stop.

After boarding the tram and buying tickets, he pulled his friend to the last empty seat and propped his chin up, staring at the back of the vehicle.

Don’t get him wrong—as a native Shanghainese, trams weren’t new to him.

He was just curious whether the sparks flying off the trolley pole rubbing against tree branches might land on some unlucky person.

For example, last time on his way home, an elderly gentleman’s suit got singed by a spark.

But after only a minute or two, Li Xiang was snapped back by noises beside him… and noticed his buddy’s face was twisted with worry. He quickly asked, “What’s wrong? Something happened at home?”

Then he remembered the guard had emphasized the letter was urgent when he left, making his worry grow.

“No, I’ll tell you in a bit.” Cao Jingliang didn’t look up but carefully finished reading the letter, then exhaled deeply as his furrowed brow relaxed.

Seeing this, Li Xiang’s tense heart eased a bit: “Looks like good news.”

Good news? Cao Jingliang wasn’t sure how to judge, but felt it was quite amusing: “My mom arranged a fiancée for me.”

“An… arranged marriage?” Even though liberation was preached everywhere and people talked about marriage freedom, many places still had parents deciding. Even some bright university students were arranged like this, boys and girls alike.

But Li Xiang never thought this would happen to his brother, since Cao’s parents were quite open-minded.

The letter didn’t hide much, just a few sentences that were hard to explain. Cao Jingliang handed the letter to Li Xiang: “Read it yourself.”

Curious about the girl, Li Xiang took it and his eyes almost popped out, just like Cao Jingliang predicted.

“This… your little junior sister? How old is she? I thought she was barely into her teens, still in middle school?” Li Xiang stammered.

Cao Jingliang took back the letter and warned: “Lower your voice, everyone’s looking.”

Li Xiang glanced back and saw it was true. Embarrassed, he smiled at the crowd and whispered, “Isn’t your little junior sister still in elementary school?”

“No way. She’ll start high school this fall.”

“Ah? Then she’s about 17 or 18, right? That’s quite appropriate.”

Cao Jingliang sighed helplessly: “That little girl skipped a few grades. She’s just turned 15 this lunar new year.”

“Our little junior sister is pretty smart, but a nine-year age gap…” Li Xiang was about to say that the difference was a bit large, but then he remembered that this guy would be sent to the border later this year for at least five years. When he comes back, the girl would just be twenty — wouldn’t that be just right?

Seeing his friend quickly change his tune, Cao Jingliang pinched the bridge of his nose and said, “She’s only 15. If she really agrees to an engagement, what kind of person would I be? Am I some livestock?”

Li Xiang disagreed: “At this age, engagements are common. It’s not marriage yet… Speaking as someone who’s been through it, finding a daughter-in-law your parents like is really hard. My Lingling is such a good girl, but my parents still complain about her behind her back. That’s why I decided to rent a place after marriage — otherwise, they’d be fighting all the time.”

Talking about parents being picky about their children’s partners, Li Xiang was helpless. Even though his parents actively sought a match for Lingling, once he actually dated her, they still found fault.

Thinking of this, Li Xiang envied his friend: “You’re in a good spot — your family knows each other well, and our little junior sister is filial to your parents. You also seem to like the girl, spending most of your money on her.”

“I treat her like my little sister,” Cao Jingliang emphasized.

Li Xiang raised an eyebrow: “So, are you planning to refuse?”

“…I need to think it over.” If it were anyone else, Cao Jingliang would have refused outright.

But that was little Taohua!

In principle, he wanted to say no. The idea of being engaged to his little junior sister sounded ridiculous.

But the letter from his mother mentioned what happened to the girl from Zhaojia Village, which was a real crisis.

Those dirty, unfair tragedies for women happened everywhere, and in no small numbers.

He couldn’t bear to see the spirited little girl get hurt.

Li Xiang could understand — after all, marriage is a big deal: “How about… you write back to your little junior sister? Ask her what she thinks?”

“Yeah, I’ll send it with my letter about going to the border.” Cao Jingliang had the same plan. He felt this was just the parents’ one-sided wishful thinking.

In the end, it’d be up to little Taohua to break the elders’ unrealistic ideas.

Thinking of this, a smile appeared on Cao Jingliang’s face. Just as he was about to say more, the tram stopped at a station.

The rear door opened, and a long line of people got on, including some gray-haired elders.

Cao Jingliang and Li Xiang stopped chatting and stood up to offer seats.

The elders kept thanking them, and once seated, one smiling old lady complimented: “This young comrade is quite handsome.”

Cao Jingliang had heard such compliments since he was young. He didn’t reply but politely smiled out of manners.

Unexpectedly, the lady’s eyes brightened and she asked again: “What do you do? Do you have a partner?”

Li Xiang had encountered such questions many times due to his friend’s looks. But now with most of the tram passengers watching, he couldn’t help but laugh.

Cao Jingliang stayed calm and replied quietly: “I have a fiancée. We grew up together and are childhood sweethearts.”

Li Xiang whipped his head around in disbelief — so that’s what Captain Cao is like?

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At the same time, at the Xu household:

Xu Wanchun had no idea she was in sync with her Senior Brother again.

They both hoped the other would step up and reject the elders’ unrealistic fantasies.

She was busy packing her school things — bedding, washbasin, teacup, lunchbox, food supplies… soon two large bundles were ready.

Xu Hehua sealed the last portion of mushroom meat sauce, then shook the canned jar hard to check for leaks before carefully putting it in the bag: “Don’t you want me to see you off?”

This was the third time her mother asked. Xu Wanchun still replied patiently, “No need. Yulan’s coming too, we’ll go together. Don’t worry.”

Of course her mother worried. The girl had lived at home for over forty days, and suddenly she was going to school to live away for half a month — it felt strange.

Seeing this, Xu Wanchun had an idea. She cleared her throat and put on a serious expression: “I told Senior Mistress to give you two hours of lessons every day. We don’t have much time; you need to get your junior high diploma soon.”

Since 1950, the government had set up workers’ and peasants’ accelerated classes to encourage adult literacy, focusing on Chinese and math.

The north was a heavy industry city and an economic model. Many counties were covered by the program.

Two years ago, Xu Wanchun had registered her mother to get the junior high certificate.

Only with the certificate could they attend night school in the city later.

Her mother didn’t ask about university, but at least she hoped to study at a technical school — to find a lighter job.

Of course, Xu Wanchun wasn’t ready to tell her mother about further study plans yet, afraid it would cause too much pressure.

Thinking of this, she emphasized like a tiger mom: “I only plan to finish one year of high school. Next summer, I’ll take the university entrance exam, and then…”

“What? You only plan to attend high school for one year out of three?” Xu Hehua was stunned.

Xu Wanchun blinked: “Haven’t I told you?”

Xu Hehua rolled her eyes: “When did you say that?”

“Well, I’m telling you now. But it’s not that important. What I just told you is what really matters — getting the junior high diploma…”

“All right, all right, enough nagging. I know. Hurry and go.” Xu Hehua suddenly felt overwhelmed, her motherly patience gone, and she sternly shooed her away.

Hehe… couldn’t resist her own nagging. Seeing this, Xu Wanchun barely held back laughter and grabbed her bags to run outside.

At that moment, Su Nan was just coming into the courtyard carrying a cloth bag full of food. Seeing the little girl smiling brightly, she grinned, “So happy to go to school?”

Of course not because of school. Xu Wanchun linked arms with her senior mistress and repeated the words she used to persuade her mother earlier.

“One year of high school only? So, next summer you two will leave Xujiatun?” Hearing this for the first time, Su Nan was heartbroken. She had thought the girl would stay at Xujiatun for at least three years.

Before sending her off with Yulan to town’s sled, Xu Wanchun pulled her senior mistress back into the warm house: “I originally planned to spend two years in high school, but after what the senior uncle said before the new year, I’ve been worried and thought it best to go to university earlier.”

After all, nowadays, nothing is safer than having the status of a soldier.

Thinking of this, Xu Wanchun reminded: “Senior mistress, I won’t be back until half a month later. You’d better urge senior master to pass the Western medicine certificate quickly.”

Su Nan felt like there was something behind her words and asked, “What happens after you get the certificate?”

Just then, outside came the familiar crack of a horsewhip, followed by Uncle Limin’s loud voice: “Taohua, time to go!”

“Coming!” Not wanting to keep anyone waiting, Xu Wanchun shouted back, then hurriedly told her senior mistress, “Once the certificate is obtained, it’s not only safe but opens more paths. Staying in the village would be great, but if senior master wants, he could use the Western medicine certificate to apply to work as a doctor in a military health clinic… Nowadays, doctors as skilled as senior master are rare, and being specially recruited should be easy.”

As for why go to a health clinic instead of a hospital with better prospects, it’s because the clinic has fewer people and a simpler environment.

The big hospitals have intense competition — everyone’s suspicious and scheming, which doesn’t suit senior master’s traditional Chinese medicine background and straightforward nature. He’d easily be at a disadvantage…

Of course, Xu Wanchun didn’t say this all outright. With the intelligence of senior master and senior mistress, a few hints would be enough.

Su Nan immediately grasped the significance. While helping the little girl carry the luggage out, she looked at her good friend and said, “Hehua, how did our Taohua get so smart?”

Being praised, Xu Hehua didn’t hide her pride, laughing until her eyes curved: “Taohua’s been clever since she was little.”

Xu Wanchun chimed in, “My mom’s smart too, whatever she tries to learn, she masters it. Who among us isn’t quick to catch on?”

Xu Hehua grumbled, “Enough with the flattery, get lost.”

“Okay, okay, I’m going… Oh, wait, almost forgot.” Xu Wanchun took two steps out, then came back, lowering her voice: “Mom, you should think about training someone to take over the village accountant job.”

Xu Hehua nodded: “I’ve got it in mind. You go quickly, study well, dress warmly, and hide that tasty meat sauce for yourself…”

Amid all the chatter, Xu Wanchun was already seated on the sled. She smiled sweetly at her mother and senior mistress: “We’re off now.”

“Go then…” Xu Hehua waved and then looked at the driver: “Limin, thank you again.”

Xu Limin waved off the thanks: “No trouble at all, I’m happy to do it.” He was pulling the future university student, and it was paid — cigarettes or white steamed buns every time. Many people wanted this but couldn’t get it.

Su Nan bent down and carefully wrapped the little girl’s exposed face and head tightly, warning, “Don’t catch cold.”

Afterward, she grabbed the heavy travel quilt and wrapped the two girls up snugly.

The weight was so much that Xu Wanchun nearly couldn’t breathe. She took a deep breath and muffled, “I know. It’s cold outside. You both go back inside. We’re leaving now.”

Su Nan stepped back to Xu Hehua’s side: “Be careful on the road.”

“Hey!”

The familiar crack of the horsewhip sounded again.

Once the sled sped out of sight, the two elders linked arms and returned indoors.

Su Nan felt conflicted inside because of what Taohua said.

She thought about the possibility of going to the army with her husband. Although she might feel reluctant to leave the place she’d lived for twenty years, nothing was more important than safety.

If she really chose to join the military, would she be able to go to Shanghai? After all, Taohua was going to Shanghai, and Jingliang and his long-unseen younger brother from the public security bureau were there too…

Thinking about it, Su Nan felt that leaving might not be so bad.

It had been seven years since she last saw that “stinky kid,” and she really missed him.

Lost in thought, Su Nan’s mind wandered. She looked at her silent good friend beside her and dreamed aloud, “Hehua… you think Taohua and my Jingliang are both so smart — if they end up together, just imagine how clever their children will be?”

Hearing this, Xu Hehua, who was pondering who might take over as accountant, couldn’t help but feel hopeful: “Not just smart! They’ll definitely be very good-looking too. Maybe someday even scientists!”

“I think so too.” Su Nan smiled brightly for quite a while, then eagerly added, “Jingliang should have received the letter by now, right? We’re just waiting for his good news.”

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