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Chapter 20
Yang Qiujin understood and took Yang Qiuyue and Tianyou to a state-owned restaurant nearby to eat and wait.
Chen Shengqing had made many friends because of his good temper and excellent grades. After joining the army, he became close with several like-minded comrades.
In the military, officers who didn’t get promoted had to retire after a certain age and often transitioned into civilian government roles. Retired officers from the 1960s often entered positions in public security or government.
If Chen Shengqing had connections in the public security bureau or local government, the Ke family would be in serious trouble.
Chen Shengqing’s former comrades would naturally act on the corruption complaints, leading to an investigation by the Revolutionary Committee.
The entire Ke family worked at a meat-processing factory. Ke Jian’s father worked his way up from an ordinary worker to deputy factory director. His wife, Jiang Damei, illiterate, became a workshop director, amassing a lot of wealth through questionable means.
Upon receiving the complaint letter, a group of Little Red Soldiers came to investigate the Ke family, and Chen Shengqing appeared at the state-owned canteen.
“Is it done?” Yang Qiujin asked.
“If nothing unexpected happens, the result should be out by tomorrow,” Chen Shengqing replied, casually sitting and eating the food Yang Qiujin had left for him.
“Brother-in-law, thank you,” Yang Qiuyue said, lifting a cup of tea with tears in her eyes. “You and my sister saved me from a terrible situation. I can’t thank you enough. I’ll toast to you with this tea.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” Chen Shengqing didn’t take the tea. “Your husband’s family works in the meat processing factory. Your father-in-law is likely the second-in-command there, so he must have a lot of connections. I’m afraid divorcing Ke Jian won’t be easy. The people I’ve found can only create trouble for the Ke family step by step, as a warning. It’s still hard to truly take them down. If you sever ties with the Ke family completely, they might cause problems for you. My wife and I are leaving Qingshui County tomorrow, so you’ll need to handle the rest.”
“How about we delay for two days?” Yang Qiujin was worried about her sister’s troublesome mother-in-law.
“Sister, my brother-in-law’s leave is limited, we can’t delay,” Yang Qiuyue said firmly, putting down her teacup. “Don’t worry about me going to the border with my brother-in-law. I may not argue much, but I can fight just as well as you. If Ke Jian dares to cause trouble or hurt me, I’ll fight him to the end.”
“Don’t say such things.” Yang Qiujin frowned. “If the Ke family really wants to cause trouble, just come to me. If I have food, so will you.”
At that moment, neither sister thought of relying on their unreliable parents at home.
Tears welled up again in Yang Qiuyue’s eyes. She grabbed Yang Qiujin’s hand tightly, her voice trembling with sobs. “Sister, I can handle it.”
She pulled out a large unity note [1]a form of currency used in some regions. from her pocket, placed it in Chen Tianyou’s hand, and lovingly caressed his face. “Our Tianyou is the best child in the world. Tianyou can protect his aunt and mother. He should listen to his mother, right?”
Chen Tianyou puffed his chest out proudly. “Auntie, I will!”
“What a good boy,” Yang Qiuyue praised.
“What are you doing? It’s hard for you, why give him money?” Yang Qiujin took ten yuan from Chen Tianyou, intending to return it to Yang Qiuyue.
“This is mine!” Chen Tianyou pouted in grievance and reached out for it.
“What have I taught you?” Yang Qiujin scolded. “Your aunt is struggling, and I’ve told you not to take her money. Besides, you always lose things. If I give you this money, you’ll probably lose it.”
“I won’t lose it.” Chen Tianyou argued. “I’m not a child anymore.”
“You little rascal, how old are you? If you’re not a child, who is?” Yang Qiujin was both angry and amused.
Yang Qiuyue stretched out her hand to stop Yang Qiujin, saying, “It’s fine, sister. I gave it to Tianyou, don’t worry. If I’m full, the whole family won’t go hungry, so I need this little money.”
Yang Qiujin gave in. “Alright, as long as you’re happy.”
After Chen Shengqing finished his meal and Yang Qiujin paid the bill, they headed back home.
Before leaving, Chen Shengqing told Yang Qiuyue, “If the Ke family gives you trouble, go to the County Company Bureau and find Director Yu. Mention my name, and he’ll help you deal with them.”
“Got it,” Yang Qiuyue waved them off, reluctant. “Sister, brother-in-law, have a safe journey.”
Chen Shengqing drove his wife and child back to the Pioneer Production Team. Yang Qiujin immediately prepared food for the journey. She steamed about twenty large white steamed buns, corn buns, boiled ten eggs, and packed pickled vegetables and spicy dried radishes into an aluminum lunchbox to eat with the steamed buns.
Afraid Tianyou would get carsick since it was his first trip, she went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy oranges and picked fresh cucumbers from her own garden to put in her bag for Tianyou to smell, hoping it would relieve his discomfort.
While picking vegetables, she stopped by the cowshed at the edge of the village to tell Professors Zheng and Tian that she was joining the army.
“This is great,” Professor Zheng said, happy for her. “You three are a family.”
Professor Tian nodded. “Conditions there are tough, but the little red soldiers dare not touch the corps. You’ll be safer there than here.”
Yang Qiujin said, “Once I settle there, if there’s a chance for you to go to the frontier, would you come?”
Professor Zheng and Professor Tian exchanged surprised glances. “Can you get us there?”
The frontier is vast, sparsely populated, and less politically tense than their current situation. If they could go, life would be much easier.
“I haven’t decided yet,” Yang Qiujin replied. “But I’ll find a way. If there’s a chance for you to go, you must come.”
“It will definitely happen.”
“You’ve been sincere and helped us, so we trust you.” They both smiled as they watched her leave.
That night, the whole Chen family went to bed early. Chen Tianyou still slept in the corner of the big bed.
He was restless in his sleep, kicking his little feet around. Chen Shengqing wanted to wait until Tianyou fell asleep before carrying him to his crib, but Tianyou was so excited about the trip that he couldn’t sleep. He kept jumping on the bed, holding Yang Qiujin’s hand and talking non-stop. Finally, Yang Qiujin couldn’t bear it and told him to go to sleep. Only then did he settle down. By this time, Chen Shengqing had already fallen asleep.
It was strange. Chen Shengqing was usually very vigilant. He could never sleep when in the army or in battle, no matter how tired he was. But when he was home, next to Yang Qiujin and their son, he always fell asleep peacefully in seconds.
Early the next morning, Chen Shengqing woke up and saw Yang Qiujin and their son sleeping beside him. A warm feeling filled his chest, and a smile unconsciously crept onto his face. He quietly got up, washed, and packed his bags.
By the time Yang Qiujin woke up, he had already prepared breakfast and urged her and their son to wash up and eat.
Yang Qiujin noticed he had packed everything neatly and casually praised him, “Not bad, you’re quite aware and help me with the work.”
Chen Shengqing glanced at Chen Tianyou, who was standing by the water tank, humming and clearly not happy to brush his teeth. He heard his son say, “Mom, I already brushed my teeth very clean.”
Yang Qiujin washed her face with a towel and gave her son a thumbs up. “My son is awesome! He brushed his teeth so well today without me having to remind him. He’s such a good boy!”
Chen Shengqing: …
It felt like he was being treated like a child.
After breakfast, Tian Chunlian from next door came over, holding a few pancakes. “Third sister-in-law, I made these this morning. I added a lot of white flour, and they’re very fragrant and delicious. You can take them with you on your trip.”
Yang Qiujin declined politely. “Second sister-in-law, I’ve already prepared plenty of steamed buns and corn bread for the journey. You should give these cakes to Da Wa and the others.”
The cakes in her hand looked gray, dry, and without oil. Yang Qiujin hadn’t seen anything from the second house in years and felt something was off. She worried they wouldn’t be edible, so she politely refused.
“Third sister-in-law, please don’t look down on me,” Tian Chunlian said with a sad smile. “You know our second branch can’t compare to your third branch. It’s not easy for me to make these cakes. If we don’t send you off, others will think we’re ignorant.”
“If you want to give something, just do it. Why talk so much?” Li Xiu’e, who had remained quiet, suddenly spoke up sharply.
“Just think of it as my way of sending you off,” Tian Chunlian said with a sniffle.
“Shut up!” Chen Shenggui glared at her. Seeing Chen Shengqing standing by the door, looking cold, he added, “Don’t worry, third brother. I’ll look after your mother and make sure no one bothers her.”
Chen Shengqing relaxed and nodded, remaining silent.
Though they weren’t born of the same mother, they had a close relationship in their youth. Even though his second brother had neglected their mother before, with the savings certificate, Chen Shengqing hoped his brother would remember their bond and care for her, allowing him to feel at ease leaving her alone in the countryside.
After the second couple left, Chen Shengqing dealt with relatives and friends who had come to see them off. They loaded their luggage onto the ox cart, and the team leader drove them.
Chen Shengqing had become a high-ranking official in the Pioneer Battalion. Whether promoted or retired, his position was far beyond what country people could imagine. Everyone, including the captain, wanted to be on good terms with him, hoping for future benefits.
“I don’t want to leave, I don’t want to leave grandma!” When Chen Tianyou saw his favorite clothes and quilts packed onto the ox cart, he realized they were really leaving. He screamed, holding onto Li Xiu’e’s hand tightly and burst into tears. “Grandma, come with us! Why don’t you come with us? I can’t bear to leave you.”
“Tianyou, my great grandson, grandma loves you so much,” Li Xiu’e, who had been trying to stay composed, suddenly broke down. She hugged Tianyou and cried, “I can’t bear to leave you, but I can’t leave your grandfather either. He must be lonely in the mountains. I need to stay with him. I’ll come to see you when I can. Be good, listen to your parents, and don’t make your mom angry, okay?”
“I don’t want to, I won’t listen! I want milk!” Chen Tianyou, raised by Li Xiu’e since he was a child, now understood the meaning of separation. No matter how Li Xiu’e tried to coax him, he clung to her and refused to let go.
Time was running out, so Chen Shengqing took charge. He pried Tianyou’s hands off and, as the child cried, he carried him onto the ox cart. Then, he picked up Yang Qiujin, who was about to console the child, and carried her onto the cart.
“Hey?” Yang Qiujin felt dizzy and ended up in his arms. Before she could react, he set her on the ox cart, leaning over slightly and pressing against her chest.
“What do you think you’re doing, in broad daylight?” Yang Qiujin blushed and pushed him away.
“Huh?” The man looked confused.
Yang Qiujin quickly realized Tianyou was on her right side, crying and trying to jump off the cart. Chen Shengqing had only passed his arm over her body to hold the child down.
Yang Qiujin’s face turned red. Why had she thought he would do something inappropriate in public? She must be losing her mind!
“Go!” The team leader raised the whip and struck the buffalo, causing it to run down the village road with its strong limbs.
“Drive slowly, be careful!” Li Xiu’e said with tears in her eyes, watching the ox cart grow farther away.
***
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References
| ↑1 | a form of currency used in some regions. |
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Vyl[Translator]
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