Chapter 12

From July 1982 to late January 1983, for more than six months, there was no word from Chen Yuan.

At first, Su Wan was so caught up in making money she almost lost herself. But as she stared at the calendar, anxiety started to creep in.

Chinese New Year’s Eve would fall on February 12, 1983—just over two weeks away. Would Chen Yuan make it back in time?

She didn’t go to her stall today. First thing in the morning, she took all the money she had earned to the bank to open an account and deposit it. She also sent 1,000 yuan each to both families, and even sent telegrams ahead of time to inform them. She told them she’d been selling food in Guangdong and had earned some money, and that the 1,000 yuan was a gift for each set of parents for New Year celebrations.

Over the past six months, even when it poured rain, she still insisted on selling braised meat. In that time, she earned over 30,700 yuan. Adding to the 2,000-plus yuan she had made earlier, she had accumulated nearly 33,000 yuan in total.

She had sent 2,000 yuan home, deposited 30,000 in savings, and used the remaining money to buy herself a 120-yuan wristwatch, four new outfits, and three pairs of shoes—spending a total of 200 yuan.

It couldn’t be helped. After more than seven months of such an intense lifestyle, Su Wan, who once weighed over 180 jin (about 90 kg), now weighed only 96 jin (about 48 kg). The slimmed-down version of her was tall and fair-skinned, with big, bright eyes. Her nose wasn’t small, but it was well-defined, and overall, her facial features came together beautifully—especially her rosy lips, which were very alluring.

The wives in the residential compound had all watched her slim down. While Su Wan hadn’t looked bad when she was heavier, now she seemed like a completely different person. Even the political commissar and Commander Zhao, who had visited once, barely recognized her as Chen Yuan’s plump wife.

Letting out a sigh, Su Wan went back to cleaning pig offal again.

She planned to earn another one or two thousand yuan before the New Year and then stop this business for good.

On February 7, 1983, Su Wan sold her final batch of braised meat and announced she wouldn’t be setting up her stall anymore. She gave her leftover braised meat to two of the security guards in thanks for their help during the past months, then waited with her stainless steel bucket for Wang Bin and the others to arrive with their vehicle.

Winter in Guangdong wasn’t very cold. She wore long pants and a blue jacket while sitting in front of the factory waiting.

In the past 14 days alone, she had made more than 2,000 yuan—enough for her and Chen Yuan to have a great New Year. After today, she planned to take a break. Once the New Year passed, she would go to Guangzhou to try her hand at the wholesale clothing business, starting with small batches to test the waters and see if she could make money.

Having made up her mind, Su Wan took her stainless steel bucket and went to a nearby shop to buy two cartons of cigarettes, two bags of White Rabbit candies, and two cans of malted milk, then returned to where she had been waiting.

She didn’t have to wait long. Less than thirty minutes later, Wang Bin and the others drove up.

After placing the stainless steel bucket in the back of the truck, Su Wan got into the front with her things.

She handed out the gifts she had packed separately. “Thank you for helping me all these months. This is just a little something for the New Year—take it home and enjoy.”

“Sister-in-law, we really don’t deserve this. We’ve been eating your braised meat almost every day,” they said, feeling truly embarrassed.

Thanks to her, they had enjoyed better meals every day. Sometimes, she even made them pig heart soup. Over the past six months, the two young men had grown a few centimeters taller and become visibly stronger.

“It’s nothing expensive. If you don’t take it, I’ll be the one who feels bad.”

Since Su Wan insisted, they accepted the gifts with thanks and set them aside.

The truck quickly headed back to the base, and Su Wan felt good. All she could think about now was what to buy for the New Year—and whether Chen Yuan was back.

Once they arrived at the base, Wang Bin and Xu Weiguo helped her unload the stainless steel bucket. Su Wan thanked them and pulled it home herself.

The wives in the courtyard noticed she’d come back without any pig offal and murmured, “Finally, a day without that awful smell.”

“Seriously. Lately, the whole place has been stinking—I don’t even want to stay in the courtyard anymore.”

Su Wan heard them. She knew she hadn’t been perfect. That’s why she had always avoided the times when others were using water. During summer, when watermelons were abundant, she bought a lot and delivered some to each household. Later, she gave out half a pound of White Rabbit candies to every home, and even sent out trays of braised meat. The wives had smiled and said it was no big deal when they accepted the gifts, but they still gossiped behind her back. There was nothing she could do about that.

Yes, the offal did smell during washing—but the courtyard was spacious, and she always waited until no one else was using the water. Afterward, she would scrub everything down with detergent, leaving no lingering odor.

In any case, she wouldn’t be selling braised meat anymore, so they could say whatever they liked—it didn’t matter to her.

She cleaned the stainless steel bucket and left it outside to dry. Then she watered her vegetable garden. She had planted plenty: cabbage, scallions, bok choy, choy sum, spinach, lettuce, white radish, carrots, and leeks—all thriving and green, enough to feed her daily.

Then she grabbed a big broom, a bucket, and some detergent to scrub the washbasin area, thoroughly cleaning both the sink and the cement floor. Only once everything was spotless did she return home, take a bath, and wash her clothes.

After towel-drying her hair, Su Wan was just about to cook dinner when a sudden, urgent voice came from outside.

“Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, are you home?”

“I’m here. What’s wrong?”

Su Wan put down her comb and stepped outside, only to see an unfamiliar face. “What’s going on?” she asked.

“Ma’am, please pack your things. The commander is taking you to the hospital.”

Hearing the word hospital, Su Wan’s heart sank. “What hospital? Did something happen to Chen Yuan?”

The young soldier nodded. “The company commander was injured during the mission. I don’t know the details. The commander wants you and Sister Zhou to come to the hospital. Please pack quickly—the vehicle is leaving soon.”

Su Wan tried to stay calm, but anxiety overwhelmed her. She hurried to grab her travel bag and stuffed her clothes inside. She also packed all her money into the large backpack she had bought, grabbed her bankbook, and locked the door in a rush.

The young soldier led her to the gate. Inside the vehicle, Sister Zhou was already there, her eyes swollen from crying. Beside her sat a three-year-old girl—her and Captain Zhou’s daughter.

Su Wan climbed into the vehicle. The door closed, and it took off quickly.

No one spoke along the way. Sister Zhou kept sobbing beside her, and Su Wan’s heart grew heavier and heavier as she stared silently out the window.

Once they got on the provincial highway, speed limits weren’t really enforced back then. Except for meals and bathroom breaks, the vehicle drove nonstop.

After a full twelve hours, they arrived at a hospital in Ming Province around 11 p.m.

The commander stepped out of the vehicle in front. Su Wan got out too and supported the visibly shaky Sister Zhou.

The driver carried the sleeping child, and the group quickly entered the hospital.

In the intensive care unit, Su Wan saw Chen Yuan lying there, his body covered in tubes.