Chapter 2 Love

The contrast between her wheat-colored skin and her porcelain-like fairness was striking. Su Niannian quickly drew back her hand—the spot where the man had touched was already burning. She shook her head and insisted, “It’s for five pieces of malt candy…!”

“That’s a no.” Gu Zhiye, sitting in the driver’s seat, kept his gaze forward, the corner of his eye resting briefly on her rosy face. His expression grew a little heavy. “I’m just asking for directions to Xiangyang Village.”

“Alright… Do you see that big locust tree up ahead? Turn right there and keep going until you reach the end of the road. You’ll come upon two roads that look exactly the same. Take the left one, and you’ll see a stream. When you see the wooden bridge, you’re not far from Xiangyang.” Sweat fell down Su Niannian’s nose. She pressed her lips together and forced a smile. “If you can’t remember, I can guide you.”

He slowly raised the car window. “Thank you.” The rear of the car nearly sprayed exhaust directly into her face.

Su Jianshan came bouncing up, two cicadas in his hands, smiling mischievously. “I made a mess, sis. Got in the wrong car.”
“…” So unlucky. Obviously he annoyed the man.

…

“Niannian! You’re finally back from the health center. Your grandma is stewing chicken at home. Why don’t you go to the co-op and bring back a bottle of soda? The orange flavor just came in — your favorite …”

Aunt Shen Xiue was drawing water when she saw two dramatic children with taro leaves on their heads. Su Niannian, with her black hair, red lips, and charming looks, was following Su Jianshan — looking even more delicate in comparison. Just a single glance, and Shen Xiue knew the blind date was in danger.

She reluctantly fished two dimes from her pocket and handed them to her. “Go back quickly, and I’m treating you today.”

“There’s no need. I don’t like soda, I’m not going.” Su Niannian’s voice was soft and sweet, but firm. Some kind of guidance seemed to be tugging at her — their home was her refuge.

Shen Xiue clicked her tongue in disbelief and glared after the two children as they walked away. “Bah! A jinx!”

The Su family’s small flat-roofed brick home was sheltered by a fence made of a man’s height wall, with a rich bamboo grove growing behind it.

The moment Su Niannian placed her hand on the doorknob, it was forced inward, and her view opened up. Wang Guifen, a butcher’s knife in hand, glared at the bag in her grip and asked, “Where are the cicadas?”
Su Niannian casually opened the bag. “It’s too hot. The cicadas flew away.”

“Not a single one?!”
“Not a one.”
She nodded casually and entered the room. The very moment afterwards, a mischievous glimmer in her eyes faltered — there he was, the stranger who hadn’t taken the cicadas.
He was wearing a pair of well-fitted army-green pants and shirt. His tall, strong frame was even more impressive than a movie actor’s, his features sculpted, his gaze piercing.

Thinking back to the lie she had just told, Su Niannian raised a hand to her forehead, reluctantly trying to ease her nervousness.

With a gap-toothed smile, Wang Guifen grabbed Su Niannian’s wrist and tugged her forward to introduce them warmly. “This is Gu Zhiye, from Long County, Long Jun’s youngest son. Zhiye, do you remember Niannian? She’s your Uncle Jianhua’s child — you two used to play together when you were little…”

She faltered halfway.
Su Niannian hadn’t grown up in Xiangyang — in a way, the two had swapped identities just two months earlier. Now, Su Niannian was the true granddaughter.

Wang Guifen was quick to ease the awkward moment by turning toward someone else. “This is your Cousin Jianshan — do you remember him? He can eat six wild vegetable buns in a sitting! Oh-ho-ho…”

Su Jianshan grinned broadly. “I can eat ten now.”

Gu Zhiye nodded. His piercing gaze fell upon Su Niannian. “I know her. She’s hard-working, down-to-earth, kind, enthusiastic, dutiful, and filial toward her elders…”

Vanity made Su Niannian unconsciously straighten up — until she realized he was describing someone else: the real daughter, Chen Niannian. Her previously beautiful eyebrows grew heavy with clouds of unhappiness.

She sighed quietly. “I’m a little tired. I’ll go rest.”
Wang Guifen was about to grab her by the collar, but Su Jianshan darted forward and sheltered his sister, and together they slipped back into their room to eavesdrop.

Wang Guifen stood there for a moment, then started to chatter, “Aw! She’s just a little embarrassed by all the compliments.”

Gu Zhiye was perfectly turned out — his shirt fully buttoned up, emphasizing his strong neck. After avoiding his piercing stare, Su Niannian turned her eyes toward his hands through the paper-covered window — well-structured, clean-fingered, healthy moons at the base of each — then saw him produce a handwritten marriage certificate from his army green pocket and handed it to Wang Guifen. “Grandma Wang, this is the marriage certificate from back then. My mother’s health is failing. The marriage should happen as soon as possible. May I take her away?

Wang Guifen was so excited her lips trembled. Inside the room, Su Niannian and her brother exchanged glances, and he whispered their family’s tale:

It was said their grandfather had sheltered a soldier delivering crucial information. Grateful for his kindness, the soldier wrote a marriage certificate in return — stating their children would be united if both families consented.
The Gu family’s oldest son was a plain farmer — and a bit lame — and Wang Guifen hadn’t cared much for the match. She simply tossed aside the certificate, thinking it was gone with the soldier’s death in battle.
But now, a Gu family army officer had come forward!
He had previously gotten in touch to say he wanted to collect his wife.
And now he was here in person — much to Wang Guifen’s immense satisfaction.
This marriage seemed made just for their family.
Wang Guifen disregarded all doubts and nodded repeatedly. “Good! Good! Good! You can certainly take away my most beautiful granddaughter, Su Niannian!”

With a heavy “thump” of a metal basin falling to the ground, Su Niannian was about to rush out — but her cousin Su Zhaodi, in a ill-fitted polka-dotted dress, turned red in the face and screamed, “Grandma! I do not agree to this marriage!”