Chapter 6

In the early morning, Su Ye woke up to the sound of the military horn. After glancing at the calendar, she realized it was already the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.

In the compound, every family had woken up early to clean and tidy up. The sun had come out, and the family members were hanging their quilts outside to air. The skilled wives were pickling the ^[1]“Sauerkraut” is a type of fermented cabbage, commonly associated with German and Eastern European cuisines. The cabbage is finely shredded and then fermented with salt, which encourages … Continue readingsauerkraut for the New Year, using napa cabbage from their own garden. The hardworking and humble families had cultivated a small plot of land in the compound and took great care in tending to it every day.

Su Ye couldn’t buy napa cabbage and didn’t have a vegetable garden, but fortunately, Grandma Zhou had given her a cabbage.

Although napa cabbage wasn’t expensive, it was a valuable food item right now, one that required coupons and long queues. Su Ye hadn’t had sauerkraut for a long time, and she couldn’t resist the temptation. After thinking for a moment, she went back to her room and brought half a jin of cornmeal to give to Grandma Zhou.

When she went to deliver the cornmeal, she happened to see another woman from a different family hanging pork on a bamboo pole to dry.

Seeing the white, glistening pork, Su Ye instinctively stopped to admire it for a moment.

Once she had saved up enough for a piece of fatty pork, she would make some cured meat. Cured meat was just too tempting!

“Hey, from the old Li’s family, this piece of meat looks really good. It’s at least a pound, right?” one of the family members asked.

“Isn’t it? With the holiday coming up, the supply and marketing cooperative is selling pork. My husband kept saying he kept smelling the scent of braised pork the other day, like he was possessed, and kept nagging about wanting to eat it. So, I got him a pound of meat. This piece was bought by a relative of mine who stayed up all night to queue for it,” the woman said proudly, quickly hanging the meat out to dry.

This cured meat would be dried for a week, just in time for the New Year.

She was wearing corduroy pants and a woolen coat, with a bit of a V-neck wool sweater showing at the collar—very Soviet in style. It was obvious that her family was doing quite well.

The family member listened and felt envious. “Li Maogang is really lucky to have a wife like you—capable and resourceful.”

The military compound was like a small society. Although everyone was a military family, there were still differences in wealth. Some people couldn’t even afford coarse grains, like Su Ye. Others could eat pork—how could that not make people envious?

Being able to have a meal of white flour during the holidays was enough to make anyone jealous! The Li family managed to buy some pork, it would probably be the talk of the whole compound by the afternoon.

A few words drifted into Su Ye’s ears, and she hurried her steps toward Grandma Zhou’s house, feeling guilty. Braised pork… wasn’t that exactly her?

After delivering the cornmeal to Grandma Zhou, He Meimei came to invite Su Ye to join her in making dumplings.

“Come with us, the wives are having a get-together. There will be dumplings and steamed buns—it’s quite a feast.”

Eating meat and steamed buns in the middle of the season? That was no small thing.

Su Ye’s stomach churned at the thought. She had already finished the braised pork from last week’s reward, and after a few days without any oil or fat, she felt like she was walking on air.

Su Ye had been here for almost two weeks, and if you count the time the original owner spent accompanying the army, it was about a month and a half. After such a long period of being “ignored,” suddenly something like this happened, and Su Ye instinctively thought that this wasn’t a friendly gathering—it might be a “^[2]The term “Hongmen Banquet” (鸿门宴) refers to a famous event in Chinese history, often used metaphorically to describe a situation where a person is invited to a gathering or meeting … Continue readingHongmen Banquet.”

But for the sake of the pork, Su Ye grabbed He Meimei’s hand, excitedly nodded, and said, “Wait for me, I’ll tidy up and come right away.”

Su Ye changed into a clean outfit and quickly tidied herself up before heading out.

She glanced at her face in the mirror, and it looked okay. Though her face appeared thin, her features were still well-defined. Over the past few days, Su Ye had been indulging in fine grains, eating noodles every meal. Her vitality had returned a bit, and after a little grooming, she could pass as a delicate beauty.

He Meimei led Su Ye to the dormitory of a certain military family. She said, “You’ve just arrived in our compound, and Captain Gu has been on a month-long assignment. Normally, we should host you for a meal. But with the season being tough, it’s hard for everyone to get something good. Finally, for the Laba Festival, the leaders took out two pounds of pork to treat everyone. That’s when they thought of you.”

She said this so politely, without mentioning any of the disgraceful things Su Ye had done. Su Ye felt comfortable hearing this and appreciated He Meimei’s kindness.

Thinking that if this really was a Hongmen Banquet, she would have to face it with elegance.

Su Ye pushed open the door and walked in. Everyone inside turned to look at her. The warmth from the stove hit her, and the atmosphere was lively, with the air filled with the scent of the festival.

On the table were several bowls, each filled with chopped mushrooms, white radish, and vegetables mixed with minced meat. Although the filling didn’t look like much, it smelled delicious, and there was a faint meaty aroma in the air.

Though Su Ye had never lacked food these past days, even having a bag of high-quality flour, dumplings were something she could never afford. Seeing this scene, Su Ye realized that despite having a ^[3]“golden finger” (金手指, jīn shǒu zhǐ) is a Chinese idiom that refers to a special, often supernatural or extraordinary ability, talent, or advantage that a person has, which helps … Continue readinggolden finger, she was still living in such poverty—it was really tragic.

Su Ye glanced at the people in the room. Among the unfamiliar faces, she recognized two, one was Li Hongli, who worked at the Women’s Federation, and the other was the neighbor who had been drying meat in the yard earlier.

An older woman with a strong leadership presence stood up and, smiling, said, “Speak of the devil, and here she is. Welcome, Su Ye.”

He Meimei introduced her, saying, “This is the Commissar’s wife, the director of the Women’s Federation. She has been very concerned about your work situation recently.”

She then introduced the other people in the room to Su Ye, who responded with some polite remarks, “Thank you for your concern, Leader.”

The women were all very curious about Su Ye, their gazes lingering on her like the most powerful X-ray.

Su Ye had become quite famous in the compound this month!

Gu Xiangqian was the golden bachelor of the compound, a young man who had already reached a high position. He had good education and high qualities, but the only flaw was that his father had tragically passed away when he was young. Over the years, many leaders had tried to introduce him to women. Just when everyone thought he would marry the daughter of a leader, he surprised them all by bringing home the daughter of his father’s comrade from the countryside.

This caused great regret in everyone’s hearts. It was like a beautiful flower being planted in a pile of cow dung.

However, Su Ye herself was a troublemaker who didn’t know how to appreciate her blessings.

Rumor had it that she hadn’t returned the bowl from the cafeteria for an entire week, was lazy and gluttonous, and after eating all the food, refused to go to work. When Gu Xiangqian finally had a day off and came home, he even had to send her to the duty room to sleep for the night.

Hearing this, some people were eager to see for themselves what kind of person she was.

Some of them focused on Su Ye’s hands, trying to see if there was any of the rumored dirt under her nails that couldn’t be cleaned, others looked at her thin figure, their faces full of sympathy. Some even started asking about her work.

Su Ye went to wash her hands and sat down. She spread out her fingers and said, “What’s the matter? You’ve been staring at my hands this whole time. Do you think they’re dirty?”

The military wife who had been staring at her hands immediately shook her head, embarrassed. “No, no. Comrade Su, please don’t misunderstand.”

The leaders were all watching, and no one could ^[4]“bear such a big hat” (or “担得起这么大顶的帽子”) in Chinese is a metaphorical expression. It means taking on a heavy responsibility, facing a high expectation, or … Continue readingbear such a big hat.

Li Hongli casually cracked sunflower seeds, looking to the side, while another woman exchanged glances and took the opportunity to talk about Su Ye’s job search.

“Comrade Su, you’ve been here for over a month and still haven’t found a job. Since everyone is here today, let’s take care of this problem for you!” 

“Everyone has been so concerned about you,” said a round-faced woman.

One by one, they took the initiative to ask about her job. The director of the Women’s Federation nodded with approval, feeling pleased that the group was showing such concern and camaraderie.

She furrowed her brows slightly, full of worry for Su Ye. “Su Ye, I’ve heard that you don’t seem to like working. The job we recommended to you in the office, you didn’t sign up for any of them. Instead, you applied for that elementary teaching position. It’s great to be ambitious and have vision, but don’t we also need to be practical?”

The director spoke earnestly, patting Su Ye’s hand in a gesture of care, her concern for the younger generation apparent. Su Ye looked at this woman, whose features were upright and full of genuine worry. Su Ye believed she was truly concerned about her job, but others might not be so sincere.

Li Hongli thoughtfully suggested, “I have a position at the street office. Although it’s a bit tough, it’s only temporary. There may be an opportunity to transfer to an office job as a clerk later. If you’re interested, I can give you a recommendation. This job is in high demand, and many people are waiting for it.”

The job at the street office, to put it plainly, was cleaning the streets and toilets.

So this was what was waiting for her. Su Ye’s heart skipped a beat, and she straightened up, becoming more serious.

She shook her head and clarified the original owner’s situation. “I’m really not someone with high aspirations but low abilities, nor am I someone who doesn’t take practicality into account. A job is a lifelong matter, and I want to think it through carefully. I believe I have the ability to choose a better job, rather than reluctantly settling for something because I have no other choice…”

Before Su Ye could finish speaking, she was interrupted.

Li Hongli was not happy after hearing this. Her face showed an expression of someone whose goodwill had been rejected. Her tone became urgent, almost as if she were lecturing a younger person. “Finding a job is all about practicality, you absolutely can’t have unrealistic expectations. Just because you think highly of someone, doesn’t mean they will think highly of you!”

Upon hearing Li Hongli’s words, everyone nodded in agreement. They felt that Su Ye’s attitude was clearly that of someone with “unrealistic expectations.”

The iron rice bowl that everyone scrambled for, in her eyes, seemed like something to settle for? How could she speak so grandly without fear of embarrassing herself? Su Ye couldn’t possibly be someone who just came from the countryside and didn’t know how hard it is to find a job in the city, could she? The women’s gazes toward Su Ye became subtly different.

Li Hongli, seeing the understanding looks from everyone, became even more intense in her “education.” “As a military wife, you should be even more grounded and practical. If you keep being picky, you’ll miss your chance!”

That sense of superiority, looking down on others, really made Su Ye feel uncomfortable.

Su Ye glanced at Li Hongli impatiently. “How am I not being practical? Comrade Chairman said that if the conditions are right, we should take the opportunity. If there are no conditions, we must create them. My husband, Comrade Gu Xiangqian, is on the frontlines, fighting hard and giving it his all, striving to be excellent in everything. I can’t drag him down or embarrass him, can I?

My education may be low, but it’s only because of the circumstances. You don’t know me, so how can you judge me like this? The reason I signed up for that job is because I’m capable of doing it. You don’t need to worry about me. Different people like different things. If you really think that job is good, you can introduce it to your relatives and friends.”

She smiled, showing her white teeth. “Thank you for your concern, but I’ve already secured a job for now.”

Su Ye’s enunciation was clear, with a precise tone, and today, she was dressed neatly and with her back straight. As she spoke, she exuded an air of grace. Yes, that was the quality of a dignified military wife—someone who spoke without vulgarity or complaints but was able to make people feel that she was generous and convincing.

Su Ye seemed quite different from the rumors.

Hearing Su Ye’s words, the astute sisters-in-law immediately sensed something. 

The Director, smiling gently, tactfully broke the awkward tension by bringing out a plate of freshly made dumplings. “Go ahead and eat. We’ll talk after you’re done.”

After facing so much discrimination and still showing up for the meal, Su Ye had been waiting for this moment! She picked up her chopsticks and swiftly added two dumplings to her bowl. The dumplings made by the sisters-in-law were really generous—big and long, without any stinginess.

The freshly made dumpling skin was thin and moist, emitting a fragrant aroma. With one bite, the juices filled her mouth.

The fragrance of radish and wood ear mushrooms was crisp and sweet, while the minced meat was fresh and rich in flavor, captivating Su Ye’s taste buds. In just a couple of bites, Su Ye finished her portion. She looked up and saw the others. They were all delicately nibbling their dumplings, taking small bites and chewing slowly, savoring each one as if they were tasting an exquisite delicacy.

The way they chewed so slowly with such a look of enjoyment made Su Ye’s eyes widen. She felt like a ^[5]“like a piggy devouring a ginseng fruit” is a humorous and somewhat exaggerated comparison.piggy devouring a ginseng fruit, swallowing it whole. Now, all Su Ye could do was watch as the others ate their dumplings.

Su Ye’s dramatic expression made the Women’s Federation Director laugh out loud. Someone picked up a dumpling from their own bowl and placed it into hers, patting her hand. “Eat up.”

Su Ye’s face instantly turned bright red from embarrassment, and she quickly reached to return the dumpling. But the person covered their bowl. “No, you eat it. Don’t mind me.”

“Eat more, get a little fatter. When Xiangqian comes back, you can give him a big, healthy baby boy.”

The tempting dumplings were comfortably settled in Su Ye’s bowl, and her stomach rumbled as she felt the warmth of the army. She awkwardly picked up the dumplings, trying to imitate how the others ate them, carefully taking small bites.

Her teeth chewed the filling repeatedly, savoring every bit of essence from the dumplings. They were so delicious that Su Ye decided that once she saved up enough pork belly, she would definitely make dumplings for herself next time.

After about half an hour, everyone had eaten their dumplings, and even the slowest eater had finished them all.

Li Hongli still wanted to pick on Su Ye, but just then, a knock sounded at the door. A soldier stuck his head in and asked, “Who is Comrade Su Ye here? A teacher from No. 1 Middle School just brought over your Laba Festival teacher nutrition subsidy and asked you to go pick it up. Also, the teacher wants to inform Comrade Su Ye to go to the school on Sunday.”

As soon as these words were spoken, all eyes turned to Su Ye. The intense gaze from everyone seemed to ask the same question, What’s going on?

Su Ye was also puzzled. She thought that her name wasn’t on the list of middle school teachers released a few days ago, meaning she must have been eliminated. But what was this situation…? Was she being added back in?

However, Su Ye didn’t show any emotion on her face. Instead, she put on a knowing and somewhat pretentious smile, nodded at the soldier, and said, “Okay, I’ll go right now. Thank you for your trouble.”

In the cold weather, it wasn’t easy for the soldier to come all the way to inform her. Hearing the captain’s wife speak so politely, he felt pleased.

Su Ye turned to the group and said, “I’m sorry, I have to leave now. Thank you to the director for the hospitality and to everyone for your concern. My work has been settled—”

Her tone had a subtle ripple, and after speaking, Su Ye smiled and left the room.

Once Su Ye left, the entire room fell silent for a moment, and after a brief pause, it became very lively. Everyone was completely confused by the turn of events.

“Teacher’s nutrition subsidy? Did she get selected?”

“Did I hear that right? Did the soldier say No. 1 Middle School, not No. 1 Primary School?”