◎ Two more ◎ 

Xu Shengjie closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep for a long time before finally feeling a bit drowsy. But suddenly, he noticed some movement beside him. The quilt rustled softly, and before long, a hand crept onto his waist, moving upward! 

Grasping that “mischievous” hand tightly, Xu Shengjie curved his lips slightly in the darkness as he looked at the somewhat panicked woman. “What are you doing? If you really don’t want to sleep…” 

“I want to sleep!” Liang Baozhen’s voice suddenly became loud, but she was afraid of waking up the family, so she immediately lowered her voice, “I’m so tired today, I’m so sleepy, you should go to bed too.” 

After saying that, she broke free from Xu Shengjie’s hand and covered her head with the quilt, leaving only her black hair exposed. She looked like she was fast asleep. 

Xu Shengjie rubbed his forehead, his right hand hanging in the air at the corner of the quilt. He was about to lift the quilt but stopped and stroked Liang Baozhen’s soft black hair instead. He said helplessly, “Okay, go to sleep. You have to get up early to go back home tomorrow.” 

Lying back on the bed again, Xu Shengjie tried hard to close his eyes and sleep. 

***

The next morning, as the sky was just beginning to brighten, Xu Shengjie and Liang Baozhen got out of bed. 

Liang Baozhen had been very tired from the wedding over the past two days. She slept well last night without any interruptions and was now energetic, sitting at the table braiding her hair, her gaze towards Xu Shengjie softened a bit. 

“Didn’t you sleep well?” 

Xu Shengjie, however, looked a little tired, which was unusual for him. Liang Baozhen had no idea that she was the culprit. She had disturbed the sleep he had worked hard to achieve, while she herself fell into a deep sleep. 

“It’s okay.” He had endured sleepless nights when he was in the military before, so this was no big deal. 

Xu Shengjie changed into a green military uniform, and when he took off his clothes, he revealed a lean and muscular body with strong abdominal muscles. The scar on his waist that had appeared in Liang Baozhen’s dream was somewhat noticeable. 

Liang Baozhen was talking to him when he unexpectedly started removing his clothes. Although he put on a short-sleeved military uniform after two seconds, his figure still made her blush. 

Quickly turning her head, Liang Baozhen finished braiding her hair and couldn’t help but ask, “How did you get that scar on your waist?” 

Xu Shengjie was surprised she noticed it and casually answered, “It’s from an old injury from a battle.” 

“Have you been injured a lot in battles before? It looks very dangerous.” Liang Baozhen admires soldiers very much and knows that the battlefield is ruthless. 

“It’s nothing serious, don’t overthink it.” Xu Shengjie was thinking about going back to see his mother-in-law and father-in-law today, so he wore the military uniform he brought back after retirement. Nowadays, it is indeed more impressive if a family can have a military uniform. Liang Zhigao liked him wearing it last time, and it is always right to please his father-in-law. 

But when she saw him trying to continue wearing his old cloth shoes, Liang Baozhen quickly stopped him, “Wear the new pair, my mother wants to see it, otherwise she’ll think I didn’t buy you one.” 

Knowing her mother well, Liang Baozhen knew that if she didn’t wear it back today, Song Chunhua would blame her. 

Zhou Yun prepared the return gift herself. It included a bag of noodles, a pound of persimmon cakes, a pound of hawthorn cakes, and a bottle of Wuliangye liquor, all packed in a colorful, bulging net bag. 

“Be careful on the road, and send my regards to my in-laws,” Zhou Yun stood at the door and instructed his grandson and granddaughter-in-law. 

“Got it, Grandma. You should go back and rest.” 

Xu Shengjie and Liang Baozhen carried the gifts and went out of the courtyard and headed to catch the bus to the city entrance to wait for the next bus. As soon as they walked out of Crescent Alley, two men and a woman entered, looking around and heading straight to their courtyard. 

Seeing Zhou Yun still at the door, the man stepped forward and scolded, “Mother! How could you be so careless? Why didn’t you tell us about Shengjie’s wedding?” 

*** 

The bus journey was bumpy, and the newlyweds finally arrived at Damei Village in the morning. 

Song Chunhua got up early in the morning to prepare lunch for her daughter and son-in-law. Yesterday, Liang Baojun had somehow got a mutton leg, which delighted the family. They salted it in advance and waited for their daughter to come back to cook it. 

“Mother!” Liang Baozhen was eager to get home, and she quickened her pace as soon as she saw her own yard. 

“Ah, oh!” Song Chunhua hadn’t seen her daughter for two days, but it felt like two years. When she saw her daughter, her eyes welled up with tears. She held her daughter’s arms with both hands and looked up and down, left and right, wishing to see how her child was doing. “How come you’ve become more beautiful! Mother almost didn’t recognize you.” 

“Chunhua, I feel the same. Look at how beautiful Baozhen is in this dress, it’s so lovely,” a passing village auntie couldn’t help but compliment. 

Today, Liang Baozhen wore the light-yellow dress she had bought for her wedding day. It was fitted at the waist and seemed tailor-made for her, making her even more beautiful. Standing next to Xu Shengjie in his military uniform, they looked like a perfect match. 

“Mother.” Xu Shengjie followed behind and handed the things to his mother-in-law, then went into the house with her. 

“Xiao Xu, come in and sit down.” Seeing how many gifts were given this time, Song Chunhua knew that her son-in-law’s family had taken a liking to her daughter. “Your father and brother are still working. They will be back after lunch. Your sister and brother-in-law went to the brigade office for some reason. Baoling, Mengmeng, and I are the only ones at home.” 

“Sister!” 

“Third Aunt!” 

When the two girls saw Liang Baozhen coming back, they rushed towards her and surrounded her. Liang Baozhen broke the persimmon cake she brought back and gave half to each of them. 

“Sister, was it fun in the city?” Liang Baoling asked, her mouth full of the sweet persimmon. 

“It’s fun. Next time you come to the city, I’ll take you around.” 

“Yes! I want to go with Mother and Father, our whole family should go all together!” 

Song Chunhua passed by and overheard it. She scolded her, “Okay, we’ll talk about it later. Baozhen, don’t learn from others and take things from your in-laws to give to your family. You’ll get scolded if you do. Just live a good life on your own.” 

Song Chunhua knew better than anyone that the relationship between her husband’s family and her own family was not easy. She would be criticized if she went back to her parents’ home too often, especially if she took some things from her husband’s family back to subsidize her own family.  

Relatives from the countryside also caused trouble for people when they came to the city. She didn’t want to bring her family to the city to cause trouble for others and end up making her daughter suffer. 

“Mother, it’s nothing. If you want to go to the city, you can go there.” Liang Baozhen had thought about it a long time ago. The Xu family’s place is small, and it is indeed not very convenient, but it will get better. “Who knows, Baoling may be able to go to university in the city in the future.”

 

“University?” Song Chunhua was stirring the mutton soup in the pot. It had been simmering for more than two hours. The milky white soup was fragrant. She laughed when she heard her daughter’s words. “The slots for university through the worker-peasant-soldier recommendation are very hard to get. If your sister had the ability to secure one, I’d sell everything I have to support her.” 

Liang Baozhen opened her mouth. She was thinking that the college entrance examination would resume soon, but no one knew it yet. To go to university, one had to get a recommendation from the Workers, Peasants, and Soldiers University. “That’s hard to say. Maybe the college entrance examination will be resumed in the future.” 

“Who knows what will happen in the future? It depends on her luck.” Song Chunhua scooped a bowl of mutton soup, sprinkled some chopped green onions, and handed it to her daughter. “Taste if it’s salty.”

 

“Also, tell me about the Xu family.” 

Even though it’s only two days, people’s feelings won’t lie. 

“It’s pretty good.” Liang Baozhen wasn’t sure how other people’s marriages were, but whether it was Xu Shengjie or other members of the Xu family, they all made her feel quite at ease. 

Song Chunhua knew her daughter well. If she said it was good, it must be true “Anyway, you have to live your life by yourself. You have a blunt temper sometimes, so you have to be careful in your husband’s house. How you treat others is how others treat you. It’s mutual. Of course, if someone bullies you and you can’t stand it. Your mother is there for you!” 

“I understand.” Liang Baozhen’s mind was filled with various images. She took a step forward and hugged Song Chunhua, resting her chin on her mother’s shoulder. “Mother, you’re the best.” 

“Okay, okay, stop being so sentimental.” Song Chunhua smiled and patted her daughter’s back, urging her to drink the soup. 

“It’s delicious! Just the right amount.” Liang Baozhen took a sip from the bowl, savoring the fresh taste of the mutton soup. “Mother, your soup is the best.” 

“You’re just flattering me. Give some to Xiao Xu to try.” 

Xu Shengjie was in the yard when he saw Liang Baozhen coming out of the kitchen with a bowl of steaming mutton soup in her hand. 

“The mutton soup my mother cooked is delicious. You should try it.” Liang Baozhen handed the bowl to the man in front of her. 

On a hot summer day, drinking a bowl of mutton soup can make you sweat and make your whole body feel comfortable. Xu Shengjie drank the remaining half bowl of mutton soup. Just when he was about to praise it, he heard the Liang family coming back at the door.

 

Today’s lunch was extremely sumptuous, with a large pot of mutton soup with dipping sauce, which made everyone sweat profusely while eating. Additionally, there were some cold shredded vegetables and some stir-fried cabbage. 

Liang Zhigao was happy that his daughter had returned and that his son-in-law was a good match. He invited everyone to have a few more drinks. When the meal was over, Liang Zhigao, his son, and his two sons-in-law were still drinking at the table. 

“Your father is in a good mood; let them drink. There’s not much work this afternoon anyway,” Song Chunhua finally felt relieved. She was very pleased to see her family together. 

While everyone was busy, Liang Baozhen went back to the house with her elder sister. When they started eating, she noticed that her elder sister seemed preoccupied, and her smile was forced. 

“Sister, what’s wrong with you? Is there something on your mind?” 

Liang Baoying knew she couldn’t hide it from her younger sister. Today, she and her husband, Song Jianguo, had gone to the brigade office to inquire about the conditions for returning to the city. They got a clear answer that those who had already married in the countryside couldn’t go back. 

“Your brother-in-law said he wanted a divorce.” 

“What?!” Liang Baozhen’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Brother-in-law wants to divorce you?” 

“Don’t get too worked up.” Liang Baoying held her sister’s hand and quickly explained, “It’s not a real divorce.” 

“Fake divorce?” Liang Baozhen was quick-witted. She knew what her brother-in-law was up to after a brief thought. “He wants to divorce you. Then go back to the city under the pretext of work, and then…” 

“He said he would come to pick me and Mengmeng up later, and then we would remarry.” Liang Baoying frowned, and her face was full of worry. This seemed to be her husband’s only way out; otherwise, he couldn’t go back. But she had never thought she’d have to deal with a divorce. 

In the past few decades, no one in Damei Village has ever gotten divorced. The most recent case was a man who got drunk and beat his wife ten years ago. She couldn’t stand it and finally ran away. There has been no news of her since then. There was no formal divorce. If there were a divorce, the spit from everyone around would probably drown that person. 

Besides, widows in the village, like those whose husbands had died, were already a ready-made example that raising children alone was tough. 

“Sister, you need to think this through. I still feel this plan is unreliable. What if my brother-in-law doesn’t come back to get you after he returns to the city?” Liang Baozhen carefully recalled the plot in the book. Unfortunately, the Liang family didn’t play any part in those stories, let alone the ending of her eldest sister and brother-in-law. But she knew that later, a large number of educated youths would return to the city, and many of them abandoned their wives and children and never returned, leaving their families to live in the countryside alone. 

Will her brother-in-law Song Jianguo really come back to pick up her sister and Mengmeng after his divorce and return to the city? She wasn’t sure, and looking at Liang Baoying, she guessed she wasn’t sure either. 

“You don’t know, Jianguo has been thinking about this all day, and he’s almost going crazy.” Liang Baoying was confused, with all the arguments on both sides, and she couldn’t make up her mind. Her husband had repeatedly assured her, but her sister’s argument also made sense. What could she gamble on in this situation? 

“I just think he’s pitiful. He was a city person who had been working in the countryside for years. He used to work with a pen, but now he’s scraping a living from the land. It’s tough for him too.” 

“Sister, don’t agree with this. Let my brother-in-law wait a bit longer.” Thinking of the college entrance examination being resumed at the end of next year, my elder sister-in-law’s family still has this way to go. They can find a way to return to the city without getting divorced. “Maybe the college entrance examination will resume soon. Didn’t my brother-in-law have good grades back when he was studying? If he can get into a city job through the exams, there won’t be any need for a divorce.” 

“It will be very hard for you and Mengmeng after the divorce. Even if my brother-in-law takes you after a few years, enduring all the gossip until then will be tough. You should talk to him about it.” To strengthen her argument, Liang Baozhen made up a lie. “Didn’t I just go to the city? Someone in our courtyard has a relative in school, and I heard there’s a real possibility the exams will be resumed. Tell my brother-in-law to prepare more.” 

“Really?” Liang Baoying couldn’t contain her joy upon hearing this good news. That would be great! “I’ll talk to your brother-in-law later. Oh, and Baozhen, don’t mention this to Mother and the others. Let me and your brother-in-law discuss it first. We don’t want to worry Mother and make everyone uncomfortable.” 

Liang Baozhen nodded in agreement. 

***

The four men of the Liang family drank a lot of wine in the main hall. A son-in-law is equivalent to half a son. Liang Zhigao was satisfied with his eldest and second son-in-law. He drunkenly patted their shoulders and said, “It’s not easy for us to become a family. I don’t have any big demands. As long as Baoying and Baozhen can live a smooth life. As for you two, just be good to your wives and support your own family! That’s already good enough!” 

“Father, that’s enough. Both of my brothers-in-law know what to do. Stop drinking; you can only handle half a jin, but you keep insisting on drinking eight liang.” 

Liang Zhigao’s face turned red from drinking. Liang Baojun followed him. Song Jianguo was feeling a bit better, but he had something on his mind and drank a lot, so his eyes were also unfocused. 

Only Xu Shengjie remained unaffected, his eyes remained clear, and he also joined in persuading his father-in-law, “Father, don’t worry. But maybe you should save the rest of this wine for next time.” 

“Next time?” Liang Zhigao burped and felt a little dizzy. He couldn’t see anyone clearly, but he felt like there was a shadow in front of him. “Okay, let’s drink next time. Baojun, put this Wuliangye away and hide it well. Don’t let your mother find it.” 

Liang Baojun’s eyebrows twitched, and he curled his lips in disgust, “The old man talks nonsense when he’s drunk. He thinks you’re his drinking companion from the village.” 

Xu Shengjie smiled and did not mind. “Let’s help Father lie down.” 

After settling down the drunken Liang Zhigao and Song Jianguo, Song Chunhua grumbled as she looked at her husband and kept yelling that he had a bad drinking habit. Liang Baoying looked at Song Jianguo with heartache; she wrung out a cloth and wiped his face. 

“Mother, we’ll go back first.” 

The time spent together always feels short. Xu Shengjie had to return to the factory for work in the afternoon, so the two needed to leave. 

“Okay, but remember what Mother said. If anything comes up, be sure to send a message back.” 

“Okay.” Liang Baozhen then reminded her elder sister to remember her advice and not to make any rash decisions. Finally, she said goodbye to her younger sister and niece. 

Before leaving Damei Village, the two of them went to visit Aunt Fengxia, who had been their matchmaker. It was necessary to express their gratitude. After everything was done, they were running late, so they hurried to pack up and return to the city. 

In the past two days since getting married and living at Xu’s house, Liang Baozhen has been fine and feels that she has adapted well to married life. But today, when she went back to her parents’ home and stayed there for half a day before having to leave again, she suddenly felt a bit sad while sitting on the bus. 

Especially after having a meal and talking to her family for a few moments, she was about to leave the home where she had lived for twenty years. There were always some indescribable emotions lingering in her heart. Her family was still there, but she was the only one who had to go far away. 

The bus swayed and bumped along the dirt road. With a sharp turn, everyone inside swayed and grabbed the backs of the seats to steady themselves. Liang Baozhen was about to fall toward the window but was stopped by a large hand gripping her arm. 

When she turned around, she saw Xu Shengjie pulling her. 

“We can come back and visit your parents in a while,” Xu Shengjie said softly, noticing that Liang Baozhen seemed quite down. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a piece of fruit candy, and unwrapped it before feeding it to his wife. 

“Hmm.” Liang Baozhen was caught off guard by the man who fed her a candy that tasted like sweet orange. As she rolled the candy on her tongue and enjoyed it, her mood seemed to improve a bit. “Where did you get the candy?” 

“Xiaoya gave it to me.” Folding the candy wrapper in his hand, Xu Shengjie explained as he noticed the curious look in Liang Baozhen’s eyes. “I’ll bring it back to Xiaoya. She loves to collect these. She has collected more than ten of them in her house.” 

The fruit candy wrappers were made of colorful wax paper with corresponding fruit designs drawn on them. They were particularly beautiful. Occasionally, children would collect these wrappers as treasures. 

“The candy wrappers are really pretty! I also have three in a thin iron box in my room, but we don’t have many opportunities to eat candy.” Speaking of similar interests and hobbies, Liang Baozhen deeply agreed. 

“Well, you can go see her collection when we get back. That girl loves showing off her candy wrappers.” 

“Okay.” 

At 1:50 in the afternoon, the two arrived at the entrance of Crescent Alley. Xu Shengjie had work at 2:00, and it would take about ten minutes to walk from the alley entrance. 

“Just go straight over there, so you won’t be late.” Liang Baozhen pointed to the entrance of the alley. “I can find our courtyard on my own.” 

“Okay, just keep walking straight down the path.” Xu Shengjie strode forward but suddenly slowed down and turned around to look. 

His wife, dressed in a simple dress, was walking home step by step, her two braids swaying with each step. Xu Shengjie smiled slightly and continued on his way. 

Liang Baozhen calmed down and walked into the courtyard. Her grandmother should be taking a nap at this time. The sun was too hot, so it would be cooler at home. Before leaving, Song Chunhua packed her a few tomatoes and a handful of willow buds. 

Just enough to make some sugar-mixed tomatoes and some cold willow sprouts…

 

However, just as she passed through the hanging flower gate and before she reached the second courtyard, she heard a commotion. 

“Mother, you can’t be so muddle-headed. How could Shengjie marry a country girl? Wouldn’t she be old and ugly from working in the fields every day? How could you approve of that?” 

Liang Baozhen paused, seeing a few middle-aged men and women standing in front of her house. It sounded like they were talking about her. 

The author has something to say: 

Liang Baozhen: Who are they calling ugly?! 

Xu Shengjie clenched his fists!