◎ Countdown to Catch the Adulterer ◎ 

Liang Baozhen’s dowry was nearly ready. In the Liang family compound, the furniture that Liang Zhigao had personally crafted was finished and being aired out. Among them was a yellow wooden dressing box, which was too expensive to buy at the supply and marketing cooperative. So, Liang Zhigao cut down a tree and made it himself. His craftsmanship was excellent, and the dressing box he made was just as exquisite as those from the supply and marketing cooperative. 

There is also a pair of enamel cups, two towels, a thermos, and a rice cabinet. 

Due to the traditions in Damei Village, the bride and groom were not allowed to see each other between the engagement and the wedding. Liang Baozhen hadn’t seen Chen Siming since their engagement and had only agreed to get their marriage license on the 27th and hold the wedding banquet on the 28th. 

The only things missing from the dowry are two quilts, which must be bright red with magpies on them. She couldn’t find them the last time she went to the city, so this time, Song Chunhua asked around and was told that the supply and marketing cooperative in the city should have them tomorrow. 

Today, the bright red clothes were almost finished, with only the final touches remaining. However, there weren’t enough needles and threads. Song Chunhua held the needle in one hand and the thread in the other, looking up but unable to thread it. “I’m old now, and my eyes aren’t as good as they used to be.” 

She looked at her youngest daughter, who was collecting eggs in the chicken coop, and called out, “Baoling, come over here and thread the needle for me.” 

Liang Baoling carefully put the eggs down and then happily jumped over to help thread the needle. This was her specialty, and she succeeded on the first try. “Here, Mother. You’re making such beautiful clothes.” 

The red outfit was a traditional buttoned jacket with plum blossom buttons and long, straight pants. The fabric was good, and the finished product looked sharp and well-made. The sun was glaring, and Song Chunhua held up the clothes while her daughter held the pants for comparison, as if she could already see her daughter wearing them on her wedding day. 

It really wasn’t long now. 

“Mother.” Liang Baozhen came back from outside and saw her clothes. The colors were bright and beautiful. 

“Try it on quickly. If it doesn’t fit, I’ll make some adjustments.” Song Chunhua hurriedly pushed her daughter into the house. As her daughter took off her old, rough clothes and put on the brand-new red wedding dress, with her red lips and white teeth, Song Chunhua’s eyes immediately filled with tears. “My beautiful daughter, Comrade Chen is truly lucky to have you.” 

She had been looking forward to her daughter finding a good match, but now that the wedding day was almost here, she suddenly felt reluctant. The countryside and the city were quite far apart, and they wouldn’t be able to see each other for a long time. 

“Mother, don’t be sad.” Liang Baozhen wiped Song Chunhua’s tears, patted her on the back, and coaxed her. 

“I just got some dust in my eyes. This is such a happy occasion; I’m happy for you.” Song Chunhua held her daughter’s hand, looking at her child’s beautiful features—her eyes, nose, and mouth. She had to look at her a lot these days because it would be hard to see her in the future. 

Liang Baoling followed beside her, leaning against Song Chunhua, and said, “Sister, Mother secretly wiped away tears yesterday. She couldn’t bear to see you go!” 

“You little rascal!” Song Chunhua turned and glared at her younger daughter. “You’re always exposing your mother’s secrets.” 

“Mother, what’s the big deal? I can’t bear to see Sister go, either…” Liang Baoling hadn’t thought much about it at first, but now that there were only a few days left, the whole Liang family was starting to feel sad. 

“Okay, okay, don’t say these things. It’s not auspicious if your sister cries.” Song Chunhua waved her hands and held her daughter in one hand, and talked to Liang Baozhen in private, “When you get to your in-laws, be diligent, okay? Even though my daughter is great in every way, it’s different when you’re at your in-laws’. After all, you don’t share the same family name, so don’t give them any reason to pick on you. And you’re not going too far away, but it’s not exactly close either. If something happens, we might not be able to help right away. So, you need to get along well with the neighbors, so you can help each other out…” 

“I know, Mother, I’ve got it in mind,” Liang Baozhen said. She understood her mother’s concerns; all she wanted was for her son and daughter to be well. “But, Mother, I’m actually uncertain. I don’t know how life will be in the future.” 

Song Chunhua thought that since her daughter read so much, she was overthinking some things. “What can happen? Life is shaped by how we live it. You can make it whatever you want. Your husband is capable, so you should also strive to improve. I used to think that because he’s from the city, you’ve made a good match, but you’ll have to endure some hardships. But then I thought, if you didn’t marry someone from the city, would you spend your whole life working in the fields? Every time I go into the city and see the women there, dressed so nicely with fair and tender faces, we can’t compare. If you live like that in the future, I’d be happy.” 

“Mother, I’ll buy you some vanishing cream in the future. Just apply it on your face and it will make you white and tender.” 

“Oh, hahaha, your mother is old and doesn’t need those. You young folks can use them yourself.” 

Liang Baozhen had never seen her mother use cosmetics. She had been young and pretty before, but after all these years, her appearance had changed. 

“Anyway, don’t be afraid. It’s natural to feel a bit scared before marriage, since you’ll be living in another family. How could you feel completely at ease? I was the same before.” 

“So you and father were like this too?” 

“Of course.” Song Chunhua talked endlessly as she recalled the past. “Back then, I hadn’t even seen his face. Your grandparents arranged the marriage, claiming they had found the most handsome guy in the neighboring village. I didn’t believe it and thought he’d be just okay. I only saw him on the wedding day. But I was really relieved—I didn’t expect…” 

“You didn’t expect he’d be so handsome!” 

Liang Baoling suddenly interrupted, making the two people in the room laugh. 

When Liang Zhigao came back with his pipe, he heard the lively chatter from his daughter’s room and saw his wife and children happily talking together. He leaned in and asked, “What’s going on? You all look so happy.” 

“Mother is praising you for being handsome.” 

Liang Zhigao’s dark face turned red, but fortunately his skin color covered it up. He immediately turned around and walked away, “Ah, why are you talking about this.” 

***

The next day, Song Chunhua and Liang Baozhen woke up early. They had thin corn porridge for breakfast. Liang Baozhen ate two steamed buns and put two ears of corn and some wild vegetable cakes she had cooked earlier into her bag. 

This time, the two of them took a bus directly into the city and went straight to the supply and marketing cooperative.  

Song Chunhua hadn’t been to the city for a while. Looking at the dazzling array of goods on the counter of the supply and marketing cooperative, she wanted to buy everything for her daughter, but she was short of money and didn’t have enough tickets or money. 

With the tickets she had saved up, she generously bought two red magpie quilts, which were both festive and beautiful. 

The quilts were made of good material and it’s more comfortable than the coarse cloth at home. After taking them and putting them away, Song Chunhua reminded her daughter, “This material is good. You can use it for many more years.” 

Liang Baozhen touched the bedding; it felt excellent. However, her eyelids twitched as soon as she got up today, which made her feel uneasy, as if something was about to happen. She responded casually despite her discomfort. 

Before leaving, Liang Baozhen remembered that Dong Jiayan asked her to bring a scarf for her. 

“Comrade, do you have any Lihua brand silk scarf?” Turning to look at the salesperson, Liang Baozhen glanced around the counter but didn’t see any. 

“They’re arriving at ten. You’ll have to wait for half an hour.” Lihua brand silk scarf is a hot commodity in Beijing recently. I heard that almost every female employee in the nearby state-owned factories owns one, so there are not enough stocks. 

The restocking will not be until 10 o’clock today. 

“Mother, let’s go out for a walk and come back to buy it later.” 

“Okay.” Song Chunhua and her daughter walked out of the supply and marketing cooperative together, still amazed. “Jiayan is really willing to spend money. The scarf cost more than ten yuan each. I wonder where she got so much money.” 

No matter how much Song Chunhua loved her daughter, she couldn’t bear to spend so much money to buy her a scarf. 

The city was bustling, with people everywhere pushing their bicycles. Bicycles were rare in the countryside, with only two in each commune, and they were used by cadres when they were doing business. 

Listening to the jingling of the car bells and looking at the workers in blue work clothes, one couldn’t help but feel envious. 

“Look at them. It would be great if you could ride a bicycle and work in the factory in the future.”

 

“Mother, you’re thinking too far ahead.” Liang Baozhen and others walked to the door of the state-owned restaurant, smelling the fragrance wafting from inside, and pulled Song Chunhua inside. 

There were not many people in the state-owned restaurant at that time, with only a few people eating plain noodles. 

“Comrade, one meat bun, please.” 

“One liang of grain tickets and six cents” Liang Baozhen took out the money and tickets from her pocket and handed them to the waiter at the state-owned restaurant. 

“Why waste that money and tickets!” Song Chunhua just felt pain in her heart. 

“Mother, you rarely go to the city and have never eaten at a state-run restaurant, so I’m treating you.” The food tickets had been given to her by the winery staff when she exchanged iron thorns for items last time. 

“You, you don’t have much money yourself. Don’t you know how hard it is to make ends meet? What’s so great about eating this…” Before she could finish, the fragrant meat bun was already in her mouth. 

Liang Baozhen broke the pork and sauerkraut bun in half and shared it with Song Chunhua. The freshly baked bun had a soft crust, and the meat filling gave off an enticing aroma. 

The two of them ate as they walked to the supply and marketing cooperative, and the food was so delicious that they were silent all the way. 

“Comrade, I’d like a silk scarf.” 

It was exactly ten o’clock. Liang Baozhen paid the money, bought a silk scarf for Dong Jiayan, and prepared to go back to the village with her mother. 

“Hey, Baozhen, look, isn’t that Jiayan?” Song Chunhua turned and saw the young girl in the distance. It was Dong Jiayan. She couldn’t help but wonder, “Why did she ask you to buy a scarf if she’s coming to the city?” 

“It’s quite strange.” Liang Baozhen watched Dong Jiayan’s figure getting farther and farther away. Not long after, a man’s figure appeared in her sight. 

“Isn’t that my son-in-law?” Song Chunhua had sharp eyes and recognized Chen Siming after only seeing him three times. Seeing Dong Jiayan and Chen Siming walking in the same direction, a hint of doubt flashed in her eyes. 

 “Let’s go and take a look.”