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When Xingchen went to pay, Momo deliberately handed him the money first, so that it looked like he was the one treating, and he wouldn’t lose face.
But others saw it differently. Ten yuan spent just like that on spices? The older women watching shook their heads. Pretty face or not, a wife that wasteful—how much would a man have to earn each month to support her?
The younger woman, however, found Xingchen incredibly attractive. Ten yuan gone without even a blink, no sign of reluctance. He looked stern, yes, but he was decisive. Not like some men who hesitated even over a bottle of soda.
A few men dared to glance at Momo, but the moment Xingchen’s sharp gaze swept over them, they dropped their heads in a hurry, chilled as if a wolf had set its eyes on them.
The men muttered inwardly: Was that necessary? We were only looking. Not like we’d dare do anything.
Xingchen’s thoughts: I’d rip their eyes out if I could. My wife is for me alone to look at.
After the spices, Momo bought a bag of apples—they kept well for a long time—and two tins of Vaseline for winter-dry hands and feet. These didn’t need ration coupons. She also picked up two bottles of soda. Together, the two of them strolled back to the guesthouse, sipping as they walked.
“A-Chen, I can’t help worrying about my grandparents. Every time I think about them, my heart feels unsettled.”
She hadn’t spoken of it all this time, not because she didn’t care, but because she buried the worry deep down, keeping herself busy to avoid dwelling on it.
“Your grandparents are wise. Since they made their arrangements, we should trust them. When news comes, I’ll go with you. I haven’t even met your family formally yet.”
He couldn’t bring himself to offer empty reassurances. All he could do was choose trust.
“My mother and second aunt will like you. Back then, they chose my father and uncle mostly because they were handsome. You’ve seen us siblings—Su family blood means good looks, and we naturally like people who are easy on the eyes.”
“Then I’ll make sure to behave well, win Father-in-law’s approval.”
“As long as you treat me well, my dad will like you.”
“That goes without saying. It’s my duty.”
……
The two walked slowly in the setting sun. Xingchen bent his head slightly, listening to her chatter, his eyes full of affection. From time to time, he murmured back a reply, while she lifted her face to him, smiling with eyes curved like crescents.
Passersby turned to look again at the sight of them. That moment imprinted itself in many people’s memories—a picture so beautiful that even decades later, they would still recall it vividly.
After resting the night, they headed to the hospital in high spirits the next morning. The First Hospital in the city was decent enough, though far from the overcrowded chaos hospitals would face decades later. In those days, people avoided doctors if they could, fearful of the cost.
There was a knock on the office door.
“Come in.”
Inside sat the dean, a man in his fifties with hair already gone half white. Medicine took its toll; white strands in one’s thirties were common.
“Dean, hello. I’m Su Momo, here for the exam.”
**“Comrade Su. Comrade Lin. Please, sit.
The exam questions were set jointly by six department heads. To ensure fairness, the test will be conducted live, with ten questions in total. You must score at least ninety percent to pass.”**
The dean knew her medical license was for military service. No shortcuts could be allowed; soldiers’ lives would be in her hands.
“No problem. I’m ready to begin now.”
“Good. Let’s go to the conference room.”
Not long after they arrived, the six examiners filed in.
“The exam begins now. Questions will be posed and answered on the spot.”
Each had been instructed beforehand—this candidate was to become an army doctor—so the questions were unusually rigorous. Half were surgical, the rest spread across disciplines, since her superior had said she had wide-ranging knowledge.
Xingchen sat quietly at the back, watching his wife focus. The moment she picked up her pen, her entire aura shifted—calm, confident, determined. She was born to win.
Some examiners whispered:
“Old Qi, do you think this young girl can manage it? She’s so young.”
“I think she can. Look at her—so sure of herself.”
“Well, results will tell. These are lean years. I hope she’s a real talent we can cultivate.”
The murmurs didn’t disturb her.
An hour and a half later, she finished, far faster than expected. With such lengthy questions requiring careful thought, they’d assumed at least three hours.
The seven men gathered to review her papers. At first, they had dismissed her youth. But reading her answers, their skepticism crumbled.
“Comrade Su, why did you answer this one this way?”
“Comrade Su, I also have a question. You mention a method I’ve never used, but it looks feasible. Could you explain in detail?”
“Comrade Su, I too—”
Soon she was surrounded by seven gray-haired men, their usual reserve replaced by bright smiles. Their faces crinkled into even deeper wrinkles as they peppered her with questions.
Another full hour passed before she was finally released—thanks only to Xingchen’s intimidating presence standing nearby, which kept them from detaining her even longer.
**“Comrade Su, you’ve passed. You will be issued your medical license immediately.
I’ve heard you have exceptional skill in surgery. Would you mind demonstrating?”**
“Of course. Please bring me a raw egg and a set of suturing tools.”
Puzzled, they complied.
Momo gently cracked the egg, peeling away shards of shell. She carefully separated the fragile membrane inside. Then, with steady hands, she threaded a needle and began stitching the torn membrane back together—seam by seamless seam.
In under ten minutes, the membrane was whole again. Not a tremor shook her hand the entire time.
Gasps filled the room. The dean’s eyes reddened with excitement. Even Xingchen, watching silently, felt his pupils widen. To mend something as delicate as an eggshell membrane—it was astonishing.
“Comrade Su, how did you achieve this?”
“Just practice. At first, I used pigskin. Then, banana peels, orange peels, and grape skins. Finally, eggshell membranes. After thousands of repetitions, anyone here could do it.”
Her tone was light, but they could all imagine the grueling perseverance behind it. Not only steady hands, but absolute concentration—a test of both body and spirit.
The dean rubbed his palms, smiling a little sheepishly.
“Comrade Su, there’s something we’d like to ask your help with… if you wouldn’t mind?”