Chapter 19.1

After reporting to her father, Tian Mi got busy again. 

Traveling a long distance these days was like embarking on a journey to the West to obtain scriptures.

First of all, there was no train station in the city where Chaoyang Village was located. She had to take a bus to Shanghai^[1]Hu City – Short name for Shanghai so I just went with Shanghai since it’s more familiar., then board a train to H Province, where her sister lived. Once in H Province, she would still need to transfer to a bus.

Calculating it all, the trip could take more than a week.

So, there was a lot to prepare, especially when it came to food—she needed a big bag just for that.

Initially, she planned to buy food on the train. After all, deep down, she was still more accustomed to modern-day travel methods.

Back in the day, whenever she traveled, she liked to pack light—ideally, with nothing in hand.

But when her father learned of her plan, he knocked her on the head, calling her wasteful and careless with money. He then carefully explained the benefits of bringing her own food.

For example, everyone knew that train food was expensive.

As a young woman traveling alone, if she bought prepared meals for every meal, she would be signaling to others that she had money, drawing unnecessary attention.

It had to be said: her father, an old police officer, possessed the practical wisdom of the common folk. And Tian Mi, as a person who had suddenly entered this world, still had many habits to adjust and be cautious about.

At that point, she didn’t need any further reasoning from her father. Just this one reason was enough to make her willing to endure the hassle of carrying multiple bags.

Fortunately, she didn’t have much to pack for herself—no skincare products, and her clothes for all four seasons fit into one small bundle.

Adding some food wouldn’t be too much of a burden.

However, when it came to what food to bring and how to pack it, Tian Mi declined her father’s suggestions, opting to handle it herself.

This was the reason for her busyness.

Since she had decided at the last minute to bring her own food, she hurried to the seaside after returning to the county guesthouse.

This time, Tian Mi’s focus was entirely on lobsters.

Because of a series of events, she had missed out on eating that fancy lobster before, and it had been on her mind ever since.

Later, while staying at Aunt Cuilan’s place, it didn’t feel right to bring back lobsters—something not widely accepted at the time—to give to others.

But now that she was preparing solely for herself, she could eat whatever she liked.

The next morning, Tian Mi carried a large bag of freshly prepared lobster meat and went back to the town’s police station.

To her pleasant surprise, not only was her father, Tian Hongxing, there, but Lai Di, Pan Di, and Xiang Yang had also shown up.

Tian Mi was overjoyed. She thought she wouldn’t get a chance to see them before leaving.

The siblings laughed and chatted for a good while. Tian Mi glanced around but wasn’t surprised to see that Luan Hongmei wasn’t there.

“Ahem, your mother’s sick. When I left this morning, she was still lying in bed,” Tian Hongxing said awkwardly, guessing that his second daughter was looking for his wife.

Tian Mi didn’t really mind. She was only worried that if she acted too indifferent, it would raise suspicion.

Now that her father had given her an excuse, she went along with it, shaking the bag in her hand. “Dad, I remember you have a place to cook at the Public Security Bureau^[2]Office similar in function to a police station. Can I use it?”

Seeing that his daughter wasn’t upset, Tian Hongxing breathed a sigh of relief. He nodded repeatedly, “Of course you can! I’ve got seasonings too. What’s in the bag?” He reached out and took the rather hefty sack from his second daughter, leading the way ahead.

Inside the police station, there were only three people, including the chief, so it was naturally impossible for them to have a separate canteen just for themselves.

However, because the police often had urgent matters that prevented them from eating on time, they eventually applied for a compromise and built a small kitchen.

Tian Hongxing opened his personal cabinet, which contained only a few scattered items.

Tian Mi took a quick glance. Besides the basic seasonings like oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, there was a piece of old ginger, a few garlic cloves, and the most eye-catching item—a jar of red chili sauce stored in a canister.

Her father loved spicy food, and all the children had inherited this love for heat. Every year, their family would make a large amount of chili sauce to store.

Seeing the chili sauce, Tian Mi’s eyes lit up, and she felt that the lobster would taste even better today. “I’ve prepared some lobster meat and want to cook it spicy and bottle it for the trip. Dad, can you help me find some empty jars?”

Tian Hongxing frowned at first, puzzled as to why his daughter would prepare shrimp, something nobody ate. Then, when she mentioned the jars, he sighed. The child had never traveled far; he still had to remind her of a few things. “Can you even eat that lobster stuff? Maybe your mother should prepare something else for you instead.”

As he spoke, he pulled out a bundle of money and ration tickets from his pocket and handed them over. “Take these money tickets. There’s only fabric tickets, but it’s enough to buy some cloth. Consider it the wedding clothes from your mom and me. By the way, these tickets aren’t universal nationwide, so it’s better to buy the cloth here and have it made into clothes when you reach the army.”

At this point, a wave of mixed emotions hit Tian Hongxing. His children were growing up and leaving, one after the other. His eldest daughter had been gone for eight years and hadn’t returned.

Tian Mi suddenly felt a bit choked up. She raised her hand to push the money tickets back to her father. “I don’t need the money tickets. Eldest sister… Eldest sister sent me travel expenses.”

She wasn’t exactly lying—her eldest sister did offer to send her money, though she had refused it. But now, it was a convenient excuse.

Tian Hongxing glared at her. “Your eldest sister is your eldest sister. She’s not obligated to support you. I’m your father, and it’s my duty to take care of you. Besides, Yatou is already married, and you’ll be staying with her. It’s tough to live under someone else’s roof, so try not to use their money. You don’t want your brother-in-law to look down on you.”

Hearing this, Tian Mi sniffled and kept her head down in silence.

Seeing her reaction, Tian Hongxing sighed and softened his tone. “You rushed into finding this fiancé, and you’re marrying far away. We can’t send furniture either. Yesterday, your mother and I discussed it, and we’ve decided to give you 100 yuan and some tickets. Fifty yuan for your wedding, and the other fifty for your travel expenses.”

In reality, sending off a daughter didn’t usually require much. If Tian Mi were getting married locally, they might give a few yuan, provide some furniture, and buy her a set of clothes. That’s it. The total cost would be less than twenty yuan, which was already better than most families.

But since his daughter was marrying a regiment commander from a big city, Tian Hongxing didn’t want to be criticized for seeking personal gain or for making it seem like they were selling their daughter for honor. He also didn’t want his son-in-law to look down on Tian Mi.

So, even though it pained him, he still took out the money. A hundred yuan was roughly equivalent to two and a half months of his salary.

Of course, when he said he had discussed it with his wife, he hadn’t actually done so. If Hongmei knew, she would surely make a fuss.

This time, Tian Mi didn’t refuse. She put the money and tickets into the inner pocket of her coat.

With many children at home and high expenses, it was well-known that they hadn’t saved much over the years, relying solely on their father’s salary.

In contrast, her own savings were probably more than her family’s. Still, she felt a bit awkward on the surface and quietly decided to send money back once she was settled.

Tian Hongxing was pleased with his daughter’s modesty, thinking she had grown up and become sensible. He muttered a few more words before turning and leaving the kitchen.

“Er Jie, just take what Dad gave you. You’ll need money for many things later on,” Pan Di advised, thinking that her sister was too embarrassed to accept their father’s money. From her perspective, it was better to give the money to her second sister than to their cheap eldest brother.

Lai Di stayed quiet as usual. She didn’t usually involve herself in adult matters. Instead, she quickly poured the lobster meat into a basin and began washing it.

Even Xiao Xiang Yang squatted beside them to help.

Seeing this, Tian Mi chuckled softly, putting away her complicated feelings, and picked up a bucket to fetch water.

“San Jie, is this really lobster meat? Can lobsters get this big?”

Lai Di placed the cleaned lobster meat on the stove, watching as her older sister chopped it into smaller pieces. She couldn’t help but be skeptical. After all, it wasn’t like she hadn’t seen lobsters before.

Once summer arrived, the Chaoyang River, ponds, and small ditches were filled with lobsters.

Some mischievous kids would catch them to play with, but no one had ever eaten them, nor had they ever been this large.

Tian Mi quickly chopped up a large bowl of lobster meat, prepared some simple seasonings, and signaled Lai Di to start the fire before saying, “Don’t worry, I’ve eaten it before. These are large shrimp from the sea. I got lucky and found someone who was selling them half-price. They’re really delicious; you’ll know once they’re cooked.”

Lobster meat was tasty even when simply boiled with a dipping sauce, let alone Tian Mi’s spicy preparation.

When the scallions, ginger, and garlic sizzled in the pan, Tian Mi added half of the lobster meat into the large iron pot to stir-fry.

Without any cooking wine, she poured in a bit of the white wine her father had saved to remove the fishy smell. Then she added chili sauce, soy sauce, and a few pieces of the old rock sugar that Lai Di had just bought.

After stirring it a few times, she added enough water to just cover the lobster meat and put on the lid. “Lai Di, turn up the heat!”

From here on, whether it would be edible or delicious no longer needed further explanation from Tian Mi.

Just seeing her younger siblings staring intently at the pot, occasionally swallowing discreetly, made it clear how tempting the dish was.

Xiang Yang, still young, couldn’t help but exclaim, “Er Jie, it smells so good!”

Tian Mi smiled. “I’ll give you a big bowl later.”

Upon hearing this, Xiang Yang’s eyes lit up, but he quickly shook his head. “No, sister, I ate on the way.”

Tian Mi’s expression softened. “Don’t worry, I specially prepared your portion. You can eat your fill.”

This made Xiang Yang smile, and even Pan Di and Lai Di looked forward to it.

The lobster meat didn’t need to cook for long before it lost its moisture.

Just then, Tian Hongxing returned with several plastic jars, and upon entering, he exclaimed, “It smells amazing.”

As he spoke, he handed his daughter the jars. “Use these for the dish. Those glass bottles are easy to break and heavy. These are bubble gum jars I got from the supply store; each can hold about two or three pounds of stuff.”

Tian Mi took them and squeezed one. They weren’t particularly sturdy, but they were enough to hold the lobster meat. She instructed Lai Di to turn off the fire since the plastic jars couldn’t withstand heat; the dish needed to cool down before it could be stored in the jars.

However, everyone could enjoy a meal first.

The wild lobster meat tasted far better than the artificially cultivated ones from later generations, delicious enough that Tian Mi almost swallowed her tongue.

For the other members of the Tian family, who had never eaten lobster before, this food, different from pork or fish, was delicious even with the simplest of seasonings. They couldn’t believe they had missed out on this for so many years—it felt like a waste.

Especially the lobster, weighing several pounds, had been cut into chunks measuring about three or four centimeters, each bite was filled with meat, adding to the satisfaction.

While the family of five was so engrossed in eating that they barely lifted their heads, the chief and Han Wei returned one after another from their errands.

As Tian Mi was naturally adept at socializing with her father’s superiors and colleagues, she quickly filled a large bowl of the first batch of cooked lobster and invited them to join in.

In the end, the first pot of lobster was devoured completely, and even the remaining broth was used to soak rice.

After the meal, everyone sat on stools, holding their bellies and resting, feeling that even standing up for a walk was a struggle.

The chief, looking to be about the same age as Tian Hongxing, had been colleagues with him for several decades and had a great relationship. He couldn’t help but express his envy, “Lao Tian, you’re a lucky man. Mi Yatou’s cooking is amazing! Who would’ve thought lobster could taste this good? By the way, does she have a partner? My…”

Hearing her daughter being praised, Tian Hongxing beamed with pride. Just as he was about to be modest, he realized the chief’s words were going off track, and he hurriedly interrupted, “She has a partner! She has a partner! Her eldest sister helped find him.”

The chief clicked his tongue in regret as he watched the charming young woman across from him smile graciously. He felt increasingly disappointed, wishing he could introduce her to his nephew.

His nephew had graduated from a formal police academy with the last batch of college students and had established himself at the county police department over the past few years, with a bright future ahead. 

However, finding a suitable partner was challenging for him. He had high standards and was already 29 years old this year.

Originally, the chief hadn’t thought of the Tian family since she was a country girl without a job, which seemed a bit mismatched. Plus, he hadn’t seen Mi Yatou for several years.

Who would have thought that upon seeing her today, that once skinny little girl had grown into a stunning beauty with astonishing culinary skills? She also had a graceful and calm demeanor, making her a perfect candidate for a wife.

Unfortunately, he was too late to make a move, and it was only natural that a good girl would be taken early.

Seeing Tian Mi had already started cleaning the dishes with her younger siblings, the chief was still unwilling to give up. He handed a cigarette to Tian Hongxing and quietly asked, “Lao Tian, tell me the truth: has Mi Yatou really gotten engaged? Who’s the guy? Ahem, this concerns the happiness of the children for a lifetime. We elders must inquire about the character of the guy. I know quite a few people.”

Upon hearing this, Han Wei, who was sitting in the back drinking tea, quietly perked up his ears.

Tian Hongxing felt both amused and helpless; he knew exactly what this old fellow was scheming. But since the girl had made promises to someone already, how could he go back on his word?

Initially, he hadn’t planned to mention anything about Regiment Commander Lou, but he understood that the chief was the type who liked to dig deep.

Rather than waiting for him to pester him daily, it was better to take the initiative and clarify: “Yes, they are engaged. It was introduced by my eldest son-in-law.”

At this point, he lowered his voice again. “The girl hasn’t gotten a marriage certificate yet, so don’t spread the word. The guy is a college graduate, a regiment-level officer, and he’s from Beijing. Mi Yatou will be going to the army in a couple of days.”

With this series of details, the chief’s plans for wooing the girl were completely extinguished.

Facing his old friend, Tian Hongxing also expressed his dissatisfaction: “It’s just that he’s too old. I think he’s too old for her.”

Upon hearing this, the chief, who had slumped in his chair, straightened up. It made sense; being a regiment-level officer was equivalent to the deputy secretary of the county committee, so he must be quite old. Thinking this, he regained some confidence. “How old is he?”

Tian Hongxing frowned. “He’s 29.”

The chief was momentarily stunned.

After returning to the guesthouse, Tian Mi barely had time to rest before it was time to meet her sister.

The good news was that she had secured a sleeper ticket for the trip, scheduled for the afternoon of the day after tomorrow.

“There will be someone waiting for you at the bus station; he’s a former comrade of your brother-in-law. He’s from Shanghai and will take you to the train station.”

This was Tian Mi’s first time traveling far, but she had traveled abroad many times before, often alone, so she was completely unafraid of going far.

However, her elder sister was worried, and she patiently reassured her while also asking about potential issues she might encounter along the way.

“You could leave a day earlier for more time; otherwise, if the bus breaks down halfway, you might miss the train. If you have enough time, you can rest at the guesthouse in Shanghai and even explore a bit. Shanghai is bustling.” Thinking back to eight years ago when her husband took her around a big shopping mall in Shanghai, even though they didn’t buy much, Tian Yu felt she had gained experience and naturally hoped her sister could also broaden her horizons.

Tian Mi was very curious about Shanghai in the 1970s and readily agreed, “Alright, I’ll try to leave early.”

“You can decide that for yourself. But when you get to Shanghai, be sure to call us to let us know you’re safe. It’s a pity; your brother-in-law and Regiment Commander Lou have been extremely busy lately, so I can’t just have anyone go pick you up.” Tian Yu rambled on, as was her habit.

Tian Mi thought to herself, please no. She didn’t want her brother-in-law or Regiment Commander Lou to pick her up; it would be too awkward.

So, she changed the topic and discussed various potential mishaps she might encounter on the journey before hanging up.

When she returned home, worried she might forget, Tian Mi took out a pen and paper to make a plan.

The next day.

Beifang

Around nine in the morning, Tian Mi was packing clothes into a snake skin bag in her room, contemplating whether to take the risk of buying a cloth bag on the black market, when someone knocked on the door.

It was broad daylight, so she opened the door directly.

Seeing her father standing outside, she exclaimed in surprise, “Dad, why are you here so early?” She quickly stepped aside to let him in.

Tian Hongxing had received a call from his second daughter that morning at work, so he hurried over on his bike.

Once inside, he placed a woven rattan box, about 22 inches in size, on the ground. “I figured you didn’t have a box, so use this for your clothes. Just carry a small shoulder bag, and that should be enough.”

This was a timely blessing, truly a stroke of luck!

In this day and age, leather suitcases were precious, and even a canvas bag was more upscale than a rattan one.

However, Tian Mi preferred this handcrafted box; it was both attractive and discreet. She smiled and said, “Thank you, Dad!”

Tian Hongxing waved his hand. “Have you packed everything?”

“I don’t have much, just a few clothes.”

“What time is your bus tomorrow morning?”

Hearing this, Tian Mi quickly rummaged through her pockets and handed her father the bus ticket she had queued up for early that morning.

Tian Hongxing glanced at it and then returned it to his daughter. “Tomorrow morning, I’ll bring Pan Di and Xiang Yang to see you off.”

At this, Tian Mi paused in her movements and looked up. “What about Lai Di?”

“Back when I was twenty, riding a bike with two kids was already quite the challenge.” Tian Hongxing surveyed the room to ensure there were no safety issues before sitting down on a stool to pour himself a glass of water.

“You came on your bike?”

“Yeah, it was quite fast. I got here in an hour and a half.”

Tian Mi glanced at her father’s graying hair, bit her lip, and stayed silent as she continued to pull clothes from the snake skin bag into the box.