Chapter 41

Qin Qingman knew that Wei Ling would come to pick them up today, so she got up early. When she woke up, she saw that Huang Wanqing hadn’t woken up yet and hadn’t called anyone. Instead, she felt the warmth of the kang and noticed that the temperature was a bit low. She tidied herself up and opened the stove in the living room.

The firewood in the stove had been sealed for a whole night and had already lost most of its heat.

The stove’s warmth was insufficient, and not only did the temperature in the living room drop, but even the bedroom temperature wasn’t as high as it should be.

She grabbed a handful of pine cones that had been peeled of their seeds and threw them into the stove, then lit a match.

The pine cones ignited instantly under the spark of the match.

The pine cones were dried, and since they were rich in oils, they were one of the best fire-starting materials in the northern regions.

Seeing the fire flare up, Qin Qingman added more firewood to the stove.

As the stove fire burned, she also added some wood to the stove used for heating the kang. Huang Wanqing and Chuchu were still not awake, and she didn’t want them to catch a cold.

With the fire burning, the temperature in the living room began to rise, and soon after, Chuchu, rubbing his eyes, got out of bed.

The little boy took a glance at Qin Qingman, who was kneading dough, and with a patter of footsteps, ran to her and hugged her leg. In his sleepy voice, he greeted her, “Sis, what’s for breakfast?”

“Three-flour noodles.”

While kneading the dough and removing air from it, Qin Qingman answered the child.

Their family had limited resources and couldn’t afford white flour, so they mixed various grains to make their food.

“Sis, noodles are delicious. I like them.” Chuchu, who had been a bit sleepy, immediately woke up and added, “Sis, I’ll go wash up.”

“The kettle has hot water, use that to wash.” Qin Qingman reminded him.

“Got it.” Chuchu obediently tidied himself up.

The child had become independent and could quickly take care of himself. In a short while, he had cleaned up and ran to Qin Qingman’s side to help.

In one corner of the living room, there were broken jars and pots used to grow small green onions and garlic shoots. Chuchu pulled up a handful of small onions and sat next to Qin Qingman, tidying up while curiously watching the large dough in her bowl. “Sis, don’t we only have three people in our house? Why are you kneading so much dough?”

“Your brother-in-law is coming to pick us up, and he definitely hasn’t had breakfast.” Qin Qingman replied, with experience.

She could tell that Wei Ling was quite picky. Even though he could eat anything when the food wasn’t great, he would definitely choose something tasty if it was available.

“Brother-in-law is coming?” Chuchu immediately became excited.

“Yes, it’s possible that it’s not just your brother-in-law coming.” Qin Qingman said, thinking about the things they had bought yesterday. She guessed that Wei Ling might bring others along. If he was bringing people, she would have to make more noodles.

Upon hearing this, Chuchu could no longer sit still. Grabbing the onions in his hand, he ran toward the window, tiptoed, and looked outside.

In the early morning, the chimneys of every household in the mountain village were puffing out white smoke.

After a night, the temperatures inside every house had dropped a bit. People rushed to add more firewood as soon as they got up. Outside, it was freezing cold, and the firewood at home could not stop burning for a moment. Winter was when every household consumed the most firewood.

The Zhu Hongxia family next door had been lifeless these past couple of days.

One reason was that Zhu Hongxia hadn’t fully recovered from her injury and was in a bad mood. The other reason was that both of her sons had been detained by the Security Officer and were working in the village. They had to get up as soon as it was light, and in this cold weather, she was worried about them, which made her anxious and irritable.

But even though she was upset, she didn’t dare to make a fuss anymore.

Zhu Hongxia had learned her lesson.

She couldn’t afford to anger the village leaders, and she certainly couldn’t offend Qin Qingman either. She had to keep a low profile.

Zhu Hongxia was in poor spirits, and Qin Lei was also listless. His hair and face had been injured from a kick by Liu Sangunzi. His face had been treated with medicine, so it wasn’t a big issue, but his hair had been burnt and was uneven. During the winter, he couldn’t get a haircut, so he had to wear a hat at home all the time.

Because of this, Qin Lei didn’t want to talk much.

With no one speaking at home, it felt eerily quiet and lifeless.

Even Qin Caiyun was carefully hiding her thoughts and was extra attentive in taking care of Zhu Hongxia, fearing that Zhu Hongxia might cause trouble for her. After all, no matter the era, filial piety was a heavy burden on one’s shoulders.

Qin Caiyun had gotten up very early today, nearly the same time as Qin Jianming and his brothers.

Once she got up, she had been busy around the house.

She was constantly in and out, never having a moment to relax.

In the winter, the firewood consumption was high. The living room in Qin Caiyun’s house was cluttered, and at that moment, she had just brought a large bundle of firewood in from the yard when she heard the sound of a car horn.

Their village was relatively remote, and there were hardly any vehicles that came through.

Just as Qin Caiyun thought this, her face changed.

She suddenly remembered Qin Qingman’s partner, who was said to be a military officer at the regimental level in the XXX division. Officers of this rank were allowed to drive, and it was said that a car from the division had come to the village yesterday. Could this mean that the car was heading to Qin Qingman’s house?

Uncertain of the emotions she was feeling, Qin Caiyun, almost instinctively, shrank back behind the pile of firewood, peering her head out to look at the Qin family’s courtyard gate.

In the distance, a mighty jeep steadily approached Qin Qingman’s house.

As it got closer, Qin Caiyun could clearly see the two people in the car. She recognized Wei Ling from afar, knowing he was Qin Qingman’s partner. However, she didn’t recognize the other man, who appeared to be not old, but she could tell that anyone accompanying Wei Ling must share the same status as a soldier.

Qin Caiyun’s heart raced, and she held her breath.

—o—o—o—

At Qin’s house, Chuchu, who had just finished washing the small onions, heard the sound of the car horn. He put down the onions, and under Qin Qingman’s watchful gaze, his little face turned red as he quickly wrapped himself in his cotton coat and rushed out.

“Brother-in-law, Brother-in-law—”

The child’s joyful voice rang out outside.

This not only drew the attention of Wei Ling and Du Hongyi but also woke up Huang Wanqing, who was still asleep in the west room.

Huang Wanqing immediately sat up on the kang, hurriedly pulled back a curtain to look outside, and upon seeing Wei Ling’s car, her face turned bright red. She quickly scrambled to get dressed.

She was so embarrassed. Not only had she not helped Master with anything, but she had also overslept.

The more she rushed, the more disordered she became. For quite a while, Huang Wanqing couldn’t manage to put her clothes on properly. Just then, someone knocked on the closed door, and Qin Qingman’s gentle voice reached her ears from outside. “Wanqing, don’t rush. Ah Ling and the others still have to move things, they won’t come inside right away.”

“Knew… knew it.” Huang Wanqing muttered, relieved by Qin Qingman’s reminder. She finally settled down, and her movements became more composed.

Once she stopped panicking, things became smoother, and within a minute or two, Huang Wanqing was dressed. She didn’t have time to tidy the bedding, so she hurried out of the room to wash up.

It was disrespectful to meet Master of the house looking untidy.

Qin Qingman had long finished kneading the dough. Noticing that Huang Wanqing had woken up, she prepared the washing water and, upon seeing Huang Wanqing’s figure, reminded her that she could wash up.

Huang Wanqing gave Qin Qingman a grateful look and quickly tidied herself up.

While Huang Wanqing washed up, Qin Qingman covered the dough with a clean towel, washed her hands, and went into the east room.

By the time Huang Wanqing finished getting ready, the east room had also been tidied up by Qin Qingman, with three folded bedding neatly leaning against the wall.

“Qingman…” Huang Wanqing looked at Qin Qingman with a bashful expression.

“It’s alright, I understand—it’s your first time resting at my place, and I know it takes time to get used to the bed.” Qin Qingman said, offering an excuse to Huang Wanqing.

Huang Wanqing was instantly moved.

Qin Qingman was so thoughtful and gentle; even her own mother hadn’t been this indulgent toward her.

But thanks to Qin Qingman’s comforting words, Huang Wanqing no longer felt nervous or embarrassed. Instead, she followed Qin Qingman and helped with the tasks.

—o—o—o—

Outside, Wei Ling hadn’t gotten out of the car yet when he saw Chuchu running toward him joyfully.

“Chuchu, open the yard gate. I’ll drive the car in. We brought all the things we bought from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative in the county yesterday.” Wei Ling called out loudly, sticking his head out of the car window.

It was also meant for the people in the village who were secretly watching.

He and Qin Qingman had gotten their marriage certificate, and all the customary betrothal gifts were being delivered.

The four big items for a 1970s wedding—sewing machine, radio, and bicycle—were all included. The bicycle would be delivered later, but the sewing machine and radio would arrive today.

As for the watch, Wei Ling had already asked his cousin, Zuo Gaopeng, to buy one in the provincial capital and bring it over.

Whatever a city person would need for a wedding, Wei Ling had prepared for Qin Qingman.

Wealthy Wei Ling wasn’t lacking in money or resources.

As the jeep got closer to the Qin family’s gate, Chuchu had already opened the gate in advance. The car didn’t stop but smoothly drove right into the yard. However, as Wei Ling drove in, he glanced at the woodpile next to the Zhu Hongxia family’s house.

“Brother-in-law!”

Chuchu’s bright voice rang out once again.

This caused many families in the village to come outside and take a look.

Such a loud and obvious way of addressing someone definitely meant something big was happening. Perhaps Qin Qingman had already registered her marriage with Wei Ling. As this thought crossed their minds, many eyes eagerly followed the jeep, curious to see what Wei Ling had brought with him.

Whether the betrothal gifts were expensive or not, they were a sign of how much the groom valued the bride.

Wei Ling had no idea what the villagers were thinking. As soon as the car came to a stop, he opened the door and got out.

Wei Ling then caught Chuchu, who had jumped into his arms.

Chuchu was small, and standing next to Wei Ling, he looked like a little bundle.

Wei Ling immediately lifted Chuchu and placed him on his shoulder, which made all the children in the village look on enviously. They all had Brother-in-laws, but none had a Brother-in-law who would carry them like this.

In that moment, every child in Kaoshan Village envied Chuchu.

Chuchu, with a face glowing with happiness, smiled widely.

“Lao Du, move the things.” Wei Ling, still with Chuchu on his shoulder, naturally wasn’t going to carry the items himself. He immediately directed Du Hongyi, who had gotten out of the car a bit slower.

“Okay!”

Du Hongyi didn’t mind being directed and happily began unloading the items from the car.

There were red, festive porcelain basins, countless daily necessities, large bolts of fabric, beautifully wrapped radios, and finally, a sewing machine.

All the items were placed out on the snow, making them quite conspicuous.

The surrounding villagers could tell immediately from these goods that Qin Qingman and Wei Ling’s marriage was official. The betrothal gifts Wei Ling brought today were the most prestigious in this era.

“Congratulations, Comrade Wei! Wishing you and Qin Qingman a long and happy marriage and early children.” some villagers shouted, offering their blessings.

The wedding at the Qin family was the first of the year in the village, and no matter how well the villagers knew Wei Ling, they all happily congratulated him.

It was a good omen, the most auspicious event.

Qin Qingman, who had just stepped out of the house, heard the congratulations and immediately blushed.

But she didn’t shy away. Instead, she bent down and sifted through the pile of gifts to find the candies they had bought yesterday. She tossed them toward the people outside the gate.

At the same time, she said, “Thank you, everyone, for your blessings. Our family’s condition is limited, and the gifts haven’t been properly sorted yet, so I can’t invite everyone inside for now. These are the wedding candies Wei Ling and I bought at the county’s Supply and Marketing Cooperative yesterday. Please accept them as a small gesture of good fortune. We’ll invite everyone to come and witness the wedding ceremony when the time comes.”

Her actions and words followed local customs, and there was no disrespect.

“Qingman, today is your big day! Don’t worry, we’ll make sure to say all the auspicious words for you.” a voice from the crowd said as people picked up the candy. They continued offering the couple their most heartfelt and joyful blessings.

This was Du Hongyi’s first time witnessing the warmth of the local villagers, and he developed a deeper fondness for the people of Kaoshan Village.

Because Qin Qingman had so openly acknowledged her relationship with Wei Ling and even tossed candy to celebrate, the villagers made merry for quite a while before finally heading back to their homes.

It was only after this that Du Hongyi and Wei Ling moved all the items from the snow into Qin Qingman’s house.

—o—o—o—

The items were all piled up in the west room where Qin Qingman stayed.

Huang Wanqing followed Qin Qingman, helping with the work, but when she saw Wei Ling, her face turned bright red, and she acted evasively. This left Wei Ling feeling confused. He didn’t know what had happened the night before, but he could tell that Huang Wanqing was acting strangely.

Huang Wanqing’s situation was a bit complicated. With Du Hongyi, an outsider, around, Qin Qingman didn’t want to discuss it with Wei Ling and planned to deal with it after they got to the army camp.

She recalled Wei Ling mentioning that Colonel Wang Chengping was also somewhat of a “matchmaker.” so such issues would naturally be handled by the Colonel.

“Sister-in-law, hello, I’m Du Hongyi, Wei Ling’s comrade. I’m a bit lower rank than him—Lieutenant Colonel, 29 years old, single, live in the officer’s quarters at the camp, eat at the cafeteria, and I’m from Sichuan. I enjoy spicy, numbing food.” Du Hongyi introduced himself seriously after all the items were moved into the house.

It was his first time meeting Qin Qingman, and from the moment he laid eyes on her, he was very impressed.

She was beautiful, elegant, and very easy-going. She clearly seemed like someone who would be easy to get along with, and he could definitely look forward to visiting the Wei family for meals in the future.

At first, Qin Qingman didn’t know what Du Hongyi was aiming for, but when she heard his self-introduction, she immediately understood. She smiled and said, “Did you try the sausages that Wei Ling brought back from the army camp, Comrade Du?”

“Yes.” Du Hongyi replied, his eyes suddenly shining brighter than the morning sun.

This was the smartest girl he had ever met. Just from his introduction, she had already figured out what he wanted, and it really moved him. He had been thinking about how to ask for a meal invitation.

“Comrade Du, you’re always welcome to come over for a meal.” Qin Qingman said, understanding Du Hongyi’s situation.

In this era, not many people were skilled in cooking. Anyone who could offer a satisfying meal would definitely attract attention, and if it were her, she would do the same as Du Hongyi.

Du Hongyi immediately felt relieved. “Sister-in-law, I’ll hand over my food ration tickets to you every month.”

“Alright.” Qin Qingman nodded with a smile.

Now that Du Hongyi had achieved his goal, he quickly stepped aside. Didn’t he notice Wei Ling’s cold stare had been on him for a while?

“Ah Ling, come help me cut the noodles. I’ve kneaded the dough, and there’s some marinated food left. Let’s eat breakfast before we head to the camp.” Qin Qingman said with a smile, pulling Wei Ling away. She had already noticed that Wei Ling seemed to be slightly jealous.

“Mm.” Wei Ling nodded. As soon as Qin Qingman took his hand, any feelings of displeasure he had instantly disappeared.

“Sis, I’ll help too!” Chuchu eagerly followed behind Qin Qingman and Wei Ling, always eager to be part of the action.

Du Hongyi, unable to sit still, turned and noticed that the water level in the water jar in the hall was low. Without a second thought, he grabbed a water bucket and headed for the well to fetch water.

This left only Huang Wanqing standing in place, unsure of what to do.

Qin Qingman, always considerate of her guest, smoothly found a task for Huang Wanqing. “Wanqing, could you check if the water in the pot has come to a boil? If it has, I’ll cook the noodles.”

“Sure, sure!” Huang Wanqing eagerly took up the task and immediately seemed to regain her energy.

Wei Ling, with skillful hands, was indeed great at cutting noodles. The noodles he sliced were uniform in thickness, each one perfectly even.

As soon as the noodles were cut, the water in the pot boiled. Qin Qingman swiftly added the noodles into the boiling water, her movements quick and efficient.

Hand-pulled noodles were hearty and took time to cook. While the noodles boiled, Qin Qingman took the opportunity to harvest some of her homegrown bean sprouts. In winter, fresh vegetables were scarce, so her homegrown sprouts were a vital ingredient for dishes.

“Ah Ling, could you get some marinated sauce from the jar?” Qin Qingman instructed Wei Ling.

She had made marinated pork head earlier, saving the rich, flavorful marinade in a jar for future use. The marinade, infused with the pork’s essence and a blend of spices, was more aromatic than regular soy sauce—perfect for mixing with noodles.

Though Wei Ling hadn’t spent much time in Qin Qingman’s home, he had already become quite familiar with the routine. He immediately grabbed a bowl and went to fetch the sauce when she instructed.

Du Hongyi, who had just filled the water jar, looked enviously at Wei Ling’s back.

This guy was so lucky—he’d found such a great wife. It felt like a fortune dropped from the sky. Du Hongyi couldn’t help but think that maybe he, too, deserved some luck like that.

As he thought about it, his gaze shifted toward Huang Wanqing.

He could tell that Huang Wanqing didn’t quite fit in with the village’s residents. Her demeanor, her speech, and her actions revealed she came from a better background. She was educated and well-traveled, but he wasn’t sure if she could endure the hardships of life here in the village. He wondered if she would be willing to live in this kind of environment.

Huang Wanqing, feeling Du Hongyi’s gaze on her, grew uncomfortable. She quickly moved closer to Qin Qingman.

At that moment, Wei Ling returned with the marinated sauce.

A bowl of somewhat off-white Sanhe noodles was topped with braised sauce, chili oil, chopped green onions, bean sprouts, and a few pieces of fatty intestines. In the end, the outcome was the same as last night—there wasn’t even a drop of soup left.

Du Hongyi was especially exaggerated; he scooped a big spoonful of Qin Qingman’s homemade chili oil and ate it directly.

After finishing, he couldn’t help but exclaim, “So satisfying!”

Qin Qingman’s homemade chili oil was spicy, fragrant, and numbing—exactly the kind of flavor that Du Hongyi, a native of Sichuan, adored.

“Comrade Du, I’ll pack some chili oil for you to take back. You can add a spoonful when you eat at the canteen for extra flavor.” Qin Qingman, amazed by Du Hongyi’s boldness, generously offered him a jar of chili oil.

She remembered that there were some glass jars at home.

The jars were originally used for canned goods, and after finishing the contents, they could be washed and reused.

“Sister-in-law, that’s great! Thank you so much, really.” Du Hongyi said excitedly, his face flushed with joy. “By the way, sister-in-law, don’t call me ‘Comrade Du’ anymore. You can call me ‘Lao Du,’ like Lao Wei does.”

Young people in this era often preferred to be addressed this way.

Qin Qingman didn’t stand on ceremony and nodded in agreement.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, the group got into the car and headed toward the XXX Division headquarters. Wang Chengping, who had already received the news, was waiting for them in his office.

However, the news he had didn’t include the true situation of Huang Wanqing.

Furrowing his brows, Wang Chengping felt very upset. He hadn’t expected that at his age, he would still have to wipe Wei Ling’s backside.

It was really a damn hassle.

Wei Ling and the others arrived quickly. Wang Chengping had barely paced around his office a few times when they showed up.

Since the matter involved Huang Wanqing’s family affairs and personal issues, Du Hongyi was naturally not in a position to be involved. As soon as they reached the division headquarters, he found an excuse and left, holding the jar of chili oil.

In the end, it was Qin Qingman and her family of three who led Huang Wanqing to the Colonel’s office.

All of them were exceptionally good-looking, and they attracted quite a few glances along the way. By the time Wei Ling and the others arrived at Wang Chengping’s office door, a crowd of men and women had gathered behind them.

The male comrades were there to see what kind of woman could subdue Wei Ling, while the female comrades were there to compare themselves with Qin Qingman in every way.

When they saw Qin Qingman and Huang Wanqing together, both the male and female comrades were stunned.

Which one was Wei Ling’s wife?