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Chapter Three

The woman curled her lips.
“My daughter‑in‑law isn’t even through the door yet. After the autumn harvest she’ll marry in, and then I probably won’t be able to come help my daughter during her confinement anymore.” She smacked her lips and continued,
“My daughter’s mother‑in‑law? Hah, don’t even mention her. That woman’s as carefree and unrestrained as can be. She said, ‘Raising a few kids to adulthood is hard enough. From now on, I’ll just live my own life with my old man. Whoever gives birth to the child is responsible for it.’ Can you believe that? Easy for her to say! Just toss everything aside like that. My daughter and son‑in‑law really have it rough. My daughter’s first pregnancy was twins, and it was me who cared for her during confinement. If confinement isn’t handled properly, the body really suffers. Last year she and my son‑in‑law said their boys were too mischievous and they wanted a sweet little girl instead. But this third one turned out to be another boy. And such a heavy one too—my poor daughter suffered again! That’s why I’m bringing her a chicken, so she can make some soup and properly recover.”

“Aiyo, then your in‑law is really something else. After giving her three grandsons, she still doesn’t care? So when she’s old and can’t walk anymore, will she expect no care from her daughter‑in‑law either?”

“Exactly. She’s really tough about it. We didn’t check carefully when arranging the marriage. All we heard was that the old couple were clever and capable, good at managing household affairs. Who knew all their cleverness was just for their own home?”

“Tsk tsk… if you ask me, your daughter and son‑in‑law will have trouble in the future…”

“How so?”

“Think about it. It’s easy enough for her to talk now, but when she and her husband get old and can’t walk, will things really go like she says? If a daughter‑in‑law truly ignores her in‑laws, won’t people gossip?”

“Big Sis, I think this sister here has a point. They really need to settle this in advance. If not, they should get something in writing at the brigade office.”

“I don’t think that will work. For no reason at all, going to the brigade office to write such a thing—the captain probably won’t agree.”

“Eh, wait—your in‑laws, are they Old Mo and his wife?” someone in the bus suddenly spoke up.

“That’s right, you know them?”

“Of course I know them. I’m from the Fengshou Brigade too. I heard my mother‑in‑law talk about them before. When Old Mo and his wife were younger, they weren’t like ordinary couples. Old Mo was stingy, and his wife was the same. Together, the two of them were doubly stingy. And no matter what they did, she had to lay out rules beforehand—including raising children. My mother‑in‑law said Old Lady Mo declared that once her children were married, they had their own small families and should focus on them. Starting from the eldest, all five of her sons were engaged at seventeen, married at eighteen, and immediately separated out to their own households. Now they’ve got over ten grandchildren, but Old Mo and his wife haven’t helped raise a single one.”

“Ho! That old woman sure has a temper. Why does she do that? Will she really refuse to depend on her daughters‑in‑law in the future?”

The knowledgeable woman said calmly,
“She said it herself: daughters‑in‑law aren’t born of her, so she won’t depend on them. If she and Old Mo can’t move one day, their sons will have to pitch in. After all, they raised those sons and got them wives. When the time comes, the five sons will be responsible for their illness and death. If fate is cruel and they become bedridden, the five sons will take turns caring for them. If the sons don’t, then it means she failed in raising them. If she and Old Mo are still able to move, they’ll just report it to the commune; if not, then they’ll wait for death.”

“My heavens…”

“That’s one ruthless old woman…”

“No kidding. But don’t be fooled—though she treats her sons rather plainly, all five of them have pretty good tempers. They visit the old couple almost every day. The grandkids too—always calling ‘Grandma, Grandma,’ so affectionate! And the daughters‑in‑law are hardworking and family‑oriented, treating Old Lady Mo decently enough.”

“There’s really such a thing? Then that old couple are pretty lucky.”

“Exactly.”

The knowledgeable woman glanced around at the others, then at the first woman who’d been complaining. She clicked her tongue inwardly. Say what you like, but that woman’s daughter—Old Lady Mo’s fourth daughter‑in‑law—wasn’t she always dropping by her mother‑in‑law’s house with her two kids, even while pregnant? Well, of course—if it were me, I’d put on a good face too. Surely Old Lady Mo has some money tucked away. Old Mo’s been stingy for years. All five sons got married without much trouble, though he was always crying poor. Now with no children to support, how could they not have saved up some? And these daughters‑in‑law—if they had nothing to gain, would they treat Old Lady Mo so well? Not likely.

The chatter of the adults, the crying of children—all of it pounded against Bi Chunliu’s eardrums, while inside, her heart churned like stormy waves.

She looked at the people around her, chatting excitedly, her face pale. Rising slightly, she patted Qiuguo and Xiahe on the head, and asked,
“What’s today’s date again?”

Qiuguo blinked in confusion.
“April 28th, of course. Don’t you remember, Big Sis? A couple days ago we heard on the radio that Dongfanghong‑1 was just launched. Did you forget?”

Xiahe looked at her big sister worriedly.
“Big Sis, are you okay? Are you carsick? Why’s your face so pale? We still have water in the bag—want a drink?”

Bi Chunliu shook her head and sat back down.

Dongfanghong‑1? She remembered it had been launched on April 24th, 1970. She knew it so clearly because that day had also been the one‑year death anniversary of their mother.

1970?

So it wasn’t a prank, nor was it a hallucination. She… had gone back to 1970?!

Just now she hadn’t paid much attention to her body. Now it hit her: her movements were far too nimble, not at all like a seventy‑year‑old woman’s. Nor did she feel as light and drifting as when her soul had wandered.

She stretched out her hand, made a fist, then opened it again.

The hand she saw was thin and dry, but not wrinkled and blotched with liver spots as before. The age marks of decades were gone.

Watching her fidget with her own hand, Xiahe—lying on her stomach and staring at her—thought in despair: It’s over. Big Sis really has gone stupid. She’s showing symptoms—she’s playing with her hands!!

But Bi Chunliu’s heart was pounding. So I really have gone back! Heaven help me, I’m actually living a novel plot—rebirth! I know this story! But why me? Was it all because of that white light?

“Dashi Commune has arrived! Those getting off, hurry up! Those staying on, please make way!” the conductor shouted loudly from the front.