Chapter 12

Wen Jiao followed seven or eight of the Zhou family’s cousins through the mountains and didn’t come down until nightfall.

They caught five pheasants and eight wild rabbits.

Zhou Changhuai also picked some wild berries for Wen Jiao—tart and sweet, exactly her favorite flavor.

When the group returned to the Zhou household, two big tables had already been set up in the courtyard, and all the elders were there.

Seeing them come back, Shen Qiujü called for the women to bring out the food.

The pheasants had been stewed with potatoes, the aroma drifting over to the neighbors’ house.
Children from next door climbed up the wall, drooling at the sight.

All three jin of flour had been made into dumplings. In addition, the eldest uncle’s family brought vegetable-and-tofu buns, and the second uncle’s family brought scallion pancakes.
Shen Qiujü had made smashed cucumber salad and tomatoes tossed with sugar.

She urged everyone to sit down and eat.

Zhou Changhuai pulled Wen Jiao to sit beside him and put several dumplings into her bowl.

Shen Qiujü added a chicken drumstick, saying warmly,
“Xiao Jiao, you’re too thin. You need to eat well and build yourself up. Make sure you have plenty of this pheasant today.”

A pheasant only has two drumsticks, so Wen Jiao naturally felt reluctant to take it.
“Auntie, let Zhi Yong and Xiaoju have it instead. I’ll just eat some meat. They’re still growing and need nutrition more than I do.”

Shen Qiujü wouldn’t hear of it.
“They eat this all the time—Changgui often catches pheasants in the mountains.”

The others chimed in too, telling Wen Jiao to eat it herself and not worry about the children.

At that moment Wen Jiao’s eyes brimmed with tears. She lowered her head, bit into the meat, and choked out,
“Thank you, Auntie. Thank you, Brother Changgui. This pheasant is really delicious.”

Zhou Changhuai saw the glimmer in her eyes and said softly,
“Just a drumstick, and you’re moved to tears?”

Wen Jiao nodded firmly.
“You don’t understand. Ever since my father remarried, I haven’t had the chance to eat a drumstick. At meals, they eat first. I only get the leftovers, and then I wash the dishes.”

Shen Qiujü was astonished.
“We always thought your family was well-off. I didn’t expect this.”

Wen Jiao continued quietly,
“My mother died giving birth to me. My father blames me for it and has resented me ever since. He remarried when I was three. My stepmother brought a daughter with her, a year older than me.
The next year she gave birth to a son. In front of others they treated me well, but at home…
Actually, I could have stayed in the city. My father secretly arranged for me to be sent to the countryside. He said he never wanted to see me again.”

She lowered her head, feeling bitter on behalf of the girl whose life she had stepped into.

Shen Qiujü fumed,
“Who cares if he doesn’t want to see you? Xiao Jiao, from now on our Zhou family is your family. If your father won’t love you, we will. Changhuai loves you. Changhuai, give your wife more meat.”

Zhou Changhuai quickly picked another piece of pheasant for Wen Jiao.

She stopped him.
“That’s enough. One drumstick is plenty for me. There are so many people here—don’t give it all to me.”

Zhou Changgui reassured her,
“Don’t worry about us. We eat wild game all the time. But you—soon you’ll be leaving with Changhuai for Nanya Island. You won’t get pheasant there.”

“Yes, eat more!” the others agreed.

Wen Jiao felt deeply fortunate to be marrying into such a warm family. In her heart, she thought she must have saved the entire galaxy in a previous life.

During the meal, Shen Qiujü led a discussion with the elder uncles about holding the wedding banquet tomorrow afternoon. They agreed to set off at four in the morning by bicycle to the town to buy meat.
Everyone contributed their food coupons and meat coupons, determined to hold a feast better than the Hu family’s.

After dinner everyone helped clean up. Shen Qiujü told Zhou Changhuai to escort Wen Jiao back to the educated youth dormitory and reminded Wen Jiao to pack her luggage, as Changhuai would help move it in the morning.

At the gate, Zhou Changhuai lingered, reluctant to leave.

Wen Jiao looked around to make sure no one was watching, then tiptoed up and kissed him on the cheek.

Zhou Changhuai froze.
His heart thudded wildly.

Seeing him blush to his neck, Wen Jiao covered her mouth, laughing, and ran back inside.

Zhou Changhuai stood there for a long time before he recovered. The corners of his mouth wouldn’t stop curving upward. When he saw Wen Jiao enter the house, he finally turned to leave, absentmindedly touching the spot where she had kissed him—
and decided he wouldn’t wash his face that night.

Only when Zhou Changhuai had gone far away did Hu Shufang step out of the shadows, lips twisted in anger.
“Shameless!” she spat.

Inside, Wen Jiao divided the candies she had brought back among the other female educated youths, inviting them all to the Zhou house at five o’clock tomorrow for the feast.
The dorm erupted in excitement, everyone congratulating her.

Lin Hui seized the chance, smiling ingratiatingly.
“Xiao Jiao, we all came down to the countryside together. Fate brought us here as a group, right?”

Wen Jiao smiled.
“You’re right. I think so too.”

Lin Hui’s eyes lit up.
“Then will you be accompanying your husband in the military?”

“Of course,” Wen Jiao said. “We’re leaving the day after tomorrow for Nanya Island. We’ll register our marriage there.”

Lin Hui gripped Wen Jiao’s hand in excitement.
“Then don’t forget us sisters! Keep an eye out for any unmarried officers around Commander Zhou—introduce us!”

Wen Jiao almost laughed out loud.
“Comrade Lin Hui, life on an island base is tough. Are you sure you really want to marry out there? I think you girls are better off staying here.
Who knows—maybe in a couple of years, you’ll all get to return to the city.”

Lin Hui pouted.
“Are you just saying that because you don’t want to help? The quota for returning to the city is tiny. Who knows when it’ll be our turn?
Even if island life is hard, marrying an officer is worth it. Better than just marrying some random farmer here. I’m not settling for that.”

The other girls nodded in agreement—they didn’t want to marry local peasants either.

Wen Jiao teased,
“Don’t want to marry a local? Then choose from the boys in our own dormitory! Lin Hui, I think Sun Lei’s quite fond of you. How about him?”

Lin Hui grimaced.
“Good grief—then I’d rather marry a farmer.”

“Why don’t you like Sun Lei?” Wen Jiao asked.

“No reason,” Lin Hui said. “I just don’t. Same way you don’t like Yang Shuming. The moment I see Sun Lei’s face, I feel annoyed. If I had to look at him every day, I’d go crazy.”

Knock, knock… came two raps on the door.

“Could it be Sun Lei?” someone joked.

Lin Hui rushed to open the door and was surprised to see Hu Shufang standing there.
“Hu Shufang? What are you doing here? Isn’t tonight your wedding night with Yang Shuming? Why are you at our dormitory?”

Hu Shufang’s face was grim.
“I’m here for Wen Jiao. Wen Jiao, can you step outside? I need a word with you.”

Wen Jiao turned, meeting her gaze coolly.
“Whatever you have to say, say it here.”

Hu Shufang glanced around the room.
“It’s about Zhou Changhuai. You’re sure you want me to say it in front of everyone? I guarantee you’ll regret it.”