Chapter 20.2

She had no idea that because of her family background, Chen Nongmo had been completely despised and was now living a life like that of a pig.

From the day she returned home from the hospital, she was treated like fragile crystal by the whole family, forbidden to touch anything.

Aside from eating, drinking, and using the restroom, she didn’t have to do anything at all.

What was even more exaggerated was that many villagers who had a good relationship with the family would take a break from their farm work and bring two eggs or a couple of handfuls of noodles to visit her.

If people didn’t know better, they would have thought that Chen Nongmo was suffering from some serious illness.

It was ridiculous!

Cao Qiuhua, feeling uneasy about her daughter and with spring planting wrapping up, decided to stay at home to accompany her.

She noticed the young girl lying on the rocking chair, sighing several times in less than half an hour. Smiling and feigning annoyance, she chided, “Don’t keep sighing, or you’ll sigh all your blessings away. Weren’t you the one who usually loved staying at home? I couldn’t even push you to go out.”

“How can it be the same?” The girl responded. Before, she had all sorts of things to keep her occupied. Now, she wasn’t allowed to do anything and could only sit there idly.

Cao Qiuhua also felt sorry for her daughter. “Just wait a couple more days. The doctor said we need to observe for two more days.”

Hearing this, Chen Nongmo sighed again, thinking to herself that it had already been four days since the incident.

But… her family had been frightened by what happened that day.

She would endure.

After all, it was just two more days.

Comforting herself with this thought, the warm spring sunlight began to lull Chen Nongmo into a drowsy state.

Just as she was about to drift off, a crisp voice rang out from outside the house: “Is anyone home?”

Chen Nongmo sat up straight in an instant, her sleepiness completely gone. Her tone carried obvious excitement as she exclaimed, “It sounds like Sister Yuanyuan!”

Cao Qiuhua raised her hand helplessly and poked her daughter on the forehead before responding, “Yes, someone’s here!”

Saying this, she stood up, intending to go out and greet the visitor.

But Chen Nongmo reached out to stop her. “I’ll go!”

Leaving those words behind, she had already thrown off the thin blanket covering her, slipped on her shoes, and hurried outside.

Seeing this, Cao Qiuhua still got up and returned inside the house, worried that her presence might make the Liu family girl feel uneasy.

However, as she stepped inside, she couldn’t help but think to herself, maybe the young girl really was recovering well.

Look at that speed—she wasn’t much slower than a monkey.

The night of the incident.

Liu Yuanyuan, accompanied by her family, had already visited with large bags and small bundles of gifts to express their gratitude.

Today, her great-aunt had taken time out of her schedule to return from the city, bringing plenty of goodies for her and the Chen siblings. Since Liu Yuanyuan’s parents had already visited once, they didn’t want to drop by again so soon, fearing it might seem like they were overly eager to repay the favor.

Instead, they had Liu Yuanyuan deliver the gifts herself on her bicycle. For young people, such matters weren’t as formal, especially since the Chen family had a girl of similar age. Frequent interactions between them wouldn’t raise eyebrows.

Liu Yuanyuan, while known for her delicate temperament, had a fondness for Chen Nongmo, who had saved her life.

Sure enough, as soon as she sat down, she launched into a flurry of explanations and, with a firm attitude, left the gifts behind. Ignoring Chen Nongmo’s polite refusals, she leaned in mysteriously and whispered into her ear, “When I was on my way here, I heard two women talking about Cao Liu. One of them was quite pretty—cough, cough, just a tiny bit less than me. Who is she? Does she like your Second Brother Liu?”

It was probably Tong Xiuxiu. From what Fourth Brother Jun had gossiped about, Tong Xiuxiu had recently approached Second Brother Liu, but it wasn’t anything significant—just to congratulate him on receiving his enlistment notice.

Chen Nongmo had no intention of turning someone else’s feelings into gossip and instead teased, “You seem to care a lot.”

Liu Yuanyuan’s face turned slightly red, but she tilted her chin upward. “Not really. My great-aunt has already introduced me to someone from the city, and I’ve agreed to meet them in a few days. I’m just… curious about what kind of girls Cao Liu might like.”

Whether her words were sincere or not, Chen Nongmo admired her attitude.

Even if the boy in question was her Second Brother Liu, she appreciated how Liu Yuanyuan carried herself—with a mix of boldness and detachment that was truly endearing.

So, while Chen Nongmo didn’t give a direct answer, she hinted, “My brother’s mind is entirely focused on joining the military right now.”

Liu Yuanyuan wasn’t slow to catch on. Her eyes shifted, and she grasped the underlying meaning.

She didn’t feel particularly happy about Cao Liu not liking that girl—it wasn’t anything to celebrate. She just wrinkled her nose, muttered a few vague sounds, and quickly changed the subject.

---

Time is quite a magical thing.

When you want it to move faster, it seems to dig in its heels, dragging along at a frustratingly slow pace. On the other hand, when you wish it would slow down, it seems to take off in a mad rush.

Chen Nongmo truly felt that ever since her Second Brother Liu received his enlistment notice, time had leapt onto a racetrack, sprinting uncontrollably.

In the blink of an eye, it was already early May.

Second Brother Liu had received further instructions: by eight o’clock tomorrow morning, he needed to report to the county town to officially enlist and begin several months of recruit training.

That evening, everyone in the family prepared their best dish, gathering together for a sumptuous dinner to send off Cao Liu.

During the meal, there was no strict rule about not talking while eating. The family chatted as they ate, their conversation lively and cheerful. After dinner, no one rushed to go back to their rooms. Instead, they sat together with tea or hot milk, continuing to talk.

There wasn’t any specific topic—they just chatted about anything and everything, avoiding the end of the night.

After all, come tomorrow morning, Cao Liu would hoist his bag over his shoulder and leave home to carve out his path.

“…Little Yan was really lucky today. If you ask me, she should’ve been sent to the hospital,” Cao Qiuhua sighed, referring to the village’s new young wife. It was her first pregnancy, and with her being so young, she had struggled to deliver.

She didn’t dare lie down, fearing it would make labor even harder, so she knelt on the ground in pain.

She endured for over a day before finally giving birth.

The barefoot doctor had said both Little Yan and her child were fortunate. Any later, and both mother and baby might have lost their lives.

Hearing this, Chen Nongmo felt a pang of unease. She couldn’t see any fortune in such a situation.

Living in the present, she was acutely aware that in the early 1970s, many people in rural areas didn’t even consider the idea of going to a hospital to give birth.

First, it was because of the expense.

Second, people believed that childbirth was inherently a life-risking ordeal for women.

It had always been this way, they reasoned.

Those who spent money going to the hospital were seen as wasteful, frivolous women who didn’t know how to live properly.

Chen Nongmo stayed silent for a long time after hearing this.

But what truly unsettled her was more than just these beliefs.

She vividly remembered the first time she saw a pregnant woman tightly binding her belly with cloth. When she learned they did this to prevent certain babies from developing too quickly, fearing difficult deliveries in the future, she was completely dumbfounded.

Even the pregnant women themselves knew this wasn’t good for the child, but they had no choice. Survival came first.

At that time, she had remarked to her mother, Qiuhua, how good it seemed not to get married at all.

And then… she got a knock on the head for it.

“…I’m warning you boys,” Cao Qiuhua said, her tone shifting as she turned to her sons. “When you get married in the future, don’t even think about having kids until your wives are at least 22 years old. And no matter how easy or hard it is, they’re going to the hospital to give birth! Got it?”

Chen Zong, her husband, nodded in agreement. “Your mom’s right!”

Cao Liu, Chen Huai, Chen Jun, and Chen Yi all nodded in unison.

“And you, no having kids too early, understand?” she added, turning to her daughter, Chen Nongmo.

Although Chen Nongmo wasn’t even keen on getting married in the first place, she obediently nodded.

After making her stern declarations, Cao Qiuhua then shifted her attention to Chu Wuwen, the eldest son. “Look at him—he’s already 30 and still hasn’t gotten married. I’m not worried about his wife being too young… I’m just wondering when that rascal will finally settle down and bring home a wife! If he weren’t so far away and out of my reach, I’d have grilled him by now to see if something’s wrong with him. Sure, we’re not the type to pressure him constantly, but he can’t just keep drifting like this forever.”

Chen Zong nodded again, repeating, “Qiuhua, you’re absolutely right!”

Chen Nongmo…

Meanwhile, Cao Liu guiltily averted his gaze, feeling a little sorry for Big Brother.

---

At the 738 Military Unit.

Chu Wuwen had just returned from a two-month mission and received two days of leave from the colonel.

Initially, he planned to visit the department store in the city tomorrow to buy some gifts for his family to send back home. In the past, he never thought much about such things, believing that sending money was enough.

However, after receiving a few thoughtful gifts from his Little Sister Yuyu, Chu Wuwen felt not only comforted but also inspired to send something back to his parents and younger siblings to make them happy.

This plan solidified when he got a call from his younger brother, asking him to come home for a visit.

Second Brother Liu was enlisting, and Chu Wuwen himself hadn’t been home for three and a half years. If he didn’t go back soon, his fiery-tempered mother would surely scold him.

Thinking of his family, Chu Wuwen smiled as he opened his wardrobe to try on the shirt his Little Sister Yuyu had sent him.

Since he rarely got time off, he mostly wore his uniform. Moreover, the weather had been chilly recently, so it felt wasteful to wear his sister’s carefully handmade shirt beneath layers. He had kept it safe until now.

But as he reached for the shirt, his eyes landed on another one—identical to it. For a moment, the typically upright and honest Chu Wuwen felt a rare flicker of guilt.

After a brief pause, he casually shut the wardrobe door as if nothing had happened.

He wasn’t giving it away!

Unbuttoning his uniform, he changed into the new shirt. Just as he finished buttoning it, before he could step out to the communal washroom to check his reflection in the mirror, his friend walked in.

Perhaps out of a sudden sense of rebellion, Chu Wuwen grinned widely, flashing his pearly white teeth. Puffing out his chest, he boasted, “What do you think? My Little Sister Yuyu made this for me—a whole set! Look at this style, look at this coordination. Am I dashing or what?”

After enlisting, Shao Zheng’s eyesight gradually developed a mild nearsightedness—less than 200 degrees.

Earlier, while engrossed in reviewing documents, he had forgotten to remove his glasses.

He had initially come to congratulate Old Chen on his upcoming promotion to full regimental commander. However, noticing his friend’s flaunting behavior, Shao Zheng paused for a moment, then casually removed his glasses and slipped them into his pocket. Leaning back in his chair with an air of nonchalance, he replied politely but with a hint of mischief, “Sorry, I didn’t bring my glasses—I can’t see clearly.”

Chu Wuwen: “…”

Bang!

The dormitory door was suddenly flung open with great force. Immediately, a tall figure strode in with urgency.

The newcomer was the third battalion commander. At that moment, he seemed oblivious to Shao Zheng’s presence, his attention entirely focused on Chu Wuwen. His eyes were practically glowing as he exclaimed, “Lieutenant Colonel Chen! Lend me your uniform for a bit!”

Chu Wuwen frowned. “What’s the meaning of this?”

The battalion commander explained anxiously, “Colonel’s sister-in-law introduced me to a potential match. She’s already at the Colonel’s house, waiting for me to show up. But I’m in such a rush I didn’t have time to clean my uniform. Just lend me one of yours for now!”

Naturally, he had come to Chu Wuwen because their builds were similar.

Recognizing the importance of a subordinate’s marital prospects, Chu Wuwen was genuinely happy for him. Without hesitation, he waved a hand and said, “Go ahead—pick one yourself. They’re all hanging in the wardrobe.”

“Hey, that’s generous of you!” The battalion commander grinned as he opened the wardrobe. Just as he reached for a uniform, his eyes landed on a dark blue shirt hanging neatly inside.

Earlier, he had noticed the sharp and stylish shirt that Lieutenant Colonel Chen was wearing but didn’t say anything since it was clearly new and already in use. Now, seeing an identical one in the wardrobe, he naturally shifted his hand away from the uniforms.

He pulled out the shirt, holding it up against himself with a beaming smile, clearly thrilled. “Lieutenant Colonel Chen, I’ll take this one! Why’d you make two shirts that look exactly the same? You’ve really helped me out here!”

Chu Wuwen: “…” Oh no. Didn’t the brat say he needed a uniform?

Shao Zheng froze for a second before recalling something—the shoes. It all clicked in his mind, and his expression darkened instantly. Narrowing his eyes dangerously, he glared at a certain someone who was digging their own grave.

Chu Wuwen’s scalp tingled…

This was bad. Really bad!