Chapter 133

This kind of thing is really unavoidable.

Qiao Wei had seen a plot in an old TV drama before, where a couple said a few words about another leader in private, only for their children to overhear. Later, fearing that the child might talk nonsense outside, they ended up accommodating everything according to the child’s wishes. The child, knowing they could manipulate their parents this way, became more and more presumptuous. In the end, the couple had no choice but to claim that their child was insane.

Qiao Wei couldn’t remember if the child was sent to a psychiatric hospital or a labor reform school.

In one’s lifetime, who hasn’t said something foolish or offensive?

She advised Sister Yang, “Don’t speak recklessly in the future.”

Sister Yang nodded vigorously.

Qiao Wei said, “I have to go to work now. I’ll leave first.”

She rode her bike a few meters away, then turned back.

Sister Yang and Lin Xixi hurried over to listen to her instructions.

Qiao Wei indeed had something to tell them.

“Go back home and see if there are any shoe-shaped cutouts of the leader’s image or posters with propaganda slogans printed on them. Get rid of them immediately.”

“When I say get rid of them, I mean throw them into the fire and burn them. Understand?”

Sister Yang’s face turned white again.

Just by looking at Sister Yang’s expression, Qiao Wei knew that her remark wasn’t in vain; there must be such items in their house.

Sure enough, Sister Yang hurried back home and found a shoe-shaped cutout of the leader’s image. Lin Xixi was annoyed. “When did you cut this out?”

Unbelievable.

Sister Yang said, “That day, I couldn’t find any paper, so I just grabbed a piece…”

Lin Xixi snatched it away and lit it with a match.

As she watched the shoe-shaped cutout turn to ashes, Sister Yang collapsed onto the bed. “I didn’t know, I really didn’t know this was also not allowed…”

Women who spend their days bustling around the kitchen and stove and have no access to newspapers or television tend to be less politically savvy.

Lin Xixi searched the house thoroughly to make sure there was nothing else, then returned to the room and told Sister Yang, “There shouldn’t be anything else. Be careful in the future.”

She was also frightened today.

She had lived in the countryside before, descended from generations of poor farmers, with deep-rooted traditions. She hadn’t experienced much upheaval. But unexpectedly, after moving to the city, she had experienced it firsthand.

It was terrifying.

At noon, Lin Xixi began preparing lunch. When she went inside to check, Sister Yang was still lying down.

“Auntie, you should go and prepare lunch for that person,” she nudged Sister Yang.

Sister Yang grunted a couple of times. “I feel uncomfortable in my chest.”

Today’s shock had left her feeling unwell, and she was having trouble recovering.

Lin Xixi said, “What should I do? Should I make something and take it to him?”

Sister Yang sighed, “No. He’s very particular. Otherwise, you can go over and make it for him. He’ll even instruct you on how to do it, not just any way.”

“What will you eat then?”

“You go make something for him first, don’t let him go hungry. We’ll have noodles when you come back.”

“Okay, I’ll go then.”

Lü Tianze didn’t expect that the one coming to cook today would be Captain Zhao’s niece.

Lin Xixi came in and greeted, “Comrade Lü, my aunt…my uncle’s wife isn’t feeling well today, so I’m cooking for you on her behalf.”

Her Mandarin was not as fluent as Qiao Wei’s, but much better than Sister Yang’s.

Lü Tianze nodded, “Alright.”

Lin Xixi began to prepare the meal and asked, “Is there anything I should pay attention to? My uncle’s wife said you have quite high standards.”

Lü Tianze grinned, “No, just do as you please. I’ll be reading, call me when it’s done.”

After saying that, he went inside, closing the door behind him. Although he didn’t lock it, the door seemed like a boundary, separating them.

Lin Xixi didn’t say anything and silently prepared the meal.

After finishing, she didn’t knock on the door to enter but called out to him in the courtyard, “It’s ready, you can eat now.”

When Lü Tianze came out, the food was set and the pot was cleaned.

Lin Xixi said, “I’m leaving now.”

Lü Tianze nodded.

Sister Yang lay down all day.

Captain Zhao came back and was startled, “What’s wrong?”

Sister Yang had always been a vigorous and healthy woman, rarely getting sick, and especially diligent, hardly ever seen lying down like this.

Suddenly, this situation startled Captain Zhao.

Sister Yang looked at her husband, thinking about the trouble she caused herself, she might have almost implicated her husband. Suddenly, she burst into tears.

Captain Zhao became even more anxious.

This wife of his, he wasn’t afraid of her temper, but he had never seen her cry like this.

Captain Zhao tried to comfort her, asking what happened, and Sister Yang finally choked out the whole story.

Captain Zhao’s face turned pale.

He felt like he was just a hair’s breadth away from retirement.

Qiao Wei had pulled him back.

Looking at the old woman, he really wanted to scold her, but she was already covered in tears and snot, making him feel powerless.

Finally, Captain Zhao sat down on the stool beside the kang, silent, just smoking.

After finishing a cigarette, he asked in a muffled voice, “Learned your lesson?”

Sister Yang choked, “Learned.”

“Will you remember it?”

“I will.”

Captain Zhao snorted and didn’t say anything more.

No matter how much one said or reasoned, it was useless against the hard reality.

He stood up.

“Where are you going?”

“We should at least go and thank Qiao Wei.”

It’s not much different from saving someone’s life.

“Yeah, go ahead, thank her a lot.”

“Got it. Hey, didn’t you go to cook for Tianze?”

“I haven’t been feeling well lately, so I let Xixi go.”

“Alright.”

Captain Zhao came over to express his gratitude specially, and Yan Lei only learned about this incident then.

Qiao Wei said, “There’s no need for thanks, just make sure your sister-in-law pays more attention in the future.”

Captain Zhao sighed, “These women don’t understand anything.”

“She doesn’t understand, then teach her.” Qiao Wei didn’t buy into it, “Have you talked to her about what’s going on outside? She’s busy with laundry and cooking all day, doesn’t even see a newspaper at home, only knows the news from the radio. You should open up channels for her to understand.”

Captain Zhao scratched his head, unable to argue.

Back home, Lin Xixi had already returned and started cooking for the Zhao family.

Captain Zhao asked, “When you went to cook for Uncle Lü, did he say anything?”

Lin Xixi raised an eyebrow, “Say what?”

Captain Zhao just said, “Nothing.”

That guy Lü Tianze wasn’t a good person. If he dared to flirt with his niece, he’d have to beat him up.

He didn’t say anything, so Lin Xixi continued to cook noodles with her eyes lowered.

Sister Yang had several restless nights in a row, with night terrors and night sweats.

Captain Zhao went and fetched some herbs to fry for her, which made her feel better.

During those days, Lin Xixi went to cook for Lü Tianze every day. Lü Tianze saw that she was obedient, so he didn’t go back to his room as soon as she arrived anymore. Gradually, the two could also exchange a few words.

After Sister Yang got better, she didn’t mind Lin Xixi cooking for Lü Tianze. For lunch, she would ask Lin Xixi to do it.

Sister Yang had always been diligent, never resting even when Lin Xixi was around. Who would have thought that during these days of illness, the woman who had never rested in her life suddenly understood the beauty of “resting”?

Actually, if the men didn’t come home for lunch, the women at home would just make do with something casual, not cooking properly.

It was Lü Tianze’s presence that increased her workload. Now that Lin Xixi was cooking for Lü Tianze, Sister Yang could take a break. For lunch, she would ask Lin Xixi to do it.

Nothing much happened.

By the time of the Spring Festival, Lin Xixi had brought back Lü Tianze’s clothes. “I saw him, a grown man, unable to wash his clothes properly, so I thought I’d wash them for him.”

Sister Yang said, “Your uncle said not to wash them.”

With Sister Yang’s diligence, she initially wanted to wash Lü Tianze’s clothes too. It was Captain Zhao who stopped her.

“If you can’t cook, then there’s nothing to be done.” He sneered, “Who doesn’t know how to wash clothes? Every soldier washes their own clothes. This boy has had it too easy for too long, it’s time he suffered a bit.”

He boasted, “When he was a new recruit, he was especially arrogant, nobody was afraid of him. Yan Lei took the lead, covered himself with a blanket, and beat him until he surrendered. I made this kid wash our clothes for a month. Why can’t he wash them now?”

Lin Xixi was surprised, “Uncle, why do that?”

She said with annoyance, “Uncle also needs to pick the right time. Of course, when others are wealthy and powerful, you can. But now, in what situation are they? If you don’t take care of them at this time, when they become officials in the future, they won’t think of you.”

Sister Yang sighed and said, “When have we ever relied on others to support us in the future? Besides, who knows what the future holds? How can you be so sure that things will get better? What if… Ah, forget it, don’t say such pessimistic things. Becoming an official! Becoming an official! You’re right. Let Tianze become an official in the future!”

“Alright, let’s take his clothes back and wash them ourselves in the future.”

“Aunt, don’t bother yourself, I’ll do it.”

“Fine. You’re young, do more. Let Tianze remember your kindness in the future.”

Time passed slowly.

In the blink of an eye, it was October again, National Day, and everywhere was filled with joy.

Lü Tianze had been taking refuge in Xiahekou for a year, and suddenly received a letter from Beijing.

Captain Pan’s wife also called him. Yan Lei, Captain Zhao, heard it from Captain Pan.

They each went back and told their loved ones: “Tianze’s loved one, no, ex-wife… she’s remarried.”

Qiao Wei just shook her head slightly and said, “There’s nothing to blame them for.”

This situation was too common, Yan Lei sighed.

Then he glanced at her.

Qiao Wei: “… What are you looking at?”

Yan Lei really wanted to know, “If I were XXed, and I divorced you to keep you and Xiang Xiang safe, would you remarry?”

Qiao Wei said, “Making such assumptions is meaningless. It depends on the situation at that time, the pressure I’m under, and what difficulties I face.”

Yan Lei pulled her onto the kang and said, “Can’t you just say ‘no’ to comfort me?”

But Qiao Wei countered, “What if it were me who was XXed? I’m in terrible condition every day, with injuries all over. You can’t help at all. Now, there’s someone, um, with real power, maybe it’s her or maybe it’s her father, as long as you marry her, she can protect me. What would you do?”

There was no need to choose at all, Yan Lei answered directly, “If there’s no other way, I’ll marry her to protect you.”

“You see,” Qiao Wei lay on her side with her head supported, “that’s why no one can promise a thousand years. I don’t believe in promises. I only believe in living each day well.”

Yan Lei lay there, looking up at her beautiful face.

Who hurt her, making her no longer believe in promises?

But he couldn’t ask.

Sister Yang turned her head and told Lin Xixi about Lü Tianze’s ex-wife’s remarriage.

Lin Xixi just paused for a moment, said “oh”, and didn’t say anything more.

Because she and Lü Tianze had been getting along fine, Sister Yang was also more at ease letting her cook and do laundry for Lü Tianze.

A year passed, she was obedient, and Lü Tianze didn’t guard against her much, willing to let her into the house to clean up.

She even dismantled and washed quilts and cotton jackets for him, taking care of all the daily chores very well.

She knew what she wanted deep down, but she didn’t dare to act recklessly.

In her previous life, this village girl had been bold and ended up pregnant before marriage.

Although with the help of her father and brothers, she successfully married a young intellectual from the city, it became a stain on her life. Her mother-in-law and husband used this to belittle her.

Lin Xixi didn’t want to repeat her mistakes.

She didn’t dare to act recklessly in front of Lü Tianze, didn’t dare to provoke or seduce him.

Clearly, the combined age of her two lifetimes was much older than Lü Tianze’s, but she could feel that in front of him, she was nothing.

After all, he was a knowledgeable high-ranking official from Beijing, while she was a woman who had spent her two lifetimes around the stove.

She always felt that Lü Tianze could see through her in the end.

Lü Tianze could indeed could see through her.

On this sunny day in October, Lin Xixi carried the freshly washed clothes to Lü Tianze.

Lü Tianze lay on the reclining chair with his eyes closed, basking in the sun.

Lin Xixi greeted him, and he opened his eyes, nodding.

Lin Xixi was busy inside and out, and he kept watching, for a long time.

When Lin Xixi was about to take the dirty clothes he had changed out of and throw them into the basin to take back for washing, he put his feet down and sat up straight.

“Xiao Lin. Uncle is getting old, and I won’t beat around the bush with you.” He squinted and asked the girl, “What do you want from me?”