Chapter 12: Sending a Telegram

After finishing their meal, Xia Junshan washed the dishes while Meng Yufei wiped the table.

Xia Qinqin eagerly circled the pineapple, her little hands occasionally reaching out to touch the leaves on top, only to quickly retract when they pricked her.

After washing the dishes, Xia Junshan took a knife from the kitchen and swiftly peeled the pineapple, cutting it into small pieces, which he placed into the plate that Meng Yufei had brought over.

Xia Qinqin eagerly picked up a piece and put it in her mouth, exclaiming, “Wow, it’s so sweet, not sour at all!” Her little uncle had said it was both sour and sweet.

Meng Yufei tasted a piece and explained to her daughter, “That’s because the weather here is warm and sunny. The fruits here are sweeter than in other places because they get enough sunlight, which helps them have more sugar.”

Xia Qinqin thought for a moment and asked, “Mom, is it because they get more sunlight that makes them sweet?”

Meng Yufei replied, “Hmm, something like that.”

Xia Qinqin asked again, “Then if I get more sun, will I become sweet too?”

Meng Yufei was speechless.

Xia Junshan burst out laughing, saying, “Qinqin, you don’t need to get sun to be sweet in your mommy and daddy’s hearts.”

Xia Qinqin tilted her head and asked, “Really?”

Xia Junshan replied confidently, “Really, and it’s true, too.” He turned to look at Meng Yufei, who nodded in agreement.

Once Xia Qinqin was assured that she was sweet, she stopped worrying about getting more sun and happily continued eating the pineapple.

After eating two or three pieces, Meng Yufei stopped her from eating more. They had just finished their meal, and she didn’t want the little one to overeat and complain of a stomach ache later.

The family of three crouched in front of the faucet to wash their hands. Meng Yufei spoke up, “By the way, Junshan, you said the post office is inside the town government building, right?”

Xia Junshan nodded, “Yes, are you going to send a letter?”

Meng Yufei replied, “I’m planning to go there this afternoon to send a telegram to my parents to let them know I’m safe.”

Xia Junshan nodded again, “Right, you should definitely let them know you’re safe. I almost forgot to mention it. The post office is in the building on the east side of the town government yard, right when you enter, it’s on the left.”

After their afternoon nap, Xia Junshan went to work at the army. Meng Yufei took Xia Qinqin to the post office.

The afternoon sun was a bit hot, so Meng Yufei took out a silk scarf and tied it around Xia Qinqin’s head.

The town government was a bit far from the family compound. After leaving the compound and passing the supply and marketing cooperative, Meng Yufei went inside and bought two straw hats.

Xia Qinqin touched the straw hat on her head and said, “Mom, this hat is so big.”

“The hat is big to protect you from the sun. Do you feel like it’s not so hot anymore?”

“Yes, it’s not hot anymore,” Xia Qinqin replied, nodding vigorously. The large hat tilted as she nodded, covering her face. “Ah, Mom, I can’t see!”

Meng Yufei laughed and adjusted the hat, then used the silk scarf to tie it at her chin to keep it in place.

“Alright, now it won’t fall off.”

Mother and daughter continued on their way. Along the road, Meng Yufei wanted to carry her daughter, but Xia Qinqin firmly refused, saying, “I can walk by myself.”

After walking for about ten more minutes, they finally arrived at the town government. After entering the yard, they walked directly to the house on the left side, where the sign outside read “Qiongzhou City Post and Telecommunications Bureau, Nanya Island Branch.”

Upon entering, they found a large hall that took up half the building, with several rows of wooden benches. There were four windows across from them, three of which were occupied, while the one on the far right was empty.

After entering, Meng Yufei first removed Xia Qinqin’s hat. The little girl’s forehead was damp with sweat, and her face was flushed.

Quickly, Meng Yufei used the hat to fan her daughter, saying, “Qinqin, you must be hot. Let’s rest for a while.” She then took Xia Qinqin to sit on one of the wooden benches.

Xia Qinqin stretched out her little hand, took off the hat from her mother’s head, and imitated her mother by waving the hat up and down to fan her.

After resting for a bit, Meng Yufei went to the front desk and asked the young woman in the middle, “Hello, I would like to send a telegram.”

“Oh, please wait a moment.” The young woman turned around and shouted toward the office, “Director Zheng, someone wants to send a telegram.”

A few seconds later, the office door opened, and a middle-aged man came out, holding a cup of tea and yawning impatiently. “I’m coming, I’m coming.”

He casually sat down in the empty seat, took a pencil and a notebook from the desk, placed them on the counter, and without raising his head, said, “What’s the message? Write it down.”

Meng Yufei picked up the pencil and wrote in the notebook: “Qinqin and I have safely arrived. Don’t worry.”

She also wrote the recipient’s address at the bottom of the page.

“Comrade, it’s done.” Meng Yufei handed the notebook and pencil over.

Director Zheng took the notebook, glanced at it, and was immediately drawn to the clear, elegant handwriting. It was obvious that it was written by someone educated. He then looked up at the person standing in front of the desk.

Seeing that Meng Yufei had a graceful appearance and demeanor, his previously stern face softened. He kindly reminded her, “Comrade, it’s just a safety report. It’s not urgent, you could just write a letter instead.”

Meng Yufei explained, “My parents are quite anxious, and it takes too long for a letter to get there.”

Director Zheng looked at the address on the paper and said, “You’re from Haishi? That’s quite far. But your telegram has too many words. You only need to write ‘Arrived safely’—that’s enough. Telegrams are charged by the word, and it costs seven cents per word.”

Meng Yufei insisted, “I know, but it’s still a hassle to only send those few words. Please just send what I’ve written.”

Director Zheng shook his head and continued, “You really won’t listen, huh? It’s basically the same meaning. Why waste a few extra cents…”

Before he could finish, the young woman beside him interrupted, “Director Zheng, why are you so concerned? She’s already said to send what she wrote. Just send it already. Are you afraid she won’t pay?”

Director Zheng’s face stiffened. He grumbled, “You young girls nowadays don’t understand how expensive things are. Tsk, tsk… sending a telegram should be for something important. Reporting safety and writing a letter would do fine. Isn’t sending a telegram a waste of national resources?”

His long-winded speech grew more and more, and Meng Yufei frowned as she listened.

The young woman rolled her eyes and interrupted him again, “What waste of resources? Do you think every ordinary person who comes to send letters and things here is dealing with some national-level issue? Even if there’s something important, we have the army on the island, and they wouldn’t need you to send a telegram.”

Director Zheng was taken aback, and his face darkened. “Qi girl, you’re sharp-tongued. Who would dare marry you in the future?”

Qi girl snorted, “That’s none of your business, it’s my parents’ concern.”

“Fine, fine, I’m just trying to help, and I’m messing it up. I’ll send it, alright?”

He operated the telegraph machine, sending the message as written by Meng Yufei. Then he jotted down a few notes on the receipt, slapped it down on the counter, and curtly said, “Alright, go to the right to pay.”

Meng Yufei took the receipt, which showed: eleven words, charged 77 cents.

She went to the counter on the right, handed over the receipt and money. The person behind the counter took the money, stamped the receipt, and then handed it back to her.

After putting the receipt away, Meng Yufei turned around and saw that Director Zheng’s seat was empty again, probably because he had returned to the office.

She walked up to the girl who had helped her earlier and said, “Comrade, thank you for speaking up for me earlier.”

The girl smiled and replied, “No need to thank me, I usually find him annoying with all his nagging.”

Meng Yufei felt a little embarrassed and said, “Because of what you said for me, I think it might have upset your director. I’m really sorry.”

The girl was unconcerned and said, “It’s nothing. I only call him director because he’s been working longer than us. He’s not my direct superior, he can’t tell me what to do.”

“By the way, my name is Qi Zhenzhen. What’s your name?”

“My name is Meng Yufei.”

“Alright, if you ever come here again, just come straight to me if you need anything.”

“Okay, thank you.”

Meng Yufei smiled, said goodbye to Qi Zhenzhen, and walked home with Xia Qinqin.

The sun was still a little hot, but the sea breeze had picked up, making the walk much more comfortable.

Once they got home, the first thing Meng Yufei did was wash their faces and hands, then took out the leftover pineapple from lunch to quench their thirst.

After finishing the pineapple, Meng Yufei took out the colored pencils and sketchbook she had brought and handed them to Xia Qinqin, telling her to play while lying on the table. She then took out the fabric she had bought earlier in the morning and prepared to make a sofa cover.

When she was in high school, she had a good friend who loved knitting sweaters and making clothes. Her friend had even dragged her to a few sewing classes organized by the community.

Although she wasn’t very good at it, making a sofa cover was no problem.

“Is anyone home?” a voice called from the gate.

Meng Yufei put down the fabric, went outside, and saw that it was Sister Zhang, the wife of the neighboring Commander Ma, standing at the gate. She hurriedly went forward and opened the gate.

“Sister Zhang, you’ve come! Please, come in.”

She looked down and saw a little girl standing beside Sister Zhang, about five or six years old, hiding behind her mother and peeking out curiously at Meng Yufei.

Meng Yufei smiled and said, “Is this your daughter? She’s so cute.”

Sister Zhang replied, “Yes, she’s my youngest. This girl doesn’t like to talk much.” She pulled her daughter out and said, “Go say hello to Auntie.”

The little girl shyly tried to hide behind her mother, but Meng Yufei bent down and softly said, “Hello, I’m Auntie Meng. What’s your name?”

“Ma… Weifang,” the little girl whispered.

Meng Yufei smiled and said, “Fangfang, I have a little sister at home. Would you like to come play with her?”

“Mm, okay.” Fangfang nodded.

Meng Yufei led them into the house and pointed to a chair, saying, “Sister-in-law, please sit down.”

Xia Qinqin, who had been drawing at the table, lifted her head and politely said, “Hello, Auntie.”

Her gaze fell on Ma Weifang, who had come along, and her eyes were full of curiosity.

Meng Yufei said, “Qinqin, this is Sister Fangfang, she came to play with you. Would you like to draw together?”

“Okay.” Xia Qinqin nodded, slid off the chair, and quickly ran over to Ma Weifang. She said, “Sister Fangfang, let’s draw together.”

Seeing Fangfang nod, Xia Qinqin smiled and took her hand to the table, handing her a colored pencil and pointing to the flowers on the paper, saying, “Let’s color these flowers.”

“Mm.” Fangfang nodded, and the two little girls lay side by side on the table, drawing together.