Chapter 21 – The Female Supporting Character in the Confession Book

Wen Xin looked at Gu Xiuping with an expression that was hard to describe. She didn’t know whether he had truly forgotten about Wen Panting, or if he was pretending not to know her.

Gu Xiuping continued to ramble on: “Xin Xin, do you see what’s going on in the world today? That girl looks to be only sixteen or seventeen, yet she’s already thinking of pretending to be hit by a car to scam people. Such a young age and she’s already on the wrong path.” His face was filled with a heartbroken expression.

Wen Xin grabbed Gu Xiuping, took a deep breath, and was about to speak when she was interrupted by Big Brother Wen, who overheard their conversation. “Xiuping, what you’re saying is wrong. Anyone who wants to fake an accident doesn’t care about age. Just last time, when I went to the county with the villagers to sell mushrooms, there was an old man lying on the ground faking an accident. He insisted that a girl had hit him and was demanding medical expenses.”

Having recently been scammed himself, Gu Xiuping had a lot to say. He immediately let go of Wen Xin and joined Big Brother Wen, linking arms with her to discuss the matter further.

As the two chatted more and more enthusiastically, Second Brother Wen also joined the conversation. Before long, their discussion had veered off completely from the topic of scamming, heading in a completely different direction.

The things Gu Xiuping had brought were left on the ground, unattended. Wen Xin, helpless, resigned herself to carrying everything into the kitchen.

There was quite a bit of stuff—about four pounds of lamb, a bag of rice, and a bag of white flour. In addition, there was a lunchbox, which when opened, revealed some pickled vegetables. The sour taste made one’s appetite grow.

Wen Xin remembered the last time they met, when she had casually mentioned that her sister-in-law was severely affected by pregnancy and couldn’t eat anything but sour and spicy foods. Gu Xiuping had clearly remembered this.

Wen Xin felt a sweet warmth in her heart.

There was also a large bucket of vegetable oil. Due to the cold weather, the oil had frozen, creating a white, solid layer that looked like lard. Wen Xin placed the oil on the stove; they kept their rapeseed oil in that spot.

Zhang Xiuying came from the cellar, holding a head of big white cabbage. Hearing the noise, she asked Wen Xin: “Is Xiuping here?”

After two months of effort, Gu Xiuping had successfully changed Zhang Xiuying’s opinion of him. She now called him affectionately “Xiuping.” instead of the formal “Comrade Xiao Gu.”

“He’s here, and he brought a lot of things. There’s even lamb.”

Lamb was a rare and valuable item, and Zhang Xiuying was overjoyed when she opened the bag and saw it. “This must be at least four or five pounds! And there’s also some preserved cabbage! Let’s have lamb dumplings with green onions tonight. Xin Xin, go to the east room and pick some green onions.”

Wen Xin nodded and went off. Second Sister-in-law Wen, careful of her pregnancy, made her way cautiously toward the kitchen. She was thin, which made her stomach appear unusually large. Wen Xin looked at her and felt a little nervous about her condition. So, instead of rushing to pick the onions, she went over to help her.

“Second Sister-in-law, why are you out here in this cold weather? Didn’t Mom tell you to stay in your room?”

Second Sister-in-law Wen panted as she said: “I was sitting in the room, doing some needlework, but I just couldn’t sit still. It felt so stuffy in there, so I came out to walk around. It just so happens that we’re cooking, so I thought I’d come and help.”

Zhang Xiuying glanced at Second Sister-in-law Wen and assigned her some simple tasks. Though she was considerate of her daughter-in-law’s pregnancy and didn’t want her to do any heavy work, she didn’t stop her from doing the lighter tasks.

Wen Xin picked two green onions from the garden and brought them to the kitchen. Zhang Xiuying called for Big Brother Wen to chop the filling while she began preparing the dough. Wen Xin stood by, learning as she went.

Second Brother Wen was quick and strong, and soon enough, he had minced the lamb into meat paste. Wen Xin, with tears in her eyes, finely chopped the green onions and ginger, adding them to the meat mixture. Zhang Xiuying directed her in preparing the filling.

Once Eldest Sister-in-law Wen had finished chopping the filling, she left. Wen Xin, speaking to Zhang Xiuying, brought up the issue of Gu Xiuping being scammed. “Mom, I think the person who stopped Xiuping was Wen Panting.”

Zhang Xiuying rolled out the dumpling wrappers and replied: “Who else could it be but her? Her mother’s mind was clouded by greed. She’s already pushed both of her daughters into the fire, and now she wants to throw this one in too, all for the sake of a little betrothal money. Her son isn’t even old enough to marry yet.”

“Wen Panting’s fiancé likes to hit people. He’s even beaten his parents because he couldn’t get a wife. Wen Panting’s future is definitely not going to be easy. It’s understandable that she wants to escape that marriage by any means, but involving Xiuping in this—no, that’s not right. Just wait, I’ll go to her house tomorrow and give her a good scolding.” Zhang Xiuying said through gritted teeth, her anger palpable. That little wench, Wen Panting, was only sixteen but already knew how to seduce men, just like her mother.

“Like mother, like daughter.”

Second Sister-in-law Wen, curious, asked Zhang Xiuying: “Hey, Mom, I heard people say that Second Uncle didn’t originally want to marry Panting’s mother. Is that true?”

“It’s true. Your Second Uncle was going to marry Wen Panting’s mother’s cousin. The two of them were almost engaged. Then, one Mid-Autumn Festival, your Second Uncle went to Wen Panting’s grandmother’s house, and when he came back, he had changed his mind and decided to marry someone else.” This was an old story, and besides the few gossiping women, most people had forgotten about it.

Liu Guixiang had not been well-liked by her in-laws when she married into the Wen family. After giving birth to three daughters, she lost her standing in the family. When Zhang Xiuying married in, she quickly gave birth to two sons and proved herself capable, earning the affection of her in-laws. The comparison between the two women made Liu Guixiang’s resentment toward Zhang Xiuying seem almost inevitable.

Wen Panting’s actions that day had thoroughly disgusted both Zhang Xiuying and Wen Xin. The only thing they could be grateful for was that Gu Xiuping was oblivious to such hints, or else there would have been another one of those troublesome situations to deal with. How would they have managed that?

Eldest Sister-in-law Wen, who couldn’t tolerate unpleasant smells, was about to feel nauseous from the odor.

Wen Xin quickly prepared some mushrooms and chopped some cabbage to make vegetarian dumplings.

The water in the pot started boiling, and she first cooked Eldest Sister-in-law Wen’s vegetarian filling. Then, she added the thin-skinned, thick-filled lamb dumplings. As the dumplings floated to the top, they were ready to be served.

The table in the east room had already been set. Wen Xin brought the dumplings to the table, and the delicious smell of meat wafted through the air. Second Brother Wen, unable to resist, got up and went to the kitchen to help with the bowls and chopsticks.

Zhang Xiuying prepared a cold dish with cabbage hearts.

Finally, they sat down at the table, and without saying a word, everyone reached for the dumplings. Dumplings were a rare treat, and white flour was a luxury, so the common people could only have them once or twice a year.

This meal was well-prepared, and everyone could eat their fill. After finishing the dumplings, they had a bowl of dumpling soup, and each person was completely satisfied.

They were all too full to move. After the meal, Gu Xiuping spoke up: “Uncle, Aunt, I’ll be turning 27 next year, and my parents are on holiday for the Spring Festival. They’d like to come over and see you.”

The purpose of the visit was naturally understood without needing to be explained.

Zhang Xiuying was mostly satisfied with Gu Xiuping. However, for big matters like this, she still wanted Wen Yuejun’s opinion. Wen Yuejun, taking a puff from his pipe, said: “Alright, you two have been together for quite a while now, so it’s time for them to meet.”

Wen Yuejun was pleased with Gu Xiuping. After subtly asking him if he supported Wen Xin continuing her education and receiving support in return, he became even more satisfied.

Twisting his pipe, Wen Yuejun told Gu Xiuping: “We only have Xin Xin, our precious daughter, whom we’ve raised with great care. We’d like to keep her around a little longer. If your parents also like her, we can get engaged first, and then get married after next year’s autumn harvest.”

Although Gu Xiuping felt a little regretful that he couldn’t marry Wen Xin right away, the idea of getting engaged first and waiting until the autumn harvest next year wasn’t bad. By then, he might be able to advance further in life, perhaps even receiving double good news.

Gu Xiuping had stayed at the Wen household during the heavy snowfall, but this time, there was no sign of snow outside, so despite his reluctance, he had to return home.

Wen Xin went to see him off.

As they walked to a quiet place, Gu Xiuping took Wen Xin’s hand.

“Xin Xin, my parents are easy to get along with, don’t be afraid. My little sister might come with them. She’s been spoiled since she was little, so she might speak her mind. If she says anything unpleasant when they visit, just let me know, and I’ll deal with it.” Gu Xiuping didn’t say anything about Wen Xin not worrying, as he understood that girls who were pampered at home didn’t always need to be considerate of others.

As an adult, Wen Xin had grown accustomed to hearing people tell her not to take things personally or to let things go, especially from her family. Even Zhang Xiuying would occasionally tell her sisters-in-law to be more accommodating with her.

Although she was the one who had been spoiled, Wen Xin still felt that Zhang Xiuying’s approach wasn’t entirely right.

Gu Xiuping’s words, however, truly touched Wen Xin’s heart. She smiled at him and asked: “Aren’t you afraid I’ll get into a fight with your little sister?”

Gu Xiuping let out a sound of exasperation: “Don’t worry, she’s a little hot headed but she’s good. My Little Sister may be willful and spoiled, but she doesn’t hold grudges. She’ll argue, then forget about it the next moment. But if you two end up fighting, you might lose to her. After all, she has trained in a Military Unit.”

“What if I can’t beat her?” Wen Xin asked.

Gu Xiuping patted Wen Xin’s head. “It’s alright, if you lose, I’ll go find Zhao Xinpeng to spar with him. Zhao Xinpeng is a pushover; I can take him down with just one hand.”

Wen Xin couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Gu Xiuping joined in her laughter. Wen Xin then saw him off to the village entrance. It was terribly cold, so Gu Xiuping told Wen Xin to go back and not see him off any further.

The northern winter wind was harsh. Despite wearing a scarf and a padded coat and pants, the wind still whipped against his body. It stung his face, and the cold made it feel like the sky was darkening. The coldest part of the night was about to arrive, and Wen Xin just wanted to go home and snuggle under the covers.

Gu Xiuping hadn’t seen Wen Xin for a week. Even though they met today, there wasn’t much time to spend together, and now that it was time for him to leave, Gu Xiuping felt reluctant to part. They stood facing each other, and seeing his reluctance, Wen Xin, too, felt unwilling to leave first.

In the bitter cold, with no one around, Wen Xin’s face and nose were slightly flushed from the wind. Her hair, which she had simply brushed, was blown all around. She was wearing the red scarf he had given her, which made her face appear especially fair.

Unable to resist, Gu Xiuping bent down and kissed her on the cheek.

Her face was cold, and his lips were warm. Their hearts were burning with excitement, beating fiercely as if they were about to leap out of their chests.

——-

In Yanjing, in the military compound.

The Gu family had gotten up early. Gu Xiuping’s mother, Ye Xianya, was in the kitchen boiling eggs. Her husband, Gu Weimin, was carrying two large pieces of luggage downstairs. Not long after, an elderly man with graying hair and sharp eyes also came downstairs. He was Gu Xiuping’s grandfather, Gu Yonglu.

“Yanya, are the eggs done?” Gu Weimin asked from outside.

“They’re done. Just bag them up. Have we finished packing the luggage?”

“Yes, everything’s ready. We can leave once you’re done with the eggs.”

“Okay.”

Ye Xianya hurried up, packed the eggs, and then came out.

The three of them walked outside. A jeep was parked in the yard, and Gu Weimin’s bodyguard was standing next to the vehicle.

They all got into the car, and the bodyguard drove them towards the government compound, where Gu Xiuping’s Little Sister, Gu Xiqi, was already waiting.

After picking her up, the group headed toward the train station. The train ride from Yanjing to Pufeng County, Qilin City, would take more than ten hours. They were leaving now, and they would arrive exactly at midnight.

Gu Xiuping had already arrived early at the county’s train station to wait.

At that time, there were few people at the train station in the evening. As the train arrived, the passengers gradually began to disembark. Gu Xiuping adjusted his military coat and stepped off the train.

Gu Xiqi was the first to spot him. “Grandpa, Grandpa, my brother is over there.”

Gu Yonglu looked in the direction pointed out by Gu Xiqi. Ye Xianya was faster than the rest of them. She crossed the barrier and walked straight up to Gu Xiuping. “Xiuping.”

“Mom.” Gu Xiuping said, taking the bag from Ye Xianya’s hands.

Ye Xianya scanned her son up and down, from front to back. Even though the lighting was dim, it didn’t affect her ability to observe him. When she saw that Gu Xiuping looked stronger than before, her heart finally settled.

At that moment, Gu Weimin and the others also arrived. They all got into the car, and Gu Xiuping led them to the guesthouse in Pufeng County. They would stay there for the night and move to the guesthouse near his station the next day.

On the way, Ye Xianya and the others asked about Wen Xin, and Gu Xiuping answered all their questions.

The next day was New Year’s Eve, and the Wen family was up early, busy with preparations.

Some were putting up couplets, some were preparing fillings for meatballs, and others were sweeping the floors. Everyone had their tasks, and the atmosphere was lively.

Wen Yuejun’s gaze frequently drifted towards the window. The reason for his distraction was that the village committee had received a phone call earlier that morning. Gu Xiuping’s family had arrived last night, and they were planning to visit the Wen family today.

Zhang Xiuying felt a bit nervous. She meticulously checked every corner of the house, worried it wasn’t clean enough. When she found something out of place, she quickly cleaned it up.

Wen Xin was also busy. She felt somewhat nervous and worked more carefully than usual.

By 10 AM, the sun had come out. Zhang Xiuying finally felt that the house was spotless. She turned around and saw Wen Xin, still dressed in her usual home clothes. Zhang Xiuying’s brow furrowed. “Xin Xin, why are you still wearing those clothes? Go change into the light blue dress I made for you before the New Year. And don’t forget to wear the scarf that Xiuping gave you. Also, fix your hair.”

Zhang Xiuying pushed Wen Xin into the room to change. After Wen Xin changed, Zhang Xiuying personally helped her with her hair. Since Wen Xin had learned to do her own hair, Zhang Xiuying hadn’t had to help her in years. Now, as she braided her daughter’s hair, she was reminded of Wen Xin’s childhood.

Back then, Wen Xin was only two years old, just learning to walk steadily. She barely had any hair. When she saw other little girls with their hair tied up, she insisted on having hers done, crying and throwing a tantrum. Zhang Xiuying had no choice but to tie the few strands of hair on top of her head with thread, creating a little topknot. It made the two-year-old so happy that she kept reaching up to touch it.

In the blink of an eye, she was already old enough to get married.

Zhang Xiuying felt a mix of joy, nostalgia, and sorrow.

Gu Xiuping’s family arrived at 11 o’clock, neither too early nor too late—just the right time.

Gu Xiuping had driven over, and as soon as he entered the village, he was met with the curious gazes of the villagers.

When they learned that Gu Xiuping had come to propose, the gossip spread quickly. Some criticized the Gu family for lacking manners, saying it was inappropriate to propose on New Year’s Eve.

Others countered, saying that since the Gu family had come from the capital, it made sense that they would come to propose immediately upon arrival—it was a sign of respect for Wen Xin.

The children rarely saw such a car. Last time, Wen Baogen had said he climbed into one, and that sparked the curiosity of many other kids. Wen Baogen ran after the car, telling his friends that he would get to ride in it soon, implying that he considered the car to be his property.

Upon hearing the car’s arrival, the Wen family was already waiting in the yard. As soon as Gu Xiuping’s car entered the yard, Second Brother Wen quickly closed the gate, locking the children outside.

Wen Baogen hurried forward and knocked on the door. “Second Brother, open the door for me.”

Second Brother Wen ignored him. The day before, their mother had gone to Wen Baogen’s house, hands on her hips, scolding Wen Panting for over an hour.

Liu Guixiang had shouted back a few times from the yard but didn’t dare go too far. She was worried that Zhang Xiuying might tear the whole situation apart, revealing that Wen Panting had been trying to seduce his family’s brother-in-law. If that got out and reached the family of the man Wen Panting had hoped to marry, the engagement would be doomed.

She couldn’t afford to have something like that happen. Getting Liu Guixiang to hand over the dowry money she had hidden in her pocket felt like it would take her life away. She couldn’t let such a mistake occur.

Second Brother Wen had never thought much of Wen Baogen, and now hearing his commanding tone, he wasn’t in the mood to pay attention to him.

Meanwhile, Gu Yonglu had already started chatting with Wen Yuejun. Ye Xianya, who had traveled widely with her husband and had also been part of a women’s military unit in her youth, held no prejudice against country folk. She spoke to Zhang Xiuying with the same friendly attitude she would use with colleagues or friends, not showing the arrogance Zhang Xiuying had feared.

Zhang Xiuying let out a sigh of relief. Although she was still a bit nervous talking to Ye Xianya, she was much more at ease than she had been in the morning. Ye Xianya smiled as she recalled stories from Gu Xiuping’s childhood, and Zhang Xiuying also shared stories about Wen Xin’s younger years. The two families exchanged compliments about each other’s children, and the atmosphere was warm and harmonious.

Gu Xiqi, who had barely spoken since entering the Wen house, kept her eyes fixed on Wen Xin. Unlike Ye Xianya, who had grown up in a time of peace, Gu Xiqi’s parents held high positions, and her life had been very different from the hardships of rural life.

Like many people her age, Gu Xiqi felt a natural sense of superiority over country folk. When she learned that Gu Xiuping had chosen a rural girl as his partner, her first reaction was to think that Gu Xiuping had gone mad.

Wen Xin was considered outstanding in the countryside, but in Gu Xiqi’s eyes, she still fell short. Among her friends and childhood peers, there were many who were more talented. In Gu Xiqi’s view, the only thing Wen Xin had going for her was her beauty.

Gu Xiqi’s gaze was so intense that when Wen Xin looked at her, their eyes met for a brief moment before both of them quickly looked away.

By noon, Zhang Xiuying headed to the kitchen to prepare lunch, and Ye Xianya insisted on joining her. Unable to decline, Zhang Xiuying took her along. It had been years since Ye Xianya last used a rural clay stove. As she began cooking with it again, a wave of nostalgia swept over her.

Lost in sentiment, Ye Xianya became chatty, reminiscing about events from her days on the march. This was a world entirely unfamiliar to Zhang Xiuying, who listened intently. Even Wen Xin and her sisters-in-law, who came to help in the kitchen, were drawn to Ye Xianya’s tales.

During lunch, Wen Yuejun opened a bottle of Maotai wine sent by the Gu family. The liquor was exquisite, far superior to the rice wine Wen Yuejun was accustomed to. Taken by its taste, he indulged in a couple more glasses. Meanwhile, the Gu family’s father and two sons, known for their high alcohol tolerance, remained unfazed after downing two taels of baijiu each.

The atmosphere at the dining table was lively, filled with laughter and chatter. Amidst the good spirits, the elders from both families finalized the engagement between Wen Xin and Gu Xiuping. Ye Xianya even produced the bride price she had prepared, handing it directly to Zhang Xiuying.

In Pufeng County, it was customary to accept the bride price at the engagement discussion. Without much thought, Zhang Xiuying took the package. Feeling its considerable heft, she paused, startled. “In-laws, isn’t this bride price a bit much?” she asked.

At that time, a bride price of fifty to sixty yuan was standard, while wealthier families might offer over a hundred for auspicious numbers. The highest bride price in their area had been 128 yuan, given by the village chief’s family for his son’s wedding.

Ye Xianya chuckled. “Not at all, not at all. In our region, bride prices are typically auspicious amounts like 666 or 888 yuan. For our family, we prepared 999 yuan, hoping the two kids have a long-lasting union.”

Gu Weimin, as the commander of the 54th Brigade in the Yanjing Military District, moved in circles where people of similar standing had no qualms about spending money on their children’s marriages. When Gu Xiuqi married, the bride price had been 888 yuan, which Ye Xianya had returned as dowry, along with a washing machine as part of her trousseau. This gesture had brought great pride to Gu Xiuqi in her husband’s family. Naturally, Ye Xianya wouldn’t be any less generous with her only son.

Zhang Xiuying, having never encountered such a large sum of money in her life, was at a loss. She turned to Wen Yuejun for guidance. After a moment’s thought, he nodded. “Take it.”

Thus, Zhang Xiuying accepted the money.

With the bride price settled, the two families began discussing the engagement date. They eventually decided on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year. By then, the State-Owned Restaurant in town would have reopened, making it an ideal venue for the banquet. Since the Gu family didn’t have many relatives in the area, the banquet would mainly be for the Wen family’s side.

Zhang Xiuying mentally tallied up their relatives and estimated they would need three tables.

After the meal, the Gu family prepared to leave. The Wen family escorted them to the door, bidding them farewell.

Just as the Gu family’s car disappeared down the road, snowflakes began drifting down from the sky again. Back at home, the Wens hadn’t even had time to tidy up when neighbors started arriving, eager to get the scoop. When they learned the engagement banquet was to be held at the State-Owned Restaurant on the sixth, they couldn’t hide their envy.

Naturally, the topic of the bride price came up. Zhang Xiuying, brimming with pride, mentioned the 999 yuan. The room erupted with gasps of disbelief, nearly lifting the roof off with their excitement. As the news spread, everyone began singing praises of Wen Xin.

Within two hours, the entire village knew Wen Xin’s bride price was 999 yuan. Over at Wen Second Uncle’s home, Liu Guixiang suddenly found the 200 yuan bride price for Wen Panting decidedly unremarkable. In the kitchen, Wen Panting, distracted by the news, accidentally dropped a bowl.

Meanwhile, in the poorest and shamelessly opportunistic families of the village, plans were already forming to borrow money from Zhang Xiuying after the New Year. They figured it was worth a shot—if she agreed, they’d get some free cash; if not, they’d lose nothing.

After all, what if she said yes?