Chapter 42

After hanging up the phone with Lu Yu, Jiang Nian was still trying to process everything.

Zhang Xiao returned with dinner, and after they ate, they went back to their dorm to wash up and sleep.

Jiang Nian tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. Zhang Xiao wondered, “Why are you flipping around so much?”

Jiang Nian: …

She didn’t know why she couldn’t sleep either. Finally, when she was on the verge of falling asleep, she heard the door of the dormitory open. Lu Xiaoqing came in with a cold face, glanced at Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao, snorted, kicked off her shoes, and deliberately made noise to try and wake them up.

Zhang Xiao was sleeping deeply and didn’t hear a thing. Jiang Nian kept her eyes closed, pretending to be asleep, too lazy to bother with her.

It was Zhai Peipei who turned over and looked at her. “Can you be quieter when you come back late at night? You’re the busiest one every day.”

Knowing she was in the wrong, Lu Xiaoqing didn’t argue with Zhai Peipei. Frustrated, she lay back in bed, thinking about the miserable events of the night.

Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao didn’t go out that night, leaving her to go alone to the state-run restaurant. But where were Hu Zhongming and the others? She thought she might have arrived late, so she specifically asked the waiter in the restaurant, confirming several times, and was even ridiculed by the waiter.

Hu Zhongming had deceived her!

They never went to the state-run restaurant at all. Fortunately, Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao didn’t go with her tonight, or she would have been embarrassed.

The next morning, Zhang Xiao woke up Jiang Nian. Zhang Xiao smiled, “What time did you sleep last night?”

Jiang Nian shook her head. “I don’t know.”

In short, she slept late last night, so when she woke up the next day, her mind was still muddled. She wanted to sleep a little longer, struggled to get up, put on her clothes, washed up with Zhang Xiao in the bathroom, and then took an aluminum lunch box to the cafeteria for food.

When they were about to reach the cafeteria, Zhang Xiao said, “Sister Lu got up early today. She left when I woke you in the morning.”

This was the first time Lu Xiaoqing had gotten up so early in such a long time.

Jiang Nian said, “There must be something going on.”

Jiang Nian didn’t expect that she was just casually saying that but she was actually right.

Just as Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao entered the cafeteria, they heard Lu Xiaoqing arguing with Hu Zhongming. Several people were sitting on benches near the door, listening to Lu Xiaoqing say, “You’re just a liar! Didn’t you say Yang Jun had his birthday yesterday and we were going to the state-run restaurant? I waited there for half an hour and the waiter said no one had come, and even mocked me. What’s the meaning of this?”

Hu Zhongming disliked Lu Xiaoqing’s constant nagging, feeling embarrassed by her behavior. He increasingly found her annoying and thought of rural people as just that—rural, lacking the quiet demeanor of urban women. Despite his growing dislike for Lu Xiaoqing, he suppressed his frustration and said, “Yesterday we celebrated Yang Jun’s birthday in the dormitory. This month’s salary hasn’t been paid yet, and we don’t have much money in hand. We can’t afford to eat at the state-run restaurant.”

“Do you really not have money?” Lu Xiaoqing didn’t seem to believe it. Hu Zhongming, after all, was the team leader at the cotton mill, earning thirty yuan a month, plus subsidies—making it about thirty-two yuan monthly. Moreover, his parents had paid for his job; how could their family be short of money?

Hu Zhongming frowned, “My mother is sick and needs medical treatment. How can I ask her for money? Where would I find the face to do that?”

Lu Xiaoqing pursed her lips and didn’t press further, but she felt uncomfortable inside. “Then why didn’t you tell me earlier? You made me look foolish at the state-run restaurant.”

“I forgot, didn’t I? Besides, our dormitory is all men. It wouldn’t have been appropriate for you to come. That’s why I didn’t tell you. Next time something like this happens, I’ll definitely inform you. Don’t be upset,” Hu Zhongming explained casually, saying a few comforting words, which Lu Xiaoqing accepted.

Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao sat not far away, but despite facing away from them, Jiang Nian could clearly hear their conversation. Thinking back to last night when Lu Xiaoqing was insistent on dragging her and Zhang Xiao to the state-run restaurant, now she understood the reason.

She faintly felt that perhaps this idea had also originated from Hu Zhongming.

Jiang Nian increasingly found these few people to be morally crooked and resolved to avoid them in the future.

However, in just twenty more days, she would be able to leave. Jiang Nian then thought of Zhang Xiao again. When she returned to the army, she would be far from these scoundrels, but Zhang Xiao would have to stay here long-term. What if he fell into the hands of Hu Zhongming and the others someday? What would she do if something happened?

She took a sip of the porridge and glanced at Zhang Xiao, who was enjoying her food across from her, appearing content. She tentatively asked, “How old are you this year?”

Zhang Xiao smiled, “I’ll be twenty after the New Year.”

Speaking of which, Zhang Xiao sighed and poked at a cabbage leaf with her chopsticks before looking at Jiang Nian. After hesitating for a moment, she said, “Sister Jiang, I think you probably already guessed. I was able to work at the state-run embroidery shop because of Sister Ge. Sister Ge is the daughter of my distant uncle. My mother asked my uncle to beg Sister Ge to get me this job.”

Zhang Xiao lowered her head sadly, “I don’t know how to embroider. When I first came to the state-run embroidery shop, Sister Lu didn’t like me. I know I didn’t get the job on merit, so I’ve done every job at the shop, even though I can’t embroider well. At least I should do my best to earn the ten yuan salary that Sister Ge gave me.”

Indeed, Jiang Nian had noticed this over the past month.

Every day, Zhang Xiao cleaned the embroidery shop spotlessly and even kept the dormitory clean. When customers came to see embroidery designs, if Sister Ge wasn’t there, it was Zhang Xiao who accompanied them, chatting, serving tea, and showing them the designs.

She felt that if Zhang Xiao were in the new century, she would definitely be a sales champion.

Today, Zhang Xiao said these things for a reason, so Jiang Nian asked, “Did your family say something to you?”

Zhang Xiao nodded, “My mother sent a letter to Sister Ge two days ago, asking her to find a good marriage for me.”

She looked at Jiang Nian with difficulty, “Sister Ge said she would pay attention to it, but I feel uneasy. It’s like our whole family is clinging to Sister Ge like leeches. I’m thinking, after you leave, I’ll quit this job and go back to the countryside to work in the fields and earn points. Don’t let my mother bother Sister Ge anymore.”

Jiang Nian hadn’t expected Zhang Xiao to have already planned an exit strategy.

But this path couldn’t be taken unless absolutely necessary.

She pursed her lips and tentatively asked, “Have you ever thought about getting married? Or marrying someone from the city?”

After all, Zhang Xiao was still a young unmarried girl. When it came to marriage, she was a bit embarrassed, “I’m just a country girl. Even if I find someone, I’ll go back to the countryside to find them. As long as the other person sincerely cares for me and my mother, even if he’s poor, I’m willing. Life is lived by two people together, as long as we have hands and feet, we won’t worry about food and drink. I’ve never thought about marrying someone from the city. City people look down on me.”

After finishing, she glanced at Lu Xiaoqing in the distance, “Sister Lu is a prime example.”

Jiang Nian hadn’t expected Zhang Xiao to think so clearly at such a young age. She smiled, “If you have the intention of getting married, I’ll keep an eye out for you.”

Zhang Xiao was stunned for a moment, “Huh?”

Jiang Nian smiled, “There are plenty of soldiers in the army who aren’t married. When the time comes, I’ll keep an eye out for a suitable one for you.”

Zhang Xiao blushed with embarrassment, her eyes also flashing with a hint of brightness. Compared to city folk, she indeed preferred soldiers, but she had never thought she would marry a soldier in her life. In their commune, none of the brigades had ever had a soldier.

Jiang Nian took this matter to heart.

When she talked about it with Zhang Xiao, the first person who came to mind was Zhu Jun.

Zhu Jun had a handsome appearance, impeccable character, was hardworking, and could drive. Zhang Xiao was also a steadfast person. Perhaps if they met, they might really hit it off. On the thirtieth day of the New Year, when Zhu Jun came to her house and said he wanted to save money to marry a wife, she was not sure whether Zhu Jun had a partner, so she did not dare to tell Zhang Xiao the details.

After Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao left, Lu Xiaoqing also left shortly afterward. Yang Jun patted Hu Zhongming’s arm, “Brother Zhongming, why don’t you just clarify things with Lu Xiaoqing? Don’t let her keep bothering you.”

Hu Zhongming said, “Do you think I don’t want to? But look at Lu Xiaoqing’s behavior. If I say it, who knows what kind of scene she’ll create at the cotton mill? Then where will I have the face to stay at the cotton mill?”

Not only this, but he will also be labeled as a Chen Shimei^[1]Chen Shimei” is a character from Chinese folklore known for abandoning his wife, and it is often used as a metaphor for a heartless and unfaithful person. by the people in the mill.

After finishing his porridge, Feng Ren looked at Hu Zhongming, “Brother Zhongming, we didn’t catch those two girls last night. When will we get another chance to catch them?”

Originally, the plan last night was for Lu Xiaoqing to deceive Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao into coming out. When they passed through the dark alley, they would be put into sacks and taken away. After finishing their business, they would be returned without anyone knowing what had happened.

Even if the police came looking for them, they had alibis.

Hu Zhongming said, “Let’s talk about it later.”

Now his mind was filled with Lu Xiaoqing, wishing he could send this woman far away.

Back at the embroidery shop, Jiang Nian saw Ge Mei rush in anxiously holding several sheets of paper, seemingly wanting to discuss something. Ge Mei also saw Zhang Xiao and Jiang Nian, and smiled, “Have you had breakfast?”

“We have.”

Jiang Nian hesitated for a moment and said, “Sister Ge, I have something this afternoon, can I take half a day off?”

Ge Mei looked at Jiang Nian in surprise, knowing she didn’t know anyone in the city, thinking she must have encountered some trouble. She said, “What’s wrong? Did something happen? Tell me, maybe I can help you figure something out.”

Jiang Nian shook her head lightly. “Lu Yu is coming this afternoon.”

Ge Mei’s face instantly lit up with a smile. “No problem.”

“Deputy Commander Lu is coming?” Zhang Xiao smiled.

“Yeah, he said he’s coming to the city for some business,” Jiang Nian said.

She walked into the compartment and glanced at Lu Xiaoqing sitting by the window, holding an embroidery pattern. In over a month, the two small patterns hadn’t been embroidered yet. Ge Mei had mentioned to Lu Xiaoqing several times about this matter. It was no wonder she had told her on the day that she came to the embroidery shop that Lu Xiaoqing was an unstable person.

She was really unstable.

Thinking all day about how to marry Hu Zhongming. She had the skill of embroidery. As long as she worked hard, she would be much better off than marrying.

Jiang Nian couldn’t understand Lu Xiaoqing’s thoughts, nor did she have the right to criticize her.

At lunchtime, a woman with bruises on her face and messy hair came into the embroidery shop. There were even two footprints on her clothes as if she had just been beaten and scolded.

As soon as the woman entered, Jiang Nian curiously peeked out of the compartment. She saw Zhai Peipei stand up and run out with a voice full of anger in both rooms: “That bastard beat you again?!”

The woman cried, “He kicked me out, saying I’m a freeloader and won’t let me go home.”

Zhai Peipei angrily said, “Let Mom go settle the score with him!”

After speaking, she dragged the woman away.

Lu Xiaoqing clicked her tongue and said, “Why stay with such a man?”

Jiang Nian agreed in her heart.

What Lu Xiaoqing said made perfect sense.

At noon, Lu Xiaoqing stretched lazily and put down the embroidery frame. She looked at Jiang Nian’s embroidery frame and walked over to ask, “Jiang Nian, how much can you earn with this embroidery?”

Ge Mei hadn’t told her, but she thought it should be a lot.

But even if Ge Mei told her, she didn’t need to tell Lu Xiaoqing, so she said, “I don’t know.”

After that, she stood up and walked to the cafeteria with Zhang Xiao.

Lu Xiaoqing: …

“What are you proud of?” She kicked Jiang Nian’s embroidery frame, kicking it heavily. The embroidery frame tilted dangerously and almost fell to the ground. Several strands of thread hanging on the embroidery frame fell to the ground, startling Lu Xiaoqing. She quickly bent down to pick up the threads and drape them over the embroidery frame. Her eyes fell on the embroidery pattern for several glances.

Thinking that Jiang Nian, at such a young age, had such good embroidery skills, although she became a widow, she still had an excellent man who treated her so well. After more than a month of getting along, she found that Jiang Nian was much better off in terms of food, clothing, and daily necessities.

Especially that man who bought snacks and fruits for her. Compared with Hu Zhongming, she felt even more unbalanced in her heart.

Lu Xiaoqing snorted coldly, stood up, and kicked the embroidery frame again.

There were footsteps outside the compartment. Before she could retract her foot, the curtain was lifted.

Lu Xiaoqing panicked and retracted her foot. When she raised her head, she saw the man standing in the compartment wearing a long military green coat. His short hair was neat and clean, and his handsome face was cold. She recognized him at a glance. He was a comrade-in-arms of Jiang Nian’s deceased husband.

Lu Yu’s cold eyes scanned the embroidery frame that Lu Xiaoqing had kicked crookedly. With a cold face, he walked in, straightened the frame, and separated the threads, arranging them neatly on the frame.

“If anything happens to Jiang Nian’s embroidery, you will be the prime suspect.”

The man stood up straight, tall and imposing, his cold gaze carrying an oppressive force, making Lu Xiaoqing retreat two steps in fear. She pretended to be calm and said, “I have no grudge against her, why would I damage her embroidery? Even if her embroidery is damaged, why suspect me? It’s not just me in the embroidery shop, there’s also Sister Zhai and Zhang Xiao.”

Lu Yu’s gaze seemed to pierce through her heart coldly. “As an eyewitness, I saw you deliberately damaging Jiang Nian’s embroidery.”

Lu Xiaoqing didn’t speak.

She had fantasized before that if this man could exchange places with Hu Zhongming, how wonderful it would be. Now she just wanted to keep away from him.

Lu Yu ignored her and turned to the cafeteria of the cotton mill.

If Jiang Nian wasn’t in the embroidery shop at this time, she must have gone to the cafeteria for lunch.

After Lu Yu left, Lu Xiaoqing angrily scratched her hair. When she raised her foot to kick Jiang Nian’s embroidery frame again, she stopped halfway. Thinking of what the man had said, she was angry and afraid. If she was taken away by the police because of the embroidery incident, the Hu family would definitely not accept her as their daughter-in-law.

At lunchtime, the cafeteria was crowded with people. Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao stood in a long queue, watching the auntie serving food tremble as she scooped the dishes. By the time she finished shaking, what was once a full ladle of food was left with just a little bit.

Jiang Nian sighed inwardly.

Indeed, whether in the old days or the new century, cafeteria aunties always seemed to have this trembling hand issue.

After they got their food, Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao looked around and spotted a long table in the corner. They sat down side by side, eating and chatting. The topic turned to Zhai Peipei, and Zhang Xiao had more to say.

Zhai Peipei’s daughter, named Qu Hua, married Chen Peng, a worker at the cotton mill. Zhai Peipei’s daughter had been living in the countryside with her father. Their family relied mainly on Zhai Peipei’s earnings. When Qu Hua and her father came to the state-run embroidery shop to visit Zhai Peipei during the Chinese New Year, Chen Peng took a liking to Qu Hua when the family of three went to the cotton mill cafeteria to eat.

Later, the two of them got married. The first year was okay, but in the second year, Qu Hua gave birth to a daughter. Her mother-in-law was unwilling and nitpicked at Qu Hua. She even physically abused Qu Hua, prompting Zhai Peipei to go to Chen’s house several times over these past two years because of this.

Taking a bite of corn pancake, Zhang Xiao said, “This is what Sister Lu told me. Qu Hua has been married to Chen Peng for three years and has endured beatings for two years.”

It’s these conservative old folks again, favoring sons over daughters.

Now Qu Hua has been kicked out. Even if Zhai Peipei sends her back, her future will still be a life filled with constant abuse and darkness.

“Sister Zhai has been worried about her daughter’s situation for the past two years. Her white hair this year is more than last year.”

Zhang Xiao sighed, took a sip of porridge, stirred it with chopsticks, and laughed, “This isn’t porridge, it’s just clear soup. I’ve been scooping for half a day and haven’t seen a single grain of rice.”

“I have some rice here, want me to share it with you?”

A voice came from behind.

Jiang Nian and Zhang Xiao looked over simultaneously and saw Yang Jun and Feng Ren walking over with aluminum lunch boxes. They sat down opposite them. Zhang Xiao’s expression changed slightly. She pulled the aluminum lunch box closer to herself and looked at Jiang Nian, silently asking what to do.

Jiang Nian closed the lid of the aluminum lunch box. “We’re going back to the embroidery shop to eat.”

“Where are you going?”

Yang Jun stood up to block Zhang Xiao’s way, wanting to reach out and grab her hand. Zhang Xiao retreated in fear, bumped into Jiang Nian, and her eyes turned red. “Get away from me! If you mess with me again, I’ll call the police!”

Yang Jun sneered, “I haven’t done anything to you. What’s the use of calling the police?”

Zhang Xiao was suddenly at a loss.

Jiang Nian picked up the aluminum lunch box and pulled Zhang Xiao to the side, and Feng Ren came over from the other side to block Jiang Nian’s path. “Where are you going? Just have a meal with the two of us, why make it so difficult?”

As he spoke, he reached out toward Jiang Nian, trying to grab her wrist to make her sit down.

Jiang Nian didn’t hesitate to throw the aluminum lunch box at Feng Ren’s head, splashing him with soup. She pulled Zhang Xiao aside, “If you lay a hand on us again, I’ll go to the mill and report you to the leaders!”

The commotion attracted everyone’s attention in the cafeteria. Everyone eating here was a worker at the cotton mill. Feng Ren, being hit by a woman, felt utterly humiliated and angry, reaching out to grab Jiang Nian.

Jiang Nian retreated in fear, but just as Feng Ren’s hand was about to reach her, it was grabbed by a slender but strong hand.

Lu Yu kicked Feng Ren’s knee, forcing him to kneel on the table, his hand twisted behind his back and pressed down by Lu Yu, causing him to scream in pain.

“Who the hell are you?”

“Who let you meddle in other people’s business? Let go! Ahh, let go!”

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