Chapter 12

Upon hearing that his son-in-law had “come back from the dead,” Lin Shengli, urged by his wife, borrowed the brigade’s carriage.

The ride was not only bumpy but also freezing.

Lin Ting wrapped herself in a windproof blanket, huddled behind her father and brothers, yet still shivered from the cold.

Fortunately, traveling by horse carriage had its advantages. What would have taken nearly an hour on foot was now reduced to just 20 minutes.

Every household in the village was warm and friendly. Even if occasional quarrels happened, people still gathered to eat and drink together.

So, Lin Ting wasn’t surprised when she saw a crowd gathered at the entrance of the Huo family, watching the commotion.

As the sound of horse hooves echoed, someone shouted, “Huo Xiao is back!”

The moment the Lin family stopped the carriage at the door, Hu Xiu had already come out to greet them.

Lin Ting was helped out of the carriage by her second brother. She stamped her numb feet and looked at her mother-in-law.

Hu Xiu’s eyes were swollen, likely from crying. But her complexion was good, and her eyes shone brightly.

Seeing her mother-in-law like this, Lin Ting, who had been overwhelmed with emotions since hearing the news, felt relieved.

No matter what, it was good that he was alive.

Thinking of this, she smiled and quickly stepped forward to hold her mother-in-law’s hand.

Hu Xiu’s eyes reddened again.

She was too overwhelmed. She held her daughter-in-law tightly, wanting to say something, but her lips trembled, unable to utter a word. Her throat felt blocked with emotions—both sour and bitter.

Chen Guilan, standing nearby, greeted them warmly. “Sister-in-law, come inside and warm up. It must be freezing in that carriage.”

She turned to her eldest son. “Zhu Zi, take your uncle’s carriage to Ma Peng ^[1]a stable or resting place for horses.. Don’t let the horse get cold.”

Lin Shengli smiled and waved his hand. “I’ll go myself, I’ll go myself.” Horses were valuable assets of the production team, and he needed to ensure its proper care.

Hu Xiu, finally composed, decided, “Let’s go together. Zhu Zi can show the way.”

With that, Lin Shengli and Zhu Zi went to settle the carriage, while the rest of the Lin family entered the house, surrounded by the crowd.

“If you ask me, Tingting was meant to be Xiao’s wife. She was the only one who didn’t believe he was dead and insisted on finding the truth. Look, the results speak for themselves. My nephew is fine! Sister-in-law, you’re lucky to have such a daughter-in-law…” Chen Guilan’s sharp tongue was famous, but she also knew how to praise when needed. As soon as they sat on the kang, still in their thick coats, she began praising Lin Ting.

She had a reason for doing so. When Secretary Wang of the commune came to inform them earlier, he hinted that Huo Xiao had been on a secret mission. Now that he was back, it was likely a “glorious return”—perhaps even a promotion.

Her son Zhu Zi was already 18, and she hoped her nephew could secure a good job for him.

If she didn’t speak up now, was she supposed to be like her foolish Third Brother, who could only grin like an idiot?

Yesterday, she was calling her Xiao Lin, but today it was Tingting. Though Hu Xiu felt a little irritated that Guilan stole the words she wanted to say, she agreed with her.

A daughter-in-law brings luck to her husband!

So, when Lin Ting took off her thick coat, Hu Xiu took her hand again and gratefully told her mother-in-law, “You’ve raised a good daughter.”

Li Taohong, sipping sugar water from a ceramic bowl, felt proud but humbly said, “It’s a blessing for Tingting to have such a good mother-in-law.”

Hu Xiu smiled. “Everyone is blessed.”

The villagers, not used to seeing her so emotional, laughed and joked: “That’s right. People say if you survive a disaster, you’ll have good fortune!”

“Yes, yes! The couple is good-looking too. When Xiao comes back, they should have a baby. He’ll be cuter than the children on New Year paintings.”

“Oh my, they’ll be like the golden boy and jade girl ^[2]a phrase used to describe a perfect couple. sitting under the Bodhisattva ^[3]a Buddhist deity who helps others reach enlightenment..”

Everyone laughed, and Hu Xiu and Li Taohong beamed with joy.

At that moment, Lin Ting realized—Huo Xiao was alive, and they were just an ordinary married couple now.

Thinking of their intimacy, Lin Ting, who had been quietly sitting beside her mother-in-law, blushed.

“Hey, look, the new bride is shy!”

Hearing this, everyone turned to look at Lin Ting.

Already a bit embarrassed, Lin Ting blushed even more. Her mind blanked, and she blurted out, “It’s hot in here.”

Everyone…

“Hahaha!”

Joy was contagious, but not for everyone.

_

While the entire house was filled with laughter, only Wang Xiuqin, squeezed into a corner and secretly observing Lin Ting, felt uneasy.

Of course, she was happy that Huo Xiao had returned.

But she couldn’t understand—why hadn’t Lin Ting left yet?

Yesterday, when she heard someone say Lin Ting was back, she was first shocked, then terrified. She feared Lin Ting had been reborn just like her.

She worried her recent frequent visits to the Huo family would be exposed.

So, she hid at home, afraid to show her face.

But when she calmed down, she started doubting herself.

If Lin Ting had really lived another life, why hadn’t she come to scratch her face and teach her a lesson for trying to steal her man?

These days, having an affair can lead to harassment charges and even jail time.

At first, Wang Xiuqin was fearful, but she soon realized she was overthinking. After all, she had never expressed her feelings openly. Even if Lin Ting shared her thoughts, she had leverage over her. Why should she be afraid?

So, when everyone went to the Huo family today, Wang Xiuqin hesitated but followed. However, she was too nervous to step forward and observed from a distance.

She and Lin Ting had been elementary school classmates. But Wang Xiuqin had to drop out early and never completed her studies. They hadn’t seen each other in years, but she remembered Lin Ting as a pretty child. Seeing her again, she found her ordinary.

Lin Ting’s seductive features made her seem untrustworthy, unlike Wang Xiuqin, who looked like a proper wife and mother. Still, Lin Ting didn’t appear to have had any good fortune. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have smiled at her when their eyes met.

Thinking of Lin Ting’s smile, Wang Xiuqin felt uneasy. Some men liked this type of woman. If Huo Xiao was one of them, what hope did she have?

But why had Lin Ting returned after running away? Did this happen in her past life? When would Lin Ting leave again? Or should she do something to make her leave before Huo Xiao returned?

Lin Ting was unaware of Wang Xiuqin’s distress. After the villagers left, she bid farewell to her family.

That evening, the Huo family gathered to celebrate. Chen Guilan brought a large pot of pork, cabbage, and vermicelli stew, accompanied by her husband and six children to help prepare dinner. The third son’s wife, Zhang Meihua, arrived later with a pickled fish dish and stewed lamb legs sent by her family.

With bacon, blood sausage, and other delicacies prepared for New Year’s, the kang table was packed with food. Those without seats stood with their bowls, still enjoying the meal.

Compared to the half-grown children, Lin Ting was considered an elder and was seated by the kang with little Miaomiao in her lap. The family drank, chatted, and laughed, making for a lively evening.

The feast ended after two hours. After seeing her relatives off, Lin Ting went to her mother-in-law’s bedroom, where the younger children had already fallen asleep. Her mother-in-law, Hu Xiu, was taking a tin box of biscuits from a drawer. Seeing Lin Ting, she smiled.

“Come sit,” she said.

Lin Ting sat by the kang bed. “What are you busy with?”

Hu Xiu pulled out a stack of cloth coupons ^[4]ration tickets issued in planned economies for purchasing fabric. and beamed. “Look, I saved these. Tomorrow morning, I’ll go to the commune to call Xiao Zi and stop by the supply and marketing cooperative to buy fabric for your clothes.”

She glanced at Lin Ting’s navy blue coarse cloth jacket. “I’ll get you something fashionable. The educated youths from the city wear Lenin suits ^[5]a type of simple, utilitarian suit popular in socialist China., and they look neat and sharp.”

Still not satisfied, she looked at Lin Ting’s feet. “You need better shoes—cowhide ones, waterproof and decent. I have industrial coupons ^[6]refers to ration tickets for factory-made goods..”

Hu Xiu then eyed Lin Ting’s wrist with a regretful expression. Lin Ting chuckled. “Mom, if you want, I’ll bring back all the watches from the supply and marketing cooperative tomorrow.”

Realizing she had been overly eager to show gratitude, Hu Xiu laughed and waved her hand. “Go ahead! Mom has money!”

The next morning, the wind blew, but there was no snow. After breakfast, Lin Ting and Hu Xiu took the twins, a boy and a girl, and boarded a tractor to the commune. Though bumpy, the tractor had a windshield, and squeezed among villagers heading to buy New Year’s goods, the ride wasn’t too bad.

Following the old secretary’s instructions, the driver, Xiao He, dropped them off at the commune first. After setting a return time, he drove off with the others.

The commune office was a rare two-story building. An elderly guard was on duty.

Hu Xiu, unfamiliar with such places, felt uneasy. Lin Ting removed her scarf and approached him with a smile.

The old man had a stern face, but after listening, he examined her and grinned. “Oh, you’re the young wife who traveled thousands of miles to find her husband.”

Lin Ting was surprised by her reputation and felt a little embarrassed. “Sir, may we go in?”

“Of course,” he chuckled. “Secretary Wang told us about you yesterday. Go ahead.”

“Thank you, sir!” Lin Ting said.

As they entered, a voice called out. “Uncle Chen, who are those two?”

Chen Sanping barely lifted his eyelids and sneered inwardly. “No one you’d know.”

Qian Revolution disliked the old man’s attitude but concealed his frustration. Adjusting his black-framed glasses, he said, “That’s not fair. Not just anyone can enter the commune. I’m asking for the organization’s sake.”

Since when did the organization need a former rebel, who gained his position through violence, to worry on its behalf?

However, no matter how much he looked down on her, Chen Sanping would not openly offend such a person. Besides, the girl’s husband had some status, so even if Qian Geming had bad intentions, he wouldn’t be able to act on them.

Chen Sanping took a puff from his pipe and said slowly, “She’s a military wife, here to see her husband.”

He then grinned, revealing yellowed teeth. “Almost forgot—her husband is a regimental officer and a close friend of Minister Hu from the Armed Forces.”