Chapter 46

After her son and daughter-in-law left for work, Hu Xiu checked the time and took the twins to kindergarten.

Upon returning home, she called Lin Shuang and suggested visiting the temple in the back mountain.

To Hu Xiu, staying at home when in a bad mood wasn’t wise. A walk outside, appreciating the beauty of the motherland, was much better.

Lin Qing, new to a big city like Tianjin, was eager to explore.

“Auntie, wait a moment. I need to pack water, diapers, and secure the baby on my back.”

Hu Xiu reassured her. “There’s a kettle in the kitchen. No need to carry the baby; I’ll borrow a cart.” With that, she hurried out.

Having been a midwife for decades, Hu Xiu had some knowledge of minor gynecological issues. While the 1960s were more open than earlier years, few women were willing to visit hospitals for such matters. Since Hu Xiu provided help free of charge, she was well-liked.

She borrowed a bamboo cart from the only family in the compound that had one.

Lin Shuang examined the cart, intrigued. “This is useful! It has wheels—so convenient! I’ve never seen one back home.”

Hu Xiu beamed. “It’s from Beijing. Even though the little one isn’t heavy, carrying him around isn’t easy. With this, we can store water bottles, diapers, and supplies. Look, there’s even a lower compartment.”

Lin Shuang bent down to check. “You’re right… Auntie, give me a few minutes. I’ll be ready soon.”

“Take your time.”

Once ready to leave, Hu Xiu stopped by next door.

Tang Wenlan, hearing the commotion, stepped out carrying a basket. Seeing Lin Qing, her eyes lit up. “My goodness! You must be the Sister of Tingting! You and your brother are both stunning!”

When Lin Ting had arrived the previous day, Tang Wenlan had been absent. She had since heard about it but had been too busy to visit. Now, seeing her in person, she was amazed.

Fair skin, red lips—beauty as dazzling as the moon. Lin Qing was even more striking than her sister, with a bolder allure.

Having been praised for her looks since childhood, Lin Shuang smiled. “I’m Lin Shuang, and this is my son, Roubao.”

Tang Wenlan peeked into the cart, delighted.

The three women chatted as they walked toward the back mountain.

In late spring and early summer, the mountain was bursting with color under the bright blue sky.

Surrounded by such beauty, Lin Qing felt some of her inner gloom lift.

“There’s a steep slope ahead. I’ll help with the cart,” Hu Xiu offered.

Lin Shuang nodded and helped lift it.

Watching them, Tang Wenlan grew envious. “Your sibling are so close. Just now, Lin Wei visited Tingting, and now you’re here too. Unlike my family…”

Her expression darkened. Though her relatives praised her outwardly, they often spoke bitterly behind her back.

After all, how many people genuinely celebrate others’ success?

Especially family… Never mind. It’s too upsetting to dwell on.

Hearing this, Lin Shuang was momentarily confused but soon realized Tingting or Auntie must have made up an excuse to save her dignity.

A warmth spread through her heart. Smiling, she said, “Tingting and I fought plenty as kids.”

Tang Wenlan spotted a patch of wild vegetables ahead and prepared to dig them up. “That’s normal. Siblings bicker all the time.”

Seeing her walk away, Hu Xiu quietly asked, “What are your plans for the future?”

Lin Qing gazed at the spring scenery and sighed. “I thought that with a job at the supply and marketing cooperative, earning several dozen yuan a month, I’d be able to support my three children…”

Hearing this, Hu Xiu, who knew the full story, patted her gently. “You’re unlucky too.”

“It’s not bad luck.” After venting her frustration, Lin Qing continued, “Secretary Wang started a program raising rabbits. Since I can’t farm, I plan to get involved in that and make a living. I’m also good at making clothes. I did it before… before the divorce, and it can at least help cover some family expenses…”

As her sister-in-law shared her plans, Hu Xiu grew uneasy and asked, “Have you thought about remarrying?”

Hu Xiu had never considered remarriage. She had support from her family and two brothers-in-law, plus one child, so there wasn’t much pressure. The biggest reason, however, was that she had a good relationship with her late husband and preferred to stay loyal.

But eldest sister-in-law was only 27, young and beautiful, and her ex-husband had been terrible. She could easily find a new partner.

Widows often face harsh gossip, and though it might seem cruel, it wasn’t an exaggeration.

A few years ago, a young wife in the next village lost her husband. She didn’t want to remarry, but one night, she was raped. The rumors spread so much that she became distressed and jumped into the river.

Such cases weren’t isolated, and Hu Xiu genuinely cared for her sister-in-law and worried about her future.

Lin Qing wasn’t thinking of remarrying for now, but she knew who was good and who wasn’t, so she didn’t give a definitive answer. Wanting to avoid making things awkward, she smiled and said, “Where would I find someone? My three children are with me all the time. Who would take them on?”

“Of course, the children are the most important, but…” Hu Xiu agreed but paused as she noticed Wen Lan approaching, and quickly stopped speaking.

_

Lin Ting had been in a great mood for several days, and that happiness peaked at dinner on Friday.

“Are you serious? Did you find a good house?” Lin Ting asked, joy clearly showing on her face.

Huo Xiao picked up an egg for his wife with chopsticks. “Yes, it’s the one you liked, with a yard.”

In truth, there were always vacant houses at the Housing Authority, but none were what Lin Ting wanted. The good ones rarely became available, and after coming to Tianjin, Huo Xiao had been waiting for a chance.

It wasn’t until he received some news and had special arrangements made with the guards that it was his turn.

Lin Ting didn’t know how it worked, so she smiled. “Let’s go look at it on Sunday?”

Seeing his wife happy, Huo Xiao felt equally pleased. “The kitchen team is going to the city that day. Should we go early with them?”

The kitchen team regularly made trips to the city for supplies. Lin Ting wasn’t surprised and immediately agreed. She then turned to her mother-in-law, knowing how much she’d been thinking about the house they sold. She smiled and said, “Mom, we’ll have our own house soon.”

Hu Xiu also smiled. “Yes, it’s important for a person to have their own home.”

She then turned to Lin Qing. “Qiangqian, why don’t you come with us to see it?”

Lin Qing, happy for her sister, waved her hand. “I won’t go. It’s not easy to bring the child along.”

Besides, her sister and brother-in-law rarely had time off, so it was better for them to be alone. There was no point in her tagging along.

Lin Ting was surprised. “Why not come? Doesn’t the child have a stroller? And Huo Xiao and I are planning to visit the city hospital for a check-up. We can take you for a walk while we’re there.”

Since her elder sister’s arrival, Lin Qing had felt a sense of owing her and was worried about gossip, so she mostly stayed home, except for trips to the back mountain.

Her mother-in-law had privately mentioned that Lin Qing was handling almost all the housework.

After hearing Lin Ting’s invitation, she was taken aback. Lin Ting hadn’t realized what her sister had planned.

Lin Ting laughed. “I was thinking of buying new skirts for Pingping and Meimei. As their mother, shouldn’t you help pick out the sizes?”

Nowadays, clothes were sold in larger sizes, so precise measurements weren’t as important. Lin Qing laughed to herself. “Okay, we’ll go together.”

She had planned to exchange cloth coupons she had collected from military families in the housing estate for enough fabric to make two outfits.

She was skilled at sewing, and since her sister had a sewing machine, they could pick out some good fabric.

Before they left, Lin Qing made a set of clothes for Tingting and her aunt.

After dinner, once Lin Ting finished preparing for her lessons, she sat cross-legged on the bed and began counting the family’s money.

She had only been working for two months, so her savings were modest.

After accounting for the expenses of her trip to Shanghai, along with the betrothal gift and dowry from her parents, there was just under three hundred yuan left.

It may not seem like much, but in this time, it could build a small brick house in the countryside.

Of course, it was nothing compared to Huo Xiao’s savings. What she had wasn’t even a fraction of his wealth.

Huo Xiao had always been frugal with himself.

Before their marriage, even his underwear had been patched up several times.

After over ten years of basic pay and bonuses from completing missions, he had saved over 7,000 yuan.

In future years, many people’s monthly salary would surpass this.

But it was the late 1960s, and very few had that kind of money back then.

If Huo Xiao kept saving, by the 1970s, their family might become quite wealthy.

However, saving that money hadn’t been easy.

Huo Xiao had suffered numerous wounds—gunshot and knife wounds, more than a dozen. His substantial bonuses came at the cost of his life.

Just as the emotionally sensitive pregnant woman was feeling sorry for her husband, he opened the bedroom door and walked in.

Lin Ting reached out with tears in her eyes: “I need a hug.”

Huo Xiao was startled and rushed to embrace her, asking anxiously, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Lin Ting buried her face in his neck, rubbing it as she spoke through her tears: “I’m not unwell. I just feel sorry for you because it’s hard to make money.”

Huo Xiao was momentarily stunned. Then he noticed the passbook on the bed and quickly reassured her, “It’s nothing. We don’t do missions for money. Every soldier has some injuries.”

He felt a mix of amusement and helplessness. Since Lin Ting became pregnant, her emotions had been unpredictable. She cried when she couldn’t eat certain foods or when flowers wilted, acting like a child.

He kissed her on the forehead and said, “Let me show you something.”

Lin Ting, too tired to move, asked, “What is it?”

“My mom gave me her passbook.”