Chapter 25.1

Qin Zhengye gripped his axe and glanced at his watch—it was already nine in the morning.

“Alright, I’ll take you to roast bugs,” he said to the child, setting down the axe and heading to the kitchen.

Qin Jiashu followed behind, happily clutching his bowl.

Xu Jiaojiao had barely taken a few bites of her plain porridge when she saw the tall man and the little boy enter the kitchen. She dared not glance at Qin Jiashu, the tiny figure trailing behind Qin Zhengye.

She probably guessed what they were planning to do in the kitchen and stood up, her heart pounding.

“No roasting bugs in the kitchen!” Xu Jiaojiao’s voice was stern. She was genuinely afraid she might lose her mind right there.

Noticing Xu Jiaojiao’s fear of firewood bugs, Qin Zhengye chuckled softly and nodded. “Alright, we won’t roast them in the kitchen.”

As he spoke, he bent down to grab a box of matches from beside the earthen stove. Then he walked to the built-in cabinet, took out an aluminum lunchbox, and grabbed a pair of bamboo chopsticks.

“Let’s go roast bugs outside,” Qin Zhengye said, pushing Qin Jiashu’s head.

Qin Jiashu was completely focused on his craving for bugs, his mouth practically watering. He eagerly followed Qin Zhengye’s instructions without question.

Xu Jiaojiao only breathed a sigh of relief after the two had left the kitchen.

Qin Zhengye strode out of the kitchen and across the courtyard of the Educated Youth Point. He casually picked up two stones at the gate, carried them back, and placed them in a corner of the yard. He then grabbed a handful of wood shavings left over from splitting firewood and lit them.

“Give me the bugs.”

“Here!” Qin Jiashu, squatting nearby, eagerly handed Qin Zhengye the bowl of insects.

Qin Zhengye took the bowl and poured the bugs into the aluminum lunchbox, which he then placed on the two stones to roast over the fire.

As the flames crackled beneath, the firewood bugs began to squirm inside the lunchbox. Qin Zhengye occasionally stirred them with his chopsticks. Within minutes, the savory aroma of roasted insects filled the air.

“So fragrant!” Qin Jiashu exclaimed, his mouth watering uncontrollably.

The firewood bugs themselves carried oils from the wood. When roasted, they needed no seasoning to become a delicacy for those who loved them.

Seeing the bugs were nearly done, Qin Zhengye picked one up with his chopsticks and popped it into his mouth.

Crunch, crunch—the crispy, crunchy texture and familiar flavor matched his memory perfectly.

“Dad, me, me, me…” Qin Jiashu opened his mouth wide, impatient as a baby bird waiting to be fed by its mother.

“Here,” Qin Zhengye said, seeing the child’s eagerness, and picked up a bug to put in his mouth.

“Mmm, yummy, yummy!” Qin Jiashu exclaimed, bouncing up and down as he munched on the crunchy bug.

Qin Zhengye and Qin Jiashu squatted in the courtyard, happily sharing the bugs—one for you, one for me.

Xu Jiaojiao was washing dishes in the kitchen, the fragrant aroma from the courtyard making her head spin.

“Daddy, let’s give this one to Mommy,” Qin Jiashu said reluctantly, eyeing the few remaining bugs in the lunchbox.

“She won’t eat it,” Qin Zhengye said, suppressing a laugh.

He had seen earlier how Xu Jiaojiao’s expression had turned utterly despairing—and utterly adorable—when the little guy had proudly presented her with a bowl of bugs.

“Why won’t Mommy eat them?” Qin Jiashu asked, puzzled.

These bugs were so fragrant and delicious; he loved eating them and wanted more.

“Don’t believe me? Take one to the kitchen and ask her yourself,” Qin Zhengye suggested, handing Qin Jiashu a bug.

Qin Jiashu nodded, grabbed the bug, and stood up to go find Xu Jiaojiao in the kitchen.

“Qin Zhengye!!!” Xu Jiaojiao stormed out of the kitchen, having overheard their conversation, and shouted the man’s name through gritted teeth.

“?” Qin Jiashu froze, hesitating in place.

Mom’s voice was loud, sounding rather displeased.

Qin Zhengye rubbed his nose, glanced at Xu Jiaojiao’s fiery glare, and reluctantly stood up. He snatched the bug from Qin Jiashu’s hand, popped it into his mouth, and then devoured the remaining ones in the aluminum lunchbox.

“All gone,” Qin Zhengye announced, holding up the empty lunchbox for Xu Jiaojiao to see.

“Hmph,” Xu Jiaojiao scoffed.

Don’t think this will make me less angry. That man deliberately encouraged the child to scare me earlier.

“Dad!” Qin Jiashu stood frozen for a moment before bursting into tears, stomping his feet. “You didn’t leave me even one!”

Dad ate all the remaining bugs in one bite! One bite! He was heartbroken.

“I’ll grill you more when we get back tonight. Let’s go to town now,” Qin Zhengye said, grabbing Qin Jiashu by the collar.

“To town!” Qin Jiashu’s tearful face instantly transformed into a grin.

Going to town is great! I can have delicious dumplings there.

Qin Zhengye carried the child to the main room before setting him down.

“Should we put on Grandpa’s jacket?” Xu Jiaojiao asked Qin Jiashu, preparing to swap his heavy military coat.

The military coat was warm, but the sun was strong today, and it would make walking difficult.

“Okay,” Qin Jiashu agreed obediently, changing his clothes.

“Do you know what we need to bring to get our marriage certificate?” Xu Jiaojiao asked Qin Zhengye as she helped Qin Jiashu put on his coat. She had no idea what documents were required these days.

“I’ve prepared everything: the Household Registration Booklet, the Production Brigade’s certificate, and the marriage application,” Qin Zhengye replied calmly.

“My Household Registration Booklet is at my parents’ house.”

“I went to Qixian Village before dawn this morning to get it,” Qin Zhengye said.

Xu Jiaojiao turned her head in surprise. “You went to my parents’ house to get the booklet? What time did you wake up?”

He had not only bought a pile of firewood but also traveled to Qixian Village to retrieve the booklet—a round trip that would take at least an hour or two. She wondered if he could fly.

Still, since Qin Zhengye had taken care of everything, she was relieved.

“A little after four,” Qin Zhengye admitted. When he had knocked on the Xu family’s door before dawn to ask for Xu Jiaojiao’s Household Registration Booklet, her parents had been startled awake.

Xu Jiaojiao was speechless. Anyone who could wake up early in the southern winter was a true warrior.

As she thought this, she changed into a blue coat.

Leaving the Zhiqing Compound and walking toward the village entrance, the family of three encountered many villagers along the way.

Xu Jiaojiao didn’t recognize most of the villagers, but she watched as they greeted Qin Zhengye warmly, causing a slight delay.

Ding-ding-ding!

As they reached the dirt road leading from Qinjia Village to the county bus route, Xu Jiaojiao spotted Old Che’s donkey cart.

“Uncle, I ran into some elders on the way and stopped to chat for a bit, so we’re a little late. Have you been waiting long?” Qin Zhengye explained with a smile.

“Not long at all. I just got the cart here myself,” Old Che replied. “Hurry and get in. You need to catch the county bus.”

“Thank you for your trouble,” Qin Zhengye said, lifting Qin Jiashu onto the cart. “Need a hand getting up?”

“I can manage,” Xu Jiaojiao said, grabbing the wooden railing and climbing into the cart to sit beside Qin Jiashu.

“I’ll sit up front,” Qin Zhengye said, settling in beside Old Che.

The donkey cart swayed gently as it began to move.

“Mommy, look at the frog!” Qin Jiashu exclaimed excitedly, tugging Xu Jiaojiao’s hand as they passed the large frog-shaped rock.

Xu Jiaojiao laughed and chatted with the child about his boundless imagination.

Qin Zhengye seemed to have everything planned perfectly. They had barely stepped off the donkey cart and waited a few minutes by the county road when the bus arrived.

After a bumpy bus ride to the county town, Xu Jiaojiao was immediately taken by Qin Zhengye to the marriage registration office.

“Are you Xu Jiaojiao from Qixian Village? Here to register your marriage with Qin Zhengye from Qinjia Village?” the registration clerk asked.

“Yes, I’m Xu Jiaojiao. I’m here to register our marriage,” she replied.

“Alright,” the clerk said, picking up his pen to fill out the forms.

Marriage registration was surprisingly quick at the time, likely because Qin Zhengye had already submitted his military marriage application. Before Xu Jiaojiao could fully process what was happening, she was holding a certificate-style marriage license.

“Congratulations to you both.”

“This is the marriage license? It was so fast… Don’t we need passport photos?” Xu Jiaojiao murmured, clutching the document.

The clerk had only asked for her name, verified her Household Registration Booklet, and reviewed Qin Zhengye’s documentation before writing both their names on the license. The entire process took less than five minutes, leaving Xu Jiaojiao feeling disoriented and unreal.

Had she really just married Qin Zhengye and become a married woman?

“Mom, let me see!” Qin Jiashu, standing nearby, craned his neck curiously.

Xu Jiaojiao silently handed the license to Qin Jiashu, who took it and examined it with fascination.

“It’s so pretty,” Qin Jiashu said with a smile.

“Don’t ruin it,” Qin Zhengye said, snatching the marriage certificate from the child’s hands and carefully tucking it into his pocket.

Qin Jiashu pouted in protest. “I wouldn’t ruin it!”

Ignoring the child, Qin Zhengye turned to Xu Jiaojiao. “It’s still early. Should we go to the photo studio?”

Having heard Xu Jiaojiao mention passport photos earlier, Qin Zhengye thought it was a good idea to get some pictures taken.

“Sure,” Xu Jiaojiao replied, still dazed from the marriage certificate. Qin Zhengye’s suggestion prompted her to nod.

The county town had only one photo studio, an old establishment located on the second floor with a narrow staircase leading up.

Qin Zhengye scooped up Qin Jiashu with one arm, holding him securely against his chest, and strode up the stairs. Xu Jiaojiao followed behind.

“A family portrait?” the middle-aged uncle running the studio asked warmly, his cotton vest looking rather warm.

“Yes,” Qin Zhengye replied.

“Black and white or color?”

“Color photos? How much is one?” Xu Jiaojiao asked in surprise.

The uncle immediately turned and showed her two sample photos: a color print and a black-and-white passport photo. “The color ones are a bit more expensive than the black-and-white.”

“We’ll take color photos,” Qin Zhengye said, glancing at the black-and-white passport-sized prints. He made his choice without hesitation.

“Alright! Follow me this way,” the uncle said, his gums showing with delight. “These color photos are a bit pricier, but they capture people much more clearly, and the prints are significantly larger than the black-and-white ones.”

Xu Jiaojiao and her group followed the uncle to the dedicated photography room.

Since color photos were available, Xu Jiaojiao naturally opted for them. However, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the uncle’s enthusiasm was a bit excessive.

Moreover, his emphasis on the higher cost of color photos suggested they were indeed expensive.

Thinking this, Xu Jiaojiao asked, “How much more expensive are the color photos compared to the black-and-white ones?”

The uncle’s wide grin faltered momentarily before he answered honestly.

“For black-and-white, the small prints are eighty cents each, and the large ones are a dollar.”

“And the color photos?”

“Color photos are two dollars and fifty cents per print. Each additional print costs an extra dollar, and keeping the negatives for future reprints adds five dollars.”

Xu Jiaojiao did the mental math and couldn’t help but sigh. No wonder the uncle was so cheerful—just a few color photos would cost an ordinary person half a month’s wages.

“Still want to take more?” the uncle asked, his tone a little guilty.

The color photos were expensive, but he really wasn’t making much profit. The cost of color film was high. Many customers who came to the studio asked about the prices and then opted for black-and-white.

“Yes, let’s take more,” Xu Jiaojiao nodded.

Having already come this far, and with her marriage certificate in hand, officially making her a married woman, she felt it was only right to capture the moment with some photos.

“Color photos?”

“Color photos,” Xu Jiaojiao confirmed.

“Come, come, let’s take them here! You can choose the background—we have red, blue…” The uncle immediately perked up, eagerly showing off the backdrop options.

Xu Jiaojiao glanced at Qin Zhengye’s green military uniform and then at her and Qin Jiashu’s blue padded jackets.

“Let’s do two with the red background, and the rest with white,” Xu Jiaojiao suggested after consulting with Qin Zhengye.

Their first official photo as a couple should be festive, she thought, and it might as well meet the requirements for ID photos.