Chapter 103

Lin Hongna pondered over the situation and decided that she had to get rid of this problem. She needed to find a way to get the boiler worker out of her and her child’s life.

The next day, she gave the boiler worker some money, tricking him into believing that he could use it to trade grain at the pigeon market and make a big profit. She told him that when the time was right, they could run away together to the northwest and start a new life.

The boiler worker believed her. As a boiler worker, he only earned 30 yuan and 25 cents a month. Saving money would take forever. Since Lin Hongna didn’t mind that he was poor and even gave him money to start a business, he was convinced that she was serious. Overjoyed, he didn’t hesitate to agree.

For the next half month, the boiler worker spent his evenings at the pigeon market, trying to trade grain. This kind of business was not a small matter, and it was time-consuming and labor-intensive. He couldn’t manage it alone, so he roped in a temporary worker who also worked in the boiler room.

The temporary worker needed money even more. He had come from the countryside, where his uncle, a lifelong bachelor, had no children and had adopted his nephew, giving him a job in the town’s factory so he could support himself and care for his uncle in old age.

Before moving to town, the temporary worker had thought that being a factory worker earning wages would be better than farming in the countryside. But once he arrived, he realized that without money, life was difficult everywhere.

In the countryside, he lived in his own house and ate his own crops. But in town, he had to rent a place, buy food, and raise a family. With a small salary and a family to support, he could barely make ends meet. Saving money was impossible.

Then, his mother fell ill, and his family was so poor they couldn’t even afford to cook a meal. Desperate for money, the temporary worker eagerly joined the boiler worker in the scheme.

The two hit it off right away—one was in charge of buying grain from the countryside, and the other dealt with traders in the pigeon market. At first, they were cautious, doing small trades and making some money. But as they gained confidence, they grew bolder. Hearing that several northern provinces were still suffering from famine, they bought a thousand pounds of grain. On a dark, windy night, they set off with flashlights to a remote location, planning to make a big profit.

Unexpectedly, this time they were caught red-handed by the town’s inspection team.

The inspection team, newly established and currently enforcing strict measures, apprehended both the boiler worker and the temporary worker. They were certain to face severe punishment.

The boiler worker, showing loyalty and integrity, endured the beatings and suffering in prison, adamantly claiming that no one had provided him with funds. He had been speculating and attempting to make money on his own.

As for the temporary worker, who had been recruited by the boiler worker, he feigned ignorance and knew nothing when questioned.

With little information obtained, the inspection team quickly wrapped up the case. Three days later, the two speculators were sent to a labor reform farm in the northwest.

Hearing about the speculators in the town, Mother Sun could not contain her anger. She went on a tirade at home, pointing fingers and giving speeches as if she were the street committee head. Her rhetoric was intense, even resorting to harsh language.

Father Sun frowned while listening, but Sun Jialiang was engrossed and praised his mother for her outspoken comments.

Lin Hongna, claiming a stomachache, locked herself in the bedroom and did not light an oil lamp. Rain fell outside, and the cool mist from the open window, coupled with the dark and tumultuous future ahead, was unsettling.

In the living room, Mother Sun was displeased with her daughter-in-law for shirking her duties.

“It’s still early, and Hongna is already back in her room to sleep. Our Sun family doesn’t have such customs.”

“That’s right, Mom, even when I gave birth to my second child, I wasn’t as pretentious as her. She acts like she’s someone who has never given birth to a child before.” Added Sun Jialiang’s sister, Sun Jiayu, who resented Lin Hongna’s privileged behavior.

“What nonsense are you two talking about? Your daughter-in-law is pregnant with our Sun family’s child. How can a pregnant woman not rest when she is working so hard?” Mother Sun, considering the unborn grandchild, eventually stopped her complaints.

The Sun family’s child?

Lin Hongna sneered inwardly. The child she was carrying certainly did not belong to the Sun family.

However, it didn’t matter. She had reported the boiler worker’s speculations in a letter. Regardless of the child’s surname, the child would be considered part of the Sun family.

*

The scorching July arrived once more. The old Gu family’s vegetable garden was lush and green. With the harvest season for melons and fruits approaching, little Ping’an had been living in the big courtyard for almost a month.

Ping’an, now six years old, couldn’t just stay at home. Gu Mancang went to the steel plant’s primary school to discuss the situation with the leaders. He asked if Ping’an could be admitted as a transfer student to the first grade, to start learning pinyin and letters with the teacher, and officially begin school in the fall.

The leaders of the steel plant, moved by Ping’an’s background as the child of a soldier defending the country, waived the school fees and arranged for him to start school.

Lin Yao made Ping’an a small backpack, which he cherished greatly. The next day, he happily went to school with Dongzi, carrying his new backpack.

Recently, the county cinema was showing the film “Little Soldier Zhang Ga,” depicting the heroic story of young Zhang Ga and his companions resisting the Japanese invasion. This led to a craze among the local children, with many mimicking the “Little Soldier Zhang Ga” look by wearing worn straw hats and tattered shoes.

Although fashion at the time involved making do with whatever clothes were available, some kids, eager to be on trend, purposefully ripped their pants and proudly paraded around as little soldiers, sparking envy among other children.

A few mischievous kids begged their parents for similar “Zhang Ga” outfits.

When a grumpy sister-in-law on the street punished her disobedient child, they quickly became obedient.

Gu Shidong, who also wanted to join the trend, quickly abandoned the idea upon seeing his good friend’s severe punishment.

Little Gu Doudou had just celebrated his first birthday. He was becoming increasingly lively and often crawled around the house. One moment of inattention, and the little guy would disappear.

With Gu Doudou being so active and lively, Gu Shi’an couldn’t always carry him to the police station.

After discussing with Lin Yao, Gu Shi’an decided to send Gu Doudou to a relatively well-equipped nursery at a textile factory. The nursery there was known for its attentive and efficient caregivers, and their salaries were higher than those at other nurseries.

Zhang Cuilan, who had visited and checked, saw that the nursery was well-equipped with small tables and chairs for meals, clean and well-maintained beds for napping, and a spotless floor, which reassured her.

On Saturday evening after work, Lin Yao rode her bicycle to pick up Gu Doudou from the nursery.

As soon as the little one came home and saw a big basin of water in the yard, he protested, wriggling out of his mother’s arms like a reluctant kitten.

“No bath! Doudou doesn’t want a bath!”

Lin Yao, distracted for a moment, let the little guy slip away. It took considerable effort to catch the escaped toddler, leaving her exhausted and sore.

Gu Doudou, still resisting in her arms, protested against taking a bath.

Just then, Gu Shi’an returned from work. Lin Yao handed the squirming child to him and went to lie down in the bedroom.

Gu Doudou, previously fussing in his mother’s arms, now stared into his father’s eyes.

“Mommy is angry.”

“Yes, Mommy is angry because you’re being disobedient.”

Deputy Director Gu, holding his chubby son with one arm and the little bath essentials with the other, patiently explained that Mommy liked clean, sweet-smelling babies. Eventually, the little one nodded obediently and patted his father’s broad shoulders. “Daddy takes baths too, and Mommy likes it.”

Da Tou Brother came over to deliver freshly bought shrimp from Mother Xu. Hearing the little one’s words, he chuckled, leaning in with a mischievous grin.

“Old Gu, you’re quite the expert, even with the bedroom talk.”

“We’re good brothers, aren’t we? When are you going to teach me?”

Deputy Director Gu: “……”

Gu Shi’an chased away the troublemaker Xu Xiangqian, took his chubby son to the bathhouse, and after bathing him, wrapped him up in a soft towel. Little Doudou, freshly bathed, was already drowsy.

The little chubby boy yawned, tears from his yawns sparkling on his face. Daju, who was originally sleeping in the nest, thought that the little guy was bullied and pounced on Deputy Director Gu, hissing and scratching.

If Lin Yao hadn’t called out from inside, Daju would have been in trouble, and Gu Shi’an would have been scratched in the face.

In the evening, thunder rumbled, and soon large raindrops created little pits in the muddy yard, splashing up water droplets.

The rain pattered against the window panes, and the eaves wove a curtain of rain. Today, Lin Yao made pancakes and prepared shrimp porridge with river shrimp sent by Da Tou Brother. The family enjoyed the vegetable pancakes and porridge, their faces full of satisfaction, with the three little ones’ mouths gleaming with oil.

After dinner, the three little ones played together. Once the rain stopped, Gu Mancang tucked a fan into his waistband and held a teacup as he waited for his wife. They planned to head to the alley to watch people play chess and listen to the radio.

The sound of sweeping in the yard was faint, and the door of the main room creaked open. Zhang Cuilan, with her neatly combed hair and dressed in a well-maintained outfit, stepped outside, picking up the stray strands of hair from her shoulder. She saw that the yard had been cleaned up nicely by her eldest son after the rain, which both warmed her heart and made her a bit sad. Her eldest son had always been like this—quiet and seemingly aloof at home, but in reality, he was the most filial of the Gu family.

She told her son to take a break, saying that there wasn’t much work left for the night and that he could sweep the yard again tomorrow.

Inside, Lin Yao was winding yarn balls while Gu Shi’an washed his hands after sweeping. He asked about the progress of finding Ping’an’s parents.

Gu Shi’an washed his face and came over to clumsily help wind the yarn.

Lin Yao didn’t mind his clumsiness and said a few comforting words, which made Deputy Director Gu smile and work harder.

“There is some progress in the Ping An case. When the human traffickers took the child, they were on a train from Nan’an County to northern Anhui. The colleagues in Nan’an County are helping with the investigation, checking which families who lost children fit the description. We should have results in a few days.”