Chapter 22

Enticing or not, the memories of last night’s “lesson” were still fresh in Lin Yao’s mind. She didn’t want to end up crying again after being “chewed” on by someone.

After locking up his bike, Gu Shi’an took a bamboo basket from the handlebars. Inside were two green watermelons and a small bunch of plump grapes.

Lin Yao, still drowsy from her nap, lazily sat on the bed, not wanting to move.

Gu Shi’an set down the basket, rolled up his sleeves, and washed his face in the courtyard. It was so hot outside that he had sweated all the way home from the Public Security Bureau.

After washing his face, he carefully lathered his hands with soap and wiped the water droplets from his forehead, making his sharp features even more striking.

Lin Yao sneakily peeked at him, but when Gu Shi’an entered the room, she quickly averted her gaze. Pretending to yawn, she asked, “Wasn’t the Public Security Bureau busy today? How come you’re home by five?”

July and August are peak production months for factories, especially with the current push for large-scale steel production. All the factories are working overtime, and the Public Security Bureau is even busier.

Gu Shi’an is practically never home, except for the occasional breakfast. The rest of the time, he’s like a dragon—you see its head, but not its tail.

Lin Yao had half a mind to give Comrade Gu an “Outstanding Dedication to Duty” award.

Gu Shi’an’s expression didn’t change, but he would never admit that he came home early because he missed his wife and couldn’t wait until the end of the workday to see her and ease his longing.

Though his face remained stoic, his heart was racing.

Luckily, Lin Yao didn’t press the issue and instead was drawn to the fresh grapes and watermelons in the basket. “These watermelons are so fresh! And grapes too—I haven’t had grapes in so long.”

Lin Yao’s eyes curved into a delighted smile. Yunshui County usually has plenty of fruits, but this year, due to excessive rain and insufficient sunlight, the crops had a lower yield. According to an old man selling vegetables in town, the sweet melons from his orchard had a reduced harvest. Now, watermelons are five cents a pound, and grapes are even pricier at ten cents a pound, yet they’re still in high demand.

Fresh fruits from the countryside are cheap and don’t require tickets, so city workers are willing to spend a bit to bring some home for their kids to enjoy.

The watermelon that Gu Shi’an brought home still had dewdrops on its vine, clearly freshly picked. The grapes were plump and inviting, tempting anyone who saw them.

Lin Yao eagerly wanted to eat the grapes.

Seeing her excitement, Gu Shi’an visibly relaxed and smiled as he washed each grape and handed them to Lin Yao.

Lin Yao wrinkled her nose, finding the grapes not cold enough.

With his usual patience, Deputy Director Gu hung the grapes and watermelon in the well to chill, planning to enjoy them later in the evening.

With Gu Shi’an at home, Lin Yao had no qualms about being lazy.

In fact, Lin Yao’s typical day at home isn’t much different from either sleeping in or watching Chunmei and Dongzi siblings bicker. If she manages to help with household chores for even half an hour, that’s already quite a lot.

Despite this, Zhang Cuilan still thinks Lin Yao has had a hard time.

In August, Yunshui County is still sweltering. As the evening breeze dispersed the fiery clouds in the sky, Gu Chunmei and Gu Shidong returned from the street where they had gone to watch a movie, chatting and laughing.

Gu Shidong ran ahead, shouting as he entered the house, “Mom, Mom, I’m back!”

Nobody in the courtyard responded. Gu Shidong tilted his head, recalling that his mother had gone to the countryside today. Oh, he had forgotten.

He then shouted for his father, but there was no answer either.

Dad’s not home either? He must have gone to the countryside with Comrade Cuilan.

Annoyed, Gu Shidong was about to yell for his sister-in-law when Lin Yao burst out of the room. “Stop yelling!”

Gu Shidong grinned and ran over. “Sister-in-law, how’s the woolen gloves you’re knitting for me coming along? Can I take a look?”

Lin Yao: The kid only thinks about the gloves!

Despite her grumbling, she showed him the half-finished gloves.

The mischievous child examined the gloves with great interest, his mouth stretching from ear to ear. The gloves had five-pointed stars knitted into them, using khaki yarn with bright red stars. The gloves were densely knitted and looked both warm and attractive, with a layer of fluff on the cuffs. They would definitely keep him warm in winter!

Zheng Haoyang, from the Zheng family in the front yard, had a five-pointed star woolen hat. In winter, he would show it off and especially liked to flaunt it in front of Gu Shidong, even playing dirty tricks to trip him up.

Gu Shidong had beaten him up several times for that little rascal, but he never seemed to learn.

The kid squinted and rubbed his face against the gloves. Lin Yao gave him a light tap. “What are you doing? Be careful not to prick yourself with the needles.”

Gu Chunmei, holding a porcelain cup, took a big gulp of barley tea and laughed when she saw them. “From now on, Zheng Haoyang won’t have anything to show off.”

Gu Shidong nodded happily.

Lin Yao was confused. “Who’s Zheng Haoyang?”

“Who else? He’s Zheng Dacheng’s youngest son from the front yard. His name is Zheng Hao, meaning ‘lofty and righteous,’ which is quite a nice name. But he’s a troublemaker. Instead of studying properly, he’s picked up bad habits from the streets, peeking at widows bathing and being petty. He’s always stealing things like dried meat and mushrooms that we hang out to dry. Everyone in our courtyard calls him Zheng Haoyang.”

“Last winter, Zheng Haoyang even stole my cotton socks!”

Gu Shidong said angrily, shaking his head.

Lin Yao frowned. No wonder Aunt Cuilan didn’t want to hang bean curd in the courtyard. There was a little thief around.

But Zheng’s family are both working adults—how did they raise a thief?

Lin Yao asked, “Don’t Zheng Dacheng and his wife keep an eye on him?”

Gu Chunmei chuckled, “The Zheng family is all show with no substance. Zheng Dacheng doesn’t manage the household, and his wife isn’t honest either. Back when we were just liberated, she used to sneak out in the middle of the night to steal dried sweet potatoes. Like mother, like son!”

Lin Yao: Well, then.

She found it quite annoying. Having such neighbors in the courtyard made life less pleasant.

Lin Yao smiled and said, “Let’s not talk about unpleasant things. Chunmei, I’ve been working on a headscarf. Come and see if you like it.”

“A headscarf? For me? Let me take a look.”

Gu Chunmei eagerly set down her cup and followed Lin Yao to the east wing room.

Gu Shidong trailed behind, but Gu Chunmei quickly shut the door on him. “You stay out, kid. This is a girl’s headscarf. What are you going to do with it? It’s time for dinner—take your lunchbox and get some food!”

Gu Shidong grumbled a bit but went off to get his food.

*

Today, the commune’s canteen had improved the meal with some three-flavor dumplings and tomato egg soup.

Zhang Cuilan and her husband hadn’t returned by mealtime. They were probably having dinner in the countryside before heading home.

To be safe, a box of dumplings was kept aside for them.

After dinner, Gu Shi’an had to go back to the bureau for extra work.

The family washed their hands and sat down to eat.

Lin Yao had changed into a knitted white dress. Her simple appearance was still charming.

For ordinary families, having dumplings was a rare treat, often reserved for the New Year.

Today was not a holiday, yet the big canteen served three-flavor dumplings. Although the filling was vegetarian, it included chives, eggs, and dried shrimp.

The three-flavor dumplings were delicious, and everyone ate with the satisfaction of celebrating a festival.

Some members of the commune commented happily, “The commune’s canteen is great. We get dumplings even when it’s not a holiday.”

“How come people keep saying there’s a grain shortage?”

“Don’t listen to those rumors. Our country is an agricultural powerhouse—how could there be a food shortage?”

“Exactly. In the countryside, the grain yield per mu is over a thousand pounds. The commune’s grain storage is overflowing.”

Everyone chatted enthusiastically about the food and their lives.

*

It was rare for Gu Shi’an to be home for dinner.

Lin Yao quickly set out chopsticks on both sides of the table, while Gu Shidong, ever the busybody, cleaned the table and moved the chairs, working diligently.

Lin Yao, with a small appetite, had only managed to eat half of her box of three-flavor dumplings. She patted her stomach, furrowed her brows, and decided she couldn’t eat any more.

Gu Chunmei said she was full too and offered the leftovers to Gu Shidong.

Gu Shidong covered his mouth and refused, “I don’t want it. I have my own dumplings.”

He didn’t want to eat his sister’s leftovers.

Gu Chunmei, irritated, turned away and stopped paying attention to the annoying boy.

Lin Yao blinked, thinking it would be better to save the leftover dumplings for breakfast the next day.

“Yaoyao, why aren’t you eating?” Gu Shi’an asked.

“I’m full and can’t eat any more.”

Gu Shi’an naturally took the leftover dumplings from Lin Yao and ate them easily.

Gu Shidong chuckled, about to comment on his brother eating his sister-in-law’s leftovers and how sweet their relationship was, but he was immediately silenced by Gu Shi’an’s cold gaze.

The mischievous boy quickly shrank back and stopped talking.

Gu Chunmei glanced at Lin Yao, then at Gu Shi’an, and gave a knowing smile, clearly feeling that something was off with the two of them.

Lin Yao felt her face flush under the scrutiny and quickly explained, “Food is precious now, so we shouldn’t waste it. I can’t eat any more, but your brother has a big appetite, so it’s perfect for him.”

Her explanation only made Gu Chunmei’s smile more meaningful. She gave Lin Yao a look and said, “It’s okay, Yaoyao, I understand. You’re worried my brother isn’t getting enough to eat, haha.”

Lin Yao was speechless.

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*

That evening, the night in Yunshui County was pitch black, so dark that one couldn’t see their hand in front of their face. Going out without a lantern made it impossible to see the path.

By almost nine o’clock, Zhang Cuilan and her husband finally staggered home.

Aunt Cuilan was still full of energy, but Uncle Mancang, who was carrying a large sack, looked dirty and exhausted.

Lin Yao and the others quickly went to help Uncle Mancang unload the sack.

While the elderly couple settled down for tea, Lin Yao and the others learned that the sack was filled with mountain goods from Eldest Uncle Zhang and Second Uncle Zhang.

Though Zhang’s two uncles lived in the countryside, they were quite capable.

During the Japanese occupation, when the Japanese soldiers were sweeping through the countryside, the villagers from Zhangjia Village fled to the mountains for refuge. A young bride was left behind and captured by the Japanese soldiers.

The bride was beautiful, and the Japanese soldiers surrounded her by a haystack, immediately trying to assault her.

The bride refused to submit, and a slap from one of the soldiers enraged him. He drew his bayonet and was about to attack her. Elder Uncle Zhang and his brother were driving their sheep up the mountain when they heard the Japanese soldiers shouting from the haystack, mixed with the bride’s cries for help.

Elder Uncle Zhang ’s face changed as he heard the cries.

Damn Japanese soldiers, bullying our people endlessly!

Elder Uncle Zhang’s eyes widened with anger. He drew his butcher’s knife and struck, sending one of the soldiers’ heads flying.

Second Uncle Zhang followed, and the two brothers, skilled in Shaolin kung fu, defeated the terrified Japanese soldiers, leaving them lying in a pool of blood.

Elder Uncle Zhang and Second Uncle Zhang rescued the bride, drove their sheep into the mountain ravine, and disappeared. The arriving Japanese soldiers were furious.

Since then, the Zhang brothers earned a reputation for fighting the Japanese soldiers.

After the liberation, the government wanted to assign jobs to the two uncles. Elder Uncle Zhang was unwilling, and Second Uncle Zhang was even more reluctant. They had farmed all their lives and were used to the wide-open countryside. Moving to the city to live in small apartments and work in noisy factories was unthinkable for them!

Moreover, their elderly parents were still in the countryside, and the brothers insisted on staying close to fulfill their filial duties.

Both Elder Uncle Zhang and Second Uncle Zhang were stubborn old revolutionaries, and the government officials were at a loss.

Eventually, the county officials decided that if the old men didn’t want to move to the city, then their children would have to.

As a result, Elder Uncle Zhang’s eldest son, Zhang Shun, went to work as a clerk in a machinery factory, while Second Uncle Zhang’s eldest daughter, Zhang Haitang, went to work at a pharmaceutical factory.

Elder Uncle Zhang and Second Uncle Zhang then continued to farm in the countryside, fulfilling their duties to their parents.

Now, the two brothers were a team—one as the production team leader and the other as the village leader. Second Uncle Zhang also had a talent for hunting. A trip to the mountains usually resulted in catching a wild chicken or a bunch of wild rabbits, which was much more relaxed compared to city life.

Zhang Cuilan was the youngest in her family. Her older brothers and sisters-in-law treated her well. Every time she went back to the countryside to visit her mother, she would bring a basket of good things and return with a sack full.

The countryside was rich in produce. Whenever the younger sister came home, her brothers and sisters-in-law would prepare a lot of goodies—dried wild vegetables, dried mushrooms, wild chestnuts, mountain walnuts, homegrown peaches and apricots, and Lin Yao even saw two dried wild chickens.

Uncle Mancang carried the sack on his back, and after a bumpy ride in a horse cart and a bus, he finally returned to the courtyard.

Since her parents were tired today, Gu Chunmei had prepared a pot of hot water for them to take a bath and relax.

Meanwhile, Gu Shidong, who had not bathed for several days, was grabbed by Uncle Mancang and sent to wash first.

Zhang Cuilan rested in the house while Lin Yao made a bowl of lotus root powder and handed it to her.

“Auntie, drink this bowl of lotus root powder to replenish your strength.”

Zhang Cuilan responded with a sound of acknowledgment, patted Lin Yao’s braid with a smile, and said with a hint of excitement in her voice, “Yaoyao, guess who I saw when I went to the countryside today?”

Lin Yao: “I don’t know.”

Zhang Cuilan slapped her thigh, “It was Lin Hongna. She’s been caught for being a loose woman!”