Chapter 22

Alluring or not, Lin Yao still remembered the lesson from last night. She wasn’t about to let herself get “devoured” to the point of tears again.

After locking his bicycle, Gu Shi’an grabbed a bamboo basket from the handlebars. Inside were two green-striped watermelons and a small bunch of plump, juicy grapes.

Still groggy, Lin Yao sat on the bed lazily, unwilling to move.

Gu Shi’an set the basket down, rolled up his sleeves, and washed his face in the courtyard. The heat outside had left him sweating during his ride back from the public security bureau.

After washing his face, he carefully lathered soap onto his hands and cleaned them thoroughly. He then wiped the water from his forehead with his elbow, his sharp, handsome features becoming even more defined.

Lin Yao secretly stole a glance at him but quickly looked away when he entered the room. Pretending to yawn, she asked casually, “Isn’t the bureau busy today? How come you’re back by five?”

July and August were peak production months for factories, especially with the government’s push for large-scale steelmaking. Factories were working overtime, and the public security bureau was busier than ever.

Most days, Gu Shi’an was like a mythical dragon—glimpsed only during breakfast before disappearing for the rest of the day.

Lin Yao had even considered awarding him a big red certificate for “dedication to duty.”

Gu Shi’an’s eyes flickered slightly. There was no way he would admit that he had come home early because he missed his wife too much and couldn’t wait to see her.

His calm, stoic expression betrayed none of the turmoil inside.

Fortunately, Lin Yao didn’t probe further and was instead drawn to the fresh fruits in the bamboo basket. “These watermelons look so fresh! And grapes too—I haven’t had grapes in ages.”

Her eyes curved with joy. Yunshui County was usually abundant with fruits, but this year’s excessive rainfall and lack of sunlight had reduced the harvest. According to the farmers, watermelons were now selling for five cents per pound, and grapes had risen to ten cents, yet demand still exceeded supply.

The watermelons Gu Shi’an brought back were fresh, with dew still clinging to the vines. The grapes, plump and juicy, looked incredibly tempting.

Lin Yao eagerly clamored for the grapes.

Relaxing slightly, Gu Shi’an smiled and washed the grapes thoroughly before handing them to her.

Lin Yao wrinkled her nose and complained that the grapes weren’t cold enough.

With a good-natured smile, Deputy Director Gu hung both the grapes and watermelons in the well to chill them for the evening.

With Gu Shi’an at home, Lin Yao felt no guilt about lazing around.

Usually, at home, she either sleeps in late or watches Sister Chunmei and Dongzi quarrel. On a good day, she might help with housework for half an hour.

And yet, this Zhang Cuilan still thinks Yao Yao is the one working hard.

In August, Yunshui County is still sweltering, but the evening breeze blows away the fiery clouds on the horizon. Gu Chunmei and her younger brother, came back from the movies, chatting and laughing.

Gu Shidong ran ahead, leading the way.

As soon as the mischievous boy entered the house, he shouted at the top of his lungs, “Mom, Mom, I’m home!”

No one answered him in the large courtyard. Gu Shidong tilted his head, remembering what his mom had said this morning. Oh, that’s right, she had gone to the countryside to visit his grandmother today. He had completely forgotten.

The mischievous boy called out for his dad as well, but still, no one responded.

“Is Dad not home either?” he muttered. He’s probably gone to the countryside with Comrade Cuilan.

Gu Shidong took a deep breath, ready to shout for his sister-in-law.

Lin Yao suddenly appeared from the room, saying, “Stop yelling like that, you little rascal!”

Gu Shidong laughed and ran over. “Sister-in-law, where are the woolen gloves you’re making for me? Can I take a look?”

Lin Yao muttered under her breath about how all the boy thought about was the woolen gloves, but she still showed him the half-finished gloves.

The mischievous kid looked at the gloves with great interest. His grin stretched from ear to ear. Sister-in-law had made him gloves with a star pattern! The khaki wool, paired with the bright red stars, was tightly woven and looked beautiful. The cuff even had a layer of fluffy wool—perfect for winter!

In the front yard, Zheng Dacheng’s son, Zheng Hao, wore a starry woolen cap every winter. He liked to flaunt it, especially in front of Gu Shidong, secretly trying to trip him up.

Gu Shidong had given him a beating a few times, but the little rascal never learned.

The mischievous boy squinted and rubbed his face against the gloves, prompting Lin Yao to slap his hand away. “What are you doing? Be careful not to poke yourself with the needles.”

Gu Chunmei, holding an enamel cup, took a big gulp of barley tea. When she saw the gloves, she laughed. “Well, Zheng Hao won’t have anything to show off anymore.”

Gu Shidong grinned and nodded.

Lin Yao didn’t quite understand. “Who’s Zheng Hao?”

“Who else could it be? It’s Zheng Dacheng’s youngest son, that boy named Zheng Hao. The name sounds decent, but he’s trouble. Instead of studying properly, he acts like the street punks, peeping at widows while they bathe. His hands aren’t clean either. Every time we dry meat or mushrooms in the yard, he steals some. He’s like a rat in the gutter, so we all call him Zheng Haozi,” Gu Chunmei explained.

“Last winter, he even stole my cotton socks!” Gu Shidong added angrily, shaking his head.

Lin Yao frowned upon hearing this. No wonder she was told not to dry tofu in the yard earlier—there’s a little thief in the courtyard.

She was surprised that the Zheng family, both working, could raise such a child.

“Doesn’t Zheng Dacheng and his wife control him?” Lin Yao asked.

Gu Chunmei snorted. “The Zheng family is just like a shiny dung ball—good on the outside but rotten on the inside. Zheng Dacheng doesn’t care about his home, and his wife’s hands aren’t clean either. When liberation first happened, she’d sneak out at night to steal dried sweet potatoes. That mother and son are the same!”

Lin Yao nodded, feeling a bit annoyed. Living next door to such people certainly doesn’t make life comfortable.

She smiled and changed the subject, “Let’s stop talking about unpleasant things. Sister Chunmei, I made a headscarf. Come and see if you like it.”

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

Gu Chunmei put down the enamel cup, smiling brightly, and followed Lin Yao to the east room.

Gu Shidong followed behind, wagging his tail like a puppy.

Without hesitation, Gu Chunmei shut the door on him. “Go away, you little rascal. You’re not wearing a girl’s headscarf! It’s time to get the meal, go get your lunchbox!”

Gu Shidong said “Oh” and left angrily.

*

That evening, the commune’s canteen was serving improved meals: dumplings filled with three types of fresh fillings and a tomato egg soup.

Zhang Cuilan and her husband hadn’t returned by mealtime, probably staying in the countryside for dinner.

To be safe, they had left a lunchbox of dumplings for them.

Gu Shi’an had dinner and was preparing to go back to work at the office.

The family washed their hands and sat down to eat.

Lin Yao had changed into a knitted sweater and a little white dress. She looked charming even without makeup.

In those days, an ordinary family could only hope for dumplings at New Year’s. But today, for no special occasion, the big canteen had made fresh dumplings. Though they were vegetarian, they still had chives, eggs, and dried shrimp in the filling.

The dumplings were delicious, and everyone ate them with great satisfaction.

Some of the commune members were laughing with their bowls. “The commune’s canteen is great. We get dumplings even when it’s not the New Year.”

“People say there’s a food shortage outside, but I don’t believe it.”

“Don’t listen to those gossipers. Our country is an agricultural giant, how could we run out of food?”

“Exactly! In the countryside, the grain yield per mu is over a thousand jin, and the commune’s grain warehouse is already full.”

The conversation was lively, everyone chatting away.

*

Today, Gu Shi’an was home for dinner, an unusual event.

Lin Yao politely set the chopsticks at both sides of the table. Gu Shidong, like a little dog, wiped the table and moved the chairs, working quickly.

Lin Yao had a small appetite. She ate half of her lunchbox full of dumplings, then rubbed her stomach, raising her eyebrows slightly to signal that she couldn’t eat anymore.

Gu Chunmei suggested giving the leftover dumplings to Gu Shidong.

But Gu Shidong covered his mouth and said, “I won’t eat, I have my own dumplings.”

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

Angry, Gu Chunmei turned her head and stopped paying attention to the little brat.

Lin Yao blinked her eyes and said, “Alright, if that’s the case, I’ll just save the rest of the dumplings for breakfast tomorrow.”

“Yao Yao, why aren’t you eating anymore?”

“I’m full and can’t eat anymore.”

Gu Shi’an, upon hearing this, naturally took the remaining dumplings from Lin Yao and ate them one by one without any difficulty.

Gu Shidong chuckled mischievously, about to tease his brother for eating his wife’s leftovers, thinking their relationship was really great.

Gu Shi’an glanced at him lightly.

The mischievous little brat quickly shrank his head, too scared to speak anymore.

Gu Chunmei glanced at Lin Yao, then at Gu Shi’an, and smiled slightly, her expression saying, “something is not right between you two”.

Lin Yao’s face turned red under her gaze, and she hurriedly explained, “The food is precious, we shouldn’t waste any. I couldn’t finish it, but your brother has a big appetite, so it’s perfect for him.”

She probably shouldn’t have said anything, because as soon as she did, Gu Chunmei’s smile became more meaningful. She gave Lin Yao a knowing look. “It’s fine, Yao Yao, I understand. You’re worried that my brother isn’t eating enough, huh? Ha ha.”

Lin Yao: “…”

You can also think so.jpg.

*

Tonight, the night in Yunshui County was as dark as the bottom of a pot. You couldn’t see your hand in front of your face, and if you didn’t carry a lantern, you wouldn’t even be able to see the road under your feet.

It was almost nine o’clock when Zhang Cuilan and her husband finally arrived home, stepping in and out of the darkness.

Zhang Cuilan still looked radiant, but Gu Mancang, who was carrying a large sack, looked quite disheveled, with dirt all over his face.

Lin Yao quickly went over to help Gu Mancang unload the sack.

While the elderly couple sat down to drink tea, Lin Yao and the others learned that the sack was filled with mountain goods given by Zhang Dajiu and Zhang Erjiu.

Although both of Zhang’s uncles lived in the countryside, they were capable men.

Back during when the Japanese soldiers were raiding the countryside, the villagers from Zhangjia Village fled to the mountains to take refuge. However, one young woman got separated and was captured by a few Japanese soldiers.

This young woman was beautiful, and the soldiers surrounded her, calling her “flower girl” as they approached to undo their pants.

The young woman refused to yield and slapped one of the soldiers, which enraged him. He pulled out his bayonet to strike her, but Zhang Dajiu and Zhang Erjiu, who were tending to their sheep on the mountainside, heard the commotion and the woman’s cries for help from the grass stacks nearby.

Zhang Dajiu hurried over and his face immediately changed when he saw what was happening.

He was furious, thinking, “Those damn Japanese soldiers are bullying us Chinese again!”

Zhang Dajiu’s eyes flashed with rage as he drew his butcher’s knife and swiftly chopped off the head of one of the soldiers, sending it flying.

Zhang Erjiu followed, and the brothers, both skilled in Shaolin martial arts, swiftly defeated the terrified Japanese soldiers. The remaining soldiers fell into a pool of blood.

After rescuing the young woman, the brothers hurried back to their sheep and disappeared into the mountain valley, leaving the Japanese soldiers who arrived later to seethe with anger.

From then on, the Zhang family brothers became famous for their deeds in killing Japanese soldiers.

After liberation, the government wanted to assign work to Zhang Dajiu and Zhang Erjiu, but both of them refused. They had spent their whole lives farming, and the thought of living in a cramped city apartment and working in noisy factories didn’t appeal to them at all.

Moreover, their elderly parents were in the countryside, and the brothers wanted to stay close to them.

Zhang Dajiu and Zhang Erjiu, both stubborn and old revolutionaries, gave the local government a headache.

In the end, the county officials decided that since the brothers didn’t want to move to the city, their children should.

Thus, Zhang Dajiu’s eldest son, Zhang Shun, went to work at a mechanical factory, and Zhang Erjiu’s eldest daughter, Zhang Haitang, went to the pharmaceutical factory.

The two brothers were then able to stay in the countryside, farming and honoring their parents.

Now, one of the two brothers was the head of the production team, and the other was the village militia captain. Zhang Erjiu had a talent for hunting and often brought back wild game, such as wild chickens and rabbits. Life in the countryside was much freer than in the city.

Zhang Cuilan was the youngest in the family, and her older brothers and sisters-in-law treated her well. Every time she visited her parents in the countryside, she brought a basket of good things, and when she returned, she always carried a large sack.

The countryside was rich in resources, and when a daughter returned home, her brothers and sisters-in-law would prepare a bounty of things: dried wild vegetables, dried shiitake mushrooms, wild chestnuts, mountain walnuts, homegrown peaches, mountain apricots, and Lin Yao even saw two dried wild chickens.

Gu Mancang carried the sack back, having ridden in a horse-drawn cart and then taken the bus to the courtyard.

The parents were tired today, so Gu Chunmei boiled a pot of hot water, allowing the elderly couple to take a relaxing bath.

Just then, Gu Shidong, who hadn’t bathed in several days, was sent to wash up first.

While Zhang Cuilan rested in the room, Lin Yao brought her a bowl of lotus root powder in an enamel cup.

“Aunt, have some lotus root powder to nourish your body.”

Zhang Cuilan responded with a “Hmm,” smiling as she touched Lin Yao’s braid. There was a gleam of excitement in her voice as she said, “Yao Yao, today when I went to the countryside, guess who I saw?”

Lin Yao: “I don’t know.”

Zhang Cuilan slapped her thigh. “It was Lin Hongna! She got caught being a loose woman!”