Chapter 5

Da Tou Brother^[1]Da Tou Brother” (大头兄) would translate to “Big Head Brother” in English. “Da Tou” (大头) means “big head,” and “Brother” (兄) is a … Continue reading) was none other than Gu Chunmei’s fiancee—Xu Xiangqian.

In fact, Gu Chunmei and Da Tou Brother had grown up together, and they were childhood sweethearts.

The Xu family lived in Guihua Alley, just across the street from the large courtyard. Though they were separated by only one street, the difference between the two places was stark.

The large courtyard housed families with many members, often crammed into two narrow rooms. Moreover, there were no kitchens or bathrooms in the courtyards. Those with better conditions would build a small shed as a kitchen. Those with poorer conditions would just build a stove in the courtyard corridor and put coal briquettes and a coal stove on it to cook. 

When it was time for dinner, the courtyard was filled with smoke and fine black coal ash flew everywhere.

Guihua Alley where the Xu family lived was different.

Guihua Alley was the staff compound of the County Public Security Bureau. Each family lives in a single-family courtyard. It is quiet and spacious, and a kitchen and bathroom are indispensable.

Xu Xiangqian’s family used to live in a large courtyard. Mother Xu was a female worker in the county cotton mill, and Father Xu was away in the army. Xu Xiangqian was not in good health when he was a child. His mother was careless and raised her son with a big head and a small body. Xu Xiangqian was also the oldest of the children of the same age in the slum, so his friends called him “Da Tou Brother” all the time. They kept calling him that until Xu Xiangqian was eight years old, his father retired from the army and returned home.

Father Xu retired and returned to his hometown, where he joined the county public security bureau. Later, the Xu family of three moved to Guihua Alley.

Xu Xiangqian followed in his father’s footsteps, joining the police force after graduating from the police academy. In those days, working at the police station was considered a stable and prestigious job. To ordinary folks, it was a position of authority.

Father Xu was the captain of the Public Security Bureau, and Xu Xiangqian came from a good family. He was gentle, good-looking, and tall. He was the ideal match for any girl. When it came time for him to marry, matchmakers were constantly coming to the Xu family to introduce him to good girls.

Mother Xu was so happy that she couldn’t stop smiling. She secretly asked her son, “Son, with so many good girls, which one do you like?”

Xu Xiangqian replied decisively, “I didn’t like any of them.”  

Mother Xu was shocked and asked him repeatedly. It was then that she learned her son had already set his eyes on Gu Shi’an’s younger sister, Gu Chunmei.

Gu Chunmei had grown up under the watchful eyes of Xu’s parents. She was a beautiful and capable girl, straightforward and not pretentious. She had graduated from middle school, had a good job at the supply and marketing cooperative, and earned 20 yuan a month, which gave her a comfortable life.

The Gu family didn’t have any troublesome relatives, so Mother Xu clapped her hands and immediately sent a matchmaker to the Gu family to arrange the marriage.

It just so happened that Gu Chunmei also had an interest in the tall and handsome Da Tou Brother.

And so, the two lovers became engaged.

Xu Xiangqian, dressed in the standard 55-style police uniform, stood over 1.8 meters tall. His white shirt was tucked neatly into blue trousers, exuding the confidence and elegance typical of a policeman. He was riding a shiny three-wheeled bicycle, seemingly out for patrol.

With his long legs, he took two or three steps and was soon pushing his bicycle toward Gu Chunmei, who was holding an empty meat bag. When she saw him, she asked in surprise, “Da Tou, what are you doing here?”

“Are you craving meat too?”

Xu Xiangqian hadn’t seen his fiancée for a few days, and now that he was in front of her, his heart was filled with a happiness he couldn’t express. His dark eyes were full of warmth as he said, “I missed you, so I came to see you on the way.”

His sweet words made Lin Yao, who was standing nearby, feel like her teeth might fall out from the sweetness.

Gu Chunmei’s face turned red. She instinctively shot him a glare but didn’t forget to pinch his waist. “Stop talking nonsense.”

At that moment, the smile in Da Tou Brother’s eyes widened.

Lin Yao, the awkward third wheel, quickly made an excuse and slipped away.

If she didn’t leave, she was afraid that Gu Chunmei would “punish” Da Tou Brother right there and then.

Gu Chunmei had to go to work at the West City Supply and Marketing Cooperative in the afternoon. She gave Lin Yao some detailed instructions before reluctantly getting on her bike and left with Da Tou Brother.

*

At noon, the sun blazed down, making the entire Yunshui County unbearably hot.

The usually bustling street was quiet, with only a few people walking by. Shop assistants inside stores were either knitting sweaters behind the counters or dozing off with their chins resting on their hands.

On the stone-paved street, a few old farmers from the countryside squatted in corners selling fruits and vegetables. These days, even in the countryside, there weren’t many fancy vegetables. It was mostly just radishes, potatoes, and eggplants. An old lady was selling hand-woven bamboo baskets, while at the entrance of a state-owned restaurant, steam rose from pots, mixed with the aroma of steamed buns.

Lin Yao wandered down the street. The ground was so hot that it seemed like it could burn her feet. She passed by the supply and marketing cooperative, where a middle-aged woman selling sour plum juice and cold drinks waved at her enthusiastically.

“It’s so hot outside, girl. How about a bottle of orange soda, only 1.5 cents a bottle, or a cup of sour plum juice that’s sweet and refreshing? If you don’t think it’s sweet, you don’t have to pay.”

Lin Yao smiled and decided to treat herself to some summer refreshment of sour plum juice and orange soda.

Back in those days, the cold drink stalls had a certain nostalgic charm. The lady pushed a small cart with a wooden box at the bottom filled with ice. A small cotton blanket covered the box, and when the blanket was lifted, the cold air that escaped was enough to make anyone feel refreshed.

A bottle of orange soda cost 1.5 cents, and a cup of sour plum juice was only 10 cents.

After a moment’s hesitation, Lin Yao chose a cup of the lady’s homemade sour plum juice.

Surprisingly, the lady’s craftsmanship was impressive. The sour plum juice in the white porcelain cup had a faint osmanthus fragrance. A sip was both refreshing and sweet, and it cooled her down instantly.

Lin Yao had a small appetite, so after finishing the sour plum juice, she was too full to drink the soda. But that was fine—she decided to buy five bottles of orange soda to chill at home in well water, so the whole family could enjoy it together.

However, the bottles of orange soda rattled in her bag, which was quite inconvenient to carry.

With a sweet smile, Lin Yao grabbed two fruit candies from her pocket and handed them to the lady to sweeten her day. After chatting a little, she left and headed to the nearby supply and marketing cooperative to buy some goods.

The local supply and marketing cooperative wasn’t very large, only about 20 or 30 square meters. It was much smaller compared to the one Gu Chunmei worked at. But even though it was small, it had everything you needed.

Inside, there were oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, pots and pans, toothpaste and toothbrushes, sewing kits, and even sweets and snacks. There were also larger, rarer items like water kettles and enamel basins.

In the heat of summer, one of the most sought-after items was fabric.

Lin Yao had saved up fabric coupons but hadn’t used them yet. Aunt Cuilan, had given her a few extra coupons, so now she had enough to buy fabric for everyone in the Gu family.

Gu Chunmei didn’t need to worry, with Da Tou Brother around, she had nothing to fear.

Since they had become engaged, Xu Xiangqian made it a point to visit the Gu family frequently. He would bring a box of snacks, a bottle of soy sauce, or a basket of fresh vegetables from his garden. He never showed up empty-handed.

Such a thoughtful son-in-law made the neighbors in the courtyard envious.

Lin Yao picked out two durable, cool fabrics and half a kilogram of sugar dates. Sugar dates were a local specialty in Yunshui County, similar to candied fruits, but with a sweet and tangy flavor.

She also bought an enamel basin with an orchid pattern, as she needed one for her home.

At first, the shop assistants seemed distracted, but when they saw that Lin Yao was buying so much, their smiles became sincere. They quickly wrapped up the fabric and packed the sugar dates into small triangular bundles. The whole process was smooth and efficient.

With a large bundle of items in hand, Lin Yao exited the supply and marketing cooperative and got some soda from an old lady. Afterward, she found a quiet corner and placed everything into her space, then leisurely made her way back to the courtyard.

She had been out shopping for most of the day, and by the time she returned, the west of the sky was already dyed red by the setting sun, with large pink clouds blanketing the streets and alleys of Yunshui County.

It had been a long time since Lin Yao had gone out, and as she wandered, she looked around, taking her time to stroll down the small path that led into an alley.

When she finally emerged, her hands were full of various packages.

Lin Yao wasn’t the original owner. When the original owner’s parents were alive, they had pampered her at home. After they passed away, she was sent to live with the Lin family, where she became responsible for all the household chores.

Lin Yao has been delicate since she was little. She carries a porcelain basin in her left hand and a bundle of cloth and sugar dates in her right. She also had a military green bag filled with five bottles of soda, and after walking a short distance, she was already out of breath like a little dog.

Fortunately, she ran into Gu Shidong on her way back from the street.

That little rascal, as soon as summer vacation started, went wild, not returning home until it was almost dark.

When Gu Shidong saw the bulging bag in Lin Yao’s hands, he grinned widely and hurried over. “Sister-in-law, you’ve struck it rich! Why did you buy so many things?”

Gu Shidong, with his sharp eyes, immediately noticed the half-pound of sugar dates in her hand and grinned even wider. “And sugar dates! How did you know I’ve been craving them?”

Lin Yao teased him, “Who said I bought these for you? These are for Sister Chunmei, Aunt Cuilan, and Uncle Mancang.”

Gu Shidong, being clever, quickly realized she was just teasing him.

In the Gu family, only he had a particular fondness for sugar dates. Everyone else had their own favorites. If they weren’t for him, then who else could they be for?

Scratching his head, he laughed and eagerly offered to help. “Sister-in-law, let me carry the stuff for you!”

Lin Yao was more than happy to accept.

So, the eleven-year-old Gu Shidong became the little laborer, with a porcelain basin under one arm and a military green bag over his other shoulder. Despite his small stature, with just his head and legs visible beneath the heavy load, his little legs moved quickly, and within a few steps, he was already quite a distance ahead.

Lin Yao, walking behind, had to laugh at how the little guy looked like a slow-moving tortoise, while they both made their way to the courtyard.

The courtyard was alive with activity, with smoke rising as families began cooking lunch.