Chapter 87

Ever Since Mother Sun broke her leg, she has difficulty moving around and can no longer rely on family members to carry her. Sun Jialiang had replaced her old bamboo chair with a wheeled one, similar to a modern wheelchair but less functional.

Over the years, Mother Sun had gained weight from eating well, and her once delicate face had become quite plump, weighing over 100 pounds. As a weak man, Sun Jialiang struggled to carry her to the high toilet, which had steps that the bamboo wheelchair couldn’t manage.

He had to carry his mother and then let Lin Hongna assist once they reached the toilet.

Despite Mother Sun being usually clean, using the toilet inevitably involved unpleasant odors. Lin Hongna, who had never gotten along with her mother-in-law, was particularly unwilling to help with the messy task.

Father Sun, now unemployed, sighed deeply while watching his resentful son and daughter-in-law.

He had scolded and argued with Mother Sun about the troubles she caused, even threatening divorce, but these were just empty threats. After spending half a lifetime with Mother Sun, he still had feelings for her and didn’t want to stir up trouble at his age.

However, there was a gap in their relationship. For the past month, Father Sun had been sleeping in the guest room, while Mother Sun slept alone in the master bedroom, effectively separating them.

Sun Jialiang bent down, gritting his teeth, and carried his mother to the toilet.

Mother Sun, leaning on her son’s back, continued to complain.

“Look at your country bumpkin wife, always avoiding trouble. She doesn’t even offer to help when I need to use the toilet. She is just a country girl with no manners.”

Sun Jialiang was panting heavily.

“Mom, Tianyou is awake, and she’s feeding him in the room.”

Mentioning her precious grandson softened Mother Sun’s expression a bit. Thinking of little Tianyou’s thin face, she made another pointed comment.

“People say if a child doesn’t grow well, it’s because the mother’s milk is poor and lacking in nutrients. Jialiang, go buy some pig’s feet and make a stew. Don’t add salt or seasoning, just make sure she drinks the broth. It will ensure Tianyou’s little face gets plump and white.”

Buy pig’s feet?

Sun Jialiang, exhausted and with trembling legs, had no energy left and didn’t want to argue with his mother. Finding pig’s feet was difficult and might not even be available in town, requiring a trip to the countryside.

After Father Sun was suspended from his job, the leaders at the light bulb factory were all observing him. Though they appeared supportive, Sun Jialiang’s position at the factory was not that significant.

Lin Hongna, nursing in the room, overheard Mother Sun’s nagging through the window and ground her teeth in frustration.

This old hag, even as a cripple, still wouldn’t settle down!

Pig’s feet were meaty and greasy. Making a stew without salt would make it inedible.

To help Tianyou with his milk supply, she was made to suffer.

Was the Sun family treating her like a pig to feed their baby?!

While Lin Hongna was furious and sad, she also hated Mother Sun deeply. She realized her position in the Sun family clearly.

Marrying into the Sun family was pointless if she had no say and was still looked down upon!

People were the butcher, and she was the fish on the chopping block. One had to be ruthless to survive.

Lin Hongna looked down at the sleeping Tianyou in her arms and began to scheme.

*

In late December, Yunshui County was hit by two heavy snowfalls. The snow was so thick that it could bury people at home in the early morning.

The state-owned pig farm was on holiday, and with Zhang Cuilan at home taking care of Gu Doudou, Lin Yao, the overworked worker, could go to work with peace of mind.

Recently, a case had emerged in the county, and Gu Shi’an was so busy that she barely saw him.

Without Deputy Director Gu’s express delivery, Lin Yao could only trudge through the snow in her black rubber shoes to work early in the morning, with deep regret.

The cotton factory office had heaters, with each office supplied with five honeycomb briquettes daily. The back office, being small, only needed five to stay warm all day.

When Lin Yao arrived at the office, she quickly changed into her thick-soled cloth shoes and hugged a hot water bottle to warm her hands at the heater.

Zhou Xiaoxue had arrived earlier, her face rosy, and was munching on fried dough sticks while drinking soy milk at her desk. Seeing Lin Yao, she excitedly came over.

“Lin Yao, we start the New Year’s holiday tomorrow!”

So soon?

Lin Yao was surprised and then realized.

Today is the 26th of the twelfth lunar month. The New Year is coming early this year, and there are only a few days left until New Year’s Eve.

Zhou Xiaoxue’s father is the deputy factory director at the cotton textile factory. She knows exactly when they will have time off and what New Year’s gifts they will receive. She counted on her fingers for Lin Yao.

“My dad said that since the factory did well in the second half of the year, and there weren’t any New Year gifts last year, this year we’re getting quite a bit. There will be fish, white sugar, a pound of fruit candy, two packs of cigarette coupons, three feet of cloth coupons, and a pound of pork tickets. Finally, we can have meat dumplings this year.”

Zhou Xiaoxue sighed dreamily.

Last year, the county’s situation was poor. Although the Zhou family had good conditions and was not short of rice, flour, and oil, meat was impossible to buy. Zhou Xiaoxue didn’t get to eat any meat, which she missed terribly. She loved sour cabbage pork dumplings, just like her mother.

They does have sour cabbage, but no meat.

Last year, Zhou Xiaoxue cried as she ate a bowl of  sour cabbage dumplings during the New Year, feeling nauseous from the sour taste.

Lin Yao patted her on the head affectionately.

Zhou Xiaoxue continued, “My mom’s  sour cabbage pork dumplings are so delicious, with eggs mixed in, and the meat filling added with lard. Every bite is full of oil and flavor. I can’t wait for another bowl of dumpling soup.”

Zhou Xiaoxue’s mouth watered. “I can’t talk about it anymore, I’m about to drool.”

Sister He, who was bringing tea, joined the conversation.

“You young girls are really born at the right time. Unlike us back in the old days, when I had my eldest daughter, I had a difficult delivery. The midwife said the baby couldn’t be kept because it was going to harm our family. We had to fight with the midwife to keep the baby. I was only twenty, about the same age as Xiaoxue, just a year or two younger than Yao Yao.”

As she spoke, Aunt Hao, who was cleaning, came into the office to warm up and joined in.

“In the old days, people married young. Having a child at eighteen or nineteen was common. Now, with better living conditions, look at Yao Yao. She’s slim and delicate, like a young girl, not like us old women who’ve become tough old vegetables.”

Lin Yao smiled brightly, “Oh, Auntie, look at your beautiful skin and Sister He’s hands—so tender, like a radish. Who’s an old vegetable with skin like yours? We should stop calling you ‘Auntie’ and ‘Sister,’ and just call you ‘Younger Sister He’ and ‘Sister Hao.’”

Lin Yao’s flattering words made both Sister He and Aunt Hao very happy.

Zhou Xiaoxue laughed along.

She realized that Yao Yao’s way with words was truly charming. She needed to learn from Yao Yao and speak more kindly to her elder brother.

Maybe he’d buy her a purse.

Hehe.

Brother Zhou, who was at work, suddenly sneezed loudly: “…”

In the evening, as the snow began falling again, Brother Zhou came to pick up Zhou Xiaoxue after work.

Lin Yao, bundled in thick winter clothes and a headscarf that only left her bright eyes exposed, trudged through the snow.

The morning snow hadn’t melted, and now the evening snow was falling heavily. Lin Yao was panting heavily from walking in the snow.

Just as she was looking for a place to shelter from the snow, she suddenly felt a warm military coat draped over her shoulders. Lin Yao turned and saw Gu Shi’an’s defined jawline.

“Gu Shi’an?”

“What are you doing here?” Lin Yao asked.

Gu Shi’an looked at her pale, frozen face, frowned, and put a pair of gloves on her hands. He then wrapped her in a red wool scarf, turning her into a little cocoon.

“I’ve already put on gloves,” Lin Yao protested.

“These gloves are too thin. They won’t keep your hands warm,” Gu Shi’an insisted firmly.

Lin Yao had no choice but to keep walking. Once they left the old street area and reached the open street, she realized how true his words were. The cold wind was intense enough to freeze her head.

Fortunately, with Gu Shi’an shielding her from the wind, Lin Yao held onto him tightly, and the couple made their way home slowly.

Once home, Lin Yao let go of Gu Shi’an and rushed to the stove to warm her hands.

Gu Shidong had come home from school and was now eating roasted sweet potatoes in the house, wearing a fur hat. The little rascal was messy, with sweet potato all over his mouth.

Little Gu Doudou was in his crib, his chubby face also smeared with sweet potato.

Lin Yao peeked over and saw that her chubby son was enjoying the sweet potatoes even in his sleep, smacking his lips.

At seven or eight months old, it was okay for him to have a little roasted sweet potato. Besides, Gu Shidong knew how to control his portions.

Lin Yao didn’t think much of it, but when Zhang Cuilan came in to check on Gu Doudou and saw the two children with sweet potato all over their faces, she immediately rolled up her sleeves and grabbed a stick to chase Gu Shidong around the yard.

“You little rascal, how dare you give sweet potatoes to such a young child! Are you looking for a beating?”

Gu Shidong ran around, covering his bottom and shouting, “Mom, Doudou is enjoying it! Can’t we just let it go? Please, Comrade Cuilan, have some mercy!”

Lin Yao leaned lazily against the bed, while Gu Shi’an shook his head, cleaned Gu Doudou’s hands and mouth with a damp cloth.

On the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, Lin Yao received a remittance slip and a letter from Lin Yi.

This elder brother is quite generous. Upon hearing about his new nephew, he immediately sent a thousand yuan. In his letter, he rambled on about many things, such as whether the baby looks like anyone in the old Lin family, whether there are any photos of the baby, and if there aren’t, he urged her to take one and send it quickly to ease his homesickness.

He also praised his sister extensively, saying that the work protection gloves and frostbite ointment she sent were like a timely gift in the snow, bringing warmth to the soldiers in the Xinjiang Corps.

Finally, Comrade Lin Yi thoughtfully instructed that, since he has plenty of allowances, he first sent a thousand yuan to his younger sister and nephew. He told her not to be too hard on herself or the baby, to buy whatever they wanted to eat or drink, and if the money wasn’t enough, to write to him.

Lin Yao read the letter with a warm smile, feeling touched. She hugged her chubby baby son and, after discussing with Gu Shi’an, used her own money to buy some supplies. They sent twenty cans of frostbite ointment, a hundred pairs of work protection gloves, a hundred pairs of cotton socks, a large piece of lamb chop, and many other small items like needles and threads, sesame oil, safflower oil, towels, soap, and brown sugar to the Xinjiang Corps.

Taking advantage of the fact that the county’s post office hadn’t closed before the New Year, the couple sent the packages early.

Before the New Year, major factories in the county had closed for the holidays and distributed New Year’s goods.

The cotton textile factory gave out two bath tickets and one 35-cent haircut ticket.

The county police station and the steel rolling mill also distributed bath tickets and soap tickets. The Gu family went to the state-run bathhouse with their bath bundles and small basins.

In those days, state-run bathhouses had separate facilities for men and women, featuring large hot water pools. Bath tickets were required; you couldn’t just pay money to bathe.

This was the first time Gu Doudou bathed in a large water pool. He was so excited, flailing his chubby arms and shouting with joy.

Lin Yao couldn’t calm him down, so she hurriedly washed herself and waited in the lobby with the clean baby.

Gu Shi’an finished his bath quickly. Seeing his chubby son kicking his little legs while in Lin Yao’s arms, he walked over and picked up the baby.

Lin Yao sighed with relief and leaned against a pillar in the lobby to rest.

Gu Doudou, wearing a flower-patterned cotton coat, squirmed in his father’s arms. His little bottom wiggled as if there were springs attached, making him quite restless. Gu Shi’an held him with his left arm and used his free hand to tidy Lin Yao’s loose hair.

Lin Yao had finished her bath, her face rosy and fragrant like peach blossoms. Gu Shi’an’s throat tightened as he looked around to make sure no one was watching. He leaned in to steal a kiss.

Just as he lowered his head, a small chubby hand slapped his handsome face.