Chapter 90

Lin Yao, in her biting fury, had gnawed at him a few times before releasing him after his repeated apologies.

On the sixth day of the New Year, Deputy Director Gu wore a black pullover sweater, looking as upright as the pine and bamboo in the courtyard. He covered the small bite marks on his chin and went to work with an air of seriousness.

Lin Yao slept in until after eight, then washed her face, brushed her teeth, and had a bowl of hot rice porridge and a boiled egg. She sat by the window on a small stool, taking off her work gloves.

Earlier, while no one was home, she had explored her space supermarket and found a collection of work gloves from the 1950s and 1960s.

These gloves had been tucked away in the farthest corner, and Lin Yao was lazy and had only now discovered them.

There were several thousand pairs of these work gloves, all gathering dust in the storage. Zhang Cuilan had mentioned that her youngest son’s sweater and pants were getting shorter, and she wanted to rip her own sweater to make him some new ones.

Lin Yao offered to help, claiming she had yarn tickets. In reality, she had no yarn tickets at all but had countless pairs of work gloves, which were of no use to her family but were precious to Lin Yi.

Lin Yao took out a dozen pairs, unpicked them, and rolled them into balls of yarn. She planned to send some to her elder brother, thinking that six or seven bundles of yarn could make a new sweater and pants.

Lin Yao worked slowly, taking the entire afternoon to make two balls of yarn.

Gu Doudou was taken to the main room by his grandmother. Zhang Cuilan fed him a bowl of egg custard, got him to sleep, and then noticed it was time to start preparing lunch.

After a short break, Zhang Cuilan scooped some cold water into a basin and added chopped cabbage leaves and bran to feed the rabbits.

Recent light snowfalls had coated the yard. Gu Mancang, rubbing his hands, grabbed a broom to sweep the snow from the yard. The snow that had fallen on the bamboo grove in front of the house was blowing around the yard, and if it wasn’t cleaned up, it would freeze in the morning and cause someone to slip.

After cleaning the yard, Gu Mancang went out to take out the trash. On his way back, he bumped into Second Uncle Zhang, who was dressed in a cotton coat with patched-up clothes and carrying a basket of cabbage.

Gu Mancang quickly welcomed Second Uncle Zhang home.

The cold had made Second Uncle Zhang rush along the road, the wind biting at his neck, and his legs feeling numb from the cold.

Zhang Cuilan brought out a tin of ginger tea to help warm him up.

Once inside the Gu home, Second Uncle Zhang warmed his hands by the stove before sitting down. He drank a small half-basin of spicy sweet tea with a satisfied burp.

Zhang Cuilan chided, “Why didn’t you wait until the weather warmed up to come to town?”

Second Uncle Zhang grinned, “It’s nothing. I’m used to it after all these years. Mom was worried about the lack of vegetables at home, so she asked me to bring a basket.”  

He lifted the burlap sack to show his sister.

Inside were home-grown potatoes, sweet potatoes, cabbage, a bunch of fresh green onions, a basket of dried mushrooms, black fungus, and chestnuts.

Second Uncle Zhang added, “Pingzi has also gone to work at the factory. He’s working at the power plant in the provincial capital.”

Pingzi was the second child of Second Uncle Zhang’s family, who had done well in school and was assigned to work at the power plant in the provincial capital after graduating from secondary school.

Zhang Cuilan’s eyes lit up.

“What? Second Brother’s Pingzi has become an electrician?”

“He’s not an electrician, he works as a purchasing agent at the power supply company.”

Zhang Cuilan’s eyes brightened even more. “Oh my, our Pingzi has become a cadre!”

“It’s not quite that. He’s just a small purchasing agent, not as important as Doudou’s dad, who’s a deputy director.”

“No matter what, it’s a good thing. We should celebrate. Second Brother, wait for me to kill a rabbit. We’ll have a good meal.”

“Hey, where’s Doudou? Let me hold the little one.”

After not seeing the chubby little boy for a while, Second Uncle Zhang was eager to hold him.

“He’s sleeping inside. We can wait until he wakes up.”

“And Doudou’s dad?”

“He’s at work. Even during the New Year, the public security bureau is busy.”

The two chatted animatedly in the house. Lin Yao occasionally refilled Second Uncle Zhang’s tea, finding it amusing that he kept referring to Gu Shi’an as Doudou’s dad.

Since the chubby little boy was born, the status of Deputy Director Gu at home had dropped even further, now simply being referred to as Doudou’s dad.

Gu Mancang opened a bottle of Fenjiu he had been keeping in the cabinet and enjoyed it with a plate of peanuts stir-fried by his daughter-in-law, chatting about daily life in the house.

Zhang Cuilan happily killed a rabbit, skinned it, and prepared it for stewing. She also brought a basket of potatoes, planning to peel and shred them, then cook them with some marinated pork belly, making potato and meat pancakes. Lin Yao went to the kitchen, fished out three or four salted duck eggs from the small urn, and planned to cut them up for a dish later.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were busy in the kitchen when Gu Shidong rushed in, wailing.

“Mom, Sister-in-law, Doudou has pooped againand it stinks!”

Lin Yao: “…….”

On New Year’s Day, the little troublemaker said something inauspicious. Zhang Cuilan didn’t take action, so Lin Yao had to wipe her hands and change Doudou’s diaper.

Just as she finished taking care of the little chubby one, Gu Shidong ran in again, yelling.

“Sister-in-law, my brother’s back. Let him change Doudou’s diaper.”

Lin Yao was speechless. She had already changed the diaper, and he was only now reporting it.

Seeing Doudou happily kicking his chubby legs, Gu Shidong realized he was late and awkwardly scratched his head before quickly running off.

Lin Yao washed her hands outside the courtyard. Gu Shi’an had already prepared warm water, laid out a towel, and had the soap ready.

For the past few days, Lin Yao had been giving Gu Shi’an the cold shoulder.

Zhang Cuilan noticed something was wrong and asked about it privately. Lin Yao felt aggrieved and told her that Gu Shi’an wanted a second child.

The old mother scolded him and also vented her frustration on Gu Mancang.

These men are all the same. They have a son and now want a daughter, only thinking about their own pleasure without considering their wife’s health!

Yao Yao just had Doudou not long ago, and now he wants a daughter!

Why doesn’t he just go to the heavens?!

Deputy Director Gu, who was clumsy with words, really didn’t mean it that way.

How many children to have in the family is entirely up to Yao Yao.

He just, well, wanted to be close to Lin Yao, finding an excuse to kiss her and hold her hand.

“…….”

*

At noon, a pot of steaming braised rabbit meat was served. The family’s flatbreads were made from a mixture of flour and were topped with shredded rabbit meat, pork belly, and a bit of homemade fermented soybean paste. Thinly sliced salted duck eggs were added, making the dish so delicious that Second Brother’s tongue almost melted.

During the New Year, every household in the big courtyard had a good meal.

The neighbors, smelling the meat, pretended not to notice.

Only Liu Laidi from the front courtyard, through a small door, peered into the Gu family’s home without restraint.

When she encountered Lin Yao, she shamelessly inquired.

“Hey, what’s that delicious smell from your house at noon?”

Lin Yao replied nonchalantly, “Nothing much, just some home-cooked dishes.”

Liu Laidi didn’t believe her. She could smell the meat, and since the Gu family had guests, there must be meat to eat.

Talking about meat made Liu Laidi’s mouth water.

Ever since Zheng Dacheng lost his job as a cook at the steel factpry’s canteen, Liu Laidi’s life had deteriorated. This year, she couldn’t afford to make a new cotton-padded jacket, so she was still wearing the one from a couple of years ago. The cotton inside was lumpy, and although she wore leather shoes, her socks were worn and her big toe was exposed!

With her life in such a predicament, Liu Laidi’s craving for meat grew more intense.

She forced a smile and asked, “Yao Yao, do you need any help with your guests?”

The implication was clear: if she helped, she expected to be fed meat.

Such thick skin!

Lin Yao ignored her, turned her back, and went directly to the kitchen.

Liu Laidi’s face twitched, and she cursed as she went back home.

After eating his fill and drinking enough, Second Uncle Zhang picked up his empty carrying pole to return to the countryside. In fact, his trip to the county was not only to deliver vegetables and bring good news but also to visit the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some window paper to repair the windows at home.

In the mountains, the winter wind and snow were severe. The Zhang family’s window paper had torn in several places, making it sound like ghostly wails in the night.

Gu Shi’an, on his way to work, dropped Second Uncle Zhang off at the supply and marketing cooperative in the northern part of the city.

Gu Chunmei worked there, so it was more convenient for  Second Uncle Zhang to buy things through his niece.

The New Year passed quickly, and by early March, Yunshui County was covered in green.

Recently, for some unknown reason, Xu Tangyuan, who had just turned one year old, began crying every night. The crying continued until late night, keeping the whole family awake with worry.

Gu Chunmei and her husband took the baby to see a doctor.

The doctor didn’t find any particular illness but suggested that the parents provide more care and comfort.

The couple had no choice but to bring the baby back home, but the crying continued every night.

Gu Chunmei was exhausted from dealing with her son’s troubles and went back to her family for advice.

Zhang Cuilan slapped her thigh.

“Could it be that Tangyuan has lost his soul?”

“Losing the soul” is a local term in Yunshui County, meaning a child has had a fright and lost one of the three souls or seven spirits.

Zhang Cuilan rushed to find an old woman in the county to help call back the soul. That evening, she posted a note on Xu’s house door, which read: “Heavenly Emperor and Earthly Emperor, my house has a night-crying child. Passersby, recite this three times, and the child will sleep until dawn.”

That night, Xu Tangyuan really did sleep soundly until morning.

Gu Shi’an’s scientific explanation was, “Children have night terrors and cry at night because they need heavy peace to calm them.”

Lin Yao was puzzled, but it didn’t stop her from making Gu Shi’an fetch her some foot-washing water.

“……”

Time passed quickly, and Gu Doudou was approaching ten months old. He had two little front teeth, with the lower ones likely coming soon based on Zhang Cuilan’s experience.

The little guy was at the age where he started to stand with support and mimic the actions of adults at home. He learned to wave his hand from his mother and would reach out to his father for food.

Lin Yao was teaching the little one to speak, trying to get him to call her Mommy.

Gu Doudou drooled as he said, “Ya, Mama!”

Teaching him to call his father, the little one looked innocent.

“Daddy!”

“No, it’s Mommy.”

“Mama!”

“Yao Yao, don’t be angry. Come on, son, call Daddy!”

“Daddy!”

Lin Yao and Gu Shi’an were stunned.

Nearby, Gu Chunmei laughed so hard that tears flew out.

Xu Xiangqian was also delighted, trying to make Doudou call him “uncle,” but the little guy cleverly said “tofu” instead.

This made Da Tou Brother very happy as he lifted Doudou high, and the little one giggled excitedly, kicking his chubby legs and making a fuss.

Meanwhile, Lin Daguo and Li Aifeng had dressed up and went to Pigeon Market to sell two small goldfish, intending to use the money to find a wife for Lin Hongwu, solving his major life issue.

Speaking of the two small goldfish that Li Aifeng had “taken” from the old landlord’s house, it was back in 1949 during the land redistribution when the peasants had risen to power and seized the old landlord’s belongings.

When Li Aifeng went, the old landlord’s house had already been looted clean, even the kitchen utensils were gone. She managed to grab the old landlord’s big soy sauce jar and a cloisonné chamber pot, which were valuable in the eyes of the poor.

Unexpectedly, Li Aifeng found the two small goldfish inside the cloisonné chamber pot. She guessed that during those days of fear, the old landlord had hidden them there as a reserve for fleeing in the future.

Li Aifeng unknowingly ended up with the two small yellow fish.

She had her own little scheme, secretly digging two bricks out of the wall to hide the goldfish.

They remained hidden for over a decade.

The two small goldfish sold for 155 yuan, and Li Aifeng, holding a thick wad of cash, was proud as she discussed with Lin Daguo about finding a good wife for their son.

Lin Daguo, having just eaten pig tails, was using a broomstick to clean his teeth.

“What else? Our Lin family’s daughter-in-law must be virtuous and hardworking, able to cook and take care of us comfortably.”

“She should have a big backside. A big backside can bear children.”

“Her family shouldn’t be too poor. Otherwise, it won’t be a good match, and we’ll get a bunch of poor relatives coming over.”

Lin Hongwu added, “I don’t want someone who’s unattractive or has dark skin. I’m so dashing, I should at least get a pretty girl.”

Li Aifeng was full of pride.

“Yes, yes, my Hongwu is such an outstanding child. Many girls will be eager to marry him, so we must choose carefully.”

Thinking about it, Lin Daguo suddenly remembered a good candidate. “In Wangjia village next door, Wang Shanpao’s family has a daughter named Honghua. She’s eighteen or nineteen, really lovely. Wang Shanpao is a useless old man who had five daughters before finally having a son. His son is a precious gem, the only heir in three generations. The old man has said he’ll marry off his daughters to get money to find a wife for his son.”

Li Aifeng was somewhat disdainful.

“That family is so poor, marrying into them might not be worthwhile. They might not be able to support the family.”

Lin Hongwu also hesitated, as Wang Shanpao’s wife was a fierce woman. If their daughter took after her mother, it would be problematic.

Li Aifeng scoffed.

“She dares! Once she comes into our Lin family, she must follow our rules. All village daughters are the same. If she doesn’t listen, we’ll discipline her!”

Lin Hongwu nodded, though he wasn’t very concerned.

He wouldn’t want a wife who was treated like a deity, but he also didn’t want to beat her regularly. If he drove her away, he’d be a bachelor for the rest of his life.

Lin Daguo and his wife decided to go to Wangjia village the next day to check things out.

Lin Daguo’s feet smelled bad, but he still wanted to lie on the kang without washing them.

Li Aifeng drove him to wash his feet. While the house was empty, she secretly placed the 150 yuan she had in her waistband into a wooden cabinet. She kept the family’s food, money, and other valuables in this cabinet, and the key was tied to her waistband—she never removed it, even while sleeping. After decades of marriage, Lin Daguo had never stolen a single penny.

With her beloved son about to get married, Li Aifeng was so happy she could dream of laughing.

Earlier, Lin Hongwu had managed to get 5 yuan from Li Aifeng, and he took the money and went back to his room to sleep, already planning how to spend the money. Five yuan was enough for him to spend a day in town, buying a discounted scarf from the supply and marketing cooperative to give to Su Wupin, a widow he had been seeing. Su Wupin was attractive, and Lin Hongwu enjoyed his time with her immensely.

Lin Hongwu tucked the 5 yuan under his pillow and fell asleep humming a tune.

The next day, Lin Hongwu secretly went to town. Meanwhile, Li Aifeng changed her clothes and went to Wangjia village to gather information about Wang Shanpao’s family.

Li Aifeng gathered detailed information about Wang Shanpao’s family through casual conversation. Wang Shanpao was over fifty years old and lived in poverty with his large family. He had five daughters and one son, with the couple barely managing to scrape by on their farming labor. Wang Shanpao was also disabled. As a child, he was tied up in a cellar by his mother, and the family’s pigs, hungry and desperate, chewed off part of his foot.

As a result, Wang Shanpao walked with a limp. Of his five daughters, only Wang Honghua was considered particularly pretty, and the Wang family was known for marrying off their daughters cheaply. A dowry of twenty yuan was enough to take Wang Honghua as a wife, regardless of her fate afterward. This deal intrigued Li Aifeng.

*

In Xinjiang’s Gobi Desert, this year’s cold was unusually severe. Although the Gobi Desert was always cold, it usually warmed up by March. However, this year, it was still snowing heavily in mid-March, with snow accumulating up to the soldiers’ ankles. If not cleared, the soldiers’ shelters could collapse.

Lin Yi, wearing a military coat and gloves, labored in the biting cold to shovel snow off the shelter.

A young soldier complained about the unusual cold, while Lin Yi noticed frost on his eyelashes and agreed that the cold was harsher than usual. After the New Year, the temperature remained well below freezing, far colder than previous years.

The camp’s political commissar ordered the soldiers to continue clearing snow and create a path. By late night, the snow had finally stopped, but the soldiers were still shivering from the cold. The commissar arranged for the cooks to prepare red sugar water to help warm everyone up.

Although ginger is typically used for warming, it was unavailable in the Gobi Desert, and the red sugar was sent by the camp leader’s sister. The soldiers were grateful for the hot sugar water, and Lin Yi felt proud of his sister for helping out.

*

In early spring, after a few spring rains, tender shoots of Chinese toon appeared. Zhang Cuilan and some friends picked some tender shoots from the state-run pig farm and cooked them with eggs, making a delicious meal.

Gu Shi’an returned home after work and bought the month’s supply of grain. Lin Yao checked the rice and found it was half white rice and half sorghum. She noted that white rice often had small stones that needed to be sorted out.

Lin Yao was pleased with the full rice jar and went to the vegetable garden to pull weeds. The Gu family’s garden had been planted with the first batch of vegetable seedlings. Lin Yao also bought watermelon seeds, hoping to grow watermelons along the wall to enjoy in the summer.

In the morning, Gu Shi’an cleaned and dried the baby’s diapers and then worked on the garden soil. Lin Yao brought him a piece of homemade sugar cake to taste.

Gu Shi’an enjoyed it and complimented the taste. Lin Yao was relieved that the sugar was not too sweet and that it had a subtle milk flavor, perfect for their baby.

Gu Shi’an finished working on the soil and prepared to fertilize the garden with manure, a common practice in the countryside, although it left a strong odor for days.

Just as Lin Yao was preparing to escape the smell, Xu Xiangqian rushed in, announcing that something had happened in the county.