Chapter 28: Head to Qingcheng

Xie Zhi took a few steps forward, shielding the girl behind him. With a look of disdain, he grabbed their things and left with Jiaojiao. The two walked silently down the stairs, neither saying a word for a while.

As they stepped onto the bustling street filled with people, they boarded a bus heading toward the propaganda department. They chose seats near the back. The bus wasn’t crowded, but it was noisy—most of the passengers were schoolchildren carrying their backpacks.

Xie Zhi held Jiaojiao’s hand, his warm fingertips gently rubbing against hers. The sensation tickled as he looked up and asked, “Jiaojiao, how about I take you home? You can meet my parents. My elder brother lives in Yuncheng, right next to Qingcheng. We can stop by to visit him on the way.”

Jiaojiao closed her eyes, feeling more exhausted than she had in a long time. Resting her head on Xie Zhi’s shoulder, she replied, “Okay, but first, let’s finalize the design for the wedding dress tomorrow.”

“Does your mom know about this?” she asked.

“I told her yesterday,” Xie Zhi replied. “Tomorrow, we’ll buy train tickets for the afternoon. We’ll take a sleeper to Qingcheng, rest for the night, and arrive the next morning.”

“Alright,” Jiaojiao agreed softly.

The bus swayed as it moved along, and the uneven roads made Jiaojiao feel a little uncomfortable. So they got off one stop before their destination and decided to walk the rest of the way along the cobblestone street.

Before long, they arrived at the security office of the government building. The gatekeeper, who was familiar with Jiaojiao, made a phone call for her. After registering their names, he let them in.

The moment Jiaojiao saw her third brother, Xu Bai, tears welled up in her eyes, and she threw herself into his arms. “Third Brother!” In that instant, the warmth of family felt overwhelming.

“What’s wrong, Jiaojiao?” Xu Bai asked anxiously as he wiped her tears away. His puzzled gaze shifted to Xie Zhi, who shook his head, saying nothing.

Jiaojiao pulled away from her brother, her delicate face breaking into a smile. “It’s nothing, Third Brother. I just missed you guys, and tomorrow, I’ll be going to Qingcheng with Xie Zhi. I wanted to see you before I leave.”

Xu Bai knew she wasn’t telling the full truth, but since she chose to keep it to herself, he didn’t press further. “Be a good girl, Jiaojiao. When you’re there, visit Big Brother. He’s been missing you and even bought a lot of gifts for you.”

“Okay!” Jiaojiao nodded enthusiastically.

After chatting for a while, Xu Bai had to return to work. Jiaojiao, still thinking about the design for her wedding dress, stayed only a bit longer before heading home.

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Late at night, they were still packing. Xie Zhi casually picked out a few of Jiaojiao’s clothes and gathered some money and tickets, knowing that the prices in Qingcheng were high and the styles abundant. There would be plenty of things Jiaojiao would like.

Meanwhile, Jiaojiao was bent over the table, pencil in hand, meticulously sketching her wedding dress design.

Jiaojiao had taken extracurricular classes in design, continuing all the way through high school. However, due to high tuition fees and a busy school schedule, she eventually had to stop. Still, she had always dreamed of becoming a designer—not just for clothes but for accessories, bags, and more.

She designed the strapless dress with a fully covered bodice and white gloves that extended to the wrists. The hem of the skirt was asymmetrical, and a three-dimensional flower was added to one side of the waist. The flower could be worn on the waist or removed to be worn on the hand.

It had a touch of modern, three-dimensional tailoring reminiscent of future trends. Jiaojiao wasn’t sure if the bridal shop could make it happen, but she planned to ask tomorrow. A slight frown appeared on her face as she thought about it. Once in Qingcheng, she also wanted to buy some accessories to incorporate into the dress.

Soon, she finished her sketch, complete with a model wearing the dress. Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “What do you think? Does it look good?”

Xie Zhi took the drawing and studied it carefully. His mother had always loved fashion magazines, and they often featured high-end foreign brands. Yet Jiaojiao’s design was in no way inferior to those. Placing the paper on the table, Xie Zhi said seriously, “It’s beautiful. You’ve got real talent for being a designer.”

Jiaojiao blushed shyly. Though she had drawn inspiration from future trends, the compliment made her proud. She raised her chin with a smug grin. “Of course!”

Just then, Yan Fenglian walked in, carrying a bag containing cured pork trotters. She carefully wrapped it up along with some fresh millet. These were things they usually couldn’t bear to eat themselves. She also took out 100 yuan in savings and some ration tickets from home.

Even though Jiaojiao hadn’t spent the money her mother gave her last time, Yan Fenglian refused to take it back. In her eyes, girls naturally spent more than boys. Without enough money, they could easily be taken advantage of.

Most of the family’s money came from the three brothers’ remittances. Hearing that Jiaojiao was getting married, they had sent even more. Combined with the couple’s salaries, the Xu family was quite well-off.

Jiaojiao looked at her mother’s offerings and pouted. “Mom, you’re giving us chickens and pork trotters again. How are we supposed to carry all this?”

“Mom, we really don’t need to bring so much,” Xie Zhi chimed in.

Yan Fenglian disagreed. “How could we not? The in-laws sent us so much. This is nothing in comparison. Jiaojiao, remember to buy gifts when you get there. Be generous, okay?”

She then stuffed a bundle of cash and ration tickets into Jiaojiao’s hands. “When you’re there, don’t be stingy. Buy good things so they’ll like you.”

Jiaojiao’s eyes widened at the sight of the thick stack of money. She quickly waved her hands to refuse. “Mom, I haven’t even spent what you gave me last time, and now you’re giving me even more.”

Xie Zhi also tried to decline. “Mom, I have enough money. This really isn’t necessary.”

“Take it, Jiaojiao,” her mother insisted. “Things in Qingcheng are expensive. I heard even small gifts can cost ten or twenty yuan. Buy something good. And when you’re there, remember to wake up early and help out with the chores, okay?”

With that, she firmly stuffed the money into Jiaojiao’s hands. In those days, daughters-in-law were expected to be diligent, assist with household chores, and respect their in-laws. Yan Fenglian’s instructions reflected her concerns about how Jiaojiao would adapt to married life.

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Early the next morning, the two of them got ready. Jiaojiao wore her green dress from the department store. She styled her hair into a side ponytail, a refreshing look compared to the common high ponytails and buns of the era.

The whole family escorted them to the village entrance, where they boarded the bus. Before leaving, Xu Yan and Xu Chen, her brothers, handed her more money, adding to what Xu Bai had given.

The scene was like a daughter leaving home for marriage, and even Jiaojiao shed a few tears.

By now, Jiaojiao had over 300 yuan on her. Worried about theft, she had sewn a small pocket into her innerwear, where she stored the money safely.

As the bus started, Xie Zhi held Jiaojiao close as she waved goodbye to her family. Though she felt a mix of emotions, his gaze revealed subtle joy. He couldn’t explain it, but knowing he was taking Jiaojiao to his home in Qingcheng felt like she was entering a world where she could never escape from him again.

“Jiaojiao, take care on the way. Write to us when you arrive, okay?”

“Jiaojiao, your brothers are waiting for you to come back!”

Jiaojiao nodded vigorously, watching as her family’s figures grew smaller and smaller until they disappeared around a bend.