Chapter 21

Lu Huaijin took a taste, and indeed, the food was delicious. He ate quite a bit of the braised chicken.

Not long after, the chicken was the first dish to be finished.

The steamed egg custard was also popular, with Xu Yaozu scooping a big bowl for himself.

He practically had his head buried in the bowl. Whoever made all this delicious food today should come over more often.

With three men at the table who could really eat, even the large portions were just enough.

Lu Huaijin noticed the porridge was especially good and drank two bowls in a row.

Father Xu also went for a refill, finishing off all the porridge in the pot.

Xu Ruhua was waiting impatiently in the other room, hoping they’d finish up soon so she could have her turn to eat, but they didn’t seem in any rush to leave.

Finally, Lu’s father wiped his mouth and began to talk business:

“I discussed the bride price with Xiaojin. We’ll offer 188 yuan. Since he’s stationed with the military every year, we’ll handle the preparations directly with the military district.”

With that, he took a large red envelope from his pocket and handed it directly to Xu Niannian.

His son had specifically instructed him to do this before coming.

Xu Niannian quickly stood up to accept it from Lu’s father.

Father Xu, who had been reaching out his hand, awkwardly pulled it back. This child really lacked awareness, but no worries—he could reclaim it later when they left.

Xu Ruhua was so angry, she nearly ground her teeth.

These days, most people only gave around 88 yuan for the bride price. The better the family’s situation in the city, the less they typically gave, implying that the daughter wouldn’t face hardship after marriage.

After receiving the red envelope, Xu Niannian invited them to sit on the sofa:

“Uncle, Aunt, please sit. I’ll go and prepare some hot water for you.”

Lu’s mother quickly stopped her:

“Niannian, there’s no need to busy yourself. We’re here to discuss the wedding and will be leaving shortly. You see those few bolts of fabric over there? Since you don’t have your mother around, we thought we’d buy these for you, so you can make some extra clothes.”

Originally, Lu’s mother hadn’t intended to be this blunt, but Xu Xiuhong not even showing her face was rather disrespectful to Niannian.

Upon hearing this, Xu Yaozu called out:

“My mother’s not dead yet!”

Lu’s mother covered her mouth, “Oh, my memory slipped! I forgot she’d remarried, but we didn’t see her at lunch, so it just slipped my mind.”

At this moment, Xu Xiuhong entered the room, just in time to hear these last two sentences.

She slammed the door, speaking icily:

“Old Xu, I’m back.”

Father Xu quickly stood up and gave her a look:

“Why did you come back so late? Have you been busy lately?”

He didn’t want to sour relations since the engagement was settled and he was hoping for some benefit in the future.

Before Xu Xiuhong could respond, there was another knock at the door.

Being closest, she opened it to find a few people in work uniforms with red badges on their chests.

“Hello, is Xu Niannian here?”

“That’s me,” she replied, slightly alarmed—had her activities in the black market been exposed? But if so, it should be the police coming to arrest her, not these people.

“We’re from the neighborhood committee. Your sister Xu Ruhua reported your application for rural assignment. We’re here to inform you that the date has been set; you’ll be departing on the 19th, bound for Xiangyang Village in Gansu Province.”

Xu Niannian pointed at herself, incredulous:

“Who gave her the right to register me for rural assignment? I wasn’t even informed.”

The staff exchanged a look:

“According to policy, you do qualify as someone who should be sent to the countryside. We’re just following procedure.”

This situation wasn’t uncommon and often involved a stepmother wanting to send a prior child away.

Seeing the innocent look in Xu Niannian’s eyes, they felt a little sympathy:

“Since the spot is confirmed, it’s not possible to change that, but you could request a different location.”

Xu Niannian glanced at Xu Xiuhong, who was smirking smugly, clearly pleased with herself.

Father Xu looked down; with things as they were, he had no means to intervene.

Xu Ruhua, hiding in the other room and listening, was delighted. Finally, something had gone her way.

She accidentally knocked her pen to the floor with a crisp “clink.”

This startled everyone. Lu Huaijin, who had sensed movement on the balcony during the meal, now approached it to check.

Xu Niannian tugged at his sleeve:

“It’s just a mouse, no need to worry.”

Xu Ruhua, hearing herself referred to as a mouse, held her tongue. So what if she was insulted? Xu Niannian was still going to the countryside.

Lu Huaijin saw she didn’t want anyone going to the balcony, so he instead turned to the neighborhood committee staff, showing them his military ID:

“The thing is, Comrade Xu Niannian and I are set to become revolutionary partners, and she’ll be accompanying me as I’m stationed with the military. Could we work something out?”

The staff leader, realizing he was indeed military, scratched his head in thought:

“If your family had agreed on this this morning, we might’ve been able to overlook it. But we’ve already submitted her name, and since her residency is still registered here, it’ll be difficult to retract her spot before her political review, which takes about two months.”

Xu Niannian stepped forward:

“Fine, then help me switch the location to Qingshan Brigade in Chaoyang Commune, Chaoyang City, Heilongjiang.”

She recalled that the original family’s maternal grandfather was in that area for reform-through-labor. If she later went with Lu Huaijin, it would be harder to help, so it was better to start building a foundation now.

If not for Xu Ruhua’s school exemption from rural assignment, she would’ve dragged her along as well.

And waiting for the political review to pass might give Xu Ruhua time to pull more tricks, so it might be better to spend a few months in the countryside.

On the balcony, Xu Ruhua nearly fainted from anger, realizing her meticulous planning had gone to waste.

The staff took her instructions, quickly filling out the forms before handing her a youth registration card and ration tickets:

“Thank you, Comrade Xu Niannian, for your support of the ‘Go to the Countryside’ campaign. We’ll take our leave now.”

They hurriedly left, relieved to have closed this assignment, fearing she might otherwise contest it.

An awkward silence fell over the room.

Not wanting to expose her family issues to her future in-laws, Xu Niannian took her cue when Lu’s mother waved her over:

“We’re leaving now, Niannian. Walk us out?”

Lu’s mother took her hand as they left, waiting until they were far enough away from others:

“Niannian, if you’re not willing, we can ask Huaiyin’s grandfather to pull some strings. Maybe there’s a way out.”

Xu Niannian shook her head:

“There’s no need. It’s only two or three months; it’ll pass quickly.”