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◎The King of Scrolls, Day Thirty-Nine◎
“This morning, Brother Zhou secretly slipped me a piece of candy and told me to tell my aunt that he would buy me a sugar figurine when he came back.” Mingyuan licked his lips, as if still savoring the sweetness of the candy. “He also said that he would invite my aunt to see a grand opera in Beijing.”
Shen Xinglian chuckled and patted Mingyuan's head: "You're such a little devil, you remember everything."
She turned to Jiang Wanzhou, her eyes softening: "Look, even the child understands his thoughts. Some things don't need to be said outright; everyone knows what's going on in their hearts."
As she cooked dinner over the fire in the evening, Shen Xinglian sat by the stove adding firewood, the firelight flickering on her face.
Jiang Wanzhou poured seaweed into the pot. The bright green leaves tumbled in the boiling water, like a group of happy little fish.
“Wanzhou, do you still remember?” Shen Xinglian stuffed a dry branch into the stove, and the flames crackled and jumped. “When we first arrived on the island, you always said you missed home and cried secretly at night.”
Jiang Wanzhou's face flushed: "I was naive back then, thinking nothing could compare to the mud-brick house in my hometown."
"Not silly anymore?" Shen Xinglian laughed. "Knowing that someone cares about you is better than anything else?"
Jiang Wanzhou added firewood to the stove, the firelight reflecting on her face: "Xingxing, I used to be afraid, afraid that he would change his mind, afraid that Beijing was too far away, afraid..."
"What are you afraid of?" Shen Xinglian interrupted her, her voice soft. "A person's heart is rooted in themselves. If he changes, you can't hold on to him even if you stay here; if he doesn't change, he will come to you no matter how far away he is."
During dinner, Jiang Renzhou looked at the seaweed and tofu soup on the table and suddenly said, "Zhou Qingyu sent someone to say that he will be back at the beginning of next month."
He put a piece of tofu into Shen Xinglian's bowl. "The team's approval has come through. He's here to formally propose marriage."
Jiang Wanzhou's hand trembled, and she almost dropped her chopsticks. Shen Xinglian scooped a spoonful of soup into her bowl, her smile lines at the corners of her eyes like honey: "Drink up, this soup is good for your health, and you'll have the strength to make new clothes."
Lying on the kang at night, Jiang Wanzhou listened to Shen Xinglian's even breathing while clutching the jade pendant in his hand.
She didn't know how cold the winters in Beijing were, nor how many hardships the future held, but she was no longer afraid. Like the lights on this island, as long as there's light in your heart, even the darkest night can be overcome.
Shen Xinglian rolled over, mumbling sleepily, "Tomorrow I'll teach you how to sew shoe soles and make you a new pair of shoes to wear when he comes to pick you up..."
Jiang Wanzhou hummed in agreement, placed the wooden hairpin under her pillow, and couldn't help but smile.
Moonlight streamed in, casting dappled patterns of light on the ground, like a handful of stars scattered across the earth.
The sea breeze in my dream was warm, carrying the scent of daisies and the sweetness of new shoes with loose threads.
As the morning light streamed through the window, Jiang Wanzhou sat on the stone bench in the courtyard, sewing shoe soles.
The hemp thread weaves between the fingers, producing a soft "buzzing" sound, like a small insect flapping its wings.
The embroidered bamboo leaves on the soles of the shoes are almost finished; the stitches are so dense that you can count them.
"You're really skilled." Shen Xinglian came out carrying a wooden basin filled with clothes to be washed. "The soles of these shoes are even sturdier than those sold at the supply and marketing cooperative."
Jiang Wanzhou smiled, pursing her lips, and poked a small hole in the sole of the shoe with the needle: "It was made for him, so it has to be durable."
She glanced towards the kitchen. "Where's my brother?"
“I went to the dock to pick up the ship. They said there was a package sent from outside the island today.” Shen Xinglian spread her clothes on the stone slab, the soap suds sticking to the cloth. “It was sent by Zhou Qingyu.”
Jiang Wanzhou paused, the hemp thread twirling around her fingertip: "He doesn't have that many things to send."
Despite saying that, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up in a smile.
As they were talking, Zhao Xiulan passed by outside the courtyard carrying a bamboo basket, the basket containing different kinds of vegetables.
"Oh, busy?" Her voice carried a hint of unease. "I heard Zhou Qingyu is coming back to propose marriage?"
Jiang Wanzhou didn't look up, continuing to sew the shoe soles: "Hmm."
"Don't be too happy yet." Zhao Xiulan moved closer to the courtyard and slammed her basket on the stone table. "I heard from Dr. Zhang yesterday that his father doesn't agree to this marriage at all and said he'd find him a girl from a cadre's family in Beijing."
Shen Xinglian stepped in front of Jiang Wanzhou to shield her, and then smiled as she slipped a freshly steamed bun into Zhao Xiulan's hand.
"Thank you for your trouble, Sister Zhao. Let the children handle their own affairs."
Zhao Xiulan held the steamed bun, her fingertips turning white: "I'm just worried that Wanzhou will be taken advantage of. People in Beijing are so cunning, unlike us on the island who are so honest."
She glanced at the shoe sole in Jiang Wanzhou's hand. "These shoes were probably made for nothing."
Jiang Wanzhou yanked the hemp thread sharply, a small spark flying from the end: "Whether I do it or not is my business. Whether it succeeds or fails is none of anyone else's concern."
Zhao Xiulan's face stiffened, and she spat on the ground: "Good intentions are wasted."
She picked up her basket, turned around, and walked away, her footsteps crunching on the sand.
Shen Xinglian patted Jiang Wanzhou's back, the warmth of her palm seeping through the coarse cloth: "Don't listen to her nonsense, she just can't stand seeing others do well."
Jiang Wanzhou looked down at the bamboo leaves on the soles of her shoes, which were slightly bent from being pulled.
"I know."
But the little bit of joy that had just begun to emerge in my heart was like being doused with a bucket of cold water, leaving me feeling cold and uneasy.
Jiang Renzhou returned at noon with a large package on his shoulder, the words "Beijing" printed on the canvas.
"It was sent by Zhou Qingyu." He put the package on the ground, panting heavily, "It's as heavy as a stone."
Jiang Wanzhou hurriedly opened the package.
Inside was a dark blue khaki jacket, folded neatly, and two newly published novels with the words "Wait for me, all is well" written on the title page.
“He also sent some brown sugar to help your sister-in-law recover.” Jiang Renzhou walked toward the kitchen, his voice muffled. “Dr. Zhang said that his father is indeed not feeling well, but he’s putting on a brave face.”
Shen Xinglian held the brown sugar cube in her hand, and looked at it in the sunlight; it was as translucent as a piece of amber. "I knew this kid was reliable."
She slipped a piece into Jiang Wanzhou's hand.
Jiang Wanzhou held it in her mouth, the sweetness spreading from the tip of her tongue to her heart, and the slight coolness from before completely dissipated.
"sweet."
In the afternoon, Jiang Wanzhou went to help out at the cafeteria, and kept thinking about how she would meet Zhou Qingyu.
The head chef piled steamed buns into the steamer: "What are you thinking about? You're even more attentive than when kneading dough."
"His handwriting is really beautiful." Jiang Wanzhou traced the name on the title page with her fingertip. "It's much better than my brother's."
The master chef smiled and tapped the spatula against the edge of the pot: "Beautiful words are not as important as a beautiful heart."
He added firewood to the stove. "Zhao Xiulan came to get food just now and told Liu Guixiang that Zhou Qingyu was kicked out of his family and didn't come to propose marriage at all."
Jiang Wanzhou paused, the dough slowly sinking in her palm: "Let them say what they want."
But rumors are like a tide; you can stop one side, but you can't stop the other.
I went to fetch water from the beach in the evening and overheard two fisherwomen whispering behind the rocks—
"Have you heard? The one from Beijing was kicked out for making a mistake, but the Jiang family girl still treats him like a treasure."
“What Sister Zhao said, how could it be false? I think this marriage won’t go through, and then it will be too late for Jiang’s daughter to cry.”
Jiang Wanzhou carried the bucket back, the rim of the bucket hitting the rocks with a clanging sound.
The water splashed on my trouser legs and felt as cold as ice.
She knew she shouldn't believe these words, but her ears felt like they were stuffed with sand, pricking painfully.
When they got home, Shen Xinglian was sewing a jacket for Mingyuan. Seeing that she looked unwell, she asked, "What's wrong? Who upset you?"
Jiang Wanzhou put the bucket of water in the corner, her voice trembling slightly: "They all say that Zhou Qingyu was kicked out of her family."
Shen Xinglian tied the needle and thread to the cloth, looked up at her and said, "So what? Even if he was kicked out, as long as he cares about you, isn't that enough?"
She added a piece of firewood to the stove. "When I married your brother, he was just a soldier. Some people said I was stupid for choosing to marry a poor soldier over a rich farmer in the village. But look at him now, how does he treat me?"
Jiang Wanzhou didn't say anything, but squatted down in front of the stove to add firewood.
The next morning, Jiang Wanzhou had just packed the steamed buns into a basket when Lin Xiaomei's mother rushed in, the basket in her hand shaking violently: "Wanzhou, something bad has happened! Sister Zhao told the team that Zhou Qingyu was arrested for speculation and profiteering, and asked the team not to let him come to the island!"
The basket in Jiang Wanzhou's hand fell to the ground with a "thud," and steamed buns rolled all over the floor.
"She's talking nonsense!"
"Who's talking nonsense?" Zhao Xiulan appeared out of nowhere and pointed to the ground. "Officer Wang from the team headquarters has gone to the dock to stop the boats. Go and see for yourself!"
Jiang Wanzhou ran towards the dock, her cloth shoes making a "rustling" sound on the sand.
From afar, a large crowd could be seen gathered at the dock. Officer Wang stood with his hands on his hips in front of the gangplank, like a rock blocking the way.
"Make way!" She pushed her way through the crowd, her arm aching from being bumped.
Just then, the ship sounded its horn.
White sails emerged from the fog, drawing ever closer. Jiang Wanzhou's heart leaped into her throat as she stared intently at the ship's gunwale.
Zhou Qingyu stood there, wearing the blue cloth jacket she had made for him, carrying a red cloth bag, looking towards the shore.
The sunlight shone on his face, making it shine as if it were plated with gold.
The moment their eyes met, all the rumors vanished, like sand swept away by the tide. Jiang Wanzhou suddenly smiled, but tears streamed down her face.
Zhou Qingyu jumped off the shore and ran towards her, pushing through the crowd.
"Wanzhou!"
Jiang Wanzhou ran towards him.
Jiang Wanzhou stood two steps away from him, sand getting into her shoes and making her feet numb, but she couldn't move an inch.
Officer Wang chased after him, shouting like a broken gong: "Zhou Qingyu! The team didn't approve your trip to the island, how could you come here on your own?"
Zhou Qingyu didn't turn around; her eyes were fixed on Jiang Wanzhou, the light in them brighter than the sun overhead: "Wanzhou, I'm back."
Jiang Wanzhou felt as if something was blocking her throat; a thousand words welled up at her lips, but only a hoarse "hmm" came out.
She noticed that his temples were dusty, and he had a light stubble on his chin. He looked thinner than the last time she saw him, but the warmth in his eyes remained unchanged.
"Why won't you listen to advice?" Jiang Renzhou squeezed in from somewhere and shoved Zhou Qingyu on the shoulder. "Officer Wang has already stopped them, aren't you just making things worse?"
Zhou Qingyu staggered.
"Comrade Jiang, I'm here to propose marriage, not to cause trouble."
He bent down to pick up the box, his fingers turning white from the force. "I've already talked to my dad."
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