Chapter 79
The yard was so quiet that you could hear flies flying. Xiao Ming raised his hand covered with fish scales, his eyes wide as copper bells, and secretly gave Xiao Ming a look: Brother, this daughter-in-law looks difficult to deal with. I'm afraid you won't have the final say in the family from now on. Just wish yourself good luck.
Xiao Ming scratched his head and laughed, the light in his eyes brighter than the water in the well, thinking to himself, my wife is amazing!
"Comrade Xiao Qian is a hard worker." Wang Xuemei came out of the house carrying dishes and chopsticks. Seeing this scene, she smiled so hard that her eyes narrowed into slits, and there was still some flour on her apron. "Unlike our Xiao Ming, such a big boy, he can't even handle a fish. Last time I asked him to peel garlic, he peeled garlic skins all over the kitchen." She welcomed Qian Fangyan into the house and shouted to Xiao Ming, "Go to the kitchen and help your brigade commander light the fire. Let him show you his special skills. The braised fish he stir-fries is so delicious that you can swallow your tongue. Usually, he is too lazy to do it when you ask him to do it."
The eight-immortals table in the living room was polished to a shine, reflecting your reflection in it. On the corner sat an enamel pot, emblazoned with the words "Serve the People" in red. Wang Xuemei poured her a glass of freshly boiled water, tiny droplets condensing on the sides of the glass. "Thirsty? Have some water first! It's fresh from the well, so cool and refreshing."
Qian Fangyan's eyes were glued to the kitchen door, with a look of disbelief on her face: "Sister-in-law, our Brigadier General Xiao... cooks?" In her impression, someone in a position like Xiao Li probably doesn't even have to pour a glass of water at home, let alone cook.
"He cooks much better than me." Wang Xuemei glanced at the kitchen, where the crackling of firewood mixed with the "Three Disciplines and Eight Points for Attention" hummed by Xiao Li. The tune was a little far away but revealed a sense of freedom. "We are both busy with work, so whoever is free can do the housework. Besides, cooking and washing clothes are not women's patents. Remember when you marry Xiao Ming in the future, the housework must be shared by both of you, and you can't let him be a hands-off boss. Don't think that he is nice to you now and does what you say. But when you really get married, if all these chores are put on you alone, the trivial matters of food, clothing, housing and transportation will pile up over time, and conflicts are inevitable. It will be too late to regret it then." Wang Xuemei said, picked up the garlic on the table, and began to peel it, her tone was serious.
Qian Fangyan paused with her hand holding the water cup: "How could a man do these things..." Although she had been in the afterlife in her previous life, the things in her bones had not changed. She was used to seeing her husband sitting with his legs crossed waiting for food, and he didn't even help when the soy sauce bottle fell over, and said, "It's natural for women to do these things." She herself thought it was natural and never thought of any other possibility.
"If you don't know how, just learn." Wang Xuemei was peeling garlic, with some white stains between her nails. She spoke cheerfully, "Look at Xiaoming. He just had a blind date with Nurse Qi some time ago, and just last week he was forced by his brother to learn how to sew shoe soles. I went to see it the other day, and the stitches were crooked, like a long worm, which had pricked my fingers with holes, but he was willing to learn. You can't just wait for the girl to marry you and then have to serve him with clothes and food, right? Wouldn't that be like a master in the old society? Men in our new society can't be like this." She secretly observed Qian Fangyan's expression, and seeing that she was just surprised and nothing else unusual, she breathed a sigh of relief - if this girl still had any thoughts about Xiaoming, it would be really difficult to deal with. Xiaoming, that silly boy, don't let yourself be fooled again.
Qian Fangyan watched the figure swaying at the kitchen doorway, feeling a jolt of shock. From the kitchen came the crisp clatter of spatulas, mingled with Xiao Li's cries of "Turn up the fire, that's what I want!" and the clumsy thump of Xiao Ming adding more wood. The wood crackled with a crackle, and sparks flew from the hearth, casting a red glow on the window paper. Could life really be like this? The man, aproned, stirs the wok, while the woman sits inside chatting. No one sees anything amiss; instead, there's an indescribable harmony, an atmosphere she's never experienced in her previous life.
Just as he was stunned, Xiao Ming came in with a plate of braised grass carp. Oil splattered on his military pants, leaving a few dark spots, but he didn't care. After everyone was seated, he said, "Try it? My brother's cooking is even better than the ones in the restaurant!" He pushed in front of Qian Fangyan, avoiding her gaze. The ferocious way he had killed the fish just now had really scared him. His heart was still pounding. Thinking of Qi Xiaoxue's gentle appearance, he felt that a girl like that was more suitable for him.
Qian Fangyan picked up a piece. The crispy, tender fish melted on her tongue, its delicious flavor almost making her eyebrows drop. She suddenly remembered the fishy smell wafting from her neighbor's house during Chinese New Year in a previous life. She'd stood at the doorway sniffing for ages, only to be scolded by her husband for being "useless" and unable to even afford a piece of fish. Her eyes suddenly warmed, and she quickly lowered her head to drink a sip of jujube juice. The sweet and sour taste overcame the bitterness.
The table was overflowing with dishes: steaming braised fish, its sauce so bright red you could see your reflection in it, its aroma filling the air; scrambled eggs with day lilies, a brilliant yellow, the egg shatters sprinkled with golden particles, a truly appetizing sight; and a plate of cucumber salad, sprinkled with glistening salt, a refreshing sight. Xiao Li poured Xiao Ming a glass of loose baijiu, the liquid rippled in the glass, and he also poured himself half a glass. Wang Xuemei poured the two children some jujube juice, red as agate beads.
"Come on, cheers to Xiao Ming and Xiao Qian!" When Xiao Li raised his glass, his army green cuffs slipped down, revealing a shallow scar on his wrist, which was left by a jade pendant that was broken during the war. It looked like a small centipede crawling on the skin.
Xiao Ming and Qian Fangyan's cups clinked together, making a crisp sound. The sweet and sour taste of jujube juice washed over her throat. Qian Fangyan watched Xiao Nuo across from her grab the fish from Xiao Li's bowl, only to chuckle when his father scratched his nose, revealing two small canine teeth. She watched Xiao Li, unnoticed, slip the largest egg into Wang Xuemei's bowl. Wang Xuemei gave him a stern look, but a smile played on her lips. She watched Xiao Yuji eat quietly, occasionally helping his sister with a piece of food. Suddenly, she felt that this scene was warmer than any banquet she had ever seen in her previous life, so warm that it made her heart melt. Happiness could be so simple.
After dinner, Xiao Ming helped clear the dishes, while Wang Xuemei sent Xiao Ming to wash them. The two grown men huddled in the small kitchen, their laughter mingling with the tinkling of bells, as they chatted about something. Qian Fangyan and Xiao Li sat on small stools in the yard, watching the setting sun paint the morning glories at the base of the wall a golden red, the petals edged in gold. The evening breeze blew by, bringing a touch of coolness.
She felt a little embarrassed to disturb the couple, but she still slowly moved over. Wang Xuemei smiled and said, "I'll go see them."
"Thank you." After Wang Xuemei walked into the kitchen, Qian Fangyan suddenly spoke, her voice as light as a feather, "I was sick some time ago and I had a dream."
Xiao Li didn't turn around, holding a teacup in his hand and drinking tea: "What did you dream about?"
"I dreamed I was making the same mistake again." Qian Fangyan twisted her fingers around the hem of her clothes. "In my dream, I was still obsessed with becoming the general's wife, using all means to marry Xiao Ming. But in the end..." She paused, her Adam's apple rolling. "My life ended up being a complete mess. When I woke up and saw Xiao Ming standing by my bed, his eyes red as a rabbit's, I suddenly understood."
When she looked up, her eyes were filled with the light of the setting sun. "I always thought I was the protagonist of the world and could get everything I wanted, but I forgot that living a down-to-earth life is the most real thing. I don't ask for great wealth and honor in this life, I just want to live a good life with Xiao Ming, with the daily necessities of life, in peace and contentment."
Xiao Li pulled out the application form that had been held for three days from his pocket. The ink on it was still fresh in his hand. "Have you thought it through?"
"I've thought it through." Qian Fangyan's voice was steady. "I don't regret it."
Xiao Li handed her the application, signed it, and stamped it with a red seal. Qian Fangyan's tears suddenly fell, splashing on the paper, leaving tiny wet marks. "Thank you." She hugged the application tightly in her arms, as if holding the whole world.
Xiao Ming just came out of the kitchen and saw her red eyes. He quickly ran over and asked, "What's wrong? Why are you crying?"
Qian Fangyan smiled and showed him the application form, "Our application has been approved."
Xiao Ming's eyes widened as he stared at the two red seals. Suddenly, he pulled her into his arms and spun around in the yard. "Great! I'm getting married!" His laughter startled the sparrows under the eaves and even stopped the clinking in the kitchen.
Xiao Ming leaned out to take a look, then quickly retreated back to continue washing the dishes. Wang Xuemei nudged his elbow: "What are you looking at? Hurry up and work, or Nurse Qi will come and see you slacking off."
Xiao Ming's face flushed red, and he wiped the bowl carelessly with the rag, but his heart was full of thoughts. Lately, Xiao Ming was on a blind date with Qi Xiaoxue from the military hospital. Every week, they would go to an open-air movie or take a walk by the river. Their relationship had just begun to blossom. Last time, when he was sending Qi Xiaoxue home after the movie, they walked side by side. He was so nervous that his palms were sweating, and they didn't even say a few words. They were still far from talking about marriage, but Xiao Ming still secretly said to Wang Xuemei, "Sister-in-law, I don't know why, but I just felt like my body suddenly felt a lot more relaxed, and my breathing was a lot smoother. It's so strange."
Late at night, Xiao Ming held Qian Fangyan's hand as they walked toward the educated youth settlement. The moonlight stretched their shadows long, like two intertwined vines. "In a few days, I'll rent a house from a fellow villager, and we'll get married there," Xiao Ming's voice was filled with longing. "Then we'll dig a well and plant some cucumbers and beans, just like the brigade commander's family. I'll also work hard to climb the ladder and strive to be promoted to battalion commander. Then you can follow the army and live in the family compound."
Qian Fangyan hummed, her steps brisk. The wind rustled through the wheat, as if singing a song of blessing for them.
The lights in Xiao's house were still on. Xiao Li held up his injured hand, turning it over and over under the light. The cut he'd made while cooking that afternoon hadn't healed yet, and it had even started bleeding from a careless bump. Bright red blood beads flickered on the wound.
"Why hasn't it healed yet?" Wang Xuemei looked at the wound on his hand, her brows knitted into knots. In the past, even the most severe injuries he'd sustained on the battlefield had quickly scabbed over. This time, it was just a small cut...
Xiao Li brought his finger to his lips and licked it, the taste of rust spreading across his tongue. "Maybe I've been too tired lately," he said with a chuckle, but when he saw the doubt in his wife's eyes, his heart skipped a beat.
The next morning, Xiao Li was awakened by a burst of ghostly howling. He had just put on his clothes when Xiao Ming rushed in, hugged his waist, and cried bitterly: "Brother! Wuuwuwu..."
"What's wrong?" Xiao Li was strangled to the point of being unable to breathe. He patted his back to comfort him. "Did someone cook you?"
Wang Xuemei also came out of the house. Seeing Xiao Ming's red eyes, she put her hands on her hips and said, "Xiao Li, did you bully your brother again?"
"I'm innocent!" Xiao Li raised his hands, "I just woke up..."
"I had a dream." Xiao Ming sobbed, his tears and snot rubbing against Xiao Li's shirt. "In my dream, you died, and grandpa couldn't bear the blow and passed away too. Grandma... Grandma also passed away..."
His voice was shaking. "I was the only one left at home, so I had no choice but to join the army. I started as a private, fought for more than ten years, and finally became a general. But except for Qi Xiaoxue, I didn't even have any relatives around me..."
Xiao Li's hand suddenly stopped. That dream was clearly a past life without Qian Fangyan's reincarnation.
"I don't want to be a general!" Xiao Ming buried his face in his shoulder, like a wronged child, "I just want our family to be happy. I can be a reporter, taking pictures and writing. How wonderful it is..."
Wang Xuemei smiled and wiped his tears: "You're already an adult, and you still take dreams seriously. Isn't your brother standing right here?"
"Sister-in-law, you don't know, that dream was so real, I always felt..." It was as real as if it had already happened.
"Pfft, pfft, pfft, don't say that. We're catching examples everywhere now."
Xiao Li stared out the window. The morning light was filtering through the poplar leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. He looked down at the wound on his hand. The cut was still clearly visible, but the blood was no longer seeping.
Perhaps Qian Fangyan had truly let it go. When the heroine changed, the will of the world also began to change with her. She was truly the daughter of this world. Perhaps, in this life, she and Xiao Ming could truly live a peaceful life.
"Have you cried enough?" Xiao Li patted Xiao Ming's head. "If you have, go wash your face and then help your sister-in-law cook. My hand is injured, and I need Doctor Wang to bandage it for me."
"Get out!" Xiao Ming was driven to the kitchen by a series of expulsion commands. Xiao Li approached Wang Xuemei with his hand raised, grinning playfully, "Doctor Wang, can you please take care of this?"
Wang Xuemei looked at the wound on his hand, her pupils shrinking slightly, but she didn't ask anything. She simply went back to the house, got an iodine swab, and gently wiped the wound. "Be more careful next time." Her voice was very soft, as if she was afraid of disturbing something.
Sunlight streamed in through the window, falling on their clasped hands. From the kitchen came the sound of Xiaoming clumsily beating eggs, interspersed with the soft clatter of dishes. Everything seemed so ordinary, so peaceful.
In the summer of 1961, the poplar trees of the D Province Military District shone bright green, and amidst the chirping of cicadas, many secrets about choice and cherishing were hidden. And those secrets would eventually transform into the sweetest flavors amidst the daily grind of life.
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