Liang Yufeng married into Wutong Village, a rural area on the outskirts of the city.
Two years ago, several state-owned enterprises moved to the vicinity of their village and occupied the village's land.
Without land, their village responded to the policy by disbanding the production team and being assigned to work in state-owned enterprises, where everyone received state-provided food rations.
This unassuming little village has become the envy of everyone within a ten-mile radius.
Young women now have more confidence when they get married and dare to ask their husband's family for a high dowry.
Young men now have the means to get married, and can marry a wife without paying a dowry.
Liang Yufeng's husband, Chen Baichuan, was a dull and honest man in the village. He would blush when he saw a woman, and at twenty-four or twenty-five years old, he still hadn't gotten married.
The villagers all called him the eternal bachelor.
Unfortunately, this perpetual bachelor benefited from the policy and married Liang Yufeng without paying a bride price; they even had three children together.
With many children and a heavy burden at home, Chen Baichuan's birthday had never been so grand. Liang Yufeng suggested that they take advantage of his birthday to invite Xu Qingning and Zhao Jingyu over for a meal.
Nevertheless, Chen Baichuan was still very excited. He stood at the village entrance early in the morning waiting for Zhao Jingyu and Xu Qingning. It was rare for guests to come to his home, and the honest man was so excited that his face turned red.
Once outside the city, the road surface changes from asphalt to dirt road, full of potholes and very difficult to drive on.
Zhao Jingyu rode very slowly, weaving through the potholes on the road, and whistling as he went, seemingly in a very good mood.
The slower he rode, the more tightly Xu Qingning held onto his suit jacket, worried that she would fall.
"Don't grab my clothes. Hold onto my waist. I'm your man. What are you embarrassed about?" Zhao Jingyu turned to look at her and smiled. "Don't worry, you won't fall."
"I'm not embarrassed at all, it's just that it's more convenient to hold onto the clothes." Xu Qingning loosened her grip. "Why don't we get off and push it around?"
"No need, we'll be there in five minutes." Zhao Jingyu pointed ahead. "Look, it's right ahead."
Urban villages are still villages.
The vacant land along the roadside has been cleared by the villagers to grow vegetables. Small vegetable gardens, scattered at different heights, are full of vitality.
The two of them got off their bicycles when they saw Chen Baichuan at the village entrance. Xu Qingning had a good impression of Chen Baichuan and greeted him cheerfully, "Uncle, happy birthday!"
"Here you are." Chen Baichuan chuckled, rubbing his hands together, and took the bicycle from Zhao Jingyu's hand, without saying another word.
The bicycle handlebars were covered with cigarettes, alcohol, candy, tea, and meat. Zhao Jingyu was always generous, especially since it was his first time visiting Xu Qingning's aunt's house.
Because it is an urban village, the roads in the village are quite smooth, and most families with extra houses have rented them out.
Today happened to be market day, and the streets were bustling with people.
As they walked, a small dog suddenly darted out of the alley, startling Xu Qingning. Zhao Jingyu immediately pulled her into his arms, saying, "Don't be afraid, it's just a dog, it won't bite."
Liang Yufeng was cooking in the house, wearing a checkered apron and covered in smoke, when she saw Chen Baichuan pushing his bicycle and leading the two of them in. She was very happy: "Oh, you're all here, and you even brought so much stuff. You're being too polite."
"We didn't buy much; it's just a small token of our appreciation." As soon as Xu Qingning entered the yard, she saw her two twin cousins playing with stones and called out to them, "Qiangqiang, Mingming, what are you playing with?"
The two boys turned and glanced at the two men, then stood up and ran away.
No wonder, in the original book, Xu Qingning had little contact with Liang Yufeng's family, and her two younger cousins didn't even know her.
“Auntie, it’s Uncle’s birthday, so we should celebrate it properly.” Zhao Jingyu held Xu Qingning’s waist tightly. “I feel very honored to be able to celebrate Uncle’s birthday.”
"Haha, that's good." Seeing that the young couple seemed quite affectionate, Liang Yufeng felt relieved and went back to the kitchen to cook. "You two rest for a while, the food will be ready soon."
Old Mrs. Chen, who was tending the fire, recognized Xu Qingning and looked at her with a kind face: "Ningning is here."
"Hello, Grandma." Xu Qingning bought bread for Grandma Chen, took it off the handlebars, and handed it to her. "This is for you."
"You've spent money again." Old Mrs. Chen accepted the money with a smile and invited the two of them to come inside and sit down.
Chen Baichuan had already brewed tea and set out melon seeds on the kang (a heated brick bed). He just didn't like to talk, but he was still very diligent.
The two took off their shoes and got onto the kang (a heated brick bed).
Zhao Jingyu took off his coat and hung it on a nail on the wall. He was very good at sitting cross-legged on the kang (a heated brick bed), drinking tea and eating melon seeds. Although it was his first time here, he was not at all reserved.
Xu Qingning leaned against the bedding, stretching her legs, feeling quite comfortable. She casually said to Zhao Jingyu, "A few days ago, Mom said she wanted to put a kang (heated brick bed) on the floor in her room, saying it would be more convenient when she has a child."
She then noticed that his light blue shirt was new.
She wondered when he bought it. She hadn't noticed he was wearing a new shirt underneath when he left.
"If you agree, I have no objection." Upon hearing that it was for the sake of the child, Zhao Jingyu carefully touched the surface of the kang (a heated brick bed). "It is indeed more convenient than the bed."
"Let me know when you're going to start setting up the kang (heated brick bed)," Chen Baichuan finally said. "I'll come and help."
"There's no rush." Xu Qingning didn't know anything about building a kang (heated brick bed), so she glanced at Zhao Jingyu and then asked Chen Baichuan, "Uncle, can it be finished in one day?"
“Once the adobe bricks are ready, they can be laid in a day.” Chen Baichuan thought for a moment and then said, “If you want to sleep normally, you have to dry the kang (heated brick bed) first, so it will take at least three days before you can sleep on it.”
"Okay, I'll tell my mom when I get back." Xu Qingning readily agreed. "Thank you, Uncle."
"Don't be so polite. He's the one who makes kang (heated brick beds) for people. If you don't ask him, who else would you ask?" Liang Yufeng, who was listening in the kitchen, poked her head over and said, "Your place is small and it's not convenient to dry adobe bricks. Why don't you ask your uncle to make some adobe bricks for you when he has time? Once they're dried, he can send them to you and they'll be ready in no time."
"Then I'll have to trouble you." Zhao Jingyu calculated the days and realized that Chen Baichuan was no longer home when the kang was being prepared. He took out a cigarette from the pocket of his suit hanging on the wall and handed it to Chen Baichuan, lighting it for him. "I won't be home, so I'll have to trouble you, Uncle."
"We're all family, no need to be so polite." Chen Baichuan took the cigarette and chuckled. "It's nothing, don't worry, go on your way."
The meal was very plentiful.
There's chicken, meat, and fish.
The chicken was home-raised and stewed with dried mushrooms; it tasted very good. The fish was carp, which they said they bought on the street.
The meat was the piece that Zhao Jingyu and Xu Qingning brought. It was stir-fried with potatoes and made into a big bowl, along with a plate of tofu, all served on large platters.
Liang Yufeng has one daughter and two sons. Her daughter, Chen Xiaofang, is fourteen years old and in junior high school. She wears braided pigtails and a coarse navy blue jacket. The little girl is shy around people, just like her father, and doesn't like to talk.
As soon as Chen Xiaofang entered the door, she greeted her sister and brother-in-law, and then fell silent.
She had no recollection of Xu Qingning, and had never even met Zhao Jingyu before.
It was the first time she had seen a man in a suit, and she found it fascinating. She couldn't help but glance at him a few more times, just in time to see Zhao Jingyu looking over. She was so startled that she didn't dare to look up.
My cousin looked stylish and chic in her red cardigan, but sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) in her house with Zhao Jingyu, who was dressed in a suit, felt quite out of place.
My two younger cousins started eating as soon as they got on the kang (a heated brick bed), not even bothering to say a word. They'd never eaten this well during Chinese New Year.
As soon as Grandma Chen got on the kang (a heated brick bed), she quietly took care of her two grandsons, removing fish bones and serving them meat. She was a very kind old lady.
Zhao Jingyu had become picky about food at work and wasn't interested in the delicious food in front of him. While chatting with Chen Baichuan, he served Xu Qingning food and removed chicken bones and fish bones for her.
"You can eat by yourself." Xu Qingning ate a lot in the morning and wasn't hungry.
Liang Yufeng saw this and was very pleased.
Having been through it all, she understands that a woman can only truly establish herself in her husband's family when she receives a man's love and respect.
Although Zhao Jingyu has a bad reputation, he treats Xu Qingning quite well, and that's enough.
Looking at her husband who only cared about eating, Liang Yufeng sighed inwardly, knowing she would never receive a man's love in this lifetime.
After Xu Qingning finished eating, Zhao Jingyu only ate a few bites, praising Liang Yufeng's cooking skills: "The food my aunt makes is the best I've ever eaten."
Xu Qingning gave him a reproachful look, then smiled without saying a word.
All he does is talk the talk.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
