The spring chill lingered, but new green shoots were already quietly sprouting on the branches. In the dormitory building of the Hongxing Factory, a small room had been decorated as a simple yet festive new home. A large red "double happiness" character adorned the door, and delicate paper-cut window decorations were pasted on the windows—crafted by Zhang Shulan and several female workers who had stayed up late into the night. The room was simply furnished: a double bed, a wardrobe, a desk, and two chairs, all made in the factory's carpentry workshop, painted a reddish-brown, and carrying the mixed smell of new wood and paint. This was Liu Li and Fu Jingchen's new home.
There was no grand wedding procession, no cumbersome old-fashioned rituals. Their wedding, like the unions of most progressive young people of this era, was simple yet solemn. A brief ceremony was held in the factory auditorium, presided over by the factory's labor union and youth league committee. Factory leaders, acting as witnesses, gave speeches, encouraging them to "respect and love each other, and progress together." Colleagues surrounded them, offering blessings and sharing limited fruit candies and melon seeds. Master Wang Jianguo also arrived, dressed in a clean Zhongshan suit. He didn't say much, but simply handed Liu Li a set of precision measuring tools, wrapped in red paper and treasured for many years, saying, "Living life, like working, requires diligence."
After the wedding, their close colleagues and office staff jokingly escorted them back to their new home. After a while of laughter and chatter, they discreetly dispersed, leaving the newlyweds alone.
After the commotion subsided, the room fell silent. Warm yellow light enveloped the small space, dispelling the chill from outside. Liu Li changed out of her only decent wool coat, wearing a red sweater, and sat on the edge of the bed. Fu Jingchen also took off his slightly restrictive Zhongshan suit, wearing a casual cotton shirt, and sat in the chair by the desk. For a moment, both were silent, the air thick with a strange atmosphere, a mixture of joy, shyness, and a sense of new beginnings.
Fu Jingchen broke the silence first. He stood up, took an aluminum lunchbox from the net bag he had brought, opened it, and found several still-warm meat buns inside. "I didn't see you eat much tonight, are you hungry? The cafeteria chef specially saved these for you."
Looking at his somewhat clumsy but caring movements, Liu Li's inexplicable nervousness suddenly dissipated. She took the steamed bun, took a bite, and smiled: "I am a little hungry."
Simple food and ordinary conversation instantly bridged the distance between them, pulling the two back from the floating feeling created by the ritual to solid ground.
Fu Jingchen looked around the small room, which was filled with their shared memories. On the desk, their professional books and drawings were arranged side by side; in the corner, there was Liu Li's signature canvas shoulder bag containing her frequently used tools; on the windowsill, there was the potted green ivy that Fu Jingchen kept, its lush vines adding a touch of life to the room.
“From now on, this will be our home.” Fu Jingchen’s voice was soft, but it carried a solemn meaning.
"Mmm." Liu Li nodded, her gaze sweeping over every corner of the room. There was none of the warmth of her parents' home, nor the cramped noise of the women's dormitory; it was a completely new space, entirely theirs. A strange sense of belonging welled up within them.
They didn't say anything more sentimental. Fu Jingchen got up and began tidying up the technical documents scattered on his desk. Liu Li naturally went over and helped him sort the drawings. Without any deliberate planning, the two found their rhythm in life together. He tidied the books, and she wiped the table; he prepared tea, and she washed the cups. Their actions were perfectly in sync, as if they had been living together for a long time.
Night had fallen, and all was quiet outside the window. Lying in the brand-new, sun-scented bedding, Liu Li looked at the hazy moonlight streaming in through the window and listened to Fu Jingchen's steady breathing beside her, feeling a sense of peace and tranquility.
For her, starting a family is not just about finding a place for personal affection, but also about a deeper connection and support. From now on, she will no longer be alone on this challenging and arduous path. They will be life partners and, more importantly, her closest comrades-in-arms in their careers. The storms ahead may be even greater, but with this harbor where she can find refuge and draw strength, her heart is filled with unprecedented courage and determination.
A new chapter in family life has begun. It will intertwine with the tide of career, together composing a profound and heartwarming symphony for those who strive in this era.
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