Chapter 35
For Chu Jiujiu, the busy farming season passed in the blink of an eye. She didn't work anyway. Even when she went to pick grass with Han Shengyi, it was Han Shengyi who did it. She watched, and now that her hands were healed, Han Shengyi still asked her to do the job of picking grass. It is no exaggeration to say that Chu Jiujiu is now an absolute expert in picking grass. Wherever she goes, there will never be a single grass that slips through the net!
…
Since August, it has rained more and more frequently. This time it has been raining for five days in a row. The door of Chu Jiujiu's house is open. She sits under the eaves and watches Chu Shao beside her skillfully weaving an umbrella with bamboo strips.
Holding her head up, Chu Jiujiu asked him, "How many people's skills have you secretly learned? How come you can even weave umbrellas?"
Chu Shao tightened the umbrella without even looking up. As he applied force, he said, "No need to learn. The method is the same. You'll understand it after a little thought."
After a pause, he raised his head and asked, "Why, you can't figure it out?"
Chu Jiujiu: “…”
She refused to answer such questions.
Looking at the drizzling rain outside, Chu Jiujiu sighed heavily, "How long will this rain last? If it continues, the riverbank will be flooded."
Hearing this, Chu Shao looked up at the sky. "This is just the beginning. It's like this every August, and the rainy season is almost over by the end of September. Even in October, it rains every other day. Don't worry, the riverbank is safe, but just in case, you are not allowed to go near the river, let alone go up the mountain, if it rains."
Chu Jiujiu curled her lips and said, "We're still going up the mountain. Now the roads outside are impassable."
After a while, she complained softly again, "Aunt San said that once the village roads become like this, the postman won't come. It's really a shame that it rains at any other time, but now."
Chu Shao's hands kept moving, and there was no change in his expression when he heard what Chu Jiujiu said. After all, unlike Chu Jiujiu, he had already prepared himself mentally for not receiving a reply. Now his guess had come true, so he was naturally disappointed, but he would not be as anxious and expectant as Chu Jiujiu.
After watching the rain for a while, Chu Jiujiu stood up and said, "I'm going back to take a nap. Grandpa, remember to wake me up before you make dinner. I told Grandma Han that I'm going to learn how to make pickles from her today."
Chu Jiujiu spent two days at the Han family making pills. Grandpa Han finally got to see Chu Jiujiu's true face. One was a playful old fellow, the other a little one. Almost instantly, they became close friends. Now, Chu Jiujiu's relationship with the Han family's three generations of grandparents and grandchildren was steadily growing closer. Even the other residents of the cowshed knew Chu Jiujiu. Chu Shao was worried at first, but now he was completely used to it.
With a grunt, Chu Shao continued making his bamboo umbrella. Chu Jiujiu returned to the house, sighed softly, and soon fell asleep.
At this time, thousands of miles away, due to a typhoon in the south, followed by continuous heavy rains and flooding in the Yangtze River, roads in some places were submerged. After a week's delay, the letter written by Chu Shao finally overcame numerous obstacles and arrived at the mail room of a certain army unit.
Nie Bai was sitting in his office reading a newspaper when there were two knocks on the door. A clerk walked in with a manila envelope. "Captain Nie, there's a letter for you."
Nie Bai was still reading the newspaper. He frowned and said, "A letter for me? Could it be another letter from my hometown asking me to help find a job?"
The official looked down and said, "No, the address on this letter is much farther away than your hometown. Let me see, it's Qingzhu Village, Qingshi Town..."
With a clang, Nie Bai knocked over his teacup, the tea spilling out and soaking the newspaper. Nie Bai ignored the newspaper and snatched the letter from the clerk's hand. He read it over and over again, like a treasure. "Really?! Okay, okay, thank you, Xiao Li. Here, take this pack of cigarettes. I'm leaving now."
After saying that, he ran away in a hurry. Officer Li looked at Captain Nie in confusion as he ran out with the pack of cigarettes in his hand. He couldn't help but frown.
I haven't heard that the battalion commander has any relatives or friends with the surname Chu. Also, Chu Jiujiu sounds like a girl's name. Hey, does my sister-in-law know about this?
…
Nie Bai rushed out of the office and arrived at the Second Company. The soldiers he met on the way saluted him. Nie Bai quickly adjusted his expression and nodded seriously to them until he entered the Second Company dormitory. He kept a serious expression. He pushed open the door of a single dormitory, turned around and went in, slamming the door shut. Nie Bai said happily, "Political Commissar, a letter has arrived!"
There was almost nothing in this single dormitory, and the bedding was all new. It was obvious that the owner had just moved in. Opposite Nie Bai, a man was standing next to the washstand. He had just been washing his face. When Nie Bai broke in, he was slowly wiping his hands.
Hearing what Nie Bai said, he was stunned for a moment, "Really?"
Nie Bai's mouth was almost grinning from ear to ear. He raised the letter in his hand and said, "Of course it's true. How dare I joke about something like this?"
The man across from him was Chu Liqiang, Chu Shao's father and Chu Jiujiu's great-grandfather. He was only in his thirties at the time, dressed in a military uniform. He stood 1.83 meters tall, with a straight build and perfect proportions. He looked almost identical to Chu Shao, except that he was more profound, more mature, and more charming.
He looked haggard, and his complexion didn't look particularly healthy. Three years ago, after sending his wife and children away, he had inevitably borne the brunt of the consequences, having lived so close to the central government. He was subsequently sent to a May 7th Cadre School in the northwest. Some people might not be familiar with this, but a May 7th Cadre School is a labor camp specifically for cadres. Chu Liqiang had been there for over two years until five months ago, when his former superior, seizing some opportunity, had him released.
Three years ago, before the incident, he was a regimental political commissar of the troops stationed in the capital. However, now, he is just a small company-level deputy instructor. This cannot be described as a demotion of three levels. From regimental commander to deputy company commander, the gap in between is not only the rank, but also a bright future.
Others thought that Chu Liqiang could not accept this blow, but in fact, Chu Liqiang's heart was full of gratitude. At least he could live a stable life now. He had experienced too much. To be honest, he no longer cared about anything except his family.
In this unfamiliar army, apart from the old leader, he only knew Nie Bai. Nie Bai used to be his subordinate. He had helped him once, and Nie Bai never forgot it. After arriving here, it was Nie Bai who had been taking care of him secretly, which allowed him to live such a peaceful life.
As soon as he came out of the May 7th Cadre School, Chu Liqiang wanted to contact his wife. However, he was afraid that this time he was out was only temporary, and he might be sent back one day. He was afraid of implicating his family, so he didn't dare to write a letter. Even the money he transferred to Zhang Fengjuan was sent in the name of Nie Bai. Now five months have passed, and Chu Liqiang's worries are a little less. He began to secretly hope that Zhang Fengjuan would write him a letter.
Maybe she didn't know that she was behind Nie Bai, but as long as he could see her beautiful handwriting and knew that she was safe, Chu Liqiang was satisfied.
Chu Liqiang walked quickly to Nie Bai and took the envelope. His heart was beating very fast. Nie Bai had no intention of leaving. He wanted to stay and be happy with Chu Liqiang. Unexpectedly, after receiving the letter, the smile on Chu Liqiang's face suddenly paused.
Frowning, he muttered, "Chu-jiujiu?"
Nie Bai laughed, "Political Commissar, your son's name is really unique."
Chu Liqiang: "...This is not my son. My son's name is Chu Shao. However, this handwriting...this handwriting should be my son's."
As he spoke, Chu Liqiang opened the letter. All the signs made him feel uneasy. He just wanted to see what was written inside as soon as possible. He pulled out the letter and unfolded it. Chu Liqiang read the content in just one second. Nie Bai couldn't see it. From his angle, he could only see a very short part.
Nie Bai was puzzled. "Why are there only these few words? Political... Political Commissar? What's wrong with you? Why do you look so grim?"
Chu Liqiang held the letter paper, his knuckles turning white. He stared at the words on it. He heard Nie Bai's voice, but his brain felt numb and it was difficult for him to react. He slowly raised his head and looked at Nie Bai. Suddenly, Chu Liqiang's eyes fell into darkness.
…
On the other side, seeing that it was almost time, Chu Shao went in to wake up Chu Jiujiu.
Now that farming is off-season and it is raining, Chu Shao basically does not go out every day. He took over the task of cooking from Chu Jiujiu. But Chu Jiujiu is still busy as before. She runs out as soon as she opens her eyes, like a little madman.
After waking up, she drank a few sips of water and ate two of the biscuits Feng Ruyi had given her last time. Then Chu Jiujiu picked up her new jar and picked half a jar of long beans from the vegetable garden at the door. Then she went back to the house, raised her beloved big red umbrella, and walked towards the Han family with one foot deep and one foot shallow.
Long before the rainy season arrived, Chu Shao had already taken Chu Jiujiu and the various new coupons his family had issued him, and went to town again. This time, with the coupons, Chu Shao bought everything he hadn't been able to buy last time, including a bar of soap and an umbrella for Chu Jiujiu. The one Chu Shao made today was for himself in case of an emergency, after all, there were always times when they both had to go out, but in different directions.
Nowadays, there are not many styles of umbrellas and only a few colors. They are all very large straight-handled umbrellas that can accommodate two people. Chu Jiujiu held the umbrella, and almost her entire body was covered by the umbrella. It was difficult for her to hold the jar in this situation. Chu Shao wanted to help her, but he thought that he was not close to the Han family, and there would be nothing to say if he went over. It was only a few steps away, so he decided to let her hold it herself.
Chu Jiujiu finally reached the door of the cowshed. She couldn't even knock, so she just yelled at the top of her lungs, "Grandma Han, open the door quickly! I'm about to be crushed into the ground by the umbrella!"
This was the first time Grandma Han heard Chu Jiujiu shouting outside her door. She quickly opened the door. The red umbrella was placed on Chu Jiujiu's head and was still sliding down. Chu Jiujiu now looked like a little girl picking mushrooms, except that she was not a little girl, she was the mushroom that was picked.
Grandma Han took the umbrella first. As she folded it, she frowned and said, "I told you not to come if it rains. Why did you insist on coming? What if you fall?"
Chu Jiujiu had already entered the house and placed the jar of beans on the ground. She squeezed the corner of her rain-soaked clothes and said with a smile, "I won't fall. I'm very careful. This jar is new to our family, and I won't break it."
Does this have anything to do with the jar? Grandma Han looked unhappy and was about to say something more when Chu Jiujiu came running over and suddenly hugged her waist. She rubbed her cheek against Grandma Han's clothes and said softly, "I won't do this again. I won't let you worry anymore, Grandma Han."
Who, who is worried about you!
Grandma Han's body stiffened for a moment, and she denied it very quickly in her heart, but she said nothing and just stood there silently. Chu Jiujiu only hugged her for a second, let go of her hand, turned around, and saw Grandpa Han lying on the bed with a kind smile. Chu Jiujiu's voice suddenly became happy.
“Grandpa Han!”
The little girl's voice was loud and clear, and almost everyone living in the cowshed heard this reckless cry. After Chu Jiujiu shouted, she jumped onto Grandpa Han's bed like a rabbit. She knelt beside Grandpa Han, raised her two little fists, and pounded the quilt hard.
"It's still raining today, Grandpa Han, does your leg still hurt? It's okay, Jiujiu will give you a massage!"
While pounding, she looked up and asked Grandpa Han how he felt: "I think my skills have improved, Grandpa Han, don't you think so?"
Grandpa Han, who was trying hard to smile: "..."
"Yes, yes! Our winemaking skills are getting better and better!"
Good guy, he even bit his teeth.
After saying that, he desperately looked at Grandma Han, hoping that his wife would come to save him. However, Grandma Han glanced at the two of them, as if she hadn't received anything. She took out a small stool with a calm expression and prepared to pick up the beans that Chu Jiujiu brought.
Chu Jiujiu was young and didn't know how to control her strength. Furthermore, she was a weakling with her hands, so anything that required dexterity and strength was a problem for her. This was especially true when she was beating someone's legs. For her, beating someone's legs was like torture. If it had been Chu Shao, he would have torn her off the bed. However, the person she was beating was Grandpa Han, a good-natured man who would swallow his anger even if his teeth were knocked out. Therefore, no matter how poor her technique was, Grandpa Han would just endure it.
Fortunately, Chu Jiujiu didn't have much strength. After a flurry of punches, she was exhausted and Grandpa Han was saved.
Chu Jiujiu liked being with Grandpa Han because no matter what she said or did, he would always hold her in high esteem and look at her with a particularly kind gaze, making her feel very lovable. This was also the reason why she had initially liked to follow Han Shengyi.
Grandpa Han praises her and she praises Grandpa Han. Both of them are so sweet-talkers, and their daily routine is to flatter each other about business.
In the Chu family, Chu Shao never paid attention to Chu Jiujiu's psychological needs. If you want to hear him praise Chu Jiujiu, you have to wait at least ten days. In the Han family, Grandma Han doesn't like to hear Grandpa Han praise others, and even more so doesn't like to hear him praise himself. Although Han Shengyi is willing to listen, he is just willing to listen. It is impossible to ask him to praise her.
Now, these two people are together, it's simply a match made in heaven.
There was another thing Grandpa Han had recently discovered: as long as Chu Jiujiu was around, Grandma Han wouldn't stop him from talking. Even if they got a little noisy, she'd just frown but wouldn't interrupt. Therefore, every time Chu Jiujiu came over, Grandpa Han welcomed her wholeheartedly. He hadn't felt this happy in a long time. The house was no longer so lifeless, as if life had returned to normal.
Chu Jiujiu got off the bed and found another stool at the foot of the bed as if she was familiar with the place. She placed it opposite Grandma Han and sat down. She imitated Grandma Han and picked up the beans on the ground.
"Grandma Han, where is Brother Shengyi?"
Grandma Han never stopped talking, saying, "I'm going to the vegetable patch. It's raining so hard, we need to dig a drainage ditch, otherwise the vegetable seedlings will be drowned."
Chu Jiujiu frowned her delicate and light eyebrows and said unhappily, "It's raining so hard, why do you still have to go there? Everyone else is resting at home, but only Brother Shengyi has to run to the vegetable field every day."
Just as Grandma Han was about to open her mouth, Grandpa Han, who was resting in bed, interrupted her: "It's okay, Shengyi is wearing a straw raincoat, and there are drainage ditches all the time. Just shovel the dirt out, it's not a big deal, he'll probably be back soon."
Grandma Han was silent for two seconds and then hummed in agreement.
After hearing this, Chu Jiujiu said "oh" and then stopped talking.
In the past, she always chirped whenever she came over, but today she only chirped for a while, and the chattering never appeared. Grandpa Han was the first to notice that something was wrong with Chu Jiujiu. He sat up straight and moved a little towards his wife and Chu Jiujiu, getting closer to them. Grandpa Han then asked, "Why, are you still worried about the reply?"
Chu Jiujiu couldn't keep a secret. Han Shengyi noticed that she was absent-minded these days, so she told him that she was waiting for a reply, but she didn't know if she would get it. As for whose reply she was waiting for or what the relationship between them was, Han Shengyi didn't ask, and Chu Jiujiu didn't say.
Chu Jiujiu curled her lips and nodded, "Actually, it should have been received by now, but there's been no news, and it's raining, so the postman won't come into the village. I'm afraid..."
Although every family has its own problems and it is difficult for outsiders to judge family affairs, Grandpa Han and Grandma Han are old and have seen too much. Even without asking, they can guess what Chu Jiujiu is worried about. Grandpa Han rubbed his legs and comforted her, "It's hard to say. We are in the south. Every summer, the rainy season is endless. Look, there are typhoons on the coast and mudslides and floods inland. It's hard for people to go out at this time. It's okay to go north, but if you go south, you don't know when you will get there. Wait a little longer, Jiujiu, let's wait a little longer."
Chu Jiujiu raised her head, her eyes wide open, "Grandpa Han, how do you know this?"
As she spoke, she couldn't help but glance at Grandpa Han's legs, "No way, rheumatism can even predict the weather across the country?"
Grandpa Han: “…”
Grandma Han wanted to laugh. She lowered her eyes and explained on behalf of the speechless Grandpa Han, "When your Grandpa Han was young, he traveled all over the country. He once stayed in Fujian for three years. Every time he sent me a letter, eight out of ten times it took me a month to receive it. The slowest one took me a month to receive it, even after I had wrapped myself in my fur coat. He still wanted to know how happy Mid-Autumn Festival was in his letter."
Chu Jiujiu burst out laughing. Grandpa Han felt a little embarrassed. He coughed lightly and defended himself, "That's not my fault. I wrote that letter a month in advance. Who knew that three typhoons would hit the Fujian-Guangzhou area in a row? My letter was blown away. It took a long time to find it. It was a blessing that it was sent to you."
It would have been fine if he hadn't explained. As soon as he did, Chu Jiujiu laughed even more happily. Han Shengyi happened to push the door open and came in, taking off his straw raincoat. He asked, "What are you laughing at? You look so happy."
Chu Jiujiu: "Brother Shengyi, do you know about the story of Grandpa Han writing a letter to Grandma Han in Fujian when he was young?"
Han Shengyi had no idea. As he shook his head, Grandma Han's voice rang out, "How could Shengyi know? He didn't even exist at that time."
Han Shengyi smiled, changed his wet shoes, pulled over a stool, sat down and watched Grandma Han and Chu Jiujiu busy themselves.
Grandpa Han was still sitting on the bed, but even if he got down, there was no place for him on the floor, because there were only three stools and no chairs in the room.
Grandpa Han has been feeling a lot healthier lately. In the past, his legs would ache from morning till night in August, but this time it's not as severe, and he can even work in the fields. Rubbing his chin, Grandpa Han thought, "I should make another stool for the family."
No, no, no, let’s make two. Maybe Chu Shao will come over one day.
Thinking of this, Grandpa Han felt a little happy, because he really hadn't entertained guests for a long time.
…
Following the steps taught by Grandma Han, Chu Jiujiu pickled a jar of beans. Before dinner, Chu Jiujiu stood up and Han Shengyi held the jar full of water for her, while Grandma Han gave Chu Jiujiu a few words of advice.
"The jar cannot be opened for half a month. Don't lift the lid out of curiosity. If hair grows, I won't be responsible."
"Put it inside, not outside. If it's exposed to the sun, it will grow hair."
"No stealing, do you hear me?"
Chu Jiujiu: “…”
Does she look like someone who would cheat?!
Well, if Grandma Han didn't tell her, she might really be driven by curiosity and secretly take one out to taste what it tasted like.
After agreeing to all of them, Chu Jiujiu followed Han Shengyi out. In the evening, the rain stopped and the sun came out. The sky after the rain was particularly beautiful. The clouds seemed to be separated from the sky, as if they could be picked off with just a stretch of the hand.
Chu Jiujiu looked up at the sky for a while. Suddenly, a woman came out of the house next to her and waved at her, "Jiujiu, come here."
Chu Jiujiu turned around and found that it was Han’s neighbor, Xiao Ning.
Xiao Ning was about forty years old. She lived next door to the Han couple. Her husband was Deng Guoyuan, the only middle-aged man in the entire cowshed. Leaning against the wall of her house, Xiao Ning smiled and said, "Shengyi, let me talk to Jiujiu. You go have some fun first."
Han Shengyi looked at her, then at Chu Jiujiu. He nodded and said to Chu Jiujiu, "I'll put the jar back to your house first."
Chu Jiujiu watched him turn around, then trotted over to Xiao Ning, "Auntie Xiao, what's going on?"
Xiao Ning smiled and bent down, gently touching her smooth face. "The Qixi Festival is coming soon. I'm going to make some snacks. It's a custom in our family. Come and help Auntie, and I'll give you all the snacks I make. How about that?"
Chu Jiujiu didn’t know what Qiaoguo was, but she knew what Qixi Festival was.
Tilting her head, Chu Jiujiu asked, "But it's Valentine's Day. Isn't Aunt Xiao going to celebrate it with Uncle Deng?"
Xiao Ning's hand nearly dropped the door. She quickly looked around and found no one else around. Then she whispered to Chu Jiujiu, "What nonsense are you talking about, kid? When did Qixi Festival become Valentine's Day? Don't say such things anymore, kids."
Chu Jiujiu was confused. She didn’t understand why the three words “Valentine’s Day” were nonsense. Isn’t Qixi Festival Valentine’s Day?
Xiao Ning: "In addition to the Qiaoguo, I also asked your Uncle Deng to go to the mountains to find some fruits. At night, we can sit together and maybe even hear the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl whispering in the sky."
Chu Jiujiu's eyes lit up, "Really?"
Xiao Ning smiled, "Of course it's true."
Xiao Ning was just trying to coax a child, but Chu Jiujiu really believed it. After all, even she could come to this era, so it sounded normal for the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl to be whispering to each other.
Chu Jiujiu thought for a moment and asked her, "Can I bring Chu Shao with me?"
The Chinese Valentine's Day here doesn't seem to be Valentine's Day, but more like a time for family reunion. Aunt Xiao wants to celebrate it with her, and she wants to celebrate it with Chu Shao.
Chu Shao is Chu Jiujiu's brother. Xiao Ning agreed without thinking, "No problem."
Chu Jiujiu smiled with her eyes curved, "Then can I bring Brother Shengyi along?"
Han Shengyi and Chu Jiujiu have a good relationship, and he can almost be considered another brother to Chu Jiujiu. Xiao Ning thought about it and nodded again, "Okay, call Shengyi as well, and Auntie will make you something delicious."
Hearing this, Chu Jiujiu's smile widened. "Then Aunt Xiao, let's invite Grandpa Han and Grandma Han over, as well as Grandpa Song. It would be great if we could all have a lively time together."
Xiao Ning: “…”
This is so lively!
However, looking at Chu Jiujiu's expectant eyes, she couldn't say no. After hesitating for a while, she agreed. Chu Jiujiu immediately cheered, "I'm going to go back and tell Chu Shao and Aunt Xiao that my fish soup is delicious. On the Qixi Festival, I'm going to make a big pot and let everyone taste my cooking skills!"
After saying that, she ran away in a hurry. Xiao Ning was stunned for a moment, then let out a bitter laugh.
She was just worried that she couldn't afford to entertain so many people, and her family's financial situation didn't allow her to do so. The next second, Chu Jiujiu took the initiative to say that she would bring food, without asking for credit or showing any sympathy, as if she had no other intentions in doing so.
That’s great.
It would be even better if her daughter could be as sensible as Chu Jiujiu.
Xiao Ning was sent down to the countryside with her husband, and her daughter was sent to her hometown. When they left, her daughter was only six years old. Now she is the same age as Chu Jiujiu. Seeing Chu Jiujiu is like seeing her own daughter. Xiao Ning always can't help wanting to get closer to her.
Chu Jiujiu didn't know that Aunt Xiao was seeing her thinking about someone else. She returned home excitedly and told Chu Shao about Aunt Xiao's invitation. When Chu Shao heard the words "Qixi Festival", he frowned and said, "Isn't that a girls' festival? Just go by yourself, don't drag me along."
"How can that be? Everyone is going, even Grandpa Song is going. Chu Shao, you are staying at home alone, feeling lonely, tired, tired and miserable. Isn't it uncomfortable?"
Chu Shao: “…” Why are you even using lines from a play?
After delivering the jars, Han Shengyi didn't leave immediately. Instead, he and Chu Shao tidied up the vegetable racks in their mini-garden. The racks had been flimsy before, having been knocked down by the heavy rain. He straightened the racks, and together with Chu Jiujiu, they looked at the silent Chu Shao.
Chu Shao held it in for a long time before finally saying, "But, it's also a girl's day!"
Han Shengyi lowered his head, pursed his lips and smiled secretly. He said nothing because he had to take care of Chu Shao's face, but Chu Jiujiu didn't care about that. She directly tore Chu Shao's face off.
Chu Jiujiu glared, "What's wrong with a girl's festival? Don't you want to celebrate it? After spending so long with you, I realized you're actually quite a male chauvinist! The Chairman has already said that women hold up half the sky. Does asking you to participate in a girl's festival affect your masculinity? Or do you think it's shameful to celebrate a girl's festival? If that's the case, then celebrating a girl's festival is shameful, which means you think girls are shameful and that you look down on women. In other words, you don't believe women hold up half the sky. Your thinking is too backward, and you deserve to be punished..."
Chu Shao was stunned. If he continued, he would become the public enemy. Interrupting Chu Jiujiu, Chu Shao declared that he had given up. "Alright, alright, I'll go, alright? I'm really impressed by your words. I can't argue with you. I'll go and see the fire."
After saying that, Chu Shao ran away. Chu Jiujiu snorted, turned her head, and glanced at Han Shengyi with cold eyes.
Before she could ask, Han Shengyi tactfully replied, "I'm going too. I firmly support Comrade Chairman. I believe women not only hold up half the sky, they hold up the whole sky."
The front and back doors were open. After Chu Shao heard what Han Shengyi said, he threw firewood into the stove and sneered.
"Laughing bastard."
…
The Chinese Valentine's Day is in two days. This is the first festival Chu Jiujiu celebrates since she came here. Before this, she had not celebrated a festival with her family for a long time. Chu Jiujiu attaches great importance to this festival. Chu Shao originally had to help her make arrangements, but later, seeing that she was so happy and had forgotten about not receiving a reply, Chu Shao became serious.
He agreed, and Chu Jiujiu was even happier. She began to tell him how her parents celebrated Chinese Valentine's Day, exchanging gifts and sweet nothings, always filling her mouth with dog food. However, her parents weren't so heartless. When her father bought a gift for her mother, he would also buy one for Chu Jiujiu. Her father also said that before Chu Jiujiu had a boyfriend, he and her mother would give her two Valentine's Day gifts every year: he for Chinese Valentine's Day and her for Valentine's Day. Even if it wasn't a holiday, they would make sure their little princess had a gift.
This way, no one can say that their son Jiujiu is a miserable single dog.
The more Chu Jiujiu talked about the future, the more familiar Chu Shao became with that era. His son and daughter-in-law, whom he had never met, also seemed to have vivid images. However, these images always felt a bit unremarkable.
…
They were chatting warmly here, but Nie Bai on the other side was almost scared to death.
After being unconscious for a whole afternoon, Chu Liqiang finally woke up. Nie Bai had been watching over him and naturally had seen the contents of the letter. Nie Bai hoped that Chu Liqiang would wake up quickly, but when he really woke up, Nie Bai didn't know what to say.
They are all grown men. Seeing Chu Liqiang go from being full of vigor and vitality to being completely hopeless now, Nie Bai feels extremely uncomfortable.
However, this feeling turned into uneasiness after Chu Liqiang had been awake for a long time and had not said a word.
After asking the nurse to leave, Nie Bai looked at Chu Liqiang's expressionless face and said nervously, "Political Commissar..."
"I'm not the political commissar anymore," Chu Liqiang said calmly, "You should call me by my name."
How dare he!
Nie Bai opened his mouth and finally compromised, "Brother Chu, don't be too sad. The dead cannot be resurrected..."
"I'm not sad." Chu Liqiang interrupted him.
Nie Bai choked.
Frowning, Chu Liqiang looked across, but there was nothing there except a white wall. "I just don't think it's worth it."
Nie Bai was stunned, "Huh?"
He didn't understand what Chu Liqiang said, and Chu Liqiang also kept his mouth shut, not intending to explain. When he finally spoke, Nie Bai was even more nervous than before. Although he was worried before, he thought Chu Liqiang's reaction was normal. However, now, he began to be afraid.
He was afraid that Chu Liqiang would be provoked and do something irreparable.
Because of this incident, Nie Bai didn't even go home. For several days in a row, he slept in another bed at night. Nie Bai's wife thought something had happened and came to look for him in person.
As Nie Bai expected, one night a few days later, Chu Liqiang suddenly got out of bed and rummaged through the drawers in the ward. Nie Bai was startled awake and asked him what he wanted to do. Chu Liqiang replied, "I want to write a letter back to my son."
Hearing this, Nie Bai turned over and sat up. "Write a reply? Aren't you afraid of getting your son into trouble?"
Chu Liqiang, wearing a hospital gown and with gauze bandaged on his hand from the injection, found a pen and paper in the drawer. He sat down and wrote as he spoke, "I'm not afraid. I've already implicated him. Otherwise, he would still be studying in the capital instead of staying in that village."
Nie Bai: "Don't be impulsive, don't be impulsive. This matter is not that simple. Political Commissar, let's think about it carefully. If it really doesn't work, you can still write to him tomorrow."
He got nervous and changed the address back. Chu Liqiang paused holding the pen. Under the dim light, he turned his head and looked at Nie Bai. "I've thought about it carefully. These past few days, whenever I'm awake, I've been thinking about it carefully. But no matter how hard I think about it, my wife is gone, and Chu Shaodu has no mother anymore."
"I am all my son has now. I must write to him, do you understand?"
Nie Bai's throat felt dry. He looked at Chu Liqiang and couldn't help but lower his head. "I understand now."
Hearing this answer, Chu Liqiang turned his head back and picked up the pen again. He said, "Don't worry, I won't do anything that is detrimental to myself. On the contrary, I will only do things that are beneficial to myself in the future."
Death is liberation.
Life is cruel.
It is cruel to him, and even more so to those who wish him dead.
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