Chapter 43 (This last part is a fragment and doesn't translate directly. It likely refers to a separate topic: "Playing the hooligan.")
The arrival of Jiang's mother and Jiang Fengnian added some color to Jiang Suining's peaceful life. She wanted to ask for leave to stay home with her mother and older brother. When her mother learned of her plan, she refused to let her take leave. However, thinking that there were only a few days left before the New Year holiday, she simply agreed to her mother's request.
During the day, after Jiang Suining and Lu Ye went to work, Jiang's mother told Jiang Fengnian about preparing some dowry for her daughter.
Preparing a dowry is a top priority. When Jiang Suining and Lu Ye got their marriage certificate in a hurry and were coming to the island, it was inconvenient to bring a dowry. Jiang's mother did not prepare one, but gave her daughter some money to prepare it herself when she arrived. However, her daughter returned most of it to her.
Jiang's mother always felt indebted to her daughter, so when Lu Ye went to Qinghe Village to pick them up to spend the New Year on the island, Jiang's mother agreed so readily, also with the intention of helping her daughter prepare her dowry.
Jiang Fengnian naturally knew what his mother was thinking. He already doted on his younger sister, so how could he refuse? He immediately accompanied his mother out the door.
The sea breeze in December carried a damp, cold, and salty smell. The atmosphere of the Lunar New Year on the island grew stronger day by day. Although it wasn't the weekend, there were more people on the road than on a typical weekend. The two walked and asked for directions, and finally found the supply and marketing cooperative.
The winter sun on the island shone through the thin layer of dust on the windows of the supply and marketing cooperative, casting dappled shadows on the cement floor. Jiang's mother, clutching the handkerchief pouch sewn into her inner pocket—still warm from her body—walked with solemnity and anticipation. Her son, Dajiang, followed silently behind her, like a loyal guardian.
Upon entering the supply and marketing cooperative, Jiang's mother took a deep breath, felt the money and various rolls in her inner pocket through her clothes, and her eyes first fell on the most eye-catching fabric counter.
"Comrade, could you please let me take a look at that red peony-patterned quilt cover?" Jiang's mother stood in front of the glass counter, her finger carefully pointing to a roll of brightly colored fabric inside.
The saleswoman glanced up and saw two unfamiliar faces dressed simply and weathered. Her attitude was somewhat indifferent, but she still used the key to open the counter and took it out.
Large, blooming peonies on the satin, set against a bright red background, exuded a joyful aura. Jiang's mother's cloudy eyes lit up, her face beaming with delight. She reached out to touch the smooth, cool satin, but stopped just before she touched it. Her hands were calloused from years of hard work; she didn't want to rub such fine fabric.
“Da Nian, look at these flowers, how beautiful they are! Sui Sui will definitely love them.” Jiang’s mother smiled, her eyes crinkling with deep wrinkles.
Jiang Fengnian didn't know any of this, but for a joyous occasion, choosing bright red and peonies was definitely the right choice. He nodded in agreement, "Beautiful, really beautiful. Mother has such good taste."
"I want this one." Jiang's mother said firmly. She picked out a quilt cover with a phoenix pattern, as well as quilt covers with red backgrounds of chrysanthemum, orchid, and double happiness characters. She also picked out a lot of each, and ordered enough white cloth to make quilt linings for ten quilts. She also bought fabric of the same color to make bed sheets and pillowcases, and picked out ten pairs of pillow towels of various colors, and matched them with needles and thread according to the colors.
But having only a quilt cover and lining isn't enough without cotton, so Jiang's mother asked the saleswoman, "Do you have a mesh cover?"
If they were in Qingshui Village, Jiang's mother would buy cotton directly and make the netting herself. However, there are no tools for making netting here, and it's unlikely that she could buy them on the spot. Besides, even if she did, those tools aren't used often, so it's unnecessary. It's better to buy ready-made ones.
"Yes, wait a moment." The sales clerk went to get it from the back.
Jiang's mother breathed a sigh of relief. She had been worried that the item might not even be available, but now that was settled, it saved her a lot of trouble.
The sales clerk brought a cotton quilt from the back warehouse and placed it on the counter. Jiang's mother saw that the cotton was snow-white and the quilt was tightly woven, which was not bad. However, the only drawback was that it was a bit thin. She was about to ask if there were any thicker ones when she suddenly remembered that it wouldn't be too cold here in winter. For example, it was almost the New Year, and she had only added an outer coat. She really didn't need it.
"I need ten beds." Jiang's mother took out a handkerchief bag containing money and various receipts. "Please pack it all up."
The female sales clerk then called another male sales clerk to the back warehouse to fetch nine quilts, which were then packed into burlap sacks and sealed.
This quilt weighs about three pounds, so ten quilts would weigh thirty pounds. It's not considered heavy, but it's fluffy and filled two burlap sacks.
Jiang Fengnian followed behind his mother, carrying a sack in each hand. His mother's gaze swept across the shelves, finally settling on the stacks of enamel basins and enamel mugs printed with bright red "double happiness" characters and mandarin duck patterns.
"Give me a pair of these basins, with the character '喜' (happiness) on them." Jiang's mother picked one up, tapped it lightly with her knuckles, and nodded repeatedly after hearing the crisp sound. "This basin is made of thick porcelain and can withstand bumps." She then picked out two enamel mugs with the same pattern, thinking, "One for washing my face, one for washing my feet, and I'll have a teacup too. Everything will be complete."
With cups, you naturally need thermos flasks. There are two kinds on the shelf: one with a bamboo shell and the other with painted metal.
The tin one was much more expensive, but it had a more vibrant and exquisite "Magpie on Plum Blossom" design printed on it. Jiang's mother hardly hesitated and pointed to the tin one, saying, "I want that one."
She took the heavy thermos, unscrewed the cork, looked at the shiny inner liner, and then listened to the sound inside, only feeling relieved after confirming that she could hear a buzzing sound.
“It’s very humid on the island. Drink some hot water to warm yourself up. Sui Sui is weak and can’t get cold.” She seemed to be explaining to Jiang Fengnian, but it also seemed like she was talking to herself.
Jiang Fengnian was unaware of his daughter's dowry and naturally made no comment. He simply echoed whatever his mother said and never voiced any objections.
With these items purchased, Jiang's mother felt half at ease. But her most important goal was not yet achieved. As she walked and looked around, her gaze settled on a "Butterfly" brand sewing machine, and she immediately stopped in her tracks.
The sewing machine's black head gleamed with a cold yet alluring luster. Jiang's mother reached out and stroked the smooth tabletop, the cool metal presser foot, and the beautifully shaped butterfly logo.
“Da Nian,” her voice was a little tight, “let’s buy this.”
Jiang Fengnian, who always went along with his mother, was a little worried: "Mother, this will require a lot of industrial coupons and money, right? Is the money we brought enough?"
"That's enough!" Jiang's mother said decisively. After confirming the price, she counted out a stack of banknotes and two industrial vouchers from her handkerchief and handed them over.
"Comrade, can you deliver the goods?" Jiang Fengnian's hands were already full, and he had no strength left to move the sewing machine.
"No delivery!" The sales clerk's voice remained as cold as ever, unchanged regardless of the amount the two had purchased.
Jiang Fengnian was a little worried, but his mother comforted him, "It's alright, take these back first, and I'll take another look. I'll wait for you to come over."
That was all they could do. Jiang Fengnian left the supply and marketing cooperative carrying his things. Jiang's mother bought tableware and door curtains with the character for "happiness" on them.
Jiang Fengnian, worried that his mother would be anxious, ran all the way back to the family compound. Without even having time to drink water, he rushed over and, with the help of the sales clerk, lifted the heavy sewing machine out, carefully tied it with hemp rope, bent down, put the rope on his shoulder, and stood up steadily. The sewing machine was now firmly on his back.
This thing was quite heavy, but fortunately Jiang Fengnian was used to farm work and had a lot of strength. Jiang's mother was afraid of tiring her son, so she carried the things she bought in one hand and supported the sewing machine behind him with the other, trying to help Jiang Fengnian reduce the weight.
The two were walking home happily when they bumped into an acquaintance, Zhou Xiaomei, at a fork in the road.
Today is Monday. Zhou Xiaomei was supposed to go to the labor protection factory for training, but when Yuejin woke up in the morning, he was complaining of feeling unwell. She didn't want to pay attention to him at first, but Tuqiang wouldn't let her leave, saying that Yuejin had a high fever.
With the Lunar New Year approaching, the military is extremely busy. Li Guodong didn't come home at all last night. She was afraid that if the child developed a serious fever, Li Guodong would cause her trouble, so she had to ask for leave to take the child to the hospital.
Zhou Xiaomei, wearing a trendy polyester shirt, couldn't hide her panic when she bumped into Jiang's mother and son. Her face changed instantly, but she tried to appear calm and composed, taking the initiative: "Oh, isn't this Aunt Jiang and Brother Danian? What are you doing here, Danian? Did you come to your son-in-law's house to beg for money?"
Spending the New Year at her son-in-law's house is not a respectable thing to do, so Jiang's mother frowned, afraid that an argument would embarrass her daughter and son-in-law, and didn't say anything.
Jiang Fengnian, protective of his sister, couldn't stand these words and immediately stepped forward to argue: "Zhou Xiaomei, can't you speak like a human being? If you can't, shut your mouth. It's none of your business how the Jiang family behaves. Mind your own business!"
"Don't bother with her, let's go." Seeing people coming and going on the road, Jiang's mother grabbed her son's sleeve and walked forward.
Zhou Xiaomei watched the two figures disappear into the distance, her eyes filled with malice, and she gradually tightened her grip on Yuejin's hand.
Zhou Xiaomei quickly let go of his hand and picked up Yuejin, saying, "Alright, alright, after you've seen the doctor, I'll take you to find your father."
With people coming and going, if rumors spread that she abused her child, it would be terrible. She coaxed Yuejin to hurry to the hospital, but she was very scared. She was afraid that the Jiang family would tell her father that she was here. If her father found out that she was here, he would probably come looking for money before the New Year. It would be a small matter if she lost face, but she was afraid that Li Guodong would divorce her.
Jiang Suining had experienced this fear before, after she came to the island. For a long time, she worried that Jiang Suining would tell her family, but her father never came looking for her, so her worries gradually faded. But seeing Jiang's mother and son today, the thing she hadn't worried about for a long time made her uneasy again.
She had to find a way to shut Jiang's mother and son up. Zhou Xiaomei glanced back at their almost invisible backs, and a wicked thought quickly took root in her mind.
Upon returning home, Jiang's mother immediately began sewing, determined to quickly make ten quilts. However, she only managed to make two before her daughter and son-in-law returned.
Jiang Suining was taken aback when she saw the new sewing machine in the living room: "Mom, did you buy this?"
“Of course,” Jiang Fengnian said quickly, “This was bought especially for you by my mother and me.”
Jiang Suining was a bit overwhelmed. She hadn't even considered it as part of her dowry. She was just refusing to accept it, so why would she buy this for her out of the blue? Did they think she couldn't sew and wanted her to use a sewing machine? That seemed like making a mountain out of a molehill.
Jiang's mother pulled her into the bedroom. When she saw the unfinished, bright red quilt on the bed, and the two equally bright red quilts neatly folded on the stool next to it, she had a vague guess. "Mother, are you preparing my dowry?"
Lu Ye was also taken aback when he heard this, and then felt a little annoyed. When he brought Jiang Suining over, he only thought about handing the money over to her for safekeeping, but forgot that women need a dowry when they get married. He had neglected this.
"I told you to prepare your own dowry after you came here, but you didn't listen to me," Jiang's mother said, pretending to complain. "How can a daughter get married without a dowry? Otherwise, her husband's family will laugh at her."
"Mother, it's all my fault," Lu Ye said hastily, "I didn't think things through..."
“What did you do wrong?” Jiang’s mother said with a smile. “It’s all my fault as your mother. My daughter has been spoiled since she was a child. How would she know these things? You have to be more tolerant of her.”
“Mom,” Jiang Suining stepped forward and took her mother’s hand, “I thought we wouldn’t need it, so I didn’t prepare it. It’s the New Year, and we brought you here to rest and enjoy yourself. Why are you working?”
“I’m just destined to be a workaholic. I feel uncomfortable if I don’t work. Besides, it’s just making a quilt, how could it be tiring?” Jiang’s mother disagreed with her daughter. “Besides, these dowry items are all necessities, how could they not be used?”
Seeing that everything had been bought, Jiang Suining didn't argue with her mother and wanted to make quilts together. Jiang's mother was initially unwilling, but then she thought that if she went back alone, she would have to wash the quilts herself, so she agreed and let her do the work.
The mother and daughter worked for more than two hours and finally finished making ten quilts. Fortunately, Jiang Suining and Lu Ye didn't have many clothes and there was still a lot of space in the wardrobe, otherwise there really wouldn't have been any place to put these quilts.
Jiang Suining personally put the quilts into the wardrobe, her heart filled with mixed emotions. Each quilt contained her mother's deep love for her daughter.
***
After Jiang's mother and Jiang Fengnian arrived, the house suddenly felt like it was New Year's. They bought ingredients and prepared things for the New Year in advance. Jiang Suining and Lu Ye would find some changes in the house every time they came home from get off work. Lu Ye said to Jiang Suining in private that it would be nice if Jiang's mother and older brother could stay on the island.
That day, Jiang Fengnian went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy glutinous rice and flour. On his way back, he was stopped by Zhou Xiaomei.
Zhou Xiaomei changed to a guilty expression: "Brother Danian, I was wrong that day. I was too talkative. We come from the same village, and it's fate that we met on this island. I... I want to apologize to you and say a few words."
An apology? Those things can't be forgiven with just an apology! Jiang Fengnian didn't want to pay attention to her, but he was curious about what she had to say, so he stopped and said irritably, "If you have to say something, hurry up and finish it. I have to go home quickly."
Zhou Xiaomei took out a military water bottle from her pocket and handed it to him: "Brother Danian, this is some honey water I made. Have some to moisten your mouth. It's so hot today, you're sweating."
Jiang Fengnian was indeed sweating and thirsty from walking back, so he accepted the drink and took a few big gulps.
"What is it? Hurry up and tell me!" Jiang Fengnian handed the kettle back to Zhou Xiaomei. Seeing her looking at him with a strange smile, a surge of anger rose in his heart for no reason.
Something was wrong! He quickly realized that the inexplicable lustful fire did not come from his heart, but from his lower abdomen, and was spreading wildly throughout his body, making him feel hot all over, dizzy, and Zhou Xiaomei in his vision became blurry and alluring.
He immediately realized something was wrong, and abruptly stepped back, growling in a hoarse voice, "What...what did you give me to drink!"
Zhou Xiaomei immediately threw the water bottle into the roadside bushes, waiting for Jiang Fengnian to lose control and rush over.
She deliberately chose this busy place so that as soon as Jiang Fengnian rushed over, she would shout for help, and the passersby would surely subdue Jiang Fengnian, thus achieving her goal without harming him with a hand chop.
Jiang Fengnian's mind went blank for a moment. His remaining rationality made him realize that this was a trap! Once he touched Zhou Xiaomei, his life would be ruined, and his sister and brother-in-law would be dragged down and unable to hold their heads high! Despair and the effects of the drug tore at each other wildly. His eyes were bloodshot, and he roared. He suddenly bent down, picked up a sharp stone from the ground, and smashed it hard against his forehead!
A sharp pain struck instantly, and blood gushed out, blurring his vision, but it was also like a bucket of ice water, temporarily suppressing the heat within his body.
He staggered a few steps, leaned against a tree, pointed at Zhou Xiaomei, and hissed at the passersby who had gathered around at the sound of his voice: "She... framed... there's something wrong with the water!"
"Comrade, I'm too ashamed to be angry," Zhou Xiaomei cried to the passersby who had gathered around her.
Two men rushed up and restrained Jiang Fengnian, intending to take him to the police station.
Zhou Xiaomei stepped forward to stop him: "No, he and I are from the same hometown, we're neighbors, we see each other all the time. As long as he admits his mistake, I won't pursue it."
"Girl, this won't do."
"This kind of behavior is hooliganism and should be punished by shooting. How can we let him go?"
"Send him to the police station, he must be sent to the police station."
The onlookers were filled with righteous indignation, but Jiang Fengnian felt speechless and burning with rage. He tried his best to shout, "It was her! She drugged me and took me to the hospital!"
But no one could hear his voice. Several women supported Zhou Xiaomei, and the crowd pressed Jiang Fengnian toward the police station.
Just then, a clear, angry female voice rang out: "Zhou Xiaomei! Have you no shame! I saw everything!"
The person who came was Liu Hong. It was almost Chinese New Year and the factory needed to make new bulletin boards, but they had run out of paint. She went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some and saw Zhou Xiaomei from afar. Out of curiosity, she followed her and happened to witness the whole process.
Liu Hong glanced at Jiang Fengnian, whose head was covered in blood, and was shocked. She then glared at Zhou Xiaomei and said, "I saw everything: you stopped this man, then suddenly tore your clothes and yelled that he was being a pervert."
Zhou Xiaomei was caught off guard by this unexpected turn of events and panicked immediately: "You...you're talking nonsense! It was clearly him who acted like a hooligan!"
"He's being a pervert?" Liu Hong sneered. "I saw him avoiding you with my own eyes. If anyone's being a pervert, it's probably you who's trying to be a pervert to him."
"You're talking nonsense!" Zhou Xiaomei glared fiercely at Liu Hong. "He was the one who harassed me, and I smashed his head to stop him."
"He smashed his own head." Although Liu Hong was very puzzled by Jiang Fengnian's act of smashing his own head, she still told the truth.
"You smashed it yourself? That can't be right."
Why would someone deliberately sabotage themselves?
"Is he an idiot?"
"He smashed it himself?" Zhou Xiaomei calmed down immediately after hearing the surrounding comments. "That's ridiculous, why would he smash his own head?"
Liu Hong was stumped by the question. Puzzled, she stepped forward and asked, "Why did you smash yourself?"
Jiang Fengnian was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes. While trying to control the heat rising in his body, he mustered all his strength and said, "She drugged me. Take me to the hospital quickly."
Perhaps due to the combined effects of medication and blood loss, Jiang Fengnian's voice wasn't loud, but Liu Hong still managed to hear it.
Drugged? Liu Hong glanced at the water bottle hidden in the grass by the roadside and immediately realized what was going on. She said calmly, "His head is bleeding. Let's take him to the hospital first. If he bleeds to death, we'll all be responsible. We'll take him to the police station after he's been bandaged up at the hospital."
Then everyone remembered Jiang Fengnian's injuries, and when they heard Liu Hong say she would take responsibility, they all hesitated.
Zhou Xiaomei's purpose in doing all this was simply to hold Jiang Fengnian's secrets and prevent him from revealing her information to his family. If Jiang Fengnian were sent to the police station, her actions would likely be exposed. So she quickly echoed Liu Hong, "Although I am the victim, I don't want him to die either. Let's go to the hospital first."
Most people watched the commotion and then went about their own business. The two men holding Jiang Fengnian down, the woman supporting Zhou Xiaomei, and Liu Hong walked together toward the hospital.
Liu Hong deliberately lagged behind, and while the people in front weren't paying attention, she quickly picked up the water bottle and the stone Jiang Fengnian used to hit his head from the bushes and put them into her cloth bag. Luckily, the cloth bag she brought today was big enough.
At the hospital, the doctor had already bandaged Jiang Fengnian's head wound and noticed that something was wrong with him. He had drawn blood for testing and was currently receiving an IV drip.
Zhou Xiaomei was chatting with the three comrades who had accompanied her, getting their addresses and thanking them as she tried to persuade them to leave.
After learning that Jiang Fengnian had drunk unclean water which led to his indecent behavior, and after being persuaded by Zhou Xiaomei, the three comrades finally gave up the idea of taking Jiang Fengnian to the police station and left the hospital.
Zhou Xiaomei looked at Jiang Fengnian sleeping on the hospital bed through the half-open door of the ward and thought to herself, "Although you were drugged, it is a fact that you acted like a hooligan. With this evidence, I am not afraid that you will disobey me."
With a smile on her lips, she turned to leave, only to see the police officers coming towards her.
“Comrade,” the policeman walked up to Zhou Xiaomei, “someone reported you to have poisoned someone and framed them. Come with us.”
"Nonsense, someone is harassing me." Zhou Xiaomei felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave, and her voice trembled as she spoke.
“I’m not making this up, I saw it with my own eyes,” Liu Hong walked up from behind the police. “I’ve handed over the water bottle you gave that man to the police, as well as the stone he smashed on his own head. The police have also spoken with the doctor about the situation. I advise you to tell the truth and try to get leniency.”
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
