Chapter 45 A Perfect Match
As dawn broke, a salty sea breeze blew into the ward through the half-open window, dispelling some of the smell of disinfectant.
Jiang Fengnian has woken up. After a night's sleep, he feels completely better and is just waiting for his mother and sister to come so he can be discharged.
Today she wore a clean floral cotton-padded shirt, her hair was neatly combed, she had a smile on her face, and she was carrying an aluminum lunchbox and a mesh bag, which contained fried dough sticks and an enamel mug.
Jiang Fengnian heard the noise and looked over. He was surprised to see Liu Hong and quickly sat up.
"Brother Jiang, are you feeling better?" She stepped forward, helped Jiang Fengnian up, and propped up a pillow for him to sit up.
Liu Hong carefully observed Jiang Fengnian and saw that his complexion was much better than yesterday, and his eyes were bright.
"Comrade Liu, why are you here so early?" As Liu Hong approached, Jiang Fengnian's heart inexplicably raced, pounding as if it were about to leap out of his chest.
"I brought you breakfast," Liu Hong said as she walked in, placed the food on the bedside table, and deftly opened the lunchbox. Inside was steaming white porridge, and she also took out some fried dough sticks. "The cafeteria fried dough sticks were really good today, so I bought two. There's also soy milk, both still warm. I didn't know what you liked to eat."
Jiang Fengnian looked at the steaming breakfast and felt a warm glow in his heart, but also a little guilty: "This...this is too much trouble for you. Sui Sui will give it to me later..."
“It’s no trouble at all, it’s on my way,” Liu Hong interrupted him, handing him a pair of clean chopsticks, her eyes clear and open. “Eat it while it’s hot, the doctor said you need to replenish your nutrition.”
Jiang Fengnian couldn't refuse, and he was indeed hungry, so he took the chopsticks.
Liu Hong sat down naturally on the stool by the bed, picked up another fried dough stick, and began to eat it in small bites. For a moment, only the soft sounds of chewing and the clinking of bowls and chopsticks filled the ward.
Although the two did not speak much, there was an inexplicable harmony and tranquility in the atmosphere.
Jiang Fengnian took a sip of porridge, looked up as if to say something, but met Liu Hong's gaze as she watched him eat. Her gaze held concern, gentleness, and perhaps even a hint of appreciation that she herself was unaware of.
Jiang Fengnian's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason. He quickly lowered his head, his ears burning slightly, and focused on shoveling the porridge in his bowl.
Liu Hong and Jiang Fengnian's eyes met, and two faint blushes rose on her face. She looked away somewhat awkwardly, pretending to look at the scenery outside the window.
At this delicate, slightly ambiguous and awkward moment, the ward door creaked open.
Jiang Fengnian was drinking porridge with his head down. Liu Hong sat on the edge of the bed, her cheeks slightly flushed, holding half a fried dough stick in her hand. The morning light shone through the window, enveloping the two of them together, creating a tranquil and warm scene. However, the atmosphere... seemed to exude an unusual intimacy.
Jiang Suining was stunned for a moment, then a knowing and delighted smile flashed in her eyes. She quietly squeezed her mother's arm.
Jiang's mother's reaction was more direct and enthusiastic. She was stunned for a moment, and then her slightly cloudy eyes suddenly lit up, bursting with amazing brilliance.
She looked Liu Hong up and down, scrutinizing her closely. The more she looked, the more she couldn't suppress her smile, her mouth stretching almost to her ears. Her eyes looked as if she had seen some rare treasure and wished she could take it home and hide it away immediately.
"Sui Sui, you're here," Liu Hong said, quickly putting down her food to greet her.
"You know him?" Upon hearing this, Jiang's mother hurriedly asked her daughter.
"This is Liu Hong, also from the labor protection factory, she's my friend," Jiang Suining introduced.
"So you're the Comrade Liu who helped my son Da Nian!" Jiang's mother's voice instantly rose eight octaves, filled with unprecedented enthusiasm. She walked to the bedside in a few steps, grabbed Liu Hong's free hand with a force that surprised Liu Hong. "Look at you, still thinking about this brat so early, even bringing him breakfast! You've really gone to so much trouble! This... this is too much of a burden!"
Liu Hong was caught off guard by Jiang's mother's sudden enthusiasm: "Auntie, please don't be so polite, I'm just going that way..."
"It's good to be going the same way! It's good to be going the same way!" Jiang's mother patted the back of her hand, her eyes crinkling into slits with laughter. Her gaze darted back and forth between Jiang and Jiang Fengnian, and she said meaningfully, "Sometimes fate is just that coincidental! What's meant to happen can't be stopped!"
Jiang Fengnian felt extremely uncomfortable under his mother's blatant gaze. His face flushed red with embarrassment, and he wished he could bury his face in the porridge bowl. He muttered under his breath, "Mother..."
Jiang Suining, watching from the side, couldn't help but chuckle and quickly smoothed things over, "Mom, look at you, you're making Liu Hong feel embarrassed." She then turned to Jiang Fengnian, "Brother, how are you feeling? Are you still dizzy?"
"Much better, much better." Jiang Fengnian quickly seized the opportunity to back down.
Jiang's mother, however, didn't care about anything else and kept holding Liu Hong's hand tightly, as if afraid she would run away. Her tone became even more affectionate: "Comrade Liu, look at you, you're beautiful, sensible, kind-hearted, and have a good personality... You're such a good girl! Our Danian is just a very honest person, without any ulterior motives. We owe you a lot this time..."
Liu Hong blushed at the praise, and her heart raced. She secretly glanced at Jiang Fengnian, who was equally embarrassed but had his lips slightly pursed. A sweet feeling quietly spread through her heart, as if a feather had gently brushed against it.
"Auntie, anyone would stand up for justice and punish evil without hesitation. Um, I have to go to work, so I'll be going now." Liu Hong pulled her hand back and rushed out of the ward as if she were escaping.
"She hasn't finished breakfast yet," Jiang Fengnian called out hurriedly, but Liu Hong had already come out of the ward. "Sui Sui, quickly take the eggs to her."
Jiang Suining took two boiled eggs from Jiang Fengnian and ran out of the ward.
"You brat," Jiang's mother couldn't help but smile, "you've turned misfortune into blessing. What a wonderful girl she is. You must treat her well in the future."
"Mother, what are you saying?" Jiang Fengnian blushed deeply. "I've only just met Comrade Liu. Don't talk nonsense and ruin the young lady's reputation."
"Look at my mouth," Jiang's mother gently patted her lips, "Tell your mother the truth, have you taken a fancy to that girl?"
Jiang Fengnian stammered for a long time before finally saying, "So what if they like me? They might not even like me."
"Hey, you brat, how will you know if you don't try? You're so insecure!" In Jiang's mother's eyes, her son and daughter were both the best.
Jiang Fengnian lowered his head and remained silent.
"I'll tell your sister in a bit and ask her to sound out Comrade Liu's opinion for you." Jiang's mother knew what her son was thinking. Ever since her daughter got married, she had been looking for matchmakers to find her son a wife. She had gone through several matchmakers, but her son hadn't taken a liking to any of them. She was so worried that her hair had turned white. And then this opportunity came along.
"You decide what to do," Jiang Fengnian muttered under his breath, picking up his lunchbox and continuing to drink his porridge.
Jiang Suining chased after Liu Hong out of the hospital and finally caught up with her. She grabbed her and stuffed two eggs into her hands, saying, "Take these. My brother was worried you'd go hungry, so he specifically asked me to give them to you."
"I...I don't want it." Liu Hong was unusually coy, and then stuffed the egg into Jiang Suining's hands.
"I didn't give it to you, give it back to my brother." Jiang Suining put her hands behind her back and refused to take it.
Liu Hong blushed, holding the two eggs in her hands, unsure whether to accept them or not, feeling embarrassed and awkward.
Seeing this, Jiang Suining stopped teasing her and changed the subject: "Oh, just take it. This time, thanks to you, otherwise my brother might have been in trouble."
"With our relationship, why are you being so polite with me?" The heat on Liu Hong's face gradually subsided, and she finally looked up. "I'm not talking to you anymore, I have to hurry to the factory, I'm going to be late."
"Could you ask for leave for me? I'll go over later," Jiang Suining pleaded.
"OK."
Jiang Suining returned to the ward, and her mother kept asking her about Liu Hong. Jiang Suining knew exactly what her mother meant, and after patiently explaining, she said, "Liu Hong is reluctant to let her marry far away."
Although she knew that these words would be like a bucket of cold water poured over her mother and brother, she still said them.
Sure enough, after she finished speaking, they both fell silent.
“It’s her family’s choice to let her go, but the key is still Comrade Liu’s opinion,” Jiang’s mother spoke first. “Da Nian, if you really want to see the truth about that girl, don’t be a coward, go and find out for yourself.”
“Mother, I understand.” Jiang Fengnian was silent for a while, then looked at Jiang Suining. “Suisui, brother wants to be discharged from the hospital.”
With the Chinese New Year approaching, staying in the hospital all the time wasn't a good idea, so Jiang Suining went to see Jiang Fengnian's attending physician. After examining her, the doctor gave her a discharge certificate.
***
On the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, the winter on the island still carried a lingering warmth, but the salty sea breeze was finally tinged with the festive and lively atmosphere of the New Year.
Jiang Suining's courtyard was bustling with activity early in the morning. Steam rose from the kitchen. The main dish for the New Year was half a fat goose that Lu Ye had asked the logistics comrades to get. It was simmering on a small charcoal stove with local pepper roots, mushrooms, and daylilies. The aroma filled the entire courtyard.
The cured fish and meat hanging under the eaves were taken down, washed, and steamed. Jiang Suining made them with Sister Lian before the New Year.
Lu Ye deftly prepared a fresh mackerel, ready to make "Abundance Every Year," an indispensable dish for the New Year's Eve dinner of island families.
Jiang Fengnian squatted by the stove, helping to watch the fire, while Jiang Suining squatted beside him, peeling garlic in her hand. The two would exchange glances and whisper a few words of laughter from time to time.
Looking at the bright smiles in her children's eyes, Jiang's mother couldn't help but think of her husband who had passed away many years ago. Just when she was about to start living a good life, her family was missing someone. It would be a lie to say she wasn't regretful, but what could she do?
After Jiang Fengnian was discharged from the hospital, he went to see Liu Hong. Jiang Suining didn't know what he said to the girl or whether the two met again. However, she guessed that their relationship was probably very close to being established.
After a few days of rest, and with the help of the pig liver soup and fish porridge that Liu Hong brought along the way, his complexion became much rosier and he was full of energy. The gauze on his head had been removed, leaving a shallow scab, but he didn't care at all. He helped chop wood, carry water, and do physical labor, showing no signs of being injured.
In the center was a pot of fragrant pepper-stewed goose, next to which was a platter of steamed cured fish and cured meat. Lu Ye's braised mackerel was glistening and tempting. A large bowl of "vegetarian stew" made with more than a dozen kinds of vegetarian dishes, such as dried bean curd, daylily, shiitake mushrooms, wood ear fungus, and beets, symbolized a clean and peaceful year ahead. This was a local specialty and was naturally made by Lu Ye.
There was also bean sprout stir-fried with vermicelli, a plate of golden fried glutinous rice balls, stir-fried cabbage with vinegar, braised pork, sweet and sour pork ribs, and two large plates of pork and cabbage dumplings.
As the head of the family, Lu Ye took the lead in raising his glass of orange soda, his expression solemn and warm: "Mom, brother, Sui Sui, I'd like to toast everyone, wishing our family a peaceful and prosperous year ahead!"
Jiang's mother's eyes were slightly red, but her smile was relaxed. She raised her glass and said, "Good, good! Peace is a blessing, and reunion is a blessing! Seeing that you are all doing well makes me feel at ease! My biggest wish now is for you to find me a daughter-in-law during the New Year." She glanced at Jiang Fengnian.
Jiang Fengnian quickly raised his glass as well. He didn't say much, but sincerely said, "I wish my mother good health, and I wish my brother-in-law and Sui Sui success in their work. I will try my best to fulfill my mother's wishes." After he finished speaking, he tilted his head back and took a big gulp.
Looking at this heartwarming scene, Jiang Suining was filled with emotion and raised her glass, saying, "Our family must live well together from now on!"
Everyone raised their glasses and drank together.
The aroma of food and the sweetness of soft drinks mingled with everyone's laughter, filling the room to the brim.
Outside the window, someone lit firecrackers first, which crackled and popped. Soon after, the entire residential compound seemed to be set ablaze, with firecrackers going off one after another. The air was filled with the pleasant smell of gunpowder, and the festive atmosphere of the New Year reached its peak.
Jiang Suining originally planned to keep watch with Lu Ye and her brother, but she fell asleep around midnight and Lu Ye had to carry her back to her bedroom.
Early on the first day of the Lunar New Year, neighbors came to pay their respects.
The first to arrive was Sister Lian from next door, carrying her homemade fried pastries. As soon as she entered, she called out with a loud laugh, "Aunt Jiang, Lu Ye, Sui Sui, Happy New Year!"
Zhang Haisheng also came over and approached Jiang Suining, saying, "Auntie, Happy New Year."
Jiang Suining took out a homemade red envelope and handed it to Zhang Haisheng: "Take this and buy some candy."
"He's so old, why are you still giving him New Year's money?" Sister-in-law Lian scolded playfully.
"Take it, it's for the New Year, it's festive." Jiang Suining patted Zhang Haisheng's head.
More and more people came to pay their respects for the New Year. Neighbors and familiar military families came one after another, carrying homemade New Year's goods.
Jiang's mother grabbed handfuls of candy and melon seeds and stuffed them into the hands of people who came to pay New Year's visits, regardless of whether she knew them or not, her wrinkles beaming with joy.
Jiang Suining and Lu Ye only rested for three days during the Spring Festival. During these three days, the two of them took Jiang's mother and Jiang Fengnian to visit various places on the island and bought a lot of local specialties, which they planned to bring back to share with the villagers.
Once the fifth day of the Lunar New Year passed, the intense festive atmosphere on the island gradually subsided, like the receding tide. The family compound returned to its usual rhythm.
That evening, Jiang Suining came home from get off work and saw her brother Jiang Fengnian sitting alone on a stone bench in the yard, staring blankly at the lush papaya tree in the corner, unconsciously holding a withered leaf in his hand, his brows slightly furrowed, not even noticing her approaching.
"Brother, what are you thinking about so intently?" Jiang Suining sat down next to him.
Jiang Fengnian snapped out of his reverie and forced a smile: "I wasn't thinking about anything, I'll rest for a bit."
Jiang Suining observed his expression and understood about 70-80% of what was going on. A couple of days ago, her brother had frequently asked Liu Hong out, and the unspoken understanding and affection between them was obvious to everyone in the family. But in the last two days, Liu Hong had been visiting less often, and her brother's mood had clearly sombered.
"Is it... related to Liu Hong?" Jiang Suining asked softly, her tone filled with understanding and concern.
Jiang Fengnian sighed, knowing he couldn't hide it from his perceptive sister. He rubbed his hands together and said, "Liu Hong... is a good girl." His voice was a little low. "I... I really like her." This confession, spoken with a local accent, was a little clumsy, but it was exceptionally sincere.
“But her family… doesn’t agree to her marrying far away and insists that she find a local man,” Jiang Fengnian said with a dim look in his eyes. “I understand her parents’ thoughts. If it weren’t for my brother-in-law’s good conditions and the fact that it was an arranged marriage since childhood, my mother and I wouldn’t feel comfortable letting you marry into this family. I can’t be so selfish as to force her to come back to my hometown with me. That would be too unfair to her and to her parents.”
After he finished speaking, he lowered his head deeply, his strong shoulders seemingly bearing an invisible weight.
This was the first time Jiang Fengnian had met a girl who moved him so deeply, whom he admired so much, and whom he felt so sorry for. But reality was like a chasm, standing between them.
Jiang Suining listened quietly, feeling sad for her brother and Liu Hong. She knew that in this era, "marrying far away" was almost equivalent to "losing" the daughter for the woman's family. With inconvenient transportation and slow communication, the hardships and worries involved were immeasurable.
Looking at her brother's pained yet restrained profile, a thought suddenly became clear in her mind. After a moment of contemplation, she said, "Brother, since Liu Hong's family is reluctant to let her marry far away... then why can't we stay?"
Jiang Fengnian suddenly looked up, staring at his sister in astonishment: "Stay?"
“Yes!” Jiang Suining’s eyes lit up, and her thoughts became clearer and clearer. “Look, our mother is getting old. It’s cold in our hometown in winter, which is not good for her chronic leg pain. It’s warm on this island in winter. Besides, I’m here, and Lu Ye is here too. You and Mother can stay here as a family, and we can take care of each other.”
“Brother, you are strong, honest, and hardworking. You farmed back home. There are many factories and construction sites on this island. Where can’t you find manpower?” Jiang Suining thought to herself, “It’s 1979 now. The era of individual economy is coming soon. Even if my brother can’t find a job, he can do some small business and make a living.”
The more she talked, the more feasible it seemed: "Find a job and settle down, buy a house or rent a house, make your home here, and our mother can enjoy a comfortable life with you. Liu Hong's family knows that you stayed on the island for her sake, how could their attitude not soften? Even if they don't soften, you can go to your future father-in-law's house every day to talk to him and build a good relationship. Are you afraid that he won't let Liu Hong marry you?"
Jiang Fengnian was completely stunned by his sister's words. All his previous dilemmas were trapped in the two options of "either take Liu Hong back to his hometown or give up Liu Hong", and he never thought there was a third way: to stay and settle down on the island for her sake.
His heart suddenly raced, a mixture of hope, trepidation, and immense possibility surging within him. Yes, why did he have to go back to his hometown? His hometown was his root, but his sister was here, a new life and possibilities lay here, and... Liu Hong was here too.
"Will this work?" he asked uncertainly. "Letters of introduction have time limits."
That is a problem. Jiang Suining thought for a moment and said, "I'll figure out a way to solve this."
Jiang Fengnian still trusted Jiang Suining completely. Hearing her say that, the slight worry in his heart gradually dissipated, and the gloom in his eyes disappeared, replaced by a bright and resolute light.
He suddenly stood up, his fists clenching involuntarily: "As long as Mother agrees, I'll stay here with her and never leave! I'll make a living and settle down on this island with my own two hands!"
Seeing her brother's renewed fighting spirit and hope, Jiang Suining smiled with relief. She knew that there would definitely be difficulties ahead, and it was still unknown whether they could truly stay. Even if they did stay, the work at Liu Hong's house might not be easy, and her brother's career would have to start from scratch. But at least, they had carved out a new path full of hope for their own and Liu Hong's future, and the future looked promising.
After dinner, the island's night sky was dotted with sparse stars, and the salty sea breeze blew through the gauze window, bringing the faint sound of the tide in the distance.
Lu Ye went to the camp headquarters for duty, leaving only Jiang's mother, Jiang Suining, and Jiang Fengnian at home.
The dishes and chopsticks on the table had been cleared away, and a dim light bulb hung in the center of the room, casting long shadows of the three people.
Jiang Suining poured a cup of hot water for her mother and brother, then sat down next to her mother. Jiang Fengnian took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind, and looked at his mother with a determined gaze.
“Mother,” Jiang Fengnian said, his voice steady but with a hint of barely perceptible tension, “there’s something I want to discuss with you.”
Jiang's mother rarely saw her son so serious. Hearing this, she looked up, glanced at her daughter beside her, and guessed most of the story—it was probably related to that girl, Liu Hong. She put down her cup and sat up straighter: "What is it? Tell me."
“Mother, I…I want to stay on the island.” Jiang Fengnian said clearly, word by word.
The room fell silent for a moment, save for the chirping of insects outside the window.
A hint of surprise flashed across Jiang's mother's face. She liked Liu Hong very much and supported her son marrying her. She had also heard from her son that the girl's parents did not agree to her marrying someone from afar.
Marriage is a union between two families, and a marriage without the blessings of parents is unlikely to be happy. Therefore, even though she saw her son looking depressed these past two days, she did not offer any words of comfort. The marriage was doomed anyway, and there was no point in saying anything more.
But to her utter surprise, her usually dutiful son decided to stay.
Jiang's mother felt a pang of sadness, and couldn't help but think of the old saying: "A man who marries a wife forgets his mother." But she still loved her son dearly and didn't immediately object. She just frowned slightly: "Stay on the island? Da Nian, have you thought this through? Our family's roots are in Qingshui Village. Your father... your father is still buried there." Mentioning her deceased husband, Jiang's mother's voice lowered, tinged with sadness.
"Mother, I've thought it through." Jiang Fengnian leaned forward, his tone sincere and urgent. "I know where my roots are, I remember Father in my heart, and I will be filial to him no matter where I am. But Mother, think about it, Sui Sui is here. If our family can be together, isn't that better than anything else?"
Jiang Suining chimed in at the right moment, her voice gentle yet persuasive: "Mom, my brother is right. I miss you every moment I'm here alone. Our village is nice, but it's damp and cold in winter. Your joints aren't good, so every winter they hurt. Winters here on the island are just like autumn back home, warm. Think about it, have you ever had any leg pain since you came here?"
These words struck a chord with Jiang's mother. She had suffered from cold legs since she was young, and every winter was difficult for her. During her short stay on the island, she did feel that her joints were much more relaxed.
Seeing that his mother's expression had softened, Jiang Fengnian pressed on, "Mother, I'm not acting on impulse. I'm strong and not afraid of hardship. You've seen it these days; several new factories are under construction on the island, and they all need workers. With my physique, I'm not afraid of anything! Mother, believe me, I will definitely be able to earn money on this island, settle down, and take good care of you!"
His gaze was intense, filled with anticipation for the future and the determination of a man to support his family: "Besides, Liu Hong's family is reluctant to let her marry so far away. If I can settle down and build a career on this island, maybe her family will relent." Mentioning Liu Hong, Jiang Fengnian couldn't help but blush slightly, but his eyes became even more resolute.
"That's why you want to stay, isn't it?" Jiang's mother knew exactly what her son was thinking.
“Yes, but not entirely,” Jiang Fengnian squatted down in front of his mother’s knees and held her rough hands. “Mother, you suffered a lot in the first half of your life to raise us siblings. I want you to enjoy a good life in the second half. And my sister, as the saying goes, nine out of ten women who marry far away regret it. It’s because they lose the support of their maternal family. I know my sister is a good wife, but who can say for sure what will happen in the long run? People’s hearts are unpredictable.”
Jiang Fengnian's words were all sincere. Ever since he was subdued by Lu Ye in Qingshui Village, he had harbored some resentment towards Lu Ye deep down.
Looking at the long-lost light in her son's eyes, and then at the expectation and support in her daughter Jiang Suining's eyes, Jiang's mother silently withdrew her hand, her eyes slightly moist. After a long while, she said, "I know everything you said. Let me think about it carefully."
Jiang's mother felt a lump in her throat and stood up to go to the study.
Jiang Fengnian wanted to go over, but Jiang Suining grabbed him and said, "Don't go, let your mother calm down."
"Sui Sui, do you think Mother will agree?" Jiang Fengnian asked anxiously.
“Whether you agree or not, you have to accept it,” Jiang Suining warned Jiang Fengnian in advance. “You must obediently follow your mother back to Qingshui Village. You can’t be an unfilial son who forgets his mother after getting a wife!”
"What are you saying?" Jiang Fengnian said unhappily. "My mother has always been number one in my heart."
"That's more like it." Jiang Suining walked to the sofa and sat down, speculating on her mother's choice.
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