Song Huaihai was extremely embarrassed; even his dark face showed a blush. Zhao Mingyue and Shen Xuyue, suppressing their laughter, greeted him, "Brother Huaihai, what brings you here? Please have a seat. Are you on vacation?"
Song Huaihai cleared his throat: "Yes, that's right." He sat down in the chair and looked at Liangliang in Zhao Mingyue's arms. "Is this your son? What's his name?" This was the first time he had seen Liangliang.
Zhao Mingyue held Liangliang and handed him to Song Huaihai: "Brother Huaihai, would you like to hug him? His nickname is Liangliang, and his real name is Shen Muyang."
Song Huaihai, nearly 1.9 meters tall, was like an iron tower. When he reached out to catch Liangliang, he was a little flustered and very careful, afraid of hurting the little baby if he used too much force.
Liangliang is a lucky charm. He always has a smile on his face and is not shy at all. This is thanks to his parents letting him sleep alone in a small cradle when he was three months old. He is not particularly clingy to anyone and can be held by anyone.
Shen Qixue coughed and said, "Let me introduce you. This is Comrade Song Huaihai, an officer from the xx unit." He wasn't very familiar with Li Chunmei, so he only introduced her up to this point.
Zhao Mingyue had no choice but to act as the woman's matchmaker: "Brother Huaihai, this is my college classmate, Li Chunmei. She is from Chongqing and now teaches at the High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China."
With Liangliang in one arm, Song Huaihai extended his hand to Li Chunmei: "Hello!"
Li Chunmei, slightly embarrassed, extended her hand and shook his: "Hello!" She had actually met Song Huaihai once before. When she first entered university, Shen Xuyue and Song Huaihai had come to their dormitory to pick up some things, but it was just a brief encounter, and she didn't remember him at all. Song Huaihai was too tall, had a cold face, and looked like he never smiled. Li Chunmei was a very cheerful and talkative person, but in front of Song Huaihai, she actually became quiet and didn't know what to say.
Shen Qixue was completely unfamiliar with Li Chunmei and had no idea what to say, so Zhao Mingyue and Shen Xuyue were the ones who smoothed things over.
Zhao Mingyue and Shen Xuyue, like patching up a patch, explained the situation of Li Chunmei and Song Huaihai, while Shen Qixue, the official introducer, sat aside and couldn't get a word in edgewise.
After the introductions, Zhao Mingyue got up to go to the kitchen to help, checking if Liu Ma's jujube and egg soup was ready. Looking back into the living room, she noticed that Shen Xuyue and his brother were nowhere to be seen; only Song Huaihai and Li Chunmei remained, sitting ramrod straight, seemingly not exchanging a word. Zhao Mingyue thought to herself, "This is clearly not going to work out."
The Shen brothers smoked and enjoyed the cool breeze outside, giving Song Huaihai and Li Chunmei some alone time. Shen Xuyue asked his brother, "Weren't you supposed to be introducing your comrades from your unit? How did it turn into Brother Huaihai?"
Shen Qixue laughed heartily: "Uncle Song and Aunt Fang entrusted me with this. Huaihai happened to be back visiting relatives, so I dragged him along. He was quite unhappy about it."
"That's not a good idea. He's not happy about it, but the girl came here excitedly for the blind date," Shen Xuyue said.
Shen Qixue took a drag of his cigarette and blew a smoke ring: "What does it matter? If they don't like her this time, I'll introduce her to one of my comrades next month. Give Huaihai a chance. He's getting on in years, we're all fathers now, he should be looking for a partner. He can't stay a bachelor forever."
Zhao Mingyue worked slowly in the kitchen, constantly watching the two people in the living room. They remained silent, and Zhao Mingyue was growing anxious. A moment later, little Liangliang made his move, urinating and then starting to wriggle and babble on Song Huaihai. Hearing the noise, Liu Ma knew Liangliang had wet himself and was about to go out to help when Zhao Mingyue stopped her, saying loudly, "Did Liangliang wet himself? There are dry diapers at the foot of the bed; please change him."
Song Huaihai had handled guns and captured enemies, but he'd never changed a diaper before, so he was momentarily dumbfounded, holding Liangliang and unsure what to do. Liangliang, with his bottom soaked in urine, felt extremely uncomfortable, and since no one was changing him, his protests grew even louder.
Li Chunmei found Song Huaihai's expression somewhat amusing and quickly said, "Give Liangliang to me, I'll help him change."
Song Huaihai handed Liangliang to Li Chunmei. Although Li Chunmei was not very good at changing diapers, as a woman, she was born with maternal instincts. She had seen others do it before, so she changed diapers quite well.
Song Huaihai suddenly asked, "Have you ever taken care of children?"
Li Chunmei was taken aback: "Huh? No, I just mentioned it to someone."
"Do you like children?" Song Huaihai asked.
Li Chunmei laughed: "Yes, I like it, it's quite cute. What about you?"
The two finally managed to start a conversation, but it was rather awkward; their first topic of conversation was their child. Zhao Mingyue, sitting in the kitchen, couldn't help but want to laugh. Couldn't they be a little more normal? Who talks about children on the first day of a blind date? This was such a huge leap in topics!
Zhao Mingyue brought out red dates and eggs, and also rescued the two people who were shivering in the cold wind outside. Song Huaihai and Li Chunmei had also started chatting.
After lunch, the matchmaker sent Song Huaihai and Li Chunmei out for a stroll. How things would turn out depended on whether they could keep up with the pace.
Shen Qixue and Zhao Mingyue were both skeptical of this couple. The height difference was too great; Song Huaihai was 1.89 meters tall, while Li Chunmei was barely 1.63 meters, a difference of over 20 centimeters, making her a full head shorter. Wouldn't Song Huaihai mind Li Chunmei's height? Moreover, given the nature of Song Huaihai's work, Li Chunmei might not be able to tolerate it.
Shen Qixue said, "Whether they succeed or not depends on their own destiny. I was just a master who led them into the door, but the cultivation is up to them. This is all I can do to help my brothers."
Zhao Mingyue closely followed the developments between the two. A week later, Zhao Mingyue made an excuse to visit Li Chunmei and inquire about the situation. Li Chunmei shyly replied that the two were currently in contact. Zhao Mingyue immediately knew that Li Chunmei was smitten. It was understandable; Song Huaihai was a soldier, and in those days, soldiers held exceptionally high status. No woman didn't admire and respect soldiers, and marrying a soldier was almost every girl's dream. Song Huaihai had handsome features and a tall stature, giving off a strong sense of security, which was indeed very attractive to women.
Zhao Mingyue was a little worried about Song Huaihai's attitude towards Li Chunmei. What if he was still hung up on his deceased ex-girlfriend? Wouldn't Li Chunmei be at a disadvantage? In any case, the living can't compete with the dead. She asked Li Chunmei, "What's Huaihai's attitude?"
Li Chunmei said, "He said we could get to know each other and spend some time together."
Zhao Mingyue nodded: "That's fine, but his vacation is relatively short, so you two will have less time together. I'm worried that if things continue like this, you won't get to know each other well enough."
Li Chunmei nodded: "I've heard about it too. But I can visit his unit during my vacation, so we can spend more time together."
Zhao Mingyue looked at Li Chunmei, who seemed quite determined: "So he really intends to date you, and you've confirmed your relationship?" She was afraid that Li Chunmei was just putting in a lot of effort, and if Song Huaihai didn't reciprocate, it would just be a waste of Li Chunmei's time.
Li Chunmei nodded: "I guess so."
Zhao Mingyue was slightly surprised that Song Huaihai would agree: "That's good, then you can get to know each other better. I hope to be able to drink your wedding wine soon."
Li Chunmei sighed: "Actually, I'm a little worried too. He fulfills my fantasies about men as a woman—tall, handsome, and a soldier—he's practically perfect. But I know his heart is incomplete, and maybe I can never fill that void."
Zhao Mingyue's heart skipped a beat, and she looked at her: "What did he say to you?"
“Yes, he told me about his ex-girlfriend’s story. I felt so sorry for him and I felt sorry for him, but I didn’t know if I could heal his wounds.”
It turns out that Song Huaihai had already told her about this. Zhao Mingyue said, "He already told you about that. Actually, I think it's okay. He was open and honest with you from the beginning and didn't lie to you, which shows that he is a very honest person and probably really wants to be in a relationship with you. In love, he may not meet your 100% requirements, but in marriage, he will definitely be loyal. So it depends on your own choice and whether you think it's worth it."
After hearing about this, Li Chunmei nodded: "Yes, I'll think about it carefully."
Zhao Mingyue took a full semester off, not returning to school until winter break. During winter break, Yu Youqing and Mao Jianlan got their marriage certificate and went back to their hometown for their wedding banquet. Zhao Mingyue planned to go with them. Shen Xuyue's workplace hadn't given him a break until before the Lunar New Year, meaning he'd miss Zhao Minglang's wedding. So, Zhao Mingyue took the child and went back first. Although Shen Xuyue was reluctant to leave his wife and child, he had no choice but to agree. Their nanny, Liu Ma, also took a break and would return to work after the Lunar New Year.
Zhao Mingyue hadn't been back for a year and a half. The last time she went back was during the summer vacation after graduation. She was quite excited and looking forward to this trip because it was the first time she was bringing her son back to her parents' home.
Traveling with a child is no easy task. Shen Xuyue bought sleeper tickets for Zhao Mingyue and her son, but Yu Youqing and his wife couldn't bear to spend the money on sleeper tickets, so they bought seated tickets instead. They helped Zhao Mingyue carry her luggage, but at other times, Zhao Mingyue still had to sit alone in the sleeper car with her son.
Liangliang is usually very well-behaved, but he became a bit unruly in unfamiliar surroundings, giving Zhao Mingyue quite a hard time. She felt relieved knowing that Shen Xuyue would come to pick them up and take them home, so she wouldn't have to take care of the child alone.
After enduring more than twenty hours, they finally arrived. The first thing they felt upon getting off the bus was the cold. This cold was different from the dry cold of the north; it was a bone-chilling cold. Zhao Mingyue was afraid her son would get cold, so she wrapped him up tightly, layer upon layer, for fear that something bad might happen to him.
Taking the train on the first day and not arriving home until the third day shows how arduous the journey home is. And it will be another twenty years before civil aviation becomes widespread and high-speed rail is built, which is a distant solution that cannot quench immediate thirst.
They spent the night in the provincial capital and took a bus home the next day. Zhao Mingyue said to Mao Jianlan, "Our hometown is so far away, it must be difficult for you to go home."
Mao Jianlan said, "It's alright, it's similar to my hometown. It's just that it's too cold to go home for winter. I'm used to spending winters in the north now. Back home, it seems like the blankets are always wet in winter." This is probably the personal experience of everyone who has lived in both the north and the south.
"Me too, it's more comfortable to spend the winter in the north, at least it's much easier to take a shower." Zhao Mingyue was worried about not having a public bathhouse when she got home.
Zhao Mingyue's biggest worry was that her son might not adapt to the new environment. When she brought Liangliang back, her in-laws were somewhat concerned, saying the child was too young and might get sick if he didn't adjust. Zhao Mingyue thought that her third brother was so close to her, it was really unreasonable that he didn't come back for his wedding. Liangliang was already six months old, and had always been healthy, never having had any serious illnesses, so there shouldn't be any major problems, especially since her parents were home and had plenty of experience taking care of children.
When Zhao Mingyue returned home with her son, she was naturally given a warm welcome. The adorable Liangliang stole almost everyone's attention and was loved by the whole family, especially his older cousins, who all liked to hug this little brother from Beijing. Liangliang was very friendly and smiled at everyone he met.
When the eldest brother, Zhao Mingliang, saw his little nephew, he said, "Hey kid, you laugh so much, you should be called Xiaoxiao (meaning 'smiling'). Why did your parents give you the same name as your uncle? Didn't you even complain?"
Zhao Mingyue laughed: "I really didn't think about that much when we were naming him. Luckily, it's just a nickname. His real name isn't Liangliang."
Zhao Mingliang asked, "What's your full name?"
Zhao Mingyue said, "His full name is Shen Muyang."
“Then let’s call him Yangyang, not Liangliang.” So Comrade Zhao Mingliang gave his little nephew a second nickname, Yangyang. All the relatives in the hometown call Liangliang Yangyang. Zhao Mingyue thought it was a good name, so as not to get confused. Yangyang also sounds nice.
While his parents were preparing for Zhao Minglang's wedding, Zhao Minglang himself was still working at the hospital. On his days off, he would take some time to go home to visit his sister and nephew, holding Liangliang tightly and reluctant to let go: "Doesn't he look like me?"
To be honest, Liangliang and Zhao Minglang do look somewhat alike, both with high noses and double eyelids. However, Zhao Mingyue also has these features. She looks more like Zhao Minglang and resembles their father.
"Of course they look alike, a nephew resembles his uncle," Zhao Mingyue said with a smile. "Third Brother, will you be getting married at home or at your workplace's apartment?"
Zhao Minglang said, "Come to my home; it's more convenient to set up the banquet here."
Zhao Mingyue nodded: "That's right, as long as Third Sister-in-law agrees." If we hold the banquet in the county town, there isn't enough space, and going to a restaurant is too expensive. It's more economical to hold the banquet at home.
“Of course she agreed, she’ll listen to me.” Zhao Minglang was very proud of himself.
Zhao Mingyue recalled her third sister-in-law, whom she had met once before. With that aloof personality, she guessed she wasn't one to meddle in things, meaning Zhao Minglang would have more to worry about in the future. "Try to have a big, healthy son as soon as possible."
Zhao Minglang looked at his nephew: "Of course, your brother has already fallen behind you, so I need to hurry up and catch up on everything."
"Brother, are we still going to Beijing for our honeymoon?" Zhao Mingyue asked.
Zhao Minglang shook his head: "We can't go for now. We'll go next year when the weather is warmer and we can take a vacation. She's always wanted to visit Beijing, and she definitely will."
“Okay, be sure to tell us before you come.” Zhao Mingyue said with a smile, taking out a box. “Third Brother, this is a wedding gift from Xuyue and me to you. We hope you will like it.”
Zhao Minglang took the box, opened it, and exclaimed in surprise, "A Kodak camera?"
Zhao Mingyue smiled and said, "Yes, there are two more boxes of color film."
"This is too expensive, it's too much trouble for you." Zhao Minglang happily fiddled with the camera. These days, many people can afford cameras, but they are usually domestically made. Those with connections can at most buy a Japanese camera. Buying a European or American camera is not easy; even if you have money, you may not be able to buy one because it is not available on the market.
Zhao Mingyue smiled and said, "We didn't know what to give you. We're also short on money, so we could only give you something small."
"This isn't a small thing, it's a treasure, I'm going to keep it safe. And this color film, you can't even buy it in the city, I'll keep it to take pictures slowly. Thanks, little sister." Zhao Minglang held it in his hands like a precious gem, turning it over and over to examine it. Color film was too precious; you might not even be able to buy it in the provincial capital.
Zhao Mingyue said, "I'll take some pictures of you when you get married."
“Okay. Do you know how to take pictures?” Zhao Minglang asked.
"Of course, I'll take care of it."
Zhao Mingyue said, "Have you made your wedding dresses for your wedding and your sister-in-law's wedding yet? If not, I'll make them for you."
Zhao Minglang grinned and said, "No, we're just waiting for you to come back and help us make it."
"I didn't bring any fabric back. I'll go to the county town to buy some tomorrow." The fabric for winter clothes is thick, and it's inconvenient for her to carry things with her child, so she didn't specifically bring any fabric back from Beijing.
Zhao Minglang said, "No need to buy any more. I've already brought back the fabric. I've also taken your sister-in-law's measurements, so you don't have to go."
Zhao Mingyue glanced at him: "Can't you just let your sister-in-law make do with me and come over here to let me take your measurements, and also come and see our parents?"
Zhao Minglang chuckled: "She's quite busy, so she might not be able to schedule a day off with me."
"Now you're all you know how to protect your wife. After you get married, your parents will be at home, you'll be in the county town, and your sister-in-law's family will be in the city. You'll basically be marrying into her family," Zhao Mingyue said jokingly.
Zhao Minglang said seriously, "It's impossible for me to marry into her family. I live in my own home in the county, not hers. I can bring my parents to live with me later."
Zhao Mingyue said, "Mom and Dad definitely won't go. Come back and visit them more often when you have time, don't always go to your mother-in-law's house. Just treat them equally. Mom and Dad are getting old and their health isn't good; they often have various ailments. You and your sister-in-law both work in the hospital, so it's best to have them checked out every six months. This is something we can't neglect. Come back and visit them more often. My older brothers are opening a factory after the New Year, so they'll probably be very busy and might not be able to take care of them." Zhao Mingyue's worry was that her mother had passed away from appendicitis in 1985, and it would be early 1984 now. That heart-wrenching day was fast approaching. If possible, she would like to bring her parents to live with her and take care of them herself, but she was afraid they wouldn't agree.
Zhao Minglang nodded: "Don't worry, I will definitely take good care of Mom and Dad."
Zhao Mingyue then asked, "If you have children in the future, should your mother-in-law help take care of them or should our mother help take care of them?"
"We don't know yet; we'll have to see how things go," Zhao Minglang said.
Zhao Mingyue actually hoped that her mother could help her third brother take care of the child. They were getting married now, and they would have a child in the next year or two, which would coincide with her mother's illness, so that they would be safe.
With Zhao Minglang's wedding day approaching, Zhao Mingyue hurried to make new clothes for her brother and sister-in-law. Suits were starting to become fashionable, so she made a suit for Zhao Minglang and a fitted mid-length coat for Gui Dan.
After Zhao Mingyue returned to her hometown, the weather cleared up and the sun shone brightly. Such days are perfect for sunbathing, so Zhao Mingyue felt relieved. As a result, Liangliang was less likely to catch a cold, and at night, covered with a sun-dried quilt, he felt warm and cozy, just right for sleeping.
With the wedding date approaching, the parents were extremely busy, decorating the new house, buying dried goods for the wedding banquet, and ordering chicken, duck, and fish from relatives and neighbors—they had to do everything themselves. Yu Youqing's family was also busy with the same things; their wedding was set for the 22nd, two days later than Zhao Minglang's.
Zhao Mingyue hurriedly finished making the clothes and asked her older brother to go to the county town to deliver them to Gui Dan. Zhao Minglang would keep the clothes at home for him to wear when he returned.
My second sister-in-law gave birth to a son in the tenth month of the lunar calendar, and I finally breathed a sigh of relief; the battle of having a son could finally come to an end. Ever since she became pregnant, she had closed her clothing shop in the county town and returned her apartment; having a son was more important than making money. To evade the one-child policy, she had been constantly on the run, only secretly returning home a few days before giving birth. Once the child was born, she would be safe. Whether it was fines or demolition of the house, she couldn't put the child back in her womb, nor could she kill the child. She could do whatever she wanted with her possessions.
The sisters-in-law chatted in the sun, cuddling their sons and exchanging parenting tips. The eldest sister-in-law sometimes joined them; winter was the off-season for farming, and besides housework, there wasn't much else to do. The two older brothers had already signed contracts with the village to lease the old tea factory, planning to open it next year. Currently, the costs weren't high—just rent for the building and land, which only amounted to a few hundred yuan a year. The real expenses would come in the spring when buying fresh tea leaves would require a large sum, but with good communication, they could get credit and pay after selling the tea.
That day, Zhao Mingyue was holding her son in the sun, while her nephews and nieces played hopscotch in the yard. Even Zhao Minggang's son was running around and playing wildly with his cousins.
Zhao Mingxiu was home for winter vacation when she saw her cousin return. She was overjoyed and would come over to talk to her cousin and help her hold her baby whenever she had free time. Zhao Mingyue looked at her cousin, who had grown into a beautiful young woman, and felt an immense sense of accomplishment. She was grateful for her rebirth, which allowed her cousin to have such a bright and beautiful life.
A little girl ran into the yard, and a woman's voice called out from behind, "Yanyan, slow down, don't fall."
Zhao Mingyue turned her head and saw a little girl of about two years old skipping over, wearing beautiful new clothes and a bright flower in her hair. Behind her was a woman, none other than Yu Youfen: "Sister Youfen!"
Yu Youfen stood at the other end of the courtyard looking at them: "Everyone is here. I heard that Mingyue is back, so I came to see her."
Zhao Mingyue said with a smile, "Sister Youfen, come and sit down. When did you get back?"
Yu Youfen walked over, holding one daughter in each hand. Her sister-in-law had already brought over a stool for her to sit on. Yu Youfen's clothes were more fashionable than her sisters-in-law's, with a distinct Hong Kong style, and her trousers were flared. Apart from that, there was no other change. Her complexion was much better than the last time she was seen, and she looked more confident. She smiled and said, "I just got home yesterday afternoon."
Zhao Mingyue asked, "Are you doing well over there?"
Yu Youfen nodded: "Yeah, it's not bad, but I'm quite busy at work and don't have much freedom. I only get two days off a month."
"And the compensation?"
Yu Youfen said, "It's alright, thirty yuan a month."
The eldest and second sisters-in-law both exclaimed in surprise, "So many?"
Yu Youfen smiled and said, "It's alright, but I'm very busy. I often have to work overtime until nine or ten o'clock at night."
"What are you doing?"
Yu Youfen said, "It's a children's clothing factory, the kind my daughter is wearing."
Everyone turned to look at the two girls' clothes. The colors were vibrant, and the styles were quite fashionable—the kind of clothes rarely seen in mainland China. They were probably made for foreign manufacturers. Zhao Mingyue's nieces gathered around to look at Nannan and Yanyan's clothes and hair accessories, reaching out to touch and tug at them with great envy. Yu Youfen took out several strips of brightly colored silk from her pocket and distributed them to the girls: "Here, these are for tying your hair; they're for sewing lace at the factory."
Several little girls happily accepted the ribbons and gathered around Zhao Mingxiu, asking their aunt to help them tie their hair into ribbons. The brightly colored ribbons illuminated the children's smiling faces and their childhood.
The adults gathered together chatting. The eldest and second sisters-in-law were very interested in Shenzhen and kept pestering Yu Youfen to ask about it. Yu Youfen smiled helplessly and said, "You have things to do at home, why go there? It's too tiring. I also want to stay home and take care of my daughters, but if I don't earn money, who will support them?" Working outside sounds glamorous, but the intensity of that kind of work is not much easier than doing farm work at home, and you have to be busy all year round.
Zhao Mingyue said, "That's right, my brother is going to open a tea factory after the New Year, and the sisters-in-law will be too busy to handle it." The outside world is indeed wonderful and full of temptations, but it is also full of helplessness. If there were a way out at home, who would leave their hometown to make a living elsewhere?
Yu Youfen said with a smile, "That's right. I was thinking that if your tea factory grows bigger and you need to hire people, I can come back and help you. I can also stay at home and take care of the two children."
My second sister-in-law just thought I was joking: "With such a high salary outside, how could you possibly care about this little bit of money at home?"
Yu Youfen just smiled and didn't continue the topic, going to tease Liangliang instead.
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