The dumplings, still warm from being eaten on New Year's Eve, were almost cold, but eating them warmed Zhao Mingyue's heart. That night, their time together was short; so short that Shen Xuyue left after Zhao Mingyue finished the dumplings. There were no profound words, no sentimental remarks, but both of them understood one thing—it was perfectly clear without needing to be explicitly stated.
Zhao Mingyue was in a better mood than ever before, with an unconscious, silly smile constantly playing on her lips. Her family members, seeing her radiant appearance, were a little puzzled. Zhao Shunsheng asked his wife, "What's wrong with our Mingyue? She's always smiling to herself."
Hu Nianchun glanced at Zhao Mingyue, who was pasting shoe clips by the fire, and said, "Your daughter has grown up." Although he didn't know the specifics, as someone who had been through it, he knew that the expression was definitely something only someone in love would have.
Looking at his younger sister who was grinning foolishly, Zhao Minglang said, "Mingyue, what delicious food did you eat that makes you so happy?"
Zhao Mingyue looked up at Zhao Minglang and said, "What did I eat? I'll eat whatever you eat." Of course, she couldn't tell him that she was eating dumplings.
"I think half of your soul has been stolen away," Zhao Minglang said bluntly.
Zhao Mingyue quickly composed herself and glanced around furtively: "Third Brother, don't talk nonsense, there's no such thing!"
Zhao Minglang moved closer to Zhao Mingyue, watching his younger sister's nimble hands carefully spreading flour paste on the cloth and meticulously pasting shoe clips. He lowered his voice and asked, "Has he come to see you again recently?"
Zhao Mingyue shook her head: "No, I didn't even go out, how could I have seen him?" She was determined not to admit it.
Zhao Minglang sighed softly: "I'm telling you, you should at least tone it down a bit. Your parents are watching. The way you look, it's obvious you're in love. Don't make them worry about you."
Zhao Mingyue puffed out her cheeks: "Okay, I understand." Was she being too obvious? Hadn't she already learned to hide her emotions? Perhaps it was because her family was so reassuring that she rarely concealed her feelings.
Zhao Mingyue hurried to make shoes. The soles needed to be thick to be sturdy. Five or six layers of cloth were used to make one shoe clip, and five or six shoe clips were needed to make one sole. After the shoe clips were pasted together, they needed to be dried in the sun before they could be used. Fortunately, the weather was exceptionally good during the two days of the New Year. After the snow, the sun shone brightly for several days in a row. Zhao Mingyue placed the finished shoe clips one by one in the sun to dry.
In this era, the atmosphere of the Lunar New Year was exceptionally strong, a completely different feeling from usual, filled with delicious food, drinks, and fun. People were particularly hospitable, and every year during the New Year, they would spare no expense to prepare fine food and drinks to entertain guests. When relatives came, they would be fed their fill, and the dishes would include meat. Families with better means would also be treated to chicken, duck, and fish. Hence, a saying circulated during this time: "Children look forward to the New Year, adults look forward to farming." During the New Year, children could eat and drink to their heart's content, while adults had to tighten their belts and cut back on food to make the New Year celebrations look decent.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, as was customary, Zhao Mingyue and her siblings visited their uncle's house to offer New Year's greetings. In previous years, they would stay for several days. Visiting relatives during the New Year was the happiest thing; they didn't have to work and could eat delicious food. At the very least, they could eat meat at every meal, which was a great temptation for people who rarely ate meat. That's why everyone loved the New Year and visiting relatives. However, this time Zhao Mingyue only stayed at her uncle's house for one night before returning home. The weather was nice, and she needed to hurry back to make shoes. If she delayed any longer, the weather would get warmer, and she wouldn't need the cotton shoes anymore.
Hu Nianchun was quite surprised to see his daughter return from the third year of junior high school: "Mingyue, what's wrong? Did you have a fight with someone?"
Zhao Mingyue laughed: "Mom, no, do I look like I'm arguing with someone?"
"Then why did you come back today? Weren't you going to stay at your uncle's house for a few more days? Where's your brother?"
Zhao Mingyue laughed, "My brother's going to be a freeloader. I came back first and have been eating and drinking at my uncle's house every day, and I feel bad about it. Weimin is getting married this year, so we need to save money." Zhao Mingyue only has one uncle, but three aunts. Every year during the Lunar New Year, at least ten of her cousins from her aunts' families, plus her own siblings, come to her uncle's house to pay their respects and stay for several nights. Although her uncle's family is better off, it's still a bit of a strain to entertain so many relatives.
Hu Nianchun exclaimed in surprise, "Really? Weimin's marriage has been arranged?"
"It's settled, it'll be on the ninth day of the fourth lunar month." Zhao Mingyue said as she walked into the house to find the shoe clips she had made. "Mom, did you help me dry my shoe clips?"
"They're drying in the sun, still drying outside," Hu Nianchun replied casually. "Weimin chose a girl from Qijiashan, right?"
Zhao Mingyue said, "I think so. Mom, how many more days do we need to dry the shoe clips?"
"Let's wait two more days," Hu Nianchun said, then continued to inquire about his nephew, "How much was the bride price?"
Zhao Mingyue thought for a moment: "I don't know the specifics, but I think they have bicycles and sewing machines."
Hu Nianchun said, "I'll go back and visit another day after the holiday."
Zhao Mingyue asked, "Mom, is there enough hemp rope? Should we twist some more?" Hemp rope is used to sew shoe soles. Cotton thread is easy to break when used to sew shoe soles, while hemp rope is strong and durable.
Hu Nianchun said, "It will take a few more days for your shoe clips to be finished. Wait until your third brother comes back and ask him to help you twist them. You should work on the shoe uppers first."
Zhao Mingyue said, "Then Mom, you teach me."
Hu Nianchun looked at his daughter as she pulled out some cotton and asked, "You're still making cotton shoes?"
"Oh, what's wrong?"
Hu Nianchun said, "It's already the first month of the lunar calendar, and spring is just around the corner. We can only wear cotton shoes next year. Let's make single-layer shoes instead."
Zhao Mingyue hesitated for a moment: "Okay, then let's make single-layer shoes."
Before the Spring Festival ended, Zhao Mingyue finally finished making the shoes. It was her first time making shoes, and no matter how careful she was, she couldn't match the experience of her predecessors. The shoes were somewhat rough, with uneven stitches on the soles, but they were densely stitched and sturdy enough. Zhao Mingyue treasured the shoes, placing them by her bedside, thinking about an opportunity to give them away.
Seeing his younger sister clutching the shoes so tightly, Zhao Minglang said, "Didn't you say you were making them for me? Let me try them on."
Zhao Mingyue wrinkled her nose: "Go away, you know perfectly well it's not for you."
"Then I'll give it a try and see if it's comfortable," Zhao Minglang continued to persuade.
Zhao Mingyue hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should ask her third brother to help her try it. In the end, she shook her head and said, "Forget it, it's already done even if it's uncomfortable. Anyway, it can't be changed."
During the Spring Festival, Zhao Mingyue stayed at home every day making shoes, and even stayed up late sewing soles. She hardly went out, so apart from exchanging greetings with Shen Xuyue when they visited each other on the first day of the Lunar New Year, they hadn't seen each other since. She didn't know what the other was busy with lately.
On the Lantern Festival, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, it is customary to officially start work on the sixteenth day, and hold a mobilization meeting on the evening of the fifteenth. Since the Destroy the Four Olds Movement, the custom of lighting lanterns on the Lantern Festival, which has mythological connotations, has been regarded as a superstitious activity and banned. However, people still habitually light a couple more lamps in their houses to make them brighter. So on this night, with the bright moon in the sky and the bright lanterns on the ground, it looks especially beautiful.
The weather was clear, and the moonlight was bright, casting a hazy, beautiful glow over everything. After dinner, people gradually gathered in the brigade's courtyard. Zhao Mingyue, carrying the shoes she had made and wrapped them up, led Zhao Minglang to the meeting place. As usual, the brigade director and the brigade party secretary spoke, looking back on the past, looking forward to the future, and boosting morale.
Mobilization meetings are usually quite boring, but fortunately Shen Xuyue is quite eloquent and humorous, and he tries his best to liven up the atmosphere. Everyone's confidence has been boosted. The tea garden will soon start picking tea, and there will be this extra income in the future. This year is much more promising than last year.
After the meeting, people gradually dispersed. Shen Xuyue, with his sharp eyes, spotted Zhao Mingyue from afar. She had just washed her hair that afternoon, and it wasn't completely dry when she arrived, so it was loose. Zhao Mingyue's hair was very long and smooth. Although she usually wore it in braids, it would automatically straighten after washing. It was a large, dark clump that cascaded over her shoulders, making it hard to miss.
Zhao Mingyue handed the shoes in her hand to Zhao Minglang: "Brother, go and deliver them for me."
Zhao Minglang glanced at her sideways: "What, feeling embarrassed now?"
Zhao Mingyue said, "This is a public place, I can't go to him. Good Third Brother, please help me with this, I will be grateful to you for the rest of my life."
Zhao Minglang snorted in dissatisfaction. Just because she gave a man a gift, she was expected to be grateful to him for life? Women are so fickle, they can't be kept forever. "Fine, I'll go call him for you, you can give it to him yourself."
Zhao Mingyue thought for a moment and then said, "Then I will wait for you under the phoenix tail bamboo."
Shen Xuyue watched Zhao Mingyue stay, thinking she wanted to talk to him, but after a while, she turned and left. The bright moonlight, like silver, bathed her in its glow, outlining her slender figure. She's gone already? Shen Xuyue felt a surge of anxiety and wanted to call out to her, but then he saw Zhao Minglang walking towards him, so he kept quiet.
Zhao Minglang said, "Secretary Shen, I have a question to ask you."
Shen Xuyue quickly picked up his notebook and pen: "Okay, let's go to my dorm."
When they reached a secluded spot, Zhao Minglang stopped and said, "Secretary Shen, my sister needs to speak with you. She's waiting for you under the bamboo by the garden."
Shen Xuyue was overjoyed and was about to leave when Zhao Minglang stopped him: "Wait a bit before you go, I'm leaving now."
Shen Xuyue took a deep breath: "Okay, then I'll go back first."
Zhao Minglang left first, and Shen Xuyue turned around and went back into the house. After thinking for a moment, he found a piece of clothing to change into. Liu Weiguo asked, "Hey, why are you changing clothes so late at night?"
Shen Xuyue said, "I'm going to wash these clothes tomorrow, so changing them now won't make a difference."
Liu Weiguo was packing his things; he was going back the day after tomorrow. He stood up straight and smiled at Shen Xuyue: "I think washing clothes is just an excuse; it's more like a rendezvous after dusk."
Shen Xuyue's ears felt a little hot: "Go away. Talking nonsense."
"Your face is beaming with desire, and you still say I'm talking nonsense," Liu Weiguo said, shaking his head with a smile.
Shen Xuyue changed his clothes and combed his hair before going out.
In the shade of the bamboo, Zhao Mingyue listened to the rustling of the wind through the trees and watched the swaying shadows on the ground. Suddenly, she realized that the Lantern Festival was not a traditional day for lovers to meet. It was too much of a coincidence that she had chosen such a day to look for someone. Her cheeks flushed.
Shen Xuyue hadn't arrived yet, but Zhao Minglang had already come back first: "He won't be here for a while. I'll go wait for you over there. Once I've given you the things, hurry back so no one sees us."
"I know," Zhao Mingyue said. Sigh, it's just like being a thief, sneaking around. When will we be able to do it openly and honestly? If Shen Xuyue doesn't bring it up, she definitely won't bring it up on her own.
Zhao Minglang squatted at one end of the garden. He was worried about his younger sister going on a date with a man alone so late at night. To be honest, he was quite hypocritical. When Zhao Minglang went on dates, he never considered that the other person was also alone with him, without bringing any siblings to be a third wheel.
When Shen Xuyue arrived, Zhao Mingyue had already seen him. She stepped out of the shadows, and before she could speak, Shen Xuyue rushed up to her: "Mingyue, you were looking for me?"
Zhao Mingyue was surprised to find that he had called her by her first name in a familiar way, without her surname. She felt both sweet and delighted, and couldn't bring herself to call him Secretary Shen anymore, as it would seem too formal. "Well, I made you a pair of shoes. Thank you for buying me the pearl cream." She handed him the shoes.
Shen Xuyue was overjoyed: "You made this for me?"
Zhao Mingyue lowered her head, not daring to look him in the eye: "Try it on and see if you can wear it. It's my first time making one, so it might not be very good. Please don't mind."
"No, no, I like them so much I don't even have time to try them on." Shen Xuyue squatted down and couldn't wait to change his shoes.
Zhao Mingyue looked down at his movements. Soon, Shen Xuyue was dressed. He stepped on the ground to feel the shoes, then walked a few steps and said, "They fit perfectly and are very comfortable. How did you know my shoe size?"
Zhao Mingyue said, "That's when I measured the footprints in the snow."
Shen Xuyue exclaimed, "You're really smart."
Zhao Mingyue said, "I originally wanted to make you a pair of cotton cloth shoes, but since spring is coming soon, I made single-layer shoes instead. Cloth shoes are a bit old-fashioned, but they're fine for wearing at home."
“It’s not old-fashioned. I like wearing cloth shoes. They’re breathable and comfortable. When my grandma was still alive, she would make cloth shoes for us every year. But after she passed away, no one in the family made them anymore,” Shen Xuyue said.
Zhao Mingyue wanted to say, "If you like it, I'll make it for you often in the future," but she was too embarrassed to say it aloud. "I'm glad you like it."
Shen Xuyue said sincerely, "Thank you, Mingyue, you really are very skillful."
Zhao Mingyue's face flushed red, and her heart was as sweet as if she had eaten honey: "I just made it randomly, I'm glad you don't mind."
Shen Xuyue saw that she was looking down and knew she was smiling. Zhao Mingyue's smile was beautiful; it revealed eight neat, white teeth, and her eyes curved like crescent moons, making one's heart flutter. Unfortunately, it was too late to see clearly. "How could I dislike it? I couldn't ask for it even if I begged. Mingyue, I want..."
Zhao Minglang imitated a frog's croak on the other end of the line—"Coo-coo, croak-coo"—the sound quite abrupt in the winter night. Zhao Mingyue snapped out of her daze and quickly said, "Secretary Shen, my brother is waiting for me over there to go back together. I'm going home now."
Shen Xuyue swallowed what he wanted to say and called out to her, "Mingyue, you can call me by my name in private from now on, you don't need to call me Secretary."
Zhao Mingyue smiled sweetly at him: "Okay, I'm leaving now."
The moonlight illuminated Zhao Mingyue's white teeth, radiating a soft glow that pierced Shen Xuyue's heart, spreading gradually and penetrating his very being. All that remained in Shen Xuyue's mind was Zhao Mingyue's radiant smile.
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