Chapter 44 A Belated Reflection
"Little Cheng, I really hate to see you and Xiaoxiao leave."
Luo Xiaojuan held Cheng Cheng's hand, her face full of reluctance.
Her face was rosy, she wore a bright red shirt and a large red flower in her hair, dressed like a bride. Today was indeed her big day!
“Sister Xiaojuan, we can still write letters in the future,” Cheng Cheng comforted her.
"Today you are the bride, so smile more. Your life will be filled with laughter and happiness will come naturally."
Upon hearing this, Luo Xiaojuan smiled happily and nodded.
She knew that all good things must come to an end, and that it would be best if Xiao Cheng took Xiao Xiao to the Northwest so that the family of three could be reunited.
Knowing they were leaving tomorrow was a bit hard to accept; it would be difficult for them to see each other again.
She held Cheng Cheng's hand and said again, "Little Cheng, you must remember to write to me when you get there."
Then, she beckoned to the little girl, picked her up and put her on her lap, saying, "Xiaoxiao, when you get to the Northwest, don't forget Aunt Xiaojuan. Aunt Xiaojuan will miss you."
Little Lingxiao looked up at Aunt Xiaojuan, his beautiful eyes filled with seriousness, and nodded his chin forcefully.
"Auntie Xiaojuan, Xiaoxiao will miss you too~"
Yu Xue's adorable little dumpling was exquisite and beautiful, even more beautiful than the New Year's picture dolls on the calendar. She looked at her earnestly and said she would miss her. Luo Xiaojuan's heart, which was already overflowing with maternal love, was instantly moved to tears.
Half-jokingly, and half-seriously, he said to Xiao Cheng, "I really want to keep Xiao Xiao as my daughter!"
After saying that, she glared at Xiao Cheng and said, "Is it okay? I will definitely treat Xiao Xiao like my own daughter, and I will leave all my good things to her."
That won't do, she can't bear to!
Why are there always people trying to kidnap her daughter these days? Sigh, it's a sweet problem, Xiaoxiao is such a lovable little sweetheart!
Cheng Cheng glanced up at her flat stomach, her eyes crinkling at the corners, and teased, "Maybe you're already pregnant? If Zai Zai heard this, she might be heartbroken."
Hearing this, Luo Xiaojuan couldn't help but touch her belly, a tender and hopeful look appearing on her face. "Then I'll take Xiao Cheng's good wishes. Hope has really arrived."
She wants to have a daughter as cute and well-behaved as Xiaoxiao!
Liu Xiulian and Cheng Ping saw this scene as soon as they entered, and both of them smiled.
Liu Xiulian was the matchmaker; she was the one who brought Comrade Xiao Juan and Comrade Leng Gang together. Liu Xiulian felt sorry for this girl who had been married for seven or eight years but still didn't have a child of her own.
She strode over, sat down on the edge of the bed, and looked at the bride with a smile. She glanced at the door and lowered her voice to ask, "Xiao Juan, how was your night? Was that thing really as big as a donkey's testicles? I wasn't lying to you, was I?"
Upon hearing this, Luo Xiaojuan blushed deeply, her face turning a rosy hue that made her look even more beautiful than if she had applied rouge.
He lowered his head, shyly remaining silent.
Seeing that expression, everyone understood.
Cheng Ping waved to Da Ni and told her to take her younger sister out to play, and not to go too far, as she would be rolling around in bed with the newlyweds later.
Only the married woman remained in the house. Liu Xiulian patted her hand and continued to ask with a smile, "Was the last one better or this one?"
Cheng Cheng stared wide-eyed at her sister's mother-in-law's words, which were quite sharp!
Perhaps noticing the shock on her face, Liu Xiulian didn't let her off the hook, smiling as she looked at her, "Xiao Cheng, what are you envious of? I saw it, Comrade Xiao Zhou is tall and strong, with long arms and legs, his thing is guaranteed to be no worse than Leng Gang's!"
Her eyes are incredibly sharp; anything seen through her eyes is bound to be right!
Immediately, everyone in the room turned to look at her. Cheng Cheng pretended to be calm on the surface, but she was panicking inside.
No, she was just quietly enjoying her melon, so why did Aunt Xiulian get involved?
Although Aunt Xiulian's analysis made a lot of sense, how could she possibly know?
Cheng Cheng couldn't help but let her imagination run wild. Even if she hadn't eaten pork, she'd at least seen a pig run! Although she lacked practical experience, her theoretical knowledge was abundant!
Isn't there a saying that apical dominance can inhibit the growth of lateral seedlings?
There's also the possibility that small chili peppers are hanging on a big tree. Although we don't know the exact truth, we can't rule out either of these possibilities!
Seeing that she seemed lost in thought and out of it, Liu Xiulian said with a teasing tone, "Comrade Zhou is back! Xiao Cheng, you look even better than before. Look at your rosy cheeks, the young couple must be very harmonious!"
Cheng Cheng: "..."
How did Aunt Xiulian know she was in better shape? She clearly had insomnia and stayed up all night last night. It's reasonable to suspect that Aunt Xiulian's eyesight is failing!
Facing the teasing and joking looks from the crowd, Cheng Cheng forced herself to remain calm and changed the subject, saying, "Oh dear, why are you dragging me into this? Today's protagonist is Sister Xiao Juan!"
We've gone off-topic, everyone!
Luo Xiaojuan didn't mind at all; in fact, she was more than happy about it!
"It's okay, I'm curious too!" As long as she's not the one being teased, she's happy to see it happen!
He nudged Xiao Cheng on the shoulder and whispered, "Is your man fierce in that area?"
Since Aunt Xiulian said that Comrade Xiao Zhou is just as good as Leng Gang in that aspect, it must be true!
She and Comrade Leng Gang met on Saturday, settled down on Sunday, met each other's parents, and got their marriage certificate on Monday.
She moved in that very day. The wedding night was long over, and from then on, she believed everything Aunt Xiulian said!
Upon hearing this, Cheng Cheng looked surprised and stared at Sister Xiao Juan with a shocked expression, as if she had somehow become bad too.
Luo Xiaojuan was a little embarrassed, but her gossipy desires overcame her sisterly affection. She gave Xiao Cheng a look and asked again, "Is Comrade Xiao Zhou fierce to you in bed?"
Luo Xiaojuan didn't mean anything by it. On one hand, she was genuinely curious, and on the other hand, she was puzzled. Leng Gang was a good person, but he was very fierce in bed, keeping her up until the middle of the night every day, which made her unable to sleep well for the past few days.
Moreover, besides being a bit too fierce and too strong in that area, although she initially found it enjoyable and had never experienced anything like it before, she eventually couldn't handle it.
Since Aunt Xiulian said that Comrade Xiao Zhou is the same as Leng Gang, he must be the same in that aspect as well. Leng Gang is a vigorous and virile man, and so is Comrade Xiao Zhou. Moreover, the young couple has not seen each other for a long time. There is an old saying that absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Therefore, Luo Xiaojuan felt that the young couple might be even more passionate than them at night!
Luo Xiaojuan was genuinely curious, and as someone who had been through it all, Xiao Cheng might be able to learn something from her experience.
Cheng Cheng's face turned bright red instantly. Sister Xiao Juan is so mean!
They're actually trying to shift the blame elsewhere!
His eyes darted around in a panic, his chest pounded as if a deer was thumping wildly, and a current of electricity coursed through his body.
My mind was uncontrollably filled with thoughts of last night, and I could still vaguely feel the tingling, numbing sensation when the hot palms pressed against my waist.
She stammered, lowered her head and covered her cheek, then suddenly looked up, taking the key point from Xiao Juan's words, and stared at Xiao Juan with her round, bright eyes, saying, word by word, "So, Comrade Leng Gang was very fierce to Xiao Juan at night?"
Otherwise, why would Sister Xiaojuan ask such a question?
This time, Luo Xiaojuan was caught off guard. Although she was a little shy, she nodded slightly under the bright eyes of everyone.
Liu Xiulian laughed and said, "Men are like that. It's normal for them to be a little horny after getting married. A young man full of vigor has finally found a wife. He's like a hungry dog seeing a bone. He's so hungry."
She smiled broadly, "Xiao Juan, don't spoil him too much."
His gaze shifted and landed on Cheng Cheng again.
Cheng Cheng's hair stood on end and alarm bells rang. Before Aunt Xiulian could speak, she preemptively said, "Wow, Aunt Xiulian is truly an experienced woman. She's had more experience than we have."
She stared at the other woman with her innocent, wide eyes, full of curiosity: "Aunt Xiulian, when you and Uncle first got married, was he like this to you too? Were you and Uncle harmonious when you were young? Are you still harmonious now?"
She was like a curious child, her face serious and undisguised, seemingly driven by pure curiosity.
Turning her head, her gaze fell on her sister. "Sis, how are you and your husband? In that respect, um... how are things?"
Cheng Ping glared at her younger sister, "What nonsense are you spouting!"
Cheng Cheng pursed her lips, then looked at Aunt Xiulian, "Aunt Xiulian, tell us about it, let us learn from your experience. How many times a night do you and Uncle do it?"
She tilted her head as if thinking for a moment, then shook her head. "No, maybe it's a few times a week now?"
His tone rose, carrying a clear sense of rhetorical questioning and uncertainty.
Honestly, these words piqued not only Cheng Cheng's curiosity, but even Cheng Ping looked at her mother-in-law.
Now it was Liu Xiulian's turn to lose face. She wasn't angry, but how could she say such things in front of all the younger generation?
Besides, her daughter-in-law was still around. She waved her hand and said, "Don't pry into the affairs of your elders. You'll know when you get to my age."
Just then, a commotion came from outside, and Leng Gang came in with his men to fetch the bride.
Although the groom's parents and relatives have passed away and he is all alone, today is his wedding day, a major joyous occasion in his life, and he has invited his colleagues and superiors to the wedding banquet.
The bride's family members, besides her parents and relatives, included a few close relatives, and a lively gathering of five or six tables was set up.
The Luo family's point is, so what if it's a second marriage? You can still marry well!
A large crowd of people squeezed in. The groom was wearing a Zhongshan suit with a big red flower on his chest, and his happy smile stretched almost to his ears.
Teasing from the crowd, the burly man with the dark face surprisingly showed a hint of shyness, and his dark cheeks even blushed.
Amidst the teasing and congratulatory glances of the crowd, Leng Gang walked steadily to Luo Xiaojuan.
He bent down and scooped up the bride in his arms, and everyone cheered and applauded instantly!
The groom carried the bride out of her parents' house. The Luo family also lived in a tenement building, on the third floor.
Leng Gang carried Luo Xiaojuan down the stairs in front of him. His steps were steady and powerful, as if the weight in his arms was nothing to him.
The bride was gently placed on the back of the bicycle, which was decorated with a large red flower.
Let's bring the bride home!
Cheng Cheng and Zhou Yue, along with Xiao Xiao, the little guy held in his father's arms, his face beaming with joy, followed the group to their new location.
Zhou Yue glanced at his wife's face, which was beaming with joy, and felt a slight pang in his heart. He remembered how he had been too hasty in getting engaged to his wife back then, and he hadn't been able to give her a grand wedding.
Looking at his wife's smile, Zhou Yue felt a tightness in his chest.
Perhaps in the past, his wife was just a symbol to him, and family and marriage were the responsibilities on his shoulders.
At this moment, Zhou Yue realized how absurd and outrageous his mistake was! He had been too idealistic and irrational. People are not cold, lifeless numbers, nor are they physical symbols with meaning. They cannot be simply equated with logic and symbols.
This belated realization made his heart tighten.
The bright smiles on his wife's and daughter's faces were like a bucket of boiling water scalding his stubborn rationality. Zhou Yue felt both guilty and fortunate—it wasn't too late yet.
The Luo family lived in the south of the city, while the meat processing plant's residential compound was in the north. After circling most of the city, they finally arrived at the groom's house.
Luo Xiaojuan invited three little ones—Xiaoxiao, Niuniu, and her nephew Qiangqiang—to roll around on her bed, hoping they could give her a child.
Xiaoxiao, Niu Niu, and their new friend Qiangqiang were rolling around and doing somersaults on the bright red new bed.
The three kids were surrounded by adults who applauded them. They were so excited by the praise that they bounced around on the bed with even more joy!
The banquet was held in the open space downstairs. It wasn't extravagant, with only five or six tables set up. However, the bride and groom gave melon seeds and peanuts to the neighbors, creating a lively atmosphere.
On the way back, Cheng Cheng's lips never left her mouth. She chattered on and on with Zhou Yue, saying how unhappy Sister Xiao Juan's previous marriage was, and how now that she had married Comrade Leng Gang, she had escaped the mire and was heading towards new happiness.
Cheng Cheng was really happy for Sister Xiao Juan!
"An unsuitable marriage should be ended sooner rather than later! Kick that jerk out of the old, in with the new! Don't worry about what others think, who cares! As long as you're happy and living well, it's your life to live!"
"If marriage can't bring any benefits to a woman, why get married? It's not like she's being unreasonable. Sister Xiaojuan understands this principle, but she understood it too late, which is why she has struggled in the quagmire of the Zhuang family for seven or eight years."
She gained nothing good, but instead got herself into a mess. Old Mrs. Zhuang pointed at her and scolded her for being a barren hen. Zhuang Zhifeng's inaction and indifferent observation, along with the sympathetic and veiled scrutiny from those around her, showed no benefit whatsoever to Xiao Juan from this marriage. All she got was endless embarrassment and scars.
His wife's words made sense, and Zhou Yue agreed with her.
He lowered his eyelashes slightly. From his wife's words, it was easy to see that she was a very free-spirited person with a clear and independent personality and insight. Zhou Yue was both proud of and admired his wife's cognition and thoughts, but at the same time, he couldn't help but feel a sense of crisis.
What can he offer his wife in this marriage?
"Zhou Yue? Zhou Yue!"
The man snapped out of his reverie, paused for a moment before realizing what he had just said, looked up at his wife, and smiled gently. "Sorry, I was lost in thought. Cheng, what did you just say?"
"I suggest we go to a state-run restaurant tonight."
I'm leaving tomorrow, and this is the last time I'll be eating out. Once I get to the Northwest base, I probably won't be able to eat out anymore. I'll either have to eat at home or just eat the canteen's communal meals.
"good."
Zhou Yue suppressed his thoughts for the time being. As long as his wife and daughter were still by his side, there was still time to make amends.
-
Before they knew it, it was time to leave. The train platform was packed with a dense crowd. Zhou Yue held his wife tightly to his chest, both his hands busy carrying their luggage.
Cheng Cheng hugged Xiao Xiao tightly. Before coming to the train station, she was filled with excitement and anticipation about taking the train, but once she arrived, that feeling vanished.
Although she had Zhou Yue protecting her, the platform was crowded with people, the air was stuffy, and everyone was anxiously staring at the tracks.
Little Lingxiao buried his face in his mother's neck, smelling the pleasant soap scent on her, and hugged his mother tightly with his little hands.
He asked softly, "Mom, how much longer until the train comes?"
"Almost there, almost there, let's wait a little longer."
Cheng Cheng comforted her, saying that there were many people and it was crowded, with a strong smell of sweat. The sun was shining overhead and there was no shade around, so people were sweating profusely.
Fortunately, a "beep beep beep" sound came from afar, and soon after, a moving dark shadow appeared in sight.
A greater commotion erupted from the crowd instantly. Cheng Cheng instinctively hugged Xiao Xiao tighter in her arms, while Zhou Yue protected his wife on both sides with his hands.
The crowd moved forward unconsciously, and the family of three was swept along, forced to follow the surging crowd.
Little Lingxiao looked up from his mother's arms and saw the growing black shadow getting closer and closer. The locomotive was rattling towards them, billowing white smoke.
"Mommy! It's a train!"
"The train is coming!"
Little Lingxiao stared intently, his eyes wide open, dark and shining.
"Yes, it's here. We're about to take the train."
Next, Cheng Cheng experienced firsthand how incredibly difficult it was to squeeze onto a train in the 1970s!
After a great deal of effort, the family of three finally managed to squeeze onto the train.
Cheng Cheng finally breathed a sigh of relief once she entered the sleeper car; she was exhausted!
Zhou Yue put the luggage under the bed, saw his daughter looking out the window, and unscrewed the kettle lid to hand it to his wife.
"Have a sip of water to calm down."
Cheng Cheng took the military water bottle, which contained honeysuckle tea she had brought from home. She had brewed it specially that morning, tilted her head back and drank a few sips of water, while instructing Zhou Yue to spread out the bed sheets they had brought.
Fortunately, Zhou Yue bought a soft sleeper compartment. The space was not large, but it was private and clean. There were only four beds in the compartment, divided into upper and lower bunks.
Their family bought two bunk beds on the left side, but the two beds on the right side are still unoccupied. No one came even after the train started moving, so it must be because no one boarded at this station.
Zhou Yue climbed up and down, busily covering both the upper and lower bunks with sheets they had brought from home.
Cheng Cheng had already made Xiao Xiao take off her shoes and sit on the bed to watch.
The little girl couldn't contain her excitement as soon as she boarded the train, constantly looking out the window.
There wasn't much free space to move around on the train, and it would take them four days and three nights to get there. Just thinking about it made Cheng Cheng feel dizzy, and she wished she could fall asleep right now and wake up to find that they had arrived.
Cheng Cheng leaned against the bed frame at the foot of the bed, sometimes looking down and sometimes looking up. The pencil tip scratched across the drawing paper, outlining the man's gentle profile, his straight nose, and the little girl's round head.
Zhou Yue was teaching his daughter to play chess, specifically the simplest game of Gomoku. He only had to teach her once before Xiaoxiao learned it.
Gomoku is simple; Xiaoxiao understood it after listening to her father explain the rules once. However, despite understanding it, the little girl didn't win a single game in actual play.
Zhou Yue let his daughter play chess, and it was the turbulent Yellow River. However, the little girl was a beginner and played chess based on instinct, without understanding the rules and strategies.
Seeing the disappointed look on his daughter's face, he comforted her, "Do you want to play with Mommy?"
What does that mean?
Cheng Cheng suddenly looked up and glared at the man, "I'm also very good at Gomoku, okay!"
"Xiaoxiao, get out of the way! Watch how Mommy beats Daddy!"
Cheng Cheng angrily threw her paintbrush and notebook on the bed and stormed off.
One burst of energy, then... well, then a decline...
"Go, Mom!"
Little Lingxiao clenched his little fists to cheer on his mother, his eyes sparkling as he shared her hatred for the enemy!
Um... meeting her daughter's expectant, shining eyes, Cheng Cheng couldn't help but feel awkward. She would definitely try her best.
As she watched her black pieces increase on the board, none of them formed a line. Each time she was just one piece away from connecting, but each time she was blocked by white pieces.
She has fewer and fewer black stones in her hand, while her opponent has more and more white stones. The outcome is probably two-thirds decided, and she can still put up a last-ditch effort.
It will be exhausted after three times.
Cheng Cheng: "..."
It's confirmed now, Zhou Yue is definitely a clueless, straight man who doesn't understand romance!
Cheng Cheng kicked the man from below, but didn't show it on her face at all. She was still arrogant and confident. She was confident, and whether Zhou Yue knew what was good for him was up to him!
Fortunately, Zhou Yue wasn't completely stupid. After being kicked by his wife, he understood her intention and a smile played on his lips.
Then, without making a sound, they let loose, perhaps realizing the gap between the two sides. This time, they let loose exceptionally thoroughly, and they were more experienced in doing so.
Zhou Yue thought to himself that he never had to think about how to win when playing chess, but when it came to letting the opponent win, he had to put a lot of thought into it.
It seems that even the art of flood control is a skill, and there is no end to learning.
"Yay! Mom, we won!"
Little Lingxiao clapped his hands excitedly, "We beat Daddy!"
Cheng Cheng smiled and winked at the man, coaxing her daughter, "Xiaoxiao, I'll teach you how to beat your dad!"
Yes, she is that capable of anything!
Looking at his wife and daughter's smiling eyes, Zhou Yue couldn't help but smile back.
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Author's note: It's so cold today! Remember to dress warmly, everyone!
Good night, see you tomorrow~
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