The chef at the county's state-run restaurant was quite skilled. The braised pork was glossy, fragrant, tender, and flavorful, while the sweet and sour spare ribs were delicious. Fang Qiao had a great appetite and ate more than half a bowl of rice with it. Finally, she had half a bowl of hot and sour fish ball soup to cleanse her palate. Before she knew it, Fang Qiao had eaten too much and let out a small burp.
After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Fang Qiao asked Cheng Baidong to pack a stew to take back to the old lady before leaving.
As the jeep started moving, Fang Qiao noticed that the women and elderly ladies by the roadside were all wearing headscarves. Suddenly, she remembered that the one her grandmother wore at home seemed to be old, so she asked Cheng Baidong to stop at the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative.
The headscarf is a square about one meter wide. It is folded diagonally to form a triangle and tied around the neck. Wearing a square headscarf in winter is both warm and stylish, and it has been popular in recent years.
The supply and marketing cooperative sells more than a dozen kinds of square headscarves, all kinds of styles. Fang Qiao took a liking to a dark blue cotton one, which felt warm and thick to the touch, and was just right to wear now.
Seeing her pick and choose, but finally choosing a dull gray color, Cheng Baidong couldn't help but say, "Wife, this color makes you look old. Pick something brighter, a brighter color will suit you better and look better on you."
“I bought it for my grandma, and this color is just right.”
Fang Qiao asked the price: "Comrade, how much is the square headscarf?"
The sales clerk on duty glanced at it absentmindedly and replied, "One piece costs three yuan, or you can have two for five yuan. No cloth coupons required."
Two headscarves cost a third of a worker's monthly salary, which is certainly not cheap, but despite the high price, she didn't require cloth coupons.
Fang Qiao hesitated for a moment, but still decided to buy it.
She picked out another red one, and handed both to the sales clerk: "I want two, please wrap them up for me, comrade."
Cheng Baidong paid the money voluntarily.
Once the money was collected, the saleswoman's attitude immediately became enthusiastic. She folded the two headscarves into squares and tied them with hemp rope, asking, "Sister, is there anything else you'd like to buy? Judging by your belly, you must have given birth two years ago, right? Would you like a tiger-head hat and tiger-head shoes?"
"No, thank you." Fang Qiao took the two square headscarves from the sales clerk and handed them to Cheng Baidong.
Cheng Baidong took it and glanced at it, saying, "Red is good, red suits you."
“I have a red headscarf now. I’m going to give this to Xiaojing from my third aunt’s family. She’s twenty-two this year. From what my third aunt said, she’s going to start looking for a husband for her at the end of the year.”
Cheng Baidong thought for a moment, but couldn't remember what Xiao Jing from his third aunt's family looked like.
Of course, it's not that he doesn't care about his relatives. The main reason is that he has been away from home for many years, and Xiao Jing is introverted and shy. When she sees people, she always lowers her head and tries to hide her head in her clothes. Even a neighbor who has watched Xiao Jing grow up in the village may not remember what Xiao Jing looks like.
"Why don't you buy another one to alternate wearing?"
"I won't buy any more. I have two at home that I can wear alternately."
Fang Qiao had bought most of the other things on the last trip, and she didn't know if there was anything she had forgotten, so she bought a headscarf and was about to leave. However, Cheng Baidong saw the honey on the counter and bought a jar to make water for Fang Qiao to drink when he got back.
Finally, Cheng Baidong walked ahead carrying the things, with Fang Qiao following half a step behind.
The two walked out of the supply and marketing cooperative. Fang Qiao got into the car first, while Cheng Bodong put the things he bought into the trunk. Just as he walked around the side of the car, before he could even open the driver's side door, a young woman in a floral cotton-padded jacket walked towards him, looking at him with surprise and delight: "Brother Cheng, is that you? I'm so glad you're alright! I heard from my family a few days ago that you had an accident, and I was so worried."
She spoke fluently, as if the two were very familiar with each other, but Cheng Baidong had no recollection of her at all.
"Who are you?"
The woman's face turned pale instantly. She bit her lower lip and said somewhat embarrassedly, "I... I'm Jiang Moli. We were classmates in junior high school, haven't you forgotten?"
"Jiang Moli? It's you." Cheng Baidong raised an eyebrow in surprise: "You and Cheng Yajun?"
"I have nothing to do with him anymore." Jiang Moli quickly distanced herself: "I... I didn't know he was that kind of person before. I... I was willing to get engaged to him because I thought that with an older brother like you who is a soldier protecting the country, he, as a brother, must be an honest and kind man. But I never expected him to bully women. I hate people like that the most. The thought of marrying someone like that and spending my life with him makes me want to die."
As Jiang Moli spoke, her eyes reddened, and she wept silently, looking very pitiful.
Cheng Baidong didn't react much, only saying calmly, "This is between you and Cheng Yajun. Whether you get married or break off the engagement is your freedom. You don't need to explain to me."
"Yes, I know I was being nosy, but I'm just so upset. You're his older brother, so I couldn't help but confide in you when I saw you."
"The matchmaker came back from your village today and brought me Cheng Yajun's message. He doesn't agree to break off the engagement and is forcing me to marry him, otherwise he won't let me go. But I don't want to. He's too domineering. I don't want to, and I don't dare to, spend my life with someone like that. Cheng Baidong, we were junior high school classmates, and you're Cheng Yajun's older brother. Can you help me persuade him? Please, please let him go..."
Crystalline tears streamed down Jiang Moli's face, her nose and eyes were red from crying, and her whole being exuded a fragile beauty.
"I'm sorry, I can't help you. I have a very bad relationship with Cheng Yajun, and he won't listen to me." Cheng Baidong politely declined, "I have other things to do, so I'll be leaving now."
After saying that, Cheng Baidong opened the car door, got in, and started the car, driving away from the scene in one smooth motion.
In the rearview mirror, Jiang Moli stood there blankly for a long time.
Fang Qiao withdrew her gaze from the rearview mirror and glanced at Cheng Baidong: "What does Jiang Moli want with you?"
"Do you know him?" Cheng Baidong asked.
Fang Qiao gave an annoyed "hmm": "In her past life, she married Cheng Yajun and lived in our house. I've looked for her more than once, how could I not recognize her?"
Cheng Baidong understood immediately and said directly, "Let's stay away from her from now on."
"You don't need to tell me that. I've kept my distance from her." Fang Qiao: "You still haven't told me why she contacted you?"
"She's crying terribly. She wants to break off the engagement, but Cheng Yajun doesn't want to, and she wants me to help persuade him."
Fang Qiao was startled and quickly asked, "You didn't agree, did you?"
"No, I can't be bothered with this." Cheng Bodong pondered for a moment and said, "This Jiang Moli has an unpleasant appearance; I can't get involved in her affairs."
Fang Qiao looked at him in surprise: "You can read faces?"
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