RIRW – Chapter 66

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Zuo Dan kept her word and actually bit Shen Yiming hard. She clamped onto his arm and bit down through his sleeve. When Shen Yiming lifted his sleeve to check, there were clear teeth marks on his skin. If she weren’t worried about breaking her own teeth, Zuo Dan might have taken a chunk of his flesh.

“Comrade Zuo Dan, you bit too lightly,” Shen Yiming said with regret. “I know you’re worried that I’ll forget you once I leave and want to leave a mark on me. But this mark isn’t deep enough.”

“Just wait until I sharpen my teeth,” Zuo Dan gritted her teeth fiercely.

Shen Yiming watched her clench her jaw but found himself staring at her lips instead. He subconsciously touched his own lips, smacking them slightly, as if reminiscing about something or savoring an aftertaste.

Zuo Dan immediately kicked him. “If you keep messing around, I won’t go back with you!”

Perhaps fearing she was serious, Shen Yiming behaved himself for the rest of the journey.

When they arrived at the town’s bus station and boarded the bus, the ticket seller noticed their large bags and asked curiously, “Are you heading to the city to visit relatives?”

Shen Yiming put their belongings away and smiled. “I’m returning to the city at the end of the month, so I’m taking my fiancée home to meet my family.”

“Oh! That’s wonderful news! Xiao Shen, congratulations!” The ticket seller beamed. She took another look at Zuo Dan and thought this young woman must be quite capable—Shen Yiming was about to return to the city, yet he still insisted on bringing her back to meet his family. She had seen many educated youths before; once they got the chance to return to the city, they no longer cared about anything else. She wondered whether Shen Yiming would truly remember his fiancée after returning.

Noticing the ticket seller eyeing Zuo Dan, Shen Yiming’s gaze narrowed slightly, and he smiled. “Once I’m back in the provincial capital, if you ever need any help, feel free to come to me. After all, my fiancée is from Dahe Commune, so this place is practically my second hometown.”

The ticket seller hadn’t forgotten Shen Yiming’s connections in the province. Hearing this, she was overjoyed and also understood that he was intentionally making it clear—don’t treat his fiancée poorly once he’s gone.

“Xiao Shen, let me tell you, your fiancée is just as good as any city girl. You’re lucky to have her.”

Shen Yiming smiled and nodded in agreement.

Zuo Dan curled her lips, thinking Shen Yiming was acting like a nagging old mother, worrying about her being bullied once he left. She reached out and pinched him again, though not as hard as before.

While Shen Yiming chatted and laughed with the ticket seller, he discreetly used his satchel to cover his left hand and firmly grasped the hand Zuo Dan had just used to pinch him.

Finally, they arrived at the county town, but they had to wait for the afternoon bus to the provincial capital. Unfortunately, there were only two buses to the city each day—one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Since they missed the morning bus, they had no choice but to wait until after lunch.

They found a state-run restaurant and ordered two bowls of noodles. Zuo Dan, without hesitation, also ordered a big steamed bun. As for fighting over the bill to prove her financial independence? That was something Zuo Dan wouldn’t even consider. Since she had been “forcibly invited” by Shen Yiming, she felt he should take full responsibility for her food, lodging, and travel expenses.

After their meal, they headed straight to the bus station.

The bus to the provincial capital was larger than the one to the county town. Zuo Dan knew she was about to spend the next five to six hours on that bus…

Soon, she realized that five to six hours was actually the fastest possible time—the bus usually ran slower. By the time they arrived in the provincial capital, it was already past 8 PM.

As soon as they got off the bus, a figure rushed toward them and gave Shen Yiming a bear hug.

“Yiming! You brat, you’re really back! Hahaha!”

The man had a broad, honest-looking face, thick eyebrows, and big eyes, giving off a sincere and straightforward vibe. Zuo Dan thought to herself, Looks like another poor soul who’s been bullied by Shen Yiming.

“Alright, Song Gang, let me introduce you. This is my fiancée, Zuo Dan,” Shen Yiming said, pushing Song Gang’s arm away and pulling Zuo Dan to his side.

“I know. I’ve seen her photo. Teacher Zhao showed it to me several times, saying that Yiming found himself a fiancée—she was so happy about it,” Song Gang said warmly as he reached out his hand. “Hello, sister-in-law. I’m Song Gang, Yiming’s big brother.”

Zuo Dan extended her hand with a smile. “Hello, Comrade Song Gang.”

Before Song Gang could shake her hand, Shen Yiming shoved their luggage into his arms. “Let’s head back first. She’s shy and not used to talking to strangers.”

Song Gang chuckled. “That’s good. Honest people should find an honest partner like this.”

Zuo Dan coughed lightly, covering her mouth.

Song Gang had come by car—he worked at a transportation company, so getting access to a vehicle was easy. As he drove them home, he complained that Shen Yiming hadn’t told him in advance when he returned for the New Year. “That snow was so heavy, and you had to walk all the way back from the station—how exhausting! This time, you only called me because of your fiancée, huh? You’re treating me like an outsider now.”

Then, he enthusiastically introduced the fun places around the provincial capital to Zuo Dan. As they passed different landmarks, he pointed them out:

“That’s Provincial Capital No. 1 Elementary School. Yiming and I went to school there. Back then, I always had his back…”

“That’s a newly built park. Yiming should bring you here to visit later…”

“That’s the shopping mall. If you need anything, have Yiming take you. I’ve got purchase vouchers…”

Song Gang showed Zuo Dan the utmost enthusiasm. Initially, when he heard Shen Yiming was marrying a rural girl, he wasn’t too happy—he worried that Yiming might end up staying in the countryside forever. But Teacher Zhao had told him, “Yiming never had many people who cared about him growing up. Now that he’s finally found someone he truly likes, we can’t let anything spoil that for him.”

Song Gang thought about it and agreed—Shen Yiming had it tough, always keeping to himself and rarely interacting with women. It wasn’t easy for him to find a fiancée. He didn’t want her to feel unwelcome and end up breaking things off with Yiming.

The car stopped outside Shen Yiming’s family courtyard.

The gate was left open. Hearing the commotion, an elderly woman stepped out. When she saw who was outside, she immediately walked forward. Taking one look at Zuo Dan, her eyes crinkled with joy. She walked over and held Zuo Dan’s hand.

“You must be Dandan! It must’ve been a tiring journey for you. Did Yiming take good care of you?”

Zuo Dan was stunned by the old lady’s enthusiasm. She had expected some scrutiny or skepticism—after all, given the strict household registration system, bringing home a fiancée from the countryside should have raised some concerns. But instead, everyone she met was overwhelmingly welcoming.

Song Gang, carrying their luggage, laughed. “Teacher Zhao, Comrade Zuo Dan is shy—she doesn’t dare to speak.”

Zuo Dan immediately responded, “Hello, Grandma!”

“Good, good! But you should call me ‘Grandmother’—I’m Yiming’s grandma, after all,” the old lady said happily, pulling Zuo Dan into the house without even sparing a glance at Shen Yiming, as if she didn’t see her beloved grandson at all.

Once inside, Zuo Dan got a clear look at Shen Yiming’s home.

The courtyard wasn’t big, but it was clean and well-kept. One corner had neatly arranged vegetable patches, while another had beautifully maintained flowers. The vegetables were arranged almost like art, showing the care put into them. The interior of the house was just as elegant.

No wonder Shen Yiming always had that scholarly air, even in his worn-out cotton-padded jacket—it clearly ran in the family.

Grandmother guided Zuo Dan to a seat at the dining table, where an elaborate meal was already set up—steamed fish, braised pork, scrambled eggs… it looked like a New Year’s feast.

Seeing the food, Song Gang immediately started teasing, “Teacher Zhao, you’re playing favorites! Last time Yiming came home, you didn’t cook anything this nice!”

“That’s because last time, he didn’t bring his fiancée home,” Grandmother said righteously.

Zuo Dan hadn’t expected Shen Yiming’s family to be so genuine, making her feel embarrassed to use any of her usual careful calculations. “Grandma, you’re too kind.”

“Call me ‘Grandmother,’” the elderly woman said with a smile so warm that it nearly dazzled Zuo Dan. Without thinking, she obediently called out, “Grandmother.”

Right after saying it, she suddenly realized something and glanced at the old woman again. Whoa… when Grandmother smiles, it looks just like Shen Yiming’s mischievous grin!

“Yiming, did you hear that? Dandan already calls me Grandmother. From now on, you’d better treat her well. I’ve officially recognized her. She’s the only granddaughter-in-law of the Shen family.”

Song Gang chimed in, “See, sister-in-law? Yiming’s family is great, right? People always say city folks are calculative, but that’s not true at all. We’re all straightforward and sincere. You don’t have to worry about being mistreated here.”

Zuo Dan thought to herself, You’re probably the only one here who’s truly straightforward. This old lady, with just a few words, has completely locked me in. If I were a truly honest girl, wouldn’t I be devoted to the Shen family for life after this?

At the dinner table, Grandmother enthusiastically served Zuo Dan food while continuously praising her looks and manners, treating her as if she were her own granddaughter.

Zuo Dan, being great at compliments herself, responded, “Grandmother, you’re the best! I’ve never met such a kind and beautiful grandmother before. No wonder Shen Yiming looks so good—he takes after you.” Probably even inherited that cunning mind, too.

Hearing this, Grandmother’s face crinkled with laughter. Being praised so openly yet still having the clarity of mind to return a compliment—this girl had composure, intelligence, and a sharp mind. She was a good one.

After dinner, Song Gang left happily.

Grandmother, still delighted, personally arranged a room for Zuo Dan. The bedsheets were freshly changed, showing just how much she had been looking forward to this visit.

Seeing all of this, Zuo Dan could tell that Grandmother wasn’t just a simple and naive old woman. But even so, she still liked her a lot. The old lady was trying to use genuine care and warmth to win her over—to ensure she would truly love Shen Yiming.

So, Zuo Dan made up her mind—she would repay Grandmother’s kindness with warmth and sincerity. As for Shen Yiming… he’ll get what he deserves.

Once Zuo Dan was settled, Grandmother went out to the courtyard to find Shen Yiming.

Shen Yiming was sitting outside, gazing at the sky. Hearing footsteps, he turned around. Seeing his grandmother, he immediately stood up. “Grandmother.”

“She’s asleep now,” Grandmother said, smiling at her grandson. “Bringing her back to meet me means you’ve made up your mind, right? From now on, treat her well.”

She understood her grandson better than anyone. He was the most like her—not one to rush into anything without thorough thought. Since childhood, Yiming disliked unnecessary trouble. Whatever he did, he aimed to gain the most while giving the least.

So when she heard he had chosen a girl from the countryside, she knew he was serious about her—serious enough to ignore the potential difficulties that could arise.

But from the photos he had sent back, she could tell—her clever grandson had already fallen, while the girl was still hesitating.

That was why she had orchestrated today’s events.

When dealing with intelligent people, only sincerity could win sincerity. So she decided to treat this girl with the utmost kindness, making sure she remembered the goodness of the Shen family. And as long as she remembered that, she would eventually want to become part of it.

Shen Yiming reached out and hugged his grandmother. “Thank you, Grandmother.”

Perhaps it was because Grandmother had made the bed too comfortable, but Zuo Dan slept exceptionally well that night—no trouble adjusting to a new bed at all. She woke up feeling refreshed and got up early to help Grandmother prepare breakfast.

Having grown up with her own grandmother, Zuo Dan naturally enjoyed spending time with elderly people. And Grandmother was the kind of person who made others feel at ease, making it easy to see her as family.

In this regard, Shen Yiming was just like her—he could get along with anyone as if they had known each other forever.

Zuo Dan wanted to help, but since she didn’t know how to cook, she could only assist with washing and cleaning.

Grandmother comforted her, “No worries. Yiming is a great cook—he’ll handle the meals.”

Hearing his name, Zuo Dan suddenly realized something. “Wait, where is Shen Yiming? I’ve been up for a while, but I haven’t seen him. Did he just sleep in after coming home?”

“He’s been up for a long time,” Grandmother replied with a smile. “He went out to take care of some paperwork. He needs to transfer his official records back here—the sooner, the better, for peace of mind.”

Hearing this, Zuo Dan immediately recalled what she had heard before—about how someone had deliberately made things difficult for Shen Yiming, forcing him to go to the countryside and refusing to let him return to the city.

She frowned and asked, “Grandmother, isn’t Shen Yiming the only son in this family? Shouldn’t he have been exempt from being sent to the countryside? How did he end up going?”

Grandmother’s hands slowed slightly as she kneaded the dough, and she let out a gentle sigh. “Dandan, you’re a good child. I know Yiming sincerely wants to spend his life with you. I won’t hide our family’s situation from you.”

“When Yiming’s mother gave birth to him, she passed away. He was only a few months old when his father found another partner. That woman already had a daughter a year older than Yiming and soon became pregnant again. Later, his grandfather and I realized that Yiming’s health was terrible—he was severely malnourished and nearly didn’t survive. So we took him in and raised him ourselves. Over the years, he changed his surname and was registered under our household. He worked hard and managed to get a job offer. But then his father stepped in, saying that Yiming was the son of a cadre and shouldn’t use connections to get ahead.

“Even though he was in our household register, his biological father was still his legal guardian. And with his father having more children, Yiming was no longer considered an only child. So he had no choice but to be sent to the countryside.”

Oh wow, so Comrade Shen Yiming had been bullied since childhood—no wonder he turned out the way he did.

Grandmother didn’t spell out all the details, but Zuo Dan could easily guess that Shen Yiming’s father had likely never visited him over the years. That was probably why Shen Yiming had almost forgotten he even had a father. Otherwise, with his resourcefulness—managing to return from the countryside on his own—how could he have been so easily sent there in the first place?

Poor guy. Most people trick their fathers; his father tricked him instead.

Grandmother, however, quickly shifted the tone. “But I think Yiming being sent to the countryside wasn’t a bad thing. If he hadn’t gone, he wouldn’t have met such a wonderful girl like you.”

A sugar-coated bullet right there. As if his entire hardship was just fate leading him to love.

Zuo Dan: Grandmother, could you focus a little when talking about something this tragic?

By the time the steamed buns were ready, Shen Yiming had returned, looking sharp in his green military uniform as he pushed his bicycle inside.

Zuo Dan looked at him and thought about his past miserable self. Strangely, though, she just couldn’t feel sorry for him at all.

Shen Yiming had been quite efficient in handling his affairs. Everything was settled—he was no longer a zhiqing (sent-down youth) from Zuojiatun. His organizational affiliation had officially been transferred to the provincial military district’s press office.

Grandmother was so happy that even her porridge tasted better. “Once you two get married, Dandan can come to the provincial capital, too! When are you planning the wedding? I should visit Dandan’s parents to meet them.”

“No rush, no rush,” Zuo Dan quickly replied. “Yiming and I already discussed it. We’ll wait until his job is stable. He just got back to the city, and we don’t want to hold him back.”

Under the table, she gave Shen Yiming a quick kick.

Shen Yiming nodded along. “Dandan is just worried she won’t have access to rationed grain and will be a burden on me.”

“That’s not a problem. Grandmother has money,” she quickly reassured him.

Shen Yiming shook his head. “We don’t want to use our elders’ money. Here’s the plan: once my salary reaches a level where I can fully support a wife and children without any financial stress, ensuring they have enough food and clothing, then I’ll marry Dandan.”

Grandmother asked, “And how much would that be?”

Instead of answering, Shen Yiming turned to Zuo Dan. “Right, how much would that be?”

Zuo Dan coughed and hesitated before testing the waters. “A hundred?”

She knew that most workers at the time earned around 30 yuan per month. A salary of 50 yuan was already considered high, while 70–80 yuan was the level of senior workers. A hundred yuan? That was practically the equivalent of a modern-day high-level white-collar worker.

By the time Shen Yiming reached that salary level, it would be several years later—by then, she would already be in university.

Shen Yiming frowned, feeling the pressure, but after thinking for a moment, he reluctantly nodded. “Alright. When my salary reaches 100 yuan, we’ll get married.”

Grandmother didn’t object. She knew her grandson too well—if he agreed to something, then he was confident it wasn’t a problem. However, she also felt that this future granddaughter-in-law wouldn’t be easy to deal with either.

After breakfast, Grandmother urged Shen Yiming to take Zuo Dan out for a walk. Since he had finally come home, he would only be staying for two days before heading back again. Who knew when they’d have another chance to visit? Better to make the most of it now.

Sitting on the back seat of Shen Yiming’s bicycle, Zuo Dan swung her legs slightly, her eyes darting around as she took in the street scene on both sides.

She had to admit, the streets at this time couldn’t compare to the bustling prosperity of the future. But even so, there was a unique charm to them—just like the old photographs from past decades that she had seen before.

Their timing was quite fortunate—they had returned just in time for Sunday. The shopping mall was crowded with people. After parking his bicycle, Shen Yiming led her straight inside.

He took her directly to the third floor, where fabric and ready-made clothes were sold. “We’re heading back tomorrow, so today, let’s buy some things for the family.”

Zuo Dan put on a serious expression. “Shen Yiming, sugar-coated bullets don’t work on me.”

Shen Yiming glanced at her. “I seem to recall you quite enjoying the ones my grandmother gave you.”

“That depends on the person,” Zuo Dan replied. “And clearly, Shen Yiming, you’re not as likable as Grandmother.”

Shen Yiming knew that when Zuo Dan decided to be stubborn, no one could win against her. Given that this provincial capital was unfamiliar territory for her, he didn’t want to argue with her here. Instead, he reached out and tugged at her small braid.

“Comrade Zuo Dan, whether or not it works, please just accept my sugar-coated bullet. It burns my hands to hold onto it. You’re my partner—if you refuse to take the gifts I give you, I won’t even have the motivation to earn money in the future.”

It was rare for Shen Yiming to admit defeat, so Zuo Dan raised her eyebrows triumphantly. “Well then… I suppose I’ll reluctantly accept.”

That being said, Zuo Dan had her limits. She wasn’t someone who cared about material things. Buying gifts for Shen Yiming’s family was a gesture of courtesy, but she wouldn’t let him go overboard. She picked out a piece of fabric each for Grandma Zuo, Li Hui, and Zuo Dacheng. The most expensive item was a fountain pen for Zuo Cong. She didn’t forget her third uncle either, choosing a satchel for him.

As the two were picking out items, on the other side of the store, Du Juan was also browsing with her eldest daughter.

Wei Jingren suddenly spotted Shen Yiming and, surprised, pointed in his direction. “Mom, look! Isn’t that Yiming? He’s shopping with a female comrade.”

Hearing Shen Yiming’s name, Du Juan instinctively frowned. How could that be? He should still be in the countryside.

Following Wei Jingren’s gaze, she turned to look—only to freeze in shock.

It really was him!