WRS – Chapter 64

Bai Jingzhi knew her brother and sister-in-law were coming today, so the moment she got off work in the afternoon, she hurried to the train station to wait for them. It wasn’t until after eight in the evening that she finally saw the family of five squeezed within the crowd as they came out. She quickly pushed her bicycle forward to greet them.

Liuliu spotted her aunt and rushed toward her excitedly. “Auntie—!”

Right after calling out, the little girl mischievously climbed onto the front crossbar of the bicycle. Bai Jingzhi quickly reached out with one hand to steady her, afraid she might fall.

Aside from Liuliu, everyone in the family was carrying something.

Bai Jingzhi handed the bicycle to her brother. Jiang Mingchuan hung the lighter bags on the front handlebars and tied the heavier ones onto the back seat, freeing up the hands of all five family members.

Jin Xiuzhu and Bai Jingzhi walked side by side in front, chatting and laughing. Jin Xiuzhu asked if work had been busy lately.

Bai Jingzhi replied easily, “Now that I’m familiar with everything, it’s fine. I can even take a nap during my lunch break.”

Back when she first started and knew nothing, she didn’t dare sleep after lunch—always busy trying to figure out work matters. What she’d learned in college had nothing to do with her current job, but fortunately she’d read a lot at the time, which made the editor-in-chief look at her with some appreciation.

Thinking of this, she couldn’t help saying, “Sister-in-law, now that the college entrance exam has been reinstated, do you want to study and take it too?”

Jin Xiuzhu had indeed thought about that, but she shook her head. “No need. Although I really like studying, I don’t have a burning desire to take the college entrance exam. Compared to those educated youth and students who desperately want to change their fate through the exam, I’d probably lose if I took it with them. For me, studying on my own is just as good. I don’t necessarily have to attend university.”

Especially in her heart, she didn’t think teachers in those schools could necessarily teach her much—just like how later on she had fewer and fewer questions to ask Fang Min, and sometimes Fang Min even needed her to explain things.

Bai Jingzhi nodded, feeling her sister-in-law had considered everything thoughtfully. Those educated youth and students sent to the countryside all knew the exam meant a chance to return to the city, a chance at a good job and supporting themselves. They would definitely study with their lives on the line. Sister-in-law liked studying, but she already had a good job and three children. When it came to exams, she indeed might not be able to compete with them.

Thinking this, she dropped the subject and instead brought up her brother’s promotion. Previously, her sister-in-law had written saying they might be transferred back to the capital, but suddenly they received news that her brother had gotten a promotion and would soon be sent to Province G. She asked about the situation.

Jin Xiuzhu explained, “Your brother wouldn’t let me give gifts, said to handle things as usual. At the time, I heard everyone saying someone else was going to be promoted—someone with connections—so I thought your brother had no chance and was already planning what to bring back to the capital.”

To her, going back to the capital sounded quite nice—several department stores, state-run restaurants, many bus routes, everything convenient. But she didn’t dare show it. She could clearly feel that Jiang Mingchuan wanted to stay in the army; he was emotionally attached to being a soldier.

“Later, something happened to that family, and your brother got the spot.”

Some things Jin Xiuzhu couldn’t say too plainly. Actually, at the beginning, Jiang Mingchuan had a good chance—military academy graduate, long service, had meritorious achievements. But there was only one spot in the regiment, and competition was fierce, especially that Wen Jun’s husband, who had earned a first-class merit two years ago and overshadowed Jiang Mingchuan completely. If Wen Jun’s stepfather hadn’t gotten into trouble and dragged the couple down with him, the Jiang family might truly have been preparing to return to their hometown.

Bai Jingzhi still remembered Wen Jun—she had tried to matchmake between her and her younger brother. She couldn’t resist asking quietly, “What happened?”

Jin Xiuzhu lowered her voice. “I’m not entirely clear. Something like—they reported someone for corruption, but later that person was cleared, and their whole family got in trouble. Her husband had been promoted thanks to her stepfather, so he wasn’t innocent either.”

Then she added, “Luckily I refused her back then. I heard her younger brother also got into trouble this time—not someone innocent either.”

During that period, Wen Jun went to block Wang Ling every day, eager to secure her husband’s promotion. The whole unit was talking about his past achievement as if it were already guaranteed. But Wang Ling wasn’t stupid. Her own husband was so capable—so why did Wen Jun keep showing up, pestering her to whisper into Commander Yan’s ear? She grew suspicious. Wang Ling even confided to Jin Xiuzhu that Wen Jun had tried to give her two small yellow croakers, which scared her into refusing and claiming she’d been too busy to even see her own husband.

When things later blew up, she was extremely glad she’d kept her guard up, though she regretted ever attempting to introduce her brother to Bai Jingzhi—even if nothing came of it.

Bai Jingzhi’s eyes widened in surprise. She hadn’t expected so much behind it. After thinking for a moment, she asked, “What about Yang Yingxiong?”

Jin Xiuzhu glanced ahead at He Yan. “His father retired. Your brother said he went back to their hometown and was assigned to work at the local shoe factory. Yang Yingxiong and his little brother will return with him.”

For Yang Yingxiong it wasn’t too bad—he was already in his first year of high school and would soon take the college entrance exam and leave. But that younger one… he still had a long and hard road ahead.

Bai Jingzhi nodded. “I hope he gets into a good university.”

Jin Xiuzhu smiled. “He will.”

The family of five had spent the entire day on the train and were exhausted. They didn’t go to the state-run restaurant—besides, it was closed at this hour. Fortunately, Bai Jingzhi had bought groceries in the morning. Since the weather was still warm and meat spoiled easily, she had come home at noon to stew the meat. Now they just needed to heat it up.

That evening, Jiang Mingchuan and He Yan father and son cooked dinner. Bai Jingzhi kept Jin Xiuzhu company in the living room, while Fu Yanyan took Liuliu to play at the doorway.

Jin Xiuzhu asked her what was going on with “that person.”

Even Jiang Mingchuan didn’t know about this yet—it was Liuliu who discovered it earlier.

Bai Jingzhi always knew Yanyan was smart, but she didn’t know Liuliu had learned to read early too. When she had been writing letters to Ji Ling at home, Liuliu happened to see it. She hadn’t hidden it, but she didn’t expect Liuliu—clever as a fox—to immediately tell her elder sister, who then told Jin Xiuzhu.

Jin Xiuzhu was curious too and asked a couple of questions. Bai Jingzhi blushed and explained—there really wasn’t much to it. They wrote letters often, that was all. And she begged Jin Xiuzhu not to tell her brother.

She was afraid he’d overthink things and mention something to Commissar Zhu next door.

Only later did she learn that Ji Ling was the commissar’s nephew.

Ji Ling had stepped in to stop her adoptive mother from dragging her away back then because he recognized her. He said he’d seen her in the army compound—Bai Jingzhi herself had no recollection of this.

“Are you still writing to each other? Did he say anything about the future?”

“We’ve confirmed our relationship. He even gave me a jade pendant. One of his former comrades found it by the river, and he spent his spare time polishing it into a pillar shape.”

As she spoke, Bai Jingzhi pulled out a jade pendant from beneath her collar. Jin Xiuzhu’s eyes brightened—it was actually mutton-fat jade, excellent quality, though she didn’t really appreciate the shape.

Bai Jingzhi smiled sweetly. “He said he’ll come to our house this New Year, and next year I’ll visit his.”

Jin Xiuzhu nodded. “After marriage, will you be joining the army family compound, or what’s your plan?”

Bai Jingzhi shook her head, her expression serious. “I don’t plan to be a military spouse living on base. I really like my current life and job. When I have children, I’ll ask his mother to help take care of them. If she can’t, then I’ll just work harder myself.”

“It’s fine. If his sister’s side needs her and can’t help, you can do what Fang Min did—hire someone to help with the baby.”

Bai Jingzhi nodded.

Just then, Jiang Mingchuan came out carrying dishes and asked, puzzled, “What children?”

Bai Jingzhi blushed and lowered her head.

Jiang Mingchuan frowned and looked at Jin Xiuzhu, who looked left and right but refused to meet his eyes.

Unhappy, he said, “What are you hiding from me?”

With no choice, during dinner, Bai Jingzhi explained her relationship with Ji Ling. Only then did Jiang Mingchuan relax—he had thought his little sister was being tricked.

If it was Ji Ling, that was fine. Commissar Zhu often talked about his nephew—smart since childhood, but conditions in the countryside were poor back then. He didn’t even have a place to study. The family was poor, too—he barely finished junior high before dropping out. By the time the commissar learned the situation and sent money back, Ji Ling no longer wanted to study and worked the fields every day.

Later, Commissar Zhu forcibly sent him to join the army.

Thinking for a moment, Jiang Mingchuan asked, “What’s he doing now?”

“He’s studying at the military academy.”

Jiang Mingchuan nodded. “Alright. Tell him to come over during New Year. I’ll talk with him properly then.”

Bai Jingzhi smiled and agreed softly.

Since she started working, many senior colleagues at the newspaper wanted to introduce her to young men—most from good families. Her sister-in-law had advised her before: if she decided to marry, she should consider both the man’s character and abilities, as well as his family situation. But her sister-in-law also said that no one is perfect. If the family conditions were good, the man himself might fall short; if the man was excellent, his family background might not be as ideal. She told her to weigh things herself. Bai Jingzhi thought long and ultimately decided she wanted Ji Ling.

Ji Ling was hardworking, responsible, principled, kind, upright, and tolerant. Being with him made her feel at ease, like all her worries disappeared. In her colleagues’ eyes, his family background might not be good enough—but she didn’t care. As long as she felt he was good, that was enough.

And she could feel that Ji Ling liked her too—she just didn’t know why he never said so directly. But her sister-in-law had taught her that men and women could write letters, but she must never confess first. Even if she wanted to confirm the relationship, the man had to be the one to say it.

So in her previous letter, she had intentionally hinted that people kept introducing suitors to her, and that she had agreed to meet someone in a few days.

She originally wanted to see whether he would make their relationship clear. She didn’t expect to receive the response she wanted—instead of a letter, he showed up in person.

The family of five stayed at Bai Jingzhi’s little Western-style house for two days. After that, they began their journey to Province G.

The trip to Province G took longer than the Jin family expected, especially the ride from the provincial capital to the military camp. The latter part of the route was all mountain roads. Unlike before, there were no boats here—only cars. The ride was bumpy. When they passed a county town, they found that the town itself was built halfway up a mountain, with many people on the streets carrying poles and selling mountain goods.

She didn’t know whether the wind direction had changed recently or if it was simply because this place was far away, but it seemed that many people here were doing business.

On the bus, they weren’t the only non-locals; there were a few more. When they reached the county town, everyone asked the driver to stop and rest for a bit. If they kept going without a break, someone would really start vomiting.

Jin Xiuzhu brought the children down to take a look. He Yan held his little sister’s hand and stretched his neck curiously in all directions. After watching for a while, he turned to Jin Xiuzhu and said, “Mom, I saw little rabbits and turtles.”

Liuliu heard this and tiptoed to look. “There are so many colorful mushrooms! And bananas—Mama, I want to eat bananas.”

Jin Xiuzhu also saw them. She turned to call out to Jiang Mingchuan, then took the three children over to a small fruit stand. The stand was nothing more than a piece of tattered cloth laid on the ground with various fruits on top, and a scale beside it.

She bought a bunch of bananas and some grapes. Liuliu pointed at a big round fruit and said, “Mama, I want to eat this too.”

Fu Yanyan couldn’t help saying, “Next time. We already have plenty of things.”

Liuliu puffed up her cheeks. “Okayyy.”

Jin Xiuzhu had never eaten that fruit either. After thinking for a moment, she still picked one up.

Liuliu immediately broke into a wide smile.

After resting a while, the driver continued on. Before dark, they arrived in the city where the military camp was located.

The city was fairly close to the camp. That night, the family stayed at a guesthouse. The room conditions were decent—the bedding was clean. The only headache was the heat. It was already time for long sleeves back in S City, but here it was still as hot as summer. Their room was on the third floor, and there were many mosquitoes. They had barely stayed inside for a few minutes when the children were already covered in bites.

Jin Xiuzhu had Jiang Mingchuan go fetch water so she could wash the kids. They had been on the road all day and were exhausted.

He left with a basin and returned with two mosquito nets as well.

That night, Jin Xiuzhu slept with her two daughters on one bed while Jiang Mingchuan and He Yan took another. Before sleeping, Jiang Mingchuan discussed with her, “This place might not be as developed as the previous one. I was thinking—the four of you should live in the city. It’ll be easier for the kids to go to school. I can come home on Sundays, and if I have spare time during the week, I can also come back.”

Jin Xiuzhu considered it. “Then we should buy a bicycle. It’ll make things easier.”

Jiang Mingchuan agreed.

He Yan couldn’t help asking, “Then are we going to buy our own house or rent one?”

Fu Yanyan interjected, “Rent. We won’t stay here long. Buying isn’t worth it.”

If it were the neighboring province, she would’ve supported buying. But she remembered that in later years, this place wasn’t as developed or well-known.

Jin Xiuzhu agreed with her daughter. “We’ll rent a big one so each person gets a room.”

Liuliu quickly said, “I want to sleep with sister!”

Fu Yanyan helplessly patted her little head.

The family discussed what kind of house they should rent.

The next day, Jiang Mingchuan went to report to the camp. Jin Xiuzhu took the three children downstairs. Possibly due to the mountainous terrain, the whole city wasn’t large, but it was bustling and lively.

She first brought the children to a state-run restaurant for a meal, then walked around. She had originally planned to ask about rentals, but since she couldn’t understand the local dialect, she walked for a short while before heading back.

On the way back, they passed a street paved entirely with steps, with many vendors sitting on both sides selling all sorts of things—fresh mushrooms from the mountains, rabbits, vegetables grown in the countryside, and many kinds of seafood that Jin Xiuzhu had never seen before…

It wasn’t only the kids who were glued to the spot—she also couldn’t take her eyes off the seafood. She asked a few questions, but they couldn’t understand her, nor she them. After a long, confused exchange, she bought a bag of shrimp.

The three kids exclaimed excitedly, “This place is so nice—we can actually buy things!”

In other places, they weren’t allowed to buy anything.

Fu Yanyan was surprised too, but quickly understood. The coastal region nearby was one of the first places opened up. Even if it wasn’t officially implemented yet, the breeze of “opening” had already reached here.

Just like when Aunt Wang had gone with Jin Xiuzhu recently—nobody was regulating the black market anymore. Aunt Wang had bought excellent fabric there, only to learn later that it was produced by someone who raised silkworms at home.

Jin Xiuzhu didn’t know what her daughter was thinking. She carried the bag of shrimp back to the guesthouse, borrowed their kitchen, washed the shrimp, and steamed them.

Sea shrimp needed no seasoning—just a few slices of ginger. Once they were cooked, the four of them ate back in the room. The shrimp were delicious—tender, fresh, with a faint sweetness.

All three kids loved it.

After finishing, Liuliu raised her hand. “I want to eat this again at noon!”

Jin Xiuzhu wiped her mouth. “We’ll wait until your father comes back. He can buy more.”

Jiang Mingchuan returned just before noon, with a young soldier behind him. Upon seeing Jin Xiuzhu, the soldier greeted politely in slightly awkward Mandarin, “Hello, sister-in-law.”

She smiled back.

Jiang Mingchuan explained, “This kid is from here. I asked him to help us find a place to rent. Hopefully, we can settle it this afternoon.”

She nodded—she also wanted to finalize things quickly. The children needed to go to school, especially He Yan, who was in his first year of high school.

That afternoon, the soldier—named Wu Datou—took them to see houses. The three kids didn’t go; the two little ones had fallen asleep, and He Yan stayed behind reading by the window.

After telling him, the couple went out. They visited quite a few places. The environment was really nice here—lush mountains and clear waters. According to Wu Datou, if you went north out of the city, you would reach the sea. If you rode a bicycle, you would get there within ten minutes. Very close.

He also said that this area had lots of fruit. If they had come earlier in the summer, they would’ve gotten incredibly cheap lychees. Sometimes, you could even pick them for free along the road.

Hearing this made Jin Xiuzhu even happier. In Great Jing, lychees were rare delicacies. Even when she had enjoyed great favor, she only ever got a few each summer—and those were given specifically by the marquis. Besides the madam and herself, no one else in the household could eat them.

After coming here, she had tasted them more often—but they were expensive. Even then, she had only bought them two or three times that summer.

She tugged on Jiang Mingchuan’s sleeve and whispered, “This place is really nice.”

He laughed. “You didn’t say that last night.”

You said this place was a mosquito nest—and that you had gone from one mountain ravine to another.

She snorted and ignored him.

After viewing four houses, she finally chose one across from the high school. It was quiet and not too old. According to Wu Datou, this street had once been owned by a landlord; this was the landlord’s old residence. Later, because his descendants smoked opium, they ended up selling the property off piece by piece.

Jin Xiuzhu and Jiang Mingchuan looked around. He thought it was quite nice—three small rooms, somewhat like a courtyard house in the capital, with a well in the middle.

But Jin Xiuzhu immediately recognized it—it was probably the servants’ quarters from the old days. A single-entry courtyard, stone slabs on the ground—not bad at all, likely housing for the steward or senior servant.

She didn’t mind. After looking around, she told him she wanted this one.

Wu Datou also approved. “Look, the walls are freshly whitewashed, the rooms are bright and clean. Very comfortable. And it’s right across from the school. The elementary and middle schools are close too. This place is really great.”

Jiang Mingchuan agreed.

After confirming the house, he went with Wu Datou to the subdistrict office to rent it. Jin Xiuzhu returned to the guesthouse to pack. When He Yan heard they had found a house, he stopped doing homework and helped her.

It was already past three when she took the three kids to move things. Meanwhile, Jiang Mingchuan came back after signing the lease and told her he had to go back to the camp to fetch the quilts and belongings he had sent ahead.

Knowing he would be promoted, she had mailed the extra bedding and clothes in advance so they could sleep comfortably right away.

That afternoon, he borrowed a tricycle from the canteen and made three trips to transport everything. By the end, he was exhausted and panting.

Liuliu saw him and immediately felt distressed. “Daddy, why don’t you rest for a while?”

Her words softened him. “I’m fine. Daddy isn’t tired.”

Liuliu pouted. “But you stink. You’re definitely tired.”

He lifted his arm and sniffed—indeed, he smelled a bit. Mainly because it was simply too hot here.

It was already autumn, yet somehow hotter than mid-summer at their previous base.

Liuliu was hot too, but her mother said she was too young to help. So she wandered around the courtyard with a big palm-leaf fan, eventually sitting on the stone steps at the entrance, propping her chin up and watching her father unload the cart while her siblings carried things inside. The high school across the street had just let out; many students came out with their backpacks, turning their heads curiously at the sight of the family.

Vendors selling cotton candy and skewers crowded the front gate, noisy and lively.

Liuliu watched, her beautiful eyes curving into crescents.

Seeing her, Fu Yanyan couldn’t help smiling too. Passing by with a bag of shoes, she said, “Go take the change from my schoolbag. Let’s go buy cotton candy.”

Liuliu’s eyes widened with delight. “Yay!”

She skipped into the house.

That evening, Jin Xiuzhu used the old stove to cook three dishes, and the whole family ate until their mouths were oily.

After dinner, they went for a walk. Twilight lingered; they even returned to the seafood street they had visited earlier, bought a bunch of grapes, and ate as they strolled. When they got back, it still wasn’t dark, so they walked over to the high school across the street.

She told He Yan, “Tomorrow we’ll go to the school. Hopefully you can enroll early.”

He wanted to attend classes as soon as possible and agreed.

Suddenly, Liuliu pointed at the colorful clouds and said, “Sister, look! A fairy is stepping on a sewing machine.”

Everyone looked up. The cloud did resemble an ancient woman working at a sewing machine. If Liuliu hadn’t said it, no one would’ve imagined it that way—but once she said it, it really did look like that.

Jin Xiuzhu and Jiang Mingchuan exchanged an amused glance. Children really had endless whimsical thoughts.

Then Liuliu added, “She looks like Mama.”

Jin Xiuzhu froze.

Jiang Mingchuan looked at the sky, then at her, and laughed. “It does look a bit like you.”

She blinked up at the clouds and sighed softly. “Maybe it really is me.”

Only Liuliu responded enthusiastically, “Then Mama is a fairy!”

She then turned proudly to her sister. “That means I’m a little fairy!”

Fu Yanyan’s sudden flash of insight vanished at that moment, and she laughed, fondly saying, “Yes, you’re a little fairy.”

Jin Xiuzhu: That was close. I almost revealed myself.

Jiang Mingchuan: My wife is gorgeous.

He Yan: A miracle.

Fu Yanyan: My sister is the cutest.

Liuliu: Except for Daddy and Brother, the whole family are fairies.