After a heavy rain, the crops grew lush and vigorous. The corn shot up as if pumped with hormones, green and red chili peppers hung densely from thin branches, and half-ripe apples glistened on the trees.
In the blink of an eye, it was late August. The temperature gradually dropped, and the evening breeze became especially cool and refreshing—signaling that the school term was about to begin.
But Lin Erxia’s fieldwork hadn’t stopped. She was still working as usual. That morning, she wore a straw hat and loosened the soil in the vegetable plot, preparing to plant radishes and Chinese cabbage—two essential vegetables for winter.
Lin Ailian came as well. The two worked and chatted at the same time—one used a shovel to turn the soil, while the other followed behind with a rake to break it up. Whenever one got tired, they switched.
With someone to talk to, the work didn’t feel tiring at all.
“I heard from my grandpa that that educated youth, Du Xiuying, is going to marry Lin Erzhuang from our village. The application’s already been submitted.”
Lin Ailian’s grandfather was Lin Dajin, the village chief. In those days, educated youths needed approval to get married, and some would at least inform the village chief.
“Du, the educated youth, has been here for several years, right?” Lin Erxia asked.
Lin Ailian grew even more animated. “Yeah, she’s been here for five years. Now that there’s no hope of returning to the city, she’s thinking of finding someone to marry.
Besides, she’s a frail girl—her work points each year aren’t even enough to feed herself. It’s all thanks to Erzhuang secretly helping her with work and giving her grain. Otherwise, who knows how she’d be doing now.
But she’s already twenty-one this year—it’s about time she got married.”
Once Lin Ailian started talking, she couldn’t stop.
“Does Erzhuang’s family agree?”
“Of course his mother, Sister-in-law Guihua, doesn’t! She’s famous in the village for being shrewd. Who would want a weak female educated youth who can’t work? That’s basically adding another mouth to feed.
But Erzhuang insists. The whole family’s been in chaos, and in the end, Guihua had no choice but to agree. She’s just hoping they’ll marry soon and then split off into their own household.”
At that time, food was everything. When it came to marriage, most families preferred a strong wife who could earn high work points. A delicate educated youth was not a popular choice.
Just as they were chatting, Aunt Cui’e passed by and shouted loudly,
“Erxia! Your aunt is here, carrying big and small bags! Hurry back—if you’re late, your siblings will finish everything!”
Lin Erxia casually replied, “Auntie, I’ll go after I finish this work.”
Aunt Cui’e shook her head regretfully. Lin Yongshun was cunning through and through, yet his three daughters were all so honest—just like the saying, ‘bad bamboo can still produce good shoots.’
Lin Ailian watched as Lin Erxia forcefully drove her shovel into the soil, stepped down hard twice, then pressed down with both hands. A clump of damp earth came loose. Lin Ailian struck it with the back of the rake and pulled it apart, loosening the soil.
“You’re really not in a hurry to go back?” Lin Ailian asked.
“What’s the rush? I’ll leave after finishing the work. My aunt probably came early for Mid-Autumn Festival to visit my grandparents. Any good food she brought has probably already been hidden away by my grandma.
Besides, I more or less know my aunt’s personality… though she did come a bit early this year.”
Lin Erxia had a good impression of her aunt. She treated all the younger generation equally.
During the New Year, she gave out red envelopes, and whenever she visited, she not only brought snacks but sometimes secretly gave them pocket money. Because of that, she was very popular among the children of the Lin family.
When Lin Erxia returned home after work, she saw a bicycle parked under the shed in the west courtyard. It was a rare treasure—there were only one or two in the entire village, and one of them belonged to the collective.
Under the parasol tree sat a group of people gathered around two individuals. One was Chen Shi, smiling so broadly that her mouth wouldn’t close.
The other was her aunt, Lin Hongying. She wore a neat short hairstyle, her thick hair tucked behind her ears, revealing sharp, heroic brows. Dressed in a beige short-sleeved shirt, she looked especially spirited.
Lin Erxia finally understood why Lin Dayong and Chen Shi doted on her aunt so much. It wasn’t just because she was their only daughter—her face clearly combined the best features of both parents.
Even though she was already over thirty, she looked no more than twenty-eight or twenty-nine.
Looking at her aunt’s glossy black hair, then comparing it to her own dry, yellowish hair that nearly reached her waist—there was no comparison.
Lin Hongying noticed Lin Erxia and stood up with a smile.
“Erxia, go wash your hands and come over. We’re just waiting for you. Little foodie Yubao can’t wait to eat the canned fruit.”
Chen Shi pursed her lips but didn’t stop her.
Lin Hongying worked at a cannery, so she always brought canned fruit when she visited. It was every child’s favorite—sweet and tangy, absolutely delicious.
Lin Yubao, who had been sitting quietly, rolled his eyes around and broke into a silly grin when mentioned.
Lin Erxia didn’t refuse. “Sure, Aunt. Didn’t Uncle come?”
“He’s busy at the factory, so I just brought your two cousins. Come on, Shangdong, Shangxi—call your cousin.”
Ye Shangdong and Ye Shangxi, her aunt’s sons—one thirteen, the other ten—stood quietly but politely greeted Lin Erxia.
She happily responded.
Meanwhile, once given permission, Lin Yubao dashed into the main room like a gust of wind, followed by Lin Yuze. Soon, they came out each holding a jar of canned fruit.
One jar of yellow peaches, one jar of mandarin oranges—both rare treats. Though their area grew fruit, it was mostly apples and pears; even the peaches were usually wild, fuzzy ones.
Lin Erhua and Lin Dachun had already brought out bowls and chopsticks from the kitchen.
Quick-witted, Lin Yubao handed the jars to his aunt to distribute. He knew that if Grandma did it, he’d barely get any—maybe not even a full share from one jar.
Chen Shi looked pained at the sight. “Leave some for your father and your brothers. No need to open both jars. Xiaoze, take that one back.”
Lin Hongying refused with a smile. “Mom, I brought plenty this time. Mid-Autumn Festival is coming—let everyone enjoy something sweet.”
Without waiting for a response, she tapped the bottom of a jar and twisted it open. The mandarin orange jar popped open.
Lin Yuze quickly handed over the other jar, which she also opened.
She first took a bowl, picked out three pieces of yellow peach with chopsticks, added some syrup, and handed it to Chen Shi.
“Mom loves yellow peaches the most. Go on, eat. Don’t always give the good stuff to the kids—you should treat yourself better too.”
Chen Shi no longer cared about being stingy. Taking the bowl, she sipped the syrup—it felt as refreshing as eating chilled watermelon on a scorching summer day. She grinned widely, revealing her yellowed teeth.
Lin Hongying then continued distributing the fruit. Everyone got a share, and the portions were nearly equal—even Lin Zhu’er, Ye Shangdong, and Ye Shangxi were treated the same.
Lin Erxia received two small pieces of yellow peach. A bite of fruit followed by a sip of syrup—before she knew it, it was gone in just a few mouthfuls, leaving her mouth and stomach filled with sweetness.
Novel by Zhu Lin Luo Yu