At this moment.
Lu Jianguo emerged.
He was wearing his new wedding clothes from yesterday – a dark blue jacket with a white undershirt, trousers matching the jacket’s color, and Liberation Shoes with some mud around the edges.
Nan Honghong immediately stepped forward, saying, “Jianguo, it’s quite far to my parents’ house. Why don’t we ride the family’s Erba Dagang bicycle there?”
The Lu family did own an Erba Dagang bicycle.
Usually, it was only Lu Jianguo and Lu Jianjun who rode it to the county post office to collect letters and allowance sent by Lu Baiyang.
Its other purpose was for Lu Jianguo to take his younger sister Lu Xiaohua to school in the county.
Nan Honghong had taken a liking to the Erba Dagang bicycle yesterday.
Both she and Nan Qingqing were supposed to make their bridal return visits today.
Whoever secured the bicycle first would stand out in the village.
Nan Honghong certainly wouldn’t give up this opportunity.
Hearing this.
Lu’s mother beamed and said, “Of course you should ride it back. Jianguo, quickly take your wife on the bicycle for her bridal return visit.”
The couple hung the prepared gifts for the return visit on the bicycle.
And cheerfully set off on their journey home.
In the south room.
Lu Baiyang saw Nan Qingqing standing by the window.
He looked up.
And spotted the departing figures of Nan Honghong and her husband.
Lu Baiyang pondered slightly.
He stood up.
Walking up behind Nan Qingqing, he said in a resonant voice, “I need to go first…”
The sudden deep, powerful voice.
Startled Nan Qingqing, making her shudder abruptly.
Lu Baiyang lowered his voice, asking, “Did I scare you?”
Nan Qingqing gave an embarrassed smile, turning around to say, “No, what were you going to say just now?”
Lu Baiyang spoke again, his voice much softer now but still carrying masculine depth, “I wanted to say I need to make a phone call in town first. I’ll accompany you on your bridal return visit a bit later.”
Hearing this.
Nan Qingqing responded understandingly, “That’s fine.”
Lu Baiyang looked at Nan Qingqing.
She was wearing light-colored clothes today with black trousers, two glossy black braids hanging over her chest. The red makeup on her face from yesterday had been washed off, revealing incredibly fair skin.
Lu Baiyang slightly averted his gaze, saying, “If you don’t mind, we could go to town together first, then make the return visit together?”
Nan Qingqing’s eyes lit up.
Having been reborn on her wedding day, she had even forgotten what the town looked like now.
She wanted to see it.
Nan Qingqing quickly nodded.
Excitement brought a faint blush to her cheeks, making her small mouth look as vibrant as a tender flower bud.
Lu Baiyang’s lips curved almost imperceptibly.
She really was still a child.
Her eagerness completely reflected a childlike nature.
The two went out together.
Lu’s mother stood in the yard feeding chickens, “Oh, going for the bridal return visit? The family’s Erba Dagang was taken by Jianguo and his wife. You’ll have to walk there.”
In her good mood, Nan Qingqing couldn’t be bothered to argue with Lu’s mother.
Following behind Lu Baiyang, she said, “Lu Baiyang, let’s go.”
The couple walked out side by side.
Neither paid any attention to Lu’s mother.
Lu’s mother spat fiercely in the direction they had left.
One shameless, the other blind – truly a perfect match.
Town
Town Government
Nan Qingqing hadn’t expected Lu Baiyang needed to handle business at the town government.
She stopped at the entrance, “I’ll wait for you here.”
Lu Baiyang took out fifty yuan from his pocket, along with several ration tickets.
Placed in Nan Qingqing’s hand.
He instructed, “Today is the bride’s return visit, we need to bring some gifts. Since the family didn’t prepare any, you should go buy some.”
Nan Qingqing looked at the five ten-yuan bills.
Her heart felt warm.
She hadn’t expected Lu Baiyang to remember the tradition of the bride’s return visit.
Nan Qingqing said, “You’re giving me all this money? What if I spend it all?”
Lu Baiyang watched as Nan Qingqing stared at him intently with her sparkling eyes, feeling a slight flutter deep in his heart. He calmly tapped her gently between the eyebrows and said, “Once given to you, it’s yours. You can spend it however you like.”
Nan Qingqing recalled her previous life, when she was scolded for two days by Lu’s mother and Lu Jianguo after spending one yuan on a hair accessory for herself.
Comparing the two situations.
Nan Qingqing felt that her past self had been the ultimate master of endurance.
She smiled until her eyes curved.
Her large eyes narrowed into crescents, like the moon on the first day of the lunar month—curved and utterly adorable.
Nan Qingqing tucked the money into her pocket. “Then let’s meet back here in an hour.”
Meet back?
Anyone overhearing might think they were carrying out some secret mission.
Lu Baiyang said, “Alright.”
With that.
Nan Qingqing turned and ran off.
Lu Baiyang watched her retreating figure, unable to suppress a smile as he shook his head.
Truly just a kid.
Meanwhile.
Nan Qingqing, carrying a small fortune in her pocket, walked through the autumn streets of the 1978 town.
Watching the comrades around her wearing Dacron jackets and Liberation Shoes, seeing their thick hair and healthy, vibrant complexions, she felt completely refreshed and at ease.
She found a Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
Although she had fifty yuan to spend as she pleased.
Nan Qingqing had no intention of wasting this small fortune on her stepmother, who only knew how to spoil with excessive praise, or her incompetent, henpecked father.
Nan Qingqing squeezed up to the counter.
The salesclerk looked down on Nan Qingqing, scrutinizing her clothes.
Her eyes were sharp.
She could even estimate exactly how much Nan Qingqing’s outfit cost and how long she had been wearing it.
She concluded that this was just a country bumpkin who had come into town.
She nearly rolled her eyes to the sky.
Impatiently, she said, “Hurry up and say what you want. Don’t hold up the comrades behind you.”
Nan Qingqing knew how arrogant salesclerks could be in this era.
A product of the times.
She simply stated concisely, “One box of malted milk powder, one jin of mung bean cakes, two cans of yellow peach preserves.”
Although the salesclerk looked down on her.
She was exceptionally quick with her hands.
In just a few seconds, she gathered what Nan Qingqing wanted. Pursing her lips and crossing her arms, she said, “Malted milk powder is seven yuan per can, one jin of mung bean cakes is one yuan, two cans of preserves are two yuan. Total is ten yuan.”
Ten yuan—an ordinary worker’s monthly salary was only about twenty to thirty yuan.
It just showed that scarcity drove up prices.
Nan Qingqing reluctantly took out ten yuan.
The salesclerk said, “Exact change, no need for refund. Next.”
Nan Qingqing was immediately shoved aside by someone with a large rear end.
After buying the items.
Nan Qingqing wandered around a bit before heading to the town government entrance to wait for Lu Baiyang.
When Lu Baiyang came out, he didn’t see Nan Qingqing.
He stood waiting.
Suddenly.
A hand reached out from the side.
With a soldier’s instinct, Lu Baiyang immediately grabbed the person and pinned them down.
Nan Qingqing: “Ouch, ouch, ouch…”
Hearing the familiar voice, Lu Baiyang quickly released her. “Why is it you? I thought it was…”
Nan Qingqing held a small sugar figurine in her hand, her tear-streaked face pouting as she said, “I bought you a sugar figurine, and you still pin me down.”
Lu Baiyang casually took the items from Nan Qingqing’s other hand, “Just bought these?”
Nan Qingqing nodded.
Lu Baiyang patted Nan Qingqing’s head and said, “Little child, this is hardly proper behavior.”