The small bed in the room had been made when Lin Wan was still in middle school.
Lin Guoyou had gone up the mountain to find the material. A pine tree as thick as a bowl’s mouth was cut and brought home, made into a bed and left to dry, then carefully polished all over to remove burrs. It was a solid, sturdy bed. A layer of straw and a bedsheet embroidered with peonies were spread on it. Small as it was, it was quite comfortable.
But at this moment, Lin Wan did not feel very comfortable sleeping.
At the Fu home, she occupied one side of the big bed and had no physical contact with Fu Xiuhuai.
Yet now, two adults lying down on the small bed seemed somewhat crowded.
Facing the wall, Lin Wan was covered by a newly fluffed cotton quilt. The fragrant, soft bedding could not make her ignore the warmth coming from behind her back.
Outside the window wind and rain raged, cold air pouring in, yet Lin Wan did not feel the slightest chill.
……
She slept the whole night properly and cautiously.
When Lin Wan woke in a daze, she discovered that she had actually turned to face outward. Opening her eyes, she was met with a man’s face, so close that if she moved another inch closer, she would be skin to skin with him.
Fu Xiuhuai’s eyes were tightly closed. His long lashes lay quietly on his eyelids. Beneath his tall, straight nose were slightly closed thin lips.
Lin Wan held her breath. Her curled lashes trembled a little. Seeing the man’s eyelids move slightly, as if about to wake, she quickly closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep.
In the dimness, Lin Wan could see nothing more. She could only hear rustling sounds and feel a burning gaze lingering on her face.
The surrounding air was thin. Lin Wan did not dare make any movement. Only when she heard the sound of the man beside her getting up did she secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
But after a moment, the man seemed to go and return, gradually coming closer to her. Even with her eyes closed, Lin Wan could clearly feel how close the two were. Even their breathing gradually intertwined.
Slender, bony fingers lightly scraped the tip of her nose, soft and gentle, yet the man’s slightly rough fingertip brought threads of itchiness, making Lin Wan’s heart tremble. The familiar intimacy made Lin Wan clench the palms beneath the quilt even tighter, not daring to breathe.
Fu Xiuhuai’s touch was fleeting. A moment later, the creak of the wooden door sounded. Lin Wan slowly opened her eyes. The small room no longer held the man’s figure.
After dawdling in the room for a while, when Lin Wan went to the main room, she heard a burst of laughter and cheerful voices from the kitchen.
On the low wall under the eaves was a familiar enamel mug. In big red characters were printed the two words “Progressive Youth,” and below was a simple sketch of an open book.
Lin Wan held the enamel mug and brushed her teeth. She remembered that when she graduated middle school and tested into the best high school in town, her uncle and aunt had rewarded her by buying this. It had cost one yuan and fifty fen, truly not cheap.
On this trip home, the family had washed it out again and placed it properly in its original spot.
The kitchen was full of curling smoke. Zhou Guihua was cooking corn porridge. Lin Chengwei sat in front of the stove opening, fanning the fire, and by the way shooting the breeze with his brother-in-law Brother Huai.
“Brother Huai, you don’t know. Wanwan was actually quite mischievous when she was little. Later she just grew more and more gentle.”
“Wanwan was good at studying from a young age. I scored 20 in elementary school, her second sister scored 50, and she could score 100!”
Before Lin Chengwei had said much, Lin Hong joined in: “Why are you mentioning that I scored 50? At least I went to middle school.”
“Yes, yes, yes. In the whole family, I have the lowest education.” Lin Chengwei, who had just graduated elementary school, mocked himself a couple of times. Then he suddenly thought of something, and his eyes lit up. “No, wait. There are still our parents at the bottom. The two of them don’t even know many characters.”
Zhou Guihua stirred the iron pot with a soup ladle. Hearing this, she laughed angrily: “Only you would mock your own parents!”
Lin Wan smiled and washed her face, put the enamel basin back on the rack, and was just walking into the kitchen to join in when she heard her elder brother’s cheeky voice.
“By the way, when we were little and played house, everyone assigned roles for marriage and cooking, but Wanwan here refused. She was only five or six then. She didn’t take a fancy to a single boy in the village, saying they either had runny noses or drooled at the sight of candy. Look at her taste!” Lin Chengwei looked at his brother-in-law. “Brother Huai really has ability, enchanting our Wanwan… Aiyo!”
“Lin Chengwei!” Lin Wan ran quickly to the stove, pinched her elder brother hard on the arm, and glared at him fiercely. “What nonsense are you saying!”
Childhood matters, and he actually told them. So embarrassing.
“What I said is all true.” Lin Chengwei leaned out from behind Lin Wan to look at Fu Xiuhuai and grinned. “Brother Huai, it’s true!”
Lin Wan secretly glanced at Fu Xiuhuai standing by the door. Seeing his eyes full of laughter, she hurriedly turned her face away and warned her elder brother not to mention childhood matters again.
……
This vacation was five days in total. Lin Wan rarely rested at home both physically and mentally. Neighbors heard the university student had returned, and quite a few came to watch the fun and chat.
The Lin family, seeing guests, handed out candy to all, overjoyed.
A group of children in the village had rarely seen a four-wheeled car. They formed a circle, eyes shining as they stared. Those who truly could not resist even wanted to reach out and touch it.
“Your hands are so dirty. Don’t ruin it!” Eleven-year-old Tiehua was an older child and majestically shouted back Goudan, whose palms were filthy.
Goudan’s mouth drooped, extremely depressed.
Lin Wan watched from afar, corners of her lips pressed into a smile. It was just that this car was not hers after all, so it really was not good to say anything…
Only when footsteps came from far to near did Fu Xiuhuai raise his voice and call out to the group of children: “You can touch the car, but every one of you wash your hands clean first.”
Goudan was suddenly overjoyed, his eyes shining like stars in the sky: “Really? We can touch it?”
“Your Sister Wanwan agreed.”
Cheers burst out from the group of children. They swarmed off to wash their hands. After washing them clean, they vigorously wiped them dry on their clothes, only then carefully reaching out, as if treating some rare treasure.
Goudan touched the car body three or four times, then hopped away with an expression of enjoyment: “Sister Wanwan, this car is really amazing! It feels different from a tractor!”
Lin Wan rubbed Goudan’s little head. Thinking of how when she left the village for university, three-year-old Goudan had even tried to stuff orange candy for her, she could not help smiling: “Why don’t you go thank…”
After all, this car was Fu Xiuhuai’s car, and it was also him giving face. Lin Wan was just about to have the children thank him when she saw Goudan bounce over to Fu Xiuhuai.
A bright smile bloomed on his dark little face. Goudan tried hard to act obedient and polite, strictly following his parents’ teachings and not embarrassing Sister Wanwan: “Thank you, Uncle. Sister Wanwan told me to thank you.”
Lin Wan was just feeling gratified when she suddenly froze. Especially seeing Fu Xiuhuai’s face stiffen, she truly could not hold back the urge to laugh. She could only lower her head and work hard to suppress the corners of her mouth that kept rising.
Fu Xiuhuai’s thin lips were tightly pressed. Looking at the little turnip head before him, he suddenly was speechless.
Sister Wanwan, Uncle…
Goudan did not feel there was any problem at all. He hopped away again. Under the setting sun, only gloomy Fu Xiuhuai and Lin Wan, holding back laughter, remained.
Floating light was shallow, outlining Lin Wan’s picture-like brows and eyes. Bits of shattered gold spread the smile at the corners of her mouth. The golden crow hung low, as if gilding the woman in the fields with a thread of light and shadow.
Fu Xiuhuai took a few steps back and stopped before the woman who could not hide her laughter. His thin lips curved slightly: “In the future, our child must not say such things to anger people.”
The teasing smile was fleeting. Lin Wan raised her eyes. The man’s black suit was straight. Her gaze moved up inch by inch, and she saw Fu Xiuhuai’s deep eyes were slightly bright. The words by her ear, our child… made her cheeks warm slightly.
Lin Wan suddenly turned around. She no longer had any intention of teasing Fu Xiuhuai for being called old. She quickened her pace and hurried away.
……
During the National Day holiday, it seemed to rain every day.
On the evening of the second day after returning home, Lin Guoyou busied himself in front of the stove and heated a big pot of hot water. Lin Wan and Fu Xiuhuai took turns going to the attached side room to bathe.
After changing into the pajamas and pajama pants she had brought back, Lin Wan threw the clothes she had taken off into the enamel basin, planning to wash them later. She turned first to take down the towel drying on the rope under the eaves and wrapped and rubbed her wet hair dry.
The Lin family did not have a hair dryer, so they could only wait for hair to dry naturally. Lin Wan sat on the wooden chair in the yard rubbing the towel, occasionally lowering her head and flicking her hair with the towel…
Her black hair was like a waterfall, gradually blown half dry by the wind. Among the threads and strands of hair, a vaguely visible figure passed by. Lin Wan did not take it seriously at first. After a while, all her clothes had been washed clean and hung on the long bamboo pole in the corner of the yard, keeping company with Fu Xiuhuai’s clothes and fluttering in the wind. Lin Wan’s face instantly turned completely red.
After washing the clothes, Fu Xiuhuai put the enamel basin back in its original place and slowly walked toward Lin Wan: “There’s no hair dryer at home. Shall I wipe your hair?”
Clutching the towel tightly, Lin Wan shook her head: “No need. It’s almost dry.”
As she spoke, Lin Wan’s gaze never landed on Fu Xiuhuai’s face. She did not even dare look again at the dress and undergarments she had worn these past two days on the clothes-drying pole.
Time seemed to accelerate. Five days of vacation always drained away much faster than five days of work.
On October 5th, Lin Wan and Fu Xiuhuai prepared to return early in the morning. The back seat of the Santana was piled with all kinds of local products.
“Uncle, Auntie, we really can’t take this much more.” Lin Wan tried hard to stop them, but could not.
Behind her, Lin Chengwei and Lin Hong were still helping put things into the car.
The car was stuffed full. After Fu Xiuhuai and Lin Wan said goodbye to the Lin family, they prepared to sit in the front row. The Santana’s wheels rolled, stirring up another round of dust.
When the car reached the village entrance, Tiehua, Tiedan, Goudan, and the others followed again to join the fun, waving at the familiar older sister.
“Sister Wanwan.” Goudan chased after the car as it slowed down and shouted loudly, “Sister Wanwan, next time come back again with your husband!”
Lin Wan in the passenger seat: QAQ
She quickly turned sideways to look at Fu Xiuhuai, who was driving. Lin Wan was somewhat surprised. Fu Xiuhuai, a mature big boss, should not have stooped to bribing little kids to say these things, right?
……
Back in Jiangcheng, the Santana parked at the Fu family villa. Auntie Wang heard the noise and came out to help. Seeing so many good things, her eyes lit up.
“Oh my, these are all good things!” Auntie Wang had come from the countryside to work in the city. Relying on her good skills, she had become a nanny whose wages rivaled those of state-owned factory workers. But although she had seen many city ingredients, many still could not compare with those from the countryside.
Lin Wan also craved the taste of home. While carrying things in with Auntie Wang, she did not forget to worry: “Fu… the old madam had a poor appetite a while ago. She said she still missed the wild vegetables she ate in the village when she was sent down before. This time when I went home, my family dug some for her.”
Fu Xiuhuai’s mother treated people kindly, and Lin Wan kept it in mind.
Auntie Wang smiled brighter than a flower: “You are thoughtful. The old madam has been longing for them!”
The two walked into the kitchen one after the other and put the things into the cupboard and refrigerator. Fu Xiuhuai, carrying the remaining packages, lagged behind. Hearing Lin Wan’s words, his brows and eyes were gentle.
That evening, Fu Xiutong rarely came home for dinner. He asked a couple of concerned questions about his sister-in-law’s family, then turned and talked with his second brother about the steel plant.
“The funds can be turned over next month. I’ll remit them to you then.”
Fu Xiuhuai was not in urgent need of money. Hearing this, he only cared: “The factory has no more problems afterward?”
A smile rose on Fu Xiutong’s face: “A foreign investor is preparing to invest in us. It can solve the funding problem!”
Foreign investor again. Lin Wan immediately thought of the garment factory’s situation and did not know what the result of the factory’s discussion had been.
The next day when she returned to the garment factory, Lin Wan had just arrived at the factory office when Director Feng called her to the deputy factory director’s office.
“Comrade Xiao Lin, we held a meeting and discussed it. We decided not to discuss Charles’s investment for now.” Deputy Factory Director Wang, after deep consideration, ultimately chose to be conservative. “We will seek foreign investment elsewhere.”
Lin Wan was not surprised. Charles’s investment conditions were harsh, especially with many ambiguous traps in the contract. Caution was right.
Deputy Factory Director Wang then arranged a task: “In a while, a Hong Kong businessman’s representative will come to Jiangcheng. Their strength is quite considerable. I heard you also know Cantonese?”
Lin Wan knew in her heart that it must have been noticed when she occasionally hummed a few Hong Kong City songs in the office: “Deputy Factory Director Wang, I only followed along when singing.”
“Hey, that already counts as ability.” Deputy Factory Director Wang waved his hand, determined to strive once more. “Being able to say a couple of lines and get closer to people is not bad. Comrade Xiao Lin, you will still follow up on this. Rest assured, last time the foreign investment fell through, but your efforts were seen by the organization. The bonus will still be paid.”
Lin Wan, who had originally been lacking in interest, instantly perked up: “Thank you, Factory Director!”
Seeing Lin Wan receive the fifty-yuan bonus sent by finance, Feng Tianjiao nearly twisted her mouth and eyes askew. But constrained by her position as director, she had to praise: “Comrade Lin Wan made a contribution to the factory this time and received a reward. Congratulations. However, you must not become arrogant and complacent. You still need to continue working hard.”
With the bonus in hand, Lin Wan did not care about any words. She smiled at everything: “Thank you, Director Feng. I will continue to work hard.”
The other employees in the office congratulated her one after another, except Feng Yan, who stormed out in anger.
After receiving the Hong Kong businessman’s materials given by the factory leaders, Lin Wan casually flipped through a page. She only hurriedly glanced at the Hong Kong businessman’s information before it was time to leave work.
When it was time to leave work, she absolutely would not delay. Lin Wan packed the materials into her cloth bag, preparing to take them home and study them when she had time.
In recent years, Hong Kong businessmen coming to the mainland to invest had been commonplace. Especially large-scale, big investments were in the majority and very welcome.
Lin Wan had seen much news on TV, in newspapers, and in magazines.
Hong Kong businessman, Cantonese… Lin Wan remembered that a few days ago someone had said he wanted her to teach him a few lines of Cantonese. Later, because they went back to her hometown, the matter had been set aside.
Unconsciously thinking of Fu Xiuhuai, Lin Wan quickly chased the person out of her mind again, preparing to wait until he brought it up again. If he did not ask, there was no need for her to take the initiative to teach someone her mediocre Cantonese.
But that night, Lin Wan did not have time to look at the Hong Kong businessman’s materials. As soon as she walked into the villa living room, she heard her mother-in-law Jiang Yuehua call out joyfully: “Wanwan, come quickly. Mingjun is back. You haven’t met him yet. This is Xiuhuai’s nephew.”
Lin Wan looked up and saw the young man sitting on the living room sofa. Who else could it be but her remembered boyfriend, Fu Mingjun!
Fu Mingjun looked no different from Lin Wan’s memory: young and handsome, carrying a bit of youthful spirit. It was just that when he looked at her, there seemed to be emotions in the depths of his eyes that could not be clearly explained, words unspoken yet unsaid.
“Wan…” Fu Mingjun’s one word caught in his throat, making Lin Wan’s heart leap to her throat.
Until behind her came Auntie Wang’s loud voice: “Oh my, Mingjun, your uncle is back!”