Lu Zewei rushed into the house and instinctively glanced up the staircase, where he indeed spotted someone.
Chief Lu stood imposingly on the stairs, flinging his military uniform jacket at him. “You wretched brat! Do you still carry yourself like a soldier at all?”
Lu Zewei, now obscured by the clothing: “……..”
Hu Fenglian hurriedly emerged from the east side of the second floor. “Can’t you speak properly? You’re clearly worried the child might catch cold, yet you insist on—”
“Shut your mouth! I confined him to his room, and without requesting instructions or reporting to superiors for approval, you took it upon yourself to unlock the door and release him! I haven’t even settled that score with you yet!”
Chief Lu fumed, shooting a glare toward the newlywed chamber on the east side. “Such a major matter, and you took advantage of my absence on troop inspections to act freely—you’re utterly undisciplined and unprincipled!”
“You’re the forward command; I’m the rear command. This matter falls under rear jurisdiction. There’s no need to report to you.”
Hu Fenglian never expected him to return early.
Although the newlywed couple had already been sharing a room, they hadn’t yet obtained their marriage certificate.
With him returning at this critical juncture and in such a rage, fearing he might obstruct the essential procedure, Hu Fenglian turned to her son. “Your father is right. Look at the state of you! Hurry up and take a shower. After you’ve eaten, take Liang Xin to the civil affairs bureau to get your marriage certificate.”
“Wretched!” Chief Lu’s eyebrows shot up in fury. “You haven’t even obtained the marriage certificate, and you’ve already brought her into our home!”
“If we didn’t bring her home, would this boy ever take responsibility?” Hu Fenglian rolled her eyes. “Did you think you were the only one who objected?”
“You!”
Chief Lu was heartbroken. “Old Hu, you were once a comrade with high revolutionary consciousness. How have you grown more feudal with age, even disregarding the children’s wishes and forcing an arranged marriage upon them?!”
Lu Chongfeng, who had risen early for drills and rushed home eagerly, took the stairs three steps at a time. Bypassing his quarreling parents, he headed straight for the room.
In the newlywed chamber, the pillows and quilts on the double bed were already neatly folded.
She was gone.
The first execution of the “Remove the Hat” operation had ended in complete failure.
Lu Chongfeng pressed his lips tightly together, opened the dresser drawer to fetch a change of clothes, and went to wash away the sweat that had turned from scalding to icy cold.
Just as he forcefully pushed open the bathroom door, a soft body collided into his embrace. The rich scent of snow cream assailed his nostrils, and he instinctively reached out to steady the back of her neck, stabilizing her wobbling, trembling form.
Liang Xin clutched her forehead, pain knitting her brows together as she looked up to identify what she had bumped into.
A drenched white tank top clung to robust muscles within her line of sight. Without the cover of darkness, it fully displayed masculine vigor. The mingled scents of sweat and soap left her momentarily dazed.
Was this the Invalid?
No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than Liang Xin’s chin was gripped and lifted.
Exquisitely sculpted features drew near, tightening her breath.
Only then did she notice a tiny mole beneath his right eye.
One had to be extremely close to detect this small mole.
Staring at it longer only deepened her bewilderment.
Liang Xin’s last conscious sensation was a surge of warmth flooding her nose.
“Liang Xin!”
When Liang Xin came to, she was reclining against the neatly folded pillows and quilts on the double bed in the bridal chamber.
Before her vision had fully cleared, a figure appeared and asked anxiously, “You’re awake?”
“Liang Xin, you’re awake!”
Hu Fenglian rushed over, her face beaming with joy. “It’s good that you’re awake, and even better that you’re alright. Don’t worry, I’ve already scolded your father. He’s feeling very guilty now, pacing back and forth outside your room, equally anxious.”
Liang Xin: “?”
Slowly, memories surfaced.
She recalled a small mole.
Subconsciously, she reached up to touch her nose.
“I’m sorry.” Lu Zewei’s eyes held clear remorse. “I didn’t know you were inside. I was in too much of a hurry—not only did I make your nose bleed from the collision, but I also knocked you unconscious.”
Liang Xin: “……..”
“Don’t blame Chongfeng, blame your father.” Hu Fenglian glanced toward the door and raised her voice. “It’s all because he suddenly came back and frightened you, causing you to faint on the spot. Don’t worry, Liang Xin, I only recognize you as my daughter-in-law. As soon as you’re better, we’ll go get the marriage certificate immediately. Let’s see who dares to stop us!”
Seeing her remain silent, the mother and son leaned in closer, their faces filled with tension.
Hu Fenglian: “Doctor Ma said you’d be fine once you woke up. Why aren’t you speaking? Liang Xin, are you alright?”
Chief Lu appeared at the doorway. Though his expression was stern, his eyes betrayed his anxiety.
Despite his concern, he did not step into the bridal chamber, merely observing from afar outside the door.
After assessing the situation, Lu Zewei declared, “Let’s go to the hospital.”
Sensing his intention to scoop her up in his arms, Liang Xin reached out to push against his cold body. “…….I’m fine. You should go take a bath and change your clothes. Don’t catch a cold.”
If he did, she’d end up having to take care of him anyway.
“See what a thoughtful daughter-in-law I’ve chosen for you? The moment she wakes up, she’s already thinking about your health!” Hu Fenglian smiled with heartfelt affection, taking Liang Xin’s hand. “Don’t be afraid, child. I’ve asked Xiao Shi to make sweet poached eggs. Have a few later, and once you’re done, your father’s driver will take you straight to the civil affairs bureau. He won’t object.”
Liang Xin nodded. “Thank you, Mom.”
Sitting in the mottled green military vehicle as it drove out of the Military Compound, she couldn’t help but recall the first time she had stepped through these gates and seen this very car, telling Second Sister-in-law, “Anyway, this has nothing to do with me in this lifetime.”
When they arrived at the civil affairs bureau, the couple submitted the letter signed by their organizational leaders and smoothly obtained their marriage certificate.
Looking at the certificate, which resembled an award certificate, Liang Xin felt a profound sense of destiny.
As they stepped out of the civil affairs bureau, snow blanketed the earth.
Whether she hadn’t noticed it on the way there or because the snowflakes were too heavy, within half an hour, the gloomy land had been transformed into a silvery-white world.
Liang Xin descended the steps, her cotton-soled shoes crunching “crunch-crunch” on the snow-covered ground. She extended her hand, and several hexagonal snowflakes landed on her palm, quickly melting from the residual warmth.
The year 1976 had officially entered its deep winter.
The north wind tore through the gloomy miasma, while snowflakes drifted down in profusion.
Once the New Year passed and spring arrived, melting the ice and snow, the suffering comrades would finally welcome the long-awaited warmth.
For decades to come, it would never be this cold again.
Lu Zewei was still gazing at the newly acquired marriage certificate:
A red flag with a five-pointed star adorned the award-like certificate.
Below it was a row of the Chairman’s quotation: “Complete anarchism in human reproduction is unacceptable; there must also be family planning.”
Name: Lu Zewei Gender: Male Age: 27
Name: Liang Xin Gender: Female Age: 22
Voluntarily married.
Lu Zewei ignored the official wording at the bottom, his eyes fixed on the four characters: “voluntarily married.”
After a long while, he lifted his gaze to look at Liang Xin.
Pure, crystalline snowflakes drifted from the crown of Liang Xin’s hair down to her shoulders.
It reminded Lu Zewei of Republican-era wedding photographs.
But no bride in any photograph could compare to Liang Xin at this moment.
Her snowflake veil was ethereal and natural, beneath it her skin like ice and bones like jade, her eyes concealing a compassionate smile, exuding an aura of sacred purity.
Lu Zewei’s gaze paused.
The car ride back was quiet.
The guard Xiao Wei glanced at the newlyweds through the rearview mirror of the front car.
The bride’s expression was placid as she looked out the right window, while the groom’s face had lost the healthy color it had when they left in the morning, now slightly pale.
“Chongfeng, are you feeling unwell again?”
Liang Xin turned her head to look at him upon hearing the voice.
He was wearing his winter service uniform, still sporting only a thin military cap.
Before they left, Liang Xin had urged him to put on his military cotton overcoat and fur-lined cap, but he refused.
Lu Zewei: “I’m fine.”
Liang Xin turned her face away again.
Suddenly she remembered the thousand yuan her mother-in-law had given her and the monthly sixty-yuan salary.
Liang Xin slowly removed the red woolen lapel coat she had worn for the first time today, moved closer to Lu Zewei, and was about to drape it over him when her hand was caught.
Lu Chongfeng frowned as he looked at her—now wearing only a patched-up sweater pieced together from black, blue, gray, and red yarns, with frayed collar and cuffs mended with blue cloth. “Brother Wei, head to City Department Store One.”
The guard smiled imperceptibly and turned the steering wheel, changing lanes.
“Put it on.”
Lu Chongfeng’s tone was stiff as he released her hand. Seeing Liang Xin remain motionless, he added, “Can’t you feel my hands are much warmer than yours?”
Her wrist still retained the lingering warmth from his touch. Liang Xin put the coat back on, and while buttoning it up with her head lowered, she asked, “Are you angry?”
Lu Chongfeng turned his head in surprise. “Why?”
Liang Xin: “……..”
“Can’t you tell my tone was rising at the end?”
“Who are you asking?” Lu Zewei looked toward the guard in the driver’s seat. “Him?”
Liang Xin pressed her lips tightly together, breathing heavily through her nose, and looked out the window.
“We’re at Department Store One.”
The Number One Department Store.
A three-story building constructed according to Soviet blueprints.
Standing prominently in the central district of Jiangjing.
Lu Zewei headed straight for the second floor, which sold woolen fabrics, silk satins, patterned and plain cloth, knitwear, cotton products, clothing, shoes, and hats.
Liang Xin followed his steps and stopped before the glass counter of knitwear and cotton products.
She looked at him with confusion.
Lu Zewei: “Choose. Pick whatever catches your eye.”
On the wooden shelves behind the glass counter, bundles of yarn in red, yellow, green, camel, and khaki—cotton thread, blended wool, cashmere—thick, thin, two-ply, six-ply—were neatly arranged.
Having just come in from the snow, the sight felt especially soft and warm.
Despite it being deep winter and yarn requiring ration coupons for limited supply, the counter was still bustling with customers keeping the salesclerks busy.
A sharp-eyed salesclerk noticed the green military uniform from the corner of her eye and immediately approached with a smile. “We just got in red cashmere yarn today. What are you planning to knit?”
“A sweater,” Lu Zewei answered for her, looking at Liang Xin. “A hat, scarf, gloves—what else do you need?”
“Do you have coupons?”
“If not, you can leave me here as collateral.”
“Then I’ll choose.”
Liang Xin pointed to the black yarn in the glass counter, then looked up and indicated the light gray cashmere yarn on the wooden shelf. “Two jin of each of these colors.”
Lu Zewei’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. “Weigh two jin of the red too.”
“You wear it if it’s weighed.”
“…No need for the red.”
Lu Zewei looked at Liang Xin, “Haven’t you always liked wearing a red scarf? Why don’t you want it anymore?”
Liang Xin: “I don’t like it, but it’s the only one I have. If I don’t wear it, I’ll freeze.”
Lu Zewei’s eyebrows twitched slightly as he looked at the colorful yarn, “Then what colors do you like?”
“Black and gray.”
Lu Zewei, who had thought one of these colors might be chosen for him: “……..”
“Don’t female comrades usually prefer brighter colors?”
Liang Xin looked up at him, “You seem to know a lot.”
“I don’t!”
After buying the yarn, even after entering the house, Lu Zewei kept following Liang Xin to explain: “I don’t know, I really don’t.”
“Don’t know what?” Hu Fenglian, wearing a beige-gray dual-purpose jacket, beamed with joy, “You went to buy yarn? No wonder you’re back so late. I thought there was a queue at the Civil Affairs Bureau. Is Chongfeng in good spirits today?”
“Mom, when have I ever been in poor spirits?”
“When have you ever been in good spirits?”
“………”
Lu Zewei glanced at Liang Xin, “You sit on the sofa and rest. You just fainted this morning and had a nosebleed. I’ll make you some brown sugar water.”
At the mention of the nosebleed, Liang Xin’s expression briefly turned uncomfortable.
“Yes, Liang Xin should sit and rest properly.” Hu Fenglian took her official daughter-in-law’s hand and led her to sit on the sofa, whispering, “Was everything smooth along the way?”
Liang Xin knew what she was asking and nodded.
“That’s good, that’s good.” Hu Fenglian breathed a long sigh of relief, watching her son preparing the brown sugar water. “I have to say, getting married really is quite useful.”
Lu Zewei handed the enamel teacup to Liang Xin, then turned to pour himself a glass of water, tilting his head back to gulp it down.
Liang Xin sat in the soft sofa, sipping the brown sugar water slowly.
Observing the two of them, Hu Fenglian’s smile deepened. “Liang Xin, don’t just drink the brown sugar water. We’ll be eating soon, save room for meat. Since you two are married, the wedding should be organized by the Party. Chongfeng was suspended from his division last year to attend military school, and now his classes have been suspended too. He can’t rely on either side. We can only bow before Chairman Mao’s portrait and have a simple meal at home.”
Outside, the tension of class struggle remained high, and the Military Compound was also in a state of turmoil and chaos.
No one dared to hold extravagant weddings under the revolutionary line of class struggle as the key link.
Even collective weddings organized by communes, which were slightly more lively, merely involved three bows before the Chairman’s portrait, exchanging copies of the “Selected Works of Mao Zedong,” buying a pair of thermos flasks and bedding, and eating a meal of cabbage and tofu—that counted as completing the marriage.
The cook, Xiao Shi, had prepared spicy braised radish with lamb, salted duck bought from the grocery store, a plate of frost-touched greens with four braised lion’s head meatballs in the center, and a bowl of soybeans stewed with pork hock.
When Chief Lu returned from work and saw the table full of dishes, he paused noticeably but said nothing.
After the family gathered around the dining table, Hu Fenglian explained to Liang Xin:
“Liang Xin, our family originally had three children. The eldest, Guangrong, sacrificed his life. We still have three children now because after we lost our eldest, we adopted our comrade’s child. Both families share the same surname—he’s called Lu Heping. Chongfeng also has a younger sister named Yueji, who dances in the Cultural Troupe. Originally, it should have been Yueji who went to the countryside, but Heping signed up without telling us and left for the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. He has no leave and can’t come back. Please don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind.”
Nowadays, many couples get married without a single relative by their side. Some even have children old enough to run errands, yet they still rarely get to see their parents.
During the meal, apart from the sounds of Hu Fenglian continuously serving Liang Xin food, the dining table was filled only with the soft sounds of chewing.
Suddenly, Hu Fenglian exclaimed “Ah!” as she placed the salted duck from her chopsticks into Liang Xin’s bowl. She turned to Chief Lu and said, “You never know how late you’ll be back tonight, and Chongfeng is in good spirits today. Let me tell you, a few days ago, Hongyan from Battalion Commander Wei’s family brought Yuan Yang to our home.”
Chief Lu replied, “Since I wasn’t home, why didn’t you ask them to stay a few more days?”
“Guess why they came?” Hu Fenglian’s expression turned complicated. “They came to propose a marriage!”
Chief Lu was astonished and about to speak when his daughter-in-law across the table suddenly choked, her face turning bright red as she coughed uncontrollably.
Lu Zewei picked up the unfinished brown sugar water Liang Xin had been drinking and handed it to her, gently patting her back. “You’re acting as if you know them. Slow down.”