“Fenglian!”
“Hongyan!”
In the Lu family’s first-floor reception room, an emotionally charged reunion unfolded between two old friends, their tearful embrace nearly moving heaven and earth.
“It’s been over a decade! We haven’t seen each other for more than ten years!” Hu Fenglian gripped Wang Hongyan’s hands, her eyes glistening with tears. “Ever since Battalion Commander Wei sacrificed himself, we’ve been separated by vast distances, hardly able to meet at all.”
Wang Hongyan’s face was filled with excitement, tears welling in her eyes, with no trace of the fierce expression she had earlier shown to Liang Xin and the others. “Fenglian, I’ve been thinking of you day and night. I remember when we first met at the train station, going together to the military district to find our men, then being neighbors for so many years in the garrison area. What a pity…”
“Quick, sit down, let’s sit and talk.”
Hu Fenglian knew what her old friend meant by “pity” and guided her toward the living room sofa while changing the subject to look at Wei Yuanyang standing nearby. “This must be Yuanyang! You’ve really grown into an adult. A few years back, I heard Director Li had been sent down and tried to find you all. The military academy said Yuanyang had gone to the countryside, and you had left with your younger son. I wanted to keep looking, but then our Old Lu also ran into trouble. Years passed with everything going in circles, and now you’ve come to visit us on your own initiative.”
“Aunt Hu, hello.”
Wei Yuanyang placed the net bag on the tea table. “These are gifts for Uncle Lu.”
When Hu Fenglian clearly saw the Hongtashan cigarettes and Maotai liquor inside the net bag, her joyful expression faltered. “This… Hongyan, why did you bring these things when visiting with the children?”
“Regimental Commander Lu is now the deputy commander of the military district. You must be accustomed to fine things now…”
“Hongyan, that’s not right to say.” Hu Fenglian’s expression immediately turned serious as she spoke with conviction. “What’s the relationship between our two families? What kind of person Old Lu is – others might not know, but you should understand perfectly. When has he ever smoked such fine cigarettes or drunk such expensive liquor? We can’t accept these things. If we did, he’d scold me.”
“Given the relationship between our families, if I’m the one giving them, he can’t scold you!” Wang Hongyan chided. “These things are nothing compared to Old Lu’s salary anyway. I’m not here to ask him for favors – it’s just that after so many years apart, I wanted to buy something nice for you to try.”
“Try?” Hu Fenglian waved her hand. “I never touch these cigarettes and liquors.”
Wang Hongyan’s face stiffened. “Look at me, I forgot to mention – when I first arrived in Jiangjing recently, I went to the southern city to buy Plum Blossom Cake, only to find out the shop had been destroyed a few years back. Yuanyang specially went to ask his school teacher for a malt extract ration coupon, and we already bought it. But we were in such a hurry to see you this morning that we forgot to bring it when we left home. We only remembered when we reached the Military Compound gate. I’m truly sorry.”
“I’ve never acquired a taste for that stuff.” Hu Fenglian pushed the cigarettes and liquor forward in the net bag. “Yuanyang is grown now – he’ll have use for these in the future.”
“Yuanyang doesn’t smoke or drink. He specifically brought these for Old Lu today, so please don’t stand on ceremony.”
“If Yuanyang doesn’t drink, keep them for Old Li to use.” The genuine delight that had been on Hu Fenglian’s face gradually took on a more polite tone. “In recent years, cadres who were sent down have been gradually returning to their original posts, some even getting promotions. Military academies everywhere have also been reopening for new students. I suspect it won’t be long before Old Li can return.”
“Fenglian, you don’t think I brought these things today to ask your Old Lu to help transfer my Old Li back, do you? That would be a misunderstanding—I didn’t mean that at all!”
“No, I wasn’t thinking that.” Hu Fenglian smiled. “The military academy isn’t under Old Lu’s jurisdiction. Even if he wanted to help, he wouldn’t have the connections.”
Wang Hongyan’s smile faded almost imperceptibly, though her tone remained warm. “Back in the day, both our men were battalion commanders, equals in rank. When we exchanged gifts, we were genuinely grateful—no one was asking favors. But now, when I offer you something nice, you treat it as if I have ulterior motives and refuse to accept it. Are you forcing me to speak bluntly?”
“Look at you, still the same temper—flaring up at the drop of a hat.” Hu Fenglian’s words were affectionate, but she still didn’t accept the gifts. “We’re all laborers—workers, peasants, and soldiers—comrades of the proletariat. There’s no such thing as equality or inequality here. Hongyan, if you’re here today to see an old friend, take these things back. If you have business to discuss, take them back too and speak plainly. If I can help, I’ll try; if not, don’t hold it against me.”
Hearing this, Wang Hongyan stopped insisting on pushing the gifts forward and said with a laugh, “Well, Fenglian, even I can’t break through your iron wall. It seems all those gift-givers over the years have nearly worn out your doorstep, honing your skills.”
Listening to the sour remarks, the genuine warmth in Hu Fenglian’s eyes faded considerably, leaving only a trace of their past camaraderie.
“Old Wang, we’re at this age now, having weathered so many storms. You’ve always been straightforward—no need to beat around the bush.”
Wang Hongyan noticed the change in how she was addressed and understood that things were indeed different now. Setting aside years of pent-up resentment, she smiled and said:
“Fenglian, that year our husbands went to the battlefield, I was pregnant and panicking, completely lost. No matter how you comforted me, it didn’t help. Finally, you slapped your thigh and said if Old Wei really didn’t make it, our children should marry, and you’d take care of both families. Do you remember that?”
Mentioning the past softened Hu Fenglian’s stance. A smile appeared on her face as she looked at Wei Yuanyang. “I remember, of course I do. It’s a pity you had Yuanyang, not a daughter—otherwise, I wouldn’t be worrying about finding a wife for Chongfeng now.”
Wei Yuanyang was slightly taken aback.
Wang Hongyan quickly added, “I had a son back then, but didn’t you later have a daughter? Our families still have a chance to be in-laws!”
Now it was Hu Fenglian’s turn to be startled.
Wang Hongyan sighed. “Back then, Old Wei really did meet his end on the battlefield. The artillery shell was headed straight for your Old Lu. He sacrificed himself to save your Old Lu.”
“…”
Hu Fenglian pondered for a long moment before responding. “Old Wang, that’s not quite right. Battalion Commander Wei did save Old Lu by pushing him into a shell crater before the artillery shell hit. But that time, both of them were fine—they dodged the shell together. Battalion Commander Wei was later wounded by an artillery shell during the positional battle when the Second Battalion’s main position was surrounded, and that’s when he sacrificed himself.”
Wang Hongyan’s eyebrows shot up. “Fenglian, are you saying you won’t acknowledge that our Old Wei saved your Old Lu?”
“I acknowledge it—I’m not denying he saved him.” Hu Fenglian explained, “But…”
“That you admit it is enough,” Wang Hongyan spoke faster than Hu Fenglian. “Then do you deny you promised the marriage alliance between our families?”
“…I admit that too.”
“Since that’s the case, and the children are all grown up now—Yuanyang hasn’t been in a single relationship all these years, keeping himself pure for Yueji.” Wang Hongyan pushed the gifts back toward her. “We came today specifically to discuss the marriage between our families.”
Back in the day, Hu Fenglian would often get dizzy from Wang Hongyan’s roundabout tactics, only realizing after the fact that the other had gained the upper hand.
“Wang Hongyan, when we were young military wives with our husbands defending the nation on the battlefield, we supported each other on the home front. Giving way on personal interests was one thing, but now that it involves the children, you can’t keep using the same old tricks to confuse right and wrong to get your way.”
Wang Hongyan looked at Hu Fenglian in surprise.
Just as she opened her mouth to speak, Hu Fenglian cut her off: “When soldiers fight enemies on the battlefield, covering for each other is commonplace. It’s not like Old Lu never saved Old Wei’s life in time either. We were all devastated when Old Wei sacrificed himself, and the organization did its best to comfort you. Back when the division wanted you to stay and work at the military district service center as a shop assistant, with all of us helping take care of Yuanyang, it was you…”
Hu Fenglian paused.
“It was Battalion Commander Wei’s guard, who felt he failed to protect the Battalion Commander properly and made caring for you and your son his lifelong mission. Later you married him. Old Lu also pulled strings back then to get Xiao Li assigned as an instructor at the military academy, ensuring your livelihood. That was the only time in his life he ever used his connections, and years later, precisely because of that one incident, he was affected and sent down to a farm, almost never making it back.”
Wei Yuanyang whipped his head around, staring at his mother in shock.
Wang Hongyan avoided her son’s gaze. “Old Hu, what are you trying to say by bringing this up now?”
“To correct your version of events,” Hu Fenglian stood her ground. “As for the marriage proposal, I did say back then to comfort you that our families should become in-laws. My exact words were: if the child in your womb turns out to be a girl, you can pick either of my two sons—whichever you choose will be your son-in-law. But you also gave birth to a son back then. How could the proposal still hold after I later had a daughter? How can you twist children’s marriage matters so recklessly?”
“Mom…”
“I must have remembered wrong.”
Wang Hongyan cut him off, avoiding her son’s eyes and bowing her head quickly:
“Fenglian, I didn’t know Old Lu was sent down because of Old Li’s job assignment. But I’ve always held close to heart your words about our families becoming in-laws. All these years, I’ve only recognized Yueji as my daughter-in-law. Yuanyang has never entertained any other thoughts for anyone but Yueji. If you still cherish our past friendship, if you remember that Old Wei’s only descendant has remained chaste waiting for Yueji, then please reconsider the marriage between our families.”
Hu Fenglian looked at Wei Yuanyang, who sat with head bowed, flushed with humiliation down to his neck, lost in unknown thoughts.
The living room remained silent for a long time.
Wang Hongyan waited with eager expectation.
Hu Fenglian ultimately couldn’t bear it: “Old Lu went down to the troops this morning—this isn’t an excuse, he just left not long ago. You might have even passed him on your way here. I’ve been busy lately with Chongfeng’s marriage arrangements; that child has been driving me up the wall. I finally managed to pick a suitable girl for him. As for Yueji’s marriage, I haven’t given it any thought yet. We’ll discuss it when Old Lu returns. Yuanyang is a good boy—you mustn’t cause any more trouble in the future.”
Wang Hongyan saw hope in these words and immediately beamed with joy, warmly grasping Hu Fenglian’s hands. “Alright, whatever you say goes for both our families! Fenglian, you’ve improved so much over the years—even I can’t outtalk you now!”
Hu Fenglian shot her old friend a glare and pointed at the gifts. “Stay for dinner today, and don’t forget to take these things back with you.”
“Fine, whatever you say! You’re the boss!”
The external investigation letter from the Political Department of the Jiangjing Military District arrived at the Commune Revolutionary Committee three days after Liang Xin’s blind date.
The commune director was so excited he nearly tripped over his own feet delivering the news to Huaihua Village. It came as timely rain saving Liang Xin from disaster.
The trip to the provincial capital for the blind date had actually allowed her to avoid that day’s struggle session.
Liang Xin only learned about this after returning home. Her second sister-in-law had embellished the details of the blind date, successfully dissuading the brigade cadres from their plans.
Three days passed with no further developments. Liang Tiezhu, who had been half-doubting all along, now completely lost faith. Early in the morning, he caught six hens from the chicken coop and marched toward the brigade headquarters.
The loudspeakers assembled all village members for a public meeting.
The militia squad members carried Liang Xin—who had been sunbathing on a recliner and refusing to get up despite all calls—to the brigade headquarters.
“Ridiculous!” Liang Tiezhu bristled with anger at the sight. “Even if she’s my daughter, wrongdoers must face consequences! Bring her to the center!”
“Secretary, what’s all this fuss about? They’re just a few chickens. If the child wants to raise them, let her be.”
“It’s not like they’re eating your family’s grain anyway—they’re free-ranging in the reed marshes by the western river.”Precisely because of this kind of thinking that I must sever this capitalist tail today and completely stamp out this corrupt trend!””
Liang Tiezhu raised an axe and decapitated an old hen with one chop.
The chicken head dropped to the ground while the body remained alive, flapping wings and scrambling through the dirt.
Within seconds, chicken blood sprayed across the ground, painting a crimson streak across the brigade headquarters’ wall.
The other five hens cackled in terror, their bean-sized eyes filled with alertness and fear.
The chattering, indifferent commune members immediately fell silent, intimidated by the scene.
Scalding chicken blood splashed onto Liang Xin’s black clasp shoes. The red disappeared into the black fabric, leaving only a damp spot without staining her socks beneath. Yet she felt as if her instep had been scorched. Lazily raising her eyes, she glanced at her righteous and imposing father.