When the Municipal Office suddenly issued a directive to “strengthen ideological education for employees,” the leaders of the cotton mill immediately became tense. Then, the Municipal Office specifically named a female employee from the mill who must participate in this study session, making the leaders realize exactly where this unwarranted trouble was coming from.
After figuring out the cause, they were even more furious. It was truly a case of one bad apple spoiling the whole barrel, and at such a critical year-end moment too!
Since she wanted to study, they’d make sure she studied thoroughly—to the point of exhaustion!
When Yu Xiuchun was first summoned, she felt panicked. But when she found out it was just attending study sessions without even having to work, she stopped caring and even felt somewhat proud.
The leaders demanded she write study reports, which she casually brushed off. Even when criticized, she remained unafraid—after all, she held an iron rice bowl as a worker. How could the leaders possibly fire her just because they were dissatisfied?
True, the leaders couldn’t fire her, but her husband’s promotion to workshop team leader, which was supposed to be finalized the next day, was taken by their neighbor, Old Wang.
That night, the couple had a fierce argument, and Yu Xiuchun received a hard slap that left her face swollen.
The next day, Chu Xuanxuan ran out of the Expert Building in tears after Wang Sujuan declared to her face that the Zhang family would not marry a girl from a family with questionable ideological awareness.
Chu Xuanxuan rushed back to the tube-shaped apartment building, crying and shouting at Yu Xiuchun, who had been “studying” all day. The neighbors once again enjoyed the spectacle.
Old Wang next door watched with the most delight, chewing on his plain steamed corn bun without any side dishes, finding the drama entertainment enough.
Before the Chu family’s drama had even settled, Sunday arrived—the day of the military social dance at the Red Star Auditorium.
Feng Mingshu went early to the tailor shop to pick up her new clothes: a gray-blue collared top paired with matching straight-leg pants. The cut was very loose, hanging somewhat loosely on her, but that was exactly the effect she wanted.
She had originally tried on the outfit in private, but the mischievous twins barged into her room while playing, followed by their mother in a simple cheongsam, her gentle gaze resting on Feng Mingshu like flowing water.
Feng Mingshu couldn’t help feeling nervous and softly explained, “Mom, I think given my status, it’s better to dress modestly for the dance.”
How could Yu Jingqiu not see through her daughter’s little scheme? She smiled and nodded, “Zhu Zhu has good taste. Let me accessorize it for you—don’t worry, no jewelry.”
“Is that really necessary…”
Under her mother’s amused gaze, Feng Mingshu’s voice gradually faded. Soon, a brown-red leather belt was fastened around her waist.
The plain work attire instantly gained a higher grade, adding a touch of spirited elegance and highlighting her slender waist.
Feng Mingshu inwardly groaned but didn’t dare oppose her gentle mother, so she decided to make a quick escape.
“Mom, I’m running out of time. I need to catch the bus.”She threw on her cotton monkey suit, grabbed her army-green backpack, and hurried downstairs.”
“Sister, your scarf.” Mingxue pattered after her, holding up a red cashmere scarf.
Feng Mingshu hesitated for a second before accepting it. “Thank you, Xiao Mingxue.”
Mingxue shook her head like a little adult. “You’re welcome. Sister, remember to bring back a brother-in-law.”
Feng Mingshu was momentarily stunned, then Mingyu ran over and loudly declared, “Sister, don’t get married! When I grow up, I’ll protect you!”
Feng Mingshu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She pinched their tender cheeks lightly and said, “Don’t worry about grown-up matters. Both of you, go back to your room and do your homework.””Sis, I finished my homework.”
“Sis, I finished mine too.”
“You didn’t write it, you copied mine.”
“I didn’t copy yours, I copied from the book!”
“Then you still copied! You’re a bad student!”
“I am not!”
The twins were arguing again. Feng Mingshu didn’t try to stop them—she actually enjoyed this liveliness and wanted to preserve it.
With a smile on her lips, she went out and ran into Uncle Li. He offered to take her to the auditorium, but she declined and jogged to the bus stop twenty meters away.
Li Yanzhong stood at the courtyard gate, watching the girl’s drab figure squeeze onto the bus. He turned to Yu Jingqiu, who had arrived at some point unnoticed, and said, “Mingshu doesn’t seem very keen on making this matchmaking successful.”
Yu Jingqiu gazed at the departing bus and replied calmly, “Whether Mingshu wants it or not doesn’t matter. As long as she shows up, there will be decent young men who take a liking to her.”
“What if Mingshu doesn’t like the other person?” Li Yanzhong asked with concern. Having watched the girl grow up, he always hoped she would meet an outstanding young man whom she could love and who would love her back.
Yu Jingqiu fell silent for a moment before responding, “For Mingshu’s marriage, I’d rather she find someone who loves her than someone she loves.”
Li Yanzhong’s lips moved as if to speak, but in the end, he said nothing.
As their eyes met, Yu Jingqiu faintly sensed something, but since he remained silent, she turned and pushed open the courtyard gate. “You came today for a reason, right? Let’s go inside; it’s too cold out here.”
Li Yanzhong nodded and followed her into the house, then stated his purpose: “I’ve recently found some leads about my parents. The place is quite far from Bincheng, so I might need to go there in person to verify.”
Yu Jingqiu paused while pouring tea, looked up with a smile, and said, “That’s good news. Congratulations.”
Li Yanzhong had been adopted by the Feng family, but he wasn’t entirely an orphan—he had family, but he had been separated from them due to war in his youth. Over the years, he had occasionally heard rumors about his family, some true, some false, but this was the first time he had seriously mentioned a concrete clue to her.
It seemed this time the information was most likely reliable.
She set down the teapot and added, “Since the lead is reliable, you should set off as soon as possible.”
Hearing her urge him on, Li Yanzhong fell silent. His gaze rested on her elegant face, but he saw only her usual composure. He lowered his eyes. “The trip will take quite some time. I’d like to wait until Mingshu’s marriage is settled before leaving.”
Yu Jingqiu refused: “Don’t delay your plans for Mingshu. With me here, her marriage won’t go astray.”
Her demeanor was composed, her tone firm, making Li Yanzhong momentarily dazed, as if he were seeing the Madame Feng of ten years ago, who single-handedly supported her husband’s family business.
And he—he could only ever watch her from behind, not daring to approach, not daring to defile her.
…
Feng Mingshu had left early but deliberately dawdled during her transfer, arriving at the Red Star Auditorium with only five minutes to spare.
Over a dozen young women had already gathered outside the auditorium. In the bitterly cold winter where breath turned to ice, most wore leather shoes and dresses, topped with thin wool coats that weren’t very warm but were bright in color, drawing attention.
Feng Mingshu, bundled in a padded coat and hat, walked over and was instantly overshadowed, looking like a plump, gray mouse.”Comrade, are you perhaps in the wrong place?” A tall, thin-lipped girl looked her over, her gaze finally settling on Feng Mingshu’s feet with a trace of disdain.
Following the other’s line of sight downward, Feng Mingshu noticed a footprint on her black cloth shoes—likely left when someone stepped on her during the crowded bus ride.
“Thank you for the reminder, comrade.” Feng Mingshu smiled at the girl, stepped aside, and pulled an old cotton handkerchief from her coat pocket. She bent down to wipe the shoe clean.
The tall, thin-lipped girl curled her lip mockingly and turned to chat with her companions. Suddenly, her eyes fixed on something, and she exclaimed with excitement, “Director Wu is here! Let’s go greet him.”
She led the way forward, and the group of girls quickly followed, calling out in unison, “Hello, Director Wu!”