“I don’t recommend directly taking your sister for Sui Jun (accompanying the military).”
Chu Yu wanted to bring his sister for Sui Jun. He was confident he could persuade the military unit, but the procedures in Su Shi remained uncertain.
So when Xiangxue expressed her concerns, he only said they would consult professionals after daybreak.
Unexpectedly, when he explained the situation to his comrade who had transferred to the Paichusuo (police station) as a Huji police (household registration police), he immediately received opposition.
Chu Yu frowned: “Are the procedures difficult to handle?”
Tang Bing was exasperated: “Stop playing dumb. You know perfectly well your sister counts as Pangxi xueqin (collateral relatives)? And your sister has long been an adult, completely outside the conditions for Sui Jun.”
“That’s not a problem. I’ll communicate with the leadership. As long as we don’t require organizational subsidies for grain and oil, it can generally be accommodated.”
“Then don’t mention Sui Jun at all. Just obtain a Tanqin zhengming (family visit permit). But…” Tang Bing took a drag of his cigarette, hesitated for a few seconds, then lowered his voice to continue: “The Tanqin zhengming also requires going through several procedures. We’re just one checkpoint here. The main issue is still with the Jiedao Geweihui (Street Revolutionary Committee). Given your family’s situation… there are definitely still people watching. I’m afraid it won’t be easy to get her released.”
Chu Yu certainly knew the difficulties here, but he had his own connections and didn’t find it particularly troublesome: “I still want to obtain a Sui Jun certificate. The Tanqin zhengming isn’t suitable for long-term stays.”
Tang Bing quickly waved his hand, sending cigarette ash flying.
Chu Yu swiftly stepped back with a look of disgust: “Old Tang, how does Sister-in-law stand you?”
“Your sister-in-law is too busy doting on me to complain.” Tang Bing’s square face was full of pride. Although he had regrets about leaving the military, being able to accompany his wife every day after discharge was quite nice!
Thinking of this, he waved away the cigarette ash while teasing: “Forget it, you’re a bachelor – you wouldn’t understand.”
Who’s a bachelor? Chu Yu now had a significant other, okay?
“Oh, look at that defiant expression. Is there something going on?” Tang Bing had previously served as a scout before being honorably discharged due to severe injuries. His body couldn’t handle frontline work anymore, so he had to transfer to clerical duties, but he hadn’t lost his sharp observational skills. He clearly saw the smugness in his comrade’s eyes.
Chu Yu just smiled and returned to their previous topic: “I still want to get the Sui Jun certificate. Tell me, who should I approach to make it work?”
Looks like there really is a younger sister-in-law, and he seems quite protective of her. Tang Bing knew his comrade’s situation and, seeing his reluctance to elaborate, didn’t press further, but felt genuinely happy for him: “It’s difficult to obtain a Sui Jun certificate in Su Shi. Even if you manage it, it’s prone to problems at the final stage. How about I give you some advice?”
Chu Yu: “Go ahead.”
Between brothers, Tang Bing didn’t beat around the bush: “Have our sister apply to become an Educated Youth. With just two packs of cigarettes, she can go wherever you want. Once she’s there, far from the emperor’s reach, you can then arrange for her to join the military – convenient and safe.”
Become an Educated Youth? Perhaps reluctant to let his sister suffer, Chu Yu instinctively resisted considering this direction…
“Don’t be reluctant. If she goes now, she’ll only need to work the land for a month or two at most before you can take her away. That’s much better than staying in Su Shi, living in constant fear.” After saying this, remembering something, Tang Bing added another reminder: “You don’t think everyone among those causing trouble for our sister has clean backgrounds, do you?”
Of course Chu Yu wasn’t that naive. He was even certain that some neighbors had accepted benefits. As for who was behind it, he could roughly guess.
Precisely because he had guessed the general situation and understood that Xiangxue’s circumstances were far from optimistic, he grew anxious!
Going to be an Educated Youth first, though it meant some hardship, was the safer option…
Seeing his brother looking worried, Tang Bing tossed the cigarette pack over: “Want one?”
“No.” Chu Yu hardly ever smoked, but he still pocketed the cigarette pack: “Confiscated. With that lousy health of yours, smoke less. I’m off.”
“You kid, you’re too meddlesome. Do you know how hard it is for me to hide a pack of cigarettes under your sister-in-law’s watchful eyes?” Knowing his brother was busy, Tang Bing didn’t keep him long, grumbling as he watched him leave.
To avoid drawing attention, they had arranged to meet in a secluded alley, so it wouldn’t do to leave together now.
Thus, it wasn’t until he had finished the cigarette in his hand that Tang Bing leisurely made his way back to the Paichusuo.
=
After leaving the alley, Chu Yu didn’t rush home.
He visited the brothers he had drunk with earlier, one by one.
From them, he gathered quite a bit of the information he was seeking.
By the time he finished making the rounds and returned home, it was already past three in the afternoon.
Unsurprisingly, both the main gate and the courtyard wall were clean.
Of course, since Xiangxue had come up with a new solution, Chu Yu no longer paid much mind to the neighbors’ petty actions.
Right now, what concerned him more was the major event of his life tomorrow evening.
His first visit to his future father-in-law’s home required careful preparation…
“Are we taking all these to Fang Bai’s house? How are we going to carry so much?” Around six in the evening, as soon as Chu Xiangxue stepped through the door, she was stunned by the gifts covering the table.
Chu Yu carefully studied his sister’s expression, confirming that she hadn’t been secretly crying, before pointing to a bench nearby: “We’ll take those tomorrow. The rest can be sent over gradually later.”
Xiangxue looked over and noticed a smaller pile on the bench, complete with cigarettes, alcohol, and pastries—quite presentable. Then she started worrying about something else: “What are you going to wear tomorrow? I heard the weather forecast; it’ll be sunny.”
Chu Yu: “Comrade Gu reminded me yesterday not to wear my Jun Zhuang.”
Since it was Fang Bai’s request, Xiangxue naturally didn’t press further. She took the keys and other items from her pocket and placed them in a drawer: “Brother, have you eaten dinner?”
“Not yet, I was waiting for you.”
“Then I’ll start cooking now.”
“I’ve already made it. It’s warming in the pot, just bring it out.” As he spoke, Chu Yu quickly began clearing the gifts from the table to free up the Ba Xian Table.
Xiangxue was long accustomed to her brother’s all-around competence since he joined the army. She deftly brought over the meal.
Once the siblings sat down to eat, Chu Yu brought up the idea of his sister becoming an Educated Youth for two months.
Xiangxue wasn’t afraid of hardship; she only cared about her family: “Can I be an Educated Youth in the brigade where Mom and Dad were sent?”
“Yes, I’ll arrange it. Don’t be afraid when you get there. At most, in two months, I’ll bring you to live with me in the army permanently.”
Then what was there to wait for? Xiangxue was thrilled: “I’ll go! Do I sign up tomorrow?”
Though she had been depressed all day because of the breakup, trying hard not to cry, the girl now completely forgot about the scheming pretty boy. Her mind was filled with thoughts of her parents suffering in some unknown place.
Chu Yu reassured her: “I’ve asked around. The earliest Educated Youth team heading to the Honghe Brigade is in a week. We’ll sign up on the last day.”
“Honghe Brigade?” After more than a year apart, finally having news of their parents, Chu Xiangxue couldn’t hold back anymore and began shedding tears: “I… sob… Brother, I miss Mom and Dad… sob… Brother, they must have suffered so much… I want to go register tomorrow… sob…”
Chu Yu’s head buzzed from his sister’s wailing, but he still patiently explained: “There are probably people watching us. Registering on the last day would be safer.”
Chu Xiangxue immediately understood, raising her swollen red eyes and nodding repeatedly: “Right, right, we can’t take risks.”
Seeing his sister crying pitifully with tears and sniffles, Chu Yu sighed, fetched a washed towel and handed it over: “Wipe your face… Don’t tell anyone about registering as an Educated Youth, understand?”
Chu Xiangxue pressed the towel against her eyes: “Not even Sister-in-law?”
“…” After a moment’s silence, Chu Yu managed: “I’ll talk to Comrade Gu about it.”
=
The next day.
5:00 PM.
Gu Fangbai left work on time again.
Although she had completed her tasks, leaving precisely on time or taking leave midway for several consecutive days was testing the editor-in-chief’s patience.
But Gu Fangbai had more important matters to attend to, so she braved her colleagues’ admiring gazes and slipped away.
Descending the stairs, she couldn’t help mentally chiding herself… Why feel guilty when she wasn’t leaving early?
Chu Yu had arrived at 4:30.
But he didn’t go upstairs to find her, instead waiting quietly at the main entrance.
Hearing footsteps now, he instinctively turned and was greeted by a vision of pink.
Looking closer, he saw it was a girl in a pink floral dress gracefully descending the stairs.
The picturesque beauty made Chu Yu’s heart skip a beat, his long legs carrying him forward almost involuntarily.
But noticing her expression, he quickly asked with concern: “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing serious. The editor-in-chief is upset because I’ve been leaving on time lately.” Gu Fangbai quickly reached Chu Yu and explained casually before examining his attire.
He still wore a white shirt, but had changed to navy blue trousers.
The clothes were crisp and well-shaped, clearly carefully ironed.
Gu Fangbai didn’t hesitate to praise: “You look good in this.” Paired with hair just slightly longer than a buzz cut, it made him appear particularly clean and handsome.
Chu Yu instinctively returned the compliment: “That dress suits you too, very beautiful.”
Truly beautiful – fair skin, red lips, paired with standard phoenix eyes and thick black hair, enhanced by the rare bright-colored long dress, making her strikingly gorgeous.
Everyone enjoys hearing compliments, and Gu Fangbai was no exception. But with many curious colleagues watching, she suggested: “Shall we talk while walking?”
Chu Yu reached for his partner’s leather bag: “Do you need me to explain to your editor?”
Gu Fangbai: “No need. The editor-in-chief is all bark and no bite. He’ll get over it quickly. Are we taking the bus back to the Family Compound?”
“I came by bicycle. It’s right at the entrance.” As they spoke, the two had already reached the bicycle.
A large cloth bag was strapped horizontally across the bar of the Twenty-Eight bicycle. Meeting his partner’s curious gaze, Chu Yu explained, “I brought some gifts for your family.” As the words fell, he had already swung his leg over the bicycle, planting his long legs on the ground and gesturing for his partner to sit behind him.
The rear seat had been pre-padded with a thick cotton cushion. Gu Fangbai smoothed her skirt and settled steadily onto it.
Today’s weather forecast remained inaccurate.
Though clear skies were promised, a light rain had fallen around three or four in the afternoon. Even now that it had stopped, as the evening breeze rustled through, droplets occasionally dripped from the tree branches lining the road, tapping ethereal echoes against the bluestone pavement.
Interwoven with these sounds were the intermittent, hushed conversations of the young couple:
“I need to tell you something.”
“What is it?”
“It’s about Xiangxue… So, I’m thinking of sending her to be an Educated Youth for two months first.”
“That approach is indeed prudent, but being an Educated Youth is very demanding…”
“Don’t worry, I’ll ask my comrades to check on her regularly.”
Comrades? Northern comrades from the Honghe Brigade? Could it be the true love Grandma once lamented about?!
Author’s Note:
The story will be available for purchase starting tomorrow! Updates will be posted promptly at midnight. For these few days, the update time has been shifted to midnight and will return to the usual schedule after the feature period [heart].
Subscriptions in the first few days are particularly important, so please support this story, dear readers [fist bump][fist bump]. Let’s give it a boost! [heart] I’ll work hard to update more, mwah!
Today, 100 random little red envelopes will be given out as usual. It’s another day of asking for favorites, comments, and nutrient solutions! [heart][heart][heart]
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Recommending the next story I plan to publish! Interested readers, please help by adding it to your collections, mwah(ω)[heart][heart]
Title: Republic of China Scribe
Synopsis: In the eighth year of the Republic, opium addicts were everywhere.
They say, “When the guns sound, you either sell your children or pawn your wife.”
After squandering his family’s fortune and pawning his wife, Xie Lao San inevitably set his sights on his 13-year-old daughter.
Xie Qinghe, who had crossed over into this world with a price tag of just one silver yuan and eight copper coins, refused to accept her fate.
She fled dozens of miles overnight, scrambling onto a small steamboat.
She was headed to Shanghai to seek refuge with her aunt.
=
Su Gongguan.
As a technical backbone among the servants, the cook Aunt Liu had a poor relative arrive from her hometown.
The girl was thin and small, but her striking beauty was unmistakable.
The servant hierarchy had its own system.
Gatekeepers, kitchen helpers, cleaning maids… Any low-level laborer with a son at home began vying to “befriend” Aunt Liu, hoping to marry the girl.
But months later, the orphan girl whom everyone had reluctantly accepted was seen carrying textbooks into a school.
Though the servants grumbled enviously, they no longer dared to aspire, inwardly cursing Aunt Liu for her cunning.
By nurturing this poor relative, she was surely planning to offer her to one of the young masters as a concubine.
To everyone’s surprise, the orphan girl once again defied expectations: she bought a house, moved out of Su Gongguan, and became a published, renowned writer.
Heads-up: This story is set in an alternate universe, very loosely based on history. The plot is entirely fictional—please don’t scrutinize the details. Thank you!
The female lead is a great beauty! This is a non-typical strong female lead story—an indulgent, fast-paced romp, sweet and slice-of-life!
Synopsis subject to change! Screenshot saved on Weibo!