The sanatorium ward smelled faintly of disinfectant, sunlight filtering through the window slats, falling on Lin Yuqiu’s mother lying weakly in bed.
On the bedside table sat a pot of roses, morning dew still glistening on the petals, freshly watered, the bright color striking against the simple, pale room.
Lin Yuqiu knew that the caregivers had been looking after her mother with meticulous care these past few days her mother’s complexion had improved, her clothes were clean and tidy, the room fresh and odorless.
She stepped lightly across the room, bent down, and gently took her mother’s still-slightly-mobile hand, pressing it to her cheek to feel its warmth, remembering the tender strokes her mother had once used to caress her face.
Seeing her mother’s emaciated features after illness filled her with heartache, yet she was helpless.
If she didn’t marry Zhou Runqing, she couldn’t afford her mother’s expensive treatments, nor could she secure a place in the sanatorium.
If her mother stayed with her, her health would deteriorate day by day.
Now that her mother was in the sanatorium, she not only had attentive caregivers but also doctors who made rounds and could respond immediately to any episode.
Her throat tightened with emotion, but she didn’t want her mother to worry for her, so she forced a soft, happy smile, her voice gentle: “Mom, I’m going to get married.”
After speaking, she turned toward the man standing beside the bed, her eyes bright and smiling, her tone no longer cool as before but soft and sweet like a honeyed warbler’s song, delicate and tender enough to melt hearts.
“Runqing, come here, let Mom see you.”
Her eyes shone with affection, recalling the playful innocence of her days as a young lady.
The man momentarily faltered, her sweet voice echoing in his mind “Runqing” like a fine thread quietly slipping into his heart, making his chest stir.
“Runqing~”
“Runqing~”
“Runqing~”
When she saw he still hadn’t moved, puzzled, she walked over, posture straight but deliberately lowering herself, bowing to Lin Yuqiu’s mother on the bed, then suddenly taking Lin Yuqiu’s hand.
Startled, Lin Yuqiu had her fingers entwined with his in front of her mother. Before her face could flush with embarrassment, her hand was lifted toward her mother as the man spoke with reverence: “Don’t worry, I will take good care of her.”
Lin Yuqiu’s mother blinked, struggling to move her eyes, letting them fall on their joined hands. Her frail fingers curled slightly, and very slowly she nodded.
Lin Yuqiu saw moisture in her mother’s eyes, her heart burning with pain, her nose tingling.
She knew her mother cared for her. In her mother’s eyes, she was a well-educated young lady, raised to understand formal marriage customs, but now her father and second brother were trapped in labor reform, her elder brother had sacrificed his life, and the family had long since fallen apart.
Without elders to decide for her, without a dowry, she had to find a place to secure her life herself.
There was still a trace of unspoken regret in her mother’s eyes, a remembrance of the boy who had once promised to marry her, regretting that her daughter could not wed her true love.
Lin Yuqiu had not yet told her mother about the Xie family breaking off the engagement, but her mother, ever perceptive, had already sensed the situation from recent difficulties.
In the past, whenever marriage was mentioned, her mother had smiled, saying she had prepared a room full of dowry for her precious daughter.
The neatly stacked silk and satin in the camphor wood chest, gold and silver jewelry in red lacquer boxes, the ancestral gold hairpins, jade bracelets, silver necklaces, even the bedding sewn with red “double happiness” patterns all had been taken away the day the household was confiscated.
She bent down, her voice soft as willow fluff, whispering into her mother’s ear: “Mom, don’t worry about me. He treats me very well, and with him protecting me, both you and I can live in peace.”
Tears flickered in Lin Yuqiu’s mother’s eyes, which trembled slightly before she finally nodded.
Leaving the ward, Lin Yuqiu had Zhou Runqing wait downstairs, then sought out the caregiver, Sister Zhang, who usually took care of her mother, pulling her to a quiet spot in the corridor and speaking slowly, giving detailed instructions.
“Sister Zhang, my mom has this illness, eating isn’t easy, please take care that the food is cooked soft.”
“If she wakes from nightmares at night, talk with her a bit.”
“And her legs remember to massage them several times a day, so the muscles don’t stiffen.”
She paused, then added: “I’ll be going to the island with the army. I won’t be able to come back often, but I’ll call the sanatorium every few days.”
“You must tell me about my mom’s condition how much she eats, how long she sleeps, everything.”
As she spoke, she fought back tears, pulling a handkerchief-wrapped package from her pocket her elder brother’s death benefit and insisted on giving it to the caregiver.
“Take this money. When I reach the island, I’ll send you a monthly salary.”
Sister Zhang laughed, gently pressing the money back to her, voice steady and sincere: “Miss, you’re too formal. Commander Zhou has already arranged with the sanatorium; my monthly pay is enough.”
“Besides, taking care of patients is my duty. Call anytime, and I will care for your mother wholeheartedly. You can go without worry.”
Suddenly, Sister Zhang’s eyes and smile carried gratitude. Holding Lin Yuqiu’s hand, she said: “I won’t hide it from you Commander Zhou’s father has been a benefactor to our family.”
“My husband was injured in the army years ago and lived in hardship after retirement. Thanks to the elder of the Zhou family, who recognized his sacrifice for the country, handled all the paperwork, and secured a disability pension far better than others, and even got him this job.”
“Our whole family is grateful to the Zhou’s. When I heard that Commander Zhou’s mother-in-law was entering the sanatorium, I volunteered to come.”
“Miss, the Zhou family is wonderful, and I will take good care of your mother. You just go to the island, and bring back a strong, healthy boy!”
Lin Yuqiu hadn’t realized this connection. Hearing Sister Zhang teasing with such a bright smile, her own face flushed, making Zhang laugh even more.
Coming out of the corridor, she saw a figure quietly waiting at the sanatorium entrance.
Her throat felt blocked with cotton, warmth spreading from her chest, mixed with an indescribable tinge of bitterness.
He had arranged everything long ago, never mentioning a word.
Zhou Runqing turned, seeing her eyes slightly red like water-soaked cherries, her nose tinged with a faint blush.
That wetness, held at the corner of her eyes, didn’t fall, yet it tugged sharply at his heart, prompting him to stride toward her.
Lin Yuqiu looked at him as he stopped in front of her, then lightly lifted her chin with a fingertip, forcing her to meet his scrutinizing gaze.
“Cried secretly?”
His deep voice now carried an unusually soft, coaxing tone.
Lin Yuqiu said nothing.
She could feel the touch on her chin.
That bittersweet feeling of parting was instantly replaced by embarrassment. She glanced at the people passing in the corridor and lightly scolded him, pushing his hand away.
Zhou Runqing’s expression remained unchanged: “To the police station?”
Lin Yuqiu nodded.
They left the sanatorium and got into the car, heading to the station to replace her household registration.
At the station, they submitted the application.
After reviewing it, the clerk said bureaucratically: “An application alone isn’t enough. You need a certificate from the street revolutionary committee proving you are from this area and that your household registration book was lost during the confiscation. Otherwise, it cannot be replaced.”
Lin Yuqiu frowned slightly. Her old address had been sealed, and most neighbors had suffered the same fate. Since the street office allowed Shen Lichuan to lead the confiscation, how could they issue her a certificate?
The man behind her took her hand from his pocket, greeted the clerk, took the replacement application, and gently held her arm, leading her outside, soothing her softly: “Don’t worry, I’ve got this.”
He then instructed the guard, Xiao Liu: “Get in the car, return to the guesthouse first.”
Xiao Liu laughed and responded: “Yes, sir, Colonel.”
They first took Lin Yuqiu back to the guesthouse, then drove to the street revolutionary committee in the area where the Lin family had lived.
Zhou Runqing didn’t let her follow, fearing the street office might make things difficult for a “capitalist lady.” As a uniformed regimental officer, he could suppress idle chatter.
Lin Yuqiu understood his intention and stayed at the guesthouse for news.
Passing by a department store, Zhou Runqing suddenly said: “Stop the car.”
Xiao Liu braked firmly. Zhou Runqing opened the door and strode toward the store entrance.
The crowd at the door bustled, everyone seemed cheerful.
He walked straight into the store, following the dense crowd, and turned toward the women’s clothing counter.
The salesperson saw his crisp military uniform and immediately smiled warmly: “Comrade soldier, may I help you?”
Zhou Runqing’s ears flushed slightly. Normally composed and cold, he touched his nose awkwardly: “Do you… have anything for the bride to wear?”