Xiao Hongyao carried five or six jin of pork home. When she passed the small convenience store, the neighbors standing outside chatting all turned to look at her.
Someone asked, “Xiaoyao, did your family get that much pork?”
“That’s even the premium pork belly!”
Xiao Hongyao knew these idle gossips loved talking behind people’s backs, so she couldn’t be bothered to tell them the truth. Instead, she changed the subject.
“You’ve all gathered here in such a big group. Are you planning to discuss some major national affairs?”
This silly and straightforward Third Sister Xiao had actually learned how to mock people now.
Someone guessed the truth and asked, “Your boyfriend Song Kuoyang gave it to you, didn’t he? When are you two getting married?”
Xiao Hongyao pretended not to hear and quickened her pace.
After she had gone some distance, the neighbors began whispering among themselves.
“Song Kuoyang is such a calculating and difficult man. I never thought even he could lose his head and choose someone who’s been sick before.”
“She’s pretty. Whether she’s foolish or not doesn’t matter.”
“How can it not matter? What if she gets sick again someday?”
A thin, sharp-faced old man with a crooked mouth joined in. “Wasn’t it said that Song Kuoyang wasn’t interested in the Xiao family’s Third Sister? He’s only keeping her hanging because he wants revenge for that…”
“Who knows? As long as they’re not married, anything can happen.”
“Did the Song family actually give the betrothal money?”
“They say they did, but she was robbed that very night. Tsk, I’m starting to wonder whether they never gave her any betrothal money at all and simply made up the robbery as an excuse.”
“Hey, that really is possible. Wouldn’t that mean they deceived the police?”
After saying that, the crooked-mouthed old man noticed that everyone had suddenly fallen silent. Their expressions also looked strange.
He turned around and was startled to see Xiao Hongyao standing right beside them. He nearly dropped the handful of sunflower seeds in his hand.
Xiao Hongyao looked at them sideways with a mocking smile.
“The betrothal money was 1,200 yuan, and it was already given to me. That night, I was robbed of seven yuan. I haven’t had another episode recently. Whether I’ll have one in the future, I don’t know. If I ever do, I’ll go knock on each of your doors and make sure you’re the first to know.”
“…”
Everyone laughed awkwardly, their faces stiff with embarrassment.
Xiao Hongyao looked at the most talkative one, Uncle Ding.
“Uncle Ding, you come out and wander around at this time every day. Is it because you don’t feel comfortable going home?”
Old Ding’s expression immediately changed.
In the original story, everyone in the factory knew that his wife had been unfaithful to him.
The others were afraid of putting Old Ding in an awkward position, so they quickly changed the subject.
“We were only joking, Xiaoyao. Don’t take it seriously.”
“Yeah, we were just chatting. Just casual conversation.”
“Then you all take your time chatting.”
Xiao Hongyao wiped the smile from her face and slowly walked away.
After her figure completely disappeared into the alley, Old Ding stood there with his crooked mouth, smoking without saying a word.
Someone tried to lighten the mood.
“See? She’s going to get sick sooner or later.”
“Be careful. She might come smash your door.”
The group of gossiping neighbors couldn’t help laughing.
…
When Xiao Hongyao entered the Xiao family courtyard, she happened to see Aunt Zhang and Aunt Zeng, the owner of the small convenience store, chatting with the elders in her family.
Aunt Zhang’s brother, Zhang the Carpenter, was there too.
They were discussing the dowries for the two Xiao sisters.
Besides buying bicycles and watches, each sister would also have a large wardrobe, a double-sided writing desk, and a dressing table.
Zhang the Carpenter had started making furniture for the Xiao family two months ago. Originally, the furniture was meant for Xiao Hongmin’s wedding. But since Xiao Hongmin’s wedding had been postponed, the furniture he had already finished would first be given to the Third Sister.
He would finish another set for Xiao Hongmin before March of the following year.
There were too many people chatting, so Xiao Hongyao didn’t bother greeting them. She carried the meat straight into the kitchen.
Aunt Zeng was the first to notice Xiao Hongyao and the large piece of meat in her hands.
“Oh my, look at that pork.”
Xiao Ganjü and Tang Yueying saw it too and quickly followed her into the kitchen.
“Where did you get so much meat?”
“Song Kuoyang gave it to me. His team was given ten jin of pork, and he gave us more than half.”
Xiao Ganjü had already guessed. She was very pleased with this future grandson-in-law and asked with a smile, “Where is he? Invite him over for dinner.”
“The factory and the county are both holding celebration banquets. How would he have time?”
Aunt Zeng and Aunt Zhang stood around the kitchen doorway, looking envious.
Aunt Zeng said, “Song Kuoyang brought honor to our entire factory. Auntie Xiao, you really found yourself a good grandson-in-law.”
Aunt Zhang’s husband, Jiang Guoren, held an important position at the factory, so she knew more details.
“Not only did he bring honor to our factory, he brought honor to the entire province. Next, he’ll even be going to Europe to bring honor to the country.”
Just hearing that made everyone happy.
Xiao Ganjü laughed.
“We don’t even know whether he brought honor or not. I’m an old confused woman. I don’t understand any of this.”
Aunt Zhang smiled.
“Auntie Xiao, you’re just being modest.”
Looking at the half basin of pork, Aunt Zeng sighed.
“There’s been an outbreak of swine fever recently, so the food station supplies very little pork every day. A few months ago, you could buy as much as you wanted, but now you can’t even get any if you line up early.”
Aunt Zhang said, “Not every place has an outbreak of swine fever. Anyang County still has healthy pigs. It’s just that most of the pork is being sent to the provincial capital first.”
Aunt Zeng couldn’t help feeling resentful.
“People in the provincial capital really are spoiled. Everything has to be reserved for them. It’s getting late. I won’t chat anymore. I need to hurry home and cook.”
The neighbors prepared to leave.
Xiao Ganjü tried to persuade Zhang the Carpenter to stay for dinner.
“Master Zhang, stay and have a simple meal with us.”
Zhang the Carpenter smiled and politely declined.
“I’m tempted by your slaughtered-pork feast too, but I still have something to deal with at home. I don’t have the luck to enjoy it today.”
Aunt Zeng asked, “Have you settled your son’s matter?”
Zhang the Carpenter’s son was also a driver at the factory. Some time ago, he had injured someone in a tractor accident.
The aftermath was quite troublesome.
Zhang the Carpenter didn’t want to talk about it and answered vaguely.
“I’m not dealing with his affairs.”
Aunt Zhang also looked embarrassed and remained silent about her nephew.
Xiao Ganjü helped change the subject.
“Master Zhang, we’ll be counting on you for all that furniture.”
“I’ll hurry. I’ll try to have it all finished before the tenth.”
He was referring to the tenth day of the lunar month.
Xiao Hongyao secretly calculated the time.
There was only one more week. By then, all the furniture for her dowry would be finished.
Time really passed quickly.
After seeing the guests off, Xiao Ganjü planned to cut three pieces from the six jin of pork to make cured pork. The rest would be braised for dinner.
Tang Yueying hurried to prepare lunch, while Xiao Hongyao helped beside her, peeling garlic.
The rice had already been steamed, along with a bowl of steamed egg custard.
Tang Yueying took half of the pork and some of the pork offal that Xiao Yuanyang had brought home and used them to make a traditional slaughtered-pork dish.
The local version was made by frying garlic, minced ginger, and chili powder until fragrant, then adding water and bringing it to a boil. Pig blood was added first and cooked through, followed by the cured pork and pork liver. Once everything boiled, garlic sprouts were added.
Xiao Hongyao couldn’t help breathing in the delicious aroma filling the kitchen.
“It smells so good! Auntie, you’re such a great cook. I could eat two bowls of rice just with this sauce.”
Tang Yueying smiled and held a piece of meat to her mouth.
“Try it. Is it salty enough?”
The meat was fragrant, spicy, fresh, and tender.
Xiao Hongyao nodded enthusiastically.
“It’s perfect. So delicious. And so tender.”
“Coat it with a little starch and don’t cook it for too long. That’s how you keep it tender. You really should start learning how to cook. What will you do after you get married?”
Tang Yueying wasn’t someone who believed girls should do all the housework. The boys in her own family had learned to cook and do chores from a young age. Other families, however, weren’t necessarily like that.
Xiao Hongyao wanted to say, Then I’ll just come back here to eat.
But that didn’t seem appropriate, so she could only say, “I’ll get my meals from the cafeteria.”
“Cafeteria food isn’t as cheap as cooking for yourself. It’s fine to eat there occasionally, but when you’re running a household, you still have to do things yourself.”
Xiao Ganjü was quite open-minded.
“They’re not children anymore. Once they’re married, the two of them will figure things out themselves.”
They had slaughtered-pork stew for lunch and braised pork for dinner.
The pot of braised pork was divided into two large bowls. One bowl was saved for Xiao Yuanming to eat when he returned the next day.
At dinner, Uncle Xiao’s family also brought their dishes over, and everyone sat down together for a meal.
Third Aunt Qiu Yulian couldn’t resist making a pointed remark toward Xiao Hongmin.
“The pork our Xiao family’s future grandson-in-law sent us is really something. Tsk, it tastes so good.”
Xiao Hongmin wasn’t angry.
She smiled and said, “Third Aunt, why don’t you have Fourth Sister find you a college-educated government official from the provincial capital as a son-in-law? Wouldn’t that be even more impressive?”
Fourth Sister was studying at a university in the provincial capital and was the pride of the Xiao family.
Qiu Yulian raised her eyebrows slightly.
“Fourth Sister is a university student herself. What’s wrong with her finding a university student? Isn’t that what she should do?”
In the original novel, Fourth Sister eventually graduated from university and returned to Anyang to work. She found true love but didn’t marry a university graduate, which nearly drove Qiu Yulian crazy.
But Fourth Sister lived happily for the rest of her life and had the best ending among all the main characters in the story.
Xiao Hongyao held back and didn’t join the conversation. She simply lowered her head and focused on eating her rice and meat.
After finishing her meal first, she returned to her room.
There was still some tea in the drawer that she had prepared for Li Bin. Li Bin hadn’t returned from his business trip yet, so she hadn’t had a chance to give him the gift.
Beside the tea was the apple Song Kuoyang had given her.
Apples kept well, and she had been reluctant to eat it.
She held the apple beneath her nose and smelled it.
She made up her mind.
Tonight, she would cut the apple and let everyone eat it together.
Early the next morning, the factory loudspeaker came on.
In the family residential compound newly built by the fireworks factory two years earlier, Secretary Wang Liansheng lived on the second floor in a spacious four-bedroom, two-living-room apartment.
There were two pregnant women in the family who needed extra nutrition, so when meat wasn’t available, they made sure to have eggs every day.
After brushing her teeth, Wang Jing came out and sat down at the dining table. She reached for a boiled egg.
Her mother, Cai Qiuyun, stopped her.
“There’s only one egg left today. Let your sister-in-law have it first. I’ll buy more eggs at noon and make you a fried egg.”
Wang Jing had been spoiled since childhood and was used to being the center of attention.
She immediately became unhappy, turned around, and went back to her room.
She grabbed her bag and went to work.
“You’re not eating breakfast?”
“I’m full.”
Bang!
She shut the door behind her and left.
Wang Liansheng and his wife, Gu Hequn, who had been sitting on the living-room sofa reading the newspaper, both looked up.
Gu Hequn couldn’t help criticizing her daughter-in-law.
“There are no eggs left, and you didn’t even think to buy some yesterday.”
Cai Qiuyun had good social skills. She ignored her mother-in-law’s sarcastic remark and smiled.
“We ate all the eggs when we added extra dishes last night. Wang Jing can’t go a single day without eating eggs. I spoiled her too much.”
Gu Hequn was extremely dissatisfied with the man Wang Jing had chosen.
“He has a terrible temper, and he has no good judgment either. I haven’t even dared go downstairs lately. It’s so embarrassing.”
Just thinking about that bumpkin Pan Yunsong made her angry.
Her son, Wang Zhenwen, defended his daughter instead.
“Mom, getting angry won’t help. It’s all hereditary.”
The implication was that Gu Hequn had once stolen someone else’s promising husband, and her granddaughter had inherited both her taste and her character.
Gu Hequn was so angry that she immediately folded up her newspaper.
In this family, only her son dared talk back to her.
“Can Pan Yunsong compare with your father? No matter how handsome he is, he’s still a country bumpkin who can’t hold his own.”
“Yunsong is still young. You have to give him a chance to grow, right? Dad wasn’t made a factory committee secretary overnight either, was he?”
Wang Zhenwen smiled as he rolled up his sleeves, pulled out a chair, and sat down for breakfast.
Old Master Wang Liansheng didn’t want to get involved in the conversation. He stood up and went to the balcony to feed his birds.
Wang Zhenwen asked his mother, “Mom, aren’t you eating breakfast?”
“Your father and I already ate.”
As they spoke, Wang Mao came out after washing his face, and his wife followed him.
She had heard the argument about the egg from the bedroom earlier. As a daughter-in-law, she didn’t want to get involved, so she had simply pretended not to hear anything.
She also wasn’t foolish enough to feel grateful that her mother-in-law had given her the egg. She knew perfectly well that the egg wasn’t really for her—it was for the baby in her womb.
When Cai Qiuyun saw her daughter-in-law come out without even greeting her and sit down to eat, she felt uncomfortable.
She was the one stuck in the middle of this family. She had to please the older generation while taking care of the younger generation, yet no one took her seriously.
Other women said that after enduring many years as a daughter-in-law, they eventually became the mother-in-law.
But after becoming one, her life was even harder.
Everyone in the family acted like they were royalty!
Cai Qiuyun couldn’t show her frustration, though. She couldn’t afford to offend her mother-in-law, and she couldn’t upset her pregnant daughter-in-law either.
So she changed the subject and brought up someone everyone disliked.
“I heard Song Kuoyang accomplished something important this time?”
Wang Zhenwen was eating fried rice noodles.
“Who told you that?”
“Everyone outside is saying it.”
Wang Mao said, “It must have been people from the First Factory spreading it themselves. They want to take credit.”
Cai Qiuyun said, “Didn’t the leaders of the Second Light Industry Bureau specifically praise Song Kuoyang?”
Wang Zhenwen replied, “That man surnamed Qi from the Second Light Industry Bureau has always been against us. He probably stirred all this up. The important thing now is whether they can win the competition in Europe at the end of December. If they win, then we’ll have to discuss how to divide the prize money. If they lose, there’s nothing to discuss. Everything will have been for nothing.”
Wang Mao said, “Even if they win, the prize can’t all go to the First Factory, right? There are nine members in the special team, and eight of them are from our Second Factory. Song Kuoyang is just an extra.”
“An extra?”
Wang Zhenwen clearly disagreed with his son’s assessment.
“Without him, they wouldn’t have been able to properly prepare the ignition system for this competition. Song Kuoyang isn’t simple. He always keeps something in reserve and is very shrewd. Earlier, when they were in the mountains, Old Xu tried to give him a hard time. Song Kuoyang simply said he couldn’t do it. Old Xu was furious, but in the end, he still had to swallow his pride and beg Song Kuoyang for help.”
“Let him be proud for a couple of days. Once the European competition is over, he won’t be important anymore. Then he can go back to wherever he came from.”
“That’s exactly why the Second Light Industry Bureau is in such a hurry to publicly praise him.”
Wang Mao seemed to understand.
“If that’s the case, with the Second Light Industry Bureau backing him, once he wins the European competition, Song Kuoyang will really rise to prominence.”
Wang Zhenwen said nothing.
Cai Qiuyun glanced toward the old man feeding his birds on the balcony and lowered her voice.
“Song Kuoyang and Xiao Hongyao went on a blind date a while ago and hit it off. They’re preparing to get married now.”
Wang Mao was surprised.
“The two of them?”
Cai Qiuyun said, “Even your father already knows. How can you not know? Xiao Hongyao took three thousand yuan from us, then immediately went on a blind date with Song Kuoyang.”
How infuriating.
Gu Hequn’s information was also a little behind.
“Wasn’t it said that Song Kuoyang only went on the blind date to get revenge and make fools of the Xiao family?”
“That’s what people were saying before. But as the rumors spread, it seems they might actually get married. I don’t know whether it’s true.”
Wang Mao figured it out.
“Xiao Hongyao is pretty, and she’s a little foolish. Song Kuoyang is eager to get married and get assigned a home. If he doesn’t have any other options, then she’s probably the only choice.”
If Song Kuoyang became prominent at the fireworks factory because of his competition victory and began climbing the ranks, and Xiao Hongyao benefited from his success and started living a good life, that was exactly what the Wang family—and especially Gu Hequn—least wanted to see.
Of course, they weren’t quite sure what Old Master Wang thought. After all, Xiao Hongyao was also his granddaughter.
Gu Hequn frowned slightly.
“Someone like Song Kuoyang, a descendant of the capitalist class, shouldn’t be praised so publicly by the county.”
Five or six years had passed, yet she still couldn’t accept that the times had changed.
“Let’s talk about it after he wins the overseas competition,” Wang Mao said, taking a sip of soybean milk. “Do you really think it’ll be that easy?”
Wang Liansheng came back in from the balcony, and everyone immediately fell silent.
At noon, as soon as Xiao Hongyao finished work, she rode her bicycle toward the collective dormitory building.
She had arranged to meet Song Kuoyang to look at houses on Xiaoyang Street. Since she had to pass by the dormitory building anyway, he was waiting for her downstairs.
As she approached the building, someone called out to her.
“Xiaoyao!”
She turned around and saw Tong Weiqiang riding his bicycle toward her from another direction.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
Xiao Hongyao stopped her bicycle and planted one foot on the ground. Guessing that he had come from Sister Zhen’s clothing shop, she asked, “How’s business at the shop today?”
“Not bad. Sister Zhen can manage by herself. I’m going home to eat first, then I’ll go back to the shop and help.”
After sales had plummeted on Thursday, they had recovered somewhat on Friday. Today was Saturday, and there were quite a few customers, though not an overwhelming number.
“Our fabric isn’t difficult to sell. We just need time to sell it gradually.”
Tong Weiqiang was anxious too, because he had borrowed the money for his investment and needed to repay it by the end of the year.
Xiao Hongyao said, “Brother Qiang, if you’re in a hurry to get your money back, I can return your principal to you first.”
Tong Weiqiang had only invested three hundred yuan, while their fabric sales had already brought in four or five hundred yuan, more than enough to repay him.
Tong Weiqiang immediately broke into a huge grin.
“Xiaoyao, you’re really considerate. How can there be someone as wonderful as you in this world? You’re truly my benefactor, my lucky star. I’ll definitely repay your kindness many times over in the future.”
His exaggerated expression made Xiao Hongyao laugh.
“Brother Qiang, then make sure you promote our corduroy more.”
“Of course. This afternoon, my mother is bringing several women from the neighborhood to buy fabric.”
As they were talking, Xiao Hongyao caught sight of a bicycle stopping beside them.
She turned her head.
It was Song Kuoyang.
Xiao Hongyao quickly greeted him.
“Brother Song.”
Tong Weiqiang said, “Brother Yang! I haven’t even congratulated you on winning the competition! Your little brother has been so busy lately, busy making money, that I haven’t had time to look you up.”
Song Kuoyang had seen the two of them chatting happily from a distance. He glanced at Tong Weiqiang and asked,
“What were you two talking about?”
Before Tong Weiqiang could start rambling, Xiao Hongyao gave a half-true answer.
“Brother Qiang bought a batch of corduroy and is selling it at my relative’s shop.”
She called him Brother Song, while she called Tong Weiqiang Brother Qiang.
It was hard to tell who was closer to her and who was more familiar.
Tong Weiqiang grinned and explained, “Xiaoyao is helping me sell the fabric.”
When he saw that there wasn’t even a trace of a smile on Song Kuoyang’s face, he quickly added,
“I’m paying her.”
Song Kuoyang gave Tong Weiqiang a cold, scrutinizing look, seemingly unconvinced.
After all, Tong Weiqiang had never exactly been known for being reliable.
Feeling uneasy under Song Kuoyang’s gaze, Tong Weiqiang was afraid he might ask where he had borrowed the money from.
He hurriedly said, “Brother Yang, my dad is waiting for me at home. I’ll go first. Xiaoyao, I’m leaving too. You two… have fun.”
After saying that, Tong Weiqiang quickly rode away.
Song Kuoyang did not question why Tong Weiqiang was paying Xiao Hongyao to help him. He and Xiao Hongyao were not close enough for him to care about such things. He simply said, “Let’s go.”
“Oh.”
Xiao Hongyao rode her bicycle behind him as they headed toward Xiaoyang Street.
The house they were viewing that day was at No. 27 Xiaoyang Street, behind the department store. It belonged to the wife of the leader of Song Kuoyang’s roommate Lin Zhenhui’s sister-in-law.
They entered through a large rust-covered iron gate. Directly in front of them was a white wall painted with flowers. There was another gate in the corner with several large characters written on it: “Government Kindergarten.”
It turned out to be a three-story building, with the entire first floor enclosed and converted into a kindergarten.
However, looking through the windows in the wall, they could see weeds and fallen leaves scattered all over the courtyard. The kindergarten seemed to have moved out some time ago.
The second floor could be reached by a staircase on the other side.
Sister Xiong, who came to show them around, explained, “There are five apartments on the second floor. Unlike ordinary dormitory-style buildings, the kitchens are shared, but every apartment has its own private bathroom and balcony. There are only two apartments on the third floor, and there’s also a large rooftop where you can dry clothes and bedding.”
The apartment they were viewing was Room 204, the second-to-last room in the corner of the second floor.
“Everyone living here works for different government units or organizations and didn’t have housing, so they were temporarily assigned rooms here. The couple in the room at the very end are also young, and they’re both easygoing.”
Sister Xiong opened the door for them.
It was a small, narrow private room. Inside was a little square table, three stools, and a wooden bed that was probably only 1.2 meters wide.
“The bed and table are already here. You should have a wardrobe of your own. This kind of place is perfect for a newlywed couple. You won’t have to squeeze in with your family.”
At the far end of the room was a small balcony, with the bathroom located inside it. Everything was kept very clean.
Song Kuoyang asked her, “What do you think?”
Xiao Hongyao was quite satisfied. “It’s pretty good.”
At least they would not have to use a communal bathroom. It was already much better than living at the Xiao family home.
Song Kuoyang had looked at several places before choosing this one. There were not many rental homes in the county town with such good conditions, and they did not have many other options.
“Sister Xiong, then we’ll rent it.”
Sister Xiong smiled. “Sure. You won’t find a better place than this in Anyang. The rent is ten yuan a month, and the minimum rental period is six months.”
Xiao Hongyao calculated that they would be able to get a housing unit from the Fireworks Factory in March next year. Renting this place for four months would be just about right, so she asked, “Sister Xiong, could we rent it for only four months?”
“Girl, this isn’t my house. If it were mine, I wouldn’t have a problem with that. But the landlord said the minimum is six months, so I can’t make that decision. Rental houses are in high demand these days. If Zhenhui hadn’t specifically asked me to keep this one for you two, it would have been rented out days ago.”
Renting it for two extra months was not a big deal. They would also need some time to move later, so Song Kuoyang readily agreed.
“Then we’ll rent it for six months.”
There was no deposit required. Song Kuoyang paid six months’ rent on the spot and received the keys.
After Sister Xiong left, the two of them looked around the room. With a little decorating, it could still be made quite comfortable.
Song Kuoyang said, “I’ll move in tomorrow first. I’ll buy a wardrobe and a desk. If there’s anything else you need, tell me. I’ll take care of it.”
“My family has already had a wardrobe and desk made for me. We’ll probably just need to buy some pots, bowls, dishes, and other daily necessities.”
They did not need to buy bedding either. Those were already part of her dowry.
After saying that, Xiao Hongyao looked toward the bed in the corner. The bed was a little small. Would it be too extravagant to ask for a larger one in this era?
She glanced at Song Kuoyang. He was walking toward the wooden bed.
The legs of the bed were a little loose, so he said, “I’ll bring some tools tomorrow and reinforce it.”
As for the size of the bed, he did not seem to notice anything wrong with it.
After all, the bed in his dormitory was only 0.9 meters wide. To him, this 1.2-meter bed was already quite spacious.