In August 1979, the sun blazed fiercely.
In the collective cotton field of Yaojiacun, Chen Qiaoyu had a half-person-high coarse cloth sack tied around her waist, swiftly and deftly picking cotton.
Her hair beneath her straw hat was already damp, sweat trickling down her cheeks onto her graceful neck, eventually following her collarbone and disappearing into her faded blue top, washed nearly white.
Throughout the morning, her clothes became wet, then dried, then wet again, eventually forming white salt crystals that clung to the fabric.
Working alongside Chen Qiaoyu was Aunt Jin. Seeing Qiaoyu’s pale face, she felt a pang of sympathy.
“Your father really is something. Even if it’s the busy farming season, he shouldn’t be making a young girl like you do this kind of backbreaking work.”
Though it was true that rural girls all did their share of labor, families who truly cared for their daughters usually had the men and older women work the fields, leaving the girls to do laundry, cooking, and other household chores.
But the Chen family was different. Leaving aside the younger kids, Qiaoyu’s own father was off guarding the warehouse, while her stepmother stayed home to cook — all so she could keep a tight grip on the food supplies.
The whole family had somehow ended up letting an eighteen-year-old girl toil in the fields.
Hearing Aunt Jin’s indignation, Chen Qiaoyu wiped her sweat and laughed. “I’d rather work! At least this way I don’t have to listen to their nagging at home.”
Ever since Qiaoyu had turned eighteen two months ago, her biological father Chen Liang and stepmother Yao Jinhua had looked at her the way one eyes a pig destined for slaughter.
Every day, they nagged her to go on blind dates, to find a husband, to settle down.
If it weren’t for the current propaganda promoting respect for women’s wishes, the couple would probably have tied Qiaoyu up in a sack and traded her for a bride price by now.
Aunt Jin naturally knew all about the Chen family’s messy affairs. She couldn’t help but sympathize. “Qiaoyu, you know what kind of person I am. Your Brother Dayong may not be exceptionally accomplished, but he’s honest and loyal. He’d definitely protect you…”
Lowering her voice, Aunt Jin urged, “If your own mother were still here, I wouldn’t have to say this to your face. But I see that your father and stepmother can’t be relied on. Qiaoyu, think it over.”
Grateful, Qiaoyu replied, “Aunt Jin, I know you were close with my mother and that you care about me. But I really don’t want to get married right now. I just want to bring Qingnan and Qiaoli back as soon as possible.”
Qiaoyu’s biological mother had passed away years ago. At the time, Qiaoyu was only thirteen, Chen Qingyang was eight, and the three-year-old twins were just toddlers.
Chen Liang, clueless about childcare, had married Yao Jinhua while still in mourning, just to have someone look after the children.
Yao Jinhua had been pleasant enough when she first arrived, but after six months, her true colors showed. She persuaded Chen Liang to send the twins — Qingnan and Qiaoli, left behind by his late wife — away to their second aunt’s family in the provincial capital.
Back then, Qiaoyu was young and afraid that the twins might be mistreated while she was at school or work, so she agreed.
They had agreed on a payment of fifteen yuan per month. Chen Liang paid for only three months, then refused to send any more.
From then on, Qiaoyu gritted her teeth, finished middle school, and stopped her education. She worked the fields for work points, took on odd jobs in her spare time — whatever paid.
Qiaoyu said, “I don’t have any other thoughts. I just want to save up enough money to bring Qingnan and Qiaoli back, and support them and Qingyang through school.”
Marriage and such — she didn’t want any of it.
Seeing Qiaoyu’s firm resolve, Aunt Jin didn’t press further. Just then, she looked up and spotted Qingyang standing at the edge of the field, standing on tiptoe as if searching for someone. She smiled. “At least you have Qingyang. Look, he’s come to help you again.”
Hearing her younger brother’s name, Qiaoyu felt a surge of happiness. “He went with some of the educated youths to town to check the exam results today.”
In the past couple of years since the college entrance exams were reinstated, most of the educated youths in the village — except those who had married and settled down — had left one after another for university. Those who failed had found ways to return to the city.
Now, only three educated youths remained in the village, all waiting for the results and admission letters.
Chen Qingyang was only thirteen, exactly at the age for middle school.
But the Chen family wouldn’t let Qingyang or Qiaoyu attend school, so Qingyang often hung around the educated youths, auditing lessons and copying books.
Today was the same. Qingyang had gone early in the morning with the educated youths to town to check the results and had just returned.
Seeing Qingyang approach, Qiaoyu straightened up and waved as usual. But to her surprise, Qingyang’s expression was unusually anxious as he ran toward her.
As soon as he got close, Qingyang blurted out, “Sis! Yao Jinhua found some old geezer to come propose!”
“What?” Aunt Jin was even more shocked than Qiaoyu. “An old geezer? How old?”
“At least in his forties! And bald!”
Qiaoyu’s expression turned cold.
Qingyang fumed, “I haven’t even gone home yet! Daniu and Erniu tipped me off on the way. I snuck back and heard them counting their gains — saying they’ve already taken the betrothal gifts and grain. Come tomorrow, even if Sis doesn’t want to marry, she’ll have to!”
“She’s dreaming!”
Aunt Jin spat in disgust, grabbed Qiaoyu’s hand, and pulled her out of the cotton field. “Let’s go find the brigade leader! Just who do Chen Liang and Yao Jinhua think they are? What era is this, and they still dare sell their daughter?”
After the initial surge of anger, Qiaoyu grew calmer. She held Aunt Jin back. “Aunt Jin, even if we shoot this down today, there will be a second offer tomorrow.”
Both Aunt Jin and Qingyang grew anxious. “Then what do we do? Yao Jinhua is no pushover. Her and your good-for-nothing father really would go as far as pushing you out to settle a debt.”
Qiaoyu’s expression was composed. “I saw this coming. Last time, they tried to lock me in a room with that deputy director from the supply and marketing cooperative to ruin my reputation. Luckily, he was a decent person and helped me pry the door open — otherwise, I really wouldn’t have been able to hold my head up again…”
Chen Qiaoyu made up her mind. “Aunt Jin, Qingyang and I can’t keep living in this house anymore.”
“Then where will you go?” Aunt Jin looked troubled.
Although rural houses weren’t as cramped as those in the city, space was still limited, and who would let two kids like Qingyang and Qiaoyu stay long-term?
Chen Qiaoyu whispered a few words into Aunt Jin and Chen Qingyang’s ears. Their eyes immediately lit up.
Aunt Jin clapped her hands. “Why didn’t I think of that!”
Chen Qingyang was equally delighted. “I love that broken-down house!”
Chen Qiaoyu instructed Qingyang, “Qingyang, you’re fast on your feet. Go to Xiaolugou Village and find our uncle to come back us up.”
Qingyang agreed at once. “I’m on it. I’ll borrow a bike!”
Aunt Jin also nodded. “Alright, I’ll go find your uncle to help drum up support!”
The “uncle” Aunt Jin mentioned was her husband, Yao Deshui, the village’s old Party branch secretary. His words carried weight.
Chen Qiaoyu, for her part, recorded her cotton yield and hurried off to town to find the Women’s Federation director.
After the locked-door incident last time, she’d gone to the Women’s Federation. They’d told her that if anything else violating a woman’s will were to happen again, she should notify them immediately. Without evidence, they’d have to catch it in the act.
And so, the three parties set off. By sunset, Chen Qiaoyu had returned home.
Before she could even enter, she saw Yao Jinhua leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed, smirking at her sarcastically. “Oh, Qiaoyu’s back.”
Qiaoyu ignored her, went straight to her room, shouldered a bundle she’d prepared long ago, and turned to leave.
Caught off guard, Yao Jinhua hadn’t even gotten to say what she’d planned. She quickly grabbed Qiaoyu. “You stop right there! Where do you think you’re going?”
“To the brigade captain’s house.” Qiaoyu shook off Yao Jinhua’s arm and enunciated each word. “I’m splitting the family!”
Yao Jinhua laughed in disbelief. “You? Splitting the family? That’s a joke. You’re about to get married. What family are you splitting?”
Qiaoyu stared at her. “When exactly am I getting married?”
Yao Jinhua said smugly, “The tenth of next month. I suggest you behave. Last time you got lucky—ran into some coward who actually helped you escape. But this family we’ve found for you? They’re different.”
Her face smiling but eyes venomous, Yao Jinhua continued, “This family is ruthless. If you refuse, they’ll take you right out in the open fields. You can run for a moment, but can you run for a lifetime?”
Qiaoyu’s expression darkened. She’d known Yao Jinhua was vicious, but this was a new low.
Just as she was about to respond, a booming voice came from outside the door: “A toad farting—what big talk! Let me see, in this day and age, who still dares do such a thing?”
Qiaoyu turned around. It was Aunt Jin, accompanied by the brigade leader and a crowd of villagers.
Outside the door, Aunt Jin winked at Qiaoyu. “When I saw you come back, I brought the brigade leader straight over!”
Not only the brigade leader, but Aunt Jin’s husband, several respected elders in the village, and a bunch of villagers who loved a good spectacle had all come.
The two Women’s Federation cadres Qiaoyu had brought back were also there, staring sternly at Yao Jinhua.
Just then, Chen Qingyang pushed through the crowd and shouted, “Sis! I brought Big Uncle!”
Qiaoyu looked over. There was her uncle, Yu Laifu, built like an iron tower, dragging Chen Liang—who looked like a little chick—toward them.
Yu Laifu tossed Chen Liang into the yard and called Qiaoyu over. “Qiaoyu, don’t be afraid. Your uncle is here. If anyone so much as touches a hair on your head, I’ll break both their legs!”
Chen Liang clutched his already-broken leg and shrank into a corner.
Yu Laifu was a man of his word.
The brigade leader was absolutely livid. He launched into a tirade against Chen Liang and Yao Jinhua. “Aren’t you afraid of going to prison? Fine, but we’re afraid of ruining Yaojiacun’s reputation!”
Thank goodness Qiaoyu and Qingyang were quick-witted and sent word early. If things had gone as Yao Jinhua planned—rice cooked, no turning back—Yaojiacun’s name would be mud, and forget about any honors like ‘Advanced Production Team’!
The two Women’s Federation cadres stepped forward sternly. “Comrade Yao Jinhua, we have received a report stating that you are violating a woman’s will and engaging in a forced marriage transaction. Please come with us!”
The memories of past years were still fresh. Yao Jinhua was so scared she nearly wet herself. “I… I’m her stepmother. Is it a crime to find her a match?”
The cadre questioned, “So you admit there are plans to force a marriage against her will?”
If Yao Jinhua answered that, she’d be a complete fool.
She shook her head like a rattle-drum. “No! No, absolutely not!”
Seizing the moment, Chen Qiaoyu asked everyone to bear witness. “Uncles, aunts, everyone—you’ve all heard it. I haven’t accepted any betrothal gifts or agreed to any engagement. If anyone brings this up in the future, please remember and testify for me!”
The villagers all knew how hard Qiaoyu and Qingyang’s lives had been. They immediately chimed in, “Of course! That’s only right!”
Yao Jinhua’s face darkened, but she didn’t dare change her story in front of so many people. She swallowed her anger, thinking she’d just wait until things quieted down and then…
But just then, Chen Qiaoyu suddenly pulled Chen Qingyang and dropped to her knees with a thud.
“Uncles, aunts, grandparents—everyone, Qiaoyu has one more thing to ask you to witness—”
With the Women’s Federation cadres right there, kowtowing really wasn’t appropriate.
Everyone urged Qiaoyu to get up. “Child, just say what you need to. We’re all from the same village. Why kneel?”
“Exactly, Qiaoyu. Just tell us. We’re all here. The brigade leader and Party secretary will stand up for you!”
There were still plenty of good people. Chen Qiaoyu wiped away her tears, her voice exceptionally firm. “I want to split the family!”