“I am.”
Seeing how handsome and refined Huo Yanxiu looked, Zhou Chunfeng’s eyes immediately lit up. This kid was really good-looking—far better than Gu Lichuan!
Shen Qinghe had actually forgotten what Huo Yanxiu looked like when he was young. After all, more than twenty years had passed. But she had once seen what he looked like in his forties on a television in the psychiatric hospital. By then, he held a high position and was a big shot even Gu Lichuan had to curry favor with.
The interviewer had asked him why he never married. His answer was that he hadn’t found someone he could spend his life with. He didn’t want to settle, nor did he want to hold any other female comrade back.
That answer had deeply shocked Shen Qinghe at the time. Compared to that scumbag Gu Lichuan, Huo Yanxiu’s upbringing and character were simply outstanding.
“Chunfeng, you’re here.”
Hearing movement in the courtyard, Shen Hongwei’s mother came out of the house. She was dressed in coarse hemp mourning clothes and looked like she had just been crying. Her eyes were still red, her face pale.
“Huiqin, you… don’t be too sad,” Zhou Chunfeng said gently, feeling uncomfortable seeing her like this.
“Aunt Huiqin, my condolences,” Shen Qinghe also spoke softly. When she was little, she often followed Shen Hongwei around to play.
Wang Huiqin nodded lightly. She had already heard about Shen Qinghe’s situation, so she knew why the three of them had come today. “Come in and sit.”
Shen Hongwei’s memorial hall was still set up in the main room. Even standing in the courtyard, they could hear crying coming from inside. The memorial wouldn’t be taken down until after the funeral was completed, so it would definitely be inconvenient for them to go in now.
Zhou Chunfeng hurriedly said, “We won’t go inside. Comrade Huo saved my daughter’s life. We came especially to thank him.”
Shen Qinghe looked at Huo Yanxiu and said sincerely, “Comrade Huo, thank you for saving me.”
Huo Yanxiu nodded politely. “You’re welcome.”
“Comrade Huo, thank you for saving our daughter. We don’t have anything valuable in the countryside—these are just a small token of our gratitude. Please accept them.”
Zhou Chunfeng quickly tried to stuff everything she was holding into Huo Yanxiu’s hands. “Yes, they’re not worth much. I know soldiers can’t accept expensive gifts. Don’t worry—these are definitely fine!”
Huo Yanxiu shook his head and waved his hands, refusing. “Saving people is my duty as a soldier. I can’t accept these.”
“Oh, how can you not accept them? They’re not worth anything. Comrade Huo, just take them…” Zhou Chunfeng insisted, her enthusiasm almost overwhelming him.
Xu Chenfeng, who had been holding back laughter nearby, finally stepped in to help. “Auntie, our unit really does have this rule. We can’t take so much as a penny from the masses. Even inexpensive things aren’t allowed. If Yanxiu accepted them and someone reported it, he’d be punished.”
“Who would dare report him? If they did, I’d go make a scene at their house!” Zhou Chunfeng snapped.
Huo Yanxiu sighed helplessly. “Auntie, I really can’t take them. It’s the rule.”
Now Zhou Chunfeng didn’t know what to do. Since he put it that way, she couldn’t possibly cause trouble for him.
Shen Qinghe tried hard to recall—back in her previous life, Huo Yanxiu hadn’t accepted gifts either. He had only agreed to go to her home for a meal. So she said, “Comrade Huo, since you can’t accept the gifts, why don’t you come to our house for a simple meal instead?”
Zhou Chunfeng’s eyes lit up immediately, nodding repeatedly. “Yes, yes! Comrade Huo, come to our place for dinner tonight! That doesn’t violate your unit’s rules, does it?”
“And this comrade too—come along!”
“Me too?” Xu Chenfeng was a little surprised. He hadn’t gone into the river at the time because he saw two people already jumping in to save her.
“The more, the merrier! And with Comrade Huo coming alone, we’re afraid he might feel awkward. What do you think, Comrade Huo?”
Huo Yanxiu didn’t refuse the invitation for a meal. If they weren’t allowed to express their gratitude at all, they probably wouldn’t be able to let the matter go. “Then I’ll trouble you, Auntie.”
“Good, good! You two must come!” Zhou Chunfeng said happily.
Xu Chenfeng rubbed his nose—it seemed he was benefiting from Huo Yanxiu again.
…
Zhou Chunfeng went to the brigade office to call the third son, Shen Qingbai, telling him to come home early if he didn’t have classes, and to stop by the supply and marketing cooperative to see if there was any meat or vegetables. Shen Xingqing went to the fields to call Shen Qingshan and Shen Qingsong back to help. Shen Qinghe returned home by herself.
August was scorching hot. After going out, her face felt sticky with sweat. She drew some water from the well and washed her face. The cool well water chased away the restlessness.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Shen Qinghe felt a moment of daze. She touched her face—it wasn’t dry and rough like in her memories, but soft and smooth.
She had an oval face with graceful lines, a smooth, full forehead, brows of just the right thickness that tilted slightly upward, large bright eyes, a delicate straight nose, and lips of moderate fullness. She looked like a peony just washed by rain—though her complexion was a bit pale, it couldn’t hide her striking beauty.
She really had been reborn. She would never return to that cold psychiatric hospital again.
Shen Qinghe smiled at her reflection. Being young felt wonderful. Being free felt wonderful. Being alive felt wonderful!
She opened the drawer and took out a partially used tin of Snowflake cream, pinched out a little, warmed it in her palm, and evenly applied it to her face.
Sounds came from the main hall outside. She heard voices—probably her eldest and second sisters-in-law had returned.
She put the cream away and changed into a dirt-resistant gray coarse cloth outfit.
Liu Lanying and Zhu Yuxiu had just come back from the fields. Their clothes were soaked through, and beads of sweat were still visible on their flushed faces.
Liu Lanying looked annoyed. She’d barely been in the fields before being called back—what a wasted trip. Still, compared to working the land, she’d rather cook at home.
“Little sister, you’re home.”
“Eldest sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, it’s too hot. I’ll draw some water so you can wash your faces,” Shen Qinghe said with a smile.
Liu Lanying was a little flattered. She exchanged a look with Zhu Yuxiu, both seeing surprise in each other’s eyes. Although their relationship with their little sister-in-law had always been good, she’d only ever done something this considerate for their mother-in-law before.
Just as she finished drawing the water, Zhou Chunfeng came back, cradling a large watermelon in her arms.