Chen Aifang did not speak for a long time.
After a while, she said, “If I go with the army, I’m going to take you and Baoshan and Baohua with me. Our whole family has to be together, neatly and properly.”
In the darkness, Chen Aifang’s voice was very soft, but very firm.
In her heart, aside from her husband and the two children she had given birth to, the younger sister-in-law she had cared for and brought up, the husband’s younger sister, was also family, an equally important presence.
Over the years, for Gu Yijia, she had willingly stayed in the commune, keeping watch over her and the children.
In a life like this, over time, someone might think she would surely develop resentment, blame the frail younger sister-in-law for dragging her down, clearly already having the qualification to go with the army and being able to take the children to reunite with her husband, yet having to turn down such an opportunity for the sake of the younger sister-in-law.
But Chen Aifang really did not.
When she married Gu Mingcheng back then, Gu Mingcheng had clearly explained to her the reason he was marrying her. She had received too many things from Gu Mingcheng, and was also willing to help her husband take care of his younger sister, treating her as if she were her own little sister and looking after her.
Feelings require both sides to give. Gu Mingcheng had already given her everything best that he could give.
Naturally, she was also willing, for his sake, to accept the bad side.
You couldn’t only enjoy the benefits he gave, but not accept the responsibilities you had to shoulder. Where was the logic in that?
Chen Aifang understood this clearly in her heart, so toward the frail younger sister-in-law, she had never felt resentment, venting her anger on her, or impatience. Instead, she pitied this child who had been weak and sickly since she was little.
Being frail and sick was not what she wanted, nor was it what she wanted in order to drag them down and become a burden to the family.
This child had already been trying, in her own way, to lighten her burden.
Chen Aifang felt that if she could choose, the younger sister-in-law would rather have a healthy body than this beautiful face.
The less someone has, the more they long for it.
The corners of Gu Yijia’s mouth curved slightly. “Then I’ll work hard to nurse my body back to health, and later I’ll go with you, Sister-in-law, to go with the army and find my brother.”
She was calculating in her heart that if she kept recuperating for another two or three months, it should be fine.
By then, it would be autumn, and the weather would not be as muggy and hot as it was now. If they took the train, it would not be so stifling that it felt unbearable.
Chen Aifang did not know what she was thinking and smiled as she responded, “Okay. Jiajia, take good care of your body.”
Clearly, she had not taken Gu Yijia’s words to heart.
Or rather, she did not think that with Gu Yijia’s body, it could be nursed back to health in a short time. She had even already mentally prepared herself that maybe for a long period of time, she and the children would stay in Nanshan Commune.
The next morning, the people in the room woke one after another.
Gu Yijia had not slept well. With even the slightest movement in the room, she woke up too.
She had not rested well, so she looked dazed all over, and her face was also ghastly pale. Sitting there with her hair down, even if she had a face like a celestial maiden, it was still frightening enough to scare people.
“Auntie, did you not sleep well?” Baohua asked worriedly.
Gu Yijia reacted a beat slowly, as if her brain had only just received the words, and she said softly, “I have a bit of insomnia.”
Baohua rolled her eyes. “Is Auntie not used to sleeping in a new bed?”
“A little.”
When Gu Yijia and Baohua were exchanging questions and answers, Chen Aifang had already gone to wash up and come back. Seeing that they were both awake, she could not help saying, “Why didn’t you sleep a little longer?”
“Mom, I’ve slept enough.” Baohua said energetically.
Gu Yijia said listlessly, “Couldn’t fall asleep.”
There were things on her mind, and with the slightest stir, she would startle awake. It was hard to fall asleep again.
Chen Aifang probably understood too, and did not say anything else. She only said, “Later, Baoshan and I will go back to the commune. You and Baohua will stay at Director Wei’s house for a while, and when things have settled down, then go home again.”
Gu Yijia nodded and did not force herself.
Yesterday, after hearing what Director Wei had hinted at, she knew the waters in the Jiang family ran deep.
Although the Jiang family’s matters had nothing to do with her, if she had not first sent Jiang Jinwang in under the charge of hooliganism, Director Wei would not have gone to investigate the Jiang family, and then discovered something, triggering a chain of events.
If the Jiang family knew that the source was her, they would definitely hate her to death and would not let it go.
Even a skinny camel is bigger than a horse. No caution was too much.
Baohua said in surprise, “Mom, are I and Auntie not going home?”
“Yes, you and your auntie will stay at Uncle Wei’s house for a few days.” Chen Aifang smiled. “In a few more days, it’ll be summer vacation, and Baoshan will come over too.”
Leaving the little girl at the Wei family’s place was, first, because the girl was still young, and second, to let her keep Gu Yijia company.
Baohua immediately jumped up happily. “Yay! I like playing with Sister Baozhu~~”
The child did not understand, and did not know why they had come to Director Wei’s house to stay temporarily. She really thought that, just like Aunt Wei had said, it was because they liked Auntie and wanted Auntie to stay at home for a few days.
And because Auntie was there, Baohua would not feel lonely, and her adaptability was very strong.
Baoshan, on the other hand, vaguely knew a little, and was somewhat worried.
But he also knew that the adults did not want them to worry too much, and even if they asked, they would not be told, so he could only hold it in for the time being and decide to ask Mom after they got back.
The morning at Director Wei’s house was very lively.
For breakfast, Zhao Manli had gone out early in the morning to buy steamed buns, soy milk, and youtiao. The food these days was very solid, with no additives, and the youtiao tasted especially fragrant. The children all loved it to bits.
Zhao Manli shouted for her son to go wash up while she turned her daughter, who was standing there with disheveled hair, around and combed her hair.
She scolded through gritted teeth, “You’re lazy and sloppy all day long. When summer vacation comes, are you all going to be impossible to get out of bed? Hurry up. You’ll be late for school in a bit.”
Wei Baohua was still wearing his pajamas, sitting on the sofa with one leg crossed, playing with a wooden sword.
When he saw Gu Yijia walking out from the room, he suddenly seemed as if his backside had been burned, abruptly jumped up, and darted into the bathroom.
Wei Baozhu laughed out loud, not giving her brother any face at all.
Zhao Manli also felt like laughing a little. A thirteen-year-old boy already understood shame and cared a lot about face. Being seen by a guest in such a sloppy state, of course he would be too embarrassed and run into the bathroom to hide.
At breakfast, Zhao Manli looked at Gu Yijia, who was sitting across from her, and worriedly said, “Jiajia, your face looks bad. Did you not sleep well last night?”
Gu Yijia pulled herself together and smiled. “A little, but it’s nothing.”
“Then hurry and eat something, and go sleep a bit more afterward!” Zhao Manli said. “Later, after we all leave, the house will be quiet, and no one will disturb you. Get some good rest. Just treat this place like your own home, don’t be restrained, and rest properly.”
Gu Yijia smiled at her with pursed lips and agreed.
After breakfast, Zhao Manli sent the two children out, then prepared to go to work.
She worked at the Women’s Federation, and today was Monday, so she had to go to work too.
Chen Aifang was also preparing to take her son back to the commune together.
Yesterday, because she did not know what the situation was, she had specially instructed Huang Pingping to go tell the production team leader.
Today they had missed the morning class, and she believed the production team leader would help arrange for someone to go to the school to ask for leave. Not only did she need to ask for leave, her son needed to as well.
Chen Aifang said to her younger sister-in-law, “Jiajia, after I get off work, I’ll come back to the county seat and bring you some clothes.”
Then she also instructed her daughter to listen to her auntie and take good care of her auntie.
“Mom, don’t worry, Auntie is in my hands. I’ll take good care of Auntie!” Baohua patted her chest like a little adult.
Zhao Manli found it very funny to watch and patted Baohua’s head. “Our Baohua is so good.”
After the people going to work and school had all left, the house quickly became quiet.
Baohua said, “Auntie, go rest for a while. I’ll watch over you and won’t run around.”
Gu Yijia really could not hold on any longer. She agreed and, on unsteady feet, went back to the room, changed clothes, and lay down slowly. Before long, her consciousness sank into drowsiness.
When she regained consciousness again, it was already noon.
Chattering voices sounded from outside. Although they were already trying to keep them low, Gu Yijia still recognized them as Wei Baozhu and Wei Baohua, the siblings, having come back from school.
Gu Yijia had not lain down for too long. She slowly got out of bed, changed her clothes, and walked out of the room.
In the living room, Wei Baozhu and her brother were sitting there looking at comic strips, and Baohua had also come over to look, equally engrossed.
The three of them were looking very intently, and none of them noticed Gu Yijia coming out.
It was only when Zhao Manli came out of the kitchen carrying the stir-fried dishes that she saw Gu Yijia and asked with concern, “Jiajia, you’re awake. Is there anywhere you feel uncomfortable?”
She deliberately looked her over and found that she looked much better than in the morning.
In the morning, Gu Yijia’s face had been ghastly white, and the way she looked so listless made her worry she might collapse the next moment.
It was really frightening.
Before, she knew her body was not good, but exactly how bad it was, she had no real experience of it. Only when living together with her could one feel it.
Gu Yijia smiled at her. “Thank you for your concern, Sister-in-law. I slept for a while, and I’m much better.”
She did not dare to joke around with her own body, and she also did not care whether it was polite or not at someone else’s house. She forced herself to work hard and rest properly, and her spirits were indeed much better now.
After hearing that, Zhao Manli urged her to go wash up, since they were about to eat lunch, and kept talking about how she should eat more and replenish some nutrition, and only then would her body get better, and things like that.
The three children in the living room heard the commotion and all looked over.
After Gu Yijia finished washing up, Wei Baozhu pulled her to the sofa and sat down. “Little Auntie, are you feeling better?”
“Much better, thank you, Baozhu.” Gu Yijia said with a smile, then looked at Wei Baohua, who was watching her with concern. “And thank you too, Baohua.”
Wei Baohua smiled shyly, still looking a little embarrassed.
He glanced over and saw his sister covering her mouth, smiling at him slyly, and immediately wanted to throw this sister out. He didn’t want her anymore.
Zhao Manli finished making lunch and called the children over to eat.
Wei Baozhu looked toward the entrance and asked, “Mom, isn’t Dad coming back for lunch?”
“The Public Security Bureau is busy, your dad doesn’t have time. I’ll bring him food in a bit.” Zhao Manli took out an aluminum lunch box and put some dishes in it to leave for Director Wei, while saying, “After you finish eating later, you’re only allowed to play for ten minutes, then be good and take a nap. If I come back and see whoever didn’t sleep, just wait to eat fried bamboo shoots with meat!”
Wei Baohua and his sister quickly promised that they would definitely go sleep at noon.
Baohua asked in confusion, “Sister Baozhu, is fried bamboo shoots with meat not tasty? There’s meat in it, and it smells so good!”
Wei Baozhu looked at her speechlessly, then said enviously, “Baohua, your parents must really love you. They would never hit you, right? Oh, I really want to switch moms with you. Aunt Chen really looks like a good mom who would never hit children!”
“No, that’s not true.” Baohua said loudly, “If my brother and I do something wrong, my mom will also hit us! But we very rarely do anything wrong. Usually it’s my mom hitting other people.”
“Hitting who?” Wei Baozhu asked curiously.
Baohua said, “Hitting those bad people who bully Little Auntie!”
Wei Baozhu was instantly filled with righteous anger. “That’s too much. Who is so bad as to bully Little Auntie! Such a beautiful little auntie, and they can bear to bully her too. They definitely aren’t human!”
Although Wei Baohua did not say anything, in his heart he secretly agreed with his sister’s words.
Such a beautiful little auntie, and her body was not good either. If she were bullied by people, her body would probably not be able to take it. Just like this morning, her face had been pale, pale white, looking weak and pitiable.
Gu Yijia smiled and said, “Don’t listen to Baohua making things up. No one bullied me! And my sister-in-law is very good. She is a very reasonable person, and usually uses reason to convince people.”
When she met reasonable people, Chen Aifang would reason with them.
When she met unreasonable people, she would beat them into submission first and then reason with them.
That was perfectly fine. Gu Yijia felt that her sister-in-law was not just like her from before?
Zhao Manli did not know whether to laugh or be annoyed as she said, “Hurry up and eat, will you? Baozhu, I think right now you’re the one who wants to eat fried bamboo shoots with meat!”
Wei Baozhu quickly lowered her head and shoved in her rice.
Baohua’s eyes rolled around. Seeing Sister Baozhu like this, it seemed that the fried bamboo shoots with meat did not taste very good.
In the evening, the Wei family still had not returned, and Chen Aifang came over first.
She was carrying a travel bag, inside which were Gu Yijia and Baohua’s clothes and daily necessities, as well as nutritious items like malted milk and some grain.
It was prepared very thoroughly.
When Zhao Manli came back and saw the things she had brought, she chided, “Why did you even bring grain over? How much can Jiajia and Baohua eat?”
Chen Aifang smiled. “Anyway, our family also has grain. If we just leave it there and don’t eat it, it’ll go bad. Better to bring it over.”
Those words sounded like polite speech. In these times, whose family grain was not tightly rationed for eating? Where would it just sit and go bad?
But Zhao Manli also knew Chen Aifang’s character. If it weren’t for some reason, why would she let her younger sister-in-law and daughter disturb someone else’s house and stay there?
She did not say anything else, and forcibly kept Chen Aifang for dinner before letting her go back.
Today Chen Aifang had ridden her bicycle over, so she did not need to rush to catch transport. In addition, summer days were long and nights short, and it got dark very late, so there was no need to hurry back.
Chen Aifang ate dinner at the Wei family’s place, but still did not see Director Wei return, and could not help feeling somewhat disappointed.
She had thought she could wait for Director Wei to come home and eat a meal, and ask him about the situation.
Although disappointed, she did not say anything. Seeing that the time was about right, she prepared to leave.
Before leaving, she said to Gu Yijia, “Jiajia, in a few days, when school is on holiday, Baoshan and I will come see you. You and Baohua should stay at Sister-in-law Wei’s place a little longer. If anything happens, you can ask people from the commune to pass me a message. Pingping comes to the county seat often, so telling Pingping is fine too.”
Gu Yijia answered, “Sister-in-law, you and Baoshan must be careful in the village.”
“What is there to be afraid of?” Chen Aifang smiled. “Our commune is united. If any strangers come to the commune, they’ll definitely be discovered. Besides, Baoshan and I aren’t stupid. We won’t give people the chance to bully us.”
What she was worried about was only her younger sister-in-law and her daughter, one frail and sick, the other still young. During the day they were not at home, so if anyone wanted to do them harm, she was afraid she would not be able to look after them.
Letting them stay at the Wei family’s place was the safest.
The Wei family’s place was a family compound. No matter how vicious the person, they would not dare come here and make trouble.
Even if the Jiang family wanted to vent their anger on the younger sister-in-law, they would not dare come here and make a scene.
After hearing that, Gu Yijia was worried, but she also did not know what to say.
As Chen Aifang said, there was some logic in it. These days, going anywhere required a letter of introduction. Although there were many restrictions, in some respects it could also be called safe.
She tried to say something lighter and happier.
“Sister-in-law, after this matter is over, let’s call Big Brother and have him go file the application report for going with the army. Then we’ll all go find him together.”
Chen Aifang looked at her in surprise, and very quickly a look of hesitation appeared on her face…
Last night when she heard Jiajia say that, she really thought Jiajia was just comforting her. She had not expected her to say it so directly, as if she had made up her mind.
“Jiajia, you…”
“Sister-in-law!” Gu Yijia smiled at her. “Very soon, we’ll be able to see Baoshan and Baohua’s dad.”
Dazedly, Chen Aifang was sent out by her younger sister-in-law. Only after she steadied her bicycle and stood outside the family compound for a long time did she finally come to her senses.
She gripped the bicycle’s handlebars tightly and looked at the twilight ahead, her emotions surging, unable to settle.