Regarding the brigade commander’s words, Huo Xiao felt more discomfort than confusion.
He cleared his throat lightly and said, “Should I first report on the mission to you?”
At this mention, Brigade Commander Wei laughed again: “I already have a general understanding of the mission. Although the process was arduous and challenging, we finally managed to root out all those ungrateful scoundrels… There’s no need for a report right now. Later, you can submit a detailed written report. For now, it’s more important to call your wife and let her know you’re safe.”
Originally, he had been quite anxious, but now, confused by his superior’s words, Huo Xiao suppressed his urgency and asked somewhat awkwardly, “My… wife… cough… What do you mean by that?”
Wei Tao motioned for him to sit, personally poured him a cup of tea, and then explained the details in full.
Finally, he sighed with emotion: “Young Lin is a good comrade. I can tell she’s quite fond of you. Once your new assignment is confirmed, apply for military family accompaniment. After all, it’s not good for a couple to be separated for too long.”
Huo Xiao sat with his hands on his knees, posture ramrod straight, as he listened to his superior’s explanation.
To be honest, he was very surprised.
After all, while others might not know, he was well aware that he and Lin Ting had never even met. The idea of affection seemed unlikely; at most, they might have considered each other suitable for marriage.
Regardless, Huo Xiao felt both grateful and indebted to his new wife.
However, he had no intention of explaining this to his superior. After a moment of silence, he inquired about his mother and the Dragon and Phoenix Twins.
When he heard that his mother had been ill for several months and had only recently started to recover, Huo Xiao could no longer remain seated. He hurriedly picked up the phone…
The brigade where the Lin family lived was adjacent to the Xiangyang Brigade.
Most of the villagers shared the surname Li, and the village had long been called Lijia Village.
Later, with policy changes, it was renamed the Xingfu Brigade.
Although the two brigades were neighbors, the distance between them wasn’t particularly short.
Walking with her parents in temperatures well below minus twenty degrees Celsius, Lin Ting, hidden under her fur hat, was sweating from exhaustion.
The main issue was her lack of familiarity with the slippery roads, which made the journey especially strenuous.
In contrast, Lin Shengli and Li Taohong, who were accustomed to farm work, didn’t consider this distance much of a challenge.
Seeing her daughter breathing heavily, Li Taohong regretted not taking alternative measures: “If I’d known, I would’ve asked your father to borrow the brigade’s horse cart.”
The brigade’s horses and cattle were collective property and not easily borrowed. Lin Ting waved her hand dismissively: “It’s fine. Walking more is good for the body, and it keeps us warm. Besides, we’re almost there… Mom, is that my second brother up ahead?”
Li Taohong squinted to see: “It really is.”
Lin Wei was the only one in the family with a formal job, working as a purchasing agent at the county supply and marketing cooperative.
When he graduated from high school, he happened to encounter several units recruiting.
At that time, the position offered by the supply and marketing cooperative was the least desirable—warehouse worker, and even that was a temporary role.
Fresh out of school, many students carried a scholar’s pride, looking down on such low-paying, physically demanding temporary jobs. They all competed for the scarce office positions in factories, such as accountants or propaganda officers.
Only Lin Wei stayed behind, choosing the mover job at the supply and marketing cooperative along with a few other classmates.
Many people couldn’t understand his choice. After all, he had excellent grades, a good appearance, and was articulate—securing a propaganda officer position in a factory would have been almost certain.
Only Lin Wei himself knew that his goal had always been to become a purchasing agent for the supply and marketing cooperative—the most lucrative position—and being a porter was merely a stepping stone.
Sure enough, in less than half a year, he was exceptionally promoted by the manager.
The job of a purchasing agent required frequent business trips to various places. His recent extended stay at home was entirely for his sister’s sake.
Spotting his parents now, Lin Wei strode over in a few quick steps.
He first tapped his sister’s head, making her stagger slightly, then smiled and handed the snow shovel to his father. “Dad, you and Mom go back first. I want to have a chat with Tingting.”
A chat was indeed necessary. The reason Li Taohong had never questioned her daughter about taking money and running away from home was that she wanted her second son to broach the subject, as he was closest to Tingting.
Hearing this, she simply said, “Come back soon. It’s almost lunchtime.”
Lin Wei nodded. Once his parents were out of sight, he led his sister to a sheltered spot and asked coolly, “Will you tell me yourself, or should I ask?”
Lin Ting…
Having mentally prepared for this, Lin Ting bit her lip. “I originally planned to go to Tibet.”
The story about traveling thousands of miles for Huo Xiao could only fool those unfamiliar with her true nature. For family who had watched her grow up, it wouldn’t work. A half-truth would be easier to get away with.
“Just as I thought…” Lin Wei took a deep breath, suppressing his rising anger. “Why did you change your mind?”
Lin Ting poked at the waist-high snowbank by the roadside. “On the train, I met a soldier who had served in Tibet. He told me a lot about the conditions there. I realized I probably wouldn’t survive the journey to Tibet and regretted it as soon as I reached Hu Shi.”
Lin Wei finished her thought. “Then you found yourself in a predicament and had no choice but to use your brother-in-law as an excuse?”
Lin Ting felt wronged but couldn’t protest. She simply turned away and stayed silent.
That was enough for Lin Wei to draw his conclusion. Grinding his teeth in frustration, he scolded, “Haven’t you ever seen a man before? Was that scoundrel really worth abandoning your family for? When we get back, I’ll introduce you to a whole platoon of men and have them stand at ease in a line for you to choose from!”
Used to bantering with her brother, Lin Ting retorted without thinking, “No need for them to stand at attention. At ease will do.”
Lin Wei was speechless for a moment, then reached out and pinched her ear. “Looks like you’re asking for trouble…”
Lin Ting… o(╥﹏╥)o
Lin Ting endured over half an hour of scolding.
Her ears and cheeks were bright red from all the pinching.
She was only saved when her mother came to call them for lunch.
The Lin family had prepared a table full of dishes, almost as lavish as a New Year’s feast.
Aside from Lin Xiang, who was married in the neighboring town and—being in her third trimester—completely unaware of her sister’s disappearance, the family was practically complete.
Lin Ting picked up the chicken soup her sister-in-law had specially prepared for her. After taking a big sip, her gloomy and stifled mood was instantly soothed by the savory broth.
It had to be said, the quality of food in this era was truly exceptional. Even the corn pancakes had a fresh, sweet flavor.
She finished a whole bowl in silence before smiling at her sister-in-law. “Your cooking keeps getting better, sis.”
Hearing this, He Yun, sitting beside her husband, looked over in surprise.
She was an Educated Youth from the capital city, but as she wasn’t favored in her own family, she didn’t mind settling in the countryside.
Her sister-in-law had never thought much of her, and even after she had a child, her attitude remained indifferent.
It wasn’t that she said anything unpleasant—she just rarely paid her any attention.
Nowadays, not only does she speak more pleasantly, but she also gave her a jar of shampoo cream earlier and brought a piece of red plaid woolen fabric for her daughter Yuanyuan. He Yun felt she hardly recognized her sister-in-law anymore. However, despite her inner doubts, she showed no sign of it on her face and simply said with a smile, “If you like it, have some more.”
As she spoke, she picked up the ladle and scooped some chicken blood from the soup pot for her sister-in-law, remembering that it was her favorite.
Lin Ting’s tastes were quite similar to the original owner’s, and she indeed liked it very much. She said again, “Thank you, sister-in-law,” then turned to her father. “Dad, when I was at Huo Xiao’s troop, the wives in the family compound took good care of me. I picked out a few gifts for them in Hu Shi and plan to mail them. I thought I’d also send some mountain products along.”
Lin Shengli nodded. “That makes sense. Just tell me what you need.”
“Rongcheng is also near the mountains, so they’re not short on mountain products. I’ll prepare some other things for you later,” Lin Wei said as he ladled a spoonful of chicken soup for himself, then picked out the gizzards from the ladle and placed them in his sister’s bowl.
The chicken gizzards weren’t large and had been cut into four small pieces before cooking.
Lin Wei’s ladle scooped up three pieces. Besides giving one to his sister, he gave the other two to his elder sister-in-law and little niece.
Noticing his younger brother looking over, he paused, then fished out the last remaining piece from the soup pot and gave it to him.
Under his brother’s astonished gaze, he shot him a sidelong glance. “Not eating?”
The younger brother grinned… Only a fool would refuse.
After the meal.
Their parents and elder brother and sister-in-law all went for their noon rest.
Lin Ting had eaten too much and felt uncomfortable lying down, so she decided to play Galaha with her five-year-old niece.
The youngest brother, Lin Hong, still had half a year left in high school and happened to be home today since it was Sunday.
However, he would have to leave for school in the afternoon and had gone to the village secretary’s house to arrange to go to the county town with his friends.
As for the second brother, Lin Wei, he was leaning against the kang reading a book. Later, he would also return to the county supply and marketing cooperative with his younger brother and the others.
But seeing that his sister couldn’t even beat her five-year-old niece at Galaha, he dropped his refined act, clutching his stomach and laughing uncontrollably.
This infuriated Lin Ting, who kicked him several times.
“Alright, alright, still so hot-tempered. Are your feet made of iron? That hurts! I’ve got something serious to discuss with you.”
Lin Ting rolled her eyes, not wanting to pay him any attention.
Lin Wei wasn’t annoyed. “It really is serious.”
Without turning her head, Lin Ting snapped, “Speak!”
Lin Wei: “What are your plans for the future?”
Surprised that he actually had something serious to say, Lin Ting turned her head back and replied honestly, “I’ll try to find a job.”
Lin Wei wasn’t surprised. “What kind of job are you looking for?”
Going back to her old profession as a teacher would be fine, but… “Do I have a choice?”
Lin Wei rubbed his chin. “Probably not.”
Lin Ting felt like rolling her eyes again, thinking he was stating the obvious.
“I heard the commune is recently looking for a radio broadcaster. I remember your Mandarin is quite good. Why not give it a try?”
“A good job like that would come to me?”
“Before, maybe not, but now it’s hard to say. Secretary Wang gained quite a few benefits because of you and your brother-in-law, so if you try for it, it’s pretty much a sure thing. Plus, with Director Hu keeping an eye out from behind, no one would dare snatch a job meant for a soldier’s widow.”
Hearing this, the smile faded from Lin Ting’s face.
Noticing her reaction, Lin Wei raised an eyebrow. “What? Feel like you didn’t earn it on your own merit?”
Lin Ting shook her head. Being principled also required capital. This time in Hu Shi, she bought a lot of things in one go, and her savings were running low. At a time like this, what was the point in talking about integrity?
It’s just… she still felt somewhat bothered by it.
If the original owner had managed to find a job smoothly earlier, perhaps all those troubles that followed wouldn’t have happened.
Oh well… There’s no use sighing over what’s already done. Life must go on, so she said, “I’ll go check at the Commune later.”
Lin Wei had thought he would need to persuade her at length, but he didn’t expect her to come around on her own. Just as he was about to praise her, the door was shoved open with a “bang!”
Younger Brother Lin, panting heavily, leaned against the doorframe: “Second Sister! The Commune… someone from the Commune is here, saying… saying Second Brother-in-law isn’t dead!”
Clatter! Lin Ting stared blankly at her younger brother, the knucklebones in her hand falling to the ground without her even noticing.