Shen Zhixia accepted the steamed bun and took a small bite, the rich aroma of meat filling her mouth.
She could not help thinking that this was what it meant to actually live.
At the same time, she quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Just then, footsteps sounded from the courtyard entrance. A moment later, Lu Huaiyuan pushed the door open and walked inside, bringing the chill of the outside air with him.
He was still wearing the old black jacket from the previous night. His hair was slightly disheveled, and there were faint dark circles beneath his eyes, making him look as though he had been through quite a night.
“Dad, Mom.”
Lu Huaiyuan greeted his parents before his gaze quickly swept over Shen Zhixia, who was drinking her porridge. His eyes flickered briefly.
While wondering how he should explain his absence throughout the night, he calmly walked over, pulled out the chair beside her, and sat down.
“Oh, you’re back already?”
Su Ya put down her chopsticks and looked at her son with an amused expression, deliberately teasing him.
“What? You came back empty-handed? Where’s the egg cake you bought for your wife?”
Lu Huaiyuan froze, his hand hovering in midair just as he was about to pick up a steamed bun.
Egg cake? What egg cake?
He turned toward Shen Zhixia and questioned her with his eyes.
Shen Zhixia was holding her bowl and taking small sips of porridge without even raising her head.
Under the table, however, the tip of her foot lightly touched the edge of his shoe.
In an instant, Lu Huaiyuan understood.
He looked at his mother’s knowing expression, then at Shen Zhixia’s calm demeanor. A trace of surprise flashed through his eyes before the corners of his lips lifted almost imperceptibly.
Well, well, this little wife of his.
“Don’t mention it.”
Lu Huaiyuan withdrew his hand and scratched his hair, his tone carrying just the right amount of frustration.
“I got there too late, and they had already sold out. That master baker should have made more. I wasted half the morning standing in line for nothing.”
He casually picked up the empty bowl on the table and served himself some porridge. He drank several large mouthfuls to warm himself up before adding vaguely:
“However, I already spoke to the people at the counter. They’ll set aside two packages for me tomorrow. I’ve already paid, so I won’t have to queue. I can just go pick them up.”
Su Ya rolled her eyes at him.
These two newlyweds, one had the nerve to make up a story while the other had the nerve to play along. They worked together so smoothly that there was not even the slightest stumble.
This unspoken understanding finally put her mind completely at ease.
“All right, hurry up and eat. After breakfast, take Zhixia out for a walk.”
Su Ya pulled a stack of ration coupons and some money from her pocket and placed them on the table.
“You’re going back to her family home tomorrow, so you can’t neglect proper etiquette. Go to the department store and buy some decent gifts for the visit.”
“While you’re at it, take Zhixia around the county seat and help her get familiar with the area.”
Lu Huaiyuan glanced at the money and coupons on the table, then at Shen Zhixia, who obediently nodded. A hint of amusement appeared in his eyes.
“All right, I’ll listen to Mom.”
“You’re a married man now, so stop fooling around all day. In a couple of days, you’d better honestly go back to work at the factory.”
Lu Zhenbang glanced at his son, who was focused entirely on eating, and maintained his usual stern expression.
Lu Huaiyuan acted as though he had not heard him.
When he saw that Shen Zhixia had already put down her bowl and chopsticks, he finished the last of his porridge in one gulp, stood up, and nodded toward her.
“Come on, wife. Let’s go to the department store.”
Shen Zhixia elegantly wiped her mouth with a handkerchief before getting up and following him.
When she reached Lu Huaiyuan’s side, she spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear.
“Shouldn’t we go to the State-run Non-staple Food Store first?”
Lu Huaiyuan paused before letting out a quiet laugh.
“Fine. I’ll listen to my wife.”
Watching the two of them walk out one after the other, Su Ya nodded in satisfaction.
She then began complaining to Lu Zhenbang.
“You too. Our son just got married, so shouldn’t the newlyweds spend some time getting to know each other? Why are you in such a hurry?”
“Just look at what he’s like all day long. When I was his age…”
“Yes, yes, you’re the capable one. Hurry up and eat. I’m waiting to clear the dishes.”
Lu Huaiyuan first took Shen Zhixia to the State-run Non-staple Food Store.
At this hour, a long line had already formed outside the shop.
Lu Huaiyuan told Shen Zhixia to wait beneath the sheltered eaves, then took a long stride and went straight to the front of the queue.
“How much egg cake is left? I’ll take all of it.”
Lu Huaiyuan pulled out the stack of ration coupons Su Ya had given him, counted out several pastry coupons, then slapped them together with several one-yuan and two-yuan banknotes onto the glass counter.
His manner did not look like that of someone buying pastries. He looked more like someone collecting protection money.
The saleswoman, who was in the middle of packing the pastries, was startled by his imposing manner. She counted the remaining stock behind the counter.
“There’s only a little over three jin left…”
“Pack it up.”
“Hey! What’s wrong with you, young man? Don’t you know there’s a proper order to everything?”
“Exactly! We’ve been waiting in line for ages. If you buy it all, what are we supposed to eat?”
The older women waiting in line immediately protested.
Lu Huaiyuan turned around without getting angry. Instead, he smiled and cupped his hands toward the crowd.
“Aunts and ladies, I’m sorry.”
“We just held our wedding yesterday, and my new wife happens to love them. Please be understanding!”
As though performing a magic trick, he pulled a large handful of colorful candies from his trouser pocket.
“Come, come, everyone, have some wedding candy and share in the happiness!”
He was generous with them, handing two pieces to everyone he approached.
“Oh, so you just got married! Congratulations!”
“That new bride must be a lucky woman!”
As the saying went, it was difficult to stay angry with someone who approached you with a smile. Combined with his barrage of candy, the woman’s anger disappeared instantly. One by one, they unwrapped their sweets and happily watched the saleswoman weigh the pastries.
Standing not far away, Shen Zhixia watched the man who moved effortlessly through the crowd, charming everyone around him, and a hint of amusement appeared in her eyes.
Even when cutting in line, something that would normally annoy people, he managed to do it so smoothly that no one could find fault with him.
His shameless yet socially savvy personality, in an era when everything required rules and procedures, was actually a powerful tool for clearing obstacles.
Lu Huaiyuan emerged carrying three large packages of fragrant, soft egg cakes, looking like a victorious general.
“Let’s go to the department store.”
When they arrived at the department store, the two headed straight for the tobacco and liquor counter.
Lu Huaiyuan waved his hand and pointed toward the most expensive Moutai liquor and Zhonghua cigarettes in the display, telling the saleswoman to get them.
“Wait.”
Shen Zhixia quickly stopped him.
“What?”
Lu Huaiyuan raised an eyebrow.
“They’re too expensive. There’s no need.”
Lu Huaiyuan assumed she was worried about spending money.
“After all, you’re going back to your family home. We can’t make it look too shabby. If I buy something cheap, people might think I’m treating you poorly.”
Shen Zhixia shook her head.
Even though it was Lu Huaiyuan’s money, she did not want to give anything valuable to Zhao Meiyun, that insatiably greedy village woman.
Although she could not personally experience the hardships the original owner had endured through her memories, the month she had spent there was already enough for Shen Zhixia to see Zhao Meiyun’s true nature clearly.
Shen Zhixia’s expression became serious and earnest. Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for the saleswoman behind the counter to hear.
“Extravagance and waste are unacceptable. The whole country is currently advocating frugality and hard work. We’ve only just gotten married, so we should respond to the call and build a life that can be sustained for the long term.”