16
Return to the Door
Aunt Xu, having received the powdered milk brought back by Lu Xuanzhou and knowing the Lu family was visiting their in-laws, insisted that Uncle Xu help procure some quality goods.
Uncle Xu, an 8th-grade forger at the machinery factory, held considerable prestige within the plant. He managed to exchange for two bottles of baijiu and a full carton of Peony Brand Cigarettes. In these times, gifting even four packs of cigarettes was considered generous, let alone an entire carton.
These items alone demonstrated the Lu family’s high regard for their in-laws.
After packing their belongings, the family took a bus ride lasting an hour and a half. Upon disembarking, they were greeted by Little Uncle Lin and Lin Jianliu waiting at the crossroads.
Little Uncle Lin, the village tractor driver, aware of the Lu family’s visit today, had specifically used the pretext of transporting fertilizer to give them a lift.
“Sis—”
Lin Jianliu spotted Lin Jianchun getting off the bus and joyfully rushed over, greeting everyone in turn and introducing Little Uncle Lin to the Lu family.
Little Uncle Lin discreetly sized up the Lu family and the items they had brought, his gaze finally settling on Lu Xuanzhou.
“I heard from Third Sister-in-law that you drive trucks. Can you handle a tractor?”
Lu Xuanzhou replied with neither humility nor arrogance, “A little. If you trust me, Uncle, let me drive for a while, and you can guide me from the side?”
Little Uncle Lin nodded in satisfaction. “That works. I could use a rest anyway.”
Lu Xuanzhou pressed one hand on the tractor’s front and cranked the starter with the other, giving it four or five vigorous turns until the tractor sputtered to life with a chugging roar.
Lin Jianliu nudged Lin Jianchun toward the driver’s seat. “Sis, you’ve never ridden in my brother-in-law’s vehicle, have you? Let him take you for a spin.”
Lin Jianchun couldn’t help but laugh. She truly had never experienced a joyride on a tractor before.
Seeing Lin Jianchun seated beside him, Lu Xuanzhou recalled how delicate she was—after riding on the back of a bicycle, she had walked with a limp.
He took off his own jacket and cushioned it beneath her.
“It might be a bit bumpy. Hold on tight.”
The moment the tractor started moving, Lin Jianchun regretted her decision.
The wind whipped painfully against her face. Clearly, the romance of an open-air ride wasn’t something just anyone could endure.
Thankfully, Lu Xuanzhou had padded her seat with his jacket; otherwise, dismounting with a limp would have left her vulnerable to the village gossip.
By the time the tractor reached Lin Family Village, wisps of smoke were already rising from kitchen chimneys.
Hearing the tractor’s rumble, the villagers knew that the Lin family’s daughter, who had married into the city, had finally returned to the bride’s parental home.
The children, remembering the candy they had snatched last time, chased after the tractor, showering her with sweet words: “Sister A Chun, wishing you marital bliss and a son soon…”
Mother Lu beamed with delight, handing out handfuls of fruit candies to each child. “Dear in-laws, the children in your village are so sweet-mouthed and well-mannered. It shows what refined people live here, raising even the little ones so properly.”
Mother Lu’s genuine demeanor earned high praise from the villagers.
The villagers had already noticed Song Zhian’s absence from the tractor and observed Lin Jianchun sitting close to another man, surmising there had been some hitch in the marriage. That would explain why Lin Jianchun had delayed her return for so long.
But since the city folks had praised them as refined people, they weren’t about to gossip behind their backs.
Lin Laosan and his wife Du Fangqin had one son and two daughters. The eldest, Lin Nengrong, was already engaged. Lin Jianchun came second, followed by her younger sister Lin Jianliu, just a year her junior.
Mother Lu was warm and sincere, repeatedly apologizing to the in-laws and lowering her stance, giving the Lin family ample face.
Once ushered inside, Mother Lu presented the gifts they had brought.
“Your eldest daughter has entered our family through fate, but we can’t let things remain unclear like this. The betrothal gifts that should be given must be supplemented.”
“These five hundred yuan are the betrothal money.”
Mother Lu placed five stacks of ten-yuan bills on the table, making the Lin family collectively gasp in astonishment.
They knew well that in their rural area, betrothal gifts typically ranged around one to two hundred yuan. Back then, the Song family had only given the minimum standard of one hundred yuan in betrothal gifts.
Mother Lin declined: “This is too much.”
Mother Lu pressed Mother Lin’s hand and said, “Due to the tight timing, we couldn’t prepare the three major items in full. I decided to give a little extra instead. Here is a sewing machine coupon, and the remaining 100 yuan can be used to buy a watch. As for the coupon for the watch, the young couple will have to manage that themselves.”
“This money comes from the pension left by my late husband. In the future, when Little Lu seeks a wife, the betrothal gift will be the same amount. Please do not refuse.”
With things stated so clearly, the Lin family could only accept it on behalf of Lin Jianchun. “Rest assured, in-laws, our Lin family is not the kind that sells our daughter. The betrothal gifts will all be taken back by Xiao Chun’er. If she ever makes any mistakes in the future, please teach her well. If you can’t manage, just send her back to us for guidance.”
“Our family has few children. To us, sons and daughters are the same—both are raised year after year by us as a couple.”
As Mother Lin spoke, she began to choke up. Mother Lu quickly comforted her, “In-laws, you’ve raised your daughter so well. I am overjoyed to have gained another eldest daughter—I’ve been hoping for one for over twenty years. I can’t promise much else, but if A Zhou treats his wife poorly, I will be the first to object. Right now, I’m just looking forward to the young couple being affectionate and soon giving me a little grandchild.”
Lin Jianchun appropriately lowered her head, feigning shyness.
Mother Lu’s regard for Lin Jianchun pleased the Lin family, and they busied themselves preparing a proper feast for the bride’s returning home.
Lin’s Father had three biological brothers. In earlier years, life was difficult because there were many brothers in the family. The four brothers supported each other until each managed to start their own families. Even after marrying, the four brothers remained close.
The entire Lin family mobilized together. Lin Laoda caught a net full of fish, Lin Laoer brought two wild rabbits, and Lin Laosi captured two old hens. In addition to the cured meat dried days earlier, Mother Lin also brought out the meat sent by the Lu family. They prepared eight decent tables of dishes and invited all the families in the village with whom they had good relations, making up for Lin Jianchun’s wedding banquet.
As the groom, Lu Xuanzhou was inevitably pulled aside and plied with alcohol.
Mother Lin said, “Xiao Chun’er, your old room has been tidied up. Help your husband there to sleep it off.”
Lin Jianchun reached out to support Lu Xuanzhou, her nimble little hand slipping to his waist to take some advantage first.
Lu Xuanzhou, drunk with red-rimmed eyes, grabbed her restless hand and said hoarsely, “There are people around. Don’t touch.”
Lin Jianchun understood immediately and, imitating Lu Xuanzhou, lowered her voice: “Got it! Let’s go back to the room. Lean on me, don’t fall.”
Lu Xuanzhou didn’t stubbornly resist and let Lin Jianchun lead him back to the room.
Lin Jianchun helped him to the bedside and was about to bend down to help him take off his shoes when Lu Xuanzhou grabbed her hand. “Dirty.”
“Then take them off yourself. Your clothes are dirty too—take them all off to sleep.”
Lu Xuanzhou kicked off his shoes himself and took off his clothes, leaving only a white undershirt, revealing his bronze-toned abdominal muscles swaying slightly.
Lin Jianchun’s gaze lingered on the white undershirt for a few moments before Lu Xuanzhou pulled up the covers, wrapping himself up tightly.
“I’ll take a quick nap first. You go attend to your matters.”
Lin Jianchun leaned forward understandingly, her gaze fixed intently on Lu Xuanzhou: “I woke up very early this morning too and I’m rather tired. Would you like me to sleep with you?”
“Married women shouldn’t share a bed in their parental home.”
“Such an old-fashioned view.” Lin Jianchun clicked her tongue lightly, unaware such a custom existed.
Watching Lin Jianchun close the door, Lu Xuanzhou let out a heavy sigh and pressed a hand over his heart. Lin Jianchun’s small hands seemed to possess magic—the moment they touched him, his heart began leaping with unrestrainable joy.