The old house was livelier than usual in the evening.
When Lu Zhanye and Lin Wan walked in, the eldest sister-in-law Li Guizhi was standing by the stove, stir-frying the food in the pan. Tie Dan was circling around her legs. Wang Xue’e was setting up the table on the heated brick bed, while Lu Guangcai sat on the edge of the kang smoking. Lu Xiangjun was chopping firewood in the courtyard.
“You’re here!” Wang Xue’e noticed them immediately, her face lighting up with a smile. “Come up on the kang, dinner will be ready soon.”
Tie Dan rushed over and hugged Lu Zhanye’s leg. “Uncle! Candy! Candy!”
Lin Wan took out the two candies from her pocket, crouched down, and handed them to Tie Dan. “Eat slowly, don’t choke.”
Tie Dan’s eyes sparkled. He clutched the candy and ran off to show his mother.
Li Guizhi shook her head with a smile. “This kid only thinks about eating.”
The dishes were gradually brought to the table. A pot of braised pork—fatty three-layer pork simmered until glossy red, the sauce thick and rich. A plate of scrambled eggs, golden and bright. There was also cabbage stewed with vermicelli, cold mixed wild vegetables, and pickled shredded vegetables. The staple food was cornmeal cakes and mixed-grain rice.
It was a very rich meal.
“All of you, up on the kang and eat!” Lu Guangcai tapped his smoking pipe.
The family gathered around the kang table. Wang Xue’e picked up her chopsticks and first put a piece of braised pork into each of her two daughters-in-law’s bowls.
“Eat while it’s hot! I’ve been stewing this meat all afternoon—it’s tender and falling apart! My two sons have loved my braised pork since they were little.”
Lin Wan thanked her and took a bite. The meat really was tender—fat but not greasy, savory with a hint of sweetness. She looked up at Lu Zhanye; he was eating quietly, but his movements showed he was very used to his mother’s cooking.
“Xiao Wan,” Lu Guangcai suddenly asked, “how’s your work in the production team? Is it tiring?”
Lin Wan put down her chopsticks. “It’s okay, Dad. I’m used to it now.”
“Used to it?” Wang Xue’e cut in. “You’re a city girl—how could you be used to such hard work? Your hands must be covered in calluses by now, right?”
Lin Wan instinctively pulled her hands back slightly. Lu Zhanye noticed but said nothing.
“I’ll see if I can transfer you to an easier job in the production team,” Lu Guangcai said. “Storekeeper or accountant would be better than digging in the fields.”
Lin Wan was about to refuse when Li Guizhi spoke first.
“Dad’s right. We’re all family—if there are easier jobs, we should naturally give them to our own people first. Besides, Xiao Wan graduated from high school, right? She’s educated. Those jobs suit her well.”
She turned to Lin Wan, her tone warm. “Xiao Wan, I work at the town food factory. They occasionally hire temporary workers. I’ll keep an eye out for you. If anything comes up, I’ll let you know first.”
A warm feeling rose in Lin Wan’s heart. She looked at this family—her father-in-law seemed stern but thoughtful, her mother-in-law cheerful and kind, and even her sister-in-law was friendly. Although she had not grown up feeling much family warmth, at this moment, it surrounded her in a very real way.
“Thank you, sister-in-law. Thank you, Dad,” she said softly.
“No need to be so polite!” Wang Xue’e added another piece of meat to her bowl. “Eat more—you’re too thin!”
Lu Zhanye lightly touched her hand under the table. Lin Wan turned to look at him; he gave her a slight nod, his eyes saying, “Don’t worry.”
Dinner ended in a warm atmosphere. Li Guizhi helped Wang Xue’e clean up the dishes, and Lin Wan also wanted to help, but Wang Xue’e stopped her.
“It’s your wedding day—go back and rest early! Your sister-in-law and I will handle this!”
Lu Zhanye also stood up. “Dad, Mom, we’ll head back now.”
“Go on, go on!” Wang Xue’e waved them off. “Let Xiao Wan sleep in tomorrow—no need to rush to work!”
On the way back, the sky was already completely dark. The moon had not yet risen, but the stars were bright. There were no streetlights in the village—everything was lit only by moonlight and the faint glow from people’s windows.
The two walked side by side without speaking. Lin Wan had things she wanted to say but didn’t know how to begin.
“You want to say,” Lu Zhanye suddenly spoke, his voice especially clear in the night, “that Dad doesn’t seem completely fair, right?”
Lin Wan paused, then nodded. “A little.”
Lu Zhanye gave a light laugh. “No matter who becomes brigade leader or village secretary, they’ll always arrange easier jobs for their own family members. That’s just how things are—it’s human nature, and also the way the village works.”
He paused again.
“Take my older brother, for example. He’s a tractor driver. He earns a lot of work points and doesn’t work too hard. I can also drive a tractor, but I only do it during harvest season—otherwise I just earn basic food rations.”
“The village secretary’s daughter is a farm tools storekeeper. The accountant’s nephew is a team leader. Everyone knows this, and no one says anything. Because—”
He turned to Lin Wan. “In other matters, they’re all fair. Grain distribution, land allocation, work points—everything is handled properly. No favoritism there.”
Lin Wan understood now. This was probably the survival wisdom of the countryside—flexibility in non-principle matters, but fairness where it truly mattered.
“It’s normal for Dad to arrange an easier job for you,” Lu Zhanye continued. “He has the ability to do it since you’re his daughter-in-law. You don’t need to feel awkward about it.”
“Mm,” Lin Wan responded.
“I’ll also ask your sister-in-law to keep an eye out,” Lu Zhanye added. “If there are suitable jobs in town, we can even buy one. Some positions can be transferred or bought—though it’s not cheap—but it’s better than working in the fields.”
Lin Wan felt even warmer inside. This man was truly thinking about her.
“Thank you,” she said.