Widow Remarries in Sixties

Daya looked at her with a mixture of confusion and disbelief.

Qian Yufeng didn’t say anything else. She threw the candy wrappers into the fire under the stove with even more force and continued stir-frying the vegetables, seemingly venting something.

Indeed, candies could indeed lighten the bitterness in her heart, and she felt much less distressed.

Daya touched her pocket from the outside and could feel several candies inside. She looked at her mother again.

In the past, her mother always gave the candy to her brother, only occasionally giving her one, but never all to herself.

Her feelings were complicated, her eyes stung with unshed tears. She wondered, if only her mother had noticed her earlier.

***

In late November, Jiang Mingchuan took Jin Xiuzhu to the city to buy sweaters.

The weather had recently cooled down just right. The family of four wrapped themselves in the cotton coats Jin Xiuzhu had made at the beginning of the year and happily went out.

Jin Xiuzhu insisted on going to the city because she felt that the department store in the city was large and there were many styles of clothes.

After arriving at the department store in the city at ten in the morning, Jin Xiuzhu went straight to the sweater counter on the second floor with her two children. There were many more colors and patterns of sweaters than padded jackets. There were red, yellow, blue, and white sweaters, as well as various patterns and knitting styles, making Jin Xiuzhu’s eyes dazzle.

Sweaters were not cheap. The cheapest ones cost five or six yuan, and the expensive ones cost forty or fifty. The feel was indeed different—soft and warm to the touch.

The clerk said they were imported yarns made from wool.

Fu Yanyan beside her also touched one and felt that the texture was a bit like the woolen sweaters of later generations. Jin Xiuzhu, who had done business in the south in her previous life, had two of these clothes, thick and soft, each costing several hundred. They were worn only when going out to negotiate business, usually packed in a bag and put into the wardrobe.

Jiang Mingchuan saw that Jin Xiuzhu wanted the most expensive one, which he couldn’t understand. It was light gray, without any patterns on it, and looked much simpler compared to the other colorful sweaters, but it felt soft when touched.

He said, “If you buy this one, you can only get one. If you buy something else, you can get two.”

Jin Xiuzhu didn’t hesitate anymore and picked up the expensive one.

No matter how many cheap ones she could get, she wouldn’t like them. It was better to buy one she liked and wear it every day.

The store clerk smiled and wrapped it up for them, then carefully explained how to wash the sweater. Since it was expensive, it needed gentle handling.

Jin Xiuzhu took note of this.

After leaving the sweater counter, Jin Xiuzhu generously asked Jiang Mingchuan, “Is there anything you want? I’ll buy it for you too.”

“No need, I don’t lack anything.”

Jin Xiuzhu glared at him playfully, “You treat me well, so of course, I’ll treat you well too.”

Without waiting for his agreement, she took him to look at some fall clothing and eventually picked out a blue set for him. Then she bought outfits for the two kids as well, spending seven yuan in total.

After shopping, they went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some flour and to the meat factory for meat. They initially planned to eat at the state-run restaurant but decided it was too expensive and bought flour to make food at home instead.

He Yan was very happy, “I want to eat dumplings.”

“Then we’ll make dumplings.” Their vegetable garden had finally started producing. Previously, when food was scarce, other people’s gardens were often stolen from. However, theirs was watched over, and some kind-hearted people even fertilized it for them.

It had to be said, most of the military wives in the barracks were especially warm-hearted and kind.

On their way back to the barracks, they stopped by the garden to pick some cabbage and green onions.

Once home, Jin Xiuzhu took her son to the kitchen to make dumplings. He Yan was particularly good at cooking; once Jin Xiuzhu showed him a couple of times, he almost always got it. Now, if Jiang Mingchuan had to leave early in the morning, He Yan would cook breakfast before going to school, so his mom and sister could eat when they got up.

He efficiently assisted his mom while Jiang Mingchuan sorted the groceries in the living room. Jin Xiuzhu called from the kitchen, “Come knead the dough.”

“Coming.”

Jin Xiuzhu prepared the filling, Jiang Mingchuan kneaded the dough and rolled out the wrappers, and He Yan and his sister were in charge of wrapping the dumplings.

Now that the weather was cool, they made extra dumplings without worrying about them spoiling. They spread them out on a sieve and covered them with a layer of gauze to prevent bugs.

While Jin Xiuzhu was cooking the dumplings, Jiang Mingchuan diligently washed the new clothes. When Jin Xiuzhu called him to eat, he didn’t come. Instead, he carefully hung the clothes to dry, smoothing out any wrinkles to avoid leaving marks.

Jin Xiuzhu found this amusing, “It’s just a piece of clothing.”

The two children looked at their father hanging clothes on the balcony. He Yan saw his new clothes and grinned, feeling very happy.

In the past, even when his biological parents were still around, he only got new clothes during the New Year.

Fu Yanyan looked at Dad Jiang’s back, thinking how could it be the same? In her previous life, she had never seen Dad Jiang wear new clothes. She and He Yan got new clothes for the New Year, even though Jin Xiuzhu was frugal.

Because other kids had them, Dad Jiang would take them to the county to buy a set each, including new shoes. At that time, she and He Yan would cherish their new clothes just like Dad Jiang did now.

But back home, there was always a storm waiting for them. Jin Xiuzhu would go crazy, scolding them. Even if Dad Jiang bought clothes for her too. She was never happy, always pulling a long face and cursing. While other families’ New Year’s Eve was lively and cheerful, theirs was as cold as ice.

In her memory, Dad Jiang never bought himself new clothes, always wearing others’ old ones.

The dumplings that night were delicious. Under the dim light, the family of four ate contentedly. In the end, there were three dumplings left in the pot. Jin Xiuzhu served them, giving each person one more. Jiang Mingchuan wanted to give his to her, but Jin Xiuzhu refused, “I’m really full.”

He Yan was eating with his cheeks puffed out. “So delicious.”

Noticing there was only one left in his sister’s bowl, he took one from his own and put it in hers. Fu Yanyan turned her head to look at him and realized he also had only one left in his bowl.

He Yan, afraid she wouldn’t take it, covered his own bowl. “You eat more so you can grow taller.”

Fu Yanyan pursed her lips but didn’t say anything.

As the weather got colder, time seemed to pass faster. At the beginning of December, heavy snow fell, and it was as if overnight, the entire world turned white.

The happiest were the children, who, seemingly unafraid of the cold, ran outside to play in the snow. Early in the morning, He Yan made several snowballs and brought them upstairs to show his sister.

Fu Yanyan was also awake. She was wrapped in a thick quilt, sitting at the table and looking at the snowy world outside through the glass window.

He Yan proudly showed her the snowball in his hand, not caring that his little hands were red from the cold.

Fu Yanyan reached out a finger to poke the snowball, then quickly retracted her hand.

Outside, Jiang Mingchuan called, “Come eat breakfast.”

He Yan wanted to give the snowball to his sister, but she didn’t want it, so he reluctantly took it with him. Soon hearing Jiang Mingchuan’s nagging voice from outside, “Remember to bring this with you later. Add some coal in the morning, then add some more at noon to reheat the food before eating.”

It had been very cold lately. Jiang Mingchuan had brought back several bags of coal, which he used to warm the house. He also made a small clay stove for He Yan to take to school every day, putting coal in it so he could warm his feet during class and reheat his food at noon.

At first, He Yan was laughed at, but soon many kids at school started copying him.

“Okay.”

After breakfast, Jiang Mingchuan saw He Yan off at the door, still nagging, “There’s a lot of snow on the road. Don’t run around. You might slip…”

“I know.”

He Yan quickly ran downstairs. Beside him appeared a thin figure in an ill-fitting black coat patched in many places, quietly following him.

He Yan knew his sister was watching from the window upstairs, so he waved his arms exaggeratedly, his face beaming with a bright smile.

The boy next to him couldn’t help but look up, just in time to see Fu Yanyan rolling her eyes.

He Yan was not angry, but instead laughed even more happily and bragged to Yang Yingxiong beside him, “Look how cute my sister is, with her big eyes. Your sister definitely can’t roll her eyes like that.”

Yang Yingxiong: “…” What’s there to be proud of?

However, he felt more envy in his heart. It was clear that He Yan and his sister had a good relationship. He also had a sister, but his grandmother didn’t allow him to talk to his stepsister, and she didn’t look up to him. He felt miserable staying at home, so he would always run out before dawn and wait for He Yan downstairs.

Once He Yan started talking about his sister, he wouldn’t stop. He would say his sister was very smart and that next summer, their mother would send her to school, so she could join them.

Yang Yingxiong nodded.

Chattering all the way, Yang Yingxiong quietly followed He Yan. At the gate, they met up with Wei Ningqing, and the three little figures clumsily walked forward together. From a distance, He Yan’s voice and occasionally Wei Ningqing’s responses could be heard.

Yang Yingxiong looked at the snowy scene ahead, feeling an immense warmth and fulfillment inside. To him, He Yan and Wei Ningqing were now his family, the closest people to him besides his father.

The heavy snow continued for a week, soon affecting the surrounding production teams. Jin Xiuzhu heard about it from Qian Yufeng.

Last time, she had been so upset by her maternal family that she hadn’t returned in over a month. This winter, the snow was so heavy that the vegetables in their private plots were almost all frozen, and the two chickens at home stopped laying eggs. With nothing to eat, her maternal family had no choice but to come to her for help.

Although Qian Yufeng was angry, she couldn’t completely ignore the situation. She gave some rice and money.

“The production team can’t even start work. Around this time in previous years, we were already working in the fields.”

Jin Xiuzhu didn’t quite understand and vaguely replied, “The snow is indeed too heavy this year.”

“Exactly. Without work, there are no work points, and there will be much less grain at the end of the year. How will we get by next year? When I came over, the snow was already knee-deep. In a few days, the kids will surely have to take a break from school.”

Qian Yufeng’s prediction came true. By noon that day, He Yan had returned, saying that several students had fallen on the way to school, and one even broke a leg. The school decided to start the break early.

In the evening, the military leaders issued an emergency notice, instructing several company commanders to lead their troops out for disaster relief, as many roads were blocked and some houses had collapsed.

Jiang Mingchuan came home, grabbed some clothes, and left without eating.

Jin Xiuzhu hurriedly rolled two rice balls, wrapped them in oil paper, and stuffed them into his coat pocket as he went out. She also gave him two handfuls of candy. “Take these and eat when you’re hungry.”

Jiang Mingchuan nodded hurriedly, “Stay safe at home and don’t go out these days.”

“Okay.”

He quickly disappeared down the stairs. Next door, Fang Min opened her door, looking worried. Her husband, the political commissar, had also gone out without saying when he’d be back.

Jin Xiuzhu knew Fang Min preferred staying still and quiet, so she said, “Come eat at my place these days. Being alone can make you overthink. If you feel uncomfortable about it, we can trade meal tickets. I won’t be losing out.”

Her main concern was that it wasn’t safe for Fang Min to go out alone, especially since it got dark around three or four in the afternoon now, but the canteen’s dinner started at 5:30 PM.

Fang Min felt relieved hearing this and didn’t stand on ceremony, agreeing to the offer.

Jin Xiuzhu asked, “Have you eaten yet?”

Fang Min shook her head. Usually, her husband cooked while she washed the dishes, but now that he wasn’t around, she couldn’t cook.

Jin Xiuzhu quickly said, “Then come and eat. I made extra.”

Fang Min came over.

He Yan, a little chatterbox, liked to talk about what happened at school during meals. The little girl sitting next to him occasionally interjected, making Fang Min laugh several times.

She thought about her own home, which had become cold and lonely without her husband. But the Jiang family seemed unaffected. Watching the gentle smiles of the mother and her two children, she felt a little moved.