Before boarding the train, Gu Family’s second brother called ahead to inform everyone that he’d be returning tomorrow, even sharing the train schedule. Despite this, the Gu family decided to go pick him up at the station. Since it was early in the morning, Gu Ze’an had work obligations, and one car couldn’t hold everyone, so the three women in the family and the driver went. The third brother and Gu Sheng stayed behind to watch the children.
Gu Ze’an was actually envious of their “childcare duties,” but he had to go to work.
The army-green car stopped at the gate, and Zhang Aiping, who had gotten up early, was already waiting. Qin Ying hadn’t slept well the previous night, while Gu Xiangyi was very excited – she was going to meet her second sister-in-law! Gosh, so soon, and she’d already have two sisters-in-law; getting to four sisters-in-law in the future didn’t seem far off.
“Mom, stop overthinking it. I’ll get in the car first.” Gu Xiangyi opened the car door and got into the front passenger seat. “Sister-in-law, please calm Mom down. It’s my brother’s girlfriend coming, not some enemy, so there’s no need to be so nervous.”
Qin Ying scolded her, “You little girl, how do you talk like that?”
Zhang Aiping and Qin Ying got in the car together, with Qin Ying holding Zhang Aiping’s hand, feeling chilled and unsettled. She had gone to the bathroom several times before they even left.
“Second son’s bringing home his girlfriend, and I just… how should I speak to her? Should I be gentle and calm? I don’t want to scare her…”
Qin Ying had only faced a “son brings girlfriend home” situation once before, with her eldest son, and that ended in heartbreak, leaving her with a painful memory.
She had no such worries with her fifth son; Zhang Aiping, whom she had watched grow up, knew the family dynamics well.
Qin Ying bit her lip. “Second son’s really not being considerate, bringing her back without even sending a photo or telling us what she looks like. No mental preparation at all.”
Zhang Aiping tried to reassure her, “Maybe Second Brother wants to surprise you.”
Qin Ying replied, “If he really wanted to surprise me, he could just bring her home, or do like your Fifth Brother and marry first, report afterward! It’s not like we parents would eat him alive.”
The type of person her son chose to marry was his business, but Qin Ying still worried she wouldn’t get along with this future daughter-in-law, causing friction.
Gu Xiangyi teased, “Mom, Second Brother’s confident, unlike my younger brother, who’s always worried Sister-in-law Aiping might run away.”
Qin Ying shut her eyes in resignation. “Face it or avoid it, either way, we have to deal with it. Xiao Zhang, it’s early, you can drive a little faster.”
Gu Xiangyi remarked, “No rush; the train isn’t going to arrive that soon.”
With Qin Ying’s anxiety, they arrived at the train station. Qin Ying even ran into two familiar police officers, who were there on business and escorted her group inside to wait.
Since it was the terminal station, everyone disembarked here.
Trying to distract herself, Qin Ying struck up a conversation. “Officer, did something happen on the train? Why are you here?”
Officer Xiao Xu replied, “Oh, Auntie, you don’t know. There was a suspected human trafficker on this train, acting sneaky and with an intimidating glare, just a bad character all around. And to top it off, he was pretending to be an officer.”
Qin Ying sighed, “Traffickers are terrible people; we must crack down hard on them. A good-for-nothing young man, refusing to make an honest living.”
At this time, identity documents were required for most travel, but the country was large, and records weren’t tightly controlled. Fake credentials and even false stamps were common, especially during busy times like the end of the year, when crowds made things riskier.
“I want to see what this trafficker looks like,” Qin Ying remarked.
Officer Xiao Xu chuckled, “Don’t worry. When the train arrives, he’ll be the first off, and we’ll bring him in immediately.”
Gu Xiangyi whispered to Zhang Aiping, “See? Mom’s fine as long as her attention is elsewhere.”
Zhang Aiping muttered, “Traffickers are truly hateful.”
She also loathed those who trafficked women and children.
Gu Xiangyi nodded, “Catching one is definitely a good thing.”
They stood in the cold, chatting to pass the time, until they saw a signal light in the distance. An official in uniform walked out, ringing a bell as the train whistle sounded, and the rhythmic clanking grew louder, as if the ground beneath their feet was shaking. The steam train slowly pulled in before them.
As the train stopped, Qin Ying squeezed her palm, focused more on finding her second son and his girlfriend than on the trafficker. Which car could they be in?
Just as Qin Ying scanned the train anxiously, the doors opened, and Officer Xiao Xu approached with a tall, burly man flanked by two guards, and a petite young girl with her arm in a sling followed closely behind.
Qin Ying exclaimed, “So that’s the trafficker? Despicable! A tall, able-bodied man choosing not to work honestly.”
“Just look at him; he doesn’t look like a good guy! And impersonating an officer, too!”
Gu Xiangyi added, “Exactly! Bullying the weak – look how delicate that girl is, and he even broke her arm.”
Zhang Aiping was puzzled. “…?”
Little Comrade Zhang was momentarily dazed, wondering why this rugged man looked so much like Gu Family’s second brother, though worn and rough like a bandit.
Zhang Aiping, who had mild face blindness, worried she was mistaken, especially since Qin Ying and Gu Xiangyi hadn’t noticed anything. Besides, why would Second Brother bring his girlfriend back with a broken arm?
Officer Xiao Xu spoke to the fierce-looking “bandit,” who suddenly noticed Zhang Aiping’s group in the cold. He gestured towards them, and Officer Xiao Xu cautiously led the group over, flanked by two armed guards.
“Mrs. Qin, this man says he’s your son.”
Zhang Aiping gasped, “!”
Gu Xiangyi looked shocked, “?”
Qin Ying immediately shook her head, “Nonsense. How could that possibly be my son? Ridiculous, as if I wouldn’t recognize my own child!”
Second Brother Gu: “?! Is this even my real mother?”
Behind him, Qiao Ling felt a pang of panic. Had she really been deceived? Could it all be a scam? Could her fiancé be a fake officer? She’d even visited his camp, though with so many fake soldiers these days, anyone could claim to be an officer just by putting on a uniform.
Trembling, she feared she’d fallen into a trap. Had the man she loved really deceived her?
Officer Xiao Xu, sternly, “Still denying it? One look at you says enough – you’re no good at all!”
“With a face like a villain, you dare to go around doing bad deeds? You must be an enemy spy!”
Second Brother Gu was about to explode from anger!
Zhang Aiping said, “Mom, look closer; he really looks like Second Brother.”
Qin Ying was doubtful. “Second Brother? Impossible! My son is supposed to be bringing his girlfriend home today.”
Second Brother Gu, with a dark expression, said, “Mom, are you really telling me you don’t even recognize your own son?”
Qin Ying was stunned. “You… how did you end up looking like this?”
With a scruffy beard and a fierce aura, he truly didn’t look like a good guy. Her second son didn’t used to look like this at all. “You’ve gotten bulkier and darker, and you’re all bundled up…”
“I didn’t recognize you right away just now; it really is my son,” Qin Ying was astonished.
Officer Xiao Xu and Qiao Ling, standing by, were speechless. If Officer Xu hadn’t known Qin Ying, he might have suspected he was dealing with a con artist.
“Where’s your girlfriend?”
Second Brother Gu pointed to Qiao Ling. “There was a huge misunderstanding on the train, Mom. This is my girlfriend. I’m bringing her home to meet everyone, but they mistook me for a trafficker.”
Qin Ying: “…”
Officer Xiao Xu scratched his head. “It really was a misunderstanding, huh?”
Gu Xiangyi exclaimed, “Second Brother, why did you shave your head like that? And you’re not even in uniform.”
Second Brother Gu had thick hair, but now it was shaved short and bristly, with a rough beard covering his cheeks, almost merging together. Combined with his fierce expression, he looked like a bad guy—no matter how you looked at him.
“I thought I’d groom myself a bit to bring my girlfriend back and surprise you,” he said with a “gentle” smile.
But the result was that even his own mother couldn’t recognize him.
After clearing up the misunderstanding, Officer Xiao Xu left, leaving the Gu family standing there. Qiao Ling, with her arm in a sling, felt extremely awkward.
As a new mother-in-law, Qin Ying asked with concern, “Xiao Qiao, what happened to your hand?”
Embarrassed, Qiao Ling blushed and mumbled, “I accidentally fell…”
A girl from the south, Qiao Ling had already broken a bone once during her first winter in the northeast. Fortunately, this time she only hurt her hand, not her tailbone as she did last time. That first fall made her painfully aware of her tailbone’s existence.
“Fell? You’ll have to be more careful in the future,” Qin Ying said with a few kind words.
Qiao Ling nodded.
Standing nearby, Second Brother Gu smiled “kindly,” but Zhang Aiping and Gu Xiangyi both felt a chill. Gu Xiangyi blurted out, “Second Brother, maybe you should tidy up a bit. You always came back in uniform before, and that’s how Mom and I remember you. But now in regular clothes…”
He looked nothing like a good guy.
“When you’re in uniform, Second Brother, you look so dignified, with bold eyebrows and bright eyes. Now… you don’t look the same at all.”
Zhang Aiping chimed in, “Second Brother’s current look doesn’t suit him.”
“What do you mean ‘doesn’t suit me’? You women have no taste! This is called being manly. At my age, I’m meant to look mature! Ever heard the saying ‘a man without a beard isn’t reliable’?” Second Brother Gu said confidently.
Zhang Aiping replied, “Second Brother, if you don’t want to be mistaken for a bad guy again, you’d better switch back.”
Second Brother Gu suddenly realized something. “Wait, you’re Zhang Aiping? Big Sister Pingping from the Zhang family? It’s you! I was wondering who kept calling me ‘Second Brother’—I couldn’t tell at first.”
Zhang Aiping replied, “I remember you being quiet and skinny when you were young, Second Brother.”
Qin Ying agreed, “Yes, he was so gentle back then, but the army fed him well. Is the food in the northeast that good?”
Qiao Ling couldn’t help but interject, “The food’s not that great…”
Looking at the petite Qiao Ling beside the towering Second Brother Gu, Zhang Aiping thought they resembled Beauty and the Beast. Standing at around 1.8 meters, he was a giant compared to Qiao Ling’s 1.56 meters. The height difference was adorable.
With naturally sorrowful eyebrows, Qiao Ling looked pitiful, like a little wife who’d been abducted, holding back her grievances.
“Sister-in-law, I’m the younger sister.”
Zhang Aiping added, “I’m the younger sister-in-law.”
Since she had married the youngest brother, Zhang Aiping was the “little sister-in-law,” though fortunately, there was Gu’s youngest sister to take the title of “little sister.”
Being called “Second Sister-in-law” made Qiao Ling’s face turn bright red. Both her “sister” and “sister-in-law” were taller than her, as was her future mother-in-law.
“Second Sister-in-law, where do you work?” Gu Xiangyi asked.
Qiao Ling nervously replied, “I work at Xinhua Bookstore.”
“Xinhua Bookstore?” Zhang Aiping was pleasantly surprised, thinking it was a great job. Working as a librarian was something even Shen Liqing would admire.
Gu Xiangyi was equally astonished. “You work at Xinhua Bookstore?”
Qiao Ling nodded.
Gu Xiangyi said excitedly, “Mom, look! You have two cultured daughters-in-law. Second Sister-in-law works at a bookstore, and my sister-in-law, Pingping, writes books.”
Qin Ying was stunned. “What?”
Gu Xiangyi explained, “My sister-in-law is a writer! Her book will be published next year, and you might even see it at Xinhua Bookstore!”
Qin Ying blinked, “Are you joking?”
She had heard before that her younger daughter-in-law was writing some science stories, but she didn’t expect… she could actually publish a book?
Zhang Aiping, modestly, said, “I brought a sample copy. It’s not that good, so don’t laugh at me.”
“Really? My daughter-in-law is actually a big-time author?”
Second Brother Gu was puzzled. “?”
“That’s amazing,” Qiao Ling’s eyes sparkled. Though she worked at Xinhua Bookstore, she’d never imagined she could write a book herself. She always admired people with literary talent.
Zhang Aiping added, “Actually, I’m a doctor. Want me to check your hand? It looks like it was hurt from a fall, right?”
Embarrassed, Qiao Ling nodded, “Mm-hmm.”
As Zhang Aiping examined her hand, Qiao Ling felt a warmth in her heart, wishing her own partner could be as gentle as Zhang Aiping.
“Is it tiring working at Xinhua Bookstore?” Zhang Aiping asked.
“It’s not too bad, just busier when there are more customers,” Qiao Ling replied.
Since books at Xinhua Bookstore were stored behind the counter, customers had to request specific titles, and they’d retrieve them.
Chatting as they got into the car, the women sat in the back while Second Brother Gu, arms folded behind his head, sat in the front passenger seat. He glanced back, catching sight of Qiao Ling, and felt a wave of warmth.
He thought about how he’d definitely brag to his brothers – he’d found himself a sweet, gentle wife. The rougher he looked, the more delicate she seemed by comparison.
Not like Old Five, who married Zhang Aiping: a beautiful flower on the surface but a ferocious shark underneath.
No way he’d bring home a “shark” as a wife. He’d rather raise a “little bird” like his wife.
Let his brothers be envious. He’d prove he was the one who knew how to find the right partner and maybe teach his bachelor younger brother a thing or two.
Second and Third Brother were twins. As kids, Third Brother was the stronger one, but now Second Brother had outgrown him.
Feeling smug, they arrived at the Gu family home. Gu Ze’an wasn’t back yet, so the two younger brothers, Gu Sheng and Third brother Gu, were watching the children. These energetic little ones were busy building with blocks, but the moment they heard the commotion outside and saw their mother, they transformed into little bundles of affection, running over with, “Mama!”
As Zhang Aiping went to check on the kids, Gu Sheng and Third Brother curiously sized up Second Brother’s girlfriend.
Feeling overwhelmed, Qiao Ling found herself surrounded, realizing that Second brother Gu indeed had four brothers, but she hadn’t expected the collective pressure they exuded when standing together.
Gu Xiangyi observed the scene and fell into deep thought.
—It was like a little lamb entering a den of wolves.
After a brief, polite greeting, Qiao Ling slipped away to Zhang Aiping’s side, finding a strange sense of security with her.
Gu Sheng glanced at Qiao Ling and, unexpectedly, noticed a bit of Liu Shi’s demeanour in her. Raising his eyebrow, he thought, My wife sure has a way with women.
Second Brother Gu noticed Gu Sheng’s expression and silently laughed to himself, thinking, Be envious, all you clueless brothers! I found myself a gentle, petite wife.
Smirking, he turned to tease his “brother” Third Brother, putting an arm around his shoulder. “You know, back when we were competing to be born first, I managed to beat you out by a bit, so I’m the older brother. If you’d been faster, I’d be the younger brother.”
“Like it or not, I won that round, just like I’m winning again now – I found a girlfriend first, and I’m getting married before you…”
Third Brother chuckled, shrugging his hand off. “Finding a girlfriend is no challenge for me.”
Second Brother mocked, “A grumpy bachelor like you? Better find a feisty one.”
“Seen my girlfriend? Jealous? Isn’t she gentle?”
…
After enduring ten minutes of harassment, Third Brother, frustrated, thought, Who needs a girlfriend anyway? I’ll find one even more petite and sweet to make him jealous.
Second Brother, riding his wave of pride, then turned to his younger brother, Gu Sheng.
“We always say don’t eat the grass nearby, yet you went and did just that. Have you ever regretted it?”
Second Brother felt that Old Five didn’t have it easy, so he teased Third Brother but took it easier on his youngest brother, not wanting to rub salt in any wounds.
Patting Gu Sheng on the shoulder, he said, “You picked your path, so stick with it.”
“Feeling a bit envious of your big brother, aren’t you?”
Gu Sheng nodded, beaming with a radiant smile.
“Brother, my wife is wonderful.”
Seeing his smug expression, Gu Sheng thought, So you’re showing off, huh? When it comes to showing off wives, I’m a pro.
“Brother, look at this shirt. My wife made it herself. This handkerchief here? Also made by her. Every piece of my uniform has her hand-stitched name… and we even planted roses in the yard. She loves giving me roses… Ah, these little romantic gestures, I’m afraid you wouldn’t understand.”
“You wouldn’t know, not having experienced it. Especially the part about the excitement of reunion after a little time apart…”
Having spent two years in marriage, Gu Sheng had plenty to say. His tone of familiarity and happiness jabbed Second Brother right in the heart.
Though his own girlfriend, Qiao Ling, was gentle and sweet, she was incredibly shy and always kept him at arm’s length.
As for her taking the initiative? He hadn’t even dared to dream.
He felt so envious, itching to give his youngest brother a punch.
Second Brother retorted, “Oh, you have kids now, with a son and daughter? Feeling proud? If your son turns out like you as a kid, then you’re in for some headaches.”
Gu Sheng shook his head, calling over little “Guobaorou.” “My son takes after my wife. Isn’t he adorable?”
Looking at his little nephew, Second Brother couldn’t deny that he did resemble his mom, but then again, his mom Zhang Aiping wasn’t one to mess with either.
“Youyou, call your Second Uncle and give him a smile.”
The little boy grinned sweetly and called, “Second Uncle.”
His smile was gentle, radiating a warm, comforting energy, like the sun warming you from head to toe.
Second Brother Gu: “…”
Seeing such a warm smile on this face felt a little strange.
Gu Sheng chuckled, “Youyou, recite a poem for your Second Uncle.”
Youyou nodded solemnly and recited, “The goose, goose, goose, with neck curved up, sings to the sky. White feathers float on green water, red feet paddle in clear waves.”
Gu Sheng sighed, “Listen to that, would you? He’s only so young, and he already knows poetry. Yesterday, Pingping and I only taught him once or twice, and he remembered it all. With two parents as top achievers, he’s destined to be a little prodigy.”
“Brother, I’ve got it easy now. Both kids are obedient and love learning; they don’t even need adult supervision.”
Second Brother Gu huffed, “I’ve never heard of kids who love learning. Playing is a child’s true nature.”
“Believe what you want.” Gu Sheng grinned, “Brother, you might have twins someday, and twins are no small feat. It’s easier if they’re well-behaved. My two little ones are quiet and peaceful.”
Second Brother Gu replied, “If you can have well-behaved kids, why can’t I?”
That was impossible! Just wait until they’re three or four – they’ll turn wild like little monkeys.
Second Brother Gu added, “Dragons beget dragons, and phoenixes beget phoenixes. Do you think you and Zhang Da Pingping can raise two calm kids?”
“You’re in for it later.”
Gu Sheng smiled knowingly, “My son and daughter get along well as siblings. It’s not like you and Third Brother.”
“Third Brother can always make you lose your cool.”
Second Brother Gu was fuming. Just wait and see. There’s no way Zhang Aiping’s daughter will grow up to be gentle.
If he and Lingling ever have a daughter, she’ll be just as gentle and well-behaved as her mother.
Without another word to Gu Sheng, Second Brother announced, “You’re all in for a treat today. I’ll make hand-pulled noodles for everyone.”
At that moment, Qiao Ling volunteered, “I can help cook.”
It was her first time at her in-laws’ home, so she wanted to show off her skills a bit.
Qin Ying said, “Xiao Qiao, you sit down. In this house, the men do the cooking.”
“Second Brother, Old Five, you two go cook.”
Second Brother Gu: “Him with me?”
Gu Sheng replied, “We don’t interfere with each other. You make your dishes, and I’ll make mine.”
…
The two brothers headed to the kitchen, cooking up a whole table of dishes, along with noodles and dumplings. When Gu Ze’an came home, he was greeted by the steaming spread and nearly shed tears.
Gu Ze’an sighed, “Finally, I’m getting a good meal today.”
“Both my sons can cook this well?”
Gu Ze’an then looked over at Third Brother with disdain, “Third Brother, you’re lagging behind. Not as good as your brothers, huh?”
“All you know how to make is bean sprouts.”
Third Brother gritted his teeth, resolving to make them all see what he could do next time.
“Just wait and see!”
That night, after dinner, everyone took turns bathing. Zhang Aiping took her two kids back to Gu Sheng’s room, where she rummaged around and, sure enough, found her diary.
She playfully slapped it on Gu Sheng’s head, “Are you a pack rat? Hiding everything, even my diary.”
Gu Sheng ducked, “Honey, you should set a good example, or our daughter might pick up your habits.”
Zhang Aiping: “…”
She turned to see her soft, sweet little daughter on the small bed, looking at her with big, sparkling eyes. Maybe I should be a bit more gentle, she thought.
“Alright, alright,” Zhang Aiping put the diary away, letting her hair down. “You’re really boasting, though, saying our kids are obedient and well-behaved… give it a few years. Aren’t you afraid you’ll be the laughingstock if they act up?”
Zhang Aiping didn’t believe her kids would end up being the so-called “model children”; obedient kids were always “someone else’s kids.”
Gu Sheng replied, “Live in the moment. Why worry so much? At least, for now, our son and daughter are good kids, right?”
Zhang Aiping: “…”
—What would it be like to have two “model children”?
“We’ll stay here through the New Year, then we can take a trip to Shanghai to meet with your other set of in-laws.”
Zhang Aiping planned to visit her teacher, Professor Sun, while in Shanghai.
Making preparations for Shanghai, she called her old friend Chen Mengxia in the northeast.
“You’re going to Shanghai? That’s wonderful; I want to go too! Want to visit me first? We’ve had a lot of snow here…”
“Oh, by the way, I heard Xue Ningjia is also back in Shanghai. She wants to visit Professor Sun too. How’s everything between you and the professor?”
Zhang Aiping replied, “Everything’s fine.”
“That’s good to hear. Are you going after the New Year? You might just run into each other…”
…
Zhang Aiping, however, had no interest in running into Xue Ningjia.
Zhang Aiping and Gu Sheng planned to stay with the Gu family until the fifth day of the New Year. In the lively Gu household, only Gu Ze’an was still working, while everyone else was on family leave. Although he was constantly busy, it filled his heart with joy to come home and see all the bustling faces of his family—up to nine heads now.
Qin Ying was thrilled to take her two daughters-in-law out shopping. They went to the department store for New Year’s supplies, selecting clothes and shoes, and then off to buy groceries.
People recognized her and would ask, “The ladies shopping for groceries and cooking at home? Your men are really being spoiled. Didn’t you use to not cook at all?”
“Did your daughters-in-law do the cooking?”
Qin Ying proudly replied, “No, I have sons. My sons do the cooking.”
“These days, both of my sons are great at making delicious meals.”
…
While the women were out, Gu Sheng and his two brothers, Second and Third Brother, stayed home with the children. Little Tangyuan babbled happily and hummed tunes, while Youyou, with his impressive memory, had already learned two poems. The children were easy to care for. Second Brother noticed that in the two days he’d been back, he hadn’t heard a single cry from them.
Second Brother Gu was puzzled; he’d always heard his sisters-in-law complain that children were a handful.
But—
These kids didn’t seem hard to handle. Since they were so easy, he figured he and Lingling should have a few more.
After a few days of taking care of the children, Third Brother Gu realized he had a knack for looking after kids. Little Tangyuan, whom he looked after, never cried, always calling him “Third Uncle.”
Pleased, Third Brother thought to himself, Kids aren’t so bad, after all. I might as well get married and have some myself.
Second Brother and Third Brother, being twins, were even thinking alike. But once they actually had their own kids, they’d feel like they’d been hoodwinked.
Why aren’t my kids like my younger brother’s kids?
Qiao Ling had read Zhang Aiping’s book carefully and remarked, “Dr. Zhang, I think your book is very meaningful.”
“Even though it’s just stories, it teaches people a lot. I met a lot of young intellectuals working in the countryside. They had it rough. Those who went early had some knowledge, but the later ones barely knew any middle school material, let alone subjects like physics, chemistry, or English…”
“They’re almost like farmers now, with no schooling and no chance for university.”
“I have friends who would love this book. I hope it shows up in our bookstore; I’ll definitely recommend it to everyone.”
Zhang Aiping smiled, “I hope you can recommend some children’s comic books for me.”
Qiao Ling laughed, “Sure, I’ll send you a few.”
“Ever since long novels started being published again, more and more people have been coming to the bookstore to buy books, showing that people will always love reading…”
Even though reading couldn’t guarantee college admission or change one’s fate, there were still people who cherished books out in the fields.
Zhang Aiping and her soon-to-be sister-in-law, Qiao Ling, chatted about many things. They and Gu Xiangyi prepared for the New Year, cutting paper decorations, hanging bright red couplets, and taking family photos on New Year’s Eve. That night, they made dumplings together.
Under the warm glow of the light, the table was filled with dishes that looked, smelled, and tasted delicious. There were chicken, duck, fish, meat, meatballs, egg dumplings, and noodles.
Gu Sheng served Zhang Aiping a bowl of chicken soup with pork belly, the broth a beautiful milky white, enticing and rich, with red dates, longan, and goji berries floating on top, adding a colourful touch.
Zhang Aiping drank a whole bowl, feeling warmth spread through her.
Another year had passed; 1972 was over, and they had entered 1973, marking her and Gu Sheng’s two-year wedding anniversary.
During the holiday feast, everyone was in high spirits, and the two children joined in. The drumstick, always saved for the kids, was cleaned and shredded by Gu Sheng, who mixed the meat with rice for the two little piggies to enjoy heartily. Zhang Aiping, watching them, found herself a little envious.
Chicken tasted so good back then.
As she took a sip of soup, the large round table buzzed with the laughter of all ten family members, creating a “perfect ten” harmony.
Gu Ze’an commented, “This table’s barely big enough now. By the time Third Brother, Fourth Brother, and Sixth Brother bring home partners, we might need two or three tables.”
“And with all the future kids—imagine, with six children, if five of them marry and have five children each, that’s twenty-five grandkids… we’d need three tables just for the kids. Now, go on, get cracking and have a few!”
Second and Third Brother lowered their heads, staying silent, leaving the old man to dream.
Qin Ying’s head spun at the thought of twenty-five kids. “We’re promoting family planning now. Two or three kids will be enough; any more than that would be pure chaos.”
Gu Xiangyi found her chicken wing a little less tasty after that. “Two or three isn’t a small number, though.”
Gu Ze’an said, “Households these days usually have four or five, at least.”
Zhang Aiping added, “Some people only have one or two.”
Especially after 1982, when the family planning policy became more strictly enforced.
“It’s a shame Oldest Brother isn’t here to see his cute little niece and nephew.” Gu Ze’an grew briefly melancholic. It was unfortunate that their eldest wasn’t marrying, instead remaining dedicated to just one person and often covering for him.
Of course, as parents, they couldn’t say too much about it.
“Well, as long as Second and Third Brother get married, your mother and I can be at ease.”
Qin Ying nodded.
Gu Xiangyi, feeling left out, protested, “Why am I not included? Am I not also subject to the marriage pressure?”
Leaving out Big Brother was one thing, but did she really have so little presence in the family?
Gu Ze’an said coolly, “I’d be even more uneasy if you got married. I’d worry about you being tricked by some man.”
“You don’t have an eye for men.”
Qin Ying agreed, “Exactly, better to stay single than end up with the wrong one. Look at Shan Shan from next door; she’s still single too.”
Gu Xiangyi protested, “If I can’t judge men well, then I’ll let my sister-in-law help. She’s been a matchmaker several times, and all her matches turned out well!”
Qin Ying was doubtful, “Really?”
Gu Ze’an added, “Pingping can play matchmaker?”
Gu Sheng said, “Not only has she matched couples, but she’s also helped deliver babies and cut umbilical cords.”
Gu Ze’an: “…”
Qin Ying: “…”
Gu Ze’an concluded, “Still not good enough.”
Gu Xiangyi declared, “Next time, I’ll bring a man home and let you all have a look!”
She was the only one at the table fired up with determination.
Later that night, the family gathered secretly by lamplight to play cards. Zhang Aiping introduced them to a game called “Fight the Landlord.” Gu Ze’an said it was the perfect name: “It’s about fighting the landlord.”
When the New Year’s bells rang, only one light remained on in the house as everyone headed to their rooms to rest.
Little Guobaorou and Tangyuan had long fallen asleep, huddled together in the cold like two chubby caterpillars. Zhang Aiping had bundled them up tightly to keep them from getting chilly.
“Comrade Gu, when your kids grow up, are you going to rush them into marriage? Eager to be a grandpa?”
Gu Sheng replied, “No one wants to be a grandchild, so I’ll definitely want to be a grandpa.”
Zhang Aiping: “…Don’t joke around.”
“As long as you’re not in a rush to be a grandma, I won’t rush.”
Zhang Aiping said, “Not in a rush? What if the kids grow up in a flash and bring someone home? Let’s see if you’d still be so calm.”
Gu Sheng replied, “Then I’d be in a hurry—I’d throw them out!”
“Wrong move.”
Gu Sheng and Zhang Aiping stayed with the Gu family until the fifth day of the New Year, then packed up to head to Shanghai.
Leave a Reply