Accommodation Arrangements
The guests who came today were all relatives from Mother Lin’s side of the family. Since she had married far away, and her hometown later suffered from a flood, her family collectively sought refuge in her maternal hometown. However, the village where her maternal family lived wasn’t very welcoming to outsiders, so they had to settle in a remote and impoverished mountain village.
To visit from her maternal village, one had to cross a mountain and walk ten miles. In the middle of this harsh winter, since they came, they were naturally treated as honoured guests and stayed over.
Mother Lin’s eldest and youngest sisters looked quite similar to her and seemed kind. Being real sisters, their appearances were almost alike, though the eldest sister appeared more prosperous and had a discerning, critical gaze.
Su Su felt a little uneasy under her scrutiny and could only sit beside Mother Lin, nervously tugging at the hem of her clothes. The sisters started by asking her some trivial questions, and the atmosphere wasn’t too tense.
But suddenly, the eldest sister glanced up and down at Su Su and said, “You look like a city girl who’s never suffered any hardships. But there are plenty of city girls living on ration books too. So why would you want to marry into this poor mountain village?”
This question voiced what everyone was probably wondering, including Lin Chuan, who had just walked in. However, coming from the eldest sister, it felt inappropriate, as if she were belittling Lin Chuan.
The question was tricky and required a tactful response, testing Su Su’s emotional intelligence.
Su Su smiled slightly and tilted her head. “I don’t know anyone else, and besides, no one else has saved me.” Her answer was sincere and left no room for rebuttal.
The eldest sister’s son gave Lin Chuan a hearty slap on the shoulder, then pulled him aside and whispered, “How are you so lucky? Just taking a shortcut, and you end up saving such a great wife? I want to save someone too!”
Lin Chuan ignored him, but the eldest brother’s son said, “Then what about your previous fiancée…” He didn’t finish before Lin Chuan glared at him, making him laugh sheepishly and say, “If your previous fiancée isn’t wanted anymore, why not introduce her to me?”
Lin Chuan didn’t respond. Instead, he pushed the two cousins aside and went to move the borrowed tables and chairs into the house. For the upcoming event, they needed four or five tables, so all the plates, bowls, and tables had to be borrowed.
In the room, the eldest sister didn’t say anything more after hearing Su Su’s response, though her envy and jealousy were still evident. Her son, who had graduated high school, was now working at the commune’s brick factory. She had always wanted to find him a wife with a ration book, but they were always looked down upon. After all, her son was only a temporary worker who hadn’t yet been made permanent.
Who could have guessed that her second sister’s son, a soldier with no education, would marry such a good wife? The more she thought about it, the more she couldn’t understand, and her gaze toward Su Su became increasingly critical.
Yet, it was undeniable—Su Su was well-dressed, her clothes clearly of excellent quality. Her appearance was stunning, with delicate features and flawless skin, like a peeled egg.
Such a good girl, married off to that brat. What on earth was so great about him?
“By the way, I heard you don’t have any family. Marriage is a big deal, and someone has to make decisions for you, right? The bride price is very important too. You’re still young—do you even know how to handle this?” The eldest sister pretended to be concerned as she asked this, causing Mother Lin to frown deeply.
Fortunately, though Su Su looked like a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old, she was actually in her twenties. She responded flawlessly, “Although I don’t have family, I’m a college graduate, so I can handle these things. Besides, since we’ll all be one family in the future, I can always ask Aunt to help me arrange things.” As she spoke, she leaned closer to Mother Lin.
“Oh, so you’re a college graduate. But what will you do once you return to the city? Soldiers can’t just leave the army. I think your husband should consider leaving the military early so you can live together. Young couples being apart for too long isn’t good, right, Second Sister?” The eldest sister chuckled, clearly hoping for trouble after the marriage.
“No problem, I can always work near his base,” Su Su replied, feeling the eldest sister was meddling unnecessarily. Lin Chuan was doing well in the military—why should he quit?
Young couples being apart might not be ideal, but with genuine feelings, nothing was insurmountable. Was she implying Su Su would be unfaithful?
Mother Lin patted Su Su’s head and said, “There’s no point staying here. Go to the back room.”
“Got it.”
“Rest early. There will be more people tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
Su Su knew Mother Lin didn’t want her two sisters to keep questioning and making her uncomfortable, so she smiled, excused herself, and left. Once outside, she pouted. This eldest aunt really had nothing better to do, ruining her good mood.
Back in the back room, she stuffed her large backpack into the brick bed cabinet without unpacking, feeling it might not be a good idea to take things out.
She laid out the wedding items she had bought on the table. Since the wedding was tomorrow, she decided to style her hair in two big braids, one on each side, to suit the era.
As she was braiding, Lin Chuan entered, his expression dark. He opened his mouth to say something but ultimately stayed silent. Instead, he went to the other small room to tidy up and light a fire.
Su Su, lacking the conservative mindset of the time, didn’t believe in maintaining distance even after engagement. She walked over and asked, “Why are you lighting a fire here? Are people coming to stay?”
“Aunt, my mother, and the others will stay here. The men are in the main house.” He paused, then said, “Comrade Su Su, you might not know what it means to marry a soldier.” Standing up straight and looking at her seriously, he said, “My leave is limited every year. I can’t be like other men who are always by your side, protecting you from danger or taking care of you when you’re sick…” His Adam’s apple bobbed as he continued, “But I can apply for you to join me. If that doesn’t work, after your current task is complete, I can ask my superiors to find you a job near my base. At least then, on rest days, I’d have half a day to come and see you.”
For some reason, Su Su felt a hint of grievance in his tone and couldn’t help but laugh. “What are you trying to say?”
“I’m laying it all out. You can still back out now.”
“Oh, do you want me to back out, or not?”
The question caught Lin Chuan off guard. His face turned red as he said, “Not.”
Su Su smiled and looked at him. “Did you come to find me because of what Aunt said? Do I look like someone who can’t stay loyal?” She glared at him.
Lin Chuan, flustered by her glare, stammered, “No, I don’t believe in other men.”
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