Joint Program
But Su Su shook her head and said, “I’m afraid programs like these might end up being the same as everyone else’s.”
“Same as who?” the village head asked curiously.
Su Su tapped her forehead, realizing that her modern expressions didn’t quite resonate with people of this era. It struck her as odd—why didn’t she experience this awkwardness when talking to Lin Chuan?
Oh, right. That guy was a quiet and reserved type. Even if he didn’t understand something, he wouldn’t ask questions and would just go along with it. Having been apart for more than ten days, she missed him more and more.
“What I mean is, if our program is identical to others’, it’ll be hard to win.” Su Su’s explanation earned a nod of agreement from the village head, while Lin Donghe added, “Well, that’ll depend on Comrade Su’s ability.”
Su Su replied, “I’ll do my best. I’ll use everything I have to make sure the village isn’t embarrassed.” After she finished speaking, the village head said, “Alright, then think about it for now. We’ll hold another meeting later.”
“Got it,” Su Su agreed. She needed time to think—there was no way she could come up with a program on the spot.
Sun Ying added, “If you need anything, just come to me. I’ll fully support you.”
Su Su nodded in acknowledgment. When she stepped outside, she saw Lin Shan waiting to walk her home. This young man had an intense, quiet demeanour, but ever since she gave him that book, he had been acting more normal, though he still didn’t talk much.
Then again, which of the Lin men was particularly chatty?
Walking silently beside him, her mind was preoccupied with ideas for the program.
Once home, Su Su explained the situation. Mother Lin frowned deeply and said, “If you don’t want to do it, don’t let them push you into it. This job shouldn’t have fallen on you in the first place. It’s clear they couldn’t handle the village women, so they came to you.”
“I know, but I don’t want to make Chuanzi look bad either.” After Su Su’s explanation, Mother Lin’s expression softened a bit. She then began advising her, “Even so, just do your best, but don’t overwork yourself.”
“Got it, Mom.”
Su Su then went off to brainstorm ideas, completely forgetting to ask why Mother Lin was being so careful with her.
However, Lin Shan overheard his parents’ conversation.
“Why does she have to take on this thankless job? It’s exhausting and unappreciated. And besides, is her body even up for it?” Mother Lin said worriedly. “Your son is healthy, but she’s fine too. And don’t forget, right after marriage, it’s very easy to get pregnant. With all this snow and slippery roads, what if something happens?”
“Then have the boys keep an eye on her,” Lin’s father replied, frowning slightly at his wife’s concerns.
“You’ve forgotten that we lost a child before Chuanzi was born. It was right after we got married. I didn’t know better at the time and went out in the snow to gather firewood. I fell, and… who knows? It might have been a girl. Even the fortune-teller said I had the destiny for a daughter, but she didn’t stay.” Mother Lin sighed heavily at the memory.
Thinking of that lost child, Lin’s father also felt a pang of sadness. He tapped his tobacco pipe and said, “Alright, later I’ll tell Haizi and Shanzi to fetch firewood for her and heat the kang for her.”
“Good. And don’t let her come out for breakfast in the morning. The roads are too slippery.”
Mother Lin didn’t dwell on it further, but Lin Shan took it seriously.
Although he didn’t particularly like Su Su, he was shocked to hear she might be carrying his elder brother’s child.
Back in the house, Lin Jiang and Lin Hai had just returned from gathering firewood. They had swept fallen leaves into piles for kindling and carried them back. As soon as they entered, they noticed their usually aloof third brother quietly shutting the door behind him and whispering, “Mom says Sister-in-law is pregnant, so we need to take care of her.”
“What?” Lin Hai’s sense of responsibility skyrocketed. He suddenly felt the weight of becoming an uncle and was at a loss for what to do.
Lin Jiang exclaimed excitedly, “Does that mean I’ll be the fourth uncle?”
“And I’m the third uncle?”
“Then I’m the second uncle?”
The three boys were silent for a moment before Lin Hai scratched his head, blushing, and said, “I’m going to heat the kang for my little niece.”
“I’ll go too!” Lin Jiang raised his hand immediately, and the two of them ran off to the back courtyard.
Su Su, meanwhile, was busy drafting her program. She decided on a combination of poetry recitation and songs—a mashup that suited the era. She didn’t want to make it too novel, as that might come off as too unconventional.
Just as she was deeply focused, the door opened, and Lin Hai and Lin Jiang walked in, clearly cold from outside. They started stoking the fire and even filled the pot with water. Noticing the water in the tank was running low, Lin Hai grabbed a bucket and headed to the well in the courtyard.
The well was a deep one, and in winter, it was covered with a thick quilt to prevent the surface water from freezing over. Otherwise, they would have to chip away at the ice before drawing water.
“You don’t need to do this. Go rest. I’ll take care of it later,” Su Su said. She had learned how to stoke the fire and couldn’t rely on others for everything. She could steam dumplings, cook rice, and even make noodles now. While her cooking wasn’t great, she was determined to learn.
Su Su had grown resilient, having lived away from home since high school, studying in the provincial capital and only returning to her city during holidays. Over time, she had become self-sufficient.
However, fetching water was still challenging for her. The buckets were simply too heavy.
Thankfully, Lin Hai often helped with the task. At seventeen or eighteen, he carried water for both households.
“It’s fine, Sister-in-law. You rest. If you want anything special to eat tonight, let me know, and I’ll make it for you,” Lin Jiang said. While he had a strong sense of pride, he had become more talkative over time.
Su Su ruffled his hair and said, “I’m going to bed soon, so I don’t need anything. Besides, I still have cake. Take some for yourselves.” She offered them some snacks she had stored away, noting how well preserved her food stayed in the cold.
Lin Jiang didn’t stand on ceremony and took some cake to share with his brothers.
After finishing their chores, the two boys even swept the fresh layer of snow in the courtyard.
“You don’t need to sweep. It’s freezing, and it’ll just snow again tomorrow,” Su Su said, touched by how diligent they were being.
“What if you slip on the way to the outhouse? Don’t worry, Sister-in-law, we’ll finish quickly. You go inside—it’s too cold out here,” Lin Hai said, waving her off. He and Lin Jiang worked quickly and soon had the courtyard clean.
When they were done, they stood outside the door but didn’t come in.
“Do you need something?” Su Su asked curiously. Lin Jiang blushed and glanced at Lin Hai before mustering the courage to say, “Sister-in-law, we talked it over and decided we all want a little niece. Is that okay?”
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