No Problem with the Parts
Lin Chuan relaxed a little when he realized his little wife hadn’t misunderstood anything. He wasn’t sure how much she actually understood, so he had been in a hurry to explain himself.
He still wanted to say more, but seeing Su Su avoiding him, he decided to let it go for now. However, that evening, his parents came over. After gently sending Su Su outside, Father Lin frowned and asked with a serious expression, “Is what they’re saying outside true? If you really can’t… we’ll take you to the hospital. If it can’t be fixed, don’t hold Su Su back.”
Lin Chuan’s face went stiff. He was completely innocent, yet he was being falsely accused of such a significant issue!
“You should say something. If you’re embarrassed to tell Su Su, I’ll go talk to her myself,” Mother Lin added. The rumours they’d heard outside had panicked them. They didn’t want to ruin a young girl’s life, especially since Su Su and Lin Chuan hadn’t truly consummated their marriage. It was better to clarify things now than let the situation drag on.
Lin Chuan was so flustered that he quickly grabbed his mother’s hand. “I’m fine! It’s all nonsense—they’re spreading baseless rumors!”
“But you won’t even let us see the injury, nor tell us where it is. How can we not overthink it?” Mother Lin frowned, lightly hitting him on the arm.
Lin Chuan glanced awkwardly at his injured area and said stiffly, “Mother, why don’t you step outside for a moment?”
Mother Lin hesitated but eventually left, grumbling as she went, “Why are you so shy? I gave birth to you; there’s nothing I haven’t seen!”
“Alright, enough. Go outside,” Father Lin urged her. Once she left, he turned back to Lin Chuan and said sternly, “Well? Let’s see it. You’re making everyone nervous.”
Lin Chuan hesitated for a moment before reluctantly showing his injury. Father Lin took a quick look and sighed. It was as Lin Chuan had said—it was on his upper thigh, dangerously close to a sensitive area.
“Be more careful next time,” Father Lin said, putting away his pipe, knowing Lin Chuan hated the smell of smoke. “Your missions are important, but you’ve got a wife now. She’s counting on you for the rest of her life.”
“I know,” Lin Chuan replied awkwardly as he pulled his pants back up. “Make sure to tell Mother everything is fine so she won’t worry. And don’t say anything to Su Su—it’ll just make her overthink it.”
“Alright.” Father Lin nodded and left, dragging Mother Lin back home without further fuss.
—
Meanwhile, Su Su had been helping Lin Shan “study,” which was really just an excuse for the younger brother to flip through a book aimlessly. When she returned home, she asked curiously, “Did your parents come to talk to you about something?”
“Nothing important. They just asked about my injury,” Lin Chuan said quickly.
“Oh.” Su Su had already guessed what was going on. With rumours flying that Lin Chuan was “no longer a man,” his parents must have been eager to clarify the truth.
Realizing it was getting late and they hadn’t eaten dinner yet, Su Su decided to make some dough drop soup. She had made it before, but cooking over a large rural stove was a first for her. The process was chaotic—she forgot to stoke the fire, then forgot to add water. By the time she finally heated the oil and poured in the water, she realized she’d forgotten the pepper powder. Scratching her head, she muttered, “I’m so clumsy!”
“No rush. You can add it later,” Lin Chuan reassured her. He couldn’t sit to help because of his injury, so he stood off to the side, watching her with a mixture of amusement and admiration. Seeing her working so hard to adapt to rural life moved him deeply. Having such a wife—clumsy but determined—was a blessing he hadn’t expected.
Finally, Su Su managed to make the dough drop soup. It didn’t look particularly appetizing, but it tasted quite good. In rural areas, being full was the priority, and Lin Chuan thought Su Su deserved praise for her effort. Unable to express himself well in words, he showed his appreciation by eating two large bowls.
And they were large bowls—each one was the size of a small basin. In this poor rural household, the family only had two bowls of this size. Anything more was considered a luxury.
Su Su watched him polish off the soup with satisfaction. “You’re eating so well. I’ll have to make this more often,” she said with a smile.
Later that evening, Su Su brought up a plan she had been considering. “The fifteenth is coming up soon. I was thinking of asking Lin Hai and the boys to sell those shoes at the commune. The money can go toward school expenses and wedding preparations. Whatever’s left over can be saved. Does that sound good to you?”
Lin Chuan’s eyes brightened. He knew the family was strapped for cash. Although he had received a subsidy from his injury, his father would never take more than what was absolutely necessary. Even if they needed money, his father would sooner borrow from someone else than accept additional help from Lin Chuan.
Hearing Su Su’s plan lifted a burden off his shoulders. “You’re right. Let’s bring it up with them tomorrow morning.”
—
The next morning, Su Su gathered the Lin family in the back courtyard to discuss her plan. Father Lin listened quietly, then said, “There’s no need to divide it into ‘your money’ and ‘our money.’ Let’s just split whatever profit we make.”
Lin Chuan shook his head firmly. “That’s not necessary.”
Su Su smiled knowingly. She had anticipated this response and said, “Lin Chuan and I don’t have many expenses, and the shoes were brought back thanks to some luck. I can’t make it to the commune to sell them myself while taking care of Lin Chuan, so any money made is theirs to keep. If it doesn’t sell well, just don’t blame me, okay?”
“We might as well give it a try,” Mother Lin said with a smile. “Even if we don’t make much, it’s still worth a shot.”
—
In the evening, Su Su and Lin Chuan settled into bed. This time, they shared one quilt, warm and cozy against the winter cold. Lin Chuan found himself feeling incredibly content. Everything about Su Su—from her scent to her gentle presence—made him feel at peace. For the first time in a while, he slept deeply, waking up the next morning feeling as though his injury had already begun to heal. As they faced the day ahead, Lin Chuan was full of determination. Even injured, he would find a way to support his family and his wife, who had already done so much for them.
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