To Publish a Book
Zhan Aiping took the letter in her hand and went back. She didn’t rush to open it. When she got home, Zhan Aiping tore open the envelope from the People’s Publishing House and took out the letter inside. Sure enough, it was an invitation letter.
It was from an editor of a publishing house:
Comrade Zhan… I have seen reports about you in the newspaper… Your influence among the people in the townships is significant… Compile a volume…
“They really are inviting me to publish a book? My scientific stories.” Zhan Aiping was very excited, but also somewhat embarrassed and unclear. She wasn’t a graduate of Chinese literature, her writing wasn’t good, and she attended a military academy. Her Chinese grades were not as good as her math, and she had never been praised by her teachers for her compositions. She was both surprised and delighted: “Someone like me can also publish a book?”
Just her broken science stories.
Zhan Aiping wrote popular and understandable vernacular stories, without much embellishment, simple and straightforward, yet with twists and turns, mostly belonging to popular science stories, with endings that were “unexpected but also reasonable”.
The editor’s sincerity in the letter said that he would be the one to contact her in the future and cooperate with the entire publishing process of “Scientific Stories”. The address and postal code were left on the letter, as well as the publishing house’s phone number.
Zhan Aiping quickly contacted the publishing house. After a simple communication on both sides, they reached a basic cooperation plan. Zhan Aiping started to organise the manuscript, consolidating the scientific stories she had written in the past into a collection, and then sent the manuscripts to the publishing house.
After confirming that it could be published, Zhan Aiping was extremely excited. Regardless of the era or whether she was a literary youth, publishing a book was indeed a happy event.
“Babies, your mommy is going to publish a book!” When Zhan Aiping was pregnant and had nothing to do, she wrote many manuscripts of scientific stories. Originally, she planned to slowly submit them to the radio station, but now she happened to organise all the manuscripts and send them to the provincial publishing house.
Perhaps feeling Zhan Aiping’s excitement, the two little ones waved their little paws like caterpillars, excitedly giggling and uttering some incomprehensible single syllables.
Zhan Aiping shook each of their little fists. Guobaorou and Xiao Tangyuan were gradually learning to grasp things. They tightened their fists and also held onto their mother’s index finger.
“Huh?”
“Why hasn’t your dad come back yet?”
Zhan Aiping first fed the children, and shortly after they were full, Gu Sheng returned. Gu Sheng took a shower and changed his clothes as soon as he came back. He was particularly careful now, not touching the babies before washing his hands, and he always washed and disinfected his hands before changing the babies’ diapers.
The two children were well taken care of and had never been sick. Their little arms and legs were very strong.
When Zhan Aiping waited for him to finish showering, Gu Sheng was casual, only putting on pants and leaving his long shirt open without buttoning it up, revealing his wheat-coloured chest and sturdy abdominal muscles. Zhan Aiping, out of professional habit, noticed his belly button and thought that the umbilical cord had been cut quite well.
“Look at you, not properly dressed at home, and not even drying yourself properly. Your clothes are still wet.” Zhan Aiping spoke in a lowered voice while the children were sleeping.
“Isn’t it because I was eager to see my wife?” Gu Sheng’s handsome face was smiling as he saw the two children sleeping. He had to seize the opportunity to be affectionate with his wife before the children woke up.
Gu Sheng sat by the crib, and Zhan Aiping sat on his lap, using a towel to dry his hair. She patiently helped Gu Sheng straighten his collar, button up his shirt one by one from top to bottom. Gu Sheng leaned down and rubbed her cheek affectionately, undoing the top two buttons of his collar.
After finishing, Zhan Aiping patted his abdominal muscles, hugged his neck, and whispered softly, “Chief Gu, your wife is going to become an author, I’m going to publish a book!”
Zhan Aiping didn’t say anything else; this kind of good news had to be shared with her revolutionary partner.
Gu Sheng raised an eyebrow, surprise flickering in his eyes. “You? Can your sloppy writing really get published?”
“What about your surgical skills?”
Zhan Aiping chuckled and snorted, “As for my scientific stories, I received a letter from the publishing house today, inviting me to submit manuscripts. They said my scientific stories have publishing value and are suitable for people to read and enjoy.”
“Really?” Gu Sheng lowered his head and rubbed his nose against hers. “My wife is really becoming a great author? That’s an honour.”
“How could it be false? Besides, I’m not bad at writing; I use plain language, close to the masses, close to the working people. Haven’t you heard an ancient saying? Understanding the world is knowledge, and being experienced in human affairs is literature.”
“Your wife here has seen a lot, so naturally, the stories she writes are interesting,” Gu Sheng chuckled. He rubbed his nose and turned to look at the two sleeping children beside him. He noticed that Xiao Tangyuan, at some point, had opened her big bright eyes and was curiously listening to the surroundings.
“Xiao Tangyuan, come here, listen carefully to your mom bragging. We’ll learn how to brag like this in the future too.”
Xiao Tangyuan saw that Dad noticed her, blinked her eyes, and happily made a “yip” sound with drool flowing from her mouth.
Zhan Aiping tapped his chest, saying, “What bragging skills? Don’t teach the child nonsense. I’m just telling the truth.”
After Zhan Aiping finished speaking, Guobaorou, the older brother, also opened his eyes on the other side, curiously listening to the surroundings. These two little ones had already started to crave interaction with their parents, staring blankly to perceive the movements around them.
“Big brother is awake too? Come on, big brother, let’s listen to Mom brag.”
Zhan Aiping: “Who’s bragging? Who’s bragging?”
Gu Sheng smiled, “You started bragging from saying you’ve experienced a lot, you’ve seen a lot, and quoting ‘Understanding the world is knowledge, and being experienced in human affairs is literature’.”
Zhan Aiping: “…”
Gu Sheng sighed, “How come I remember you didn’t like writing compositions when you were a child? Your little brother even stole your diary and showed it to me. One day you played basketball with the neighbour’s kid, the next day you played with your classmate Xiao Hong—”
Zhan Aiping covered his mouth, “You even peeked at my diary?!!”
The mischievous glint in Gu Sheng’s eyes intensified, “Your diary full of perfunctory entries, can’t even stand scrutiny? So what’s the big deal?”
Zhan Aiping: “The chubby kid next door is you.”
Gu Sheng chuckled, “Whether it’s Chubby or Little Red, Little Green, or Little Phoenix from next door, you never showed any sincerity in writing your diary. You didn’t even bother giving them proper names. No wonder the teacher gave you low grades.”
“When the chubby kid next door got into a fight, did you go and mediate?”
“You—” Zhan Aiping glared at him. “Are you ever going to stop? You’re definitely making this up. I never wrote any of those things.”
Zhan Aiping blushed deeply. She couldn’t actually remember what she wrote in her elementary school diaries, but she could imagine that it was probably just as Gu Sheng described: playing basketball one day, flying kites with someone else the next. None of it true, all just filling up the pages.
She had some vague recollection of the chubby kid or Little Phoenix, and even then, she just gave them random names in her diary.
“You’re just taking advantage of my bad memory, making up stories because I can’t remember. I don’t believe you.”
Zhan Aiping was angry and embarrassed, thinking that if she couldn’t remember, then it must have all been made up. Surely, she didn’t still have those notebooks from back then?
“You don’t believe me?” Gu Sheng hugged her, laughing. “You don’t believe me? I still have your notebook. Remember the pink squared one? It’s still at my house. I’ll show you when we visit my parents later. My mom keeps all my old stuff; she can’t bear to throw anything away. She even kept my old textbooks and notebooks.”
Zhan Aiping was stunned. “You, you bastard, you really have my diary?”
“My brother, the traitor, gave it to you? Do you have no shame? Why did you keep it?”
Gu Sheng said, “It wasn’t stolen. Your brother gave it to me. You finished using your own notebooks and didn’t want them anymore, so your brother picked them up. He showed them to me.”
Zhan Aiping pinched his neck. “You two conspired together, shamelessly peeking at my diary. You two must have been laughing behind my back.”
Gu Sheng laughed heartily, holding his stomach. “Your elementary school diary was all made up by you. You were just perfunctory. What are you afraid of, Big brother Zhan?”
“The teacher already saw it, so why should I be afraid of showing it to us? Your brother found it interesting, so he shared it with me.”
“Your brother’s childhood essays and diaries were quite good.”
Zhan Aiping continued to pinch him. “Say one more word, and I’ll knock you both out. You think I don’t know about your dark past?”
” The farewell letter you wrote in elementary school is still with me” Zhan Aiping said.
“I never wrote one,” Gu Sheng denied.
“Yes, you did.” Zhan Aiping was firm in her memory of this incident, but unfortunately, she had no evidence. “Your sister stole it and showed it to me. She must still remember.”
Gu Sheng’s mouth twitched. “Well, I do have a good sister then.”
Zhan Aiping sighed. “I have a good brother too.”
What a mess with these siblings, leaking secrets left and right, double-crossing all around.
“I can’t find my elementary school farewell letter anymore, but I still have the ones from before. Some of them were for you. Do you want to see?” After years in the military, Gu Sheng would always write a farewell letter before embarking on special missions.
“I don’t want to see.” Zhan Aiping refused, burying her head in his chest. “I don’t ever want to see it in my lifetime.”
“Alright.” Gu Sheng hugged her, smiling. “I’ll do my best to make sure you never do.”
“Good.” Zhan Aiping listened to his heartbeat. “You must always remember what you said.”
“I also want to go see the snow with you, you old man,” Gu Sheng said, holding her hand tightly. His palm was warm. “You’re afraid of the cold but love to play… by the time I become an old man, that’ll be a long way off.”
Zhan Aiping patted his handsome face. “Hurry up and cook. Feed me first, then feed the children.”
“Yes, ma’am, my leader,” Gu Sheng replied playfully.
Gu Sheng went to cook, and Zhan Aiping saw that the two children were behaving well, playing and giggling with each other. She took them to the study and had them lie on the playpen bed. Then, she began searching for her old manuscripts. She still had every original draft, page by page. Zhan Aiping counted them and couldn’t help but laugh and cry when she realised she had written forty-nine pieces. Some were long, some short, but together, they could indeed be compiled into a book.
Zhan Aiping even planned to write a few more pieces.
When Gu Sheng finished cooking, he simply brought the food to the study to eat. Their study was bigger now than before. Besides a row of bookshelves, there was a desk by the window, as well as the cribs for the children and a small bamboo bed and recliner for resting.
Gu Sheng brought in a small tea table, laid out the food, and arranged the bowls and chopsticks. “Great author, don’t be busy. Come and eat.”
Zhan Aiping smiled, “A great author needs such a considerate husband like you.”
“The only downside is that my working hours are unpredictable, so our meals are always late,” Gu Sheng said.
“Same goes for you.”
“When I write my medical thesis in the future, I’ll be sure to formally thank my husband for his support at the end…” Zhan Aiping said, holding her bowl and chopsticks, unable to resist making a promise.
“You’re about to publish a book now, don’t wait until later. Make sure to thank me in the preface.”
“Alright, if I write a preface, I’ll definitely thank my husband for his support!” Zhan Aiping finished her meal and went to nurse the baby, while Gu Sheng took on the task of transcribing her manuscript. She encouraged him, “Come on, this is your time to support your wife’s career!”
Gu Sheng sighed, picking up a stack of manuscript pages. Looking at Zhan Aiping’s bold, free-spirited handwriting, he couldn’t help but chuckle, “Wife, ever since you became a doctor, your handwriting has gotten worse.”
“Looks like a bunch of caterpillars.”
Zhan Aiping shamelessly replied, “That’s why I’m asking you to help me copy it, to save my face.”
“Alright then.” Gu Sheng sat down at the desk, turning on the small lamp beside him. The lamp, a simple bulb with a glass shade, cast a soft yellow glow on his face.
Outside, the cold night wind blew. The temperature had dropped, so Gu Sheng was wearing a white shirt with a military-green jacket draped over his shoulders. The buttons on the jacket glinted under the light, reflecting bright flashes.
As Zhan Aiping cradled their sleeping child, she quietly watched him write. Gu Sheng sat upright, his eyes focused downward. The yellow light highlighted his long eyelashes, casting shadows on his eyelids. His straight nose appeared more prominent in the light, making his features even more striking.
Just watching him write, Zhan Aiping felt a ripple of emotion in her heart.
Even though she had seen this face countless times, she still couldn’t help but feel a sudden rush of affection.
The world around them was silent, with only the sounds of the wind outside, their breathing, and the soft scratch of the pen on paper. The wind rustled the pages, and the air was filled with the scent of milk.
Gu Sheng paused, glancing at his watch. It was time. He turned to her with a mock sternness, “Have you looked enough? How long have you been staring at me?”
“You’re so stingy,” Zhan Aiping smiled faintly. She stretched, yawning as she did. It was late, and she was starting to feel sleepy.
“After copying so much for me, do you feel like your wife is a modern-day Pu Songling? How’s my ‘Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio’ coming along?”
**Nomad: Pu Songling, a famous Qing dynasty writer known for his collection of supernatural stories, Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio.**
Gu Sheng chuckled, “Your science stories do have a bit of a ‘Strange Tales’ vibe—both whimsical and scientific. I have to hand it to you for coming up with them.”
“They’re not that strange,” Zhan Aiping took a deep breath.
“You’re like a little kitten,” Gu Sheng teased, tugging at one of her braids. Usually, Zhan Aiping wore her hair in a single braid over her shoulder when she was out, giving her a relaxed and beautiful look. Her pointed chin and uncovered, delicate ears added to her charm.
But tonight, she had her hair in two braids, one hanging on each side of her chest, hastily tied after her bath. It was a bit messy, but it made her look like a young girl of sixteen or seventeen.
Despite being the mother of two children, she seemed to be growing younger, her personality sometimes playful and childlike, full of energy and mischief. It was impossible to resist her.
Gu Sheng brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, “You really do look better with long hair, showing off those ears of yours.”
“I knew you liked my ears,” Zhan Aiping playfully covered her right ear with her hand, “But just because you like them doesn’t mean you can bite them.”
“I already did, so what are you going to do about it?”
Gu Sheng scooped her up in his arms, “Let’s go to bed.”
Zhan Aiping wrapped her arms around his neck, reminding him, “Don’t forget about the kids.”
“I’ll carry all of you to bed.”
“Remember to tidy up the table too; I’ll be waiting for you in bed,” Zhan Aiping said as she lay down.
Gu Sheng smiled gently, “Alright, you take care of the kids first.”
He carried her and the children back to the bedroom, where the lights in the study soon went out. Zhan Aiping closed her eyes and lay on her side. Before long, she felt someone embrace her from behind. The winter night was quiet, warm, and comforting.
….
The next day, when Zhan Aiping met Shen Liqing, she shared the news that the publishing house had contacted her. Shen Liqing was so excited she couldn’t contain herself, exclaiming, “Aiping, you’re going to publish a book too! So much has changed recently; everything feels different now.”
Shen Liqing whispered to her, “I’ve also heard a lot of secret news. They say many novels are going to be republished! I’m thrilled!”
Many novels had stopped being printed after the 1960s, and even the four great classical novels had been criticized during that time. But now, in 1972, things were gradually opening up again, and many beloved novels were set to be reprinted. Major publishers were also reaching out to educated youth to collect literary manuscripts.
“The tides are turning. Many factories are starting to focus on efficiency again and are paying more attention to education and skills.”
Zhan Aiping smiled, “You’re itching to buy books again, aren’t you?”
“Of course! I’ve been waiting to read more novels.” Shen Liqing leaned in closer and said, “I heard some of those books are going to be made into movies, like the one about the female soldiers on the island and others… Finally, we’ll have some movies to watch.”
“We’ll even get to see movies during the New Year. I just hope it’s not something like A Station Story. I actually want to watch a romance film, but I doubt we’ll have that chance…” Shen Liqing’s voice trailed off.
Zhan Aiping clicked her tongue, “Give it a few more years. By the time our kids are grown, we’ll see plenty of new things.”
Shen Liqing laughed, “I hope so.”
“You’re pregnant, always thinking about so much. Have you secretly stashed away some romance novels?”
Shen Liqing sighed, “I have to keep them hidden.”
“Aiping, why don’t you start writing novels? Then your Guobaorou and Xiao Tangyuan would have a famous author for a mother.”
Zhan Aiping responded firmly, “I’m a doctor, not a writer.”
“I think doctors have a better shot at becoming writers because they witness and hear so many life-and-death stories. You see, quite a few famous authors started out in medicine. Aiping, you should consider switching from medicine to literature.”
“I’ll pass.”
Comrade Zhan Aiping had no intention of becoming a writer.
As New Year’s Eve approached, the hospital slaughtered some pigs, distributing the meat among the doctors. The pigs had been raised with care, and after slaughtering a few, Zhan Aiping received some pork. Zhao Jing and Qin Yanfang each took home large bowls of pork.
Pork was more prized than lamb or beef at that time because of its rich fat content. People loved pork for its juicy, flavourful fat, while they found beef too dry and tough. The fattier the pork, the better it tasted.
Zhan Aiping managed to get some pork fat and planned to render it into lard at home. The leftover cracklings from the process were particularly delicious.
“Is Dr. Zhao staying at the hospital for New Year’s?” Zhan Aiping asked.
Qin Yanfang chimed in, “Of course he is. He’s got the best luck—he drew the short straw and has to work on New Year’s Eve.”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “Oh right, New Year’s Eve.”
Qin Yanfang added, “Exactly, New Year’s Eve! What luck, he must have stepped in dog poop.”
Zhao Jing was unfazed. “You’re staying at the hospital too. We can have a little hotpot together. It’s perfect for this cold weather.”
“We’ll eat and drink to celebrate the New Year, and maybe even have some rice wine.”
Qin Yanfang suggested, “Let’s make some sweet rice wine soup. I love that.”
“Sure,” Zhan Aiping agreed.
“We can add some brown sugar and ginger to the sweet wine soup. How about rolling a few glutinous rice balls into it as well?”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “I still have some dried osmanthus flowers. How about sprinkling a bit on top?”
Qin Yanfang praised, “Dr. Zhan, you really know how to enjoy food. Let’s add some dried osmanthus flowers.”
Zhan Aiping playfully warned, “Just don’t get too tipsy, you two.”
“With that little bit of sweet wine, how could we get drunk?” Qin Yanfang replied.
Zhan Aiping teased, “I’m more worried you’ll be drunk with happiness.”
Qin Yanfang blushed deeply, “Aiping, you really are a natural matchmaker.”
Zhan Aiping responded, “…Don’t exaggerate. I just speak my mind.”
Qin Yanfang shifted the focus, “Our Nurse Lanlan is about to get married, thanks to you, our great matchmaker.”
Zhan Aiping chuckled, “If you two get together, don’t forget to give me a red envelope.”
Dr. Zhao added, “We wouldn’t dare forget.”
“That’s what I like to hear,” Zhan Aiping said with a grin.
Qin Yanfang, feeling embarrassed, retorted, “Can’t you talk less? Watch out, or a few people might end up with upset stomachs on New Year’s Eve.”
Dr. Zhao’s face darkened, “Can you stop jinxing us? Who would want to come to the hospital on New Year’s?”
Despite being on duty for New Year’s Eve, Dr. Zhao was in good spirits. There were usually fewer patients during the holiday, and with Qin Yanfang around, they could chat and pass the time easily.
Zhu Hui was also staying at the hospital for the New Year. She said to Zhan Aiping, “This place is really nice—the climate is great, and there’s no shortage of food. Everything that moves is meat, and everything green is a vegetable. Look at this, all year round, the mountains stay green.”
The mild winter made the surrounding area abundant with food. As long as one was willing to eat, even insects could be a source of protein.
“I’d really like to see some snow, though,” Zhu Hui remarked.
Zhan Aiping asked, “Did it snow in the nearby city?”
“Just a little bit, and it melted as soon as it hit the ground.”
“I really want to see the kind of heavy snow they talk about in books, the thick, fluffy snow of the north, not just a few tiny flakes that disappear as soon as they land.”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “If you saw it, you’d probably just feel cold.”
“Did Commander Luo come looking for you again?” Zhan Aiping asked.
Zhu Hui waved her hand dismissively, “I didn’t bother with him. I’m living well now.”
….
When Zhan Aiping returned home, the preparations for the New Year were in full swing. She started by rendering some pork fat and couldn’t resist sneaking a couple of crispy, fragrant pork cracklings. They would taste even better in stir-fried dishes.
With plenty of lard on hand, she planned to fry some fish cakes and make tofu puffs stuffed with meat. She also prepared to make braised pork. When Gu Sheng returned, he began preparing to make bamboo tube rice.
“Wife, I’ll start getting the ingredients ready,” he said.
Zhan Aiping said, “Go ahead, keep it simple.”
“I brought back two bags of glutinous rice,” Gu Sheng replied.
Zhan Aiping was about to take the rice from his hands, but Gu Sheng gestured for her to step aside. “You don’t need to touch this; I’ll handle the heavy stuff.”
“Alright,” Zhan Aiping agreed, following closely behind him and bringing the babies’ “bed cart” along.
Every household had plenty of glutinous rice during the New Year. They had stocked up on a few bags as well. If you went down to the villages, you’d see many men pounding glutinous rice cakes at the village entrance, making cakes out of the steamed glutinous rice. But Zhan Aiping wasn’t too fond of glutinous rice cakes, so they didn’t get much of it.
Her glutinous rice was reserved for steaming bamboo basket glutinous rice.
Zhan Aiping loved glutinous rice; she planned to steam a big basket of it. On top of the rice, she’d lay slices of cured sausage. When serving, she’d scoop a ladleful of the translucent, glossy rice, add some pickled mustard greens, pickled long beans, and spicy radish cubes, along with some mashed mung beans and sausage slices, then cover it with another scoop of rice. Wrapped in oil paper, it made for a delicious meal.
This kind of glutinous rice was perfect for breakfast or as rice balls. However, eating too much glutinous rice was hard on digestion, so she had to eat it sparingly. At this point, Zhan Aiping couldn’t eat too much pickled food.
With plenty of bamboo around, Gu Sheng had already mastered the art of cooking bamboo tube rice. He used firewood to cook it in the courtyard, with bright red flames glowing. Zhan Aiping wasn’t as skilled at cooking bamboo tube rice as he was, so he kept an eye on the fire as he cooked.
Zhan Aiping rubbed her nose. The bamboo tube rice, if nothing else, smelled incredibly fragrant.
“Remember to grind some glutinous rice flour to make glutinous rice balls,” she reminded him.
Gu Sheng nodded, adjusting the bamboo tubes’ position over the fire. “You go feed the goose first. The rice will be ready soon.”
Zhan Aiping gestured playfully and went to feed the goose. For the New Year, Gu Sheng had traded with someone in the village for a large goose, which they planned to cook for their holiday feast. The smell of the bamboo tube rice mixed with the thought of roast goose made her mouth water.
When the rice was ready, Gu Sheng took over watching the babies so Zhan Aiping could eat in peace. She ate a few bites, blowing on them to cool them down, and even fed him a few bites. The two little ones, smelling the delicious aroma in the air, started getting restless.
Zhan Aiping laughed, “Mom will feed you after I finish eating.”
Gu Sheng said, “Once they grow a bit older, they’ll be able to eat other foods.”
He picked up the milky-scented little Tangyuan, letting her sit on his lap and play while holding the sturdy little Guobaorou in his other arm. Even though they were still small, they already loved having the adults’ attention.
Holding them both, Gu Sheng watched as they curiously observed each other and even snuggled a bit. It was good for the two children to have each other for company.
Zhan Aiping added, “When we start feeding them mashed potatoes, whoever loves it more takes after you.”
Gu Sheng replied, “…You’re a mean mom.”
“How am I mean? I’m just a smart mom,” Zhan Aiping said, leaning closer to him. She playfully scooped a spoonful of rice and pretended to feed it to the babies. As expected, they were drawn to it, but she mischievously ate it herself.
Gu Sheng warned, “If you make them cry, you’ll have to soothe them yourself.”
“I’ll soothe them, no problem,” Zhan Aiping said confidently.
After finishing her meal, she fed the babies and then lay down on the bed, feeling drowsy. “Old Gu, can you tidy up the house?”
Gu Sheng replied, “Don’t fall asleep just yet; it’ll hurt your stomach. Wait a bit.”
Zhan Aiping conceded, “Alright, you’re more particular about things than I am now.”
“My brother is coming to perform tomorrow. I’ll bring the kids along to watch and then invite him over for a meal,” Zhan Aiping said.
Gu Sheng responded, “Should we make dumplings?”
“Your brother loves dumplings.”
“Then let’s make some dumplings. How about some egg dumplings too?”
“Should I make them?”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “Well, who else is there to do it?”
Gu Sheng: “…”
Zhan Aiping continued, “Add some crispy rice to the dumpling filling.”
“I like adding water chestnuts too.”
“How about making some corn dumplings as well?”
Gu Sheng asked, “What kind of filling do you really want?”
“Let’s go with corn. I’m craving corn dumplings.”
On the day of the performance, Zhan Aiping got herself and the kids ready, making sure they were well-fed. She took the two little ones to sit in the family area to watch the show, sitting alongside Shen Liqing.
Shen Liqing took turns holding Guobaorou and Tangyuan, remarking, “These little ones have gotten heavier.”
“Look at their plump, tender faces.”
“So adorable.”
The two of them played with the kids for a while. Zhan Aiping’s brother’s performance was early in the program. Not long after, it was Zhan Mingzhao’s turn to take the stage for his play. Zhan Aiping didn’t catch the title of the play, but watching the performance, she could tell her brother was playing the role of an exemplary rural youth.
He acted well, though perhaps a bit too earnest. Towards the end, the play became more emotional, and her brother was fully immersed in his role, with a passionate and stirring delivery. Zhan Aiping clapped, thinking that her brother did indeed have a knack for acting.
After Zhan Mingzhao’s performance, Zhan Aiping didn’t pay much attention to the rest of the show. When Zhan Mingzhao came to find her, still in his costume, she greeted him with a smile, “You did great, little brother. Maybe you should aim for a movie role next.”
Zhan Mingzhao shook his head, “No way. Just doing a play is exhausting, having to repeat the same thing over and over.”
“Shooting a movie would probably be even more tiring.”
Zhan Aiping remarked, “But you really stand out on stage.”
“Big Sis, you and Brother-in-law should join a theatre troupe. Forget about being a doctor.”
Zhan Aiping laughed, “Your sister is on her way to becoming a writer. I’m about to publish a book.”
“Really? From those stories you wrote?”
“Yes, what’s that look on your face? Don’t think much of it? You little rascal, you used to sneak a peek at my diary when you were a kid.”
Zhan Aiping gave him a playful kick, “You even shared it with Gu Sheng.”
“Well, he’s my brother-in-law now. What’s the point of keeping things separate between you two?” Zhan Mingzhao teased. “Besides, your diary was just… I didn’t even want to read it, full of filler.”
Zhan Aiping: “…”
“Well, well, how times have changed. I never would’ve thought you’d end up publishing a book, Sis.”
Zhan Aiping patted her brother on the shoulder and said, “Understanding the world is the essence of learning, and mastering human relationships is the foundation of writing. Got it, kid?”
“Your sister here has seen a lot and knows a lot.”
Zhan Aiping took her brother home to make dumplings. They had prepared the filling and let the dough rest, but hadn’t started making the dumplings yet. Just in time, Zhan Mingzhao arrived to help out.
After a while, Gu Xiangyi came back, and the three of them cooked up a big pot of dumplings to eat. Gu Sheng returned after watching the performance, ending up eating dumplings on his own.
Zhan Mingzhao couldn’t stay long since he had to leave with the troupe the next day. Zhan Aiping asked him, “Are you getting used to life in the art troupe?”
“It’s pretty fun, and I get to see a lot of places.”
Zhan Aiping smiled, “Try to mature a bit quicker.”
Gu Xiangyi added, “Hurry up and start acting in movies. With your looks, if you play a young soldier who sacrifices himself, I’d definitely shed some tears for you.”
Zhan Mingzhao replied, “…Thanks, but no thanks.”
After Zhan Mingzhao left, Gu Xiangyi stayed with them to celebrate the New Year. On New Year’s Eve, Gu Xiangyi first had a traditional “bitterness-remembrance” meal at her unit before heading to her brother and sister-in-law’s house. Gu Sheng spent the day at home but had to go on duty in the evening. In the afternoon, he prepared the New Year’s Eve dinner, while Zhan Aiping and Gu Xiangyi played with the kids.
Now, little Tangyuan and Guobaorou were more interactive with the adults and were even starting to try to roll over. When placed on their stomachs, they would make an effort to lift their heads, wriggling like little snakes and making sounds like “ah” and “yi.”
Gu Xiangyi dangled a red embroidered ball to catch the kids’ attention. “Sis, look, they’re both staring at it.”
At this age, babies are naturally drawn to bright, colourful objects.
Zhan Aiping commented, “They’re like two little turtles stranded on the beach.”
Gu Xiangyi laughed.
Gu Sheng, hearing this, chuckled and said, “They’re little turtles now, but they’ll be little tyrants later.”
“Come on, let’s tidy up and get ready to eat. Little sis, give us a hand.”
Gu Xiangyi replied, “Okay, I want to cook too.”
“Get out of here. You’re only fit to tend the fire.”
Gu Xiangyi: “…”
The three of them cooked up a feast, with the star of the meal being the roasted goose. The crispy skin was perfectly cooked, the meat tender and juicy, bursting with flavour.
Gu Xiangyi thought the goose was delicious and suggested, “Sis, you should raise a few geese in the yard too.”
Zhan Aiping responded, “We’ll see about that later.”
After eating, Gu Sheng headed out. He wasn’t just on guard duty that night; he also had to patrol and check on the soldiers, as many of them were spending the holiday far from home, and it was important to keep their spirits up.
After Gu Sheng left, Zhan Aiping and Gu Xiangyi turned on the radio to listen to the New Year’s broadcast. The lively and cheerful tone of the announcer’s voice was infused with a festive spirit.
Gu Xiangyi remarked, “It would be nice if we could set off fireworks.”
Without lion dances and fireworks, the New Year felt a little less festive.
As the broadcast continued, the soundtrack from a ballet began playing. Zhan Aiping and Gu Xiangyi played with the children, keeping watch until midnight. As the night went on, the sound of singing spread from household to household, accompanied by the radio.
After Gu Xiangyi finished singing, she went to sleep in the guest room. Zhan Aiping waited for a while until Gu Sheng quietly returned in the dark. She had kept a light on, as it was a tradition to keep a light on through the night during the New Year.
When Gu Sheng came back, he saw her sitting there, wrapped in a military coat. “Still waiting?” he asked.
Zhan Aiping smiled and said, “Happy New Year.”
“Happy New Year, my wife,” Gu Sheng replied.
After the New Year, work resumed as usual without much of a break. Zhan Aiping was lucky enough to have New Year’s Day and the second day off, but she had to work an early shift on the third day. She went to the hospital with Qin Lanfang, who was already showing signs of pregnancy.
As they arrived at the hospital, Qin Lanfang mentioned, “I heard a few patients came in on New Year’s Eve.”
“Really?” Zhan Aiping asked, curious. “What happened?”
“What else? Some rat poison accidentally fell into the cooking pot. Luckily, it wasn’t much.”
“Does that sort of thing really happen?” Zhan Aiping remarked in disbelief.
“They were probably trying to poison the rats in the kitchen,” Qin Lanfang speculated. “My sister said they didn’t start cooking their hotpot until the morning of New Year’s Day.”
When they met with Qin Yanfang, she sighed, “I shouldn’t have jinxed it.”
Zhan Aiping worked for a while without any patients coming in, so she relaxed and chatted with Qin Lanfang. Her two children were still sleeping.
Later, Director Hao called her over and spoke to her privately, “Dr. Zhan, start preparing some materials. I spoke with the staff, and everyone unanimously recommended you for the position of deputy director.”
“Me? Deputy director?”
“Yes, you. You have the education and the experience. You’re the perfect fit. It’s better to promote someone familiar than to bring in an outsider who might not cooperate or have conflicting opinions. You know the direction our hospital needs to take. You’ve already given me plenty of good ideas. If someone else came in and didn’t work well with us, it could be a problem.”
“The higher-ups want to promote educated individuals. There’s even a preference in the housing allocation policy for people like you…”
“The documents you write are much more formal than ours.”
Many local doctors couldn’t even write a proper medical record, let alone any development plans. Zhan Aiping had ideas and had previously suggested many improvements.
“Start preparing all the necessary materials. The county’s inspection team will come down soon, and if they approve, you’ll be our new deputy director.”
“Okay,” Zhan Aiping agreed without hesitation. “I’ll start preparing the materials.”
Zhan Aiping worked on the materials in the pharmacy, while Dr. Zhao was busy writing medical records, something he disliked. He had a little book of sayings next to him that he occasionally flipped through as he wrote.
Fortunately, there weren’t many patients that day, so Zhan Aiping buried herself in preparing the documents. She had to compile her personal information and draft some hospital work plans, as well as summarize past work…
After a busy day, she took the materials home to continue working on them.
In the evening, Gu Sheng looked after the children while she continued writing. When Gu Sheng glanced at what she was doing, he was surprised and said, “Someone’s about to become deputy director? That was quick.”
“You kept it so quiet. Why didn’t you brag about it a little? Our kids are still waiting to hear their mom boast, aren’t they?”
“Little Tangyuan?”
Little Tangyuan gurgled and drooled in his father’s arms.
Zhan Aiping tilted her head to look at him. “I haven’t even got the position yet. Let’s not boast. Once I get it, then I’ll brag all you want.”
“Finally admitting you like to boast, huh?”
“Cut it out.” Zhan Aiping waved him away. “Take the kids somewhere else so they don’t disturb me.”
“Alright, alright, we’ll go far away so we don’t interfere with your promotion.”
Zhan Aiping focused on writing her materials. When the baby got hungry, she called Gu Sheng over to help while she fed the baby. They sat close together under the lamp, with Zhan Aiping leaning against him.
Gu Sheng looked down and flipped through a few pages. “Your handwriting isn’t usually this neat.”
“Serious materials require serious writing,” Zhan Aiping replied.
“You’re just taking advantage of me.”
Zhan Aiping laughed. “Come on, tell me, do you think your wife can become deputy director?”
Gu Sheng playfully pinched her cheek. “Zhan Daping, don’t get too full of yourself. It’s just a small town health clinic’s deputy director position. What’s the big deal? How many doctors did your little clinic even have before?”
Zhan Aiping responded, “Once I officially get the position, I’ll step on you.”
Gu Sheng laughed, “Step on me? I’m a deputy too, just like you. How about we see who gets promoted first?”
“I’m not competing with you,” Zhan Aiping refused.
“Are you scared?”
Zhan Aiping said, “We’ll talk about it once I actually get the job.”
**Nomad: For those who have noticed, I haven’t been able to update for a few days. I thought it would be best to mention that I’m going on a bit of a hiatus rather than leaving you guessing. I have some health and family matters to sort out, along with work, which is starting to get hectic, so I have no free time whatsoever. I have a few chapters pre-scheduled for other novels, but not for RTAMEIN70s. The pre-scheduled novels will continue to be posted, but I won’t be able to manage the publishing order, nor will I be able to post them on NU. I will be away until September 15th. Thank you for your understanding.**
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