Bai Fumei in the ’70s Chapter 22
Translated by Serena Love
Proofread by Soupysuspicions
Edited by Ladyhotcomb
Chapter 22
The four women were causing a commotion. When they saw Branch Secretary Li, they burst into endless, pathetic sobs.
“Secretary Li, she’s a backward person colluding with bad people!” they accused. “Tell her to reevaluate her behavior.”
“She was intimidating people and threatening to go to the police!”
Branch Secretary Li grimaced, his temper flaring. “Your husbands were brawling shamelessly in front of the whole engineering team!”
“Go home at once and reflect for three days. Don’t return to work until you realize your mistakes. I’d rather the project progress slowly than deal with troublemakers like you!”
The four women felt thunderstruck. Although ditch digging was grueling labor, they could earn a hefty amount of work points. After a hard day’s toil, ten points would line their pockets. Where else could they get such an ample haul so easily?
They wiped their tears in disbelief - the branch secretary was siding with He Family’s second son. Incensed, one cried, “My husband was beaten black and blue and is bedridden. He can’t work now. And I’ve lost this job too! How will we survive?”
Li Dali had also heard the news. His face darkened as he said sternly, “What’s this? Still crying at your age?”
Li Dali’s solemn voice carried traces of anger, and the four women could only wipe their tears again, stifling their sobs though grief gripped their hearts.
“Fighting and deception, I absolutely forbid such gangster behavior!” Li Dali went on. “This time, your husbands were in the wrong, but He’s second son is wrong as well. Both sides must reflect on this. Learn your lesson and strive to correct it. Return to work once you understand.”
He glanced at the women. “Don’t feel resentful, or even think about building more resentment! Comrade Zhao will press charges and the police will make arrests. As your production captain, I’d have no face left.”
After this altercation and admonition, the four women obediently departed, no longer daring to let resentment fester in their hearts.
The captain stated their husbands sparked the trouble, which they then compounded.
With just a few words, Li Dali disciplined them into obedience - something Zhao Lanxiang found convincing.
“Thank you, Captain,” she said with a smile.
Li Dali responded in his deep voice, “You’re a young woman who is very good at controlling your temper."
He paused, then continued, “Even if you did go to the police, a group brawl is very serious. Fighting on the worksite would disgrace our village. So instead, the brigade will hold an open criticism meeting where He’s elderly second son and these folks must speak up. Any objections?”
Though Li Dali toiled ceaselessly each day, he still held educated youths in some esteem and looked after them too - a rarity in the village. Lacking formal schooling himself, unlike the college-educated captain in the neighboring village who used modern techniques to guide his team in scientific farming for bountiful yearly harvests, Li Dali felt envious. He knew his lack of education had been a detriment, so he sought the educated youth’s aid. Although they lacked agricultural skills, their rare enthusiasm allowed Li Dali to ‘arm’ his first production team with innovative knowledge.
Zhao Lanxiang was understandably unhappy with the situation, but Li Dali’s decision to punish both sides was already his most ‘tolerant’ compromise. She told him, “If the people who beat someone are willing to apologize, I can let it go.”
Without hesitation, Li Dali agreed, “That’s good.” With that, he left with Li Hongde.
Zhao Lanxiang headed to He Songbai’s room to assess the damage. Inside, she found Sister He scolding her brother while knocking his head:
“Fighting again? Who told you to fight? You’re so disobedient. Granny will be heartbroken and die sad.”
The previous day, a crying He Sanya had sought out Sister He, but unable to find her, she turned to Zhao Lanxiang instead. This incident had alarmed their elderly grandmother. Sister He couldn’t bear to let her brother see their grandmother in his battered, limping state. It would only bring the elderly woman more sadness.
In truth, Sister He was unaware of the reason behind her brother’s fight; she simply assumed he had made another mistake. He Songbai didn’t dodge her hits or defend himself, obediently allowing his elder sister to knock on his forehead.
Witnessing this unbearable scene from outside the window, Zhao Lanxiang rushed inside to stop Sister He. However, upon closer inspection, she realized that despite the apparent force behind Sister He’s hand, she wasn’t truly hurting him. In the end, Zhao Lanxiang remained silent.
After Sister He finished her lecture and left, Zhao Lanxiang slipped into He Songbai’s room. “You fell to the ground?” she asked.
He Songbai twitched his lips in annoyance. “Can you keep these things away?”
Zhao Lanxiang carefully examined the man and couldn’t suppress a laugh. He was already thin, but with the added boards, he resembled a scrawny scarecrow, his feet like compass needles.
Once her laughter subsided, she said solemnly, “Your elder sister is right. You can’t fight anymore. This time, the captain spoke up for you, but next week, you’ll have to attend the review meeting and reflect deeply on your actions.”
He Songbai hummed in response.
Zhao Lanxiang gently flicked his head with her thumb. “Do you know how to write a review?” She continued, “Let me tell you, the review should overwhelm the enemy. Be positive and strategically euphemistic. Your landlord background isn’t a problem; it’s an identity that can be united and reformed.”
“If you do a serious review and it’s accepted, the Pan family’s unreasonable group beating will be known as disturbing the harmony and friendship of the collective village, destroying production, and dragging down socialism. If you work hard, raise your head, and stand tall as a man, no one will dare to look down on you, and those around us will not underestimate you.”
She thought to herself, ‘Let’s see him spend his days in prosperity in two years. Who will dare to underestimate the He family then? In two years, the shameful ‘landlord’ label will be removed...’
As Zhao Lanxiang spoke these words, He Songbai suddenly held her face and whispered softly, “Okay, I will listen to you.”
Zhao Lanxiang blushed, regretting her rash and foolish lecture. How could she show off such superficial knowledge in front of this future ‘commercial predator’?
She coughed lightly and said, “In short, make the villagers understand that you have a sincere desire for the collective good of the community. Don’t let them misunderstand you too much.”
Although He Songbai appeared calm on the surface, his heart was in turmoil. A magma-like feeling erupted from his heart, searing hot.
The usual indifference in his eyes melted away, replaced by a pool of fresh spring water. He felt the fire burning through his body and mind, finally allowing him to feel light and powerful.
This woman truly cared about him in her heart! Apart from his loved ones, He Songbai had never experienced such care from others.
He tried his best to keep his voice steady, not wanting it to tremble or sound strange.
“Will you listen to the review?” he asked.
Zhao Lanxiang nodded vigorously. “Of course. The review might be embarrassing, but everyone makes mistakes in life. It’s impossible to do everything right.”
Zhao Lanxiang could see that although many people despised the He family’s landlord background, Li Dali didn’t seem to hold such prejudice against He Songbai. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have come to help during the ‘siege.’ It was just a review, not a criticism, so they had no need to worry.
In fact, Zhao Lanxiang was more concerned about the obstacle of He Songbai’s past actions. While the review would be disgraceful, it would leave a deep impression on those who experienced it, making them think twice about their actions in the future.
After finishing the topic of the review meeting, she suddenly changed the subject. “Well... Would you like some chicken soup tomorrow?”
Zhao Lanxiang remembered how he had carefully sucked on the wonton skin in the hospital, mentioning that he had never eaten white noodles before and had no proper clothes to wear. The thought saddened her.
Before, she had been certain that He Songbai was just a cold and fierce bastard. She had cooked for him, and he had dared to ignore it. But now that their relationship had blossomed, she could feed him more food in a fair and honest manner. Her man was very good, known as the mall general in media magazines. The young and enhanced version in front of her was certainly not bad either, born with a beautiful profile.
He Songbai shook his head firmly and reminded her with a fierce tone, “Don’t spend money on me. Men should not spend women’s money.”
He was injured and already nervous about his actions. His life was cheap, and he wasn’t good enough to be fed. Chicken soup would be a waste on him.
After he finished, he suddenly calmed down only to find the woman actually leaning against his bed.
He Songbai’s face darkened as he pointed beside him. “There’s a stool. Sit down.”
It was better if he didn’t wake up. The moment he did, a throbbing pain would shoot through his temples.
He gestured to Zhao Lanxiang’s neck. “And your clothes.”
Zhao Lanxiang glanced down at her dress and realized that from lying beside the bed, her collar had become slightly disheveled. Though revealing nothing at all and still tightly secured, He Songbai’s entire face had darkened even more.
He Songbai raised his eyebrows bitterly. “Go back. My sister will take care of me.”
Nodding, Zhao Lanxiang left.
Straining, He Songbai rose slowly and walked over to lock the door.
Though he had agreed to a secret relationship with Zhao Lanxiang, he didn’t see himself as her boyfriend. He knew this woman would eventually run. Since it was just pretense, he would do everything to protect her purity, allowing her to hold her head high when speaking with friends in the future.
But...she had kissed him. As He Songbai recalled this, his stunned brain ached even more.
...
The next day, before dawn, Zhao Lanxiang and Zhou Jiazhen headed to the county town.
Zhou Jiazhen went to buy all-purpose flour, while Zhao Lanxiang aimed for a few pounds of chicken.
A long line had already formed before the store, almost everyone vying for the plump white meats and quality flour. Zhao Lanxiang queued to buy chicken, ration tickets for three pounds in hand.
The store clerk wielded a large cleaver - whatever he cut, you bought, no exceptions. Unlucky, you might get stuck with chicken necks, wings, and scraps. Complaining about bad luck was useless. In those years, the salesperson was God. To avoid this, Zhao Lanxiang directly requested half a chicken.
The clerk carved it with a knife, leaving Zhao Lanxiang the lower chicken half, the neck and head on the chopping board.
“Thank you, thank you.”
Zhao Lanxiang expressed profuse gratitude, then gratefully carried off the chicken buttocks, exiting the long snaking queue. Though the chicken rump seemed unappetizing, it was fatty. Though Zhao Lanxiang couldn’t fathom it, many had a taste for it.
Well, like He Songbai for instance.
Zhou Jiazhen bought five pounds of all-purpose flour, then asked, “Anything else you need?”
Zhao Lanxiang shook her head. “Let’s check the post office for my mail.”
At the post office, Zhao Lanxiang presented her certificate and collected her thick letter, realizing it must contain notes. She happened upon Jiang Li there, hurriedly scribbling a letter hunched over a table.
Jiang Li swiftly finished writing, folded it, affixed a stamp, and flung it into the mailbox. Without even noticing Zhao Lanxiang and Zhou Jiazhen, she rushed out after sending her letter.
Zhao Lanxiang opened her package to find a letter from her mother who had also sent malted milk. Happily reading it on their return, she found just mundane daily happenings - Little Huzi attending school, Grandpa training children in the courtyard. On weekends when free, Little Huzi’s cruel parents sent him to Grandpa for ‘training’. Though simple and short, Zhao Lanxiang reread it repeatedly.
Zhou Jiazhen laughed teasingly, “Still so happy over a letter.”
Zhao Lanxiang carefully folded and pocketed the letter. Receiving one was her happiest time. Yet seeing the food rations and money from her parents filled her with guilt for accepting it.
She had achieved financial independence, but found it difficult to tell them.
Zhao Lanxiang could almost envision her honest, straightforward parents’ dismay at their daughter’s ‘speculative’ behavior, were she frank about it.
So she resolved to hide this until 1978, after the joyous ‘spring breeze’ swept across the land.
Zhou Jiazhen said emotionally to Zhao Lanxiang, “After being here a while, you’ll gradually feel farther and farther from home.”
She looked down, her expression distant and lost.
Pulled from thoughts of missing her parents, Zhao Lanxiang gently consoled her. “Do you want to go home?”
Zhou Jiazhen nodded, eyes growing hot and teary.
“What child who’s left home doesn’t long to return?”
Sighing, Zhou Jiazhen said, “I don’t know how many times I cried myself to sleep that first year in the countryside. Back then, I came to earn money for food and drink. Every Spring Festival, taking the train home was my happiest time. I often think how wonderful it would be to go home! Even if I had to do the hardest, most exhausting labor - digging, mining coal, drudging on the railways - I’d bear any hardship. But I’m just afraid...”
Overwhelmed with grief, her tears suddenly spilled out.
“I’m afraid my parents back home might suddenly fall ill...or become incapacitated, and I won’t be able to leave to fulfill any filial duty. This is the sadness children who leave must endure.”
Zhou Jiazhen had accepted these once unfamiliar words - ‘leaving home’.
No matter how scenic Hezi village was, how passionate its comrades or dedicated its teachers, she didn’t want to put down roots here. If her parents weren’t here...this could never be home.
She didn’t want to raise a family in this ditch at all!
When eagerly requesting a posting in the countryside, Zhou Jiazhen never imagined that being unable to return home would become her biggest obstacle!
She wept from homesickness on the deserted streets as strangers continually walked past.
Occasionally, a passerby would pause and glance at her, seeing the unbearable anguish in her eyes, their faces filled with encouragement and concern, before continuing on their way.
Who in this world has not felt sorrow so deep that they wanted to cry? While some openly weep, others hide their grief in their hearts.
Zhao Lanxiang was shaken by Zhou Jiazhen’s tears. She fell silent for a long while before finally saying, “If you believe me, I promise you’ll definitely be able to go home within two years.”
Zhou Jiazhen wiped her tears with her sleeves, sadly sniffling, “How could I believe you, are you some prophet?”
“I’m not sure I’m any more spiritual than a prophet,” Zhao Lanxiang said.
Feeling very uneasy, she thought it over. Passing a bookstore, she dashed inside and bought Zhou Jiazhen a book.
The number of banned books was particularly high this year, so certain readings were forbidden, leaving the bookstore’s selection monotonous. The Red Book was the bestseller, filling almost every prominent rack. Zhao Lanxiang had searched for a week, hoping to buy Zhou Jiazhen “Chicken Soup for the Soul.”
Unfortunately, she couldn’t find it, so finally settled on a copy of “How Steel Is Made” to give her. This clumsy gesture would make Zhou Jiazhen happy regardless.
The older educated youths who’d already spent years in the countryside easily became depressed after extended stays in the rural areas. In her previous life, Zhao Lanxiang had never been an educated youth herself, but she’d heard about it. Newspapers often published stories of their suicides too.
Zhao Lanxiang looked intently into Zhou Jiazhen’s eyes, saying seriously, “Though the road winds, your future must be bright. When one has hope, they cannot be defeated...Keep studying and working hard.”
“I really like your gift, thank you,” Zhou Jiazhen replied. “Someday, I must give you one in return.”
Zhao Lanxiang and Zhou Jiazhen returned to the village together, Zhao Lanxiang taking her back to the He family residence.
“Wait for me, let me stew some chicken broth first,” she told her.
Zhou Jiazhen didn’t refuse, casually finding a stool in the fire room to sit on. With interest, she opened the book and began reading.
Zhao Lanxiang picked up the chicken, cleaned and cut it into pieces, drizzled a few drops of rice wine over it, and sliced some ginger.
Chicken is actually quite savory. Even without seasoning, patiently slow-simmering it would still yield a pot of delicious soup. Proper timing and a gentle flame beneath were enough to gradually coax every inch of the chicken’s flavor into the broth, the golden oil swirling at the pot’s edge in a mesmerizing circle.
Misty vapors rose as ruby-red goji berries were tossed into the roiling water. The dried mushrooms gradually absorbed the chicken’s savory richness, releasing their own mild zest to harmoniously meld in the pot. Zhao Lanxiang sat before the stove, her plain white face reflected in the flames, a hint of anticipation in her eyes.
She filled a bowl and handed it to Zhou Jiazhen. “By the way, I made an extra, please have some.”
Zhou Jiazhen had been absorbed in the book. Raising her head, her eyes carried a touch of emotion.
Ordinarily, Zhou Jiazhen wouldn’t accept others’ food. Each time she reservedly finished eating, she’d leave behind rations or meat tickets. But this time, she had no desire to restrain herself - she wanted to indulge.
She lowered her head and carefully sipped the chicken broth. The piping hot liquid was delicious, warming her to the bone. Every drop was so fresh, the sweetness and richness of the flavor enveloping her like her mother’s loving embrace, letting her feel a waft of summer breeze and the warmth of home.
This chicken soup embodied the very taste of home.
She happily sipped the broth, and the moment it slid down her throat, tears suddenly gushed forth...
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