Chapter 27

Jin Xiuzhu cooked some simple noodles. She had intentionally made extra dough that morning, planning to save it for the next couple of days' breakfasts, but now she used it all. She added mushrooms and meat to the noodles.

Once they were done, she had Jiang Mingchuan take the pot outside to eat. He must have been ravenous, as he didn't say a word throughout the meal, only burying his head in his food and eating quickly, seemingly not minding the heat at all.

The two children surrounded him on either side. He Yan fretted, "Dad, eat slowly. Blow on it. Dad, haven't you been eating properly lately? You've lost weight. I almost didn't recognize you just now..."

His little mouth kept chattering, but Jiang Mingchuan was too busy to respond.

Eventually, his sister couldn't bear it anymore and sternly told him, "Shut up."

He was always the one who talked the most in the family.

He Yan fell silent for a moment.

Yang Yingxiong, sitting across from Jiang Mingchuan, looked at him with a mix of hesitation and anticipation. Jin Xiuzhu noticed this and asked on his behalf, "Has Commander Yang returned?"

This time, more than half of the troops had been dispatched for disaster relief, including Jiang Mingchuan and Yang Yao.

Yang Yingxiong looked gratefully at Jin Xiuzhu when he heard her question.

Jiang Mingchuan had also noticed Yang Yingxiong upon his return but hadn't thought much of it, assuming he was just there to play with He Yan. Taking a moment to look up, he said, "He should be back by now, though I don't know if he's home yet."

Yang Yingxiong seemed hesitant.

He Yan kindly offered, "Do you want me to go with you to check?"

Yang Yingxiong subconsciously looked at Jin Xiuzhu.

She made the decision for him, "Wait a bit longer. There's nothing for you to do if you go back now. Listen to Auntie: after dinner tonight, I'll send you home. That way, I can ask your father for the money for the IV drip, and I have something to discuss with him as well."

Yang Yingxiong had been somewhat conflicted, but hearing this, he sighed in relief. He really wanted to see his dad, but he was also afraid that his dad wouldn't be home. Now, with Auntie Jin's words, he no longer felt the burden of staying.

Jiang Mingchuan looked at Jin Xiuzhu, and she told him about everything that had happened at home these past few days.

After listening, he furrowed his brows and said to her, "I'll go with you tonight."

Jin Xiuzhu thought about it and agreed; it would give her more confidence to have him by her side.

Commander Yang could be quite obtuse at times, and she needed to remind him properly.

Jiang Mingchuan finished the entire pot of noodles. He Yan took the pot into the kitchen to wash it himself, while Jin Xiuzhu fetched a razor and filled a basin with hot water to shave Jiang Mingchuan's beard.

In the large room, Jiang Mingchuan lay on the bed, resting his head on Jin Xiuzhu's lap, closing his eyes contentedly. Jin Xiuzhu lowered her head to shave his face.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, making the room bright. Jin Xiuzhu moved gently, and before long, she could hear Jiang Mingchuan's snores, indicating that he had fallen asleep.

Seeing that he was sleeping with a furrowed brow, Jin Xiuzhu shaved his beard and then massaged some acupressure points on his head.

He Yan had intended to find his dad to play but, upon reaching the room's entrance, saw this scene. He didn't understand what warmth and romance were, but he felt that his parents were wonderful like this—his dad cared for his mom, and his mom cared for his dad.

He covered his mouth, tiptoed out quietly, and returned to the living room where he saw Yang Yingxiong accompanying his sister in drawing. In a low voice, he said, "Dad is sleeping on Mom's lap."

Fu Yanyan began to tidy up her drawings, preparing to go to sleep.

When He Yan saw his sister ignoring him, he waited until she left and then complained to Yang Yingxiong, "Sometimes, my sister isn't cute at all."

Yang Yingxiong thought He Yan had misunderstood; his sister was actually very cute. When she saw that no one was in the living room, she would stay behind to keep him company so that he wouldn't feel awkward.

Every member of He Yan's family was kind, giving him a clear image of what a family should be like.

Jiang Mingchuan slept for a long time. When he woke up, he still felt weak. After getting dressed, he went outside and saw Jin Xiuzhu talking to Fang Min at the door. Fang Min mentioned that the Political Commissar had returned and wouldn't be coming over for dinner tonight.

She held a jar of tea leaves, saying that the Political Commissar had been saving them and wanted to thank their family for taking care of her recently.

Jin Xiuzhu couldn't refuse and accepted the tea, asking if they needed any vegetables, which she could share.

"We bought some this afternoon."

"Good."

Fang Min returned home looking relieved. Although the Political Commissar often went on long business trips, it was rare for her to feel reassured upon seeing him again like she did this time.

Jin Xiuzhu saw that Jiang Mingchuan had woken up and called him over for dinner. The evening meal was already prepared, with three dishes and a soup on the table. She had just been about to go into the room to call him.

Jiang Mingchuan wasn't very hungry after having eaten a lot at noon, so he started telling his family about the snow disaster outside.

He was responsible for the area with old houses in the city, where the snow had blocked all the roads, toppled power poles, and caused many residential rooftops to collapse. "A family of nearly ten people were all squeezed into a shed. We had to evacuate everyone in that area first. There were also elderly people who couldn't withstand the cold and froze to death..."

Speaking of this, Jiang Mingchuan's voice turned somber. "Life in the city isn't as good as you think."

Previously, when he had taken Jin Xiuzhu to the city's department store to buy sweaters, she had commented that life was better in the city, with higher wages and convenient shopping. However, she had only seen the families in the city who were well-off. Many more were worse off, with a family of nearly ten people being fortunate to have even one worker among them. Their expenses were high, and their lives were tight.

Jin Xiuzhu snorted. "You're just poor."

Jiang Mingchuan: "…"

He Yan, who had been listening, chuckled into his bowl.

Jiang Mingchuan glared at him. "What are you laughing at? You're not any better off than me."

He Yan imitated his mother's tone and snorted. "I have money."

Jiang Mingchuan raised an eyebrow. "Where did you get that money?"

"The money Mom used to give me to buy candy. I saved it all. You're the poorest in our family."

"…"

Jiang Mingchuan remained silent, but everyone else laughed, including Yang Yingxiong who was eating obediently; he smiled with his lips pursed, finding He Yan's family very interesting, never arguing, even their bickering brought joy.

After dinner, Jiang Mingchuan and Jin Xiuzhu took Yang Yingxiong upstairs.

As they left, Jin Xiuzhu instructed Yang Yingxiong, "Later, you don't have to say anything. If your dad asks about your time at our house, just tell him the truth. Auntie won't harm you."

Yang Yingxiong tightly held Jin Xiuzhu's hand and nodded vigorously.

Unlike He Yan, he hadn't experienced much and viewed things simply. From when Auntie said she would accompany him upstairs and talk to his father, he knew that she was supporting him, urging his father to treat him better.

Upstairs, Jiang Mingchuan knocked on the door.

Before the first knock had fully sounded, the door opened from inside, revealing Yang Yao, dressed neatly as if ready to go out.

Seeing Jiang Mingchuan, Jin Xiuzhu, and his son standing there, he couldn't help but be startled. "What is this?"

Jiang Mingchuan stepped forward, politely asking, "Are you going out?"

Hearing this, Yang Yao didn't overthink it, nodding somewhat embarrassedly. "My mother argued with my wife, I'm going to bring her back now."

Then, his gaze shifted to his son. "Why did Uncle and Auntie escort you home? Did you get into trouble?"

Yang Yingxiong lowered his head dejectedly, saying nothing.

Jiang Mingchuan frowned at these words, about to speak further, but Jin Xiuzhu felt he was too polite. She coldly asked before him, "Commander Yang, when did you return?"

Seeing Jin Xiuzhu's attitude, Yang Yao guessed something had happened. He glanced at his son, whose head was bowed, only showing his black hair. He honestly replied, "Around three or four in the afternoon."

Jin Xiuzhu nodded. "Three or four in the afternoon, and now it's seven in the evening, several hours later. You haven't been home for over a month, and the first thing you do upon returning is seek out your wife. That's not wrong, but what about Yingxiong? Isn't he your child?"

Yang Yao realized Jin Xiuzhu had misunderstood and hurriedly explained, "What happened to Yingxiong? My mother said he hasn't been going to school these past few days, just playing with friends, sometimes coming home late."

Hearing this, Jin Xiuzhu's expression didn't soften; instead, her tone grew colder. "Commander Yang, I don't mean to be harsh, but some things must be said. As a neighbor, I find you to be an extremely irresponsible, weak, and indecisive man. You're already in your thirties or forties, with elderly parents and young children. As a son, you blindly believe and indulge your unkind mother, unable to discern right from wrong. As a husband, you fail to properly care for and protect your wife, leaving her to flee in the middle of the night with your child. As a father, you neglect your young son, orphaned by his mother, allowing him to be bullied and mistreated by your mother."

"Let me ask you, after living with your mother for so many years, could you really know nothing about her character? Is it so difficult to add another bed to your son's room? Could you truly be unaware of how your mother mistreats him?"

"If you dislike him, why did you bring him into this world? Was it just to make him suffer in your home? When he had a fever in the middle of the night and no one cared, crawling downstairs to knock on the door, is that what your mother meant by 'playing with friends'?"

Yang Yao looked at his son in shock. "Yingxiong..."

"You named him Yingxiong, yet you let him live a life worse than a bear's. If you don't want this son, give him to me. I want him, my whole family likes him."

Hearing this, Yang Yingxiong suddenly lifted his head towards Jin Xiuzhu, his eyes instantly reddening.

When he heard his father was going to find Auntie Zhao, Yang Yingxiong didn't cry. Even when his father believed Grandma's words, he didn't cry. But now, hearing Auntie Jin say she wanted him, that her whole family liked him, he couldn't hold back anymore.

He lowered his head, lifting his arm to wipe away tears, but they wouldn't stop. Finally, he turned around and hugged Jin Xiuzhu's waist, starting with soft sobs that escalated into a loud wail.

The sound intensified, mingled with the sounds of choking sobs, as if he was releasing all the grievances he had borne since his childhood.

Perhaps it was because someone had his back that he felt emboldened.

Jiang Mingchuan looked at the child with a complex expression before turning to Yang Yao. "Your filial piety isn't wrong, but you can't neglect the child either. If my wife hadn't opened the door, who knows what might have happened."

Yang Yao fell silent.

Jin Xiuzhu changed her mind and looked at him coldly. "I'll take the child first. You can come pick him up when you've resolved the issues at home."

Yang Yao neither opposed nor agreed, merely watched as Jiang Mingchuan and his wife took the child away. He stared until their figures disappeared around the corner, and even then, his son didn't look back once.

Yang Yao stood by the door for a while but eventually didn't leave. Instead, he turned back into the house and saw his mother lurking by her room.

The old woman's eyes flickered when she met his gaze, and she hastily began clutching her chest and moaning in pain. However, this time, her son, who usually sympathized with her, merely stood afar, watching her coldly.

Yang Yao said calmly, "In a few days, I'll send you back to our hometown."

Upon hearing this, the old woman's face changed dramatically. "What do you mean? Are you trying to drive me away? How am I supposed to live alone at my age? You believe everything that little hussy says, don't you... Oh, woe is me... Old man, how tragically you died... Why did you leave me all alone? It would be better if you had taken me with you..."

Initially, she was only pretending, but now, she genuinely sat on the ground, pounding her chest and wailing.

Yang Yao, seeing his mother resort to such tactics again, trembled with anger. He grabbed a nearby stool and slammed it onto the floor with a loud bang, startling the old woman into silence.

Yang Yao paced around the living room like a madman, shouting, "Are you trying to drive me to my death? Do you want me dead? Do you want me dead? Do you believe I won't die right here and now? Ever since I was young, you've meddled in every aspect of my life. No matter what I did, you always had to interfere."

"You just can't bear to see me happy. When Fangzi died from your provocations, you blamed her temper. Xiao Jun's decision to divorce me was due to your meddling, and you claimed she had ulterior motives. Now, after only a few months of marriage to Zhao Yun, you've chased her away. Hero is my son, yet you secretly caused trouble for him. Did you hear how others insulted me? They called me weak and irresponsible, saying I couldn't raise my own son properly!"

"What more do you want from me? For so many years, I've been like clay in your hands, shaped however you pleased. Are you satisfied now? Fine, I'll divorce Zhao Yun and give up my son. Are you happy now?"

He slapped himself repeatedly, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at the old woman. "Is this enough? Is it enough...?"

Terrified by her son's frenzied behavior, the old woman retreated backward, too frightened to utter another word.

---

That night, after ensuring all three children were asleep, Jiang Mingchuan returned to his room.

Jin Xiuzhu sat on the bed, applying fragrant ointment to her skin. She then loosened her hair and began combing it. Jiang Mingchuan closed the door and extinguished the kerosene lamp on the bedside table.

The only electric light in the house was in the living room, and due to the high electricity costs, they tried not to use it often.

Jiang Mingchuan climbed into bed, feeling much more refreshed after his afternoon nap. Bathed in the moonlight filtering through the window, he watched Jin Xiuzhu comb her hair and asked, "Was what you said earlier out of anger or did you really mean it?"

"What?"

"About adopting Yang Yingxiong?"

Jin Xiuzhu gave him a sidelong glance, finding him somewhat silly. "He has a biological father. No matter how much I may like him, I wouldn't try to take him away from his real dad. Yang Yao is just being irrational and lacks backbone; he's being manipulated by his mother. If I hadn't said those things, he wouldn't have taken the situation with Hero seriously."

She had initially planned to return the child directly, but seeing how Yang Yao blindly believed whatever his mother said, she changed her mind. She decided to wait for him to come and coax the child back.

The well-behaved child gets no candy.

Jiang Mingchuan looked at her with some emotion; he wasn't very good at handling familial relationships. He had originally planned to give Yang Yao a word of advice from the perspective of a neighbor, but he hadn't expected Jin Xiuzhu to scold him so fiercely.

It must be said that Jin Xiuzhu's recent progress in her studies was quite noticeable. Her words were both elegant and satisfying, and he felt comfortable listening to them.

Compared to He Yan, he felt that Yang Yingxiong was more like his younger self. Everyone would say that it was his home and his parents, but only he knew that he didn't fit in with everything at home.

His younger brother would tell him to get out whenever he was unhappy, saying that it wasn't his home. His adoptive mother would tell him not to bully his younger brother, but it was always his younger brother who bullied him. His grandmother would even make him lie down for his younger brother to ride on, and when he refused, she would hit him with a stick. Stubbornly, he stood there without moving...

His adoptive father would comfort him with a few words upon returning, and as a child, he would be moved, but later on, he seemed to understand something.

Many people said that he had gotten where he was because of his adoptive father, but it was all earned through his own efforts, so he chose to stay away from the capital and that family.

Jin Xiuzhu often said that he was too soft-hearted and a pushover, but he was just afraid of refusing. He feared that his refusal would make others angry. Just like when he was a child, his younger brother would always say that he would be angry if he didn't help him with something or let him live at home, threatening to kick him out.

After Jin Xiuzhu lay down, Jiang Mingchuan tightly hugged her from behind, thinking that it would have been great if he had met someone like Jin Xiuzhu when he was young, someone who could stand up for him.

Jin Xiuzhu misunderstood and thought he had other intentions. After a moment of silence, she gently patted his hand and whispered, "In a couple of days, after you've recovered."

He was too thin now, and she worried that if she got pregnant, the child might be weak.

Jiang Mingchuan: "…"

—

In the following days, Yang Yao came every evening to see the child, bringing fruits or sweets. He also paid for the child's medical expenses and living costs during this time.

As Jin Xiuzhu had advised, Yang Yingxiong ignored him at first. After a couple of days, he would occasionally glance at him, and then a week later, he started talking to him, but not much.

Seeing that the child finally acknowledged him, Yang Yao felt a mix of sadness and happiness. He promised, "Dad won't let anyone bully you anymore. It was Dad's fault before."

No matter what, Yang Yingxiong still loved his father deeply, and his eyes welled up silently.

Yang Yao told Jin Xiuzhu and Jiang Mingchuan, "In a couple of days, I'll take a leave to send my mother back to our hometown. I'll ask my eldest uncle and cousin to help take care of her, and I'll send money every month."

Jin Xiuzhu didn't care about his decision; she only cared about Yang Yingxiong. She took out a piece of paper and said, "That day, Jiang Mingchuan and I recognized Yang Yingxiong as our godson. From now on, we're his godparents. If he's bullied again, we'll bring him home. This is also his home. Take a look, and sign if you agree."

It was a commitment letter stating that if Yang Yingxiong was mistreated or bullied again, they would entrust the child to Jiang Mingchuan and his wife.

Yang Yao glanced at the child and signed his name.

Yang Yingxiong saw this too. He bit his lip but didn't feel sad; instead, he felt happy. He felt valued by his godfather and godmother and realized that he had someone else to rely on besides his father.

Jin Xiuzhu reminded him, "I hope you don't mention this to Zhao Yun."

Yang Yao didn't ask any further and nodded.

Yang Yingxiong left with his father, and once they were gone, the house felt much quieter. He Yan asked Jin Xiuzhu with some concern, "Mom, will Yang Yingxiong's dad treat him well?"

Jin Xiuzhu folded the paper, unsure herself, but said, "Yes, I think so. After all, one only realizes the value when someone else wants it."

He Yan didn't understand and looked at his father, but his father's eyes were fixed on his mother.

He turned to his sister, who rolled her eyes at him.

Feeling wronged, He Yan said, "Mom, my sister rolled her eyes at me again."

Without hesitation, Jin Xiuzhu replied, "Then roll your eyes twice."

He Yan: "…"

It was soon mid-January, and the family decided to return to the capital on New Year's Eve. So, in the following days, the whole family was busy packing.

Qian Yufeng came over to ask Jin Xiuzhu to stock up on New Year's goods, saying that her family's production team was slaughtering a pig the next day and asking if she wanted to buy some meat together. Wang Ling also came by, bringing a set of couplets given by a friend, and asked, "Do you want some defective ones? There's a batch of goods piled up in the warehouse, and we're planning to sell them internally. If you want some, I can save some for you; the price is very reasonable."

Hearing this, Qian Yufeng's eyes lit up, but she wasn't close to Wang Ling, who was the wife of Commander Yan. She might have asked someone else, but she didn't dare to do so with Wang Ling.

She wondered when Jin Xiuzhu had become so close to Commander Yan's wife.

Noticing Qian Yufeng's interest, Jin Xiuzhu asked, "Is there a lot? If so, I'd like to take more."

She had recently received several payments and had saved up quite a bit of money.

Wang Ling smiled broadly and said, "There's plenty. How much do you want?"

Fang Min was also at Jin Xiuzhu's place, having arrived earlier. She held an embroidery frame and had been learning embroidery from Jin Xiuzhu recently.

Wang Ling noticed the embroidered pattern Jin Xiuzhu had completed and picked it up in surprise, asking Jin Xiuzhu, "Did you embroider this?"

Jin Xiuzhu nodded. Thinking that Wang Ling liked it, she generously offered, "If you like it, I'll embroider a handkerchief for you next time."

Qian Yufeng had known that Jin Xiuzhu could embroider for a while but hadn't thought much of it. Seeing Wang Ling's admiration, she quickly said, "I want one too."

She wouldn't miss out on a chance to benefit.

Jin Xiuzhu laughed and said, "Everyone will get one."

Jin Xiuzhu saw Qian Yufeng and Wang Ling off. They chatted for a while at the door, and coincidentally, they saw Zhao Yun carrying her child upstairs.

Upon seeing each other, Zhao Yun's expression changed, but she quickly composed herself and greeted Wang Ling with a smile.

Unaware of Zhao Yun's situation, Wang Ling noticed the bag she was carrying and asked with a smile, "Did you just finish shopping for the New Year?"

Zhao Yun tugged at the corner of her mouth, nodded, and said, "I have something to do, so I'll be going."

She then went upstairs with her daughter.

Qian Yufeng and Wang Ling also left downstairs. Once outside, Qian Yufeng couldn't hold back and eagerly told Wang Ling about Zhao Yun leaving home. She was close to Jin Xiuzhu and knew what was happening in the building.

Wang Ling patted her mouth. "Oops, I was being too talkative just now."

Then she asked curiously, "Did Captain Yang send his mom away?"

"Indeed, he sent her away a few days ago. Jin Xiuzhu said his mom started crying before dawn."

Wang Ling nodded. "Well, that's good. It's just poor Little Yingxiong."

Qian Yufeng said, "Things have improved a lot. He has his own room now and can cook whatever he wants to eat. If he doesn't feel like cooking, he can go downstairs for meals."

Wang Ling felt touched. "Both Jin Xiuzhu and her husband are good people."

She felt she had judged them correctly.

Qian Yufeng agreed. Her mother-in-law used to tell her to learn from Jin Xiuzhu and be more guarded, not to reveal everything and always speak well of others. She even worried that Jin Xiuzhu might end up harming herself with her cunning. But now it seemed Jin Xiuzhu wasn't cunning at all; she was simply kind-hearted. Otherwise, who would want to get involved in other people's troubles?

On January 28, 1970, the Jiang Mingchuan family of four boarded the train to the capital.