Chapter 2: Reunion Sourer Than Leftovers

Chapter 2: A Reunion Sourer Than Day-Old Rice

"Stop pinching, stop!" Zhang Chenghai said hastily.

Big Auntie often did farm work, was sturdy, and had considerable strength. Her pinches were already forceful enough, but she wrenched his flesh like twisting a screw, making it even more painful for him.

"Whether she’s pretty or not is Commander Qin’s business, what's that to me?" Zhang Chenghai said.

"You were staring at her just now," Big Auntie retorted.

"It’s my first time seeing Commander Qin’s wife, so I took a good look to remember her face and not mistake her for someone else later," Zhang Chenghai explained.

"So Commander Qin really does have a wife. Before this, some people didn’t believe he had one," Big Auntie mused, her eyes shifting. Previously, someone from the housing compound had wanted to matchmake with Commander Qin—a young, pretty girl... Well, that girl was no match for Commander Qin’s wife in terms of looks. That girl had even brought food for Commander Qin, but he refused, saying outright that he had a wife. The girl hadn’t believed him.

Not just that girl, but others hadn’t believed it either.

Even though Commander Qin had filed a marriage application, some still thought he was deceiving everyone. After all, he spent most of his years in the military, rarely returning home, and seldom spoke about his wife.

"Have you finished washing the clothes?" Zhang Chenghai asked.

"Not yet, I’ll go do it now," Big Auntie said, then warned him, "Be careful."

Big Auntie felt a pang of jealousy inside. She had assumed Commander Qin’s wife would be about the same as her, but now she realized she was the fool. She went to the washbasin to look at her own reflection, then thought about Commander Qin’s wife’s appearance—one was like a doughy lump, the other like an exquisite pastry. The difference was stark.

At the guesthouse, the orderly helped get Song Fenglan settled, and the staff learned she was Commander Qin’s wife. Commander Qin was something of a legend in the military. At his rank, hardly any were still single—even those without their families stationed with them often talked about their home lives, and most had more than one child. But Commander Qin rarely mentioned his family. With his rugged good looks, many young women had taken a liking to him.

Qin Zihang looked around the room. The guesthouse room was slightly larger than the ones Song Fenglan had lived in before, with better lighting and a window that opened to a view outside. Some rooms had windows facing walls, but this one didn’t.

"Mom," Qin Zihang called, jumping on the bed a couple of times. "It’s hard underneath."

"It’s a wooden bed, of course it’s hard," Song Fenglan replied.

This was the 1970s, not the '90s, much less the new millennium. Guesthouse beds weren’t particularly comfortable back then. When Song Fenglan had stayed at her aunt’s place, she had laid old quilts on the bed. Before Qin Zihang was born, she had even folded the quilt in half, using one side as padding and the other as a cover, softening the bed a little.

After Qin Zihang was born, Qin Yizhou had given her money, and she had bought two extra quilts to pad the bed, softening it further. In winter, the cold wouldn’t seep up through the wooden planks as much.

"Let’s eat something first," Song Fenglan said.

The orderly had just brought them food. Since Song Fenglan and Qin Zihang had just arrived, they didn’t know where to get meals. And since they hadn’t yet applied for housing, it wasn’t appropriate for them to wander around.

"Come eat," Song Fenglan beckoned to her son, and Qin Zihang quickly climbed down from the bed.

There was a small table in the room. Song Fenglan had brought along a small spoon and chopsticks for convenience during their travels. As an adult, Song Fenglan could get by, but for her son, who needed to grow strong, she was meticulous, ensuring he wouldn’t suffer.

The orderly had brought braised pork, steamed buns, rice, and greens, using the food coupons Song Fenglan had provided. Before coming, she had exchanged for coupons that worked anywhere. Since Qin Yizhou hadn’t arrived, she and her son could still eat without having to borrow coupons from others.

Song Fenglan wasn’t one to endure unnecessary hardship, and her son was at an age where he needed proper nutrition. She wanted him to eat well.

"Here, eat," Song Fenglan said, serving him a piece of meat—well-streaked pork. Qin Zihang wolfed it down.

He ate with enthusiasm, his mouth shiny with grease. "Mom, can we eat more meat from now on?"

At her aunt’s place, with so many mouths to feed, the meat would disappear in no time. Qin Zihang, being young, could only manage a bite before others devoured the rest. Song Fenglan would put meat directly in his bowl or sneak him out for meals.

"Do we have to fight for meat?" Qin Zihang asked, recalling how mealtimes at his great-aunt’s house felt like a battle, with chopsticks darting across the table. Before he could get a proper bite in, the meat would be gone. Some family members would even make a scene, crying loudly.

"No, we don’t," Song Fenglan said softly, gently stroking his head. Her son had suffered too much.

Then, she separated the lean and fatty parts of the meat, eating the lean herself and giving the fatty pieces to her son. He was still small, and a little extra fat was good for him. Besides, she wasn’t eating all the lean meat herself.

Qin Zihang saw nothing wrong with this; he happily ate the meat.

That evening, Qin Yizhou returned after completing his mission. Zhang Chenghai was quite surprised to see him. "You’re back already?"

"Done!" Qin Yizhou said. The mission was supposed to take two or three days, but this time it went smoothly and was completed ahead of schedule.

Just as Qin Yizhou was about to head to the canteen, Zhang Chenghai suddenly slapped his forehead. "Commander Qin, your wife’s here."

Qin Yizhou stopped in his tracks. He hadn’t even changed yet and was hungry, planning to eat first. But Zhang Chenghai’s words stopped him.

"What did you say?" Qin Yizhou stared intently at Zhang Chenghai.

"Your wife is here! She brought your son with her!" Zhang Chenghai said. "They’re at the guesthouse now..."

At that, Qin Yizhou forgot all about eating. Just moments ago, he had been starving, but now, he couldn’t care less. He had to check if it was really his wife at the guesthouse.

Song Fenglan had been set up to sleep with Qin Yizhou, but Qin Yizhou had secretly admired her long before that. In those politically charged times, after what happened between them, they had no choice but to get married. Song Fenglan’s family had a “bad background,” and marrying Qin Yizhou ensured she could stay in the city more securely.

Over the years, whenever Qin Yizhou returned home, Song Fenglan’s attention was solely on their child, never on him. Her indifference made Qin Yizhou question their marriage.

Recently, Qin Yizhou heard that policies were being relaxed somewhat, and some people were being rehabilitated. He figured Song Fenglan wouldn’t need him anymore—the Song family would soon be cleared, so was there any point in maintaining their marriage? Was it fair to keep her tied down?

No—it wasn’t holding her back. He was head over heels for Song Fenglan. It wasn’t just her face he adored, but her temper, everything about her. Even if she ignored him, even if she gave him a sidelong look, just knowing she was his wife was enough.

Qin Yizhou paused at the guesthouse door, suddenly afraid. He wondered if there were other men with the surname Qin in the army—maybe it was someone else’s wife who had come, not his.

Taking a deep breath, Qin Yizhou finally stepped forward. No use delaying—he’d find out either way. If it was someone else’s wife, then so be it. He told himself not to be disappointed.

"Commander Qin, your wife’s here," a staff member said upon seeing him. "She’s in her room now."

"Where is she staying?" Qin Yizhou asked.

The staff member led Qin Yizhou directly to Song Fenglan’s room. Song Fenglan had requested hot water to bathe Qin Zihang. They had traveled by train for three or four days from the capital to the southern city.

On the train, Song Fenglan and her son hadn’t been able to bathe. Song Fenglan, fastidious by nature, found it unbearable for herself, let alone her child. The boy was a bundle of energy, always squirming and sweating.

Just as Song Fenglan had undressed her son and was about to bathe him, she heard a knock at the door.

Song Fenglan hastily bundled her son in a towel before going to open the door.

When the door opened, Song Fenglan and Qin Yizhou locked eyes.

"You—you came?" Qin Yizhou still couldn’t quite believe it. Was this an illusion?

"You came just in time," Song Fenglan said. "Get in here."

The staff member had already left. Qin Yizhou followed Song Fenglan into the room, and as soon as they entered, she closed the door and pushed him forward.

"Quick, go bathe your son," Song Fenglan said. "We’ve been stuck on a train for days—he stinks. What are you standing there for?"

"Mom, who is this?" Qin Zihang asked, confused and a little shy, trying to put his clothes back on.

"That’s your dad, your real dad. What are you scared of?" Song Fenglan said. "From now on, he’ll bathe you. Those clothes are dirty—don’t put them back on."

"Oh." Qin Zihang looked down at the basin, then at Qin Yizhou, then back at his mother.

The next moment, Qin Zihang ran up to Qin Yizhou. "Dad, I... why do you smell too? Worse than leftover food—so stinky! Mom, Dad stinks! Can we trade him in?"

"Ask your dad if you can trade him in," Song Fenglan said, her lips twitching. Swap dads? As if it were that easy!

Song Fenglan recalled people saying Qin Yizhou was away on assignment and might not return so soon. She glanced at him and couldn’t help asking, “Just got back from the mission?”

“Yeah, that’s right,” Qin Yizhou nodded. “What brings you here?”

“Are we not allowed?” Song Fenglan raised an eyebrow.

“No, no, of course you are, of course you are.” Qin Yizhou said. “It’s just… I wasn’t expecting you, I…”

“I wrote you a letter. Didn’t you get it?” Song Fenglan asked.

“No,” Qin Yizhou said.

“What? You want to send us away?” Song Fenglan pressed.

“No, no, of course not.” Qin Yizhou stammered in his haste. He had always wished his wife and son could join him in the army, wanting to spend more time with them. “I’ll apply for on-base housing tomorrow.”

“Hmm, the boy and I will stay here for now.” Song Fenglan said. “We won’t be going back anytime soon. It’s time for him to start kindergarten next semester.”

“We have a kindergarten here,” Qin Yizhou quickly added. “He can attend there, I…”

Just then, Qin Yizhou’s stomach let out a loud rumble.

“…” Song Fenglan looked at him.

Then, Qin Zihang reached out and gently patted his father’s belly—*grrrowl grrrowl*—then patted again—*grrrowl grrrowl*—his eyes lighting up. “Mom, Mom, Dad’s belly goes *grrrowl grrrowl*, like a little drum! *Boom boom, gurgle gurgle*…”

“Haven’t eaten yet?” Song Fenglan asked.

“Just got back,” Qin Yizhou said truthfully.

“All we have left are some crackers and apples.” Song Fenglan went to fetch her bag. “We ate these on the train. Your son might get hungry later, so have some for now.”

She handed Qin Yizhou two crackers, placing the rest on the table. As he stuffed them into his mouth, Song Fenglan added, “Did you wash your hands?”

“Ma! I’m still bare-bottomed!” Qin Zihang shouted. “The water’s getting cold!”

“I’ll give him his bath first,” Qin Yizhou looked at his son. Two crackers would have to do—his son’s bath couldn’t wait.

The quarters room had a sink, which was better than most places like this, though the tap water was cold. Hot water came in thermoses they had to fetch. Many quarters didn’t even have sinks in the rooms, only shared ones outside.

Song Fenglan had washed her hair earlier, and it was almost dry by now. Without a hairdryer, long hair took forever to dry, so she had washed hers first before tending to Qin Zihang. Luckily, Qin Yizhou had arrived in time.

Hot water came in thermoses they had to fetch. Song Fenglan had kept Qin Zihang close at all times, afraid he might wander off. These past few days, she had been a nervous wreck, terrified that if she looked away even for a second, her son might be taken by child snatchers.

Back then, once a child was taken, there was almost no hope of finding them again. Song Fenglan had even tied a rope around Qin Zihang’s waist, and when she used the restroom, she asked the train attendant to watch him.

Exhausted, Song Fenglan ran a comb through her hair.

“Does Daddy need a bath too?” Qin Zihang asked. “Does Daddy have to be bare-bottomed too?”

“…” Song Fenglan slapped a hand to her forehead. What was her son saying?

The room didn’t have a separate bathroom. Song Fenglan had Qin Zihang wash up by the basin, where the water could drain. But with no door for privacy, how could Qin Yizhou wash up?

“Daddy, Daddy, are you gonna bathe? Are you?” Qin Zihang repeated loudly, afraid his father hadn’t heard. “No bath, no cuddles!”