Chapter 100

Chapter 100

Li Meihua, who was inside the house, heard some noise and vaguely recognized the voice of her eldest daughter, Feng Chun. Thinking that her eldest daughter was indeed on holiday these days, she simply opened the door a crack to look outside. As soon as she looked, she saw her own Da Chun coming back with loads of bags.

Li Meihua greeted her with a beaming smile, her voice soft as water: "Da Chun, you're back! The supply and marketing cooperative is on holiday, right?" Suddenly she noticed a fair-skinned, refined young man standing beside Feng Chun. Yang Tianhua also saw Li Meihua and nodded to her with a slight smile.

Li Meihua's eyes lit up. This young man seemed to come from a well-off family. He wore a watch on his wrist and leather shoes on his feet; his clothes had no patches and were made of fine material. Moreover, his skin was very fair – clearly not someone who worked the land.

Feng Chun spoke up at the right moment: "Mother, this is the friend I mentioned to you, Yang Tianhua. Tianhua, this is my mother."

Yang Tianhua politely greeted her: "Hello, Auntie." Li Meihua was overjoyed and waved her hands, saying: "Oh, hello, hello! City folk really are different, so presentable! Tianhua, it's getting late. Why don't you stay at our place for the night before leaving? It's not easy to travel once it gets dark!"

Feng Chun tidied her hair, a mix of girlish shyness and an alluring charm that made Yang Tianhua's eyes fix on her without moving. If Li Meihua weren't present, he would probably have pinned her down and kissed her.

"Mother, Tianhua came by car – a car. Its headlights are very bright, so he will definitely go back tonight. But Tianhua promised to have dinner at our home. Mother, please start dinner. I'll take Tianhua for a stroll around the area."

Feng Chun ushered Li Meihua toward the kitchen. Seeing that her Da Chun had managed to land such a wealthy son-in-law, Li Meihua was delighted. Chuckling, she went to the kitchen. When she saw the sisters Feng Jinlian and Feng Jingui together with Feng Xia shelling peanuts and eating them, she didn't get angry. Instead, she looked smug, pride nearly overflowing from her face – a sight that was amusing to behold.

"Jinlian, Jingui, go help your Second Aunt call your father and your uncle back. Also call your mother. My daughter has brought someone home to eat. City folk are very particular; if there's no one from our family around, they might get upset. Hurry up, go quickly!"

It was only three in the afternoon, but Li Meihua happily lit the stove, ready to cook a nice meal for this wealthy future son-in-law.

The commotion was so loud that it even alerted Old Mrs. Feng. The old lady's beady eyes glared sideways. Li Meihua looked sheepish, but still held her ground and said: "Mother, our prospective son-in-law drove back in a car. He gets his food from the city supplies and works as a cadre. We must entertain him well, or else Da Chun will blame me later and become disillusioned with our family."

When Old Mrs. Feng heard that Feng Chun had found such a good match, a hint of a smile appeared on her harsh face, her wrinkles relaxing a bit. She said slowly and deliberately: "Yes, we must entertain him well. Jingui, go call your mother back – she's gone to the back hill to gather firewood. Jinlian, go call your father and uncle. Meihua, cut half of our cured meat to treat our guest properly."

The two women said more or less the same thing. The sisters Feng Jinlian and Feng Jingui squeezed Feng Xia's hand, put away the peanuts, and then went out. No one dared to order Feng Xia around. Disliking the heavy smell of kitchen smoke, Feng Xia also led Zhang Ying out. She hadn't been out since returning, so it was a good chance to take a stroll.

In the twelfth lunar month, Daba Village was already covered with a layer of white frost. The weather was cold. As soon as they stepped out, a gust of cold wind hit them, making Feng Xia shiver involuntarily. Sensing its owner's mood, the little black snake coiled tighter around her.

Zhang Ying's eyes showed concern: "Do you want to put on an extra coat before going out?"

Feng Xia shook her head, smiling innocently: "Sister Ying, why would I need to wear that bulky thing? I'm perfectly healthy. Feel my palm – isn't it warm?"

Zhang Ying actually reached out and touched Feng Xia's palm, and indeed found it warm. She let out a sigh of relief. If she really fell ill with a fever in this remote mountain village, it would be a real problem. Even in the town, the medical conditions could only be described as average.

There were not many people on the road, but everyone who met Feng Xia would stop to say hello. Occasionally, they would run into an old man in his seventies or eighties who would eagerly follow Feng Xia and ask about the sights of the capital. Feng Xia's mouth went dry from talking all the way. Finally, they arrived at the village committee office. Feng Xia still felt a sense of familiarity with this place.

Feng Xia had been away for two years, but the place hadn't changed much. Feng Xia was about to knock on the door and go in and sit down, but before she could, a clear female voice rang out from behind: "Feng Xia? Is that you? When did you get back?"

Who else could it be but Wu Hongxia?

Feng Xia had a very good impression of this female educated youth who had taught the sisters Feng Jinlian and Feng Jingui. In a sense, she had changed the two sisters' lives.

Feng Xia turned around and gave the newcomer a very bright smile. The small dimples on her cheeks appeared faintly, surprisingly captivating.

"It's me, Sister Hongxia. Long time no see."

Wu Hongxia stepped forward a few paces and patted Feng Xia on the shoulder. After two years in the countryside, her skin had turned wheat-colored from the sun. Her short hair reached her ears, her smile was bright, and her temperament was generous and cheerful – an instantly likable woman.

Wu Hongxia genuinely liked this little girl. Looking at Feng Xia, who had grown taller and become even more outstanding, she praised: "Little girl, you're getting more and more beautiful, and you've grown so much taller! Wonderful!"

Feng Xia took the initiative to hold the woman's slightly rough hand and said: "Thank you, Sister Hongxia, for helping my two elder sisters, and especially for teaching them to read and write. I brought a gift for you. Tomorrow I'll have Sister Jingui and Sister Jinlian deliver it." Feng Xia stopped Wu Hongxia as she was about to refuse, then lowered her voice and added: "They are some new textbooks and writing materials from the capital. They're not expensive, so don't feel uncomfortable, Sister Hongxia."

How could Wu Hongxia mind? She was so moved that her eyes welled up. Their batch of educated youth had never slackened off in their studies. After working in the fields all day, they would come back and read by candlelight until their eyes were nearly strained. All for that one day. She knew Feng Xia was impressive. That morning she heard someone say Feng Xia had returned in a Beijing-plated car. Now Feng Xia was encouraging them to continue studying – was it possible, was it possible that their faint hope could still be realized?

After all, this was not a suitable place for a long conversation. Wu Hongxia led Feng Xia into the female educated youth dormitory. She talked about her life after coming to the countryside, while Feng Xia also shared some of her experiences in the capital. Wu Hongxia's eyes grew brighter and brighter. Not until the sun set did Feng Xia and Zhang Ying have to leave. Wu Hongxia was very reluctant, only saying that tomorrow she would just drop by Feng Xia's house. Feng Xia smiled and nodded. She was seen to the door, and in the distance, she could still see Wu Hongxia waving from the doorway.

Zhang Ying couldn't help but sigh: "Times have really changed. College students are so rare. I just hope they can persevere."

Feng Xia smiled, looking at the crescent moon in the sky. The moon hung lonely. Her voice was like a clear, chilly wind, drifting into the endless night.

She said,

"There will be such a day. It's coming soon."