Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Getting Up for the First Time, Haircut

The two children carefully folded up their new clothes and changed back into their old ones to get ready for bed. The autumn outfits Gu Qinghuan had bought earlier—they were afraid they’d get wrinkled if they slept in them—were neatly folded and placed on top of the kang cabinet.

Just then, hearing Gu Qinghuan’s words, Dabao turned around excitedly and said, “Mom, really? That’s great!”

“Dad, you should try on your new clothes too. They’re so comfy and warm,” Beibei chimed in.

Surprisingly, it was Xu Huaian who hesitated.

He paused for a moment, then shook his head gently. “Maybe I shouldn’t… What if I…”

“Don’t worry about the ‘what ifs.’ We’ll just loosen the upper half, it’s not a big deal. Besides, you’re pretty stable emotionally right now. Give it a try,” Gu Qinghuan encouraged him.

He had to go through this step sooner or later.

The two kids were eager for their dad to relax a bit, looking at him with hopeful faces.

After wavering for a while, Xu Huaian couldn’t resist the children’s pleading and agreed.

Gu Qinghuan helped him untie the ropes, then sensibly left to make dinner, giving him some space.

Xu Huaian hadn’t been able to move his arms freely for a long time. Now, it felt like his arms weren’t even his own—every movement was a sharp pain.

He slowly stretched his arms and rotated his joints. It felt so good.

With Dabao’s help, he carefully put on the thermal underwear, then pulled on the turtleneck sweater.

He cautiously put on the autumn pants too, inching them up bit by bit through the gap in the ropes.

For the first time in a long while, he felt human again.

Warmth radiated from the inside out.

When Gu Qinghuan came in carrying two bowls of noodles, she froze for a moment.

Xu Huaian was sitting upright on the kang, his legs covered by a quilt. The plain gray turtleneck sweater looked unexpectedly refined on him, giving him the air of a nobleman.

Even his messy long hair and scruffy beard gave off a bit of an artistic vibe.

Some people just have a way of making even cheap clothes look elegant.

“You look great. Dabao, Beibei, set up the kang table—it’s time to eat,” Gu Qinghuan used the meal as an excuse to cover her awkwardness.

A faint blush appeared on Xu Huaian’s pale face. If he wasn’t mistaken, Gu Qinghuan had just said he looked great.

He didn’t miss the flash of surprise in her eyes when she first walked in.

But with only a dim kerosene lamp, Gu Qinghuan didn’t notice his blush.

“We’re running short on time today, so we’ll make do with noodles. I’ll cook something better for you all tomorrow.”

Dabao’s mouth was watering at the smell of the egg noodles. “Mom, this is already great. It’s really good.”

“Yeah, Mom, we couldn’t even have noodles like this during New Year’s before. It smells so good,” Beibei said innocently, cradling her bowl.

The children’s words made the two adults feel a pang of sadness.

“Eat up, have as much as you want—there’s more in the pot.”

Xu Huaian struggled to pick up his chopsticks, only to find he couldn’t manage to get the noodles to his mouth.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

He still couldn’t get them to his mouth.

Gu Qinghuan noticed his predicament.

“Do you want me to feed you?”

Xu Huaian shook his head firmly.

When his hands were tied, he had no choice but to be fed. Now that he was free, there was no reason to rely on others.

He tried again and again, carefully controlling his arms, and finally managed to get a bite into his mouth.

The two kids cheered him on, “Dad, you’re awesome!”

Gu Qinghuan smiled a little too. This man really was stubborn, but in a rather endearing way.

The meal was warm and cozy. Xu Huaian’s small progress put everyone in good spirits.

After dinner, the kids did the dishes as usual.

It was rare for Gu Qinghuan to sit and chat with Xu Huaian, and she felt a bit awkward.

But she quickly found something to do.

“How about I give you a haircut? And shave your beard while I’m at it?”

Xu Huaian thought she minded his scruffiness and worried her mother-in-law would be displeased when she visited, so he readily agreed.

She seemed pretty skilled—she’d cut the kids’ hair, and it looked good.

In truth, Gu Qinghuan was simply curious to see what kind of devastatingly handsome face was hiding under that beard.

She got right to it, fetching scissors and her usual eyebrow razor.

Gu Qinghuan half-knelt on the kang, carefully trimming his hair.

With his looks, any hairstyle would suit him. For convenience, Gu Qinghuan decided to give him a buzz cut.

That didn’t require much skill—just snip, snip, snip.

As the hair fell away, a sharply defined face emerged.

Now, only the beard was left.

Xu Huaian’s expression was serious, but inside, he was silently reciting a calming mantra.

He’d never had a woman this close before. His heart felt like a rabbit, thumping wildly, a little flustered.

“All right, lie down. I’ll shave your beard.”

Xu Huaian looked like a soldier going to his execution as he lay stiffly on the kang.

Gu Qinghuan couldn’t help but laugh at his expression.

Shaving required precision. Gu Qinghuan was only about ten centimeters away from him, close enough to catch the faint scent of her hair and see the fine fuzz by her ear.

The calming mantra was useless now.

Xu Huaian’s heart was pounding like a drum.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

For a moment, Xu Huaian wondered if he was having another episode—his emotions were completely out of control.

It was only a few minutes, but it felt like a century.

“All done. Get up and take a look!”

Xu Huaian sat up, touching his head and chin, feeling a little chilly.

Gu Qinghuan stared in a daze at the heartbreakingly handsome face before her. Heaven had truly favored him—this face could make a living on looks alone in the future.

Gone was the melancholy air from before; now he looked tough and spirited, with the bearing of a hardened soldier. The buzz cut made him look sharp.

The only thing was, his skin was unnaturally pale from lack of sunlight.

Xu Huaian sneaked a glance and saw that Gu Qinghuan seemed quite pleased with his face, and he couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness he still had a face that could pass muster.

Gu Qinghuan snapped out of it, realizing she’d been staring too long, and hurriedly lowered her head to tidy up.

“You get some rest. I’m going to pick up my mom.”

“Okay, be careful on the road.”

Gu Qinghuan practically fled the room, lightly patting her own face. “Gu Qinghuan, seriously, haven’t you seen enough handsome men? Why are you acting like such a fangirl? How embarrassing!”

Back in her own room, she took out the sheets and quilt she’d prepared earlier, made the bed, and put her winter clothes, shoes, and other supplies into the kang cabinet.

She also took out some food—rice and flour were a must, and she grabbed a few more eggs.

The whole family needed some good nutrition these days. Once Zhong Zijun arrived, it wouldn’t be as easy to sneak things in.

After checking everything and making sure nothing was missing, she hurried out on her bike.

With the old-fashioned flashlight she’d bought from the vending machine, she made her way to the cowshed.

Zhong Zijun had already packed up and was waiting. That night, they’d had a rare meal of noodles, thanks to Gu Qinghuan’s last visit.

Gu Qinghuan didn’t come empty-handed this time either—she brought ten jin of rice, ten jin of flour, and about a dozen eggs.

The two elders worked in the cowshed and needed to eat well. Although Sheng Fazhao was helping out now and the workload was lighter, taking care of the cows was still no easy task.

“Grandpa, Grandma, I’ve got everything settled at home. You two should take this time to eat well and rest up. Get your strength back.”

Cheng Shuying glanced at the supplies her granddaughter had brought and hurriedly tried to push them back. “You’ve already spent so much on winter clothes for us—must have cost a lot.

We can’t take this food. You take it back for your family. You’ve got sick ones and little ones to care for. We don’t need it.

Oh, and here’s the eighteen yuan and twenty cents left from before. Take it back, too.”

They’d already taken too much from her—how could they accept more fine food?

They also worried their granddaughter would be mistreated at home.

Zhong Weiqian agreed, and the two elders firmly refused.

“You already brought us plenty last time. We have enough. Be good.”

Gu Qinghuan pushed the supplies back to them.

“Don’t worry, we still have plenty at home. Xu Huaian said I can manage the family money, and buying you winter supplies was his idea too.

Grandpa, Grandma, you’re all I have left. Even if it’s just for my sake, please take care of yourselves, okay? We’re a family—we need to stick together.”

Gu Qinghuan played the emotional card, and the two elders finally relented and accepted the food.

“Is he really as good as you say?” Cheng Shuying asked, holding her granddaughter’s hand.

“He really is, Grandma. He’s a wonderful person. You’ll see when you meet him,” Gu Qinghuan said earnestly.

“That’s good, that’s good. As long as you’re happy and living well, it doesn’t matter if he’s not in perfect health.”

Knowing what kind of person Xu Huaian was, Cheng Shuying felt a little more at ease.

“Grandma, we’ll head back now. When there’s time, I’ll bring you over to meet him.”

“All right. Be careful, you two. You’ve worked hard,” Cheng Shuying said, seeing them off at the door."

"Chapter 32: The Ugly Son-in-Law Meets His Mother-in-Law

At the foot of the mountain in Xujia Village, Xu Huaian was anxiously waiting with his two children.

“Daddy, do you think Grandma will like us?” Beibei nestled in her father’s arms, her little face full of anxiety.

Ever since they learned that their mother had gone to fetch their grandmother, the siblings had been nervous and uneasy, afraid that their grandmother would dislike them for being burdens and wouldn’t like them.

Although Dabao didn’t voice his worries, the concern was written all over his face.

Xu Huaian didn’t know how to comfort the two kids, because he was just as nervous himself.

He could only pat their heads and say, “Of course she will.”

“Daddy, I want to change into the new sweater Mom bought me,” Beibei suddenly said, getting up.

Xu Huaian saw right through Beibei’s thoughts.

“Beibei, whether Grandma likes you or not doesn’t depend on whether you’re wearing new or old clothes. If she likes you, she’ll like you even if you’re wearing old clothes.”

Although people often judge by appearances first, that didn’t apply here.

Gu Qinghuan’s mother wouldn’t like them just because they were dressed nicely. Some things can’t be changed by a piece of clothing.

Beibei leaned helplessly into her father’s arms. She was so afraid of losing her mother and the life they had now.

Xu Huaian sighed. “If wearing the new sweater will give you courage, then go ahead and change.”

He just wanted to teach the children that attention gained by trying to please others or lowering themselves never lasts. The most important thing is to be true to themselves.

Dabao understood what his father meant and earnestly comforted his sister.

“Beibei, as long as we behave and do what we can to help, and don’t cause trouble for Mom, Grandma will come to like us one day.”

Beibei struggled with herself for a while, but in the end, she gave up on changing into new clothes and just carefully smoothed out the wrinkles on her old ones.

—

Gu Qinghuan brought Zhong Zijun into the village, sneaking in quietly. At last, they made it home without incident.

Hearing someone at the door, the two children rushed out. “Mom!”

When the door opened, there was someone else with Mom—could that be Grandma?

Dabao and Beibei shrank by the door and called out softly, “Grandma.”

By the light of the flashlight, Zhong Zijun looked at the two small, skinny figures by the door.

Their nervousness was plain to see.

Her good upbringing showed itself as she naturally walked over.

“Hello, dears. Come inside, it’s cold out here.”

Gu Qinghuan breathed a sigh of relief. No matter how angry Zhong Zijun was, she wouldn’t take it out on the children.

Seeing that their grandmother was kind and spoke gently, the two kids immediately relaxed.

“Grandma, come in and have a seat. Dad is waiting for you.” The two little ones led Zhong Zijun toward the east room.

Eager to meet her new son-in-law, Zhong Zijun didn’t bother being reserved and followed the children straight in.

Gu Qinghuan took Zhong Zijun’s luggage to the west room to settle in.

Meanwhile, Zhong Zijun followed the children to the east room and saw Xu Huaian for the first time.

Before coming, she had imagined countless scenarios.

Maybe he was a rough, burly man with a face full of stubble.

Maybe he was dull-witted, lying in bed drooling.

Maybe he was sinister and harsh, prone to wild outbursts.

…

But she hadn’t expected to see a young man with strikingly handsome features and clear, bright eyes—though he was alarmingly thin, with a sickly look.

He sat calmly and elegantly on the kang bed. When he saw her enter, he immediately spoke up, “Mom, you must be tired from your journey. If you don’t mind, please have a seat on the kang.”

In the north, it’s normal to invite guests to sit on the kang.

Zhong Zijun felt herself relax a little—this was much better than she had imagined.

Then she was startled. Wasn’t he supposed to be bedridden and unable to move for years?

Did he have some kind of neurological illness?

He didn’t seem to have any problems at all—he spoke so normally.

It just so happened that Xu Huaian was having a rare moment of clarity.

The anger in Zhong Zijun’s heart dissipated all at once, and she greeted him politely.

“You must be Huaian? I’m Huanhuan’s mother. Sorry to trouble you these days.”

With that, she sat down at the edge of the kang.

Xu Huaian had been bracing himself for her scolding and accusations, but he hadn’t expected such a calm conversation. The fists he’d been clenching under the covers finally relaxed—he was nervous too.

The two children nestled quietly beside him, giving him strength.

“Mom, you’re too polite. We’re all family.”

Zhong Zijun’s probing gaze didn’t escape Xu Huaian’s notice. He took the initiative to lift the quilt, revealing his bound lower body, and explained a little awkwardly and helplessly:

“Mom, you’re wondering about my illness, right? When I’m not in my right mind, I have to be tied up completely. I’m a bit clearer now, so I’ve loosened the bindings to move around a little.

Don’t worry, I’ve been feeling much more stable lately. I won’t hurt anyone.”

No amount of explanation could compare to seeing it with her own eyes. When Zhong Zijun saw his legs tied up under the quilt, her first feeling wasn’t fear or disgust, but a deep sadness and heaviness.

This child was so polite and good-looking—it was impossible to dislike him.

He had once been a soldier, and a first-class merit isn’t something just anyone can earn. Now, in this state, he must be suffering the most.

No wonder her daughter kept speaking up for him. Even she couldn’t bring herself to be harsh after seeing him.

“Child, it must be hard, being tied up and unable to move for so long.” Zhong Zijun gently held his calf, only to find it was all skin and bones—there wasn’t an ounce of flesh.

She’d heard from Huanhuan that his parents hadn’t treated him well and he was starved to skin and bones, but she hadn’t expected it to be this bad.

Even during the hardest days in the cowshed, they’d never gotten this thin. She could only imagine what kind of hell he’d been through.

As a mother, how could she bear to see such a sight? Zhong Zijun turned away and quietly wiped the tears from her eyes.

At this moment, she didn’t even object so much to the two of them living together anymore.

Xu Huaian hadn’t expected Zhong Zijun to be so upset over his legs. For a moment, he didn’t know what to feel—his heart ached. He quickly nudged the two children.

Dabao and Beibei understood and crawled over to comfort Zhong Zijun. “Don’t cry, Grandma.”

Xu Huaian also reassured her, “Mom, I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt.”

Of course it hurt!

They were all pitiful people. Zhong Zijun didn’t want to say anything harsh anymore and started asking about the children’s daily lives.

Dabao and Beibei sat in her lap, taking turns telling her about their past, making Zhong Zijun’s heart ache and bringing her to tears again and again.

Before long, the children had her laughing with their antics.

When Gu Qinghuan came over, she was greeted by this warm and happy scene and wondered if she’d walked into the wrong house.

Wasn’t her mom all fired up when she came over?

How had they gotten so close in such a short time?"

"Chapter 33: Heart-to-Heart Between Mother and Daughter, Quarrel at the Educated Youth Courtyard

“Mom, it’s getting late. I’ve boiled some hot water—let’s all wash up and get some rest. There’s plenty of time to talk tomorrow.” Seeing how well everyone was getting along, Gu Qinghuan finally felt at ease.

She knew it—who could resist Xu Huai’an’s sickly handsome face?

“Alright, the kids should get to bed too. You help Huai’an wash up. Come on, Dabao, Beibei, Grandma will take you to wash your faces.”

Zhong Zijun instantly slipped into her grandma role, energetically preparing to take the two kids to wash up. She forgot about her injured arm and nearly took a tumble, but thankfully Gu Qinghuan was there to steady her.

Oh my, you’re still a patient yourself and want to take care of others? Give it a rest.

“Grandma, let me hold your hand,” Beibei said sweetly, taking Zhong Zijun’s hand.

Zhong Zijun’s heart melted. Little girls really are the cutest.

“Alright, thank you, little Beibei.”

Not to be outdone, Dabao quickly grabbed the kerosene lamp to light the way for Zhong Zijun, completely forgetting that his dad needed the lamp too.

Gu Qinghuan and Xu Huai’an exchanged a helpless smile. But at least, this hurdle with Zhong Zijun was finally cleared.

After everyone washed up, Gu Qinghuan, as usual, gave each person a cup of spiritual spring water, then took Zhong Zijun to the west room to sleep.

Sitting on the kang, watching her daughter bustling around, Zhong Zijun felt a warmth she couldn’t put into words.

Five years ago, betrayed by her husband, she was sent to this remote countryside for re-education. Life in the cowshed was truly bitter, especially with people always bullying them behind their backs.

She endured it all for her children and elderly parents. She used to be a university professor, an intellectual who knew nothing about farming or cooking.

But for survival, she’d learned everything by now.

Life had played a cruel joke on her. The daughter she’d always worried about ended up being sent down to the countryside too—right in the neighboring village.

That heartless man didn’t even spare his own flesh and blood. Who knows how her young son is faring?

Every time Zhong Zijun thought about it, she wished she could eat that man’s flesh and drink his blood to vent her hatred.

This past year, her daughter had run herself ragged taking care of them. Zhong Zijun saw it all, felt the pain in her heart, and hated that she couldn’t help, only adding to her daughter’s burdens.

Now, being able to sleep beside her daughter again, just like before, felt like a dream.

Her daughter had left home at fifteen and was now twenty, an adult.

Hearing today that her daughter had gotten married had torn her heart apart, but after meeting Xu Huai’an and spending a little time with him, she gradually felt at peace.

As someone who’d been through it all, she knew well that marriage is a woman’s second life. If you trust the wrong person, it’s a disaster.

This young man, though physically disabled and unable to care for a family, had something others didn’t.

A noble and interesting soul, someone who knows how to respect and understand others, kind and steadfast.

No one is perfect. Whoever you marry, there will be problems—it just depends on which problems you choose.

Sometimes, the hardships of life aren’t the worst; spiritual poverty is far scarier.

“Huanhuan, after meeting Xiao Xu, I think he’s a good person. The two kids are sensible too.

If you really want to build a life with him, I won’t object.

But I want you to know, some choices, once made, last a lifetime. There’s no going back, so you must be sure.

And remember, you’ll always have a home with me.” Zhong Zijun spoke gently and calmly.

Gu Qinghuan was touched. It was the first time she’d truly felt the weight of her mother’s love. She stepped forward and hugged Zhong Zijun. “Thank you, Mom. I understand.”

Mother and daughter, rare to share a bed, thought they’d have trouble sleeping, but both soon drifted off. After a busy, emotional day, they slept soundly.

—

Gu Qinghuan was woken by sunlight.

A delicious smell of cornmeal porridge wafted over. She sat up to find Zhong Zijun, who’d been sleeping beside her, was gone.

She quickly got up and tidied herself.

She found the three generations together in the kitchen.

Zhong Zijun had woken up early, wanting her daughter to sleep in a bit, so she’d quietly gotten up to make breakfast.

She’d checked and found that her daughter’s family had a decent stockpile of food—at least enough to get through the winter without going hungry. So she generously made cornmeal porridge for breakfast.

Her son-in-law couldn’t work, but he had a pension—fifteen yuan a month wasn’t a small sum. If they were frugal, they’d be fine.

The two kids had rushed to the kitchen as soon as they woke, and, seeing their grandma, the three sat around the fire roasting potatoes and chatting happily.

“Mom, Grandma made cornmeal porridge and roasted potatoes for us. It smells so good!” Dabao grinned.

Gu Qinghuan frowned at Zhong Zijun. “Mom, your arm isn’t well. Why did you get up to do all this? What if you hurt yourself again…”

Seeing Gu Qinghuan upset, Dabao and Beibei instantly fell silent, as if they’d done something wrong.

“I’m not made of clay, you know. I can cook with one hand just fine. Look, you’ve scared the kids. I’m alright, really.” Zhong Zijun quickly pulled Beibei into her arms.

Gu Qinghuan could only patiently advise, “Please don’t do this again. I’m here to handle the chores. You just focus on resting.”

“I’m not an invalid. Don’t worry about me, I know my limits. By the way, I saw a bicycle in your yard. Whose is it?” Zhong Zijun pointed at the bike.

Gu Qinghuan smacked her forehead. She’d forgotten to return it last night. She needed to get it back to Chen Jianghe right away.

“Thanks for reminding me! I’ll go return it to Chen Jianghe now. Mom, watch the kids for me. If anyone comes, hide—don’t let anyone see you.”

After giving instructions, Gu Qinghuan quickly freshened up and rode off.

When she got to the educated youth compound, she could hear arguing from afar.

A group of educated youths were gathered, trying to break up a fight.

No one noticed Gu Qinghuan as she wheeled in the bike.

She parked it and patted Lin Shengnan, who was standing quietly to the side. “Lin, what’s going on?”

“It’s that Xu Party Secretary’s family… your sister-in-law, Xu Meiling. She brought two eggs to Chen Jianghe this morning, trying to suck up to him. Jiang Xue couldn’t stand it and called her a show-off, said she was being shameless, and then it all kicked off…” Lin Shengnan shrugged. She couldn’t care less and hurried off to work after explaining.

“Jiang Xue, just you wait! I’ll get my dad to deal with you!” Xu Meiling, unable to win the argument, threatened with her father’s position.

“Big talk for a dung beetle! You think your dad’s such a big shot? Dream on! You country bumpkin, village girl! Take your two eggs and scram! What’s so special about two eggs that you have to come here and make a scene?”

Jiang Xue was furious. First Gu Qinghuan, now Xu Meiling—would it never end?

At least Gu Qinghuan was pretty and capable, and Chen Jianghe had pursued her.

But Xu Meiling? Who did she think she was, coming here to cause trouble?

Gu Qinghuan didn’t like either of them. Watching them bicker was pure entertainment—she almost wished she had sunflower seeds to snack on while she watched.

But soon, the other educated youths pulled them apart.

Chen Jianghe stepped in, playing the peacemaker, scolding both of them equally, and then declared the matter over.

With the show over, Gu Qinghuan could only leave, a little disappointed.

She hadn’t expected Xu Meiling to like Chen Jianghe and even chase after him. That wasn’t in the book—according to the story, Chen Jianghe and Jiang Xue ended up together as a pair of scoundrels.

Looks like Xu Meiling was destined for disappointment."

"Chapter 34: Leisurely Days