Chapter 118: The Zhang Siblings
“Uncle Chen, Auntie Chen, if you don’t mind, I’d like to recognize you both as my godparents! From now on, Xiaomei will be my own sister. Whatever I give to my real sister, I’ll prepare the same for her. When she marries, I’ll also prepare her a dowry! If I ever get the chance to return to the city, I’ll take her to meet my parents. From then on, she’ll also be a daughter of the Zhang family!”
Zhang Guodong finished in one breath, his forehead still pressed to the ground, waiting for the Chen family’s verdict. This was the greatest sincerity he could offer.
The Chen family felt both anger and relief. Anger, because it seemed Zhang Guodong still looked down on their daughter—even now, he wasn’t willing to marry her. Relief, because he was at least a man with a sense of responsibility, not one to shirk from the issue, and had come up with a solution that was, though imperfect, still acceptable.
They hadn’t originally wanted to tie their daughter to a complete stranger just because of this incident. Looking at Zhang Guodong now, however, he seemed like a decent choice. If their daughter could marry him, perhaps it would even be her good fortune.
But with things already said to this point, they could no longer press the marriage. Forcing the two together would only make them both unhappy.
Zhang Jingxian sat on pins and needles, opening her mouth to speak, but Lu Manman pressed her hand down.
Lu Manman gave a small shake of her head, signaling the Chen family to have some time to think.
Tang Mingjie’s gaze slid, seemingly casually, past Zhang Jingxian and back to his teacup.
All eyes turned to Father Chen.
Father Chen stood up. “Child, you can get up first. I understand everything. But for this matter, we need to ask my daughter for her opinion.”
Zhang Guodong’s heart was pounding. “That’s only right.”
Mother Chen moved to help him up, but Zhang Guodong hurried to rise by himself.
“I’m fine! You—you carry on!”
Inside, Chen Xiaomei had heard everything. When her parents and siblings entered the room, she immediately said: “Dad, Mom, I’m willing to recognize this kinship!”
Father and Mother Chen were stunned.
“Xiaomei?”
Mother Chen, worried that her daughter was too young to understand the gravity of the situation, sat by the bed and took her hand. “Daughter, what are you really thinking? Your chastity is already ruined. In the future, it will be hard to find anyone willing to marry you…”
“How is my chastity ruined?” Chen Xiaomei lifted her chin. “Dad, Mom, listen to me. If Comrade Zhang is really willing to prepare me a dowry, I’d rather have the money. When I marry into my husband’s family, having money of my own will give me confidence! As for chastity, Comrade Zhang only saved me—and it was in front of so many people! Nothing happened between us. If my future husband minds this, then he doesn’t deserve me anyway! Worst case, I can marry farther away. Whatever gossip there is, I won’t hear it, and I’ll just live my own life!”
Father and Mother Chen fell silent. Their daughter’s reasoning couldn’t be called wrong.
The elder brother and sister-in-law said nothing. This was for the parents to decide; whatever they said might only be inappropriate.
Father Chen sighed heavily. “Since that’s the case…”
Mother Chen added, “There needs to be one more condition. If Xiaomei can’t find a suitable husband, Zhang must help her! And if in the end she still can’t marry, Zhang must marry her himself!”
Father Chen shook his head. “No.”
Mother Chen flared up. “Why not!”
“Long hair, short sight!” Father Chen shot her a look. “Think it through. If Comrade Zhang really gives Xiaomei a large sum of money, once word gets out, there’ll be no shortage of men wanting to court her. But they’d all be after the money—could they truly be sincere toward her? If Comrade Zhang truly has her best interests at heart, even if you don’t say it, he’ll take care of her marriage prospects. Didn’t he already say? Whatever his real sister has, Xiaomei will have too.”
Mother Chen was persuaded, patting her husband in admiration. “You’re still the thoughtful one, old man!”
Outside, Zhang Guodong waited anxiously. After half an hour, the Chen family finally came out.
Father Chen noticed the sweat beading on his forehead and felt again that not forcing the marriage was the right choice.
He raised his voice: “Comrade Zhang, let me ask you again—can you truly treat Xiaomei as your own sister from now on?”
Relief washed over Zhang Guodong. “Uncle Chen, a man’s word is like nails hammered into wood! I ask the captain and all the comrades present to bear witness: from now on, Comrade Chen Xiaomei is my own sister!”
Father Chen laughed heartily. “Good, good! From now on, you’re the godson of my wife and me! Eldest daughter-in-law, second daughter-in-law, go make a meal. Eldest son, go invite the accountant and secretary over—we’ll celebrate properly with everyone!”
Everyone understood—Father Chen still wasn’t entirely reassured, so he wanted the accountant and secretary as official witnesses.
Zhang Guodong took no offense and grinned. “Good! Later, I’ll serve tea to my godfather and godmother!”
Zhang Jingxian broke into a smile. “Such a joyful occasion deserves celebration. Sister Manman, come with me to fetch some things.”
Her words were proper, yet carried a sudden boldness.
The room went quiet for a moment.
Mainly because Zhang Jingxian had always been nearly invisible; today she seemed like a different person.
Tang Mingjie chuckled. “Didn’t expect to be fortunate enough to witness such a joyous event. I’d like to share in the good luck too. I’ll head back to my aunt’s place to fetch something.”
Mu Lantu said, “We’ll also go back. The grapes at home have ripened—let’s bring some for everyone to taste.”
Father Chen grabbed his arm. “No, no, you all can’t leave. Just one person can go. If both of you go, maybe only one will come back. No, not a single person here can be missing—more people make a meal livelier.”
He didn’t dare pull on Xu Huazhang.
Xu Huazhang said, “I’ll go fetch it.”
The Chen family then brought out all their best—good tea, good cigarettes, good meat… The banquet table was spread with ten full dishes.
The kinship feast was celebrated in grand style.
This was deliberate. So long as there was no deep enmity with the Chen family, once word spread that Zhang Guodong had been accepted as their godson, few would dare gossip about Chen Xiaomei.
Zhang Guodong, knowing full well the girl had suffered the greater harm from all this, later borrowed one hundred yuan from Xu Huazhang on the way back.
“Since I said I’d treat Xiaomei as a sister, it can’t just be empty words.”
Mu Lantu and the others all nodded. He was a man of honor.
Zhang Guodong hesitated, then exchanged a glance with Zhang Jingxian.
She gave a small nod.
Mu Lantu sensed something.
Zhang Guodong said, “Actually, Jingxian is my sister. We’re real siblings.”
The captain was too drunk, propped up by Tang Mingjie, to understand anything.
Tang Mingjie studied Zhang Jingxian, then glanced at Zhang Guodong, and smiled quietly.
“What? You two are real siblings?” Miao Jiaze was stunned. “I couldn’t tell at all!”
Du Xuewen was equally surprised. “True, you didn’t seem connected. No wonder little Zhang was so worried about you.”
Zhang Guodong scratched his head sheepishly. “We didn’t mean to hide it, only wanted to keep a low profile. Life in a collective can be complicated. If we revealed from the start we were siblings, we worried others might gang up on us. By keeping it secret, I could protect my sister in the shadows. Later, once we got to know everyone and I saw you were all good people, I still hadn’t found a chance to say it. I’m sorry. I hope you’ll forgive us.”
Zhang Jingxian added softly, “I’m sorry.”
Nobody minded. The Zhang siblings hadn’t harmed anyone. Arriving in a strange place, being cautious was only natural.
Mu Lantu guessed their guardedness had something to do with their background.
“Tomorrow I’ll also tell the Chen family the truth, to be more proper about it,” said Zhang Guodong.
Thus, the Chen family matter was settled.
The revelation about the Zhang siblings, after the initial shock, also faded into calm.
“Tomorrow Auntie Chunhua’s younger sister is getting married. Did she invite you to the wedding feast?”
Miao Jiaze and Du Xuewen squatted by the courtyard gate with their bowls.
Xu Huazhang gave them a complicated look. The two had already been assimilated by village life. He meant nothing by it, only marveled at how much the environment could shape a person.
Little did he know, Miao Jiaze sometimes looked at him and Mu Lantu the same way. Out here in the countryside, in the blazing summer, they still dressed neatly as though ready for an office job—wasn’t that exhausting? A tank top, shorts, and flip-flops were so much more comfortable!
That evening’s wind was cool, chasing away the day’s heat. Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang moved the dining table outside.
The others at the educated youth spot also enjoyed the breeze. Their dinner was good too—spicy crawfish, traded with the village kids.
As Mu Lantu carefully picked bones from his fish, he said, “No, we’re only familiar with Auntie Chunhua, not her sister. Why would we go eat at her wedding feast? We wouldn’t know anyone at the table—it’d be so awkward.”
That morning Xu Huazhang had gone fishing again, catching a three-jin carp, which he braised in soy sauce.
Seeing him struggle to pick out bones, Xu Huazhang, though tempted to help, instead left all the fish belly meat for him.
*
Cai Xiufen asked, “Comrade Jiang, are you going to the wedding feast?”
Lin Shuzhen chimed in, “Comrade Jiang, you’re so close with Auntie Chunhua? She invited you even though her sister’s on her second marriage?”
Jiang Qiaohui smiled faintly. “Not to attend the feast. It’s just… Auntie Chunhua thought I was good at cooking, so I’m going to help in the kitchen.”
Lin Shuzhen grew more envious. Helping in the kitchen! She knew that meant a chance to sneak food and fill up without even being at the table.
“Do you need someone to help out? We don’t have to work tomorrow—should I come with you?”
Jiang Qiaohui looked troubled. “Auntie Chunhua already arranged who’s helping in the kitchen.”
“Then never mind.” Lin Shuzhen hadn’t expected much, so she wasn’t disappointed.
Jiang Qiaohui hesitated several times, then stopped herself.
Yue Xiaoying finally snapped, “Comrade Jiang, if you have something to say, just say it.”
Everyone looked over curiously.
Jiang Qiaohui’s cheeks flushed. “I heard… I heard Auntie Chunhua’s younger sister’s son is a soldier. I’ve never met a soldier before… I wonder if they’re really as imposing and heroic as people say.”
The expressions of those present shifted slightly. Heard? That could only have come from Auntie Chunhua herself. Did she perhaps intend to introduce her nephew to Jiang Qiaohui?
Zhang Jingxian lifted her head, a trace of doubt in her eyes.
