CHAPTER 136: CHAPTER 107: SECRET DISCUSSION BETWEEN HUSBAND AND WIFE

Outside the west wing, Zhang Guoqing looked at the white fungus on the stove, which had already soaked thoroughly, and pulled open the small damper of the coal stove to let it burn. This time he was at home, so he wasn’t worried about it boiling over. The old books he bought were placed in the outer living room cabinet, stacked neatly with the books he had bought before. He was concerned about leaving them in the outer living room where people came and went, as so many books would be too conspicuous.

He looked at the small living room, noticing the pile of eggs and the cabinet full of brown sugar and red dates. The outer living room was filled with things, including some preserved meat and dried chicken brought by his mother-in-law. The variety of smells was overwhelming, enough to surprise anyone who came in.

The rice and flour that his mother-in-law brought, stored in the cellar, were hardly used, still piled up there. He didn’t plan to move them to the cellar either. He preferred to keep them in his own room so he could cook whenever he wanted, avoiding any complaints from his sister-in-laws.

Back in their room, Zhou Jiao was listening to music and chatting with their son. Seeing Zhang Guoqing come in, she immediately waved him over.

"What’s up? Anything going on?" Zhang Guoqing asked as he approached, taking off his coat and lying sideways on the kang.

Zhou Jiao shook her head with a sweet smile and moved closer to lean against him.

Zhang Guoqing indeed had something to discuss, "Jiao Jiao, there’s too much stuff in the living room. Now that mom’s left, people from the village will surely come over to visit, and it’s too prominent with people coming and going. Just the eggs alone are at least 500. When you get a chance, please move the eggs, red dates, brown sugar, and those preserved meat items into the storage space. Once our son starts eating solids at 8 months, we won’t worry about having too many eggs. Keep about 30 eggs at home in a small bamboo basket. I’ll buy more whenever I have the chance, and you can just store them. In this room, all of our son’s clothes except the ones he can currently wear should also be stored. We don’t want people who don’t understand the rules to mess with them. In short, anything not needed for now, store it all. As time goes by, if our sisters-in-law’s kids have their things missing, will they not wonder? For now, let’s slowly collect and store away what we can. Buy what we can outside for everyday use. By spring, we’ll have to implement a ration ticket system. Even a scallion in the city will need a ticket."

Zhou Jiao immediately stood up, "Let’s store them now. While everyone’s asleep and there’s no one around, we can disguise things well."

The two looked at each other and decided to act quickly. Zhang Guoqing checked on their son, tucking his little hand under the quilt, feeling assured before heading to the living room with Zhou Jiao. After locking the door, he packed and organized, while Zhou Jiao stored the items. Even the books they bought were stored away, to be sorted and organized later when they had time.

After handling the outer room, Zhang Guoqing asked her to sit down and see if anything had been missed, while he placed a bamboo basket with 30 eggs in the farthest corner. On top of it, he put two wild chickens and some preserved meat. In the cabinet, he left 2 pounds each of brown sugar and red dates with some white fungus, for convenient use.

"Honey, this storage space is really handy, no need to move anything. But tomorrow if mom asks, what should I say?"

"Just say I tidied things up, and the items were giving off mixed smells in the living room. Anything else, just play dumb and say you don’t know." Zhang Guoqing advised her with a smile.

The couple checked the outer room and found everything in order, realizing that they were set for meals for the next few days and could make soup anytime.

Returning to their room, Lin Lishan had already tidied it, making it easier to organize. Zhou Jiao took out two original boxes from the storage, one of which was empty, and arranged inside it the jewelry given by Grandpa Zhang, Grandma Zhang, and Zhang Guoqing’s father after they moved here. She also placed her grandma’s small wooden box given to her dad, the promissory notes and property deeds given by her mom, as well as the box her grandmama gave to Ping’an, all at the bottom of the large box. She then added some precious jewelry and their own 1000 yuan in cash.

"Brother, this box is all for valuables, remember it well for me, so we don’t get it mixed up in the future. Leave half the box empty so we can fill it with my dowry when we return to Beijing. Mom said she prepared some valuable jewelry and gold. Who knows when we’ll be able to fill this box." Zhou Jiao sighed.

Zhang Guoqing covered his mouth, his eyes twitching with suppressed laughter, his shoulders shaking. After a while, he chuckled and said, "You already have so much, and you still want more? You only look at them and can’t wear them, what’s the use? It’s not as useful as a piece of meat."

Zhou Jiao rolled her eyes at him, this unromantic guy, glaring at him angrily, "Can’t I feel better just by touching and looking at them? Can’t I secretly wear them at home to admire myself?"

Zhang Guoqing found her exasperation amusing and comforted her, "Don’t worry, for the other half of the box, your husband will help you fill it. When we grow old and the situation improves, you can wear a new set every day and I’ll accompany you to stroll around the streets. Think about it, wouldn’t this old lady be swaggering?"

"Ha..." Zhou Jiao laughed uncontrollably, pointing at him and saying, "Wearing a new set every day? When you’re all old and your legs are weak, even if someone tries to rob you, you won’t be able to catch them. It’s like you’re trying to attract attention. When we grow old, we’ll travel all over the country. I’ve never seen the outside world. During my studies, I didn’t have money and always thought about earning some, wishing money could rain down on me; after getting married, I just wanted to drop all burdens and live well with you; when I finally didn’t lack money, money became just numbers, and I thought about our son being born, promising to take the whole family on a good trip. I never imagined we’d go so far. Life is just like a dream, and dreams are like life."

Zhang Guoqing saw her growing more despondent as she spoke, her voice lowering, and he approached to hug her, gently stroking her hair, whispering in her ear, "Whether life is like a dream or dreams are like life, as long as you’re by my side in the dream, as long as my right hand can hold your left, whether we look back or forward, with you, everything is worthwhile."

Zhou Jiao smiled at him and said, "May we have a true heart and never part till we’re white-haired."

She always remembered the line from the proposal letter she received. Upon opening it, those words were written on a piece of red paper, her name at the top and his name at the bottom, linking them across two lifetimes.

Zhang Guoqing chuckled, "During that time, I racked my brain trying to figure out how to propose to you. Friends suggested things like sending roses, proposing with a ring found in a meal at a restaurant, or getting down on one knee in public—all things I felt you wouldn’t like and didn’t suit you.

You wouldn’t appreciate me dealing with love superficially or trying to get attention. You need to understand the brain cells of a science major— one day, it suddenly occurred to me about the three letters and six ceremonies from ancient etiquette, all involving red paper given to the bride. So I thought of writing a poem on the red paper. I stayed up all night and realized that nothing was more fitting than ’May we have a true heart and never part till we’re white-haired.’ So I wrote it down. After giving it to you, I was so nervous. I still remember that feeling now. I hoped you’d understand me, but feared you might think I was insincere.

When you nodded with a smile, I felt like you truly understood me, and I you. My heart ached, and I held back my tears for fear of crying aloud. Finally, I have someone in this world who understands me. I’m no longer just Zhang Guoqing the orphan, but have a soulmate wife, a future with adorable children, finally having a home. I no longer have to envy others who can loudly declare they’re going home."