Ch 79: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

Xing Kai, who had been satisfied with Shen Xuewei, now wore a dark expression. He had only returned home after several years, kindly saved someone, yet ended up being schemed against. Could a woman this manipulative truly be filial to her in-laws and care for his two children after marriage?

The joyous atmosphere of the wedding was tainted by a sense of calculation, extinguishing any celebratory spirit. The next day, the Xing family hosted the customary banquet for their neighbors but stashed away the fine cigarettes, liquor, fruits, and snacks they had prepared. The wedding feast was kept simple, which seemed fitting since it was a second marriage, and no one found it inappropriate.

Xing Kai had also planned to borrow several bicycles for a celebratory ride through the village with his friends but canceled the idea. Instead, he used the family’s old, dusty bicycle, still caked in mud, as it hadn’t been prepared for this purpose.

The young men accompanying the wedding party had heard about the incident and cheerfully congratulated Xing Kai on his promotion to company commander. They tried to comfort him: “Kai, don’t be upset with your wife. She values you—besides, fate brought you together when you saved her, didn’t it?”

“Exactly. Marrying is about building a life, and whoever you marry, it’s all the same. In the village, your wife is considered top-notch.”

Xing Kai thought to himself, “Top-notch here, maybe, but not elsewhere.” If it hadn’t been for the rescue incident, he had originally planned to follow his superiors’ advice, find a spouse in the military, and reunite his two children later. Now, all those plans were disrupted. Shen Xuewei didn’t seem suitable either, so returning to the base seemed like his best option.

Xing Kai’s face remained emotionless. Though he was not a cheerful person by nature, his stoic demeanor on what should have been a joyous day made everyone around him feel awkward. The celebration felt stifled. People were aware he was a company commander—a rank they had never encountered—so no one dared to joke around in his presence.

Even Shen family, trying to greet him, found his lukewarm attitude hard to navigate, leaving them smiling stiffly without knowing what to say. The atmosphere grew so subdued that it felt more like a funeral than a wedding banquet, leaving Old Madam Shen fuming with frustration.

Fortunately, Xiao’s wedding party arrived just in time!

From a distance, the rumbling sound of a tractor echoed. Villagers rushed to the gate, exclaiming, “A tractor! Xiao Jun drove a tractor to pick up his bride!”

The Shen family was just as stunned. Xiao Jun, beaming with pride, drove a sparkling clean tractor adorned with a bright red flower. As he parked in front of the Shen family’s house, the villagers erupted in excitement.

In their small village, tractors were unheard of. For Xiao Jun to arrive with one suggested remarkable connections and wealth. Marrying Shen Yunxuan into the Xiao family clearly seemed like a great match!

While everyone crowded around the tractor, eager to touch it, the sound of bicycle bells drew their attention. A group of clean-cut young men rode over on gleaming bicycles, each adorned with red ribbons, clearly part of Xiao Jun’s wedding procession, adding to the festive mood.

Xiao Jun leaped off the tractor, shouting, “Yunxuan! I’m here to take you home!”

His friends chimed in, “Sister-in-law! Brother Jun is here to take you home! Let’s light some firecrackers!”

One of the men immediately set off a string of firecrackers at the Shen family’s door. The popping sounds finally ignited a lively atmosphere, and the villagers laughed, blocking Xiao Jun’s way and teasing, “The groom has to sing a song to enter!”

Xiao Jun raised his eyebrows. “What’s so hard about that? Brothers, let’s sing together!”

As they sang a spirited tune, one of Xiao Jun’s friends pulled out a borrowed camera, carefully positioning it to take photos. The villagers, used to only visiting photo studios for pictures, eagerly tidied their clothes and hair, suddenly more reserved.

Some considered asking Xing Kai to join the festivities, but seeing his cold expression, silently watching from the courtyard, they hesitated and stayed to enjoy Xiao Jun’s lively celebration instead.

Xiao Jun sang, performed push-ups with his friends, and distributed handfuls of candy, earning cheers from the crowd as he finally made it through the door.

Meanwhile, Shen Yunxuan was in her room, while Shen Xuewei stayed in the adjacent one with Shen Weiguo and Fang Fang. That morning, with the family busy dealing with Shen Xuewei’s situation, Shen Yunxuan had taken time to do her makeup. Despite limited tools, her natural beauty shone through after some eyebrow shaping and eyeliner, making her look more refined.

When Xiao Jun’s friends escorted him into her room and saw Shen Yunxuan, they immediately whistled, teasing him and pushing him toward her. The young women in the room blushed but mustered the courage to tell Xiao Jun to find the bride’s shoes.

The lively atmosphere in Shen Yunxuan’s room sharply contrasted with the oppressive quiet in the adjacent room. Outside, the villagers whispered, convinced that the Xing family disapproved of Shen Xuewei. After all, she was becoming a stepmother, and Xing Kai could marry anyone he wanted as a company commander. Shen Xuewei, who had never done much work in her life, seemed ill-suited for the Xing household.

Meanwhile, they all believed Xiao Jun had truly fallen for Shen Yunxuan at first sight. Otherwise, why would he be so jubilant?

The two grooms brought their brides to the elder matriarch’s room to serve tea to the three elders. Xiao Jun was all smiles, while Xing Kai remained expressionless, making the Shen family increasingly uneasy. Shen Jie, who had rushed back to attend his sisters’ weddings, felt displeased, thinking neither brother-in-law had the sense to greet him.

Shen Jie had been waiting for them to curry favor, hoping to receive a red envelope as the family’s only younger brother. Yet, after completing the formalities, the two grooms left with their brides without a word to him.

Xiao Jun lifted Shen Yunxuan onto the tractor, loading her dowry of bedding, thermos flasks, and other items onto it as well. The bright red decorations added to the festive air. With a hearty shout of “Let’s go,” the tractor rumbled away, followed by a lively procession of bicycles. The group bantered and joked as they moved along.

Trailing behind them were curious villagers. It wasn’t every day they saw a tractor or so many bicycles. Excited to witness the novelty, they followed, claiming they were seeing Shen Yunxuan off while shouting for Xiao Jun to treat her well. Shen Yunxuan waved to them with a cheerful smile.

One of Xiao Jun’s friends, camera in hand, rushed ahead to capture the bustling scene. To an outsider, it might have seemed as if Shen Yunxuan were some important village figure, given the lively and grand celebration for her wedding.

In stark contrast, Xing Kai’s procession was sparse and lackluster, drawing pity and amusement from onlookers. Shen Xuewei had been stunned when she heard the sound of the tractor. Seeing Xiao Jun and his cheerful group escort Shen Yunxuan with firecrackers, a camera, songs, and push-ups, she felt a pang of bitterness and envy.

In her previous life, her family had painstakingly negotiated her marriage to Xiao Jun, who had been unenthusiastic. On the wedding day, he had brought just five friends on bicycles, mainly to transport her dowry. He had been cold and distant throughout. Out of respect for Xiao Jun being from the city, the villagers hadn’t dared to tease him, and the wedding ended without much fanfare.

But now, for Shen Yunxuan, Xiao Jun had gone all out, turning the wedding into a grand event. A tractor for the bridal procession was unprecedented in the area, making Shen Yunxuan the envy of the village and leaving Shen Xuewei seething with jealousy.

Meanwhile, Xing Kai maintained his cold demeanor. Shen Xuewei couldn’t understand why. The day before, when they had gone to the town to register their marriage, he had been pleasant, even smiling at her several times and speaking gently. Why now, on their wedding day, was he giving her the cold shoulder in front of everyone?

The awkward atmosphere was broken only by a few young women who tried to lighten the mood but soon whispered to Shen Xuewei that people were gossiping about her marrying Xing Kai solely because he was a company commander. Startled, Shen Xuewei quickly masked her emotions and feigned surprise. “Xing Kai became a company commander? Since when? I didn’t know. Who told you that?”

One of the women scrutinized her. “Your sister said so. Why else would your family agree to this marriage? We’re close friends—why would you hide this from us? Afraid we’d ask Commander Xing for help?”

Realizing they were annoyed, Shen Xuewei hurriedly explained that she genuinely didn’t know and that her family had proposed the match after the drowning incident. One of the women rolled her eyes. “So, you didn’t want to marry him? Then don’t. We’ll help you explain to the villagers, and no one will gossip about you.”

Frustrated and upset with both the girls and Shen Yunxuan, Shen Xuewei choked up. “We’ve already registered the marriage. Why are you saying this now?”

“So, you were forced to marry Commander Xing?”

Shen Xuewei, nearly driven to tears, worried that Xing Kai’s family might overhear. She quickly said, “I’ve admired soldiers since I was young. I’m thrilled to marry Xing Kai!”

“Then why were you acting so reluctant earlier? Just be happy from the start.”

The women stopped speaking to her. When Xing Kai entered the room, they left without participating in the customary shoe-hunting games, clearly showing their disdain. This made Xing Kai suspect that Shen Xuewei might not have a good reputation among the villagers.

As the bridal party departed, Shen Xuewei saw Xiao Jun’s impressive tractor and the procession of clean bicycles, then glanced at Xing Kai on his muddy, dilapidated bike. Her eyes reddened with humiliation. Even her dowry was carried by the men accompanying Xing Kai, who walked back with it in their arms.

The journey from the Shen household to the Xing household was silent. Xing Kai said nothing, and the others followed suit. When they arrived, the simple, unimpressive dishes on the table made Shen Xuewei feel even more aggrieved. Although her parents-in-law greeted her with smiles, their expressions lacked warmth. When Mother Xing asked the two children to call her “Mom,” they merely glared at her and ran off. Shen Xuewei felt a lump of frustration in her chest, unable to vent.

Determined to salvage the situation, she put on a cheerful front. However, this only made Xing Kai’s family more suspicious, perceiving her as a calculating person. To them, someone who could act as if nothing was wrong after being exposed was dangerous and needed to be guarded against.

The villagers, sensing the Xing family’s dissatisfaction, quickly finished their meal and left. The wedding banquet ended hastily, with everyone comparing the two marriages. Most concluded that Shen Yunxuan had a far better deal, as her in-laws clearly valued her.

Because the Xiao family was relatively affluent with four salaried members and the Xing family had a company commander, the villagers felt both Shen sisters had married above their station. After discussing the weddings, they couldn’t help but remark that the Shen family’s ancestors must have been smiling down on them. Some even joked that Shen Jie’s future was now secure, with two capable brothers-in-law to support him for life.

That evening, when Xing Kai and Shen Xuewei were finally alone in their new room, Shen Xuewei quickly explained with teary eyes, “Kai, I truly didn’t know you had become a company commander. I don’t know where my sister heard that or why people are saying such things. I wanted to marry you because, on the day I nearly drowned, you jumped in like a hero to save me. From that moment, I wanted to marry you!”

Xing Kai looked at her sharply. “You say you didn’t know, so how did you convince your parents?”

Shen Xuewei faltered under his intimidating gaze, struggling to respond. After a moment, she said, “I threatened them. I told them that if they didn’t let me marry you, I wouldn’t marry anyone. They saw I was determined and agreed to talk to your family. When our marriage was arranged, you don’t know how happy I was. I genuinely admire and like you. Kai, don’t believe the rumors, please? Trust me. I swear I truly love you and only want to live a good life with you. If I’m lying, may the heavens—”

Xing Kai covered her mouth, his tanned face slightly flushed. He coughed awkwardly and said, “Alright, I believe you. Don’t swear oaths like that—it’s unlucky.”

It was the first time a woman had boldly and sincerely confessed her love for him, even swearing an oath to prove it. It seemed somewhat believable. But whether it was true or not no longer mattered—they were already married, and military marriages couldn’t be casually dissolved. The past was in the past, and as long as they lived well moving forward, that was enough.

Under the dim yellow light, Shen Xuewei’s pale complexion and teary, delicate appearance softened Xing Kai’s stance. He decided not to say more. Since he’d be home for a couple more days, perhaps they could try for a child.

Just as Xing Kai turned off the light, urgent knocking came from the door. His daughter, Xing Xiaoxia, cried out, “Dad, I had a nightmare! I’m scared. Will you stay with me?”

Having been apart from his children for years, Xing Kai doted on them during this visit. Hearing this, he immediately pushed Shen Xuewei aside, opened the door, and comforted Xing Xiaoxia back to her room. He didn’t return the entire night, leaving Shen Xuewei fuming, her soft expression turning dark.

In contrast, Shen Yunxuan’s wedding at the Xiao family was the grandest event the neighboring villages had ever seen. Xiao Jun, loyal and empathetic, wanted to make the wedding as elaborate as possible to honor Shen Yunxuan and her hardships. He also wanted to bring joy to his parents.

By 1980, policies had relaxed, and such celebratory events were no longer frowned upon. The Xiao family invited many relatives and friends, bringing their entire families along. The house and yard overflowed with guests, requiring more than ten tables to accommodate everyone. The noise was so lively that softer voices couldn’t be heard.

Shen Yunxuan, unfamiliar with most of the faces, was still thrilled. In her past life, her wedding had been quiet, and her in-laws had been unwelcoming. Now, with such a lively celebration, she felt overjoyed. Xiao Jun’s close friends even took photographs, creating precious memories. Her smile grew brighter, knowing these moments would become cherished keepsakes. This was also her first significant change after her rebirth, filling her with genuine happiness.

The couple, radiant with joy, toasted their guests confidently, joking and laughing along the way. The relatives and friends, initially skeptical about Xiao Jun marrying someone from the countryside, were pleasantly surprised. Shen Yunxuan’s poise and elegance far exceeded expectations, even surpassing some city folk. Her charm explained why Xiao Jun was so smitten.

When someone learned that Shen Yunxuan had only completed middle school, they were impressed by her knowledge. She explained that she loved borrowing books to read during her free time and had learned much from the elderly who had been rehabilitated after past political struggles.

Her story earned admiration from the guests, who saw her as someone who persevered in learning despite adversity. Some even remarked that Xiao Jun was incredibly fortunate, marrying such a treasure. Even those who initially looked down on her became more restrained, unable to find fault.

The wedding was filled with joy. Shen Yunxuan quickly bonded with the guests, chatting and laughing. Even after returning to the bridal room, she was accompanied by sisters-in-law and friends who brought her food, ensuring she wasn’t hungry.

As the guests departed, the Xiao family overheard whispers praising Shen Yunxuan for her intelligence, eloquence, and grace. Their hearts swelled with pride, making the day’s exhaustion worthwhile.

Xiao Jun grinned and said, “Dad, Mom, what do you think? Are you happy now? Your dream finally came true.”

Yu Hong playfully smacked him. “What are you saying? This is your wedding, your joyous occasion. Now go clean up and spend time with your wife. And remember, you brought her home joyfully today—don’t you dare mistreat her in the future.”

Xiao Jun laughed, “Relax, would I bully my own family? If I’m upset, I’ll take it out on outsiders. Just look at how furious I made the Shen family. Hahaha.”

His eldest sister-in-law chuckled but reminded him, “Don’t say that in front of your wife. She can criticize her family, but you can’t. Otherwise, if she makes up with them later, you’ll end up the bad guy.”

Xiao Jun nodded and urged everyone to rest. “Leave everything in the yard; I’ll tidy it up tomorrow morning. We’re all tired today. Tomorrow, I’ll get us something good to eat as a reward.”

“What reward? There’s enough leftovers for three meals. You’d do better to stay home instead of running around,” Yu Hong said, annoyed, as she shoved him toward the bridal room.

The Xiao family’s courtyard was spacious. The front housed the main gate and the home of Xiao Jun’s elder brother and his wife. Behind it were two connected buildings—one for the elder Xiao couple and the other for Xiao Jun and Shen Yunxuan. Behind these were the bathhouse and restroom. On the east side of the yard was the kitchen, and on the west side was a storage room. High wooden fences surrounded the rest of the property.

The houses were brick and tile, with freshly whitewashed walls that made Shen Yunxuan feel much more comfortable. The past few days at the Shen family’s dark, cramped mudbrick house had been unpleasant. Thankfully, it hadn’t rained, or the leaking roof would have made it worse. At least here, her living conditions were significantly improved. For this era and in this town, the Xiao family’s home was considered quite good.

Shen Yunxuan had already washed up and changed into a set of new cotton clothes that doubled as comfortable sleepwear and casual attire, should she need to step outside. Her hair was undone, cascading loosely down her back, adding a touch of elegance. She was by the bedside, spreading the bedding.

Xiao Jun entered the room in his usual carefree manner, only to freeze when he saw her. His face turned red as he quickly averted his gaze to the wall. “You—you—you…”

Shen Yunxuan couldn’t help but burst into laughter, laughing so hard that she struggled to stop. Her reaction made Xiao Jun flustered. He strode over, glaring at her with a dark expression. “What are you laughing at? Are you making fun of me?”

Waving her hand, Shen Yunxuan said, “No, I just think it’s funny how a grown man like you is blushing like a child.”

Xiao Jun’s face grew darker. “Who’s a child?”

Seeing his reaction, Shen Yunxuan cleared her throat and said, “I’m not even exposing anything. Why are you embarrassed? From now on, in front of others, we need to act like a loving couple—deeply in love and full of trust. How can you manage that if you’re this shy?”

Xiao Jun snorted and flopped onto the bed. “If I need to get used to it, let’s skip the floor bedding. This way, I’ll get familiar quickly.”

He was trying to scare her, but Shen Yunxuan merely nodded. “Alright,” she said, taking a set of cotton clothes from under the pillow and handing it to him. “Here, change into this. It’s made from the same fabric as mine. Wearing matching clothes will make us look even more like a couple. I made it myself—try it on and see if it fits.”

Xiao Jun instinctively took the clothes, his hand heating up where it touched the fabric. The thought of the matching fabric and her handmade effort made his face flush even more. He hurriedly excused himself, ran outside to take a cold shower, and carefully changed into the clothes. They fit perfectly.

He grinned from ear to ear. It was the first time a woman had made him clothes—his wife, no less!

Puffing out his chest, he strutted back into the yard, deliberately making some noise. Yu Hong, peeking out her window, noticed the new outfit and casually asked, “New clothes?”

Xiao Jun beamed. “Yeah, my wife made them! Matching sets from the same fabric!”

Yu Hong froze for a moment, then smirked at his proud demeanor and closed the window. Meanwhile, Shen Weiguo, Xiao Jun’s elder brother, and his wife overheard the conversation and couldn’t stop laughing. Even Shen Yunxuan chuckled softly.

When Xiao Jun returned to the room, his grin had faded. He locked the door, drew the curtains, and turned off the lights before climbing into bed. But once lying down, he felt uneasy. “Maybe I—I should sleep on the floor after all.”

“If my parents see, what will they think? Just stay here,” Shen Yunxuan said as she stretched and settled into a comfortable position, closing her eyes.

Xiao Jun lay stiffly by the edge of the bed, staring at the ceiling. After a moment, he murmured, “What if you meet someone you like later? Will you divorce me and marry him? Won’t he mind?”

“Then I just won’t look for anyone. Who says a woman has to marry?”

Xiao Jun’s mind went blank. Could women really stay single? Every woman he knew got married. Living alone would invite gossip and hardships. But before he could voice his confusion, Shen Yunxuan continued, “Right now, I’m thinking about building a career. Even the leaders say women can hold up half the sky. I’ve finally escaped my old life, so I’m determined to do something meaningful. If I just drift aimlessly, I might as well have stayed where I was.”

Xiao Jun perked up at her words. “A career? You mean getting a job? What kind of work do you want to do? My parents said they’d help you. My mom suggested the textile factory, where she’s a workshop supervisor. She can look after you, and when she retires, you can take over her position.”

Shen Yunxuan turned to her side, looking at him. “Have you considered that these factories might not last forever? As society develops, new opportunities will emerge, better ones.”

Xiao Jun was momentarily stunned, then quickly turned to face her. “What do you mean? You think factories might shut down? How’s that possible? Those jobs are supposed to be iron rice bowls.”

Shen Yunxuan explained, “I’ve learned a lot from others about history. Every dynasty had its periods of wealth and poverty. When the economy develops, small shops and street vendors selling all kinds of goods flourish because people have money to spend.”

Xiao Jun’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Are you saying the black market trade might become legitimate?” He thought for a moment. “That might be true. Compared to a couple of years ago, the authorities aren’t as strict now. I’ve even seen people selling ice pops and sunflower seeds outside the cinema. But there still aren’t many street vendors.”

“This is the time when the bold thrive, and the timid starve,” Shen Yunxuan said. “But it’s not about acting recklessly. You need to observe carefully and strike at the right moment.”

Xiao Jun’s quick-thinking nature kicked in. At twelve, he had once secretly taken a train to another town to buy a few digital watches to sell. Unfortunately, he was caught before making a single sale, reprimanded, and had the watches confiscated. After that, he never tried it again.

As they discussed history, Xiao Jun’s thoughts began to flow. “I’ve never heard of needing tickets to buy things in the past. Do you think the policy of using ration tickets will change? Didn’t they already change the college entrance exam system? And those educated youths sent to the countryside are returning to the cities. Even the people sent to labor camps have been rehabilitated.”

He grew more excited as he spoke. “Maybe a lot of things will change! Yunxuan, your brain is amazing. You’re right—why should we take factory jobs? There are already four people in the family working. What’s the point of adding more? Let’s set up a stall and start selling stuff!”

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆