Five years of marriage, always separated [1970s]

The next morning, Ye Fan and his sister-in-law each rode a 28-inch bicycle to the supply and marketing cooperative.

Li Mingyue originally thought that the Chen family was too poor to afford a bike, and Chen Xiaohui had never learned how to ride in the countryside, so she said she would take her there. Chen Xiaohui knew how to ride, so Li Mingyue asked her to ride her mother-in-law's bike and follow behind her.

The Ye family was in the southeast of the supply and marketing cooperative, and the Geng family was in the northwest of the supply and marketing cooperative. The supply and marketing cooperative was three miles away from the Ye family, and less than two miles away from the Geng family without having to cross the road. If Yu Wentao hadn't been so busy, Tao Chunlan wouldn't have been willing to let Ye Fan live at home.

Yu Wentao woke up early because she slept less, and she had already prepared dinner at 6:30. Ye Fan and Geng Zhiqin went to the supply and marketing cooperative after dinner, while Chen Xiaohui and Li Mingyue left home. Ye Fan took advantage of Chen Xiaohui not arriving yet and went to the director to tell him that if Chen Xiaohui was not competent, Xiaoqin should be replaced.

The director smiled and joked, "I told your sister-in-law this morning that Ye Fan was very generous and gave up his job as soon as he asked."

"It's just a job." Ye Fan didn't take it seriously. "Why should I be without a job?"

The director nodded: "It's still Miss Ye whom I know. But you think, I asked her to stay for a day-"

"Stop! She has no grudge against you. You are making things difficult for her. Everyone knows that I instigated it, or you are helping me vent my anger. If she can't continue working here, won't my mother worry? Not to mention that she raised me to this age, and helped me take care of my two children in the past few years. I can't make things difficult for my mother." Ye's father expressed his dislike for Chen Xiaohui, but Ye Fan did not make trouble because he didn't want him to feel disgusted when he saw Chen Xiaohui in the future, but he couldn't kick her out of the house, and in the end, Ye's father was still angry with himself.

Although Ye Fan has always been open and honest, there are exceptions to everything, so the director just said, "Why is that?"

"My mother-in-law insists that I can't tell the difference between relatives and strangers."

When the director heard that Ye Fan really didn't mean that, he simply skipped the topic and said, "We all thought you would ask Xiao Qin to take over."

Ye Fan: "After I leave, ask Chen Xiaohui if she can drive a three-wheeled vehicle, and if she wants to collect the goods and sell the vegetables, and let Xiaoqin do the accounting."

"Can she do it?" The director was not optimistic.

Ye Fan nodded: "She has been in the countryside for many years and knows how to get along with the villagers. She has gone to high school and was able to come back from Shanghai in one piece. She is smart enough to handle this matter."

"In that case, with you guiding her, she can sort out the accounts."

Chen Xiaohui found the accounts simple, so after Ye Fan taught her for a long time, she said she had learned it.

Seeing that she spoke eloquently, her handwriting was neat, and her abacus clicked loudly, Ye Fan agreed to let her try.

However, Ye Fan dared not be careless about public affairs, and before going home, he secretly told the cashier to ask Chen Xiaohui to help if she encountered something she didn't understand. When he saw Geng Zhiqin outside, he asked Geng Zhiqin to take Chen Xiaohui home after get off work to prevent her from getting lost.

Geng Zhiqin muttered: "You are not a child, don't you know to ask if you get lost?"

"She just came back from the countryside and has never been to the capital before."

Geng Zhiqin nodded randomly: "I understand."

Ye Fan felt uneasy, but after thinking it over, he felt there was nothing wrong, so he went home to be with his children.

Around twelve o'clock, Ye Fan and her mother-in-law were in the kitchen. They heard some clanging noises. Ye Fan went out and saw Geng Zhiqin pushing a cart in. He pulled a long face and asked, "Is someone causing trouble?"

Geng Zhiqin was stunned for a moment, then he shook his head and said, "Whoever dares to cause trouble in the supply and marketing cooperative must not want to live anymore."

Geng Zhiye: "You are so arrogant."

"That's right. If we don't sell him rice, flour and oil, what will he eat?" Geng Zhiqin parked the car and went to wash his hands. Erbao ran out with candy: "Auntie, have some candy."

Geng Zhiqin picked up his little niece and kissed her on the face: "Erbao is so good, auntie's little cotton-padded jacket."

Geng Zhiye: "She's had enough."

"That's my pleasure too." Geng Zhiqin carried his niece to the main room.

Ye Fan asked: "Are you really okay?"

"She was frightened by a dog." Geng Zhiqin didn't want his sister-in-law to be in a dilemma. "If she wasn't already in a relationship, I would have gone to the street office and told them that the dog had bitten someone and had to be humanely destroyed."

Ye Fan: "Did you have a fight with the dog owner?"

Geng Zhiqin shook his head.

Ye Fan didn't believe it, but it wasn't a big deal, so he went to the kitchen to continue washing the vegetables.

Geng Zhiye winked at his sister and went out to talk.

Geng Zhiqin stuffed his little niece into her father's arms, and leaned against the wall outside the door: "I know I can't hide it from you."

"I took Dabao and Erbao out these past two days and didn't see anyone raising a dog. You're just talking nonsense because your sister-in-law doesn't come home often. What's going on?"

It's not a big deal.

Before leaving get off work, Geng Zhiqin went to find Chen Xiaohui and asked her how to go home and whether she wanted him to give her a ride. Chen Xiaohui first said no, and then asked Geng Zhiqin to accompany her for a while, as she was not familiar with this place.

Geng Zhiqin thought that his third sister-in-law was amazing and could even predict this.

Coming out of the supply and marketing cooperative, Chen Xiaohui said she had heard of Geng Zhiqin. Geng Zhiqin nodded and said nothing, probably because he heard it from the elders of the Ye family. Chen Xiaohui continued to chat with Geng Zhiqin, asking her how old she was, how many years she had studied, and whether she had been promoted. Geng Zhiqin answered patiently for the sake of his sister-in-law. When they reached the turning point, Geng Zhiqin said that if they went east and saw a familiar house and crossed the road, they would reach the Ye family.

Chen Xiaohui thanked her and Geng Zhiqin was ready to go back. Chen Xiaohui said that she was still young at 20 and there was no need to rush to get married. Geng Zhiqin nodded subconsciously. On the way home, she thought more and more that something was wrong. Chen Xiaohui spoke to her in an elder's tone, as if she was not doing her job properly and could not live without a man.

Geng Zhiqin spoke out her guess and couldn't help scolding: "Third brother, do you think she is sick? It's totally inexplicable. It's also my mother's fault. She asked me to go on blind dates every day. Now even Chen Xiaohui knows that I want to get married."

Geng Zhiye never thought it had anything to do with her: "If I had known I wouldn't have asked."

"Is she really sick?" Geng Zhiqin crossed his arms with a look of fear on his face.

Geng Zhiye: "From now on, I will treat her as a distant relative whom I will just say hello to when I see her, but will not have any private contact with."

"Don't you need to be on guard?"

Geng Zhiye shook his head: "It's easy to deal with someone with bad intentions. By the way, no matter what you heard in the supply and marketing cooperative these days, you must pretend that you don't know, and you are not allowed to tell your sister-in-law. When I coax her away, you can talk to Dad and Aunt Yu however you want."

"Sister-in-law has already agreed, how can she go back on her word? Dabao has already dropped out of school."

Geng Zhiye: "If my mother-in-law says she is worried about Chen Xiaohui, Ye Fanfan dares to ask me to leave first."

In order to prevent people from the supply and marketing cooperative from finding their home, Geng Zhiye suggested taking the children out to play after lunch. The eldest and second children were so excited that they skipped their nap.

The next day, Ye Fan and Geng Zhiye took the child out to play for another day, and then took the child to visit relatives, first to Geng Zhiye's uncle's house, and then to the Tao family, personally explaining the "wrong child" incident to the two families.

The relatives of the Geng and Ye families thought this matter was absurd and disgusting, but Geng Zhiye and Ye Fan's attitude told them to just treat it as one more relative. After the two families calmed down, they accepted Chen Xiaohui's existence.

After explaining everything that needed to be explained, Geng Zhiye asked Ye Fan to go to Ye's house to pack clothes for her and her two children.

Tao Chunlan looked at Ye Fan's empty closet and dressing table, and her heart felt empty as well. She was filled with tears of pain.

Ye Fan hugged her shoulders helplessly: "Mom, I'm going to the army, not the front line. Besides, the train is convenient, you can go there and stay for a few days if you have nothing to do at home." "How can I leave?" Tao Chunlan rarely cried, and she felt embarrassed.

Geng Zhiye: "Chen Xiaohui can take care of herself."

"That won't work either. If you two leave first and I follow you, I don't know what she will think."

Ye Fan laughed: "I haven't settled down there yet, why are you going there? Of course I'll go after the New Year."

"But it's only the fourth month of the lunar calendar."

Ye Fan had never been away from Tao Chunlan for more than a month since she was a child. Although Geng Zhiye understood his mother-in-law, he was also annoyed. How could she be so attached to her daughter? Ye Fan even said that her mother opposed her going to the army because she was worried that Dabao and Erbao would not be able to adapt.

Only she believes this!

"Then I'll go this way?" Ye Fan took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears. "It's also convenient to take the bus from here."

Tao Chunlan: "Ask your dad to drive you there."

Geng Zhiye wanted to hold his forehead with his hand: "Dad has only been back for a few days? What will others think if he specially comes out to send his daughter off?"

Tao Chunlan: "Then go back and get your things. You can stay at home for the next two days."

It's no wonder his father complained to his father-in-law whenever he saw him. His son was raised by the Ye family. Geng Zhiye lied: "My second brother and his wife will be back in the next two days. We will come over the day after tomorrow."

"Your tickets for the day after tomorrow!" Tao Chunlan couldn't help but say loudly.

Geng Zhiye didn't waste time talking to her: "Pack your things first. Please don't bring Erbao's old clothes. Take one of your cotton-padded jackets, and some thick woolen trousers and thick cotton shoes. It's cold in the south and your feet and legs will freeze."

When Tao Chunlan heard this, she said, "Fanfan, I'll clean up, you go get Dabao and Erbao."

"Aren't you afraid that my parents-in-law will come and scold you?" Dabao and Erbao's looks perfectly avoid the shortcomings of their parents, and Yu Wentao likes to take them out to show off. Geng's father also likes granddaughters and grandsons who don't cry or make a fuss and love to eat and play.

The two children have been gone for at least a year. If we take them back now, Geng's father might really scold us.

Tao Chunlan: "It's been more than ten days since I went back."

Ye Fan: "But he has been staying at our house for the past few years. You and dad can go and stay for a few days, but my father-in-law's health won't allow it."

"Then let it go since he can't take care of himself."

Can he speak? Geng Zhiye thought to himself that my dad just needs to take medicine all year round.

Ye Fan stuffed the two cloth bags with food and went back to her husband's home with Geng Zhiye.

The next morning, the couple went to the Friendship Store to buy a large bag of food and daily necessities. When they got home, they divided it into three parts, one for the niece and nephew, one for Geng Zhiqin, and the other was put in a bag for the family of four to use on the road.

Yu Wentao took the luncheon meat and said, "Put it on Dabao and Erbao."

Geng Zhiqin reached out and snatched it away: "How can we eat on the train?"

"How are you going to eat? There's no bread."

"Can't you put steamed bread slices in it? If you feel sorry for them, go buy them two roast ducks and braised chickens. Dabao and Erbao can hold them and chew them."

Yu Wentao didn't expect that you could bring braised chicken on the bus: "Did they ask you to bring it?"

"You can bring steamed buns and Coke too." Geng Zhiqin put the things in the room and locked it. "Are you going? I'll take you there, and you can take the bus back by yourself."

Yu Wentao loved to take on tasks, so she immediately went back to the house to get the money.

At the entrance of the alley, Geng Zhiqin began to set a trap for her: "Mom, tomorrow my third sister-in-law and third brother will go to Ye's house and go to the train station from Ye's house. Do you know why?"

"What?"

Geng Zhiqin: "Auntie Tao is worried about you. I would say don't buy it yet. Prepare food and daily necessities tomorrow. They will arrive at Ye's house in the morning and you can go there in the afternoon. It's a good opportunity to see what Chen Xiaohui looks like."

Yu Wentao complained whenever she thought about it these days. She didn't know what kind of person Chen Xiaohui was. She came and snatched her job as soon as she got there.

Hearing this, Yu Wentao asked Geng Zhiqin to stop and walked back to her home, which was not far away.

The next evening, Chen Xiaohui came back from get off work. Tao Chunlan was picking vegetables in the yard to prepare cooking. Yu Wentao came and stuffed the things she bought into Ye Fan's arms. She pulled Chen Xiaohui and praised her daughter affectionately, saying that she was so pretty and smart, unlike her stupid Geng Zhiqin, who had been a vegetable seller in the supply and marketing cooperative for several years, unlike Xiaohui who had been an accountant as soon as she got there.

Chen Xiaohui's smile froze. Seeing this, Ye Fan wanted to sigh. Who brought her here?

"Dabao, Erbao, look what grandma bought." Ye Fan spoke up, and Yu Wentao temporarily let Chen Xiaohui go: "Dabao, Erbao, grandma bought you a big roast duck and a big braised chicken, for you two to eat on the way."

Dabao: “Can’t I eat now?”

"No!" Dabao and Erbao couldn't finish their meals, so their daughter-in-law helped them eat. It was impossible for Chen Xiaohui to just watch. Yu Wentao shook her head: "If we eat now, we won't have anything to eat on the way."

Ye Fan: “I bought it.”

"You are the mother and I am the grandmother. We are different."

Ye Fan didn't want to argue with her: "How did you get here? I'll take you back."

"No need for you to send me off. I came here by bike."

Ye Fan: "Then let's go back. It's hard to walk in the dark."

Tao Chunlan asked her to go into the house and rest for a while. Chen Xiaohui's face changed slightly, and Ye Fan wanted to sigh again, thinking that what she said was not harsh enough.

"Xiao Qin, it's time to prepare dinner." Ye Fan stared at her. That's enough.

Yu Wentao pouted angrily: "When are we leaving tomorrow?"

"The earliest bus." Ye Fan said.

Yu Wentao: "Then next time, the third brother won't be able to come back until he's on vacation?"

Ye Fan: "I can't take them to transfer by myself."

"You won't remember me next year." Yu Wentao picked up her granddaughter, "Second baby, follow me—"

Ye Fan interrupted: "Give it to me! Go home!"

(End of this chapter)