In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

After discussing with Lin Jianyue, Yang Guangming's thoughts turned back to his "life's most important matter".

The expectation and shyness hidden in Lin Jianyue's eyes when they parted that day were like a pebble thrown into the lake of his heart, rippling outwards. This made him feel an even greater sense of responsibility on his shoulders, and he longed to immediately and openly declare their relationship to the public and receive the blessings of his family.

He originally planned to find a suitable opportunity as soon as possible to confess to his mother and even his whole family the feelings that had blossomed between him and Lin Jianyue.

Therefore, he had repeatedly considered in his mind how to start the conversation and how to properly introduce Lin Jianyue's character and personality.

He even anticipated all the questions and concerns his parents might raise: What is their family background? Is his temperament really as good as he claims? What are their future plans?

However, to his surprise, after his mother’s rather urgent urging to get married that evening, Zhang Xiuying’s attitude seemed to suddenly soften, and she became less pressing and controlling.

For several days in a row, she got up before dawn as usual to prepare a hot breakfast for her family. After get off work, she washed clothes and cleaned the house. When she had a spare moment, she would move a small stool to the yard, basking in the sun while picking vegetables, and chatting with her equally busy neighbors about everyday matters, such as the rise and fall of vegetable prices and which stores sold items without coupons.

Her face always wore a satisfied smile after her daily work, but she never mentioned introducing Yang Guangming to a potential partner again, and even her subtle inquiries disappeared.

It was as if that urgent urging that night was just a passing breeze, and after the breeze passed, there was no trace left to be found.

This sudden "calm" caught Yang Guangming, who had been fully prepared and even had a hint of "ready to fight," off guard. It was like punching a soft cotton ball with all his might, leaving him with nowhere to land and a sense of uncertainty and unease.

But then he thought, this might be a good thing.

Perhaps his mother took his words about "establishing a career before starting a family" and "late marriage and late childbirth are the new trend" to heart and thought they made some sense; or perhaps she saw with her own eyes that there were always endless documents on his desk and understood the heavy workload and pressure he was under, so she temporarily put the matter aside.

Since his mother stopped asking questions, he was happy to have a few days of peace and quiet. He could use this precious time to think more carefully about how to bring it up with his family.

After all, this is no small matter; it directly relates to his and Lin Jianyue's future. It's best to choose a time when everyone is relaxed and in a harmonious atmosphere before bringing it up in a serious manner.

In a rush, if the atmosphere isn't right, it might backfire.

He thought that the weekend, when the whole family was together, would be the perfect time to relax after a busy week, brew a pot of tea, and chat about what they had seen and heard during the week.

He planned to wait until Sunday, after dinner, when everyone was sitting together drinking tea and chatting, and then naturally bring up the topic.

He even imagined the scene: his mother might be surprised, but more curious; his father might ponder for a moment, and then ask a few key questions; his brother and sister-in-law would probably offer their blessings... He hoped that everything would fall into place naturally.

Time passes quietly in the busyness.

The work at the factory remained heavy, with various meetings and reports filling his time completely.

Occasionally, during breaks in meetings or while catching his breath amidst a sea of ​​numbers, he would think of Lin Jianyue, her clear and bright eyes, the soft lines of her neck when she lowered her head slightly, and the shy yet brave way she nodded when she heard that she was going to meet his parents. His lips would unconsciously curl into a slight smile.

The heavy anticipation in my heart grew clearer and more urgent as the calendar pages turned and the weekend approached.

Lin Jianyue seemed to maintain a tacit silence as well, without urging him. However, when he occasionally called, one could hear the same expectation and a hint of barely perceptible tension in her tone.

However, the rhythm of life is always full of unexpected variations.

Before the Sunday he had planned for arrived, a message from afar, like a sudden clap of thunder, prematurely shattered his inner peace and completely diverted his attention in another direction.

It was a Thursday afternoon, and Yang Guangming was intently reviewing an annual summary report in the finance department office.

He frowned slightly, his pen constantly marking and annotating the densely packed numbers on the report, his whole mind completely absorbed in it.

Just then, the old black rotary dial telephone on the table suddenly rang, its sharp ringing breaking the silence of the office and interrupting his thoughts.

He answered the phone with a hint of impatience, his voice still hoarse from being engrossed in work: "Hello, who is this?"

The familiar booming voice of Old Li from the factory gatehouse came through the phone, mixed with a bit of background noise: "Is this Section Chief Yang Guangming? Here's a letter for you, sent from the Northeast, it looks quite thick!"

"Northeast?" Yang Guangming paused slightly, subconsciously repeating the question, then realized what he meant, his heart skipping a beat for no apparent reason. "Oh... okay, thank you, Mr. Li. I'll go get it right away."

After hanging up the phone, he paused for a moment, a sense of doubt and vague unease rising in his heart.

A letter from Northeast China? And it's quite thick?

He didn't have many social connections in Northeast China, except for... his second sister, Yang Xiangmei.

He originally intended to pick it up himself, but he was at a crucial point in his work, so he called Xiao Liu, a young and hardworking colleague in his department.

Soon, Xiao Liu retrieved the letter and handed it to him.

The envelope was made of the most common yellowish-brown kraft paper, slightly yellowed and rough in texture, with the sender's address written in the lower right corner: Kaoshantun Brigade, XX County, Heilongjiang Province.

The handwriting is neat and tidy, each stroke is written with care and effort, exuding a serious and earnest feel—it is clearly the handwriting of the second sister, Yang Xiangmei.

Yang Guangming's heart tightened inexplicably, and that inexplicable premonition became clearer.

He put down the white ceramic teacup in his hand, picked up the letter, and examined it carefully.

The letter was indeed much thicker than usual, and it felt quite heavy in his hand. He took a deep breath, then skillfully and carefully tore it open along the seal.

There were several sheets of paper, densely covered with writing, the handwriting neat, and the ink colors varied slightly, indicating that it was written in several installments at different times.

"Young man, I hope this letter finds you well. I received your letter and the things you sent last time very promptly, thank you."

Everything is fine here in the Northeast. The weather is warming up, the soil is becoming softer, and we're getting busy working in the fields. It's just that the wind and sand are still quite strong, so we always have to cover our heads with a scarf when we go out, otherwise we'll come back covered in dust..."

The letter began with the usual greetings and reassurance, in a calm tone, even carrying a touch of everyday triviality.

Yang Guangming quickly browsed through the pages, trying to glean more information, but the inexplicable premonition in his heart grew clearer and clearer, like a gradually gathering dark cloud.

He knew his second sister's personality: introverted and sensible, she usually only reported good news and not bad news. Unless it was something extremely important that she had to explain in detail, she would never write such a thick letter and waste postage.

Sure enough, upon turning the page, the letter took a sudden turn, and the handwriting seemed to be darker, as if the writer had applied extra force when writing.

"Young man, the main reason I'm writing this letter is to tell you something very, very important."

I struggled with this for a long time, unsure how to begin. I hope that after reading this, you won't be angry, and that you can calm down and try to understand your sister's difficulties and choices.

Yang Guangming's heart sank slightly, and his fingers unconsciously tightened around the letter. He had a premonition that the thing he least wanted to see was about to happen.

"I...I'm dating someone here. It's Luo Xingbang."

Upon seeing the name "Luo Xingbang," Yang Guangming's pupils constricted sharply, and his brows furrowed instantly, forming a deep frown.

How could it be him? That seemingly honest and simple young man from Northeast China, always with a slightly shy smile? He's even my second brother's good friend. You really can't judge a book by its cover!
The image of the young man he had met in Kaoshantun last winter immediately came to mind: tall and strong, with dark and rough skin from years of outdoor labor, large hands covered in calluses, not talkative but with sincere eyes, reliable in his work, and busy with his second brother's affairs, contributing a lot.

At the time, he thought this person was loyal and reliable, but he never expected that he and his second sister would end up like this!
He suppressed the intense shock and sudden surge of anger in his heart, forced himself to calm down, and continued reading, reading every word with extra care, afraid of missing any crucial information or detail.

"I know you've repeatedly told me never, ever to get married during my time in the countryside."

I remember everything you said and have never dared to forget it.

When you last came to visit, and in every subsequent correspondence, you said that once you got married, your personnel file would show you as "married," making it incredibly difficult to return to the city. It was as if you had tied yourself to this black soil for the rest of your life.

I understand these principles, and they are firmly etched in my mind; I dare not forget them.

That's what I've always told myself.

Looking at the sisters who were sent to the countryside with me, some of them couldn't bear the hardship and loneliness here, so they hastily married locals, had children, and stayed here for the rest of their lives, living a life of toiling in the fields, completely giving up any thought of returning to the city. I felt sorry for them, and it also strengthened my resolve not to go down the wrong path and not to act impulsively.

I've been looking forward to the day when the policy for returning to the city is relaxed, just like you mentioned. I dream of one day being able to return to Shanghai, return to our home, and return to my parents' side.

But, little brother, some things, once they come, they just come.

Feelings are truly beyond our control; they grow silently, and by the time we realize it, they've already taken deep root in our hearts. Trying to uproot them is incredibly painful.

Yang Guangming could almost see through the neat handwriting the complex expression on his second sister's face as she wrote these words, a mixture of sweetness, determination, and deep guilt towards her family.

His lips were pressed into a tight line, his expression grew increasingly serious, and the air in the office seemed to become heavy.

"Xingbang and I...it wasn't a spur-of-the-moment thing. It was through getting to know each other slowly, and over time, I grew to feel that he was reliable, down-to-earth, and genuinely good to me."

During the time my second brother had his accident, he was busy with everything and did the most work; you saw all of that.

After you all left, I stayed here as a private school teacher. When I was alone, I often felt anxious and couldn't sleep at night. I would look at the stars outside the window and miss home.

He would come to see me at school every few days, help me fetch water from the well, and in winter he would help me haul coal and light the stove, afraid that I would get cold.

When the desks and chairs at school broke, he would immediately grab his tools to fix them without hesitation, not caring that he got blisters on his hands.

Whenever idle men or gossipy women in the village said anything unpleasant, he would always be the first to stand in front of me, protecting me and not letting me suffer any injustice...

He wasn't much of a talker, and he wasn't good with words. He wasn't good at saying nice things, but he was thoughtful. Knowing that I missed home, he would often run ten miles to the county post office to ask if there were any letters from the south. Every time he received a letter from home, he was always happier than I was, grinning from ear to ear.

I fell ill with a fever in December and was lying in that cold dormitory. He braved the heavy snow and walked several miles at night to the commune clinic to buy me medicine.

When he came back, he was covered in snow, looking like a snowman. His lips were purple from the cold, and he was trembling as he spoke, but the first thing he did was hand me the medicine he had been holding close to his chest...

Gradually, without realizing it, I felt that this person was someone I could rely on and trust. He became a part of my heart, and I could no longer let him go.

Seeing him tired breaks my heart; seeing him smile makes me happy. Little brother, I think you understand that feeling.

Yang Guangming's mood grew increasingly heavy.

He knew his second sister well; she wasn't the kind of shallow girl who would be easily swayed by sweet talk or small favors.

She is introverted, with delicate and deep emotions, and she is extremely serious and cautious when it comes to relationships.

Since she wrote it this way and listed these details in such detail, Luo Xingbang must have given her genuine and long-term sincerity, using his actions to gradually soothe and warm her heart, which felt lonely and cold in a foreign land.

He could even imagine how important Luo Xingbang's presence would be as a source of comfort and support for his second sister after he and his second brother left, leaving her all alone in the Northeast.

"I know what you're most worried about. You're afraid that I'll act impulsively out of love, lose my head, and ruin my lifelong hope of returning to the city."

Little brother, don't worry. Xingbang and I have discussed this countless times, and it's the premise that allowed us to finally decide to be together. If the price of marriage is being destined to stay in the countryside for the rest of my life, forever toiling in the fields, never to return home... I... I really might not have that courage.

No matter how beautiful love is, if it comes at such a price, I think I might back down and not dare to take that step.

Seeing this, Yang Guangming breathed a slight sigh of relief, his tense nerves relaxed a little, but his heart was still hanging high, and he dared not relax in the slightest.

He knew that the key information, and the basis for his second sister's decision, was yet to come.

"Xingbang... his family situation is alright."

His parents were both cadres in a small county unit. Although their positions were not high, they still had some connections and influence.

Their family is already actively working on getting Xingbang the necessary paperwork to return to the city as a worker, and it should be approved soon, at the latest by the end of this year.

This matter has been going on for a long time, and almost everything has been taken care of. Only the final formality and stamp are left.

In order to marry me, Xingbang solemnly promised me that after he returned to the city, he would find a way to bring me back to the city as soon as possible.

His parents also agreed, saying that once we were engaged and became a family, they would definitely work together and would never leave me alone in the countryside.

They said that although it would cost money and involve favors, things were already in progress, there was a lot of room for maneuver, and it would definitely be done; it was just a matter of how much it would cost and when.

Little brother, I know that you're thousands of miles away from home, married far away in Northeast China, and it will be difficult for you to come home even once in the future. This makes me very sad, and I'm very reluctant to leave you. I feel sorry for Mom and Dad, and for you all.

Every time I think about how I might only see him once every few years or even more than a decade, my heart aches as if something is tearing at it, and I've cried secretly several times at night.

However, being able to be with Xingbang, and to work together in the city, leaving the countryside, is the best future I can imagine under the current circumstances. I dare not ask for anything more.

When happiness knocks on the door, I feel I should muster the courage to seize it.

The fact that Xingbang and his family are willing to spend so much effort and resources on me shows their sincerity and how much they value me.

So, after much deliberation and reflection, I finally decided to accept Xingbang's decision and get married this year.

I also wrote a letter to my parents at the same time, explaining the situation. Both letters were sent out at the same time, and I estimated they would arrive at about the same time.

I know that Mom and Dad might be sad, reluctant, and worried.

They are getting old, and I should stay by their side to take care of them... but what I hope for most is your understanding and support.

You've always cared for this family and made plans for me. Your opinions are very important to me and may even influence my final decision. I'm afraid of making you angry or disappointed.

Young man, I hope you can bless us. I hope you understand that this isn't an impulsive decision; it's a choice I made after a long struggle and careful consideration, a way for me to fight for happiness amidst the constraints of reality.

At the end of the letter was Yang Xiangmei's signature and the date. Next to the signature was a small line of words added later, the ink still relatively fresh: "Enclosed with this letter are photos of Xingbang and me taken at the county photo studio. Take a look, and show them to Mom and Dad too. He was very nervous when the photos were taken; he didn't know where to put his hands."

Yang Guangming then noticed that there was a hard photograph inside the envelope.

He carefully took it out, and what came into view was a black and white group photo with the unique set design of a photo studio.

In the photo, Yang Xiangmei, the second sister, is sitting side by side with Luo Xingbang. Yang Xiangmei has a shy and happy smile on her face, and her eyes are bright. She looks more energetic than when I saw her last year, but she is also a little thinner.

Luo Xingbang sat upright, leaning slightly towards his second sister. He was wearing a brand-new Zhongshan suit, with the buttons fastened meticulously. His hair was neatly combed, and his expression was serious with obvious tension. His hands were placed properly on his knees, but his eyes were bright and sincere, revealing a kind of honest and simple nature.

Yang Guangming slowly put down the letter and photo, leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and remained silent for a long time.

The roar of machines outside the window seemed to be isolated, becoming distant and indistinct.

He felt a tightness in his chest, like a wad of soaked cotton, heavy and suffocating, as if a huge rock was pressing down on him, causing a dull ache.

The thing he feared most, the thing he repeatedly warned against and tried to avoid, still happened.

Although my second sister explained the "optimistic" aspects of the situation in her letter—that Luo Xingbang was about to return to the city and promised to help her return as well, and that his family had connections, so things would definitely work out.

However, Yang Guangming is well aware of the complexity and unpredictability of reality. Such future plans based on "commitments" are subject to huge and unpredictable risks and variables before they are truly implemented in black and white and the household registration and files are transferred.

Unpredictable policy shifts, changes in staff, unexpected setbacks in procedures, and even unexpectedly high costs can all become obstacles that dash hopes.

Life is unpredictable, and plans often fall short of reality.

Moreover, even if everything goes smoothly, my second sister will marry into a remote and unfamiliar small county in Northeast China, separating her from her family by thousands of miles.

Shanghai and that small northeastern city are practically two different worlds, in terms of climate, food, lifestyle, and cultural atmosphere.

It's easy to imagine how difficult it will be to meet again in the future.

As parents age and their health deteriorates, how can they bear such a separation? For parents, their daughter marrying far away is like having a piece of their heart torn out.

Thinking of this, his heart felt as if it were being heavily pressed and twisted, making it hard to breathe.

Luo Xingbang… The image of that tall, honest, rough-handed, and sincere-looking young man from Northeast China from last winter resurfaced in Yang Guangming’s mind.

In my memory, that person was indeed quite honest and reliable, and he was very kind to my second brother, always running around helping him without any complaints.

However, having a good impression is one thing, but entrusting her own second sister's life to him, letting her leave all her relatives and start a new life in a completely unfamiliar environment is another matter entirely!

Yang Guangming was extremely unwilling and reluctant.

It's not that I look down on him as a person, it's just that the distance is too great, there are too many variables in the future, and the actual situation makes it impossible to completely trust him.

This kid looks honest and simple, but I never expected him to secretly and quietly win over my second sister's heart!

At this moment, Yang Guangming did feel some complicated emotions towards Luo Xingbang, whom he had never been close to, and he felt a bit annoyed.

But what could he say? What were his reasons for opposing it? That Luo Xingbang was unreliable?
Lacking evidence, it might hurt my second sister's feelings. Moreover, the things my second sister listed in her letter all showed that the person had given his heart and taken practical actions, which had stood the test of time.

Saying that recruiting workers to return to the city is unreliable? It's all just empty talk. But the other party has connections and is making a firm promise that it can definitely be done. Compared to my own prediction that "the policy is about to loosen" based on analysis and premonition but which has yet to materialize, the recruitment opportunity that Luo Xingbang's family "has already made progress" seems more concrete and tangible.

Is it bad to marry far away? This is indeed the biggest problem and the deepest resentment in his heart, but compared with "love" and "returning to the city together," which are very important to his second sister, it seems somewhat pale and powerless, and may even be interpreted as disregarding her happiness.

It seems that my second sister is determined.

She wrote herself a detailed letter, almost a petition, not so much to ask for consent, but to persuade herself and gain the understanding and blessing of her trusting and opinionated younger brother.

Based on his understanding of his second sister, she was gentle on the outside but strong on the inside. She was usually mild-mannered and obedient, and always put the big picture first. But once she had thought things through and weighed the pros and cons, she made an important decision about her own happiness, and it was indeed difficult for external forces to easily change her mind.

Are we just going to accept this reality?

Yang Guangming's heart was filled with resentment, worry, and a deep sense of powerlessness.

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked down at the workers hurrying between the factory buildings.

Everyone has their own life, their own path, and their own problems and choices.

The problem he now faces is how to process his second sister's sudden marriage and how to explain this news to his parents, especially his mother, which they may find difficult to accept and may even be heartbroken by.

He could almost picture his mother's reaction upon hearing the news: surprise, reluctance, worry, and even tears.

This matter must be known to the family; it cannot be hidden. He cannot bear this information alone, nor can he make any decisions or statements on his own. Everyone needs to discuss it together, agree on a single story, or at least agree on a single sentiment, before replying to his second sister.

He glanced at the wall clock; there was still some time before he got off work. He sat back down at his desk, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled, trying to calm his turbulent emotions. Then he picked up the internal phone and dialed his second brother, Yang Guangyao's, office number.

The phone rang several times before it was answered.

"Hello, who is this?" It was Yang Guangyao's voice, sounding tired, clearly having just come from a busy period.

"Second Brother, it's me, Yang Guangming." Yang Guangming tried his best to make his voice sound calm and natural, without revealing too much emotion.

"Mingming, what's up?" Yang Guangyao's voice rose a little, seemingly surprised that his younger brother was calling at this time.

Generally speaking, unless there is an emergency or work needs to be handed over, Yang Guangming will not disturb him during working hours.

"After get off work, you and your second sister-in-law should go straight home." Yang Guangming tried to keep his tone calm but not serious. "There's something important that we need to discuss at home."

"What's wrong? Can't you tell me over the phone? I still have some work to finish." Yang Guangyao asked curiously, his tone not taking it too seriously, assuming it was just some routine family matter or a small thing for his parents.

“My second sister wrote from the Northeast.” Yang Guangming paused, his voice lowering slightly, and added, “The contents… are quite important, concerning her future plans. Let’s talk about it when we get home; it’s not convenient over the phone.”

He did not reveal the specifics over the phone, mainly because it was inconvenient to discuss them in detail over the phone.

Upon hearing that it was a letter from his younger sister in the Northeast, and that his younger brother's tone was unusually serious, Yang Guangyao immediately became more serious as well, realizing that it might not be an ordinary letter: "Okay, I understand. I'll tell Xinlei that I'll go back after get off work, as soon as possible."

He paused, lowered his voice, and asked tentatively, "Does Mom... know?"

"Not yet. After get off work, the four of us will walk together. If you leave early, wait for me at the gate. We'll talk about Second Sister writing the letter when we get home."

"Okay, see you in a bit." Yang Guangyao hung up the phone after saying that. He was very busy with work today and was being pressured.

After hanging up the phone, Yang Guangming lost all interest in work. He carefully folded the letter and photo, put them back into the brown paper envelope, and then carefully placed them inside his old shoulder bag, zipping it up, as if this would temporarily seal away the troubling news and delay its disruption of the peace at home.

In the remaining time, he forced himself to concentrate on handling a few urgent official matters, but his efficiency was extremely low. He was constantly on edge, his mind preoccupied with these matters.

I would occasionally glance at the clock on the wall, and it seemed as if the hands were glued to the wall, moving exceptionally slowly.

Yang Ming got up and brewed a strong cup of tea in an enamel mug, hoping to calm himself down with the bitter aroma, but the effect was minimal. As he tasted the bitterness of the tea on his tongue, a more complex feeling churned in his heart.

The workday bell finally rang, sharp and drawn-out, as if it had been waiting for an eternity.

Yang Guangming immediately picked up his bag and strode out of the office.

There were already many colleagues leaving get off work in the corridor, greeting each other, chatting and laughing, discussing what to eat or where to go for a stroll, creating a relaxed atmosphere after a long day of work.

But this relaxed and cheerful atmosphere clashed sharply with Yang Guangming's heavy and conflicted mood. He could only nod and respond with a few forced words before hurrying downstairs. (End of Chapter)