Marriage in the 1970s: The Political Commissar's Contract Wife

At this moment, Zhixu, eight, and Zhiyu, five, the two little nephews who were playing inside, were attracted by the bright colors and rushed over like two little cannonballs. They hugged Zhixia's legs on either side, tilted their little heads up, and their dark eyes were full of amazement.

"Auntie! Auntie! This fabric is so beautiful!" Zhixu exclaimed.

Zhiyu, in a childish voice, echoed, "Auntie is so pretty!"

Listening to the children's innocent praise, looking at her flushed cheeks in the mirror, and feeling her sister-in-law's unreserved support, the ice that had been frozen in Zhixia's heart since the accident seemed to crack open in the sunlight, and warmth seeped in bit by bit.

She bent down and gently wrapped her two little nephews in the brightly colored fabric, smiling as she said, "Once Auntie finishes the new dresses, I'll take you to the park, okay?"

"Great!" the two children cheered.

Zhilin returned home covered in the dust of training. As soon as he opened the door, he saw his younger sister, Zhixia, standing in the middle of the room, holding up a piece of bright red fabric with vibrant yellow flowers, gesturing and comparing it to herself. His two sons surrounded their aunt, saying how beautiful it was.

What touched him even more was the smile on his sister's face, a smile he hadn't seen in days, relaxed and genuine, and the light in her big eyes had returned.

His heart, which had been hanging in suspense for so long, finally settled down at this moment, and his tense face softened unconsciously.

"Brother, you're back!" Zhixia turned around excitedly when she saw him, showing him the fabric. "Look at the fabric I bought, isn't it pretty?"

Zhilin stepped forward and carefully examined the fabric, which was considered "bold" by the standards of the time. Without the slightest hesitation, her tone was full of sincere appreciation and affection: "Beautiful! The color is bright and flattering. It would look especially beautiful on Xiaxia if it were made into a dress!"

Hearing her brother's affirmation, Zhixia raised her chin slightly, displaying a touch of girlish charm and innate confidence, her tone filled with undisguised pride: "Of course! I'm naturally beautiful!"

If someone else had said these words, it would have sounded arrogant, but coming from her, coupled with her revitalized expression, it only made her seem adorable and genuine.

Zhilin was amused by his sister's expression. He reached out, intending to ruffle her hair like he did when they were little, but stopped halfway. He simply nodded emphatically, his eyes filled with unreserved pride, repeating and emphasizing his words:

"Yes! My sister is the prettiest!"

Inside the room, under the dim yellow light, the aroma of food filled the air, echoing with the relaxed laughter of the brother and sister. That brightly colored floral fabric seemed to be more than just a piece of cloth; it was a signal, announcing that the happy and confident Zhixia, under the love and care of her family, was gradually breaking free from the shadows and returning to the sunshine.

It was late at night, and both children were fast asleep. After washing up, Zhilin lay down on the kang (heated brick bed) and whispered to his wife beside him:

"Meili, hurry up and find some time to make that dress for Xiaxia. I think she's really happy today."

"I know, the fabric is all cut, we'll start working on it tomorrow," Zhang Meili replied, her tone tinged with relief. "Look how happy she is today, Xiaxia... she's finally gotten through this."

Zhilin turned over to face his wife, then thought of something else: "By the way, if it's convenient for you to go to work, take Xiaxia with you. Let her go to the Women's Federation with you, listen to what's going on, and have something to do to distract herself. I'm afraid she'll start overthinking things if she's always home alone."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Meili fell silent. She blinked in the darkness, and instead of agreeing, she let out a long sigh.

"Forget it, Lao Zhi." Her voice was low, carrying the clear-headedness of someone who had been through it all, and even a hint of lingering fear. "Please, whatever you do, don't make me take her there."

"What's wrong?" Zhi Lin asked, puzzled.

"What do I see every day at the Women's Federation?" Zhang Meili's voice betrayed helplessness and weariness. "It's either mothers-in-law scolding their daughters-in-law for being unfilial, or daughters-in-law crying about being beaten by their husbands, or couples fighting tooth and nail over a little cloth ration coupon or a bite to eat, ending up with bloodied heads and talking about divorce... The scene is chaotic and disorderly, enough to wear down any remaining feelings of family in people!"

She turned to the side and said earnestly to her husband in the darkness:

"There's an old maid in our Women's Federation office, surnamed Wu, she's already thirty! She's a nice person, and not bad-looking either, so why hasn't she found a partner or gotten married? It's because she hears and sees all this at the Women's Federation every day, and it's scared her to death! She says that when she thinks about marriage, she thinks of all those awful things, and she feels that living alone is just fine, peaceful."

Zhang Meili paused, her tone becoming exceptionally serious:

"I really don't dare take Xiaxia there. How old is she? She just went through...that thing, and she's still very sensitive. If she spends all her time surrounded by negative things and hears too many horrific stories about marital tragedy, I'm afraid...I'm afraid she'll develop a lifelong fear of men and marriage, and she won't dare to take a step forward. How will we explain that to Mom and Dad? How can we be at ease?"

Zhang Meili's words were like a bucket of cold water, leaving Zhilin speechless. He then realized that he had only thought about cheering his sister up, but had overlooked another kind of harm that environment might cause. He was only concerned with the present, while his wife was thinking about his sister's long life ahead.

In the darkness, the couple fell silent. It was right to let Zhixia leave home and integrate into society, but the path must be chosen with utmost care.

The next day, Zhilin and Zhang Meili both went to work, and their two nephews went to school with their backpacks, making the house quiet. Zhixia was worried about Wang Chun, who was on his first day of work, and couldn't stay at home, so she went to Wang Chun's house.

As soon as I entered, I saw Wang Chun looking at two pieces of clothing spread out on the bed, one was a half-new blue cloth cover-up, and the other was a plaid shirt with a slightly faded collar.

"Zhixia, you've come at the right time! Quickly help me decide which outfit looks best on my first day at work?" Wang Chun grabbed her arm, his voice full of nervousness and anxiety.

Zhixia looked at the two outfits on the bed that seemed almost identical to hers and couldn't help but laugh: "There are only these two, what's the point of choosing? It doesn't matter which one you wear to do the work."

"How can that be the same!" Wang Chun muttered. "First impressions are so important!"

Zhi Xia knew she was nervous, so she didn't say anything more. She picked up the blue cotton blouse and handed it to her, saying, "Take this one. The color is more vibrant. You can change into another one tomorrow and wear them alternately."

Wang Chun took the clothes, held them up against himself, and reluctantly nodded: "Okay... I'll listen to you."

Seeing that Wang Chun still seemed a little restless, Zhi Xia offered, "Let's go, I'll take you to the station."

"Hmm..." Wang Chun responded, putting on his coat while whispering, "Zhi Xia, I'm still nervous, my heart is pounding. What if I don't do well? What if Master yells at me?"