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

After hanging up the phone, Fang Chu was filled with mixed emotions. Behind this heavy financial support lay his complete "collapse" of his "naming rights" as a father. He sighed, "Oh well, as long as Zhixia and the children are happy, what difference does it make who names them?"

As the year draws to a close, the hair salon is entering its busiest time. Wang Chun has become skilled at giving female customers fashionable perms and is busy from morning till night every day. Even so, on the morning of the 20th of the twelfth lunar month, she still rushed to Fang Chu's house in the cold before going to work.

She took out a small bag wrapped tightly in oil paper from her handbag, carefully opened it, and inside were several golden, oily, and sweet-smelling sponge cakes.

"Xiaxia, look! The supply and marketing cooperative has just received some new chicken cakes! They're so hard to buy. I only managed to get a few by asking a regular customer who works at the cooperative. If you go late, you won't be able to get any!" Wang Chun's face was beaming with excitement, and the tip of his nose was red from the cold.

Looking at the expensive sponge cake, Zhixia felt a mix of warmth and sadness. She took Wang Chun's cold hand and said, "This must be very expensive, right? You wouldn't even eat it yourself, so why did you buy it for me?"

"You're pregnant, aren't you? And with twins!" Wang Chun said matter-of-factly, shoving the sponge cake into Zhi Xia's hands. "You definitely need to eat something nourishing! Besides, I got a raise now, so I can afford it! You can put it away and eat it slowly."

Zhi Xia didn't put it away immediately. Instead, she picked up a piece, broke it in half, and offered the larger half to Wang Chun's mouth: "You take a bite first."

Wang Chun instinctively tried to dodge, but Zhi Xia's persistent gaze held her firmly in place. Embarrassed, she took a small bite from Zhi Xia's hand, her eyes immediately crinkling with happiness: "So delicious!"

Zhi Xia smiled and put the remaining half into her mouth, nodding, "Mmm, it's delicious."

While eating the cake, Zhixia thought of Wang Chun's formidable sister-in-law and couldn't help but worry: "You bought this for me, does your sister-in-law know? Will she scold you?"

Wang Chun waved his hand dismissively and lowered his voice, "She doesn't know! I've been going home late and leaving early these past few days, so we won't run into each other. Even if she did know, so what? I'm spending my own money! I'm not giving it to her!"

Seeing her so confident, Zhixia was genuinely happy for her.

"I'm off to work!" Wang Chun hurriedly got up. "I'll come visit you again after the New Year when I'm less busy!"

"Okay," Zhixia saw her to the door and carefully instructed, "If you're too busy, don't come over. Get some rest and don't overwork yourself."

"Got it!" Wang Chun waved his hand.

Watching Wang Chun's hurried departure, Chao Huaihua called out enthusiastically towards the door, "Xiao Chun, have some breakfast before you go!"

Wang Chun didn't even turn his head, his voice fading with the sound of his footsteps: "No, Auntie! I have to go to work now! I'll see you when I have time!"

Zhi Xia stood at the door, watching Wang Chun's disappearing figure, her eyes filled with a deep envy that she herself was unaware of.

It's not just about envying a job, but also about longing for a life of freedom, financial independence, and a sense of purpose.

Chao Huaihua walked to her daughter's side, followed her gaze, and sighed softly. She knew her daughter too well. She reached out and put her arm around Zhixia's shoulder, her voice gentle yet full of strength:

"Stop looking. Once you have your baby and raise it a bit older, you'll be able to take care of it for a while. Mom will help you look after it, and you can go out to work and find something you enjoy doing."

Zhi Xia withdrew her gaze, lowered her head, and softly hummed in response. In this reply, there was expectation, as well as a slight bitterness at having her thoughts seen through by her mother.

Chao Huaihua understood perfectly. She knew that her daughter saw Wang Chun as another version of herself—the version of herself who, had she not married and become pregnant by mistake, would have had endless possibilities.

Wang Chun's current busy yet autonomous and hopeful life should have been Zhi Xia's.

Looking at her daughter's rounded profile and prominent belly, she felt a pang of tender affection.

Fate had arranged another path for this child, but as a mother, she hoped that on this path, she could also fight for a sky of her own where her daughter could breathe freely.

That evening, Fang Chu returned home braving the chill, carrying two jars of bright yellow orange preserves like precious treasures. As soon as she entered, she proudly displayed them to Zhi Xia: "Look, didn't you say you wanted something sweet and sour?"

Zhixia looked at the plump orange segments in the glass bottle, glistening enticingly under the light, and her mouth involuntarily watered: "Where did you buy these? I don't think our local supply and marketing cooperative has any."

"Mom sent it specially." Fang Chu said, while finding a spoon, skillfully prying open the bottle cap, scooping up a large piece of orange segment soaking in the sugar water, and carefully handing it to Zhi Xia's lips, "Here, have a taste."

Zhixia took his hand and ate it. The cool sugar water and sweet orange should have been refreshing, but as soon as the fruit slid down her throat, a sudden wave of nausea surged up.

"Ugh—" She suddenly covered her mouth, turned her head to the side, and couldn't help but vomit up all the oranges she had just eaten.

Fang Chu was startled and quickly put down the can, gently patting her back, her face full of tension and confusion: "What's wrong? Is it not tasty? Or is it too cold?"

Zhixia vomited until tears streamed down her face. She leaned weakly against him, her round face scrunched up, her voice choked with sobs: "I feel nauseous... I just suddenly feel nauseous..."

At this moment, Chao Huaihua came out of the room upon hearing the noise. Seeing the situation, she remained calm and said, "Did you eat too much tonight and are feeling unwell now? People with twins have weak stomachs, and it's easy for them to feel uncomfortable if they suddenly eat something so sweet and cold."

Upon hearing this, Fang Chu was extremely annoyed. She quickly removed the can of food and brought over some warm water: "It's my fault, it's my fault! I'm not eating it. Drink some water to calm down, drink slowly."

He supported Zhixia, feeling both heartache and self-reproach. He had only wanted to see her happy, without considering that her body couldn't handle it. He gently patted her back, soothing her in a low voice like he was comforting a child: "It's alright, it's alright, it'll be fine once you've thrown up... We'll eat again tomorrow."

He helped Zhixia to the bed. Her protruding belly made her feel suffocated no matter how she lay down, and her back and waist ached unbearably.

Fang Chu sat behind her, gently massaging her lower back with his warm hands, and soothingly whispered, "Just bear with it a little longer, it'll be four months soon, you'll get through it."

Zhixia felt his massage, which was applied with just the right amount of pressure, and sighed comfortably. After a moment of silence, she suddenly remembered something and asked softly, "Fang Chu, have you named the child yet?"

Fang Chu paused in her massage, her voice tinged with helplessness: "Don't even mention it. My grandfather has spoken; he wants to name the child."

Zhixia rolled over to face him, looking at him in the dim light: "Grandpa will give them their formal names, so why don't you give them nicknames?"

"A nickname?" Fang Chu repeated, her voice tinged with seriousness. "Let me think..."