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

As Zhixia looked at her friend's flushed cheeks from excitement, and saw the unreserved protection and sincerity in her eyes, the sense of inferiority that had been lingering deep in her heart since her marriage seemed to be gradually dispelled by this warm friendship.

Her eyes welled up slightly, and she gently rested her head on Wang Chun's shoulder, whispering, "Xiao Chun, it's so good to have a friend like you."

Wang Chun patted her back, and just as she had once comforted herself, said firmly, "We'll both get better and better!"

Zhixia held Wang Chun's hand, her heart filled with anticipation for the future and reluctance to part. She whispered, her voice tender with expectation, "Xiaochun, after I have my child, will you be his godmother?"

Without the slightest hesitation, Wang Chun answered decisively, her eyes gleaming: "Absolutely! I'm going to be her godmother! Nobody can take her from me!"

"Also," Zhixia's voice lowered, carrying a hint of barely perceptible dependence, "when I go to Kyoto, you must write to me. Tell me how you're doing here, and whether your work is going well."

Wang Chun grasped her hand in return, nodded vigorously, and made a solemn promise: "I'll write! I'll write for you every week! I'll tell you everything that's happening in the family compound, everything that's interesting at the barbershop! I guarantee you won't get bored in Kyoto!"

As they were talking, Zhang Meili lifted the curtain and walked in, bringing with her a blast of cool air. A bright smile graced her face: "Xiaxia, Xiaochun, chatting?" She then turned to Chao Huaihua and called out affectionately, "Mom, I finished my work over there and came to check on you."

Zhixu, who was playing with a wooden toy car on the kang (a heated brick bed), immediately raised his little face to show his pride when he saw his mother: "Mom! Xiaoyu and I were very good, we didn't bother Auntie!"

Zhang Meili smiled and patted her eldest son's head: "Good, that's good. Play quietly and don't disturb your aunt's rest."

Zhi Xia smiled and spoke up for her nephew, "Sister-in-law, they're having a great time by themselves, it's nothing."

Zhang Meili walked to Zhixia's side and naturally reached out to gently touch her protruding belly. Her movements were soft, and her tone was concerned: "Has the baby been fussy lately? Is anything particularly uncomfortable?"

"It's alright," Zhixia said, feeling the movement in her belly, her face showing maternal tenderness. "It's just that the force is a bit stronger than before."

Wang Chun, standing nearby, immediately chimed in excitedly, gesturing wildly, "Sister-in-law Zhang, let me tell you, An'an and Kang Kang are so much fun when they move around! Last time I watched them, they bounced here and there, like the two little guys were doing Tai Chi! They're so energetic!"

Listening to Wang Chun's vivid description, Zhang Meili smiled and explained, "After six months, the child grows quickly, and their strength naturally returns to normal."

Wang Chun, however, counted on his fingers, a puzzled look on his face, and asked the question that had been lingering in his heart for a long time: "Sister Zhang, that's not right. According to the dates, Xiaxia's belly... shouldn't it be almost eight months? Why do you say it's six months?"

Like Zhixia, she firmly believed that the child in her womb was the one that had initially "miscarried" but miraculously survived, never imagining Fangchu's "loss of control" on their wedding night.

Zhixia also subconsciously stroked her belly gently, looking at her sister-in-law with the same question in her eyes.

Zhang Meili's heart skipped a beat, but she dared not show it on her face. She knew the cruelty of the truth—if Zhixia knew that the child was conceived while she was drunk and unconscious, given her fiery temper, she would probably have a complete falling out with Fang Chu, and their newly settled family would fall apart. She absolutely could not be the one to break the silence.

So, she could only put on a stern face and interrupt Wang Chun in a tone that was half reproachful and half perfunctory, as if to say, "Children shouldn't interrupt adults."

"Go away! What do you know, you unmarried young girl? Don't talk nonsense! The calculation of pregnancy weeks is complicated, how could the doctor be wrong?"

After being scolded by his sister-in-law, Wang Chun still felt a little strange, but he could only awkwardly shut his mouth: "...Okay."

Seeing her sister-in-law's words, Zhixia suppressed the slight unease in her heart and asked instead, "Sister-in-law, when will I likely give birth?"

Zhang Meili breathed a sigh of relief and quickly continued the conversation, her tone returning to normal: "According to the doctor's calculations, the due date is around the end of March or the beginning of April. However, since you are carrying twins, the burden is heavier, so it may come earlier. You need to prepare in advance."

Upon hearing this, Wang Chun immediately perked up, dispelling her earlier slight doubt: "Late March or early April is perfect! The weather will be warm then, neither too hot nor too cold, just right for Xiaxia to have her postpartum confinement without suffering!"

The conversation in the room returned to the beautiful expectations for the future. Only Zhang Meili knew what kind of landmine was buried beneath a seemingly glossed-over question, which needed to be carefully avoided.

Chao Huaihua, who was sewing shoe soles, overheard every word of the conversation between her daughter, daughter-in-law, and Wang Chun.

Having lived most of her life, what hadn't she seen? From Zhang Meili's momentary hesitation and deliberately evasive tone, she instantly guessed the hidden truth about the child's true origin.

Her heart felt as if it had been squeezed tightly by an invisible hand, a dense, throbbing pain spreading through her. She raised her eyes, her gaze falling on her daughter's still innocent, hopeful profile, a profile filled with the deepest heartache and helplessness of a mother.

She only has one daughter.

More than anyone else, she wanted her daughter to live with clarity and dignity.

But at this moment, with her daughter about to give birth, peace and safety trumped everything. Any truth or turmoil could be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

As long as her Xiaxia can give birth to the child safely and live a smooth life, she is willing to help conceal this truth and bury it in her heart forever.

She suppressed the bitterness in her heart, put on a gentle smile, and steered the conversation toward a hopeful future, saying firmly to Zhixia:

"Xiaxia, once the child is a bit older and can be left alone, I'll have Fang Chu arrange for you to go to university. Once you've studied and gained some skills, you can find a good job. You can't rely on anyone else; you have to rely on yourself."

Hearing this, Xia's heart warmed. She looked at her mother and nodded emphatically, "Yes!"

This was a longing buried deep in her heart, now rekindled by her mother.

Wang Chun's eyes lit up, and he eagerly asked, "University! Xiaxia, what do you want to study?"

Zhi Xia's gaze drifted to the window, as if she saw a wider world. Her voice was soft yet powerful: "I want to be a writer, or a journalist. To write down everything I see and think."

"Wow! You're amazing!" Wang Chun exclaimed sincerely, gripping her hand tightly and saying excitedly, "If you ever become a writer, you must write me into your book! Write that I'm your best, best friend!"

Zhi Xia turned around, looked into Wang Chunliang's bright, trusting, and expectant eyes, and solemnly promised, "Okay."

The afternoon sun streamed through the window, warmly enveloping them. A mother's protection, a friend's dream, and the secret carefully concealed yet destined to be confronted—all flowed quietly in this peaceful afternoon.