The beloved but ungrateful girl is reborn: This time she has truly changed.

Mr. Fang turned away from the window and sat down behind his desk.

On the table was a cup of Longjing tea, the tea leaves not yet fully steeped, swirling on the surface of the water.

He picked up the teacup, took a sip, and found the tea to be at the perfect temperature.

It's hot, but not scalding.

He looked out the window and hummed softly.

"Hmph, serves him right. You traitor who seeks personal glory! Despicable!"

He put the teacup back on the table, picked up his pen, and began reviewing today's documents.

Downstairs, Lü Changhe was shoved into the back seat of a police car.

The car door slammed shut, cutting off all outside noise.

Through the iron-barred car window, he looked at the municipal party committee building he had been coming and going for ten years, at the empty window on the third floor, and at the Volga sedan he had just parked, still quietly sitting in its parking space.

His tears finally flowed, mingling with the blood from the corner of his mouth, dripping onto his white shirt and staining it a dirty pink.

The police car started and drove out of the municipal government compound. The gatekeeper saluted and watched the police car disappear around the street corner.

.

Sunday, July 28, 1977.

The Qi family's courtyard has changed its appearance.

Several clotheslines were strung haphazardly across the yard, with nylon ropes tied to the branches of the pomegranate tree and the other end attached to an iron hook under the eaves.

The clotheslines were all taut, covered with washed sheets, duvet covers, pillowcases, towels, and all kinds of clothes.

White polyester shirts, blue khaki pants, and floral cotton skirts fluttered in the courtyard like flags of all nations.

A gust of wind blew, and the bed sheet billowed up, making a muffled thud, carrying the unique fresh scent of laundry detergent, mixed with the grassy aroma of unripe pomegranate fruit, filling every corner of the yard.

Under the pomegranate tree was a large iron basin, half-filled with clear, bright water.

Next to the iron basin, on the blue brick floor, sat the pulsator washing machine, its milky white metal casing gleaming softly in the sunlight, a dry rag draped over the top.

The washing machine has been back from the Ministry of Industry for several days now, but Wen Sumei and Qi Lingling's initial excitement hasn't worn off; in fact, they've become increasingly addicted to using it.

Wen Sumei sat on a small stool at the entrance of the main room, with a large bamboo basket in front of her, piled high with old clothes. She unfolded each piece, smelled them, and then handed them to Qi Lingling beside her.

"This one smells too." Wen Sumei unfolded a navy blue polyester shirt, which belonged to Qi Dayou. "Your grandfather put it in the very back of the closet last autumn. He didn't even put enough mothballs in it, so it smells musty. Wash it."

Qi Lingling took it, turned it over to look at the collar, and clicked her tongue: "The collar is all yellowed. Grandma, this needs to be washed twice."

"Why don't you try it out first?" Wen Sumei rummaged through her sewing basket and pulled out a bar of milk soap, handing it to her. "Use this. The one Weiwei brought back is better than the soap from the supply and marketing cooperative."

Qi Lingling took the soap, brought it to her nose, and smelled it. She sighed, "It smells so good. Grandma, this precious stuff should be saved for Dandan and Qianqian to wash their faces."

"Then keep it."

Wen Sumei pulled out a child's cotton undershirt from the basket. A crooked little red flower was embroidered on the cuff. It belonged to Dandan. "Wash this one too. If you don't wash a child's clothes after storing them for a season, they'll make you itchy."

Qi Lingling laughed so hard she couldn't stand up straight: "Grandma, this dress was too small for Qianqian last winter, didn't you remember? Her arms have grown a lot this year, so she can't wear it anymore."

Wen Sumei held the cotton undershirt up to her eyes, put on her reading glasses, examined it for a moment, and nodded: "It's too short. Wash it anyway. Wash it clean and put it away, it'll be for the younger one to wear later."

"Where are the little ones?" Qi Lingling tossed the undershirt into the laundry basket, turned her head and gestured towards the kitchen, "Weiwei is focused on her career right now, and she's still waiting for her three-year agreement with Brother Heping. If you're waiting for the little ones, you'll have to wait a long time."

Wen Sumei took off her reading glasses and glanced at Qi Lingling: "Anyway, it will happen!"

Qi Lingling laughed and repeatedly agreed. The washing machine hummed, the sound of the pulsator stirring the water was deep and rhythmic.

Qi Weiwei brought out a plate of sliced ​​watermelon from the kitchen and placed it on the stone table under the pomegranate tree.

The watermelon was brought back by Ling Heping from the army yesterday. He had recovered from his injury and was returning to work when Liang Bing granted him another half month of leave and even packed two big watermelons for him.

The sandy-textured melons from Daxing crack open with a snap as soon as the knife touches them, revealing the bright red flesh, with juice flowing down the cut.

Dandan and Xixi each took a piece and squatted under the pomegranate tree to eat it, getting watermelon juice all over their faces and necks.

Sisi's bangs were stuck to her forehead, and Dandan tried to wipe them off with the back of her hand, but the more she wiped, the more messy they became.

Qi Weiwei sat on the stone bench, looking at the bed sheets and duvet covers fluttering all over the yard, and couldn't help but laugh.

"Grandma, Second Sister, are you going to liquidate all the family's assets?"

Qi Lingling peeked out from behind the laundry basket, beads of sweat on her forehead, her eyes sparkling:

"Weiwei, don't stop me."

Last night I dug out my older brother's old army overcoat from when he was in the military. The smell—a mixture of mothballs and stale smoke—kept me up all night. I absolutely have to wash it today.

"You can wash a military overcoat?" Qi Weiwei was surprised. "Doesn't your washing machine manual say that thick fabrics can be washed?" Qi Lingling said matter-of-factly, "At worst, you can just wash it and hang it to dry for three days."

Qi Weiwei smiled and shook her head, letting them be.

She got up to check the water level in the washing machine, and while she was at it, she took the bed sheet out of the spin-dry tub and handed it to Ma Lan, who was waiting next to her.

Ma Lan took it and shook it hard, splashing water mist everywhere. Dan Dan and Qian Qian screamed and hid behind the pomegranate tree, laughing so hard that the watermelon rind fell off.

These days are so good.

Standing under the pomegranate tree, Qi Weiwei looked at the clothes fluttering in the yard, at the watermelon juice on Dan Dan and Qian Qian's faces, at Wen Sumei's focused expression as she rummaged through old clothes with her reading glasses on, and at Qi Lingling's spirited manner as she stuffed clothes into the washing machine. A warm sense of satisfaction welled up in her heart.

A few days ago, after running out of laundry detergent, she went to the internal supply and marketing cooperative of the Ministry of Industry.

The place was hidden behind the Ministry of Industry building, in a row of red brick bungalows, without even a sign at the entrance.

An old man wearing arm sleeves sat by the door, engrossed in reading a newspaper.

Qi Weiwei showed her work ID, and the old man raised his chin to signal her to go in.

The contents inside caught Qi Weiwei's eye.

The shelves weren't stocked with the usual mass-produced goods found in supply and marketing cooperatives; they were filled with internal samples and specially supplied materials developed by factories under the ministry. A dazzling array of items.

They are all extremely exquisite items.

Some items haven't officially gone into production yet, and some are welfare items specifically for the department's employees that you can't buy outside no matter how much money you spend.

Take laundry detergent for example—it comes in a kraft paper bag without any printed markings, but the powder that comes out is fine and white, much better than the yellowish and grainy laundry detergent from the supply and marketing cooperatives!

Suppressing her excitement, Qi Weiwei carefully selected her purchases.