Starting a new chapter in life

"Where can I buy red bricks?" Jingyan asked.

"Why buy proper red bricks to build a chicken coop? I'll ask around for you later. If anyone has built a wall or barn, they might have some old red bricks that can be replaced. If you use those old bricks, the color is too dark. They've already been replaced with new ones, and adding an old piece makes them look even worse. If you throw them away, they've already been paid for, and nobody would be willing to do that. We can buy them cheaply and have the seller come over and build the chicken coop for you. They'll only need to pay a dollar or two for their help, which will be more than enough." Gao Mei readily agreed to take on the task.

"Thank you very much, Sister Gao." Jingyan chatted with Gao Mei until they arrived home. She asked Gao Mei to sit down, poured her a glass of water, and added some sugar. Gao Mei had been running around all morning and had talked a lot, so she was really thirsty. She gulped down the whole glass. After finishing it, she touched her lips and thought, "Hmm, it's a little sweet. Is it sugar water?"

Somewhat embarrassed, he handed the enamel mug back to Jingyan: "I was really thirsty, haha."

Jing Yan smiled and took the cup: "Would you like another cup?"

Gao Mei waved her hands repeatedly: "No, no, I have to go home and cook. When the men and children come home, all they want to do is look for food. They're all here to collect debts." She said it with a hint of disgust, but her face was full of happiness.

Jingyan didn't try to persuade her further. She simply took the small bamboo basket from the dressing table and handed it to her, saying, "Sister Gao, here's some mountain produce. Try it when you get back."

Gao Mei was also in a hurry to go home, but when she saw the small basket full, she smiled and said, "Then thank you, Xiao Zhang. I won't stand on ceremony with you."

Gao Mei came in from the backyard after leaving Jing Huan: "Why didn't you invite her to stay for a meal?"

“We’re not close enough to invite each other to dinner. She’s a kind person who has helped me a lot, so it’s fine to give her some gifts as a courtesy. I haven’t thought about taking things further and there’s no need for it. Besides, she’s really in a hurry to go home and cook for her family. She must be living a pretty happy life. But, Fourth Sister, I don’t know about her, but I’m really hungry. When can we eat?” Jingyan looked at Jinghuan with a mournful expression.

Jinghuan smiled and reassured her, "Okay, let's eat. It's ready and keeping warm in the pot."

That evening, He Zhijun brought over the train tickets: "I bought tickets for the morning of the day after tomorrow. I was lucky this time to get hard sleeper tickets, and the two are consecutive. It will be more comfortable to lie down and sleep. I'll borrow a car from the team to take you there. Sleeper tickets give you priority boarding. I'll come back after I've settled you in. Jingyan, how about we send a telegram to your older brother tomorrow morning, telling him the train number so he can pick you up the day after tomorrow? Fourth Sister and the others have a lot of stuff, and it might be troublesome if no one picks them up."

Jinghuan was a little surprised: "No need, we only have a little over 100 jin of grain and about 30 jin of dried goods. Our bundles only contain two sets of clothes, so they're not heavy. Your brother-in-law can carry the bags over there, and I'll carry the rice and dried goods. It'll be fine."

He Zhijun touched his nose upon hearing this: "Yeah, I also bought some things from the logistics department. With those things included, it might be a bit heavy."

Jing Yan asked in surprise, "What did you buy?"

Upon hearing this question, He Zhijun immediately perked up: "I recently bought a batch of smoked meat and sausages. They are local specialties, very delicious and can be stored for a long time. I bought fifty catties of each for my sister to take back and share with our relatives. Adding a couple of slices when stir-frying vegetables makes them so fragrant."

"How much is it? I'll give it to you in a bit," Jing Yan asked.

"Well, I already received my salary and subsidies, and I've spent my salary, so you don't need to give me any more money," He Zhijun said with a smile, scratching his head.

Jing Yan smiled and said, "You're so kind, but you've been buying tickets and other things today, you must be really short of money, right? Here's ten yuan to keep you in your pocket."

He Zhijun took the money and smiled somewhat foolishly.

While dinner was still being prepared, the carpenter pushed a cart to the door and called out twice. Jingyan and He Zhijun came to the door together. The carpenter's originally cold and stern face softened a bit when he saw He Zhijun. He said to Jingyan, "Here's what you wanted."

Jingyan said to He Zhijun, "I ordered sawdust and wood blocks today for firewood. I'll go call my fourth brother-in-law; you two can move these to the storage room in the backyard." Jingyan turned to call Peng Chunhai, but Peng Chunhai had already come out after hearing the noise.

“My brother-in-law and I can handle it, you don’t need to interfere.” After saying that, he opened the gate outside the yard and started unloading the bags of urea from the truck. When the carpenter saw that there were two men, he also helped to unload the truck. After thinking for a moment, he said, “I’ve already paid, and the ten bags have been delivered. I’m leaving.”

Jingyan thanked him from the doorway. The two men carried the things in three or four trips. After they went back inside and had dinner, Jingyan saw He Zhijun to the door and said, "Zhijun, I didn't bring the savings book you gave me this time. It's still at home."

He Zhijun looked at her suspiciously: "What are you trying to say?"

“I told you I didn’t bring the savings book with me this time. It’s in a hidden compartment at the bottom of the cabinet in my room. I think it’s safer back in my hometown. I was thinking that once we’ve settled down, I’ll ask my fourth sister to help transfer the money from the savings book to our new place. What do you think?” Jingyan explained.

He Zhijun nodded: "You can make these decisions. If you don't have enough money, just have your sister transfer some to you. You don't need to be too frugal. What you get is for your spending."

Jing Yan smiled and said, "I still have about four hundred yuan on hand, which is enough to stock up on winter vegetables and New Year's goods. When do you get your next holiday? I'll make you some soup when you come back."

“Okay, don’t just eat whatever you want at home. Eat properly. If you’re short of money, have your fourth sister withdraw some from your savings account and transfer it to you. Don’t be stingy with yourself,” He Zhijun instructed again.

As Jingyan watched He Zhijun's departing figure, she realized for the first time that he had truly married well.

Before going to bed, Jingyan talked to Jinghuan about the savings book: "Sister, we're still too unfamiliar with this place, so I'll leave the savings book with you. There's 1,500 yuan in the savings book, which is Zhijun's savings. I don't plan to use that money for now. After we decide where to settle down, you can help me withdraw it and transfer it over, okay?"

Jinghuan nodded: "I know that hidden compartment. It's very safe to keep the passbook there. Write me a letter when you need it and I'll transfer the money to you. If you have the chance to go back in the future, you can go and get it yourself."

It's about time to start storing winter vegetables. You should ask around and stock up on cabbage, potatoes, and radishes. After it snows in November and gets cold, buy some meat to store too. I've cleaned those four vats against the wall in the barn. You can put frozen dumplings and frozen meat in them now. They all have lids, so other animals won't mess them up.

If I weren't already heading back, I really should have pickled a jar of sauerkraut for you. But if you've already stocked up on cabbage, you can pickle a jar yourself; there are only two of you in your family, so you won't eat that much.

Jinghuan gave her all sorts of instructions and expressed her worries, and Jingyan could only listen, feeling increasingly reluctant to part with him.

The next morning, the three cartloads of firewood were delivered. The two young men worked very efficiently, and in less than two hours, they had stacked the three cartloads of firewood. Looking at the stack of firewood, which was as tall as two people, Jingyan finally breathed a sigh of relief. There was enough firewood. After settling the remaining five yuan, the deliverymen left.

Jingyan went to the post office and sent a telegram to her elder brother Jingtian with the train number and arrival time that Jinghuan and his wife were going to take, instructing him to pick them up on time. She also went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy two pieces of meat.

In the afternoon, Jinghuan started preparing dinner and food for the next two days on the road. She chopped fillings, kneaded dough, and made dumplings. Jinghuan also made some scallion pancakes. This time, she didn't spoil her younger sister like she usually did, letting her do nothing. She kept Jingyan helping her, explaining to her how to make pancakes so they would stay soft even when cold, how to make dumpling wrappers that were chewy, and how to make the filling more delicious...

Jingyan listened silently, feeling genuinely reluctant to part. With her fourth sister by her side, she didn't need to worry about many things, and this sudden separation still left her feeling quite bitter.

Early in the morning, while the three of them were having breakfast, He Zhijun arrived at the door in a military jeep. As soon as Jing Yan saw him enter, she asked, "Have you eaten yet?"

He Zhijun smiled and nodded: "I've already eaten in the cafeteria. Take your time eating. I'll drive you there later. There'll be plenty of time."

The three of them quickly finished eating. Peng Chunhai loaded the things he wanted to take into the trunk of the car. Jing Huan was washing dishes in the kitchen. Jing Yan took out thirty yuan from her pocket and handed it to Jing Huan: "Fourth sister, remember to send the bedding and some daily necessities that you packed up at home to me through the post office when you get back. This is the postage fee. If it's too much, you don't need to refund it; if it's too little, you can make up the difference."

Jing Huan looked at the money in Jing Yan's hand but didn't take it. "I'll mail it to you when I get back. As for the postage, you don't need to pay. You're my own sister. You paid for the trip here and the trip to my third sister's place. With just that little bit of luggage, my fourth sister can afford the postage. You don't need to be so calculating with me."

The two sisters pushed and shoved each other a few times until Jinghuan got a little angry and Jingyan finally stopped.

The four of them got into the jeep. Except for He Zhijun, it was the first time for all of them to ride in one. Jing Yan was also riding in one for the first time. The women were fine, they weren't too interested in these things. The men were indeed very interested in the car. Peng Chunhai was very excited from the moment he got in the car, touching and looking at everything. "Zhijun, you're really amazing. You can even drive."

He Zhijun smiled and said, "Fourth brother-in-law can learn if he wants to. Driving is not difficult. If he has the opportunity to learn car repair in the future, that is the real skill."

It took more than two hours to drive to Harbin Railway Station. The four of them shared their belongings and entered the station together. He Zhijun handed the tickets to Peng Chunhai: "Fourth brother-in-law, keep the tickets safe. Wait here for me for a moment. I'll go ask the train attendant if the train arrives early so we can get on and settle our luggage."

He Zhijun left for a while, and when he came back, he was followed by a flight attendant. He said to the group, "Take your luggage and come with me."

The four quickly shouldered their belongings and followed the train attendant to the train door. The ticket inspector checked their tickets and confirmed that their sleeper tickets were for the correct carriage before nodding and letting them through. Finally, the inspector added, "Those who are seeing someone off should get off the train as soon as possible."

After everyone boarded the train, He Zhijun breathed a sigh of relief after helping Peng Chunhai stack his luggage: "Fourth Sister, Brother-in-law, you two have lower berths, thankfully they're together. If they were separated, I'd be planning to ask someone to help you switch. Brother-in-law, don't rush when you get off the train, just make sure you don't forget anything."

You didn't bring much food, so don't skimp if it's not enough. Go to the dining car and buy some. This bag has some fruit, but we didn't buy much. You can eat some on the way. Jingyan and I won't linger; people will start getting on soon.

"Never talk to strangers on the street. I've heard that women and children are abducted from trains every year. There aren't as many people in the sleeper berths as in the hard seats, but you still need to be careful."

Jinghuan smiled and nodded, then said to Jingyan, "Just his meticulousness makes him more endearing than any of us northern men."

Jingyan added, "When Fourth Sister arrives, remember to send me a telegram to let me know you're safe and sound, so I don't worry about you."

Jinghuan smiled and agreed, "Okay, you and your brother-in-law should get off the bus quickly. If you dawdle any longer, the bus will leave and you'll have to buy tickets to come back, which would be embarrassing."

He Zhijun said goodbye to the two of them, took Jingyan's hand and got off the train. Standing on the platform near the window, he watched Jinghuan finally break down in tears: "Jingyan, you have to take good care of yourself here. If you need anything, just write home and I'll help you. Don't make yourself suffer. Don't rush to have children these next two years. It's too hard for you to be alone without someone to take care of you. You're still young. It's not too late to have children when you're twenty-five..."

The train rumbled to life amidst Jinghuan's repeated instructions. Jingyan, tears welling in her eyes, ran alongside the train, saying, "Fourth Sister, don't worry about me, take care of yourself..."

As the train pulled away, He Zhijun walked up to Jingyan, put his arm around her shoulder, and gently comforted her, "Don't be sad. I'll go back with you to see your fourth sister next year during the holiday."

“Why go back? It’s expensive and painful to go back and forth. I was just emotional. I’ll calm down. We can just go back and visit Fourth Sister when we leave here. The fare is quite expensive.” Jingyan complained.

He Zhijun smiled and took her hand: "Let's go, we're out of the station. I'll take you to a state-run restaurant in Harbin for a good meal before we go back."

Aren't you busy today?

"Yeah, I'm busy, but I've already taken a day off, it would be a shame not to use it all up. You haven't been to Harbin yet, I'll show you around, and luckily we have a car today."

The couple went to see Russian-style architecture, including a cathedral. Jingyan was curious: "This shouldn't be our own style, right?"

"This is a Russian-style building, the St. Sophia Cathedral. It's where Russians here worship. We may not be believers, but we respect it. Come on, I'll take you to eat something delicious." He Zhijun wasn't very familiar with the area, so he could only drive around the surrounding area casually, afraid of getting lost if he went too far.

They ordered two dishes at a state-run restaurant near the train station. Jingyan ate them with a pout and whispered to He Zhijun, "These two dishes aren't as good as Chef Lin's."