Colorful years

The midnight watchman's drum echoed along the riverbank, its deep sound reverberating in the silent night sky like an ancient call. Wang Li lay quietly beside Zhang Cong, her slender fingers gently counting the beads of sweat on his chest.

The moonlight, like water, seeped quietly into the house through the cracks in the tiles, drawing crooked grids on the army green cotton quilt. The interplay of light and shadow created a dreamlike scene.

Wang Li slowly closed her eyes, listening intently to the sound of dew falling from the roof. One drop, two drops, the crisp sound tapping out delicate rhythms in the enamel basin, like a melodious serenade.

At the end of the corridor came the mournful whistle of a stray cat, a sound so desolate and plaintive, much like the steam whistle at Yuanling Ferry that night. Her thoughts were instantly drawn back to that night, and she couldn't help but curl up in his arms, feeling his warmth.

At that moment, the military water bottle and the enamel mug accidentally bumped into each other, making a clinking sound. The sound was particularly clear in the quiet night, like the clearest nocturne in western Hunan in the 1980s, lingering in their ears.

As the morning mist drifted through the window like a veil, Wang Li stood before the mirror, carefully combing her disheveled hair. In the enamel frame was a faded photograph of former educated youth. Zhang Cong stood on the far right, his trousers still stained with mud from rice planting—a mark of their youthful days.

Suddenly, the mirror surface was covered with a layer of steam. It turned out that he was standing behind me, holding an aluminum lunchbox. The rice cakes inside the lunchbox were rolling in boiling water, stretching out their shapes and emitting an enticing aroma.

The salty aroma of pickled cowpeas wafted from the direction of the canteen, a familiar scent mingled with the lingering smell of pine smoke on Zhang Cong, bringing a sense of warmth. Wang Li splashed the cooled wash water onto the roots of the loquat tree, startling several sparrows that were pecking at the fruit. Amidst their fluttering wings, she suddenly understood his sleepless night—the letter home held a meaning far more profound than the four hundred kilometers of mountain road he had traveled.

Trouble washed over Zhang Cong like a surging tide, wave after wave, making him feel breathless. He eagerly awaited his parents' reply, hoping to find some comfort and support, but instead, he was met with Wang Li's blame.

It was an ordinary evening, the afterglow of the setting sun painting the sky orange-red. After having dinner at the school cafeteria, Wang Li, her face grave, clutched a pregnancy test result tightly in her hand and hurried towards Zhang Cong's room.

Her breathing was rapid, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. The anxiety in her heart made her steps become heavier and heavier.

She pushed open the door, panting, and handed the test results to Zhang Cong. "I...I'm pregnant!" Wang Li's voice trembled slightly, filled with fear and unease, as if she had used all her strength to say those words.

It turned out that several days earlier, Wang Li had realized that she hadn't had her period for two months. Feeling uneasy, she finally mustered up the courage to go to the state hospital for a comprehensive pregnancy check-up that morning.

When she received the test results, she was stunned—she was already two and a half months pregnant! Dr. Liu, the obstetrician in charge of the examination, smiled and said to her, "Wang Li, congratulations! You are now two and a half months pregnant. From now on, you need to pay special attention to your diet and rest, and you must take good care of yourself to protect the pregnancy."

However, for Wang Li at this moment, such news was by no means good news. On the contrary, it was like a bolt from the blue, striking her heart hard.

Her spirits plummeted instantly. Her previously light steps became incredibly heavy, as if each step required all her strength. It's important to understand that in the relatively conservative 1980s, premarital pregnancy was a scandal that was difficult for most people to accept.

Especially for public officials like them, the consequences of their actions becoming known to their work units would be unimaginable. Those who are Party members or cadres could even face severe disciplinary action.

Thinking of this, Wang Li felt as if everything was plunged into darkness, and the future was filled with endless confusion and fear. She didn't know how to face this sudden change, and her heart was filled with helplessness and despair.

Even if she applied for marriage right now, it would be too late. Because if the timing didn't match up after the child's birth, it would be an embarrassing situation that would draw criticism. This problem weighed heavily on her mind, making it hard for her to breathe.

Upon hearing Wang Li's announcement that she was pregnant, Zhang Cong was instantly stunned. The scene of their passionate encounter that night flashed through his mind, and he inwardly groaned, "Sigh, this is truly the punishment for my impulsiveness!"

He knew this matter was urgent and a proper solution had to be found immediately to deal with this thorny issue. Otherwise, if things were exposed, the consequences would be unimaginable.

How should they deal with this? After a moment's thought, Zhang Cong decided that the most urgent task was to calm Wang Li down and prevent her from becoming overly tense and anxious. Once she had calmed down, he would rack his brains to come up with a foolproof strategy.

So Zhang Cong gently placed his hand on Wang Li's slightly trembling shoulder and whispered, "Darling, don't be afraid, I'm here. No matter what happens, I will take full responsibility for you." As he spoke, he gently patted Wang Li's back, his face full of sincerity and concern.

His eyes were filled with determination, hoping to bring Wang Li some sense of security.

However, Wang Li was far from being able to relax so easily. Her brows furrowed, and she said worriedly, "You'd better think of a solution quickly, my stomach can't wait." Her eyes were filled with anxiety and unease, hoping that Zhang Cong could come up with a good solution to the problem as soon as possible.

Hearing this, Zhang Cong quickly comforted him, "Don't worry, baby, I'll definitely think of a way." Although he spoke with such certainty, he was actually completely clueless and lost at the moment.

He knew that this problem was not so easy to solve and required careful thought and planning.

After much deliberation, Zhang Cong decided that the most feasible solution was to take Wang Li to have an abortion. However, where should they go to have the procedure done?

After all, it is not easy to have such a surgery done locally. Not only is it difficult to obtain legal permits, but even if it can be done through certain connections, it is very likely to be discovered by others, leading to the exposure of the matter and causing considerable trouble or even risks to oneself.

Therefore, it seems that only by going to another city to find a suitable hospital and relying on strong connections can this surgery be successfully completed. Of course, the entire process must be kept absolutely confidential, and not a single word can be leaked.

Zhang Cong knew that this was a difficult challenge, but for their future, he had to face it bravely.