Widow He also turned to look at Chen Meilan and quickly noticed something unusual in her expression. She wiped the corners of her swollen eyes with her sleeve before asking curiously,
"Yes... ah, what is wrong with you? Since morning your soul has looked absent. Is everything alright?"
Even Li Jianguo lifted his head and looked toward his mother with concern.
Under everyone's gaze, Chen Meilan suddenly became the center of attention. For a brief moment, she felt extremely awkward. Because what troubled her heart at this moment was not something she wanted casually speak aloud. Especially not before her son. Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the firewood stick in her hand.
How could she explain it?
Could she say that Zhang Xiuli's words from earlier had lodged themselves inside her heart like fish bones stuck in the throat?
That after hearing those poisonous remarks, she suddenly became painfully aware of the changes time had brought to her appearance?
That for the first time in years, she had secretly worried whether Li Guoqiang living far away in the city among polished urban women might truly find her old-fashioned and worn?
Just thinking about it made her ears burn with embarrassment. She was already a mother of several children. How could she openly speak about such thoughts?
But than again thinking about the arrival of Wang Xiuying she couldn't help but worry.
Chen Meilan quickly searched for a way to avoid the topic. Just then the courtyard door creaked open from outside.
A cheerful voice followed immediately afterward, "Sister Meilan, I've brought what you asked for."
Everyone instinctively turned toward the entrance. Lu Lingmei walked into the courtyard carrying something carefully wrapped inside a faded blue cloth.
The moment Chen Meilan saw the object in her hands, her face instantly flushed crimson.
Earlier, in a moment of impulse, she had secretly asked Lu Lingmei to borrow something for her.
But now with everyone present she suddenly wished the earth would open and swallow her whole.
Chen Meilan hurriedly stood up, "Lingmei… th...that…" She tried to quickly take the wrapped object before others noticed it.
Unfortunately Widow He's eyes were far too sharp. The moment the cloth slipped slightly aside, she immediately recognized it.
"Aiyo!" Widow He slapped her thigh,"Lingmei, isn't that the mirror from your dowry?"
The room instantly fell silent.
Chen Meilan's face turned even redder.
She wished she could dig a hole beneath the kang bed and hide inside forever.
In these rural village household in China, mirrors were not common household items.
During this era, constantly caring too much about one's appearance was often viewed as vain behavior, something associated with pampered young misses from wealthy families who did not know hardship.
Ordinary village women rarely owned mirrors.
Usually only newly married brides or young wives whose children were still small kept one hidden carefully among their belongings.
To older generations, a woman sitting before a mirror and combing herself carefully carried another meaning altogether.
As the old saying went, 'A woman facing the bronze mirror is a flower waiting for her husband's gaze.'
In simple words it was something women did when they wished to please the man in their hearts.
The moment Widow He realized what she had blurted out aloud, she immediately felt embarrassed herself. But no matter how much she tried to suppress it, laughter still burst from her mouth, "Aiya hahahaha…"
Even Grand Aunt Li could not help chuckling, her old wrinkled face full of amusement, "Hahahaa! So that is why you've been absent-minded all afternoon?" She pointed at Chen Meilan teasingly, "Our Meilan is finally remembering she is still a woman."
Widow He also laughed now, the earlier sorrow on her face temporarily swept away, "Meilan ah… tell truth honestly, is Guoqiang coming back from Baicheng on leave?"
The moment Li Guoqiang's name was spoken aloud, Chen Meilan's face turned so red it almost reached her neck. She stammered helplessly, "No, nothing like that, T..that… I just…" Her usually gentle and composed demeanor completely collapsed under everyone's teasing.
Even Li Jianguo coughed awkwardly and turned his face away, pretending not to hear anything and ran out of the house.
Meanwhile, Lu Lingmei had finally pieced together the situation. The moment she realized why Chen Meilan had secretly borrowed her mirror, she immediately covered her mouth, trying hard not to laugh too loudly.
"hahah…" she said between restrained giggles. "Aunt He, Grand Aunt Li, stop teasing Sister Meilan already. What is wrong with a woman wanting to look into a mirror? This is a new era now. Those old feudal ideas should have been swept away long ago. Every woman has the right to care a little about her own appearance."
Widow He nodded repeatedly, though laughter still lingered in her eyes, "Yes, yes… I know all that," she replied, waving her hand. "I'm only amused wondering why Meilan suddenly thought of borrowing a mirror after all these years."
Chen Meilan felt so embarrassed that even her ears had turned red, "I… I only wanted to see my face," she explained awkwardly. "It has been many years since I properly looked at myself."
Then, afraid everyone would continue teasing her, she hurriedly added another excuse, "And… these past few days my left eye has been itching a little, so I thought perhaps I should use a mirror to check it."
The moment those words fell, Grand Aunt Li and Widow He exchanged meaningful glances. At their age, how could they fail to see through such an obvious excuse? Still, neither exposed her.
Instead, Grand Aunt Li chuckled warmly, "Meilan ah, you don't need to explain so much. It is only natural for a woman to care."
Chen Meilan became even more mortified.
Grand Aunt Li leaned back slightly against the kang bed, her cloudy old eyes gradually filling with nostalgia, "Speaking of it, I still remember the first time Chen Meilan came to Shitou Village." Her voice carried the slow rhythm of old memories, "At that time she was truly like a flower bud touched by morning dew. Such beauty… even now this old woman remembers it clearly."
Lu Lingmei's eyes instantly brightened with curiosity, "Was Sister Meilan really that beautiful?" she asked eagerly as she sat down beside the stove. "Grand Aunt Li, quickly tell us more."
Grand Aunt Li nodded immediately, "Of course she was beautiful. Meilan's father was a learned man. A barefoot doctor too. In those years, being able to read books and practice medicine already made one different from ordinary villagers. Before liberation, he had even served as a physician for a local landlord family. People from several villages away would seek him out whenever illness struck. One year he came here to treat an old man in the neighboring production team, and little Meilan followed behind him carrying his medicine box."
As Grand Aunt Li spoke, even Chen Meilan lowered her eyes quietly, memories surfacing in her own heart.
"At that time," Grand Aunt Li continued, "Meilan was only fourteen or fifteen perhaps. Wearing a light blue padded jacket, two black braids hanging behind her back, skin white like peeled boiled egg, and those delicate eyes…" The old woman sighed deeply, "Aiya… forget the young boys. Even grown men and little boys could not help turning their heads for a second glance."
Widow He burst into laughter, "That is true! I still remember how the young men in the village suddenly started finding excuses to pass near Old Zhao's courtyard where the doctor was staying."
Everyone laughed immediately.
Grand Aunt Li continued enthusiastically, "In those years, such delicate-looking girls were rare in the countryside. Usually you could only see girls with such refined appearance in wealthy landlord households, merchant families in county towns, scholarly families, or daughters of opera troupes and officials. But Meilan walked right into our muddy little village like a jade flower blooming in a pigsty, the entire village was shaken."
Even Lu Lingmei widened her eyes, "Really?"
Grand Aunt Li snorted proudly, "Why would this old woman lie? At that time almost every family with an unmarried son secretly began asking around about her. Some even prepared matchmakers overnight. But her father rejected every proposal without hesitation. He said his daughter was still young and would not marry early."
Widow He laughed loudly again, "And because of that, the village mothers became pickier afterward. Everyone suddenly wanted a daughter-in-law as pretty as Chen Meilan."
Grand Aunt Li pointed at Chen Meilan teasingly, "You little fox spirit, you raised the standards of our entire village back then." The room instantly filled with laughter again.
Even Chen Meilan herself could not help lowering her head shyly as the corners of her lips curved faintly upward despite her embarrassment.
Grand Aunt Li then added proudly, "And let me tell you honestly, I was also among the women who secretly wanted Meilan for my youngest son back then." She slapped her thigh and laughed, "But unfortunately, before any of us could act properly, Guoqiang moved faster than all of us."
"He was one of the young teenage boys who was mesmerised by Chen Meilan at first site, and went to her father with proposal, but was chased away immediately, saying he was still so young and immature," Grand Aunt Li chuckled thinking about that, "He was completely heartbroken but was determined to marry Chen Meilan. At that time recruiters from the army had come to our region selecting young men in large numbers. Those were chaotic years ah… the Communist army was fighting battles everywhere. Young men with strong backs and steady hands were all being taken."
She sighed faintly before continuing, "Li Guoqiang was selected almost immediately." Grand Aunt Li clicked her tongue, "That boy... Even before joining the army, he already carried that upright military aura. So he left the village soon after recruitment and went away on war,"
"And during the war when PLA had taken over north, news spread that if soldiers wished to formally remain in the army long-term, they needed proper family registration and marriage arrangements completed."
Lu Lingmei immediately frowned in confusion, "Eh? But when I married Liu Baitao, he was already officially in the People's Liberation Army."
Grand Aunt Li nodded, "That rule changed later after Liberation. When Li Guoqiang enlisted, the country was still unsettled. So recruitment standards were different. Soldiers were gathered in bulk first. Many procedures were simplified because the battles could not wait. After the war ended and the new government stabilized, regulations gradually became stricter and more organized."
Only then did Lu Lingmei nod in understanding, "how did Brother-in-law Guoqiang married Sister Meilan?"
Grand Aunt Li laughed immediately, "Married? Hah! That boy nearly chased her all across two villages first."
Everyone in the room instantly became interested.
"At that time," Grand Aunt Li continued with visible amusement, "Li Guoqiang had returned home temporarily during the war. During those days he helped in the fields while waiting for military reassignment, and was also asking everyone around for Chen Meilan's address, about her family, about her likes and dislikes."
Even Widow He burst into laughter, "And once he found everything out, everyone suddenly noticed how often he suddenly started walking toward Chen Meilan's Village."
Grand Aunt Li nodded vigorously, "He would walk sixty li just to catch a glimpse of her. Sometimes only to stand outside the courtyard pretending to talk with villagers while secretly waiting for Meilan to come out."
Lu Lingmei immediately covered her mouth and laughed, "Brother-in-law Guoqiang was actually that bold?"
Grand Aunt Li snorted proudly, "Hmph, when men chase wives, even mountains become roads." Then her expression darkened slightly, "But when Li Guoqiang returned home and told Wang Chunhua and Li Changfu that he wished to marry Chen Meilan, they rejected it immediately. Especially Wang Chunhua."
At the mention of that name, both Widow He and Grand Aunt Li's expressions turned unpleasant.
"That old woman refused to provide even a single fen for bride price," Grand Aunt Li continued coldly. "At that time, Li Guoqiang's military allowance was also controlled tightly by her. Every coin he sent home passed through her hands first."
"Fortunately, Li Guoqiang was stubborn. He secretly borrowed money from his comrades in the army, then personally went to Chen Meilan's village and persuaded her father himself."
Chen Meilan lowered her head immediately, too embarrassed to meet everyone's eyes anymore.
Grand Aunt Li laughed heartily, "And after convincing her father, he directly registered the marriage according to the military's new regulations and submitted the documents without informing anyone in the Li family. Only after approval came down officially from the army did he inform the Li family. By then it was already too late for anyone to object. Military marriage approval had already been stamped."
She chuckled smugly, "Even Wang Chunhua could only grit her teeth and swallow her anger."
Widow He laughed loudly, "Aiya, no wonder Wang Chunhua's face stayed dark for nearly half a year after Meilan entered the family."
The room immediately filled with laughter once again. Lu Lingmei, now completely entertained by the story, turned toward Chen Meilan with sparkling eyes and deliberately teased her, "Sister Meilan, I truly never knew you had so many admirers back then. But Brother-in-law Guoqiang really moved faster than everyone else. Just like Lu Bu snatching Diaochan before others could even lift their heads to look."
The moment those words fell, everyone burst into laughter again. Even Grand Aunt Li laughed until tears formed in the corners of her eyes.
Only Chen Meilan became so embarrassed that she could barely raise her head anymore, her cheeks burning red all the way to her ears while she muttered helplessly, "Lingmei… stop speaking nonsense…"
Widow He suddenly slapped her thigh and spoke with great certainty, "But let me tell you one thing, Li Guoqiang was not the only fortunate one in that marriage."
She turned toward Lu Lingmei, "Young people like you never saw Li Guoqiang in his younger days, otherwise you would understand what kind of man he was. Aiyaa… when I first married into Shitou Village, that child was only ten or eleven years old, thin like a willow branch, always wearing patched clothes, yet even then people could already tell he would grow into something extraordinary."
Her voice softened unconsciously, "At that time, whenever Wang Chunhua beat him or scolded him, my heart would ache just looking at him. Such a beautiful child, yet forced to live such a bitter life. Even as a boy, his features were finer than city children. White skin, sharp brows, straight nose, and those eyes…" She clicked her tongue. "Clear and bright like cold spring water in the mountains."
Grand Aunt Li nodded repeatedly beside her, "That's true. In all my years living in this village, I have never seen another man like Li Guoqiang." She sighed with emotion. "When he became a teenager, girls from neighboring villages would purposely pass by the Li family courtyard carrying baskets just to catch a glimpse of him."
Widow He burst into laughter, "That's right! Some girls in our village would even do extra field work whenever he was in the fields. Hah! At that time the unmarried girls of several brigades were practically bewitched by him."
Lu Lingmei listened and nodded, "I can imagine, Brother-in-law is truly handsome. Even now he is still handsome enough to shame young men half his age. Military life hadn't ruined him, it has just refined him more. That man only became more imposing with age."
Widow He nodded enthusiastically, "Exactly. Tall like a pine tree, shoulders broad, waist straight, and that military bearing…" She lowered her voice teasingly and glanced at Chen Meilan. "When he walks into the village wearing his army coat, even married women secretly peek from behind their windows."
"Hahaha!" The courtyard immediately filled with laughter.
Even Lu Lingmei covered her mouth as she laughed until her shoulders trembled, "Sister Meilan, no wonder people used to say you and Brother-in-law looked like characters from an opera story. One beautiful like a jade flower, the other handsome like a young general."
Chen Meilan's face burned crimson from their teasing, "Enough already…" she muttered awkwardly, lowering her head as if wishing to disappear. But while the others continued laughing, her expression gradually quieted.
Almost unconsciously, her thoughts drifted once more toward Wang Xiuying. Toward Zhang Xiuli's words earlier that afternoon.
'Brother-in-law living in the city while you remain here in the village… who knows if some city woman has already set her eyes on him?'
The more she thought about it, the heavier the unease in her chest became.
And Wang Xiuying, that woman was returning.
Chen Meilan's fingers slowly tightened around the corner of her padded jacket. A faint bitterness spread through her heart.
Grand Aunt Li noticed the change in her expression and wisely chose not to continue teasing her. Instead, the old woman slowly rose from the kang bed and dusted her sleeves.
"Enough talking. We should head back now," she said. "The communal canteen must already be serving dinner. If we delay any longer, it will be scraped clean."
Widow He and Lu Lingmei immediately nodded, "Yes, yes, let's hurry."
Lu Lingmei turned toward Chen Meilan and smiled mischievously, "Come, Sister Meilan. If we stay any longer, you will be late."
Chen Meilan although reluctant followed them out.
Meanwhile inside the main Li family house a sharp voice suddenly exploded through the room.
"What did you say?!" Sun Guifeng nearly sprang up from her place, her shrill voice piercing enough to make Zhao Hongmei instinctively shrink her neck, "That bitch Wang Xiuying is coming back?" Her expression twisted instantly.
Zhao Hongmei nodded cautiously, "Yes, Mother. I heard Aunt Zhang Xiuli speaking to Aunt Chen Meilan in the fields this afternoon." She hesitated briefly before continuing carefully, "She said Aunt Wang Xiuying and Li Fengying are already on their way back. And… this time they plan to stay through the entire winter and only leave after the New Year."
The moment those words fell Sun Guifeng's face darkened completely. Her eyes flashed with naked hostility.
She slammed the shoe sole she had been mending onto the kang table so hard that dust scattered, "That shameless fox spirit still has the face to come back?"
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