Bai Fumei in the 70’s

Zhao Lanxiang was surprised by the captain's serious tone and she cannot refute it.

Li Dali saw the doubts flashing through the female educated youth's eyes and vaguely said, "The family does not have a good reputation. It is not a good place to stay. I will help you arrange another place."

Zhao Lanxiang did not miss the contempt in Li Dali's tone. She knew that her old man's ancestors were landlords, and their life in the 1960s and 1970s was very difficult. The masculine and honest captain looked down on the He family for a reason.

She politely declined. "I will not trouble you..."

Li Dali interrupted her. "The whole brigade can be discussed except for this family. Otherwise, you just don't recognize me as the captain."

His dark face had a stubborn sternness, probably from training too many people, a bit like Zhao Lanxiang's grandfather. At that moment, Zhao Lanxiang feels choked.

Li Dali doesn't understand how this young female educated youth had a relationship with He Songbai.

Who did not know He Songbai, the second child of the He family?

His name was obtained by his grandfather, the landlord, who had invited a master. On his full moon celebration, they invited the whole village to have a feast for several days. Everyone's flattering words were endless. They said this son will do great deeds, make great achievements, and he will bring honor to his ancestors...1

However, what happened was contrary to the wish. The revolution came and the He family's assets were taken away. The He family went from the top richest man of the village to the bottom of the village. The He family's second son never went to school nor even read for a day. He spent all day walking around and doing nothing. He became a famous gangster who was famous in these ten miles and eight towns.

It's not that no one came to find trouble for the family. One day, the He family had been in trouble, and the next day the He family's second son carried a stone and smashed the heads of the troublemakers. His deadly force was frightening.1

No one dared to mess with He Songbai since then.

The most important thing was that He Songbai was punished with a hard labor and reform period last year. This is the main reason why Li Dali opposed Zhao Lanxiang from staying with the He family.

Sending this soft-skinned, highly educated female educated youth to the He family's house, isn't it sending a sheep into the tiger's mouth? She won't even be able to struggle before eaten in one bite. 

Li Dali said, "So... you pack your luggage tonight and stay at my house. I will clean a room for you alone. My family is very easy to get along with..." 4

He hasn't finished his sentence, but the female educated youth shook her head with a smile and refused. 

Zhao Lanxiang said, "The He family are distant relative, and my parents will be more at ease if I live there." 

She spoke very sharply, and her voice was as crisp as a jade. "He Songbai, born in the year 1957. There are a grandmother and two sisters at home. The grandmother, Li Guangxu, born in the year 1924, and she has one son and two daughters. My mother is the daughter of Grandma Li's cousin, so she is He Songbai's cousin."

Zhao Lanxiang opened her mouth and speaks nonsense. 

Sorry, mom, you have a nephew now. I will help you get an excellent son-in-law someday. 20

Li Dali's eyes suddenly looked as big as a bull. He tried to see is she was lying by studying the female educated youth's face. But her clear eyes were shining and bright, and they could dazzle people's eyes. And now her eyebrows were slightly raised, her eyes contained clear smiles, as if she could see through people's minds. 

 Li Dali withdrew his eyes in embarrassment. 

 "This, this, this is fine." 

She said they were relatives, and it was not good for Li Dali to say anymore. Would he have any problems people counting on their relatives? 

Therefore, Zhao Lanxiang successfully fooled her way to her accommodation like this. 

In the afternoon, the educated youths gathered at the temporary dormitory to play card games and chat. Zhao Lanxiang took a basket of uneaten meat buns from the kitchen and put them in a cloth bag. She had enough flour and meat to make twenty buns and noodles. She, Zhou Jiazhen, and the few acquainted educated youths only ate ten buns and the noodles together.

She carried the buns around the other end of Mount Niujiao, walked to the irrigation ridge, and found a place to sit, then she untied the bag that carried the buns.

The steamed buns that had just been heated in the steamer exuded a tantalizing fragrance. Soon, Zhao Lanxiang saw a pair of feet with straw shoes in front of her. She looked up and saw a  greedy drooling face in front of her. A woman was watching from a distance, she did not dare to approach, nor did she want to leave.

The woman is about twenty years old, but she had wrinkles on her face. Her fingers' joints were swollen, which was the result of constant rough work.

She opened her mouth and babbled, unable to speak, and simply stared silently at Zhao Lanxiang eating the buns. Zhao Lanxiang ate a bun in front of her, tore the white and tender bun, bit the juicy lean meat filling, and swallowed the bun into her belly with a happy face.

The envy in the woman's eyes deepens, but she just stared from afar, glancing at Zhao Lanxiang from time to time, and then continued cutting grass for her cow. The gigantic basket behind her was as big as her, and it overwhelmed her thin shoulders.

Zhao Lanxiang smirked. She pushed the bun forward and handed it to the woman.

The woman is He Songbai's eldest sister, He Songye. Zhao Lanxiang did not speak, but made several gestures at her.

Come, eat together.

There are too many meat buns. I am alone and can't finish it.

When she was gesturing, her waist was upright, her lips were upturned and she smiled, and her posture looks friendly.

After Zhao Lanxiang finished her gesture, there is an undisguised surprise on He Songye's face, and there is a little hesitation.

Zhao Lanxiang continued to "say", "I am full."

"Buns, fragrant, delicious. You give it a try."

He Songye had a high fever when she was a child, which injured her auditory nerves, and she cannot hear any sounds. Because of that, she didn't understand how to speak. After her parents passed away one after another, it was she who raised a pair of younger siblings. You can say that she was He Songbai's most respected person.

Zhao Lanxiang had been with He Songye for many years, and they could communicate daily. After marriage, she discovered that the old sister-in-law, He Songye, was actually a foodie. The days she lived before were too bitter, and she had hardly eaten any good food.

Zhao Lanxiang smiled and said, "Try it?"

She stuffed a bun into He Songye's mouth. He Songye was shocked. As she tasted the soft bun, her eyes suddenly wet.

Her waist shook and she touched the bun in her mouth with her rough hands. The stinging hunger in her stomach prompted her to chew mechanically.

The smooth and soft pork overflowed with tasty juice filled her mouth. A sweet and strong taste grabbed all her senses. Subconsciously, He Songye finished a bun, feeling the satisfaction that she never had in her whole life. But she was not full yet.

In order to save the rations at home, she only brought some corn steamed buns today. She did too much work in the morning and ate all her buns. At noon, she could only drink a little water to prop up her hunger.

He Songye ate one bun after another without realizing it. When she ate the bun in her hands clean, Zhao Lanxiang handed her another one.

Finally, the buns in Zhao Lanxiang's bags were gone. She smiled and gestured, "Sister He, can you do me a favor?"

"I want to live in your house."4

...... 

In the evening, when He Songbai was picking chicken manure to make fertilizer for the land reserved for his family, he saw his sister carrying a large bag of things. She walked to the vacant house and laid down her things. Without a word, she took out a broom and threw out the dusty chicken pen, the dustpan, the hoe, the plow...

He Songbai did not ask his sister what she was doing until she smiled and took out her newly quilted bed sheet. He Songbai finally looked up, his unruly eyes darkened.

For that quilt, she had saved money for a long time and reserved it for her dowry. She was never willing to use it.
4

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[Translator Note: During the period of the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) in the People's Republic of China, there are five groups that are considered enemies of the state:2

1. Landlords, 5

2. Rich Farmers, 

3. Counter-Revolutionaries, 

4. Bad-Influencers, 1

5. Rightist. 

He Songbai's grandfather was a landlord, so his family lost all their properties and the whole village looked down on his family and he received a lot of discrimination because of this. 7

You can see Wikipedia on "Five Black Categories" for more details.]