Bai Fumei in the 70’s

Before He Songbai had time to get back to Zhao Lanxiang, he was shocked by her proposal.

His ears were buzzing, as if some fairy music lingered in his ears. At that moment, it felt as if he was so light that he could soar in the sky. She wanted to take him to see her parents. She must have a lot of courage!

He Songbai had some longing to see Zhao Lanxiang's family, hoping to get to know them. Otherwise, he would be able to control his legs. He subconsciously came near her house and wanted to play with the little Huzi. In the afternoon, he almost accompanied him to throw the round sand-ball!

Her brother looked a lot like her, lively and cute.

He Songbai's whole heart was bubbling with happiness, and it took him a long time to wake up.

He... can't meet his girlfriend's parents!

It was not a good time to visit.

Zhao Lanxiang pulled his hand, but he pulled her back a few steps instead.

He whispered with a smile, "Forget it."

"Wait next time. Today I am not prepared. Do you want me to go to your door, empty-handed? This... this can't work. Isn't this rude?"

He Songbai looked at Zhao Lanxiang. He couldn't help but touch her face and smoothly wrapped it up with her scarf.

"Go back. It's too cold."

Zhao Lanxiang glared at him, "If you don't want to come empty-handed, then let's go buy fruit with me."

Although the supply and marketing cooperatives had not opened yet, many production teams around City G were growing oranges and grapefruit in the counties. During the New Year, two or three farmers would pick some fruits and sell them.

Zhao Lanxiang dragged him and said, "You agree to me quickly."

"Otherwise, we would be pulling each other on the street now, and it will not look good. I am afraid we will be taken away by the police as delinquents. It will be your fault!"

He Songbai heard her words, felt as if he was choked for a while. He was dumbfounded and silently withdrew his hand.

He looked at her unshakable eyes and knew that he was in trouble.

Zhao Lanxiang said again, "I promise not to tell them that you are my boyfriend. Just treat it as me entertaining a friend from far away?"

"Don't you want to see where I grew up and see my family?"

Zhao Lanxiang thought as if He Songbai could do anything else other than agree to her? He had never been able to reject her.

He was very distressed, but the excuse that she prepared was very positive.

He Songbai bought some fruits, and along the way, he saw someone selling his homemade sweet wine inside a clean soy sauce bottle.

Zhao Lanxiang said, "My mother usually likes sweet wine."

The two people walked around the street, and He Songbai bought a bunch of things. He even ran to someone's house and bought some candy at a high price. He ran to the black market and bought pork—a piece of pork, a bag of candy, a pack of cigarettes. Things were very random, because during the New Year, the supply and marketing cooperatives do not open at all, and the black market was also closed. These gifts were only scattered things from other people.

After a long time of speculation, He Songbai developed a pair of sharp eyes.

Which one was a seller; he can recognize them at first glance.

He Songbai finally followed his girlfriend to her neighborhood. He began to get nervous again and stopped before her door.

"Me, am I... properly dressed?"

Zhao Lanxiang glanced at him, "You look proper and handsome. Don't worry. Your current identity is my friend."

"The like-minded friend I met in the Hezi village."

He Songbai felt relieved when he thought so.

Zhao Lanxiang took out her key, went inside first, and look around. Zhao Yongqing was not there, and Feng Lian was marinating the meat in the kitchen, preparing to cook dinner.

She told Feng Lian, "Mom, I have a friend who came to visit."

"He is from Hezi village in City N."

Feng Lian heard her, wiped her hands with her apron, and wondered, "How come he came here during the New Year?"

He Songbai walked into the house at this time.

He said calmly, "I am a breeder in charge of raising cattle in the Hezi Brigade, called He Songbai. Auntie, you just call me Xiaobai. I came to City G to purchase livestock vaccines."

He paused for a moment and said with a bitter smile, "The New Year's Day was cold and confusing. I fumbled around here for a long time like a blind fly. Thanks to Comrade Zhao's help, she was very enthusiastic and solved a big problem for me."

"I came here to say thank you."

Zhao Lanxiang was dumbfounded when she heard it. He made excuses so naturally. He took the initiative to gain control into his own hands.

What she wanted was to secretly confess his identity to her mother so that he could see her parents this time without him knowing. As a result, when he came, how could she still have the face to reveal the truth to her mother secretly?

He Songbai handed over the meat and fruits with a smile, and a bottle of wine.

Feng Lian said, "You are polite. How come you have brought so many things?"

He Songbai pointed at the pork and said sincerely, "I bought this one. Comrade Zhao picked up the others."

Feng Lian glared at her daughter and pinched the back of her hand.

"Go get a fruit knife and give it to He, He..."

"Xiaobai." He Songbai reminded her with a smile. His white teeth, coupled with his bright and dazzling smile, was very expressive.

"Go and cut fruit for Xiaobai." Feng Lian patted her daughter's hand to urge her.

So, there was only He Songbai, and Feng Lian left in the living room. He Songbai seemed a bit cautious. After a few tentative sentences, he knew how to catch Feng Lian's interest and talk about all sorts of things.

Feng Lian looked at this energetic and polite young man who spent the Spring Festival alone in a foreign city and couldn't help but pity him.

"Have you got the vaccine?"

He Songbai shook his head, "I have to wait for the comrades at the epidemic prevention station to return to work before I can buy it. I'll come here early so I can get a ticket and can catch the train."

Feng Lian is a teacher and also very talkative. She asked He Songbai several questions and couldn't help but praise him for his hard work, clever mind, and sacrifice for the country.

The more her mother praises her boyfriend, the more Zhao Lanxiang did not dare to "reveal his identity."

She listened to Feng Lian's repeated praises and couldn't help but bury herself in the kitchen like an ostrich plunged into the sand. He was really powerful, but she was blushing. She had never heard Feng Lian praise her or little Huzi so much!