“Stop thinking, just go!” a voice, ambiguous in gender, interrupted.
Xia Mian turned around to see a very slender man entering from the doorway—he was Xia Wenyue’s husband, Mao Zhishan, the second son of the Mao family.
In an era when robust masculinity was prized, Mao Zhishan was mocked as a ‘she-male’ primarily because of his feminine appearance. His weather-beaten, gaunt cheeks barely concealed his past beauty, and his androgynous voice often led people to mistake him for a woman.
In future eras, what would be admired as a ‘beautiful boy’ appearance was mocked and scorned in his time.
But Mao Zhishan’s words surprised Xia Mian; she thought he would oppose. Her knowledge of this uncle by marriage came from the adults’ conversation she overheard, and the only positive impression was when he defended his wife after a severe bleeding incident that almost cost her life.
Oh, there was another time.
It seemed like when Xia Wenyue returned to visit her relatives, Second Uncle Xia’s nature of taking petty advantage overcame him, which angered her, leading to a fierce argument. When the second uncle physically attacked Xia Wenyue, this uncle-in-law came over, picked up a flat stick, and beat the second uncle so badly that he ended up hospitalized.
That’s why Second Uncle Xia was as meek as a quail around Xia Wenyue, not daring to provoke her anymore.
But Xia Mian wasn’t impressed by this feat—in her view, belated affection was less valuable than grass. It was the marriage with this person that had shackled Xia Wenyue for nearly twenty years. If it weren’t for Xia Wenyue’s strength and optimism, she might not have survived. What was the point of affection then?
However, what was happening now told Xia Mian that she might have been wrong; things were not as she had assumed.
Mao Zhishan approached Xia Wenyue and handed her a passbook, “Take the children and go. This money should support you for a while.”
“I’ll handle things at home and pack our belongings,” Mao Zhishan said. “After a few days, I’ll come find you. I’ll work hard and earn money. We must ensure the children get educated.”
Xia Wenyue didn’t look at the passbook, instead sizing up Mao Zhishan, “Weren’t you working at the bay? How did you get here now? There’s no bus from there.”
Mao Zhishan smiled, a face weathered by decades of hardship shone when facing his wife, “I asked the foreman for half a day off, hitched a ride with a friend, and walked the rest of the way. You know I’m quick on my feet.”
Xia Wenyue felt distressed, “I was just letting you know, you didn’t have to rush over.”
Mao Zhishan chuckled, “I wouldn’t be at ease if I didn’t see the kids myself. I was already thinking of sending Huimei away, but it turns out there’s an opportunity. If it’s possible, you should all go. This money should be enough.”
“From your little savings…?” Xia Wenyue started to say but paused when she saw the number on the passbook, exclaiming, “Where did you get so much money?”
“I’ve been saving,” Mao Zhishan said with a shy smile, touching his head. “I started when our Huimei was born.”
“I had thought that once we had enough money, our family could leave this place. But I always worried that I couldn’t provide enough for you and the kids; it always seemed like the money wasn’t enough.”
Xia Mian remembered that Xia Wenyue had a difficult delivery with Mao Huimei when she was seventeen. That means, the usually submissive Mao Zhishan had begun planning to leave the Mao family for that long.
Although his effort took nearly twenty years to prepare due to societal disdain and the harsh social environment, no one wouldn’t be touched by the sincerity of the man who owned only a single coin but earnestly strived to give you a hundred.
Xia Wenyue’s eyes welled up; the mother who was invincible in front of her children now showed her vulnerability in front of her husband, “Zhishan…”
Mao Zhishan was also distressed; he patted Xia Wenyue’s shoulder, “It’s my fault for not being capable enough, making you and the children suffer with me. I was thinking, with Huizhu getting older, we could start arranging things in a couple of years, but I didn’t expect such a good opportunity to come along.”
Finally, Mao Zhishan turned to Xia Mian. Looking somewhat awkward, as if afraid of embarrassing Xia Wenyue, he tried his best to make his voice deeper, “Mianmian, right? Uncle will entrust your second aunt and cousins to you. Once I’ve settled things here, let me know the address, and I’ll come find them. Uncle and Aunt will earn money; don’t worry.”
Here was another person who, despite being pressed down by society, was still earnestly living his life.
Xia Mian chuckled, “That’s great! Uncle can hold the fort for us. I was secretly worried since we’re just women and children in a big city—it never felt completely secure.”
Mao Zhishan was stunned for a moment. A spark of light lit in his eyes, and then he nodded vigorously, trying to suppress his emotion, “Yes, Uncle will hold the fort for you all!”
Mao Zhishan didn’t stay long. Before leaving, he rummaged through his pockets again, “I thought ahead in case something happened and got an advance on my wages. You take it.”
Xia Wenyue pushed the fifty yuan back to him, “Keep this for yourself. I’ve also brought out all the money from home, not a cent left. You’ll need money to buy a ticket when you come to us, right?”
“Don’t worry about me,” Mao Zhishan insisted, stuffing the money back into Xia Wenyue’s hand. “I can manage at home, you take care of the kids. We can’t even pack up everything at home; if they find out, it’ll only cause trouble. Just use this money to buy new things.”
“Once you’re settled down, give me the address, and I’ll send the rest.”
After Mao Zhishan left, Xia Wenyue stared at the passbook and suddenly burst into tears, choking out, “He’s always so busy, has to provide for the children, and that old hag still troubles him from time to time. How did he manage to save so much money?”
Honestly, Xia Mian was also shocked by the figure in the passbook. Ten thousand yuan—at a time when a dual-income household in a small town typically only had a few thousand in savings, it was shocking to learn that a farmer supporting a family of five could accumulate such savings while relying on odd jobs and a small plot of land. Thinking of Mao Zishan’s thin frame, it was clear that he had sacrificed a lot to earn all this money.
…
Having decided to let Xia Mian and Xiao Feng go to Yan City, the Xia family quickly started preparing. Both Xia Mian and Xiao Feng needed to attend school, and there was no time to waste.
Xia Mian and Xiao Feng didn’t have much luggage, but the family prepared a lot of food for the road. Indeed, elders’ concern for the younger generation remained constant across time and culture.
Before departing, the eldest uncle forcefully handed Xia Mian five hundred yuan, “You will need to buy a lot of things to settle down, do not skimp too much.”
“And, although we helped the Ning family, whether they remember the favor is their business. You must never take it for granted,” he earnestly advised. “Just like when we help someone up who’s fallen or push a car that can’t make it up a hill, it’s what we should do. If we keep score of our good deeds, that’s not right.”
Xia Mian nodded seriously, “Don’t worry, Uncle, I won’t.”
“No matter what happens, this is your home. Call us if you need anything.” The eldest uncle repeated his instructions again and again, “If it really doesn’t work out, I’ll come and bring you all back. Remember we are all family.”
“Yes.”
Finally, the car started, and Qiangqiang, seeming to understand that they were about to leave, began to cry loudly, “I don’t want Xiao Feng to go, I don’t want Aunt Mian to go!”
Xiao Feng also leaned against the window looking at Qiangqiang, with a sobbing voice, “Brother, don’t cry…”
Unfortunately, Qiangqiang was not like Xiao Feng and cried even harder. If Xia Hai hadn’t been holding him, he might have clung to the car’s wheels to keep it from leaving.
From the rearview mirror, Xia Mian saw the eldest aunt-in-law stealthily wiping tears, while the eldest uncle and his three sons watched them go.
As the figures of her family gradually disappeared, something seemed to blossom inside Xia Mian.
Yes, this is now her home, where she has her roots in this world.
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2nd aunt’s husband’s effort touched me deeply 😭😭🤧
Fortunately in that harsh environment, she found a good husband 🥹 really wish them a good life in Yan city 🥰🥰
Oh no the tears 😢😢 living in such an environment and having that type of mother Mao Zishan is really a good husband and father. He’s really trying his best to give them a better life. Even though the process is long, at least he’s actually doing something and not being submissive.