Xu Ying looked at her friend, Lu Daya, with a mixture of exasperation and concern. “Sister Da Ya, listen to me,” she urged, her voice firm. “Man or woman, you live for yourself. Your parents are too stuck in their old ways. You have hands and feet; you can make your own money. Why would you need a man to support you?”
Lu Daya had been pouring out her heart, tears streaming down her face, about her patriarchal family and her complicated feelings for Sun Yiliang. “If you only focus on how Sun Yiliang treats you,” Xu Ying continued, “you can still have a fulfilling life without him. You might even be happier. Remember, you don’t rely on anyone but yourself, and you certainly don’t need to please anyone.”
Lu Daya, her eyes red and swollen, nodded slowly, finally wiping away her tears. She followed Xu Ying and Xu Jingjing back to the village, with a flicker of hope in her weary expression.
Upon arriving at the Xu family home, the sight that greeted Lu Daya in the yard brought her to a stunned halt. Sister-in-law Xu sat basking in the sun, while Big Brother Xu, her son, sat beside her, diligently massaging her legs. It was a domestic scene so alien to Lu Daya’s own upbringing that she instinctively pulled Xu Jingjing closer.
“Why is Brother Shengli pinching Sister-in-law Ling’s leg?” she whispered, her voice laced with disbelief. “If my sister-in-law behaved like this, my mother would say she doesn’t respect men and isn’t fit to be a wife!”
Xu Jingjing simply shrugged, unfazed. “That’s just how the men in our Xu family are,” she stated as amatter-of-factly. Her cousin-in-law, Ling, was pregnant and uncomfortable, so it was only natural for Brother Xu to help her. “This is what a man should do,” Xu Jingjing declared without a hint of shame.
Big Brother Xu, overhearing their conversation, chimed in, “Yeah, Da Ya, Your Sister-in-law Ling’s legs are swollen during pregnancy. I’ll give her a squeeze if it helps. It’s not easy for her to be pregnant. If I can do a little bit, I will.” He added with a playful grin, “If I can get pregnant, I’ll bear it for her!” His lighthearted comment brought laughter from everyone.
Mother Xu rolled her eyes at her son, “You are the only one who is great.” But her tone was affectionate. She didn’t mind this at all; after all, she didn’t have to serve her daughter-in-law. In fact, she secretly hoped her own daughter would find a man who treated her with such care. She felt this kind of behavior should be encouraged, recalling how her own husband had once done the same for her. “Which woman doesn’t want to be loved by her man?” she mused, a hint of pride in her voice.
Then, turning to Lu Daya, Mother. Xu became serious. “Da Ya, a woman’s marriage is a lifelong matter, so she can’t be careless. When the time comes, look for a man like those in our Xu family, who truly loves his wife. Don’t end up with someone like your dad, who beats his wife just because he’s incompetent. That’s a matter of character. If he has no future, he’ll take it out on his wife and children.”
Her voice gained momentum as she continued, echoing lessons learned from her daughter and eldest daughter-in-law. “Don’t listen to those who say women are useless. The party chairman himself said that women can hold up half the sky! Men and women are equal, and both can contribute to the family and the country. So, we women shouldn’t believe in those feudal ideas or be bound by them.” Mother Xu finished, puffing out her chest, feeling utterly enlightened.
Xu Ying, genuinely impressed, gaped at her mother. “Mom, what you said is so impressive!” she exclaimed, giving her a hearty thumbs-up. Mother Xu, a little bashful from all the praise , brushed it off, “Hey, it’s nothing.”
Even Father Xu, who had been quietly observing, looked at his wife with newfound respect. “It seems she’s learned a lot recently from going to work,” he remarked. Mother Xu was elated; it was clear her newfound wisdom was making an impact.
Lu Daya, experiencing such an open and respectful family dynamic for the first time, felt a pang of envy. She absorbed Mother Xu’s words, her heart stirred, and mentally began to revise her own criteria for choosing a partner.
“Shitou, Huzi, your Aunty will take you to have a picnic!” Xu Ying’s cheerful shout rang through the yard.
Third Brother Xu and Second Brother Xu, hearing the word “picnic,” immediately materialized, their eyes wide with anticipation. “Little sister, we are going too!” they chorused.
Mother . Xu shot them a disapproving glance. “Go, go, you’re practically grown men, still playing with children!” She sighed, thinking how they were almost of marriageable age yet still so boisterous.
Second Brother Xu, thick-skinned as ever, wasn’t deterred. “I’m going to be my little sister’s bodyguard!” he declared proudly.
Third Brother Xu immediately puffed out his chest. “Mom, I’m good at it! I’ve already developed my skills in the team. I can protect my little sister better!” He demonstrated a few impressive moves in the yard, reminding everyone that his transportation unit’s job was not just about driving; it often involved dangerous long-distance routes in an era with less public security.
“Go, go, let’s go!” Mother . Xu finally relented, feigning exasperation.
Cheering, Second Brother Xu and Third Brother Xu rushed to Xu Ying. “Little sister, do you need to bring anything?”
“Bring a pot with a big mouth , some seasonings, and a knife,” she instructed.
What had started as a small outing quickly swelled into a formidable group of seven. But just as they were about to set off, three figures appeared on bicycles: Gu Fuying, Gu Fuzhu, and Xu Qiuye. Their faces were alight with excitement.
“Yingying, I miss you so much!” Gu Fuying exclaimed, nearly out of breath. “You are so amazing! My parents are praising you every day at home!” She continued, practically buzzing with news, “How did you place millions of orders in just seven days? Don’t you know how famous you’re now? Everyone in our county knows about you, and your workshop is truly amazing!” The thought that Xu Ying alone could feed the entire Yushan Commune seemed to fill her with awe.
Gu Fuzhu, her eyes bright, gazed at Xu Ying with admiration. Her own father, the newly appointed director, spoke of Xu Ying with immense praise, crediting her with bringing economic development to the county. Though some of the terminology was beyond her, Gu Fuzhu understood one thing clearly: Xu Ying was incredibly capable, even her father admired her.
“Where are you going with the big pot?” Gu Fuying asked, her curiosity piqued as she glanced at their picnic supplies before her gaze settled on Xu Qiuye, who was carrying something.
“Going for a picnic! My little sister said so!” Second Brother Xu eagerly volunteered, though he wasn’t entirely sure what a “picnic” entailed. Seeing Xu Qiuye, he quickly went to her, taking her bicycle.
“Why are you still carrying something?” Second Brother Xu asked, curious about the package.
Xu Qiuye smiled shyly. “My dad asked me to deliver it,” she explained, a hint of embarrassment in her voice. “He said if you have time, come to my house tomorrow and follow me to my grandparents’ house.” She added quickly, “He loves to show off, and he always used to lose face in front of my uncle. This time, he wants to win and regain his pride. I didn’t want to do that, but I couldn’t bear my father begging me.”
Xu Shengcai stiffened, his eyes wide with surprise. “What? Go to your grandma’s house?” He felt his head spin. Was’nt this moving too fast? They weren’t even engaged yet!
Misinterpreting his silence, Xu Qiuye quickly added, “If you don’t want to go, don’t go. My dad is like that; he’ll be fine in a while.”
“No, no, it’s okay, I’ll go,” Xu Shengcai stammered, still reeling from the sudden turn of events, his mind now a delightful jumble.