In 1992, a small village owner became the richest man in the village by owning a car.

Chapter 6 Husband and Wife (Combined Chapter)

When Yu Dawei got home, it was already dark. He said goodbye to his parents and went home.

Han Jingfan sat on the edge of the kang as she had yesterday, with a candle lit beside her. When she saw that Yu Dawei had finally returned, she got up, moved the table on the kang to the ground, and brought over the quilt from the head of the kang to spread it out.

"Here you go." Yu Dawei took off his coat, dog-skin hat, and handkerchief, and put a yellowed secondhand book on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed).

He knew from his past life that Han Jingfan was not talkative, but loved books and reading. He only found out about this after they got married, when he took his wife to visit her parents' home after the Spring Festival.

My mother-in-law led me to the storeroom, where there were four boxes of books in the corner.

His mother-in-law also told him that Xiao Fan hadn't had many friends growing up, but he loved reading. He earned money by helping old ladies in the village carry water, chop firewood, and do all sorts of chores, and he used it all to buy books.

Occasionally, he would borrow books from his elementary school teacher's house; the two villages were right next to each other, not far apart. But later, the villagers started gossiping behind his back, and Xiao Fan never went to school again after that.

When Yu Dawei heard about these things, his eldest son was already four years old.

The mother-in-law wasn't very educated, so she thought she'd ask Yu Dawei to decide what to do with the books—whether to take them back or sell them as scrap.

At the time, Yu Dawei was dirt poor. Upon hearing that he could make money from the books, he ignored Han Jingfan's advice and sold them all in front of everyone. Afterwards, he bought a lot of good things for his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law from the village store.

The Han family has four siblings, two brothers-in-law, and one sister-in-law. Han Jingfan is the youngest in the family.

He heard from his mother-in-law that there was actually another child after Xiao Fan, but the child died when he was three years old because the family was too poor.

Yu Dawei didn't ask for details about what happened, and neither did his mother-in-law.

Perhaps it's a painful memory they don't want to recall.

These books should still be in Old Han's storeroom. He came back today specifically to buy a book because he remembered the awful things he had done in the past.

His biological father, Yu Laonian, was also a book lover. There was still a box of books in the inner room, but in recent years, due to the need to make a living, he seemed to have grown tired of reading them and lost interest in opening the box to read them.

The Yu family had more children than the Han family, with five brothers and sisters. Yu Dawei was the eldest, while the second and youngest were in university and junior high school, respectively. At that time, compulsory education had begun but was not yet widespread, and there were still many expenses associated with schooling.

If a child's household registration is in a rural area and they go to study in the city, they may even have to pay a separate tuition fee each semester.

"Why did you decide to give me a book?" Han Jingfan's eyes showed some surprise at first, then she reached out and picked up the yellowed "Journey to the West".

"On the way back, I happened to see a used bookstore, so I went in to take a look and warm up a bit." Yu Dawei walked to the stove, added a handful of corn cobs to it, and then weighed down the fire with two pieces of wood.

"Thank you." Han Jingfan never dreamed that this man would bring something back for her.

Since we got married last year, my partner has never been this good to me, except for borrowing money everywhere and never coming home.

They argued more than they talked that year.

It seems like he's changed ever since he came back last night.

What could change a person so much in just two days?

She held the thread-bound copy of "Journey to the West" in both hands, staring blankly at the broad back on the small stool, lost in thought. Subconsciously, she reached out her right hand and touched her protruding belly.

I hope they can stay like this forever.

"I returned that device to you. I haven't told you about the money. It was borrowed from loan sharks, but I've already paid it back."

"The 3,500 yuan I spent on this house was a loan from my mother-in-law, and I will pay it back as soon as possible."

Yu Dawei leaned on the stove hook with both hands, watching the flames burning inside and listening to the whooshing sound of the wind coming from the stove: "Xiao Fan, what are your thoughts on the future?"

He thought about it for a long time and decided to tell her about buying the car.

The reason why the two of them eventually became suspicious of each other and fell apart in their past life was actually 99.99% due to him.

He was used to doing things his own way, and he only thought Han Jingfan was pretty; otherwise, she was no different from an old woman from the countryside.

This is probably the big-city syndrome he developed after returning to the countryside from the city: being aloof and looking down on everyone.

He said many hurtful things to Han Jingfan back then, especially during the first two years of their marriage, when he would say things like, "What do you know, you're just a country bumpkin! Do you know as much as I do?"

It seems that the other person never refuted back then, but their eyes always held an unspeakable sorrow.

Since Han Jingfan left this world, he felt as if he had lost his soul. He would occasionally dream of her, but she was different from the one in his memory. She was like a fairy in the snow, untouched by the dust of the world, yet insightful about everything.

"Me?" Han Jingfan stared blankly at Yu Dawei, seemingly still reeling from what he had just said, or perhaps it was the first time he had taken the initiative to ask for her advice.

"I don't know. I was born in the countryside, and I still want to go to the big city to see the world if I have the chance. I've also thought that once I have enough to eat and drink, I'll write something." Han Jingfan smiled shyly, brushing the hair from her forehead with her right hand and looking at the dark ceiling. "But I think I'll still be in the countryside in the future, farming my own land and raising a couple of pigs."

“One is male, and the other is female,” Yu Dawei replied with a grin as he turned around.

"Yes, yes, let's raise some more chickens, geese, and ducks."

"It would be best to tidy up the seven-acre yard and house first, and then build a small brick house when we have the money."

"Yeah, yeah, let's build a doghouse too. Big White has been with us for almost two years and is still living in a shack."

"Hehe, that's for sure. This is our family's elder. From now on, when the kids are born, they'll all have to call Da Bai 'Grandpa Dog'."

Han Jingfan laughed happily. Her face, illuminated by the red candlelight, resembled a plum blossom blooming in winter, and a faint fragrance wafted through every corner of the dilapidated house.

Yu Dawei's eyes widened in disbelief. "A vase is indeed a vase," he thought. "No, wait, my wife is indeed my wife, she's incredibly beautiful!"

That long-dormant heart seemed to be touched and awakened once again.

Han Jingfan felt Yu Dawei's burning gaze. She lowered her head shyly, looked at the book in her hand, and whispered, "Dawei, we're having a child."

Yu Dawei was instantly doused with cold water. Looking at his protruding belly, he smacked his lips.

Eldest son, do you know that you delayed the birth of your second brother?

"Xiao Fan, you know my old man graduated from a technical school, right? He's been repairing farm machinery in the production team all his life." Yu Dawei felt the room was a bit cold, so he used a stove hook to poke the grate under the stove.

"Yes." Han Jingfan knew about her formidable father-in-law.

Throughout the surrounding villages, everyone knows Yu Laonian.

Not only was she skilled at repairing farm machinery, but she was also specially invited by the production brigade to be a teacher back then, making her father-in-law quite the star. Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever; times change, and the tides of history will bring forth new forces.

"I started repairing cars with my dad when I was a kid. Actually, my skills are no worse than his, it's just that people in the village don't know that," Yu Dawei said, laying the groundwork.

Han Jingfan listened quietly; she could sense that the other person had something to tell her.

"When I went out today, I paid off my debts and then saw an old excavator at a garbage recycling station."

"Aside from being covered in cement, it's just a bit old. With some repairs, it can still be used. I only spent the two thousand five hundred yuan I took from you to buy that excavator."

Seeing that Han Jingfan's expression was off, Yu Dawei quickly continued to explain: "This is what I'm thinking. Excavators can be used for road construction, bridge construction, and any kind of project in the future. As for maintenance, I can do it myself, so there's no need for labor costs."

"As for spare parts, the owner of the agricultural machinery shop is a good person. I think I can get the spare parts from him first and settle the payment later."

"Even if we can't find any work, an excavator weighs at least 15 tons, and selling it as scrap metal will be enough to recoup the cost."

Yu Dawei breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Han Jingfan's expression gradually calm down.

In his opinion, Han Jingfan definitely didn't know what an excavator was. Now that she understood that this thing would definitely not cost her any money, she would feel much more at ease.

I'll explain to her in detail what excavators can do and what their current market position is when I have time.

"Did you buy a hydraulic excavator or a mechanical excavator?" Han Jingfan placed the Journey to the West book on her bedding.

"Hydraulic excavator UH03." Yu Dawei was extremely shocked. What was going on? My wife knew about excavators, but she only learned about them after we went to the City of a Hundred Lakes.

In their past life, it was when he went to the oil city (also known as the city of a hundred lakes) and took her to see the excavator he had repaired that she learned what an excavator was.

Yu Dawei clearly remembers that his wife stared at the Komatsu (excavator) for a long time that day.

"Hitachi?" Han Jingfan looked up at him curiously.

Yu Dawei was completely dumbfounded.

Could this young lady also be a time traveler?

Han Jingfan found it somewhat amusing to see Yu Dawei's shocked and bewildered face, but she held back her laughter.

"I once read a book about construction machinery. It was brought back by a truck driver from our village when he went back to his hometown for the Chinese New Year. The other party refused to sell it to me, but I bought it for twenty yuan." Han Jingfan laughed again.

She felt that tonight was the happiest night of her life since she got married, even happier than on her wedding night.

As some unpleasant memories surfaced in her mind, Han Jingfan's face paled slightly, and she lowered her head, remaining silent.

Yu Dawei sensed Han Jingfan's unusual behavior and stopped talking, though he was secretly shocked.

He had no idea that people might have known about some of the excavator brands several years ago.

He silently used the stove hook to open the stove lid, added some more firewood, took off his clothes, and lay down in bed.

The candle went out, and the two people lying in bed could hear the whooshing sound of the fireplace and the whistling of the wind through the branches outside.

Logically speaking, Yu Dawei should be grateful to the people of Hanjiagang Village. If it weren't for them, Han Jingfan would have been married long ago, given her looks, and wouldn't have been waiting until she was twenty without anyone proposing marriage.

Yu Dawei still felt uneasy. If he ever encountered those gossipy women in the village again when he returned to his mother-in-law's house, he would definitely not let them get away with it!

It's one thing for him to be bullied, but if anyone dares to bully his wife, he'll break their kneecaps off! (Author's note: Kneecaps, also known as sheep's kneecaps, are used in the context of pulling out someone's kneecaps.)
Silent all night.

Yu Dawei got up early this morning. After two days of snow, the weather outside finally cleared up today.

Lifting the curtain and pushing open the door, Yu Dawei was immediately blinded by the snow-covered courtyard outside. The snow under the sunlight was even more dazzling than a reflective mirror.

The sky was a deep, unblemished blue, and the cool, fresh air filled my nostrils with every breath, making me feel as if I were bathing in a pristine paradise.

The barking of dogs rang in Yu Dawei's ears, and he opened his eyes. In a good mood, he ran to Da Bai and ruffled its head with his big hands, which were covered with two hand shields.

"Everything is the best beginning, isn't it, Big White!" He smiled, his smile shining brightly in the sunlight.

He would pray to the Bodhisattva every day if he had the chance. He wondered which Bodhisattva had appeared to him and allowed him to go back to 1992 and start his life anew.

"Hey! Dawei, you're up early today!" A man wearing a military green cotton hat poked his head out from the other side of the brick wall.

The man had large eyes, a thin face, and looked to be in his forties. His beard was covered in white frost. When he saw Yu Dawei, he smiled, but inwardly he was somewhat disdainful.

Everyone in the village knows that Yu Dawei also has a nickname: Lazy Dawei.

In winter, when there is no farm work, the villagers usually get up at seven or eight o'clock, but Da Lan will not get up until the sun is high in the sky.

What good is having a good father? Besides, Yu Lao Nian is now supporting two children's education, and his family's savings are probably almost gone.

"Oh, it's Brother Wang Er! Good morning to you too," Yu Dawei replied cheerfully.

Don’t reach out to hit the smiling person.

After exchanging a few casual pleasantries, the two began clearing the snow from the yard.

The snow these past two days has fallen up to Yu Dawei's knees, making every step difficult.

"I haven't seen this much snow in years," Yu Dawei remarked, holding a shovel.

As global climate change progresses, temperatures in Northeast China will rise year by year, and snowfall will become thinner and thinner. The harsh winters we experience today may be hard to find again in the future.

Yu Dawei put his mind at ease and began clearing the snow from the yard.

He first cleared a path from the front gate to the house entrance so that it would be easier for people to pass when going out.

Then clear the snow from the yard and pile it up in a corner. When there is enough sunshine, the snow will melt naturally.

A house in a rural area of ​​Northeast China consists of three parts: the house itself, a fenced-off garden, and the yard leading from the main gate to the outside of the house.

Smaller ones are two or three mu, while larger ones are six or seven mu.

So when clearing snow, villagers are used to clearing the snow from their yards, but they don't care about the snow in their gardens. The next spring, the snow melts into water, which is used to plant vegetables and other things, and the soil will be more moist.

(End of this chapter)