Five years of marriage, always separated [1970s]

Chen Xiaohui thought for a moment before organizing her words: "You are different from what I imagined, which is also good. You said that you would leave the supply and marketing cooperative without me, but you didn't say that Geng Zhiqin would be able to do the job. In any case, I owe you for this job. I don't like to owe others. Let me tell you something you may not know."

"Did you hear it from the educated youth who was in the same car with you?"

Chen Xiaohui nodded: "There was more than one educated youth from the capital on that train. He said that Geng Zhiye had a crush on someone before, and he had no chance with the other person, so he went on a blind date honestly. Don't be too open with him. We women should love ourselves. When I saw you pour the noodles to him before, I thought that he wouldn't starve if he ate less. You also said that you are the daughter-in-law of the Geng family. First you are yourself, then the mother of Dabao and Erbao, and finally the daughter-in-law of the Geng family." Seeing Ye Fan staring at her, as if he was shocked by her words: "Are you listening?"

Ye Fan was stunned by her words. When he came to his senses, he looked speechless.

"I know you don't believe it, but it's true." In his previous life, Geng Zhiye was over 30 and still unmarried. It was said that it was not only because Yu Wentao was picky, but he himself didn't want to get married. In this life, he got married early, it must be because Ye Fan was good-looking and smart, and her father had a higher position than Geng's father.

Men are so realistic. When they meet someone who is suitable in every aspect, all the white moonlight and cinnabar mole will stand aside. But when he doesn't need to rely on anyone, he will look for the white moonlight again. When the white moonlight is old and becomes leftover rice, he will look for a younger version of the white moonlight.

Ye Fan was sure that Chen Xiaohui had never heard of the saying "talking about deep things when you are not close friends" and was a little naive. No wonder she was so easily controlled by the two old vicious men of the Chen family.

Given their awkward relationship now, anyone would suspect she was deliberately trying to sow discord. Even if Geng Zhiye had someone in his heart, he was in front of her, his salary was handed over to her, and he had fulfilled all the obligations of a couple. So who was in his heart still mattered?

She is not the protagonist in a Qiong Yao drama who doesn't care about her own or others' life and death and only cares about love.

Ye Fan wondered if it was because there were a few months of slack season in rural areas every year, and Chen Xiaohui had nothing to do, so she analyzed this and that with the educated youth who had gone to the countryside with her. She also felt that since she had a few more years of experience in the complex rural life than her, she must be more knowledgeable and insightful than her.

"Don't take it lightly. If that happens, you won't even have tears to cry." Chen Xiaohui couldn't help but say, "Anyone except your parents could betray you."

She said things in a roundabout way. How come she didn't know to cut off contact with the Chen family? She wouldn't be so naive as to think that Chen Kuanren and Zhao Ruping had deep feelings for her because they raised her. But even if she thought so, she wouldn't give Zhao Ruping money. Chen Xiaohui thought of paying money, which showed that she knew what kind of person Zhao Ruping was.

Ye Fan had a headache, his head was turning into a paste: "I'll ask Geng Zhiye later."

"Are you stupid?" Chen Xiaohui took a step forward excitedly, "How could he possibly tell the truth? He might even accuse me of spreading rumors."

Ye Fanxin said that you still know how to "gossip". I thought you only knew how to take things for granted!

"Fanfan, the car is here." Geng Zhiye shouted to Ye Fan as soon as he saw a white shadow in the distance.

Chen Xiaohui couldn't help but remind him: "Don't ask. Otherwise, I won't tell you anything I know."

Ye Fanxin said, "Do you think I am precious?"

"understood."

Seeing her impatience, Chen Xiaohui shook her head helplessly: "We can ask his comrades when we get to the island."

Do I look like I have nothing to do? Ye Fan was speechless and wanted to ask how the Chen family taught their children. "Don't be so open-hearted to everyone." Otherwise, I will have to save him if he is sold.

Chen Xiaohui nodded: "I'm not stupid. I haven't told anyone except my family.

Ye Fanxin said, "I should really thank you on behalf of Xiaoqin. You actually treat her as your own family member." "Go to work."

"There's still time." Chen Xiaohui put the packages in the car, and watched Ye Fan and Tao Chunlan hold Dabao and Erbao and sit down respectively before she rode her bike to work.

Geng Zhiye asked: "What are they talking about? She looks very excited."

Tao Chunlan also wanted to know: "Yeah. It doesn't look like we're talking about work."

"Mom, you should be thankful that you taught me well. Anyone else would have taken the opportunity to say that Chen Xiaohui scolded me. Now that you've brought her home, don't be suspicious. I don't want the money I worked so hard to save to go to others, so let her buy her own clothes, shoes and socks in the future. She eats and lives at home, and the salary of a temporary worker is not high, but it is enough for her to use. She can give her salary to whoever she wants." Ye Fan said so much but still felt uneasy, "If the couple comes looking for you, send me a telegram. I'm close to them, I'll go and take care of it."

Tao Chunlan: "Your father, brother and sister-in-law are at home."

"My dad and my brother are OK at work, but they are no match for Dabao's grandmother in fighting scoundrels."

Dabao: "Grandma is not as good as mom."

"..." Hearing that Geng Zhiye had a white moonlight in his heart, Ye Fan did not lose his composure, but at this moment he could not help but change his expression: "Not sleepy again?"

Tao Chunlan suppressed her laughter and said, "Dabao is right. Your mother is the best in our family."

Dabao nodded: "Mom, I am praising you."

"I don't want it." Ye Fan raised his hand and threw him out.

Geng Zhiye hurriedly caught it: "Are you okay?"

"Mom is scaring me. I just can't bear to see me fall to the ground." Dabao clung to his father's shoulders, knelt on his legs and turned behind him, "Mom, you are the best mom."

There were only a few people on the early morning bus. The woman sitting in front of Geng Zhiye turned around and asked, "How old is Dabao? Look at his little mouth. He's really talkative."

Erbao woke up and held up his finger: "Dabao is four years old."

The aunt stood up and took a look. The little girl was as smart as her brother, and her mother was also pretty. She looked very attractive. "Where are you going with all those bags?"

Ye Fan: "My wife works in another province. She has allocated a house there and is willing to take us over."

"Are you a soldier?" the aunt looked at Geng Zhiye and asked.

Geng Zhiye instinctively sat up straight, staring at the old lady with his sharp eyes like a hawk. The old lady laughed and said, "Don't be nervous, young man. I have dealt with soldiers before."

Ye Fan took over the conversation: "You look similar to my mom. Haven't you retired yet?"

"Retired. Sending my eldest grandson to the countryside." The old lady pointed at the sleepy boy in front of her with his back to her.

Tao Chunlan stretched her head to take a look: "It doesn't look very big."

"I just turned sixteen." The old lady's eyes flashed with distress as she spoke, "Luckily I don't have to leave the capital. I can still go over to visit every now and then."

Ye Fan: "Now we don't have to go to other provinces to cut in line?"

Tao Chunlan: "There are too many people in the Northeast Construction Corps. Other places are short of people and food. In the past two years, we have asked young people in the city to go to the surrounding countryside for training." Comforting the aunt who loves her grandson, "You are idle in the city anyway, why not go to the countryside to learn something."

"His parents and I think the same thing. If you just play cards and drink, it won't take long for you to become a bad person. I heard that if you don't get married in the countryside, you will have the opportunity to return to the city."

Tao Chunlan nodded: "A relative of mine came back this year." Geng Zhiye couldn't help but look sideways. It seemed that his mother-in-law was really dissatisfied with Chen Xiaohui's way of dealing with people.

"Fanfan, pack up, we'll be there soon." Geng Zhiye handed Dabao to her.

The old lady looked outside and saw the train station not far away. She said to Geng Zhiye, "Comrade, please get off first. I'll help you pass your things down."

Tao Chunlan held Erbao in her arms, Geng Zhiye went down first with a big bag in one hand, and Ye Fan held Dabao by the hand and took the bag handed over by the auntie: "Thank you."

The old lady smiled as if it was no big deal and she said, "Be careful on the road. Watch the children."

Dabao was a little kid and very smart, so it was hard to keep an eye on him. Fortunately, Ye Fan had prepared in advance. When he got on the train, he tied a piece of cloth around his wrist and tied the other end around Dabao's hand. Dabao frowned and said in disgust, "Mom, it's like tying up a puppy."

Tao Chunlan didn't want to go down, feeling reluctant to leave. When she heard this, her sadness of parting disappeared instantly: "Are you a puppy?"

"Mom treats me like a puppy." Dabao pouted as he untied the cloth strip.

Ye Fan: "There are a lot of people on the bus. If you are not afraid of being covered with your mouth and carried away, just unbutton it."

Although fewer people travel these days, there are even fewer trains, and this is the only train with sleeper berths.

Dabao leaned against the car window and looked down and up: "There are so many people."

"Come here!" Ye Fan picked up his son, "Mom, let's go back."

Tao Chunlan took out a handkerchief from her pocket, but Ye Fan stuffed it back into her pocket before she could open it. "What are you doing? Your salary and that of your sister-in-law combined is not as much as your son-in-law's."

"You don't have a job on the island." Tao Chunlan shouted inside: "Dabao, your mother doesn't want you to take it."

Dabao: "Money? I don't want it. Grandma, please buy me something delicious."

"I'll buy you some candy."

Dabao shook his head: "Mom doesn't allow me to eat candy every day. If you give me money, I can't buy candy, so it's better not to have it."

"If you don't do it now, you'll lose it later."

Dabao: "Grandma, please come down quickly, we are leaving."

"I raised you for nothing."

Dabao said with a smile: "Grandma, you did it on purpose. I know. Grandma asked my aunt to help her, but my aunt didn't help, so grandma said this."

"I shouldn't have asked you to go to your grandparents' house. If you don't want to learn good things, you should learn these instead."

Geng Zhiye sighed: "Mom, I'm still here. It's not like we won't see each other again in the future."

"you--"

Ye Fan interrupted and pushed her mother down: "Okay. We are going to Jiangnan, it's not the end of the world. If your son-in-law can send me off, I will bring them back during Dabao's winter vacation, isn't that okay?"

"That's what you said."

Ye Fan nodded: "Hurry home. If you are late, you won't be able to get on the bus during the rush hour."

Tao Chunlan wanted to say something else, but she saw the conductor coming down with a whistle, urging those who hadn't boarded the train yet to hurry up and get on board: "If Zhiye dares to bully you, send me a telegram and I'll go find Lao Geng."

Ye Fan raised his hand and nodded to show that he understood.

Tao Chunlan looked back every few steps. Geng Zhiye saw this scene through the car window and couldn't help but say: "Your grandma is getting more and more talkative as she gets older."

Ye Fan came over and said, "What nonsense! Erbao didn't sleep well, put her on the bed and let her sleep for a while."

Geng Zhiye bought three sleeper tickets, one for him and Ye Fan, and one for his children. The ticket seller said two would be enough, and Geng Zhiye said his son slept like Nezha in the Dragon King, but in fact he just didn't want to hold the child.

Dabao stretched out his hand: "Dad, give it to my sister."

Ye Fan pulled his hand back: "You and mom." He said to Geng Zhiye: "Put the bag on the berth. It's full of food. It won't be a pity if it's thrown away."

Dabao wanted to untie the rope again, but someone came in. He was in his forties, his work clothes were washed white, and he looked like a skilled worker. Ye Fan moved inside, and Geng Zhiye put his daughter on the bed, and he went outside to make way.

The visitor nodded to Geng Zhiye and asked which one was his. Ye Fan explained that the three beds in the first row belonged to her family, and the row opposite was empty, so anyone could sleep there.

Maybe the sleeper berths are expensive, and there was only one person on the train before it departed.

Geng Zhiye told Ye Fan to take a bus to Hangzhou, transfer from Hangzhou to Ningbo, then take a bus to the pier and take a boat. Ye Fan calculated carefully and arrived at the island by tomorrow night at the latest.

It was hot in the carriage, and Ye Fan was worried that the roast duck and braised chicken would not last until the next day, so he woke up the two children at noon to eat the roast duck and braised chicken first. The two dishes had been left overnight and had gone cold, so in the morning when Ye Fan was cooking, he took the duck and chicken apart, put them on the grater to heat them up, and put them in the lunch box.

The passenger opposite the family of four took out a mixed flour bun. Seeing Dabao looking at him, he broke off half and handed it to him: "Child, eat—" Ye Fan opened the lunch box, which was full of meat. The man was very embarrassed, "Are you ready to eat?"

Geng Zhiye: "Would you like to eat something together?"

The man shook his head.

Geng Zhiye patted his son's head and looked across. Dabao looked at the big chicken drumstick in his hand with reluctance: "Dad——"

"You eat this." Geng Zhiye was speechless, "The rest."

Geng Dabao picked up a chicken leg in one hand and a chicken claw in the other, and stuffed them into the other's arms.

The man subconsciously reached out and took it: "Hey——"

"Grandma said eating chicken feet helps you write." Dabao took a bite of a chicken leg, "Eating meat makes you fat. My aunt said being fat doesn't look good, it makes you look like a nesting doll."

(End of this chapter)