Marriage in the 1970s: The Political Commissar's Contract Wife

Her words were exactly the same as what Wang Chun had said that afternoon.

Fang Chu slowed down his movements as he cleared the dishes. He understood that in this era that valued male offspring, Zhi Xia himself, Wang Chun, and even his mother probably all longed for a son who could "carry on the family line" and "stand up for the family."

He opened his mouth, wanting to express the tender expectations he had for his "little cotton-padded jacket" (a term of endearment for a daughter), but looking at Zhixia's calm and resolute profile, the words lingered in his throat before he swallowed them back down.

He silently swallowed the words, "My daughter isn't that lucky," turning them into a barely audible sigh. Oh well, as long as it's her child, as long as they're safe and sound, what does it matter whether it's a boy or a girl?

He carried the bowl and chopsticks to the kitchen, his vague longing for his sweet and soft little daughter quietly overshadowed by a heavier sense of responsibility to ensure the safety of both mother and child.

The next morning, Wang Chun came running over, beaming with the rising sun and barely containing his excitement. Fang Chu had already gone to the army, leaving only Zhi Xia resting against the headboard at home.

"Xiaxia! Xiaxia!" Wang Chun rushed to the bedside as soon as she entered the room, her eyes sparkling and her face beaming with undisguised pride. "The master barber officially taught me how to cut hair yesterday! Now I can shave male customers' heads on my own!"

"Really?" Zhi Xia, infected by her cheerful mood, laughed as well and asked with great interest, "Is this your first time doing it? Are you nervous? How did it go?"

"Nervous! How could I not be nervous! My hands were even shaking a little!" Wang Chun patted his chest, looking like he was still shaken, then raised his chin, "But I didn't practice for nothing! I used my brother and my two little nephews as guinea pigs for almost a month, messing things up several times, and my sister-in-law almost yelled at me to death! This time, shaving a real customer, although it was a bit slow, at least I finished smoothly, and the customer didn't say anything! The master shaving expert said, 'Not bad!'"

She chattered on and on, gesturing with her hands to mimic the act of shaving a head, as if the tense apprenticeship and the joy of being recognized for the first time were things worth sharing with her best friend.

Seeing her radiant expression, Zhixia was genuinely happy for her. She took Wang Chun's hand and sincerely encouraged her, "Our Xiaochun is amazing! She's already mastered her craft so quickly!"

Encouraged, Wang Chun's eyes shone with anticipation for the future: "Once I'm more skilled, the master hairdresser said he'll teach me how to perm hair, and how to do women's hair! Then I'll be able to do women's hair!"

Hearing this, Zhixia immediately chimed in, her tone filled with complete trust and support: "Then it's a deal! Once you've learned how to cut women's hair, I'll be your 'practice'! You can do whatever style you want!"

Wang Chun was stunned for a moment, then gratefully grasped Zhi Xia's hand, her voice trembling slightly, "Really? Xia Xia...you're so sweet! Aren't you afraid I'll ruin your hair?"

"So what if it's ruined?" Zhi Xia laughed nonchalantly, gently touching her hair, which had become thicker due to her pregnancy. "Hair can grow back after a cut. But once you've mastered your skills, it'll be a lifelong pursuit."

In this small room, one person recounts the joy of growing up, while the other offers unreserved support.

This simple friendship, like the warm sunshine outside the window, dispelled the gloom in Zhixia's heart caused by her pregnancy, and also illuminated the two young girls' simple expectations for an ordinary future.

Under Fang Chu's careful and attentive care, time finally passed until Zhi Xia was three months pregnant.

After a hospital check-up, the doctor confirmed that the pregnancy was stable. Fang Chu breathed a long sigh of relief and immediately began making arrangements, even having someone buy sleeper tickets to Kyoto, just waiting to send Zhixia north to give birth in a couple of days.

Unexpectedly, at this critical moment, in the middle of the night, Zhixia suddenly woke up in pain, clutching her stomach and groaning. When Fang Chu turned on the light, he was terrified – there was some blood on Zhixia's pajama bottoms!

Fang Chu's mind went blank, and he almost stopped thinking. He didn't even bother to put on his coat. He wrapped Zhi Xia tightly in the blanket and rushed out like a madman to apply for a jeep. He sped all the way to the military hospital.

At the entrance of the emergency room, Fang Chu paced back and forth like a restless, trapped beast, his fists clenched tightly.

Zhang Meili, who rushed over upon receiving the news, was both anxious and angry to see his distraught appearance. She pulled him aside, lowered her voice, and asked him directly in a serious tone:

"Fang Chu! Tell me the truth! You two...did you do 'that' last night?!"

Fang Chu was in a state of utter confusion and didn't react for a moment. She looked up blankly and asked, "...Which one?"

Zhang Meili was both anxious and embarrassed. She slapped his arm hard, forgetting all about being reserved: "Don't play dumb with me! It's that kind of thing between husband and wife!"

Now that he understood, a surge of immense grievance and anger at being wronged instantly welled up inside him. His face flushed red, and his voice rose sharply from agitation and a sense of being misunderstood, becoming hoarse and on the verge of collapse.

"Sister-in-law! She's pregnant! I'm not a beast! No matter what I did... I wouldn't dare! I didn't even dare touch her! If I've told a single lie, may I be struck by lightning!"

He had been living a life more ascetic than a monk these days, focusing all his energy on raising her well and ensuring the child's safety. Now, however, he was being questioned like this, and he felt speechless, both angry and anxious, his eyes turning red.

Seeing his intense reaction, which didn't seem fake, Zhang Meili realized she might have misunderstood and quickly reassured him, "That's good, that's good... I was just confused. Don't worry, let's wait for the doctor to come out and see what he says."

Fang Chu slumped against the cold wall, overwhelmed by a deep sense of powerlessness.

He's been so careful, why did this still happen? Is it really as the doctor said, that her body simply can't hold onto the baby?

The emergency room lights finally went out, and the doctor came out with a relieved expression. Fang Chu and Zhang Meili immediately rushed over, their hearts pounding in their throats.

"Doctor, how is she?" Fang Chu's voice was dry with nervousness.

"Don't worry too much, it's nothing serious." The doctor took off his mask and explained calmly, "The stomach pain is probably due to the pregnant woman's carelessness; she might have strained herself a bit. As for the bleeding, it occasionally happens in the second trimester. Sometimes it's caused by ruptured capillaries at the implantation site, or it could be due to the baby growing rapidly and causing minor bleeding. It seems normal for now. Just rest in bed for a few days and observe; it should be fine."

Fang Chu's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled with a "thump," but then he remembered the most crucial question and hurriedly asked:

"Then... Doctor, can she still take the train? A long-distance sleeper train, we were originally planning to go to Kyoto." All his arrangements revolved around this trip.