Chen Haichao walked along a country path, taking in the fishing village he remembered so well and the strong smell of the sea and fish.
Not a single brick house could be seen in the village. They were all low houses with black-tiled roofs and stone walls, built from piled stones. White salt crust from years of exposure to the sea wind covered the walls, leaving them mottled and rough.
The black tiles lay in layers, battered and broken, with stones weighing them down. Salted fish hung beneath the eaves of every house.
The production brigade had only stopped work yesterday, and today every household was cleaning and dusting, getting ready for the New Year.
After a whole year of hard work, all anyone hoped for was a good New Year.
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He didn't know how much money or grain each person had received when the brigade settled their work points this year. But everyone looked cheerful, with no worried faces, so it was probably a decent amount.
The dirt road beneath his feet was full of potholes, and there were no utility poles along the roadside...
No utility poles?
Chen Haichao suddenly realized something and looked around. It was quite normal not to see utility poles after the twenty-first century, but not seeing them at this time meant a hard life. Had the village not gotten electricity yet?
"We're screwed. The village really doesn't have electricity yet. Conditions are rough."
That meant they were still using kerosene lamps, and might not even be able to afford candles.
Oh, heavens!
Only when he reached the village center did he see a few scattered utility poles. The wires ran crookedly between them, swaying nonstop in the sea breeze, and the poles only extended as far as the production brigade.
He vaguely remembered that at this time, the village's only telephone was at the production brigade. It was a hand-cranked one, and calls weren't even charged by the minute, but by the call.
One three-minute call cost fifteen fen. Calls from outside the county cost thirty fen, and long-distance calls from outside the province were expensive, starting at one yuan.
As for why he remembered, it was because the village had produced its one and only female college student, the village Party secretary's daughter. The old lady in their family sat at the door showing off every day, eager to shout even the cost of a phone call for the whole village to hear.
After all, everyone else couldn't afford to make calls, while their family had a precious college student who occasionally called to keep in touch. That was why it had left such a deep impression on him.
With the New Year approaching, the village was shabby, but full of festive atmosphere. Outside every home stood bamboo drying mats and fishing-net racks, covered with all sorts of dried seafood, probably distributed yesterday. The strong smell of salted fish filled the air all along the way.
He headed toward the stream outside the village that he remembered, and happened to see Chen Sidi, the fourth child, carrying a wooden basin into the village, chatting and laughing with several young women.
At this time, Chen Sidi, the fourth child, had bright, relaxed eyes and a smile on her lips. Her hair was in braids, and she looked gentle, youthful, and lovely, with none of the misery and resentment that years of hardship would leave her with.
"Chen Sidi!"
"Huh? What is it?"
"Give me the rubber gloves."
Growing up, Chen Haichao had never called any of his older sisters "sister." He always called them by name, full name and all. He was the family's precious darling, after all. His position in the family had only fallen after the boy-girl twins were born.
"What do you need the gloves for? The production brigade has stopped work, so there's no work to do." As Chen Sidi asked, she handed him the gloves from the wooden basin.
"I need them."
"What for?"
"Why so many questions? Hurry home. Mom's looking for you. Oh, right, where's Chen Pandi, the third child? I haven't seen her since I got up this morning."
"She went on a blind date with Wang Zhiwen from the village. Someone tried to match them up a few days ago, and since there's no work today, she went to meet him."
Chen Haichao breathed a sigh of relief. They were still on a blind date, which meant the marriage hadn't been settled yet.
This Wang Zhiwen was his future third brother-in-law. Going by the current situation, they would probably meet and talk, find each other acceptable, and settle the match before the New Year. She would marry into his family after the New Year.
Marriage was just that quick these days. If two people met and found no problems, they could marry within a few days, then go straight back to work after the wedding without holding anything up.
His mother also couldn't bear to part with the work points her laborers earned, so she kept his sisters at home until they were in their early twenties, marrying them off only after the younger children had grown a little.
Otherwise, his third sister was already twenty-three and should have married long ago. It wouldn't have dragged on until now.
In his previous life, it was also because his third sister and Wang Zhiwen had taken a liking to each other on their blind date that she hadn't been the one given to the brigade captain's family as compensation.
"Where are they meeting?"
"When I was washing clothes just now, I saw them walking by the river."
"I'll go take a look."
Chen Sidi stopped him. "What are you going to see? She's on a blind date. What are you going there for?"
"To pull her out of the fire pit."
"Huh?"
"Why are you still standing there like a fool? Aren't you going home?"
The natural order had been turned upside down. You couldn't tell who was the older sister and who was the younger brother; he was acting like the older brother.
Yet Chen Sidi nodded blankly. "I'm going home right now."
Chen Haichao swung the rubber gloves a couple of times. First, he would go to the river and call Chen Pandi, the third child, back. Like hell she was getting married.
He cursed inwardly, his steps heavy and quick as his feet clattered against the pitted dirt road. The anger in his heart surged up through his chest all at once.
A cold wind carrying the smell of the sea blew straight into his face. The reeds by the river rustled in the bitter wind of the twelfth lunar month, and the stream babbled as two figures walked slowly side by side along the bank.
When Chen Haichao came closer, he saw Wang Zhiwen's fingers reaching out and pulling back, then reaching out again, repeatedly brushing against her as he tested the waters.
The bastard had some nerve!
He actually wanted to hold his third sister's hand.
Wang Zhiwen even turned his head and smiled at her. "Pandi, I've secretly liked you for a long time. You're hardworking and sensible, more down-to-earth than the other girls in the village. I don't mind that you're two years older than me. Older is good. Marry a woman three years older and you'll hold a gold brick. I'll definitely treat you well in the future..."
The veins on his forehead throbbed as he listened, and the anger in his heart exploded. Without another word, he strode forward, stepped directly between them, and shoved Wang Zhiwen aside.
"Who the fuck are you? What are you doing here, trying to curry favor?"
Caught off guard, Wang Zhiwen staggered from the shove. The gentle expression on his face instantly turned to anger, which he deliberately reined in again.
"Oh, it's you, Haichao. I'm courting your sister."
"Courting, my ass. Who's courting you? I'm warning you, stay away from my sister. Stop ruining her reputation."
Chen Haichao tugged at Chen Pandi. "Come with me."
Chen Pandi was completely bewildered. She had been a little shy while listening to those sweet words, but now she was only confused and at a loss. Instinctively, she followed him.
Behind them, Wang Zhiwen called out, "Pandi, I'll come find you again at noon."
"You're not allowed! If you come to my house, I'll break your dog legs."
Wang Zhiwen didn't dare make another sound behind them.
Only after they had gone a little farther did Chen Pandi ask in confusion, "What's wrong, Abao?"
"Don't see him again, and don't agree to marry him. He's no good."
"How do you know?"
"I heard he's carrying on with another woman. He's no good, so don't let him fool you. He's a well-dressed scoundrel."
Chen Pandi frowned. "So that's the kind of person he is. Who's he carrying on with? How dare he have an illicit affair?"
"I forgot her name. I'll tell you when I remember."
"If he's carrying on with someone else, why doesn't he just marry her and bring her home? Why come looking for me? That's disgusting."
"Isn't it because you're hardworking and have a good reputation? The woman he's having an affair with is an old widow almost twenty years older than him. Would he dare marry her and bring her home?"
Chen Pandi was utterly shocked!
"Ah?"
"No need to be so surprised. It's the truth. If I catch him next time, I'll let everyone see his special kink."
"Really? How could he like someone that old?"
"Would I lie to you? Maybe he has a mother complex and just likes older women. Anyway, stay away from him."
"That's too scary. Good thing you came in time..." Chen Pandi felt inexplicably sick and rubbed the back of her hand against her clothes. "So disgusting. He tried to take my hand several times just now and kept brushing against me."
"Next time, I'll throw a sack over his head and beat him up. How dare he come after you."
"Then when I get home, I'll tell Mom and Dad later that we're not suited and I won't marry him."
"Mm."