The kang (heated brick bed) for left-behind women

Chapter 21 Her Face

Lin Dachun and Li Ruoxue spent a happy and warm New Year together.

The second day of the Lunar New Year is the day for paying New Year's visits.

As dawn broke, Lin Dachun and Li Ruoxue were all ready.

Lin Dachun specially changed into his most respectable navy blue Zhongshan suit, which he only wore when visiting relatives. Although it was washed until it was faded, it was starched clean and smooth.

He prepared two gifts:

One portion was leftover mutton from before the Lunar New Year, which had been cured with salt and air-dried.

The other was a bright red sea buckthorn malt syrup that they had made themselves and stored in a glass bottle.

Li Ruoxue was wearing that new maroon blouse, her hair was neatly combed, but there was a hint of unease hidden between her brows and eyes.

Li Ruoxue's family home was in another village, several ridges away, which was much larger than Linchang Village; it was a large village.

We walked for most of the day along mountain paths and didn't arrive until noon.

The Li family were also ordinary farmers, but their yard was neater than the Lin family's.

They were also slightly wealthier than the Lin family.

Li Ruoxue's mother, Xu Jing, was a capable woman, while her father, Li Laoshuan, was taciturn and squatted under the eaves smoking a pipe.

When she saw her daughter and Lin Dachun arrive, Xu Jing forced a smile and ushered them into the house, but beneath that warmth lay a sense of distance and scrutiny.

After exchanging pleasantries, Xu Jing pulled Li Ruoxue into the inner room, saying they wanted to have a private talk.

Lin Dachun and Li Laoshuan sat in the outer room, the atmosphere somewhat somber.

Li Laoshuan puffed on his cigarette, occasionally asking about the harvest, to which Lin Dachun gave simple answers.

A moment later, faint sounds of arguing could be heard from the inner room, followed by Li Ruoxue's tearful cry: "No!"

The curtain was lifted, and Xu Jing walked out with a sullen face, followed by Li Ruoxue with red eyes.

Xu Jing no longer bothered to avoid Lin Dachun, speaking directly to him in a fast and urgent tone, filled with long-suppressed dissatisfaction:

"Dachun, let's have a frank talk today, in front of you! Ruoxue's life has been miserable enough! What kind of life is it to live with an old man like you? The gossip in the village is enough to drown someone! As her parents, it's like our hearts are being torn apart!"

Lin Dachun tightened his grip on the teacup, his face calm, but his back straightened.

Xu Jing became more and more agitated as she spoke: "She's only twenty! She has a long life ahead of her! We can't let her life be ruined like this, can we? We've already inquired around here. There's a young man in the next village whose wife died in childbirth last year. He's an honest man, and his family is well-off. They're just waiting for Ruoxue to come over! Today, we have to keep her here no matter what!"

Li Ruoxue suddenly looked up, tears welling in her eyes: "Mother! I told you I'm not leaving! I'm doing fine at the Lin family's!"

"What's so good about it?!" Xu Jing raised her voice. "Following an old man, living in a dilapidated cave dwelling, what kind of future can you have? Are you blinded by greed or something?"

"Mother!" Li Ruoxue cried out in a mixture of anxiety and anger, and tears finally streamed down her face.

"Xu Jing, my little sister." Lin Dachun finally spoke, his voice not loud, but like a stone thrown into boiling water, instantly silencing the room.

He stood up, walked to Li Shi, and looked calmly at his anxious mother. He then glanced at Li Laoshuan, who was silently smoking but clearly acquiescing to his wife's attitude.

"I, Lin Dachun, am not old, and I am indeed not very capable. My family is poor," Lin Dachun said slowly, emphasizing each word. "It's my bad luck, and Ruoxue's fate is also unfortunate. I have let this family down."

Lin Dachun changed the subject, his eyes becoming incredibly firm: "But please believe me, as long as I, Lin Dachun, am alive, I will never let Ruoxue suffer any injustice! I can turn this dilapidated cave dwelling into a decent home; I will plant double the crops and find ways to earn more money."

Lin Dachun paused for a moment, his gaze becoming even more determined: "But I will definitely be able to support this family and make our lives better!"

Xu Jing was momentarily stunned by the force of his words, but then scoffed, "What's the use of just talking? How are we going to live a good life?"

Lin Dachun took a deep breath. The priority was to stabilize the situation; otherwise, Li Ruoxue would definitely be left behind.

"I know you won't believe me with just words. So, please give me a year. Just one year." Lin Dachun held up one finger. "Next year, or today, I'll bring Ruoxue to pay my respects. Then, I, Lin Dachun, will prove it to you. If she's still poor and destitute, I won't have the confidence to personally escort her back without a second thought, and I'll never stop her from finding a good family again!"

"How can you prove it?" Xu Jing asked.

"you say."

"Five hundred yuan," Xu Jing said, a very high number.

This five hundred yuan, of course, refers to money.

Five hundred yuan?!

Li Ruoxue and Li Laoshuan both gasped.

These days, a strong laborer might toil in the fields all year round, and after deducting food expenses, he might not be able to save a hundred yuan.

Five hundred yuan was an astronomical figure for farmers in those days.

Xu Jing reported this number because she knew that Lin Dachun was 100% incapable of achieving it.

In this way, she could make Lin Dachun give up and keep his daughter to remarry.

Lin Dachun's gaze was unwavering, his resolve unyielding: "Just five hundred yuan. One year. Please, trust me, Lin Dachun, this time. And please, give Ruoxue, give the path she has chosen, a chance."

The room was deathly silent.

Only the kettle on the coal stove emitted a slight hissing sound.

Li Laoshuan finally tapped his pipe, glanced at his stubborn daughter, then at the old man standing ramrod straight with iron eyes, and uttered a single word in a deep voice:

"……OK."

Xu Jing wanted to say something, but was stopped by a look from Li Laoshuan.

Lin Dachun bowed deeply: "Thank you."

On the way back, Li Ruoxue remained silent until she saw the outline of Linchang Village, at which point she choked out, "...five hundred yuan...we..."

Lin Dachun stopped and turned to look at her. The mountain wind ruffled his gray hair, but his eyes were brighter and more determined than ever before.

"I'm not afraid. There's still time. From this day forward, I'll fight tooth and nail to make this family a success and to win back this pride!"

In the distance, the mountains stood silent, their snow still clinging to the ground.

Lin Dachun absolutely cannot let Li Ruoxue leave.