The young man in front was dressed in a brand new suit and mandarin jacket, looking dashing and spirited.
Zhou Yan saw in him the shadow of the master.
So alike!
Absolutely so!
But in Zhang Shufen's memory, this should be Wang Yu, the fourth young master of the wealthy Wang family in Suji. The blue and white porcelain container that had left such a deep impression on her was indeed exquisite and beautiful.
Could they be related brothers, which is why they look alike?
"Okay, I promise I'll fill it up perfectly for you." Zhang Shufen smiled and took the blue and white porcelain container. She picked up a pair of chopsticks and began to put the sliced beef into the container, one piece at a time, in circles. It was indeed quite good.
The servant following behind handed her a wooden lid, carefully closed it, and then placed it into a food box.
Zhang Shufen looked at Wang Yu and asked with a smile, "Young Master Wang, are you bringing food to your fiancee again? You've been doing this for a year now. When are you getting married? Can we go and ask for a piece of your wedding feast?"
The customers queuing behind them joined in the cheering, their faces beaming with smiles.
"It'll be soon! In a few months, we'll go for the betrothal ceremony, and next year we'll definitely have a wedding banquet. Sister Zhang and Brother Zhou, you absolutely have to come!" Speaking of his fiancee, Wang Yu's smile broadened, and he pulled out a silver coin and handed it over. "Keep the change."
"Thank you, we'll definitely come!" Zhang Shufen's smile grew even brighter.
Zhou Yi, standing beside her, also looked up and smiled, saying, "Sure!"
Young Master Wang carried the birdcage to the carriage parked nearby, the servant carrying a food box quickly following.
Zhou Yan instinctively tried to follow, but found his body completely immobile, only able to watch the carriage disappear into the distance.
That's right…
This was Zhang Shufen's memory, so Zhou Yan's movements were limited to within her line of sight.
Zhou Yan had no choice but to stare at Young Master Wang's face, memorizing the black mole on his right neck, which he could have verified with the master tomorrow.
He looked up at the sky, a clear blue, with a striking red date: June21, 1937.
Zhou Yan reached out and touched the railing; his hand passed right through the stone.
He opened his mouth, but found he couldn't make a sound.
Clearly, he couldn't interfere with this memory; he could only observe.
Or rather—read it.
Shufen wasn't exaggerating; the braised meat stall was doing incredibly well. The long queue lasted for over an hour, and they sold out over a hundred jin of braised meat.
The servants of wealthy families were buying braised pig's head meat and beef by jin, spending lavishly.
Zhou Yan even felt that this business was better than Suji's in 1984.
The tycoons is truly wealthy and willing to spend money.
Unlike 1984, when the town mayor's monthly salary barely exceeded one hundred yuan, those with ten thousand yuan were considered super rich.
Zhou Yan noticed two little boys squatting beside the braised meat stall, one about five years old and the other about three, intently watching a swarm of ants carrying away fallen scraps of meat.
Zhang Shufen glanced at the two boys occasionally, a smile playing on her lips.
"First Uncle, Second Uncle?" Zhou Yan seemed to be thinking. He did look like Fanwa, with a chubby face and a robust appearance, which showed that his family was indeed well-off.
The braised meat sold out, customers left, and Zhang Shufen and Zhou Yi began to pack up their stall.
A middle-aged man in a brown long gown and a yellow round hat stepped down from the carriage parked nearby. He quickly walked forward, a smile spreading across his round face: "Sister Zhang, have you thought about the exclusive rights to sell braised beef? I'll give you 100 silver yuan a year, and I can give you an extra 10% profit on the price of the beef. I need at least 50 jin of beef a day, as long as you guarantee that our Feiyan Restaurant will be the only one selling your braised beef in the entire city of Jiazhou."
Zhang Shufen smiled and said, "Okay, Boss Huang is so sincere, and we've been cooperating for a year now, so let's settle this matter like this."
"This is... Huang Silang?" Zhou Yan looked at the middle-aged man who looked seven or eight parts like Huang He. He must be Huang He's father, Huang Silang. He was indeed Zhang Ji's long-term partner.
"Great!" Huang Silang clapped his hands, then quickly glanced around, lowering his voice slightly, "I'll have my cousin bring the money tomorrow when he comes to Zhou Village to pick up the meat. Take a look at this contract; if there are no problems, sign it."
"Boss Huang, you know my character. There's no need for all this. I said I'd only sell the braised beef in Jiazhou City to you, so I definitely won't sell a single liang to any other restaurant or eatery in Jiazhou." Zhang Shufen didn't take the contract, her expression serious. "Though I'm a woman, my word is my bond."
"Alright! I trust you." Huang Silang put away the contract, finalized the price of the braised beef with Zhang Shufen, then turned and got into his carriage and left.
"Mommy, I'm hungry."
"Me too!"
The two little ones ran over, tilting their heads and shouting at Zhang Shufen.
"Come on, Mom will take you to buy rice candy. I've saved a braised pig's trotter for you at home. It'll be delicious if heat it up for lunch!" Zhang Shufen took one child in each hand and smiled at Zhou Yi, "I'll take the kids to buy groceries. You can tidy up the stall first."
"Okay, I'll pack everything and come pick you up." Zhou Yi nodded with a simple smile, loading the cutting board and cleaver onto the flatbed cart beside him.
"Let's go buy rice candy!" The two little ones shook off her hands and ran happily along the stone path.
Zhang Shufen followed behind with a smile on her face, greeting the vendors familiarly along the way. She stopped at a tofu stall to buy a block of tofu, picked out two crucian carp from the fishmonger, haggled with the vendor, and soon her hands were full of groceries.
Zhou Yan's body moved forward uncontrollably, his lips curving upwards. The old lady was truly beautiful when she was young, a lively and cheerful woman.
At this time, the Old Zhou family was well-off and living a comfortable life.
As Zhou Yan walked, it was as if he had stepped into thin air, and suddenly everything went black.
When the image became clear again, a line of scarlet text appeared on the rammed earth wall:
August 16, 1937, Night, 19:21 p.m.
"You're just a butcher, what can you use to fight the Japanese? You've never even touched a gun! You…you're gone, how are we, a widow and her children, supposed to survive?" A woman's sobs came from inside the room.
Zhou Yan looked away from the wall and saw Zhang Shufen, tears streaming down her face, pounding her fist on Zhou Yi's chest.
Zhou Yi was still wearing the same short jacket, carrying a bundle on his back. His expression had lost its previous naivety, replaced by a more resolute and decisive look.
"Shufen, the Japanese devils have invaded our land, killed our compatriots, and raped our sisters. If I don't go, they will eventually reach Jiazhou. Who will protect you and our children then?" Zhou Yi's expression was resolute as he gently held her shoulders and said:
"I've already exchanged all the silver yuan and gold yuan notes at home for gold, hidden in a secret compartment under the bed. Keep it safe and don't let anyone else know. Wang Yu said that buying gold in chaotic times means that the world will probably not be peaceful in the future. You have two children, so you must take good care of yourself."
"I've already spoken with my uncles and brothers, asking them to look after you and our children. Don't worry, as long as there's one man alive in the Old Zhou family, no one can bully you and our children."
Zhang Shufen gradually stopped crying, throwing herself into Zhou Yi's arms, hugging him tightly, as if trying to meld herself into his body, or as if afraid that if she let go, he would disappear.
Zhou Yi gently stroked her back, a tear sliding down his cheek, which he silently wiped away.
"Don't worry, I still have to come back to fix those two brats' houses and help them get married." Zhou Yi whispered in her ear. "I'll be back after I defeat the Japanese."
"Mmm." Zhang Shufen responded, her voice slightly nasal.
Zhou Yan slowly clenched his fists, a sense of tragic emotion welling up in his heart.
At this very moment, this scene is playing out in countless families across China.
This is his grandfather; they are blood relatives, which is truly moving.
"Brother Zhou." A knock sounded at the door.
"Coming." Zhou Yi replied, releasing Zhang Shufen, walking to the bedside to glance at his two sleeping sons, then resolutely turning and opening the door to leave.
"Brother Yi!" Zhang Shufen chased after him with a pair of cloth shoes, shoving them into his hands, her eyes red-rimmed, saying, "Take these to wear on the way."
"Okay." Zhou Yi smiled and took them.
At the entrance, the fourth young master of the Wang family, wearing a coarse cloth jacket and carrying two guns on his shoulders, stepped forward and said with a smile, "Sister Zhang, don't worry, Brother Zhou and I will go to Rongcheng first. I have a cousin who is a deputy battalion commander in the 20th Army. We will go and join him first. I will teach Brother Zhou how to shoot."
"Wang Yu, why are you giving up being a proper young master of the Wang family to join the army? Aren't you getting married next year? What will happen to your fiancee if you leave?" Zhang Shufen looked at Wang Yu, her face full of confusion.
"With the nation in peril and our land shattered, how can I think of a home? I should dedicate myself to the country and save it!" Wang Yu's smile faded, his back straightened, and his eyes showed a resolute determination.
Zhou Yi, hearing this, also straightened his back and clenched his fists.
Zhou Yan stared with his mouth slightly agape as he watched Wang Yu, his mind reeling. In the face of national crisis, even a wealthy young master had dedicated himself to saving the country, showing no fear.
Zhang Shufen pursed her lips, tears welling up in her eyes again.
Wang Yu picked up a food box from beside his feet and handed it to Zhang Shufen, his tone softening slightly: "Sister Zhang, I escaped by climbing over the wall tonight. I left in a hurry. Could you please go to Jiazhou tomorrow and deliver a jin of braised beef to Miss Qiu of the Qiu family?
There's also a letter I wrote to her in this food box. Please be sure to give it to the gatekeeper along with the food box. Just say my name, and the gatekeeper will know."
"The Qiu family? Which Qiu family?" Zhang Shufen pressed.
Zhou Yan subconsciously took a step forward. The Qiu family? Miss Qiu!
"At the end of Dong Da Street, the first house directly opposite Yingchun Gate, the Qiu family's house. You can easily find it by asking." Wang Yu said, handing Zhang Shufen ten silver yuan. "Sister Zhang, if you ever go to Jiazhou City again, please send a portion of braised beef to the Qiu family's house. She loves your braised beef."
"Okay." Zhang Shufen accepted the silver yuan and nodded. "I will definitely deliver it as you said."
"Sure enough!" Zhou Yan couldn't help but clap his hands. It really was the Qiu family. Old Mrs. Qiu should be around twenty years old now, the eldest daughter of the Qiu family. Perhaps Wang Yu never returned, and this letter and this braised beef became a knot in her heart for the rest of her life.
"Brother Zhou, let's go!" Wang Yu tossed a gun to Zhou Yi and turned to walk out of the courtyard.
Zhou Yi glanced at Zhang Shufen again, then resolutely followed quickly.
Zhang Shufen staggered to the courtyard gate, watching them drive away in the carriage. She couldn't help but cry out, her voice trembling with tears, "Zhou Yi! I'll wait for you to come back!"
The figure driving the carriage swayed, then lashed out with the whip.
Zhang Shufen watched the carriage disappear at the village entrance. After a long while, she finally closed the courtyard gate. Her legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground against the gate, hugging her legs and sobbing softly.
Zhou Yan stood beside her, instinctively reaching out to comfort her, but his hand passed right through her.
Yes, she was just a twenty eight years old woman, raising two children. With the chaos of war breaking out, her husband had left Sichuan to serve the country. How terrified she must be at this moment.
"It's alright, he'll come back." Zhou Yan silently told himself, but she couldn't hear him.
The scene shifted again.
A flatbed carriage stopped on Dong Dad Street opposite Yingchun Gate. Zhang Shufen's eyes were red and swollen. She told the two children not to run around in the carriage, opened the food box beside her, and looked at the beautiful blue and white porcelain container and a letter.
Zhou Yan glanced at it as well.
The cover read:
Qi Qi Yu Zhan [1]
Wang Yu
The handwriting was strong and powerful, making Zhou Yan feel ashamed of his own.
What was written in the letter?
Perhaps it was the knot of Old Mrs. Qiu's heart.
Zhang Shufen confirmed that the letter and the braised beef were both there, then closed the food box again, got out of the carriage, asked a neighbor on the roadside, and knocked on the gate of the Qiu family's house.
Zhou Yan stood behind her, looking at the exquisite and beautiful Qiu family's old house in front of him. At this moment, it was still a courtyard house with a strong Jiangnan water town feel, with white walls and green tiles, flying eaves and wood carvings, heavy mahogany gate, and a pair of lifelike stone lions standing at the entrance.
It wasn't large, but every detail exuded refinement.
Completely different from its dilapidated state half a century later.
"This is braised beef that Young Master Wang Yu of the Suji Wang family asked me to bring for your young lady. There's also a letter for her inside." Zhang Shufen said, handing over the food box.
"Usually, Young Master Wang delivers it personally. Why did he send you today?" The gatekeeper took the food box, somewhat surprised, but still looked at her politely and said, "Would you like some water?"
"Young Master Wang couldn't come, so he asked me to deliver it. No need for water. I have two children. I'll be leaving now that I've delivered it." Zhang Shufen shook her head, turned, and drove away.
Zhou Yan floated behind the carriage, glancing back towards the Qiu family's house. The gatekeeper closed the gate, and shortly after, before the carriage rounded the corner, he saw the Qiu family's house gate reopen.
A graceful figure in a beige cheongsam rushed out, standing on the street looking back and forth. Tears streamed down her exquisitely beautiful face, filled with panic and confusion.
It was her.
Miss Qiu Qi of the Qiu family.
Duan Yuyan, who resembles her by seven points, is already a beauty. Miss Qiu's appearance and figure are both superb, but at this moment she is tragically beautiful.
She must have read the letter, or perhaps only the beginning…
The carriage turned into the adjacent street, and the view disappeared.
…
Ugh… ugh—
Zhang Shufen leaned against the courtyard wall and dry heaved a few times.
"Shufen, why have you been dry heaving so often lately? Are you feeling unwell?" A slightly plump woman brought her a bowl of water, gently patting her back with concern.
Zhou Yan stepped aside, glanced at the sky: October 16, 1937, Morning, 6:11 a.m.
Zhang Shufen took the bowl, drank a sip of warm water, and gently stroked her lower abdomen, saying, "Sister in law Lin, I think I'm pregnant."
"Really!" Sister in law Lin exclaimed with delight, "That's wonderful! Brother in law will be so happy if he knows!"
Zhang Shufen smiled, but a hint of worry lingered in her smile. She whispered, "I wonder where Zhou Yi is now, and how he's doing."
"Don't worry, Shufen, Brother in law is a lucky man. He'll be back after fighting the Japanese. He'll be fine!" Sister in law Lin comforted her with a smile. "Take good care of yourself for the first few months. Don't do any heavy work after this. You'll just be in charge of the brine and braised meat. I'll take care of the rest of the rough work!"
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Sister in law Lin." Zhang Shufen said somewhat embarrassedly.
"We're family, what trouble could there be? You pay me anyway, it's my duty." Sister in law Lin waved dismissively.
Zhou Yan's gaze involuntarily fell on Zhang Shufen's lower abdomen. Was this… Third Uncle Zhou Han?
If he counts the years, she really did get pregnant this year, and the baby will be born next May.
Shufen, a woman, was already struggling enough raising two children and making braised meat; now she was pregnant again. Life wouldn't be easy.
Fortunately, the Old Zhou family had a tradition of mutual help. Besides Sister in law Lin, who had come to help, two more aunties soon came to lend a hand.
Upon hearing that Zhang Shufen was pregnant, they immediately offered to come and help every morning starting tomorrow.
Zhang Shufen offered to pay them, but they firmly refused.
Zhang Shufen sat to the side, silently wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes, then smiled and got up to go into the kitchen.
Zhou Yan tried to follow her inside, but the scene suddenly changed, and a door appeared in front him.
"Push! Push! The head's out!"
"Son! It's a son!"
The room was filled with the cries of a newborn baby and the joyful voice of Sister in law Lin.
Zhou Yan stood at the door, looking at the time on the door: May 16, 1938, Noon, 12:32 p.m.
His Third Uncle, Zhou Han, had been born; the arrival was so sudden he was caught off guard.
The baby was wrapped in a small blanket, and several village women went in and out, helping to tidy up and prepare the room. Soon, the room returned to quiet.
Zhou Yan then floated inside.
Zhang Shufen, pale-faced, had a pillow behind her back. Looking at her newborn child beside her, a weak smile appeared on her face.
Zhou Qing and Zhou Ze, the two little ones, lay by the bed, curiously examining their newborn brother.
"Mom, another little brother? Didn't you say you'd give me a little sister?" Zhou Qing looked up at Zhang Shufen and said, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
"Yes, I want a little sister." Zhou Ze nodded in agreement.
"Alright, alright, I'll give you a little sister next time." Zhang Shufen smiled with a hint of helplessness, looking at the baby in the swaddling clothes, but whispered, "Sons are good, girls suffer in this chaotic world."
"Shufen, come, have a bowl of millet porridge first. I'll look after the baby for you. Focus on your postpartum recovery first. You can start making braised meat after your postpartum period is over." A woman in her fifties carried a bowl of millet porridge into the room, sat down by the bed, and looked at Zhang Shufen with eyes full of heartache. "Giving birth is so painful."
"Mother, I'm fine. This is my third child. I'm used to it." Zhang Shufen smiled, forcing a smile.
"Mother? Is this Great-grandmother?" Zhou Yan looked at the woman. Her features did resemble Zhang Shufen's. He remembered that Great-grandmother's name was Li Zhen, and he had visited her grave.
"No matter how many you have, the pain is the same. I gave birth to all four of you siblings, and each one of you was in excruciating pain, practically walking through the gates of hell to bring them into the world." Li Zhen scooped up some millet porridge, blew on it, and carefully fed it to Zhang Shufen, saying, "I told your father I'll go back to Rongcheng after your postpartum period. I'm really worried about you being alone, especially with Zhou Yi not around."
"Mother, thank you." Zhang Shufen said, her eyes reddening as she looked at Li Zhen.
"I'm your mother, there's no need to thank me." Li Zhen smiled and reached out to pat her head, saying affectionately, "I often think about what you looked like when you were little, and in the blink of an eye you're a mother of three."
"Grandma, I want some too!" The two little ones came over.
Li Zhen smiled and said, "I'll feed your mother first, then I'll give you some. She needs to rest for a while after eating."
"Mmm-hmm." the two little ones nodded obediently.
Zhou Yan stood to the side, smiling. Having her mother there was good; at least in her most vulnerable time, she had someone who loved her most by her side.
…
The scene gradually blurred, then became clear again.
On the wall, the time: June 15, 1938, Morning, 7:30 a.m.
Zhang Shufen, with a handkerchief wrapped around her head, was taking a walk in the courtyard.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
"I'm here!" Li Zhen quickly came out to open the door.
Standing outside the door was Huang Silang, carrying a hen and a bag of brown sugar. A year had passed in the blink of an eye, and he looked several years older; his once chubby face had become thinner.
"Boss Huang, why are you here again? This is the third time. I told you, we have to wait until Shufen finishes her postpartum confinement." Li Zhen sighed.
Huang Silang smiled ingratiatingly, "Aunt Li, I just keep track of the time. I can't help it. Customers always ask when the braised meat will be served. If I don't sell any for a month, all the customers will leave. You know, business is tough these days…"
"Boss Huang, will you have someone come and pick up the braised meat tomorrow? How much do you want? I'll remember it." Zhang Shufen walked over and said with a smile.
"Great! That's wonderful! Sister Zhang, if you don't reopen soon, not only will our Feiyan Restaurant be unable to survive, but the diners in town will be heartbroken." Huang Silang said happily. "The braised pig's head meat is still the same, and we need 100 jin of braised beef. So many customers have placed orders; it's all piled up."
"Okay." Zhang Shufen nodded, glancing at the things he was carrying: "Take these back with you. You brought things with you the last two times you came."
"There's no reason to take them back. Keep this old hen to nourish yourself. I'll head back now." Huang Silang put the things on the threshold and turned to leave.
"Shufen, you…" Li Zhen looked at her with some concern.
"Mom, my postpartum confinement is over today, it's time to go back to work. I need to earn as much money as I can while I still can, because we don't know what the future holds. I need to save money to raise three kids." Zhang Shufen interrupted her with a smile, "Go and call Sister in law Lin over for me, her help has saved me a lot of trouble."
"Okay." Li Zhen nodded and went out.
Zhou Yan looked at Zhang Shufen, who had gained about twenty jin after her confinement. Her figure was still well-proportioned, but her face was fuller, making her look even more approachable. Her skin was fair and smooth.
Zhang Shufen stood in front of the water vat in the courtyard, scrutinizing herself for a long time, as if she had made up her mind.
…
August 16, 1939, Morning, 11:40 a.m.
Suji Stone Bridge.
A few customers were scattered around Zhang Ji Braised Food stall, buying their braised food and hurrying away.
The once bustling and lively market at the bridgehead is now deserted, with only a few elderly people selling handmade bamboo baskets and straw sandals. The noodle stall owner's wife sits with a frown and a bitter face, while the owner who used to cook noodles beside her is nowhere to be seen.
At first glance, the place looked rather desolate.
Behind the braised food stall stood a dark-skinned, plump woman. Zhou Yan looked closely before recognizing her as Zhang Shufen.
In just one year, she had become much darker and much heavier, weighing at least 160-170 jin.
Her short hair was also cut rather haphazardly, and she no longer looked as capable and refreshing as when he first met. She was the kind of person who wouldn't be noticed twice in a crowd.
Next to the two little ones, there was an even smaller child sitting in a specially made basket, watching his two older brothers playing hopscotch with longing eyes.
"Boss, I'd like a jin of braised beef." a gentle female voice pulled Zhou Yan back to reality.
Turning around, a look of surprise appeared on his face. The woman wearing a black cheongsam, with slightly red eyes, looking haggard but still beautiful, was none other than Qiu Qi, the young lady of the Qiu family whom he had caught a glimpse of that day!
She held a blue and white porcelain container in her hands and handed it to Zhang Shufen, saying softly, "Put it in here."
Zhang Shufen stared at the container for a moment, surprised. She hadn't seen it for two years, but she clearly recognized it. She took the container, glanced at the pretty girl in front of her, her lips moved, and she nodded, saying, "Okay."
Sister in law Lin picked out a piece of beef shank to cut, but Zhang Shufen, having washed her hands, came over and took the knife. "Sister in law Lin, let me do it."
She sliced the beef, then arranged the slices one by one in a circle in the blue and white porcelain container, just like the one she had made for her two years ago.
Qiu Qi took the container with both hands, staring silently at the neatly stacked beef for a long time. She looked up at Zhang Shufen and whispered, "Thank you."
She turned, container in hand, her shoulders trembling slightly, and walked step by step towards the carriage parked nearby.
Zhou Yan saw tears slide down her cheeks and drip onto the bluestone slabs at the head of the stone bridge.
A maidservant stepped forward, handed her a silver coin, and quickly followed.
Zhang Shufen, clutching the silver coin in her hand, stared blankly at Qiu Qi's retreating figure. Once the carriage was far away, she murmured to herself, "Two years have passed. Has Young Master Wang written to her?"
"Mama..."
The baby's crying interrupted her thoughts. She quickly wiped her hands on her apron and picked up the child to comfort her.
"It's been exactly two years. She personally brought a blue and white porcelain container to buy braised beef. Is there any special meaning behind that?" Zhou Yan watched the carriage disappear from sight and suddenly became curious about what was written in Wang Yu's letter.
"Shufen, you've gotten a bit tanned again lately, and you look a little heavier than before?" Sister in law Lin said as she packed the things and turned to look at Zhang Shufen. "When you first married into the family, you were so careful with your food, afraid of gaining even a little weight around your stomach."
"Without a man in the house, being a little tanned and a little chubby means fewer problems. Look at me now, I could easily take down a strong man." Zhang Shufen smiled and said, "My three kids depend on me for survival. These days, being beautiful is more of a curse than a blessing for a woman."
Zhou Yan silently clenched his fist, staring blankly at Zhang Shufen's face.
There are no iron ladies, they are just strong because they are mothers.
The old lady has always been so clear-headed since her youth.
...
The scene gradually blurred amidst the child's cries.
The bustling streets of Jiazhou City gradually came into view.
Zhou Yan subconsciously looked up at the sky: September 8, 1939, Morning, 9:00 a.m.
A flatbed cart stopped in an alley. Huang Silang was directing several workers to unload braised meat from the cart into the kitchen. The cart was loaded with eight baskets of braised meat, weighing several hundred jin.
Zhang Shufen, dressed in coarse cloth, had only brought Zhou Qing with her. After watching for a while, when only Huang Silang remained, she asked in a low voice, "Boss Huang, why so much braised meat today? Is someone hosting a banquet?"
"Haven't you heard?" Huang Silang looked at her with some surprise, lowering his voice, "The eldest son of the Duan family in the south of the city is marrying the eldest daughter of the Qiu family. They're holding a banquet at our Feiyan Restaurant today! All the prominent figures of Jiazhou are gathered here. It's said that the Inspector General and the County Head will be there. They're having over eighty tables!"
Zhang Shufen seemed thoughtful, then asked, "The Qiu family? The Qiu family of Yingchun Gate?"
"Yes!" Huang Silang nodded with a smile. "Miss Qiu is a famous beauty in Jiazhou City. She loves your braised beef the most and often comes to our Feiyan Restaurant. She always orders braised beef."
Zhang Shufen fell silent, thought for a moment, and then asked, "Is the eldest son of the Duan family a good match?"
Huang Silang laughed upon hearing this, "Sister Zhang, what are you saying? The Duan family is the largest family in Jiazhou! The eldest son of the Duan family studied abroad for eight years and just returned at the beginning of the year. He is elegant and learned.
I visited the Duan family residence two days ago and had the pleasure of exchanging a few words with him. He is gentle and refined in his speech and actions. There is no other young talent in our Jiazhou City who is as outstanding as him.
There are rumors that he's going to become a professor at National Central University, and there are also whispers that after his marriage, he'll continue his studies abroad. Miss Qiu and Young Master Duan's marriage is truly a match made in heaven, a perfect couple!"
Zhang Shufen breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and smiled as well: 'That's wonderful. Miss Qiu won't have to worry about being targeted anymore.'"
"Yes, it's said that an adjutant wanted to take her as a concubine, which drove the Qiu family to the brink of ruin. The Duan family came to propose marriage, which resolved the matter. Otherwise..." Huang Silang glanced around and lowered his voice, "That adjutant was over fifty years old and supposedly liked to beat women. Two of his concubines who married him were beaten to death."
"What a scoundrel!" Zhang Shufen gritted her teeth, instinctively clenching her fist.
"Don't say it, don't say it." Huang Silang quickly waved his hand and secretly stuffed a heavy bag into Zhang Shufen's hand. "Go back and count it. The carriage will be repaired tomorrow. I'll have my cousin's eldest son come to pick up the goods, so you don't need to deliver them."
"Okay." Zhang Shufen replied, pocketing the money bag and drove the carriage away.
Zhou Yan pondered. No wonder Qiu Qi had specially come to Suji that day, carrying a blue and white porcelain container to buy a jin of braised beef; was she using that method to say goodbye to Wang Yu?
In chaotic times, a beauty's fate is no longer in her own hands.
Two years of waiting, he wondered if she had received any letter or news from him.
At least she married a good man, in this chaotic world, she didn't become a plaything of warlords—that was fortunate.
Judging from the outcome, if she had married Wang Yu, she would likely have died in the subsequent fire at the Wang family residence, becoming a wronged ghost.
Of course, this is just his perspective as an observer, and drawing conclusions from results is never a very humane approach.
Zhou Yan thought the scene would change again, but the carriage came out of the alley and turned onto the street.
Yutang Street was packed with people.
The Duan and Qiu families were uniting for marriage; the wedding was being held today at the Feiyan Restaurant.
Many residents of Jiazhou City had come to watch the spectacle, crowding both sides of Yutang Street.
The young master of the Duan family, the most powerful family in Jiazhou, is seeking to marry Qiu Qi, the most beautiful woman in Jiazhou. For Jiazhou, which is shrouded in the shadow of war, this is a rare happy event.
Everyone wanted to come and see the excitement and share in the joy.
The Duan family servants carried a basket of wedding candies and distributed them to the onlookers along the way.
"They're here! They're here!" someone shouted, and the people on the street craned their necks to look towards the other end of the long street.
Zhang Shufen secured the carriage, then, carrying Zhou Qing, squeezed to the side of the street, peering out.
Zhou Yan floated up, his gaze passing over the crowd, and saw a military convertible jeep slowly approaching from behind the drum and gong team.
The Duan family was indeed wealthy and powerful, they could even borrow a military vehicle.
"With the fighting so fierce at the front, a merchant's son is getting married, and they're using a military vehicle! It's outrageous!"
"You know nothing! The Duan family donated one million silver yuan to the war effort last month! This car was specially approved by the province to be the Duan family's wedding car, just to commend the Duan family's righteous donation to save the country and shut you guys up! Otherwise, would the inspector and the county head have come?"
"One million silver yuan!"
"The Duan family is incredibly generous! They deserve to make money!"
The onlookers were astonished, their goodwill towards the Duan family soaring.
The newlyweds were sitting in the back of the convertible, and Zhou Yan, who was floated up, could see them clearly.
The groom, dressed in a blue suit, with his hair was parted in a 2/8 style, was indeed handsome, with a straight posture. Even sitting in the car, he appeared quite tall, and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, giving him a refined and scholarly look.
The bride wasn't wearing a wedding dress, but rather a red wedding gown, complete with a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe. She held a round fan, partially obscuring her face, and sat upright, her back equally ramrod straight.
As the car slowly drove by, both of their profiles could be seen simultaneously.
A perfect match, a talented man and a beautiful woman.
Thousands of firecrackers echoed through the street outside the Feiyan Restaurant.
The jeep slowly came to a stop. The groom stepped out first; tall and slender, yet perfectly proportioned in his suit, he was far from being a skinny stick.
The bridesmaid opened the jeep door, but the bride, dressed in a gorgeous wedding gown, had difficulty getting out of the car, which made everyone anxious.
The groom saw this, walked over, bent down, got into the car, and lifted the bride out of the car.
The fan drooped down, revealing Qiu Qi's stunningly beautiful face. There was a hint of surprise on her face, and her slightly upturned lips carried a touch of sweetness.
The perfect couple, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, were embodied in this moment.
A suit and leather shoes can actually be a perfect match for a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe.
A burst of cheers and applause erupted from the crowd, as onlookers offered their congratulations and blessings to the newlyweds.
"That's good, they should be happy." Zhang Shufen smiled with relief, but then muttered with some melancholy, "Poor Wang Yu, if he comes back alive, he'll probably be in a lot of pain."
The crowd surged towards Feiyan Restaurant to grab red envelopes and wedding candies. Zhang Shufen peeled a piece of wedding candy and fed it to Zhou Qing, then turned and walked towards the carriage, driving it out of the city.
Zhou Yan suddenly realized that the old lady had actually met Qiu Qi, and had even witnessed Qiu Qi and Duan Xingbang's wedding.
But all she ever knew was that they were Miss Qiu and Young Master Duan…
She didn't even know their names!
Furthermore, she wouldn't know that Duan Xingbang later became a missile engineer.
Yes! She probably didn't even know what a missile engineer was!
The keywords were wrong, so how could she possibly find what he wanted!
Floating above the carriage, Zhou Yan gazed in the direction of the Feiyan Restaurant, silently mourning for Wang Yu: Now he's truly just a roadside figure…
He was now quite curious whether Grandpa Wang was actually Wang Yu!
Of course, he still greatly admired Young Master Wang's heroic act of sacrificing himself for country and disregarding personal feelings.
Suddenly, he spotted a man dressed in black squatting by the roadside.
As the crowd surged towards the Feiyan Restaurant, the man squatting there became somewhat conspicuous, and...familiar?
Zhou Yan squinted, trying to see his face.
The carriage turned the corner, and his sight vanished instantly.
"It shouldn't be him, right?" Zhou Yan craned his neck, trying to confirm, but the receding street was already blurring.
—
The scene shifted again, returning to the Suji Stone Slab Bridge.
The time was etched on the stone slab bridge: June 8, 1943, Morning, 11:45 a.m.
"Sister Zhang, I need to reduce the amount of braised beef by half again. Business is too difficult. Those officials keep extending credit every few days, and I'm still losing money after a month, sigh." Huang Silang's temples had grown quite a bit gray, making him look much older than before.
"Okay." Zhang Shufen, still dark-skinned and plump, paused in packing the things and looked at Huang Silang, saying, "Okay, then I won't charge you the extra fee for braised beef for the rest of the year. I know it's tough for you too."
"You're just too kind and too perceptive. I've wanted to say that three times, but I just can't bring myself to say it." Huang Silang said, his face full of emotion.
Zhang Shufen smiled, then suddenly asked curiously, "By the way, what happened to Young Master Duan and Miss Qiu?"
"You still think about that?" Huang Silang was a little surprised, but still answered, "I heard that the adjutant was resentful and made some underhanded moves. Young Master Duan was worried about Miss Qiu's safety, so he took her abroad for further studies. It's said that many members of the Duan family have gone abroad; the Duan family donated a lot of money, and they have connections at higher levels protecting them."
"That's good." Zhang Shufen nodded.
"Any news about Zhou Yi? So many years have passed, and he hasn't sent a single letter home?" Huang Silang asked curiously.
Zhang Shufen's expression darkened, and she shook her head.
Huang Silang was a little embarrassed and quickly said, "Sister Zhang, I'll head back now. My cousin will come get the beef tomorrow."
Zhang Shufen nodded.
Huang Silang walked towards the carriage, slapped his own mouth, and said, "I deserve to die! I was just too nosy and asked that one question."
"Mom, I've delivered the braised beef to the Wang family. Here's the money." A sweaty, teenage boy ran over, clutching a wad of banknotes.
"Slow down, you're all sweaty." Zhang Shufen smiled, wiping the sweat from his head with a towel and giving him some money. "Go buy a bag of rice candy from Old Man Zhang, and bring your two younger brothers over. We're going back now."
"Okay." Zhou Qing replied with a smile, turning and running off again, his long legs swinging incredibly fast.
Zhou Yan couldn't help but laugh. His First Uncle was quite mischievous as a child, but this kid was well-raised; at only twelve, he was already as tall as Zhang Shufen's shoulder and quite strong.
Even wealthy families had their tough times. Zhang Ji Braised Food had taken a sharp downturn, and Zhang Shufen had single-handedly kept the stall afloat, no longer needing Sister in law Lin's help.
The three children sat on the carriage, sharing a small bag of rice candy, their faces beaming with smiles.
The carriage traveled through the streets of Suji, where white silk ribbons hung everywhere.
Old people and women sat at their doorways, their eyes listless, and suppressed sobs could be heard emanating from the dark doorways.
Only children ran and played on the streets, smiles on their faces.
Three million brave men marched out of Sichuan, but who knew that nine out of ten households would be without men!
A sense of desolation rose in Zhou Yan's heart.
The Japanese invaders had never set foot in Sichuan, yet the Sichuan army suffered the most casualties.
Zhang Shufen pursed her lips, remaining silent, and whipped her horse, quickening its pace.
The carriage entered Zhou Village, and white silk ribbons were everywhere along the way.
The distant hillsides were covered with fresh graves.
Zhang Shufen stopped the carriage in front of her house, handed the reins to Zhou Qing, took out her key, opened the door, and saw a shadow standing behind it. She instinctively reached for the small knife tucked at her waist.
"Shufen, it's me." The person behind the door stepped out, pressed her hand, and whispered, "Don't make a sound."
Zhang Shufen's eyes widened suddenly, her hands trembled uncontrollably, and her legs went weak, about to collapse to the ground.
Zhou Yi quickly hugged her and gently patted her back: "Relax! Relax! It's me who's back."
Outside the door, the three children in the carriage stared wide-eyed.
"Bad guy…" The youngest, Zhou Han, was about to speak when Zhou Qing clapped his hand over his mouth, silencing him. He then drove the carriage into the courtyard, shushed Zhou Han, and said in a trembling voice, "It's Dad!"
"Dad?" Zhou Ze, sitting in the carriage, stared at Zhou Yi, his eyes full of curiosity.
Zhang Shufen, having recovered somewhat, turned to Zhou Qing and said, "Zhou Qing, close the door. Take your two younger brothers inside first, and don't say a word."
"Okay!" Zhou Qing replied, tied up the horse, locked the gate from the inside, and led his two younger brothers into the main room.
"We'll go in too." Zhou Yi said, picking Zhang Shufen up and carrying her into the next room.
Zhang Shufen hugged Zhou Yi, finally unable to hold back her tears. "Six years! Do you know how I've endured these past six years?"
"I know. I'm sorry. I only managed to come back this year after fighting as a guerrilla and being transferred to Sichuan." Zhou Yi said, his voice low and tight as he held Zhang Shufen tightly.
"Guerrilla?" Zhang Shufen was taken aback, looking up at Zhou Yi. "You're... a member of the Eighth Route Army?"
"Yes." Zhou Yi nodded, his voice even softer. "I went to Shanghai in 1937. During the Battle of Shanghai-Songjiang, I carried Wang Yu and survived. He was wounded and transferred to the rear to recuperate, while I followed the main force, moving around everywhere. Later, I was rescued by an Eighth Route Army unit. I felt they were more disciplined and caring towards their comrades, so I joined them…"
Zhou Yi hugged Zhang Shufen and briefly recounted his experiences over the past few years.
It sounded quite lighthearted.
But when Zhou Yan heard about those battles, his heart sank. Comrade Zhou Yi had truly crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
He was incredibly tough!
Zhang Shufen wasn't stupid. She read the newspaper everyday and kept up with the news about the Sichuan Army and the War of Resistance. After hearing the story, she was already in tears.
Every year, Zhou Yi would try to send a letter home, only reporting that he was safe and sound, saying nothing else.
So it was because he had joined the Eighth Route Army.
"Are you leaving again this time?" Zhang Shufen asked.
Zhou Yi nodded: "I'm leaving tomorrow. The team is waiting for me. This time, I escorted the wounded comrades back. Once the mission is complete, I'll return to the team."
Zhang Shufen opened her mouth, but the words of pleas for him to stay wouldn't come out. She wiped away her tears, sniffed, and said, "I'll go cook for you."
"Okay, what I missed most while I was away was your braised meat." Zhou Yi nodded with a smile.
"I'll go make it for you." Zhang Shufen went out, pulled the three children over, and pointed to Zhou Yi coming out of the bedroom, saying, "Call him 'Dad'."
The three children looked at Zhou Yi, their eyes timid.
"Dad!" Zhou Qing was the first to rush over, calling out.
He was already five years old when Zhou Yi left and had some memories.
After their eldest brother called out, the other two little ones also rushed over, calling him "Dad."
"Hey!" Zhou Yi replied with a smile, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a few candies, handing them to the three sons. "Here, I brought you some candy."
"Dad, Mom said you went to fight the Japanese, did you kill them?"
"Dad, Mom said you're a hero!"
The three sons surrounded Zhou Yi, candies in their mouths, immediately becoming familiar with each other, chattering incessantly with questions.
Zhang Shufen prepared a table full of dishes: cured pork, cured spare ribs, leftover braised pig's head meat, and a piece of sausage she usually couldn't bear to eat.
The three boys were overjoyed, eating with gusto, their mouths glistening with oil.
Zhou Yi ate two bowls of rice, also enjoying his meal.
"I'll wash the dishes." he said, getting up to wash the dishes after finishing his meal. "You've worked so hard taking care of the kids all these years."
"Hard work? You're fighting the Japanese on the front lines, and I'm taking care of the kids in the rear. It's not hard work." Zhang Shufen shook her head, smiling as she watched him clear the table.
She used to think this was normal, but the last time she saw him like this was six years ago.
Zhou Yan watched silently from the side, a rare moment of family reunion since the war began.
Time flew by, and it was already evening.
The three sons, having run around all day, slept soundly in the outer room.
Zhang Shufen pulled aside Zhou Yi's clothes, her eyes reddening as she looked at the numerous wounds on his chest and shoulders.
"They're just minor injuries. Look at me, I'm as lively as ever." Zhou Yi said with a smile.
"You've gotten darker, and stronger too." Zhang Shufen said, touching his face and sighing softly, "You've also aged, you've got wrinkles."
"You haven't changed at all, still so beautiful." Zhou Yi said, cupping her face in his hands with a smile.
Zhang Shufen blushed and playfully punched his chest. "I've gotten so dark and fat now, how could I not have changed? You're talking nonsense! I was surprised you recognized me so quickly!"
"Because in my eyes, you haven't changed at all. You're still as beautiful as you were back then, radiant as ever." Zhou Yi cupped her face and said earnestly, "I can always recognize you at a glance."
Zhang Shufen laughed, tears streaming down her face, then hugged him and kissed him.
Zhou Yan, who was standing at the door, quickly slipped out and checked the time.
Good heavens, his father was created by this day.
...
At the Suji Stone Slab Bridge.
January 8, 1944, Morning, 11:00 a.m.
A few customers came to the braised meat stall.
They were all talking about something important.
Last night, a huge fire broke out in the Wang family compound, and more than a hundred members of the Wang family, along with their servants and maids, were burned to death.
Some said they heard gunshots.
Some said it was bandits who killed, burned, and robbed.
Others said it was warlords who did it, just wanting to take over the Wang family's silk factory.
In any case, the Wang family, the wealthiest family in Suji, was gone overnight.
Upon hearing the news, Zhang Shufen was distraught all morning.
When she packed up her stall, she finally couldn't hold back her tears, covering her face and crying out: "Master and Madam Wang were good people, they shouldn't have done this, and there are so many children left, these damned people deserve to go to hell!"
The Wang family were major customers of the braised meat stall. Even after Wang Yu left, they still had her deliver meat to their residence everyday, ordering more when entertaining guests, and a jin of braised beef on ordinary days.
The children often delivered meat to their residence, often receiving pastries and snacks as gifts from Madam Wang, and they got along quite well with the young masters and ladies of the Wang family.
Who would have thought that she had delivered meat to their residence yesterday, and this morning she would hear this news?
The carriage traveled a short distance towards Yang Wharf, but she turned back. She dared not look, dared not let the children see that scene.
…
The scene shifts again.
Suji Street is filled with cheering crowds.
Time: September 3, 1945.
Victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan!
Zhang Shufen, carrying a baby and followed by three toddlers, also came to the street.
"Mommy, what are they shouting?" Zhou Han asked.
"The Japanese devils have been defeated!"
"We have won the War of Resistance!"
"We won!"
Zhang Shufen's voice was hoarse, and her eyes were already red.
Everyone on the street was the same, crying and laughing, laughing and crying!
They had waited too long for this moment, they had sacrificed too much!
Zhou Yan looked at the cheering crowd and smiled too.
This is the rebirth of the Chinese nation!
Better to die fighting than be a slave to a conquered nation!
…
The faces, some crying, some laughing, gradually blurred.
The scene shifted back to the Suji Bridge.
Time: January 8, 1946, Noon, 12:01 p.m.
"Have you heard? Wang Yu, the fourth young master of the Wang family, is back! They say he's become a high-ranking official! Yesterday he led a team to wipe out the bandits at Gaomiao!"
"I heard the blood flowed like a river! On the anniversary of his family deaths, he used the heads of the enemies to pay respects to his families!"
"That was so satisfying!"
"It's a pity, Young Master Wang and Miss Qiu were engaged back then."
Zhang Shufen was quite happy today. She went to the butcher and got a piece of second cut pork, then stir-fried it into a twice-cooked pork dish.
The children ate with great enjoyment.
…
The scene sped up, like a fleeting glance.
Zhou Yan saw the founding of the nation in 1949, his grandfather returning to Zhou Village with a big red flower tied to his chest.
Zhang Shufen finally smiled.
Wang Yu was arrested and brought back to Jiazhou for trial, but he refused to plead guilty, claiming that he was an undercover agent but that his superior had already been killed.
After hearing about this, Zhou Yi went to see Wang Yu.
Upon returning, he began collecting evidence to exonerate him.
But with the outbreak of the Korean War, he could only entrust the collected materials to Zhang Shufen, who would then deliver them to the organization. He hurriedly returned to his unit and headed north.
What happened afterward, Zhang Shufen didn't know either.
The memory ended at the entrance of Zhou Village.
The plaque recognizing him as a first-class meritorious soldier was escorted to Zhou Village by leaders at all levels and spontaneously gathered villagers.
It was drizzling that day. Zhang Shufen, wrapped in black cloth and heavily pregnant, led her four children, dressed in mourning clothes, to receive the plaque.
This time, she didn't cry.
But her eyes were devoid of any light.
…
[1] Letter language. A polite way of asking the recipient to open and read the letter; often used for female recipients.