Chapter 116 - 113: Going to the Capital City
After his wife went to take a shower, Li Xiu turned to Mrs. Zhou and said, "Mom, don’t worry. I won’t let my wife or our child suffer. I’ll go to the Capital City first to get everything arranged. When Lian’er starts school next month, she’ll be able to attend without a care in the world."
"I know you dote on her, so I’m not worried about that. I wanted to tell you that she’s not an ungrateful person. She would never do anything heartless."
"Mom, Lian’er would never do that. She’s very innocent and kind. I trust her; I’ve never doubted her," Li Xiu said to Mrs. Zhou with a smile. ’His darling just isn’t built for that kind of scheming!’
"As long as you two are happy, I can rest easy. You’re a level-headed man. In the future, you must stay just like this—the family together and happy. That’s better than anything." Mrs. Zhou, unsure of what else to say to her son-in-law, simply voiced her dearest wish.
"We will. Don’t you worry!" In truth, Li Xiu didn’t know how to reassure his mother-in-law. Her worry wasn’t about him, but about Zhou Lian. And no matter what, this was his wife’s mother—saying too much or too little would be inappropriate. ’Putting her mind at ease is going to be a long road,’ he thought.
「The next day.」
Carrying the letter of introduction, the rations his mother-in-law had prepared, and a change of clothes from his wife, Li Xiu bid a reluctant farewell to her and boarded the train to the Capital City.
Relying on his memories of the future, Li Xiu quickly found Beijing University. The campus of today was nowhere near as beautiful or sprawling as it would be in the future; it still possessed the unique simplicity and tranquility of the era.
He took a walk around the university. Even in the Capital City, there were few skyscrapers; the tallest buildings were only a few stories high. Most structures were single-story courtyard houses. He found a guest house, presented his letter of introduction, and booked a room, arranging to stay for three days. After settling in, Li Xiu grabbed his small bag and started to wander around.
People of this era were much simpler and warmer than those of the future. With the enthusiastic help of a woman at the sub-district office, Li Xiu successfully found a suitable house. It was a small courtyard house only a ten-minute walk from Beijing University, with five main rooms and two side rooms. What Li Xiu loved most was the well and the grapevine in the courtyard. The house was spotless; it belonged to a university professor who had just been politically rehabilitated and, for various reasons, no longer lived there. It was available for rent or for sale.
The price wasn’t too expensive. The rent was seven yuan a month, while the purchase price was three thousand yuan, and it even came with the ability to register his household. Li Xiu considered it for a moment. ’The house isn’t huge, but it’s spacious enough. We could even live here after having a son. After all, my wife will be in university for several years—four for her undergraduate degree, three for her master’s. As for a doctorate, that will depend on whether she wants to pursue it. That means at least seven years here. I might as well buy it. In the future, after our children are grown and have their own families, this little courtyard will be perfect for just me and my wife.’
When the woman from the sub-district office heard that Li Xiu was buying the house because his wife had been accepted into Beijing University, she became even more enthusiastic. She helped him contact the owner, sign the contract, and transfer the deed. Her help saved him a lot of trouble. Furthermore, when the owner heard it was for his wife’s education, he also eagerly helped resolve the residency issue. In just three days, the house was his, and even the household registration transfer was complete. Lying in his guest house room, Li Xiu couldn’t help but sigh. ’People these days are just so kind and wonderful!’
Li Xiu grinned as he looked at the household registration transfer permit in his hand. ’A Capital City household registration! In the future, this thing will be worth a fortune. Even now, a city registration isn’t easy to get! But for just three thousand yuan, I got a small courtyard house and solved the residency issue all at once. What a great deal!’
He didn’t stop to think about how low a worker’s monthly salary was in this era. That three thousand yuan would be the equivalent of at least three million in the future. This guy, Li Xiu, really threw money around like it was nothing! Or perhaps, he was just so used to future sums being counted in the tens of thousands that he hadn’t quite adjusted to the present yet.
After a night’s rest, Li Xiu bought a train ticket home. There was still a mountain of things to do. He planned to find a truck to bring all their furniture up. It wasn’t that he couldn’t buy new things, but it would be a shame to leave the furniture at home unused. It was all good wood, and he had prepared it for his wife. It was better to bring it. After all, once they settled down in the Capital City, they wouldn’t have many chances to go back home.
After getting off the train in the county town, he went straight to find Wang Yuan, knocking on his door with two bottles of Maotai liquor in hand. Although Wang Yuan worked at the local distillery, Maotai was leagues above anything the county distillery produced. Wang Yuan agreed to help borrow one of the distillery’s large trucks; Li Xiu would be responsible for everything else.
When he got home and saw his wife and his mother-in-law holding their daughter, Li Xiu broke into a wide grin. All his hard work these past few days had been for this woman before him, the one he would risk his life for. Ignoring his mother-in-law and daughter to the side, he pulled his wife into his arms and held her tight. He’d missed her to death these past few days; she was all he dreamed about at night.
Mrs. Zhou felt incredibly awkward standing to the side holding the baby. ’This son-in-law of mine has eyes for no one else. I’m a grown woman standing right here, and he acts like he doesn’t even see me. He walked in, grabbed his wife, and won’t let go.’ Too embarrassed to watch her daughter and son-in-law clinging to each other, Mrs. Zhou carried the baby outside. ’I should just give them the house. This son-in-law of mine has always treasured my daughter like the apple of his eye. I won’t stay here and be a third wheel.’
Glancing at his mother-in-law’s retreating back, Li Xiu rejoiced inwardly. ’My dear mother-in-law is so considerate!’ He swept his wife up into his arms and strode toward the bedroom. As for everything else, it could wait until he had cured this longing for her.
The main door was shut. Li Xiu’s bare torso was covered in scratch marks. He prepared water, washed his wife, and helped her into clean clothes. Enduring his wife’s furious glare, he calmly took a cold shower himself, got dressed, opened the main door, and went back inside to hold his wife in his arms.
Zhou Lian felt that her husband was rewriting her understanding of the world, one incident at a time. ’In front of my own mother, he just held me and wouldn’t let go, forcing her to flee outside with the baby. It’s broad daylight, can’t he show a little restraint? What is Mom going to think when she comes back and sees we’ve both showered and changed? It’s one thing for him to wash up and change; after all, he just got back from a long trip, so that’s normal. But me? Taking a bath and changing clothes in the middle of the day for no apparent reason... it’s impossible for people not to let their minds wander.’
"Bao’er, don’t be mad. I just missed you so much. You have no idea, I dreamed about you every single night. When I finally saw you, how could I possibly control myself?"
Looking at him, all refreshed and grinning from ear to ear, Zhou Lian couldn’t help but fume. ’This shameless scoundrel, getting his way and then putting on an innocent act! How could anyone be like this? How am I supposed to face my mother now?’
When Li Xiu saw his wife’s eyes turning red, he began to panic. ’Oh no, she can’t be about to cry. It would kill me to see her tears.’ He quickly said in a gentle voice, "Bao’er, don’t be mad. Mom isn’t the clueless type. She won’t say anything. Why don’t you hit me a few times to let off some steam?"
"I can’t believe you! How can you be so shameless? Acting with no restraint right in front of your mother-in-law! You’ll be the death of me!"