Chuntao and Second Aunt Zhou turned their heads and saw Zhou Zhijun pushing his bicycle into the courtyard.
A fertilizer bag was tied to the back seat, bulging with stuff.
Two cloth bags hung from the handlebars, also packed to the brim.
He had barely slept the night before, his mind racing as he figured out what to buy for Chuntao.
To save time and avoid forgetting anything, he had climbed out of bed in the middle of the night.
He fished a stubby pencil from his pocket, tore off a calendar page, and wrote down the shopping list on the back.
Big items, small items—he wrote down dozens of things in total.
The nearest town was over twenty miles away, and the winding mountain road was full of potholes, making it a very difficult journey.
Zhou Zhijun had set off on his bike in the pitch dark before dawn. By the time the sky just began to lighten, he had arrived in town.
With his list prepared in advance, he bought everything quickly without wasting time in town, making it back by late morning.
Second Aunt Zhou quickly put down her work and went over to help untie the things from the bike. Zhijun! You bought so much!
Xiangguo handed Chuntao a bowl of freshly brewed ginger and perilla water, then also went over to help.
Chuntao felt as limp as if she had no bones. Without getting up, she sat in the shade of the tree, taking small sips of the water with her brows slightly furrowed.
Second Aunt Zhou looked at Zhou Zhijun's sweat-drenched face and said, Go wash your face quickly and sit in the shade to rest for a bit!
Zhou Zhijun's eyes were already glued to Chuntao. Without standing on ceremony, he went to the kitchen, scooped some water, and washed his face.
Walking over to the shade, he sat on a low stool next to Chuntao, his eyes full of tender affection. Tao, how are you? Are you still feeling sick?
Mhm! I feel like throwing up the moment I smell food! Chuntao's voice was low, with a slight nasal tone.
Zhou Zhijun glanced at the bowl in her hands. What kind of water is this?
Ginger and perilla water. Second Aunt Zhou said drinking this will make me feel a bit better!
Seeing her weak and listless appearance, Zhou Zhijun felt a sharp pang in his heart, as if something had tightly gripped it.
In the past, he had always thought that once he married Chuntao, he would have her give birth to a whole flock of children, and it would be so lively and wonderful.
But now, seeing how much she was suffering, that thought completely vanished.
Boy or girl, as long as she could safely give birth to just one, that would be enough!
Tao, I bought you two sets of clothes to change into. They are incredibly soft!
I also got brown sugar, malted milk extract... a new washbasin, new towels, osmanthus-scented soap, a soft-bristled toothbrush, and toothpaste... Oh, and I bought a few pounds of toilet paper!
Chuntao blinked, her face full of confusion. Why would she need toilet paper just because she was pregnant?
Zhou Zhijun saw right through her thoughts. He leaned in closer to Chuntao, lowered his voice, and curled his lips into a slight smile.
The people in these mountains all use hemp leaves to wipe themselves.
With your delicate skin, how could you stand something so rough? I bought the paper for you to wipe yourself with...
Stop talking! Chuntao interrupted him, her face flushing and her ears turning completely red.
I am staying at Second Aunt Zhou's house, causing them nothing but trouble. Did you buy anything for her?
Zhou Zhijun grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth. Of course!
I bought a few yards of Dacron fabric for our Second Aunt Zhou, just right for making a blouse!
I also bought some pastries and canned fruits for the two cousins, just a little token of appreciation.
He reached out and tucked a stray lock of hair behind Chuntao's ear. You will be staying here for over half a year, and I will not be able to stay by your side every day, so we will inevitably be bothering them. We have to show proper courtesy so people will not gossip about us.
Hearing him say this, Chuntao's anxious heart finally settled down.
Last night, she had meant to remind him, but she fell asleep as soon as she lay down, and by the time she woke up, he was long gone.
This man looked like a rough-hewn fellow, but his mind was actually very meticulous. When it came to social graces, he was not careless at all.
Oh right, Tao. I was worried you would get bored staying here, so I bought you a radio!
As Zhou Zhijun spoke, he went to untie the red cloth bundle from the handlebars.
A radio was a rare luxury; one unit cost over a hundred dollars!
It was so hard to earn money, braving the wind and sun, saving it up penny by penny.
Once the baby was born, there would be so many expenses! Chuntao's heart tightened, feeling a pang of distress over the money spent.
Why did you buy such an expensive thing!
I cannot be here every day to keep you company and talk to you. With a radio, you can listen to storytelling and operas to relieve your boredom.
Zhou Zhijun opened the red cloth, revealing the brand-new, gleaming radio inside. It was a bit expensive, but buying it for you makes it worth it!
Second Aunt Zhou did not hear clearly what the young couple was saying, but seeing them sitting so close together, their faces full of warmth, she could not help but break into a wide smile.
Looking again at the things Zhou Zhijun had bought—clothes, shoes, socks, food, and daily necessities—he had thought of everything perfectly, not leaving a single thing out.
She sighed inwardly in admiration. This boy Zhijun was usually as quiet as a closed gourd, did not talk much, and rarely smiled, but he truly knew how to dote on and cherish his wife.
Xiangguo also stood on her tiptoes to peek over, whispering into Second Aunt Zhou's ear, Grandma, my aunt looks so pretty, and my uncle treats her so well!
Of course! Second Aunt Zhou patted her granddaughter's head, her eyes curving into a smile. It was not easy for your uncle to marry such an outstanding wife, how could he not dote on her properly?
After Chuntao finished the water in her bowl, Zhou Zhijun carefully helped her into the house, then took out the bought items one by one and put them away.
He then took out the fabric, pastries, and canned fruits meant for Second Aunt Zhou separately and handed them to her.
Second Aunt Zhou scolded him playfully, You child, always wasting money! But the smile in her eyes and on her brows could not be hidden, and her heart felt warm and fuzzy.
Zhou Zhijun then put two boxes of pastries and two jars of canned fruits into a mesh bag.
He stood up and said, Second Aunt Zhou, I am going to go visit my oldest cousin and second cousin's houses.
Second Aunt Zhou quickly waved her hand. Zhijun, you do not have to go! It is fine!
But Zhou Zhijun knew clearly in his heart that Chuntao would be staying at Second Aunt Zhou's house for over half a year. Even if the cousins' wives did not say anything out loud, who knew what they would be muttering in their hearts.
He was doing this precisely to shut their mouths and make sure they could not find a single fault.
Second Aunt Zhou watched Zhou Zhijun's retreating back as he walked out the door, then turned to Chuntao and said, Tao, do not be fooled by Zhijun's quiet nature; he is truly meticulous in everything he does! By staying with him, you will just have to wait to enjoy a good life!
Second Aunt Zhou, from now on... I will inevitably be causing trouble for you and my cousins... Before Chuntao could finish her sentence, she was interrupted by Second Aunt Zhou.
Oh my, you girl, why are you speaking like a stranger!
This is your own home, do not feel restrained. If there is anything you want to eat, just tell me, and I will make it for you!
Zhou Zhijun could not bear to part with Chuntao and was also worried she would not be used to living here right away, so he did not leave immediately.
Second Aunt Zhou had him build a new bed for Chuntao to sleep on. While he was at it, he also made a table and a few chairs.
This kept him busy for several days. Zhou Zhijun worried that if he did not head back soon, his parents would start to worry.
At night, he held Chuntao tightly in his arms, his voice terribly hoarse. Tao, I really cannot bear to leave you. I do not want to be apart from you even for a moment...
Was it not the exact same for Chuntao?
Living in this unfamiliar place, even though Second Aunt Zhou treated her with complete devotion, she simply could not feel at ease without Zhou Zhijun by her side.
Brother Zhijun, I feel the same... Once you leave, I will be scared...
Chuntao's voice was low, soft and sweet, carrying a heavy nasal tone.
Just as the words left her mouth, stubborn tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Tao, please don't cry," Zhou Zhijun's voice grew even hoarser as he raised a hand to clumsily wipe the tears from her face.
"I'll ride my bike over to see you whenever I have a free moment... Once you've had the baby and this strict crackdown blows over, I'll bring you straight home!"
That night, Chuntao slept soundly, nestled deep in Zhou Zhijun's embrace. His arms were warm and solid, bringing her an unparalleled sense of peace and security.
Holding her, however, Zhou Zhijun felt a tangled knot of emotions in his heart.
This delicate, soft little woman had finally escaped the hellhole of the Wang family.
He could finally dote on her and cherish her properly, yet right at this very moment, they were forced to be apart...
