The movie outside had ended long ago, but inside the room, the springtime warmth was still so thick it seemed impossible to dispel, unbearably enticing.
The red candle had burned more than halfway down. Melted wax had gathered along the edge of the candlestick, forming a small, warm-red mound.
The warmth beneath the quilt was still scorching. They had tossed and turned, seemingly tireless, until Chuntao herself could no longer remember when she had finally fallen asleep.
The rooster in the yard suddenly threw back its head and crowed. Chuntao jolted awake and discovered that those strong, powerful arms were still wrapped firmly around her waist.
A large hand rested over her lower abdomen, its heat making her heart race.
Chuntao’s eyes flew open as she looked toward the inner side of the bed. Nuannuan was sleeping soundly, her little brows not even furrowed.
Nuannuan usually woke twice during the night to nurse and wet her diaper twice. It had become a routine.
Chuntao’s brows drew together slightly. Nuannuan had neither nursed nor cried all night. That was far too unusual!
Her heart leaped into her throat. She hurriedly tried to pry Zhou Zhijun’s hand away, wanting to lean over and pick up the baby.
Woken by her movement, Zhou Zhijun pulled her back into his arms without a word and placed a gentle kiss on her smooth forehead. In a hoarse whisper, he murmured, “Tao, sleep a little longer. It’s not fully light yet.”
“Nuannuan… She didn’t nurse or wet herself all night. Could something be wrong?”
She tried to turn around, but Zhou Zhijun held her even tighter.
“She already ate. You were busy with other things and forgot, didn’t you? Later, after you fell into a deep sleep, I held her and fed her again…”
His words left Chuntao dazed. She desperately tried to recall what had happened the night before, and fragmented images slowly returned. Her cheeks instantly flared red.
She remembered. Zhou Zhijun had… Nuannuan had been nursing right in front of them…
As for the second feeding, she truly had no memory of it. She only remembered Zhou Zhijun saying that she had slept like a log and that he had helped feed the baby.
Chuntao gave a soft little hum. Her voice was tender and sweet, carrying the languid weariness of a night spent in warmth and intimacy. She burrowed deeper into his embrace, burying her small face in his sturdy shoulder like a kitten that had found shelter.
With him there, she feared nothing.
But when she thought of him leaving home soon, the tip of her nose suddenly stung, and tears instantly filled her eyes.
Afraid she might sob aloud, she wrapped both arms tightly around his hard waist and abdomen. Her voice thick with tears, she whispered, “Brother Zhijun, can’t you stay?”
The words had barely left her mouth before she froze. Embarrassed and shy, she hurriedly let go.
But the reluctance in her heart only grew like a vine, winding tighter and tighter until she could barely breathe.
Zhou Zhijun’s heart clenched painfully. He tightened his arms around her and gently rubbed his chin over the crown of her head.
“I don’t want to go either. I want to hold you and look after you and the baby every day… but this is work assigned by the commune. I can’t refuse.”
He paused, his Adam’s apple bobbing, then softened his voice as he coaxed her. “The reservoir project is just north of town, so it’s not far. Whenever I get a break, I’ll come running home to see you. All right?”
Chuntao said nothing. She merely nodded, but tears silently slipped onto his shoulder, their heat making his heart tremble.
Dawn had already begun to break. Dim light streamed through the gap in the curtains and spilled across the bright-red quilt.
Beneath it, the two of them held each other even more tightly, as though they wanted to meld their bodies into one and press each other into their very bones.
Nuannuan turned over on the inner side of the bed, smacked her tiny lips twice, and continued sleeping sweetly, completely unaware of the sorrow and longing churning in her parents’ hearts.
Zhou Zhijun lifted his broad hand and stroked her back again and again, gentle and soothing, as though he were comforting a child.
He could not bear to get up. He wanted to hold her quietly forever, to feel her warmth, her breathing, and her soft body against him.
Chuntao’s eyelids grew heavy as waves of exhaustion washed over her. But it was already broad daylight, and she could not stay in bed any longer.
“Brother Zhijun, get up,” she said softly, giving him a little push.
Zhou Zhijun caught her wrist and refused to let go. “Why get up so early? Sleep a little longer.”
“I’m not going back to sleep.” Chuntao tried to sit up, but he pulled her close again.
“After all that last night, aren’t you tired? Everyone will understand. Sleeping in a little won’t matter.”
What Chuntao feared most was other people reading too much into things. She could never bear the embarrassment. “Your skin is thicker than the city wall. You’re not ashamed at all!” she complained, turning her face away from his hot breath.
“We’re a properly married couple. What’s there to be ashamed of? Besides, who doesn’t know what happened last night? Mother deliberately went to sleep in the east room and sent the two girls away. Wasn’t that so we could be intimate…”
Chuntao hurriedly covered his mouth. Her little face burned fiercely. “I don’t care! If I get up too late, I won’t have the face to see anyone! Let me go!”
She twisted and struggled in his arms, accidentally brushing against him. Unable to stop herself, she let out a soft cry and quickly covered her mouth, her cheeks growing even redder.
“Tao…” Zhou Zhijun’s breathing suddenly grew heavier. He lifted her slightly and lowered his head into the crook of her neck.
“Let me kiss you a little longer… and do it one more time.”
Chuntao tried to push him away, but her whole body had gone limp, without the slightest strength left.
The sun had risen high above the bamboo pole before Zhou Zhijun was finally satisfied. He kissed her forehead, his voice full of contentment and lingering desire.
“Tao, did that feel good?”
After nearly a whole night without rest, her entire body felt sore and weak, and her legs were heavy. But afraid that he might worry, she only answered softly, “Mm.”
“I tried not to be too rough, but sometimes I really can’t control myself… Once you’ve fully recovered, I’ll be able to let go completely. You like it harder too, don’t you…”
“I don’t!” Chuntao denied, though she knew she was only pretending.
She did like it, but she was too shy to say so. Besides, her body had not yet fully recovered and could not withstand too much exertion.
Just as the two of them were clinging to each other and reluctant to part, a loud pounding suddenly came from the courtyard gate, accompanied by a shout.
“Open up!”
Immediately afterward came Aunt Zhou’s voice. “Who is it? It’s barely morning, can’t you let people have some peace?”
“Mother, the family-planning officials are here!” It was Shi Yanhua’s voice from outside.
Inside the room, Zhou Zhijun and Chuntao heard every word. Chuntao instinctively shrank farther into his arms.
“Brother Zhijun, they came so soon!”
“Don’t be afraid. I’m here.” Zhou Zhijun gently patted her back to reassure her. “Lie down and don’t move. I’ll go see what they want.”
As he spoke, he threw back the quilt and sat up, reaching for his clothes.
Chuntao suddenly grabbed his arm, her voice unusually firm. “Brother Zhijun, I’ll get sterilized!”
“You suffered so much giving birth to our child. I wish I could take that pain for you, but I can’t. This is something I can do in your place, so I absolutely won’t let you undergo it!”
He pressed down on her shoulder to keep her from getting up. “Be good. Listen to me.”
“No! You’re the pillar of this family. If something happens to your health, what will become of all of us? I’ll go. I’m a woman—so long as I have you to rely on, sterilization isn’t such a terrible thing!”
A roguish smile tugged at the corners of Zhou Zhijun’s mouth. “Silly girl, nothing’s going to happen to me. I already asked at the clinic. A man’s sterilization won’t interfere with his work, his health, or that…”
He leaned toward Chuntao’s ear, lowering his voice into a deep, husky murmur.
“Don’t worry. I’ll still have plenty of strength to make love to you…”
“That’s not what I mean!” Chuntao was both mortified and flustered.
Outside in the courtyard, Lin Chun’s shrill voice rang out again.
“Where are they? They have to go to the commune clinic today! Refusing isn’t an option!”
Zhou Zhijun’s expression darkened. He quickly pulled on his clothes and got out of bed. With a loud clatter, he yanked open the door.
The moment it opened, he saw the family-planning officials already blocking the doorway.
