The 1970s: Married First, Fell in Love Later-Chapter 218 - 217: Returning to the Village

Mr. He and Mrs. He had just gotten off the train when a blast of cold air hit them, making them both shrink their necks.

Mrs. He said to Mr. He, "We should have put our scarves on."

Xue Yue had bought scarves for both Mr. He and Mrs. He. It was Mrs. He’s first time wearing such a thing. Previously, she had only seen the young girls and wives in the village wear them and thought they looked novel. But Mr. He found it uncomfortable, saying it felt like someone was choking him. Besides, at his age, he was worried the villagers would laugh at him for it when he got back.

They hadn’t expected, after being away for half a year, to feel the full force of a Black Province winter the moment they stepped off the train. Still, this was a temperature they knew well.

"Dad, Mom, you’re finally here! I was starting to think I got the time wrong."

"Uncle." Little Chen followed behind Mr. and Mrs. He, carrying his luggage.

He Nan hurried over, took their bags, and then his eyes went to Mr. He’s leg.

He said excitedly, "Wow, Dad, your leg is really healed! He the Third told me on the phone, but since I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, it didn’t feel quite real. This is wonderful!"

Mr. He didn’t look at him, instead turning his gaze to Old Gen, who was smiling at them from a short distance away.

"Old Gen, making you come out all this way in such cold weather."

Old Gen laughed. "He Nan told me he was coming to the station to pick you two up. No matter how cold it is, I had to make the trip. Say, Mr. He, I have to say, you two have changed so much after your trip. You look like city folk now, and your leg is healed too."

Before, not only could Mr. He not walk, but he was also confined to the heated brick bed, unable to get down. Da Liushu Village was only so big; everyone knew everyone else’s business. Plus, Mr. and Mrs. He had been gone for a long time, and word was they’d gone to Beijing City for their third son to take them to see a doctor.

Mr. He nodded. "Yes, it’s healed. The children are dutiful. They make sure we old folks eat well and dress well. Of course we’d change."

There was a hint of pride in Mr. He’s voice. He and Mrs. He were both wearing new clothes and new shoes, and their complexions were more than just a little better than when they were in the village.

"That’s for sure. Everyone says your children are successful. You’re getting to enjoy the good life along with them."

He Nan smiled. "Dad, Uncle Lao Gen, let’s talk more when we get back. It’s freezing out here."

"It is pretty cold. Let’s talk back home, talk back home."

The oxcart made its way to the village. Once they entered Da Liushu Village, Mr. and Mrs. He got off.

The villagers were all idle at this time of day, and they met quite a few people on the road who saw Mr. and Mrs. He had returned.

Some greeted them enthusiastically.

"Mr. He, where are you back from? Is your leg all better?"

Mr. He nodded. "We’re back from Beijing City. It’s all better."

"Congratulations! I always said the doctors in the big city are better. Things that can’t be treated here can definitely be fixed out there."

Mr. He just smiled.

But there were also those who spoke with a sour tone.

"Hey, He family, what kind of material are your clothes made of? They look so nice. If you hadn’t said anything, I almost wouldn’t have recognized you. You didn’t go to see a doctor, did you? Looks more like you went on vacation! What kind of business is your third son running in Beijing City? Does it make that much money?"

Mrs. He replied, "The children are just being dutiful. We don’t understand these things, so we just have to accept their kindness."

"That’s true. The He family has produced several university students, not to mention a factory worker and a private business owner. You must have more money than you can spend."

Mrs. He responded, "The kids work hard, running a small business to make a living. We wouldn’t dare say something like that. I wish we had more money than we could spend, but isn’t that just daydreaming?"

This was how villagers were. They feared you were poor and would borrow money, but they also feared you were rich and would become jealous. It was best to be brief and not reveal too much, lest you make others green with envy and stir up resentment.

As the He family walked away, some people’s comments turned nasty.

"It’s really true that everyone has their own fate. Look at the He Family’s Third Son. He used to be a good-for-nothing loafer who lacked ambition. And now? He’s married a pretty wife, has children, and is running a business out of town. He even gave his old job to He Nan. The whole He family has reaped the benefits."

"Who could have guessed? I remember, what year was it, wasn’t your daughter interested in He the Third? You and your husband were dead set against it, complaining that He the Third had nothing but a pretty face and no serious prospects. Now look. You must regret it, right?"

The auntie who had spoken earlier flushed beet-red. ’Who could have known?’ she thought. Thinking of how her own daughter was now having a hard time with her in-laws, she really would have been better off marrying the He Family’s Third Son back then.

Someone else sneered, "Listen to you. As if He Lang would have wanted her even if you were willing to marry your daughter off to him. I happen to know his mother forced him into plenty of matchmaking meetings back in the day, but that kid has high standards and looked down on all of them. Your daughter’s looks are nothing special. He Lang definitely wouldn’t have been interested."

This was an even bigger blow. The auntie simply left and went home.

After gossiping about He Lang, they moved on to He Nan. "And look at He Nan. He’s changed a lot these past few years, too. If you ask me, Guo Jinfeng just has no luck. If she hadn’t divorced him and had just waited until now, wouldn’t she be living the good life?"

"That’s true. But of the He family’s three sons, I used to be most optimistic about the second one. Now he’s the most down-and-out. His wife ran off and left him with that little girl of his. You don’t know because you don’t live near him, but my house is close. I don’t know what’s gotten into him lately, but I keep hearing things crashing and banging around. On the other hand, his ex-wife, Cuiyun, is living a life to be envied now. Ever since Little Chen went to Beijing City with the He Family’s Third Son, her life has really taken off. I’ve seen her several times at the meat processing plant buying meat, and get this—you haven’t seen it, but she’s even started wearing dresses when she goes out. I even asked her about it, and she said her son bought it for her."

"Gao Cuiyun is so clever. With the three He sons around, any one of them could provide her with food and clothes in the future, and she’d live comfortably. No wonder she refuses to leave the He family and remarry."

When the villagers gathered, especially the women, there was always something to gossip about, some topic of the day. They’d say anything and everything, but of course, there were also those who couldn’t stand to listen.

"You gossips should just mind your own business. Stop worrying so much about other people’s families," said Shitou’s mother.

"Oh, come on, Shitou’s mother, we’re just talking. We don’t mean anything by it. But your Shitou is also in Beijing City doing business with the He Family’s Third Son. He must have earned a lot of money, right? Hasn’t he sent any back to you?"

Shitou’s mother had nothing nice to say in return. "How much my son earns is none of your business."

"Shitou’s mother, don’t be like that. I was just thinking of introducing your Shitou to someone. Your Shitou isn’t getting any younger, is he? If you wait too much longer, what good girl will be willing to marry him? I actually have a candidate in mind. It’s my niece from my side of the family. She’s been divorced, sure, but she doesn’t have any kids. She’d be a good match for your Shitou, don’t you think?"