Chapter 37: Her Role Switch Is a Bit Fast

She was ruthless and said little; Chen Yixue finished speaking, stood up, and headed for the bedroom without caring about Zhou Zhifeng's reaction.

Zhou Zhifeng didn't even dare to breathe; only after she closed the bedroom door did they whisper softly, "One more disobedient than the last…".

"Fine, I'll take that as your agreement."

Qiao Qiao mimicked her sister's manner, said coldly, and also returned to the room.

In fact, the word "happy" alone no longer sufficed to describe her mood at that moment.

When night fell and everything grew quiet, she fluttered into her sister's room like a joyful little bird.

Chen Yixue was at that moment wearing a black nightdress, removing a hairpin in front of the mirror; hearing the commotion, she didn't even turn her head and said, "Don't let any mosquitoes in."

"Ah."

Qiao Qiao answered with a nod, closed the bedroom door behind her, and darted to her sister's side, hand on her shoulder, "Sis, you've achieved a great feat tonight!"

"Throughout the whole family, I respect you the most."

"Speak quickly, we still have rehearsal tomorrow morning."

Chen Yixue set the hairpin down, letting a strand of black hair fall over her moon‑shy, flower‑blushing face, which oddly added a touch of beauty compared to usual.

"I want to ask you something: why does talking to Mom that way work for you, but when I try to imitate you it doesn't?"

Qiao Qiao, while tidying her sister's slightly disheveled hair after the hairpin removal, asked earnestly.

"If you've raised the whole family alone for years, she'll be afraid of you too."

Chen Yixue placed the jade hairpin into the vanity box and said lightly.

"Then haven't I also gotten into Yanda?"

Qiao Qiao replied with a hint of dissent, of course that dissent was aimed at their mother, not at her sister.

"You still don't understand."

Chen Yixue patiently explained, "Our mother is essentially a housewife; can she grasp the significance of Yanda? Her worldview is formed in the market alleys and side streets."

"My temperament, half of it was forced out by her. Since childhood I've found reasoning with her useless."

Qiao Qiao understood.

"Still, you have wisdom."

Qiao Qiao massaged Chen Yixue's shoulder, leaned close to her face and said, "Let me give you a massage, relax, relax."

"Just help me tidy up the sheet music."

Chen Yixue said lazily, "I've been tired all day, too lazy to move."

"Alright, no problem."

Qiao Qiao deftly organized the music sheets for her.

"Huh?"

When she saw the title 'On the Fields of Hope' written on the staff, Qiao Qiao couldn't help but feel delighted and laughed.

In another bedroom, Chen Shi was also very pleased.

Tomorrow they would meet the author of the article 'High Mountain's Flower Crown', and most importantly the person was coming to visit as a Prospective Son-in-law.

What could excite a literature lover more? Chen Shi lay on the desk, drawing on his whole life's literary cultivation to compose modern poetry, hoping to get Xu Yuexin's guidance tomorrow.

…

…

Two days later, Xu Yuexin lifted the meeting gifts and set off for the Chen Family.

The meeting gifts were varied, including the usual cigarettes, alcohol, tea, as well as hazelnuts, walnuts, lion's‑mane mushrooms and other mountain produce.

These were all Northeast mountain goods that Xu Yuexin bought from a local specialty shop, pure natural and unprocessed.

Qiao Qiao's home is in Chaoyang East Third Ring, the future eastern CBD of Jing.

At present, the area is still an industrial zone, centered on the North China Agricultural Machinery Plant and BAIC, forming a massive factory cluster.

A taxi carried Xu Yuexin, weaving between factories belching white smoke, with workers commuting visible everywhere outside the window.

On bicycle seats, young faces full of vigor, hair slicked back and shirts on, chatted and laughed with co‑workers; the whole street pulsed with upward energy.

In 1979, the state announced the end of a wage‑freeze policy that had lasted over a decade, raising salaries for cadres and workers, and decided to break egalitarianism, implement labor‑based distribution, and restore piece‑rate wages and bonus systems.

People saw hope for a better life, each brimming with anticipation and longing for the future.

The taxi threaded through crowds, winding through the roads between factories, and finally entered the residential area for families of workers.

Xu Yuexin gave the driver 3.6 yuan for the fare, retrieved the meeting gifts from the trunk, and walked briskly toward Qiao Qiao's home.

Not far away, he saw Qiao Qiao standing under the apartment building, looking on and waiting.

Today Qiao Qiao wore a short‑sleeved shirt and knee‑length shorts, a home‑girl outfit that looked youthful and bright.

"Qiao Qiao."

"Hey!"

Xu Yuexin called out, and Qiao Qiao immediately ran over joyfully. However, when she saw the gifts Xu Yuexin was holding, she became a bit displeased.

"Why buy such expensive things?"

"These are all our money."

Qiao Qiao complained with a pained face, "Spending an extra cent means we'll have a cent less when we get married."

"A new son‑in‑law coming to visit, it's a must."

Xu Yuexin smiled reassuringly, feeling very pleased.

He hadn't even met the parents yet, but was already considering matters from the perspective of his future small family.

The role reversal is so ahead of schedule! Qiao Qiao helped him lift a bag of mountain goods, and the two went up to the residential building together.

The residential building where the Chen Family lives is denser than the Faculty Building where Xu Yuexin lives, because the large number of factory workers requires more compact housing.

When they reached the fifth floor, Qiao Qiao pushed open a half‑closed door and said, "Look, who's here?"

In the living room, Chen Shi was hunched over the table, feverishly writing; hearing a voice, he lifted his head, set down his brush, and warmly greeted, "Xiao Xu, welcome, welcome, our whole family has been looking forward to your coming."

"Uncle, hello. Long time no see, you've gotten plump."

Xu Yuexin set down the mountain goods, smiled, and greeted Chen Shi.

These days, calling someone plump is definitely a universal compliment.

"Ha, maybe I've been eating well lately."

As expected, Chen Shi said cheerfully, "Sit down quickly, have a glass of water."

"I usually like to write a bit, and now that I've met you, a renowned writer, I'll have to consult you later…"

Chen Shi's words did not hide his admiration at all, because meeting his idol made him especially excited.

"I'm humbled, truly humbled."

Xu Yuexin, hand holding a teacup, said modestly.

As Chen Shi poured tea, the door of a bedroom at the back opened first, and Chen Yixue stepped out gracefully.

"Hello Xu Yuexin, I was just practicing the song you wrote."

Chen Yixue walked forward and greeted him warmly.

She, like Chen Qiaoqiao, dresses in a homey style, yet with a perfect figure her elegant aura remains unmistakable.

"How's the rehearsal going?"

Xu Yuexin asked concernedly.

"The result is great, just waiting for the July performance."

Chen Yixue smiled faintly, confidence in her eyes, "In the end, it still relies on the good songs you wrote."

"Not at all. Good songs also need an outstanding singer like you to perform them…"

While the two talked, a door‑opening sound came from the kitchen.

"Xiao Xu, you're here."

Zhou Zhifeng, apron tied, stood at the kitchen doorway and greeted, her smile a little forced.

"Hmm, aunt, hello."

Xu Yuexin looked over and greeted her.

"You keep chatting, I'll go pick vegetables."

As soon as Zhou Zhifeng finished speaking, she darted back into the kitchen, seeming not to want to say more.

That's fine, so no one feels awkward.

Xu Yuexin thought, and at that moment Chen Shi was already enthusiastically discussing a recent famous novel with him.

"These two issues of People's Literature are especially brilliant. The piece you wrote, 'The Wreath Under High Mountain,' is endlessly enjoyable."

"Lately, everyone at our office has been discussing it during work."

Chen Shi, holding his teacup, praised with relish, "Xiao Xu, you are a rising star in our nation's literary circle."

"Uncle, you flatter me; I still have a long way to go."

"You're too modest. By the way, before writing that unforgettable novel, how many years have you been engaged in literary creation?"

In Chen Shi's imagination, an author capable of such a potentially classic work must have abundant creative experience.

"At least seven or eight years of writing age, right?" before Xu Yuexin could answer, Chen Qiaoqiao interjected, "Dad, you're overthinking; this is Brother Xu's first literary work."

"What? First work?" Chen Shi was stunned, his gaze shifting to Xu Yuexin, "Xiao Xu, you really haven't written a book before?"

"Yes, just as Qiao Qiao said, 'High Mountain' is my first foray into creation."

"At that time I quit the coal mine and returned home, spending half a month to write this novel."

Under his future father‑in‑law's shocked gaze, Xu Yuexin calmly replied.

(End of chapter)