Chapter 119

Guo Wei called me several times in a row to urge me to return to the township. My original plan to return to the township government on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year finally "passed away" amidst his loud shouting. Almost everyone expressed surprise at my returning to the township; everyone knew that government departments didn't start work until the eighth. Besides, in the remote Suxi Township, the biggest deal was just drinking and playing cards during the day and sleeping with one's wife at night; the sky wouldn't fall, and no one would die.

Uncle instructed me over the phone that after returning, I must first visit the homes of Secretary Guan and County Magistrate Liu, firstly to convey his regards on his behalf, and secondly to show that I, a small cadre, am a person who knows etiquette.

I told Xue Bing the news, and she swept away the gloom of the past few days, enthusiastically dragging me to the street to buy gifts for the New Year visits. Xue Bing hadn't been happy during the few days she spent in Hengyue City for the New Year; first, Meizhu had made her feel uncomfortable, and for the following days, I was out visiting people alone. According to her, I didn't want her to show her face because I must have had ulterior motives. Whenever she was being charming in bed and getting me all worked up, she would quickly cast a layer of frost over the atmosphere, leaving me frustrated and miserable.

A woman's secret weapon is sleeping with her back to the man! Xue Bing played this card to the fullest. After all, she was a woman from the countryside, influenced by thousands of years of rural gender ideology; the most direct and effective way for a woman to deal with a man is to keep him at a distance.

My mother also strongly urged me to buy gifts, saying there were many rules in the countryside and that even the highest official couldn't be impolite.

After half a day, we had bought over a dozen large and small bags, ranging from cigarettes and alcohol to candies, all piled up to fill half the floor.

I was worried, my brows furrowed. Buying things wasn't hard, but taking them back was. It was a half-day journey from Hengyue City to Chunshan County, and another few hours from Chunshan County to Suxi Township. With so many things and just our two pairs of hands, we couldn't possibly carry them back.

Xue Bing checked the gifts against her list, from her parents to her cousin Yue Bai, from relatives to aunts and uncles—not one could be missing.

Finally, she realized a gift for Zhao Yu'er was missing, saying she had promised to buy the child a toy and had to buy it no matter what.

I deliberately ignored her, pretending not to hear.

Seeing my reluctance, she left me and went out alone.

The New Year gifts were ready, but bringing them back became the top priority.

In the evening, Huang Weiwei called, saying she wanted to visit Chunshan County and asked if I wanted to go with her.

I was just worrying about how to get the gifts back, so I readily agreed: "I have another person with me, is that okay?"

Huang Weiwei pondered for a moment and asked, "A man or a woman?"

I blurted out, "A beauty."

She went silent and hung up, leaving me completely confused. I wanted to call back and ask what she meant, but I was afraid of being intrusive. A woman's heart is like a shifting cloud; who knows what she's thinking?

By evening, Huang Qishan called to tell me that Town Mayor Deng Hanyu of Chengguan Town was in Hengyue City and would be returning to Chunshan early the next morning. He then happily told me, "Weiwei wants to come to Chunshan to play, and I'm afraid she won't remember the way, so I wanted to ask Deng Hanyu to borrow a car to pick her up. I just heard you were also returning to the township."

It seemed Huang Weiwei had called Huang Qishan. But what I didn't understand was, Huang Weiwei had her own car, so why did she need Huang Qishan to pick her up?

I generally don't like to think about these complicated problems. Since he said Deng Hanyu was in the city, and given our friendship as roommates at the Party School, calling him wouldn't hurt. So I dialed Deng Hanyu's number. As soon as it connected, the sound of music and celebration came through, and Deng Hanyu stammered, "Is this Chen Feng? Secretary Huang told me; I'll come pick you up tomorrow morning."

I gave him my home address and instructed him not to turn off his phone, so I wouldn't be unable to find him later. Deng Hanyu was a young and promising mayor, and a descendant of an official family; it was common for such people to forget about commoners like us later on.

With the ride back to the township settled, a heavy stone fell from my heart. I reached back, pulled Xue Bing over, and kissed her on her little face.

Xue Bing nestled against me like a little lamb and said softly, "Let's go to my parents' house first, okay?"

I smiled and said, "Should I go as a son-in-law or as a friend?"

Xue Bing rolled her eyes at me and said, "Whatever you want."

I said, "That can't be decided randomly. If I go as a son-in-law, I'm afraid these few things won't be enough."

Xue Bing smiled and said, "If it's not enough, go buy more."

I shook my head and said, "Let's wait until we get to Chunshan. Anyway, whatever you can buy in Hengyue City, you can buy in Chunshan."

Xue Bing glared and said, "How can it be the same?"

"Why wouldn't it be the same?"

"Is buying Beijing roast duck in Hengyue City the same as buying it in Beijing?"

I looked at her, not understanding.

"You're so silly. Even for tea oil from Chunshan County, the meaning is different if you buy it in Hengyue City versus buying it in Chunshan County," she pointed out. "Things are only precious when they are away from home. Just like people; there's always a layer of paper between city people and us country folk."

I had nothing to say.

Because we had to get up early the next morning, we went to bed early under my mother's urging.

Lying in the warm quilt, holding a woman full of temptation, the desire in a man's heart began to swell bit by bit. I stubbed out my cigarette, reached out to lift Xue Bing's head, and let her lean obediently against my chest.

I leaned close to her ear and said, "Wife, I'm in the mood."

She smiled shyly and said, "Is there any day you're not?"

I said seriously, "I've been in the mood these past few days, but you've always given me your back. Do you want to be the death of your husband?"

"Who told you to leave me at home every day? I might as well have stayed home for the New Year; I could go out and visit people every day." She still had the mindset of a little girl; visiting people was hard work, the food wasn't good, and you couldn't say the wrong thing. Everyone's hope for the year was to hear a few auspicious words during the New Year visits; who would want to hear unlucky words during the holiday?

I said helplessly, "It's not that I want to leave you at home, but there are some things you aren't ready to be exposed to yet."

She raised her head, stared into my eyes, and said, "If you treat me as your wife, what can't I be exposed to? Your business is my business; can we even be separated?"

I kissed her forehead apologetically and comforted her, "Whoever dares to say you aren't my wife, I'll fight them."

She giggled, pinched my chest with her fingers, and squeezed hard. A wave of soreness and numbness immediately spread through my whole body, and my blood boiled instantly. Ignoring everything else, I turned over and pinned her underneath me.

She pushed me away nervously and said, "What's the rush? I'm not ready yet."

I said impatiently, "Wife, I'm going crazy with urgency, and you say it's not urgent? You're a well-fed person who doesn't know the hunger of the starving."

She twisted me hard and said, "Nonsense. How did I become a well-fed person? You stinky men only know how to talk nonsense."

I had no choice but to climb down, lie beside her, hold her gently, and kiss her eyes and lips.

She twisted her body and giggled, "Don't mess around."

The corner of the quilt was lifted, and a chill hit our faces. Goosebumps immediately rose on her plump, fair skin. I quickly pulled the quilt over to wrap her up tightly. Her soft, smooth body pressed closely against mine. Reaching out to touch her, I felt the moisture and smoothness, and my heart trembled instantly. I could no longer care about her fragility; I wanted to swallow her whole and caress her carefully in my heart.