Chapter 2

Xue Xiang walked out of the room and into the main hall, pushing open the small ventilation window on the left wall to survey the entire house. This was an independent courtyard allocated to the No. 1 leader in 1957, within the military district compound. The main house had four rooms and a hall, with a spacious courtyard directly opposite the main hall. In the center of the courtyard were two flower beds placed side by side, with two rows of white birch trees standing straight two meters apart. The flowers and plants in the flower beds, neglected, had long since withered, while wild grass and flowers thrived, growing lush and dense, as if reflecting the state of the world. On the left side of the courtyard was a covered walkway leading directly to the main hall, and on the right was a row of side rooms. Apart from the kitchen, the other side rooms were either used for storing miscellaneous items or had empty beds that no one slept in. Looking at this familiar yet unfamiliar compound, Xue Xiang felt a myriad of emotions. This was the only property the Xue family had left after the great turmoil.

In 1967, the veterans from the compound stormed the military district, and all the valuable items in this house were looted. Even the family's helper, Aunt Xu, was sent back to her hometown in Hebei. In 1970, his uncle was isolated for review and labor reform. The only thing to be grateful for was that, unlike the residences of other leaders who were sent down, this small courtyard was not sealed by the Revolutionary Committee. Later, Xue Xiang learned from his uncle that during the rectification movement in the cave dwellings in 1941, Xue Anyuan had saved the life of the district Revolutionary Committee chairman, Zhang Guangzhu. When Xue Anyuan was reinstated, he never showed gratitude for this, still feeling resentful: "Why did I save such a person back then!"

Xue Xiang turned on the incandescent light in the main hall and walked to the bedroom opposite his room, where Xiao Wan and Xiao Shi slept. After their parents passed away, Xiao Shi, who had left her mother's embrace, began sleeping with her sister. Xue Xiang gently pushed open the door and tenderly gazed at the two young faces on the bed. Xiao Wan had the typical student haircut of the era, with neat bangs covering her forehead. Her nose was slightly wrinkled, and her little mouth was pursed, tightly gripping the edge of the quilt, perhaps having a nightmare. Seeing Xiao Wan's uneasy face, Xue Xiang felt a deep sense of guilt. At the age of 12, Xiao Wan had already understood the situation. After crying once, she silently took on the household chores, washing clothes and cooking for her four siblings while attending school. As for himself, he had been misbehaving all the time, never taking any responsibility for the family.

Xiao Shi, at 5 years old, had a rosy, peaceful face. Being so young, the loss of her parents two years ago had not left a deep scar in her heart, which brought Xue Xiang some comfort. He gently pulled the quilt from Xiao Wan's hand, carefully placed her arm under the quilt, and pressed the edges of the quilt firmly. He then quietly left the room, closing the door slowly. In the room to the left of the two sisters, Xiao Yi was sleeping. Opening the door, he saw that the bedside lamp was still on. From a distance, Xiao Yi was sleeping soundly, softly snoring, her head with a bobbed hairstyle buried in a thick cotton pillow. Xue Xiang did not intend to turn off the lamp, knowing it was a way for children to combat their fear of the dark. He gently closed the door.

Leaving the main hall and entering the courtyard, he saw a pressure tank washing pool five meters from the kitchen. Although this old-style water-drawing device was not as modern as a tap, it was just as effective. Xue Xiang saw a basin full of clothes in the washing pool. He knew these clothes were usually washed by Xiao Wan early in the morning. Since he had come to this world, he would not let his sister suffer any longer.

Xue Xiang poured the clothes into the washing pool, filled a basin with water, and immersed a small, faded military uniform in the water, sprinkling soap powder and rubbing it vigorously. It was early spring, and the night was very cold, but Xue Xiang was sweating profusely. After three hours, he looked at the clothes hanging on the clothesline, satisfied with his work.

After tidying up the clothes, he entered the kitchen and checked the rice bin and the vegetable basket. The rice bin was almost empty, and the bamboo basket contained a few white radishes. Xue Xiang took out a few large radishes from the basket, shook it over the table to remove the debris, and decided to go buy vegetables.

Readers might wonder why Xue Xiang was buying vegetables at three or four in the morning. At that time, the supply of vegetables in winter and early spring was very tight. Ordinary citizens would queue up at the market at two or three in the morning. Many people, unable to bear the cold, used stones, vegetable baskets (with stones inside), and small stools to hold their places, going home to sleep and returning at four or five in the morning to continue queuing. This situation is hard to imagine today.

Xue Xiang found the hidden compartment where the tickets were stored, opened it, and saw various tickets: grain tickets, oil tickets, meat tickets, sugar tickets, tofu tickets, and their subsidiary tickets. At that time, tickets were more important than money, used to purchase limited quantities of eggs, fish, and other scarce foods. Even with money, one could not buy these items without tickets. Fortunately, after the introduction of "的确良" (a type of synthetic fabric) last year, various cloth tickets gradually disappeared from daily life.

Xue Xiang took some tickets from the compartment and put them in the large pocket of his military uniform. He put on a mink military cap and a white fox fur scarf, and then donned his uncle's general's overcoat. The overcoat, a deep brown, was thick and soft. At that time, both young people and children liked to wear military uniforms, which were fashionable. In 1955, when the military was granted ranks, officers above the rank of major were given very fine uniforms. Winter uniforms were made of wool and gabardine, and summer uniforms were made of silk. The generals' uniforms were even more exquisite, with wool uniforms of a higher grade than those of majors. They were also given mink caps and wool overcoats. Thus, various military uniforms became fashionable, and even the calf-high leather boots with elastic cuffs, known as "general and major boots," became highly sought after. The fox fur scarf was also a trophy from his uncle's campaign in the northeast, soft and warm, providing excellent insulation.

Xue Xiang rode his "Forever" manganese steel bicycle, pedaling quickly, the bike whizzing through the cold wind. In about ten minutes, he arrived at the market entrance. The dark red gate, with most of its paint peeling off, stood there like a face that had fallen on hard times. Above the wide gate was a long banner, with the words "The great leader's thoughts guide us forward" written in red ink, the large characters glowing in the dim streetlights.

In front of the two-meter-wide gate, eight queues, each about ten meters long, had already formed, with small stools and bricks placed between people to hold their places. Most of the people queuing were elderly, women, and children, with no young men or strong adults in sight.

The early risers were listless, some whispering, some dozing on small stools, and some sleeping against the wall. Xue Xiang pushed his bike to the end of the second queue, parked it, hung the vegetable basket on the handlebars, and straddled the bike, one leg on the ground and the other on the crossbar. He took out a pack of "Jade" cigarettes from his overcoat pocket, lit one with a red military lighter, and smoked contentedly. At that time, a pack of "Jade" cost 90 cents, equivalent to two days' labor for a strong man in the countryside. The young Xue Xiang usually couldn't afford "Jade" and usually carried two packs of cigarettes, one for socializing and one for personal use. This pack of "Jade" fell into Xue Xiang's hands, and he didn't care if it was for guests; he started smoking.

Xue Xiang took a deep puff, the rich tobacco aroma masking the stench from a nearby garbage truck. After finishing the cigarette, a strong drowsiness overcame him. He got off the bike, parked it, found a sheltered spot by the wall, and sat down, using two bricks as a cushion. He pulled up his collar to cover his face, drew his legs up to his chest, and rested his head in his folded arms, soon falling asleep.

He didn't know how long he had slept when the noise woke him up. He looked at his "Pearl"梅花 watch; it was already 5:30. He rubbed his eyes, brushed off the dust, and walked toward the queue where he had parked his bike. After a few steps, he stopped, his eyes wide open, fixed on something he couldn't look away from.

A young woman was standing by his bike, a green vegetable basket on the back seat. She stood there like a lily in the morning sun, fresh and elegant. She had long, black, shiny hair, not tied into the popular braids but loosely bound with a red ribbon at the back. She wore a faded military green uniform, with white hemp patches in the shape of sunflowers on the cuffs and shoulders. Despite the worn-out uniform, she looked graceful and poised, her slender figure accentuated by the tight, narrow cut of the uniform, making her appear even more elegant and charming. She wore dark black trousers with wide cuffs, which looked like they had been cut from a longer pair. It was clear that the trousers did not belong to her, but they hung straight, covering her black-soled white rubber shoes. The simple trousers, paired with her tall figure, resembled modern pencil pants, making her legs look long and straight, elegant and refined.

Her face was delicate, not the typical sharp chin of most women, but a smooth curve at the jawline. Her large, clear eyes sparkled, her nose was delicate, and her lips were full and red, making her look like a fuller-figured version of Lin Zhi-ling.

Xue Xiang stared at the young woman for a long time. Finally, she noticed his gaze, stomped her foot in anger, and turned her face away. As she turned, her full, firm buttocks, breaking free from the loose trousers, drew a stunning curve, almost making Xue Xiang bleed from his nose.

Xue Xiang felt embarrassed when he realized she had noticed his gaze. Neither the Xue Xiang from his previous life nor the young Xue Xiang had much experience with girls, let alone dating. The Xue Xiang from his previous life was somewhat introverted and shy, a typical homebody. The young Xue Xiang, though somewhat spoiled, was generous and outgoing, associating with energetic young men who often got into fights, with no experience in dating girls.

Xue Xiang continued toward his bike. Liu Ying'er was getting anxious: "What's wrong with this guy?" She had encountered small-time thugs before, but they were usually in secluded places. This was the first time she had met such a bold one. Seeing his high-ranking cadre attire, she concluded he must be a gang leader. At the time, gang members often dressed like this, and they were almost synonymous with thugs in the eyes of ordinary people, so it was no wonder Liu Ying'er misunderstood.

As Xue Xiang approached the bike, he reached for the handlebars. Liu Ying'er was startled and said, "Don't come any closer, or I'll call for help." She tightened her grip on the basket and took a step back, her voice trembling. Her warning sounded like a nightingale's song to Xue Xiang, making him feel as if he had eaten a life-giving fruit, his pores opening up.

"Comrade, this is my bike," Xue Xiang scratched his head, blushing.

Liu Ying'er didn't respond, took the basket off the back seat, wiped the spot where it had been, and took another step back.

Feeling annoyed at being mistaken for a thug, Xue Xiang ignored her, got on the bike, and resumed the pose he had taken while queuing, his long leg shaking.

Xue Xiang took out a cigarette with his right hand, flicked the bottom of the pack with his index finger, and a cigarette shot out, flying straight to his face. He opened his mouth and caught the cigarette precisely. This subconscious action was so cool, as if he had practiced it a thousand times. Xue Xiang did it reflexively. He wondered why he hadn't done this last night, but then he realized that attracting beautiful women's attention was an instinct for all men, giving himself a perfect explanation.

Liu Ying'er was indeed attracted, thinking, "How many cigarettes must he smoke to be this good? He's young, but he's a real smoker." Fortunately, Xue Xiang couldn't hear her thoughts, or he would have been furious, thinking she was throwing her flirtatious glances to a blind man.

Halfway through the cigarette, the queue in front of him surged backward as the market gates opened. Xue Xiang steadied the bike, straddling it, ready to hold his ground.

The red gates creaked as they were pushed open, and the crowd surged in, almost breaking the gates. The state-owned market staff, used to this scene, quickly arranged the food and vegetables on the counters at the eight windows. The market was uniquely designed; after the gates opened, there was a wall half a meter ahead, with eight wide windows about a meter high cut into it. The windows were connected by thick, transparent glass, allowing a clear view of the shelves inside. Each window had three staff members responsible for tickets, money, and goods, making the process much faster.

The queue in front of Xue Xiang was pushed back by the opening gates, and the queue behind surged forward. Liu Ying'er, pushed and jostled, turned to see that the middle-aged woman behind her had been replaced by a young man in his late teens. He wore a yellow military uniform loosely, with yellow teeth and a face full of scars, a pea-sized tumor on his left cheek, looking repulsive. His eyes were fixed on Liu Ying'er's round buttocks, drooling.

Ps: Here, I would like to thank Mr. Du Liang for some of the descriptions of military uniforms, and also for the inspiration from "Blood Red Romance." Thank you!