AEAMBS 02

Chapter 2 

Xia Wanhui was a man of action — there was no way he’d wait until tomorrow for Xia Shao to go.

After locking up their room, the siblings asked the front desk clerk for directions and went straight to the address written in the letter.

Jiangcheng was nestled in the Changbai Mountain range, rich in both forest and mineral resources. On the way in, Xia Wanhui had already seen many tall chimneys. Once they entered the bustling streets, the city was far livelier than their hometown.

And this was already after working hours — people had gone home to eat. During rush hour, the streets would be even more crowded.

“Do you think we’ll really find him? What if they look down on us?”

It wasn’t an idle worry. Back then, shops and state-run restaurants were considered prime workplaces. The pay wasn’t high, but your position determined what kind of goods you could get your hands on — and even whether you’d get a heaping spoonful or a flat one in the cafeteria.

So the people working in those places tended to be proud and aloof, completely different from the “customers are always right” attitude that would come years later.

(Of course, once the layoffs of the ’90s hit, those units were among the first to collapse.)

But Xia Shao, who’d worked away from home for four years, had seen all kinds of faces — she wasn’t easily intimidated.

The vegetable and provisions store was already closed when they arrived. A middle-aged woman was struggling to fit wooden boards over the glass windows, so Xia Shao quickly stepped forward to help hold one side.

The woman’s burden lightened, and she turned to thank her — only to find that her helper was a rather beautiful young woman.

Xia Shao smiled it off, and together they slotted the board into the grooves outside the window.

Seeing this, Xia Wanhui hurried to help. “Auntie, you take a rest — I’ll do it.”

The woman’s hands were finally free. She rubbed her right shoulder and sighed, “Don’t know if I caught a chill, this arm’s been aching for days — can’t even lift it to comb my hair.” Then she looked the pair over. “You two sound like you’re from the Central Plains?”

Xia Shao nodded. “We came for a marriage match.”

That was a perfectly reasonable explanation. Since the late Qing dynasty, many had come to the Northeast to make a living. At its peak, eighty to ninety percent of the local population were young men — not unlike Shenzhen in the 1990s.

With that many bachelors, there were never enough local girls to marry.

So after settling down, many men would return to their hometowns to find a wife and bring her back to the Northeast.

The woman didn’t doubt her story, though she sighed with a hint of pity for such a pretty girl. “Your brother’s lucky — found himself quite the beauty.”

Xia Shao just smiled. Once the window was secured, she dusted off her hands. “Auntie, could I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.”

“Do you happen to know Li Changshun? He works here at the store.”

“Li the accountant? Of course I know him.” The woman nodded, but then suddenly froze.

Her eyes widened as she looked at Xia Wanhui. “So you’re the one here for the match? It’s rare for a man to come all the way here and still pick a girl from his old hometown. Childhood betrothal, maybe?”

Just a moment ago, she’d assumed they were talking about Xia Shao — now that she heard the name Li Changshun, she’d somehow switched the subject to Xia Wanhui.

Before Xia Wanhui could react, Xia Shao already had her suspicions. She didn’t deny it. “Auntie, could you tell me about his family? I remember he had a son — is he married? What kind of person is he?”

The woman, liking Xia Shao’s polite manner and remembering her help, was more than willing to chat.

“Married,” she said. “Got hitched the second year they came to the Northeast — got two kids now.”

“What? Li Baosheng’s married?!” Xia Wanhui’s expression changed instantly.

What did it matter whether the brother-in-law was married? They weren’t going to live together anyway…

But the woman was taken aback by his reaction. Seeing that Xia Shao looked calm, she continued, a little enviously, “Li the accountant’s capable, and he’s got his boy helping out here at the store. The lad’s smooth-tongued too — even caught the eye of the manager’s daughter. Not like my own boy — knows nothing but work and food…”

Whatever else she said, Xia Wanhui no longer heard it. If Xia Shao hadn’t held him back, he might’ve exploded right there.

No wonder the Lis had gone silent after moving north. No wonder their letters went unanswered and Tian Cuifen’s excuses were so flimsy — turns out Li Baosheng had already married!

Didn’t want to marry? Fine, just say so. No one was forcing them. But to drag it out like this—what was that supposed to mean?

“Don’t you dare tell your sister-in-law,” Li Changshun warned later that evening. “If she finds out, do you still want a job or not?”

Li Laidi instantly shut her mouth.

Her sister-in-law wasn’t just anyone — she was the daughter of the store manager, the only child of Manager Cheng. Cheng had raised her like a son, gave her an education, got her a job. When the Lis proposed, they’d had to promise that their second child would take the Cheng surname before he agreed to the marriage.

Now Laidi was nearly eighteen, and her father — the deputy manager — was about to retire. Whether she got a job or whether her father got promoted all depended on Manager Cheng’s goodwill.

The whole family tiptoed around that daughter-in-law. No one could afford a scandal about Baosheng’s old engagement.

Meanwhile, outside, the sky was dark.

“‘Relatives from the Central Plains came,’” said a pregnant woman standing at the Li family’s door, flashlight in hand.

It was none other than Cheng Wenhua — Li Baosheng’s wife.

Hearing the commotion, Tian Cuifen hurried out to fuss over her. “How could Baosheng let you come out alone this late? You’re five, six months along — what if you fall?”

Better to scold her son first — that always worked.

Sure enough, Wenhua immediately spoke up for him. “He couldn’t come. Some relatives from the Central Plains just arrived — he’s busy.”

“Relatives?” Tian Cuifen blinked. “Who?”

They hadn’t written home in years, precisely to avoid poor relations showing up uninvited. So who could it be now?

“Brother and sister, surname Xia,” Wenhua said.

Xia?!

The name struck them like thunder. Everyone in the room froze — Tian Cuifen, Li Laidi, even Li Changshun himself.

Back on the street, Xia Wanhui’s face was stormy. As soon as they’d said goodbye to the woman, he was marching toward the Lis’ address.

“No way — we’re demanding an explanation! It was their family who pushed for this match. They come here and get married without a word? What kind of people are they?”

As the betrayed party, Xia Shao was surprisingly calm.

Li Baosheng wasn’t going to stay single forever. If he didn’t want her, fine — she wasn’t shocked he’d married someone else.

She’d never liked that mama’s boy anyway. Better to think how to use this situation to her advantage.

She patted her brother’s back. “Don’t be mad. Anger hurts the body, and no one can be angry on your behalf.”

“You’re not mad? After what they did?”

“It’s better to know now than later, isn’t it? Like the saying goes — life’s hard enough; what’s a little green on your head?”

“Pfft!”

Wanhui almost choked. Was his sister out of her mind?

Just then, laughter came from nearby.

Two young men were leaning against a wall, smoking.

The taller one could’ve been a model — lean but broad-shouldered, with a sharp, striking profile under the dim light spilling from nearby windows.

Xia Shao glanced away — then couldn’t resist looking again.

The shorter man whistled. “Hey, I’m the one laughing — why’re you staring at him? Don’t tell me you fancy him?”

Most girls would’ve blushed and glared.

Instead, Xia Shao turned her head fully, looked him up and down, and said matter-of-factly, “He’s indeed better-looking than you.”

If this were modern times, she might’ve asked for his WeChat, too.

Her poise threw them both off. Even the tall one — who’d been looking bored — lifted his eyes for a brief glance.

His irises were dark, his gaze cool and distant. Just one look, and he turned away again.

Xia Shao didn’t think much of it and walked off with her brother.

Behind them, the short one was still spluttering.

“She said you’re better-looking than me! Ji Bei, she actually said that to my face!”

“Just telling the truth,” said Chen Ji Bei flatly, not even looking up.

“You too?! What happened to brotherly loyalty?”

No response. Ji Bei stubbed out his cigarette. “It’s late. I’m heading home.”

Back at the Li household, dinner was over — wild celery buns, made from greens Tian Cuifen and Laidi had picked and chopped together. They’d even sent a plate to Baosheng’s place.

As Laidi clattered dishes into the cupboard, she grumbled, “Haven’t kept in touch for years, and now they send their girl all this way? Couldn’t find anyone to marry back home?”

“Who’re you throwing a fit for?” Tian Cuifen snapped.

Laidi quieted her movements but muttered, “You shouldn’t have let them stay. Should’ve sent them packing. Why feed them? My brother’s married — they’ve got nothing to do with us anymore.”