Bai Fumie in the 70’s Chapter 5:

Zhao Lanxiang was surprised by the captain’s serious tone, leaving her momentarily speechless.

Seeing the uncertainty in Zhao Lanxiang’s eyes, Li Dali vaguely said, “That family doesn’t hold a good reputation. It’s not a safe place for you. Let me arrange another place for you.”

Zhao Lanxiang clearly caught the disdain in Li Dali’s voice. She was aware that her partner’s ancestors had been landlords, making life for his family in the 1960s and 1970s extremely challenging. The upright and principled captain surely had his reasons for looking down on the He family.

She responded with a polite decline, “I wouldn’t want to burden you…”

But Li Dali cut her off, saying, “Anywhere in the brigade is open for discussion, except that family. If you choose them, then you’re rejecting me as captain.”

His dark face bore a hard, unyielding expression, likely from years of leadership; it reminded Zhao Lanxiang of her grandfather. Emotions welled up within her.

Li Dali scratched his head, puzzled. How on earth did this young, well-educated woman know the likes of He Songbai?

And who in the village didn’t know He Songbai, the infamous second son of the He family?

With a name chosen by a master, courtesy of his landlord grandfather, He Songbai had a grand naming ceremony, with the entire village invited for a days-long feast. Many heaped praises on him, saying he would achieve greatness and honor his ancestors…

But fate played a different hand. When the revolution occurred, the He family’s wealth was confiscated. They plummeted from being the village’s richest family to its poorest. He Songbai never attended school or even learned to read. Wandering aimlessly, he earned a notorious reputation as a gangster throughout the region.

It’s not that no one came to find trouble for the family. One day, the He family was being harassed, and the next day, He Songbai smashed the heads of the troublemakers with a stone. His deadly force was frightening.

From that moment on, challenging He Songbai was a line few dared to cross.

What Li Dali found most concerning was that just the previous year, He Songbai had been sentenced to hard labor and a reformation period. This was the primary reason he strongly opposed Zhao Lanxiang staying with the He family.

Sending the delicate and highly educated Zhao Lanxiang to the He family’s home was like tossing a dainty lamb into a hungry tiger’s mouth. She wouldn’t be able to struggle before being devoured in one bite. 

Li Dali suggested, “How about this—you pack your belongings tonight and stay at my place. I’ll prepare a room just for you. My family is very easy to get along with...” 

Before he could finish, the young woman gently shook her head, smiling in polite refusal.

Zhao Lanxiang interjected, “The He family are distant relatives. My parents would feel more at ease knowing I’m with them.”

Her clear voice cut through the air, pure and tinkling like a jade bell. “He Songbai, born in 1957. His household consists of a grandmother and two sisters. The grandmother, Li Guangxu, was born in 1924 and has one son and two daughters. My mother is the daughter of Grandma Li’s cousin, making her He Songbai’s cousin.”

Zhao Lanxiang opened her mouth and spun this tale of nonsense effortlessly.

Apologizing silently to her mother, she thought, ‘Sorry, mom, you’ve got a new nephew now. I will help you get an excellent son-in-law someday.’

Li Dali’s eyes widened, trying to see if she was lying by observing her face. But her lucid eyes, gleaming and radiant, seemed almost hypnotic. Her arched brows and the playful twinkle in her eyes made it seem as if she could see through people. 

Flustered, Li Dali looked away, conceding, “Th-this, this is fine. If you say you’re related, then it’s settled.”

Given her claim of kinship, Li Dali felt it wasn’t his place to protest any further. After all, who was he to interfere in family matters?

And so, with a dash of wit, Zhao Lanxiang successfully fooled her way into securing her accommodation.

That afternoon, the educated youths gathered in a makeshift dormitory to play card games and chat. Zhao Lanxiang, taking a basket of untouched meat buns from the kitchen, wrapped them in a cloth. She had ingredients for twenty buns and some noodles. She, along with Zhou Jiazhen and a few other acquaintances, only ate ten buns and the noodles.

Walking to the far side of Mount Niujiao, she reached an irrigation ridge and found a cozy spot to sit.

Unwrapping the cloth, the freshly steamed buns released a mouthwatering aroma. Soon, a pair of straw-shoed feet appeared before her. Lifting her gaze, she found a man with a greedy, drooling face in front of her. Watching a little further back, was a woman who didn’t dare approach, but didn’t look like she wanted to leave either.

The woman, though only around twenty years old, had wrinkles on her face. Her fingers were swollen at the joints, evidence of a life filled with unyielding, rough labor.

She attempted to speak, her words coming out as incoherent mumbles. She merely watched, silent and intense, as Zhao Lanxiang savored a bun—biting into the soft white bread, mouth full with juicy meat filling, and relishing every bite with a happy face.

Envy shone in the woman’s eyes, but she only observed from a distance, occasionally cutting grass for her cow. The massive basket on her back, almost as big as she was, seemed to weigh heavily on her thin shoulders.

Amused, Zhao Lanxiang extended a bun towards the woman.

This woman was He Songbai’s eldest sister, He Songye. Without uttering a word, Zhao Lanxiang gestured invitingly.

'Come, join me.'

'There are too many meat buns. I can’t finish them on my own.'

Throughout her gestures, she maintained a friendly, upright posture, her lips curved in a warm smile.

A look of genuine surprise, followed by hesitation, appeared on He Songye’s face.

'I’m full,' Zhao Lanxiang gestured, 'These buns are fragrant and delicious. Try one.'

He Songye had lost her hearing as a child due to a high fever that damaged her auditory nerves, which consequently affected her ability to speak. After the death of their parents, she took upon herself the responsibility of raising her younger siblings. It could be said that she was the person He Songbai respected the most.

Having known He Songye for many years, Zhao Lanxiang understood her well. After marrying into the family, Zhao Lanxiang discovered that He Songye, her sister-in-law, was actually a foodie. Life had been hard on He Songye, depriving her of eating any good food.

With a smile, Zhao Lanxiang gently prodded, 'Want to try?'

Without waiting for an answer, she stuffed a bun into He Songye’s mouth. Overwhelmed by the unexpected gesture, He Songye’s eyes moistened as she tasted the bun. Her rough fingers touched the food in her mouth, and her intense hunger drove her to chew eagerly.

The savory pork filling released a burst of flavors, overwhelming her senses. Before she knew it, He Songye had finished the bun, experiencing a level of satisfaction she hadn’t felt in a long time. Yet, her hunger persisted.

To conserve the food supplies at home, she only brought some steamed corn buns today. Having worked extensively in the morning, she ate all her buns and by noon, she had to rely on just a bit of water to stave off her hunger.

He Songye, without realizing it, consumed one bun after another. Once she finished the bun in her hand, Zhao Lanxiang offered her another.

Eventually, the buns in Zhao Lanxiang’s bags were gone. She smiled and gestured, 'Sister He, can you do me a favor?'

'I’d like to stay at your place.'

...... 

In the evening, as He Songbai was collecting chicken manure to use as fertilizer for the family’s reserved land, he noticed his sister carrying a large bag. She headed to the vacant house and set down her belongings. Silently, she took out a broom and threw out the dusty chicken pen, the dustpan, the hoe, the plow...

He Songbai didn’t question his sister’s actions until she smiled and took out her newly quilted bed sheet. Only then did He Songbai look up, his unruly eyes darkening.

She had saved money for a long time to buy that quilt, intending it for her dowry. She had never been willing to use it before.

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Translator Note:

During the period of the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) in the People’s Republic of China, there are five groups that are considered enemies of the state:

Landlords, 

Rich Farmers, 

Counter-Revolutionaries, 

Bad-Influencers, 

Rightist. 

He Songbai’s grandfather was a landlord, so his family lost all their properties and the whole village looked down on his family and he received a lot of discrimination because of this. 

You can see Wikipedia on “Five Black Categories” for more details.

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