Chapter 28: Integration

Ruan Yuanjiang and the others had finally settled down in Qingshan Village.

Bai Fangqiu’s medical skills were beyond question. He came from a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and had studied abroad in his youth, learning Western medicine as well. His expertise could be considered a perfect fusion of both traditions. In a village like Qingshan, where medicine was scarce, he could forage herbs from the mountains and prepare treatments for the villagers himself. Many long-standing ailments among the locals were cured by him. If not for his complicated background, his reputation as a miracle doctor would have spread far and wide by now.

Even so, this didn’t lessen the villagers’ respect for him.

Everyone gets sick sooner or later, and when you’re sick, you can’t afford to offend the doctor. The villagers of Qingshan may not be well-educated, but they understood that much.

As for Huo Wu, his strength spoke for itself. He handled any task with ease. Though he was clumsy with farm work at first, it didn’t take long before he was more efficient than even the most seasoned farmers. Others would take the entire morning to harvest one plot of land; he could do one and a half without a single complaint.

Among the three, Ruan Yuanjiang arguably had the most unpleasant job. Fortunately, Huo Wu helped him clean out the livestock pens before heading off to work each day, making things a bit easier for him.

The women of the commune also prepared the animal feed, so Ruan Yuanjiang didn’t have to worry about that either. All in all, the three of them lived a relatively comfortable life in Qingshan Village.

There were no political denunciations, no campaigns, and their health had improved noticeably since arriving.

[TL: I love it when CN stories like this don’t discriminate against political prisoners. Everyone knows most of them are innocent.]

“Ruanruan, how much longer?”

Jiang Yiliu was holding a horse stance, balancing a half-full enamel basin of water on his head. His hands gripped the sides nervously, his entire body trembling. He gritted his teeth as he asked the two little girls sitting nearby on small stools.

Even in this freezing weather, sweat beaded on his forehead, proof of how exhausted he was.

“Three more minutes,” Ruanruan said after glancing at the small silver pocket watch in her hand. She hesitated slightly as she spoke.

Uncle Da Wu had told her not to cheat. She was supposed to watch Yiliu complete the full thirty minutes of horse stance. But her brother looked so tired... maybe it was okay to shave a little off the time.

Feeling a bit guilty, she said it was three minutes, even though the actual time left was six. She had simply halved it.

Her round, chubby cheeks and blinking eyes made her look adorably guilty, and she couldn’t meet Yiliu’s eyes. Standing behind her, Sini was tying her braids with little concern for her brother’s suffering.

Unfortunately, her hair-tying skills weren’t great—one braid ended up higher than the other, both crooked and messy. Luckily, Ruanruan didn’t mind and let her continue experimenting on her head.

Back then, wristwatches were a rarity. In Qingshan Village, not a single household owned one. Jiang Yiliu had only ever seen one at his uncle’s place—a Seagull brand watch that Meng Chuoping had bought during a study trip to Haicheng. It cost him 120 yuan, several ration tickets, and even some foreign exchange coupons. He had gone there plump and returned skinny as a monkey, but he still grinned foolishly at the sight of his new watch. Jiang Dazhen had complained about it nonstop afterward.

[TL: The Seagull brand, originally known as Dong Feng, was founded in 1955 and became the first Chinese watchmaker to produce wristwatches.]

But truthfully, Jiang Dazhen treasured the watch too. In those days, owning a wristwatch brought real prestige.

A while back, Ruanruan had still been carrying a golden pocket watch—clearly even fancier than Meng Chuoping’s Seagull. The watch had a gold casing with a floral design and was inlaid with dark red gemstones. When the tiny latch was pressed, it opened to reveal a black-and-white photo of a young couple. Without needing to ask, Jiang Yiliu knew they must be Ruanruan’s deceased parents—probably their wedding photo. On the other side was the clock face, showing the time clearly. The watch had a long chain so she could wear it around her neck.

The first time Jiang Yiliu saw her take it out, he had immediately warned the careless little girl never to show it in public.

[TL: At the time, especially in rural China, items like pocket watches and jewelry were not only rare but could make one a target for theft or worse, given the ongoing tensions of the Cultural Revolution.]

Money and valuables could tempt people. While most villagers were kind and respected her parents' sacrifice, there were always a few petty thieves. If people caught wind of that watch, the Ruan family—both granddaughter and grandfather—could be in danger.

Concerned, Jiang Yiliu also quietly reminded Grandpa Ruan. The very next day, Ruanruan’s golden watch was replaced with the plain silver one she now used. It looked ordinary and unremarkable, unlike the gold one, and she kept it tucked inside her coat.

The photo of her parents was moved to the new watch as well. Ruanruan rarely took it out unless it was to time Jiang Yiliu’s training. Clearly, Jiang Yiliu’s words—and her grandfather’s—had made an impression.

Jiang Yiliu was also curious how Grandpa Ruan had ended up with so many pocket watches, but he didn’t ask. What he could do was help them notice the little dangers they might overlook. Ruanruan was a sweet little girl, and he truly didn’t want anything bad to happen to her.

“Ruanruan, don’t go easy on that kid,” Huo Wu said as he came in from outside, catching the tail end of their conversation and glancing at the pocket watch. “What did he say to brainwash you? It’s only been a few days and you're already helping him trick your own uncle. Unbelievable.”

He shot a glare at Jiang Yiliu, still holding the horse stance, and considered whether to make the training harder.

Huo Wu was a principled man. Although he had made a bet with the two elders, he never intentionally made things difficult for Jiang Yiliu or tried to set him up to fail. The training regimen he’d set was tailored to Jiang Yiliu’s age and physical condition.

Every day, they got up at five in the morning to run two laps around the village. After a ten-minute rest, he had to hold a horse stance for thirty minutes. If he couldn’t hold it, it meant he gave up.

It had been nearly half a month now, and Jiang Yiliu had stuck with it through wind and rain. He never once complained about being tired.

That had earned Huo Wu’s respect. Maybe he’d underestimated this kid. Maybe he really could make it through the training.

Smiling, Huo Wu handed over a bundle of wild berries he had just picked from the mountains to Ruanruan and Sini. The two girls squealed with delight and dashed off toward the well, where they grabbed a full water bucket and hastily rinsed the berries before divvying them up, grinning from ear to ear.

Huo Wu’s daily routine was different from Jiang Yiliu’s. After finishing their morning run together, he would disappear into the mountains. More often than not, he came back with some wild berries or small treats for the kids.

Children in the village never dared venture deep into the mountains. They stuck to the foothills, which had already been scoured clean by other mischievous kids. And now it was late autumn—fruit was scarce. Only someone like Huo Wu, bold and capable, could still find anything edible out there.

“I just checked. There’s still five or six minutes left,” Huo Wu said, looking once more at the watch. “No favoritism, you hear me? If I catch you again, no more berries for either of you. Sini, keep an eye on Ruanruan for me.”

Ruanruan’s cheeks bulged with berries, her eyes wide. She glanced between the sweet-and-sour fruit in her hand and Jiang Yiliu squatting nearby, looking conflicted. Sini patted her chest in a solemn vow. “Don’t worry, Uncle Da Wu! I’ll watch them for you.”

That look on her face—completely devoid of sibling loyalty. A couple of berries had completely bought her off.

When the time finally ran out, Jiang Yiliu set down the enamel basin and stretched out his arms and legs. Then he collapsed onto the ground like a puddle.

“That’s all it took to knock you down? I don’t think you’ll make it through the rest of the training. Might as well give up now,” Huo Wu said as he came out dressed in his work clothes. Though his words were meant to be discouraging, the gleam of approval in his eyes gave him away.

Jiang Yiliu was gasping for breath. At first, he hadn’t been particularly interested in martial arts, but now, Huo Wu’s taunts had lit a stubborn fire inside him. He had to see it through.

Huo Wu noticed the defiant spark in his eyes and couldn’t help but smile. That’s more like it. For a five-year-old who was usually so calm and serious, this was finally normal behavior.

The adults had all gone off to work. Grandma Miao had taken on some piecework assembling matchboxes at home and kept an eye on the little ones while she worked.

“Xiaobao! Come in and eat breakfast!” Grandma Miao called from inside the house, and the three children trotted in from the courtyard.

On the table were three bowls of corn porridge and two bowls of egg custard. Usually, only Jiang Yiliu got the custard, but since Ruanruan had arrived, she’d become the second recipient. Considering the generous food allowance sent from the Ruan family, Grandma Miao wasn’t about to mistreat their little girl. She understood where to draw the line.

“Be good and eat now. Sini, keep an eye on your brother and sister. Grandma’s going to the back to feed the chickens.” Every household in the commune raised chickens and ducks based on a set quota. If a chick died, there was no replacement. Grandma Miao took raising her chickens seriously—any hen that could lay two eggs a day was practically worshipped.

“Here, Fourth Sister.” Once Grandma Miao left, Ruanruan scooped half her custard into Sini’s bowl. The first time this had happened, she’d asked curiously why her sisters didn’t get any egg custard. Grandma Miao told her plainly: girls didn’t need to eat such good things.

That answer confused Ruanruan. She was a girl too—why did she get some then? But she didn’t ask again. She simply decided to share hers with Sini every time.

“Don’t worry, Ruanruan. When I grow up and make lots of money, I’ll make you a whole house full of egg custard,” Sini said sweetly, accepting the food without fuss.

The two of them giggled and spooned custard into their mouths, their faces lit up with happiness.

Jiang Yiliu said nothing. Quietly, he pushed a portion of his untouched custard into Ruanruan’s bowl. Among kids, sharing food was a sign of friendship. Building a bond between Sini and Ruanruan would be good for her in the long run.

“Aunty Miao, is Yiliu home?” a familiar voice called from outside. Jiang Yiliu’s eyes lit up, and he set down his bowl, racing out the door.

“Little Uncle!”

The visitor was none other than Gu Dongmei’s brother, Gu Xiashi. Jiang Yiliu hurled himself into his arms with such force that he nearly knocked Gu Xiashi over.

“Been a while, kid! You’ve gotten strong,” Gu Xiashi said, surprised by how solid his nephew felt.

“Oh, Xiaobao’s been following Da Wu lately, practicing some kind of kung fu. His jaw’s gotten slimmer too,” Grandma Miao said as she came out from the backyard. Seeing Gu Xiashi, her face lit up as she gestured to her beloved grandson.

All that running around every morning—she’d been worried sick. If not for Grandpa Jiang stopping her, and the fact that Xiaobao really did seem healthier lately, she would’ve put a stop to it.

“Training is good. Build up a strong body, and maybe one day he can join the army and serve the country,” Gu Xiashi said, squeezing Jiang Yiliu’s arm. His words made Grandma Miao beam.

“By the way, Shi Tou, what brings you here today?” she asked.

“Oh, nothing special. Just wanted to take Yiliu to the county for a bit,” Gu Xiashi replied. Then he spotted the two girls coming out behind him. He greeted Sini warmly, then pointed to Ruanruan with curiosity. “And who’s this?”

“She’s the granddaughter of a professor who’s here for labor reform,” Grandma Miao said in a hushed tone near his ear. “Her parents both died in the Vietnam War. The animal sheds aren’t finished yet, so they’re staying with us for now.”

Gu Xiashi understood instantly. That old professor must have some connection with the Jiang family. Otherwise, Grandma Miao wouldn’t treat the girl so well. With his sharp eyes, there was no hiding that from him.

But today, that wasn’t his concern.

“Auntie Miao, I’m taking Yiliu with me for lunch. No need to worry about him,” Gu Xiashi said, hoisting his nephew up again. He smiled at the two little girls. “I’ll bring back some candy for you when I return.”

With that, he carried Jiang Yiliu off.

“Hey! How are you getting there?” Grandma Miao called after them. It was freezing cold—she didn’t think Yiliu could handle a long walk.

“I brought my bike,” Gu Xiashi said proudly, pointing to the black bicycle behind him. Compared to modern bikes, this one was bulky and heavy, its frame nearly reaching his waist. The rear seat had thick padding wrapped in velvet.

He placed Jiang Yiliu on the seat, swung his leg over the frame, and got ready to ride off.

“Well, I’ll be. Shi Tou, you’ve got yourself a bike now?” Grandma Miao exclaimed in amazement. Since when did the Gu family get so well-off? A bicycle wasn’t just expensive—it was hard to get even if you had the money.

“It’s not mine. Borrowed it from someone. Anyway, it’s getting late. Auntie Miao, we’re off!” Gu Xiashi quickly pedaled away, cutting off any more questions.

“Slow down! Don’t let my grandson fall off!” Grandma Miao shouted after them, her voice fading in the distance.

Gu Xiashi pretended not to hear, telling his nephew to hold tight as he pedaled fast.

“Little Uncle, where are we going?” Jiang Yiliu asked from the back seat, full of curiosity.

“You’ll see,” Gu Xiashi replied with a grin, teasing him. “I’m taking you to see something really cool.”

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Chapter 28: Integration