Chapter 1: Chen Qiaoyu's Break Off Engagement and Family Division
In August of 1979, the sun was scorching hot.
In the collective cotton field of Yao's village, Chen Qiaoyu was deftly picking cotton with a rough cloth sack tied around her waist, about half her height.
Beneath her straw hat, her hair was drenched. Sweat slipped down her cheeks to her exquisite neck, and trickled down her collarbone, disappearing into her worn-out blue top.
Throughout the morning, her clothes had become wet, then dry, then wet again. Eventually, white particles of salt crystallized, clinging to her clothes.
Beside Chen Qiaoyu picking cotton was Aunt Jin, who looked a bit distressed seeing Chen Qiaoyu's pale face.
"Your father really, even in the busy farming season, he shouldn't let the entire family laze at home and make a young girl in her teens do such strenuous work in the fields."
Although it's standard for village girls to work, families that were concerned about their wellbeing would usually have the men and women of the family work the fields while the girls do chores like laundry and cooking.
The Chen family was an exception. Not to mention the younger ones, Chen Qiaoyu's biological father was guarding the granary, and his stepmother was cooking at home—for the exact purpose of safeguarding the grain.
Amongst the family, it was the 18-year-old girl who was tasked with working the fields.
Hearing Aunt Jin's disapproval, Chen Qiaoyu wiped her sweat with her hand and laughed, "Actually, I'd rather be busy working! At least I can avoid being nagged at home."
Since Chen Qiaoyu turned eighteen two months ago, her biological father, Chen Liang, along with her stepmother, Yao Jinhua, had been looking at her as if she were a pig ready to be butchered.
Day in and day out, they kept urging her to go on blind dates, to find a husband.
If it weren't for the ongoing promotion of respecting women's desires, this couple might have bundled Chen Qiaoyu into a sack in exchange for a dowry.
Of course, Aunt Jin was well aware of the trouble within the Chen family and couldn't help but sympathetically say, "Qiaoyu, you know what kind of person your Aunt Jin is. Your elder brother Dayong may not be particularly successful, but he's honest and loyal. He'll definitely protect you..."
Aunt Jin Er lowered her voice, advising Chen Qiaoyu, "If your biological mother were still here, I wouldn't have to say this to your face. But I see that neither your father nor your stepmother are reliable. Qiaoyu, think about it."
Chen Qiaoyu felt grateful in her heart. "Aunt Jin Er, I know you were close with my mother and care about me. However, I really don't want to get married yet. All I want is to bring Qingnan and Qiaoli back as soon as possible."
Chen Qiaoyu’s mother passed away years ago when Chen Qiaoyu was 13, Chen Qingyang was 8, and the twins, the apple of her eye, were only 3.
Chen Liang was not caring. To make things easier, he married Yao Jinhua in his grief. At least someone would care for the children.
Yao Jinhua seemed nice enough when she first moved in. Amid the second half of the year, her true colors emerged and she urged Chen Liang to send twins Qingnan and Qiaoli, left behind by Chen’s first wife, to their second aunt’s home in the provincial city.
At that time, Chen Qiaoyu was young and worried that Qingnan and Qiaoli might be bullied, so she agreed.
The deal was set for fifteen yuan a month. Chen Liang gave three months' worth and then refused to deal with it anymore.
So Chen Qiaoyu gritted her teeth, finished junior high, and stopped studying. She started farming, doing odd jobs when she was free. She did whatever could earn her money.
Chen Qiaoyu said, "I don't have any other thoughts, I just want to save enough money to bring Qingnan and Qiaoli back and provide their schooling with Qingyang."
As for marriage, she didn't give it a thought.
Seeing Chen Qiaoyu's firm attitude, Aunt Jin Er couldn't advise anymore. Coincidentally, she looked up and saw Qingyang standing on the edge of the field, padding feet, looking for people, and she laughed, "Lucky to have Qingyang. Look, Qingyang is coming to help you."
Upon hearing her younger brother’s name, Chen Qiaoyu also felt happy, "He went to the town with a few educated youths to check the admission list today."
After the university entrance examinations were resumed a couple of years ago, the educated youth in the village who hadn’t already married and settled there gradually either moved away to study or found ways to return to the city if they didn’t get into university.
Only three of the educated youths were left in the village now, all waiting for the admission list and notifications.
Chen Qingyang was only 13, the right age for junior high school.
Chen's family didn't allow Chen Qingyang to go to school with Chen Qiaoyu, so Chen Qingyang often hung around with a few educated youth, mooching off their lessons and copying from their books.
Today was the same. Early in the morning, Chen Qingyang followed a few educated youth to the town to look at the notice, and just returned.
Seeing Chen Qingyang coming, Chen Qiaoyu stood up straight and waved at him as usual. But Chen Qingyang looked different than usual; his face was filled with anxiety as he ran in their direction.
Just as he got close, Chen Qingyang anxiously told her, "Sis, Yao Jinhua brought an old man to propose marriage!"
"What?" Jin Er Auntie was even more shocked than Chen Qiaoyu, "Old man? How old?"
"He must be over forty! His head is bald!"
Chen Qingyang was angered and frustrated, "I haven't even gone home yet! Da Niu and Er Niu told me on the road. As soon as I sneaked back home, I heard them making plans. They said they received gifts and grain from him today, and by tomorrow, whether you want to marry or not, you have to!"
"She must be out of her mind!"
Jin Er Auntie spat and pulled Chen Qiaoyu out of the cotton field.
"Lets find the Captain. Let's see what Chen Liang and Yao Jinhua can do! It’s the modern age and they still dare to sell their daughters!"
After Chen Qiaoyu's initial anger, she calmed down even more. She held onto Jin Er Auntie, "Aunt Jin Er, even if we push them down today, there will be a second one tomorrow."
Both Jin Er Auntie and Chen Qingyang became anxious. "Then what should we do? Yao Jinhua is not a good person, and she and your reprehensible father would actually dare to push you out to pay off debts.
Chen Qiaoyu's face was calm, "I knew they would come to this. Last time they wanted to trap me in a room with the Vice Director from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative and ruin my reputation. Fortunately, he was a good man who helped me pry the door open, otherwise, I wouldn't be able to live."
Chen Qiaoyu made up her mind, "Aunt Jin Er, Qingyang and I can't live in this house any longer."
"Then where will you live?" Aunt Jin Er was distressed.
Although houses in rural areas are not as crowded as those in the city, there's still a limit to accommodate, and who could afford to let Chen Qiao Jade and Chen Qing Yang's two children stay permanently?
Chen Qiao Jade whispered something in Jin Er Auntie and Chen Qing Yang's ears, and their eyes sparkled suddenly.
Jin Er Auntie slapped her palm: "Why didn’t I think of it!"
Chen Qing Yang was also pleased: "I love that old house!"
Chen Qiao Jade directed Chen Qing Yang: "Qing Yang, since you're quick on your feet, make a trip to Xia Lu Gou village and bring our uncle over to create some momentum."
Chen Qing Yang agreed immediately: “I'm going now. I'll borrow a bicycle to get there!"
Jin Er Auntie also responded: "Good, I'll go find your uncle to beat the drums!"
The uncle Jin Er Auntie referred to is her man, Yao De Shui, the old secretary of the village, whose words carry clout.
On the other hand, Chen Qiao Jade registered the amount of cotton and rushed to the town to find the director of the Women's Federation.
After she locked the door last time, she went to the Women's Federation, and they told her that if anything happens against women's wishes, they should be notified immediately, and they won't take action without evidence.
In no time, all three parties took action, and at sunset, Chen Qiao Jade returned home.
Before she even entered the house, she saw Yao Jin Hua leaning against the door, taunting Chen Qiao Jade with a queer smile: "Oh, Qiao Jade is back, isn’t she."
Chen Qiao Jade ignored her, turned her head to her own room, packed up what she had prepared earlier, swung it into her back and headed out.
Caught off guard, Yao Jin Hua didn't get a chance to tell her prepared lines, and quickly stopped Chen Qiao Jade: "Stop right there! Where are you going?"
"I'm going to the team leader's house," Chen Qiao Jade shook off Yao Jin Hua's arm and said word by word, "I want to separate from the family!"
Yao Jinhua laughed incredulously, "You want to separate from your family? That's hilarious! You're on the brink of marriage, what’s there for you to separate from?"
Chen Qiaoyu stared at her, "When did I decide to get married?"
With a smug expression, Yao Jinhua iterated, "Next month, on the tenth. I advise you to behave, you were fortunate last time as you stumbled upon someone cowardly and eventually escaped. This time, however, the family in question is an entirely different story."
Although she wore a smile on her face, Yao Jinhua's eyes were sinister, "This family has some grit. If you do not agree, you won’t have any refuge in the wilderness. You might avoid them temporarily, but can you for your entire life?"
At this, Chen Qiaoyu's complexion altered. She knew of Yao Jinhua's viciousness but she was not expecting it to this degree.
Just as she was about to respond, a loud voice from outside the door interjected, "Indeed, a toad puffing itself up – such arrogance! Let me see, what era are we living in? Who would dare to do such a thing?"
Chen Qiaoyu looked back to see Aunt Jin along with the village leader and villagers approaching.
Outside the door, Aunt Jin winked at Chen Qiaoyu, "When I saw you come back, I brought the village leader right away!"
Not only the village leader, but Aunt Jin's husband, as well as some highly respected elders and villagers who enjoyed the excitement, were also present.
The two members from the Women's Federation that Chen Qiaoyu brought back were sternly gazing at Yao Jinhua.
In the midst of this, Chen Qingyang pushed through the crowd, shouting, “Sister! I've brought Uncle over!”
Chen Qiaoyu looked over to see her gigantic uncle, Yu Laifu, hoisting the weak Chen Liang like a littler chick.
Yu Laifu casually threw Chen Liang into the courtyard, and called Chen Qiaoyu over, "Qiaoyu, don't be afraid. As long as your uncle is here, whoever dares to lay a hand on you, I will break his legs!"
Clutching his once-broken leg, Chen Liang wished he could retreat to a corner.
Yu Laifu was a man of his word.
The squad leader was grinding his teeth in hatred, berating Chen Liang and Yao Jinhua, "You're not afraid of jail, but we're afraid of tarnishing the reputation of Yao Village!"
Thanks to the quick notification from Qiao Yuqing and Yang, it would've been a disaster like Yao Jinhua said - rice cooked into a meal. The reputation of Yao Village would be tarnished, let alone expecting the honor of being the advanced production brigade!
Two Women's Federation officials sternly stepped forward, "Comrade Yao Jinhua, we've received a report that you have violated a woman's will by trading in marriage. Please come with us."
The events of the past years were vivid in her mind. Yao Jinhua was so scared she almost wet her pants, "I... I am her stepmother, and it's illegal for me to find her a match?"
One of the Women's Federation officials questioned, "So, you did force her to get married against her will?"
If Yao Jinhua answered, she'd really be a fool.
She shook her head like a rattle drum, "No, not at all! Absolutely not!"
Chen Qiaoyu took the opportunity to ask for a testimony, "Uncles and aunts, you all heard it, I didn't accept any dowry or engagement. If anyone spreads rumors about this in the future, please help to testify!"
Everyone in the village knew that Qiao and Yang were unfortunate kids, and they immediately agreed, "Yes, we will!"
Yao Jinhua's face turned darker and darker, but she didn't dare to change her words in front of everyone, she could only swallow her anger, thinking to herself, wait until this is over and then secretly...
Unexpectedly, at this moment, Chen Qiaoyu suddenly pulled Chen Qingyang, and thudded to their knees.
"Uncles, aunts, I have one more favor to ask from you all..."
But with the Women's Federation officials present, it wasn't appropriate to kneel.
Everyone asked Chen Qiaoyu to get up quickly, "You kid, if you have something to say, just say it. We're all villagers here, why kneel?"
"That's right, Qiaoyu, if you have something to say, just say it! We're all here, the squad leader and the secretary will help you out!"
In the end, there are more good people. Chen Qiaoyu wiped away her tears, her voice unusually firm, "I want to separate from my family!"
