Chapter 26: Registering the Marriage

Gu Huaizheng fastened a brand-new imported Plum Blossom watch around her wrist. He had adjusted the silver, slender strap himself so that it fit her perfectly. Holding Lu Jianwei’s delicate fingertips, her fair wrist as white as snow, he said, “I bought it on a whim, not sure if you’d like it.”

Lu Jianwei had a rough idea of the watch’s price. Plum Blossom was an imported brand, and this latest model usually cost two hundred and ninety, plus a watch ticket—it was not cheap.

“I like it,” she replied.

Gu Huaizheng’s fingers trembled slightly as he looked up at her. “Our marriage application has been approved. I was thinking… why don’t we go and collect the certificate this afternoon?”

Gu Huaizheng had never been this nervous in his life. “I will be good to you, for the rest of my life! Please take care of me from now on!”

Lu Jianwei was surprised; at first, she had only wanted to survive, never expecting this man would bring her such a pleasant surprise.

In times like these, she could hardly believe she was experiencing a proposal.

A hearty lunch and a costly imported watch had already exhausted all the effort a man could give.

Obtaining approval for the marriage application probably hadn’t been easy either—their union might well cost Gu Huaizheng his future.

“All right!” Lu Jianwei was touched. She stepped forward, gripped the shirt at his waist, and pressed her forehead to his chest. “Gu Huaizheng, please take care of me for the rest of my life!”

They hurried home to fetch their household registration book, then to the factory for a letter of introduction, and, as soon as the offices opened, went straight to the district government.

The comrade in charge of marriage registration was very enthusiastic upon seeing a soldier. After guiding them through the paperwork and verifying their information, he issued them a certificate of commendation and some ration tickets for newlyweds.

At the top, a banner; on either side, various fruits symbolizing a bountiful harvest; below, the double happiness character in red. Two lines beneath, their names, genders, and ages. Then, a statement that they married voluntarily, had been examined according to the marriage law, and so forth.

Finally, the date: August 22, 1962, with a signature and seal.

Gu Huaizheng studied the certificate several times, making sure their names and details were correct, before solemnly tucking it away. Then he pulled out a large handful of candies from his pocket to thank the staff, earning a shower of congratulatory words.

Noticing his pocket still bulging, Lu Jianwei realized he’d come prepared.

As they left, he caught her hand and softly called, “Wife.” He’d wanted to say that for a long time.

Lu Jianwei was a little dazed. She hadn’t expected to be married just like that.

It didn’t feel so bad.

“When will you return to Qiongdai?” she asked, aware that the most pressing matter now was to prepare for relocation.

“My work here will finish in a couple of days. I’ll take Xiao Zhuo to Yan City, and you stay in Haicheng. Once I’ve settled Xiao Zhuo, I’ll come back for you. It’s not safe on the trains right now; I can’t rest easy if you travel alone.”

If they left from Haicheng for Qiongdai, both were in the south—one in the southeast, one in the southwest—which was better than traveling north, then crossing the entire country back south.

“No, you should focus on your own matters. When we return to the factory, I’ll resign, prepare a few things, and escort Xiao Zhuo to Yan City myself. Once you finish your work, go directly to Qiongdai—I’ll join you soon.”

Gu Huaizheng didn’t argue, though he wasn’t reassured at all, already thinking of ways to persuade her to let him accompany her.

Lu Jianwei went back to the factory to submit her resignation. Gu Huaizheng handed her more than half the candies in his pocket. “Share these with your colleagues.”

He’d bought White Rabbit milk candies—not cheap by any means.

Back at the office, Lu Jianwei first gave a piece to Yang Hongyan. In the publicity department, there were also Section Chief Ma Weiming and Xu Xinmin. Upon hearing the wedding candies were hers, they all congratulated her.

She then returned to the technical department to share the candies—one piece each. Times were hard; being able to eat a White Rabbit candy was already a treat.

Fu Tingjun, upon hearing Lu Jianwei was handing out wedding candies, felt a pang of jealousy.

Someone remarked sourly, “Still the capitalist’s young lady—a single gesture and it’s White Rabbit. Jun-ge, you said you’d bring us wedding candies, but where are they?”

Yang Hongyan overheard and retorted, “The candies were bought by Comrade Gu, not Comrade Lu. You get to eat them and still can’t keep your mouths shut—why weren’t you born women?”

Unaware of the commotion in the other office, Lu Jianwei submitted her resignation and began packing her things.

The technical section chief was alarmed—they couldn’t afford to lose someone like her, and quickly reported to the deputy factory director in charge of technical affairs.

The deputy director called her in personally, asking if the salary was too low and offering to consider a raise.

Lu Jianwei quickly denied it, explaining she was getting married and would follow her military husband.

There was nothing to be done then; the deputy director couldn’t stop her from joining her husband—marital bonds were paramount. He only asked that, if the factory encountered any difficulties, she might help out if convenient.

Lu Jianwei readily agreed. With phone calls costing over a yuan a minute, there wouldn’t be many issues to trouble her with; she was happy to extend an empty promise and earn goodwill.

She’d only been transferred to the technical department for a few days—she hadn’t even worked at the machinery factory for two months. If not for her solid skills and education, she would have been an apprentice, so there was no real handover needed.

Once her wages for the next few days were settled, she wouldn’t have to come in anymore.

At closing time, she gathered her belongings to take home.

That afternoon, Gu Huaizheng called to check on their housing, only to be told someone needed to attend a meeting in Yan City. He volunteered for the task.

After work, he came to fetch Lu Jianwei, took her packages, pushed her bicycle, and they walked home together.

Her bicycle was a 26-inch women’s model; at one meter eighty-eight, Gu Huaizheng couldn’t ride it, nor could she carry him, so they had to walk side by side.

At home, what should have been two happy occasions became three when Lu Jianwei announced they’d registered their marriage. The whole family was overjoyed, calling it a triple blessing.

Her aunt asked He Ma to call Duan Chenxing over for dinner; as for her cousin Duan Xingyue, she worked far away in Jiangdong, lived in a dormitory, and rarely came home.

Lu Jianwei introduced Duan Chenxing and Gu Huaizheng. “This is my brother, Duan Chenxing. And this is Gu Huaizheng…”

She hesitated, then plucked up her courage. “My husband!”

Those last three words made Gu Huaizheng visibly beam with happiness.

Duan Chenxing, however, sized up Gu Huaizheng warily. He couldn’t tell much, but when they shook hands, he gripped hard and warned through clenched teeth,

“My sister has her family behind her. If you treat her well, I’ll be grateful for life and ready to risk everything for you. But if you ever hurt her, I don’t care if you’re a soldier or a god, I’ll take you down all the same!”