15. Coincidence

Yao Zhizhi rose early that morning.

Today was the auspicious day for Yao Mengmeng and Liu Hongwei to register their marriage, with the wedding scheduled for the next day.

Liu Hongwei arrived early, dressed in a pristine white shirt and navy trousers, his hair neatly combed and looking exceptionally handsome.

He rode a bicycle borrowed from his elder brother’s family, parked it at the doorstep, and greeted Yao Zhizhi: “Fifth sister, good morning. I heard from your fourth sister that you gave me the sewing machine ticket—thank you. I’ll repay you once I’m financially stable.”

“No need,” Yao Zhizhi replied. She maintained a good routine, rising early and retiring early every day. At that moment, she was sitting in the courtyard weaving a basket.

It was already midsummer in June; even in the morning, the air carried a faint heat.

She rolled up the long sleeves of her shirt high above her elbows, her hands moving swiftly. Upon hearing him, she glanced up at Liu Hongwei.

Not bad—he had a classic square-shaped face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes, giving off a reliable impression.

He leaned against the pomegranate tree, idly counting the number of unripe fruits on it.

Yao Zhizhi often indulged in such silly pastimes daily.

There was no other choice; entertainment was scarce these days, and work was often tedious.

During breaks, she passed the time tending to the flowers and plants in the yard.

She continued her task and casually asked, “Are there thirty-seven pomegranates?”

“No, thirty-nine.” After finishing his count, Liu Hongwei turned to examine the nearby loquat tree.

Yao Zhizhi thought her soon-to-be brother-in-law had a pleasant disposition. He knew how to amuse himself and didn’t rush Yao Mengmeng, showing great patience.

Soon, Yao Mengmeng burst out of the house like a happy lark.

She wore a peach-pink shirt with navy trousers, her braid shiny and smooth, grinning as she held the household registration book while running toward the gate.

Yao Zhizhi wasn’t sure about the legal marriage age these days and quickly asked, “Fourth sister, have you reached the age yet?”

“Not yet. It has to be twenty years old. But our household registration records a slightly older age for both of us. Don’t you remember?” Yao Mengmeng was a bit surprised, stopping in front of Yao Zhizhi and looking at her curiously.

Yao Zhizhi indeed couldn’t recall; the original self hadn’t left her any memory.

But she had a ready excuse: “My brain was fried last time. So you mean the ages on the registration book are fake?”

“Exactly. Our parents, to save trouble, wanted us to start school with our third sister, so they registered us as the same age. According to the book, we’re both twenty this year.” Yao Mengmeng, worried Yao Zhizhi wouldn’t believe her, deliberately opened the book. “Look, our third sister’s birthday is after July, so she’s actually twenty-one. We were registered before July, so twenty, letting us start school the same year.”

Yao Zhizhi genuinely didn’t know this. She quickly took the book and examined it.

Indeed, they were twenty.

She didn’t mind suddenly being two years older but was curious—was it really so casual to register ages back then?

Could you just declare any age you wanted?

Yao Mengmeng nodded: “Yes. For example, the great-grandson at the Taiye family was registered four years older just to get married. No one said a word.”

Four years! So casual! Yao Zhizhi couldn’t understand. “Didn’t that mean he was only sixteen when he got married? That’s underage, isn’t it?”

“What? The legal marriage age for men is twenty-two. He got married at eighteen.” Yao Mengmeng was surprised Yao Zhizhi had forgotten this too. Poor thing, it must have been the high fever.

She felt guilty for wrongly blaming and even slandering her little sister recently.

Feeling remorseful, Yao Mengmeng grasped Yao Zhizhi’s shoulders, wanting to make amends: “Zhizhi, if there’s anything else you don’t remember, you can ask me. When I come back, we’ll have a proper chat.”

“Mm, go quickly. Brother-in-law’s been waiting for you a long time.” Yao Zhizhi disliked being held tightly on the shoulders and brusquely pushed her away.

***

Yao Mengmeng pouted in grievance but climbed onto the back seat of Liu Hongwei’s bike: “Hongwei, Zhizhi is so good-hearted, I’m reluctant to let her marry into the city.”

“Has she really landed a city marriage?” Liu Hongwei had heard rumors these past few days.

He thought it was just Yao Er’s vanity, all boastful talk.

He hadn’t expected it to be true.

He worried: “Mengmeng, don’t you want to persuade her? Qi Da Fei isn’t a good match. City folks look down on us rural people. As a village girl, she’ll suffer marrying into the city.”

“No, her mother-in-law is a police officer. How could she bully her daughter-in-law?” Yao Mengmeng wasn’t worried about that.

She only worried that her soon-to-be brother-in-law might not live long.

Liu Hongwei was surprised: “She’s marrying into a police family?”

“Yes, the Nancheng Police Station. Believe it or not,” Yao Mengmeng said, not envious of the fifth sister but saddened. Once Zhizhi married off, the family would lose someone who cared for her sincerely.

Moreover, once the fifth sister married, the others would soon follow.

Ah, growing up together from childhood to now, only to be scattered through marriage—how unfair it seemed.

She muttered: “It’s all marriage, but why does the groom’s family gain a member while the bride’s family loses one?”

“It’s always been like that. I can’t explain,” Liu Hongwei said, though he knew all too well. But as a son-in-law, he kept quiet.

Among the Yao family, he had the lowest social status.

This world looked down on women, and even more so on men who married in.

But he was pragmatic. He was already at an age where delaying only harmed both parties. Better to settle things quickly while still in his early twenties.

Besides, Yao Mengmeng was beautiful. Though overshadowed by her sisters, she was still a renowned beauty in the commune.

Among the five Yao daughters, only Yao Ningning was slightly ordinary—delicate and refined, a classic gentlewoman type.

It wasn’t that Ningning was unattractive; the other four were simply exceptional, especially the fifth.

Thinking of this, Liu Hongwei was curious: “By the way, don’t you find it strange that the fifth sister is fairer than all four of you?”

“She doesn’t work in the fields much, so it’s natural she’s paler,” Yao Mengmeng said, unconcerned and unaware of other possibilities.

Liu Hongwei realized: “That’s true. I saw her sitting under the shade early this morning. Does she even use a parasol when she goes out?”

“No, not at all.” The Yao family was so modest that owning two umbrellas was considered a luxury. A parasol was out of the question. Yao Mengmeng thought he was talking nonsense.

Liu Hongwei chuckled awkwardly: “Right, you still have Genbao, can’t afford a fancy umbrella.”

“Yes, fortunately, Genbao was adopted out.” Yao Mengmeng hugged his waist, hesitating and deciding not to warn him about the wedding yet, since the eldest sister hadn’t agreed.

The plan for the fifth sister’s wedding was still uncertain.

After registering the marriage, Yao Mengmeng went to the supply and marketing cooperative to pick out some hair accessories for her sisters. The best one was for Yao Zhizhi, made from leftover silk fabric trimmed from a satin cut.

She fondled it with delight: “This can make a perfect butterfly knot for the fifth sister. She’s fair-skinned; it will look beautiful.”

Liu Hongwei had no objections and suggested she buy one for herself as well.

“I’ll wait till I start working here and earn some money.” Although Yao Mengmeng had secured a job transfer, she was busy preparing for the wedding, so Yao Taotao temporarily took over her post.

At that moment, Yao Taotao was busy unloading goods in the back and couldn’t come over.

After paying, the two returned to Yaowangzhuang. Having obtained their marriage certificate, they were legally husband and wife.

***

Though they had to maintain appearances outside, there was no need once inside the courtyard.

Liu Hongwei parked the bike and followed her indoors, wrapping his arms around her for a kiss.

“Which room is the bridal chamber?” Liu Hongwei looked around, unfamiliar with the house layout.

Yao Mengmeng pointed to the west-facing, south-facing room: “That was originally Genbao’s room, but Zhizhi took it. Now that we’re getting married, she’s giving it up. Starting tonight, she’ll move to the northern room to sleep with our third sister.”

“The fifth sister is so kind,” Liu Hongwei said instinctively, glancing at the busy young woman in the yard.

“You said last time it was she who told you to find me?”

“Yes.” Yao Mengmeng now saw the fifth sister in a new light and couldn’t help but praise her. “My fifth sister has good taste, right? No wonder the city folks noticed her! Beautiful, smart, and she even managed to get a sewing machine ticket. She’s truly the pillar of the family!”

Liu Hongwei smiled and wrapped his arms around her waist. “You like her so much; you’ll probably cry when she gets married.”

“I...” Yao Mengmeng, used to denying, almost spoke but stopped herself.

Ah, her mouth was always quicker than her brain—something she needed to change. The fifth sister had scolded her about that recently.

Leaning on Liu Hongwei’s shoulder, Yao Mengmeng sighed: “Suddenly, I don’t want to grow up anymore.”

Indeed, growing up brought all the troubles.

After musing for a while, she remembered an important task and hurriedly pulled Liu Hongwei into the southern room: “Quick, your handwriting is nice. Help me write a letter.”

“What letter?” Liu Hongwei knew the Yao family had many relatives but disliked gossip and hadn’t asked much.

Perhaps it was to a distant Yao relative?

Exactly.

Yao Mengmeng found half a cigarette case in the drawer and handed it to him: “Write to Yao Jingzong. The address is on here. I need to inform him that I’m getting married. He’s the most successful elder in our old Yao family. Even though he’s not close to us, I have to observe proper manners.”

“Okay, I’ll write it.” Liu Hongwei sat down, took the pen, and spread the paper flat. “How should I address him? Uncle or elder uncle?”

“Elder uncle. He has a daughter born just one day apart from the fifth sister. Maybe he’ll come back for her wedding, but I’m not counting on it.” Yao Mengmeng was realistic; Uncle Jingzong didn’t look favorably on her family and might not even deign to grace the wedding.

At the same time, Qi Changxiao was sunbathing in the courtyard, unsure if the old doctor’s remedy was truly effective.

Feeling dizzy from the heat, he couldn’t bear it any longer and went inside to cool off.

Hearing the sound of paper tearing, he curiously peeked into his mother’s room: “Writing a letter, Mom?”

Tang Fengyuan didn’t look up, writing rapidly: “Yes. You’re about to get married; don’t you need to notify your uncles and aunts? Even if they can’t come, manners must be observed. Also, your father’s comrades and that old leader—who knows if anyone will come to the wedding banquet.”

Qi Changxiao was indifferent and returned to his room.

Just as he lay down to nap, Tang Fengyuan tossed five letters onto him: “Son, when you go out this afternoon, help me mail these. There’s business at the office; I can’t make it in time!”

Qi Changxiao acknowledged and glanced over the five letters.

He recognized four of them.

The last recipient was his father’s old leader, named Yao Jingzong.

Huh, also a Yao?

Coincidence?