Accompanying Chen Dama was a worker from the neighborhood pharmacy. While contraceptive products were now distributed free at pharmacies, few people collected them. Besides distributing them at factories, pharmacy staff worked with street committee activists to deliver the products door-to-door to ensure the program’s implementation.
When Chen Dama entered, Fei Ni had already stood up. The steam rising from the pot hit her face, making it appear even paler. Her sage green sweater and white shirt underneath gave off a gentle impression.
Chen Dama glanced at the registration form, which showed this household was a newly married young couple, both the same age, with the husband just reaching marriageable age this year, only a few months older than his wife. Even without the form, Chen Dama’s years of experience told her they were newlyweds – not just because of their young faces, but because they resembled young people who had just left their families to start their own lives.
Though close enough to share a room, they still showed embarrassment when looking at each other.
Fei Ni’s home appeared somewhat sparse without the low cabinet and only two chairs. After quickly surveying the room’s furnishings, Chen Dama’s attention was drawn to the alcohol stove. With her years of hot pot experience, she could tell the dipping sauce was well-prepared.
Chen Dama thought these two young people knew how to enjoy life.
Fang Muyang offered his chair to Chen Dama, but she said, “No need to sit. After sharing the information with you, we have other households to visit.”
Chen Dama gave Fei Ni an informational booklet and asked, “Little Fei, why didn’t you attend last week’s street committee lecture for married women of childbearing age?”
Fei Ni blushed at the words “married women of childbearing age,” fortunately attributable to the heat from the alcohol stove.
“I didn’t know about it.” Fei Ni had actually seen the notice but had never thought of herself as a woman of childbearing age, so didn’t think she needed to attend.
“Next time the street committee holds a lecture, you must attend. If you don’t have time, let your spouse go – male comrades must receive this education too.”
Then Chen Dama asked about Fei Ni’s childbearing plans, saying that just as work needs planning, childbearing is a major life event that requires planning too. Understanding married women’s family planning intentions was part of Chen Dama’s work.
Fei Ni had no such plans and maintained a forced smile, saying in an even tone, “I want to focus my energy on work first, and don’t plan to have children for now.” She usually wasn’t so awkward with words, but at this moment could only manage this response.
Chen Dama approved of Fei Ni’s thinking – it was good for young female comrades to be enthusiastic about work, but besides short-term planning, they needed long-term plans too. For newly married couples, even if they planned not to have children, children might come uninvited, so it was necessary to understand certain information.
After Chen Dama finished, the pharmacy worker spoke. Since they had other households to visit, she only briefly explained the use of oral contraceptives and other products, saying Fei Ni could learn more details from the informational booklet.
The worker expertly handed the items to Fei Ni.
“When you run out, you can get more at the pharmacy – they’re all free. Many people are too embarrassed to collect them, but there’s no need to be.”
Fei Ni wanted to say “okay” but couldn’t get the word out despite her reddening face. Fang Muyang, however, was at ease, saying they were grateful for the late visit to spread awareness, and asked if they’d like to stay and eat.
Chen Dama immediately declined, saying they couldn’t take anything from the masses. As she was leaving, she asked Fei Ni where she bought the braised shrimp oil, saying it looked good.
Satisfied with the answer, Chen Dama left.
After closing the door, Fei Ni’s face was flushed red. Previously, she had locked away such items distributed by her work unit in the cabinet, but now how could she put these away in front of Fang Muyang? But if not in the cabinet, where else?
Fang Muyang closed the door and, seeing Fei Ni still standing there, poked her nose, asking, “Why are you so hot?” He pressed his forehead against hers, “At least you don’t have a fever.”
Fang Muyang looked down at what Fei Ni was holding and smiled at her, “Why are you still holding onto those? We don’t need them now anyway.”
He naturally opened her hands and placed the items on the side table, telling her to eat quickly before the food got cold.
“How can we leave them there?” They were so conspicuous – anyone entering would see them.
“We’ll deal with it after eating.”
The previous situation had been too awkward, and Fei Ni didn’t know what to say. She just lowered her head to eat what was already in her bowl, not looking at the pot. Occasionally reaching for vegetables, her chopsticks would bump into Fang Muyang’s, causing her to quickly withdraw and randomly grab something – which turned out to be ginger. It happened again, and thinking she’d grabbed a potato, she found another piece of ginger instead.
Nothing gained. She had prepared for this meal since yesterday, using a quarter’s worth of her sesame paste ration just today. Yet she ate absent-mindedly.
Fang Muyang picked out some cooked meat slices and put them in Fei Ni’s bowl. After a while, he added vegetable leaves and potato slices.
“I can serve myself.”
“I know.”
While eating, Fei Ni’s mind wandered so much that she unconsciously ate all the meat slices Fang Muyang occasionally added to her bowl.
By the time she realized it, hardly any meat was left in the pot.
This certainly wasn’t her original intention – she had prepared this meal to improve Fang Muyang’s diet.
After finishing most of the meat and vegetables, they started on the noodles, which Fang Muyang ate more of.
While scooping noodles, Fei Ni surprisingly found a piece of meat – her delight comparable to finding money in laundered clothes – and immediately put it in Fang Muyang’s bowl.
She had put much thought into this meal. Not only had she used up her sesame paste ration, but she had also specially cycled to the fermented tofu shop in the east, a round trip of an hour. Regular grocery stores didn’t have as many varieties as this specialized shop, nor was the taste as authentic. She had bought several kinds, and while the dipping sauce was plentiful, Fang Muyang hadn’t gotten to eat much meat.
Feeling it was such a waste, Fei Ni momentarily forgot the awkwardness of Chen Dama’s visit and searched the pot with her chopsticks for meat slices, putting any she found in Fang Muyang’s bowl, even pieces barely the size of a chopstick tip.
Fei Ni’s chopsticks lingered in the pot, and Fang Muyang couldn’t help but smile seeing her hands turn white from the rising steam as she picked out meat slices.
“Do you remember that box you kept for me? Is it still there?”
After ten years, it wouldn’t be strange if it weren’t.
Fei Ni remembered the box of records and paintings, including those nude art pieces. She had originally wanted to borrow some books from Fang Muyang, as readable books were scarce, and he was her only source. Instead, she got these items. When she first saw the art book, though willing to acknowledge it as art, she couldn’t help but scold him for having the nerve to entrust her with such a box of things. Yet despite her reluctance, she hadn’t thrown them away. All these years she had waited for him to claim the box, and now here they were.
Logically, once she learned he had recovered his memory, she should have returned his belongings. But without a record player at home, the records were useless. The art book could be useful, but… Still, since he brought it up, she should return it to him.
“Yes, it’s here.” Fei Ni pointed to her camphor wood chest, “Right inside there. Do you want it now?”
When she moved, the box was her first concern, as it absolutely couldn’t stay at her parents’ home.
Fang Muyang turned to look at Fei Ni’s camphor wood chest and asked, “If I had never asked for it back, would you have kept it for me forever?”
Fei Ni thought to herself, what else could she have done?
“After we finish eating, I’ll get it out for you to check if anything’s missing.”
“Don’t I trust you enough?”
Fei Ni thought to herself that even if she were dishonest, she wouldn’t steal these things as they were useless to her. Though she wanted to listen to the records, she didn’t dare play them publicly.
They finished the meal cleanly, leaving nothing but the original soup base – all the meat slices and vegetables were gone.
The alcohol stove’s flame died out, and Fei Ni took out the box for Fang Muyang.
Ten years ago, they had met at dawn, skulking about like thieves. Fang Muyang remembered Fei Ni giving him money, though he’d forgotten how much – he only remembered using it to buy a large fruit cake at the food store for his grandmother’s birthday.
Fang Muyang placed the box on the sewing machine and examined everything, facing items sealed away for ten years.
He remembered the ring was kept with Satie’s record. The ring was still there. The emerald was surrounded by diamonds – he remembered his grandmother had a set of emerald jewelry, and this ring was part of it, left to him.