Chapter 293 - 294 Wishing You Happiness
"You’re actually married now, congratulations, your partner seems to be a decent person, you have good taste, I wish you happiness," Fang Yuan said, slightly distracted, but still generously congratulating Xia Xiao and Gao Jiaxing.
Xia Xiao felt that Fang Yuan was a good person, clearly bringing a good upbringing, polite and warm-hearted, a nice young man who didn’t give an offensive or abrupt impression.
At this time, a few people gathered around at Youth Point, and although everyone was influenced by the stringent style of the time, no one said anything out of line, and everyone was deeply moved by Yan Hao’s actions.
Of course, Xia Xiao was still relieved that not many people were gathered around because the cafeteria was distributing fish, and everyone went to get their share. Plus, Yang Zhonghong was not there; otherwise, there might have been trouble.
Xia Xiao didn’t ask for details at this point, it wasn’t suitable for Yan Hao and Xia Jing to stay at Youth Point, so she said to Yang Xuehua, "Sister Xuehua, I’m taking my sister and Yan Hao to our place. Today, Brother Gao caught a two-hundred-pound fish, I bet they’re distributing fish in the cafeteria now, you should go quickly to get yours, or there might be none left if you’re too late."
"Oh my, then I must hurry," Yang Xuehua said, and upon her words, everyone at Youth Point who heard the news went to the cafeteria.
"Conductor Fang, why not come to my house for a meal?" Xia Xiao said.
"No need, no need, I can just go back," Fang Yuan shook his head in refusal, then added, "You can just call me Comrade Fang Yuan."
Xia Xiao agreed, then quietly said to Gao Jiaxing, "Brother Gao, go get a couple for me."
Gao Jiaxing quickly understood what Xia Xiao intended and left swiftly. Xia Xiao, along with Xia Jing and Yan Hao, walked Fang Yuan to the production team’s entrance, and Gao Jiaxing soon joined them.
Besides two fish, he also brought a bundle of vegetables. Xia Xiao received them and handed them to Fang Yuan, "These two fish were caught by us this morning in the deep pool, and since you came by, we’d like to give you these to try, and these vegetables are also grown by ourselves, I hope you don’t mind."
"Comrade Xia Xiao, that’s not right, I didn’t come to take advantage, I can’t accept this, please take it back," Fang Yuan said, attempting to ride away on his bicycle.
"Comrade Fang Yuan, you’re being too formal, we’ve known each other for years now, old friends indeed. It’s a busy New Year’s day, and we’re truly grateful for you sending Yan Hao over. But these two fish and vegetables are just a small token of our gratitude, and since it’s just fish we caught and vegetables we grew, they’re not worth much. It’s just something for you to taste, and if you don’t accept them, I won’t dare to recognize you next time," Xia Xiao argued.
Eventually, with much persuasion, Xia Xiao managed to convince Fang Yuan to accept the fish and vegetables and sent him on his way.
Xia Xiao and Gao Jiaxing, taking along Xia Jing and Yan Hao, headed back to the Gao family. Along the way, Xia Xiao asked Yan Hao about his experiences, which he briefly shared, adventures mixed with luck.
Fortunately, earlier Xia Xiao had asked Hong Xing to boil a pot of hot water, and now, as Hong Xing was feeding porridge to Ge Liang, Xia Xiao promptly offered the hot water for Yan Hao to take a bath.
Zheng Xianghong said, "Take it, I’ll cook another pot of medicinal herb bath for that child; his wounds need to be bathed in it."
Xia Xiao nodded and had Gao Jiaxing prepare the hot water for Yan Hao’s bath, who was quite embarrassed, "I don’t have any clothes to change into."
Xia Xiao replied, "It’s okay, you can wear Brother Gao’s for now."
Gao Jiaxing brought a set of his own clothes for Yan Hao, saying, "You can wear these for now. It’s the New Year’s, and shops are closed outside; after the New Year, we’ll buy some in the county town."
"Thank you, Brother Gao," Yan Hao thanked Gao Jiaxing.
Xia Jing corrected, "This is my brother-in-law."
"Thank you, brother-in-law," said Yan Hao.
"Don’t be polite; go and wash up," Gao Jiaxing didn’t linger on the conversation.
Yan Hao went to bathe, and Xia Xiao asked, "Brother Gao, do you know how to cut hair?"
Gao Jiaxing immediately grasped what Xia Xiao meant, "That’s my specialty." Indeed, cutting buzz cuts was a skill he had learned in the army.
Xia Xiao laughed and pointed in Ge Liang’s direction, "After Ge Liang finishes his porridge, help him tidy up his hair to look nicer."
Xia Xiao’s previous haircut had been rough, like it was gnawed by a dog, at the time she had only thought about how to rid Ge Liang of lice-ridden hair without considering the technique.
"Okay," replied Gao Jiaxing, "after he finishes."
Without saying much more, Xia Xiao led Xia Jing back to their room.
"Sister, thank you, I wouldn’t know what to do without you," Xia Jing expressed earnestly.
"What’s there to thank, what are you thinking now?" Xia Xiao asked.
Xia Jing looked at Xia Xiao, "Sister, Yan Hao traveled thousands of miles from the H Troops, from north to south across countless provinces and cities, along many hardship paths. I’m not sure if the production team will accept him, could you help Yan Hao stay?"
"I’m not too sure about this either, after all, Yan Hao was assigned to the H Troops, not here. I will definitely speak on Yan Hao’s behalf, but it still depends on what the team leader says." Xia Xiao couldn’t promise anything outright, as the situation was unclear, and she couldn’t force Gao Guoqiang.
Now with Li Zhenchuan absent, Gao Guoqiang was the one calling the shots at the production team; Xia Xiao believed it should be alright.
"That’s what I’m worried about too." Xia Jing was moved by Yan Hao’s arrival, but without his household registration settled in the production team, she couldn’t feel secure.
"I’ll figure out the household registration, you don’t have to worry about that. What you need to consider now is, with Yan Hao coming here, how will you explain to his family?" Xia Xiao added, "But you can’t be naive in dealing with his family, let him face them. If you get involved, his family’s anger will be directed at you."
"I understand, sister, but won’t his family blame ours?" Xia Jing was somewhat concerned.
"There’s nothing we can do about that, and besides, it was Yan Hao who ran here on his own, so let him explain to his family. After the second day of the new year, I’m returning home with your brother-in-law, so later let Yan Hao write a letter to his family—it would be best to describe his journey of the past month in it."
Saying this, Xia Xiao produced paper and pen for Xia Jing, who took them and said, "Alright, I’ll have him write after he’s had his bath."
"No rush, he can write after dinner too. He must be famished after the journey. Let him eat here and then write. Afterwards, you can take him to the county town to send a telegram to assure his safety and then mail the letter back. If there’s clothing available in the town, buy a set to bring back. Anyway, you’ll see," advised Xia Xiao, not elaborating further as Xia Jing and Yan Hao were no longer children and knew what to purchase.
After speaking briefly with Xia Jing, Xia Xiao didn’t linger in the room and went out to help Zheng Xianghong.