CITM - 2

The villagers often said that the apartment buildings in the city were well-ventilated from north to south. Each household had its own bathroom, and one could even shower at home.

However, the Bai family did not live in such an apartment building. Instead, they resided in a long corridor-style building that housed twenty to thirty families, known as a “tube building.” There was no separate kitchen in these tube buildings; everyone cooked in the hallway by setting up stoves.

When Ye Yun returned, Tong Mingfang was busy placing honeycomb briquettes into the stove at the doorway. The makeshift bed on the floor had been cleared away, allowing Ye Yun to finally see the layout of the house. The living room was not large, with only a square wooden table.

Ye Yun put down her things and went to help. Wenbin changed his clothes and headed to the washroom. It was then that Ye Yun noticed another door next to the room she had slept in last night. However, the door was tightly shut, making it impossible to see inside.

Following her gaze, Tong Mingfang explained, “When we were allocated housing, Wenfu wasn’t home, and Wenbin was unmarried, so we could only get a two-bedroom unit. Later, when Wenfu returned, the larger room was divided into two. After you and Wenbin get married, we’ll apply for a separate household.”

A pot of white porridge was served along with a few side dishes and boiled eggs.

There was a sound at the door, and Ye Yun quickly turned to open it for Wenbin. As the door opened, the broad shoulders of the man outside blocked the light. Ye Yun looked up and met those steady, sharp eyes. When she recognized the faint scar above his brow bone, her heart skipped a beat.

This man was the one she had encountered in the washroom earlier. She wondered how he had found his way here. Before she could react, footsteps echoed outside, and Wenbin shuffled back in slippers.

“Brother, why are you standing there blocking the doorway?”

Bai Wenfu’s lips curved into a faint smile: “Your bride is blocking the door.”

Wenbin leaned over and said to Ye Yun, “This is my older brother, Bai Wenfu. He arrived too late yesterday, so you didn’t get to meet him.”

In just a few seconds, Ye Yun’s expression shifted from fear to caution and then to a hint of surprise.

Apart from both being tall, the Bai brothers bore little resemblance to each other. Wenbin was lean with a gentle smile, smooth jawline, and retained a boyish charm despite being 25 years old.

On the other hand, Bai Wenfu was much more robust, with sharp brows and bright eyes, distinct facial contours, and an air of rugged nonchalance in his every move.

Ye Yun quickly stepped aside, lowering her gaze and called out softly, “Elder Brother.”

Her clear, sweet voice drifted into the Bai household like an early spring breeze. Bai Wenfu stepped inside, glanced at the woman whose ears were tinged red, and simply grunted, “Mm.”

Wenbin also entered the room and called Ye Yun to eat breakfast. As soon as he sat down, he peeled an egg and popped it into his mouth. There were three eggs in total in the bowl. Wenbin ate one, leaving two.

Bai Wenfu glanced at the bowl and asked, “No eggs left in the house?”

Tong Mingfang took an egg and began peeling it: “We saved them for two months to bring along when proposing to Ye Yun’s family. Now we only have these few left, just enough to last until next month.”

Upon hearing this, Ye Yun lowered her head and silently sipped her plain rice porridge.

Tong Mingfang handed the peeled egg to Bai Wenfu, but he didn’t take it. Leaning back in his chair, he held his bowl with one hand: “Not hungry.”

Bai Wenfu gulped down the porridge, and as he set the bowl down, it bumped into an egg. The round egg rolled across the table towards Ye Yun. Fearing it would fall, she quickly pressed her hand on it. When she looked up again, Bai Wenfu had already left the table.

Wenbin told Ye Yun, “If he doesn’t eat it, you should. Give it to me, I’ll peel it for you.”

Wenbin took the egg, and Tong Mingfang teased him: “Until you settle down, you won’t learn to be considerate.”

Wenbin chuckled without responding, handing the peeled egg to Ye Yun.

At home, Ye Yun didn’t eat well. Stored cabbage, radishes, and homemade pickles were used to fill their stomachs. Eggs were traded for daily necessities, and occasionally, Ye Yun’s mother would keep a few for her youngest son’s nutrition. As the eldest, Ye Yun rarely got any.

As she took the egg, she glanced at Bai Wenfu who had walked to the door. She had heard that Bai Wenfu’s leg was disabled, so she deliberately stared at his legs.

Bai Wenfu was quite tall, slightly taller than his younger brother Wenbin. His long legs were clad in jeans, and when standing or walking slowly, there was no visible issue with his legs.

However, when he bent down to pick up a stool and walked towards the door, his right leg showed a slight unevenness in stride.

After sitting down at the entrance, Bai Wenfu turned his gaze and caught Ye Yun’s scrutiny. His lips curled slightly, and the coldness in his eyes made her look away.

After breakfast, Tong Mingfang and Wenbin discussed the date for registering their marriage. Since the bride-to-be was already brought into the house, the sooner the better. Tong Mingfang was superstitious and insisted on choosing an auspicious day for major events. After flipping through the calendar for a while, she decided that next Wednesday would be a good day. When Ye Yun brought out the household registration book, they realized she was still two months away from turning twenty. According to the new marriage law, women must be at least twenty years old to marry legally, rather than eighteen as before. Strictly speaking, Ye Yun was not yet eligible to register with Wenbin.

This posed a dilemma for Tong Mingfang and Wenbin. Wenbin was due to board the ship at the beginning of next month, and Tong Mingfang had planned for them to register before he set sail. Now, they would have to wait until Wenbin returned from his voyage, which was expected to last four to five months. By then, Ye Yun would be of legal age, and they would choose another date to register.

Ye Yun listened quietly. She hadn’t considered the age issue before coming here and could only follow the Bai family’s arrangements.

Bai Wenfu sat at the entrance, lighting a cigarette. He did not participate in the discussion, gazing outside the corridor with an indifferent expression.

After some deliberation, Tong Mingfang looked up at Bai Wenfu: “Eldest son, do you think this arrangement is fine?”

Bai Wenfu flicked the ash off his cigarette, his tone calm: “You decide.”

He stubbed out the cigarette and left shortly after, not returning all day.

In the afternoon, Tong Mingfang took Ye Yun to the supply and marketing cooperative. For the first time, Ye Yun saw so many novel items: plastic hair clips, handkerchiefs, butterfly ropes, new types of shampoo, and various pastries, dazzling her eyes. Many products used by city girls were unheard of in her rural hometown.

Before she could take a closer look, Tong Mingfang led her directly to the fabric section. Rolls of fabric in various patterns were neatly arranged. Compared to the black and gray cotton and linen fabrics at home, the variety of fabrics in the city was overwhelming.

In her family, Ye Yun rarely wore a new set of clothes. With only a few inches of fabric per month and so many children in the household, her mother, who had to care for her father and manage the fields, relied on Ye Yun to dismantle and sew the fabric together, piecing outfits for the whole family. As for whether the clothes were new or stylish, there was little consideration.

Tong Mingfang selected a piece of red floral polyester fabric. Fabric coupons were even scarcer than food coupons, but Tong Mingfang didn’t hesitate to use all her coupons.

Ye Yun was overwhelmed by the generosity and tried to decline repeatedly. Tong Mingfang took the fabric with a hearty laugh: “Just live well with Wenbin, and we won’t let you down.”

After leaving the supply and marketing cooperative, Tong Mingfang took Ye Yun to Zhang the tailor’s shop. Upon seeing Ye Yun, Zhang’s eyes lit up, asking her to remove her outerwear to take measurements.

As the curtain was drawn, Zhang’s voice came from behind: “Mingfang, your daughter-in-law truly has everything. When I finish making her dress, you’ll see—guaranteed to turn heads.”

Tong Mingfang beamed with joy outside.

After leaving the tailor shop, Ye Yun asked Tong Mingfang, “How much does it cost to make a dress?”

“Twelve yuan.”

Tong Mingfang informed Ye Yun that making a single top or pair of pants cost three to five yuan, and dresses with newer styles were more expensive.

...

In the evening, Bai Wenfu didn’t return for dinner. The three of them had a simple meal. Ye Yun voluntarily cleaned the dishes and freshened up.

When she returned, Wenbin had already gone inside and didn’t set up a makeshift bed today. Tong Mingfang turned a blind eye, urging Ye Yun to rest early before retiring to her room and closing the door.

Feeling awkward, Ye Yun stood at the bedroom door and asked Wenbin, “I... where should I sleep tonight?”

Wenbin moved closer to the inner side of the bed: “What do you think?”

Ye Yun clenched her hands nervously. Although they had held a banquet in her hometown, they hadn’t registered their marriage yet. Sleeping together like this made her feel uneasy.

Seeing her hesitation, Wenbin smiled: “What’s there to be afraid of? I’m not a stranger.”

His tone was straightforward. After becoming engaged, sleeping together was just a matter of time. At their age, it was natural to be passionate.

Ye Yun blushed deeply and entered the room. Wenbin’s gaze lingered on her. Embarrassed, she turned her back and turned off the light before taking off her outerwear.

Wenbin’s bed wasn’t large. After lying down, Ye Yun stayed on the outer side near the edge of the bed. Sharing the same pillow, the man’s hot breath scorched her, making her dare not turn her face towards him.

The room was very quiet, their breathing intertwined, unfamiliar yet stirring.

After an unknown amount of time, Wenbin suddenly asked, “Are your feet cold?”

Ye Yun clutched the sheets tightly and replied, “Not really.”

“I’ll warm them for you.”

With that, Wenbin’s feet entangled with hers under the blanket, the scorching heat immediately enveloping her. Ye Yun’s eyes widened, her heartbeat pounding against her eardrums, too nervous to breathe.

The tender touch sent shivers through Wenbin’s heart. The fragrant scent emanating from Ye Yun made him unable to resist looking at her. In the darkness, her delicate neck was slightly tilted, fair and inviting, and her flushed cheeks quivered with long lashes, exuding a pitiable charm that stirred possessive desires.

“Move closer, don’t fall off.” Wenbin spoke.

Ye Yun shifted slightly, but didn’t move much. Wenbin decisively turned his body and pulled her closer. Their distance abruptly narrowed, and Ye Yun’s gaze rested on Wenbin’s jawline. A slight lift of her head, and their eyes would meet.

She bowed her head, a fist’s distance from Wenbin’s chest, stiffening her body, afraid to move. Wenbin reached out and placed his hand on her waist, the intense heat penetrating through the fabric. Ye Yun was almost half-enveloped in his embrace, her slender waist easily encircled by his hand. Wenbin lightly caressed her, sending electric shocks through her body, her heart racing wildly.

“Have you been intimate with a man?” Wenbin whispered.

Ye Yun bit her lip and shook her head.

“Want to try?”