CITM - 6

Lei Zi was out of life-threatening danger, but he had inhaled a lot of smoke and needed to stay in the hospital for treatment. His wife had to clean up the mess at home and take care of him in the hospital, so the little baby had to stay with the Bai family for a few days.

Early in the morning, Ye Yun was feeding the baby rice paste. Wenbin dragged a stool over to sit next to her and gently touched the baby’s cheek. The little one lifted his head and smiled at him, causing Ye Yun’s eyes to crinkle with joy.

This was the first time Wenbin had seen Ye Yun smile. Her round, plump face lit up beautifully when she smiled, leaving Wenbin mesmerized. He moved his hand from the baby’s face, raising his arm to brush aside some stray strands of hair from Ye Yun’s temple and tuck them behind her ear. The warmth of his fingers brushing against her ear made Ye Yun instinctively recoil slightly, and her smile faded.

Wenbin noticed her reaction and withdrew his hand, lost in thought.

Times were different now. In the city, young people advocated for free love. Even if introduced by others, they usually dated for a while before deciding if they got along well enough to commit.

He and Ye Yun were bound by their parents’ wishes, arranged by a matchmaker. They hadn’t known each other beforehand, making their interactions naturally awkward and reserved.

Wenbin had no experience with relationships and didn’t know how to consider a girl’s feelings. Seeing Ye Yun’s previously smiling eyes gradually fade, he realized that perhaps he had been too abrupt with her. Ye Yun, raised in the countryside, was conservative and young, without prior experience with the opposite sex. She had been overwhelmed after just arriving and being intimate with him; it would be strange if she weren’t afraid.

Wenbin gazed fixedly at Ye Yun and leaned over to ask softly, “Do you think it was too fast for us to do that... before we’re officially married?”

Tong Mingfang was sewing pants just a few steps away in the other room, and Big Brother was sitting outside the door sanding an uneven stool leg. Ye Yun was holding the baby. Discussing such a topic openly in broad daylight left her momentarily unsure how to respond.

A blush crept up Ye Yun’s cheeks as she lowered her head shyly and replied, “A little.”

Wenbin looked somewhat regretful, his tone earnest: “I understand.”

...

Bai Wenfu adjusted the stool, finally stabilizing it. As he looked up, he caught sight of Wenbin whispering to Ye Yun, who blushed charmingly. It was quite the picture of newlyweds deeply in love.

Bai Wenfu placed the stool by the door, grabbed a cigarette, and stepped out.

Tong Mingfang had long yearned for grandchildren. Though this baby wasn’t theirs, she adored him all the same. However, her room was narrow with poor ventilation, and whenever she took the baby inside, he became restless like a porcupine.

For these few days, the baby slept with Ye Yun. Being still so small, he slept between Ye Yun and Wenbin to avoid rolling off the bed. Loving his nephew dearly, Wenbin often held and played with him. At night, they took turns soothing the baby to sleep. By the time they finally managed to get him to sleep, they were exhausted themselves and dared not move much, fearing waking him up and having to start all over again.

When Wenbin wasn’t on duty, they revolved around the baby. Ye Yun held the child while Wenbin entertained him with various things, eliciting giggles. The sound of the baby’s laughter filled the house, bringing lively warmth despite the small addition.

With the baby as a bridge, Ye Yun and Wenbin gradually found more topics to talk about. She taught Wenbin how to bathe the baby, and he shared childhood anecdotes with her. Compared to the reserved manner Ye Yun displayed during her first two days at the Bai household, she occasionally smiled these days.

Wenbin hadn’t overstepped boundaries these past few days, only occasionally holding Ye Yun’s hand or sitting closer. Ye Yun didn’t resist as much as she did initially, allowing him when no one was around. Wenbin felt this was good enough. They could spend time getting to know each other better, build an emotional foundation, and then, after officially registering their marriage and becoming lawful spouses, they could be together openly.

After dinner, Bai Wenfu returned home. Once he entered his room, the sounds from the neighboring room never ceased. The baby was full of energy, and bursts of laughter frequently filtered through the wall panel, mostly from Wenbin talking with Ye Yun occasionally chiming in. Her voice was soft and pleasant, like a gentle spring breeze at night.

The room was pitch black. Bai Wenfu leaned against the headboard, placing an unlit cigarette in his mouth. The deep shadow cast by his prominent brow bone gave his gaze a distant, unfocused look, heavy and silent.

In the morning, as Bai Wenfu was leaving, Tong Mingfang was in the house holding the baby. Ye Yun was outside by the stove cooking rice paste. The corridor was empty. Wenbin embraced Ye Yun from behind, enveloping her with his warm breath. He whispered to her, “If you like children, after I return, let’s have one too, alright?”

Ye Yun’s curled lashes fluttered, and she softly replied, “Mm.”

Bai Wenfu paused his steps. Wenbin, catching a glimpse of his older brother’s figure, released his hold and scratched his head, laughing, “Big Brother is leaving so early today? Not eating breakfast?”

Bai Wenfu walked out of the house: “No, I’m in a hurry.”

Wenbin then noticed the black suitcase in his brother’s hand. Bai Wenfu called him aside and said, “I’ll be gone for a few days.”

Wenbin asked in surprise where he was going, but Bai Wenfu didn’t elaborate. Hearing that Big Brother was going on a trip, Ye Yun also glanced over.

Bai Wenfu briefly raised his eyelids, meeting her gaze before shifting his eyes. He patted Wenbin’s shoulder: “Take care of things at home.”

With that, he left.

For the next few days, Ye Yun didn’t see her older brother-in-law. After Lei Zi was discharged from the hospital, his wife took the baby back.

Without the baby around, Ye Yun stayed busy helping Tong Mingfang with household chores. This allowed her to encounter many new things. The seemingly ordinary Erwei Alley was full of novelties for Ye Yun, everything exuding a sense of wonder.

For instance, mechanical clocks that told time, Beijing-brand televisions, trendy photo studios, women’s fashionable hairstyles, and once at the public bath, she saw the sanitary pads urban girls used during their periods. She heard they were disposable, didn’t need repeated washing, and were less likely to stain clothes, which left a deep impression on her.

A few days later, the dress Zhang the tailor made was ready. Tong Mingfang eagerly took Ye Yun to the tailor shop.

While changing into the dress, Ye Yun was cautious, as her period had just started, and she feared staining the new garment. Thus, she moved carefully.

As she emerged from behind the curtain, not only Tong Mingfang but also several customers in the shop were captivated, praising Ye Yun’s beauty and how well the fabric suited her. Hearing these compliments, Tong Mingfang felt pleased and didn’t rush to leave. She sat in the shop chatting with Zhang the tailor.

Ye Yun stood aside observing. A plate on the right contained many buttons—made of organic glass, plastic, metal—various sizes, styles, and colors. Nearby were spools of thread and sewing scissors, and further inside was a sewing machine.

As Zhang the tailor chatted with Tong Mingfang, she pushed the fabric with her hands, her right foot pressing the pedal, and the sewing machine whirred to life, stitching neat lines.

Ye Yun focused intently on Zhang the tailor’s movements, listening as she complained about being busy from morning till night, her recurring back pain flaring up again.

The polyester fabric felt light and thin on her body. Especially after leaving the tailor shop, the wind blew the material against Ye Yun’s figure, making her feel almost naked, which she found uncomfortable.

Tong Mingfang still had to visit Liuping Street, which was far from here. Ye Yun, feeling unwell today, decided not to walk too much and told Tong Mingfang she wanted to buy something.

Tong Mingfang told her not to wander after buying what she needed and would wait for her at the alley entrance to return together. Ye Yun agreed.

Back home, she rarely had the chance to wear new clothes, especially such a beautiful dress. Ye Yun cherished it greatly, fearing her condition might soil the dress. She planned to check if the supply and marketing cooperative had the kind of sanitary pads urban girls used.

She remembered that the last time Tong Mingfang took her from the cooperative to the tailor shop wasn’t far. However, retracing her memory, she couldn’t find it. She vaguely recalled the way from home to the cooperative, but as she walked, the surroundings grew increasingly unfamiliar, suggesting she was moving farther from home.

Just as she hesitated whether to change routes, a bike passed by her, stopping suddenly ahead. The rider propped the bike with one leg and turned his head: “What are you doing here?”

Ye Yun raised her gaze and, upon seeing her older brother-in-law Bai Wenfu, whom she hadn’t seen for days, her heart leapt. She ran over to him. The vibrant hem of her dress swayed in the wind, her graceful waist swaying elegantly with each step.

Bai Wenfu’s penetrating gaze lingered on her. Ye Yun approached, slightly out of breath, and asked, “Big Brother, when did you return?”

“Just now.” He lowered his gaze, glancing at her flushed face.

“Do you know how to get to the supply and marketing cooperative?”

Bai Wenfu’s eyes flickered: “You’re going the wrong way. Need to buy something?”

Ye Yun nodded. Bai Wenfu withdrew his gaze and told her, “Get on.”

Ye Yun looked at the rear rack of the bike, her eyes bright and clear.

Before she could speak, Bai Wenfu added, “Sit sideways.”

Ye Yun turned, adjusted her skirt, tiptoed, and cautiously sat down. It was her first time riding a bike, and she was understandably nervous.

Bai Wenfu’s voice came from the front: “Hold on tight?”

“Mm,” Ye Yun replied.

Bai Wenfu pushed off the ground, and as the bike began moving, Ye Yun hadn’t held on. The sudden jolt startled her, and in panic, she reached out, grabbing Bai Wenfu’s side.

Bai Wenfu’s figure paused slightly. Through the thin shirt fabric, her slender hand felt like soft jade.

Unlike Wenbin’s lean build, Bai Wenfu’s waist exuded a firm strength, the unfamiliar male touch startling Ye Yun. After steadying herself, she quickly let go.

Bai Wenfu glanced down, his lips pressed tightly together.

Rounding a corner, the bike jolted again, and Ye Yun clutched Bai Wenfu’s broad back in another moment of panic. These intermittent touches were like a kitten scratching, causing Bai Wenfu’s eyes to flicker. He reminded her, “You can hold onto the edge of the backseat.”

Ye Yun pulled aside her skirt and found something to hold onto, finally sitting securely.

The spring breeze brushed against Ye Yun’s face, lifting her long hair. The red floral pattern danced lightly, and the surrounding scenery rushed past. Ye Yun felt as if she were flying, both magical and exhilarating. Her excited flush faced the light, her smile reflected on her cheeks.

Out of the corner of his eye, Bai Wenfu glanced at her reflection in the street-side glass window, then imperceptibly averted his gaze.