Feng Qingxue was quick to action, immediately going to Wang Zhenguo to secure a letter of introduction.
He Hongjun was a man of unknown origins, not to mention a young man in his prime. The sooner he was sent off, the less likely it was to spark rumours.
Upon understanding the situation, Wang Zhenguo stamped the paper as he spoke, "Ah, we’ve seen so many years of disaster and famine, every year dozens to hundreds of refugees come to our production brigade. Today’s passerby is just another one. You’ll get used to it."
As he finished, he paused his writing, muttering to himself, "He Hongjun... the name sounds familiar."
"Uncle, do you know him?", Feng Qingxue couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity.
"Can’t remember." Wang Zhenguo shook his head, "When you get older, your memory isn’t as good."
Miao Fengqin, standing nearby, pursed her lips. The name He Hongjun rang a bell, she distinctly remembered hearing it when Wang Jiao was desperately trying to marry Lu Jiang, along with another name, Zhang Yuejin.
As Zhang Yuejin was one of the standout younger members of the Wanglou Brigade and was considered as a potential husband for Wang Jiao, Miao Fengqin didn’t find it unusual. But the name He Hongjun was entirely foreign to her. She had intended to inquire her daughter about it, but her daughter had stormed off. After her daughter ran away from home and was beaten, consequently losing her memory of that time, Miao Fengqin buried the name He Hongjun deep within her heart. She had carefully paid attention later and found out that there was no person called He Hongjun in the vicinity, which had set her heart at ease.
After so much time had passed, she thought she would never hear his name again, but there he was unexpectedly.
Get him out of here, quickly, before anything else happens.
"Stop dawdling, finish the letter of introduction for Qingxue to take home." Miao Fengqin urged.
In front of her niece, Miao Fengqin certainly did not want to bring up her daughter’s past, let alone this He Hongjun who should leave once he received the letter. There was no need to invite trouble with careless chatter.
Wang Zhenguo grumbled, "I know, I know. Stop rushing me, letters of introduction can’t be written in a single stroke."
Not receiving an answer, Feng Qingxue didn’t dwell on it either. She returned home and handed He Hongjun the introduction letter and five yuan.
"Thank you, Comrade Feng." He Hongjun had come to know that her family had military ties during the time Feng Qingxue had been out. His initial admiration had been immediately suppressed, gratitude spreading across his face.
"No need for thanks, we’re just helping each other out."
Despite saying so, Feng Qingxue invited him to stay for breakfast and informed her father about him.
Old Xu and Mrs. Xu, fearing they might cause them trouble, didn’t come over for their meal upon learning there was a guest. They took the pot from the cowshed and boiled sweet potato porridge, as they still had cornbread, pancakes, and pickles prepared by Feng Qingxue.
The Lu family breakfast was modest. Brown rice porridge, cornbread, stir-fried pickles, radish beans, and other simple dishes.
Lu’s father was experienced and shrewd. He was able to coax out He Hongjun’s background over breakfast conversation.
He was from the capital and was an orphan without his parents. His siblings didn’t want him, so he planned to go to Shanghai to live with his great-aunt. His great-aunt was childless. As long as he looked after her in her old age, he would have a place to stay.
After breakfast, Feng Qingxue was instructed by her father to pack some pancakes, a few cornbread pieces, and pickles for He Hongjun to eat on his journey.
So, He Hongjun left, filled with gratitude.