The couple had not yet left the grocery store when an old lady who had been watching them for a while came over and grabbed Feng Qingxue’s arm.
"My dear, is that you? I recognize your voice! I’ve had a good look, it’s you! I’m sure of it - the eyes, the face, they can’t be mistaken!" The old lady excitedly held Feng Qingxue’s hand, her face filled with joy, "Thank heavens I found you, thank heavens I found you! My dear, thank heavens I found you!"
Feng Qingxue was a little dumbfounded and confused, "Ma’am, who are you?"
The sudden appearance startled her.
The old lady smiled, "You don’t remember, my dear. That year, my husband and I fainted from hunger by the roadside, and it was you who saved us."
Over the past two or three years, especially the first year, Feng Qingxue had helped so many people that she didn’t remember the old lady in front of her at all. She apologized, "Ma’am, I’m sorry, I don’t remember."
Often, she had frequented the black markets under various guises. Usually, only those who she helped in the early days would recognize her.
At that time, she was skinny and ragged, unnoticeable and without any fancy dress. Reflecting back on her audacious days when she would squat by the roadside eating buns, she almost wanted to scold herself for being foolish. Fortunately, no misfortune occurred, thanks to the honest and simple people in that era.
Later, when she went to the black market, she disguised herself. Now, she could recognize others, but they could not recognize her.
Take the fish vendor she met just now as an example. They had exchanged goods back at the beginning of 1961. The vendor had bought seven pounds of cornmeal from Feng Qingxue for thirty dollars, and had thanked her for her generosity before leaving.
"It doesn’t matter if you don’t remember me, as long as I remember you. You were riding a new Phoenix Brand bicycle that time, you gave us a few cornmeal rolls. We asked your name, but you left without telling us." The old lady finished speaking, shaking Feng Qingxue’s hand again, "My dear, it must be fate that we meet here. You can’t refuse to tell me your name now, can you?"
Mentioning the bicycle, Feng Qingxue remembered.
She had just bought that bicycle then, and spent a lot of money on it. She had gone through several black markets selling food at high prices, making over four hundred, then on the way home, she stumbled upon the elderly couple who had fainted by the roadside.
"Were they cornmeal rolls?" said Feng Qingxue.
The old lady nodded excitedly, "Yes, yes, indeed they were cornmeal rolls, bigger than a fist, and you gave us four in total! They saved mine and my husband’s lives! It was because of them that we were able to make it to my son’s house and stand a chance of survival! You were our savior! We thought you were from the city, and my husband and I have been searching for you these past two years but failed to find you. And now, unexpectedly, we meet in this grocery store."
Without having to think twice, Lu Jiang knew what had happened. He puffed out his chest, feeling particularly proud.
His wife was so gentle, so beautiful, and so kind-hearted. She had the most beautiful heart in the world, precious like gold, and flawless and exquisite like a gem.
The old lady quickly noticed Lu Jiang, "My dear, is this young man your partner? Such a spirited lad."
"Yes, this is my husband Lu Jiang. We’ve been married for over a year and our child is eight months old." Feng Qingxue enjoyed introducing her husband to others - her husband, a soldier who protected the home and the nation, was a source of great pride to her.
Not sure if I will make the deadline today or whether it will be the 13th, but here it is. I hope it’s the 13th then I can have more time to prepare.