Minmin hadn’t finished speaking when Gao Lingfeng had already swung a leg over the bike seat, pedaling with one foot and pushing off the ground with the other, turning his head to tell her, "You’re so long-winded that class is about to start. Hurry up and get on."
Minmin looked at him and realized he wasn’t joking. Underneath that imposing aura, it seemed that if she didn’t get on, he would leave her behind. Without further thought, she took two steps forward and sat on the rear seat of the bike.
Minmin quickly grabbed onto the iron frame under the seat.
Gao Lingfeng truly had the confidence. He rode his bike as if he were riding a motorcycle.
In less than twenty minutes, they had reached the post office. Minmin told Gao Lingfeng and hurriedly made a call to the commune in her hometown. Then someone on the other end actually recognized her voice, "Oh, Mrs. Shen, are you asking me to relay a message, or is someone there to take the call?"
"I want to ask if my sister-in-law, Yixiang, is at home?"
"Eh, Yixiang? She left the house this morning. Didn’t she say she was coming to your place?"
Minmin’s heart skipped a beat. "She really came over? I just received a letter today, so I wanted to call and check if she actually came, just to confirm so I could make arrangements."
The person on the other end spoke conclusively, "She really left. This morning, when I was taking the kids to school, I ran into your father-in-law and Yixiang at the crossroads. They were carrying a big bag of stuff. I asked, and your father-in-law said they were going over to Yiguang’s place to stay for a few days. Looks like they’re already on the train by now..."
After hanging up the phone, Minmin sighed and walked out.
Gao Lingfeng noticed her expression. "What’s wrong? Didn’t things go according to plan?"
"Yeah, it’s fate’s trick. Let’s go back," Minmin shook her head.
Gao Lingfeng nodded, watching her sit back down. He earnestly consoled her, "Don’t be sad. After all, you did what you could. As long as your conscience is clear, that’s what counts."
Ah, a clear conscience?
Minmin guiltily turned her face away.
It was almost time for class when they got back to school.
She thanked Gao Lingfeng and quickly ran back to her dorm to change out of her soaked cotton shoes. The run outside had made her feel frozen stiff. She hastily made a cup of hot ginger brown sugar water to drink, which finally made her feel a bit warmer, really hoping she wouldn’t catch a cold.
Her roommate was just about to head out for class. Erxi saw her and asked, "Where did Pei Min go just now? Still in the lab?"
Minmin didn’t have time to answer and simply nodded.
Since she couldn’t stop Yixiang from coming, she could only let her visit. Moreover, even if Yixiang did come, Minmin wouldn’t have time to accompany her. Apart from that one weekend day, the rest of the time, because she had to stay in school, she wouldn’t be able to spend many days with Yixiang.
Once she saw that there was nothing for her to do, she would persuade her to return home early.
With that plan in mind, Minmin began preparing for the weekend. Yixiang wouldn’t likely stay for just one or two days; it would probably be at least a week. She would need to buy some meat and vegetables to keep at home. If Yixiang wanted to cook, she could do it herself, or she could go to the cafeteria if she didn’t feel like it.
Also, when she went back, Minmin would have her bring some things with her, so she wouldn’t return empty-handed after traveling such a long distance.
The day before the weekend, Yang PeiMin had made another trip to the city center, purchased everything she needed, and then took the bus back to the military base.
Upon returning to the compound, it was already past eight o’clock. When she arrived downstairs, she saw the lights on in her own apartment, signaling that Shen Yixiang had already arrived.
Her current location downstairs was pitch-dark, with no lighting at all; everyone’s doors were shut tight, as it was simply too cold. Come nighttime, with the fierce winds, everyone would close their doors and windows.
Just as she was thinking this, a gust of wind swept through. Yang PeiMin tightened her coat, pulled her scarf over her ears, sniffed back the oncoming runny nose, and quickly headed toward the stairs.
She felt like she was coming down with a cold. On her way back, she had to change vehicles a few times. The rest was okay, at least there was metal shielding from the wind, but the worst part was the horse carriage ride from the town—she had been so chilled by the wind that she lost all sensation.
She had also thought about Shen Yixiang coming over these two days because she wasn’t sure if Shen Yiguang would return today. If Shen Yixiang didn’t come to find her at school, she would have headed back to the compound. So right after school, she rushed back home to avoid Shen Yixiang having to sleep in the reception room.
Lost in her thoughts, she reached the stairwell entrance, which was lit by a single yellow light that flickered as if it were about to go out. Out of nowhere, a cat darted past with a meow, scaring her into a scream.
She feared these things in the dead of night and staggered backward several steps in fright. Then, stepping on something, she teetered and was about to fall backward—Yang PeiMin was on the verge of collapsing from the successive scares.
The moment she fell, her hands flailed through the air, and whether it was her imagination or not, she grabbed a strong arm, and she was quickly pulled into a firm chest.
Yang PeiMin was about to scream again from the shock, but a familiar voice quickly reached her ears, "Minmin, it’s me, don’t be afraid. It’s me, your man."
Yang PeiMin burst into tears with a "wa."
Shen Yiguang held her tightly in his arms, both anxious and pained, "Don’t be scared, I’m right here. Did you hurt yourself anywhere?"
Yang PeiMin shook her head repeatedly, feeling an immense sense of grievance inside, but her crying gradually grew quieter.
Before Shen Yiguang could say anything more, a neighbor’s voice inquired, "Who’s there? What’s the matter?" "What exactly happened? I heard someone crying just now." They must have heard the commotion as well.
Shen Yiguang replied, "It’s nothing much, the light at the entrance is broken, and we couldn’t see clearly. My wife just missed a step by accident, but it’s okay."
"So it’s you, Old Shen. Well, as long as it’s nothing, better go upstairs early, it’s quite cold out tonight."
Shen Yiguang acknowledged them.
Silence returned to the stairway entrance.
"Minmin, let’s go upstairs."
Yang PeiMin punched his chest with a tone of complaint, "Why did you only come back now? Hadn’t your injury just healed? Why did you go to another drill?"
"I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. I came back late, didn’t make it in time to pick you up from school, and Xiao Xu had an emergency task. Were you terribly frightened just now? Did you hurt yourself?"
Yang PeiMin said angrily, "I was so scared my legs went weak, now I don’t have the strength to walk."
Shen Yiguang tenderly kissed her forehead, softly saying, "I’ll carry you upstairs."
Yang PeiMin unceremoniously leaned on his back, wiping the tears and snot on her face onto the back of his neck.