Widow Remarries in Sixties

Jin Xiuzhu and her family set off at four in the morning. It was still pitch black outside. Jiang Mingchuan wrapped their daughter in a cloth and carried her on his back, while he held a large bag in each hand.

Jin Xiuzhu held He Yan’s hand and carried a small bag filled with food and a water bottle. He Yan also had his backpack, which contained his saved-up pocket money and some snacks from home. Though they hadn’t reached the capital yet, he had already promised his two friends that he would bring them gifts upon his return.

This was his second long trip.

The first time was when he accompanied his father to the army base, during which he had been nervous and unsure about what would happen. This time, however, he was full of excitement and anticipation.

His mother had promised to take him to see various sights, eat roast duck, and climb the Great Wall. He was eager to share all these experiences with his friends when he got back.

They first took a boat to the county, then transferred to a bus to the city, and from the city, they boarded a train to the provincial capital, with several transfers along the way.

Jiang Mingchuan had initially bought seated tickets, followed by two sleeper tickets for later.

The family of four squeezed onto the train with difficulty. It was the Chinese New Year period, so the train was especially crowded with students, educated youths, and people returning home to visit their families.

Jiang Mingchuan carried their daughter in front, with He Yan in the middle. Fearing his mother might get lost in the crowd, He Yan held Jin Xiuzhu’s hand tightly, creating a path for her with his surprising strength.

After finding their seats, Jin Xiuzhu sat in one seat while her son and daughter shared another. Jiang Mingchuan stood nearby, guarding them against the crowd.

Looking at the packed train car, Jiang Mingchuan said to his wife and children, “Hang in there for a bit. We’ll reach the provincial capital by noon, and the sleeper tickets in the afternoon will be more comfortable.”

He Yan obediently nodded, curiously looking around with his legs swinging leisurely. With his parents there, he felt none of the anxiety or unease of traveling far from home.

Fu Yanyan couldn’t help but glance at him, noticing the joy and ease in his eyes.

She realized she could no longer see him as the person he was in their previous life. Now, he seemed like an ordinary, happy child without worries or hidden agendas.

Noticing his sister looking at him, He Yan turned to her and touched his face, asking, “What’s wrong?”

Fu Yanyan lowered her eyes, “I’m thirsty.”

He Yan turned to the other side and called, “Mom, sister is thirsty.”

Jin Xiuzhu immediately rummaged through her bag and handed over a green military water bottle. Fu Yanyan took it and drank. After she finished, He Yan took a couple of sips before returning the bottle to Jin Xiuzhu. He then pulled out three pieces of candy from his backpack, giving one to his sister, one to his mother, and putting the third in his own mouth, squinting happily at the sweetness.

Fu Yanyan didn’t eat hers. She just played with it in her hands, lost in thought.

He Yan was completely different from his previous life, and this trip was different too. In their past life, their family had never gone to the capital.

Back then, “Jin Xiuzhu” was very insecure. At first, she tried to please Jiang’s adoptive parents by frequently writing letters and sending gifts. Later, she realized Jiang Mingchuan’s adoptive parents didn’t treat him well, so she gave up trying to please them. However, she often used this issue to mock Jiang Mingchuan during arguments, saying he was unlikeable and incapable, even his parents disliked him.

Jiang Mingchuan had once suggested taking the family to the capital for the New Year. “Jin Xiuzhu” had agreed, even making new clothes and buying clam oil for herself. But on the day they were to leave, some army wives saw her in her new clothes and made a couple of comments. She flew into a rage, returned home, and cut all her new clothes to shreds with scissors.

Back then, Fu Yanyan didn’t understand much. She just felt that “Jin Xiuzhu” was very scary, and even He Yan turned pale with fear. Their father sent them back to their room while he went to mediate, but as expected, the two started arguing again.

Thinking back now, in their previous life, the whole family lived in a stifling and oppressive environment.

They arrived in the provincial capital at 11:30 in the morning and had a warm meal of dumplings at a nearby state-run restaurant. At 2:30 in the afternoon, they squeezed onto another train. Jiang Mingchuan had bought lower and middle berths: he and his son slept on the lower berths, while Jin Xiuzhu and their daughter took the middle ones. Their large bags were stored under the lower bunks.

Before it got dark, the family of four sat together on the lower berth, the two children had taken off their shoes and were playing with string figures under a blanket.

Jin Xiuzhu was reading a book when Jiang Mingchuan returned with a kettle of hot water. He placed the kettle on the table beside them and sat next to Jin Xiuzhu.

Jin Xiuzhu paused while flipping through her book, turned her head, and quietly asked Jiang Mingchuan, “I seem to have heard someone mention before that your biological mother’s family used to be quite wealthy?”

Jiang Mingchuan didn’t think much of it, assuming she was curious about his biological parents. A look of reminiscence appeared on his face. “Yes, when I was young, I lived in a very large estate. My maternal grandmother passed away early, so I never met her. I only met my grandfather. My mother was his youngest child, the only one who survived. He just wanted my mother to live a healthy life but didn’t expect her to dedicate herself to a great cause.”

“After my grandfather passed away, my mother donated all the family assets except for two small Western-style houses. One was left by my grandmother to my mother, which she later gave to me. It’s in the capital. I’ll take you to see it when we have time. It’s very beautiful. The other one is in S Province, left for my sister.”

“Those years, she took me and moved around a lot. Later, she stopped letting me call her ‘mom.’ After that, I rarely saw her. The last time I saw her, she was holding my sister. She told me my father had died and said that my sister would be raised by her adoptive parents, but I should never forget her.”

Those property titles were also given to him by his mother at that time, telling him to guard them well, as they could ensure a lifetime of security for him and his sister if needed.

He no longer remembered his mother’s face and expressions but still remembered her words—“Mother can give up everything, but she can’t bear to see you suffer.”

Jin Xiuzhu asked, “Where are the property titles? Why haven’t I seen them?”

Jiang Mingchuan looked a bit embarrassed. “Mine is with my adoptive mother, and my sister’s is hidden away by me.”

When he was a child, he feared they would be stolen. After moving to his adoptive parents’ house, he hid them separately. His was discovered by his adoptive brother, who cried and fussed for it, and his adoptive mother took it away. When he asked for it back, she said she was keeping it safe for him.

Jin Xiuzhu: “…”

Forget it, she didn’t want to say anything about it anymore. She would definitely get it back anyway.

Curiously, she then asked, “And your sister?”

A hint of pride appeared on Jiang Mingchuan’s face. “My sister got into college and is still studying. When we get back, let’s go see her, okay?”

He looked at Jin Xiuzhu, seeking her opinion.

Without thinking, Jin Xiuzhu nodded, “Sure.”

Only Fu Yanyan, sitting behind them and playing with string figures, paused.

If she remembered correctly, in their previous life, Aunt Jiang did not fare well. The couple who adopted her later had their own child, just three years younger than Aunt Jiang.

After Aunt Jiang graduated from college and was assigned a good job, that younger sister, who hadn’t gotten into college, forced Aunt Jiang to go to the countryside in her place, taking over Aunt Jiang’s job. She was even told she was adopted and owed them for raising her.

Whenever Dad went to visit Aunt Jiang, the couple would say they didn’t want him disturbing their life. He never found out the truth until Aunt Jiang secretly wrote him a letter from the countryside, asking for help. Dad died on the way to find her, and Aunt Jiang died in childbirth.

This was what He Yan recounted at “Jin Xiuzhu’s” hospital bed in her past life. When he found Dad, he had been crushed by a car, probably to silence him. No one knew what really happened, and the case was eventually ruled an accident.

Thinking of this, she felt a bit distressed. How desperate must Aunt Jiang have been in her past life?

In this life, she definitely wouldn’t let such a thing happen again.

After a grueling three-day, two-night train journey, they finally arrived in the capital in the afternoon, around three or four o’clock. Before getting off the train, Jin Xiuzhu took out a mirror to check her appearance, tidied her hair, and fixed her daughter’s hairstyle.

When Jiang Mingchuan stepped off the train, the familiar yet strange place stirred complex emotions within him.

Jin Xiuzhu and the two children were completely curious, while Jiang Mingchuan led them to the bus stop, saying, “Today is New Year’s Eve. The buses will stop running early, let’s hurry.”

Jin Xiuzhu didn’t understand but simply followed him with her bag.

They waited at the bus stop outside the train station for a while before boarding the No. 17 bus. As the bus moved, more and more scenery came into view—wide, clean streets and tall, orderly buildings. Jin Xiuzhu was amazed by what she saw.

Indeed, it was the capital. It’s far more prosperous than any city she has ever seen, especially the many people riding bicycles and driving small cars.

They switched buses halfway, and by the time they reached their destination, it was already past six in the evening, and it was dark.

Jiang Mingchuan’s adoptive parents lived in the military district compound. The two guards at the gate were new faces and didn’t recognize Jiang Mingchuan, so they stopped him.

Jiang Mingchuan said, “We are relatives of Logistics Director Pan Shenglin. I am his adopted son, Jiang Mingchuan. Could you please inform him?”

One of the guards responded, “Please wait a moment.”

He then turned and ran into the compound.

The other guard said, “Please come with me to register.”

Jiang Mingchuan put down his bag and followed the guard into a small booth to write down his name and ID number.

After about ten minutes, two figures appeared from a distance, one following the other. Under the dim streetlight, the middle-aged man walking in front became clearer. He was followed closely by the young guard who had gone to fetch him.