Chapter 30: The Official Research Institute Appointment + A Preview of the Military Marriage

The morning mist had yet to disperse, and a thin layer of frost clung to the bamboo drying racks at the pharmaceutical plant. Su Yao was wiping down medicine bottles with a rag when the sound of a bicycle bell rang out from outside the courtyard. Looking up, she saw Erzhuzi rushing in, brandishing a kraft paper envelope.

"Director Su! This was sent by the people from the county research institute!" Erzhuzi panted, his cotton-padded shoes caked in mud. "They said it's your appointment letter!"

Su Yao’s hand paused, the medicine bottle rotating halfway in her grip. Xiao Zhang leaned over to take a look. "Is it for the deputy director position we talked about?"

She tore open the envelope. The red silk appointment letter, embossed with gold lettering, bore the eye-catching line: "Appointing Comrade Su Yao as Deputy Director of the County Research Institute." Su Yao pinched the corner of the certificate, her fingertips tracing the textured surface, and was suddenly reminded of the "Barefoot Doctor’s Manual" she had read by the light of an oil lamp when she first arrived in the countryside.

"Hurry and show Comrade Lu!" Xiao Zhang was more excited than she was. "This is a monumental event!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Lu Zhanye walked in from outside, his military overcoat dusted with white frost. He had just returned from the Armed Forces Department, clutching a large sheet of red paper. When he saw the appointment letter in Su Yao’s hand, his eyes lit up.

"What is this..." Before Su Yao could finish her question, her eyes were caught by the paper in his hand.

"The military approved it." Lu Zhanye slapped the red paper onto the table. It bore the words "Approval of the Marriage between Lu Zhanye and Su Yao," stamped with a bright red official seal. "We can officially process the paperwork now."

Xiao Zhang and Erzhuzi clapped, causing the glass bottles on the shelves to jingle. Su Yao placed the appointment letter and the marriage introduction letter side by side on the table; the red silk and the crimson paper looked like a festive pair of couplets.

"This is wonderful!" Erzhuzi scratched his head and laughed. "I'll have to call you Director Su from now on!"

Lu Zhanye pulled a red cloth bundle from his chest pocket containing two marriage certificates with red plastic covers. In the photo, the two sat close together, Su Yao’s braid resting on Lu Zhanye’s shoulder. "We went to the commune to get these yesterday. I acted first and reported later." His earlobes turned slightly red. "I wanted to wait until your appointment letter came so I could tell you everything at once."

Su Yao touched the photo on the marriage certificate and suddenly laughed aloud. When they first met, this man had saved her by the river, shivering in soaked clothes yet insisting on giving her his military jacket to wear. Now, he had actually learned to keep secrets.

"Mom! Dad!" Lu Xingchen burst into the courtyard with his schoolbag on his back, followed by Lu Yuxuan and Lu Shihan. The three of them held a piece of cardboard on which they had written in crayon, "We are going to have a new brother or sister!" The handwriting was crooked, and they had drawn two small circles to represent the babies.

Lu Yuxuan held the cardboard up to the table, the crayon tip smudging the appointment letter and leaving a yellow mark. Lu Zhanye was about to scold him, but Su Yao stopped him. "Don't scare the children."

"Dad, look!" Lu Xingchen pointed to the photo on the marriage certificate. "Mom is smiling even more beautifully than a sunflower!"

Lu Shihan tugged at the corner of Su Yao’s coat. "Does having a new brother or sister mean we can have a wedding feast? Widow Li says wedding feasts come with red eggs."

Just as she spoke, Widow Li lifted the door curtain and walked in, carrying a bowl of stir-fried peanuts. "I heard the commotion in your courtyard!" Seeing the appointment letter and marriage certificate on the table, she slapped her thigh and laughed. "This is a triple celebration! You must invite the villagers over for a drink!"

Lu Zhanye handed out the peanuts to the children. "I’ve already thought about it. We’ll set up a few tables at the brigade headquarters this Saturday and invite everyone to celebrate." He shelled a peanut and fed it to Su Yao. "We can also tell the villagers about the penicillin production line while we’re at it."

Su Yao suddenly remembered the notification that had flashed on her system panel last night. Following "Military Marriage Achievement Unlocked" was a long list of equipment. Looking at the red certificates on the table, she felt that those flickering light points were far less real than the thin calluses on Lu Zhanye’s fingertips.

"By the way, Professor Zhang sent word that the equipment will arrive next week." Lu Zhanye pulled a list from his briefcase. "He said he would deliver it personally and attend our feast."

Lu Yuxuan lay on the table counting the characters on the list. Pointing to the words "fermentation tank," he asked, "Is this the machine that makes more sugar beans?" He called the penicillin pills "sugar beans."

"It’s a machine that can save more people," Su Yao said, stroking his head. "In the future, when the villagers get sick, they won't have to run dozens of miles to the county town."

At lunch, Lu Zhanye put meat into Su Yao’s bowl. "I’ll go get some red cloth this afternoon to make you a new dress for the feast."

"There’s no need to be so particular." Su Yao put the meat into Lu Xingchen’s bowl. "The children should eat more."

"That won't do." Lu Zhanye insisted. "Our wedding needs to be done properly." He glanced at Su Yao’s stomach, his voice softening. "Dr. Wang said you need to be extra careful now. Don't overwork yourself."

Lu Shihan suddenly put down her chopsticks, wiped her little hands on her apron, and pulled a piece of candy wrapped in paper from her pocket. "This is for Mom. Auntie Li says it’s good for pregnant women to eat sweets."

The wrapper was transparent, and the fruit candy inside looked like an orange. Su Yao peeled the wrapper and fed it to the child. "You eat it. It’s enough for me that you have this heart."

In the afternoon, Lu Zhanye went to the county to buy cloth, and Su Yao assigned tasks to the workers at the plant. Xiao Zhang held the equipment list, his finger pointing at the "autoclave" as he asked, "We’ll need to find someone who understands electricity to install this, right?"

"I’ve already spoken to Officer Zhang from the Armed Forces Department," Su Yao noted in her notebook. "He said the military can send an electrician to help." As she spoke, she saw Lu Xingchen lying by the medicine shelf doing his homework, the pencil tip worn down, yet he kept writing.

"Why aren't you writing inside?" Su Yao walked over and saw him copying the characters from the appointment letter. "Those are hard to write; let Mom teach you."

Lu Xingchen tilted his head up. "I want to learn so I can write to Grandma." He was referring to Lu Zhanye’s mother, who was back in their hometown recovering from an illness. "Dad said that if Grandma sees the characters I wrote, she’ll get better faster."

Su Yao’s heart softened. She held his hand, writing the three characters for "Research Institute" stroke by stroke. The afternoon sunlight slanted in, casting their shadows on the wall like a joined silhouette.

When Lu Zhanye returned, a bolt of red floral fabric was tied to his bicycle, along with a string of candied haws. Lu Yuxuan and Lu Shihan scrambled for them, running circles in the courtyard with the treats, not caring that sugar shards were falling onto their cotton jackets.

"I found a lady who knows how to sew; she said this cloth would make a nice cotton jacket." Lu Zhanye handed the fabric to Su Yao. "She said she’d come by tomorrow to take measurements."

Su Yao touched the floral pattern on the fabric, suddenly remembering the white wedding dress she wore in her past life—shivering from the cold while forcing a smile. Now, this warm, soft cotton felt much more comforting than that extravagant gown.

At dusk, as work ended, Lu Zhanye chopped wood in the courtyard while Su Yao sat on the threshold watching. His axe swings were swift and clean; his military green fleece shirt was darkened by sweat, and beads of perspiration from his brow fell onto the frozen earth, instantly freezing into tiny ice crystals.

"Take a break." Su Yao handed him a towel. "It won't be too late to chop more tomorrow."

Lu Zhanye took the towel to wipe his face, water droplets trailing down his jawline. "I’ll chop a bit more so we can have hot water for the feast." He glanced inside the house. "Where are the kids?"

"Writing invitations." Su Yao smiled. "Lu Xingchen says he wants to send one to Lin Xiao in Beijing so she can come and eat red eggs."

Lu Zhanye stood the axe against the wall and sat down next to Su Yao. "When spring comes, we’ll go back to our hometown." He looked at the distant wheat fields. "My mother always talks about you, saying she wants to see what the girl who started the pharmaceutical plant looks like."

Su Yao placed her hand on her stomach, where something moved gently. "We’ll take the children with us," she said, leaning on Lu Zhanye’s shoulder. "Let Grandma see her great-grandchildren."

That night, Lu Zhanye whittled wooden guns for the children under the lamp, while Su Yao organized the equipment list. The characters on the system panel were still flashing, but she felt that those cold, mechanical nouns had become warm now that they were touched by the mundane life of the world.

"What do you think we should name the children?" Lu Zhanye asked, his carving knife stopping on the wooden gun. "If it’s a boy and a girl, they need proper names."

"They should have a rustic, earthy feel." Su Yao flipped through a medicine book. "Look at Xingchen, Yuxuan, and Shihan—they’re a bit too scholarly."

Lu Zhanye laughed. "Wasn't it you who said they should read more?" He thought for a moment. "How about Lu Maitun? Or Lu Gusui?"

Su Yao was amused. "Sounds like someone hoarding grain." She pointed to the wheat fields outside the window. "How about Lu Qingmiao? It works for both boys and girls, like wheat sprouts growing tall."

Lu Zhanye carved the two characters "Qingmiao" onto the wooden gun. The strokes were crooked but held a sense of resilience. "It’s decided."

Early the next morning, Auntie Liu, the seamstress, came to take measurements. She wrapped a soft tape measure around Su Yao’s waist and clicked her tongue. "Must leave room; you’re carrying two!" Lu Zhanye stood by, watching intently and insisting, "Make it wider, make it even wider," which made Auntie Liu laugh.

Lu Xingchen was writing invitations, and Lu Yuxuan was cutting out "Double Happiness" characters from red paper, making them look like flowers. Lu Shihan followed Auntie Liu, learning to sew, stitching strips of red cloth onto her little jacket.

"Mom, do I look like a little bride?" Lu Shihan asked, spinning around, the red cloth strips fluttering on her hem.

Before Su Yao could answer, a car horn sounded outside. Professor Zhang stepped out of a jeep wearing a military overcoat, carrying a black leather bag. "I heard there’s a double celebration, so I’ve come to beg for some wedding wine."

Seeing the equipment list on the table, his eyes brightened. "These are all the latest models, even more advanced than the ones at the provincial institute." He pulled a book titled "Antibiotic Production Technology" from his bag. "I brought this for you; I’ve marked the key points."

Lu Zhanye went to the kitchen to boil water, and Su Yao discussed the layout of the production line with Professor Zhang. Xiao Zhang took notes, the nib of his pen scratching against the paper like silkworms eating mulberry leaves.

"Once the equipment is installed, I’ll send two students to be stationed here," Professor Zhang said while drinking hot tea. "We’ll strive to produce the first batch of penicillin before the end of the year."

Lu Shihan brought over a plate of stir-fried peanuts and asked, "Grandpa Zhang, can penicillin cure a cough? When I coughed last time, Mom gave me pear water."

"It can," Professor Zhang said, handing her a peanut. "In the future, the children in our village won't have to be afraid when they get sick."

At noon, Lu Zhanye slaughtered an old hen for the guest. Su Yao served the chicken soup to Professor Zhang, who took a few sips and set down his chopsticks, staring at the "Distribution Map of Medicinal Herbs" on the wall. "The soil here is suitable for honeysuckle. Next year, you could establish a planting base."

"That’s what I was thinking." Su Yao pointed to the hilly land on the map. "That wasteland is just sitting there; letting the villagers grow medicinal herbs is more profitable than growing corn."

Lu Zhanye listened from the side and suddenly said, "The Armed Forces Department can help with sales channels. The military hospitals need a lot of medicinal herbs every year."

Professor Zhang slapped the table and laughed. "That’s what you call the integration of production, study, and research!"

In the afternoon, Professor Zhang went to the commune to inspect the site, and Lu Zhanye took the children to the brigade headquarters to borrow tables and chairs. Su Yao was trimming the appointment letter with red silk at the plant when Erzhuzi walked in carrying a wooden board with "County Research Institute Pharmaceutical Experimental Base" written on it—he had asked a carpenter to make it overnight.

"How about hanging this at the plant entrance?" Erzhuzi held the board up to the door frame. "The red paint isn't dry yet, so be careful."

Su Yao looked at the board, feeling as though it were a dream. When she first arrived in the countryside, she didn't even know how to plant wheat and was mocked by Su Wan for being a "delicate city girl." Now, she was about to hang the sign of a research institute.

"Mom, we’re back!" Lu Xingchen rushed into the courtyard with a string of firecrackers Lu Zhanye had bought from the supply and marketing cooperative. "Widow Li says we should set these off during the feast tomorrow."

Lu Yuxuan held a red cloth bundle containing Lu Zhanye’s military medals. "Dad said to hang them on the wall for the little brother and sister to see." He laid the medals out on the table, shining in the light.

Su Yao touched the bullet marks on the medals, recalling the scar on Lu Zhanye’s shoulder. This man, who bled on the battlefield but never shed a tear, had been incredibly careful rubbing her legs last night, fearing he would hurt her.

At dusk, Widow Li and several women came to help steam buns. Their laughter drifted from the kitchen, mixed with the scent of flour, feeling exceptionally warm. Lu Shihan learned to knead the dough, her little hands covered in white flour, smearing it across her face until she looked like a little tabby cat.

"Su, you must display that appointment letter prominently." Widow Li’s rolling pin thudded against the board. "Our village has never had a female cadre before."

"It’s just a job to get things done," Su Yao said while tending the fire. The flames licked the bottom of the pot, reflecting a rosy glow on her face. "I still need everyone’s help."

Lu Zhanye returned, carrying a paper package containing several feet of red cloth. "To make new clothes for the kids." He handed the fabric to Widow Li. "Let them dress festively for the feast."

Lu Xingchen was writing invitations and his eyes lit up at the sight of the red cloth. "Dad, can you wrap my wooden gun in red cloth? Like the spears on stage?"

"Sure," Lu Zhanye promised with a smile. "And I'll make a red dress for your sister’s doll."

At night, Su Yao tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. Lu Zhanye thought she was uncomfortable and reached out to touch her stomach, but she pressed his hand down.

"I’m wondering what shoes to wear tomorrow," Su Yao’s voice sounded muffled in the darkness. "The blue cloth shoes, do you think they’ll be okay?"

Lu Zhanye smiled and pulled her into his arms. "Any shoes will look beautiful on you." He paused, his voice dropping. "I’ve always felt I owed you a proper wedding."

"This is perfect." Su Yao leaned against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. "I have the appointment letter, the marriage certificate, the children, and..." she touched her stomach, "these two little ones."

The moonlight shone in, casting a hazy glow over the photo on the marriage certificate. Su Yao thought of the "Military Marriage Achievement" on her system panel and suddenly felt that those virtual rewards were far less real than the warmth of the person beside her.

The next morning, the villagers came to help. The men set up sheds and moved tables, the women washed vegetables and chopped meat, and the children darted through the crowd like happy little birds. Lu Xingchen led his friends in pasting up "Double Happiness" signs, Lu Yuxuan’s red-silk-wrapped wooden gun became the most sought-after toy, and Lu Shihan, wearing her new red jacket, bowed to everyone, saying, "Thank you for coming to the wedding feast."

Su Yao wore her red floral cotton jacket, greeting guests at the plant entrance. Professor Zhang and the comrades from the Armed Forces Department arrived, and the commune secretary even came with his cane to offer congratulations. Lu Zhanye, wearing his military uniform with his medals pinned to his chest, served cigarettes and tea to every guest, sweating from the effort.

When the feast began, Lu Zhanye took Su Yao’s hand and walked to the center of the shed. Erzhuzi raised his glass and shouted, "Let Director Su say a few words!"

Su Yao took the glass, looking at the smiling faces filling the courtyard, and suddenly found herself speechless. Lu Zhanye stepped in to ease the moment. "My wife isn't one for speeches; her heart is in the plant and the children." He raised his glass. "I, Lu Zhanye, am most fortunate in this life to have married her, and I am most proud to see her build this plant."

The applause from the courtyard startled the sparrows in the trees. Lu Shihan suddenly ran to the center, holding up her red-striped jacket, and sang, "I am a little commune member, I love labor and I love the collective..." Her off-key singing made everyone laugh, but Su Yao’s eyes suddenly filled with tears.

Professor Zhang bumped Lu Zhanye’s arm and pointed to the distant hillside. "Look, that land will be ready for honeysuckle next year."

Lu Zhanye looked in the direction he pointed, the setting sun dyeing the hillside a golden red. Su Yao leaned against him, and the two little ones in her stomach moved gently, as if applauding this long-overdue wedding.

After the feast, Lu Xingchen shared the candies given by guests with his younger siblings. Lu Yuxuan’s wooden gun still had the red silk ribbon tied around it, and Lu Shihan sat by the table picking up peanuts while holding her doll. Su Yao and Lu Zhanye cleared the bowls and chopsticks, the moonlight spilling over them like a gentle veil.

"Look," Lu Zhanye said, pointing at the appointment letter and the marriage certificate on the table. "Everything has come true."

Su Yao nodded with a smile, suddenly recalling the sentence she had written in her diary when she first came to the countryside: "I hope life can be like a sunflower, always facing the light." Now, it seemed, it wasn't just facing the light—it had also produced a bountiful harvest.

The system panel flashed in her mind, but Su Yao didn't look. Those equipment lists and achievement rewards were, after all, no match for the lingering warmth of the stove, the laughter of the children, or the heat from the palm of the man beside her. This, she realized, was what life was truly about.