Ever since He Xiulian came to Shuangshui Village, Lu Cheng's life had indeed become much easier. She helped with the farmwork and rushed to do the chores around the house. Whenever Lu Cheng grew tired from reading, she would massage his shoulders; whenever he broke a sweat working, she would wipe it away.
Whenever they had a free moment, Xiulian would tell Lu Cheng various stories from the village.
Though they were all trivial matters, coming from He Xiulian's lips, Lu Cheng found them endlessly fascinating.
For the first time in his past and present lives, Lu Cheng realized that an ordinary, simple life could hold so much joy.
She had originally planned to stay for four or five days before returning home, but He Xiulian ended up staying in Shuangshui Village for seven or eight days, and still didn't want to go back.
"Xiulian, it's about time you went back. If you don't return soon, your father and your sister are going to start worrying."
"Brother Lu Cheng, don't chase me away. I just want to stay here and keep you company."
"But if you don't leave now, people are going to start gossiping and it will ruin your reputation."
"I don't care about my reputation."
"Well, I do. You are a wonderful girl I love, the very best girl, and I won't let anyone gossip about you. I want you to marry me proudly and openly. Now come on, let's go to Shigezhijie Commune. According to our local customs, I need to make two sets of new clothes for you and a new set of bedding for your father."
He Xiulian climbed somewhat reluctantly onto the back of the bicycle, and they rode all the way toward Shigezhijie Commune.
Upon arriving at the supply and marketing cooperative's fabric counter, Lu Cheng said, "Xiulian, see what color fabric you like, and we'll make you two nice outfits."
He Xiulian ran her hand over bolt after bolt of cloth, finally stopping at a bolt of black Dacron. "I don't need any new clothes. I have plenty at home, more than enough to wear. Let's make a new outfit for you instead."
As she spoke, He Xiulian held the fabric up against Lu Cheng to measure it and asked the clerk, "Comrade, what color clothes do you think looks best on him?"
The clerk looked at the pair and asked, "Are you looking for higher-grade material?"
"Of course. These are for him to wear when we get married."
The clerk grew amused. "You two are certainly interesting."
He Xiulian looked puzzled. "What's so interesting about it?"
"I've seen plenty of people come here to buy fabric for wedding clothes. Usually, the bride-to-be changes her mind on the spot, demanding an extra yard beyond what was originally agreed upon, or more pieces. If she doesn't get her way, she throws a tantrum and refuses to buy the clothes, which means no marriage certificate."
Lu Cheng smiled. Wasn't that the exact same logic as a bride demanding a last-minute bride price in later generations?
While picking out fabric, He Xiulian asked, "Are there really people like that?"
"How could there not be? I've seen young men run out with panicked looks on their faces to borrow money. Some couldn't borrow any and ended up crying against the wall of the store. You're a good one—you only want one set of clothes, you don't even want good fabric, and you actually want to make a nice outfit for your man instead. Rare, truly rare. You're as sensible as the progressive characters in the movies."
Lu Cheng laughed out loud. "That's right, I'm lucky enough to have struck gold this time, to have met such a wonderful girl. Don't listen to her though, listen to me—make her two fine outfits out of good fabric, and let's get another set of bedding made as well."
He Xiulian immediately protested, snatching the fabric right out of Lu Cheng's hands. "Brother Lu Cheng, what are you doing? We don't need the bedding."
"We definitely need it. Your father worked so hard to raise you sisters all these years. Since you're marrying so far away, shouldn't we make a new set of bedding for your father to warm the old man's heart?"
"My dad doesn't want..."
"He wants it, he must have it. Comrade He Xiulian, since you are marrying me, I cannot let you be wronged, nor can I let the people in your village gossip about you."
"But..."
"There are no buts, Xiulian. I want you to remember that you deserve the very best."
This little dispute between them attracted everyone in the fabric section.
Someone couldn't help teasing, "Why is this like something out of a movie?"
There was also a young couple who had clearly come to buy fabric for their wedding clothes. Upon hearing what Lu Cheng said, the young woman gave her partner a sharp pinch. "Look at him—he's handsome and so thoughtful. Now look at you."
The young man looked aggrieved. "Well, look at their girl—see how sensible she is?"
In the end, under Lu Cheng's firm insistence, He Xiulian obediently gave in, hugging the fabric Lu Cheng had bought for her as they walked out of the store together, leaving behind a heartwarming romance in the small shop.
In those days, the clothes ordinary people wore and the bedding they used were made by buying good fabric from the commune and sewing it at home.
Lu Cheng escorted He Xiulian to the bus station and waited until the bus arrived before she reluctantly got on board. Right before boarding, she called out, "Brother Lu Cheng, I'm going to miss you. Wait for me, I'll be back soon."
Lu Cheng nodded. "I'm going to miss you too. Once you get back, I'll write to you."
"Then I'll wait for your letters every day."
Lu Cheng waved goodbye, watching the lovely girl leave with a heavy heart.
Once the bus started moving, He Xiulian pressed against the window, waving continuously at Lu Cheng.
Only after the bus drove far away did Lu Cheng mount his bicycle and head back home.
Looking at his small courtyard without He Xiulian's figure, it suddenly felt somewhat desolate.
Lu Cheng would have to work alone, cook alone, and live alone once again.
He really wanted to get married soon and start life after marriage.
Some people said that marriage was the graveyard of love.
Yet if two people truly loved and depended on each other, supported and encouraged one another, and braved the ordinary storms of the years together, how could marriage ever be a graveyard?
Xiulian had left, but Lu Cheng's life had to go on.
Having been in this world for so long, Lu Cheng also prepared to do something for the villagers of Shuangshui Village.
He took out his fountain pen and ink, unscrewed the ink bottle cap, unscrewed the pen to reveal its rubber ink sac, and seeing only a tiny bit of ink left inside, he filled the pen to the brim, screwed it back together, pulled out a brand-new notebook, and walked toward one of the households.
Taking advantage of his free time, Lu Cheng wanted to set up medical records for every villager in Shuangshui Village, detailing the health condition, past medical history, and any allergies of every household and every individual, truly fulfilling the duties of a village doctor.
Recording this household by household was destined not to be a simple task.
Yet since Lu Cheng had taken on the role of village doctor, he was determined to do everything in his power well.
Furthermore, this could prevent troubles before they happened, allowing him to discover potential health issues among the villagers in advance, remind them to take precautions, or formulate preventive plans for them.
Wasn't there a saying: the number of people one can hold in their heart determines how many things they can carry and how great a responsibility they can bear?
Lu Cheng wanted to understand the situation of every single villager and keep every one of them in his heart.
Although this task was laborious, Lu Cheng found it deeply meaningful.
As long as one was alive, one should do something meaningful within one's capacity, right?