Chapter 18: Wang Cui’e

Ha... So it was the “wet nurse.”
Li Aiguo felt a wave of embarrassment in his heart, nearly scratching a hole in the floorboard with his toes.
But, upon reflection, it wasn’t such a big deal.
In this era, the bonds among workers were as strong as steel and as fierce as fire; nursing each other’s children was perfectly normal.
Stay calm...
Stay calm...
Phew...
“It’s all in the past, why keep bringing up these old stories? Don’t you see the kid’s face is turning red?”
“I’m just worried about the child. You know I’ve always treated Aiguo like my own.”
At that moment, Zhou Tiehu came over holding an enamel mug and a palm fan, shouting at Wang Cuie.
Both spoke in loud voices, as if they were constantly quarrelling.
If they really argued now, it would be like two cannons firing at each other, deafening and explosive.
Li Aiguo noticed the incandescent light bulb hanging from the ceiling flicker twice with a faint buzzing.
He quickly stood up, changing the subject: “Uncle Zhou, there’s less than half a month before the exam. When will I go to the locomotive depot for the review?”
“You haven’t been reviewed yet?”
Zhou Tiehu widened his eyes in surprise. “Aiguo, are you saying Director Liu from the education office hasn’t informed you about the early exam date?”
A chill ran through Li Aiguo’s heart, but his expression remained unchanged as he smiled and said, “I’ve been studying indoors all this time and haven’t received any notification from the depot.”
The train driver exam was organized uniformly by the education office of the locomotive depot, led by its director who would take candidates to the bureau for the test.
According to regulations, any change in exam date must be notified to candidates in advance by the education office.
Zhou Tiehu seemed to recall something, his face turning strange as he took a sip of water awkwardly.
“Maybe Director Liu was busy and overlooked it.”
“Overlooked? I think that old witch Liu Chunhua did it on purpose.”
At that moment, Wang Cuie brought over a plate of washed red dates, pinched the largest one, and handed it to Li Aiguo.
“I heard in the service section that Liu Chunhua’s brother, Liu Erfeng, is also taking the train driver exam this year. Aiguo, with your excellent grades, you’re sure to rank in the top three. No wonder she’s trying to watch out.”
Liu Erfeng... Li Aiguo searched his memory for this person.
Indeed, Liu Erfeng was his classmate, though from the neighboring class, and apparently did quite well.
At the graduation party, Liu Erfeng had even purposefully toasted Li Aiguo with a sarcastic tone, wishing him a bright future.
At the time, Li Aiguo found it strange since they barely knew each other; why was Liu Erfeng so enthusiastic?
Now he realized he had already been targeted by Liu Erfeng back then.

Where there’s profit, there’s conflict.
Wang Cuie grew angrier as she spoke, pounding her fist hard on the table.
“Liu Chunhua acts like this with no sense of discipline or class loyalty! Aiguo’s father sacrificed himself for the depot! No, I must report this to Director Zhang at the depot. We can’t let our child be wronged...”
Seeing Wang Cuie put on her shoes, ready to leave, Zhou Tiehu stood up and grabbed her arm.
“There’s still time. As long as Aiguo passes the review tomorrow, he can still take the exam.”
“Old Zhou, I’ve noticed as you get older you get more timid. Liu Chunhua is just a deputy section chief. She may be top dog in the education office, but as a worker, I’m not afraid of her.”
“It’s not about fear, it’s about avoiding trouble.”
...
Seeing Wang Cuie determined, already fastening her belt, insisting on reporting to the depot director, Li Aiguo stood and chuckled, “Auntie, Uncle Zhou is right. My most important task now is to pass the train driver exam, not to get into a fight with Section Chief Liu. Once I get first place, we’ll make that old witch regret it.”
As he spoke, he silently filed Liu Chunhua’s name in his mind.
Wang Cuie looked him up and down.
After confirming his sincerity, she sighed heavily. “You’re just like your father, always thinking about the bigger picture.”
Though Zhou Tiehu didn’t want to make a fuss, he couldn’t let his child be mistreated. Plus, Liu Chunhua’s disregard for rules compelled him to decide to accompany Li Aiguo to the education office for the review tomorrow.
Li Aiguo thanked him profusely.
He came from three generations of humble origins and grew up in the capital, so his family background and files were beyond reproach.
But the review was a serious and complex affair, often accompanied by many little incidents.
With veteran driver Zhou Tiehu by his side, no matter how arrogant Liu Chunhua was, she wouldn’t dare to tamper openly.
After some small talk, night had fallen past ten, and Li Aiguo took his leave.
Zhou Tiehu and Wang Cuie saw him off downstairs, watching him pedal his bicycle into the dark, then returned upstairs.
Wang Cuie bit into a red date with a crisp snap. “I never expected Old Li’s son to be so composed. If he hadn’t stopped me just now, I would have kicked down Director Zhang’s door and caused a big mess.”
“You know it would cause trouble, so why can’t you control your temper?” Zhou Tiehu teased with a laugh.
Over the years, he had cleaned up many messes caused by Wang Cuie’s fiery temper.
Wang Cuie smiled coquettishly, pouting, “Brother Tiehu, haven’t I got you?”
Zhou Tiehu’s heart fluttered; suddenly, he leapt forward...

Night was dark.
The streets were silent.
Due to curfew, after ten o’clock, there were hardly any people on the capital’s streets.
Li Aiguo rode his bicycle through the city.

Between heaven and earth, it seemed only the sound of wheels grinding against the ground could be heard.
Until now, he hadn’t expected Zhou Tiehu and Wang Cuie to be so warmhearted.
It seemed that in this era, personal and colleague relationships were far tighter than in later times.
Moreover, Zhou Tiehu agreeing to accompany him to the review was also a form of compensation.
If Li Aiguo had acted like a reckless youngster, insisting on going with Wang Cuie to make a scene at Director Zhang’s house,
even if Zhang thoroughly investigated, Liu Chunhua could dodge with various excuses, and the worst she’d get was a reprimand.
But Li Aiguo and Zhou Tiehu would earn a reputation as troublemakers.
In this era, collective interests and unity came above all else.
Anyone undermining unity would be shunned by the group.
Also, since the exam was moved five days earlier, after passing tomorrow’s review, he had to continue studying hard to score a perfect 100 in train driving skills before the exam.

...

Li Aiguo returned to the courtyard just before eleven at night.
Every household had turned off their lights, and darkness filled the courtyard.
Suddenly, a shadow dashed out from beneath the old camphor tree at the gate.
Fortunately, Li Aiguo’s bike-riding skills scored 95 points; he gripped the brake and skidded to a stop just in time, avoiding collision.
“Who’s there? Are you trying to get yourself killed? Don’t you know a bike can be deadly?”
Li Aiguo pulled out a flashlight, shining its bright white beam on Yan Jiecheng’s pale face.
“Aiguo, my father told me to wait for your bicycle... no, to wait for you,” Yan Jiecheng said, rubbing his eyes drowsily.
Li Aiguo’s mouth twitched slightly.
No wonder Yan Lao was so stingy—he was really afraid he’d make off with the bike?
“Here, take a good look.”
Inside the courtyard, Li Aiguo locked his bike under Yan’s eaves.
Yan Jiecheng was unceremonious, switching on the light and scrutinizing the bike all around—frame, handlebars, pedals, wheels—checking everything thoroughly.
After inspecting, he called into the house, “Dad, Aiguo just brought his bike.”
A voice came from inside, “Come in and sleep. Don’t delay school tomorrow.”