Rebirth: Seven Years in a Great Dream

Chapter 19: The Engagement (Part 2)

Mu Dong quickly stepped forward and said, “Hello, Director Wu.” Wu Juntian let out a soft snort, barely audible. Then he said, “It’s good that you prioritize workplace safety. But we’re here to enforce the law—why change the label? Don’t be so rigid about things.” He spoke with the full authority of an official. Mu Daguo stood to the side with his head hanging low; he felt he had caused trouble and was deeply frustrated. Mu Dong quickly replied, “Yes, yes, you’re right. We’ll keep that in mind.” He then ushered the group into the office, offered them cigarettes and tea, and bustled about attending to their needs. Seeing that Mu Dong had finished his preparations, Wu Jun said, “Mu Dong, right? Look, this storage yard of yours is operating without a business registration—that constitutes illegal business operations, and you’ll be fined.” Mu Dong nodded and said, “A fine, a fine. It’s our responsibility; we’ll accept the penalty.” That single statement made both Wu Juntian and Mu Jinqian nod in approval. Wu Juntian thought Mu Dong was sensible; as long as he accepted the fine, that was enough. Mu Jinqian thought Mu Dong knew how to handle the situation. In cases like this, the worst thing is when people make all sorts of excuses and refuse to accept the fine. Whether or not he admits to the violation isn’t the main issue; the key is to negotiate a lower fine. Mu Dong continued, “We’ve just started up; nothing is in place yet. Just fine us however you see fit—whatever you decide.” Huh, that’s an interesting remark. “Nothing is in order yet”… Mu Jinqian quickly interjected, “Director Wu, as you can see, things are in a bit of a mess here. Why don’t we have Mu Dong go to the station to accept his penalty? That way, he can take care of the business registration paperwork while he’s there.” Mu Jinqian’s remark carried a dual meaning. First, it prevented Chief Wu from issuing a penalty notice on the spot; second, by having Mu Dong go to the station to accept the penalty, it gave Chief Wu the home-field advantage, allowing certain matters to be handled privately. Wu Juntian understood immediately—Mu Jinqian was covering for this kid. Alright, he’d have to give Mu Jinqian some face. If he couldn’t get the whole piece of meat, he’d settle for a small bite. He quickly came up with a solution: “Come to the station on Monday to take care of the paperwork.” With that, he took his leave. Before leaving, he made a point of shaking hands with Mu Jinqian and Mu Dong separately. Watching the Industrial and Commercial Bureau’s van drive away, the group breathed a sigh of relief. Mu Dong said to Mu Jinqian, “Great-Uncle, thank you so much. It’s all thanks to you that we got out of this mess.” Mu Jinqian replied, “We’re family—no need for formalities. After all, I’ve invested money in your business.” Mu Dong patted Mu Daguo on the shoulder and reassured him, “Daguo, it’s okay. You did the right thing. They were just looking for a reason to pick a fight anyway—even if this hadn’t happened, they would’ve found something else.” Mu Jinqian whispered to Mu Dong, “Go on your own on Monday. First, go report to Chief Wu. You know the protocol, right?” Mu Dong replied, “I know the protocol, but this level of formality…” Mu Jinqian held up two fingers, and Mu Dong nodded. It was pretty much as he’d expected. After that, everyone took their leave. The next day was Sunday. Mu Dong made a trip to the county seat, bought a few gift cards, and then, on second thought, bought a few more. Better to have a few spares just in case—you never know when they might come in handy. Sigh. The day passed quietly. October 6, the eighth day of the ninth lunar month, Monday. After breakfast, Mu Dong first called his older sister, Mu Xiaoxia, to remind her about today’s weekly settlement at the yard. Today was the first payment date since the full implementation of weekly Monday settlements, and many drivers were keeping a close eye on it. After hanging up, Mu Dong headed out with ten gift bags and went to the Industrial and Commercial Bureau. The gift bags were red cloth pouches printed with the double-happiness symbol, containing pastries, candies, and a pack of cigarettes. Mu Dong had checked with Mu Jinqian beforehand; there were about seven or eight people at the Industrial and Commercial Bureau, so bringing ten sets would be just right—better safe than sorry. The Industrial and Commercial Bureau was located on the town’s main street, in a small, standalone courtyard; Director Wu’s office was in the room at the far eastern end. Mu Dong knocked and entered. Wu Juntian was sitting behind his desk reading a newspaper. When he saw Mu Dong come in, he stood up and said, “Mr. Mu, you’re here.” As he spoke, he made a move to brew some tea. Mu Dong wouldn’t let him do that; he deftly took the teapot, poured himself a cup, and then refilled Wu Juntian’s cup. Mu Dong then said, “Director Wu, today happens to be my engagement, so I brought some candies. I’d appreciate it if you could distribute them to the leaders on my behalf.” As he spoke, he set aside a separate package and placed it on Wu Juntian’s desk: “This one’s just for you—please don’t think it’s too modest.” Wu Juntian smiled. “How could I possibly turn it down? Let us share in your good fortune. We should thank Mr. Mu for this.” With that, he picked up the phone on his desk and dialed as he said, “I’ll have someone take you to handle the business registration first. We’ll discuss the fine later.” A short while later, someone arrived and escorted Mu Dong out. Wu Juntian opened the gift package on his desk and pulled out two gift cards from the cigarette pack; each card had a label in the lower right corner reading “1,000 yuan.” Wu Juntian sighed inwardly. It’s better than nothing, he thought. Boss Mu is actually quite sensible. In no time, Mu Dong returned. The paperwork had been completed, but he wouldn’t be able to pick up the certificate for a few days. A few minutes later, Mu Dong received a penalty notice: a fine of 1,000 yuan. It wasn’t too much or too little—Mr. Mu could accept it, and it saved Chief Wu some face. Mu Dong paid the fine and then took his leave. Before leaving, Mu Dong invited Director Wu to take the station’s leadership to the town restaurant for “a celebratory toast.” Director Wu politely declined, saying it wouldn’t be appropriate—it would be too ostentatious. Mu Dong returned home to await the arrival of guests from Xiao Xiao’s family. The house was bustling with activity, as relatives and friends from all walks of life had gathered at the Mu residence. Mu Dong was very familiar with his aunts, uncles, and cousins, but other relatives—such as great-aunts, great-uncles, and great-aunts—whom he hadn’t seen in years, had also come. Weddings and funerals, no matter where they take place, are always important social events. At 10:00 a. m. , firecrackers went off, signaling the arrival of the bride’s guests. The group from Xiao Xiao’s family, led by her mother, consisted mostly of women. Relatives from all branches of Xiao Xiao’s family had gathered—about forty or fifty people in all—and they had rented a rural-urban bus. According to rural customs, Xiao Xiao’s father did not attend such occasions. Xiao Xiao’s family had also prepared a new outfit for Mu Dong and brought it along. The group entered the Mu family home. Mrs. Li, accompanied by several prominent elders, went into the main hall, where they sat down to drink tea and chat. Equivalent elders from Mu Dong’s family joined them. The other guests chatted in small groups of two or three in the courtyard or on the street. There were simply too many people to fit inside the house. In a cheerful atmosphere, the hosts and guests exchanged updates on their children and discussed their families’ livelihoods and daily lives. With similar family backgrounds and comparable living standards, the marriage between the two families was a natural fit—a match made in heaven. Both sides expressed their respect for each other’s customs and traditions… I’ve digressed—anyway, it was all just some auspicious small talk. After a brief conversation, everyone set off together for the second venue: a restaurant in town. The guests from Xiao Xiao’s family occupied five tables, while the Mu family’s relatives and friends filled seven tables, for a total of twelve tables. Eleven tables were set up in the main hall, while a private room upstairs hosted Mu Jinqian and the other male guests at a separate table. In no time, the banquet began. Each table seated about 10 people, with a total of 26 dishes served. These included 6 cold dishes, 4 dim sum items, and 16 hot dishes. Among the hot dishes, whole chicken, whole fish, and braised pork hock were essential, as was pork face—a symbol of a smiling face. Braised pork belly was also a must; here, it’s called “square meat,” referring to its cubed shape. “Four Joy Meatballs” were another essential dish—essentially braised lion’s head meatballs. Aside from these six essential hot dishes, each family adds its own creative touches to the rest of the menu. The Mu family also prepared soft-shelled turtle soup, mutton soup, beef stewed with tomatoes, stir-fried large shrimp in oil, clear-broth meatballs, and several vegetarian dishes. For beverages, they served a local baijiu called “Lunanchun,” priced at around 50 yuan per bottle—a fairly decent choice for a local engagement banquet. The Mu family had discussed this beforehand and decided not to bring out their cellar-aged liquor. First, because today’s wedding banquet had mostly female guests and relatively few male guests, and female guests generally don’t drink baijiu; second, the Mu family didn’t have much of it in stock, so they wanted to save the best for the most important occasions—after all, Mu Dong’s wedding was still to come, and he would eventually have children of his own. This came as a huge disappointment to certain guests who had been eagerly anticipating a fine liquor. There was no other choice—they had to settle for Lunanchun. Besides, it wasn’t a bad liquor. A few “wedding-chasers” showed up at the restaurant entrance. Mu’s father hurried over to greet them. These so-called “wedding celebrants” were, in fact, beggars. In years past, whenever a family had a joyous occasion, they would show up at the door, clap bamboo clappers, and recite auspicious sayings. Usually, there were several of them: one would clap and speak, while the others would echo with a shout of “Good!” In recent years, this trade has gradually taken on a more commercialized nature. In the past, beggars would perform at weddings as a side activity; now, they specialize in wedding performances and no longer beg. Mu Dong heard the commotion at the door and came out to take a look. A lame old man in his fifties or sixties, his eyes half-closed, was clapping bamboo clappers and singing with great enthusiasm. As he sang, he hobbled back and forth, foam forming at the corners of his mouth. A few others echoed his words, chanting “Good!” in unison. Walking down the main streets and through the alleys—good Arriving at the host’s front gate—good The host is in high spirits today—Good The host has a fine young son—Good He’s been admitted to a university in the provincial capital—Good A paulownia tree planted at home—Good A phoenix alights on the paulownia tree—Good Today we celebrated the betrothal banquet—Good Next year, we’ll get married and hand out wedding candies—Good Drinking the engagement wine today—good Next year, I’ll welcome a lovely bride—Good Mu Dong found it amusing. This guy really could ramble on—and even made up his own lyrics. Once the group finished their rap, they surrounded Mu’s dad to ask for money, immediately demanding twenty yuan each—five people, for a total of one hundred yuan. In the old days, people who came to a wedding usually just asked for some leftovers or a few steamed buns. Later, they gradually started asking for small amounts of money, and it’s evolved into what it is today. The amounts they ask for have also gotten bigger and bigger. Mu’s dad, of course, wouldn’t agree to that—this wasn’t the only group of wedding performers; others would be coming soon. Besides, a wedding like this was all about the commotion; the fun was in the haggling. In the end, he sent them off with 5 yuan each—a total of 25 yuan—and threw in a pack of cigarettes as a bonus. Mu Dong watched for a while, then went to check on the serving of the dishes. The restaurant was very efficient; in about half an hour, all the dishes were served. Mu Dong called Xiao Xiao over, and the two of them went up to the private room first. Eight people were seated in the private room: Mu Jinqian, Mu Huafeng, Second Uncle Mu, Third Uncle Mu, Wang Shaoqiang, Second Aunt’s Husband Xie Zhikun, Zhong Guodong, and Mu Tongqing. Mu Tongqing, being the youngest in the family, was busy pouring tea and water. Zhong Guodong hadn’t planned to come, but Mu Dong had specifically called him to ask him to make an appearance—even if it meant just having a few bites and heading back. In the end, he showed up, while Mu Daguo and Xie Donglin refused to come no matter what. Mu Dong introduced everyone to Xiao Xiao. In fact, Xiao Xiao already knew most of them, so she greeted them one by one in the order Mu Dong introduced them. “This is my great-grandfather.” “Hello, Great-Grandfather!” “This is our second uncle.” “Hello, second uncle!” Finally, it was Mu Tongqing’s turn. Mu Dong said, “This is our nephew.” Xiao Xiao almost blurted out, “Hello, nephew!” but managed to stop herself just in time. She wanted to laugh but dared not, her face flushing bright red. Mu Tongqing bowed and scraped, quickly saying, “Hello, Auntie.” Xiao Xiao’s face turned even redder; she shot him a glare and let out a soft snort. According to old rural customs, if you’re not married, you can’t call her “Aunt”; you have to call her “Auntie.” Everyone at the table burst out laughing. Afterward, Mu Dong and Xiao Xiao toasted everyone, urging them to eat and drink to their hearts’ content, then moved on to the other tables. At each table, Mu Dong would introduce the guests, Xiao Xiao would call out their names, and they would briefly propose a toast. At wedding banquets here in Southern Shandong, when toasting guests, you don’t have to drink with them—simply presenting the wine to the guest is enough. After introducing the groom’s relatives, it was time to introduce the bride’s relatives. This time, Xiao Xiao made the introductions while Mu Dong called out the names. Then they toasted. After a busy round of introductions, the two returned to their own table and quickly dug into the food. There were so many dishes—they certainly wouldn’t be able to finish them all. Moreover, at wedding banquets like this, there are more meat dishes than vegetarian ones; the vegetarian dishes were all polished off, leaving only the meat dishes behind. At 1:00 p. m. , the bride’s guests were the first to finish eating and began to leave. Mu’s parents quickly invited them to come back to their home for a while. The table was piled high with all kinds of leftovers. Don't worry—the woman from the man's side steps forward, asks for a plastic bag at the front desk, and starts packing. Yes, taking food home—this tradition has always existed in rural areas. Whoever packed it takes it home. Before long, the table was completely cleared. Hygiene aside, this practice of packing up actually has its benefits—it prevents waste. The bride’s guests stayed at Mu Dong’s home for a short while, had a preliminary discussion on matters of mutual concern, and soon took their leave. As they left, each received a gift bag—the same kind Mu Dong had brought to the Industry and Commerce Bureau. The red cloth bags, printed with the double-happiness symbol, contained pastries, candies, and a pack of cigarettes. With that, the betrothal ceremony came to a successful conclusion. From then on, the Mu and Li families were officially related; they could attend each other’s weddings and funerals and visit one another’s homes. That evening, Mu Dong had food delivered from a town restaurant and set up two banquet tables at the yard to treat the employees there. Mu Dong hadn’t drunk any alcohol at lunch; he’d been running around so much that he hadn’t even had a proper meal. That evening, Mu Dong got completely drunk. He was in a good mood and wanted to have a few drinks; combined with everyone’s constant urging to drink, he eventually had one too many. The next day, October 7. Early in the morning, Mu Dong’s mother woke him up. He had a terrible headache and felt terrible overall. His mother nagged at him, scolding him for drinking too much the night before and for not getting up early that morning—especially since there was an important event scheduled for that day. Feeling helpless, Mu Dong quickly washed up and got dressed, then ate breakfast in silence. At 10:00 a. m. , with Wang Shaoqiang behind the wheel, Mu’s father and Mu Dong, carrying some gifts, drove to Xiao Xiao’s house. This was their first visit since the engagement and also the first formal meeting between the men from both families. They couldn’t arrive too early; it was best to arrive, sit for a while, and then have lunch. If they arrived too early, it would put the hosts to too much trouble. The Li family warmly welcomed the Mu family party, specially ordering dishes at a restaurant. They also brought out the cellar-aged wine the Mu family had sent last time to treat Mu’s father. Mu’s father was delighted and said, “My friend, I wouldn’t even dare to drink this wine at home, but today, here with you, I can finally indulge.” Mr. Li replied, “It’s just passing on a gift—I’m only able to enjoy such fine wine because of you.” Mr. Mu said, “If you like it, old friend, I’ll find time to bring you another jar.” Li’s father replied, “No, no, this wine is far too precious—you should save it for something important. Of the bottles you brought last time, there’s still one I haven’t even opened yet. We’ll talk about it later—later.” Mu’s dad said, “Then I’ll take your advice, old friend.” Though he said this, Mu’s dad was still thinking to himself that, given the chance, he’d still send some over to his old friend. He could send two one-jin bottles. Mr. Li invited two of his close relatives to join them for drinks. The atmosphere was very relaxed. Since they were new relatives and didn’t know each other very well yet, they chatted about family matters and local gossip from the surrounding villages, and didn’t drink much. At 2:00 p. m. , the banquet came to an end. On the ride back, Xiao Xiao joined them. Wang Shaoqiang first dropped Mu’s dad off at Mu Village, then drove Mu Dong and Xiao Xiao all the way to the Lunan Train Station. Mu Dong was returning to Quancheng with Xiao Xiao. Operations at the yard were now largely stable; Mu Dong had streamlined all the processes, so things ran smoothly whether he was there or not. Having just become engaged, Mu Dong also wanted to go to Jinan to spend some time with Xiao Xiao. Lately, the two had been spending more time apart than together, and they both missed each other. Besides, Mu Dong still had that lottery ticket on his mind—he figured he might as well give it a shot, just in case. “You’ve got to have dreams—what if they come true?” Mu Dong recalled the words a certain big boss had once said. Xiao Xiao had a return train ticket, but Mu Dong didn’t. When he went to the ticket window, there weren’t even any standing-room-only tickets left. With no other option, he bought a platform ticket, figuring he’d get on the train first and pay the difference later. After they became engaged, things felt a little different than before. Their relationship began with mutual recognition between the two of them, then each was accepted by the other’s family, and gradually, both families came to accept one another. Now, both clans had given their full approval. After a long-distance relationship, the two had finally brought their two families together. Following such a highly ceremonial event as the engagement, both felt a deep sense of warmth in their hearts. The train began to pull away. Xiao Xiao sat in her seat with her head tilted back, while Mu Dong stood beside her, leaning against the seatback, his head bowed as he spoke to her. After a while, Mu Dong, worried that Xiao Xiao might get uncomfortable from holding her head up for so long, made an excuse to go find the conductor to pay the difference on her ticket—and didn’t return for quite some time. When she saw Mu Dong return, Xiao Xiao asked him to sit down for a while, standing beside him herself. Mu Dong didn’t refuse and sat down as she asked. “This is exactly how it feels,” Mu Dong thought to himself. “In that other timeline, Xiao Xiao had always cared for and supported him quietly like this.” “Xiao Xiao, in this timeline, I’ll make sure you have a better life,” Mu Dong silently vowed to himself. The sweet journey wasn’t particularly tiring; instead, it was filled with warm, tender feelings. After taking turns sitting three or four times, they arrived at Quancheng Train Station. Holding hands, they got off the train and headed to the bus stop. Both were used to a simple lifestyle and didn’t even consider taking a taxi. Besides, at that time, hailing a taxi near the train station was one of the biggest challenges for the people of Quancheng. As they sat on the bus, Xiao Xiao leaned gently against Mu Dong’s chest, and they whispered to each other about where to have dinner. Outside the window, the city lights were just coming on, the streets were bustling with traffic, and the entire city sparkled with vibrant colors. Memories—some distant, some recent—floated in and out of Mu Dong’s mind. This scene—snuggling together on the bus like this—felt so familiar. Mu Dong couldn’t quite tell whether it was in this moment in time that he was recalling distant memories, or whether, in another timeline, he was looking at his present self from afar. Quancheng, I’m back—together with my beloved.