Chapter 7: Li Zhaodi’s Past

Staring at the lovely face reflected in the basin, Li Qingyun couldn't help but sigh. Li Zhaodi had always been considered a rare beauty in the surrounding villages; that much was beyond doubt. Otherwise, how could she have borne two such adorable children? Both took after their mother—their eyes were large, bright, and sparkling, just like hers.

But sadly, she had not been born into a good family. As the eldest, she had two younger sisters and a younger brother. Her parents, who favored sons over daughters, only had a son after giving birth to three girls. They treated their daughters with violence and scorn, using them like servants, and as the eldest, she suffered even more than her sisters.

She once thought that when she came of age and married out, her life would finally improve. Instead, her parents, eager to save up a generous dowry for their son, treated her like merchandise, to be picked over by the highest bidder. Their family became the talk and the laughingstock of the neighboring villages, and she herself was reduced to a commodity, waiting to be sold.

In the end, she was promised to a family for three hundred yuan, to be wed to their simple-minded son.

Three hundred yuan—an unimaginable sum for her. She was devastated beyond tears, her heart utterly broken, feeling her life held no more hope. In a fit of despair, she threw herself into the river. As the icy water flooded her throat, regret washed over her; better to live miserably than to die.

The current was fierce, and though a crowd gathered on the bank, not one person stepped forward to save her. Everyone knew her family’s situation and feared being entangled. By chance, Gu Tingzhou was passing by on his leave from the army. Upon realizing someone had jumped into the river, he didn’t hesitate; he took off his coat and dove in to rescue her, fulfilling his duty as a soldier.

She was barely conscious, only dimly aware that a tall, handsome man had pulled her back from the brink of death. Gu Tingzhou used his army training to perform first aid and press the water from her lungs.

Just as Li Zhaodi regained consciousness, her family arrived, wailing and accusing Gu Tingzhou of ruining her reputation, demanding compensation. Perhaps seeing his military uniform, they sought to extort him.

Listening to their accusations, a bold idea took root in her mind and grew stronger: she would marry this soldier. She would not marry the simpleton.

So she tearfully declared that her reputation was now ruined, and if she could not wed him, she would have no choice but to die. With that, she made as if to throw herself into the river again.

Li Zhaodi’s parents soon realized that as long as they received the same bride price, it would be better to marry her to a normal man. This way, they wouldn’t be accused of selling their daughter, and she could continue to provide for her family. Surely, a soldier could afford three hundred yuan for a bride?

They threatened Gu Tingzhou, saying that if he didn’t comply, they would send a letter of complaint to his unit.

Thus, with both Li Zhaodi and her family fueling the situation, Gu Tingzhou, though unwilling, accepted the match. He was at a critical point in his career and could not afford any blemish on his record. Besides, his parents had called him home to settle his marriage, so he did not strongly object.

When he told his parents, however, they flew into a rage. Everyone knew her family was notorious for squeezing money out of their daughters’ marriages to benefit their son. Word was, the daughter who jumped into the river had been promised to a simpleton for three hundred yuan.

Now, it seemed, their own family had become the simpleton’s.

Gu Tingzhou’s mother, especially, was deeply disappointed. She had already set her heart on another girl she deemed perfect for her youngest son. Now, all her plans had gone up in smoke.

Yet for the sake of their son’s future, they had no choice but to accept. They sent a matchmaker to Li Zhaodi’s family, only to be met with an exorbitant demand for three hundred yuan, as if their daughter alone was worth such a price.

After an afternoon of bargaining, the bride price was finally set at two hundred yuan. Li Zhaodi’s parents were still dissatisfied; money mattered more to them than their daughter. But Li Zhaodi promised them benefits after marriage, swearing that any good fortune she received would be shared with her family. If they refused, she threatened to end her life, leaving them with nothing. Reluctantly, they agreed.

Within days, the families held a simple wedding banquet. Gu Tingzhou returned to his unit and filed a marriage report; thus, their union was settled.

At first, Li Zhaodi behaved dutifully in her new household, knowing her in-laws had made a generous outlay for her sake. Despite the large bride price her parents extorted, they hadn’t prepared even a decent set of clothes for her; it was her new in-laws who bought her wedding attire. As for a dowry, she brought nothing—no bedding, no extra clothes, just a bundle of worn garments on her back. Her mother-in-law’s face was dark with displeasure, and relatives and neighbors snickered behind their hands.

In those days, a two-hundred-yuan bride price was unheard of in the countryside. The Gu family had spent so much, yet the bride arrived empty-handed. Such families were rare indeed.

The marriage provided ample gossip for the villagers. Many, especially those with sons, warned their children never to rescue someone lightly, lest they be burdened for life.

Li Zhaodi, accustomed to hard work at her parents’ home, took on chores indoors and out. Determined to please her in-laws, she demonstrated her diligence and competence, softening their resentment. After all, their son was a soldier, often away from home. If his wife could manage the household and care for the children, they could rest easy.

Life continued uneventfully until Li Zhaodi suddenly lost her appetite and was plagued by relentless nausea. A doctor’s visit revealed she was three months pregnant. She had worked so hard at home that her monthly cycles were irregular, and as a newlywed, she didn’t know what to expect. Only at three months did she realize the good news.

Her in-laws were overjoyed, hurrying to write to their son with the happy tidings. Li Zhaodi’s status in the family rose swiftly.

A first grandson, a son for the youngest—a precious lifeline for the family. Gu Tingzhou was already their pride, a successful soldier who brought honor to the household. In those days, families with soldiers were highly respected.

The only regret was that, after years in the army, Gu Tingzhou had delayed his marriage; his older brother’s daughters were already three and one, while he had yet to find a match. That was why his mother had called him home.

In today’s terms, twenty-five is still considered young, but in the 1960s, most people were engaged by sixteen and married by eighteen, starting families early. At twenty-five, he was already seen as an old bachelor.

Now that their youngest finally had a son on the way, his parents were so excited they didn’t sleep all night. They even butchered an old hen to make nourishing broth for Li Zhaodi, who, suffering from severe morning sickness, was excused from fieldwork and only asked to cook and tend to the house.