Volume One, Chapter 16: When the Time Comes, We'll Play One and Toss One, Play One and Toss One

On the shaded path, a man and a woman walked side by side. The man was handsome, the woman beautiful—a truly pleasing sight. Song Huaichuan glanced briefly at Shen Zhiyuan, then shifted his gaze to Shen Zhiyi.

Her two glossy black braids remained unchanged. The same hairstyle looked exceptionally charming on Shen Zhiyi. Clad in a white dacron blouse paired with a red-and-white checkered pinafore dress, she resembled a blooming flower, captivating all eyes.

It was unclear what the man had said, but the girl’s smile never faded. Her delicate brows curved like crescent moons, and her eyes sparkled, as if hiding stars within them. The midday sun blazed fiercely. Shen Zhiyuan held a parasol, shifting from the left to the right of Shen Zhiyi, then suddenly stepping before her.

“Really, little sister, folks over there all like this. Some even prefer it this way…” Shen Zhiyi was amused by her brother’s antics—one moment imitating a duck’s waddle, the next poking his head out like a turtle. She giggled uncontrollably.

Having successfully entertained his sister, Shen Zhiyuan twirled the parasol handle and, as if from nowhere, produced a flower. Winking and imitating a falsetto, he said, “Flower says, a beauty deserves a flower—a flower for a beauty—I only want to be with a beauty!”

Shen Zhiyi reached out to take the flower, her smile more radiant than the blossom itself. The siblings passed by Song Huaichuan and his companions. It was the first time Shen Zhiyi failed to notice Song Huaichuan’s presence in such a setting.

Ahead, Shen Zhiyuan’s deliberately playful voice echoed: “Really, little sister, your brother’s been all over. Some places have very open customs. Breaking an engagement is no big deal. Now that I can earn money, everything I make will be yours… Don’t worry, I’ll work hard and make lots of money for you. With money, men are just men—you want one, you have one. We’ll play with one and throw one away, play with one and throw one away…”

Song Huaichuan was speechless.

Comrade Wang Tieniu listened with his jaw dropped, dumbfounded for a long moment before regaining composure. “Wait—does Shen’s family really have such an open-minded way?”

At the state-run restaurant, Shen Zhiyi and Shen Zhiyuan ordered a steamed chicken, braised fish, and boiled vegetable hearts. While waiting for the dishes, Shen Zhiyuan told his sister to stay at the table as he went to fetch two bowls of complimentary soup.

Upon returning, he found two unwelcome men sitting beside his sister. Gritting his teeth, Comrade Wang Tieniu said, “Comrade, let’s share the table.”

“Who are you? Coming over and just sharing a table?” Shen Zhiyuan frowned deeply, practically wearing a sign saying “I’m not happy about this” on his face.

Song Huaichuan extended his hand. “Hello, I’m Song Huaichuan.”

Bang! Shen Zhiyuan sprang to his feet, eyes blazing with hostility.

“What relation do you have to Song Huayu?!”

Just as a conflict seemed imminent, Shen Zhiyi quickly pulled her brother down and urged, “Brother, don’t be like this. Comrade Song has nothing to do with Song Huayu, and he even saved me before.”

Shen Zhiyuan had been told about the person being from the army but not the name. Persuaded by his sister, he lessened his hostility toward Song Huaichuan but remained wary. Remembering that Song Huaichuan had helped his sister, he restrained his temper, though his expression remained sour.

“Since you helped my sister, this meal’s on me. Order whatever you like,” Shen Zhiyuan said.

Wang Tieniu chuckled, “No need, Shen sister helped us too.”

Unaware of this, Shen Zhiyuan looked at Shen Zhiyi in confusion.

“I helped translate some text for them… something like that.”

“Yeah, Shen sister is amazing!” Wang Tieniu praised openly. “She solved our problem in no time.”

Meanwhile, Song Huaichuan lowered his voice, asking, “Anything you’d like to eat?”

Though listening to Wang Tieniu, Shen Zhiyuan kept a close eye on the conversation. Upon hearing this, his face darkened like the bottom of a pot.

“Who asked you? My sister and I will order ourselves!”

“Unsolicited kindness! I knew all guys named Song were no good!”

Seeing Shen Zhiyuan ready to explode like a firecracker again, Shen Zhiyi tugged his sleeve, urging, “Brother, speak politely.”

Reluctantly, Shen Zhiyuan sat down.

Wang Tieniu grinned, trying to ease the tension. “Comrade Shen, we… actually don’t know what to eat. Right, boss?”

Song Huaichuan nodded and looked at Shen Zhiyi. “Could you help recommend some dishes?”

A smile tugged at Shen Zhiyi’s lips. She glanced at Song Huaichuan with a gentle teasing look and softly said, “The braised pork here is quite delicious. How about ordering some?”

Song Huaichuan smiled. “Good.”

He then stood to place the order.

Besides the braised pork, he ordered steamed spare ribs in black bean sauce, stir-fried eggs with tomatoes, stir-fried shrimp with celery and lily bulbs, and a plate of shredded potatoes.

Soon, the dishes arrived one after another.

Shen Zhiyi stared at the meat dishes pushed toward her side, startled for a moment, then instinctively looked at Song Huaichuan.

His dark eyes met hers, his voice less crisp than usual: “The ticket’s about to expire. Not ordering would be a waste. Help me eat some?”

Shen Zhiyi laughed again, her moist eyes shining with warmth. “Alright.”

Shen Zhiyuan’s face lengthened as he sat there sulking, quietly fuming while eating.

Comrade Wang Tieniu, oblivious to the awkward atmosphere, happily enjoyed his meal.

By the end of the meal, only Shen Zhiyi and Wang Tieniu seemed truly satisfied. Despite the abundance of food, the three men devoured every last bite.

As soon as they finished, Shen Zhiyuan hurriedly urged Shen Zhiyi to leave.

“Let’s go, little sister. We should head back.”

Wang Tieniu followed briskly, cheerfully saying, “Comrade Shen, we’re heading the same way.”

Shen Zhiyuan’s face darkened completely.

“Who’s going with you? My sister and I are going to the supply and marketing cooperative!”

He then steered Shen Zhiyi in another direction, reminding her sternly, “Little sister, stay away from anyone named Song from now on!”

He spoke loudly enough for Song Huaichuan to hear, deliberately aiming his words at him.

If the other party had any sense, he would stay far away.

Unexpectedly, the key point landed with Shen Zhiyi.

“No way, brother. I quite like him. I want him to be my brother-in-law.”

Shen Zhiyuan gritted his teeth.

I knew it! No good comes from those named Song! They dare to mess with my sister!

“What’s so good about him?” Shen Zhiyuan’s voice was tinged with frustration.

Shen Zhiyi replied unabashedly, “I think he’s good in every way.”

Shen Zhiyuan was momentarily speechless, then advised:

“Sis, you just haven’t met enough people. Trust me, the world outside is full of wonders. I’ll take you out to see it someday. We can’t give up the whole forest for the sake of one crooked tree…”

Song Huaichuan couldn’t help but smile.

Indeed, brothers seemed to echo each other’s words perfectly. One said there are plenty of men with two legs. Another said not to hang yourself on a crooked tree. The last said not to abandon an entire forest for one tree.

Shen Zhiyuan and Shen Zhiyi toured the supply and marketing cooperative, bought some household goods, and Shen Zhiyuan even bought his sister a bottle of orange soda.

Judging the time, they started heading home.

They had assumed Song Huaichuan and the others had long gone, but unexpectedly, they met them again on the road!

Shen Zhiyuan was about to sneak away with his sister when Wang Tieniu suddenly turned his head.

“Hey, Comrade Shen, fancy meeting you again! What a coincidence!”