Returning to the 1960s: Starting with Digging for Fo-ti

Liu Xiuyun stared blankly at the money. She remembered the black potato from yesterday, and it seemed there was such a thing, but it was gone today.

When she saw the ten-yuan banknote, her eyes instantly widened: “Did… did it really sell for that much money?”

Suddenly, she seemed to remember something.

She shoved the money into her pocket with a swish, looking warily at Du Jianguo, afraid he would take it to gamble again.

Du Jianguo smiled bitterly. “Now do you believe me? I also bought new cloth for our daughter. Look.”

He pulled out new cloth and handed it to her, his tone apologetic. “I previously squandered the cloth coupons meant for making our daughter new clothes for the New Year. This time, since I earned money, I bought the cloth first. It’s enough for two outfits. After the autumn harvest is done, make one for Tuantuan and one for yourself. I remember you haven’t worn new clothes in a long time.”

Liu Xiuyun’s hand trembled as she held the fabric. Her eyes reddened, and tears of grievance nearly fell. She had long given up on the hope of wearing new clothes, yet she never expected her useless husband to actually bring her new cloth.

Could this really be the same Du Jianguo who used to be a gambler?

“Wife, are you not angry anymore?” Du Jianguo asked tentatively.

Liu Xiuyun took a deep breath, forcing back her tears. Her tone remained cold: “Don’t think a piece of cloth can pay off all your past debts.”

“I know. From now on, I will treat you and our daughter well, for the rest of my life,” Du Jianguo nodded vigorously like a chick pecking at rice.

This time, Liu Xiuyun did not mock him. She silently packed everything away into the cabinet next to the stove.

She opened the bundle Du Jianguo had brought back and immediately spotted the snow-white flour inside. There were several jin of it. Beside it was cornmeal, with uniform grains and not a single speck of sand, far better than what was sold at the village grain station.

Did Du Jianguo earn all this himself?

Holding the bags, she still felt dizzy, as if the world around her was spinning and the current reality seemed unreal.

She didn’t dare delay. First, she carefully hid the grain in the very back of the cellar, the most hidden place in the house where even thieves couldn’t find it.

Then she remembered the twelve or thirteen yuan Du Jianguo had handed over. She intended to put it in the cellar as well, but as soon as she reached out, she pulled her hand back. What if Du Jianguo secretly took it to gamble again?

“It’s safest to keep it on my person,” Liu Xiuyun muttered. She thought for a moment and simply stuffed the money into the inner pocket of her undergarment, pressing it tightly against her stomach.

Du Jianguo saw all of this. Watching his wife scurry around the room like a rabbit, digging for hiding spots, he couldn’t help but find it amusing.

When he saw Liu Xiuyun take off her outer shirt, bow her head, and stuff the money into her belly band, Du Jianguo instantly held his breath. His eyes went straight.

The dim yellow light of the oil lamp fell on Liu Xiuyun’s fair skin, casting a soft, alluring glow that made him unable to tear his gaze away.

In the next second, he clearly felt his heart race and his blood surge.

He couldn’t help but curse inwardly.

“I’ve lived this long, yet I’m still as impulsive as a young boy!”

But the more he cursed, the more his gaze seemed glued to Liu Xiuyun, unable to move.

He had originally planned things out well. First, he would gradually reconcile with his wife, wait until she was completely over her anger and no longer held a grudge for the past, and only then would he slowly think about sharing a bed.

But now, a burning heat spread from his chest to his limbs like a fire. That little bit of reason had been scattered by the flames of desire. Du Jianguo felt he could barely hold himself back.

“What the hell am I thinking? This is my own wife. It’s not illegal. Why am I waiting for the three obediences and four virtues!” Du Jianguo cursed fiercely in his heart, swallowed hard, gritted his teeth, and made up his mind.

Du Jianguo quietly walked over and hugged Liu Xiuyun.

“What are you doing?!” Liu Xiuyun was shocked. She was only wearing a belly band, her figure soft as water, with the scent of soap still lingering in her hair.

Du Jianguo’s breathing grew heavier: “Wife, wife…”

“Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me!” Liu Xiuyun struggled fiercely, her voice full of panic.

In the next moment, she saw Du Jianguo frantically unbuttoning his pants.

Instinctively, she wanted to shrink into the corner of the kang bed, but a thought suddenly flashed through her mind. Du Jianguo had just started to change. If she rejected him directly, would she push him back to his old gambling ways?

This was a gamble she dared not take.

Oh well. If you marry a chicken, follow the chicken; if you marry a dog, follow the dog.

Liu Xiuyun closed her eyes and opened them again. All that remained in her gaze was helplessness. Seeing Du Jianguo’s frantic look, she spoke in a trembling, soft voice: “Just… just go easy on me later.”

Du Jianguo paused in his actions, then nodded heavily: “Okay.”

The night was deep and quiet.

In an era without electric lights and little entertainment, there were not many ways to pass the loneliness.

“Stretching exercises” were one of the most common methods.

Ordinary villagers would usually get tired after a short while of stretching.

But the commotion in Du Jianguo’s thatched cottage lasted much longer. The two of them went through several rounds until Du Jianguo was completely exhausted, finally venting all the frustration of his years as a bachelor.

When he opened his eyes again, the sun had already passed the third mark.

All fatigue had vanished completely. He felt refreshed, and even his breathing felt smooth.

This is what life is about. The quality of life is undeniable!

Du Jianguo felt delighted in his heart. He stretched his arms and saw his wife, Liu Xiuyun, drying corn in the yard.

He jumped out of bed barefoot, ran behind Liu Xiuyun, and hugged her tightly: “Wife~”

But what he got in return was a cold glare from Liu Xiuyun.

“Wasn’t last night enough?”

She pushed his arm away. “Do you have nothing on your mind all day but this? Du Jianguo, don’t think that because you brought back over ten yuan, you can act like a master now.”

Du Jianguo’s heart skipped a beat, and he instantly sobered up.

He had indeed let his success go to his head.

Although Liu Xiuyun hadn’t refused intimacy last night, it didn’t mean she had completely forgiven his past actions.

If he lost his sense of propriety again and truly angered her, who knows if she might do something foolish like trying to end her life again.

“I… I’ll go get busy, wife!”

He quickly let go, stepped back a couple of steps, and tactfully moved aside.

When Du Jianguo turned away, Liu Xiuyun glanced back without him noticing and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Last night had truly scared her. Du Jianguo was like a runaway bull, full of energy that terrified her. She had never seen him so vigorous before. He had kept her awake all night.

When Du Jianguo suddenly hugged her just now, she really feared that beast would start bothering her again. Fortunately, he was sensible enough and didn’t continue.

Du Jianguo was contemplating going to the back mountain to look for medicinal herbs again, while Liu Xiuyun was flipping through the autumn harvest grains in the yard. Both were busy with their own tasks.

Suddenly, a loud knocking sound came from outside the courtyard gate, accompanied by urgent shouting: “Is Du Jianguo in? Is he in?!”

Du Jianguo paused, put down his sickle, and quickly went to open the door.

As soon as he opened it, he saw an old man standing outside wearing a blue cloth cap and a green military coat that had been washed white. It was the village head of Xiao’an Village, and the father of his gambling buddy, Liu Chun’an.

“Village Head, what brings you here?” Du Jianguo quickly stepped aside to let him in.