"Comrade, a double room."
Chen Yang held the introduction letter and household registration book. The household registration book only contained his and Shen Xue's names and ID numbers. As for ID cards, they didn't exist in those days.
The baby was still young. In rural areas, no one would urge them to register the household registration until school started. However, Chen Yang and Shen Xue had registered the baby. But the baby was too young, only having a name and no ID number.
"A couple with a child?"
The guesthouse attendant carefully checked the introduction letter and household registration book. Without these documents, one couldn't check in.
Of course, if you were an employee of the guesthouse or within the same system, you could check in with a work permit, and it was even free. For others, an introduction letter and household registration book were necessary.
Unmarried couples were absolutely not allowed to share a room. Fortunately, Chen Yang had brought their marriage certificate.
"Yes, this is our marriage certificate."
Chen Yang presented the marriage certificate and paid the money. The attendant then issued a receipt, stamped it, and led Chen Yang to a room on the second floor with a set of keys.
"One yuan per night. There's a kettle behind the door. If you want hot water, go to the hot water room on the east side of the first floor. One mao can get you two pots."
"No one other than you two and the child is allowed in the room."
She opened the old wooden door. Inside the room, there was only a bed with a quilt, and a bedside table. She pulled the string by the door, and a 25-watt incandescent bulb illuminated the dim room.
Behind the door was the tin kettle the attendant had mentioned. Against the wall stood a three-legged stand, on which rested an enamel washbasin. Besides these items, there was nothing else.
The conditions were extremely meager. However, considering it was only 1978, Chen Yang couldn't be picky.
He wished he could stay in a better guesthouse, but in those days, even with money, you couldn't necessarily stay in such places.
"Comrade attendant, I understand."
After seeing off the attendant, Chen Yang put down his bag. He wanted to get some water to wash his face, only to remember that the room didn't even have a bathroom.
In those days, there were no rooms with attached bathrooms. Outside the room, at the end of the corridor, there was a public toilet with a faucet at the entrance.
Carrying the enamel washbasin with chipped porcelain and slight rust, and taking out the towel he had brought, Chen Yang first turned on the faucet to rinse off the rust, and then washed his face thoroughly. Sudan Novel Network
He was exhausted from the day.
He was covered in sweat. If there had been a shower, he would have taken a cold shower.
"There's a state-run restaurant opposite the guesthouse. I'll bring my wife and Yanyan over to eat later."
"Let's get a pot of hot water first. When they come back, they can use some water to wipe themselves down."
Chen Yang wrung out the towel, placed the enamel washbasin back on the stand, and hung the towel on the tripod. It was so hot, and there wasn't even a fan. He felt like he was going to die of heat.
He tidied up the room a bit, hid his luggage, took out some small change, filled a pot with hot water, locked the door with the key, and then Chen Yang left.
When he returned to the ward, Hu Dong and his wife had already brought back a lot of food in their lunch boxes, including meat and vegetables. They were inviting Shen Xue and the baby to eat with them.
"Brother Hu, Sister Lili, you guys eat with the child. We still have things to do."
Shen Xue didn't want to eat the food provided by Hu Dong and his wife. Although she knew they meant no harm, she felt indebted if she accepted.
When it came to her child, she wouldn't back down. It was a mother's instinct.
Chen Yang, holding the baby, bid farewell to Hu Dong and his wife, and the family of three left the ward.
"Brother, bye-bye."
"Remember to miss me!"
The baby waved her chubby hands goodbye to Hu Hao, who quickly waved back.
"Sister, I will."
While the baby showed some vague understanding typical of a child her age, Hu Hao seemed like a child who was a bit older, around four or five.
Perhaps it was due to the experience of being abducted, but this child gave Chen Yang the impression of being more mature and sensible than children his age.
"Let's go. Don't worry, our son won't run away."
Chen Yang held Shen Xue's hand, who kept looking back. For some reason, looking at Hu Hao, he had a strange feeling that the child would eventually come home with them.
"Ah, wife, don't pinch me, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts."
But before Chen Yang could finish speaking, he felt his flesh being pinched by his wife.
This time, Shen Xue wasn't joking with him. This fool, they had gone through so much trouble to find the child. If they really did as Chen Yang said, what would she do if the child refused to come with them later?
"Mommy, Brother is very good."
"He'll listen to me and go home with me."
"Daddy doesn't listen, Mommy hits him."
The baby's big eyes rolled around. Mommy hitting Daddy made her excitedly rub her hands.
"Damn it, you little black-hearted cotton!"
Chen Yang looked at the baby in his arms, his heart about to break. He loved the baby so much, yet she sided with her mother.
Along the way, Chen Yang just focused on walking, afraid of angering Shen Xue again.
"Wife, I looked at this restaurant. They have roast duck. Let's take Yanyan to eat roast duck once. Their spring pancakes are so delicious."
Looking at the state-run restaurant, Chen Yang cautiously spoke. Shen Xue was still angry, and he was trying to figure out how to appease her.
"Eat, eat, eat, you only know how to eat."
"Why aren't you thinking about how to bring the child home?"
Shen Xue was still angry. With a glare from her, Chen Yang didn't dare to speak.
Shen Xue was usually gentle and rarely argued with him. She was truly angry this time, like a tigress. The old man immediately became submissive.
"Daddy, what is roast duck? Is it delicious?"
It was the baby who, upon hearing Chen Yang's words, suddenly widened her big, watery eyes and hooked her neck around his.
"You ungrateful little thing, now you know to ask Daddy."
"Who was it that incited Mommy to hit me just now?"
Chen Yang pinched the baby's little face. He wasn't angry with her, of course. The old man was inwardly feeling a bit sour. He wouldn't let anyone know that he had fallen into the vinegar jar.
His beloved little padded jacket turned out to be a black-hearted cotton.
"Yanyan has been hungry all day. What's wrong with wanting to eat roast duck? I think you're asking for it."
"Come, Mommy will take you to eat."
Shen Xue snatched the baby from Chen Yang's arms and walked directly into the restaurant.
The baby looked at her stunned Daddy and was amused, giggling and making faces at him.
"I didn't say I wouldn't take the child to eat. You just said I only know how to eat."
The old man looked at Shen Xue, who changed her mind so quickly, and felt a headache coming on.
Having lived two lifetimes as a straightforward man, Chen Yang had no idea what he had said to upset his wife.
Men are so difficult!
Looking at Shen Xue, who had already entered the restaurant, the old man could only pin his hopes of appeasing Shen Xue on the evening, hehe.