Call Me Daddy

Hearing Su Mingcheng call “Dad” and hearing his daughter call “Daddy” are two completely different feelings.

The daughter’s “Daddy” was sweet, while Su Mingcheng’s “Dad” was awkward and reluctant. However, in Su Aobai’s ears, it couldn’t be more satisfying. After all, being a father shouldn’t be for nothing, right?

“This snack must be expensive, right?”

Jiang Lianmei smiled as she watched the interaction between father and son. After finishing the crumbs left in her hand, she carefully packed up the remaining oily snacks. These rich snacks were so rare that she couldn’t bear to eat them all at once.

“They are a bit more expensive than regular snacks, but my Mom bought them. They’re a specialty of Ning City, and she wanted you and the kids to try them. By the way, save some to bring to your parents’ house when we go there for dinner tomorrow.”

Su Aobai’s parents didn’t really approve of the wife he married in the countryside. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have waited until the children were so grown up without suggesting a meeting. It wasn’t until Su Aobai explicitly refused to take over the family business that his parents realized he genuinely cared about his small family in the countryside. They then began to soften, understanding that even if he had the chance to return to the city in the future, he would definitely take his wife and children with him.

A few years ago, when Su Aobai and Jiang Lianmei got married, his family didn’t contribute anything, which was a significant source of dissatisfaction for the Jiang family. At the time, almost everything for the wedding came from the Jiang family, with Su Aobai only showed up.

This time, upon his return, the attitude of the Su family elders had changed considerably. They not only prepared some local specialties but also gave Su Aobai a sum of money as a belated bride price. The amount was quite substantial, as Older Brother Su was already married with children, his eldest sister had also married in the countryside, and his youngest sister had returned to the city to take over a job.

Each child had been settled in their own way, so the money given to Su Aobai was also part of the family’s division of assets.

Su Aobai hadn’t yet disclosed the existence of this money, not because he was wary of Jiang Lianmei, but because he hadn’t decided how to use it.

It was now the second half of 1975, and in 2 or 3 years, there would be major policy changes. Su Aobai wasn’t satisfied with their current living standard. He wanted to maximize the returns from this money. This idea seemed undoubtedly bold at the time, and he was afraid of scaring the woman in front of him. He had to proceed step by step, and if necessary, act first and inform her later.

“Okay!”

Upon hearing that it was prepared by her parents-in-law, Jiang Lianmei felt even happier. Though she was simple-minded, she was aware of her in-laws’ attitude. In the past, their letters rarely mentioned her and her children. Now, this seemed like a sign of goodwill. Her husband’s reminder to take a portion back to her own family also showed that he valued her contribution.

“By the way, the lunchbox contains smoked fish. It can be eaten directly or added to soup while cooking for a fresher taste. It’s one of my Mom’s specialties. Since we’re going to your parents’ for dinner tomorrow, we should bring it to add a dish.”

Su Aobai put down the little girl he was holding and opened the lunchbox to take a sniff. The weather had cooled down, and the smoked fish, after being fried, was salted and marinated in soy sauce, making it less likely to spoil.

This smoked fish was made from sea eel. Ning City was by the sea, where eating seafood was easier than inland. According to his memory, Jiang Lianmei and the children had never eaten sea fish before. The few times they had tried seafood, it was dried seaweed sent by his parents from Ning City.

“Okay.”

Jiang Lianmei licked her lips and nodded.

The smoked fish in the lunchbox didn’t look very appealing. After all, it had been in the lunchbox for several days, soaked in soy sauce, and appeared dark brown.

But despite its appearance, it smelled delicious. When Su Aobai opened the lid, she immediately smelled the salty, fresh aroma, with a hint of soybean oil.

The fish was cut into finger-thick slices, each piece looking full and firm. The fish skin had a slightly charred brown hue, indicating it had been fried, giving it a rich, oily fragrance.

In the past, the family never used so much oil when cooking for the New Year. Jiang Lianmei thought this dish must taste wonderful.

Perhaps out of a sense of making amends, this time the Su family elders were very attentive. They used half a month’s worth of oil to make this smoked fish, and Mother Su even managed to get a fat and fresh sea eel through her connections.

The meat was fresh and plump. If it weren’t for the difficulties in transportation, steaming the sea eel would have been the best way to highlight its natural flavor according to Ning City’s local tastes.

Supplies were indeed scarce during those years. The sea eel that Mother Su brought home didn’t amount to much after processing. When they took it to her parents’ house the next day, each person would only get a piece or half a piece.

Although her husband had explained the reason for his late return, his parents were likely still a bit resentful. Bringing such a prestigious dish would ease their attitude, and her sisters-in-law couldn’t find fault with it either. Especially the elder sister-in-law, who would no longer think they came just to freeload.

So, even though Jiang Lianmei’s eyes were glued to the smoked fish, she didn’t suggest eating some for dinner.

Su Mingcheng and his little sister were also very sensible. Knowing they could have the delicious-smelling fish the next day, they didn’t fuss about eating it that night.

Besides these, Su Aobai had also brought some dried kelp, seaweed, and shrimp. These were all long-lasting items and easy to prepare. Just a bit of seaweed and shrimp, some chopped green onions, and salt, soaked in boiling water, would create a fresh and tasty dish.

However, even long-lasting items needed proper storage. Jiang Lianmei busily put these things away while also preparing dinner for the family.

***

This time, Su Aobai brought quite a lot of luggage back. Besides a few changes of clothes he had taken with him, he also packed all the still decent but old clothes left at his old home in Ning City.

The old Su Aobai would have dismissed these faded clothes, but now, with the original owner’s memories and an understanding of how scarce resources were, he wouldn’t waste anything.

His old clothes could be altered for the two children to wear. As for himself, he would find a way to get some fabric coupons to make new clothes for himself and his wife.

It wasn’t that he, as a father, wasn’t loving enough, but that children needed to be raised with a frugal and hardworking spirit. Spoiling children would ruin them, just as he had been spoiled in the past life.

It was absolutely not out of revenge; he swore on his son Su Mingcheng’s name.

The bedroom was simply furnished with a long kang, covered with a quilt. At the foot of the bed were several neatly stacked quilts, and in the corner was a camphorwood chest, part of Jiang Lianmei’s dowry.

(T/N: Kang = heated platform bed.)

Besides that, there was a wardrobe, moved from Jiang Lianmei’s old room. The entire family’s clothes were stored in this wardrobe.

Supplies were indeed scarce in those days. The wardrobe was only about 1.2 meters wide, yet it held all the clothes for a family of four for all seasons, and it still wasn’t full.

Su Aobai opened the wardrobe and casually flipped through it. They were all old clothes. The only relatively new piece was a set of Mao suit belonging to the original owner, which he wore only on important school events.

Jiang Lianmei didn’t have many clothes either. She had three or four long-sleeved shirts for spring and autumn, one of which had a patched cuff. Compared to other women in the village, she did have a few more clothes, but to Su Aobai, it was still pitifully little.

He placed the old clothes he had brought into the wardrobe and, looking at the neat yet sparse bedroom, he gradually developed a desire.

He wanted to buy many things to fill this room. He wanted to transform this earthen house into a grand small building. He wanted his wife and children in this world to not have to hesitate about eating a bit of smoked fish.

In the past life, Su Aobai had always lived under his parents’ protection. At this moment, he suddenly felt that he had become someone else’s protector.

This feeling was truly wonderful, and Su Aobai began to fully integrate with this identity.

***

“Teacher Su, Mei Zi, are you taking the kids to your parents’ house?”

The next day at noon, on the way to the old Jiang family home, the couple saw many villagers returning from the fields with farming tools, ready to go home for lunch.

Su Aobai was holding his daughter, while Jiang Lianmei and their son Su Mingcheng walked on either side of him.

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the few packages Jiang Lianmei was carrying, guessing that these were the local specialties Su Aobai had brought back.

These items were carefully packaged by Jiang Lianmei. She wrapped some of the oily snacks in butter paper and took a piece of red paper from her dowry chest to stick on top, making it look like high-end treats from a supply and marketing cooperative.

She also took some dried kelp and seaweed, tied them into bundles, and placed the sea eel from the lunchbox into a large soup bowl, ensuring that everyone they met along the way could see the plump fish meat.

These gifts were considered quite luxurious and valuable at the time, especially the kelp and seaweed, which were rare in the area and something many people had never tasted.

“Yes, my in-laws prepared some local specialties for my parents,” Jiang Lianmei replied with a reserved smile, though she felt ecstatic inside.

Over the years, Su Aobai’s parents had been cold towards her and the children, and there had been some gossip in the village. This time, Jiang Lianmei was ready to proudly show off.

“Wow, these are rare items. They must really value you as a daughter-in-law to prepare such things,” the villagers said, knowing exactly what Jiang Lianmei wanted to hear and happily indulging her.

From their small rented house to the old Jiang family home was only 50 or 60 meters. By the time they reached the door, Jiang Lianmei still hadn’t had enough of showing off. She felt she had walked too quickly; if she had walked more slowly, she might have met a couple more people.

But now that they were at the door, she couldn’t go back and walk the path again.

Su Mingcheng felt the same way. He held his head high like a little rooster, not saying anything, but showing everyone through his actions that his father was right there with him. He wasn’t some fatherless child.

Mother and son relished the envious glances they had received and then walked proudly into the Jiang family’s courtyard.

***

“Early this morning, I saw your mother gathering eggs from the chicken coop. So, Mei Zi, you brought your husband and kids to your parents’ house for a meal,” an astute-looking old woman from the neighboring courtyard, separated only by a fence, shouted at Jiang Lianmei. Her words caused the smile on Jiang Lianmei’s face to fade.

She frowned slightly and glanced towards the house, worried that her sister-in-law might overhear and think she was taking advantage of her parental home every time she visited.

In fact, since getting married, thanks to her husband’s salary as a primary school teacher, Jiang Lianmei rarely needed her parents’ help. But Jiang Dajun and Han Juan doted on their daughter and always shared any good things with her.

It wasn’t just Jiang Lianmei who received these gifts. Her second brother’s family, who lived separately, also benefited. Until this year, Jiang Dajun was still the brigade leader, and even now, he and his wife earned work points in the fields. Jiang Dajun occasionally fished in the river or set traps in the mountains. They didn’t really need financial support from the eldest son and his wife.

However, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Jiang family didn’t see it that way. She always felt that even though the family had split, her parents-in-law lived with the eldest son’s family and continually helped the second son and younger daughter, which she saw as unfair.

Nonetheless, Jiang Dajun still held authority in the household, so the eldest daughter-in-law didn’t dare to show her displeasure openly, merely sulking quietly.

It took Jiang Lianmei a long time to realize that her sister-in-law seemed unhappy every time she visited.

“Aunt Yu, is Brother Zhicheng coming home for a visit this year? I heard his wife has already given birth, right?”

She decided to change the subject. The old woman called Aunt Yu’s expression changed immediately, her face drooping.

Su Aobai glanced at the old woman, realizing which family she belonged to.

If Su Aobai’s original family were the failures of this world, then the family before him were their successful counterparts.

The Yu family’s second son, Yu Zhicheng, had joined the army early on and earned many accolades on the battlefield. He was now reportedly a deputy battalion commander. The Yu family had three sons, and although he was the most accomplished, he was also the least favored. The money he sent home during his years in the army was used entirely on his two brothers. While his peers had already married and started families, Yu Zhicheng remained a bachelor.

One year, during a visit home, he saved a young educated woman who had fallen into the water. To preserve her reputation, he married her despite his parents’ objections. This young woman happened to be from the same group of educated youth as Su Aobai’s original self and had lived in the same courtyard.

Initially, their relationship wasn’t good. The marriage stemmed from that accident. Old Lady Yu didn’t like the educated youth daughter-in-law and, along with the other two daughters-in-law, made her life difficult while Yu Zhicheng was in the army. However, the educated youth woman wasn’t easy to bully. She quickly convinced Yu Zhicheng to process the paperwork for her to join him in the military, and she left without looking back.

Since getting married, the money Yu Zhicheng sent home decreased, and Old Lady Yu family often badmouthed the couple to outsiders.

Both couples were a mix of educated youths and locals, yet Jiang Lianmei and Su Aobai’s original self had a disastrous end, while Yu Zhicheng and that educated woman were deeply in love and had two children together.

Su Aobai looked at his proud son beside him. The original owner’s death was somewhat related to the Yu family’s little girl named Yu Baozhu.

Damn, why does it feel like my son is another version of my former self, both born to be cannon fodder?