Chapter 00256: Parting Again
# Parting Again
Chapter 256
Novel: 1979 Golden Age
Chapter 256: Parting Again
"Happy flowers bloom in my heart, songs of love drift with the wind, our hearts soar to distant places, dreaming of that beautiful revolutionary ideal..."
Early in the morning, the diligent Sister Xue had already begun her busy day.
Smoke rose from the small kitchen in the backyard.
Tied in an apron, she hummed a cheerful tune, her face free of makeup, her hair casually tied back—a picture of domestic bliss, the kind where a virtuous wife brings contentment to all matters.
She sliced the pickled vegetables, stir-fried some meat slices with extra braising sauce, then lifted the lid of another pot, where noodles were boiling.
Cooking noodles required experience.
Those who didn’t know how would either add too much or too little.
The trick was this: when you felt it wasn’t enough and your hands itched to add more, resisting the urge was the right move.
It would always turn out just right.
Just before they were done, she tossed in a handful of cabbage leaves—green vegetables were scarce in the capital during winter—then scooped them out and poured the sizzling meat slices with braising sauce over the top.
Ah! The aroma was irresistible!
Carrying the tray, she headed to the master bedroom and found Chen Qi still lazing in bed.
She couldn’t help but purse her lips in amusement.
Last night, he had been like a young bull, tirelessly plowing his field upon her, wearing them both out until they finally slept near midnight—no more, or they’d be rubbed raw...
"Ah Qi? Ah Qi?"
"Mmm!"
Chen Qi lazily opened his eyes, mumbling, "What time is it?"
"Half past five!"
"Why are you up so early? Sleep a little longer."
"I have filming to do. Come on, get up and eat..."
Gong Xue brought over a basin of hot water, and Chen Qi had no choice but to drag himself up.
After washing up, he took a bite of the noodles.
"Hmm, not bad. Just the right amount of saltiness!"
"I made it to your taste. I’d add sugar and soy sauce if it were just for me."
"I can’t even imagine. I’ve given up trying to understand our dietary differences."
"Well, when we eat together, I’ll cook for you. I can handle northern dishes too... Oh, right!"
Gong Xue set down her chopsticks and suddenly pulled out a thick envelope from her bag.
"This is the five thousand yuan you gave me before you left. I didn’t use it. Here, take it back."
"Keep it. What’s given shouldn’t be taken back."
"How can that be? What would I do with five thousand yuan for no reason?"
She insisted on returning it, but he refused.
Finally, he suggested, "How about this—you deposit the money and keep the passbook here. Leave it untouched unless you need it."
"Alright then!"
Breakfast was soon finished.
She wheeled her bicycle to the side gate and said, "I was delayed yesterday, so today’s filming might run long. I’ll come by later."
"Don’t bother if it’s too late. It’s tiring to go back and forth."
"No! I want to. I’m leaving next week, and I want to spend more time with you."
"Then I’ll pick you up."
"Mm!"
Gong Xue flashed a radiant smile and left.
Chen Qi stood there for a moment before suddenly shivering, rubbing his arms—clad only in a thin undershirt—and hurriedly dashed back inside to burrow under the covers again.
It was November now.
The mornings and evenings were still chilly, and while one could manage without a stove by bundling under thick quilts, come December, the stove would be a necessity.
Winters in the capital weren’t the harshest in the north—places like the northeast and Inner Mongolia were far colder.
Especially in this era’s northeast.
...
By nine in the morning, the rascal finally got out of bed properly.
In the 1980s, whether you had a job or not, rising at nine would earn you enough scorn to drown in.
But who cared? He was the boss.
With the gates of No. 6 Courtyard shut, what he said went.
"Master’s up!"
Dai Hanhan dashed past, only to be yanked back by him.
"What ‘master’? You trying to get me reported? From now on, call me Teacher Chen!"
"Oh, Teacher Chen!"
"Where’s Ji Chunhua? Haven’t seen him."
"He said he went to the martial arts team to hang out with Li Lianjie."
"And Teacher Li?"
"In her room."
Chen Qi waved Dai Hanhan off and knocked on the dormitory door.
"Mind if I come in?"
"Sure!" came the reply in a Wuhan accent.
Pushing the door open, he was startled.
The room was a mess—papers and books strewn everywhere, nothing like a young woman’s quarters.
Li Jianqun was hunched over her desk, absorbed in drawing something without even looking up.
He closed the door but immediately cracked it open halfway.
This wasn’t Hong Kong.
At her age and mine, gossip could kill—some things, once said, could never be washed clean, no matter how much you denied them.
Best to be cautious!
"..."
He didn’t disturb her.
After a long wait, Li Jianqun finally straightened up and asked, "Did you need something?"
"Next year, we’re filming *Tai Chi 3*. You’ll handle the costumes again, mostly the same as the second installment, just with more foreigners. Also, there’s another project—a serious historical film. Look up materials on the Japanese concentration camps in China during the War of Resistance. Study the actual clothing of those people, so you have an idea."
"You’re making an anti-Japanese film?" Li Jianqun perked up with interest.
"Not exactly. It’s not the usual kind. It reflects the inhumanity of the Japs from a different angle."
Having said his piece, Chen Qi couldn’t help but glance around the room again.
"Teacher Li, may I offer a suggestion? Your room is a bit... overwhelming. I’m nervous about stepping on your sketches. I’d feel terrible if I did."
"Of all the people who’ve suggested that, you’ve been the most polite about it," Li Jianqun laughed.
"Well, just thought I’d mention it. Alright, I’ll leave you to it."
He stepped out, closing the door behind him, when her voice suddenly called after him, "I’ll tidy up when I have time—it’s just that I rarely do!"
...
These past few days, Chen Qi had been busy writing reports, giving verbal updates to the Ministry of Culture, and checking on the magazine’s progress.
He didn’t know how Xiao Mo and Xiao Geng had reported things, but the higher-ups remained as warm as ever, even relaying Comrade Liao’s regards and telling him not to stress too much...
Such words were best taken with a grain of salt.
Sometimes leaders meant well, but reality didn’t always allow for it.
He knew that if he didn’t produce results next year, the China Film Group—humiliated to the core—and all those he’d offended would come at him with everything they had.
Death might be the least of his worries.
"Ah—"
That night, in the master bedroom, Gong Xue knelt on the bed, her slightly curled hair swaying like willow strands in the wind with each rhythmic collision before cascading down with a long, breathy moan.
She could hold on no longer, collapsing weakly, her slender back glistening with a sheen of sweat under the candlelight, exuding an intoxicating allure.
Another power outage.
The candles were already more than half burned.
Catching his breath, Chen Qi wiped her down with a handkerchief—no tissues—then got up, poured warm water from the thermos into a basin.
The temperature was just right.
"Come, let’s clean up."
"Mmm... I can’t move..."
"Then I’ll do it for you."
"No!"
Gong Xue immediately mustered the strength to sit up.
After washing, they lay back in bed in their underwear, bare-chested under the covers, skin against skin, the lingering flush on their faces warding off the chill.
"We can’t keep doing this!"
She suddenly declared, "We shouldn’t overdo it. It’s bad for our health."
"Who told you that?"
"I read it in a book."
"If it’s bad for health, why do you keep seducing me, stripping in front of me, swaying like that—"
"Who’s swaying?!"
Gong Xue flushed with embarrassment, nuzzling against him before sighing.
"I’m leaving soon. Another month apart... Why did you have to come back? I’ve been so happy, I can’t even focus on filming. Director Wang scolds me every day."
"That’s serious. Here’s an idea."
Chen Qi said, "Take some materials about the Japanese concentration camps, the massacres, their atrocities during the War of Resistance with you to Guangdong. Read them when you’re free. It’ll help you get into a somber mood."
"Are you serious?"
"Dead serious. There’s a role for you next year. Consider it research."
"..."
Gong Xue gave him a strange look but nodded trustingly.
Chen Qi kissed her lips, pulled her close, and stroked her smooth, delicate back, glancing at the nearly spent candle.
"Sleep now."
(End of Chapter)