It was an evening. After dinner, not long afterward, Jiang Yinghan took Mu Mu to the bathroom to bathe, while Jin Chao stayed in his room doing his homework, and Jin Qiang cleaned the dishes. It was an ordinary day, nothing special, just like any other day.
After watching Mu Mu climb onto the bed by herself, Jiang Yinghan walked into the kitchen. The dishes Jin Qiang had finished washing were being placed into the cupboard, but a few plates were left by the sink. Jiang Yinghan walked out holding one of the plates and questioned Jin Qiang, asking why he always left things unfinished. Wasn’t there anything he could do properly? Jin Qiang got angry too and retorted, telling her that if she thought he was so incapable, then she should just divorce him and find someone who could do things properly.
Jin Chao hadn’t gone to sleep. He sat quietly on the other side of the room, listening to their argument through the door, hearing them discuss going to the civil affairs bureau to finalize the divorce the next day.
He thought it was just another one of their arguments, like all the others. After a night’s sleep, everything would go back to normal. But when he came home from school the next day, he found out that they had really divorced.
Now, looking back, what had caused it?
Jin Chao’s voice was heavy as he told her, “A few plates.”
Jiang Mu never would have imagined that the trigger for her parents’ divorce had been something as trivial as a few plates. A man and a woman go through trials, testing, and compromise, and after all the struggles, they come together. So how could something as small as a few plates make them drift apart?
Her chin sank into the pillow, her expression complex in a way she had never felt before. Jin Chao glanced at her, thinking about her words earlier, “I don’t plan to get married.” He realized that her statement probably wasn’t just said on a whim. The divorce of her parents had likely left her with a deep fear and apprehension about marriage, something Jin Chao hadn’t considered.
Back then, though he often worried, fearing that Jin Qiang and Jiang Yinghan might get so angry that things would escalate physically, he was already mature enough to understand why they couldn’t make it work. There were times when he felt exhausted from their constant arguments, but he had learned to make sense of their struggles.
At that time, Jiang Mu was still young. In her world, her parents’ divorce felt like the sky had fallen, a reality she couldn’t bear no matter what.
This was also the first time Jin Chao realized the impact that Jin Qiang and Jiang Yinghan’s divorce had on Jiang Mu.
He wasn’t the type of person to give long-winded speeches or offer grand philosophies, but at this moment, he sensed the girl before him was caught in some kind of confusion. He slowly bent one leg and spoke to her, “There are no unfortunate marriages, but there are many unfortunate couples. It’s not the marriage that brings them disaster. When people really want to fight against fate, no matter how steep the mountain or how rugged the road is, they can still find a way through. It all depends on the effort you put in.”
Jin Chao’s words suddenly reminded Jiang Mu of a time when she went out to eat with her dad. She had been surprised by Jin Qiang’s habit of eating raw garlic, because in her home with Jiang Yinghan, garlic only occasionally appeared as an ingredient in savory dishes, but it was never eaten raw. Jin Qiang, however, casually gave some garlic to Jin Chao, showing that it was a normal part of their life. Jiang Mu didn’t like garlic, so Jin Chao kept it in his hand without touching it.
At that time, his small gesture didn’t seem significant, but today, when Jiang Mu looked back, she felt deeply moved.
How difficult it must have been for two people from completely different backgrounds to integrate into each other’s lives. Though she didn’t fully understand, she saw compromise and tolerance in Jin Chao. Perhaps this was what Jin Chao meant by “depends on the effort.” If that night, Jin Qiang had quietly put the plate back into the dish rack, would her parents not have gotten divorced?
Maybe the answer would still be the same. They probably didn’t want to change anything for each other anymore. It was as if, in an instant, Jiang Mu suddenly understood everything. Because from Jin Chao, she saw another way of looking at things—what it meant to be a partner.
She blinked softly, looking at him, and blurted out, “Chao Chao, you’ll definitely be a good husband in the future.”
Jin Chao was caught off guard by her compliment, the corners of his mouth curving slightly, his voice becoming a little deeper, “Isn’t it the wife who gets to decide whether I’m a good husband?”
After speaking, he turned his gaze toward her. Jiang Mu’s heart skipped a beat. Jin Chao’s words made sense, from the perspective of a younger sister, it would be impossible for her to evaluate whether he would be a good husband. But here she was, boldly making that judgment. Was he subtly reminding her not to overstep?
Jiang Mu didn’t know, nor did she dare to guess. But just thinking that one day he would marry and have children made a heavy fog settle in her heart, lingering and difficult to shake off.
She muttered, “So, have you ever thought about when you’d get married?”
Jin Chao paused for a moment, unconsciously looking toward a corner of the room. After a brief silence, he said, “Never thought about it.”
Jiang Mu then recalled some trivial matters and began rambling, “When I was younger, I once saw you walking into the neighborhood with a big sister after school. I called you from upstairs, but you ignored me. I was so mad, and I kept wondering, if you ever got a girlfriend, would you just stop paying attention to me?”
Jin Chao looked at her in surprise. “When was that?”
Jiang Mu yawned, “I was probably in second grade, and you were already in middle school.”
Jin Chao, seeing the unexpected shift in her mood, lowered his head slightly, a small smile playing at the corner of his mouth. But Jiang Mu kept grumbling, “I saw it a few times. That sister smiled at you so happily. And I’m telling you, after you left, she even came to our house and rang the doorbell to look for you!”
Jin Chao’s eyes glinted with amusement as he asked, “So, what did you say?”
Jiang Mu turned over, pouting, “See? You remember now, don’t you?’
Jin Chao teased her, “You were a little devil in disguise.”
Jiang Mu immediately retorted, “I’m not little anymore.”
Jin Chao slowly stood up. “Right, just a minute ago, who was saying they were still small? Anyway, in front of me, you’re like Sun Wukong’s disciple.”
“What do you mean?”
“Capable of seventy-two transformations, sometimes big, sometimes small.”
Jiang Mu laughed, “Where are you going?”
Jin Chao turned to look at her as he reached the door. “I’m not leaving, just stepping out for a smoke.”
Only then did Jiang Mu feel reassured.
Jin Chao sat alone in the living room, scrolling through his phone. He knew Jiang Mu was likely already tired, but if he stayed in the room, she’d force herself to stay awake, so he decided to sit out for a while. When the time seemed right, he went back to check on her.
She had indeed closed her eyes and was lying still at the edge of the bed. Jin Chao walked over, and gently nudged her toward the center of the bed, and as he did, Jiang Mu, with her eyes still closed, murmured, “Brother…”
Jin Chao wasn’t sure if she was awake, but Jiang Mu, holding her pillow, slowly opened her eyes a crack and said softly, “I’m really Jiang Mu, but I’m also your Jin Mu Mu. Happy New Year.”
She closed her eyes again after speaking, but her words lingered like a wisp of smoke, swirling in Jin Chao’s chest. He bent down to pull the blanket over her, tucking in the edges. Just as he was about to straighten up, he glanced at her long eyelashes, which fluttered slightly in her sleep, as if she had suffered a great grievance.
This was probably her first time spending the New Year away from her mother, alone. Although she didn’t say anything, he could tell she was likely feeling sad inside. A strand of hair fell across her cheek, and Jin Chao gently tucked it behind her ear. Her lips had a faint pink hue, soft and delicate. His finger accidentally brushed against her skin, and for a moment, he lingered. But that moment was brief, and he quickly withdrew his hand, reluctant to touch her again.
……
Jiang Mu awoke to the sound of her phone ringing. There were already two missed calls from Jin Chao. She quickly called back, and the phone picked up almost immediately.
“I’m sorry, I must’ve fallen asleep,” she said hurriedly, jumping out of bed. “Where are you? Are you at the car shop? I’ll come over right away. Dr. Li said no one’s on duty after 4, we have to hurry to the hospital!”
She spoke quickly, but Jin Chao’s calm voice interrupted her, “Put on your shoes.”
Jiang Mu looked down at her bare feet in confusion, then checked the phone again, wondering if she’d accidentally activated video call, otherwise, how else could Jin Chao know she wasn’t wearing shoes?
She quickly put on her shoes, and as she finished, Jin Chao’s voice came again, “You have half an hour at most, you can make it. Take your time, and have something to eat before coming out. I’m waiting at the neighborhood entrance.”
Jiang Mu had no idea when Jin Chao had gone back last night, but he was already here now. Although he told her not to rush, she still hurried out the door as quickly as possible. The snow outside was still thick, but today she had switched to a pair of mid-calf Martin boots and wore a stylish, glossy patchwork coat with a waist-cinching design that made her look especially tall.
The winter clothes were packed by Jiang Yinghan before she came to Tonggang, but Jiang Mu had never worn them since she was usually at school. She decided to dress up a bit for the New Year. From a distance, she looked like a fashionable young woman. Jin Chao only glanced at her and quickly looked away, never considering that the slender woman in the distance was Jiang Mu.
Jiang Mu, however, had spotted Jin Chao before even leaving the neighborhood. He stood alone in the snowy landscape, dressed in a long black down jacket, his tall, lean figure strikingly conspicuous against the white snow. She waved at him from afar.
Jin Chao turned his gaze toward her again because of her gesture, and it wasn’t until Jiang Mu walked closer that he recognized her. He wasn’t sure if she was wearing light makeup, but her lips were as glossy and smooth as cherries, her eyelashes long and fluttering. Her already smooth and delicate skin appeared even more radiant and fair.
He couldn’t help but admit the truth behind the saying that girls change dramatically as they grow up. With just a change of outfit and makeup, she had transformed from the girl he was used to seeing in her school uniform and sweatpants into a dazzling mature young woman.
Jin Chao stuffed his hands into his pockets and glanced at her without saying anything. Jiang Mu asked, “How long have you been here?”
“I couldn’t get through on the phone, so I just came straight here.”
Jiang Mu smiled and said, “Why didn’t you come up to get me?”
“It’s still early. You could sleep a little longer and still make it.”
He then shifted his gaze toward the bus station and pointed, indicating she should cross the street. Jiang Mu walked beside him and asked with a sideways glance, “Aren’t you cold? Give me your hand.”
“What for?”
“Give it to me.”
Jin Chao took his right hand out of his pocket, and Jiang Mu slid a small hand warmer into his palm. He closed his fingers around it to warm up. Jiang Mu took out another one and told him, “I have another one, this one’s for you.”
Jin Chao looked at it. The design was of an oddly shaped, orange cartoon duck, with its hands stacked together, sending out a heart-shaped beam.
He clicked his tongue and said, “Still like cartoon designs, huh?”
He thought that by this age, she should have more mature tastes, but it seemed like nothing had really changed from when she was little.
Jiang Mu jumped in front of him, unwilling to back down, “What do you know? This is ‘I love you, Duck.'”
She mimicked the duck’s pose, stretching her arms out and pretending to send a heart into the air. Jin Chao curved his lips in a smile and asked, “What about yours?”
Jiang Mu showed him the one in her pocket, a matching ugly duck, but with smoke coming out from behind its butt. Jin Chao remarked, “Your duck is a bit… less refined.”
Jiang Mu burst into laughter. “I told you, you don’t understand! Mine is ‘Charge Duck!'”
Jin Chao had no idea where she got these strange names from. He glanced down at the “I Love You, Duck” in his hand, and it seemed a little more pleasing to the eye. He put it in his pocket.
Jiang Mu asked him, “Aren’t you driving?”
“The snow’s too thick to drive. It’s not like we’re in a hurry anyway. The bus route happens to be a scenic one. Want to take a look?”
Jiang Mu became interested. “Sure.”
Jin Chao walked beside her, casually glancing at her from the corner of his eye. Jiang Mu tilted her head, holding back a smile, and asked him, “Do I look good?”
Jin Chao, knowing she was asking if her outfit looked good, deliberately lifted his gaze and replied, “It looks pretty good, you can see the pagoda at the Wuyin Temple from here.”
Jiang Mu puffed out her cheeks and said, “Brother, it’s a miracle you can find a girlfriend like this.”
Jin Chao just lowered his eyes and smiled.
Jiang Mu’s Martin boots had thick soles, and while waiting for the bus, she couldn’t stop stomping on the snow at the edge of the platform, the sound of her boots crunching as she moved up and down, never staying still for a moment.
Jin Chao quietly watched her play around, silently stepping forward whenever she was about to slip, shielding her. When the bus arrived and the door opened, he noticed that the stairs were covered in ice. He stepped up first and then extended his hand to Jiang Mu.
Jiang Mu looked at his large hand and placed hers into it. Jin Chao pulled her up and paid for the fare. Her small hand was firmly held in his palm. His hand, which should have been used for holding a pen, had roughened over the years of hard work, with calloused lines. Every time Jiang Mu felt the texture of his palms, her heart ached a little. She reached out her other hand and held his as well.
Tonggang didn’t have a subway system, and perhaps because of the snow, many people had chosen to take the bus to visit relatives for the New Year. The bus was quite crowded, with no empty seats. Jin Chao led Jiang Mu to the back, and after they stood steady, he glanced down at her hands tightly gripping his and gently tugged them, saying, “Do you really think I’m a handrail?”
Jiang Mu awkwardly withdrew her hands and grabbed the bus handle instead. The elderly woman in front of them overheard their conversation and chuckled, “I’m getting off at the next stop. Let your girlfriend sit here.”
Jiang Mu’s expression grew even more awkward. She hesitated over whether to explain the situation to the woman, but Jin Chao had already nudged her into the seat. He turned to the woman and said, “Thank you.”
For the next few stops, Jin Chao stood in front of her seat, looking down at his phone. Jiang Mu sat stiffly upright. When she was younger, she used to hold Jin Chao’s hand wherever they went. If she ever let go on her own, he would scold her, warning her how dangerous it was to run around.
She missed the carefree way she used to cling to him as a child. But now, reality had set in. They were older, and the curious glances of others, the distance that should be maintained between men and women, and the constraints of societal norms all stood between them, leaving Jiang Mu feeling somewhat frustrated.
After a while, the person behind her got off, and Jin Chao sat down in the vacated seat. Jiang Mu turned her head slightly and saw Jin Chao’s profile reflected in the glass. He was still looking at his phone, his features sharp and smooth, and when he wasn’t speaking, there was an air of cold, handsome authority. But this very Jin Chao, Jiang Mu used to hug and cling to all the time when they were younger.
She pursed her lips. Jin Chao suddenly looked up, locked his phone, and his gaze landed directly on her reflection in the glass, meeting her eyes. A hint of amusement flickered in his gaze as he noticed Jiang Mu’s panicked, guilty expression. He smiled silently.