Axolotl Translations

Time slipped by unnoticed, and in the blink of an eye, 1961 was upon them.

For three years, people had endured relentless hunger, their bodies frail and emaciated. Yet, the embers of hope still flickered within them, fueling their resilience, keeping their dreams alive.

That year, the Wei family’s children had grown significantly. The fourteen-year-old twins had finished middle school. The seven-year-old dragon and phoenix twins were about to enter second grade, and even little Xiangqing, now four, had begun kindergarten.

It was also a year when many relationships, unable to withstand the pressures of reality after graduation, ended in heartbreak.

Such was the fate of Li Wenxiu and Zhu Kaiwen. His family looked down on her origins—she was just a girl from a small county, her parents mere factory workers. Even her university education couldn’t sway the Zhu family.

Stepping off the train, Li Wenxiu was struck by the stark contrast between the bustling city and her impoverished hometown. In that instant, she resolved to take root in this metropolis and forge a life there.

At school, she had set her sights on Zhu Kaiwen, drawn not only to his handsome features but also to his family’s standing and his own considerable talents, all of which distinguished him from the crowd.

To secure her place beside him, Li Wenxiu had schemed, both subtly and overtly, countless times, warding off any girl who dared to challenge her claim.

Yet, in the end, she was defeated—not by a rival, but by the unyielding hand of fate.

As soon as Zhu Kaiwen graduated, he started dating a woman his family had chosen—someone whose lineage mirrored his own. Li Wenxiu, ostracized for her machinations at school, had no choice but to pack her meager belongings and accept her assigned post, returning to her impoverished hometown in defeat.

Her schemes and plots had come to naught. Had she not been so desperate to ascend the social ladder, perhaps her fate would have been different.

That year, Wei Jiajia, now twenty, finally graduated from university—and accepted Qiao Haoyu’s proposal.

“Wuuu~~ This might be our last time together. Who knows when we’ll meet again?”

“I don’t want to say goodbye!”

In their dormitory, the girls clung to one another, their sobs echoing through the room.

Even Wei Jiajia, usually composed, was unable to hold back her tears. Aside from Zhang Huimin, the other four had become her closest confidantes, people she truly cherished.

Coming here, meeting this circle of kindred spirits, had awakened her to a truth—while some were driven by self-interest alone, there were still those who possessed a sincerity, optimism, and resilience rarely encountered in the twenty-first century.

They had shared four years, weathering hardships together, bolstering each other through trials.

Now, graduation had arrived, and their paths diverged.

Uncertain when, or if, they would ever reunite, they could only weep.

“Enough, enough, stop crying!” Yang Yang, being the most strong-willed among them, was the first to pull herself together. She quickly spoke to calm everyone down.

“I… I… I just can’t help it!” Su Pan, her voice trembling, spoke in fragmented sentences, her sobs still wracking her. A loud hiccup punctuated her words.

“Hic~”

The sound of her hiccup made everyone laugh, helping to lighten the mood and ease the sadness of their impending separation.

It was common for university graduates to be assigned jobs, but if there were no available positions in the city, most would return to their hometowns.

Among the girls in their dormitory, only Wei Jiajia, who chose to follow her husband, and Yang Sisi, who remained in the city to work for a local newspaper, were staying. The others had all opted to return to their respective provinces.

He Shengnan was going back to her original work unit, where her husband and children awaited her.

Zhao Zhaodi yearned to be closer to home, to care for her parents and two younger sisters.

As for Yang Yang, she simply couldn’t adjust to city life.

When the others realized this was her sole reason for returning, they were momentarily speechless.

“Okay, okay! It’s not as if we’re leaving this instant, so please, no more tears!” Yang Yang said, looking playfully alarmed.

Seeing everyone’s red, swollen eyes, Yang Yang couldn’t help but laugh. “Aren’t we supposed to be attending Jiajia’s wedding?” she teased. “What if the groom gets scared seeing all of you like this?”

Her words had the desired effect. Tonight, they were going to Wei Jiajia’s home, and in a few days, the wedding between Wei Jiajia and Qiao Haoyu would take place. They had decided to attend the Shencheng ceremony and then return home afterward.

They had long been curious about Wei Jiajia’s fiancé, eager to see what sort of man had captured the heart of their school’s most beautiful goddess.

Over the past four years, countless suitors had confessed their affections, only to be left heartbroken.

Was this fiancé truly as exceptional as Wei Jiajia described? Or was he simply the embodiment of love’s idealized vision?

Wei Jiajia’s wedding was to be celebrated in both Shencheng and Beijing.

The Shencheng ceremony was a small, intimate affair for close family and friends, as the Wei family had no relatives in the city. Aside from her immediate family, only a few close friends from the dormitory were invited. This gathering was primarily for her mother’s side of the family, the Zhangs. Grandma Zhang and her aunt were too frail to travel to Beijing, and other relatives were tied up with work. So, after some deliberation, Wei Jiajia and Qiao Haoyu decided to hold the Shencheng ceremony first, before returning to Beijing for the main event.

That afternoon, Wei Jiajia and several of her roommates set off for her home. They changed buses a couple of times before finally arriving at the alley where Wei Jiajia’s family resided.

“Wow! Jiajia, your neighborhood is full of ancient streets!” Su Pan exclaimed, finding this place utterly different from the row housing where she lived. Here, everything exuded an old-world charm, the narrow alleyways amplifying the sense of nostalgia.

Wei Jiajia smiled, about to reply, when she noticed a figure standing some distance ahead.

He wore the same green military uniform as three years prior, leaning against a wall, an unfinished cigarette dangling from his hand.

His head was slightly bowed, as if lost in contemplation. The aura he projected now was far more mature than it had been three years ago.

As if sensing their presence, he lifted his head, his gaze settling on Wei Jiajia amidst the group.

“Hey, hey, who do you think he’s looking at?” Su Pan nudged He Shengnan and whispered.

He Shengnan glanced at her oblivious roommate with a touch of exasperation. Wasn’t it obvious?

“What’s wrong? Why are you all looking at me like that?” Su Pan touched her face, wondering if there was something on it.

The others, having overheard the question, exchanged speechless glances before turning their attention back to the soldier. They couldn’t help but concede that he lived up to Jiajia’s description—perhaps even surpassing it.

As he drew closer, stopping just five meters away, his eyes remained fixed solely on the woman before him.

He smiled, arms outstretched, and declared, “Jiajia, I’ve returned to marry you!”

Wei Jiajia dropped her luggage, unable to contain her emotions. She ran towards him, leaping into his arms and embracing the man she had yearned for these past three years.

In her embrace, Qiao Haoyu finally felt a sense of peace.

Oblivious to their surroundings, they clung to each other, expressing the profound longing that filled their hearts.

Watching the couple in such an intimate embrace, He Shengnan and the others began to feel as though they were somewhat in the way, their presence an intrusion on this intimate moment.

They exchanged glances and quietly moved forward, granting the reunited lovers the space they craved.

“When did you arrive? I thought I wouldn’t see you until tomorrow!” Wei Jiajia murmured, burying her face in Qiao Haoyu’s chest and nuzzling against him.

It was rare to see her so uninhibited, and Qiao Haoyu, a fond smile gracing his lips, gently patted her head. “I couldn’t bear to wait,” he replied. “I left a day early.”

Even though it was only a single day, his words filled Wei Jiajia’s heart with warmth.

Noticing the curious glances of passersby, the couple reluctantly parted. Qiao Haoyu took her hand and her luggage as they continued towards her home.

Rounding the corner, they encountered a group of young women huddled together, excitedly whispering about the couple’s perfect reunion and the beauty of their embrace.

To put it in modern terms, they were totally fan-girling over the couple!

“Ahem…” Wei Jiajia cleared her throat, attempting to gently rein in the women’s enthusiasm.

Upon seeing the couple approach, the girls quickly rose, offering slightly embarrassed smiles.

Wei Jiajia cast a playful, yet slightly chiding glance at them before turning to Qiao Haoyu and proceeding with formal introductions.

Having overheard their effusive praise from a short distance, Qiao Haoyu felt a surge of pride. His first impression of these women was decidedly favorable.

Of course, he would never concede that his positive assessment stemmed from their enthusiastic endorsement of him and Jiajia as a perfect match…

“Thank you all for coming to Jiajia’s and my wedding,” Qiao Haoyu said sincerely. “Over the years, Jiajia has been in your care, and I am truly grateful.” He meant every word. During the past three years, he hadn’t been able to return even once. Aside from her family, these friends had been her constant companions. Through their letters, he had sensed the depth of Jiajia’s affection for them.

“Oh, don’t mention it,” He Shengnan replied. “We’re all from different corners of the country, brought together by fate. We shared four years, living under the same roof—it’s only natural that we looked out for one another.”

“As for taking care of her,” Yang Yang interjected, “it’s actually been Jiajia looking out for us more. Don’t be fooled by her being the youngest—she’s the brains of our dorm, and she has a heart of gold. She often brought us food from home. We’ve all benefited from her generosity.”

“Exactly!” another chimed in. “Without Jiajia, we’d have gone hungry these past few years, and forget about graduating with such excellent grades!”

“Right, right!” added a third. “Thanks to Jiajia’s reminders, my parents back in the countryside didn’t starve.”

“…”

The group eagerly recounted the myriad ways Jiajia had cared for them over the years.

Qiao Haoyu listened as the girls detailed Wei Jiajia’s selfless acts, how she had assisted so many during those challenging times.

His mother often wrote to him about Jiajia sending food to her family, and even to his father’s former comrades.

He himself frequently received packages from her.

He hadn’t fully grasped the extent of her generosity, especially during such hardship. He glanced down at the woman beside him, his heart overflowing with affection and pride.

Wei Jiajia raised an eyebrow, a hint of playful smugness in her eyes.

Qiao Haoyu gently tousled her hair, thinking, How could I not love such a remarkable woman?

Her beauty was undeniable, but it was her boundless kindness that truly set her apart.

---

Previous Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter