The Daily Life of a Stepmother in the 1980s
o0o
Xu Tao also knew that Zhao Linan had eaten quite a few biscuits on the road. She patted the child’s head.
"Okay, no more. We’ll try some Amoy specialties later."
Knock, knock, knock. Not long after Xu Tao had soothed Zhao Linan, the door was knocked. Zhao Weiguo, who had gone downstairs to fetch hot water, had returned.
Xu Tao quickly turned to open the door. She saw Zhao Weiguo steadily carrying a large basin of hot water, along with a big cup placed on the stool for drinking at night.
"I didn’t expect Amoy to be so cold in winter—even colder than Yangcheng."
Xu Tao complained to Zhao Weiguo as she washed up with the hot water.
"After New Year’s, when we go back to Yangcheng, let’s take Xiao Nan out for a couple of days if we have time. I want him to see Taiwan across the strait."
"Mm, sure."
Zhao Weiguo nodded in agreement.
This trip home was for Zhao Weiqiang’s wedding banquet, so they couldn’t stay in Amoy for long. Otherwise, Xu Tao would have liked to spend a couple of days soaking in the local atmosphere.
"Xiao Nan is hungry. Should we go out for dinner or bring food back?" After freshening up, Xu Tao asked Zhao Weiguo.
Having been on the road all day, Xu Tao was exhausted. Whether they went out or Zhao Weiguo brought food back, she was fine with either.
"Let’s eat out."
Zhao Weiguo replied, wanting to finish dinner before it got too dark so they could rest early.
Hearing they were going out to eat, Zhao Linan immediately bounced excitedly, eagerly tugging Xu Tao’s hand to leave. In this era, dining options outside were limited. After asking the inn staff, the family of three found a nearby satay noodle shop for dinner.
Zhao Weiguo wasn’t picky and could stomach Amoy’s signature satay noodles, but Xu Tao and Zhao Linan found the dish strange and unappetizing.
"Mommy, it’s not tasty." Zhao Linan whispered.
"Mm."
Xu Tao nodded in agreement. She didn’t like satay either.
Seeing their expressions and hearing their disdainful tones, Zhao Weiguo raised an eyebrow.
"You don’t like it?" He thought it was delicious!
"Daddy, you’re different from Mommy and me."
Zhao Linan wrinkled his little nose.
"How am I different?" Zhao Weiguo found it amusing.
Zhao Linan leaned against Xu Tao, grinning as he raised an eyebrow at Zhao Weiguo and pushed his bowl of satay noodles forward.
"Just different. Daddy, you eat it."
Whenever he didn’t like something, Zhao Linan would push it to Zhao Weiguo. This time was no exception—he even nudged Xu Tao’s bowl toward him too. Though young, the child understood not to waste food.
Looking at his silly son, Zhao Weiguo thought of a saying: if you’re going to spank a child, do it while they’re still small.
His gaze drifted to Xu Tao, who was backing the child up. Zhao Weiguo pressed his lips together and gave up.
"How about I buy you some buns later?"
"Okay, I want veggie buns." Xu Tao nodded.
She really didn’t care for satay noodles, but Zhao Weiguo had a good appetite. He finished both Xu Tao’s and Zhao Linan’s leftovers.
After dinner, Zhao Weiguo bought a few buns. Zhao Linan held his bun, munching as he walked hand-in-hand with Xu Tao. The family of three strolled back to the inn in the chilly evening breeze.
Back at the inn, Zhao Weiguo fetched more hot water. After a quick wash, they prepared for bed.
Exhausted from the day’s journey, Xu Tao fell asleep almost instantly, cuddling Zhao Linan and leaning against Zhao Weiguo. The child dozed off just as fast. However, the thin inn blankets made for an uncomfortable night.
Creak, creak.
Around midnight, Xu Tao, feeling cold, instinctively burrowed into Zhao Weiguo’s arms. Half-asleep, she heard ambiguous noises.
Blinking, she pricked up her ears—then fully woke to the unmistakable sounds coming from the next room.
The inn’s wooden beds were flimsy, and the walls were paper-thin. At first, Xu Tao thought it was a horror movie unfolding. Only after processing it did she realize what the moans and cries actually were.
As an adult, she grasped the situation instantly—though she wished she hadn’t.
"Can’t sleep?"
If even Xu Tao, a sound sleeper, was awake, Zhao Weiguo certainly was too.
"Mm." She grunted into the pillow.
Annoying! Why were the neighbors so loud at night? So irritating!
"Quite the lively show next door." Zhao Weiguo murmured in her ear. "One room finishes, the other starts."
He’d woken earlier and heard more. As a man, Zhao Weiguo found it all rather unimpressive.
Xu Tao, facing away from him, felt her ears burn despite the cold.
"Shut up." She had zero interest in discussing the neighbors’ escapades in this poorly soundproofed inn. Eavesdropping was no fun at all!
Zhao Weiguo whispered mischievously. Since they were already awake, he didn’t mind some activity of their own. "Let’s give them a taste of their own medicine."
A grown man nearing thirty—how childish!
"..."
Xu Tao closed her eyes, ignoring him, mentally cursing the neighbors 180 times.
But Zhao Weiguo’s large hand slid around her waist. "Just a little. I’ll be gentle. Don’t make a sound, okay?"
The shameless man thought this was a rare opportunity—inn escapades weren’t an everyday luxury.
Besides, after enduring the neighbors’ racket, Zhao Weiguo felt it was his duty to return the sleepless favor.
"Zhao Weiguo, behave! We have a long drive tomorrow!" Xu Tao hissed.
And 'don’t make a sound? Was he kidding her?
"You know my stamina. It won’t affect tomorrow’s drive."
Driving wouldn’t hinder his current agenda. His hand trailed lower.
Zhao Weiguo was shameless but controlled, muffling Xu Tao’s lips to prevent any telltale noises.
The bed creaked relentlessly.
Xu Tao huffed and snuggled against Zhao Weiguo to sleep. The night’s activities didn’t faze him.
o0o
The next morning, they set off early for another day of travel. Driving north from Yangcheng to Wen Province, the car finally entered Zhao Village in Fenghuang County by evening.
The further north they went, the colder it got. Zhao Village was especially chilly. At dinnertime, villagers were eating when the sound of a car drew children outside.
"A car! Wow, look!" The kids gasped.
"Mom! A car—a big four-wheeled car!"
"Dad! Come see! There’s a car in our village!"
Zhao Village was poor, and everyone knew each other. A car rolling in was a spectacle. In an era where even a Phoenix bicycle was a status symbol, a sedan was mind-blowing.
Zhao Weiguo and Xu Tao had removed the taxi signage, passing it off as a private car. At the village entrance, children swarmed the vehicle, blocking the path. Soon, adults and elders crowded around, marveling at the rare sight.
"..."
Xu Tao hadn’t expected their homecoming to involve becoming a tourist attraction.
"Mommy."
Zhao Linan clung to her, nervous at the crowd.
Stuck at the village entrance, Zhao Weiguo had no choice but to stop and greet familiar elders.
"Uncle Zhao, Auntie Li, Brother Tie..."
"Hey! Zhao Weiguo! Back for New Year’s?"
"Yes, Uncle Zhao."
"It really is the Zhao family’s little darkie! You’ve made it big—driving a car home!"
Auntie Li, nearly seventy, gawked as if seeing an alien.
"Weiguo, this car must’ve cost a fortune!"
Xu Tao, relying on the original host’s memories, didn’t recognize many villagers. Holding Zhao Linan, she stepped out.
"City life suits you! Look at Weiguo’s wife—so stylish now!"
"That coat’s so sharp!"
"Xiao Nan! I’m Brother Gouzi! Remember me?" A ten-year-old boy bounced excitedly.
"Mm." Zhao Linan nodded.
"Your clothes are so cool!"
"Can I touch your car?"
The village boys abandoned dinner to swarm around, though none dared actually touch the vehicle.
"Uncles, aunties, we’re tired from the drive. We’ll be home for a few days—feel free to visit for tea." Zhao Weiguo said politely.
"Right, let them through!" Uncle Zhao boomed.
The crowd parted, and the family re-entered the car, driving toward the village center.
The Zhao home stood mid-village. Despite the muddy paths, the car managed to pull up outside.
At the Zhao house, the family was discussing Zhao Weiqiang’s wedding the next day. With no word from Zhao Weiguo’s family, they assumed they’d miss the celebration.
"Your brother probably won’t make it back in time. Yangcheng’s far—understandable." Father Zhao said.
"I get it." Zhao Weiqiang replied.
"Did you borrow the bike?" Father Zhao puffed his pipe.
"No. Zhao Hefeng refused." Zhao Weiqiang sighed.
"Second Brother, just use the cart with red ribbons. Big Brother did last year—why’s Second Sister-in-law so fussy?" Sixteen-year-old Zhao Weilan said.
"Your sister-in-law thinks carts are ugly."
Zhao Weilan rolled her eyes. Typical Sun Fang.
"Why’s it so noisy outside?" Mother Zhao, prepping ingredients in the kitchen, stepped out.
Zhao Weilan ran to the gate—then shrieked. "A car! Dad! Mom! Come look!"
Father Zhao, Zhao Haizhu, continued sitting quietly in the living room, puffing on his pipe despite Zhao Weilan's excited shouts.
Zhao Weiqiang, however, rushed outside at the mention of a car, while Mother Zhao, Song Xiaoyan, wiped her hands and followed curiously.
The light red sedan slowly came to a stop in the open space in front of the Zhao family home. Zhao Weiguo was the first to step out.
"Mom." Zhao Weiguo called out to his mother, younger brother, and sister standing at the gate. "Mom, it's me—Weiguo."
Song Xiaoyan blinked in disbelief at the sound of Zhao Weiguo's voice. She stared hard at the man who had just stepped out of the car—he looked just like her eldest son. Only when Zhao Weiguo called her "Mom" again did she finally smack her thighs in joy. "Oh my! Our Weiguo is back!"
"Brother!"
"It really is Big Brother!"
Zhao Weiqiang and Zhao Weilan were also stunned when they saw Zhao Weiguo step out. It wasn’t until their mother reacted that they snapped out of their daze.
"Dad! Big Brother is back—and he drove a car! Dad, come out and see!" Zhao Weilan turned and shouted excitedly toward the house.
"..."
Zhao Haizhu's hand holding the pipe stiffened slightly. The man in his fifties heard his youngest daughter's call and thought about getting up to look. But after shifting slightly, he remained seated and took a few deep puffs of his pipe instead.
"Weiguo—it really is my son Weiguo!" Mother Song wiped away tears, her joy overflowing.
Xu Tao, sitting in the passenger seat, opened the door and let Zhao Linan out before stepping out herself.
"Mom." Xu Tao walked over and greeted her.
"Yes!" Song Xiaoyan nodded repeatedly, equally excited to see Xu Tao.
Zhao Linan, bundled up in a thick winter coat and wearing a little hat, toddled over without hesitation. He tilted his head up and called out brightly.
"Grandma!"
"My precious grandson!"
Grandma Zhao laughed through her tears, bending down to scoop up the child she hadn’t seen in over half a year.
"My little Nan has grown so much! So handsome, so chubby—and heavier too!" She gave him a little bounce in her arms.
"Not chubby, Grandma. Nan not chubby."
The little boy shook his head firmly, clearly protective of his image.
"Right, right! Not chubby at all—just perfect!" Grandma Zhao immediately played along.
"Mom, let Big Brother and Sister-in-law come inside first. It's cold out here," Zhao Weiqiang and Zhao Weilan reminded her.
"Oh, yes! Come in, come in!" Still holding Zhao Linan, Grandma Zhao turned and hurried inside, setting the child down once they reached the main hall.
"Grandpa."
Despite not having been back in months, Zhao Linan was still familiar with the house. Spotting Grandpa Zhao sitting under the dim yellow light, the little boy ran straight to him, stopping at the old man’s feet with a bright, toothy grin.
Zhao Haizhu looked at the child, who had grown taller, and reached out a wrinkled hand to pat the little hat on his head. The usually stern and unsmiling old man had a faint redness in his eyes.
"Xiao Nan is back."
"Yes, Grandpa!" Zhao Linan nodded cheerfully.
"Dad, I’m back for New Year’s."
Zhao Weiguo stood straight in the hall, looking at his father, who was still seated and stroking Zhao Linan’s head. He walked over and spoke softly.
"Mm. Smooth journey?" Zhao Haizhu finally lifted his gaze to his son.
Zhao Weiguo was his firstborn, his most beloved son—and also the one he saw the least. In over a decade of military service, the number of times they had met could be counted on one hand.
"Yes." Zhao Weiguo nodded.
"Good." Zhao Haizhu nodded as well.
The stern father and the long-absent soldier son didn’t have much to say to each other. After those few words, the hall fell into an awkward silence.
"Sister-in-law, your clothes are so pretty!" Zhao Weilan stared at Xu Tao with shining eyes.
"Your brother and I bought clothes and gifts for everyone. I got you a new outfit too—it’s in the trunk." Xu Tao smiled at the girl.
Zhao Weilan, the youngest daughter in the Zhao family, was still in high school and would be taking her college entrance exams next year. The girl was delicate and pretty, with smiling crescent eyes. Back when the original Xu Tao had lived here, Zhao Weilan had mostly been away at school, so their interactions had been limited. Their relationship had been cordial but not particularly close.
"Really?!" Zhao Weilan’s eyes sparkled instantly.
As a teenage girl, she was already conscious of beauty. Seeing how stylish and elegant Xu Tao looked in her brown wool coat, she was practically green with envy.
"You drove back? Not by train?"
Father Zhao had heard the car, and the sound of children still laughing and playing around it outside. He couldn’t help but ask.
"Yes, we drove." Zhao Weiguo nodded and handed the car keys to his younger brother. "Weiqiang, help me bring the luggage in. I’ll talk with Dad."
"Sure!" Zhao Weiqiang took the keys eagerly. "Brother, how do these keys work?"
He could barely ride a bicycle without wobbling, let alone operate a car.
"Give them to me. I’ll open it." Xu Tao offered.
"Here, Sister-in-law." Zhao Weiqiang handed them over immediately.
Xu Tao glanced briefly at Father Zhao and Zhao Weiguo before taking the keys and heading outside. Zhao Weilan quickly followed to help with the luggage.
"Grandma, Nan hungry." Zhao Linan tugged at Grandma Zhao’s pants, his voice soft and sweet.
"Oh! You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Grandma was so happy she forgot! I’ll make noodles right away!" Grandma Zhao hurried into the kitchen.
Zhao Linan watched her go, then looked at his father and grandfather before waddling outside to find Xu Tao.
"Dad, I’ve left the army." After a long silence, Zhao Weiguo finally spoke.
Click.
Zhao Haizhu’s pipe stilled. His stern gaze lingered on his son standing rigidly in the hall. The air grew heavy.
"..."
Outside, Xu Tao opened the trunk and began unloading the luggage, carrying two large bags back toward the house.
"Mommy." Zhao Linan clung to Xu Tao’s coat as she walked back inside.
In the hall, Father Zhao and Zhao Weiguo remained frozen—one seated and smoking, the other standing stiffly. The atmosphere was undeniably tense.
When Xu Tao and the others returned with the luggage, everyone exchanged glances, confused. The family’s return should have been a joyous occasion, so why did things feel so off?
"Weiqiang, your wedding is tomorrow, right?" Xu Tao set the bags down and broke the silence.
"Yes, Sister-in-law." Zhao Weiqiang nodded, his face brightening at the thought.
"Did you prepare your wedding clothes? We bought you a Zhongshan suit from Yangcheng—try it on." Xu Tao knelt and rummaged through one of the bags, pulling out a black formal suit.
"A Zhongshan suit? For me? Thank you, Sister-in-law!" Zhao Weiqiang took it eagerly, marveling at the fine fabric.
It was far nicer than the borrowed outfit he had planned to wear. And with the car outside…
Zhao Weilan watched enviously as Xu Tao handed her brother the suit, her eyes still glued to her sister-in-law.
"Weilan, this is yours." Xu Tao pulled out a trendy light pink jacket—not too flashy, just the right shade of soft pink, very fashionable for the time.
"Thank you, Sister-in-law!" Zhao Weilan held it up against herself, delighted.
Xu Tao continued unpacking. "This is for Mom, this is Dad’s, and here’s some tobacco and liquor."
"Sister-in-law, this… this must have cost a lot, right?" Zhao Weilan clutched her new clothes, staring at the pile of gifts.
"Not too much." Xu Tao smiled.
Suddenly, Father Zhao broke his silence. "Sit down. I already guessed."
"..." Zhao Weilan and Zhao Weiqiang exchanged confused glances. Guessed what?
Xu Tao studied Father Zhao’s expression. Then, the old man set down his pipe.
Zhao Weiguo remained standing, not moving to sit. He met his father’s gaze steadily.
"Your letters always came from Yangcheng, not your base. Then the return address changed to Taoyuan Company. I figured you’d left the army a while ago." Zhao Haizhu’s voice was heavy with regret.
He had hoped Zhao Weiguo would stay in the military, but he’d also heard about the recent large-scale troop reductions.
Father Zhao had worried but never brought it up, assuming things would work out. He hadn’t expected his son to have already been discharged.
"What? Big Brother left the army?" Zhao Weilan gasped. "When? Why didn’t anyone say anything?"
Zhao Weiqiang was equally shocked. "Yeah, Big Brother, something this big—why wait until now?"
Father Zhao was a man of few words. Even after guessing, he hadn’t told his wife. He trusted his son and had waited for Zhao Weiguo to speak up himself.
"Big Brother had to leave because of a leg injury. He couldn’t keep serving."
Xu Tao explained gently.
Zhao Weiguo probably hadn’t wanted to retire. Xu Tao had noticed how, right after leaving the army, he had still maintained strict military habits. Only over time had he relaxed, occasionally even sleeping in with her.
At Xu Tao’s words, Father Zhao’s stern eyes immediately dropped to Zhao Weiguo’s legs, filled with paternal concern.
"Dad, I’m fine. The injury doesn’t affect walking—just active duty."
Zhao Weiguo took a few steps to prove it.
"Mm."
Father Zhao studied him, then gave a slow nod before picking up his pipe again.
o0o
Chapter 66