Chapter Eighty-Six: Birthday

Gui County, A.

“A birthday…” Lu Kun was a little bewildered.

In the past, they hardly had enough to eat, let alone the mind to celebrate something like this.

Now, Liu Liping had suddenly prepared a birthday for him, catching him off guard.

It all felt rather strange.

The real issue was—

Today wasn't even his birthday!

The birthday on Lu Kun’s household registration was just something made up when the family was officially registered.

He doubted even his older sister could recall his actual birth date.

...

“What’s that you’re carrying, a birthday cake?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Liu Liping asked.

Lu Kun was speechless.

“I just wanted to make sure. Also, I should tell you—today isn’t my birthday. The birth date on my registration is fake,” he said with an awkward smile.

“I know. But since my birthday is at the end of the year, and staying home every day gets dull, I thought—after all these years of marriage, I’ve never properly celebrated your birthday.”

Lu Kun’s mouth twitched.

Liu Liping’s birthday fell just before New Year’s Eve—everyone was too busy preparing for the holiday to worry about birthdays.

“I’m a grown man—what do I need a birthday for? It seems so sentimental, it’s not good,” Lu Kun protested, entirely uninterested in the idea.

Especially because—

Every time his birthday rolled around, he felt as if something was reminding him, “You’re another year older now!”

That feeling was more than just bittersweet.

“What’s wrong with a man celebrating his birthday? You’re only twenty-four this year. We’ve got a long life ahead of us,” Liu Liping said, her lips curving into a meaningful smile.

Lu Kun flushed slightly.

He wasn’t sure when it happened, but Liu Liping had picked up some of his playful banter.

“Er Ya, go do your homework in your room, stop eavesdropping on your parents,” Lu Kun called out, pointing to a little head peeking around the hallway.

Bang!

Er Ya dashed back to her room, slammed the door, and shouted through it, “I’m not! It wasn’t me! Don’t make things up!”

Lu Kun’s eyebrow jumped.

That girl was getting better at lying with a straight face.

Liu Liping’s cheeks flushed crimson.

A rare moment of flirtation with her husband, and the child heard everything.

...

Lu Kun and Liu Liping’s eyes met.

“Ahem.” Lu Kun cleared his throat, lowering his voice, “This afternoon… the kids are all home right now.”

Liu Liping’s eyes brightened, a faint smile playing on her lips as she nodded gently.

Having children certainly had its inconveniences.

But when both girls went off to their extracurricular classes in the afternoon, the couple would have the house to themselves without reservation.

Originally, only Er Ya attended the classes, but she always insisted her older sister go too.

Lu Kun and Liu Liping agreed—it was easier to trust the girls out together, with Da Ya looking after her little sister.

Besides, Da Ya was happy to go, so they saw no reason to refuse.

The two daughters couldn’t have been more different.

Da Ya was diligent and driven, always hungry for knowledge and eager to enrich herself.

Er Ya, on the other hand, seemed born with natural talent. She never appeared to study much, yet somehow always came first in her class.

The trouble was, the girl was wild by nature.

She needed more guidance and discipline, or she’d grow up unruly.

At lunch, the family gathered around the table.

“Ma, why do you look so happy today?” Er Ya asked, poking at her rice with her chopsticks as she watched her mother giggle to herself.

“Children shouldn’t meddle in adults’ business. Eat your food,” Lu Kun said sternly.

Er Ya pouted, unconvinced. “Then why do adults meddle in kids’ business?”

Lu Kun didn’t bother arguing with her—his words were only meant to help Liu Liping out of her embarrassment.

He ate in silence, while Liping found the meal tasteless; her mind was clearly elsewhere.

After the meal,

Liu Liping sat on the sofa watching television.

Lu Kun reclined in his rocking chair, reading the newspaper.

“Incredible—the way they fabricate things,” he muttered in exasperation.

China’s inflation rate in 1988 was 18.5%, in 1989 it was 17.8%. And yet, the newspaper praised the country’s stability, the people’s happiness, and claimed inflation was under control, listing points one through five…

This was the county’s major paper, too. Did they think the people were fools?

Inflation had indeed been curbed, but in just two or three years, people’s wealth had nearly halved.

Over-issuing and reckless printing of currency was already out of control.

“Mom, Dad, we’re heading out to our extracurricular class,” Da Ya said obediently.

“Go on, go on,” Liu Liping waved them off without bothering to get up.

Da Ya and Er Ya exchanged glances.

“Don’t expect us to pick you up today,” Lu Kun added. “I’ll have Uncle Pan drive you home. Just ride in his car.”

“Why?” the two girls asked in unison, wide-eyed.

“We have things to do,” Lu Kun replied vaguely.

Da Ya nodded. “Okay.”

“What things?” Er Ya pressed.

Lu Kun was silent.

“Why do kids ask so many questions?” he scolded.

“It’s definitely because you want to play with Mom again…” Er Ya muttered, grabbing her sister’s hand and dashing off.

Lu Kun nearly choked with frustration.

Who had taught this girl to be so sharp? She never gave anyone a moment’s peace.

Anyone with a weak heart would be driven to an early grave by her antics.

Once the children had left,

The house fell utterly silent.

Only the heavy breathing of two adults remained.

The soundproofing in their little house was excellent.

Unless you stood at the stairwell and shouted, no one downstairs would hear a thing from above.

But from upstairs, you could hear everything below.

It was nearly two o’clock in the afternoon.

Lu Kun drew back the curtains, letting sunlight flood the room.

“Shall we…?” He stood by the window, arching an eyebrow.

Sunlight cast a halo over his profile.

Liu Liping stared in a daze, then bit her lip, and—

She kicked off her high heels without hesitation, walking barefoot toward Lu Kun.

Sunlight poured over them both.

On that peaceful afternoon…

Eventually,

They fell asleep in each other’s arms.

When they woke, the sky had already begun to darken.

Luckily, they had locked the bedroom door before returning.

In the living room,

“Hey, aren’t these the shoes Mom wore today?” Da Ya said in surprise.

“And this is Dad’s vest,” Er Ya exclaimed, pulling it from between the sofa cushions.

In the bedroom,

Lu Kun and Liu Liping bolted upright at the same moment, hurriedly finding clean clothes to put on from the rack.