Chapter 22 TDLS

The Daily Life of a Stepmother in the 1980s

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"So slow" Xu Tao couldn't help but sigh.

Having been accustomed to carrying a mobile phone in later generations and the rise of various courier industries, suddenly returning to this era in the 1980s. Where transportation mainly relied on walking, communication depended on shouting, and heating was mostly from shivering, was truly difficult for her to adapt to.

Zhao Weiguo noticed Xu Tao's slightly low mood and, after a moment of silence, asked "Are you homesick?"

"No"

Although Xu Tao said no, Zhao Weiguo didn't believe her. "I see you don't have many clothes or shoes. Do you want me to buy you some?"

Seeing her looking a bit sad, Zhao Weiguo wondered if buying her clothes might cheer her up.

Xu Tao had grown up in Wen Province and had never traveled far before coming to Yangcheng. 

Now, because of him, she had to adapt to the environment here, leaving behind familiar family and friends. He didn't want her to be unhappy because of this.

"No need" Xu Tao naturally refused.

She wasn't very fond of the current clothing styles. Wearing these clothes made her feel rustic. Although her taste might already be considered quite fashionable for the time, like the light yellow dress she was wearing, which was quite elegant in the relatively plain fashion of the 1980s. But, Xu Tao didn't have strong desires when it came to clothing.

"By the way, I have to drive to Shanghai today. I might not be back for a week" Zhao Weiguo said, already full from breakfast, watching Xu Tao eat slowly. He didn't want to spoil the mood but still informed her.

"Going to Shanghai? Why are you only telling me now?" Xu Tao asked in surprise.

"There aren't many people in the company who can drive the big truck. This trip to Shanghai was decided suddenly yesterday. They ordered a batch of pagers^ and tape recorders over there. If I make this trip, I can earn a few hundred yuan" Zhao Weiguo explained honestly.

"A few hundred yuan? That much?!"

In a time when most salaries were just a few dozen yuan, Zhao Weiguo could earn a few hundred yuan from one transportation trip in a little over a week. No wonder people said transport drivers were rich.

It was true!

"Then go ahead!" Xu Tao's eyes sparkled, speaking with a money-loving tone. For the sake of money, other things seemed less important.

"Take care of yourself and Xiao Nan. Close the doors and windows when it gets dark" Zhao Weiguo reminded her. He had often been away on missions when in the army, with unpredictable return dates, but he had never felt this kind of worry before leaving.

"Got it"

"While I'm not home, don't sleep too deeply at night" A young woman with a two- or three-year-old child, if she slept too soundly at night and someone broke in, she might not even know.

He had noticed on the first day he entered her room that Xu Tao lacked much sense of security or self-protection.

"...Huh?" Xu Tao looked at Zhao Weiguo in confusion, not understanding why he specifically mentioned this. It felt like he was hinting at something.

"What do you mean by not sleeping too deeply? Can people even control how deeply they sleep?"

"I'll come back as soon as possible. If anyone asks, don't tell them I've gone far. Also, avoid going out after 7 p.m" Zhao Weiguo reminded her seriously.

"Okay" Xu Tao sensed Zhao Weiguo's seriousness. Knowing that Yangcheng was influenced by foreign cultures and that gang forces were quite notorious in the 1980s, she understood why he was being so cautious.

"I'll call home when I get to Shanghai. Go to the phone booth at the alley entrance at 4 p.m. the day after tomorrow to answer my call"

There was a phone booth near Shuiyin Road that allowed both making and receiving calls, but both cost money—receiving was cheaper, while making long-distance calls was expensive.

"Okay, be careful on the road and don't drive when you're tired. I'll take good care of Xiao Nan at home" Xu Tao replied seriously.

"Mm" Seeing that Xu Tao was taking his words to heart, Zhao Weiguo felt relieved. Before leaving, he casually packed two sets of clothes and left.

After Zhao Weiguo left, Xu Tao lost her appetite for breakfast. She kept the porridge prepared for Zhao Linan warm in the kitchen pot and took out a pen and notebook to start writing a novel.

Zhao Linan slept for a long time and only woke up around nine in the morning. The little one climbed down from the bed by himself and softly called out "Mommy" in a sweet voice as he used both his hands and feet to climb onto Xu Tao's lap.

Xu Tao reached out to lift the little one onto her lap, holding his back with one hand and gently patting his head with the other. "You're awake. Are you hungry? Mommy made some porridge"

"Mm" He nodded, showing no intention of getting off Xu Tao's lap.

"Then Mommy will carry you to wash your face and brush your teeth" Seeing how clingy her little one was, Xu Tao patiently picked him up and carried him out to wash up.

Normally, Zhao Linan would wash his face by himself, but today he lazily clung to Xu Tao, acting spoiled. This completely melted Xu Tao's heart, so she ended up helping him wash up.

"Ah! Open your mouth, drink some water, rinse, and then spit it out"

"Ah! Gulp!" Zhao Linan took a sip of the rinsing water but deliberately swallowed it. "Hehe" The adorable little boy turned around and flashed an innocent yet mischievous smile at Xu Tao.

"You little rascal! Are you teasing Mommy on purpose? Be good and rinse your mouth before eating" Xu Tao pinched Zhao Linan's cheeks. The little one only acted naughty for a moment, then obediently finished washing up and sat down to eat breakfast.

Xu Tao accompanied him for breakfast while casually jotting down lines for her novel with a fountain pen.

"Mommy…"

"Hmm?" Xu Tao responded with a nasal tone as she looked at him.

"Mommy!" The little one giggled, calling her again, seemingly waiting for her response.

"What is it? Can't even eat your meal quietly?"

"Hehe" When Xu Tao asked, the little one just giggled at her again.

Xu Tao was helpless against his antics, knowing he was simply in a good mood after a good night's sleep and was just being a child.

Xu Tao enjoyed seeing this playful side of Zhao Linan, though she couldn’t help but worry that this little rascal might give her a headache in the future. After all, he was too smart, and intelligent kids often don’t let people rest easy.

"Eat your food nicely" Xu Tao gave him a stern look.

"Xiao Nan! We're going to play hide-and-seek. Xiao Zhi will be 'it.' Do you want to play?" Just then, Shi Tou and a few other kids showed up at the courtyard gate, shouting inside to ask Zhao Linan.

"Yes!" Zhao Linan immediately answered excitedly and, for once, ate his breakfast properly.

"Eat slowly" Xu Tao knew he was eager to play and gently reminded him as she watched him wolf down his food.

Excited to play, Zhao Linan quickly finished eating, slid off his chair, and cheerfully called out "Mommy, I'm going to play!" before dashing off on his little legs.

Xu Tao chuckled and shook her head as she watched his energetic figure disappear. She then cleaned up his empty bowl and washed it in the kitchen before returning to her writing.

She wrote quickly, aiming to complete a 40,000–50,000-word introduction to send to publishers and newspapers. However, without a computer, she had to handwrite the entire draft. Because of this, Xu Tao casually drafted a rough version first, then carefully rewrote a neat version to mail out.

The afternoon passed in a flash. Deeply engrossed in writing, Xu Tao finally put down her fountain pen and stretched her hands. To relax her eyes, she walked around the courtyard. As the sun began to set, she watered the budding greens, eggplants, and cucumbers, which had wilted slightly after a day under the hot sun.

After watering the vegetables, Xu Tao began preparing dinner. When it was time to eat, Zhao Linan, who had been playing outside all day, ran back home.

"Mommy, I'm hungry"

"Dinner is almost ready" Xu Tao casually stir-fried some greens and, seeing Zhao Linan following closely at her feet, stopped in amusement.

Since it was hot, she didn’t have much appetite, and with Zhao Weiguo away in Shanghai, it was just the two of them. Her motivation to cook had dwindled, so she discussed it with Zhao Linan "Today, I'll just make some greens, and Mommy will steam some egg custard for you. How does that sound?"

"Okay!"

"Go to the yard and bring the washbasin. Mommy will fill it with hot water for you to wash your hands and face. Once you're clean, you can eat" Xu Tao reminded the little one again.

"Okay, okay" Zhao Linan obediently moved his little legs and went to get the washbasin from the kitchen.

Xu Tao filled the basin with hot water. "Can you carry it, Xiao Nan? Or should Mommy help you?"

Zhao Linan looked at the washbasin, a bit conflicted. He pouted slightly, wanting to carry it himself, so he shook his head at Xu Tao. "Xiao Nan can do it"

"Alright then! Be careful" Xu Tao wasn't too worried. She hadn’t filled the basin with too much water and liked to encourage the little one to be independent. Since he wanted to wash up on his own, she didn’t plan to interfere.

At this stage, when a child is willing to try things on their own, stepping in too much could dampen their enthusiasm.

Zhao Linan wobbled as he carried the basin, spilling some water and slightly wetting his clothes, but he was very proud. He grabbed his small towel and washed his hands and face, then ran back to the kitchen to show off.

"Mommy, look!" He lifted his chubby little arms, spreading his plump fingers wide.

"Xiao Nan is amazing!" Xu Tao added firewood to the stove and placed a bowl of eggs in the pot to steam. Seeing Zhao Linan come in, she picked him up and praised him.

"Hehe" Zhao Linan giggled happily at Xu Tao's praise.

Dinner was very simple. Following Zhao Weiguo's instructions, Xu Tao locked the courtyard gate as soon as it got dark. She usually slept with Zhao Linan, and even when Zhao Weiguo came home late, sometimes so late that she didn’t even notice him coming in and she never felt scared or uneasy.

But tonight, knowing Zhao Weiguo was away in Shanghai, Xu Tao suddenly felt an unexplained uneasiness once it got dark. After putting Zhao Linan to sleep, she thought for a moment and placed a thick stick of firewood, as thick as a baseball bat, beside the bed. That night, unlike before, she didn’t sleep soundly and remained in a state of alertness.

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^A pager is a small device used to receive short messages or alerts, popular in the 1980s–1990s, often used by doctors for emergencies.

A tape recorder is a device that records and plays audio using magnetic tape cassettes, commonly used for music or voice recordings before digital devices.

Chapter 21

Chapter 23