Love Story in the 1970s

The job transfer was basically settled. Mu Jing had originally planned to tell Qu Hua about her transfer over the weekend, but he had gone out on business that morning.

Qu Hua’s mother knew what her son was doing—today was Yanyan’s death anniversary—but she couldn’t tell her daughter-in-law.

Qu Hua bought a bouquet of Gladiolus at the market. Nowadays, there were no shops selling cut flowers on the streets, and finding a flower seller wasn’t easy. There was another person in front of Yanyan’s tombstone—Yuan Ling, Yanyan’s boyfriend later on. Yanyan’s parents worked in another city, so on this day, only the two of them came.

Qu Hua had once been Yanyan’s boyfriend, but they later broke up because Yanyan fell for someone else. Qu Hua had always believed that both men and women had the freedom to make new choices before marriage, but the breakup came so abruptly that he was completely unprepared. Before that, they hadn’t even argued, but he had no interest in forcing others, so he agreed without hesitation.

Yuan Ling later asked Yanyan why she chose him. Yanyan said being with him was incredibly relaxing, a kind of ease she had never imagined. Their conversations were free and uninhibited; they talked about everything. Yanyan told him he was like a piece of Old Clothes to her—not particularly eye-catching to outsiders, but unexpectedly fitting and comfortable. Yuan Ling didn’t ask what kind of clothes Qu Hua was to her—probably an ill-fitting set of Magnificent Robes. Though they didn’t fit, they were the dream of her youth, something she had longed for day and night, just to wear them one day, even if only for a short while. Later, she worked hard and finally put on those robes, but she was so afraid of losing them that she had to keep an eye on them twenty-four hours a day. It was exhausting, and they didn’t fit. After all, who could wear a Formal Gown their whole life? Yanyan told Yuan Ling that he brought out the best in her. What she didn’t say was that Qu Hua brought out the worst in her—jealousy, constant anxiety... She loved listening to Qu Hua speak, but sometimes she couldn’t understand what he was saying at all.

Later, in the hospital, Yuan Ling felt utterly useless. Everything for Yanyan had been arranged by Qu Hua. He himself had no way of getting Yanyan a Private Room. He asked Yanyan if she regretted choosing him. Yanyan said she didn’t. She laughed and said that if she were still with Qu Hua, she would have felt even more unworthy of him by then. But with Yuan Ling, she could rest assured and burden him without guilt, because if he were sick, she would take care of him too. As for her "Brother Hua," he seemed like someone who would never appear weak.

In Yuan Ling’s eyes, Qu Hua’s kindness to Yanyan was, of course, a sign that his old feelings hadn’t faded. When you deeply love someone, you feel that everyone in the world, as long as they aren’t blind, should love her too. At the time, Yuan Ling wondered how Qu Hua could be so composed, taking such good care of his ex-girlfriend and calmly discussing her condition with him, as if he were just an ordinary family member of the patient. He and Yanyan had gotten married the day before her surgery. They were staying in the hospital, and Qu Hua had someone else help them obtain their marriage certificate. They even offered Qu Hua wedding candies.

When Yanyan was wheeled out of the operating room, Yuan Ling didn’t get to see her alive. The Yanyan who came out would never smile at him again. In a moment of loss of control, he grabbed Qu Hua by the collar and asked if he had maliciously taken revenge during Yanyan’s surgery. That day, the people in the operating room witnessed the always rational Dr. Qu launch a one-sided beating against the patient’s family member, who offered no resistance. He questioned the deceased’s boyfriend, "Why didn’t you bring her to the hospital earlier?""The incident was contained within a small circle, as news of a doctor assaulting a patient's family member would have caused severe reputational damage. The patient had passed away, and it was understandable that the family was emotional—they needed time to process their grief. Even if they said something inappropriate in the heat of the moment, it would have been better to pretend not to hear it. How could it escalate to physical violence? The chief surgeon also felt Qu Hua had gone too far. Shen Lao, the chief surgeon, had only been transferred back from the farm two years prior because a critical surgery required his unique expertise. The operation was successful, and he remained at the hospital afterward, though he now rarely took on surgeries. Yanyan's illness was already in its late stages, making surgery highly unsuitable; conservative treatment might have extended her life by a few months, albeit with poor quality of life. If not for Qu Hua's plea, Shen Lao would not have attempted the surgery, as failure would bring him no benefit and only harm. Qu Hua, after all, was still young and impulsive, not yet hardened by life's hardships.

The hospital administration offered Yuan Ling free medical check-ups and suspended Qu Hua from work for two weeks, requiring him to write a self-criticism.

When Yuan Ling later regained clarity, he did not hold Qu Hua accountable. Instead, he wrote a letter of gratitude to the hospital. If Yanyan had not broken up with Qu Hua, her condition might not have been discovered so late. Moreover, the surgery was Yanyan's own request, while Qu Hua had advised conservative treatment. Yet Yanyan preferred to risk surgical failure rather than endure further suffering. Yuan Ling reflected that Qu Hua still held feelings for Yanyan—contrary to what Yanyan had said about his lack of jealousy. It was precisely because of those feelings that Qu Hua had cared for Yanyan so devotedly and struck him so fiercely, blaming him for not bringing Yanyan to the hospital sooner.

Yanyan had been prepared for the surgery's failure. Before the operation, she had distributed her bequest. Since her hospitalization and surgery costs were covered by her workplace, and other expenses were handled by Qu Hua and Yuan Ling, she had not touched her own savings. She left all her savings to Yuan Ling, urging him to eat well, as he had grown thin from caring for her. Additionally, she left him a vest. She had originally intended to knit him a sweater but ran out of time to finish the sleeves. The more she looked at it, the more she thought the yarn worked well as a vest. Yuan Ling said he still wanted a sweater and asked her to add the sleeves once she recovered. But those sleeves would never be completed.

She left Qu Hua six large albums of stamps, her grandfather's lifelong collection, into which he had poured half his savings. Unable to preserve them for her grandfather, she entrusted them to his dear friend—her "Brother Hua." Before the surgery, she told Yuan Ling where the stamps were hidden and asked him to deliver them on her behalf.

Yuan Ling handed the stamps to Qu Hua and conveyed Yanyan's gratitude, noting that he and Yanyan were like family.

Every year on this day, they would meet here.

This year, Yuan Ling learned that Qu Hua had finally married. He felt happy for Qu Hua and also for Yanyan—the man she had chosen, though inferior to Qu Hua in other aspects, loved her more than anyone else. He himself would never remarry.

"I thought you wouldn't come this year. The sentiment is enough—please don't come in the future. Your wife might not be pleased if she finds out."

"She's not that petty."

"Unless she doesn't care about you at all."Qu Hua's mother had witnessed her son's romantic history. As a mother, she rarely saw any flaws in her son, especially since he was genuinely outstanding. She had always believed that Yanyan had broken up with Qu Hua and found someone else to avoid burdening him, thinking her too kind-hearted, as she often sent various food and supplies during her hospital stay. But no matter how good Yanyan was, she had passed away. Mu Jing was also quite excellent, and since they were married, old affections should be severed.

Mu Jing first informed her mother-in-law about her plan to work in another city.

On such a day, for a daughter-in-law who had always been eager to please her son to suddenly make this request, it must have been triggered by Qu Hua's visit to Yanyan's grave.

She explained to her daughter-in-law that it was all from years ago. Qu Hua had a good relationship with Yanyan's grandfather, and before the old man passed away, he had asked Qu Hua to take care of his granddaughter. They had been together for a while, but Yanyan had found another boyfriend, and Qu Hua had long since moved on from that relationship. In fact, Qu Hua had even helped Yanyan and her boyfriend get their marriage certificate. With Yanyan gone, there was even less to it. She omitted the part where her son had come out of the surgery room and hit Yanyan's boyfriend. As she said this, she didn't quite believe it herself.

But if there was really nothing, why rush to explain? Probably because she thought there was something, she felt the need to. She had never seen a man so magnanimous as to help his ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend get married, and she was more inclined to believe it was feigned generosity. Mu Jing said she believed Qu Hua, but she wanted to work in a position more suited to her to serve the country.

Her mother-in-law advised her, "For a woman, family is the most important."

Mu Jing didn't dislike her mother-in-law; on the contrary, she was grateful for her care. But she found this statement laughable. For someone like her, who had cut ties with her own parents, to be told that family was the most important. She still remembered her mother's words: "I gave birth to and raised you so you could achieve self-realization; only then does the inheritance of genes have value." Her mother had high expectations for her and her older brother, but for her younger brother, she only hoped he could live safely and healthily, as he was the youngest and his birth was an accident. To be a filial daughter as defined by her mother, she had to first be unfilial to her parents. If she stayed here for Qu Hua, it would be a double unfiliality to her parents.

Fortunately, there was no deep feelings between her and Qu Hua, so she didn't even need to hesitate.

Her mother-in-law thought Mu Jing was provoked by Yanyan. When Qu Hua returned, she briefly told him about Mu Jing's plan to work elsewhere and asked him to explain properly to Mu Jing.

"I told Mu Jing that you and Yanyan have long been over. Yanyan was a good girl, but even if she were still alive, it wouldn't be you marrying her. Since you're married, you should take responsibility."

Qu Hua laughed inwardly. His mother was getting more confused, as if Mu Jing's stay or departure was up to him. Mu Jing saying this was probably because she had already made arrangements and was just notifying them today; it wasn't because he had provoked her. To view Mu Jing that way was really underestimating her. He was somewhat impressed by her—she had endured humiliation and played a submissive role in their family to exchange for an opportunity to work in a hardship area and bring her younger brother over. Now that her brother wasn't coming, she left without hesitation.

She was truly meticulous and adaptable.Mu Jing searched for her luggage in the bedroom. Some of her clothes were already hung in the wardrobe, but she needed to take them all when she went to the Branch Campus.

She didn’t ask where he had gone, as it wasn’t particularly important.

The mimeographed Lecture Notes hadn’t been fully explained yet, so Qu Hua asked Mu Jing to go over them again. Since it was daytime, Mu Jing assumed Qu Hua simply wanted to listen.

Qu Hua pulled up a chair and sat across from Mu Jing, smoking.

He looked her up and down, the smoke he exhaled making her face appear indistinct. Mu Jing’s coughing didn’t make Qu Hua stop smoking, nor did she say, “Don’t smoke.” When she coughed, she instinctively covered her mouth. Compared to her, Qu Hua seemed utterly impolite. After her coughing subsided, she continued teaching him. In the end, it was Qu Hua who grew restless and moved to the window to smoke.

The smoke before Mu Jing’s eyes soon dissipated.

“We’ve just gotten married, and you’re already moving out. Do you think this marriage is even worth continuing?”

He was threatening her. Mu Jing stopped teaching him, walked behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist, and pressed her face against his back. “Why wouldn’t it be? There are plenty of couples who live apart for work. I’ve never heard of anyone divorcing over it. You’re not that backward, are you?”

If Qu Hua divorced her just because she was working in another city, it would reflect poorly on him. Even if they were to divorce, it would have to wait a year or two.

“It’s not like I’m never coming back. I’ve heard the campus might relocate here in a year or two. Besides, it’s not that far—I can come back to see you.”

Qu Hua sneered, “Who told you the campus would move here in a year or two?”

“I have my sources. I also hope to do some important work, to be more worthy of you.” Once she achieved something, divorcing him wouldn’t be a problem.

“You’re already worthy of me.”

Mu Jing reached out and playfully scratched his cheek. “That’s just love blinding you—it doesn’t count.” They acted like a deeply devoted couple, though both knew it wasn’t true.

“Seems like you’re the only one who thinks you’re not worthy of me.”

Qu Hua turned, gripped her chin, and kissed her. Mu Jing had intended to dodge—she disliked the smell of smoke on his breath—but as soon as their lips touched, she decided to cooperate, naturally wrapping her arms around his neck. Qu Hua lifted her onto the bed, their faces close. Only then did Mu Jing push him away. “It’s broad daylight.” Her resistance carried a promise. “After dinner, you can do whatever you want.”

Qu Hua leaned over her, studying her face, and laughed. “The sacrifices you make for your ideals truly impress me.”

Mu Jing’s smile froze for a moment before quickly reviving. She deliberately twisted the meaning of “sacrifice.” “This is a shared sacrifice, and it depends on your support. Don’t think I don’t want to be with you every day? But for work, some sacrifices are necessary. If your job required you to go elsewhere, I believe you would go, and I would support you.”

“I really married a virtuous wife.” Of course, she would support him—she’d be only too happy to keep her distance. He had thought their relationship had grown closer these past few days, but it turned out he was deluding himself. His wife was only getting better at acting.

He even felt that the first time he met Mu Jing, hearing her curse in the street was better than this—at least it felt genuine.He didn't want to hear another word of her perfunctory remarks. As he began unbuttoning Mu Jing's blouse, she wore the expression of someone marching to their execution. This time, she didn't even suggest waiting until evening. When Qu Hua kissed her lips, he felt her hesitate before compliantly offering her tongue. Then he slowly rebuttoned every button.

"Fang Mu Jing, what do you take me for?"

Mu Jing heard the sound of the door opening and closing. Long afterward, she opened her eyes to find herself alone in the bedroom.

Qu Hua wasn't home for dinner. Her mother-in-law, assuming they'd had a falling out, treated her with unusual courtesy during the meal.

His neurosurgery colleagues noticed that Dr. Qu's expression had grown even colder recently, bringing them some relief during late summer days. But with autumn approaching, they couldn't endure this perpetual chill much longer. Nowadays, Dr. Qu only handled suturing in extremely rare surgeries, leaving the rest to his assistants. Once, a second assistant earned Dr. Qu's approval for their surgical suturing technique, briefly gaining recognition within the department. Qu Hua never lost his temper in the operating room—even when dissatisfied with an assistant's performance, he simply gave precise instructions for them to follow. Outside the OR, however, his patience wore thinner when in a bad mood. He wouldn't scold anyone, but if someone consulted him about what they considered a difficult case when similar patients had recently been admitted, or if someone repeated the same mistake, he would conclude with a quiet "Remember now?" Though spoken softly, these words carried sharp impact. Fortunately, with many receiving this treatment lately, the sting had somewhat diminished.

Colleagues asked Dr. Zhao, formerly Dr. Qu's favored associate, to share tips on avoiding disapproval. Dr. Zhao smiled faintly, "Even if I taught you, you couldn't learn it. We need to address the root cause." Dr. Zhao initially inferred it was a domestic conflict, noting his senior colleague was taking more night shifts than before. Someone suggested Dr. Zhao invite Dr. Qu's wife to mediate, arguing that if things didn't improve soon, nobody could endure this indefinitely. Dr. Chen chimed in, "Maybe it's about smoking? My wife and I argue about it constantly. I thought Dr. Qu's wife didn't mind his smoking—couldn't she just state her position? Surely she wouldn't come to the hospital to monitor him." Unlike himself, who relied on his wife for pocket money, Dr. Chen noted that Qu Hua didn't have that issue. After saying "young Qu," Dr. Chen corrected himself—though older than Qu Hua, his professional rank was lower.

Dr. Chen's theory didn't gain traction. Dr. Zhao thought Old Chen's imagination was limited by his personal circumstances, since Chen's wife trusted him completely. Dr. Zhao speculated that the abundance of attractive female doctors and nurses in their department and hospital—combined with Qu Hua's frequent night shifts—had caused Mrs. Qu to misunderstand. They needed someone to assure her that all these years, Dr. Qu had remained faithful, devoted solely to surgery. Though he'd touched many women during operations, it was strictly professional necessity. Besides, their department's pretty nurses all maintained impeccable conduct.

Though everyone considered Dr. Zhao somewhat improper, they acknowledged his reasoning held merit. After discussion, they ultimately decided to assign him this mission.However, before Doctor Zhao could leave, Mu Jing arrived. Qu Hua ignored her but didn't make things difficult for her either—just that alone deserved gratitude. Not knowing what to say, she had specially prepared two dishes and brought them as a token of her appreciation. Her father-in-law was quite supportive when he heard she was going to the third front, but her mother-in-law remarked how unsuitable it was for a newlywed couple to live apart. Her father-in-law countered that if Qu Hua didn't want to be separated, he should also go support the third front. To this day, her mother-in-law believed Mu Jing had gone to work elsewhere due to her misunderstanding about Yanyan, which showed that although Qu Hua was disappointed in her, he hadn't said anything to his family. Having encountered many despicable people, Mu Jing felt Qu Hua's character was rather rare.

Qu Hua wasn't in the duty room. She had intended to leave the food and go, but Doctor Zhao spotted her and insisted on pulling her aside to talk about Qu Hua's ascetic life over the past few years. Mu Jing thought to herself, it wasn't as if he had remained chaste for her. Qu Hua had lived abstinently all these years, only to end up with her—this was probably a minor setback in his smooth-sailing life, and merely a minor one at that.

When Qu Hua entered, Doctor Zhao very tactfully left the room for Senior Brother Qu and his wife, letting them talk slowly.

Doctor Zhao wasn't actually on duty today. As he stepped out, he saw Doctor Wang, who was on duty with Qu Hua, and gestured with his chin toward another duty room. "Go wait in that one for a while. Doctor Qu's wife is here."

Doctor Wang nodded understandingly. Doctor Zhao then spotted the pretty nurse from their department and said, "I'm covering for Senior Brother Qu tonight. If there are any issues, come to me."

The nurse glanced at him, then lowered her head to fill out forms, as if to say, "Are you capable?"

"Is that any way to treat the future expert of our department?"

The nurse couldn't help laughing at that.

"Fine, I'll temporarily forgive your lack of discernment. You've probably seen enough of Senior Brother Qu's cold demeanor—today, our sister-in-law is here to save you all. I don't mind, but you..."

"Alright, stop joking around. But what if another department comes looking for Doctor Qu for an emergency consultation?"

No sooner had he spoken than a young doctor from the urology department approached, saying their Doctor You requested Doctor Qu for a consultation. Doctor Zhao laughed and said, "Your Doctor You has asked the wrong person. Doctor Qu's experience in this area is far inferior to mine. Honestly, even any frontline doctor would have more experience than him in your matter." The young doctor, taken aback by Doctor Zhao's boastfulness, hesitated over how to respond. Doctor Zhao patted him on the shoulder. "Hurry up and lead the way for me!"

"But..."

Doctor Zhao didn't let him finish, putting an arm around his shoulders and steering him forward.

Mu Jing took out the food, wiped the chopsticks, and placed them beside Qu Hua's hand. "Eat up. I'm leaving."

Qu Hua pulled a Train Ticket from his pocket—a Sleeper Ticket departing the next day, with the destination being the city where she was going to work. She didn't remember telling Qu Hua which day she planned to leave.

"I already bought a ticket," she said. She had purchased a Hard Seat Ticket.

"Return one of the tickets. I don't have time to do it."

Mu Jing wanted to ask when he had bought the ticket, but the words didn't come out.

Qu Hua lowered his head and ate. He ate quickly, and after a while, he looked up and asked Mu Jing, "Do you have anything else?"

Mu Jing's lips parted and closed, finally uttering two words: "No."

"Take your time eating. I'll go first."

Her words received no reply from Qu Hua. Until the door closed, Qu Hua never looked up.Mu Jing ran into a young nurse on her way out, who pretended to casually observe Mu Jing's expression. She had only been here for a short while and was already leaving, and there was no sign of joy on her face. For the sake of her colleagues' happiness, the nurse mustered up the courage to say to Mu Jing, "Doctor Zhao is covering for Doctor Qu today. Would you like to stay a little longer before leaving?"

"No need."

The young nurse let out a deep sigh. When would this ever come to an end?