Yan Yuzhen fell in love with the fermented soybean paste made by Yu Xiang’an. Her brother-in-law didn’t like it, but her sister did. No matter how she tried, she couldn’t replicate the taste, so they agreed that every month, he would send Yu Xiang’an pig’s blood twice, and in return, Yu Xiang’an would give them two bowls of soybean paste.
Today, he delivered the pig’s blood, which Yan Yuzhen passed on to Yu Xiang’an. She also asked, “Do you want pig’s stomach? He got his turn and wants to trade it.” Pig’s stomach was a real delicacy.
Yu Xiang’an nodded eagerly, “Yes, yes! My sister-in-law is pregnant. My nephew is already five years old, and this is her second pregnancy. I’ll buy it to help nourish her. Thank you so much, Sister Zhen.”
Yan Yuzhen waved her hand, “No trouble at all.”
She was just acting as a middleman—walking a few extra steps and saying a few extra words. It wasn’t much effort. Besides, whenever Yu Xiang’an made something new and delicious, like the pickled bamboo shoots last time, she’d share some with her. It had really whetted her appetite. Since Yu Xiang’an always thought of her, it was only right for her to lend a hand in return.
Then she saw Yu Xiang’an smiling as she took out a jar. “Sister Zhen, try this. It’s jam I made from wild berries I picked near my grandpa’s place. It’s sweet and sour—you can mix it with water or rice. See which way you prefer.”
She tried it. Mixed with water, it tasted light, but when she paired it with rice, she ended up eating an extra bowl, still craving more.
This made her look at the jam with a mix of delight and worry. It was delicious, but there wasn’t much of it. If there were more, she feared her food rations wouldn’t last.
The next day, Yu Xiang’an was mysteriously pulled aside by Yan Yuzhen. “Xiao An, I remember you mentioned your grandpa lives in the countryside, and your uncle’s family is there too, right?”
Yu Xiang’an nodded. “Yes, last time I went to my cousin’s wedding, I even brought you some fried peanuts and soybeans.”
Yan Yuzhen was just confirming. Hearing this, she continued, “I recall you said your cousin is tall and strong, with plenty of strength?”
Yu Xiang’an was puzzled. “Yes, my uncle isn’t tall, but my aunt is. He takes after her.”
Yan Yuzhen finally revealed her purpose. “Here’s the thing. My brother-in-law has a sworn brother who also works at the meatpacking plant. While slaughtering a pig, the animal broke free and kicked him, fracturing his ribs. The doctor said he needs time to recover. You know slaughtering pigs requires strength—he can’t work now, so they need someone to fill in temporarily. The job is just helping restrain pigs, tie them up, boil water, and fetch tools. It’s a temporary position covering for a full-time worker, so the pay is only for a temp—eighteen yuan a month, plus some ration coupons. It’s not as much as a full-timer, but it’s decent. His brothers either have jobs or aren’t strong enough, so I thought I’d ask if you know anyone suitable?”
Yu Xiang’an grabbed her hand gratefully. “Thank you, Sister Zhen! I really appreciate you thinking of me. I’m sure I can find someone—country folk may lack many things, but strength isn’t one of them!”
Yan Yuzhen smiled. “No need to thank me. When can you check with them? They’re in a hurry.” As long as Yu Xiang’an understood her effort, it was worth it.
Yu Xiang’an replied, “I’ll send a telegram from the post office later. I can give you an answer tomorrow.”
Yan Yuzhen nodded. “Good.”
Telegrams were charged by the word, so Yu Xiang’an kept hers concise but clear:
**[Temp job available. Manchang bring clothes come fast.]**
Telegrams were for urgent matters, and it reached the commune the same day.
Yu Changyou heard the news and immediately told Yu Manchang to pack some clothes. That night, he got a letter of introduction from Yu Shunwen and set off.
Xu Xiaojuan had no objections. Though they’d only recently married and he shouldn’t be away for long, this was a temporary job in the county town! If he could find a way to stay in the city, she’d truly be blessed.
Yu Manchang was tall and strong. He rushed over overnight and was brought before Yan Yuzhen.
She looked him over and nodded in satisfaction. Without delay, she took him to the meatpacking plant for an “interview.”
Her brother-in-law’s sworn brother had suffered a workplace injury. With the busy season underway, they couldn’t afford to be short-handed. The supervisor agreed to the temporary arrangement and, after confirming Yu Manchang’s strength, had Yan Yuzhen’s brother-in-law train him.
Yu Manchang started work that same day.
That evening, when he returned home, Yu Xianghai, Ye Qijia, and Yu Mingjie were all there.
Yu Manchang had exerted himself all day and reeked of sweat. Yu Xiang’an said, “Go wash up first. The bathwater’s ready. We’ll talk after.”
By the time he finished, Yu Mingjie was already asleep in Yu Xianghai’s arms. Kids could doze off in an instant.
Yu Qingshan asked, “How did it go today? Smoothly?”
Yu Manchang replied, “Yes. I just assisted with simple tasks. I’ve done similar work when our brigade slaughtered pigs.”
Yu Qingshan nodded. “Good. Stay humble—talk less, work more. But if someone tries to bully you, don’t just take it silently.”
Yu Manchang said, “Uncle, I understand.”
The meatpacking plant didn’t provide meals or lodging, but there was space at home. Yu Xiangyan’s room had been empty, so Yu Manchang tidied it up and moved in. For meals, breakfast was shared at home, while lunch and dinner could be taken at the canteen by contributing grain or meal tickets. He’d brought some rations, and Yu Qingshan covered the rest.
The first month’s wages weren’t paid yet, but even temps got small perks—like bone scraps or pig’s blood, unexpected bonuses.
Yu Qingshan repeatedly reminded him, “Learn as much as you can, but don’t intrude if others are wary. Slaughtering pigs is a skill—how much you pick up depends on you. If they stay busy, you might even get to stay.”
Yu Manchang understood.
Even if it didn’t work out, if the injured worker took three to six months to recover, he’d still earn a tidy sum.
Eighteen yuan a month meant fifty-four yuan in three months. Even deducting five yuan monthly for food, it was still a fortune.
Last year, their whole family toiled in the fields, and the year-end payout was less than thirty yuan—and that was considered high for their village.
Later, when Grandpa fell ill, the bulk of the medical expenses were covered by Uncle, as their own pockets were empty. His father had lamented it many times.
Now he had a chance to earn money—and a slim hope of staying in the city. He poured all his energy into it.
He worked from dawn to dusk, so diligently that even Yan Yuzhen praised him to Yu Xiang’an. “My brother-in-law says your cousin is hardworking and efficient.”
Yu Xiang’an smiled. “Yes, he’s always been diligent.”
“I heard he made it to junior high, right? What a shame.” If he’d been a city resident, even a temp job wouldn’t be so hard to come by.
Temps got days off too, but Yu Manchang didn’t go home the first month. Only after receiving his first paycheck did he decide to visit.
The moment he returned, neighbors swarmed him.
“Did you land a job in the county town? That uniform looks sharp!”
“How’s the pay? Do you get enough to eat?”
“What’s it like there? Do you all live in apartment buildings?”
“You look taller—eating well?”
From the village entrance to his doorstep, his mouth went dry from answering questions. Even after explaining it was just temporary cover for an injured worker, envy lingered.
Some kept asking if there were more such opportunities—they had nothing but strength to offer.
Yu Manchang could only smile wryly.
A month in the city had shown him how scarce jobs were—each position was tightly held.
Forget full-time roles—even temp jobs were hard to come by.
Like his uncle, who’d been in the city for years—his aunt still wasn’t a full-timer, working sporadically.
He brought home thirteen yuan from his first month’s wages, explaining he’d given five to his uncle for covering ration tickets and arranging the job through his cousin.
He handed the thirteen yuan to Yang Huili. “I’ll need to bring more grain back to exchange for meal tickets so I can eat at the canteen.”
“Also, Mom, here are the ration coupons I got. As a temp, I only get half what full-timers do. This month, I got three liang of sugar coupons—they say I’m lucky, since sugar coupons are rare. Keep them. Second Sister’s pregnant, right? Save these for her postpartum recovery.”
Holding the thirteen yuan and the coupons, Yang Huili’s eyes reddened. Her son had only been gone a month and already brought back so much.
“Work hard, and remember what Xiao An did for you. Don’t worry about home—we’re fine here.”
Beside her, Xu Xiaojuan nodded cheerfully.
The money didn’t go to her, which was normal—she’d just married in. She hadn’t expected to handle finances yet.
Besides, the money was real. Whoever held it, it was her husband’s earnings.
“I’m decent at making shoes. I’ll make a pair for Cousin An. Mom, do you know her size?” She might not have much, but her shoe-making skills were praised by many.
“I do, but her feet might’ve grown. Make them a bit bigger.” Yang Huili was pleased by her daughter-in-law’s thoughtfulness. “Xiao An takes after her mother—not great at needlework. I’ve seen your shoes—neat stitches, comfortable. Make her a couple when you have time.”
Yu Manwu and Yu Mansheng clung to Yu Manchang, finally getting their chance to ask:
“Big Brother, what’s the factory like? Is it bustling?”
“Did anyone give you trouble?”
“Did you bring gifts?”
Yu Manchang replied, “One at a time. No gifts—all my money’s here.”
He’d forgotten to buy anything for the family.
Yang Huili said, “Don’t waste money. I’ll buy what we need. Save yours—understood?”
With two sons still unmarried, expenses loomed large.
Yu Manchang nodded. “Got it, Mom.”
Yu Manwu and Yu Mansheng exchanged disappointed glances and sighed in unison.
Yu Manchang explained, “At the meatpacking plant, I help slaughter pigs. They’ve got a shed as big as our threshing ground. Right now, a batch of pigs is ready, so everyone’s busy. Next to it’s the pig farm—lots of them. You know how loud pigs scream when slaughtered. The factory’s not in a busy area—it’s pretty remote, but not too far.”
Yang Huili asked, “Where are you staying at your uncle’s?”
“In Cousin Xiangyan’s old room.”
Yu Manwu pressed, “Big Brother, you didn’t answer—did anyone give you trouble?”
“No. The guy training me knows Xiao An. He’s been good to me, pointing out what to watch for.”
Yu Mansheng asked, “Did you run into that guy? The one who was supposed to marry Cousin An?”
Yu Manchang knew who he meant—the family knew about Yu Xiang’an’s former fiancé, a full-timer at the plant.
“I’m in the slaughterhouse. He’s in the warehouse—different areas. I’ve seen him twice, but he can’t do anything. My trainer told me he despises people who break promises—won’t be friends with them.”
Hearing this, Yang Huili relaxed. She’d worried a full-timer might bully her son. With one being permanent and the other temp, bias would’ve been easy. Thankfully, it wasn’t an issue.
—
One day, Yu Xiang’an brought food home from the canteen. At the doorstep, Yu Xiangju and Yu Mingjie were poking at ants under a tree. Seeing her, they cheered and dragged her inside, excitedly sharing news.
Yu Mingjie whispered, “Auntie, today Cousin Ju and I hit a bird with a stone! We brought it back—tonight we eat meat!”
Zhao Qiaoniang was plucking the feathers. The unnamed bird was small—maybe two or three liang after cleaning, with just a thin layer of meat. But meat it was.
“You two did great today! But have you finished your homework?”
Seeing them idle, Yu Xiang’an assigned tasks—practicing strokes and numbers in the dirt with sticks. Simple, but they’d learn something.
Back then, kids started school late, and kindergartens were rare.
Yu Qingshan planned to wait until next year when Yu Xiangju turned seven before sending him to school.
Just assigning homework wasn’t enough to make them listen, so Yu Xiang’an used food as a carrot dangling in front of a donkey to motivate them to study.
Yu Xiangju and Yu Mingjie were very obedient, nodding earnestly, “We’ve already finished our homework. We only went out to play after finishing.”
“Good, then. Come, I’ll make you some honey water.”
Since they had completed their assignments, she naturally had to fulfill her promise.
Yu Xiang’an took out honey from the kitchen cabinet, scooped a small spoonful for each of them, mixed it with cold boiled water, and handed them the honey water.
They sipped it slowly, savoring the sweetness of the small bowl. The honey was so incredibly sweet—how could anything taste so good?
If they could drink this every day, life would be perfect.
When Yu Qingshan returned, Yu Xiangju and Yu Mingjie ran up to him to show off their day’s harvest.
Yu Qingshan chuckled, “This type of bird has a cooling nature and isn’t suitable for pregnant women. We’ll finish it ourselves today.”
A small bird was stewed with some greens, and the broth was shared among everyone. The two drumsticks went to the younger boys, the breast meat to Yu Xiang’an, while Yu Qingshan and Zhao Qiaoniang took the scraps.
Yu Xiang’an: “…”
Such heavy paternal love.
After everyone had bathed and Yu Mingjie had been taken home by Yu Xianghai, Yu Manchang finally returned, reeking of blood and holding a gourd ladle half-filled with pig’s blood.
Yu Xiang’an took it from him. “Let’s have blood and vermicelli soup tomorrow morning.”
The vermicelli was made from sweet potatoes. Since Grandpa’s family grew plenty of sweet potatoes, they would make some into noodles, which reduced the quantity but improved the texture. As long as the harvest was good, they’d prepare some and inevitably send a portion over.
“We’ll add pickled beans, peanuts, and a bit of chili to it.”
Hearing this, Yu Xiangju’s face lit up with anticipation—it sounded delicious.
Yu Manchang grinned too. The dishes at his wedding banquet had already proven Yu Xiang’an’s culinary skills. Ever since coming here, every time his cousin took charge of the cooking, it was a feast.
The next morning, Yu Qingshan and Zhao Qiaoniang went to work, while Yu Xiang’an had the day off. She took Yu Xiangju and the others out, each wearing straw hats and carrying vegetable baskets and ropes.
Seeing them like this, the neighbors knew they were going foraging for wild greens.
There were hills near the county town, though the area was relatively flat. When the settlement first developed, it was chosen precisely for its gentle terrain and abundant water resources. Over time, it grew into a county town.
The outskirts were surrounded by low hills. During the famine, crowds of people had come from the town to dig for wild greens. It was obvious that the hills closest to the town had few mature trees left—their bark had been stripped, leaving them to wither.
These hills still had wild greens, fruits, and small game, though nothing large. In Yu Qingshan’s hometown, wild boars occasionally appeared, but around the county town, they hadn’t been seen in years.
Such hills had their advantages—foraging and outings were convenient, with little risk of danger.
Though Yu Xiangju and Yu Mingjie were young, they were already experienced foragers, familiar with many wild plants. Yu Xiangju even had an important duty: gathering food for the family’s only egg-laying hen.
The tender greens were for eating, while the tougher ones went to the chicken. A well-fed hen laid more eggs.
Today, the two boys kept an eye out, hoping to catch another bird—even a small one would do, roasted over a fire for a fragrant treat.
It was autumn, and while digging for greens, Yu Xiang’an stumbled upon a patch of chrysanthemums. She wasn’t about to let them go to waste—they could be used for tea, pillow stuffing, or sachets.
Seeing her picking the flowers, Yu Xiangju called out, “Fifth Sister, you’re picking flowers again!”
“These are chrysanthemums. I’ve told you before—they can be brewed into tea to clear the liver and brighten the eyes. We’ll dry them and make tea later.”
As she plucked the last few blossoms from a bush, Yu Xiang’an spotted a nest. Upon closer inspection, she found three wild bird eggs inside.
Yu Mingjie and Yu Xiangju crowded around in amazement. “Fifth Sister, you’re so lucky!”
“Auntie, how did you find them?”
“Just by chance. I do feel lucky today.” Yu Xiang’an was pleasantly surprised by the unexpected find. She placed the small eggs at the bottom of the basket, covering them with greens so no one would notice unless they dug through.
Yu Xiangju and Yu Mingjie exchanged glances. “Let’s keep looking—maybe there are more nearby.”
“It’d be even better if we could catch the wild bird!”
Sure enough, they found another nest not far away, yielding two more eggs. After that, though, their luck ran out.
Still, Yu Xiangju and Yu Mingjie were satisfied. They hadn’t caught a bird, but they’d found wild eggs!
Yu Xiangju tugged at Yu Xiang’an’s sleeve. “Fifth Sister, let’s go this way. There’s a wild fruit tree over there—I don’t know if any are left. Last time I came, the fruits were still small, so I didn’t pick them.”
He led her deeper into the brush until they found the shrub.
The fruits, called “green fruits,” were about the size of a thumb, with green skin and a crisp, mildly sweet taste.
After searching thoroughly, they only found four—the rest had already been picked. “We’re too late,” Yu Xiangju lamented for a moment. “I wonder who found this spot and took them first.”
They each took one, with Yu Xiangju, as the discoverer, getting an extra.
As they left, Yu Xiang’an noticed a glint below. “I’ll check over there—maybe there’s water.”
She used a long bamboo pole to rustle the grass, scaring away any hidden snakes, and followed the sound until she reached a shallow, clear stream. Swishing the pole in the water revealed no fish.
She sighed in disappointment.
Yu Xiangju giggled from above. “Fifth Sister, were you looking for fish? I already checked last time—it’s too shallow for fish.”
Yu Xiang’an: “…”
Yu Xiangju pointed. “Fifth Sister, go further down. There’s a deeper spot—maybe you’ll find some there.”
Following his directions, Yu Xiang’an pushed through the thick grass and found a small pool with tiny fish. From her farm, she pulled out a palm-sized fish—perfect for a soup tonight.
Yu Xiangju gasped at the sight. “!!!”
He must’ve missed it last time. Next time, he’d look more carefully!
“Alright, it’s too hot. Let’s head back.”
Even with hats, the sun was scorching. Touching the brim of her hat, she could feel the heat radiating off it.
In the afternoon, Yu Xiang’an sat at the table, writing drafts for submissions.
She planned to keep submitting her work. Even though her later pieces hadn’t received responses, she couldn’t give up. Besides, going to the post office gave her a chance to pick out stamps for her collection.
Not that she was a stamp enthusiast—she’d only started because she vaguely remembered her father mentioning some rare stamps worth millions in her past life.
She hadn’t paid attention at the time and couldn’t recall the names. Now, she could only regret it and collect any unusual stamps she came across.
Common ones wouldn’t be worth much—rarity dictated value. But since stamps were cheap now, collecting them was no burden. If she happened upon a valuable one, it’d be a windfall.
Yu Mingjie and Yu Xiangju also sat at the table, each in a corner, working on math problems Yu Xiang’an had prepared for them on old newspapers.
The problems were simple, but since they’d been eager to play outside under the blazing sun, oblivious to the risk of heatstroke, she’d kept them indoors.
Yu Xiangju fidgeted in his seat, itching to go out, but seeing his sister focused on her writing made him hesitate. Pouting, he returned to his work, filling in the answers one by one.
Fine, he’d finish this first—it wasn’t much anyway. Then he could play.
After finishing two drafts, Yu Xiang’an stretched. Writing wasn’t hard, but crafting outstanding prose while avoiding taboos required care. Early on, she’d often scratched out whole sections, but now she wrote more smoothly.
Once her skills improved, she hoped her submission acceptance rate would rise.
By the time she finished, Yu Xiangju and Yu Mingjie were already whispering in the yard, engrossed in some game.
Yu Xiang’an graded their “homework.”
They’d both worked diligently—regardless of accuracy, their effort deserved praise. Checking their answers, she found their accuracy decent.
Tonight, she’d cook something special. She’d worked hard today—what should she make? Should she stew the fish or fry it?
Frying would use up oil, and the household’s oil jar was nearly empty. Better to make soup.
Just then, someone called from outside, “Is Yu Xiang’an home? There’s a package for you.”
A package?
Who could have sent it? A newspaper reply wouldn’t come as a parcel, would it?
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