Chapter 65:

It would be even better if Liu Hengbo could introduce someone to help with house repairs. Liu Hengbo said that after the property transfer was completed the next day, he would take them to meet the person.

Upon returning, Yu Xiang’an counted out 1,000 yuan in cash. At that time, the largest denomination was the ten-yuan bill. In later years, 1,000 yuan would be just ten “Mao Zedong bills,” but now, if all in ten-yuan notes, it would be a stack of one hundred “Great Unity” bills.

She didn’t use only large bills—there was a mix of smaller denominations, mostly tens but also some loose change. This made it look more realistic. If it were all large bills, it would seem too extravagant, giving off an unreal impression.

Lin Chuanbai said, “In that case, let’s postpone our plan to buy a bicycle.” Spending money too lavishly could easily make others suspect they had some illegitimate income.

“Then let’s delay it. It’s not far anyway—walking can count as exercise.”

The “Old Xia” Liu Hengbo mentioned was a teacher in the foreign languages department. He looked much older than Liu Hengbo, though Liu mentioned they were about the same age. It seemed he had been through a lot over the years.

Teacher Xia had already learned about their general situation from Liu Hengbo and had a preliminary understanding of their financial capability. Without wasting words, he confirmed they knew the condition of the house and still intended to buy it before proceeding with the transfer.

Money changed hands, and the property was transferred. Once the formalities were completed, they officially became homeowners in the capital.

Teacher Xia showed no attachment to the house at all. After the transfer, he took the money and left. Liu Hengbo shook his head and said, “Let’s go. I’ll take you to find someone.”

He led Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai to a contractor he knew. “I’ve worked with him before. One of my senior classmates hired him to renovate a house—his craftsmanship is solid, durable, and aesthetically pleasing.”

At that time, private contractors weren’t allowed to operate independently; they had to work under collective entities, so the arrangement seemed relatively formal.

There were two options: labor and materials included, or labor and materials separate, with different pricing. After clarifying the details, Yu Xiang’an chose the all-inclusive option. Since they didn’t know many people in the area, sourcing materials themselves would be too much trouble—and they might not even be able to get them.

They outlined their requirements: the main structure would remain, but doors and windows would be removed and reinstalled. The haphazardly built extensions would be demolished, and sections of the collapsed wall would be repaired, including sealing off a small makeshift gate.

After inspecting the site, the workers asked if they needed help with cleanup—for an additional fee. Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai had no intention of doing it themselves, so they willingly agreed to pay for the service.

They paid a 50-yuan deposit upfront, and foreman Xu and his team immediately got to work. The sooner they finished, the sooner they could collect payment and move on to the next job.

During the renovation, they continued renting from Granny Jiang. By the time the house was ready, their lease would be nearly up—perfect timing.

“Manager Liu, thank you for making this go so smoothly.”

“I didn’t do much—just asked around. If you really want to thank me, come by my dorm sometime and cook me a good meal,” Liu Hengbo said with a smile.

Owning a house made a difference—it meant putting down roots here, making them feel more settled.

“No problem. Just let me know when it’s convenient for you.”

With the house settled, they also needed to inform Zhao Li, who had been helping them gather information.

Zhao Li: “So your teacher helped? That’s great. Are you still financially comfortable? If you run into any difficulties, don’t hesitate to ask.”

Lin Chuanbai: “Uncle Zhao, if you hear of any opportunities, could you let us know? We’ve got ours now, but my brother-in-law and his wife are still looking—they’re probably interested in buying too.”

“Your brother-in-law is here too?”

Lin Chuanbai: “Yes, my second brother-in-law and his wife both got into universities here.”

One house in the capital wouldn’t be enough. Using them as an excuse to keep gathering information was just right.

Zhao Li gave a thumbs-up. “Impressive!”

Two more college students! It was as if university graduates were common these days.

Was this a case of “birds of a feather flock together”?

Zhao Lin: “Sister An, once your house is fixed up, we’d love to visit.”

Yu Xiang’an: “We’ll invite everyone over then.”

Lin Chuanbai: “Once the house is ready, Uncle Zhao, we’ll invite you all to a housewarming.”

Zhao Mi sighed. “We’ll definitely go. Maybe some of that scholarly aura will rub off on us.”

With the house matter settled, Yu Xiang’an’s school life also fell into a routine.

If Yu Xiang’an wanted to integrate into the group and get along with everyone, she could easily achieve that goal.

She quickly became familiar with the female classmates in her class. At that time, people were still quite conscious of gender boundaries, so with male classmates, she mostly just knew their names. Only those who actively stood out left a deeper impression—or those who stood out involuntarily, like class monitor Wang Haiwen. Yu Xiang’an knew him best because they interacted the most.

As class monitor and vice-monitor (both provisional), they handled most of the early-stage work—communicating with teachers, organizing assignments, compiling textbook lists, and so on.

Yu Xiang’an felt that, under normal circumstances, whoever was assigned a position early on would have a significant advantage if others later competed for it, since everyone would already be familiar with them.

Unless the monitor was particularly introverted or awkward, and there was someone more outgoing and socially adept in the class, then changes were more likely.

Wang Haiwen wasn’t particularly talkative, but when he spoke, people listened. He had a measured way of handling people and situations.

He must have held some rank as a worker before, given how effortlessly he managed things.

Wang Haiwen thought the same about Yu Xiang’an—she couldn’t have been just an ordinary bookstore clerk. Other clerks didn’t have her skills.

These were abilities she had honed as assistant to the deputy factory director.

Among her classmates, Yu Xiang’an got along best with Liu Mingyue.

She was straightforward and easy to be around, generously sharing pine nuts she had brought from her hometown.

Yu Xiang’an mentioned that she also loved pine nuts—her cousin, stationed with the military up north, occasionally sent some, and she always finished them quickly.

Liu Mingyue immediately gave her half of hers. “Pine nuts are plentiful where I’m from. If you have time to gather them, no one minds. We don’t have much else, but pine nuts are abundant. I love snacking on them too.”

Yu Xiang’an accepted them and later gave her a jar of mushroom paste in return. “I made this to suit your taste. Try adding it to your meals.”

Liu Mingyue was amazed after tasting it. “This is even better than store-bought! How did you do it? I’ve tried making it myself, but the result was… I didn’t dare try again for fear of wasting ingredients.”

Yu Xiang’an smiled. “Didn’t I say I’m good with food? I love figuring out how to make things taste better. I’ll cook for you sometime.”

Liu Mingyue was excited. “Great! I’ll hold you to that.”

Yu Xiang’an: “I won’t forget.”

“What are you talking about? What won’t you forget?” Ke Manyun asked softly, leaning in.

Liu Mingyue: “About cooking. We’re planning to try Vice-Monitor’s dishes sometime.”

Ke Manyun looked around enviously. “You’ve already made plans? I just stepped away for a moment…” She seemed reluctant to miss out, her eyes full of longing.

“Do you want to come too?” Liu Mingyue laughed.

Yu Xiang’an was willing to invite Liu Mingyue to her rented place, but Ke Manyun was another matter. After some thought, she suggested, “How about we organize an autumn outing? What do you think?”

Liu Mingyue perked up. “An outing? Tell me more.”

Yu Xiang’an: “If everyone’s interested, it could be a class-wide activity. Many of us aren’t locals, so visiting scenic spots would help us get to know the city better. It’d also help us bond.”

Liu Mingyue nodded—it sounded like a great idea.

“We could have a picnic in a park. We could gather dry leaves and branches to cook with. Just bring pots, ingredients, and seasonings. Everyone could contribute one meal’s worth of supplies—it wouldn’t cost much.”

The more Liu Mingyue heard, the more she liked it. “We study so hard—a day off to relax sounds perfect. I’m all for it. Xiao An, why don’t you discuss it with the monitor?”

Yu Xiang’an: “Sure, I’ll talk to him first.”

Ke Manyun looked at Yu Xiang’an admiringly. “You’re amazing.”

Yu Xiang’an smiled. “Not at all. I’ll go talk to him now.”

Ke Manyun liked following Liu Mingyue around. When Liu Mingyue spoke, Ke Manyun often chimed in. There was nothing wrong with that, but her personality was hard for Yu Xiang’an to handle.

Even after being classmates for a while, Ke Manyun still spoke too softly and avoided eye contact—it was exhausting to interact with her.

Yu Xiang’an preferred to keep her distance when possible.

She shared her idea with Wang Haiwen. “A group outing where we cook together would help everyone get to know each other better without extra expenses. We could pool our ration coupons for one meal. Parks are free and have plenty of space.”

Wang Haiwen thought it over. The plan was feasible. Since most classmates didn’t know each other well, an outing would create more opportunities for interaction.

“Let’s prepare the staples in advance.”

“I can help cook and steam buns. The rest can be done on-site.” Otherwise, doing everything from scratch would take too long, and carrying tools would be inconvenient.

“Should we plan a couple of activities? Like everyone telling a joke or a short story?”

“That could work. We could also share our experiences since arriving here or talk about local specialties from our hometowns.”

“Agreed.”

They also ran the idea by their teacher, Wu Zhusheng, who approved. “If you go in the morning and return by afternoon, it won’t interfere with studies. Strengthening class bonds is good. Just be mindful of budgeting—some students are financially struggling.”

“Understood.”

With his approval, they announced the plan after class, while everyone was still present. “Participation is voluntary. Those who want to go will contribute one meal’s worth of coupons and money. If you want to bring someone, just pay extra. Families are welcome.”

This was their first organized activity, and since it was just a park outing with shared meal costs, everyone agreed unanimously.

Liu Mingyue was thrilled. “Xiao An, what are you bringing? I’ll share some pine nuts.”

Yu Xiang’an thought for a moment. “I’ll bring my homemade chili paste and mushroom paste to see which everyone prefers. I’ve also been experimenting with olive paste—I’ll bring some for you to try later.”

Yu Xiang’an and Wang Haiwen got busy. He scouted the park and checked with staff about group picnics, while she collected money and coupons to buy supplies.

Liu Mingyue helped with shopping since Yu Xiang’an couldn’t carry everything alone.

Yu Xiang’an asked Lin Chuanbai if he wanted to join.

Lin Chuanbai: “I’m in!”

He wanted to assert his presence.

On the day of the outing, Yu Xiang’an woke at dawn and enlisted Lin Chuanbai’s help with preparations.

They cooked the staples, fed the kids, and sent them to daycare.

Halfway through, Liu Mingyue arrived with two other girls to help.

“We can’t leave everything to you. Some boys will come later to carry things.”

“Great. Help wash the rice and tend the fire.”

Yu Xiang’an borrowed extra cookware from Granny Jiang next door.

With everyone pitching in, work went quickly.

By sunrise, the mixed-grain rice and buns were ready, packed into clean buckets, and handed off to the boys to carry to the park.

Yu Xiang’an’s group arrived right on time.

All the other classmates had already arrived.

Wang Haiwen counted the number of people and confirmed it matched the list. He then gathered everyone to head inside, instructing them to carry the supplies they had brought along and find a suitable spot for the picnic before setting them down.

He already had a location in mind—he had scouted it during his earlier reconnaissance.

The group arrived at a clearing by the stream.

There were few trees here, mostly smooth pebbles worn down by the flowing water. There was little risk of causing a wildfire, and it was convenient for cooking.

The stones here were perfect for building a simple stove.

After setting down their belongings, some stayed behind to gather dry leaves and branches nearby, while the others dispersed in small groups, agreeing to return at a designated time.

Yu Xiangan didn’t wander far, and neither did Wang Haiwen. The two of them stayed to direct the setup of the stove.

Wang Haiwen greeted Lin Chuanbai: “You must be the deputy class monitor’s husband, right? Hello, I’m Wang Haiwen.”

“Hello, I’m Lin Chuanbai.”

“I heard you’re at the medical university?”

“That’s right.”

“Seeing how skilled you are at building a stove, I almost thought you studied architecture.”

Lin Chuanbai chuckled.

He had honed this skill—the stove in his herb garden was built by him piece by piece. Setting up a temporary one now was child’s play.

Liu Mingyue and Ke Manyun washed vegetables by the stream. Liu Mingyue even caught two small fish, offering them up to be stewed into soup later.

Every little bit counts.

Those who stayed to help did so voluntarily. Yu Xiangan noticed that even Xu Keke, who usually kept to herself and came off as aloof, had stayed behind to assist. She even pulled out a piece of cured meat from her bag. “Let’s cook this later too.”

Yu Xiangan was momentarily surprised before accepting it. “On behalf of the class, thank you. Today’s meal is going to be quite a feast.”

Many had brought local specialties to share.

Liu Mingyue contributed a bag of pine nuts and dried mushrooms, Wang Haiwen offered two sausages, Ke Manyun brought half a pound of dried vegetables…

Yu Xiangan herself had prepared some sauces and a pot of braising broth, ready to cook the ingredients directly.

Once the stove was built, the fire was lit, the ingredients were washed, and the large earthenware pot was cleaned and placed on the stove.

They were making fish head and tofu soup.

Gradually, the others returned—some empty-handed, some carrying dry branches, others with wild greens, and one even brought back three bird eggs from who-knows-where.

The place soon buzzed with lively chatter.

“Hey, the soup’s ready. Come and get some!”

“Do you want rice or steamed buns?”

“Grilled bun slices are delicious.”

“I put some sweet potatoes and potatoes in the fire. Who wants some?”

“This steamed pumpkin is really sweet. Anyone want some?”

“The braised dishes smell amazing.”

“Deputy monitor, your cooking skills are top-notch. This flavor is incredible.”

…

They chatted as they ate lunch, which lasted over two hours. Afterward, they cleaned up, dismantled the makeshift stove back into loose stones, and properly disposed of the trash. Then, they gathered under the shade of trees to tell stories and jokes.

Wang Haiwen went first: “Once, there was a scholar traveling to the capital for the imperial exams. On the way, he encountered a once-in-a-century downpour and took shelter in a dilapidated temple…”

Next was Yu Xiangan: “Let me tell you a joke. One day, a teacher asked a student to use the Great Wall in a sentence. The student replied, ‘The Great Wall is very long.’ The teacher thought it was lazy and asked for another. The student turned his head and refused, saying, ‘No! I’m not Qin Shi Huang—why should I?’”

This joke was one her grandfather had told her. She couldn’t remember why she had been upset at the time, but her grandfather had gone out of his way to find jokes online to cheer her up. She remembered it to this day.

…

The event was a success. Later, during the class committee elections, Wang Haiwen and Yu Xiangan retained their positions, while Liu Mingyue became the life committee member and Xu Keke the study committee member.

Xu Keke, who ranked third in class, had successfully changed people’s perceptions of her during this outing.

Not only had she generously contributed cured meat and helped throughout, but she also took cleaning up afterward very seriously, making many realize they had misjudged her.

Though she wasn’t talkative, she came across as a diligent and principled student.

After borrowing cooking utensils from Aunt Jiang and returning them clean, Yu Xiangan couldn’t shake the thought of “treasure hunting.”

She had spotted an official kiln mark under a cracked plate at Aunt Jiang’s place.

This was the capital—if there was anywhere with high chances of stumbling upon hidden gems, it was here.

Lin Chuanbai thought for a moment. “Should we take the kids? They can look for things they like too.”

If they found anything worthwhile, they could always return in disguise later for safety.

At the nearest recycling station, the twins rummaged through comic books and picture albums. Since they couldn’t read all the words yet, they preferred illustrated materials.

Yu Xiangan and Lin Chuanbai let them browse freely while they sifted through old books for anything useful.

After a quick search, they found no high school textbooks—not even middle school ones.

That made sense.

They had likely been snatched up by those preparing for the reinstated college entrance exams.

Just as they moved past a pile of books, Yu Xiangan spotted an old table. There was nothing unusual about it—except for the fact that one of its legs was broken. To balance it, someone had propped it up with a small ding (an ancient ritual vessel).

Yu Xiangan froze. She had seen a similar one during a high school museum visit.

The more she looked, the more convinced she became. Could it really be that one?

Good heavens!

Lin Chuanbai didn’t recognize it, but her expression told him something was off. Staring at the ding serving as a makeshift table leg, he wiped his face. “Uncle, why not replace this broken table?”

“Oh, this table’s been around for ages. I’m used to it and didn’t want to change it. When the leg broke, I was stumped—until I found this thing from a Taoist temple during the anti-superstition campaign. It fit just right, so it’s serving a new purpose now.”

Lin Chuanbai and Yu Xiangan: “…”

They exchanged glances. With the kids present, they couldn’t act now. They’d have to return in disguise later to retrieve it. This artifact shouldn’t be privately owned—they could donate it later. It’d be a tragedy if it got damaged here!

For the rest of the visit, they were distracted. They picked up a few random items before asking the twins if they’d found anything they wanted.

Lin Yining held up three drawing books. “Mom, I found these. And I want this too.” She showed a tarnished bronze mirror.

Lin Yihong had collected five comic books and a painting of Wu Song fighting a tiger. He also fancied a small wooden box—perfect for storing his “treasures.”

The box, being old and tiny, was cheap—just twenty cents.

“Alright, bring your things over. We’ll pay first before taking them.”

After paying, they packed the comic books into the little box.

“Let’s head back.”

Once home and the kids were asleep, Lin Chuanbai asked, “Earlier, you looked shocked when you saw that ding. Do you recognize it?”

Yu Xiangan sighed. “If I’m not mistaken, it’s a Han Dynasty artifact. I saw something similar during a high school museum trip. We had to write reflections afterward, so it stuck in my memory.”

Lin Chuanbai: “!!!”

The image of that ding lying dusty and neglected, propping up a shabby table, made him feel just as suffocated.