By the time Yu Xiang’an left the Qin family, her mouth was parched. It wasn’t that she hadn’t drunk water, but she had been talking nonstop, and the replenished fluids had been used up again.
Yu Xiangyan wasn’t faring much better either. Even after returning home, they didn’t get a moment’s rest. The college students of the Yu family had come back—in this small county town, how often did such news come around?
This was already enough to draw a crowd as a fresh topic.
Families with students preparing for the college entrance exams also hoped they could offer some guidance and share their experiences.
This was unavoidable. After being neighbors for so long, they couldn’t just turn people away. A single bad attitude could easily spark rumors that they looked down on their old neighbors or had grown arrogant.
By the time Yu Qingshan returned home, he found his house surrounded by a noisy crowd.
For a moment, he couldn’t even push his way inside.
He sighed helplessly, “Make way, everyone, make way.”
Only when he spoke up did some people notice him. “Old Yu, you’re back!”
“Your college students have returned! They’re so accomplished. You’ll be living the good life from now on!”
“That refined air about them—no wonder they’re from the capital, college students right under the emperor’s feet!”
“Old Yu, you won’t have to worry about anything anymore…”
A flood of admiring words poured over him.
Yu Qingshan: “Oh, not at all. The kids still have a lot to learn.”
“You’re too kind.”
“If they hear this, they’ll get too proud, and that’s not good.”
…
After finally squeezing his way inside, he glanced at his second son and daughter-in-law, then at his youngest daughter, before his attention was drawn to the twins.
The adults were fine—as long as they hadn’t lost weight, that was good enough.
But these two grandchildren were different. They had grown so much. Seeing them clutching their mother’s sleeves, they must have been frightened by the crowd. He spoke up to disperse the onlookers: “Don’t crowd around like this. The kids can’t even breathe. Step back, step back.”
It took quite a bit of talking before the crowd finally dispersed.
“Dad, you’re back.”
Seeing him, Yu Xiang’an smiled, her face showing relief.
Yu Qingshan couldn’t help but chuckle. Most people would be delighted to be surrounded by so much praise, but his family seemed a little different.
After finally sending the neighbors away, Yu Xiangyan sighed, “Dad, you didn’t see how long we were trapped here. Nice words are pleasant to hear, but too much of it is like listening to a monk chanting sutras.”
Yu Xianghai grinned. “You guys… I wish I could hear that kind of praise.”
He had no hope of getting into college himself. If he wanted to hear such flattering words, he’d have to wait a few more years—until his own children passed the exams.
Ye Qijia had the same thought. Neither of them stood a chance, but their son and daughter could. With their uncles and aunts setting the example, they had the genes for it.
Yu Mingjie suddenly shivered, as if something bad had happened. He looked around, scratching his head, unsure why he felt that way.
Yu Xiang’an took extra time to observe Yu Mingyao.
When she was little, Yu Mingyao had resembled her eldest sister from her past life. Back then, Yu Xiang’an couldn’t help but favor her a little. Now that she had grown up, she looked more like Ye Qijia and less like her sister—but she was still her niece.
With the outsiders gone and only family left, Yu Xiang’an took out the gifts she had brought back.
She had brought something for everyone: a fountain pen for Yu Qingshan, a five-star badge for Yu Xianghai, a silk scarf printed with the Forbidden City for Ye Qijia, and new clothes for Yu Mingjie and his siblings.
Everyone was delighted with their gifts.
Ye Qijia was almost afraid to touch the silk scarf directly. She first rubbed it against her clothes to check for any rough or snagged threads, making sure it was safe before finally touching it—she didn’t want to accidentally ruin the delicate print.
Yu Qingshan was happy with his gift, but he frowned. “Where did you get the money for all this? You’re still students. Even with the subsidies, you can’t save much each month. And you have kids over there—they’re in daycare, and everything costs money. Take these back, return what you can.”
Yu Xiang’an blinked innocently. “Actually, I didn’t spend much. I traded my cooking skills for these. That’s the benefit of having a specialty.”
Yu Qingshan was skeptical. “You could trade for so many good things?”
“It’s the capital—there are plenty of wealthy people who love to indulge. Dad, think about it—if your family had multiple incomes and someone could cook such delicious meals, wouldn’t you be willing to pay a little for a home-cooked feast?”
Yu Xiangyan felt a little regretful. His cooking was decent too, but only by ordinary standards. Compared to professional chefs, he had no advantage.
His little sister’s skills, however, were on par with master chefs.
No wonder her life was so vibrant—she had real talent.
“How long can you stay during this break?”
They couldn’t stay long. The winter break wasn’t even a full month. After accounting for travel time and preparations for their return, they could only stay for about six or seven days.
After New Year’s, they’d have to head back.
Yu Xiangyan: “I’m going back to Hongxing Brigade tomorrow.”
His two daughters and son were still there.
Yu Qingshan nodded. “You should go back. We’ll also be celebrating New Year’s there this year.”
His second son would naturally spend the holiday with his children, so they might as well all go together.
They had a house there anyway.
Yu Qingshan now spent his days off either in the commune or in Hongxing Brigade—visiting Yu Xiangju in the commune and his parents and grandchildren in Hongxing Brigade. With his second son away, he had to keep an eye on things. The kids would naturally feel uneasy without their parents around.
Now that school was out, there was no need to choose. Yu Xiangju was already in Hongxing Brigade, running wild with the other kids.
Yu Xiang’an understood Yu Xiangyan and Wen Ruzhen’s eagerness to see their children. Her twins had never been away from her for more than a day. Just imagining being separated from them for months made her heart ache—were they cold? Hungry? Hurt? Were they being bullied?
Not knowing anything, she could only worry endlessly. Now, Yu Xiangyan’s children hadn’t seen their parents in half a year. The youngest might not even remember who they were.
Yu Qingshan couldn’t take time off tomorrow, and neither could Yu Xianghai—they both had work and weren’t as free. So they agreed that Yu Xiangyan and Wen Ruzhen would take Yu Mingjie and the other kids back to their hometown first, while Yu Qingshan and Yu Xianghai would join them once they were off work.
Yu Xiang’an saw Yu Xiangju again. He had shot up in height and now looked like a young teenager. His personality had also changed—once cheerful, he had become more reserved. When he saw Yu Xiang’an return, his eyes lit up with recognition. He excitedly asked her many questions, but around others, he retreated back into silence.
It seemed Zhao Qiaoniang’s actions had left a deep mark on him.
After what happened, the carefree child had grown into a quiet teenager. He had matured—but maturity always came at a price.
Two or three years didn’t make much difference for adults, but for children, the changes were enormous—like Yu Xiangju, Yu Mingjie, and Yu Xiangyan’s three kids.
When they saw their parents, the older two still remembered them but were clearly distant. The youngest didn’t recognize them at all and tugged at Zhang Chahua’s hand, asking, “Who are they?”
Wen Ruzhen’s eyes reddened at those words. “I’m your mom. Do you remember me? I went to school, far away. Now I’m back.”
Looking at these children, Yu Xiang’an could only sigh. There was a difference between children raised by their mothers and those raised by grandmothers or great-grandmothers.
Wen Ruzhen had raised her three children meticulously—they were usually clean and well-kept. But now they were tanned, sturdier, and their clothes were dirty. The youngest even had mud stains on his backside, as if he’d rolled around in the dirt somewhere. They looked lively and carefree, but the difference from before was stark.
It was like those jokes from later years—when raised by their mothers, kids were little princes and princesses in suits and dresses. After being raised by their grandmothers for a while, they turned into “Doggy” and “Cuihua” in floral-patterned cotton jackets.
Returning to Hongxing Brigade wasn’t much different—just a change of location, with a new crowd gathering to shower them with praise. The same dry-mouthed exhaustion repeated itself.
Yu Xiang’an had the foresight to bring extra copies of photos and materials—one set for her maternal grandparents, one for Yu Qingshan, and another for Yu Changyou and Zhang Chahua.
With these, she could quietly slip away while everyone else chatted excitedly.
Yu Changyou usually avoided crowds, but this time, he stayed nearby the whole time, smiling nonstop.
Compared to before Yu Xiang’an left, his back had hunched, and he had grown thinner—now a gaunt old man, a sight that tugged at the heartstrings. He had aged far too much.
Zhang Chahua looked better—she had always been sturdier.
The two of them weren’t doing much work now, just staying home to watch the kids and keep them out of trouble.
After the others left, Yu Xiang’an asked him, “Grandpa, have you been drinking the tonic wine I gave you? Don’t save it—have a small cup before bed.”
Hearing her question, Yu Changyou chuckled. “I’ve been drinking it, see? The bottle’s much emptier now. If I hadn’t touched it, it wouldn’t have changed.”
He was happy—genuinely happy. This was concern for him. Ginseng wine was expensive, yet she had given it to him without hesitation. Many people envied him, especially when some old folks were scolded by their families as “useless old burdens” for not working and just consuming resources. Compared to them, he was truly blessed.
“Good, just keep drinking it. I brought another bottle this time. Don’t worry about running out—there’s more where that came from. This ginseng isn’t very old, so it’s not that expensive.”
The tonic was good for the elderly. She had also given some to her maternal grandparents.
Zhang Chahua watched this scene while stroking the twins’ hands. “You two are growing up so well—such fair skin, such lovely features, taking after your parents’ best traits. You’ll be college students like them someday!”
Looking at them, Zhang Chahua swelled with pride. These were her descendants, carrying her bloodline.
They celebrated New Year’s there, and Yu Xiang’an wandered around the entire brigade.
In two or three years, Hongxing Brigade had developed even further. Yu Shunwen believed in the saying, “If you want to get rich, build roads first.” Even if they couldn’t afford more cement, they had paved the roads with gravel.
Stones were easy to come by here—they were near the river, so gathering them wasn’t hard. Transporting them was the main effort, but with carts and oxen, it was manageable. Once the roads were improved, not just the current generation but future children would benefit.
They had also expanded the primary school. Originally, the school had already been enlarged, but after the college entrance exams resumed, the number of families sending their children to school skyrocketed.
Now, the most educated people in the village worked as teachers there—some with official positions, some without, but all decently compensated.
The learning atmosphere was strong.
During the New Year’s break, people even came to ask for advice—those who hadn’t passed the exams last year and were still striving, including Yu Manwu.
Speaking of Yu Manwu, Yu Xiang’an could only silently wish him luck. He had told his family he’d give himself one more year to retake the exams. If he passed, he’d go to college. If not, he’d settle down and work.
His family had agreed. With Yu Xiangyan and Yu Xiang’an back, he finally had someone to answer his questions. While helping him, Yu Xiang’an noticed the redness in his eyes and felt a pang of sympathy—love could drive people to extremes.
Still, this was a good thing. If he could get into college in this era, it would be a life-changing opportunity. Even if he failed, he would have tried his best and wouldn’t regret it later.
His questions revealed his progress. He had worked hard these past months. Though his foundation was weak, he had caught up significantly. If he kept it up until June, he might just have a chance.
New Year’s was undoubtedly lively, with everyone gathered together. But amid the laughter and cheer, Yu Xiang’an realized she missed Lin Chuanbai.
When they were together all the time, she hadn’t noticed. But now, after being apart for a while, she found herself missing him. Sometimes, she’d instinctively say, “Pour me some water,” or “Come take a look,” or “What do you think about this?”
Only after speaking would she remember he wasn’t there, leaving her with a hollow feeling.
If she had returned to her pre-transmigration days, she could never have imagined living in this era, starting a family with someone, and even having twins.
But now, she had grown accustomed to it.
Life here wasn’t bad at all.
Before returning to the capital, Yu Xiang’an visited her old friends and acquaintances—Deputy Director Wang, Yan Yuzhen, Gao Yimei, and others.
Meeting again after such a long time naturally brought a wave of nostalgia. Everyone had their own lives now, having been apart for a while, but who knew when their paths might cross again?
After a long train journey back to the capital, Lin Chuanbai was waiting at the station entrance with a big sign. When he spotted them, he rushed over and hugged the trio—one adult and two children—so tightly that passersby turned to stare. Only then did he let go, exclaiming, “You’re finally back!”
The twins missed their father dearly too. They clung to him, unwilling to let go.
“Dad, I missed you so much!”
“Dad, Dad, I missed you!”
Lin Chuanbai sighed, “I don’t ever want to be left behind by you guys again.”
Laughing and chatting, the family headed home. After lounging around for two days, they finally regained their energy.
It was 1978, and Yu Xiang’an was eagerly anticipating the excitement this year would bring.
In their original world, this year had seen many significant events—the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee and the launch of reform and opening-up, the household responsibility system, and the return of educated youth to the cities.
Regarding the latter, signs were already emerging. Nearby, Yu Xiang’an noticed many unfamiliar young men and women—likely former educated youth who had returned for the New Year and stayed, unwilling to go back.
If they wanted to take the college entrance exams, returning to the city naturally offered more access to knowledge and opportunities.
Even while grocery shopping, Yu Xiang’an sensed the changes. Items that had once been sold furtively in black markets were now appearing more openly.
Many of these educated youth came from large families, and with limited living space at home, they had to find ways to make a living to avoid being looked down upon. Starting small businesses required little capital, and unlike factory jobs, which were scarce, it was a practical choice for many.
Yu Xiang’an was delighted to see this.
She hoped the day would come soon when such ventures could flourish openly. But in the early stages, these efforts still faced immense pressure—people operated like thieves, sneaking around. It would take time for attitudes to shift. By the 1980s, private businesses would become legal and legitimate, creating many “ten-thousand-yuan households,” though some would still look down on them with disdain.
There was still a long way to go before they could operate openly without fear.
*
Returning to school after the break, Yu Xiang’an noticed many changes—some good, some less so.
Her classmates seemed livelier, and many paid more attention to their appearance.
When Liu Mingyue mentioned movie stars and their makeup, Yu Xiang’an gifted her a homemade DIY lipstick—a subtle, everyday shade. The bold reds sold in stores were too flashy for the conservative times, but this shade was natural enough to pass unnoticed, enhancing one’s lips beautifully. Liu Mingyue tried it and adored it.
“Xiao An, I won’t stand on ceremony with you—and don’t you dare be polite with me either! I brought back a lot of local specialties for the New Year. Take these!”
Yu Xiang’an glanced at the modest gifts and accepted them with a smile. “Of course. We’re close—why let you take advantage of me? Consider this a lifetime warranty. If you run out or it breaks, just tell me, and I’ll make you another.”
“Oh my, that’s incredible! I’ll remember that.”
Ke Manyun didn’t notice at first, but after seeing Liu Mingyue use it, she went to the department store and couldn’t find anything similar. When she learned it was a gift from Yu Xiang’an, her face fell.
“Why did she give it to you and not me? Aren’t we friends too?”
Liu Mingyue frowned at the remark. Expecting gifts without asking was inappropriate, and their friendship with Yu Xiang’an was closer. She’d even heard Yu Xiang’an mention how exhausting it was to interact with Ke Manyun. Wasn’t it natural not to give her one?
She hadn’t thought much of it before—her sister-in-law had a similar timid personality—but now, she understood why Yu Xiang’an kept her distance.
How was she supposed to respond? She laughed it off. “These things are rare, and it just came up in conversation. Did you check the department store? They have lip balm too.”
Ke Manyun whispered, “…Those are colorless. Not pretty.”
Liu Mingyue: “…”
Why was she so fixated on this?
To Yu Xiang’an’s relief, despite the increased focus on appearance, everyone remained diligent in their studies. No one slacked off, and skipping class was unheard of.
But there were also dramas unfolding.
A young woman with a child showed up at the school, claiming her husband had cut off contact after enrolling. Unable to reach him, she knelt before the school leadership in front of a crowd of students. The scene spread like wildfire across campus.
Liu Mingyue scoffed in disgust. “That ‘talented scholar’ from the Chinese department! Pah! A hypocrite—he even claimed he wasn’t married. And get this—he’s been cozying up to a female classmate. Everyone thought they were dating, but he already has two kids! Cutting off contact for so long? It’s obvious—he got into university, thought he was too good for his rural wife, and abandoned her. Talent means nothing without integrity.”
Yu Xiang’an agreed. “Exactly. If he can treat his spouse and children like this, who’s to say he won’t turn on anyone else when they’re no longer useful? At least this scandal exposed his true colors.”
“Right! Let everyone around that ‘great talent’ see who he really is!” Liu Mingyue fumed. Noticing Ke Manyun pale and shrink into herself, she asked, “Manyun, are you okay? You look unwell.”
Ke Manyun snapped out of her daze. “Huh? What did you say?”
“You’re so pale. Are you sick?”
Ke Manyun clutched her stomach, her voice barely audible. “Yes… I’ve had a dull pain since morning. It’s worse now.”
“Why didn’t you say so earlier? Go see a doctor!”
She forced a weak smile. “No need… It’s an old issue. Some sugar water will help.”
Watching her leave, Yu Xiang’an grew thoughtful.
Had she really been feeling unwell? She hadn’t seemed off before the conversation. If she was faking, there was more to the story.
Yu Xiang’an asked, “Does she still follow you around all the time?”
Liu Mingyue nodded. “She’s too shy. Takes forever to say a word to anyone, and even then, it’s barely audible. How can she make friends like that?”
After a pause, she decided not to mention Ke Manyun’s earlier remark. It would only invite judgment.
Yu Xiang’an sighed. “This won’t work. Right now, classmates are patient, but what about after graduation? Will she rely on you to speak for her at work? Who knows where she’ll end up?”
Liu Mingyue smacked her forehead. “You’re right. She’ll have to change eventually.”
“Just don’t say I brought it up, and don’t get too involved. A gentle nudge is enough. She’s an adult—at her age, many in the countryside are already mothers.”
Liu Mingyue thought of herself. “I’d already had my first child by her age.”
When Yu Xiang’an mentioned it to Lin Chuanbai, he sighed too. “Same at my school. Last semester was quiet, but after the holidays—when some didn’t return or send word—cases like this exploded. And I’m sure many more went unreported. The abandoned often lack the means or courage to confront their partners.” For those from distant regions, travel costs alone could be prohibitive.
Most rural families couldn’t spare the savings—every penny was saved for weddings, funerals, or emergencies.
Eating sweet potatoes and wild vegetables daily, hesitating over an extra egg—how could they justify spending dozens of yuan just to confirm what they already suspected?
Yu Xiang’an fell silent.
Noticing her mood, Lin Chuanbai changed the subject. “My professor asked me to be his assistant today. No salary, but there are food ration coupons, and if the lab produces results, I’ll get a share. The pay doesn’t matter—what’s great is I’ll have access to lab equipment.”
Yu Xiang’an smiled at first, but then remembered the price tags on those machines. Her smile vanished.
She’d thought herself quite wealthy, but the reality—five-figure price tags, savings barely covering a single component—humbled her.
She was still poor. Better focus on her own struggles before worrying about others.
Why did she want to buy them? Put herself in his shoes—if she coveted kitchen tools as her “assistants,” wouldn’t he feel the same about lab equipment?
If they had the means, of course they’d want the best.
They just had to work harder!
Lin Chuanbai: “…”
Why did his wife suddenly seem even more upset?
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