Chapter 82:

Gu Nanfeng and Yu Xiang’an traveled south together by train to Baishi County.

Yu Qingshan was at home feeding his chicken. He only kept one because he couldn’t manage more. With this chicken laying eggs, he often didn’t need to spend money buying them. When the children visited, he could just grab an egg from the coop to add to their meal.

Keeping more chickens would mean more eggs, but when he was still working, he didn’t have time to take care of them.

Yu Xiang’an pushed open the courtyard gate, saw him, and called out, “Dad, I’m back.”

Yu Qingshan smiled when he saw her, put down the wild vegetables in his hands, and hurried over, looking her up and down. “It’s good you’re back.”

Gu Nanfeng grinned. “Hello, Uncle Yu.”

Yu Qingshan nodded in response. Yu Xiang’an set down her things. “Dad, what’s this about your retirement? Tell me in detail.”

Yu Qingshan picked up the items from the ground and headed inside. “You’re already asking about this as soon as you get back. What’s the rush?”

He poured water for the two of them.

Compared to big cities, changes in their hometown were slow. Without a woman to manage the household, the cups they used were old, some even cracked, but they still used them, carefully avoiding the chipped edges when drinking. One wrong move, and it could cut their lips.

“I’m not far from retirement anyway, and I’m worried about you. While I can still move around, I can at least help you keep an eye on things.”

Yu Xiang’an couldn’t help but laugh. “Dad, having you watch the gate would be such a waste of talent! So, what’s the plan now that you’re retired?”

Yu Qingshan: “I’ll have a pension every month. Also, I called over one of your fourth granduncle’s grandsons. He’s doing odd jobs at the factory now.”

At this time, formal worker positions were still hard to come by, and their factory’s performance hadn’t shown signs of decline yet.

Now that he was stepping down, the usual practice was to have one of his children take over the position. But all his children already had jobs.

As for the grandchildren, the eldest, Yu Mingjie, was old enough to take over, but he was currently in university. Yu Qingshan would have to be crazy to pull him back for this. So, he turned to his relatives in the countryside. The closest in blood were his own brothers’ sons, but the eldest, Manchang, was well-respected at home and made decent money. The second, Manwu, was in Shanghai, and the third, Mansheng, was in the special economic zone, already a boss himself, earning who knew how much every month—none of them would want to come back.

With none of them willing, the next option was one of his fourth uncle’s grandsons. The young man was in his twenties, honest but without a steady job, just farming in the village. For him, moving to the county town was a great opportunity—his household registration would change, and he’d earn a monthly salary. Farming was hard labor, nothing compared to the ease of working in a factory, free from wind and sun.

Yu Xiang’an, touched, poured tea for her father. “Thank you, Dad. I know you’re doing this for me. If you’re coming to help me, I’ll make sure everything is taken care of for you.”

He’d be paid a salary, with year-end bonuses and monthly incentives.

Once her business expanded further, she’d arrange more for him. With money and property, his later years would be secure.

What if his descendants weren’t filial?

By then, he’d have savings and a home—no child would dare neglect him.

Not that she was being calculating. Yu Xiang’an could confidently say that all her siblings treated Yu Qingshan well. But what about the next generation?

Apart from her eldest brother’s three children, who grew up around Yu Qingshan, the others lived far away. Without interaction, affection was hard to cultivate. A child’s feelings for their grandfather weren’t the same as a grandfather’s doting on his grandchildren.

Grandparents tended to be softer on their grandchildren than they had been on their own children.

Yu Xiang’an checked the kitchen. Now that Yu Qingshan was retired, he cooked for himself instead of eating at the canteen. But his cooking skills were just passable—he could make food edible, but not particularly tasty. Opening the cupboard, she saw the basic ingredients were there, so she rolled up her sleeves and got to work.

Gu Nanfeng was quick on the uptake, pitching in without being asked. This was the boss’s father, and he might soon become his superior. Being diligent wouldn’t hurt.

Word of Yu Xiang’an’s return spread, and soon, Yu Xianghai heard about it. During his lunch break, he came over and was surprised to see Gu Nanfeng. “You are…?”

Yu Xiang’an introduced him. “This is my colleague.”

Gu Nanfeng smiled. “I’m the boss’s assistant.”

Yu Xianghai was stunned. An assistant—like the secretaries high-ranking officials had. His little sister was really something.

He didn’t know about Yu Xiang’an’s debts. Yu Qingshan had kept that tightly under wraps.

Hearing that his sister was overwhelmed and needed help, he had no objections to their father retiring to assist her.

Over the years, their father had helped him plenty. With most of his siblings and their children far away, only his family of five remained nearby, and their father often bought things for the kids.

Now that he was helping their sister, it made sense. Yu Xianghai didn’t need support anymore—he and his wife, Ye Qijia, had decent seniority and salaries. Their eldest son was in college with a stipend covering his needs, and the two younger ones were in school nearby. How much could that cost?

Given how well their sister was doing, they accepted her resignation without fuss. Water flows to higher ground—she was clearly better off now. Some people just couldn’t be measured by ordinary standards.

Apart from family, none of the neighbors knew about this. Yu Qingshan had kept it quiet.

If they found out Yu Xiang’an had started her own factory, it would be chaos.

Some would ask to recommend someone for a job, others would praise their relatives as hardworking and clean—what could she do? Saying no would make her seem ungrateful, but saying yes wasn’t practical.

They’d watched her grow up, and now that she was successful, they’d accuse her of turning her back on them.

Such talk wouldn’t hurt her, but it was unpleasant. Keeping it secret spared her the trouble.

“Big brother, where are Mingfeng and Mingyao?” Yu Xiang’an asked about his twins.

They were thirteen now, probably at school. Where did they eat lunch?

Yu Xianghai shook his head. “They eat at the school canteen.”

“Is the food any good?”

“It’s passable—not much oil, but it’s convenient. I give them some pocket money so they can buy snacks if they’re still hungry.”

“How are you and sister-in-law?”

“Same as always.”

Gradually, neighbors dropped by to chat.

“Xiao An, you didn’t come back for New Year’s. Finally, you’re here!”

“Living far away is so inconvenient.”

“Exactly! On the second day of the New Year, married daughters return home. How can you if you’re too far?”

“Work comes first.”

“Are you on leave now?”

“What goodies did you bring back?”

The questions kept coming. When Yu Xiang’an didn’t want to answer, she handed out candy to the kids, turning the gathering lively.

By mealtime, everyone left on their own.

Lunch was ready, and Yu Xianghai stayed to eat.

His face showed nostalgia.

It had been a while since he’d tasted his sister’s cooking—it seemed even better now.

After the meal, Yu Xiang’an used the warm water in the kitchen to bathe, then napped for a few hours to recharge.

When she stepped out, the courtyard was full of people—her grandparents were there.

Seeing her, they smiled. “You’re awake.”

Yu Xiang’an: “Yes. Grandpa, Grandma, when did you arrive?”

Yao Cuifen: “Not long ago. Did we wake you?”

Yu Xiang’an: “No, I woke up naturally.”

Time left clear marks on the elderly.

Qin Qiang and Yao Cuifen had retired early to let their children take over their jobs. They’d aged relatively well, but their faces still bore the signs of time—age spots, white hair, wrinkles.

It was unsettling to see.

“Grandma, how’s your health?”

Yao Cuifen patted her with a thin hand. “Fine, no illnesses. How long can you stay this time?”

Yu Xiang’an held her hand. “I’ve already bought tickets for tomorrow.”

“So soon? Business over there?”

“Yes.”

“Well, duty calls. Visit more when you can.”

“Grandma, if anything’s wrong, don’t keep it to yourself. No one will know if you don’t speak up, and you’ll suffer for it.”

Yao Cuifen’s eyes crinkled with a smile, touched by her concern. “At my age, do I not know that? Don’t worry.”

“I’m not worrying for nothing…”

When Yu Xianghai and Ye Qijia returned from work and the kids from school, the place grew even livelier. Yu Xianghai carried a few pounds of ribs, and Ye Qijia held a still-wriggling fish.

Yu Mingfeng and Yu Mingyao weren’t particularly close to Yu Xiang’an—they hadn’t spent much time together.

Yu Xiang’an was warmer toward Mingyao, who’d resembled her elder sister in her past life. Though the resemblance had faded as Mingyao grew, the fondness remained.

But her favoritism wasn’t obvious. With two sons and one daughter, it was natural to dote on the girl.

“Mingyao, you’ve grown so much! Auntie bought you new clothes. Let’s see if they fit—I got them a bit big, just in case. If they’re too large, you can wear them in a year or two.”

For Mingyao, she’d picked a dress; for Mingfeng, jeans—both stylish choices.

The kids were thrilled. “Thank you, Auntie!”

Yu Xianghai sighed. “Why buy them clothes again? They have enough.”

Ye Qijia agreed. “Their generation has it so much better. New clothes? Back in my day, I barely had any even when I got married.”

Yu Xiang’an: “Life will keep improving. Soon, they’ll get new clothes every season, wear them for a couple of years, then toss them for newer ones.” She described the future.

Ye Qijia laughed. “If that day comes, we’ll be living in luxury! I can’t even imagine—throwing clothes away after two years? That’s wasteful! Five years at least, ten to break even.”

Now, buying fabric still required ration coupons, though it was easier than before. But money was tight—there were always more pressing needs.

Yu Qingshan packed his belongings. He didn’t own much—just clothes, mostly. But his daughter set aside many of them, saying he wouldn’t need so many. The factory would provide uniforms.

Another issue: he couldn’t wear heavily patched clothes. Image mattered. If he looked too shabby, people might think the factory was struggling.

She had a point—people judged by appearances. But if that was the case, he’d need a whole new wardrobe. Most of his clothes had patches—this would be expensive.

Outerwear was one thing, but innerwear could stay patched—no one would see.

Yu Xiang’an had no choice but to discard the oldest, most threadbare items, barely recognizable in color.

Finally packed, they set off for the special economic zone, heading straight to the factory.

Yu Xiang’an now lived more comfortably, in a two-story Western-style house behind the factory’s office building.

She occupied the second floor, fully furnished but lacking a lived-in feel.

If work kept her late, she stayed here; if she was busy at the restaurant, she slept there. She had rooms in both places.

Now that Yu Qingshan was here, this would become her main residence.

For transportation, Yu Xiang’an planned to buy a van this year—something practical for carrying people and goods.

It was the most affordable and accessible option now. In a few years, buying cars would be easier.

Yu Qingshan was stunned when he saw the house—so finely decorated, with plush sofas and a large color TV…

None of this had been here during his last visit.

In his room, the wardrobe was filled with clothes in his size. Yu Xiang’an had prepared everything in advance.

Could he return them?

No.

Among them were suits that looked expensive.

Yu Xiang’an explained they were for formal occasions—sometimes, you just had to dress the part.

Yu Qingshan: “…”

Before even helping out, so much money has been spent. I can’t slack off now!

Upon returning, Yu Xiang’an immediately threw herself into work. Liu Sanbao handed her a stack of documents—after being away for so long, even with phone calls, many matters still required her personal review and approval.

Meanwhile, Yu Qingshan was taken around by Gu Nanfeng to get a general sense of the place before diving into specific tasks.

After this tour, Yu Qingshan couldn’t fathom how his daughter had managed such drastic changes in such a short time since his last visit. The second factory building was nearly complete!

Yu Yegui, somehow catching wind of their return, paid them a visit. As close relatives—cousins with Yu Qingshan—he naturally dropped by. When he heard Yu Xiang’an mention wanting to buy a car, he offered his assistance, as his current employer was in the automotive industry and could even provide a discount.

Yu Xiang’an had brought it up precisely for this convenience. Grateful, she joked, “Thank you, Uncle! From now on, I’ll supply all your hotpot base—as much as you can eat!”

Yu Yegui chuckled while enjoying his hotpot. “That’s perfect. Honestly, no matter how long I’ve lived abroad, I still can’t get used to Western food. Eating bread every day feels so dull.”

Yu Qingshan wholeheartedly agreed. “I’ve tried bread too—fine as a snack, but as a meal? It’s like eating nothing at all.”

The two bonded over this shared sentiment.

Later, Yu Qingshan asked, “When do you plan to move your father’s remains back?”

Yu Yegui had already consulted a feng shui master. “We found a renowned master—recommended by my brother-in-law—surnamed Chen. He said this year isn’t auspicious, so we’ll do it next year.”

Yu Xiang’an listened quietly. In Hong Kong, feng shui and superstitions were commonplace, whereas mainland China had nearly eradicated such practices during the Cultural Revolution. Still, she acknowledged that some practitioners possessed genuine skills.

Given her and Lin Chuanbai’s extraordinary experiences, she maintained a wary distance from such matters. She preferred science, but since personal beliefs weren’t illegal, she kept her opinions to herself.

With Yu Yegui’s help, Yu Xiang’an’s car purchase was soon underway. When Yu Qingshan saw the price, his heart nearly stopped. His daughter was buying a car—something only high-ranking officials could afford!

Was business really this lucrative?

After giving Yu Qingshan a month to familiarize himself with operations, Yu Xiang’an appointed him as a supervisor, primarily overseeing inspections and representing the company. She provided clear guidelines, and with his self-taught literacy and arithmetic skills, he adapted quickly.

At the month’s end, Yu Qingshan received his salary and bonus—100 yuan total, more than he’d earned at the factory. Combined with his pension, he was financially comfortable. When he tried to refuse, Yu Xiang’an insisted he keep it for emergencies.

Not long after, Yu Xiang’an secured a large order from Klatt, who also offered to help procure additional equipment—an opportunity she couldn’t pass up. Klatt also introduced her to a fellow overseas Chinese, a woman in her forties opening a luxury hotel. Though their businesses differed, they found common ground and hit it off.

Originally planning to return to Beijing every two to three months, Yu Xiang’an’s schedule made it impossible. Instead, Lin Chuanbai visited during holidays, bringing their twins, who were eager to see their mother before their summer military training.

Yu Qingshan witnessed his daughter’s relentless work ethic—rising at dawn, napping briefly at noon, and often working until 9 or 10 p.m. Only their improved living standards kept her going. Understanding her workload, he couldn’t fault her for prioritizing work over family.

When Lin Chuanbai visited, Yu Qingshan treated him warmly, even preparing his favorite dishes. Lin Chuanbai, surprised by his father-in-law’s sudden affection, learned it stemmed from appreciation for his support.

During their family time, Yu Xiang’an made up for her absence by spoiling the twins, buying them durable clothes for their upcoming training.

Lin Yihong, ever the entrepreneur, spotted an opportunity with cheap digital watches. Using his savings, he bought a batch to resell at school for a profit. His sister, Lin Yining, followed suit, borrowing money to join in.

Their parents allowed it as a one-time lesson, warning them to focus on studies. The watches sold out quickly, doubling their savings. Though tempted to repeat the venture, they lacked the means—until their next trip to the special economic zone.

Time flew, and soon it was college entrance exam season. Lin Tiandong and Yan Jin took the test, freeing up their schedules afterward.

When summer arrived, the twins were sent to a military training camp—where they encountered an unusually cheerful Uncle Lin Tiandong.

Lin Yining, usually fond of her handsome uncle, felt an odd unease at his radiant smile.

Was this really him—or some imposter?