Chapter 87:

Yang Huili’s feelings upon learning this were undeniably complex.

Although she had never expected her younger daughter-in-law to be such a remarkable person—someone who practically shone—she couldn’t help but wonder: Were the two of them really a good match?

As for whether she minded that her daughter-in-law had been married before, of course, she did—just a little. In the village, it was common for divorced people to remarry other divorced people. If a never-married person married someone who had been divorced, it usually meant there was something wrong with the never-married one. Plus, since there were no children involved, being a stepmother or stepfather was never easy. Now that her son had finally found someone, Yang Huili didn’t object. If she had, given her youngest son’s temperament, he might have ended up a bachelor for life.

So she agreed. Aside from the fact that her daughter-in-law had been married before, the two of them seemed quite compatible. At least now she wouldn’t have to worry about her youngest son’s financial situation—both of them were capable earners.

The groom’s side had no objections, and neither did the bride’s. She was a career woman, and her family had long stopped interfering in Lu Anran’s decisions.

The two of them moved quickly. Since their parents didn’t oppose, they swiftly renovated their house and went to register their marriage.

The following year, they had a daughter, whom they both adored.

Yu Mansheng was a few years younger than Yu Xiang’an. By the time his child was born, Yu Xiang’an’s two children were already eleven. At this point, who cared whether the baby was a boy or a girl?

They hired a maternity nurse and a nanny. Since the new parents had no experience raising a child, they even brought Yang Huili over to help. After the confinement period, if they had to go out, they couldn’t bear to leave the baby entirely in the hands of outsiders. Having the grandmother around gave them peace of mind.

Yang Huili was more than happy to come and take care of the baby. She had been waiting for this day for a long time. With Yu Manchang’s family, she had already stepped back. Now, finally being able to help her “problem child” youngest son with his baby filled her with joy.

However, her presence also brought some issues.

The first thing she couldn’t stand was the wastefulness.

She was here to help take care of the baby, so why hadn’t they dismissed the nanny? She didn’t say anything about the expensive maternity nurse during the confinement period—after all, postpartum recovery was important, and if they wanted to spend money for peace of mind, so be it. But now that the confinement was over and the maternity nurse had left, wasn’t her presence enough? Why keep the nanny?

It made her extremely uncomfortable.

This was the kind of luxury only the old landlords used to indulge in.

She didn’t have to cook or clean—the only thing she needed to do was watch the baby. With both the nanny and her taking care of the child, it was easy. But the thought of spending so much money every month made Yang Huili’s heart ache.

Couldn’t she handle it alone?

Wouldn’t it be better to save that money for meat?

Why throw it away?

Besides that, the way they spent on food and drinks was also wasteful. The baby’s mother needed to breastfeed, so eating well was understandable. But instead of eating nutritious food, she was doing some kind of rehabilitation training. She barely touched the daily chicken, fish, or pork trotters. Her son ended up eating most of it—he gained weight, while his wife grew thinner. It was obvious from their figures who was consuming all the supplements.

If the mother wasn’t eating well, how could she produce enough milk?

Now that the baby wasn’t getting enough breast milk, they had to buy formula—a tiny can that cost a fortune.

Then there were the clothes. Her daughter-in-law had a walk-in closet filled with clothes, shoes, and bags. She kept buying new outfits and shoes, to the point where the closets were overflowing.

Why buy so many clothes? A few nice outfits were enough. Everyday wear didn’t need to be so extravagant. Besides, her body was still changing. Wouldn’t it be better to wait until her figure stabilized before buying more?

She didn’t feel comfortable bringing this up with her daughter-in-law, so she complained to Yu Mansheng instead.

Yu Mansheng replied, “Mom, this is how she’s always lived. When we got married, we both agreed to maintain our lifestyles, right? There’s no reason her life should become worse after marrying me. Otherwise, what was the point of getting married?”

Yang Huili argued, “It’s not the same! Before, she didn’t have a child. Whatever money she earned, she spent. But now she should be saving for the baby. Do you think raising a child is easy? Look at the imported formula you’re buying—how much does one can cost? Later, there’ll be school fees, dowries to prepare. If you have two more kids, think about how much you’ll need!”

Yu Mansheng said, “Mom, we’re both working hard to earn money. Don’t worry. Money isn’t saved by cutting back—it’s about increasing income, not just reducing expenses.”

This was a clash of spending habits. He had grown up poor, but after coming to the Special Economic Zone, he had learned to be more open-minded. People should live however they felt comfortable. Besides, when his wife bought clothes, she didn’t just buy for herself—she also bought gifts for him and his mother. The problem was, his mother treasured those clothes so much she never wore them, keeping them stored away while sticking to her old outfits.

“These clothes are too nice to wear casually. I’ll save them for special occasions, or they’ll get worn out too quickly.”

Yu Qingshan could relate to this. He, too, often felt that Yu Xiang’an spent too much without restraint.

At first, it gave him heart palpitations, but over time, he got used to it. No matter how much he complained, they kept doing things their way. The money was in their hands, and they were the ones earning it—what could he do?

Lu Anran had no intention of dismissing the nanny.

Aside from ensuring they could take turns and avoid exhaustion, there was another reason: Yang Huili’s cooking simply wasn’t good. She was frugal, so her dishes were bland—too little oil, too little salt. Even Yu Mansheng couldn’t stomach it anymore. After eating well outside for so long, his palate had become refined. An occasional meal for nostalgia’s sake was fine, but eating like that all the time was too dull and unsatisfying.

As for the clothes, Lu Anran knew Yang Huili disapproved. She understood that her mother-in-law’s frugal habits came from a lifetime of hardship. So while she continued buying what she liked, she stored the excess in another apartment she owned. Out of sight, out of mind—this way, she avoided unnecessary lectures.

Seeing how lively their lives had become, Yu Xiang’an found herself missing Lin Chuanbai and the children.

Before, both of them had been alone here. Now, she was still by herself, while Yu Mansheng’s family had grown to three.

Yu Mansheng laughed. “Xiao’an-jie, isn’t your husband coming soon? Once he’s here, you won’t have to envy me anymore.”

He was thoroughly satisfied with his current life—a mother, a wife, and a daughter. Perfect.

Yu Xiang’an sighed. “Before, when his transfer wasn’t confirmed, I didn’t think much about it. But now that it’s almost settled, I’m getting restless. I can’t wait.”

Yu Mansheng nodded. “That’s normal. It won’t be long now.”

Lin Chuanbai had accepted an invitation from Yangcheng University and joined their laboratory. He enjoyed the academic research environment.

Yu Xiangju and Yu Mingjie were thrilled. Though they weren’t attending the same university as Lin Chuanbai, it was close by.

Visiting would be much easier now.

Besides, though their universities weren’t top-tier, for ordinary people, their starting point was already high.

Once Lin Chuanbai moved, the twins would transfer to schools here. With university-affiliated primary and secondary schools, their education wouldn’t be a concern.

This was perfect. On weekends, Lin Chuanbai could drive or take the train to visit Yu Xiang’an. Both options were convenient.

Though the twins were reluctant to leave their friends, they missed their parents more. Here, if their mother was too busy to come back on weekends, they could visit her and their grandfather instead.

If the mountain won’t come to Muhammad, then Muhammad must go to the mountain.

If their father wasn’t too busy, they could reunite every weekend. How wonderful.

Lin Chuanbai was assigned university housing, but it was too small for the whole family.

Fortunately, Yu Xiang’an had already bought a house with three bedrooms. The exterior might look old, but the interior had been renovated.

Even if Yu Qingshan visited, there would be enough space. The twins could share a bunk bed if needed.

Normally, they each had their own room.

After transferring schools, the twins discovered an amusing coincidence—they ran into Wang Lijun’s younger brother, Wang Lipan, in their class.

Lin Yining had seen a photo of the three Wang siblings at Wang Lijun’s place. Since they all looked alike and were quite striking, she recognized him immediately when she saw him in class.

New transfer students were rare. When the teacher introduced them, Wang Lipan also recognized their names—his sister had mentioned them. What a small world.

Lin Yihong watched as his sister eagerly struck up a conversation with Wang Lipan during break and sighed inwardly.

His sister’s habit of being overly friendly was incurable.

Lin Yining asked Wang Lipan, “We’re going back this summer. Are you coming too? We could go together.”

Wang Lipan shook his head. “My sister’s place is too far. I’m not going.”

Lin Yining paused, then understood. Too far to visit, but not too far for training. Judging by his build, he definitely had a military background.

There was a military base nearby, and where there were troops, there were bound to be military families.

In that case, there was no need to travel all the way north.

Wang Lipan asked, “Did you just move here?”

Lin Yining nodded. “Yeah, my dad got transferred, so we came with him.”

Wang Lipan understood. He had also transferred schools before due to his parents’ work.

Wang Lipan’s deskmate, a chubby boy, watched their lively exchange and asked curiously, “Do you two know each other?”

Lin Yining grinned. “Nope, this is our first time meeting. But I know his sister.”

The boy nodded. “Ohhh. Hey, since you’re from the capital, can you tell us what it’s like? I want to go there when I grow up.”

Lin Yihong was also surrounded by classmates.

North and south—the capital’s prestige was undeniable. Most kids dreamed of visiting someday.

Suddenly having two new classmates from Beijing—rare twins who were good-looking, friendly, and not cliquish—everyone crowded around them excitedly.

They quickly settled into their new environment and made friends.

When Lin Chuanbai asked about their day and learned of this coincidence, he nodded, then took out a box of nougat Yu Xiang’an had made.

“Your mom made this. Take this box to share with your classmates, and this one for your teachers. Tell them it’s homemade—a little taste from your mom.”

Homemade treats wouldn’t raise any eyebrows or be seen as inappropriate.

Perfect.

After Lin Chuanbai arrived, Yu Xiang’an stayed with him for a week, doting on him.

They also observed how the twins adjusted to their new school. The nougat had been prepared in advance—they planned to have the kids bring snacks daily to help them make friends.

But it seemed unnecessary. Even without treats, the twins were making friends just fine.

Still, there were other things to worry about, like their extracurricular activities.

Lin Chuanbai and Yu Xiang’an never forced them to study anything specific. They could pursue whatever interested them and drop what didn’t. But they hoped the twins would find at least one hobby they loved and could stick with long-term.

Lin Yihong had previously chosen drawing, abacus, and soccer. He had tried music but was now obsessed with martial arts, inspired by movies and TV shows. He dreamed of becoming a hero.

They’d have to look for a local martial arts school.

Lin Yining had tried dancing, singing, erhu, and flute. She had sampled many classes, quitting some after just three sessions when she lost interest. Currently, she stuck with erhu and dance.

Finding classes for these would be easy.

Yu Xiang’an asked her, “Do you want to try something else?”

Kids her age hadn’t fully settled on their passions. There was still time to explore.

Lin Yining thought for a moment. “Movie actresses are so pretty. What else can I learn to make myself prettier? Besides dancing.”

Dancing improved posture and grace, but were there other options?

She admired beautiful people and wanted to become one herself.

She had danced for years and planned to continue.

“Want to switch instruments?” The erhu wasn’t bad, but…

Lin Yining shook her head. “Not now. I’m busy adjusting.” Making new friends took priority. Hobbies could wait.

They made their own decisions—Yu Xiang’an wouldn’t force them.

One wanted martial arts; the other, erhu and dance. That settled it.

Seeing his daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren reunited filled Yu Qingshan with joy.

At last, they were together. Long separations were risky. Now he didn’t have to worry.

Another benefit of Lin Chuanbai’s move was that Yu Xiangju and Yu Mingjie often hitched rides with him.

As students with fixed weekends, no financial pressures, school stipends, and family support, they had it easy.

The two of them still had a bit of a childlike nature, often taking the twins out whenever they had free time.

They were quite familiar with the area, but their outings with the twins mostly revolved around places like zoos and amusement parks. They avoided newer spots like video arcades or karaoke bars, fearing the twins might pick up bad habits.

After staying here for a while, the twins were having so much fun they didn’t want to leave.

At school, they played with new friends, and on weekends, they went out with their uncles and older brothers. Everything here felt fresh and exciting to them.

Lin Chuanbai and Yu Xiang’an didn’t always go out together for business, but with him around, they could discuss decisions more thoroughly, making their choices more well-rounded.

By now, Wuwei Restaurant had expanded to Yangcheng. They trained staff in the Special Economic Zone first, then sent them to the new locations to recruit and open branches. The Special Economic Zone served as their headquarters, gradually expanding outward.

After several years of reform and opening up, especially in areas near the Special Economic Zone, the changes were significant compared to inland regions. People’s lives had generally improved a lot.

With more disposable income, people naturally wanted to upgrade their lifestyles—better clothes, better food, better living conditions.

At the time, the concept of buying property wasn’t widespread yet; most still relied on work units for housing. Available homes were scarce, and for workers, the prices weren’t exactly affordable.

As for travel, the introduction letter system hadn’t completely disappeared, so people couldn’t just move around freely.

Food and clothing were the basics. With better conditions, it was only natural to dress better and eat better—especially under the one-child policy, where every child became the family’s treasure. If a child wanted something tasty, few parents could resist.

Yu Xiang’an was gradually shifting her focus back to the domestic market. With such a massive population and market potential, ignoring it would be foolish.

Production lines were running smoothly, and space wasn’t an issue—why not tap into this market?

After expanding production, capable veterans were promoted.

Chen Xiaoyang became a team leader, managing a small group. Her salary increased, and so did her monthly bonuses—now totaling fifty or sixty yuan.

As she contributed more to the household income, her influence at home grew.

Her mother used to make all the decisions, while her father remained silent, only working hard without voicing opinions. But now, her mother consulted her on everything.

The family’s savings mostly came from her earnings. Even her sister-in-law, who once looked down on her, now greeted her with smiles. The contrast was stark.

When she visited her village during holidays, she barely recognized her old friends. They looked years older, often with children in tow.

They were married, living with in-laws, working the fields, raising kids, and doing chores—all of it taking a toll.

Seeing them, Chen Xiaoyang sometimes shuddered. If she hadn’t gotten that job, she’d be just like them. The thought terrified her.

That kind of life had no future.

Occasionally, she urged her old friends to look for work outside the village. Opportunities were increasing—any job could bring in dozens of yuan a month.

Wasn’t that better than farming?

But they always had excuses:

“My child is too young; I can’t leave.”

“If I go, my husband and child will starve.”

“What if I get scammed?”

“I can’t just abandon the fields.”

Their resistance left her speechless. If they really wanted to leave, they’d find a way—but they seemed content in their comfort zones.

How could she convince them?

When she suggested they learn to read and do math, the pushback was even stronger.

“At this age? Go back to school?”

Chen Xiaoyang: “…”

On nights without overtime, she’d chat with coworkers in the cafeteria. Sometimes, people read newspapers or practiced writing. She’d join them, asking questions until she learned enough characters to get promoted.

She’d tasted the benefits of education.

Knowledge meant more money.

If her future children remained illiterate, who would hire them?

But schooling wasn’t free—tuition, books, and fees twice a year.

And college? The costs were daunting.

She wasn’t in a rush to marry, but she’d decided: no matter who she married, she wouldn’t give up working. She’d earn money to send her kids to school—all the way to university.

How valuable was education?

Their deputy factory director was a college graduate. Before university, he’d worked, gaining experience. When he joined, the factory assigned him a three-bedroom apartment—with the promise that after five years, it’d be his.

A place like that could be split into four or five rooms, housing three generations.

What an incentive!

Her heart raced when she heard. She wished she could’ve been in his shoes—but she wasn’t qualified.

Still, she had her own shot at a home. New rules this year stated:

Work at the factory or a store for fifteen years, earn two “excellent” ratings, stay diligent, and you could get an apartment—smallest being one bedroom, largest three.

Another path: three straight “excellent” ratings, sign a ten-year contract, and you’d get at least a two-bedroom.

The moment she learned this, she vowed to study harder, earn those ratings, and get that apartment!

Gu Nanfeng was just as motivated. He’d already earned one “excellent,” along with a hefty bonus.

Two more in the next two years seemed likely. Then, a contract signing, and the apartment would be his.

As general manager of Wuwei Restaurant in the Special Economic Zone, he oversaw operations there.

He knew where the factory’s housing would be—behind the factory, currently a bit remote. But once built and occupied, it wouldn’t be. The plans looked solid, with all necessities covered.

He was confident he’d be among the first residents.

When Yu Qingshan heard about the housing plan, he nearly had a heart attack.

“Do you know how much money you’re wasting? Building houses isn’t cheap! You could’ve rented them out—even if your kids were useless, they’d never starve!”

This was reckless!

Yu Xiang’an patiently explained: “Dad, don’t get worked up. This boosts loyalty. Loyal workers put in more effort. Most people hop jobs for better pay—do you see that here?”

Yu Qingshan stayed silent. No, nobody wanted to leave.

Their base pay was average, but bonuses were high—combined, it beat most jobs. The benefits were great, and now housing?

Not just assigned housing—ownership, to pass down.

If it were him, he wouldn’t leave either.

Yu Xiang’an laid out the math: “And with only a few ‘excellent’ ratings each year, their contributions easily outweigh the property’s value. The more they earn, the more they earn for me. I’m not losing out.”

As business boomed, competitors tried snooping for recipes.

Their packaged braised snacks were a hit—just tear open, steam, and serve. Convenient, tasty, and orders never stopped.

In stark contrast, some state-owned enterprises struggled.

Before, they controlled production. Shortages happened, but nothing went unsold.

Take meatpacking plants. Working there used to command respect—people begged for offal or bones.

Now? Private pig farming was allowed. Villagers raised pigs, traders bought and sold them at markets—no tickets, no connections, first-come-first-served.

This devastated their business.

Supply and marketing cooperatives fared even worse.

Ye Qijia had little to do. Customers preferred private stores—more variety, cheaper prices, better service. Who enjoyed being treated poorly?

Even she shopped there.

But what would happen long-term?

Her job was secure, but with so little work, transfers were likely.

Would her pay drop? Benefits shrink?

She thought of her uncle, Qin Fengmao. He’d retired from a state-run restaurant to start his own stall.

Now he lived large, in one of the nicest new homes around.

Should she and her husband consider alternatives?

The idea took root.

Soon, she decided to seek advice from her son, father-in-law, and sister-in-law—city folks with broader horizons.

Yu Xianghai: “…You’re sure? This job’s stable, rain or shine.”

Ye Qijia: “I’m not sure yet. That’s why I’m asking. You’ve seen how slow we are. A private store opened across from us—business is booming. Even I shop there. If this keeps up, how ‘stable’ are we really?”

Yu Xianghai’s hardware factory was doing fine. After a pause, he said, “Wait for me. I’ll arrange leave, and we’ll go together.”

Meanwhile, the Zhou household was gloomy.

Zhou Boyang and his father, Zhou Duosun, both worked at the meatpacking plant. Now, Zhou Duosun was being forced into early retirement.

Retirement came with a pension, but less than his current salary.

The family’s only grandson, Zhou Tianyou, shrugged. “Grandpa was retiring soon anyway. What’s the difference?”

Fang Rong lightly smacked him. “Less money means less for your college, your wedding—everything!”

Zhou Tianyou grinned. “Want money? Find another job. Like Mom and Grandma—they went south to earn.” He hugged her. “One more year, and I’ll get into college! Then you and Grandpa can live with me. No more work—just relax!”

Fang Rong beamed. “Such a filial boy! Don’t worry about money—just study hard!”

Not long after, Zhou Duosun and Zhou Boyang boarded a train south, bound for the Special Economic Zone to find Ding Minxiu and Zhao Qiangniang.

At the station, they crossed paths with Yu Qingshan, who was heading to Yangcheng.

Yu Qingshan’s clothes were neat, without patches—clearly doing well.

Zhou Duosun, in tattered clothes, and Zhou Boyang, not much better, hurried past, heads down.

Yu Xiang’an, behind her father, noticed his pause. “Dad, what’s wrong?”

Yu Qingshan smiled. “Nothing. Just saw someone I dislike. Looks like life’s treating him poorly—feels good.”