Zhao Qiaoniang was still unaware of Ding Minxiu’s current thoughts. She, too, was keeping an eye on Yu Xiangju’s movements, hoping to ask him for some money to ease her financial strain.
During the New Year, she hadn’t even had money to give her grandchildren red envelopes.
Now that she couldn’t find him, there was nothing she could do but wait. As for her daughter’s suggestion of going to the Special Economic Zone to look for him later, Zhao Qiaoniang thought it was impractical. The Special Economic Zone was vast, and even if they happened to find him there, it didn’t guarantee they could locate him every time in the future.
One thing was certain: Yu Xiangju wasn’t working in the Special Economic Zone anymore. He had been transferred, sent to another province.
Moreover, if they went, they’d be dealing with the entire Yu family. Finding Yu Xiangju alone might be manageable, but facing so many people, the two of them wouldn’t stand a chance.
Zhao Qiaoniang didn’t know Ding Minxiu’s true intentions, and Yu Xiangju knew even less.
After his transfer, he was free from those troubles. The previous sense of oppression had vanished, and he could now focus solely on his work.
Moreover, after working for a while and experiencing more, he had grown noticeably steadier.
Yu Xiangyan saw him and patted his shoulder. “You’ve matured. Is there a girl you like? If so, don’t miss your chance.”
Yu Xiangju flushed slightly. “Not yet.” He wasn’t in a hurry, but his colleagues were quite enthusiastic about it. As a university graduate, he was a hot commodity, and many in his workplace wanted to introduce their daughters, nieces, or other relatives to him.
But for now, he wasn’t thinking about settling down. He wanted to adjust for another year or two before considering it.
Yu Xiangju felt he wasn’t mature enough. He hadn’t even resolved the issue with Zhao Qiaoniang yet. If he got into a relationship and had children, his responsibilities would only grow heavier. He wasn’t confident he could handle it all.
Yu Xiangyan asked, “Any difficulties at work? If you run into trouble, don’t keep it to yourself. We might not have perfect solutions, but three heads are better than one. We can at least offer some insights.”
Yu Xianghai nodded in agreement. “Exactly. We’re all older than you and have been working longer. If you face any problems, don’t shoulder them alone.”
Yu Xiangju’s eyes curved into a smile. “I know. My colleagues are all very kind to me.” His expression showed genuine warmth, not a hint of pretense.
Ye Qijia chimed in, “If you’re not facing any problems, then it’s about time you started looking for a partner. Don’t drag it out too long. Years pass quickly, and youth is limited.”
Yu Xiangju felt a bit embarrassed. His sister-in-law’s words sounded like something you’d say to a young woman.
Yu Xianghai asked, “Is there any chance you’ll be transferred back?”
Yu Xiangqing perked up at this. She was more concerned about this point—her younger brother was alone there, with no relatives to support him.
It was too lonely.
Yu Xiangju shook his head. “I haven’t been there long. A transfer won’t happen so soon.”
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to be closer to home, but proximity would bring trouble. If Zhao Qiaoniang and Ding Minxiu came looking for him to cause a scene, he’d be at a disadvantage. They could afford to lose face—it wouldn’t affect them—but as a public servant, such scandals were a serious taboo.
If he didn’t handle it well, it would damage not only his reputation but also his family’s.
He didn’t want to drag others into this.
When Zhao Qiaoniang and his father separated, Yu Xiangju was old enough to remember. He knew she had genuinely cared for him as a child—always giving him the best portions of food. He still remembered how, whenever meat was bought, she’d secretly slip him a piece while cooking.
When he was sick, she’d stay by his side.
That affection had faded over time, but it had once existed, and he couldn’t simply erase it.
Yu Xiangju also knew that Zhao Qiaoniang had treated him well back then because she wanted him to support her in old age. Still, she had never harmed him.
The Yu family didn’t owe her anything—she owed them, especially his fifth sister. But personally, he had received her care.
If Ding Minxiu refused to support her in the future, he wouldn’t stand by and do nothing.
His conscience wouldn’t allow it. Over the years, he’d come to understand Ding Minxiu well. If Zhao Qiaoniang lost her ability to earn money and had to rely on Ding Minxiu, Yu Xiangju doubted she’d take good care of her.
Some heartless people might even abandon an elderly parent to beg on the streets. Yu Xiangju pessimistically thought that such a scenario wasn’t far-fetched.
Ding Minxiu was selfish.
That had been clear ever since she got involved with Zhou Boyang.
She was shameless, too.
And she had a silver tongue.
Otherwise, Zhao Qiaoniang wouldn’t have gradually shifted her affections toward her, even going so far as to take things from his fifth sister to give to her grandson.
Of course, Zhao Qiaoniang was also at fault—she was foolish.
Yu Xiangju suspected it was because the grandson was male. She had an obsession with sons—she didn’t have one, but her daughter did.
The more time she spent with her blood-related grandson, the more her heart shifted away from him.
Now, as she aged year by year, she was nearing the point where she could no longer work.
Yu Xiangju believed Ding Minxiu would try to make him shoulder some of the responsibility.
Back then, part of Zhao Qiaoniang’s income as a temporary worker had indeed been spent on him.
But only on him.
He couldn’t return.
If he did, the old troubles would resurface. Yu Xiangju didn’t want to involve his family, especially his fifth sister.
She had suffered the most back then.
Staying far away, where they couldn’t find him, was the best solution. If necessary, sending money would suffice.
Yu Xiang’an had almost forgotten about these two until Yu Xiangqing brought it up, reminding her why Yu Xiangju had left in the first place. She frowned—she didn’t want to deal with this. Yu Xiangju was soft-hearted but had his limits. She changed the subject: “When is Mingjie’s wedding?”
At this, Yu Xianghai and Ye Qijia perked up. “We consulted the almanac. The 16th of the first lunar month is auspicious, but it’s too rushed. The next good dates are in March or June. We’d prefer to hold it in the first month. We’ve been preparing for this—everything’s ready.”
Yu Mingjie disagreed. “The first month is too sudden. We haven’t finalized anything yet.” Less than a month away was too soon.
Ye Qijia wasn’t disappointed. “Then set a date for both families to discuss. We can’t delay any longer.” She knew the first month was unlikely and leaned toward March.
“Both families meeting? Sure, I’ll ask Yuhong and arrange a time.” Yu Mingjie also wanted to move things along, so he quickly made a call. When he returned, he asked, “How about the sixth day of the new year? We’ll go to Yangcheng, pick a place, and have both families meet to discuss the details.” He grinned foolishly.
Yu Xianghai laughed heartily. “The sixth? No problem! We’ll go then!”
Yu Qingshan smiled too. The next generation was starting families—establishing careers, and soon, there’d be another generation calling him great-grandfather. If he lived long enough, he might even see five generations under one roof.
Yu Xiang’an was also curious. “Has the bride’s family made any requests? Dowry, bride price, things like that?”
Yu Mingjie scratched his head sheepishly. “The power plant has already assigned us housing. We can combine our allocations for a three-bedroom. As for furniture, my salary can cover it.”
Ye Qijia waved her hand. “Don’t worry about the TV, stereo, or other appliances. Your father and I will handle that.” She felt financially secure—these weren’t issues.
Naturally, everything that should be provided would be. With money on hand, their son’s wedding was a major event—they’d spare no effort.
Yu Xiangqing asked, “Mingjie, you’ve met Yuhong’s parents. Are they easy to get along with?”
Yu Mingjie grinned. “Aunt, they’re very kind. They didn’t make any demands—just said I should treat her well.”
Ye Qijia nodded. “That’s only right. If you ever mistreat her, her parents won’t be the only ones upset—we won’t stand for it either.”
…
On New Year’s Eve, they didn’t eat out or hire help. Instead, everyone contributed—each making one or two signature dishes. Even the teenagers weren’t idle, helping wrap dumplings.
Dumplings weren’t a local New Year’s tradition, but the kids wanted them, so they made them—using fine white flour. Given the crowd, they needed a lot.
Seeing the pile of flour, Yu Qingshan felt a pang of nostalgia.
Now, every meal was white rice or flour—no mixed grains, no coarse meals.
In the past, they struggled to fill their stomachs. Now, they ate until they were full, and meat was no longer a luxury.
If someone had told him ten years ago that he’d live like this, he’d have thought it a joke. Yet here it was—reality.
Life had improved so much. Many goods no longer required ration coupons, and food and meat were market-regulated.
Prices were higher, but shortages were a thing of the past. No more midnight queues outside grocery stores.
This was the power of reform—good policies that gave people hope.
The twins were also making dumplings. Lin Yihong was quick and precise—his dumplings never split or varied in size. Lin Yining, on the other hand, struggled. Hers looked decent but often burst open in the pot.
Yu Xiyi couldn’t take it anymore and told her to roll dough instead. Lin Yining obeyed—she knew her dumplings weren’t up to par.
Yu Xiyi glanced at Lin Yihong, then at Lin Yining. They were twins, and though Lin Yihong was the older brother, he was far better in the kitchen. Usually, girls had the advantage here, and their aunt was an excellent cook—yet neither twin had inherited her talent.
Lin Yihong urged, “Hurry up. After this batch, there’s still beef filling to wrap.”
Yu Xiangqing brought out a plate of fish filling from the kitchen. “Besides beef, there’s also fish filling. No slacking—pick up the pace.”
She surveyed the teenagers. With so many hands, the dumplings would be done soon.
As night fell, the feast was ready. The kids bathed, changed into new clothes, and gathered around the tables—two of them, to accommodate everyone.
When Yu Xiangqing saw the spread, she was stunned. Helping in the kitchen hadn’t prepared her for the sight of all the dishes laid out.
Aside from dumplings, there was lobster, squid, beef, lamb, and even rare treats like donkey and venison.
Yu Qingshan served the braised pork in front of him—fat and lean—but the kids all asked for lean meat. They preferred it.
Yu Xianghai shook his head. “These days, with plenty to eat, kids get picky.” Back in his day, meat was a luxury—fat was prized for its richness. Now, times had changed.
Ye Qijia agreed. “Nowadays, fatty cuts are often left at the market.” In the past, they sold out first.
Yu Mingjie, who’d known hardship, wasn’t picky—he loved all meat, fatty or lean.
The younger ones had never experienced true scarcity.
Yu Xiangyan said, “This is a sign of our country’s progress—that children can afford to be choosy. We should be happy.”
Yes, they should.
Yu Xiangqing stroked Yan Ming’s hair. The boy also preferred lean meat—it was tastier.
The hardships they’d endured, their children would never know.
Especially now, with the one-child policy.
With only one child per family, each was treasured—no more neglect. The best of everything went to them.
Yu Qingshan poured himself a cup of rice wine—mild and sweet, suitable even for non-drinkers.
Looking around at his full house, he felt a pang of nostalgia. When was the last time they’d all been together like this?
Aside from funerals, it had been years—back when they were still sent-down youth.
Now, decades had passed.
Since they’d seized the opportunity of the resumed college entrance exams and gone to university, family reunions had become rare. His youngest daughter was nearby, but his second son was in the capital—he’d return after the second day of the new year.
The third daughter’s in-laws don’t live nearby. Although it’s not extremely far, it’s not exactly close either, and it’s inconvenient for her to frequently visit her parents’ home.
As for the youngest son, he also has a job, so he set off one day later than the second son.
By the end of the meal, everyone was stuffed to the brim.
After finishing the meal, Yu Xiang’an said, “We’ll head to the photo studio early tomorrow morning to take a family reunion photo.”
For this reunion photo, they specifically arranged for the photographer to work on the first day of the Lunar New Year for them. Naturally, a generous red envelope would be given as a token of appreciation.
The mention of going to the photo studio the next day excited the children, who began thinking about what clothes to wear.
Then came the much-anticipated moment for the kids—the distribution of red envelopes (lucky money).
Yu Qingshan, being the eldest in the family, first went into a room and came out with a thick stack of red envelopes.
The moment the children saw the red envelopes, they swarmed over.
“Grandpa, Happy New Year! May you stay forever young!”
“May every year be as joyful as today!”
“May there be abundance every year! Happy New Year, and good health!”
“New Year’s joy, always smiling, and may everything go your way!”
A stream of well-wishes poured out, each one unique.
Yu Xianghai, seeing this, turned to Yu Xiang’an and said, “No wonder people send their kids to school. Back in our day, we couldn’t come up with so many different blessings.”
Yu Qingshan smiled warmly. “I also wish you all progress in your studies, good health, and smooth work in the new year!”
The “smooth work” part was clearly directed at Yu Mingjie, as he was the only one among the grandchildren who had started working.
Now that their income had improved, Yu Qingshan was more generous with the red envelopes, giving each grandchild, regardless of gender, ten yuan.
Ten yuan was no small amount—many people with stable jobs only earned a few dozen yuan a month. The twins were delighted with their lucky money. Starting this year, because they were in middle school, their parents no longer confiscated their red envelopes. However, they still had to show them to their parents first, as the money they received would also need to be reciprocated when giving red envelopes to other children. Additionally, their parents warned them not to spend recklessly—if they did, the money would still be confiscated, and they would lose control over it. For larger expenses, they had to report them first.
Reporting wasn’t a problem for them.
After Yu Qingshan handed out red envelopes to all the children, Yu Xianghai also gave each child ten yuan. They were financially comfortable now.
With all the children combined, that amounted to ninety yuan. Yu Xiangju, who wasn’t married yet, also received a red envelope, making it ten people in total—a hundred yuan.
Most people could afford this.
Yu Xiangyan also gave each child ten yuan. The kids weren’t allowed to open the red envelopes on the spot to check the amount, but they were still thrilled to receive them. No matter how much was inside, it was still a gain.
When it was Yu Xiangqing’s turn, she jokingly complained, “You all either have three or two kids, but I’m at a disadvantage with just one. Ah, I should’ve had another one back then.”
Given that she was giving the same amount per child, having only one did put her at a disadvantage. Yu Xianghai teased her, “Well, you should’ve had kids earlier. In a couple of years, you’ll also have to give red envelopes to your nephews’ kids. By the time your Yan Ming has a child to receive red envelopes, I’ll have been collecting for years.”
Yu Xiangqing clutched her chest dramatically. “Big brother, why did you have to remind me? Now I’ll keep thinking about it.”
Yu Xiang’an laughed and pulled out red envelopes. “Then I’ll give you double to make up for it.”
Everyone knew Yu Xiang’an was well-off, so her red envelopes were naturally larger—fifty yuan each.
The children rushed back to their rooms to open the envelopes and were overjoyed—until the adults promptly confiscated the money, using the same old excuses.
“Mom will keep it safe for you. You might lose it.”
“Ask me when you need it.”
But when they actually asked, the money was often long gone.
“Your school fees, meals, and stationery costs already add up. Want money? Forget it.”
This year, Lin Yihong and Lin Yining were allowed to keep their red envelopes, instantly making them the richest among the kids.
Yu Xiyi was envious. Though she was older, her parents still strictly controlled her spending. Unlike the twins, her parents showed no signs of loosening up. Lin Yining understood why. “Sister Xiyi, you’re so pretty. Uncle and Aunt must be worried some bad guy might take advantage of you.”
Yu Mingyao burst out laughing, while Yu Xiyi blushed and playfully pinched Lin Yining. “What nonsense are you saying?”
Lin Yining dodged. “It’s true! If I were them, I wouldn’t be at ease either.”
Yu Xiyi looked more and more like her uncle, Wen Yizhen, and was even more beautiful than Wen Ruzhen. It was only natural for her parents to be protective.
Lin Yining sighed wistfully. “If I were a boy, I’d want to marry someone like you in the future.”
Yu Xiyi’s face turned even redder. “Alright, enough already.”
Lin Yihong nodded in agreement. “I also think Sister Xiyi is great.”
Lin Yining turned sharply. “You don’t mean anything else by that, do you?” Like implying she wasn’t as good.
Lin Yihong: “Don’t overthink it…”
The adults stayed up late, some watching the Spring Festival Gala, while the children who couldn’t stay awake went to bed early, waking up refreshed the next morning.
The first day of the Lunar New Year was for visiting relatives. Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai also went out to pay New Year’s visits, though they had fewer places to go. More people came to their home instead, staying briefly and leaving small gifts.
With so many children in the house now, they were all prepared to receive red envelopes. Yu Mingfeng and Yu Mingyao received more than usual, and the amounts were generous—always in whole yuan, never just small change.
Yu Xiang’an told them to accept it without worry, as she would reciprocate with similar amounts. It was all part of the customary exchange.
Seeing the steady stream of visitors, Yu Xiangyan, who was experiencing this for the first time, gave Yu Xiang’an a thumbs-up. “Little sister, you’re really something.”
Yu Xiang’an grinned. “Well, if I weren’t, all these years of hard work would’ve been for nothing…”
The next day, they went to the photo studio.
Wen Ruzhen was fascinated by the variety of costumes available. No woman, regardless of age, could resist beautiful clothes.
Yu Qingshan, already experienced, led his sons to the armor section. “I tried this armor last time.” He patted Yu Xianghai. “Want to give it a try? I remember you liked it too.”
Yu Xianghai was tempted. “Dad, I saw your photo in the armor—you looked majestic.”
“Come on, let’s all try.”
When Yu Xiang’an saw Wen Ruzhen and Yu Xiyi step out in their new outfits, standing side by side, they looked more like sisters than mother and daughter. Yu Xiangyan couldn’t stop grinning.
Yu Qingshan also smiled warmly and patted Yu Xiangyan’s shoulder. “In a few years, you’ll have your hands full picking a son-in-law.”
At this, Yu Xiangyan’s face fell. “Dad, what are you talking about? She’s still young. There’s no rush for marriage.”
Yu Qingshan chuckled. “Just wait—you’ll be anxious when the time comes. But you’ll understand then.”
Being a father wasn’t easy. When daughters were young, you worried they’d be led astray. But if they stayed single too long, you feared they’d grow resentful.
Yu Xianghai, who also had a daughter growing up, felt a pang of worry.
Finding a son-in-law? No rush. Let Mingyao focus on her studies, go to university, and start working first. By then, he’d prepare a generous dowry and make sure her brothers stood by her, so no one would dare mistreat her, no matter where she married.
The photographer’s skills were professional, making everyone look even better.
Later, Yu Qingshan was particularly pleased with the reunion photo taken by the seaside. He planned to enlarge it and create a photo wall at home—something he’d seen in movies and liked. It would be nice to see family photos as soon as you walked in.
By the sixth day of the New Year, Yu Qingshan went with Yu Xianghai to Guangzhou to meet the in-laws. Yu Xiang’an didn’t join, but Lin Chuanbai did. Upon returning, he said, “They seem cultured and reasonable, not making excessive demands. Their requests were all for the couple’s future. They seem like good people.”
Yu Xiang’an smiled. “That’s good.” She’d be satisfied if her own future in-laws were like that—no need for wealth or status, just good-hearted people who treated their children well.
Lin Chuanbai added, “The wedding date is officially set for March.”
Yu Xiangyan and Yu Xiangqing had already returned, but the children stayed behind, planning to go back closer to the start of the school term. With winter break not yet over, they weren’t eager to leave, especially since they wanted to continue their extracurricular classes.
…
With the New Year came 1988.
One major event this year was the government’s decision to allow the free trading of treasury bonds. Yu Xiang’an had been closely following news and policies, knowing how crucial they were.
Though she and Lin Chuanbai were from the future, there was much they didn’t know. Due to this being a parallel timeline, some historical details differed from what they remembered. They relied on hearsay from elders or historical accounts.
Not paying attention meant missing opportunities.
Previously, treasury bonds couldn’t be traded. But now, with the market opening up, things were different.
Banks bought bonds, though it was unclear where they sourced them or how prices were adjusted locally. This created price discrepancies.
Some state-owned enterprises were assigned quotas, forcing employees to buy bonds they couldn’t resell—effectively turning them into worthless paper.
If someone was willing to buy, people were eager to sell for real cash.
Many made their fortunes by trading bonds.
Since prices varied by region and information was scarce, those in the know could buy low in one place and sell high in another.
For example, in Place A, banks sold bonds at 92% of face value, but in Place B, they bought them back at 102%. Buying a 100-yuan bond for 92 yuan in A and selling it for 102 yuan in B meant a 10-yuan profit.
With enough capital, 920 yuan could yield 100, and 9,200 could bring in 1,000.
In rural areas with even less information, bonds sometimes sold for 80% or even 70% of face value.
Yu Xiang’an shared this with Yu Xianghai and Yu Xiangyan. If they made a side trip during business travels, it was pure profit.
When Yu Xiangqing learned about this from her younger sister, she immediately pooled all their savings and sent Yan Peng to buy bonds. Since he often traveled to rural areas for work, he could bring back bonds—sometimes a few hundred yuan’s worth, other times over a thousand.
At a time when pork cost just over one yuan per jin and Yan Peng’s monthly salary was 70-80 yuan, a single trip could earn him several months’ wages!
After tasting success twice, Yu Xiangqing urged Yan Peng, “Borrow money from your colleagues, and I’ll borrow from mine. Opportunities like this don’t come often. We can’t miss out!”
Both of them lived on fixed salaries—comfortable but not wealthy.
Their visit to the Special Economic Zone during the New Year had been eye-opening.
There were so many rich people there, all thanks to national policies encouraging some to prosper first.
Now, riding this wave, they could earn more—just as Yu Xiang’an had said.
Their current home was fine for now, but what about when Yan Ming grew up and married?
By saving now, they could secure a better home. The rest would fall into place.
Yan Peng understood this too. Remembering how he’d once encountered bonds selling at 85% but lacked the funds to buy more, he steeled himself. “Alright! I’ll borrow from my colleagues!”
Missing this chance would be something he’d regret.
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