Chapter 39:

Lin Duzhong didn’t notice anything unusual about them. “You’re back just in time. Give the medicine to this comrade here.”

Lin Chuanbai silently walked over and handed the medicine to Gao Yimei. She took it with one hand and handed over the payment with the other. “Thank you, Dr. Lin.”

On the surface, everything seemed the same as before, but both of them knew—each other’s identities had been confirmed.

He had just called Dr. Lin “Grandpa,” which meant he was his grandson, and his family was here. Meanwhile, Lin Chuanbai now knew Gao Yimei was from the textile factory. By asking Yu Xiang’an, who had accompanied her, he could easily find out more.

As soon as they stepped outside, Yu Xiang’an immediately asked Gao Yimei, “Do you know who that person who just came in was?”

Gao Yimei: “I do. He’s Dr. Lin’s second grandson, Lin Chuanbai. His father joined the military. He works at the county hospital, so getting medicine is convenient for him. Why do you ask?”

“I’ve never seen him before.”

Gao Yimei suddenly remembered. “Oh, right. The last few times I came alone, you weren’t with me, so you missed him. He seems decent, doesn’t he? Though he doesn’t look very lively, he’s quite tall. I think he’s around your age and still single.”

She had considered him before—a fair-skinned young man. Though not particularly striking in appearance, his family background wasn’t bad. Unfortunately, she was several years older, so the chances were slim.

Yu Xiang’an: “…”

“Not very lively”? In this era, that was a euphemism for average looks.

The beauty standards back then favored men with thick eyebrows, big eyes, and well-proportioned, robust features. Someone like Lin Chuanbai, who resembled the “pretty boys” of later generations, wasn’t particularly admired.

Many looks that would later make fans swoon were met with prejudice at this time.

But Yu Xiang’an didn’t comment. It was just a difference in aesthetic preferences shaped by the era—nothing worth debating.

As for being interested in him?

She shook her head and quickly clarified, “No, don’t overthink it. I was just curious since I’ve never seen him before despite coming here a few times. I won’t be considering personal matters anytime soon.”

Hearing this, Gao Yimei recalled the gossip she’d heard and gave Yu Xiang’an a sympathetic look. Both of them seemed to have bad luck when it came to marriage.

Though fewer people talked about it now, if a potential suitor inquired, they’d definitely find out.

It would take some effort to overcome that.

After they left, Lin Chuanbai also asked Lin Duzhong about them. “That unfamiliar face—was she here for treatment too?”

“No, she was accompanying her friend.”

“Do you know them? Are they both from the textile factory?”

Lin Duzhong thought for a moment. “No, I think she mentioned her friend was from the food factory. Her name was Xiao An.”

He recalled Gao Yimei once asking her to help buy canned fruit and other things.

“Why? The girl’s quite pretty. Thinking about courtship? Want Grandpa to introduce you?” He teased, though he didn’t hold much hope.

His grandson was still far from being interested in romance.

Sure enough, Lin Chuanbai refused. “No, I just thought she looked familiar, like I’d seen her somewhere. If what you say is true, then I must’ve mistaken her for someone else. I’ve never been to the food factory.”

“Maybe you saw her at the hospital. She brought her sister-in-law to see me before. They’ve both been to the hospital—her sister-in-law was the one I mentioned who was pregnant with twins.”

Lin Chuanbai nodded. If she’d been to the hospital, that made things easier. He could inquire later—twins weren’t common.

Yu Xiang’an also planned to gather more information. She didn’t need to know every detail, but a general understanding of his character would suffice.

On a broader level, his integrity wasn’t in question—if it had been, he wouldn’t have rushed to save someone back then. But what about the smaller details?

Often, it was the little things that mattered most.

TV dramas weren’t short on protagonists who, after crossing into another world, acted like they owned the place.

Of course, dramas were dramatized—protagonists effortlessly exuded dominance and rose to the top. But in reality, standing out too much only made people wary.

Yu Xiang’an and Gao Yimei proceeded to the textile factory as usual. Figuring out Lin Chuanbai could wait—there’d be plenty of time later. For now, they focused on seeing if they could snag some discounted fabric.

If successful, she wouldn’t have to worry about cloth shortages for a while.

Ideally, she wanted to buy a new bedsheet—a thick one for winter.

Her current sheet wasn’t unusable—it was a gift from her grandmother when she moved into her new place and still quite new—but it was meant for summer. Every time she got into bed now, it took forever to warm up.

She knew the discounted fabric was reserved for internal staff, and even then, only those with certain positions.

Her purchase would be using Gao Yimei’s quota, so she had to be mindful. At the same time, she’d remember this favor.

This was Yu Xiang’an’s first time visiting the textile factory. Most workers weren’t around at this hour, but the production workshops were still operating—shifts were running nonstop.

With the New Year approaching, orders were at their peak, and some still needed to be completed.

Gao Yimei spoke with pride—the more orders they fulfilled, the higher their bonuses and benefits.

In this regard, the textile factory still lagged slightly behind the food factory.

Since Gao Yimei wanted to do her this favor, she wasn’t about to back out halfway.

When they arrived at their destination and Gao Yimei spotted a small piece of tangerine-colored fabric, she reluctantly gave it up.

She loved it, but she had to consider her budget.

After repeatedly insisting she didn’t want it, Yu Xiang’an took it.

The color was gorgeous—it’d make a beautiful dress.

She mentally noted to share some of the brown sugar she’d bought with Gao Yimei later.

She could use it now.

After buying the fabric, Yu Xiang’an began asking around, but information about Lin Chuanbai was scarce.

He rarely returned here—maybe once a year at most. He and his grandfather had lived in the city before. After graduating high school and his grandfather’s retirement, they’d moved back permanently. He’d taken an exam to work at the county hospital.

He was quiet but skilled, never late or leaving early.

Seemed like a cautious person.

Moving from the city—where he knew many people—to here helped avoid many issues.

Lin Chuanbai asked the doctor who had treated Ye Qijia and quickly learned Yu Xiang’an’s name. From there, a flood of information followed.

All he had to do was mention her to the local gossips, and they’d fill in the rest.

The details they provided were surprisingly thorough—enough to startle him.

But… he casually remarked, “She seems much more decisive now compared to before. Quite a change.”

The person shrugged. “What’s the big deal? After what she went through, some changes are natural.”

If there were any differences, there was a ready-made explanation.

Lin Chuanbai nodded thoughtfully.

Both sides now felt the other’s approach was fairly reliable.

*

Yu Xiang’an handed the fabric to Yao Cuifen, asking her to make a dress. That evening, Yu Xiangqing returned—she had a 15-day break.

When she arrived, Zhao Qiaoniang was still working a few more days as a temporary laborer at the factory. The housework wasn’t entirely done, but most of the cleaning was finished. Her and Yu Xiangyan’s bedding had been aired out, carrying the scent of sunlight.

After returning, Yu Xiangqing collapsed onto the bed and didn’t get up until noon the next day—fully recharged.

She was exhausted and had missed home terribly. In the days before her return, she’d been too excited to sleep. On the train, it was too crowded and noisy to rest properly. Now that she was finally back, she could relax—hence the long lie-in.

At midday, only Yu Xiangju was home. She dragged him along to visit their grandmother.

Yao Cuifen held her hand tightly, unwilling to let go.

Her granddaughter had gone to the countryside, living a hard life out of her sight. Just look at her hands—so much rougher than before. And her skin—so much darker. Without even asking, it was clear how tough things had been.

Not to mention what had happened with Liang Yong. Yao Cuifen avoided mentioning him to spare her granddaughter’s feelings, only asking if she’d been eating well, living well.

Yu Xiangqing didn’t want to worry her and only shared the good.

“The family I board with is wonderful. Grandma Chen is very kind and has helped me a lot. I tutor her grandchildren, and they respect me. The men in their family—Grandma Chen only has one son, a soldier stationed far away. He rarely returns, but he sends his allowances home, so they live comfortably. The locals are quite friendly too.”

“I’ve submitted articles to newspapers, though none have responded yet. I’ll keep trying.”

“I’ve made friends. Most of the educated youth get along with me. They come from all over—some from places as far as Big Cousin’s, spanning half the country. Going home is such a hassle that they rarely do. Talking to them, I’ve learned so much.”

Going home wasn’t just a matter of time—train tickets were expensive. After years of hard work, a single ticket could empty one’s savings. Then, after just a couple of days, they’d have to rush back. It was too costly and exhausting.

At times like these, she was grateful her home wasn’t far—less than a day’s trip, saving so much trouble.

“Oh, Grandma, I remember Xiao An said you liked the glutinous rice from there. I brought some back—freshly harvested this year. It’s very fragrant.”

Yu Xiangqing was deeply attached to Yao Cuifen. She couldn’t see Zhao Qiaoniang as her real mother—Qin Fenglan had passed when she was already in her teens, old enough to remember.

Apart from the still-young Yu Xiangju, none of them could truly accept her as their mother. After their mother’s death, Yao Cuifen had often filled that role.

If she had to rank her attachments, her grandmother came first. When she wasn’t around, she managed fine—but the moment she saw her, she just wanted to cling to her.

“Glutinous rice? Yes, Xiao An brought some before. I thought it tasted better than the local kind. Do you have enough for yourself? Keep it. At my age, I’ve eaten everything.”

“I have some. The team allocated it to me. There’s still a bit left there.” She sounded slightly guilty.

Some of the rice had been bought from others, not just given by the team.

Yao Cuifen saw right through her and patted her hand. “Good, I know you’re filial. Xiao An bought some fabric earlier. I’ve finished her dress—take it back for her to try on. If it doesn’t fit, I’ll adjust it.”

Yu Xiangqing examined it. “Xiao An’s sewing skills… I doubt they’ll ever improve. She just doesn’t have the knack. It’s strange—her hands aren’t clumsy. Her cooking is amazing.” She shook out the dress. “Should be fine.”

The fabric wasn’t particularly striking—plain blue. A floral print would’ve suited their age better.

She packed it away, and Yao Cuifen pulled out another garment. “I made this for you. Try it on. Xiao An has a job—she buys her own fabric. Things are harder for you now, so Grandma bought this for you. You’re not much older than Xiao An—you should dress smartly too.”

Yu Xiangqing’s throat tightened. She blinked rapidly, refusing to let tears fall. “Grandma…”

“Don’t give up. We’ll all help you figure things out. Put this on, freshen up, and I’ll introduce you to someone.”

Yu Xiangqing: “……!!!”

A matchmaking introduction?

No, no, no.

Her tears retreated. She forced a dry laugh. “Grandma, I’m in no hurry.”

Yao Cuifen: “You’re not young anymore. If you find someone whose family has extra job openings, you could come back. Then we’d all be together again. Wouldn’t that be nice? Your sister was gone so soon after going to the countryside. Girls aren’t like boys—you don’t know how worried I’ve been. With your mother gone, I have to watch over you all for her.”

Yu Xiangqing couldn’t bring herself to refuse.

Yao Cuifen firmly took her hand. “Listen to Grandma on this! Come with me—let my old friends see you.”

Yu Xiangqing: “…”

Before she could even properly catch up with her family, her grandmother dragged her around for matchmaking.

Yu Qingshan didn’t object at all when he found out. Instead, he quietly produced a piece of yellow fabric, suggesting she wear something brighter.

Most fabrics at the time were black, blue, or gray—vibrant colors were considered premium.

No one knew where Yu Qingshan had gotten it.

Yao Cuifen was pleased with the cloth.

She wasn’t in a rush. During the day, she continued taking Yu Xiangqing around, and in her free time, she taught her how to sew.

Neither of the sisters was particularly skilled at sewing, though Yu Xiangqing was slightly better.

But with effort, she could still improve.

Yu Xiang’an deeply sympathized with her sister’s plight. With only a few days off, finding someone reliable and compatible in that time would be tough.

When Yu Xiangqing was in dire straits, Yu Xiangyan and his group returned.

Since Yu Xiangyan and the others hadn’t written back to say which train they’d be taking, no one knew they were back until they arrived at the doorstep. Yu Xiangyan strode in, dusty and travel-worn, his white teeth flashing in a bright, unrestrained grin. “Dad, I’m back!”

They were in the middle of dinner when they saw them return, immediately standing up in pleasant surprise. Yu Qingshan set down his bowl and chopsticks and stepped forward. “You’re back!”

Yu Xiangyan nodded. “Dad, Aunt Qiao, Manchang, Xiaoqing, Xiao’an, Xiaoju—I’m back.”

Yu Qingshan looked at his height and nodded approvingly. “Good, good.”

Yu Xiangyan pulled Wen Ruzhen forward to serve tea to Yu Qingshan. “Dad, I’ve brought your daughter-in-law home. This is my brother-in-law, Yi Zhen.”

Wen Ruzhen was nervous inside but remained composed on the surface, smiling as she handed over the tea. “Dad.”

Wen Yizhen also greeted, “Uncle.”

Yu Qingshan accepted the tea with both hands, then went inside and came back with a red envelope wrapped in red paper. “Good, good kids. Come, sit down and eat. You must be hungry. Go make a couple more dishes. Manchang, run an errand for me—go tell your brother that his younger brother is back and to come over for a chat.” His attitude remained unchanged, and Wen Ruzhen relaxed slightly.

Yu Qingshan then turned to Yu Xiangyan. “Why didn’t you let me know in advance you were coming? I’ve been waiting for your letter, wondering if you were delayed on the way.”

Yu Xiangyan sat down. “I didn’t send a letter. It’s fine—with the three of us, what could go wrong? We didn’t have much luggage either, so I figured it’d be faster to just come back. Otherwise, I might’ve arrived before the letter even got here.”

Yu Xiang’an brought out two bowls of soup, placing them in front of her sister-in-law and her brother. “I made bone broth today with some pepper. Does it suit your taste?”

Wen Ruzhen thanked her. “It’s perfect.” On a cold day, a bowl of this soup warmed her right up.

Yu Xiang’an took a closer look at her sister-in-law.

She was a striking beauty, carrying herself with grace even in old clothes.

Her brother was the same—like a handsome youth straight out of a comic book, effortlessly drawing attention just by standing there.

Their family’s genes were truly exceptional. The only thing was, they looked too thin, especially when sitting next to Yu Xiangyan—the contrast was stark.

Yu Xiang’an soon returned to the kitchen and poured a bowl of soup for Yu Xiangyan as well.

Zhao Qiaoniang and Yu Xiangqing busied themselves in the kitchen, preparing extra dishes and cooking some sweet potato noodles.

At this point, cooking a full meal would take too long.

The three of them were starving. The soup had plenty of radish, and they devoured it before stopping.

“How long was your train ride?”

Yu Xiangyan sighed. “Bad luck this time. Something happened along the way, and we were stuck at one station for over two hours. Got delayed.”

Yu Qingshan said, “You must be exhausted. Take a good bath later and rest early.”

After a few more words, Yu Xiangqing and Zhao Qiaoniang brought out the noodles, each bowl topped with an egg.

The aroma was mouthwatering.

The moment the bowls were set down, they dug in. The speed at which they ate showed just how hungry they were—likely having skipped lunch.

As they finished, Yu Xianghai, Ye Qijia, and Yu Mingjie arrived.

Yu Xianghai gave Yu Xiangyan a bear hug. “You rascal, finally back.”

“Brother, sister-in-law—is this Mingjie? Kids grow so fast.” Yu Xiangyan sighed. “Big bro, this is your sister-in-law, and this is my brother-in-law. Yeah, I’m back.”

Yu Xianghai smiled at Wen Ruzhen. “Hello, sister-in-law. From now on, you’ll have to put up with this brother of mine.”

Yu Xiangyan wasn’t having it. “Big bro, what kind of talk is that? How is it ‘putting up with’? I’m great—it’s mutual support!”

Yu Xianghai laughed. “Still as thick-skinned as ever.”

Ye Qijia sat beside Wen Ruzhen. “Sister-in-law.”

Wen Ruzhen greeted her. “Eldest sister-in-law.”

Yu Xiangqing walked over to them. “Second sister-in-law, you’re so pretty. Both my sisters-in-law are beautiful—my future nieces and nephews won’t have any trouble finding partners.”

The two laughed. Wen Ruzhen glanced at Ye Qijia’s belly and lowered her voice. “It’s twins, right?”

Ye Qijia nodded. “Yeah. Does my stomach look bigger? It’s normal…”

After chatting with Yu Xianghai for a while, Yu Xiangyan started unpacking their luggage—they’d brought back a lot.

Seeing his movements, Yu Qingshan came over to help. “What’d you bring? There’s so much.”

“Mostly local specialties—mushrooms, wood ear fungus. There’s plenty there. After rain, they sprout up everywhere.”

“A lot of these were gathered by us in the mountains, then cleaned and dried. There’s also some medicinal herbs—you can add them to soups.”

During food shortages, those mushrooms had helped them survive lean times.

Everyone gathered them in large quantities.

He’d also brought back half a ham. “This ham was made by an old woman there. Hers are legendary—people ask her to make them every year. I got this after helping her with something. I’ve tried it—it’s so fragrant, whether in soup or steamed, you’ll want to swallow your tongue.”

The ham, made from pork hind leg, was pure meat—instantly eye-catching.

Yu Xiang’an knew quality when she saw it. She walked over, inspected it, sniffed, and gave a thumbs-up. “This is from a black pig, right?”

Yu Xiangyan was surprised. “How’d you know?”

Yu Xiang’an smiled lightly. “I’ve seen something similar at our factory canteen. The chef there treasures it.” This kind of ham wasn’t cheap.

Her second brother managing to get such a large piece was impressive.

Yu Xiangyan nodded. “Yeah, this took some effort. The first time I tasted it, I was blown away—knew I had to bring some back for everyone.”

Yu Xianghai clapped him on the shoulder. “You rascal. I knew it—no matter where you go, you’ll land on your feet.”

Yu Manchang nodded in agreement—he thought the same.

Yu Xiangqing checked the kitchen. “The water’s hot. Who wants to bathe first?”

Wen Ruzhen glanced at Yu Xiangyan, who looked back at her. “You go first. I’ll take the last bath.”

Yu Xiang’an said, “Your room’s already set up—you can move right in. Second sister-in-law, follow me. This is your room. Yi Zhen, you’ll sleep here.”

The three of them were clearly exhausted, dark circles under their eyes. No one kept them talking—after bathing, they went straight to bed. Yu Xiang’an and Yu Xiangqing sorted through the things they’d brought back.

Some were already divided—some for their maternal grandmother, some for their grandfather.

Zhao Qiaoniang didn’t help with the unpacking. She was preparing ingredients—tomorrow, the family would make tofu.

She no longer had temporary work and was on an extended break. It was clear she wouldn’t have a job for the next few months.

This year had been decent—she’d worked half the year and earned a fair amount.

Making tofu required soaking beans first, then grinding them with a stone mill to extract soy milk. The milk was filtered through cloth, boiled, poured into a vat with brine to coagulate, then pressed in a mold with stones to remove excess water—finally forming tofu.

The process was lengthy, consuming the entire next morning.

Before Yu Xiangyan fell asleep, Yu Xianghai shared some news.

Liang Yong had returned yesterday. He’d already prepared a sack—just waiting for him.