Chapter 19:

At the Dayu Commune, in the Niujiao Brigade, Yu Xiangqing carried the package sent from her family back to the educated youth dormitory. There was no way to hide it—with so many eyes watching her come and go, the news would spread quickly.

Yu Xiangqing returned to her room, swiftly closed the door, and unpacked the contents. She locked away a portion in her cabinet, leaving only some less valuable items out in the open. If anyone unaware of the situation entered, they would instinctively assume the package contained only these insignificant things.

She never imagined that her grandfather’s serious illness would reveal people’s true colors to her.

With many siblings in her family, her eldest brother had been introduced to his wife through a matchmaker, while her second brother and she had already found sweethearts—both their classmates. They had all made the same choice: to follow their loved ones to the countryside.

At first, their relationships seemed fine, and no issues were apparent. Life was hard, but she thought she was happy—until her grandfather fell ill. The subsidies her father had been sending periodically stopped, and he mentioned that nothing might be sent for a while.

Back then, she even sent some of her hard-earned savings home. But somehow, the news got out, and everyone assumed her family had fallen on hard times, with no more subsidies coming in.

She didn’t bother explaining in detail, but her silence was taken as confirmation.

From then on, Liang Yong’s attitude changed.

A woman’s intuition can be sharp. Sometimes, no evidence is needed—just a look or an expression is enough to know something is wrong.

At first, it was just suspicion. But then she overheard him telling others that they were merely friends, only closer because they came from the same place.

Hadn’t they already had an understanding?

She thought they’d be handing out wedding candies next year.

Turns out, that was just her assumption.

She walked out right then. The others, caught gossiping, were embarrassed to see her. She admitted it outright, “That’s right. Don’t misunderstand. Liang Yong and I aren’t what you think. We’re just from the same city, so we’re a bit closer.”

Yu Xiangqing couldn’t understand how years of feelings had come to this. She wallowed in private for a while until she heard from another educated youth that Liang Yong often went alone to the commune, always dressing up before he left.

Yu Xiangqing could only sneer. The commune? Had he found his next target? Maybe someone who could help him return to the city.

No sooner had she locked her cabinet than someone knocked on the door. “Xiangqing, Xiangqing, are you in there? Why’s the door locked?”

Yu Xiangqing opened the door, and her roommate stepped in, glancing around. “Xiangqing, why’d you lock the door for no reason?”

Yu Xiangqing looked at her coldly. “I locked it by accident.”

The roommate stiffened. How could anyone lock a door by accident? She forced an awkward laugh. “I just heard you brought in a package. Was it from your family?”

Yu Xiangqing nodded. “Yes, it was. By the way, I want to send my grandfather some nutritious food to help him recover. Didn’t your family send you powdered milk last time? Do you have any left? You borrowed some of my ration coupons before and said you’d return them.”

This time, Yu Xiangqing clearly saw the displeasure in the other girl’s eyes.

She lowered her head, laughing at her own past foolishness. It wasn’t just Liang Yong—this girl too. But she wouldn’t be fooled again.

She knew full well that these so-called “borrowed” items were never returned. Back then, she was naive enough to hand them over after a few sweet words. Now, she’d rather throw them into the river just to hear the splash.

Her father had once told her she was too simple-minded, sometimes unable to see the bigger picture. She hadn’t taken it seriously then, but now she knew he was right.

Mo Wenwen’s smile stiffened. “Xiangqing, my powdered milk…”

Living in the same room, it was hard to hide things. She did still have some powdered milk.

But she didn’t want to give it up.

Just then, others passed by. “What’s this? Powdered milk is a luxury!”

Yu Xiangqing said, “I lent her quite a few ration coupons before. Now that my grandfather is sick, I thought she could give me her powdered milk to settle the debt. Just the meat coupons alone were two jin, about five jin of grain coupons, plus two sugar coupons. She never returned any of it.”

The passersby gasped at the amount. That much? Their eyes turned accusingly toward Mo Wenwen.

Mo Wenwen panicked. “Xiangqing!” How could she bring this up? They’d agreed not to tell anyone!

Yu Xiangqing sighed. “Before, my family was doing fine, so I never pressed her to return them. But now, as you know, our situation has changed. Even if she can’t return all the coupons, she could at least give me the powdered milk. My grandfather could really use it.”

Mo Wenwen protested, “Your grandfather is sick, but you’re struggling here too. Why should you worry about him?”

The onlookers weren’t having it. “Wenwen, if you don’t want to give the milk, you should at least return the coupons bit by bit.”

She couldn’t stand by and watch this.

So this was the kind of person she was.

Before long, news of Mo Wenwen’s debt spread. Under the weight of everyone’s judgmental stares, Mo Wenwen had no choice but to reluctantly open her cabinet and hand over the nearly untouched bag of powdered milk to Yu Xiangqing. Her heart bled as she did so. “Here. Take it.”

Yu Xiangqing took it without hesitation. “Good. Now we’re even on those coupons.”

She couldn’t even remember exactly how many she’d lent out. Strictly speaking, this bag of milk might even be a bargain. But if she factored in all the food she’d shared, it was hard to say.

After securing the milk, Yu Xiangqing took some money and went out, planning to trade for wheat flour.

The Niujiao Production Brigade grew both rice and wheat, though neither in large quantities. Still, it was easier to trade for fine grains here than in the city. With the emergency funds her family had sent, she intended to exchange for some fine grains and send them back with the milk.

What was wrong with sharing good things with her family?

*

In Baishi County, Zhou Changshou frowned at Zhao Qiaoniang’s disjointed explanation. “Speak clearly. What’s going on?”

Zhao Qiaoniang shrank back. “I mean, Minxiu’s biological father has come looking for answers. We need to get our stories straight so no one finds out the truth.”

Zhou Changshou’s frown deepened. “He doesn’t know? You didn’t tell him?”

Zhao Qiaoniang’s eyes reddened. “I haven’t yet… He… He doesn’t care about Minxiu. He can’t know.”

Zhou Changshou took a deep breath. “Fine. What do you think he’s really after?”

Zhao Qiaoniang lowered her head. “Probably… money.” She’d heard him mention his daughter’s dowry before, but since he thought she was going to the countryside, he hadn’t acted on it.

Zhou Changshou rubbed his temples and stood to fetch money from inside. This time, they’d have to spend to avoid disaster. Why did his grandson have to get involved with such a woman?

Yang Xizhi was equally displeased, her face dark. “Hurry up. If we’re late and he starts blabbing, it’ll be too late.”

By the time they arrived at the Yu household, a crowd of idle onlookers had already gathered. Yu Qingshan and Yu Xianghai were already there.

“They’re here! They’re here!”

As Zhao Qiaoniang walked through the parted crowd, her head hung low.

Yu Qingshan waited until they entered before closing the courtyard gate. To the onlookers, he said, “Everyone, go home. There’s nothing to see here.”

Despite his words, no one moved.

Yu Qingshan ignored them, locked the gate, and instructed Yu Xiangju, “Stand by the door. If anyone comes in, call us, understand?”

Yu Xiangju nodded solemnly. “Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll shout if anyone comes.”

With the courtyard walls, they could control their volume inside, making it hard for outsiders to eavesdrop clearly.

Ding Fahai and Tian Er’yan, seeing the setup, felt a twinge of guilt. But then they reminded themselves they had nothing to feel guilty about and straightened up. “You owe us an explanation! How could my good daughter just get married like this?”

Yu Qingshan and Yu Xianghai sat silently to the side, detached. Ding Fahai sensed something off. “What’s the meaning of this?”

Yu Qingshan glanced up indifferently. “That’s your daughter. Her household registration was always under your name. I’ve just been raising her for nothing these years. She has nothing to do with me. I don’t know about her affairs, and I won’t interfere.”

Ding Fahai and Tian Er’yan exchanged looks. Had he cut ties because they’d stolen his biological daughter’s intended match?

He smacked his lips and turned to Zhao Qiaoniang. “You must know about this! Don’t tell me you don’t!”

Zhao Qiaoniang avoided his gaze. “I was planning to tell you soon. I just hadn’t found the time yet. It wasn’t intentional. You know Minxiu was supposed to go to the countryside.” Though she lived in town, her household registration was tied to Ding Fahai. With his sons grown, there was no way he’d keep Minxiu. Without a work unit to take her in, she’d have to go to the countryside after graduation.

“These two young people took a liking to each other. To avoid the countryside, they rushed the marriage. That way, the child wouldn’t have to go.”

Tian Er’yan smirked. She understood immediately—this stepdaughter must have deliberately seduced her brother-in-law to avoid the countryside, hence the fallout with the Yu family.

Ding Fahai didn’t care about that. He slammed the table. “I don’t want to hear excuses! You didn’t tell me anything! I’m telling you, I don’t approve of this marriage! Where’s Ding Minxiu? I’m taking her back!”

Zhao Qiaoniang flinched at his volume. She glanced at Yu Qingshan, who remained unmoved, and gritted her teeth. “Minxiu is already married. She’s not here now. Her grandmother is sick, and she’s gone to care for her.”

Ding Fahai’s voice rose, his face flushing red. “I said it doesn’t count! I’m taking her back!”

Zhao Qiaoniang raised her voice too. “Ding Fahai, what right do you have? How many years did you raise her? Did you ever act like a father? All these years, you never cared, never provided a single grain of rice. Now you say it doesn’t count? On what grounds?”

Ding Fahai stood and roared, “On the grounds that she’s my flesh and blood! She’s a Ding!!!”

Zhou Changshou stepped in to mediate. “Both of you, calm down. Let’s talk this through properly. You’ve come a long way. Sit down and discuss it.”

Zhao Qiaoniang took a deep breath. “I did this for my daughter’s sake. As long as she’s happy, even if you couldn’t give your blessings in time, you can do so now. The wedding was rushed, so many relatives and friends weren’t informed. Even Minxiu’s uncles don’t know yet.”

With this olive branch, Ding Fahai sat back down. “Rushed or not, you can’t just handle things like this. What about the dowry and bride price? How was that settled?” Finally, he got to his real concern.

Zhao Qiaoniang pressed her lips together. “With the elderly sick recently, I didn’t have much savings for a dowry. The bride price wasn’t high either—just thirty yuan, all of which I gave to her.”

Ding Fahai was stunned. “That little?!”

Zhao Qiaoniang inhaled sharply. “I’m not selling my daughter! Her staying in the city is the best dowry!”

Ding Fahai’s face darkened. “I don’t accept this.”

Zhou Changshou, knowing Ding Fahai’s motives from Zhao Qiaoniang, smoothed things over while making it clear that Ding Minxiu was now part of the Zhou family. Though there had been miscommunication earlier, they could negotiate. It wasn’t as if they could really take her back now.

Ding Fahai spoke grandly, “Though I didn’t raise this daughter myself, I still want what’s best for her. A woman’s bride price reflects how much her in-laws value her. It’s important. If it’s too low, she won’t have any standing. Where I’m from, the minimum bride price is fifty yuan in cash, plus the ‘Four Big Items’ and matching furniture.”

He brazenly added, “I won’t demand all four items. Just make up for it with a bicycle, a sewing machine, and a hundred yuan in cash.”

Seeing Zhou Changshou and Yang Xizhi’s well-off appearances, Ding Fahai knew their family wasn’t poor. If he didn’t ask for the moon now, when would he?

He didn’t actually want to take his daughter back. If he could get all four items, his son could marry anyone he wanted.

Zhou Changshou inwardly scoffed. Such bride prices weren’t unheard of, but usually, the dowry would match and return to the groom’s family. So he asked, “Then will you be providing a dowry in return?”

Ding Fahai, thick-skinned, didn’t blush. “I’ll keep these things for her. Young people don’t know how to manage them.”

Tian Er’yan nodded beside him. “Yes, we parents will keep them for her.” Once kept, they’d become theirs. Surely her stepdaughter wouldn’t object—she had a brother who’d back her up in the future.

Yu Qingshan watched coldly as they argued, red-faced and hoarse. He exchanged a glance with Yu Xianghai, who peeked outside. The gate was closed, but heads crowded over the courtyard walls, all ears straining in silence.

Yu Xianghai opened the door, stepped outside, and loudly greeted people as he walked around:

“Auntie, aren’t you going home yet? Your kid’s crying!”

“Uncle, don’t you have work to do at home?”

“Granny, shouldn’t you be home looking after your grandson?”

“Grandma, be careful in this scorching sun—don’t get sunburned!”

Each shout was loud and clear. Those with thinner skins felt too embarrassed to keep eavesdropping, while for the thick-skinned ones, Yu Xianghai would walk right up and start talking loudly to them, making it impossible for them to listen in and forcing them to leave.

Inside, hearing the commotion outside, the people instinctively lowered their voices. By the time Yu Xianghai returned, the matter was practically settled: the Zhou family would provide a bicycle coupon and eighty yuan.

They couldn’t possibly give away two major items. After all, Ding Minxiu wasn’t even here now. At worst, she’d stay away until the child was born—they refused to believe that, once the baby was wailing in their arms, they’d still let her go back.

Even if they wanted her to remarry, she wouldn’t land a good match. The compensation would surely be less than this.

Eighty yuan was still manageable, and the bicycle coupon was extra anyway. The family already had two bicycles, and they’d planned to trade this one for cash.

Only by thinking this way could Yang Xizhi console herself.

But the moment she turned away, she mentally noted this debt against Ding Minxiu.

This was all for her sake!

Zhou Changshou also felt the sting, but as an old fox, he kept his composure in public. As for what he truly thought, only he knew.

After seeing them off, Zhao Qiangniang collapsed onto a chair, exhausted. Suddenly, tears streamed down her face. Did she regret it? Yes, she did.

She’d rather her daughter had gone to the countryside than stayed in the city this way.

This child had hidden her thoughts too deeply. Zhao Qiangniang had never noticed. Had she been too neglectful?

No one had informed Yu Xiang’an about the drama unfolding at home. Right now, she was still beaming with joy. Someone had just delivered mail to their office, and one of the letters was for her—a reply from the city newspaper.

Before discovering her golden finger, she’d brainstormed many ways to earn extra income. After much deliberation, aside from her salary, the only viable option had been submitting articles. Not daring to write anything controversial, she stuck to uplifting pieces about life. She’d painstakingly written three submissions but received no response. Later, with the advent of XiXi Farm, she stopped writing altogether. So today’s unexpected reply was a delightful surprise.

Yan Yuzhen was even more thrilled than Yu Xiang’an about the two-yuan payment. Holding the newspaper, she pointed at the small article in the corner and showered Yu Xiang’an with praise until she blushed.

Yan Yuzhen was genuinely happy—she had a talented writer under her wing who’d been published in the newspaper! Noticing the tiny line crediting “Bai Shi County Food Factory,” she even went to higher-ups to brag about it. This was a proud moment for their entire factory.

Soon after, another opportunity came her way. Their food factory produced meat cans, fruit cans, and biscuits. However, due to pork shortages in recent years, meat can production had dwindled, shifting focus to fruit cans and biscuits.

Meat products were highly sought after, as were fruit cans and biscuits. Though their sales radius wasn’t vast, their output ensured decent profits—otherwise, they couldn’t have supported so many workers.

Deputy Director Wang’s secretary, Liu Guangyi, entered with Yan Yuzhen, who was still basking in her bragging rights. “Xiao An, I’ve got another assignment today—Director Wang needs to go out. Is your current work urgent? Could you lend a hand?”

“No problem, it’s not urgent.”

Yu Xiang’an never refused such requests, and neither did Yan Yuzhen, who chuckled, “Qingchun and I can handle things here!” Besides, this wasn’t the first time.

“Your foot better now?”

Liu Shouyi scratched his head sheepishly. “Yeah, all good. This time we’re heading to the meat processing plant to inspect a batch of pigs. With luck, you might even bring back some meat.”

Yu Xiang’an smiled and gave him a knowing look. After checking her attire and grabbing her notebook and pen, she followed Deputy Director Wang out.

This factory was where Zhou Boyang worked—a workplace many locals coveted, if only for the inherent advantage in purchasing meat.

Deputy Director Wang had a bicycle for transportation, and Yu Xiang’an was provided one too. “You know how to ride, right?” he asked.

“I do.”

“Good.”

“What made you think of submitting articles?” Deputy Director Wang seemed genuinely curious.

Yu Xiang’an smiled modestly. “I was reading the newspaper and saw submissions credited to workers from various factories. I thought, ‘I could do that too,’ so I gave it a try. I wasn’t very confident, so getting a reply was a wonderful surprise.”

Deputy Director Wang wasn’t surprised. He laughed heartily. “You’re too humble. I read it—you write very well. Keep it up and produce more great pieces!”

He encouraged her warmly.

Yu Xiang’an nodded. “I will! I’ll keep working hard!”

Even if not for the payment, having fewer rumors and a better reputation at the factory was motivation enough.

“Director, what’s our purpose today?”

“To check on the live pigs. Whether we accept holiday orders depends on their current stock.” Pigs had growth cycles—you couldn’t just demand them whenever needed. The Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching, a time for gift-giving and social exchanges. Meat cans were premium gifts. This year, due to earlier outbreaks, pork production had suffered, but recent reports suggested improvement. Today’s visit was to confirm—they couldn’t risk accepting orders they couldn’t fulfill later.

The meat processing plant was also in the county, though more remote, situated downwind near a water source. It housed many pigs, both purchased from farmers and raised onsite.

During the swine fever outbreak, infections had spread rapidly. If not for timely isolation, even these piglets might not have survived. Livestock farming’s greatest fear was disease—one outbreak could wipe out a year’s labor.

Those with meat held the upper hand. The plant’s reception cadre treated Deputy Director Wang with indifference, sometimes answering only after multiple queries, clearly disinterested. It reminded Yu Xiang’an of the aloof salesclerks at supply and marketing cooperatives.

Yet Deputy Director Wang endured it all without complaint.

Yu Xiang’an noted this silently, reaffirming the era’s stark reality of material scarcity.

She didn’t run into Zhou Boyang—unsurprising, given the plant’s size. Unbeknownst to her, however, while she was collecting documents with plant staff, Zhou Boyang spotted her. He ducked away quickly, avoiding detection.

Seeing Yu Xiang’an in her factory uniform, looking sharp and professional, Zhou Boyang’s emotions churned.

He didn’t regret being with Ding Minxiu—in fact, he felt pride. He’d broken free from outdated traditions. He was right.

His engagement to Yu Xiang’an had been arranged by their families. This was a new era—such practices didn’t belong.

He wanted free love. He’d done nothing wrong.

That was his conviction. Yet he also knew, rationally, the consequences if this affair went public. Ultimately, he blamed himself for losing control and creating a life. Without proof, accusations would’ve been meaningless.

Now, because of this child, he had to tread carefully. After Yu Xianghai beat him up and his family lost a job slot without protest, he’d been ambushed again at night—hooded and pummeled. He hadn’t seen faces but suspected the Yu family.

Resentful yet powerless, he avoided the Yu household thereafter. In these moments, he cursed his lack of brothers for backup. Retaliation was impossible.

After some time apart, Zhou Boyang noticed Yu Xiang’an seemed to have blossomed—her complexion brighter, face fuller. In her uniform, she looked vibrant. He keenly observed younger coworkers stealing glances at her as they passed.

It irked him. Even if they were over, how could she shamelessly move on so quickly? The audacity!

Beating her was out of the question, but now—here was a heaven-sent opportunity.

He didn’t know why she was here, but this was his turf.

His grandfather’s long tenure here meant connections. Whatever her purpose, he’d teach her a lesson.