Chapter 14:

After being reprimanded by Wang Yunlai, Deng Xiahong settled down, and Yu Xiang’an’s life at the factory became even more comfortable. Then, she hurried to the school to take her exams.

For someone in her situation, the teachers wouldn’t say much. As long as she returned to take the exams and her grades weren’t too poor, she would receive her diploma.

Yu Xiang’an didn’t see Ding Minxiu there.

Without a valid reason, Ding Minxiu wouldn’t get her diploma.

Yu Xiang’an felt a bit sorry, but after a moment’s thought, she guessed the reason. Under normal circumstances, Ding Minxiu would likely be in the throes of morning sickness by now. If it was severe, of course she wouldn’t come to take the exams.

With few students, the school processed things quickly and handed out diplomas.

Yu Xiang’an carefully stored her diploma and finally received her first paycheck—twenty-seven yuan and fifty cents. Along with the wages came several ration coupons.

Twenty-seven yuan and fifty cents might seem like a small amount, perhaps just enough for a cup of milk tea nowadays. But considering the prices at the time—a pound of pork cost just over seventy cents, and a pound of rice was twelve cents—this money could buy over two hundred pounds of rice. Even if one consumed four pounds of rice a day, it would last more than a month.

In rural areas, where most necessities like salt and cloth were the only things that needed to be purchased, twenty-some yuan could last a family one or two years, assuming there were no weddings or illnesses to deal with.

It was a “small fortune.”

Besides her growing savings, the Xixi Farm was also thriving.

Yu Xiang’an entered the farm every night before bed. The changes were significant: the soybean field, initially just a fraction of an acre, had expanded to a full acre. The fruit trees, which originally numbered only four—one each of apple, chestnut, grape, and pear—had multiplied. The apple seeds were sprouting, five more grapevines had been planted, and the chestnut tree was about to bear fruit. Once the chestnuts matured, she planned to plant more, as they were rich in starch, versatile, and easy to store. In the stream, over a dozen large fish, each weighing two or three pounds, could be seen swimming. A small enclosed pond on the side housed smaller fish, protected from the ducks. Without the enclosure, the fish would have quickly become duck food.

The ducks, initially just two plump ones weighing seven or eight pounds each, now included twelve ducklings, three of which were slightly larger—the ones she had originally bought.

Inside the warehouse were over two hundred pounds of previously harvested apples and some soybeans. Next to the warehouse stood a fully constructed stove, its spot for the iron wok still empty. A clay pot sat nearby. Yu Xiang’an opened it to find a pot of fish soup.

She happily picked up a bowl and chopsticks. After weeks of testing, she had confirmed that the food here was safe to eat, so she could now enjoy it without worry.

After finishing the entire pot of fish soup and all the fish meat, Yu Xiang’an patted her full stomach contentedly.

Thanks to the farm, she hadn’t woken up hungry in the middle of the night to sneak sweet potatoes from the kitchen lately. Her younger brother, Yu Xiangju, had even asked with concern if her appetite had been poor recently.

Poor appetite? Not a chance.

She picked up a hoe and got back to work, planning to expand the small pond downstream to raise more fish.

While planting soybeans and fruit trees could be done with a single command, raising fish and ducks required manual labor. It was hard work, but watching the carefree fish swim around filled her with motivation.

After over an hour of work, Yu Xiang’an finally stopped. She carefully selected a grass carp, caught it, and placed it in a tub to bring out the next day, pretending she had bought it.

Now that she had money, and since Yu Qingshan refused her financial support for the household, she decided to contribute food instead.

Her “golden finger” had its limitations, but Yu Xiang’an was more than satisfied.

The four types of fruit each had their uses and could be sold for good money. Soybeans could be made into bean paste, tofu, soybean oil, soy sauce, and more, enriching their meals. Fish and ducks provided much-needed protein, and honey was a bonus. Best of all, soybeans and fruit trees could be planted and harvested with a single command—a lazy person’s dream. Otherwise, she’d never manage all this work alone.

Yu Xiang’an took an apple from the warehouse. Despite being stored for so long, it was still fresh.

A few days earlier, she had deliberately left two apples near the stove, where they had dried and wrinkled, looking unappetizing. She had secretly sold them at the black market for fifty cents.

It was her first time “doing something shady,” and her heart had raced the entire time.

She was preparing herself mentally because she planned to sell the apples in the city, where she was a stranger compared to the county town. She needed to get used to the idea early.

When she brought home a two-pound fish, Yu Xiangju immediately cheered, “Fifth Sister, are we having fish today?”

Yu Xiang’an laughed. “Yes, fish. How do you want it cooked?”

“I want it like last time—with pickled cabbage and spicy fish slices,” he said, licking his lips.

Yu Xiang’an nodded. “Alright, that requires pickled cabbage. Go get two heads from the kitchen.”

Yu Xiangju dashed off like he had wings.

By the time Yu Qingshan and Zhao Qiaoniang returned home, the tantalizing aroma of sour and spicy fish had taken over, overpowering all other smells.

Seeing them return, their neighbor, Aunt Tian, who was pulling her wailing grandson, couldn’t help but ask, “Old Yu, what delicious thing are you cooking? It smells amazing.”

Her grandson was practically rolling on the ground from the smell.

Yu Qingshan swallowed hard. “Sour and spicy fish slices.”

Aunt Tian looked at Zhao Qiaoniang, who had just returned. “Is Xiao An cooking? She’s got quite the skill. Could she teach me sometime?” Meat was hard to come by, but fish was easier.

Yu Qingshan agreed. “Sure, I’ll ask her.”

With that promise, Aunt Tian dragged her grandson home. “See? Grandma will make it soon. Stop crying—it won’t help.”

As for barging in to eat now, she wouldn’t do such a thing. Every household carefully rationed their food, and meat dishes were rare treats. She wouldn’t impose.

Inside, Yu Xiangju was already hovering by the kitchen door. Zhao Qiaoniang washed her hands and joined him.

Seeing them return, Yu Xiangju brightened. “Fifth Sister, is it time to eat?”

Yu Xiang’an replied, “Not yet. A little longer.”

Yu Xiangju sighed. “Oh…” He really wanted to eat right away.

Yu Qingshan also entered the kitchen, watching his daughter cook with pride. She hadn’t had many chances to show off her skills before, but now it was clear she had inherited her grandfather’s talent. If she worked at a state-run restaurant, she’d be a hit.

After a quick look around, he picked up the water buckets. “The water vat’s almost empty. I’ll go fetch some.”

Their home didn’t have a well, but there was one just two or three hundred meters away with sweet water, used by all the nearby households.

Yu Xiangju pouted. “Dad, come back soon.”

Without him, they couldn’t start dinner.

Yu Qingshan ruffled his hair. Of course he knew why the boy was saying that. “You little rascal! Don’t worry, I won’t dawdle.” He wanted to eat soon, too. Adults got hungry as well.

Yu Qingshan didn’t delay. With no one else at the well, he made two quick trips to fill the vat, washed his hands, and dinner began.

The fish slices were tender, the sour and spicy flavors invigorating, and the pickled cabbage left them craving more. The family of four ate in silence until every last drop of the fish soup was gone, only then finding the energy to talk.

Yu Qingshan said, “Keep the money you earn and save it. Don’t spend it all. If you don’t save, you’ll be in trouble when something comes up.”

The debt from his father’s medical bills would be paid off next month. With three out of four family members working, finances weren’t tight, so he didn’t take his daughter’s money. But that didn’t mean she should spend it freely. She’d bought meat last time and fish this time—it hadn’t been long between splurges.

Yu Xiangju sighed like a little adult. His father was right, but he really wished they could eat like this more often. Ideally, every day.

Yu Xiang’an nodded obediently. “I understand.”

She wouldn’t treat the family this month. Next month, maybe.

*

The gossip around them had quieted for a while after they insisted it was all a misunderstanding. But when news spread that Ding Minxiu had married Zhou Boyang and become the Zhou family’s daughter-in-law, the rumors reached a fever pitch.

Yu Xiang’an received many sympathetic looks. Those who had previously pestered her for details now avoided the topic, afraid of upsetting her and causing a scene.

Aunt Tian, for example, felt too embarrassed to ask again. But people had pieced most of it together. They’d once envied her engagement to the Zhou family’s son—a well-off household with four jobs among five people. Now, her stepsister had married him instead. Clearly, she’d been betrayed. This couldn’t be easy for Old Yu either—his fifth son-in-law had become his sixth. And given his stepdaughter’s recent disappearance, she likely wasn’t his daughter anymore.

While people pitied Yu Qingshan, their feelings toward Zhao Qiaoniang were more complicated.

She only had one daughter and surely wanted the best for her. Whatever means Ding Minxiu had used, hearing the pointed remarks from others made Zhao Qiaoniang wish she could hide at the textile factory forever.

The only one who still approached Yu Xiang’an directly was Granny Chen.

She had tried and failed to pry information from Yu Xiang’an before but had forgotten and now eagerly sought the latest gossip.

She ignored Yu Xiang’an’s coldness. “Xiao An, I heard everything. How could this happen? Tell Granny Chen—did your shameless sister steal your man?” Her face flushed with excitement. If true, this would be the juiciest scandal in years.

Yu Xiang’an barely resisted rolling her eyes. Granny Chen wasn’t even trying to hide her glee. She fired back, “Granny Chen, who’s spreading such vile rumors? I’ve never heard of this. Who’s saying I was betrayed? I’d like to ask them face-to-face. Heartless people like that deserve punishment!”

Granny Chen faltered but pressed on, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “Why so defensive? You know I’ve always cared for you. If you’re hurting, tell me. I’ll give them a piece of my mind—shame them for life!”

Yu Xiang’an scoffed. Since Granny Chen was pretending not to understand, she played her trump card. “Granny Chen, didn’t your third son return recently? Is he still in the village? I think I saw him.”

Granny Chen stiffened, forcing a laugh. “What? No, he left ages ago. I—I have to go cook. We’ll talk later.” She hurried off, abandoning her quest for gossip.

Her youngest son was her favorite, but she’d had no choice but to send him to the countryside. When he returned on leave, thin and sunburnt, her heart ached. She wished he could stay forever, but overstaying his leave would brand him a vagrant, risking forced repatriation and a black mark on his record. If someone reported him…

No, she had to send him back, no matter how much it hurt.

Being pitied and whispered about wasn’t pleasant, but Yu Xiang’an consoled herself by imagining Zhou Boyang and Ding Minxiu’s situation. If she was feeling the heat, they were at the eye of the storm. The thought lifted her spirits a little.

Yu Qingshan was relieved to see her stable, but Zhao Qiaoniang looked increasingly haggard, with dark circles under her eyes. She forced smiles when questioned.

The strain wasn’t just from Ding Minxiu. Yu Xiangju was another factor.

She had always treated him like her own, but now, some people were whispering to him that, as a stepmother, she must have ulterior motives. She had to repeatedly explain in ways he could understand that she truly hadn’t known about Ding Minxiu’s actions—swearing she’d be struck by lightning if she lied.

Yu Xiang’an pitied her exhaustion, but what could she do? She was Ding Minxiu’s mother.

Yu Qingshan knew why she was suffering but offered no comfort. He wasn’t blameless in this mess either.

It took two to tango. Both parties were at fault.

Initially, Yu Xiang’an’s food factory hadn’t known about the scandal. It was half an hour’s walk away, and she was still new, with few close colleagues. But secrets never stay buried. She was prepared for the gossip to spread.

Soon enough, Deng Xiahong, who had been subdued after Wang Yunlai’s scolding, perked up upon hearing the news. Gleefully, she told Li Jianguo, another cashier, “Did you know about the new accountant?”

She never used Yu Xiang’an’s name, always calling her “the new one” or “the new accountant.”

Li Jianguo paused his work. “What about her?”

Deng Xiahong chuckled. “You probably don’t know. I was shocked too, but thinking about it, it makes sense.”

Li Jianguo’s curiosity was piqued. “What is it? Don’t keep me in suspense.”

Deng Xiahong said, “She’s eighteen—not young anymore. Most girls her age are looking to marry. Has she ever mentioned it?”

Li Jianguo shook his head. “No.”

Deng Xiahong clapped. “Exactly! She was engaged before. The guy’s family were all workers—an only son with a house, a job, and no brothers. Perfect, right? But just as they were planning the wedding, her sister married him instead. No wonder she never talks about it.”

Li Jianguo gaped. “So her sister stole her…”