“Oh my god!”
The eldest daughter-in-law’s loud exclamation startled Aunt Wang so much that her hand trembled while pouring oil into the wok. She accidentally poured in half a ladle more, which made her heart ache terribly. She quickly scooped it back out.
“What are you shrieking for? You scared me!” Aunt Wang scolded.
“Mum, did that educated youth Song bring these?” Liu Danie’s eyes sparkled as she stared at the pastries and cigarettes in the cloth bag, already calculating how much she could sneak back to her mother’s house.
Aunt Wang glanced at her and tossed the chopped vegetables into the wok. “Yeah, Song Yun gave them. Why?”
Liu Danie took out the osmanthus cakes wrapped in decorative packaging and drooled. “Mum, these pastries look so delicious. Can I try a piece?”
Only now did Aunt Wang realize the bag didn’t contain canned goods. She quickly stir-fried the food a few times, set down the spatula, and walked over in a hurry. She snatched the pastry out of her daughter-in-law’s hands. “Eat, eat, all you know is eating. Go tend the fire!”
This daughter-in-law of hers was not only lazy and greedy, but she also had a habit of sneaking things from her in-laws’ house back to her own family. If Aunt Wang allowed her even a bite, she’d definitely not stop at one. By morning, the rest of the pastries might be gone, gifted to her side of the family.
When Aunt Wang placed the osmanthus cakes back in the bag, she noticed there was also a packet of mung bean cakes—and at the very bottom, a whole carton of Da Qianmen cigarettes.
Who exactly was this Song Yun? Such a heavy gift, and so casually given—could they really accept it?
Aunt Wang didn’t dare make the decision on her own and quickly told Liu Danie to go call Liu Xiangqian in.
A moment later, Captain Liu walked into the kitchen with a puzzled look. “What’s going on?”
Aunt Wang, while still stir-frying, pointed at the cloth bag on the table. “Take a look for yourself. The gift from Comrade Song is way too much.”
Captain Liu stepped forward and opened the bag. The two packets of pastries didn’t surprise him too much, but when he saw the entire carton of Da Qianmen cigarettes, his eyes went wide.
He had smoked Da Qianmen before—only during New Year’s, when visiting officials at the commune. If he was lucky, he might get one or two sticks. But he’d never bought any himself. Cigarettes required ration coupons, and even as a brigade captain, he couldn’t get those.
He remembered that Da Qianmen cost 0.40 yuan per pack at the county’s supply cooperative. A carton was 4 yuan. Add the pastries, and it was easily 10 yuan’s worth. With coupons considered, the value was even higher.
Though he had a craving for cigarettes, Captain Liu was a man of principle. He picked up the cloth bag and walked straight out of the kitchen.
In the main room, a tug-of-war ensued. Naturally, Song Yun refused to take the bag back.
“Uncle Liu, if you don’t accept this, then I won’t renovate the house anymore. We’re not related, and we’ve only just met. I can’t just shamelessly ask you to go through all that trouble—managing the repairs, doing all the budgeting. And this dinner? I won’t eat it either. Grain doesn’t fall from the sky. My brother and I can’t just freeload off your family.”
Her words made Captain Liu feel embarrassed. Seeing her so determined, he had no choice but to accept the gift, blushing as he said, “You call me uncle, so I’ll thick-skinnedly accept it. But only this once.”
Song Yun happily agreed. She felt more and more that the Liu family were good, genuine people, and she liked them even more.
During dinner, Fangfang sat next to Song Yun and enthusiastically picked out the best dishes for her and her brother—braised cured fish and scrambled eggs with leeks.
Normally, if Liu Danie saw her sister-in-law giving the best food to an outsider, she would have thrown a jealous tantrum. But seeing how generous Song Yun’s gift had been, she swallowed her bitterness and kept her mouth shut. The entire meal was peaceful and joyful—host and guests all left satisfied.
Aunt Wang, ever thoughtful, worried the siblings wouldn’t even have water back home. She filled the family’s only thermos and lent it to them. She also lent them an unused clay pot so they could at least cook some porridge.
After dinner and a bit of small talk, Song Yun said goodbye. Captain Liu insisted his second son escort them back. It was their first day, and they lived in such a remote and abandoned yard—he couldn’t rest easy letting them walk home alone in the dark.
“No need, no need. I already know the way. We brought a flashlight,” Song Yun said, pulling one out of Song Ziyi’s military-style satchel.
The flashlight had actually been “acquired” from Song Weiguo’s house—still in nearly-new condition.
Still worried, Captain Liu had Liu Hongbing follow them anyway. He instructed him to walk them all the way inside the courtyard and check that everything was secure before returning.
What Captain Liu meant by “secure” was basically making sure no one had broken into the yard while they were gone. After all, Song Yun brought quite a lot of luggage—if someone sneaked in and stole something…
Fortunately, everything went smoothly. Liu Hongbing returned and reported that all was normal. The firewood shed was still securely locked.
Captain Liu finally relaxed and sighed. “Don’t be fooled by Comrade Song’s generosity. She might not be short on money, but she’s still a pitiful girl—no parents, and bringing her little brother down to the countryside. And she was already being excluded by the other educated youths before she even arrived at the commune.”
Liu Hongbing’s face turned red again, remembering her radiant smile. “Dad, I’m free tomorrow. I’ll go help out at the yard. I don’t need to be paid.”
Captain Liu gave him a glare. “Helping out without pay? What, you want to ruin her reputation? She doesn’t need your charity. If you want to work, fine—but wages should be calculated just like everyone else. Don’t act like a fool.”
Liu Hongbing scratched his head. “I just wanted to help. No need for pay…”
Captain Liu didn’t want to argue with his dense son anymore. He turned to Aunt Wang, who was clearing the table. “You explain it to him.”
Aunt Wang shot him a glare. So I’m the one stuck being the bad guy, huh?
But she agreed that someone needed to talk some sense into Hongbing. If he kept fantasizing, he’d only end up heartbroken.
“Hongbing, listen—someone like Comrade Song… you’re not a match for her. She’s never going to see you that way. Give it up.”
Captain Liu, still within earshot, froze mid-step. Jeez, woman… could you be a little more tactful?
Unaware of this conversation, Song Yun had already started preparing for what she planned to take to the cowshed later that night.
Earlier, during her chat with Liu Fangfang, she had asked about the location of the cowshed. Once it was deep into the night, she and Ziyi would head over there.
“Ziyi, get some rest first. I’ll wake you when it’s time.”
Exhausted from days of travel and work, Song Ziyi was already half-asleep. He nodded, took off his shoes and coat, and climbed onto the thin mattress his sister had laid over the straw. In moments, he was fast asleep.
Once he was out, Song Yun left the shed with a flashlight and headed to the front courtyard to collect star coins.
The yard was overgrown with weeds. There seemed to be a lot, but in truth, there were only a few species. Most had already gone to seed. After a round of collection, she earned 11 star coins. Adding that to the 15 she had left from earlier, her current balance was 26.
But she knew she couldn’t earn real money just from wild weeds. Her real goal… was Black Horse Mountain.