In this era, people in the south survived famine by relying on cassava and sweet potatoes, but those crops couldn’t grow well in the northwest.
In the northwest, the life-saving staple was potatoes. Using them to make vermicelli was already considered a luxury.
But vermicelli was so soft, chewy, and smooth. Paired with fragrant preserved meat, it was unbelievably delicious.
As a side, there were crispy white steamed buns that crumbled at the touch. Chen Mianmian scooped the vermicelli onto slices of bun and handed them to Miaomiao.
The little girl eagerly took a big bite. As she chewed, oil dripped from the corners of her mouth.
Zhao Lingcheng reached for a napkin, but his ex-wife was faster. She tore off a piece of paper and gently wiped the child’s mouth. “Eat slowly.”
Miaomiao took another big bite of the bun, picked up a full chopstick of vermicelli, and slurped it noisily.
The tiny child quickly finished an entire bowl of fried vermicelli.
Zhao Lingcheng sat across from her. His shirt was snow-white, his skin pale like jade, and his beautifully curved eyes were lowered.
He had sat down, but he neither ate nor showed any warmth toward the child—he was as cold as a refrigerator.
He was also cautious. When the child flicked her chopsticks and a strand of vermicelli bounced, he immediately leaned aside so the oil wouldn’t splash onto his shirt.
Finally, Miaomiao burped and put down her chopsticks. Chen Mianmian smiled and asked, “Are you full?”
The girl glanced at the stern-faced uncle and said softly, “I want to go home.”
Then she looked at Chen Mianmian. “Auntie, I’m scared of the dark. Please walk me back.”
Chen Mianmian thought Zhao Lingcheng was about to scold the child, but instead he said gently, “I’ll take you.”
But he had already scared her. Miaomiao jumped off the stool and ran upstairs like a puff of smoke.
Zhao Lingcheng’s clothing, complexion, and overall temperament were completely different from the rugged and desolate northwest.
He listened as a door upstairs opened—Miaomiao had made it home—then slammed shut again. Only then did he open the file bag in his arms.
He first took out a slip of paper. “A one-week family visit permit. Hand it to Ma Ji later.”
Then he took out two mimeographed contracts and said, “Four months is too short. Let’s make it two years. I’ll pay you thirty yuan a month as a nanny’s salary. When the contract ends, I’ll give you another two hundred yuan as compensation. For the child’s sake, let’s both endure a bit longer.”
At this time, a service worker only earned eight yuan a month, plus five yuan worth of grain coupons.
Someone like Chen Jinhui, a regular worker, earned fifteen yuan. Even a section chief like Wei only made eighteen yuan a month.
With thirty yuan, you could hire an entire soccer team of nannies. Chen Mianmian had no reason to refuse.
It was also more reasonable for a child to leave their mother at two years old. A two-year-old wouldn’t retain memories of their mother—and might not need one anymore.
It was clear Zhao Lingcheng had thought this contract through carefully.
Since he refused to eat, there was food left over again.
But nights in the northwest were cold, so food wouldn’t spoil. It could be saved for tomorrow’s lunch.
Chen Mianmian carried the leftovers back to the kitchen. When she returned, her ex-husband was wiping the table.
He was very meticulous—not only cleaning the table but also wiping all four stools.
Chen Mianmian sat down and asked with a smile, “Do you know our little guest’s name?”
Zhao Lingcheng replied expressionlessly, “Something like grass or wood. I don’t remember.”
Chen Mianmian recounted how Shuai Shuai had bullied Miaomiao earlier that day, and how Xue Fang chose to endure it. Then she said, “If Miaomiao were my daughter, I wouldn’t care who it was—anyone who dared touch her, I’d beat the crap out of them.”
Zhao Lingcheng said, “She could fight back. Why didn’t she?”
Chen Mianmian replied, “Boys have strength, so they can fight back. What about girls? Without a mother to protect them, our baby would be even more pitiful. You don’t like girls either, do you? Miaomiao is the only girl in this building, and you don’t even know her.”
Zhao Lingcheng had thought about it. “The base kindergarten offers full boarding. You can pick the child up once a week.”
Chen Mianmian asked, “So if Niuniu gets beaten today, you won’t find out until seven days later?”
She stroked her belly and said sincerely, “No mother doesn’t love her child. A child will suffer less if she stays with her mother.”
Zhao Lingcheng suddenly smirked. “Like how your mother loves you?”
In truth, mothers might love their children—but they often love other things more.
Chen Mianmian immediately said, “Chen Jinhui is my mother’s favorite. He’s in detention now and will only be released if you agree—and I was the one who reported him. Think about how angry my mother must be right now.”
He had been worried she might spoil her brother so much that she’d raise their child to do the same.
But given everything she had done before returning to the base, his prejudice toward her should have eased.
Sure enough, when Chen Jinhui was mentioned, Zhao Lingcheng’s expression softened.
Seizing the moment, Chen Mianmian continued, “I’ll compromise too. If it’s a boy, I’ll raise him until he’s two and then leave him with you. But if it’s a girl—since you don’t like girls anyway, and she needs more care—I’ll take her with me.”
For some reason, there were far more boys than girls in the base.
Zhao Lingcheng found boys annoying—loud, restless, always fighting.
Boys could be sent to boarding care, out of sight and out of mind.
But a frail little girl? Wouldn’t she feel scared and cry if she didn’t see her family for a long time?
Thinking of Miaomiao’s fearful gaze, he finally relented. “Alright.”
Just like that, using her foresight, Chen Mianmian won this round perfectly.
There was some regret—she would have to stay at the base for two years and miss out on the steel factory job.
But it didn’t matter. As long as a person had ability, they could shine anywhere.
She took out 250 yuan and prepared to sign the contract.
But Zhao Lingcheng didn’t hand her a pen. Instead, he rolled up his sleeves, went into the kitchen, took off his apron, and turned on the water.
As he washed the dishes, he said, “I’ve added a few more clauses. Take a look first. If you can accept them, then sign.”
Chen Mianmian felt a little embarrassed. “Leave the dishes. I’ll wash them later.”
Zhao Lingcheng frowned, looking disgusted. “I’m worried you won’t clean them properly.”
Chen Mianmian had inherited the original host’s cooking skills, but not her cleanliness. The kitchen was as messy as a pigsty.
The new contract Zhao Lingcheng drafted was indeed harsh—almost devilish.
First, Chen Mianmian could only visit her parents once a year, and she couldn’t bring the child.
Second, while he wouldn’t interfere with how she spent her salary, she was not allowed to take anything else.
Also, she wasn’t allowed to take the child to catch zokors, though hunting wild boars or rabbits was permitted.
For early education, she had to start relearning Russian and English immediately.
With thirty yuan a month, she wouldn’t need to catch zokors for extra money anyway. She raised the contract and said, “I agree to everything.”
But just as she stepped into the kitchen, Jiang Xia happened to pass by. “Lingcheng, you just finished working overtime, and now you’re washing dishes again?”
She added, “You’re the only grandson your grandmother left behind. You work so hard—how can you still be doing housework?”
Zhao Lingcheng’s grandmother had once been a wealthy young lady who studied abroad before going to Yan’an.
Jiang Xia’s father was her distant cousin—just an ordinary man.
Because he was diligent and observant, he later followed Old Master Zhao.
Zhao Lingcheng himself didn’t mind washing dishes, but Jiang Xia was more anxious about it than he was.
Zhao Lingcheng said, “Whether Shuai Shuai’s father is alive or dead, we’ll find him. Tengger Desert, Badain Jaran, and Mu Us are all within the search range.”
Other people’s suffering shouldn’t be used for amusement.
But seeing Jiang Xia fail in her attempt to stir trouble, Chen Mianmian almost laughed.
Her husband was still missing, yet she had the energy to meddle in others’ affairs.
Chen Mianmian smiled and said, “Auntie, it’s uncomfortable to eavesdrop outside. Come in and sit at my table if you want to listen.”
Jiang Xia hit a wall and left.
Noticing someone had been eavesdropping, Zhao Lingcheng closed the kitchen door.
After washing his hands, he took out lotion from the cabinet and carefully applied it before speaking again.
“There’s one more thing I didn’t write down—just a verbal agreement. Because of work, Wei Cuiyun may occasionally come to the base. During these two years, you’re not allowed to meet him.”
He added, “I know you like him, but this involves discipline. I won’t be able to protect you.”
The original host had always been a striking and controversial figure at the base.
Zhao Lingcheng hated attention, yet he was constantly judged because of her behavior.
But while she had been eccentric, she hadn’t crossed disciplinary lines before. In the base, violations of discipline could lead to imprisonment.
The truth was, the original host had fallen for Wei Cuiyun at first sight.
He was the rugged type typical of the northwest—so rough that even blowing his nose sounded like a donkey braying.
His coarse nature gave her a physical sense of security.
Because she liked him, she took care of his mother—cleaning her, tending to her—doing everything attentively.
But he had only valued her for her usefulness as a caretaker.
After his mother passed away, he divorced her.
This was the easiest clause for Chen Mianmian to accept. “If I ever meet Wei Cuiyun again, I’ll be a dog.”
Zhao Lingcheng took the 250 yuan from her and counted out fifty. “This is for this month.”
Chen Mianmian froze. “Fifty yuan a month?”
Zhao Lingcheng handed her another twenty yuan in special supply coupons. “I’ll have Aunt Jiang take you shopping. Diapers should be fine cotton gauze. Bedding should be high-quality cotton. I’ll arrange a crib and felt blankets. Buy yourself a few clothes too…”
She had truly stripped him bare before leaving, yet returned with nothing.