The yarn twisted around her fingers, over and over, as the room remained quiet.
Qing Yanshen lay in a drowsy haze, already asleep, his complexion a little pale.
The baby, tired from playing, had also fallen asleep beside him.
Jiang Qingmi carefully covered both the man and the child with a blanket. Suddenly, a soft knock came from the door.
It wasn’t loud, but in the quiet of their small rented apartment, it sounded very distinct.
She froze for a moment.
When she opened the door, it was Aunt Zhu from next door, holding a porcelain bowl with steam rising from it.
“小Jiang,” Aunt Zhu said with a kind smile, pushing the bowl into her hands. “I cooked extra millet porridge with some yam. Isn’t your man not feeling well? Give some to the baby too, good for the stomach.”
Qing Yanshen fainting had become known to many neighbors in the building.
Everyone assumed they were a family of three, and Jiang Qingmi didn’t bother to explain otherwise.
“Auntie, this is too much trouble—”
“There’s no trouble. When you’re out, who hasn’t had a hard time?” Aunt Zhu glanced inside, her gaze landing on the man and child on the floor mattress. Her tone softened. “I see your little family’s life may be hard, but you’re united. The man takes care of the home, the child is good—better than anything else.”
Since moving in a month ago, the neighbors had noticed how lovely their little daughter was. Her husband, though quiet outside, was well-mannered and not unpleasant.
The couple really looked well-matched, beautiful and talented.
It was just that a few misfortunes kept happening either Jiang Qingmi went to the hospital, or her husband fell ill.
“Don’t be polite with Auntie. Neighbors are fate,” Aunt Zhu added, lowering her voice as if casually mentioning, “By the way, the dry cleaner downstairs asked me recently if any handy sisters were around. She urgently needs some handmade baby hats and sweaters. The pay’s not bad. You knit every day, your hands are skillful why not check it out?”
Before she could respond, a soft sound came from behind.
Qing Yanshen had woken up without her noticing. He sat up, his gaze falling on her, then briefly on Aunt Zhu at the door. His voice was hoarse but steady:
“Thank you for your concern, Auntie.”
Aunt Zhu saw the man awake, waved, and left smiling.
Once the door closed, the room returned to silence, but it was no longer the same ordinary quiet.
Jiang Qingmi carried the warm millet porridge over and was about to say, “You should drink some,” when her wrist was gently grasped.
His palm was cool, yet the pressure was light.
“Don’t overwork yourself,” he said, looking at her slightly reddened fingertips. His eyes were deep. “I have a way to earn money.”
Jiang Qingmi’s heart skipped. She handed him the porridge, deliberately averting her face to appear calm:
“I know. You’re the one who should rest.”
And, she thought to herself, stop fussing and tugging at me!
Despite her inner admonition, she didn’t feel offended.
Outside, dusk fell. The little rented apartment glowed warmly, a small light among thousands.
The apartment was sparsely furnished, but it exuded a cozy warmth despite its poverty.
Qing Yanshen was playing a game with Jiang Tuantuan.
Jiang Qingmi watched a while before breaking the scene: “Time to eat.”
“All right.” Qing Yanshen replied.
“Yay, Mommy! Time for dinner~”
“Thank you, Mommy! You’re amazing~”
Jiang Tuantuan put on her bib and sat at the small table. Qing Yanshen’s appetite was not great; he ate only one bowl of rice, then focused on Jiang Tuantuan, occasionally wiping her mouth.
Jiang Tuantuan often got food all over her face like a little messy kitten. Sometimes she would act coquettish, asking Qing Yanshen to hold her in his arms while he fed her.
He was very patient, soothing and playful. Every bite, he would say: “Little princess, ah… open wide.”
Jiang Tuantuan giggled and swallowed in one bite.
Qing Yanshen would then say, “Good girl.”
Jiang Tuantuan kicked her short legs, laughing and occasionally tugging at his hair in playful mischief.
Sometimes Jiang Qingmi couldn’t stand it and would say, “Eat! If you don’t, I’ll take it away.”
Immediately, Jiang Tuantuan would protect her food, blinking her watery eyes in plea: “Mommy won’t take it, won’t take it.”
“All right, then eat properly!”
At that moment, Qing Yanshen had nothing to say.
The next morning, Jiang Qingmi headed out.
The address Aunt Zhu gave her was easy to find, just around the corner on the lower floor, with a white sign reading “Qingmei Dry Cleaning.”
When she pushed the door open, the warm air from a heater greeted her. The owner was ironing a suit, looking up as she entered, scanning her briefly.
“Are you the handy girl Aunt Zhu mentioned? The one who can knit baby clothes?”
Jiang Qingmi nodded. “Yes, that’s me. You can call me Xiao Jiang. Baby shoes, hats, sweaters, socks I can knit them all, and I’m reasonably fast.”
The owner put down the iron and pulled out some paper patterns from under the counter. “I’m not being picky. These are for the nearby postpartum center. They need delicate, soft items that won’t scratch the babies. If you can knit like these, I have long-term work for you.”
Jiang Qingmi picked up the patterns. They were small, simple baby items she relaxed immediately.
She took out a pair of shoes she had knitted. “These are mine.”
“Good.” The owner gave a glance, seemingly satisfied. “Take ten hats first. Come back in three days. The regular price outside is 100 a piece; I’ll pay 130 each.”
The yarn was provided, so she didn’t need to pay. Ten hats at 130 each 1,300 yuan in total.
“Thank you!” Jiang Qingmi didn’t expect it to go so smoothly. The owner seemed to read her thoughts and said: “Aunt Zhu trusts you don’t disappoint her kindness.”
Jiang Qingmi thanked her repeatedly. Her small face was fair, her large black eyes charming.
The owner, looking at her, asked, “You’re young and have a child it’s not easy, right?”
Jiang Qingmi paused for a moment. Softly, she replied, “It’s okay. I have someone at home to help.”
“That’s good,” the owner smiled. “It’s exhausting to do everything alone. Is your husband at home?”
Her husband…
Jiang Qingmi’s mind flashed to Qing Yanshen lying pale in bed, and the low, deep voice from yesterday: “Don’t overwork yourself. I’ll earn the money.”
Her chest warmed slightly. “He’s not feeling well, resting at home.”
“No wonder Aunt Zhu recommended you. She has a kind heart.” The owner gestured toward the yarn. “Take these two skeins for now. Don’t rush. If you overwork, it’s all for nothing.”
Jiang Qingmi left the shop with the yarn. The sunlight fell on her hands, warm and real.
Holding the yarn felt like holding hope. Small money beckoned, slowly—the days would get better!
She didn’t go straight home but stopped by the market, biting the bullet to pick three ribs, some seasonal greens, and a small handful of ripe bananas for the baby.
Seeing the money spent made her slightly anxious, but living day to day meant she couldn’t skip meat entirely.
When she arrived home, both Qing Yanshen and Jiang Tuantuan were asleep. She wondered if Tuantuan had woken, and if she had cried when she couldn’t find her mother.
She pushed the door open and froze.
Qing Yanshen sat on the sofa, holding the sleeping baby gently, carefully patting her back.
Tuantuan must have woken and, searching for her mother, was soothed back to sleep by Qing Yanshen.
Hearing the door, he looked up. His gaze fell on the yarn in her arms, the groceries in her hands, and finally on her slightly flushed cheeks.
“Where did you go?”
Jiang Qingmi closed the door, set down the groceries, shook the yarn in her arms, and smiled, eyes curved: “Thanks to Aunt Zhu, I picked up some knitting work. Three days, I can earn 1,300.”
She pointed to the ribs on the table. “Today we’re making rib and corn soup. Eat more so you recover faster.”
Qing Yanshen looked at her. His eyes held deep emotion, and he only softly murmured, “Mm.”
His heart felt as if it might melt soft and tender.
She was truly wonderful.
At the hospital, he had said he was a penniless man, deliberately painting himself as poor but really, he wasn’t that far off. He had just over four thousand yuan.
He was very happy to hear Jiang Qingmi wanted to take care of him, but he couldn’t really let her support him.