After Xiang Wenshan and Xiang Wenhui returned, they took some money and ration coupons and headed to the production brigade.
Xiang Wenshan had already asked the brigade leader’s wife about it. There was a carpenter in the brigade—if you wanted cabinets or tables made, you went to him.
Following the directions she’d been given—fifth house down—they saw the gate standing open. Xiang Wenshan called out, “Is anyone home? Is Uncle Yang in?”
“Coming, coming!” A woman hurried over. Seeing the two educated youths at the door, she smiled. “What’s the matter? Need something?”
Four new educated youths had arrived recently, and everyone knew. Even though she didn’t like gossiping, she’d heard people talking—this time, two sisters had come, each prettier than the other.
“Hello, Auntie. We’d like to have a wardrobe, a table, and some stools made.”
“Oh! Alright, alright—come in, come inside and we’ll discuss it. Just call me Aunt Yang.”
After leading them into the courtyard, she called toward the house, “Old Yang! Come out—Comrade Xiang is looking for you.”
Yang Damin walked out. “Coming. What’s the matter?”
Xiang Wenshan explained her requirements.
Yang Damin froze in shock. Even Aunt Yang beside him sucked in a breath. As expected, city-bred educated youths really made big moves.
“You’re sure you want two wardrobes as tall as a person, two large square cabinets, two beds, two bedside tables, plus one table and four stools?”
Xiang Wenshan nodded. “Yes, that’s right.
“How long would it take to finish? When our house is done, will these be ready too?”
Yang Damin thought for a moment. “Probably.”
Their house would be finished in about a week. If he worked overtime, it should be possible—though he’d earn fewer work points during the day.
“It’s fine. No rush. Take your time.
“Just prioritize the beds and wardrobes. The rest can come later.”
Yang Damin was taken aback, then quickly nodded. “Alright, okay.”
When he first saw this young woman, he’d thought she might be difficult to deal with. Turns out, she was the exact opposite.
After calculating the cost, Xiang Wenshan handed over the money and ration coupons.
Once that was done, she took Xiang Wenhui back.
“Sis, why are we getting so much stuff? Wouldn’t one bed each be enough?
“What if one day we go back to the city?”
Xiang Wenshan laughed lightly. “Whether we go back or not is another matter. Comfort is what’s important.
“We’re already building a house—why fuss over this bit?
“If the room’s cozy, you’ll sleep better.”
Xiang Wenhui felt that as long as the bed was soft, it didn’t matter where you slept.
But since her sister said so, it must be right. “Mm, Sis, you’re right.”
Xiang Wenshan smiled at her. “Let’s hurry back. They’ll have dinner ready soon.”
“Mm-hmm.”
By the time they returned to the youth point, the meal was indeed ready.
Cao Yu saw them come in and asked, “You’re only just back? That’s pretty late.” The team leader had reassigned her to a different work area once she’d gotten more familiar with things.
Xiang Wenhui released her sister’s arm and smiled. “No, we came back earlier.
“We just went to the brigade again and ordered two beds and some cabinets.”
“Oh, I see. I thought you were assigned somewhere far too, that’s why you got back so late.
“This afternoon, the team leader took me way out.”
“How was your area?”
“It was okay… just no one I knew there. Felt a little nervous.
“But I listened to gossip all afternoon.
“The two older sisters in front of me chatted the entire time.”
Hooking her arm through Cao Yu’s, Xiang Wenhui asked eagerly, “What gossip? Quick, tell me!”
“Well… whose daughter-in-law is lazy, whose hen stopped laying eggs, whose husband sneaked looks at a widow…”
The more she listened, the more interested Xiang Wenhui became. She even pulled over a stool for Cao Yu to sit and continue telling her everything.
Watching her sister’s gossip-loving expression, Xiang Wenshan shook her head with a smile. “Alright, you two can talk later.
“Wash your hands—it’s time to eat.”
“Oh right! Almost forgot dinner.”
After everyone finished eating, Xiang Wenhui immediately clung to Cao Yu, urging her to continue the afternoon gossip.
Seeing her big eyes shining with Tell me more, tell me more, Cao Yu sighed helplessly and kept going.
Xiang Wenshan also pricked up her ears to listen.
When it was over, Xiang Wenhui looked completely satisfied. Then she sighed.
“Ah, why wasn’t I assigned to your group?
“You had so much fun!
“You got to listen to gossip all afternoon. Over in our area, it’s impossible—the team leader keeps walking around, and the brigade leader’s wife isn’t far off. They only dare chat for a little while before stopping.”
Cao Yu laughed. “Then why don’t you ask the team leader to assign you to our side?”
Xiang Wenhui’s eyes lit up. She looked at Cao Yu, then at Xiang Wenshan.
“Forget it. I’ll stay with my sister.
“I can’t be away from her.”
The corner of Xiang Wenshan’s lips lifted slightly.
Old educated youth Song Tao looked at her teasingly. “Comrade Xiao Xiang, do you know what you’re like right now?”
Xiang Wenhui looked at her curiously. “Like what?”
Song Tao curled her lips. “Like a sister-obsessed girl.”
Xiang Wenhui blinked. “What’s that? A new compliment?”
Xiang Wenshan understood immediately. Thinking about it, it did fit a little—but really, it just meant they were close.
Song Tao was briefly speechless at her bright, innocent eyes. She explained, “A sister-obsessed girl is someone who especially listens to her older sister.”
Xiang Wenhui’s eyes curved into crescents, revealing a row of white teeth. “Great! I like that title.”
Song Tao froze. “Huh?” Thinking she hadn’t understood, she asked, “You know what a mama’s boy is, right?”
Xiang Wenhui nodded. “Of course. That’s someone who listens to his mom in everything.”
After saying that, she suddenly understood. “Ohhh, when you say ‘sister’s little treasure,’ you mean something like a mama’s boy, right?
I thought you meant…
But I’m not like that with my sister.
My sister isn’t that kind of person. She treats me really well.
And I can tell right from wrong, okay?
My sister would never hurt me—she’d only ever treat me well.” She finished with a sweet smile.
Song Tao looked at her, opened her mouth as if to say something, then stopped.
It just felt like she listened to her sister too much.
Like… everything revolved around her sister.
But she couldn’t say that out loud. No need to make things awkward.
Xiang Wenhui suddenly thought back to her first year of school.
She had been in the kindergarten class, while Xiang Wenwen, two years older, was already in second grade.
Their schools weren’t far apart and were along the same route home. Their mother had told Wenwen to pick her up every day after school.
But one time, after picking her up, Wenwen ran into a classmate on the way home and left with her, telling Wenhui to wait where she was.
Wenhui stood there for a long time.
When Wenwen still didn’t come back, she decided to walk home by herself.
Unfortunately, she ran into two boys fighting on the road. She tried to dodge them, but failed—they crashed into her and knocked her straight into the river.
The two boys froze in shock. Seeing no one around, they panicked and ran away.
She swallowed several mouthfuls of water. Terrified, she thought she was going to drown.
Just when she was about to give up, Xiang Wenshan jumped into the water and pulled her out.
Her throat, eyes, nose, and ears burned painfully. She cried so hard she could barely breathe, convinced she’d never see her family again.
That cousin who usually kept to herself stayed by her side, comforting her.
Even her sickly cousin brother was there, trying to soothe her.
The riverbank wasn’t deep—it was where people washed clothes. But once she fell in, panic made everything worse. Struggling in the water only carried her farther out.
Compared to kids her age, she was especially small.
After her cousins brought her home, they saw Wenwen in the alley, smiling brightly and showing off a new hair tie to other kids.
Wenhui had been furious.
She ran home crying and complained to her parents. Wenwen got slapped, and the hair tie she’d been bragging about was thrown away by their father.
Wenwen covered her face and said never to let her pick Wenhui up again.
As if she even wanted Wenwen to pick her up. Every time, Wenwen looked down on her—said she was short and embarrassing, said her classmates mocked her for walking with her.
From that day on, Wenhui followed Xiang Wenshan around every day.
Whenever Wenshan had something tasty, she’d share it.
Unlike Wenwen, who always kept good food to herself.
After that incident, she never called Wenwen “Sister” again.
Xiang Wenshan noticed Wenhui’s eyes had turned red and asked gently, “What’s wrong? What are you thinking about?”
Wenhui sniffed and smiled faintly. “Thinking about you, Sis.”
“Me? What’s there to think about?”
Wenhui took a deep breath. “If you hadn’t been on cleaning duty that day… I might not be here.”
That memory existed in Xiang Wenshan’s inherited recollections too.
She reached out and rubbed Wenhui’s head. “Alright. What’s past is past.
Let’s just live well from now on.
Even if I hadn’t been there, someone else would’ve saved you.”
Wenhui shook her head but didn’t say anything more.