“Boss, Xueguo brother, don’t—don’t do it. Even though we were angry just now, we already paid the stall fee and can’t get it back. Let’s wait until the lease expires before we go get even.”
“Weren’t you just ready to hit someone out of anger?”
Li Xueguo looked at his cousin whom he had brought from the village.
“That’s different. I was just saying it. How could I really cause trouble for you, Xueguo brother? We should think about which factory gate to go to instead.”
Along the way, Yang Yufen was completely eye-opening—buying and buying, spending over 120 yuan. Adding two electric blankets, today’s total was 174 yuan and 50 cents.
Carrying large and small bags back to the residential compound, Yang Yufen put things away at home and then went back out to the supply and marketing cooperative.
“Thank you, Xiao Lin. I bought it. Come, have some candy.”
“Really? That’s great, Auntie. How much was the electric blanket?”
Xiao Lin quickly took out the fruit.
“Twenty-five.”
“Twenty-five?! That cheap?”
Xiao Lin was shocked and suddenly worried that Yang Yufen had been cheated.
“Auntie, did you buy the wrong thing? I heard electric blankets cost forty or fifty yuan each.”
“No mistake, it was twenty-five. It can fit two people, and it’s very thick. But it’s domestic-made. I won’t talk more—I need to go home and cook dinner.”
Yang Yufen took the fruit and hurried home.
Xiao Lin stood behind the counter in a daze for a while. If it really was twenty-five, she could afford one too—the winter was just too cold.
“Xiao Lin, what are you thinking about?”
The supply cooperative director—Xiao Lin’s uncle—had just returned.
Business at the supply cooperative was getting harder and harder. With the New Year approaching, he was extremely busy.
“Uncle, I heard from an old lady that the department store sells electric blankets for twenty-five. I want to buy one too.”
“Twenty-five? How could it be that cheap? Is it a tiny one? That’s not even as useful as a hot water bottle.”
The director didn’t pay much attention.
“No, she said it’s big enough for two people, but it’s domestic-made.”
“Domestic-made? Which department store?”
The director suddenly became interested.
“The Baiyi Department Store.”
After all, it was she who had recommended that department store to Aunt Yang.
“Baiyi? You keep watch of the shop. If it works out, I’ll get you two at the lowest price later.”
The director put his hat back on, jumped on his bicycle, and disappeared in an instant.
If it was domestic-made, he didn’t care whether it was state-run or private—if he could secure the deal, this year’s performance of their supply cooperative would definitely surpass others.
Yang Yufen didn’t know any of this. When she got home, she patted the blanket with a feather duster, then followed the seller’s instructions and spread it out, covering it with another sheet.
The electrical outlet in Qin Nian’s room happened to be near the bedside, convenient for plugging in. In the main room, it was farther away.
Yang Yufen wasn’t in a hurry—she started cooking first and would handle the rest tomorrow.
Before leaving, she spread out Qin Nian’s bedding and plugged in the electric blanket, then rode her tricycle to pick her up.
Yes, from now on, Yang Yufen wouldn’t let Qin Nian ride a bike to work alone. The roads were icy, and a tricycle was much more stable. She even re-covered the carriage with a canopy.
“Mom, you don’t have to come so early next time. You’ve been waiting long?”
“No, not long. I was worried I’d be late because I had things to do, but it’s just right. Get in, we’ll talk at home.”
Qin Nian was ushered into the tricycle compartment, which was lined with thick quilts and a thermos of hot water.
After sitting down, she was handed something else.
“Bought from the department store. It’s something like energy chocolate—supposed to restore stamina. I bought a lot. From now on, take a few in your pocket every day.”
Yang Yufen said this while riding off.
Qin Nian looked at what was in her hands.
Chocolate. She hadn’t given her mother-in-law foreign exchange vouchers, so she must have spent a lot of money to buy this.
Was she giving her too little living money? Could her mother-in-law afford all this?
“Quick, go inside and get under the blanket to warm up. The soup will be ready soon.”
Qin Nian was used to being rushed like this. She went inside holding the hot water bottle. Seeing the neatly arranged bedding, she didn’t think much and tried to put the bottle into the bed—then felt a wave of warmth.
She touched it again and noticed a white electrical cord running to the socket.
An electric blanket.
So her mother-in-law didn’t just buy candy today—she also bought an electric blanket.
“Come, wash your feet and get into bed. Is it warm?”
Yang Yufen came in with hot water.
“Yes, it’s warm. Mom, did you buy one for yourself?”
“I did. I’ll just install a socket tomorrow and use it. We’ll eat in the room today. It’s getting windy—it might snow.”
After talking, she hurried out again.
Qin Nian quietly took off her shoes and socks. Her feet were ice cold—she had long gotten used to it—but ever since her mother-in-law came, she seemed to no longer be able to tolerate the cold.
After washing her feet, she lay them in the bed. It was truly warm.
They ate a simple dinner—simple was necessary, as Qin Nian couldn’t tolerate strong smells. Nutritionally balanced nonetheless: boiled eggs, with Qin Nian eating only the whites, while Yang Yufen ate the yolks.
“Mom, it might snow tonight. Come sleep with me. The bed is big, I sleep very still.”
Qin Nian suggested.
Yang Yufen initially wanted to refuse, but after seeing her expression, she nodded.
“I’ll tidy up and come after washing my feet.”
Both of them slept very straight and still. With the electric blanket, it was extremely warm, and Yang Yufen fell asleep quickly.
Qin Nian opened her eyes slightly in the darkness and moved a little closer to her.
Warm… like a mother’s presence. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.
The next morning, Yang Yufen had already prepared breakfast and packed sliced fruit into a lunchbox for Qin Nian.
“Mom, don’t buy sockets anymore. The electric blanket uses electricity. Let’s just sleep together—it’s enough, the bed is big.”
“Okay.”
Yang Yufen agreed immediately, decisively, just like her back turning toward the kitchen.
Qin Nian bit her lip slightly. Her mother-in-law agreed.
“Mom, I’m going to work. Here’s some money for you.”
Before entering the research institute gate, Qin Nian stuffed money into Yang Yufen’s pocket and went inside.
Yang Yufen smiled, watching her disappear, then rode the tricycle back.
It snowed last night. She decided to go check on her friend, Aunt Wang.
“Aunt Wang? Aunt Wang?”
She called out twice, but no one responded. Her brows immediately furrowed. The door was locked from the inside.
She raised her voice and called again—still no answer.
Without hesitation, she climbed over the wall using her tricycle and jumped inside.