A few dozen meters from the village entrance, Ye Qingyan told Pei Ze to stop the jeep there.
Pei Ze turned to look at her. “What’s wrong?”
Ye Qingyan spoke softly. “This jeep draws too much attention. I’d rather not be noticed.”
“Very well.” Pei Ze got out, walked around to the back, and lifted her bicycle down. “Are you sure you’ll be all right on your own?”
“Yes, don’t worry.” Ye Qingyan smiled and rested her hands on the handlebars. “I’ve already taken up so much of your time today. I know you’re busy—please head back quickly. I’ll be going now. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye. And remember to apply your medicine every day.”
Pei Ze watched her leave, then let out a long, heavy sigh.
Some feelings are like grass sprouting in spring—uncontrollable, growing wild and free.
Fate is written in the stars; one may encounter it, but never force it.
Pei Ze now understood: he had fallen. He had come to care deeply for Ye Qingyan.
He would simply have to wait for the right moment to confess his feelings. Today was clearly not the time. After all, he had just saved her—to speak of affection now might seem like seeking repayment for a kindness.
…
Xiangyang Village
Back home, the courtyard gate stood open. Ji Qiuyun sat on a low stool, hands tucked into the pockets of her cotton-padded jacket, eyes fixed intently on the path.
At the sight of Ye Qingyan pushing her bicycle, Ji Qiuyun stood abruptly and hurried over.
Ye Qingyan asked in surprise, “Mother, it’s so cold—why are you sitting out by the gate?”
“You foolish girl! You’ve been gone for ages—I’ve been worried sick! How could I possibly sit still?” Once inside and the door closed, Ji Qiuyun asked with concern, “Where on earth have you been?”
“It’s nothing much. I just treated someone to a meal at the state-run hotel and closed a business deal. Mother, if this works out, things will be so much simpler—I’ll deliver vegetables straight to the Textile Factory canteen.”
“Does that mean you won’t need to sell from a stall anymore?”
“That’s right. Just deliver them to the canteen and have them weighed.” Ye Qingyan secured her bicycle and walked further into the house.
Ji Qiuyun caught the faint scent of medicine lingering on her daughter and frowned slightly. “I smell medicine… have you been injured?”
“Yes, I fell off my bicycle.” Ye Qingyan removed her jacket and rolled up her sleeve to show her. “I saw a doctor—he said no bones were broken. I just need to put some medicine on it at home.”
She said nothing about the man who had tried to drag her into the cornfield. If she told her mother, Ji Qiuyun would be terrified—she might even forbid her from leaving the house alone ever again.
“Oh dear… how could you be so careless?” Ji Qiuyun leaned in to examine the injury, her face etched with distress.
“The road must have been icy. The wheels slipped.” Ye Qingyan pulled her jacket back on and spoke gently to soothe her. “Mother, please don’t worry. It’s truly just a minor injury. It’ll heal in a few days.”
Ji Qiuyun held her daughter’s hands and gave her many earnest reminders: be more careful, ride more slowly.
Ye Qingyan sat indoors for a while longer, then packed some vegetables into a wicker basket and set off for her uncle’s home.
She was meant to meet Jiang Yuan the next day, yet she could not ride a bicycle in her condition. After much thought, she decided it was time to ask Ji Qiming for help.
Ji Dehua and Zhao Mei—her uncle and aunt—had always felt somewhat ill at ease visiting their home and had rarely stepped inside. As for Ji Qiming, he had stayed away lately, afraid Ye Qingyan would make him study again. None of them yet knew about the greenhouse vegetable plot.
Upon arriving, Ye Qingyan greeted the couple, then began taking fresh vegetables from her basket one by one.
The three gathered around widened their eyes. Tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, mustard greens… all looked perfectly fresh, as if just picked.
Ji Qiming swallowed hard and asked, “Qingyan… where did all these come from?”
“We grew them ourselves.” Ye Qingyan gave them a brief account of building the greenhouse and concluded, “The plastic sheeting is terribly hard to come by. If I could get more, I’d certainly give you some.”
“We understand.” Zhao Mei nodded. “I’ve never even seen such material—no wonder it’s so scarce.”
Ji Dehua added, “Even if we could find it, we’d never afford it. Ten yuan a roll! Far too expensive.”
Ye Qingyan smiled. “Whatever vegetables you’d like to eat—just tell me. I’ll pick some and bring them over.”
Ji Dehua shook his head firmly. “No need, really. We still have plenty of cabbages in our cellar. Keep these for yourselves—if you can’t eat them all, sell them.”
“I feel the same way, Uncle,” said Ye Qingyan. “Besides, I’ve secured a steady market: supplying vegetables directly to the factory canteen.”
“How impressive!” Ji Qiming looked at her with admiration. “Qingyan, however did you manage that? Tell me everything!”
“I didn’t arrange it all on my own. I have a business partner who knows the purchasing officer at the Textile Factory—that’s how we got connected.” She turned toward Ji Qiming. “Brother Qiming… I need your help.”
Ji Qiming had been bored out of his mind staying indoors. At the prospect of useful work, he nodded without hesitation. “Of course! Tell me what needs doing.”
“I fell and hurt my arm today,” she explained. “I can’t cycle to deliver vegetables to the factory. Could you take over for a few days?”
At once their faces filled with concern. “How badly are you hurt? Shouldn’t you see a doctor?”
“I already have,” Ye Qingyan said softly. “It’s nothing serious. He prescribed a healing ointment. I just need to apply it regularly.”
“Consider it done!” Ji Qiming thumped his chest confidently. “A few days? I could keep delivering for you indefinitely, no trouble at all!”
Her eyes lit up. “Truly?”
“Of course!” He lifted his chin proudly. “I always keep my word.”
Zhao Mei smiled warmly. “Qiming, please do help her—it’ll stop him complaining about being idle all day.”
Ji Dehua agreed. “Exactly. He may not be clever, but he’s strong and a hard worker.”
Ji Qiming looked indignant. “Father, really! What do you mean, ‘not clever’?”
“I speak only the truth,” Ji Dehua chuckled. “You’ve never had much of a head for anything—always at the bottom of every exam!”
Ji Qiming fell silent, defeated. Ye Qingyan smoothly returned to business. “Brother Qiming, then I shall entrust the deliveries to you. The earnings will be split: our business partner takes twenty percent, and you and I each take forty percent.”
“Keep your money,” said Ji Qiming. “Just give me an occasional vegetable. We’re family—no need for such formality.”
“Brother Qiming, this is no short trip to the commune—it’s all the way to the county town. Two hours each way by bicycle! If you won’t accept payment, I shall deliver them myself. Even close family settle accounts fairly. Please—do accept your share.”
Ji Qiming looked toward his parents. Seeing them nod in agreement, he said, “Very well… but give me only thirty percent. You and your mother get twenty-five each. That leaves me with the largest share as it is.”
“Very well—shall we say thirty percent?” Ye Qingyan smiled and nodded.
Early the next morning, Ji Qiming cycled with Ye Qingyan to the commune. There they met Jiang Yuan, and the three traveled together to the County Textile Factory.
Jiang Yuan first showed them around the premises, then introduced them to Director Li of the Purchasing Department. Later, they treated Director Li to a meal at the state-run hotel. With Jiang Yuan’s gracious mediation, terms were quickly agreed upon: vegetables would be delivered directly to the canteen, effective immediately, with the arrangement lasting until the start of spring plowing.
Director Li had put it plainly: “Once the weather warms, we shall return to our usual practice—purchasing through the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.”
Ye Qingyan nodded readily. She understood perfectly. In truth, she had never intended to run this vegetable business beyond these few months anyway—she already had other plans.