“Is that so? Haha, that works out perfectly—Dingqing and Baolan will have each other for company. From now on, they’ll eat and live together, practically closer than real sisters.”
Dingqing winked at Baolan.
Thinking about the days ahead, Baolan’s mood instantly lifted.
At that moment, Baolin and Baozhen came home from school.
Seeing so many people sitting in the courtyard, Baolin greeted them briefly before heading inside to do his homework. Baozhen sat next to Baomei, trying to listen in on the adults’ conversation.
Yu Heping praised Baolin to Xing Jiafu, “That boy’s got focus. He’s first in his class, right? He’ll definitely get into a technical secondary school.”
At the mention of Baolin, Xing Jiafu’s sun-darkened face showed satisfaction. “One more year to go—let’s see how he does. If he can get in like your Dinghui, his mother and I can finally relax.”
“He will. Dinghui has experience—when he comes back during the summer, I’ll have him talk to Baolin about applying.”
“Oh, that’s too much trouble for Dinghui.”
“It’s nothing, don’t be so polite. Alright, the sun’s about to set, time to make dinner. I’ll head back first. Baolan and the others are going to the city tomorrow, so the paperwork should be done early. Baolan, come to the village committee later—I’ll process your documents.”
Baolan quickly nodded. “Okay, Uncle Yu. I’ll go in a bit.”
Dingqing tugged at her father’s sleeve and whispered, “Dad, there’s still something you didn’t mention.”
Yu Heping glanced sideways at her. “Why aren’t you going home to pack your things? You expect your mother to do everything?”
“Dad~” Dingqing gave him a meaningful look—they had agreed to talk to Uncle Xing about Baolan’s wages. Uncle Xing would definitely want Baolan to hand over all her salary. She wanted to stand up for Baolan!
This silly girl—Yu Heping ignored her hint and nudged her to leave.
Reluctantly, Dingqing followed him home, though not without a few resentful looks.
On the way, she complained, “Dad, why didn’t you bring up Baolan’s wages to Uncle Xing?”
“That’s their family business. I’m an outsider—how can I interfere? Besides, even if I told your Uncle Xing you only hand over eight or ten yuan a month, would he listen? Every family is different.”
“Eight or ten yuan? Didn’t we say five?!”
“I thought about it—five is too little. You eat and live at the factory, what do you even need money for? Keep a few yuan for meals, and your mother and I will save the rest for you so you don’t waste it.”
“Dad! We don’t even know how much I’ll earn yet. What if it’s not enough for me?”
“Not enough? A city worker’s salary can support a whole family—do you think I don’t know that? Sounds to me like you just spend too freely. All the more reason for us to keep it.”
“I’m still an apprentice! Since when does an apprentice support a whole family?!”
“You’ll become a regular worker eventually,” Yu Heping said calmly, hands behind his back.
Earlier that day, Dingqing had told her parents she had applied for a job in Mingfeng City, shocking both of them—they thought she was talking nonsense. It wasn’t until she showed them the introduction letter and recruitment form from the cannery that they finally believed her, still dazed by the news.
They scolded her first—such a young girl sneaking off with an introduction letter to Mingfeng and staying there for two days! Luckily she went with Baolan. If someone had abducted her, they wouldn’t even know where to start looking.
Yu Heping immediately hid the village committee keys in a new place.
These two girls were far too bold! This time they were lucky, but one can’t rely on luck forever. If something happened, it would be too late.
While grumbling about Baolan’s recklessness, Yu Heping also secretly felt pleased with the outcome—his own foolish daughter had benefited from it too. So when Dingqing insisted on standing up for Baolan, he had reluctantly gone along to visit the Xing family.
After hearing Li Sanniu shouting about arranging a marriage for Baosong, Yu Heping figured Baolan’s wages would only cause more trouble, so he decided not to get involved.
After the father and daughter left, the atmosphere in the Xing family courtyard became tense again.
Li Sanniu wore a long face.
Despite her expression, she felt uneasy inside.
That was just how she was—she liked to stir up trouble, but once things got out of hand, she would shrink back and avoid facing it.
If Xing Jiafu had really hit Baolan earlier, then with Baolan’s temperament, she probably would never come home again.
Li Sanniu felt anger, resentment—and a trace of fear.
Which family in the village didn’t beat or scold their children? Why was the second daughter untouchable? Hmph—if she got beaten, it would only be because she spoke too viciously!
If she could curse her own brother now, would she curse her mother in the future?
Li Sanniu silently cursed Baolan.
In the silence, Old Madam Chen glanced at her unhappy daughter-in-law, gave a grin, and said to Baolan, “It’s getting dark—aren’t you going to handle your paperwork?”
Sure enough, Li Sanniu’s face darkened even further—she was probably seething inside.
The more Li Sanniu was upset, the more pleased Old Madam Chen felt. She even watched her expression with interest.
“I’ll go right away,” Baolan said. She glanced at Xing Jiafu, then stood up and headed toward the village committee.
Inside, Dingqing and Yu Heping were already there.
Yu Heping efficiently processed their paperwork, stamping the recruitment approval forms with the village committee seal. Looking at Baolan’s youthful face, he felt a faint sense of melancholy—like the younger generation was overtaking the old.
Thinking of his old friend Xing Jiafu, Yu Heping tried to mediate.
“Baolan, you’re promising. Your parents have spent their lives working the land—they can only see that small patch of farmland. They don’t have the vision you young people do, and that’s not their fault.”
“And about your brother—this is how things have always been. Families value sons, especially the eldest. Daughters have to bear some grievances. Now that you have a chance to leave, it’s a good thing. If you can help your brother, you should. You’re siblings—it shouldn’t come to enmity.”
Why should she be the one to suffer?
Baolan curled her lips, barely bothering with politeness. “I’m still young—how can I help him? I didn’t give birth to him. I have no responsibility toward him.”
Huh?
Yu Heping was stunned.
What did she mean she didn’t give birth to him? Of course she didn’t!
Who talks like that?
It was the first time he had experienced Baolan’s sharp tongue. He sucked in a breath—this girl was not easy to deal with.
“Uncle, I understand what you mean. But if he had any backbone, if he protected his younger sister even a little, I wouldn’t feel this way.”
“He’s healthy and skilled, yet he’s willing to trade his sister for a wife—worse than a stranger. Even if we’re not enemies, there’s no sibling bond left between us.”
Dingqing nodded vigorously. “Exactly! If my brother tried to trade me for a wife, I’d beat him into a pulp! Dad, you’re the village head—how can you be so unfair?”
Yu Heping shot her a glare. “Be quiet.”
He felt a bit at a loss. This was Xing’s fault—raising a clever, strong-willed daughter but still expecting to control her. Now not only had things failed, but the siblings had turned against each other.
“…Sigh, fine. I was just saying,” Yu Heping said awkwardly, changing the subject. “By the way, I’ll go to Mingfeng with you tomorrow. You’ve got a lot of things—I’ll feel better seeing you off.”
Baolan knew he wanted to see the factory with his own eyes before fully believing, so she agreed.
After finishing the paperwork, Baolan handed all her documents to Dingqing for safekeeping. Yu Heping watched in surprise—so this was how his daughter was being used.
Tsk tsk—what had Xing and his wife done to make their own daughter guard against them like this?
Yu Heping couldn’t help but feel a bit superior. Compared to the Xing family, he and Chen Lingzhi practically spoiled their child.
When Baolan returned home, it was as if the earlier argument had never happened—everyone was busy with their own tasks.
Baomei, Baoju, and Third Aunt were cooking in the kitchen.
Third Uncle Xing Jiadong and Baoju’s elder brother Baoliang sat in the courtyard with Old Madam Chen, while Xing Jiafu burned dried mugwort to fumigate the yard.
Third Uncle called out loudly, “Baolan, come sit! You’re really capable—getting a worker’s position. This is a big event for our family, right, Mom?”
“I heard you’re leaving tomorrow, so your Third Aunt and I came right away. Such happy news—we must have a meal together to celebrate. Your father even took down the cured pork hock, didn’t he, big brother?”