Baolan used to keep no money for herself—everything went to her parents.
It wasn’t until she began to grow up and once asked Li Sanniu for money to buy cotton cloth to make undergarments—only to be refused—that she realized she needed to keep some money on hand.
Back then, she stored her money in a bamboo tube hidden in the house. But Li Sanniu would rummage through their room and take it all away.
Even the money tucked under the mat was found and taken.
After Baolan started having her monthly periods, she needed to buy straw paper every month. Without money, how could she manage? Since money couldn’t be kept in their room, she began leaving it with Dingqing for safekeeping.
Opening the biscuit tin, Baolan began counting the few crumpled bills.
There were 3 yuan, 3 mao, and 7 fen left in the box. Adding the 10 yuan, 8 mao, and 1 fen she earned from selling mushrooms, she now had a total of 14 yuan, 1 mao, and 8 fen.
That should be enough for two round trips to Mingfeng City.
She put all the money back into the biscuit tin, straightened her expression, and said seriously to Dingqing, “Dingqing, help me issue another introduction letter.”
Dingqing had secretly done this for her two or three times already and agreed immediately. “No problem. Come on—my dad just happens to be out.”
The two of them quietly slipped into the west room. Under the window stood a desk with drawers. Dingqing skillfully found the key, opened the drawer, and took out paper, a pen, and the key to the village committee office.
They exited through the back door and walked to the nearby village committee. Taking advantage of no one being around, they quickly unlocked the door, slipped inside, and went straight to the cabinet storing documents and the official seal to forge an introduction letter.
In a low voice, Baolan said, “This time I’m going to Mingfeng. Write the destination as Mingfeng City, and make the validity period three days.”
Dingqing widened her eyes in surprise. Baolan put a finger to her lips. “Shh. I’ll explain when we get back.”
Suppressing her questions, Dingqing found a commonly used template among the documents and copied the heading “Certificate” onto the paper with a pen.
She paused to recall how to write “Mingfeng,” scribbled it on scrap paper, and glanced at Baolan: Is this right?
Baolan studied it carefully and nodded firmly: Yes.
Dingqing winked proudly: Good thing I didn’t forget.
Then she began writing neatly:
“This is to certify that Comrade Xing Baolan, female, 15 years old, from our village, is traveling to the Mingfeng City area to visit relatives (tourism). We kindly request that accommodation and tickets for vehicles and boats be provided along the way.”
After copying it out stroke by stroke, she started a new line and boldly wrote a validity period of ten days, added the date, and—after checking everything—stamped it with a loud thump.
After putting everything back in place, the two sneaked back to Dingqing’s room.
Dingqing immediately burst out, “Why are you going to Mingfeng City?!”
Baolan answered honestly, “I want to go there to find a job.”
“Didn’t you say you were looking in the county town before?” Dingqing had always helped her secretly issue introduction letters and knew about her plan to find work—she fully supported it.
Baolan gave a bitter smile. “The county is too small. There aren’t many factories—I couldn’t find anything. I heard Mingfeng City is bigger, with more factories. There must be more opportunities.”
Looking at her determined profile, Dingqing sighed in admiration. “You’ve really got guts. It’s so far—aren’t you scared? And what about your parents?”
Baolan said, “I’m not scared. I plan to keep it from them—just say I’m going to visit Cousin Li in the county. She’s about to give birth. They won’t suspect anything.”
She had thought everything through. Dingqing was deeply impressed. After a moment, she dug out all her own money and stuffed it into Baolan’s hands. “If you’re staying two or three days, take more money.”
Before Baolan could refuse, Dingqing patted her hand like an adult. “Take it. Better to have extra money when traveling.”
Dingqing cared about her even more than her own siblings. The sisterly affection Baolan had never felt at home, she found here.
Her eyes stung. After counting the money, she put it into the biscuit tin. “I’ll leave tomorrow. If I find any job postings, I’ll send you a telegram so we can apply together.”
“Great!” Dingqing stood up and grabbed her hand. “But telegrams have to be checked in town—it’s such a hassle. Why don’t I just go with you?”
Her expression made it seem like they’d find jobs immediately upon arriving, making Baolan both amused and helpless. “It’s not that easy. I’m already prepared to make two or three trips.”
Dingqing said optimistically, “There must be opportunities—we just don’t hear about them here in the mountains.”
She was the type to act immediately. Leaning close to Baolan, she whispered, “I’ll tell my mom I’m going with you to visit Cousin Li. She’ll definitely agree—and I can ask her for more money too.”
Baolan felt both touched and troubled by her trust. She worried Dingqing might recklessly follow her to Mingfeng City and waste money—or worse, something might happen. She didn’t mind risking herself, but she couldn’t drag Dingqing into it.
“I’ll go scout things out first. You can come with me next time, okay?”
Seeing Baolan’s hesitation, Dingqing seemed to understand and blinked, pretending to be disappointed. “Alright then—but next time you’re not allowed to leave me behind.”
Baolan smiled. “Deal.”
They settled it. Baolan left the introduction letter and money with Dingqing for now, planning to pick them up before leaving the next day.
That evening after dinner, Baolan told Xing Jiafu she was going to visit Cousin Li and would stay there for two or three days.
He asked, “Why stay so long? Won’t your cousin’s family mind?”
Lowering her eyes, Baolan replied, “She asked me to stay last time, but I didn’t tell the family so I didn’t. Now she’s about to give birth—I can help out if I stay a couple of days.”
Which was nonsense—Cousin Li’s family of six was crammed into two rooms. There was no space for guests. But Xing Jiafu didn’t know that.
Naturally, he wanted his children to maintain good relations with relatives in the city. “Be tactful at someone else’s home. Don’t make people dislike you. Stay two days and come back quickly.”
Baolan nodded. “Mm.”
He added, “Are there eggs at home? Take a basket to your cousin—at least show some courtesy.”
Baolan hesitated, swallowing her instinct to refuse. “There are. I’ll take a basket.”
After thinking it over and having nothing more to say, Xing Jiafu waved his hand and went to sleep.
He didn’t even ask whether Baolan had money for the boat fare.
The next morning, while cooking breakfast, Baolan quietly boiled over a dozen eggs. She placed them in a basket, pretending they were raw eggs for Cousin Li, and covered them with a handkerchief.
She wrapped a change of clothes in cloth, packed a comb and toothbrush, even brought some tooth powder and soap wrapped in paper. Thankfully, summer clothes were thin—everything fit along with the basket of eggs.
When Li Sanniu saw her taking so many eggs, she looked displeased but said nothing.
She had always been proper when it came to social etiquette.
Carrying the basket, Baolan went to Dingqing’s house to retrieve the introduction letter.
Dingqing was still eating breakfast. Aunt Lingzhi greeted her warmly, “Baolan, sit down. Dingqing will be done soon—have a glutinous rice cake.”
“I’ve already eaten, Auntie,” Baolan refused repeatedly, but Aunt Lingzhi insisted and stuffed a sweet fried rice cake into her hands.
As Baolan ate, Dingqing’s father, Yu Heping, said, “That child Dingqing—she wants to tag along whenever someone visits relatives. Baolan, help me and your aunt apologize to your cousin—say sorry for troubling them. Their house probably doesn’t have space. I’ll have Dingqing ask her brother to arrange a guesthouse. You two can just stay in the county for a couple of days and come back soon.”
Dingqing’s brother had been admitted to the county teachers’ college and had already studied there for a year.
Hearing this, Baolan’s heart skipped a beat. She looked at Dingqing.
Dingqing wiggled her eyebrows at her: I’m going too.
Baolan: “…”
This girl.
At this point, she couldn’t expose her good friend, so she could only nod. “Alright, Uncle Yu.”