After returning home that day, Ye Zhifang quietly went back to her room and counted the money in her pocket twice. The first time, she counted ninety-eight yuan, five jiao, and three fen, hardly believing she had so much money. Counting it again yielded the same amount—it seemed she now had nearly two hundred yuan in startup funds.
If she really made it to the capital, she could definitely use this money to start something.
In the end, Ye Zhifang wrapped this money together with the previous hundred yuan in a handkerchief. This money would need to be kept inside her clothes, so she planned to ask Da Sao’s Mother to sew a pocket inside her clothes in the next couple of days—preferably one with a button.
That day, Second Brother Ye Zhiheng returned home when it was almost dark. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to come back earlier, but there were simply too many people buying tickets during the New Year.
The first thing Second Brother did after coming home was grab a ladle and gulp down half a ladleful of water—he hadn’t had a single sip all day while he was out.
“Dad, Mom, I thought there wouldn’t be many people buying train tickets during the New Year, but when I got there, it was a sea of people. There were only a few ticket windows, each with a long line. Luckily, I went to the bathroom before queuing up. I stood in line for five hours straight. Next time, I swear I won’t take a train out of town—just buying the ticket is exhausting enough. Fortunately, I managed to buy two hard-seat tickets to the capital. They depart at ten in the morning on the seventh day of the New Year, and we’ll probably arrive there around eight or nine in the evening.”
Second Brother pulled two train tickets from inside his coat. Train tickets weren’t part of a real-name system at the time, but you still needed a ticket to board.
Eldest Brother, sitting nearby, took the tickets. “Wow, one hard-seat ticket costs 28 yuan—almost a month’s wages.”
Second Brother snatched them back and tucked them inside his coat again.
“Exactly. Two tickets cost 56 yuan. I thought 50 would be enough. Good thing Dad gave me a hundred yuan this morning. Dad said he’d cover the round-trip fare.”
Second Brother explained this way to avoid any objections from Eldest Brother. Currently, they lived and ate at home, only contributing a symbolic amount for meals each month.
This was only possible because they were the village chief’s family. In other families that hadn’t split up, even if the children were married and earning money, all their income would be managed by the elders. The village chief’s family was an exception.
Ye Zhifang ate her meal with a clear conscience, but in other households in the village, arguments had already broken out over the children’s New Year’s money. Surprisingly, everyone was in agreement—they all planned to take the money from their children’s hands that evening, under the guise of “adults keeping it safe for them.”
“Where did you put the New Year’s money? Your grandpa, your grandma, your uncles, and all the relatives gave you money. You can’t keep it yourself—what if you lose it?”
“That’s right, hurry up and give it to your mom. What does a kid need New Year’s money for?”
All these children’s New Year’s money had gone to Ye Zhifang, but she had also warned them that if their parents came asking for the money, she wouldn’t be able to bring back toys or anything else from the capital. This matter had to be kept secret.
“Dad, Mom, I’ll give you the money in a few days. Let me keep it for now. All the kids in the village are comparing how much New Year’s money they have, and the loser has to treat everyone to snacks.”
The boy spoke so convincingly that the adults gave up on taking the New Year’s money right away. After all, whether they got it a day earlier or later, the money would still end up in their hands eventually.
“Alright, keep the money safe. If you lose it, you’ll see how I deal with you.”
Ah, which child hasn’t been beaten when they were little? As long as they didn’t listen to the adults, they’d often get hit with a broomstick.
Although all the children were more or less pressured by their parents to tell where the money went, not a single one said they had given it to the village’s little fool, Ye Zhifang.
Of course, Ye Yong also played a part in this. Ye Yong had mentioned that Little Aunt would indeed be going to the capital city in a few days.
That evening, Mother Ye sorted out the clothes her daughter would need for the trip to the capital. The temperature was still around minus ten degrees Celsius, and even if the capital was warmer, it would still be around zero degrees. The cotton-padded jacket couldn’t be taken off, but she could pack a few extra sets of outerwear.
“Xiao Fang, here are four sets of outer clothes I’ve prepared for you. The underwear, panties, socks, and menstrual cloths are all inside. When the time comes, ask your Second Brother to wash them for you. The water is cold in winter, and I don’t want your hands to freeze. Also, I’ve sewn a pocket inside your cotton-padded jacket for your money. Keep it there.”
Under the dim light, Ye Zhifang leaned over her pillow, watching TV, while her mother sat beside her with needle and thread, sewing a pocket into her daughter’s clothes.
In the past, Ye Zhifang never had a single cent of pocket money, so her clothes didn’t have pockets either. Of course, her outerwear had pockets, but they were mostly used for keeping her hands warm.
Ye Zhifang thought that this departure might mean she would never return to this place. Even if the betrothal was called off, she planned to stay in the capital and find a job that could earn her money.
“Mom, if I make a lot of money, I’ll bring all of you to live in the capital.”
Mother Ye was taken aback for a moment, thinking her daughter was just repeating something she’d heard on TV. Lately, she had noticed that her daughter loved watching TV and would even imitate the characters on screen. She probably didn’t mean anything by it and didn’t even understand what she was saying.
Mother Ye didn’t respond and continued sewing carefully, stitch by stitch.
This reminded Ye Zhifang of a line from a poem: “The loving mother’s thread in hand, sewing stitch by stitch before departure, fearing her child’s delayed return.”
After observing for so many days, Ye Zhifang noticed that many villagers in the village still wore patched clothes. Even in the Ye family, only her clothes were without patches. Even her Second Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law, who worked all year round, had patched clothes hanging outside to dry.
This family had truly been good to the Original Host. Since she had come here, she couldn’t repay their kindness in raising her in a short time. But in the future, once she made a lot of money, she would definitely take good care of these parents, as well as her Eldest Brother and Second Brother.
Soon, it was the night before the departure. Mother Ye, still worried, called Second Brother into her room.
“Second Son, this canvas bag has your sister’s four sets of outerwear and pants, as well as her underwear and panties. You carry this for your sister. Inside, there’s also the Betrothal Contract and the silver lock. When you’re out, make sure to take good care of your sister. If anything happens to her, don’t even think about coming back. If there’s any trouble, call the village.”
During the day, Ye Zhifang had already tucked the nearly two hundred yuan she had recently collected into the pocket inside her cotton-padded jacket, wrapped in a handkerchief. After all, Second Brother would be paying for everything during the trip, and he wouldn’t let her spend a single cent.
Father Ye took out another hundred yuan and handed it to Second Brother. “Second Son, this is for the return trip. Once the betrothal is called off, come back immediately. Big cities are expensive, so save wherever you can.”
Ye Zhiheng certainly knew what he was going to the capital city for; he was no longer a child. He assured his father, “Dad, Mom, I’ll take good care of my sister. I’ll come back right after breaking off the engagement.”
In the blink of an eye, the second day arrived.
Friendly reminder: If you find this book enjoyable, please remember to add it to your bookshelf to avoid missing it next time.
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