“Photo studio?” Yang Dai lifted her eyelids, her gaze falling back onto the newspaper.
“Since Miss Yang has good news, of course we need to celebrate. We’ll go to the photo studio for a picture, then have a meal at the state-owned restaurant, and afterward take a look around the department store.” Han Lin spoke, his voice trailing off as he went on.
This way of celebrating felt, no matter how he thought of it, a little inadequate for Yang Dai.
If it were before, as the Crown Prince, when he wanted to celebrate Yang Dai, he could easily think of a thousand grand ways just to win her smile.
But now, a man can only do what his ability allows. Thinking it through, this was all he could offer.
Han Lin looked a little downcast.
Yang Dai, however, didn’t mind; she was actually quite interested in the photo studio.
In her memory, she had been there twice.
Once in high school, when Father Yang took her to get her student record photo.
The other was on her wedding day. She had heard it was popular in the city for couples to take photos, so she and her husband discussed it and had one taken together. She had even seen that wedding portrait again when she moved houses.
“Let’s wait until you finish your work at the Housing Department. A photo isn’t anything urgent.” Yang Dai, in good spirits, didn’t care whether it was sooner or later.
Besides, she felt that taking a photo was something she could do on her own anyway.
But because she heard lightness and expectation in Han Lin’s tone, she didn’t say that aloud.
Yang Dai wasn’t planning to get rich in silence. After breakfast, she hurriedly grabbed the newspaper and went back to her mother’s house.
She hadn’t been home for a while, and the Yang household had changed quite a bit.
Her old room had been split into two—her nephew and niece now each had their own.
Her second brother’s room had been refurbished in preparation for marriage, and even the courtyard had been re-paved. The changes were obvious.
“Have you eaten? If not, sit down and have a little.” At this time of day, only Mother Yang was home. Seeing her daughter arrive, she was overjoyed.
These past days, while Yang Dai was recuperating at home, her mother had gone out often—mainly to spread word of her daughter and son-in-law’s good deeds, clearing their names.
“I’ve eaten. You go ahead.” Yang Dai sat beside her mother, urging her to fill her stomach quickly.
Mother Yang was always the first up in the morning, making breakfast and sending everyone off to school and work. Only afterward would she have time to eat, by which point the food was always cold.
“In the future, just eat together with everyone. If you wait until they’re finished, not only is the food cold, but there’s hardly anything left.” Yang Dai frowned, hoping her mother would change this habit.
Her mother was the mistress of the house, not a servant. Why should she always eat last?
“Don’t worry about me. I always set aside food for myself. And the weather’s getting hotter—eating cold dishes is refreshing.” Mother Yang’s tone carried a faint tremor.
She wasn’t sad about eating cold food—she had long grown used to it.
What moved her was her daughter’s thoughtfulness. After getting married, her daughter had truly grown up and learned to care for others.
Over the years, she knew she had spoiled her daughter. Whenever there was something good, she kept it to herself. Whenever something displeased her, she threw a tantrum.
Not only did her daughters-in-law resent her, but even her grandchildren disliked their aunt. Both of her sons thought their parents favored the daughter unfairly.
But keeping things balanced in a household was not easy. And after so many years of doting on Yang Dai, it had become habit.
“You came to ask about the commune job, didn’t you?” Mother Yang recalled. It had been some time since the commune expressed interest in giving her daughter a position, but they had yet to give a definite reply. “Wait a little longer. Your father said the news will come soon.”
“Once you have this job that guarantees security no matter the harvest, my girl will have nothing to fear.” Her mother’s tone lightened, already imagining her daughter’s bright future.
“Mother, I actually came to say I don’t want that job.” Yang Dai kept her hand gently pressed on her mother’s arm, afraid she’d get too excited.
“Don’t be angry. Look at this.” Yang Dai quickly stuffed the newspaper into her mother’s hands. “This article here—I wrote it.”
“See, it says right here: Author: Yang Dai, Huangzhuang Brigade.” Since her mother couldn’t read, Yang Dai spelled out every word for her.
“Really? You’re not tricking me?” Mother Yang stared blankly at the paper in her hands.
“Of course it’s true. Why would I trick you? At noon, when my brothers and sisters-in-law come back, show them too. That’s our brigade, and my name.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Mother Yang grew excited, hurriedly giving the paper back to her daughter. “Oh, oh! Why didn’t you say so earlier? A newspaper’s such a precious thing!”
Yang Dai wanted to laugh. Whether at the Yangs’ or Hans’, newspapers were stacked in piles for pasting walls—it never seemed precious.
Ignoring her daughter’s laughter, Mother Yang wiped the table carefully, then washed her hands with soap before solemnly placing the paper down.
“I always knew my girl was capable. Within ten miles, only my girl made it into the paper!” Though illiterate, Mother Yang still looked over the pages again and again, asking Yang Dai to read the article to her.
She repeated the words softly to herself, then pointed to the picture beside the article. “Daughter, did you draw this too?”
“Yes, I did.” Yang Dai nodded firmly.
It was her first submission. Though she had read many articles before writing, her style was still clumsy. To make it stand out, she even drew an illustration. She hadn’t expected them to publish it so prominently.
“See here—I drew it to look like you.” Seeing her mother so happy, Yang Dai added playfully.
“How could I look that good?” Mother Yang laughed, squinting her eyes as she stood up to find a mirror, holding the paper and turning in circles.
“You’ve always looked this good.” Yang Dai coaxed, then returned to the matter of the job.
“Now that I can earn money and ration tickets just by writing at home, there’s no need to work at the commune.” She looped her arm around her mother’s.
“Think about it. If I work at the commune, I’d have to go out every day, rain or shine, summer or winter. I don’t want that.”
Mother Yang never wanted her daughter to suffer. Hearing this, she had to admit working outside was hard.
But after all—it was a job!
She opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Yang Dai went on:
“If the job does come through, you can give it to Eldest Brother or Second Brother. They’ll be happy, and in the future, when they care for you and Father, they’ll be generous. You both will live comfortably.”
“If you give it to me, never mind what my sister-in-law says—even Wang Lixia alone will raise the roof. If the family fights over it, I won’t feel at ease.”
Watching her mother’s face, Yang Dai added, “If you insist the job must be mine, then let’s agree now—I’ll take care of you and Father in your old age. You’ll live with me, not with my brothers.”
Her mother, torn before, immediately slapped her lightly. “What nonsense! Who relies on their daughter for old age? People would gossip us to death!”
Yang Dai just smiled. Finally, Mother Yang relented. “We’ll wait until your father comes back and talk it over.”
“This writing really earns money?” Her thoughts drifted back to the paper, already planning to burn offerings to tell the ancestors their family had produced a scholar.
“Once is just the start. Don’t you believe me?”
“Yang Sheng, Yang Sheng! Is your daughter here?” A voice shouted from the yard.
“It’s the Brigade Leader!” Mother Yang hurried out. “Come in, come in, have a seat.”
“Your daughter is Yang Dai?” He spotted her right away.
“This article in the paper—was it you? Yang Dai of Huangzhuang Brigade?” He stared at her, afraid she might deny it.
“So you’ve already seen it.” Yang Dai poured water for him. He drained it in one go.
He had been searching for her since reading the paper. After going in circles, he finally heard she was back at her mother’s house and rushed over.
“You’re remarkable, truly remarkable!” The Brigade Leader’s dark face flushed with excitement. “The paper says not only did you write it, you drew the illustration too!”
“Our brigade has produced a champion. The whole brigade is honored.” He rubbed his hands together. “Though our brigade isn’t as wealthy as the factories, we must still give you a proper reward.”
“Thank you, Brigade Leader.” Yang Dai accepted readily, sensing he had more to say.
“There’s another matter. The commune has long wanted to form a propaganda team—five brigades joining together. They need people who can write and draw. In a month, inspectors will come to check progress. If you have the time, why not join? All you’d have to do is draw, and every day you’d be credited with full work points.”
Knowing Yang Dai’s reputation for laziness, he spoke quickly, afraid she’d refuse. Then he gulped down another bowl of water, watching her expectantly.
“As a member of the brigade, if I’m needed, of course I’ll do my duty.” Yang Dai even recited a line from the Chairman’s quotations.
The Brigade Leader clapped with delight, praising her again and again.
Yang Dai then took the chance to ask about the team’s planned content.
Meanwhile, at the county food factory’s publicity department, another person sat staring at the same newspaper. After reading it over and over, with growing tension, he finally knocked on the deputy factory director’s office door.