Even after seeing Yao Qingqing off, Shu Jin Yue's emotions hadn't yet settled.
She was so excited!
She actually managed to secure a city residency through her own abilities—this opportunity was completely earned by her own efforts!
When Zhao Wan Qiu returned from grocery shopping and saw her flushed little face, she remarked, "You're not running a fever, are you? I told you to sleep longer, but you wouldn't listen. Why get up so early?"
When Jin Yue was young, she loved sleeping more than other children, especially sleeping in. From Monday to Saturday, she could never wake up properly, nodding off like a pecking chicken while having her hair combed, practically sleepwalking. Yet on Sundays, she'd always wake up unusually early.
Every time she'd appear with her messy, yellowish bedhead, rubbing her eyes and asking confusedly why there was no school on Sundays, both Zhao Wan Qiu and Teacher Shu would laugh.
That seemed like so many years ago now.
Zhao Wan Qiu sighed with emotion, "Garlic has been so hard to buy these days. Your Aunt Zhao queued for several days just to get three jin. Luckily, your second brother works at the store, otherwise we wouldn't have gotten any."
"Knowing you like it, this celery was specially reserved by your second brother. Fresh, isn't it?"
With its white stalks and tender green leaves emitting that distinctive fragrance, Shu Jin Yue's mouth began to water.
She had just made herself a cup of rich milk powder after waking up, yet smelling the celery made her hungry again. It seemed she was still too nutrient-deficient and needed proper nourishment.
But it didn't matter. Now that she could stay in the city and would soon have a salary, she would treat herself better. As people would say on mobile phones in the future, she would definitely "re-raise" herself properly, nurturing herself into the person she wanted to be.
"Hey, you girl, did something good happen?"
Remembering all the recent setbacks, Jin Yue swallowed the words she was about to say. Better to wait until everything was confirmed. If she got their hopes up for nothing again… with the elderly couple's high blood pressure, constant emotional rollercoasters weren't good. Of course, although Shu Wen Yun had shown sincerity, she still needed to be cautious. Before things were officially settled, she didn't want her to know.
"Nothing, Mom. Are we stir-frying the celery with tofu?"
"Yes, it's Yangcun Tofu reserved by your second brother. It doesn't break easily and stays tender when cooked."
"Having someone working at the grocery store in the family is really convenient—we get to eat the freshest vegetables." While trimming the celery, Zhao Wan Qiu brought up Shu Wen Ming's situation. "A few days ago, your Aunt Zhao mentioned setting up your second brother on a blind date. They're meeting tomorrow at People's Park. You're sharp—keep an eye on them from a distance and make sure your brother doesn't mess things up again."
Shu Wen Ming had initially been resistant to blind dates, especially since the matches always had some shortcomings—either complicated family backgrounds, less attractive appearances, or heights under 1.5 meters. Back then, he had somewhat lofty standards.
But after being rejected multiple times himself, he became withdrawn. How come those he didn't fancy were actually rejecting him first?
Full of resentment and frustration, whether intentionally or not, he managed to ruin every blind date he attended.
"Last time, the girl from the paper mill turned him down after one meeting because he's a temporary worker."
"And Xiao Liu from the Second Department Store rejected him for not having his own place."
"Xiao Li from across Huai Shu Alley doesn't mind him, but she's an only daughter who wants a live-in son-in-law, and he's unwilling." Zhao Wan Qiu sighed. "I personally don't mind these things, but I don't dare say it. What if people think I, as the stepmother, can't tolerate him and am driving him out?"
"Mom, don't worry so much about Second Brother's matters. Maybe he simply doesn't like women."
"What do you mean? Shu Jin Yue, where did you learn such nonsense?"
Jin Yue curled her lips. When she was an A Piao (wandering spirit), she had read many novels. During her idle moments, she had speculated that Shu Wen Ming might truly not like women. Otherwise, why wouldn't he marry later when he became a big boss in the south after several years, with plenty of girls liking him?
It wasn't just about not marrying – he didn't even date at all.
Could it be that he became resentful toward women after experiencing emotional setbacks when young and later becoming successful?
"This Xiao Wang is from the countryside. Though she doesn't have a job, her father is an accountant in the production brigade, and her several brothers are tall and strong. Their family doesn't lack food." The key was that the village wasn't far from the city. Though city dwellers lived in urban areas, when it came to food and drink, they really weren't as well-off as rural folks.
From a single potato to an egg, city people couldn't easily buy them without ration tickets or connections. But rural people could secretly raise a couple of hens and grow some vegetables in their private plots – wasn't that how they accumulated supplies?
As he grew older, Shu Wen Ming's blind date prospects had "declined" from formal workers with obvious flaws and urban only daughters to rural girls without commodity grain rations. Zhao Wan Qiu always felt somewhat indignant about this, but Jin Yue thought it was the natural order of things.
After all, Shu Wen Ming's conditions were just average – what more could he expect?
Still, she was quite looking forward to Second Brother's blind date tomorrow.
Sure enough, early the next morning, Jin Yue urged Second Brother to get up and tidy himself. He absolutely had to wash his hair, and after washing it, he needed to style it. Ordinary folks didn't have rare items like hair dryers or curling irons at this time, but they had a stove at home, and fire tongs!
Jin Yue heated the fire tongs on the stove, lifted a section of Shu Wen Ming's hair, and curled it with the hot tongs. It sizzled and smoked, scaring him so much he jumped around like a monkey.
But soon he discovered that with his hair slightly curled, it made his long face appear less elongated.
Shu Wen Ming had been working at the counter, sheltered from wind and sun, so his skin was quite fair. Aside from some acne scars, he looked rather good overall.
The clothes were borrowed by their sister-in-law from their eldest brother's good outfits – reportedly something he only wore when attending district meetings.
The brothers were similar in height, so the clothes fit quite well. Looking at this spirited and presentable young man before her, Jin Yue cheered him on: "Go for it, Second Brother! Try to find me a second sister-in-law soon!"
Shu Wen Ming blushed, "Get away. Plenty of people are chasing me, I just don't fancy them. Your second brother pursues lofty ideals and great…"
Jin Yue rolled her eyes at him.
Taking the bus would cost money, and since it was still early anyway, the siblings began walking to People's Park on foot, bickering along the way.
Jin Yue was in a good mood today. Yao Qingqing had said yesterday before leaving that she would go ask at the labor bureau on Monday, and if possible, she would transfer her job to Jin Yue.
But when it came to money, she wasn't sure exactly how much would be appropriate. Jin Yue thought of using nearby large factory clinics as reference. Last year, Aunt Zhao's niece spent six hundred yuan to get into the steel mill clinic. After a year, with prices rising and market conditions improving, Jin Yue planned to offer Yao Qingqing seven hundred yuan.
This price should be reasonable.
After arriving at the park, Shu Wen Ming shook his hair and stood at the entrance waiting. Jin Yue went in first, found a spot with a broad view, and crouched down.
Admittedly, Shu Wen Ming's outfit today played to his strengths while minimizing his weaknesses. When he wasn't speaking, his appearance was quite presentable. Several aunties glanced at him twice before entering, wondering whose young man he was, looking so spirited.
That Shu Wen Ming agreed to this blind date was the result of much persuasion from everyone. Aunt Zhao had patted her chest and guaranteed that the girl was pretty, her family not only had sufficient food supplies but could also help support the Shu Family in the future. Only then did he reluctantly come.
Just as she was thinking this, a group of people arrived at the entrance.
Though called a group, it was clearly seven men dressed as farmers surrounding a young woman of about twenty-one or twenty-two. The girl was indeed pretty, with fair skin and large eyes, dressed fashionably and even wearing a pair of black leather shoes.
The girl was named Wang Xiaohong, from a village in the southern suburbs. Although it was a village, transportation was convenient, making it easy to travel to and from the city. She often came to the city to watch movies and shop at department stores, appearing no different from a city girl.
The girl's brothers sized up Shu Wen Ming from afar. Their first reaction upon seeing his malnourished, slight frame was to frown. Then, noticing his pale skin, they clicked their tongues disapprovingly. Finally, observing his clothing, their frowns deepened enough to crush flies.
Even before it began, Jin Yue disliked their disdainful looks. Perhaps she was being protective, but she felt her second brother had shown the utmost sincerity within his means. Even if they weren't interested, they shouldn't embarrass him so openly.
Aunt Zhao must have clearly explained Second Brother's circumstances to them. Since they were willing to come, it meant they could accept it. Coming only to humiliate him—what was the point?
Sure enough, Second Brother was already thinking of backing out.
However, the girl took the initiative to approach him. "Hello, are you Comrade Shu Wen Ming, introduced by Aunt Zhao?"
Shu Wen Ming's upbringing made him stop. After confirming each other's identities, they sat at the farthest ends of a bench and began exchanging sporadic conversation.
From a distance, Jin Yue couldn't hear what they were saying. Seeing the girl showed no shyness, her brothers watching like hawks nearby, and Second Brother not daring to look at her casually… Jin Yue had a premonition that today's blind date was likely doomed!
Sure enough, when it ended, Shu Wen Ming's face fell.
"What's wrong, Second Brother? It looked like you barely spoke."
"No chance."
Jin Yue fell silent. She had no right to judge the girl, but the way the brothers scrutinized Second Brother like merchandise, constantly making subtle disapproving gestures, and muttering "pretty boy" as they left, was enough to show they weren't easy to get along with.
Although her Second Brother, Shu Jin Yue's sibling, really wasn't much, she wouldn't allow others to look down on him like that.
"Never mind, if it doesn't work out, it doesn't. We'll take our time looking; we'll eventually find someone suitable." With brothers-in-law who'd call someone a pretty boy on the first meeting, even if it had worked out, life would have been unbearable later.
Regardless of both families' circumstances, respect is the most fundamental requirement.
Shu Wen Ming fell silent. Clearly, this failed blind date, which he had considered a "dimensional strike," made him doubt himself and life even more.
For the rest of the day, he lay on the kang like a corpse, refusing to get up even for meals.
After much anticipation, Monday finally arrived. Shu Jin Yue waited until noon, unable to hold back any longer. Just as she was about to head to Jinyu Hutong or the Geological University to find Yao Qingqing, the latter finally arrived with good news.
"It's settled. Given my family's special circumstances, the Labor Bureau has agreed. Go there tomorrow at 10 a.m. to complete the formalities. Bring your household register and proof of your rustication experience."
Jin Yue hadn't expected things to go so smoothly!
Even when she went to the neighborhood office to get the proof, everyone treated her surprisingly well. Thanks to Director Liu's promotion of her, several aunties even pulled her aside to consult her about "difficult ailments" like irregular menstruation and headaches.
After issuing the proof, Director Liu kindly escorted her to the gate. "Jin Yue, your Uncle Liu has a good eye, doesn't he? People used to say you were slow, but I recognized your talent. I always told everyone you were the smartest of the four siblings in your family, destined for great things. And now, look—you've connected with Deputy Director Yang! Good days are ahead for you!"
Director Liu assumed that, given the Shu family's circumstances, Yang Zhengkang must have helped secure this job.
Jin Yue didn't respond. She recalled Xu Duan's warning that night: Yang Zhengkang and his circle were complicated, not the kind of connections a nineteen-year-old girl should be involved with. She hadn't denied it.
According to the course of history, within a few years, these people would be purged. Besides the unjust, false, and wrongful cases they had created, those they had improperly placed in various units through abuse of power would also be thoroughly investigated.
Though her job might not be revoked, no one wanted to be investigated constantly.
What puzzled Jin Yue was this: she knew the course of history because she had been a wandering spirit, but how did Xu Duan seem to know as well? Could he possibly be a reborn person too?
Perhaps he had read widely, seen much, and had foresight? After all, he was a future behind-the-scenes powerhouse.
Jin Yue's mind wandered all the way home. Just as she reached the entrance of the hutong, she ran into Xu Si Qi, who was riding his bicycle over.
"Comrade Shu, I've come with good news!"
"I asked a classmate whose family works at the towel factory. They said it's possible…" Blah, blah, blah… Jin Yue understood: it was indeed a job, but only a temporary one.
He looked somewhat ashamed. "I'm sorry, I know this probably isn't satisfactory, but I really tried my best."
He had even begged his uncle for help, but whether his uncle was too busy or something else, he hadn't gotten back to him, and he didn't dare press further.
"Thank you, Brother Xu. I was just about to tell you—the job matter is settled." At this point, Xu Si Qi and Shu Wen Yun weren't yet in a relationship, and they rarely saw each other. Besides, Shu Wen Yun had been selected for a half-month training program in a neighboring city early that morning. Even if she returned and Xu Si Qi told her, Jin Yue's matter would already be set in stone.
She explained that she had just submitted her materials to the Labor Bureau and was now waiting for them to send a letter to her rustication location to transfer her files. With the Labor Bureau taking the lead, she believed the production brigade wouldn't dare obstruct.
At most, they might write some unfavorable comments about her work performance, but she didn't care.
She was keeping accounts—there would be a day of reckoning.
"The job at the epidemic prevention station? That's great—shouldn't be too tiring, and it sounds respectable too."
Jin Yue beamed, revealing a neat row of small white teeth. Of course! The key was it was close to home—just a five-minute walk away. Though the salary wasn't confirmed yet, once she passed the exam, it would surely increase step by step.
Heck, "high pay, light workload, and close to home"—this was practically the ideal job!
Though Xu Si Qi wanted to shake off the burden of the Shu Family, he was kind-hearted by nature. After offering congratulations, he asked with concern, "But how did you pull strings for this? Is it reliable? Could there be any issues…"
Jin Yue didn't mention her connection to Yao Qingqing, only saying it was through a friend.
"Her brother sacrificed his life—he's a hero worthy of respect. Comrade Xiao Shu, you must work hard to live up to his sacrifice, right?"
Jin Yue nodded repeatedly, sent him on his way, and hummed a cheerful tune as she headed home to share the good news with everyone.
Leaving aside the Shu Family's joy, Xu Si Qi returned to Jinyu Hutong and happened to arrive home just after his uncle. "Uncle, have you been busy lately?"
"Why do you ask?"
"No reason. It's all settled now anyway."
The relief on his face was too obvious for Xu Duan to miss. "Siqi, you really don't have to."
"Don't have to what?"
Xu Duan thought of the girl looking up at him under the dim lamplight and felt an indescribable restlessness. "Never mind."
"Oh, by the way, I heard your work assignment came through—at the city's materials bureau?"
"Mm."
Xu Si Qi took a few steps, then remembered something else. "Yesterday I heard… Brother Feiyang… they say he sacrificed his life, is that true?"
Xu Duan gave a faint "Mm," but his hand holding the towel stilled, the veins on it seeming to pulse twice.
Xu Si Qi tried to read his expression, but he had already turned and gone back to his room.
Xu Si Qi knew he had brought up a topic he shouldn't have. Yao Feiyang was his uncle's childhood friend. That group of kids was a few years older than him, always shouting and chasing each other through the hutongs when they were young. Back then, what he admired most about his uncle was that he had a wooden pistol, paper airplanes that could fly, and cannons molded from black clay… Yao Feiyang seemed to excel at everything he did.
Yet this capable Yao Feiyang always followed his uncle's lead. Even for something as major as joining the army, he followed his uncle.
Later, the two were lucky enough to be assigned to the same unit, went through countless life-and-death situations together, and their bond was as strong as brothers. No one knew exactly how Yao Feiyang died, but it was a fact that since his uncle's discharge and return home, he had become even more silent than before.
If not for his father and what happened to Yao Feiyang, his uncle would probably still be in the army, rooted in the military career he loved most…
Though the Shu Family was happy, they couldn't relax until Jin Yue's personnel file was officially transferred. They went to the personnel bureau every day to check, afraid something might go wrong.
At the same time, they were genuinely grateful to Yao Qingqing for giving this opportunity to Jin Yue. The old couple considered taking some gifts to the Yao Family to express their thanks.
"How much did you give her that day?"
"I gave seven hundred, but she only took six hundred." The remaining hundred was firmly returned to her.
"This girl is truly kind-hearted." Zhao Wan Qiu sighed with emotion as she rummaged through the cabinet, pulling out a pile of loose change and various ration tickets. "It's quite pitiful that she's all alone. She probably can't eat much even if she buys groceries. How about this – since tomorrow is Laba Festival, why don't we invite her to have a meal at our home?"
The Shilan people had the tradition of celebrating Laba Festival, where every household would cook Laba congee and prepare Laba garlic. No wonder garlic had been selling out quickly these past few days.
Even without considering the job matter, Jin Yue quite liked Yao Qingqing's personality. However, thinking about her being alone, if she came to their home and saw the whole family bustling with activity, Jin Yue worried it might make her feel sad by contrast. "How about this – instead of inviting her over, I'll bring her some Laba congee and garlic tomorrow afternoon after she gets off work."
Zhao Wan Qiu thought this was reasonable too. The next day, she got up early to cook the congee, adding ingredients generously this year that she would normally be frugal with in previous years – yellow carrots, white tofu, dark black fungus, red peanuts – all cooked together with rice until soft and mushy, melting in the mouth.
She scooped out the thickest parts with the most ingredients, filling two large mugs to the brim, along with a jar of Laba garlic. Wrapping the congee in a clean old cotton-padded jacket, she urged Jin Yue to hurry out, afraid it would get cold.
From the Shu family to Jinyu Hutong, it was eight stops by bus. When Jin Yue got off the bus, she touched the jacket – it was still warm.
Jinyu Hutong truly lived up to its reputation as an affluent neighborhood. The moment she stepped off the bus, the environment was different – not just clean and tidy, but even the trees along the roadside seemed more numerous and sturdier. Surprisingly, several evergreen trees whose names she didn't know remained green in winter.
If one could live here, what worries could life possibly hold?
Jin Yue walked while looking around, not noticing anything unusual until she entered the hutong, where outside noise interference decreased. Only then did she realize there seemed to be steady, rhythmically even footsteps following behind her all along.
She turned to look and immediately brightened up, "Uncle Xu?"
Xu Duan didn't speak, just nodded slightly, looking at what she was holding in her arms. "Here to see someone?"
"How did Uncle Xu know?"
Xu Duan didn't explain, simply saying, "Go attend to your business."
This was the most important big shot she had known when she was an A Piao, but strangely, Jin Yue wasn't really afraid of him. "I'm not busy. Are you busy?"
The girl's skin was very fair, her amber-like pupils reflecting his image, with slightly upturned eye corners like a cunning little cat. Seemingly, her little thoughts were as numerous as a cat's too.
Xu Duan curved the corners of his lips slightly. "I'm not busy either. Would you like to come sit at our home?"
He pointed to a date-red door not far ahead.
"Okay! I haven't been to Uncle Xu's home before." She was referring to Xu Ping – not long ago, Xu Ping and Zhang Zhen had visited Liu Ye Hutong, which was her first time meeting them.
Overall, the couple were both gentle, reasonable people. They didn't mention any past sad events at all, but kept saying that if they encountered any difficulties, they could come find them – their home was at No. 16 Jinyu Hutong.
If she had known she would be visiting the Xu family, she would have brought an extra portion of Laba gifts.
As if seeing through her thoughts, Xu Duan, walking ahead, turned back. "Our family has few members, and we don't often eat at home."
Xu Ping and Zhang Zhen had just returned to work, their careers in the early stages of rebuilding, while Xu Si Qi was at school. "Then do you eat at home?"
"Fairly often."
Shu Jin Yue pouted. What did "fairly often" mean? Why did this person speak so cryptically. "So have you gotten off work now?"
"Mhm." Xu Duan led her into the living room and went to the kitchen to fetch water, when he suddenly noticed the note left by his sister-in-law on the refrigerator. Inside the fridge were two bottles of milk delivered this morning.
Their family had always maintained the habit of ordering milk, a tradition kept since he and Xu Si Qi were children, but he had long passed the age of enjoying milk.
So, five minutes later, Jin Yue received a warm bottle of milk.
"The weather's cold, have something warm to drink."
Fresh milk was definitely different from powdered milk—it had an extra layer of milky sweetness. She took a careful sip, and it was truly sweet!
The Xu family's house was enormous, with just the living room alone being as large as all the Shu family's rooms combined. The furniture was all made of high-quality rosewood, and the large, soft European-style leather sofa seemed to swallow anyone who sat in it. Besides the television and radio, there was even a gramophone shaped like a trumpet, a clear testament to the lavish lifestyle of former capitalists.
Perhaps because the house was too big and the people too few, the home felt somewhat desolate. Jin Yue, holding a warm glass of milk, squinted with contentment, looking even more like a lazy little kitten.
"Would you like some candy?" Xu Duan suddenly asked from across the room.
Jin Yue took a sip of milk. "What?"
"Chocolate. Would you like some?"
Chocolate—Jin Yue had only ever seen it on mobile phones. "What does chocolate taste like?"
It wasn't that she was ignorant, but children from impoverished urban families born and raised in her era considered themselves fortunate just to have enough to eat. She remembered Shu Wen Yun mentioning in middle school that chocolate could only be bought at overseas Chinese stores using foreign exchange certificates. In recent years, it might have become more accessible, available in department stores, but she had been in the countryside with no chance to try it.
Xu Duan's eyes softened as he stood up and retrieved two beautiful tin boxes from beneath the television cabinet.
Jin Yue took them and examined the writing on the boxes, though she couldn't read it. "Are these from the Soviet Union? Your family seems to have everything…"
So, chocolate really was black. It smelled slightly bitter, with a hint of nutty fragrance. Carefully breaking off a piece and placing it in her mouth, it felt smooth, then turned soft and aromatic. There was a bit of bitterness, but also sweetness, with some crunchy, fragrant nuts in the middle.
So chocolate really was silky!
Xu Duan was amused by her expression. "Take your time. I'll pack some for you to take home later."
Hearing this, Jin Yue didn't bother being polite. After all, she had already eaten and drunk her fill, and it was too late for formalities now. Xu Duan clearly seemed like an easygoing person.
Fifteen minutes later, Jin Yue's stomach was full of delicacies she had never tasted before, and her words grew sweeter. "Thank you for the reminder, Uncle Xu. From now on, I won't interact with Yang Zhengkang and the others—or at least, I'll try my best."
Xu Duan nodded, as if praising her for doing the right thing.
Encouraged by his expression, she couldn't help but boast further, "I even found a job, all on my own."
The man's expression relaxed. "Really? What is it?"
"I'll be working as a doctor at our neighborhood epidemic prevention station. The paperwork is being processed now, and I should start working by the latest after the New Year… I'm so happy to finally leave that dreadful place."
"I really do know how to treat illnesses, many of them. My mother doesn't believe me."
"One day, I'll make them see me in a new light."
"Today is only the second time I've drunk milk and the first time I've eaten chocolate."
…
She chattered on like a child seeking praise from a parent.
Xu Duan listened attentively the entire time, his gentle gaze occasionally resting on her or drifting to her empty milk glass and the finished tin boxes.
Shu Jin Yue felt completely at ease. Xu Duan was truly someone who made it easy to let down one's guard. Though he spoke little, he was gentle and cultivated. Jin Yue could see tolerance and encouragement in his eyes.
Yes, she had a feeling that no matter how rebellious or unpleasant her words might be, he would tolerate her and encourage her to keep going.
"Have I met you before?" she tilted her head, studying Xu Duan across from her, not missing a single flicker of emotion on his face.
"Of course," he still smiled gently. "It's not safe after dark. Take the chocolate home and enjoy it slowly."
Jin Yue agreed somewhat dazedly, accepting the packaged items he handed her. Only then did she remember she had brought two large jars of Laba congee. "Let me give you half the congee – it's a festival today after all."
Xu Duan accepted cheerfully. "Don't delay now. Finish your errands and hurry home. It's not safe after dark."
"I know, I know. You're even more nagging than my parents."
It wasn't until she delivered the congee and garlic to Yao Qingqing that Jin Yue realized – he hadn't answered any of the questions she asked him!
This Uncle Xu, who seemed so easygoing on the surface, was actually quite cunning!
Humming a tune, she strolled leisurely back to Liu Ye Hutong. As expected, her family was still waiting for her to eat. Today, her eldest brother and sister-in-law had also returned. The six of them crowded onto the warm heated bed, leaving no space to even stand in the room, yet Jin Yue felt that her home wasn't so bad after all.
Xu Duan's large house with its big sofa was comfortable, but it felt cold and lonely – not as warm as their small, shabby single-story home.
"You silly girl, what are you so happy about? We just asked you to deliver some things, and you nearly didn't make it back before dark."
"If you hadn't returned soon, I would have sent your second brother to look for you."
Shu Wen Ming lay at the far end of the heated bed with a "don't bother me" expression. Zhao Wan Qiu winked at her, signaling not to provoke him.
Recently, Shu Wen Ming had been quite unlucky. First, he was shadowed by the failure of his blind date, then he was criticized by his unit leader because someone reported him for selling several pounds of rotten tomatoes to someone at an extremely cheap price – practically giving them away for free.
"You really shouldn't have sold them to someone like Hu Nainai, that poor old woman. Trying to be a good Samaritan, and now you're being criticized? Serves you right!"
Only then did Shu Jin Yue remember that in the opposite Huai Shu Alley lived a solitary old woman. Nobody knew her original name – Jin Yue only remembered when she was very young and went to play with friends, others would frighten her with "be careful or Hu Nainai will take you away."
Hu Nainai had no children, was in poor health, and had a solitary personality, barely making ends meet with support from the neighborhood committee. Although Jin Yue didn't know Hu Nainai personally, she felt her second brother hadn't done anything wrong. The vegetables were going to be sold cheaply anyway – helping a solitary elderly person was no different from selling to anyone else.
"The person who reported him probably wanted to buy the cheap vegetables but didn't get them," Liu Hui Fang disapproved of her husband's schadenfreude and glared at him.
"Alright, alright, he's the good one, playing the Lei Feng." The unit shouldn't criticize him, they should recognize him as an outstanding individual instead."
"Stop arguing, it's annoying." Shu Wen Ming got up, slipped on his shoes, and hurried back to his room.
"Big brother, could you say less? Second brother is already in a bad mood." Shu Jin Yue couldn't stand it anymore. "If you're really capable, then introduce him to someone."
Shu Wen Yan gave two dry laughs. Given their younger brother's circumstances, it really wouldn't be easy to find him a match.
Over the next few days, Jin Yue waited for news. Ultimately feeling uneasy, she quietly sent a telegram to the Commune where she had been sent, addressing it to a sister from their same Educated Youth Spot – the one who had cured her strange "big belly" illness.
The female educated youth told her that the brigade headquarters had already received the letter from Shu City. The team leader didn't want to stamp it, but had no choice – they had no right to hold people back. They were probably planning to delay stamping it until the very last moment.
Jin Yue breathed a sigh of relief—such petty obstacles were nothing but a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
Meanwhile, the female educated youth also informed her that after she left, a new batch of educated youth had arrived. Due to insufficient housing, her bed had been temporarily borrowed by the newcomers, but the bedding had been washed clean and stored away.
"Thank you, sister. I don’t think I’ll be returning anytime soon, so you can keep the bedding for yourself. All my things are yours to use as you see fit. If they’re not useful, feel free to give them away."
The female educated youth was deeply grateful. "Thank you, Jin Yue. Your family is so kind to have arranged work for you."
Her tone carried a hint of envy. "I might end up staying here for the rest of my life."
Jin Yue wanted to say that wouldn’t be the case—within five or six years at most, as long as one wasn’t specifically targeted, everyone would be allowed to return to the city in large numbers. She had always kept her distance from this sister out of fear that she might be implicated. Now that Jin Yue had secured a place in the city, the team leader’s family might be looking for someone to take their frustrations out on.
Hardening her heart, Jin Yue offered a few words of advice before hanging up the phone.
She believed that one day, they would surely meet again.
On the twelfth day of the twelfth lunar month, the female educated youth called back. The team had finally stamped her documents, and her files had been transferred. In just a few days, she would return to Shu City.
Jin Yue’s anxious heart finally settled, and she was so overjoyed she could hardly resist bursting into song on the spot.
"Oh, Jin Yue, what’s got you so happy?" Auntie Li from the backyard called out, holding up a strip of fatty pork two fingers wide, her grin stretching from ear to ear.
Before Jin Yue could answer, Auntie Li deliberately raised the fatty pork high. "This is a gift from my eldest daughter—she said it’s to nourish me. Of all my daughters, the eldest is the most filial. She…"
Blah, blah, blah. No one enjoyed listening to her talk, but they couldn’t resist staring at that piece of fatty pork.
In these times, when buying meat, fatty cuts were the most sought-after—the fattier, the better. That two-finger-wide strip of fatty pork was absolutely everyone’s dream cut, the kind people would fight over.
Jin Yue was no exception. She was genuinely craving it. Although returning to the city meant eating better than in the countryside, meals were still lacking in oil. Occasionally adding an egg to a dish was a treat worth celebrating for the whole family.
Thinking of her little savings, she decided to wake up early the next morning to buy meat!
Just as she was lost in thought, Zhao Wan Qiu entered with groceries. "Jin Yue, look who’s here."
A girl followed her in. "Sister Huang Mei?"
"Huang Mei, are you busy right now?" Huang Mei seemed anxious. "I’d like to talk to you for a moment."
Zhao Wan Qiu immediately said she would go to the yard to sort the vegetables. The two girls went inside and closed the door. In the yard, Auntie Li’s eyes lit up as if she had stumbled upon some juicy gossip. "Those two girls must be talking about something secret. Oh dear, I’ve dropped my thimble—it must be right under the Shu family’s eaves. I’d better look for it…"
"Shameless!" Zhao Wan Qiu spat in disgust.
There wasn’t a single household in the compound that hadn’t been eavesdropped on by Auntie Li. The worst part was, she didn’t just eavesdrop—she loved twisting facts, spreading rumors, and causing trouble out of nothing. It was enough to make anyone’s blood boil.
But the two inside the room had no mind for her. Huang Mei urgently grasped Jin Yue’s hand. "You were right. Besides the excessive leucorrhea, my mother also has that other issue you mentioned. She’s been hiding it from me for over a decade. If I hadn’t asked her directly that day, who knows how long she would have kept it a secret."
She had finally persuaded her mother to go to the hospital, only to have the doctor scold them after the examination. "Your mother's prolapse has already exceeded second degree and is progressing toward third degree. If we don't take it seriously soon, even… even that thing will fall out."
"The doctor also asked why we didn't come earlier. Now her infection is very severe. We can only reduce the inflammation first and consider surgery after the inflammation improves."
"Jin Yue, you're amazing. Just by looking at my mother's complexion, you could tell she had such a serious gynecological condition."
Jin Yue didn't say much. Traditional Chinese Medicine emphasizes observation, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking. Since observation is listed first, there must be a reason for it.
"Now that we've discovered it, we should treat it promptly. Surgery works quickly and will definitely cure her."
"Don't even mention it. My mother is afraid of spending money as soon as she hears about surgery. She refuses outright and only asks the doctor to prescribe some anti-inflammatory medication, and even insists on the cheapest options." Huang Mei took a sip of the warm water Jin Yue poured for her. "My mother doesn't want to spend an extra penny on herself now. She just wants to save up for my dowry. My father and his parents' family are completely unreliable."
"Then you should persuade her even more to get the treatment. In the future, after you get married, find a way to bring her over to live a comfortable life."
Huang Mei, who was drinking water, suddenly looked up sharply. Jin Yue touched her nose, "Did I say something wrong?"
Huang Mei wanted to say that in this world, mothers-in-law don't go live with their sons-in-law unless under very special circumstances. But then she thought about it and felt it made sense—why couldn't they? Why should they only support their in-laws and not their own mothers?
"You're right. Everyone earns a living these days. Women don't rely on men to support them."
"Hey, where did you hear that? It actually makes sense."
Jin Yue puffed out her chest. She had seen plenty of such things on her phone—taking care of one's own parents was nothing. When women are strong enough, they can even raise children without the father!
Hmph, if men are useless, it's better to just keep a dog.
"Speaking of this makes me angry. Last time, you told me to ask my mother how she got this illness. Hah…" Huang Mei's eyes glistened with tears. "Other women get to drink soup and eat eggs during their postpartum month, but my mother had nothing to eat and still had to serve their entire family."
She was born in winter, the coldest time of the year. Back then, their neighborhood didn't have running water yet. Daily water had to be fetched from the public well at the end of the alley and carried home.
"No wonder." Jin Yue found it strange. So Aunt Huang's illness really had hidden causes. Going out in the harsh winter and doing heavy physical labor—even production team oxen didn't work that hard.
"Hmph, they still blame my mother for not bearing a son, but it's all their family's fault. It serves them right that my mother made their family 'heirless'." Huang Mei gritted her teeth. "My cousin still wants to take over my mother's job and even occupy our house in the future. He's dreaming."
"I've made up my mind. I won't marry in the future. I'll take in a live-in son-in-law, and any children will take my mother's surname. That'll infuriate them."
Jin Yue burst out laughing. If Huang's father knew that not only was he truly "heirless," but the house would also benefit "outsiders," he'd probably be so angry he'd flip his coffin lid even after death.
"The reason I came to you today is to ask for a favor. Since you could tell my mother's illness just by looking at her complexion, could you also try treating her? Prescribe some traditional Chinese medicine to help regulate her body. Even if it doesn't cure her, I won't blame you."
Jin Yue agreed, "Alright. Let me know when Aunt is available. I'm not busy these days."
"How about today, then?" Huang Mei was genuinely anxious. "The anti-inflammatory medication prescribed by the hospital has run out. I asked her to go for a follow-up, but she refused, saying she already feels better. Still, I'm worried. Could you please take a look at her while you're here?"
That same day, Jin Yue went to the Huang residence to examine the patient. As she had suspected, Aunt Huang was suffering from visceral prolapse due to typical spleen deficiency. In addition to prescribing some qi-tonifying and spleen-strengthening herbal decoctions, she also administered a brief acupuncture treatment.
Since she had nothing else to do at home, Jin Yue made time each day to visit for acupuncture sessions, chatting with Aunt Huang for a while before returning home to help Zhao Wan Qiu prepare meals. Meanwhile, Yang Zhengkang had arranged her medical license and personally delivered it to her.
Given Shu Jin Yue's educational background, obtaining certification would have been nearly impossible. However, Yang Zhengkang's extensive connections enabled him to leverage her three-year experience as a barefoot doctor in the countryside to secure the license legally. Though only an assistant physician license, it allowed her to practice medicine legitimately from then on.
On the twenty-second day of the twelfth lunar month, Jin Yue finally received notification from the labor bureau: she could start working at the epidemic prevention station!