Action followed intention. Since Jin Yue had nothing to do that evening, she decided to teach Zhao Wan Qiu the fundamental theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine—concepts like essence, qi, blood, and body fluids, yin-yang and the five elements, as well as the zang-fu organs. These are the foundational concepts of TCM, upon which all medical principles are built.
Zhao Wan Qiu already had a medical background and possessed a remarkable learning ability uncommon among elderly women her age. In just two hours, she had basically grasped these fundamental concepts, though her memory wasn't great for rote memorization, so some areas needed reinforcement.
Jin Yue was delighted. She planned to visit the medical college the next day to borrow a copy of "Fundamental Theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine" for Zhao Wan Qiu to start memorizing.
However, she wasn't able to go the next day because she had to deliver a report at the district level.
The previous case of curing Sun Tieniu's illness was considered a "miracle" by the district epidemic prevention station. The Party secretary and station director asked her to share with everyone how she had treated it, treating it as professional exchange… even though treating such diseases wasn't technically within the station's scope of work.
But everyone there was medically trained. At that time, professional qualifications hadn't yet separated public health physicians from clinical physicians—they were all simply doctors, with saving lives as their shared calling.
Though Shu Jin Yue was young, she wasn't stage-shy. Perhaps having been publicly criticized numerous times by the production team leader back in the countryside had made her completely unafraid of speaking in front of crowds. Moreover, the gazes from the audience now were filled with curiosity, encouragement, and affirmation, making her speak with even greater fluency.
From initially suspecting schistosomiasis, to how she inquired about the medical history, carefully piecing together the initial symptoms of his illness, to combining pulse diagnosis with symptoms, how she reached the diagnosis, what prescription she used, and the reasoning behind it…
The young woman stood on stage, her eyes sparkling as if she herself was glowing.
Liu Jinbu whispered to Old Zhu, "Our little Shu is truly a treasure. With her here, our station has really stolen the spotlight this time."
Zhu Daqiang certainly didn't miss the envious glances coming from all directions. Those who had been "exiled" to grassroots levels like them typically had neither connections nor political savvy, while those who remained at the district level had previously looked down their noses at others.
But—
"Hmph, you should stop encouraging her to take risks in the future."
Liu Jinbu sheepishly rubbed his nose. "With our Jin Yue's temperament, does she need my encouragement?"
If anything, she was probably the one encouraging others.
Zhu Daqiang also smiled. "Hmph, young people still lack steadiness. We can't let her get lost in temporary success. We need to remind her later…" and so on.
Liu Jinbu nearly fell asleep listening.
Although the Party secretary and station director didn't fully understand the medical details, they felt Jin Yue's presentation made sense. They asked her to write a written summary to be circulated within the station, so that if similar cases were encountered in the future, they could draw inferences from her example.
Jin Yue had already prepared the report beforehand and submitted it immediately. The three of them then returned to Xinqiao Sub-district.
Both of them had bicycles, but Jin Yue didn't. She gritted her teeth—she really needed to get herself a bicycle.
During dinner that evening, she mentioned this idea to her second brother, and it truly brought up bitter feelings. Although there weren’t many households in the entire No. 16 compound that owned bicycles, at least their workplaces were nearby, within walking distance. But Shu Wen Ming and Shu Wen Yun’s workplaces were much farther than everyone else’s. Wind and rain were nothing—even if it were raining knives, they still had to walk to work. For this reason, they had to wake up twenty minutes earlier than others.
Just think about the value of twenty extra minutes in a warm bed on a winter morning.
"How about the three of us pool our money to buy a bicycle? If the weather is bad or we’re in a hurry, Second Brother can ride with me. If Jin Yue needs to use the bike on ordinary days, just let us know in advance, and we’ll leave it for you the next day. How does that sound?" Shu Wen Yun suggested proactively.
Since that night, she had become much quieter and no longer cared about dressing up as she used to. All her trendy clothes had been tucked away out of sight. Although Jin Yue was a little curious, she couldn’t be bothered to ask. They were never going to be the same kind of people in this lifetime, and she still had to keep her guard up around her.
But it had to be said, her suggestion was a pretty good one. Jin Yue’s workplace was close to home, so she didn’t need the bike for her daily commute. She only used it when she had to attend meetings in the district or borrow books from the medical university.
The three siblings agreed: the bicycle voucher and the cost of the bike would be split evenly. In the future, no matter who used the bike more or less, no one was allowed to complain. Otherwise, they’d be left out of future arrangements. Of course, their parents were free to use the bike anytime, and no one was allowed to object.
Seeing that they had already worked things out, the elderly couple didn’t say much and didn’t dare offer any financial help. If the eldest brother found out, it would surely lead to another family feud.
That eldest brother—though he didn’t come home for meals much these days—had ears sharper than a dog’s nose.
The next day, Shu Wen Ming went to find someone to exchange for a bicycle voucher. Such things were in extremely short supply. The voucher from Little Li in the backyard had been obtained through his father-in-law, while Aunt Zhao’s family had received theirs as a reward last year when Uncle Zhao was honored as an Advanced Worker for the fifth time since entering the factory.
"Is Jin Yue busy?" Feng Chunxia arrived, carrying her youngest child, a faint smile on her face.
"Not busy at all, Sister Chunxia, please come in."
"That medicine of yours really works. Not long after I drank it, I felt the need to use the bathroom. These past couple of days, urinating has been much easier, and the key thing is, my hands and feet have warmed up. Isn’t that strange?"
Jin Yue took her hand and squeezed it—it was indeed much warmer. She still remembered the first time she had taken her pulse, that chilling sensation as if her vitality had been completely drained.
For someone with cold hands and feet to take cooling medicine and end up feeling warmer—even those who didn’t study Traditional Chinese Medicine would find it absurd.
"I feel like my headache is gone, and I have more energy than a few days ago. I don’t know if it’s just my imagination, but my mood has improved a lot too."
Zhao Wan Qiu laughed. "Not going back to see that miserable family, of course your mood would improve."
Chunxia’s husband had been coming to pick her up every day recently, but Chunxia simply refused to return. A man left to manage a bunch of school-aged children—one could only imagine how busy and exhausted he must be. To make matters worse, the elderly in that household kept making sarcastic remarks, and the whole family was in utter chaos.
"You should just stay peacefully at your parents' home. You must stay until your in-laws sincerely come to invite you back, until they genuinely repent. To put it bluntly, when we women make a scene and return to our parents' home, we must be determined – either don't make a scene at all, but once you do, you must make them understand the seriousness of it. Because when it comes to returning to your parents' home, you can do it once or twice, but not three times. If you do it too often, people will think you're crying wolf and it won't work anymore."
Feng Chunxia listened silently, thinking exactly the same in her heart?
If she were to really divorce and end the marriage, that was impossible. She couldn't bear to leave her daughters, and her husband wasn't entirely without redeeming qualities – his thoughtfulness and gentleness were what attracted her to him in the first place.
But if she just got angry for a few days and then slunk back meekly, people would only push her around even more in the future.
"However, I have my own plans for not going back this time." She bit her lip and, seeing there were no men in the room, quietly asked Jin Yue, "Does the sterilization surgery hurt? Do they use anesthesia?"
Jin Yue was taken aback, "You want to get it done?"
Feng Chunxia nodded with a red face. After this incident, she had completely come to understand, "If fate doesn't grant me a son, having ten more children won't help. If I make myself sick and weak, my daughters would be the most pitiful ones."
Jin Yue didn't expect her to have such profound realization, "That's good. The district hospital can do it, and they definitely use anesthesia."
But Zhao Wan Qiu frowned, "You shouldn't be the one to do it."
—"Your husband should be the one to do it."
Jin Yue was startled, then immediately understood, "That's right. The procedure for male comrades is very quick, it can be done as outpatient surgery and won't even affect work the next day. It's not like female comrades who have to suffer greatly."
When Feng Chunxia heard this, she also realized, "Alright, I'll put it this way – if he wants me to come back, he must first get the sterilization surgery. Once he shows me the certificate and I verify it, I'll go back with him immediately."
Zhao Wan Qiu laughed, "That's up to you to decide. I wouldn't dare say more."
Jin Yue took her pulse. Baihu Tang was ultimately too cold in nature and unsuitable for long-term consumption, so she made some adjustments, adding several herbs to nourish qi and blood, then let her go rest.
Just as they expected, Feng Chunxia's standoff with her husband's family ultimately ended with the man getting the sterilization surgery. Within three days, she took the children and returned home.
"I heard her father-in-law was so angry he didn't eat for three days, crying and shouting that the Qin family line would end with them, that he was a sinner who wouldn't dare face his ancestors even in death. How dare he say such things, especially when his son is a cadre!" Aunt Zhao said, feeling happy for Chunxia.
Auntie Li pursed her lips, "This Chunxia really has no sense of being a daughter-in-law. If I were her, I would be… Oh my! Mother Chunxia, why are you spitting at me? What did I say wrong?"
Zhao Wan Qiu had no time to chat about gossip with them. She was currently deeply immersed in studying Traditional Chinese Medicine – besides grocery shopping, she spent every day reading. Her eyes were still good, no presbyopia, so she read with great enthusiasm. If Teacher Shu hadn't worried about her straining her eyes and forced her to go grocery shopping, she wouldn't even want to leave the house.
In just a few days, she had finished reading an entire basic theory book and was urging Jin Yue to quickly borrow other books for her.
Every time Jin Yue went to borrow or return books, she had to trouble Qin Haiyang. After several interactions, the two became quite familiar. Qin Haiyang would sometimes conveniently visit Jin Yue at her workplace, using the excuse of discussing medical topics.
Shu Jin Yue herself didn't feel anything unusual, but several aunties at the neighborhood office privately joked about whether Qin Haiyang was pursuing her.
Not only were the aunties curious, but Liu Jinbu also gossiped: "Xiao Shu, are you really not dating that young man?"
Jin Yue spread her hands, "Do I look like I have time for romance?"
Between her daily studying and occasionally treating neighbors and colleagues, she even ended up taking charge of cleaning the office. Initially, Teacher Shu had taught her to take the initiative in cleaning, treating it as a simple opportunity to show her diligence. Later, she didn't want to show off anymore, but she simply couldn't stand the way Zhu Daqiang and Liu Jinbu handled the chores.
They would wipe tables leaving patterns like maps, sweep floors without getting them clean, and worst of all, there was ash from their cigarette smoking. Disgusted by the mess, she took over the cleaning herself.
Liu Jinbu remembered this too and chuckled awkwardly, "Come on, don't be mad. Old Zhu and I deeply appreciate your contributions to our station. If you ever need anything, just say the word, and we'll make sure it's done."
"Oh? What are you talking about? Who needs something done?"
It was Qiao Dajie from the finance office, holding a piece of paper.
"Well, well, Accountant Qiao, what a rare guest!"
Qiao Dajie scolded him playfully, "Get lost, this has nothing to do with you. I'm here to see Jin Yue."
Shu Jin Yue was puzzled, wondering what Qiao Dajie could want. Was it about treating another relative? Last time, it was for her niece's irregular menstruation.
"Jin Yue, quickly check this. It's your salary from last month. See if there's any mistake, and I can still fix it in time."
Jin Yue glanced at it. In these times, there was no performance-based pay—salaries were fixed. Until she got a promotion, it would always be 37 yuan, neither more nor less.
After some small talk, Qiao Dajie leisurely left. Liu Jinbu clicked his tongue, "Comrade Shu Jin Yue, haven't you noticed? You're the darling of our neighborhood office now."
Jin Yue wasn't foolish. Not to mention Director Niu's occasional concern, but even Qiao Dajie—previously, she hadn't been this enthusiastic. Though she did enjoy chatting with Jin Yue about daily life, she was never this attentive.
"We've been colleagues for years, and she's never personally come to me to verify my salary. In this neighborhood office, only Director Niu and you get this treatment, tsk tsk tsk…"
Something must have happened to make such an old hand at bureaucracy so warm-hearted.
Shu Jin Yue pondered for a while but came up with nothing, so she let it go. At noon, returning home, she found that Teacher Shu had made stewed noodles with green beans, and her mood soared.
Teacher Shu was average at cooking other dishes, but he was exceptional with noodles. Despite being a lean old man, he was a master at kneading, pulling, and slicing dough. In the past, when they couldn't afford white flour, he could even work wonders with mixed grains. Recently, since Jin Yue suggested improving their meals—eating white flour at least five days a month—his noodles had become even more extraordinary.
The noodles were chewy, absorbing the fragrance and broth of the green beans, with a rich soy sauce flavor. He had added a spoonful of lard, making it incredibly savory.
Though they still couldn't afford meat, Jin Yue was perfectly content. She felt her life had never been so joyful.
"Hey, why is Second Brother back so late?"
Shu Wen Ming hung his head dejectedly, "Don't even ask. I was out looking for a bicycle coupon."
That was truly scarce. He had asked around among the people he knew outside, but found nothing. Later, he asked at the workplace, but everyone was short on supplies and said they had none either.
By the way, Xu Wenli mentioned she might be able to find a way to ask around, but Shu Wen Ming had been acting strangely lately—ignoring people—so it was impossible to trouble her. He had no choice but to grit his teeth and search on his own.
Jin Yue had also thought of this. The two of them were probably up to some mischief again. "Second Brother, do you know how much emotional stability adds to a man's appeal?"
"Cut it out. Stay out of my business."
"Fine, fine, I won't interfere. Then you can stay single for the rest of your life."
The siblings parted on bad terms. Jin Yue couldn't be bothered to remind him further, simply waiting to see when he could get his hands on a bicycle. After all, she had already prepared the money. If he couldn't manage it, she would have to step in eventually.
In the afternoon, just as she arrived at the workplace entrance, she saw a man standing there in a white shirt and military-style trousers, holding two bags of apples.
"Jin Yue, you're here?" The man's eyes lit up, and he immediately walked over.
It was right at the start of the workday, and everyone coming in could see him. Those with lighter workloads gathered around to watch. "Oh, Xiao Qin is here! Why so early today?"
"I was just heading from home to the school and happened to pass by, so I dropped in."
"Passing by, huh… Isn't your medical school in the southern part of the city?"
Qin Haiyang's ears turned red, and he could only manage an awkward smile.
Shu Jin Yue understood now—no wonder people were asking if the two of them were dating. Qin Haiyang really did have those intentions.
"Take these apples to eat. They're quite sweet."
He had brought her many things during this period, but Jin Yue had always declined. Now that she knew his intentions, she was even less likely to accept his gifts. "No need, take them back with you."
"We still have plenty at home."
"Then take them to school and share them with your roommates."
Seeing that she was as resolute as ever in refusing, Qin Haiyang's eyes filled with disappointment. His eyes were the standard double eyelids seen in movie posters—large, with a tall nose and fair skin. Without saying a word, his downturned eyes, especially when he wasn't wearing glasses, made him look like an obedient big dog.
"Please don't be upset. How about… I give them to your colleagues? Would that be okay?"
His gaze was pleading, tinged with caution.
Jin Yue recalled a breed of dog she had seen on her phone called a Golden Retriever—well-behaved, warm, and obedient.
"Do as you like, but don’t bring anything in the future. There’s no need to be so formal between friends."
He handed out the apples to passersby one by one, deliberately leaving a few extra in Jin Yue's Office.
Having received his gifts, everyone felt obliged to put in a good word for him. "Xiao Qin, feel free to drop by whenever you have time."
As soon as he left, several older sisters and aunts gathered around to interrogate Shu Jin Yue. "Are you two really not dating?"
"Really, we're just friends. He's about to start his internship and is asking me about practical work-related questions."
"Ah, Xiao Shu, you just don't get it. When a man pursues a woman, he doesn’t start by saying, 'I want to pursue you.' Xiao Qin’s approach is like gentle rain moistening everything silently," Qiao Dajie said, sounding very experienced. "I was just thinking the other day about setting you up with someone, but it seems that won’t be necessary now."
Shu Jin Yue finally understood what adults meant when they said, "Once your job is stable, you can pick and choose your partner." She had only been working for a few months, and already several groups of people had tried to set her up.
"Of course, she had no interest in marriage. She was only nineteen – why would she throw away her best years tying herself down? Many women in their thirties on social media remained unmarried and lived quite freely.
'You're a lucky girl, running into Xiao Qin right off the bat. What good fortune!'
Jin Yue blinked, wondering what this 'good fortune' meant.
'Do you know who Xiao Qin's father is?'
Jin Yue shook her head.
Qiao Dajie studied her expression carefully and, confirming she genuinely didn't know, slapped her knee. 'Oh you girl! Truly, fools have the best luck!'
The other aunties leaned in with interest. 'Old Qiao, who are you talking about? Don't keep us in suspense!'
'The surname is Qin, he used to be a forensic examiner, around forty-something – doesn't that describe Deputy Bureau Chief Qin from the Municipal Bureau?' Qiao Dajie said with exasperation. 'At first he just looked familiar, then I remembered my husband – when they attend meetings at the municipal level, there's this senior leader!'
Qiao Dajie's husband worked at the district Public Security Bureau and occasionally attended municipal meetings, so he was quite familiar with the various bureau chiefs and deputy chiefs in the system.
'No wonder! I always thought Xiao Qin looked particularly sharp.'
'Even though he doesn't know us, he always calls us 'Dajie' when we meet – so polite. Turns out he comes from good upbringing!'
'See these two big bags of apples? He's been handing them out to everyone he meets. Genuine Red Fujis – much better than our local apples!'
…
Shu Jin Yue was slightly shocked. She truly hadn't expected Qin Haiyang's father to hold such a position. In their daily interactions, she'd found him quite refined, speaking and acting with clear cultivation – she'd assumed he came from an intellectual family, but never imagined he wasn't just from an ordinary intellectual background.
And with such family background, he'd chosen to study obstetrics and gynecology – that was rather 'unconventional' indeed.
'Xiao Shu, listen to your Dajie's advice – there aren't many good men in this world. You should seize the opportunity early. Those left behind are all the dregs.'
'Besides, marriage isn't just about feelings – family background matters too. Having influential in-laws is much better than us ordinary folks! It can save you many detours!'
'Absolutely! For us women, marrying anyone means dealing with mother-in-law conflicts anyway. Since we all have to face it, why not choose someone whose family can actually help?'
'If I could choose again, I wouldn't pick my current husband – such a headache.'
They went back and forth complaining about their domestic troubles. Jin Yue was actually tired of hearing these stories, but with long work hours and nothing else to do at the moment…
'Don't just stand there grinning! Did you hear what we just said?' Qiao Dajie nudged Jin Yue's arm. Willing to air her own family's dirty laundry to persuade Jin Yue, she certainly had her own motives.
If Shu Jin Yue really ended up with Qin Haiyang, their family might eventually get to speak with the Qin family. Then her husband's promotions might have some hope, right? Even if it didn't work out, she might still get familiar with Qin Haiyang – who knows when that might come in handy?
Having worked in government offices their whole lives, they might not have other skills, but they were accurate judges of character. This Xiao Qin's interest in Xiao Shu was clearly more than just casual."
Jin Yue actually felt there was some truth to what they said. After all, before the New Year, she had deeply experienced the importance of social status and personal connections in her efforts to stay in the city. But it wasn’t entirely correct either—marrying into a good family could indeed save one some detours, but relying on others was ultimately not as reliable as relying on oneself. The status and wealth earned through one’s own efforts could be used with peace of mind.
Feng Chunxia’s example was right before her eyes: if one couldn’t stand on their own, even marrying into a family of high-ranking officials would still reduce them to a baby-making machine.
The young, nineteen-year-old Shu Jin Yue believed that her life held limitless possibilities. Whatever she desired, she could achieve through her own efforts, without needing to rely on anyone else.
After the apple incident, Qin Haiyang quieted down for a while. Shu Jin Yue thought he had given up and stopped paying him any mind.
Recently, Zhao Wan Qiu had finished studying Traditional Chinese medicine and insisted on being taken to the mountains to gather herbs. So Jin Yue picked a Sunday, and the whole family headed into the hills.
They returned to the same West Mountain as last time. Without bicycles, the entire family took the bus to the entrance of West Mountain Park at the foot of the mountain. Following the same small path as before, they climbed to the halfway point, where the view immediately opened up.
Teacher Shu gazed at the lush green mountains and even recited the great man's verse with resonant emotion: "I've traveled over countless green hills yet remain youthful; the scenery here is uniquely splendid."
Everyone was accustomed to his old-school scholarly demeanor. Jin Yue's eyes wandered around until she suddenly spotted something yellowish in a nearby grove.
Drawing from her years of rural experience, she exclaimed—"Apricots!"
Shu Wen Ming dashed toward where she pointed. "Well now, it really is an apricot tree!"
In these times, anything edible was highly prized. It was surprising to find apricots left to ripen to a golden-orange hue, thanks to this remote location where unfamiliar visitors seldom ventured.
The largest, yellowest fruits at the tips had been pecked by birds, leaving only smaller ones hidden beneath the leaves. Though modest in size, their golden color was unmistakable. Jin Yue plucked one and easily split it in half, setting aside the pit. The flesh was delightfully sweet and tangy—exceptionally delicious.
"More sweet than sour, fully ripe," Zhao Wan Qiu remarked after sampling two. "Let's gather more to take home for drying."
As the saying goes, "Peaches satisfy, apricots harm, under plum trees lie the dead," so everyone limited themselves to a few fresh ones, carefully selecting the ripest and largest to fill the bamboo baskets they'd brought—originally intended for herb gathering.
With this apricot discovery, however, Zhao Wan Qiu and Shu Jin Yue abandoned herb collection, eagerly scanning the area for other edible finds.
Food, after all, was hard currency.
Soon, Shu Wen Yun spotted a peach tree nearby, but they were all wild peaches—mostly green and hard. Jin Yue picked one, wiped the fuzz on her clothes, and took a bite. "A bit sour."
"Then let's leave them for now. They'll likely ripen in a month—we can return then."
The search continued. Shu Wen Ming ventured deeper alone with a small knife, while Teacher Shu paired with Zhao Wan Qiu, and Jin Yue teamed up with Wen Yun, maintaining pairs for safety.
Their luck held. A short walk revealed another apricot tree in a shaded spot, overlooked by birds and laden with large, golden fruits. They filled their baskets with only a fifth of the harvest.
"This won't do. Tomorrow after work, your father and I will return with sacks," Zhao Wan Qiu decided.
Farther on, they found chestnut and walnut trees, though the fruits were still small and far from mature.
"Let's mark this spot for autumn nut gathering."
Just as they thought the day's bounty had peaked, Shu Wen Ming's voice echoed from the woods: "Dad, Jin Yue, come quick!"
The family rushed over to find him holding a wildly fluttering, multicolored pheasant!
Jin Yue's voice cracked with excitement. "A pheasant?!"
In all her rural years, she'd only seen a family of hereditary hunters catch a few. Their vibrant feathers, especially the striking tails, made them conspicuous. Later, those had been bred domestically to create a local specialty chicken breed.
Images of braised chicken, clear soup chicken, and spicy chicken flashed through Shu Jin Yue's mind: "…" She swallowed hard.
"This is a dumb chicken, probably never seen a human before. It just stood there staring stupidly at me, so I grabbed it in one go." Shu Wen Ming said triumphantly, pointing at a trail of animal footprints not far away. "Just now I even saw a gray wild boar, but it ran too fast – I only caught a glimpse of its shadow."
Jin Yue's eyes nearly popped out of her head. She swore she was genuinely shocked. After all those years in the countryside, she'd rarely heard of anyone catching wild boars, and those who did were lifelong farmers who lived off the mountains. For Shu Wen Ming, a young man who grew up in the city, to actually spot traces of a wild boar – this was more than just good luck!
This was downright blessed!
She couldn't help wondering if the unlucky Shu Wen Ming might actually be a little lucky star… no no no, a big lucky star. Having missed a big wild boar, catching a pheasant didn't seem so exciting anymore. Shu Wen Ming stared at the trail of footprints. "Let's come back next week. I refuse to believe I can't catch it."
Just think – how much meat could you get from one chicken versus a whole wild boar? You didn't need to be smart to figure out how regretful he felt.
"Alright, I'll come with Second Brother next week. We'll bring some tools." She had once saved a hunter's child, and that child had taught her how to dig traps and set snares. This would be a perfect opportunity to test whether those skills worked.
Meat was so expensive nowadays. If they could catch a wild boar, they couldn't even imagine how happy and fortunate they'd feel.
Even Teacher Shu clicked his tongue in amazement. "This place really is our family's lucky spot."
They covered the apricots with some wild vegetables in the baskets. The pheasant was too big and too lively to hide, so they could only have Shu Wen Ming tie its feet and tuck it under his armpit, just like villagers going to town to sell chickens. The whole family boarded the bus with their abundant harvest and headed home.
As soon as they entered the compound gate, Auntie Li spotted their many baskets and asked if the grocery store was having a clearance sale on cheap vegetables, complaining that the Shu family wasn't being decent by keeping such good news to themselves.
Shu Wen Ming couldn't be bothered with her. Carrying the chicken, he went straight to the grocery store. They had already discussed on the way – they would first try to sell the chicken outside. Only if they really couldn't sell it would they eat it themselves. That's how poor people think – their first reaction to anything isn't whether it tastes good, but whether it can be sold and for how much.
There were simply too many apricots – altogether thirty or forty jin. The Shu family couldn't eat them all, and even dried apricots would leave them with plenty. Zhao Wan Qiu took advantage of the darkness to deliver some to Aunt Zhao and Aunt Feng's homes. The next day, she arranged for Jin Yue to bring some to Yao Qingqing and Huang Mei as well.
Even so, many apricots remained. Jin Yue suddenly remembered she hadn't seen Uncle Xu for quite some time. "Let me bring some to the Xu family too."
"Wouldn't… that make them think we're being too forward?" Teacher Shu still had some pride.
"What's wrong with that? Factory Director Xu and his wife brought us canned food and malted milk during New Year." These were things the Shu family couldn't obtain, but the Xu family had plenty.
"That's true. Go ahead and deliver them, and give them more – pick the big yellow ones." Zhao Wan Qiu immediately began selecting them one by one, picking out three or four jin worth, which she packed in a cloth bag.
The next day after work, Jin Yue carried the bag and boarded the bus heading to Jinyu Hutong.
After knocking for a while, the door finally opened. Standing behind it was someone she hadn't seen before, likely a newly hired housekeeper for the Xu family. All three adults in the Xu household were extremely busy and had no time for household chores, so hiring a housekeeper allowed them to have meals prepared and the house cleaned.
"Who are you looking for?" The housekeeper eyed the fair-skinned girl but, noting her plain attire, didn't pay her much mind.
"Is Uncle Xu home?" No sooner had she spoken than Zhang Zhen emerged from the bathroom, drying her hair. "Jin Yue, come in and sit."
"Thank you, Auntie. My mother asked me to bring some apricots."
Zhang Zhen beamed instantly. "Ah, your Uncle Xu loves apricots. Come in."
The living room was just as she remembered, everything in its usual place. The housekeeper brought her a cup of honey water and a basket of bright orange fruit.
"A friend brought these back from a business trip to Yunnan. Try some."
Jin Yue recalled seeing this fruit called "mango" on her phone—it wasn't available in their area.
The housekeeper first peeled the mango with a fruit knife, then cut it into small pieces and arranged them on a plate.
Zhang Zhen said, "Try it. I can't quite acquire the taste, but your Uncle Xu and the others like it."
Jin Yue picked up a piece. How to describe it? The vibrant yellow color was beautiful, the texture soft and juicy, sweet with a unique fragrance—"It's delicious."
Zhang Zhen was even more delighted. "If you like it, have more."
Both Zhang Zhen and Xu Ping had gentle, easygoing personalities. Jin Yue couldn't help but think of another easygoing person. It was well past working hours—he must be working overtime again, right?
"I just got off the night shift today. Your Uncle Xu and Uncle Xu are probably working late again and might not be home before dark. Siqi is at school and won't be back. Why not keep me company for a while? We can have a simple meal later, alright?" She turned to instruct the housekeeper to prepare dinner.
Jin Yue quickly declined, saying her family was waiting for her to eat, and she should head back.
Seeing she couldn't persuade her to stay, Zhang Zhen had the housekeeper pack a bag of mangoes for her. "Take these home for your family to try."
Shortly after Jin Yue left, Xu Ping and Xu Duan, the two brothers, entered the hutong. They had run into each other at the entrance today. "Where did these apricots come from? They're quite sweet."
"You came back too late. Jin Yue brought them, and she just left."
Xu Duan picked up an apricot and paused. "I have something to attend to. Don't wait for me for dinner."
"His uncle is the same. Work is never-ending. It's already dark—why not eat before going out?"
Xu Duan headed out, thinking of Liu Ye Hutong. After leaving the hutong, he turned left, crossed the street, and sure enough, spotted a slender figure standing bewildered at the bus stop.
A bus arrived. She tried to board, but it was too crowded and already full. She pushed through the crowd to the door but couldn't squeeze on. As the bus drove away, she stamped her foot in frustration.
He couldn't help but laugh. "Su Jin Yue."
At first, Jin Yue didn't notice. He called her full name three times before she realized someone was addressing her. "Uncle Xu?"
"Are you off work? I was just about to head home. These are the mangoes Aunt Zhang gave me."
"I know." He took the cloth bag, weighed it in his hand, and thought to himself that there shouldn't be so little—he remembered his old comrade had sent much more.
It occurred to him that the housekeeper must have packed it; his sister-in-law wouldn't have given so little. "Do you like them?"
"What?" Jin Yue was frustrated about not being able to squeeze onto the bus and didn't catch what he said.
"Do you like mangoes?"
"Yes."
Xu Duan's lips curved slightly. "Wait for me a moment."
Jin Yue didn't know what he was going to do, but the next bus wouldn't come for at least half an hour. "Alright."
He hurried home, directly packed all the remaining mangoes into a bag, then went to the kitchen to take the milk from this morning—he always forgot to drink it lately. After heating it up, he returned to the bus stop where she was still waiting.
He first shoved the warm milk into her hands. "Get on, I'll give you a ride."
"It's too late. You've worked overtime and must be tired. I don't want to trouble…"
Xu Duan didn't speak, just quietly looked at her until her polite refusals trailed off, and she awkwardly climbed onto the back seat of his bicycle.
The milk in her hands was warm, and drinking it filled her stomach with warmth. She sighed contentedly. In the bicycle basket were many, many mangoes. Suddenly, Jin Yue came to her senses—she couldn't accept his gifts so easily.
"Uncle Xu, please don't give me things anymore."
"Did someone say something?" Xu Duan turned his head, his tone calm.
"No one said anything. It's just… these things are quite precious. I shouldn't accept them."
Xu Duan looked quietly into her eyes. "Brother Limin is like my own elder brother. Don't say that. Logically, if we had found you all earlier, you shouldn't have been sent to the countryside. The hardships you've endured are because we didn't try hard enough."
"Originally, we should have arranged work for you, but Comrade Su Jin Yue is so capable—she solved it herself. The family gives you food because we see you as one of our own. Please give us this opportunity."
Having said that, there was no need to elaborate further. "How have you been lately? Is work going smoothly?" Xu Duan pedaled at a steady pace, maintaining balance in the traffic, but didn't turn to look at her.
"Pretty good. What about you?"
The man nodded but didn't talk about himself. "What about that student?"
Shu Jin Yue was puzzled. "What student? Oh, you mean Qin Haiyang? How did you know he's a student?"
Xu Duan's bicycle continued moving steadily. "Just guessed."
"So impressive. Then guess what he used to do. You'll never guess."
Xu Duan fell silent, then changed the subject to talk about himself. "I've been on a business trip recently, went to Beijing. Just got off the train last night, and today I have some work to hand over."
This explained why he hadn't been around lately and why he hadn't made it home when she visited tonight.
"Where did the apricots come from?"
At this, Jin Yue suddenly became animated and told him about their fruitful wild harvest yesterday. Second Brother really had some skills—with his smooth talking, he managed to sell that wild pheasant for four yuan, enough to buy several jin of meat.
"If you go by weight, it's not even one jin of meat. Not as cost-effective as buying meat directly. I heard he met someone who likes raising such things—they thought it was beautiful, with particularly vibrant tail feathers."
"Do you like eating apricots?"
"They're alright."
"What does 'alright' mean? Do you like them or not?"
Even without turning around, Xu Duan could imagine her pouting. He smiled helplessly. "They're a bit sour."
"So you don't like them then? Do you prefer sweet things? When the dried apricots are ready, I'll bring you some."
"Alright."
The two of them chatted back and forth, and before they knew it, they had returned to Willow Leaf Alley. Xu Duan parked his bicycle, "Hurry inside. I'll wait here and watch."
Jin Yue recalled her previous self-assumed "elegant demeanor" and couldn't help giggling, "Do you just enjoy watching me make a fool of myself?"
Xu Duan seemed unsure how to respond to such an unreasonable question, "You know that's not what I meant."
"Alright then, I'm going in. Is there anything you want to say to me?"
Xu Duan thought for a moment, "Be careful. Don't go out after dark."
Shu Jin Yue: "…" What's with this guy? Every time he tells her not to go out after dark and to be careful when it's dark. Is nighttime really that terrifying? This is a proper provincial capital city, not like that snowy night back in the production team days.
Remembering that snowy night, her expression darkened slightly, and that familiar itchy feeling returned to her toes.
From his height, Xu Duan could easily see the top of her head. Since cutting her hair short, it really seemed to have improved – not as yellowish as before, and hair loss wasn't as severe.
"Do you all really want that wild boar that much?"
"Of course! I've already thought of eighteen different ways to cook the pork."
The corners of Xu Duan's mouth turned up, "Then I'll go with you next Sunday."
"You know how to hunt?" Jin Yue's eyes lit up. Faced with substantial benefits, she wouldn't be stingy. "If you can help us catch it, I'll give you one-third of the meat."
Xu Duan looked at her and laughed again, with an expression of helpless fondness, "Alright, hurry inside now."
Only then did Jin Yue contentedly hoist the large bag of mangoes onto her shoulder, skipping happily for a few steps before turning back. Seeing him still there, waving at her just like last time, her mood improved even more.
He remained there all the way until she reached the main gate.
Jin Yue put down the mangoes and formed a small megaphone with her hands, "Goo-db-ye!"
"Who are you saying goodbye to, Jin Yue? Come inside quickly. Your eldest brother and sister-in-law have been waiting for you for quite a while." Zhao Wan Qiu peered out, but there was no one outside the gate. She wondered who her daughter was talking to.
But that wasn't important right now. There was something urgent. She pulled her daughter aside, "Wait, let me give you a heads-up first."
"Your sister-in-law heard from somewhere that you know how to diagnose illnesses. She came over today suddenly, asking you to examine them."
Jin Yue immediately felt overwhelmed. What her eldest brother and sister-in-law suffered from wasn't some strange disease, but—infertility!