Yun Ting wandered around aimlessly and, before she realized it, had strolled all the way to the scrap collection station.
“Since I happened to pass by, wouldn’t it be a waste not to go in? Maybe I’ll find some treasure like those heroines in novels, hehe…”
When she entered the scrapyard, the scene felt familiar. An old man was lying in a recliner, fanning himself lazily.
“Grandpa, can I look for some old newspapers?” she asked.
The old man glanced at her.“One mao per jin. Don’t take anything you shouldn’t.”
“Alright…”
Inside, the scrapyard was a mess, covered in dust. The smell of rust, rot, and mildew rushed toward her, making Yun Ting instinctively cover her nose and mouth.
In one corner were piles of old newspapers and books. She squatted down and flipped through them, but nothing seemed special. Suddenly, a set of math, physics, and chemistry books caught her eye.
These were exactly the kind of textbooks people would fight over once the college entrance exams were restored. She looked around, then quietly put the set into her space before lowering her head and continuing to search.
But she didn’t find any other noteworthy books.
On the other side were broken pieces of furniture—desks with missing legs and drawers hanging halfway out.
A rotten dressing table crouched like a gray-black monster under layers of mold. As Yun Ting brushed aside the cobwebs wrapped around it, the copper handle crumbled into fragments of green rust in her palm.
The bottom drawer was jammed tightly. She grabbed the rusty metal edge and pulled hard. Wood chips and mouse droppings rained down, revealing half of a faded floral cloth bundle.
She pulled the bundle out but didn’t dare examine it further. Instead, she put it straight into her space.
After searching around a bit more, she found nothing else of interest. Quite some time had passed—if she stayed longer, the old man might grow suspicious.
So she quickly grabbed a stack of old newspapers and strolled out.
“Grandpa, how much?”
The old man glanced at the newspapers in her hands.“Five mao.”
“Thank you, Grandpa.”
The old man gave her a meaningful look.
After returning home, Yun Ting eagerly went into her room and locked the door. She took out the cloth bundle. The corners of the cloth were worn smooth, faintly reflecting a cold metallic shine.
After untying the hemp rope wrapped around it three times, six gleaming gold bars—“little yellow croakers”—lay inside the greasy velvet cloth.
“Wow… little yellow croakers!” Yun Ting exclaimed excitedly, touching the six gold bars over and over.
She had truly struck treasure.
Thinking about the look the old man had given her earlier, she almost wished she could wave the gold bars in front of him just to show him—haha!
Thinking about tonight’s trade made her even happier. Her carefree “lazy fish” life was getting closer.
“Today is really a good day…” she hummed happily.
That night, Yun Ting worked inside her space until about 9:30 before coming out. She quietly slipped out of the house and headed straight for the outskirts of the city.
At the rocky slope, everything was silent and pitch black, but she wasn’t afraid at all. After looking around to make sure no one was there, she spread some straw on the ground and brought out the rice and apples.
She had no choice—she didn’t have any bags.
Soon, she heard movement ahead.
“Sister Qian…”
“I’m here.”
Jiang Shaobai personally arrived with several of his men.
When he saw the piles of rice and apples, he almost wanted to pinch himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.
“Sister Qian, this… is a bit careless,” he said as he rushed forward to check the apples. Fortunately, none were damaged.
“Don’t worry, they won’t spoil,” she said, embarrassed to admit she simply didn’t have bags.
Jiang Shaobai gestured for his men to bring over snakeskin sacks. They carefully packed the apples, while the rice was handled a bit more casually.
“Eight hundred and fifty apples—680 yuan. One thousand jin of rice—1,500 yuan. That’s 2,180 yuan in total. Sister, count it,” Jiang Shaobai said, handing her the money.
Yun Ting quickly counted it.
“I’ll be leaving first,” she said, stuffing the money into her pocket—though in reality she slipped it into her space.
“Sister, remember your little brother if you have more goods next time!” Jiang Shaobai called after her.
“Sure, I’ll come to you,” Yun Ting replied with a wave before walking away quickly.
“Boss, should we follow her?” one of the men whispered.
“Follow her for what? You think she’s stupid? If she dares trade alone, she must have a backup plan. Besides, with goods this good, we’ll still need her next time.”
“Yes, boss. I was wrong.”
Yun Ting was also paying attention to whether anyone followed her. Fortunately, no one did.
It seemed Jiang Shaobai was a smart man.
When she returned home, everything was quiet and no one noticed her. She went into her space, quickly washed up with spiritual spring water, then lay down to sleep.
She had to wake up early tomorrow to catch the train.
The next day, Yun’s mother woke up at four in the morning and prepared breakfast and travel food for her daughter.
She fried several large meat pancakes and boiled a few tea eggs—these were for Yun Ting to eat on the train.
By the time Yun Ting woke up, it was already six.
“Mom, I overslept. Why didn’t you wake me?”
“It’s fine. This timing is perfect. Breakfast is ready—eat, and we’ll head out.”
After breakfast, Yun’s mother followed her into the room to get her luggage. When she saw the large bundles, she was startled.
“Daughter, don’t tell me you packed your padded cotton coat and pants too?”
“Mom, didn’t they say the northeast is very cold? What if I don’t bring them?”
“Oh dear, I forgot to tell you—those things can be mailed later. You’ll be on the train alone for three days. How will you carry them? What if they get lost?”
“So I shouldn’t bring them?”
“That’s right. Leave them here. Mom won’t let you freeze. I’ll have your sister look for cotton later and make you a new padded coat to mail along.”
She picked up two bundles and walked out.
“Let’s go!”
Yun’s mother rode a bicycle to take her to the station. Yun’s father had an early meeting and couldn’t come to see her off. Before she left, his eyes were red.
“The pancakes have meat stuffed inside. Don’t be reluctant to eat them—it’s hot weather and they’ll spoil easily. Same with the eggs. There are many bad people on trains, so don’t talk casually with strangers. Send word home once you arrive…” her mother kept reminding her along the way.
At the train station, groups of young people gathered together—most of them were likely educated youths heading to the countryside.
The government encouraged young people to support rural development. Train tickets were subsidized, so they didn’t have to pay. Each youth also received a 100-yuan allowance and some ration coupons. That morning, Yun’s mother had given all of it to her.
Compared to other youths, Yun Ting didn’t have much luggage—just toiletries, a few changes of clothes, and some small items. She didn’t bring quilts or cotton coats, only a thin mattress pad since the weather wasn’t cold yet.
When the train finally arrived, Yun’s mother held her hand tightly, repeatedly reminding her to be careful on the journey. Yun Ting felt a lump in her throat too. She had only just begun to experience the warmth of family, and now she had to leave.
“Mom, go back now. Be careful on the road too. I left something under my bed…” she whispered.
“I’ll watch you leave.”
Just as Yun Ting was about to board the train, her older sister’s voice suddenly called out.
“Little sister, wait!”
“Big sister? Why are you here? Didn’t we say you didn’t need to come?”
Yun Shu ran over, panting heavily, and stuffed a bundle into Yun Ting’s arms.
“Here… it’s all food. Keep it safe. Hurry and board the train. Write to me later!”
Yun Ting hugged her sister before reluctantly boarding.
Luckily, there were still a few empty seats. She picked one by the window and placed her luggage down. The important things were already stored in her space.
Looking out the window, she saw her mother and sister still searching from one window to another.
She leaned out and waved.
“Mom! Big sister! I’m here! Go home!”
The train slowly began to move.
Both of them stood there with red eyes, waving continuously and saying something she couldn’t hear.
Her own eyes grew moist as well.
This was family affection—the warmth she had once dreamed of.
And now, she finally had it.