Qi Ziyue walked back with the little boy, only to find his cheeks red from the cold. When she touched his small hands, they were ice-cold.
The educated youth compound was still empty—no one knew where the others had gone. Qi Ziyue breathed warm air into her palms, then cupped the child’s face and said with a smile, “Wait here. Mom will go boil some water and make you brown sugar water.”
It would help warm him up and also ease hunger a little.
Hearing this, Qi Ning’an looked up at her. “Brown sugar water… isn’t that very precious?”
Even though he was still young, he knew things clearly. In a family like the Qi household, even children didn’t easily get to drink brown sugar water. Yet his mother—who had only recently “recovered” from illness—was willing to boil eggs and make him brown sugar water?
His eyes fixed on her, emotions tangled and uncertain. At such a young age, he could no longer tell whether his mother truly loved him or hated him.
“Don’t say silly things. Nothing is more precious than you if Mom has it,” Qi Ziyue said, tapping his head.
Qi Ning’an stood still, quietly replaying those words. Was he more important than brown sugar water?
His young mind couldn’t fully process it. He was intelligent, but emotionally slow to understand affection or respect.
Only one thing he could clearly feel: ever since his mother woke up after being “ill,” the world had become much warmer.
……
Qi Ziyue quickly boiled water and took out a piece of brown sugar from the cupboard, breaking off a small corner and dropping it into the hot water. After it dissolved, she tasted it with a chopstick to check the sweetness before handing it to the child.
She didn’t add too much sugar, worried his teeth might be ruined.
When she handed him the cup, she noticed he was still looking at her.
“Come on, drink it,” she coaxed gently.
Qi Ning’an took the cup.
Qi Ziyue placed it into his hands and lightly tugged his ear. “When someone gives you something, say thank you. Say it to Mom too.”
Qi Ning’an disliked having his ear pulled—it was a strange sensation—but he didn’t dodge. Instead, he obediently said “thank you” before running off to drink.
Just then—
Bang.
The dormitory door was pushed open. A female educated youth rushed in, pale-faced, grabbed something, then hurried out again. When she returned, she collapsed at the doorway, clutching her stomach in pain. Her face was ashen, sweat beading on her forehead.
Qi Ziyue stepped forward. “What’s wrong with you?”
The girl couldn’t answer, only groaning in pain.
“Here, drink some of this. Is it menstrual pain?” Qi Ziyue offered her the remaining brown sugar water.
The pain was too severe and she was too weak. After hearing that it might help, the girl drank it.
A few minutes later, the pain eased slightly. Leaning against the door, she said, “Thank you. My name is Lin Xiao. What’s yours?”
“I’m Qi Ziyue, a new educated youth. Why is your pain so bad?”
Lin Xiao then explained her family situation—how she often went hungry to save food and ration tickets, which made her menstrual pain severe.
As they talked, Qi Ziyue caught an important detail: the brigade leader had a niece who was about to get married.
“And you’re saying this niece is close to the brigade leader, and her family prepared several thick cotton quilts?” Qi Ziyue asked, confirming again.
After Lin Xiao nodded, Qi Ziyue’s eyes lit up.
Opportunity had arrived on its own.
If she could get close to that niece, she might be able to solve the bedding problem—and later, even the housing issue.
She thanked Lin Xiao and handed her the remaining half piece of brown sugar.
“I’ll go buy a quilt,” she said, then immediately took Qi Ning’an’s hand and headed toward the brigade leader’s house.
Lin Xiao called after her, warning that the niece had a bad temper and disliked educated youth.
Qi Ziyue only replied, “Alright.”
The brigade leader’s home was in the eastern part of the village. By the time they arrived, a light rain had begun, dampening their hair.
Qi Ziyue wiped Qi Ning’an’s hair and knocked on the door.
The house was built of stone—much better than most mud or wooden houses in the village.
Soon, several people came out. The leading woman was the second aunt of the household.
“I’m Qi Ziyue, a new educated youth,” she said with a polite smile. “I came to see Xiao Mei.”
Her gentle expression made it hard for anyone to refuse her outright.
The aunt called inside, and a sharp voice immediately replied, “I’m not seeing her!”
The atmosphere turned awkward, but Qi Ziyue still asked to go in.
Inside, the girl named Gu Xiaomei was clearly irritated. “I already said I’m not seeing you. I don’t even know you.”
“You educated youths are all annoying.”
She had once been hurt by a relationship with an educated youth and now had strong prejudice against them.
Qi Ning’an’s expression instantly turned cold. He grabbed his mother’s hand, wanting to leave.
But Qi Ziyue gently patted his head, signaling him to stay calm.
Then she smiled slightly and raised the items in her hand—skincare cream, powder, and blush.
A gift needed to hit the right spot.
And for a young girl, nothing mattered more than beauty.