Tang Xin was persuaded once again, though she had no intention of taking back what she'd already taken out. Smiling, she said, "Let's have a nice meal tonight to see you off."
Guo Youning nodded in agreement, but her mind was already racing—she had to go out that afternoon and find an excuse to retrieve more grain, fruit, vegetables, and eggs from her space.
She couldn't bear to live in abundance while her family struggled with meager meals.
At Tang Xin's insistence, Guo Youning took an afternoon nap.
After waking up, she used the excuse of returning a book to a classmate before leaving and went out.
She slipped into a secluded corner, entered her space, and began preparing.
She gathered 10 catties of rice, 20 catties of flour, a basket of fruit, 40 eggs, and a 5-cattie jug of vegetable oil.
She could only take a small amount; any more would be hard to explain away. The secret of her space absolutely must not be exposed.
What else might her family need? It wouldn't hurt to leave them some farewell gifts.
Dad loved smoking and drinking: one carton of Da Qianmen cigarettes and two bottles of Fenjiu liquor.
Mom loved looking pretty: a brand-new cashmere scarf from the wardrobe.
For her siblings, she wouldn't give individual gifts—one big snack assortment would do.
She'd leave these gifts in her room and tell her family about them after boarding the train, to avoid questions about their origin.
After preparing everything, she lingered in the space a while longer before leisurely heading home.
At this hour, the residential compound was quiet. Only when Guo Youning neared her doorstep did she bring out the items, carrying a basket on her back and holding another in her hand. The moment she entered, she met Tang Xin's suspicious gaze.
She had no choice but to repeat the old lady story—this time, there were two old ladies, with an additional one selling grain and oil.
Tang Xin was half-convinced, half-doubtful. Who could be lucky enough to encounter people selling good stuff every single day?
Yet she couldn't think of any other source. Guo Youning had been gone for less than an hour—hardly enough time to trade on the black market. It seemed her luck was genuinely turning.
Tang Xin's eyes sparkled with delight. "Our Ningning's fortune is really changing. This time when you go to the countryside, you're bound to end up in a good production team."
Guo Youning nodded repeatedly. "I feel like I'm becoming a Lucky Baby, so don't worry about me. Oh, and I forgot to tell you something important—something you'd never guess."
Tang Xin's hands, busy organizing the rice and flour, stilled as she pricked up her ears for what came next. But Guo Youning fell silent.
She glared at her cryptic daughter. "What big matter could a young girl like you possibly have? Spit it out!"
Guo Youning leaned in mysteriously and whispered, "It's heavenly news. I'll announce it at dinner."
Tang Xin rolled her eyes. This daughter who loved keeping her in suspense wasn't so endearing at the moment. But good news was worth waiting for, as long as it was truly good.
Still, she felt a strange unease. Ever since Ningning's illness, her whole demeanor had changed. Take this teasing habit, for instance—this lively energy was something she'd never shown before.
Her adaptability and communication skills had improved dramatically too. Sometimes, Tang Xin even wondered if this was a different daughter, but the mole behind her ear and the scar on her calf were still there—undoubtedly her own child.
She shook her head and laughed at her own wild thoughts. It was a good thing the child was becoming more cheerful.
Glancing at her suddenly less-adorable daughter, she began assigning tasks. "Fine then, Er Ya, keep your secrets. The meat sauce has cooled. Bring in the canned jars sunning by the doorway—time to fill them."
The comment felt reassuring. These past few days, she'd sensed her family treating her with excessive caution—as if they were holding a fragile treasure, afraid it might shatter or melt. That wasn't a normal way to interact.
"Er Ya sounds much more natural to me," she readily agreed. "Alright, I'll get right to it."
What followed was a harmonious dance of bickering and affection between mother and daughter as they collaborated on a lavish dinner.
Guo Youning was responsible for the braised pig's feet and large intestines, adding two spice packets along with the soy sauce. She also prepared the braised pork, secretly loading it with extra ingredients. Tang Xin handled the scallion pancakes, garlic-infused eggplant, tomato egg soup, and stir-fried greens.
By 5:30, family members began trickling home. The moment they stepped inside, they were enveloped by irresistible aromas. Their mouths watered at the sight of the spread on the table—even New Year's feasts rarely featured such abundance.
Though the front door was closed, occasional exclamations from passersby drifted in:"Smells amazing!""Incredibly fragrant!""Are the Guos stewing dragon meat? How can it smell this good!""Their daughter's going to the countryside tomorrow—of course the farewell meal would be extravagant!"…
To complement the feast, Guo Aiguo even brought out his treasured Fenjiu liquor. Her eldest brother managed to sneak a few sips, his face blossoming into a delighted grin.
As everyone savored the food, they shared updates about work and school. Suddenly, Guo Youning rapped her knuckles on the table. When all attention was on her, she announced slowly, "I did something truly remarkable this morning." Her eyes swept across the family before adding, "The kind of deed that deserves a commendation certificate."
Guo Aiguo was the most excited. "Tell us quickly! My daughter is truly exceptional!" The others chimed in, urging her to continue.
After basking in their anticipation, Guo Youning recounted the morning's events in detail. When they heard she'd met the military district commander and that he intended to award her a certificate and prizes, their excitement surpassed even her own.
Tang Xin never imagined that her second daughter's bout of diarrhea would lead to such a extraordinary opportunity. She really was their Lucky Baby.
Guo Youning hadn't planned to share this, but if someone came looking for her after she left for the countryside, she didn't want her family to be confused.
Dinner concluded amidst lively discussion and shared laughter.
After the meal, Guo Aiguo asked Guo Youning to join him for a digestive stroll. Once they reached a secluded corner, Father Guo pulled a crumpled, frayed envelope from his pocket and handed it to her with a warm smile.
"Ningning, this is the private savings I've tucked away over many years. Thirty-five yuan and seventy-two cents—it's all for you. But you must never tell Madam Tang Xin about this."
Guo Youning's eyes welled up. She remembered her father as incredibly frugal—someone who would break a cigarette in half to make it last two smokes, and stretch a bottle of liquor for a year. Yet for her, he was willingly emptying his entire secret stash. This money could buy over ten packs of Da Qianmen cigarettes at thirty cents each! Enough to last him ages.
A father's love is as solid as a mountain; its presence brings peace.
Determined not to betray this profound affection, she accepted the envelope with slightly trembling hands. Suppressing her emotion, she teased, "And you're really willing to part with it? Doesn't it hurt?"
Guo Aiguo's gaze lingered wistfully on the envelope in her grasp. "It does hurt to let it go," he admitted, his voice thick with feeling. "But it would hurt me far more to know my Ningning was suffering in the countryside. Farm work is tough. You need to be clever about it—rest when you can, eat well whenever possible, and take good care of yourself. I'll be watching for any job opportunities to bring you back to the city as soon as possible."
Guo Youning wiped away her rebellious tears and nodded firmly, joking through her emotion, "Alright then, I'll follow your advice faithfully. I'll strive to be a slacker who eats well—a truly outstanding Educated Youth!"
Guo Aiguo was momentarily stunned. Was that really what he meant? Well, perhaps it was… but had he just steered his child down the wrong path? He hurriedly began to clarify.
"It's not about encouraging you to be lazy, but about not overworking yourself. We should still strive to be exemplary Educated Youth in this new era, understand?"