"Miss Guo, thank you for recognizing my work. I urgently need that commendation letter to save my life. Please light three incense sticks after writing it, focus on me while burning it, and I'll receive it. Please! Otherwise my career will be over!"
Guo Youning stared in astonishment. Was this even possible? It sounded utterly fantastical!
Having more friends meant more opportunities. If she could communicate with the Yin and Yang, wouldn't that be incredible!
Following the principle of helping others being helping herself, she composed herself and replied: "I'll send you the letter as soon as I get some incense."
An excited voice echoed in her mind: "Such great kindness needs no thanks!" Then silence fell.
Guo Youning's attention returned to the supplies before her, feeling greatly reassured.
With this space and its contents as her foundation, as long as she kept a low profile and didn't do anything foolish, she could definitely survive until the college entrance exams and wait for the day of reform and opening up.
Then she could fully unleash her potential, becoming a pig standing at the wind vent – perhaps even China's future richest person!
The more Guo Youning fantasized, the more delighted she became, bursting into song: "Today is a good day, everything I wish for can come true…"
She couldn't stay in the space too long – her family would return from work and school soon.
She randomly pulled some green vegetables from the ground, threw them into the chicken coop and pigpen, silently thought "exit," and returned to her crowded bedroom.
Just then, knocking sounded at the door again.
With her health improved and stomach no longer hungry, Guo Youning suppressed her smiling lips and slowly opened the door. Her slightly dark and thin younger sister Guo Youting slipped in.
She tossed her backpack onto the desk and sat beside Guo Youning on the bed edge.
Seeing Guo Youning looked better than in the morning, she smiled and chattered away, "Second Sister, you're better? You look much better! Wow, your braids are so beautifully done!"
"Second Sister, you have no idea – school is practically unbearable. We didn't do any proper work all afternoon, just watched the Red Guards throwing their weight around."
"They even dragged our wonderful Vice Principal Teacher Luo to the sports field for struggle sessions – it's so unjust!"
As she spoke, a loud "gurgle" sounded. Rubbing her flat stomach, she lowered her head and said seriously: "Five Viscera Temple, please endure a little longer. I'll make offerings to you soon."
Guo Youning found this quite amusing. The original host had been very close with her younger sister, eating and sleeping together every day, and only spoke more freely with her in this household.
Her sister had a lively personality that made her almost universally liked, though she was rather outspoken.
Imitating the original host's tone, Guo Youning tapped her forehead and scolded, "Be careful! Words like 'temple' and 'offerings' shouldn't be said so casually. Watch out or the Red Guards might come for you next."
Guo Youting shrunk her neck, recalling the brutal scene of the struggle session on the sports field, and immediately covered her mouth with her hand.
Muffled, she said: "I won't dare anymore, Second Sister. You can't report me."
Seeing her frightened expression, Guo Youning's heart sank. Alas, Beijing was both the political center and the eye of the storm – the situation wasn't optimistic.
Many people had twisted psyches during this period, completely lacking bottom lines.
Sons reporting fathers, students reporting teachers, apprentices reporting masters… such chaotic phenomena were common. There were benefits to going to the countryside – rural areas were much calmer.
She glared at her troublesome sister and scolded laughingly: "Your sister isn't that kind of person, but others might be different. It's wise to be cautious of others."
Guo Youting hugged her arm and cooed, "I knew Second Sister loves me most. I never talk like that outside."
Just then, the "gurgling" sound echoed again. Guo Youning rose to partially close the door, retrieved a paper bag from her bedside, and pulled out two fried dough twists for her.
She whispered, "Have these to tide you over. Your stomach really suffers following you around!"
Guo Youting's face lit up with delight—fried food was a rare treat these days.
Her eager eyes kept darting between Guo Youning and the twists. "Sis, where did these come from? Are you really giving them to me? You’re still unwell—keep them to build up your strength. I can hold out a little longer; dinner should be ready soon."
The way her gaze clung to the twists while she swallowed and declined made Guo Youning’s heart ache with mixed emotions.
Softly, Guo Youning said, "I’ve recovered. If I say eat, then eat. I haven’t even left yet, and you’re already keeping me at a distance?"
Upon hearing this, Tingting grinned cheerfully and took the two twists, continuing to coax, "Second Sister, I love you most! I really don’t want you to go. I’ll eat one twist and save the other for Little Brother. On the way back, he was so hungry he could barely walk."
At eleven, he was at that growing age where a boy’s appetite could empty the pantry. With just two coarse grain buns and a pinch of pickled vegetables for lunch, it was no wonder he was starving by mid-afternoon.
Guo Youning simply pressed the entire bag into her hands. "Take these and share them with him."
Tingting’s eyes curved into happy crescents, but she firmly pushed the bag away. "Two are enough! I bet Mom made these specially because you were sick. If I take the whole bag and she finds out, I’ll never hear the end of it. Please, Second Sister, spare me!"
With that, she clutched the twists and darted out of the room.
Not greedy, not possessive, and thoughtful toward her siblings—this was a sister worth keeping.
Soon, her younger brother Guo Youran, still small for his age, came in to call her for dinner. Blinking his large eyes, he said, "Thanks, Second Sister! The twist was so crispy and delicious! Ah, too bad there was only one—I hardly got to enjoy it."
He smacked his lips, his throat working repeatedly.
Guo Youning saw right through his little act—he was a hungry little foodie, though in these times, who wasn’t?
Generously, she pointed to the paper bag on her bedside. "Go eat dinner first. You can come back for more afterward."
A visible smile spread across Guo Youran’s face. He cast a few longing glances at the bag before reluctantly heading out.
Soon, the whole family had returned one by one. The small living room gathered around a worn, deeply grooved square table, everyone finding a seat.
Dinner consisted of coarse rice porridge, Two-Flour Mantou, green peppers stir-fried with pork skin, and a plate of boiled greens.
This was a fairly good meal, thanks to four wage-earners in the household. Many families could only afford watery porridge.
Everyone was delighted to see Guo Youning finally venturing out of her room, especially her father Guo Aiguo and eldest brother Guo Youjie.
They hadn’t seen her in days. With her departure for the countryside looming, they had been deeply worried about her health. Seeing her improved was a immense relief.
Guo Aiguo smiled and beckoned, "Ningning, come sit by Dad."
Her eldest brother quickly shifted over to make space. "Ningning, sit here."
As soon as she was seated, her eldest sister Guo Youyan leaned in, felt her forehead, and smiled with upturned lips. "You really are much better—the fever’s gone."
A warm feeling blossomed in Guo Youning’s heart. Her family seemed alright after all; "family harmony" truly lived up to its name.
Once again, I silently thanked the Netherworld trio. I would ask Tang Xin later if there were any incense and candles at home—these thank-you letters must be written properly, and three copies at that!