Lu Dongsheng smiled. “She is. The most beautiful girl in the whole world.”
Lu Wentao’s eyes lit up. “Then I can’t wait to meet her.”
That night, Lu Dongsheng lay awake long into the dark. He’d never thought he’d lose sleep over a girl.
Su Ying, too, woke early Lin Yan was already stirring beside her. Lin Yan reached out and gave Su Ying’s chest a squeeze, then puffed out her own. “Tsk, your shameless stepmother works you harder than a rooster and feeds you less than an ant. Look at you skin and bones. We’re barely a year apart, and yours are still the size of walnuts. How will you ever nurse a baby?”
Su Ying blushed and pulled the blanket up. “You’re shameless! Do that again and I won’t sleep over anymore.”
Lin Yan’s figure was undeniably soft and full Su Ying couldn’t help feeling outmatched. Lin Yan laughed heartily. “As if I haven’t before. I meant to ask last night all that business with Jiang Xiaofei… is it true? You were so tired you were asleep before I could speak. I was gathering firewood on the mountain if I’d been there, I’d have taken a knife to him and made sure he could never touch anyone again.”
Su Ying cherished Lin Yan’s boldness. While village boys teased her that no one would ever marry such a fearless girl, to Su Ying she was the brightest light in this dark place. Together with Shazhu, who stood by her like family, they were the only warmth she’d known here.
She dressed quickly. “It’s all true. And I think Tian Cuifen’s plotting something can I stay with you these next few nights?”
“Stay as long as you like! I’ll keep the kang stoked warm and toasty for you.”
Su Ying grinned what a wonderful friend, the kind who’d fare well wherever she went. Lin Yan pinched her cheek. “Look at you different already! That’s the spirit. If anyone tries anything, bite back even if you get beaten. It’s wrong that good people suffer while your father and that witch thrive. But enough about them I’m off to work. Rest while you can.”
Su Ying was wide awake now. “I’ll head home too. I’m going up the mountain with you later we’ll gather something we can sell.” She had no money and needed to change that.
Meanwhile, Su Fugui had set out early to see the lame relative Tian Cuifen had spoken of. Tian Cuifen waited eagerly four hundred yuan dowry would be hers, and the girl would be far away, unable to run.
Su Ying returned to an open gate. The cold had deepened after yesterday’s snow; she sneezed and stepped inside. Su Xiuxiu, sweeping the yard, glared. “How dare you show your face? Why didn’t you freeze out there?”
Su Ying dusted her hands calmly. “If I’d died, who’d earn your dowry for you?”
Su Xiuxiu fell silent. Tian Cuifen pulled back the patched curtain. “Stop your bickering! Get to work do you want to starve?”
Su Ying ignored them, grabbed her basket, and set off for the mountains with Lin Yan. No more being pushed around. Su Xiuxiu flung down her broom this was never her job. “Mom, when will she pull her weight? My wrists ache.”
Tian Cuifen sighed. She’d never risen before dawn to cook before either. But in a few days the girl would be gone best not to provoke her until then. “Bear it a little longer. Once we have the money, she’s someone else’s problem.”
Su Xiuxiu gritted her teeth enduring only for that dowry.
At the Lu family home, Zhao Yulan had planned carefully. She sent Xiaofang to invite Han Miaomiao for lunch and returned early from work laden with supplies. Their family was well‑off by commune standards, and today called for a feast six dishes and soup, including a fish.
Lu Dongsheng was turning soil in the yard when she arrived. “Mom, did you get a bonus? That’s enough food for a banquet!”
“Wait and see we have special guests. Wash up and come help!”
“Who’s coming?”
“You’ll find out at noon.”
He wondered could it be Wenxiu?
In the kitchen, he stood tall in a white shirt tucked into army‑green trousers, making the room feel small. Zhao Yulan watched him, then thought of the unknown village girl surely Han Miaomiao was the better match. Educated, pretty, employed they’d look perfect together. Her smile broadened.
Lu Dongsheng rolled up his sleeves, revealing strong, sun‑browned forearms, and began scaling the fish. “Change into your Zhongshan suit later,” she said. “You’ll look more presentable.”
Lu Dongsheng frowned was this guest meant for him?