Chapter 14

On the other side, Song Nian took the same bus home and got off halfway.

After getting off, she went into a nearby state-owned shop and bought a packet of pastries. Then she followed the alley she had once walked down with Hu Xiuyun.

From time to time, people passed by, and occasionally someone would turn to look at her, their eyes carrying that familiar amazement she had grown used to over the years.

Soon, she arrived at her aunt’s house. Her cousin He Yue happily came out to welcome her, with her aunt, Hu Xiuyun, close behind holding a spatula. When she saw the pastries in Song Nian’s hand, her expression immediately darkened.

“You child, coming to your aunt’s house and still bringing things along—how distant.”

Song Nian smiled and said it wasn’t distant at all: “I bought them for you and cousin and little brother to try.”

Hu Xiuyun sighed helplessly and pulled her inside: “Your uncle went out driving for hire the past few days, he’s not home. Just sit, the food will be ready soon.”

Song Nian agreed and sat with He Yue by the old wooden table, polished dark with years of scrubbing and grease.

Not long after, He Binbin ran in from outside holding a bottle of soda, sneaky and excited: “Almost got seen by Aunt.”

He Yue immediately craned her neck to peek at their eldest aunt’s house across the way, then said: “Should be fine. Today they said He Wenqiang’s fiancée’s family came over, she definitely won’t have time to watch us.”

Catching Song Nian’s puzzled look, He Yue whispered: “Aunt always likes to come over and take little advantages. Dad says since uncle passed away, she’s a woman raising a son alone, so we shouldn’t argue with her.”

Song Nian understood instantly.

He Binbin opened the soda and eagerly pushed it toward her like offering treasure: “Sis, try it—Tianfu Cola, it’s good!”

Song Nian took it with a smile and sipped, her heart aching a little.

Her aunt clearly wasn’t doing well herself, yet still wanted her to have the good things.

Just then, a shrill voice called from outside: “Xiuyun, Xiuyun.”

Hu Xiuyun had just come out of the kitchen, removed her apron, and quickly pulled the kitchen door shut when she saw her sister-in-law, Ma Yunxia, swaying her hips in a red blouse as she came over.

Fortunately, Ma Yunxia’s family had guests today, so she didn’t bother snooping at what was simmering in the pot. She just hurriedly said: “Xiuyun, my family’s got people over, I can’t get away—go buy a bag of sugar at the supply store for me, white sugar, I need it right now!”

Without giving money or ration coupons, and without waiting for a reply, Ma Yunxia rushed back home.

He Yue shot to her feet in anger: “Mom, she’s at it again!”

From He Yue, Song Nian quickly learned that Aunt Ma Yunxia had pulled this trick many times already—pretending to ask Hu Xiuyun to buy things for her, but never giving money or coupons, and never returning them afterward. If asked, she would play the “poor widow” card, claiming she’d repay later.

“By now she owes Mom quite a bit in money and coupons already. And now this again.”

Hu Xiuyun looked upset but sighed, thinking of today’s marriage talks for Wenqiang, and said: “Fine, just this last time. If she doesn’t repay, then we’ll cut ties from now on.”

Song Nian stood up: “Auntie, let me go instead.”

Hu Xiuyun quickly objected: “Nonsense, how could I let you go? Sit, I’ll be right back and then we’ll eat.”

Song Nian asked her: “Auntie, are you just going to let her take the money and coupons and never get them back? That way, not only do you lose them, but you also can’t even keep the relationship.”

He Yue nodded hard: “Exactly, that adds up to almost ten yuan by now, right Mom?”

Hu Xiuyun gave a bitter smile: “If I could get it back, do you think I wouldn’t? Even if I tear my face with her, she won’t return it. And when she cries poor to your dad, he’ll come home angry and make life miserable for all of us.”

He Yue was furious: “Dad’s too biased.”

Hu Xiuyun shook her head: “Just this last time. If not, then…”

Song Nian said: “Let me go, Auntie. Write down the account for me, I’ll collect it.”

Hu Xiuyun still wanted to refuse, but Song Nian smiled: “Ten yuan is enough to buy cousin a nice dress… Auntie, trust me, let me try, okay?”

Meeting her niece’s calm, steady eyes, Hu Xiuyun felt an unexpected surge of trust.

He Yue was eager: “I’ll go with you.”

Song Nian nodded: “Alright.”

He Binbin quickly followed: “Me too! If she makes a scene, I’ll protect you.”

Watching the three of them stride off to collect the debt, Hu Xiuyun realized suddenly—her children had already had enough.

Perhaps… she had been too soft all along.

A moment later, Song Nian knocked on Ma Yunxia’s door with the bag of sugar in hand.

When Ma Yunxia saw her, she was surprised, then looked at He Yue and He Binbin at her side. “And this is…?”

“My cousin,” He Yue answered.

Song Nian smiled: “Auntie, this is the white sugar you asked my aunt to buy.”

Ma Yunxia’s eyes lit up and she reached to grab it, but Song Nian held on: “Ninety cents and half a pound of sugar coupons.”

Ma Yunxia grew impatient: “I’ll give it to your aunt later.”

“But I paid for it.”

Song Nian said evenly: “Also, the things you asked my aunt to buy before haven’t been repaid either—ten yuan and three cents, two pounds of oil coupons, two pounds of sugar coupons… and half a foot of cloth coupons.”

Ma Yunxia froze, then sneered: “So you’re here to collect on her behalf, eh?”

“Yes,” Song Nian said lightly. “My aunt’s been tight lately but too embarrassed to ask. I told her you weren’t unreasonable, that debts ought to be repaid. Surely that’s not too much to say, right?”

He Yue was stunned, listening beside her.

But Ma Yunxia wasn’t buying it. Sweet talk or harsh words—she wasn’t paying: “Later, later.”

She turned to head back inside, not even wanting the sugar anymore. But Song Nian wasn’t in a hurry—she followed right after.

Ma Yunxia froze: “What are you doing?”

“Oh, I heard your in-laws are visiting. I just wanted to see. After all, if you’re struggling so badly you can’t repay debts, surely you can’t afford dowry either. I could help you explain to your in-laws—maybe they’ll lower their demands.”

Ma Yunxia panicked: “Who told you to meddle!”

Her son Wenqiang was a fine young man, and his fiancée’s family worked in the police station. Such a good marriage—if it got ruined, she’d never forgive whoever ruined it.

But Song Nian wouldn’t leave. She even raised her voice: “What’s this, Auntie? You don’t welcome us in?”

From inside, a voice called out: “Wenqiang’s mom, what’s going on out there?”

Ma Yunxia stiffened, then quickly forced a smile: “Nothing, nothing, just a neighbor.”

Looking back and meeting Song Nian’s faint, mocking smile, she realized there was no way around it. If this meddling girl ruined her son’s marriage, she’d regret it forever.

“Fine, fine, take it, you little debt collector!”

She slapped a big bill into Song Nian’s hand.

Song Nian caught her again: “And the coupons.”

“I don’t have them right now—”

“Money will do in their place,” Song Nian said simply.

Ma Yunxia: …

A moment later, Song Nian returned to Hu Xiuyun with thirteen yuan in hand. She set it down along with the ten yuan her aunt had lent her earlier: “Auntie, keep it.”

Hu Xiuyun grew anxious: “But this—”

Song Nian pressed her hand gently and said seriously: “Auntie, I’m not short of money. My husband’s family is well-off, you don’t have to worry about me.”

Hu Xiuyun’s eyes reddened: “Don’t lie to me. If you’d married into a good family, why would you be out working like this? Your mother raised you like a princess—if she saw you working so hard now, her heart would break.”

Song Nian almost laughed: “It’s not that serious, Auntie. I’m no different from cousin or the other women at the factory—we all work for our own livelihood. If others can do it, why can’t I?”

“But you’re different,” Hu Xiuyun said softly.

Song Nian sighed: “That’s all in the past. Now things are different. My parents raised me well, and now I can support them myself. I work because I want to send them money—so they won’t have to take it from others and feel ashamed.”

Hu Xiuyun listened, both comforted and heartbroken, tears streaming as she held her niece’s hand.

After a while, they all sat down to a big pot of fragrant, spicy boiled fish.

Stuffed, He Binbin rubbed his belly and grinned: “I’ll go fishing again in a few days. Sis, you’ll come back for more fish, right?”

Song Nian smiled and nodded: “Of course.”

After dinner, Hu Xiuyun and her daughter walked her out to catch the bus.

But not far out of the alley, a black sedan screeched to a stop.

“Song Nian.”

She looked up to see Qin Heng leaning out the window: “What are you doing here?”

He glanced at the old alley she had just walked out of, his eyes flashing with pity.

Song Nian smiled and said she had been visiting her aunt. Qin Heng paused, then invited her to a nearby café.

She hesitated: “It’s late, I don’t want to miss the bus. If it’s about something, can’t we talk at the factory tomorrow?”

Qin Heng grew even more pained, explaining gently: “It’s about your parents. The factory’s too public, not safe to talk. Don’t worry, I’ll drive you back afterward.”

Knowing the Qin family had some influence, Song Nian’s eyes lit up. She told her aunt and cousin to go home, then got into Qin Heng’s car.

Nearby was a “coffee shop”—though it was more of a dessert shop, since coffee wasn’t mainstream and had limited customers.

But Qin Heng, being a returned student with special access to supply tickets, got a window seat and ordered coffee and a slice of cake.

Looking at her, he said warmly: “I remember you liked this.”

Song Nian’s expression flickered, but she asked directly: “I know I’m being impatient, but what exactly about my parents did you mean?”

Qin Heng didn’t play coy: “I had someone look into it. The biggest charge against your father is tied to that large deal with Country A. But as I understand it, that deal was actually for equipment he purchased to donate to the state. The problem is—the related documents have all gone missing…”

Song Nian listened intently, not noticing the military jeep driving by outside.

Xu Jin glanced casually, then did a double-take.

Through the café window, he saw his new wife sitting face-to-face with that so-called “old classmate,” the returned overseas talent, Qin Heng. Qin Heng was talking, and his new bride was staring at him without blinking…