It was a letter from Cen Zhengnian.

Chu Xia opened it, and inside were only seven words: “Be well, don’t worry.”

Cen Zhengnian.

That was it?

Chu Xia shook the envelope, confirming that there was nothing else inside.

“An’an, do you want to read the letter from your dad?”

“No.”

Cen Huai’an was watering the vegetables and staring at the soil, wondering why they hadn’t grown yet.

When he was starving before, he had hoped his father would appear like other fathers, giving him food and preventing him from going hungry.

But his father never appeared, and he had lost all expectations, even harboring resentment towards the father who only existed in letters.

If he wouldn’t support him, why did he even exist?

Chu Xia glanced towards the room.

The curtain separated their view, but Cen Huai’an’s tone was off.

What child doesn’t want to see their own father?

However, if she were Cen Huai’an, she wouldn’t want to either.

After all, this father was absent when Cen Huai’an was hungry, and such a father was inadequate.

Chu Xia thought that he was better off being just a source of money. Even his letters lacked genuine emotion.

She had heard that the apricots from the Northwest were very sweet and delicious, and that the grapes and watermelons were famous for their sweetness.

She wanted to eat them more and more, but watermelon was cold in nature, and she and Cen Huai’an shouldn’t buy it until their health was better, or they might get diarrhea.

Chu Xia took out the pen she bought specifically for studying, and since she didn’t have special stationery, she used the pages from her notebook.

“Zhengnian: I hope this letter finds you well. Knowing that you are safe in the Northwest puts me and An’an at ease. An’an is now five years old and looks a lot like you.”

She wasn’t sure if he looked like Cen Zhengnian, as her memory of him was very vague since it had been four years since she last saw him, but writing it this way should be fine.

“He is very clever, just like you. I teach him to read and write every night, and he learns quickly, which gives me a sense of accomplishment. I will send you a sample of his writing.

He now helps me with some household chores within his capability. He takes good care of the vegetables I planted on the windowsill.”

Although the vegetables hadn’t grown yet, judging by Cen Huai’an’s effort, they would eventually grow.

She mentioned it in advance, and by the time the letter arrived, the vegetables would certainly have grown.

“However, since you left, An’an has forgotten you, and I’ve also forgotten what you look like. I wanted to show him your photo but couldn’t find one at home. But don’t worry, I will talk to him about you.

Recently, An’an and I have decided to eat more meat to improve our health. We used to be frugal with food and clothing, but now we realize we should take care of ourselves to ensure you can be at ease.

Today, I’m preparing crucian carp soup. The fish is tender and flavorful, seasoned only with simple scallions, ginger, and salt, with some goji berries added for good health. It’s a pity you’re not here to taste this delicious dish.

I heard the Northwest produces a lot of beef and lamb, so you must have plenty to eat.

I also read that the apricots and grapes from the Northwest are very sweet. I wonder just how sweet they are. An’an and I haven’t tried the Northwest’s beef, lamb, or fruits yet. I hope we get the chance to try them someday.

Finally, I hope everything goes well for you in the Northwest, and you return home soon.

Lu Chu Xia.”

“An’an,”

I’ve written a reply to your dad. Don’t you want to write a few words to him?”

An’an frowned and thought for a while before saying, “No.”

If he wouldn’t write, that was fine.

Chu Xia could just tear a page from the notebook where he had written.

The father-son bond had to be mended by them on their own.

Cen Zhengnian hadn’t returned for four years. No matter what contributions he made to the country, he was absolutely irresponsible towards his family.

Chu Xia put the letter into a blank envelope, sealed it, and asked Cen Huai’an to drop it in the mailbox downstairs.

After finishing the letter, Chu Xia took advantage of the good weather to take down the curtains in the room, as well as the bed sheets and covers, to wash them.

She first laid the mattress and quilt out on the railing to dry.

Then, carrying the basin, Chuxia called Cen Huai’an to go to the sink room together.

Cen Huai’an didn’t like these chores either, but doing work meant getting enough to eat.

Washing sheets and pillowcases was a big task, and the sink room was crowded on Sundays with families from the second floor, all busy with their laundry.

Since this was the only day off in the week, everyone was occupied with housework.

When the women saw Chuxia and Cen Huai’an washing sheets together, they changed their tune from teasing Cen Huai’an to praising him for being considerate and helping out at such a young age.

Chuxia smiled and added, “Yes, he insisted on coming even though I didn’t want him to. It’s just that my health isn’t great, and he’s worried about me.”

Cen Huai’an looked up, puzzled.

It was actually his mom who asked him to come.

But he didn’t say anything and quietly continued to scrub the sheets in his hands.

The conversation soon shifted to the other children.

One woman complained about her child being lazy and never coming home for a week.

Another mentioned how her own child was just like that, and some praised their daughters for being diligent. It was all about praising others’ children and criticizing their own.

That’s how parents often are.

In the sink room, besides Cen Huai’an, there were a few girls doing laundry, but no other children or boys.

After hanging the sheets and pillowcases to dry, Chuxia felt as if she had worked all day in the fields.

Her body really wasn’t strong; in her previous life, she’d often spent whole days picking herbs with her grandfather on the mountain, which felt much easier.

She sat down on a chair to rest and took out her first-year high school math book to read.

Cen Huai’an wanted to go out and play.

In the past, he wouldn’t have cared about anyone’s opinion and would have just gone out if he wanted to.

But now, for some reason, he felt uneasy not telling Chuxia before going.

He ran to the door and then quickly ran back, saying, “Mom, I want to go outside.”

“Go ahead,” Chuxia said casually, waving her hand. “Just don’t leave the family compound.”

It was normal for a five-year-old to want to play.

Chuxia wouldn’t keep him from having some leisure time, only making him do chores and study all the time would make him miserable.

Unbeknownst to Chuxia, Cen Huai’an didn’t actually go out to play.

Instead, he ran to the hole in the compound wall and meowed a couple of times.

A boy dressed in tattered clothes, similar to what Cen Huai’an used to wear, came through the hole.

He looked about eight or nine years old and had a fierce look in his eyes.

“Hey, little ragamuffin, seems like you’re living better these days? I was wondering why I haven’t seen you around.”

The boy circled Cen Huai’an, looking at his clean and well-fitting clothes with envy.

He reached out to touch Cen Huai’an’s clothes, but Cen Huai’an quickly dodged, eyeing him warily.

“I’m going to school.”

The boy didn’t care much, withdrawing his hand and asking, “How did your mom manage to send you to school?”

Cen Huai’an shook his head.

He felt both happy and uneasy about Chu Xia’s changes.

He was always afraid that he might wake up one day and find himself back to the times when he was starving.

“Hey! Are you coming with me to collect scrap?”

“Sure.”

Cen Huai’an didn’t hesitate at all.

He carefully took off his new clothes, changed into the old, worn-out clothes in his backpack, and followed the boy out of the hole.

….

At lunch, Chu Xia noticed a strange, unpleasant odor coming from Cen Huai’an. It wasn’t sweat smell at all.

She served Cen Huai’an a bowl of crucian carp soup and casually asked, “An’an, what did you play today?”

Cen Huai’an took a careful sip of the soup, which was so delicious he wanted to drink the whole bowl at once.

Hearing Chu Xia’s question, he lowered his gaze and fidgeted with his bowl, saying, “Played marbles.”

Chu Xia glanced at Cen Huai’an’s clothes, which were clean.

Playing marbles on the ground would certainly dirty his clothes, so it was impossible they’d be this clean.

But Chu Xia didn’t press further, instead lowering her head to drink her soup, hiding the contemplation in her eyes.

“In the afternoon, don’t go out to play. Come with me to your grandmother’s house.”

Cen Huai’an immediately looked up, his eyes filled with an unmistakable fierceness, similar to how Chu Xia had first seen him—a look of a little wolf cub.

“I don’t want to go!” he said firmly.

Chu Xia swallowed the fish meat from her soup and said, “We’re going to get some money. Are you really not going?”

Cen Huai’an’s brows furrowed, his eyes showing distrust. “Really need money?”

“Yes. So, are you coming or not?”

“Alright.” Cen Huai’an felt the soup had cooled a bit. He drank it all in one go and went for more.

The fish soup was really tasty, just like chicken soup.

If this were a dream, he hoped it would last a bit longer.

In the afternoon, after their nap, Chu Xia took Cen Huai’an directly to the Textile Factory No. 1’s residential area.

Chu Xia didn’t know the exact time, but the sun was still blazing, making the walk feel hot and uncomfortable even in the shade of trees.

The constant buzzing of cicadas only added to the heat.

The Textile Factory No. 1 wasn’t very far from the No. 3 factory, but walking would take over half an hour.

So, Chu Xia decided to take the bus with Cen Huai’an.

If the other residents of the area knew, they’d probably scold her for being wasteful, taking the bus for such a short distance.

The bus was hot, but it was faster than walking.

The residential area of Factory No. 1 was similar to that of Factory No. 3, but since it was built earlier, the buildings were closer together, and it was all cramped, dark corridor-style housing.

In the afternoon, many people were sitting under the shade of trees, fanning themselves with palm fans and chatting.

The heat indoors made the outside air feel slightly cooler.

Someone recognized Chu Xia and greeted her with a smile.

Chu Xia nodded back in response.

Entering the corridor-style building, the heat intensified.

It was even hotter and more poorly designed than the building where she and Cen Huai’an lived.

But it was normal; such buildings were common in this era.

When Wang Yulan heard the knock on the door, she opened it to see Chu Xia and Cen Huai’an.

She was momentarily stunned, then immediately greeted them with a broad smile, “Chu Xia and An’an are here. Come in, your father and I were just talking about you.”

Chu Xia walked in without ceremony. “Talking about me because I didn’t give you money?”

“How can you speak to your mother like that!”

Luo Dafu, Chu Xia’s father, was an extreme patriarch, adhering to the principle that men should work outside and women should manage the home.

He was uninvolved in family matters, including his children.

He sat on a mahogany sofa, holding a newspaper.

Though he wasn’t reading it, he frowned at Chu Xia with a stern gaze.

Having been through the war, he had an aura of violence and ruthlessness.

None of Chu Xia’s siblings, including her, were not afraid of him.

Opposite him was her elder brother, a complete mama’s boy who followed Wang Yulan’s every word.

Hearing the commotion, Chu Xia’s sister-in-law came out holding a two-year-old nephew.

Her younger siblings had yet to make an appearance.

Chu Xia didn’t respond to Luo Dafu’s comment.

She sat on the sofa with Cen Huai’an.

This set of mahogany furniture was not present when she got married; it, along with the television and refrigerator in the house, were purchased in the past two years.

All these things were bought with Chu Xia’s money, but Chu Xia had starved to death, and Cen Huai’an had suffered severe malnutrition.

These people were the culprits who caused Chu Xia’s death!

Chu Xia clenched her hands to calm herself and directly addressed Wang Yulan, “Mom, it’s time to pay back the money you borrowed from me over the years. And elder brother, spending my money to support your own family—was it very comfortable?”