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Observing the bees busy collecting nectar from the ginseng flowers and the honeycomb filled with honey, Wang Qian first stirred the honey and then proceeded to harvest the mature crops. In the past, her parents helped with this task, but now she took on the responsibility herself. Despite the hard work, the sight of the golden fruits filled her with joy. After the harvest, she planned to visit the outskirts to grind wheat for flour, aiming for nutritious and healthy food from her own produce.
Feeling tired from her efforts, she plucked a peach from her space to eat. The sweet juice filled her mouth, embodying pure delight.
Deciding to climb up the trees to pick various fruits, Wang Qian contemplated that although she had reported for classes and couldn’t start immediately due to incomplete attendance, she intended to visit her younger brother’s school. She planned to bring him some snacks, recognizing that food was a way to bond with boys. Gathering extra fruits, she prepared to share them with her dorm mates upon her return.
After a busy half-day in her space, she managed to harvest only a small portion due to exhaustion and then cleaned up to rest.
The next morning, Wang Qian was the first one up. Despite her young age, her long-established habits of rising early, even after late nights, had become deeply ingrained.
Early in the morning, after having breakfast, Wang Qian set off for Mingyuan’s school. She had researched the public transportation that would take her there and was confident she knew her way around.
The buses weren’t as crowded as they would be in later years, with most people opting to ride bicycles to work. Wang Qian’s bus ride was smooth, and when she arrived at Mingyuan’s school, she found a quiet spot to unload the things she had brought for her younger brother.
She wasn’t sure where Mingyuan lived, but she knew where her older sister, Wang Xuan’s dormitory was located. She figured that she would come to see her first.
As expected, when she found Wang Xuan’s dormitory, she saw Yang Nuo waiting downstairs holding something in his hand. Wang Qian was pleased to see him. She felt that Yang Nuo was a nice guy and saw him as a potential brother-in-law. Although she and Yang Nuo had a fight at first, she was coming to realize that relationships were complex.
“Brother Yang Nuo, where’s my sister? Has she returned to the dorm?” Wang Qian asked.
Yang Nuo turned around and was surprised to see his future Sister-in-law. “Wang Qian, why are you here alone?”
Wang Qian smiled and nodded. Yang Nuo was at a loss for words. “What if you get lost? We’ll wait for her downstairs. Your sister will come down soon after she’s done with something. Why did you come over?”
Wang Qian raised the bag in her hand, “I brought some fruits for my brother. I happened to see some delicious fruits for sale. Here, have one.”
Yang Nuo took a plum and tasted it, “Hmm, it’s delicious. Tastes similar to what we have at home. You have a good eye.”
Just as he finished speaking, Wang Xuan emerged from the dormitory, slightly incredulous to see her little sister there. “Qianqian, why did you come here? Everything okay on the way?”
Wang Qian sweetly hugged her sister’s arm, “Sis, I’m a grown person. I can handle myself. Besides, I have a mouth to ask for directions if I get lost. Oh, by the way, I want to go see my brother. Do you know where he lives?”
Wang Xuan held her hand, playfully scolding her, “You’re always full of ideas. How about we bring some food for your brother in a bit? I’m worried he might not adjust to the cafeteria food right away. Our cafeteria here is decent. I heard it’s not as good at your place. How are you doing? Do you want to stay over tonight?”
Wang Qian shook her head. With all the back and forth travel time and the cost of a bus ticket, she preferred to stay where she was. “Sis, let’s wait for now. I’ll stay there for the time being. If needed, I’ll consider it later. For now, I’m feeling good. It’s better than the times when we couldn’t even eat our fill at home.”
As the sisters chatted and made their way towards Mingyuan’s dorm, Yang Nuo carried a lunchbox. Wang Qian smiled and asked, “Yang Nuo, what delicious treats did you bring for my brother?”
Yang Nuo chuckled as he lifted the lunchbox, “Grandpa Wu sent over some food for our military dogs. I bought some bones yesterday, and your sister removed the meat from them to cook a dish for Mingyuan. As for the bones, they were given to the dogs. They looked quite majestic. Oh, by the way, we have two new people in the household, the ones Grandpa Wu mentioned earlier. They seem nice, and now we have extra help at home.”
Knowing about the new additions to the household, Wang Qian was surprised at how quickly it happened. “That’s great news, sis. We can now relax and stay in school without worries. Oh, make sure not to underpay those two new employees. Let’s give them a month’s salary in advance when you return home. Their previous allowances might not have been much, and it’s good to have some money on hand in case they need it or for any emergencies. It’s better to give them the salaries sooner rather than later to make them feel more secure.”
Yang Nuo had a realization, “You’re right. We should have thought of that. They might be hesitant to mention if they’re short on money since they just arrived. Let’s be proactive. How about we give them two months’ salary? Even if we have to mail it home, they’ll at least have some extra cash on hand.”
Impressed by her future brother-in-law’s idea, Wang Qian nodded in approval, “Yang Nuo, that’s a great idea. Let’s go with your plan. Discuss with the others how much would be appropriate. These two new employees might prove to be quite valuable to us in the future. Also, if Grandpa Wu has any other suitable candidates, we should consider bringing them in. With graduation approaching soon, even if we secure government jobs for you guys, relying solely on those salaries might not be ideal. We need our own trustworthy people, and candidates recommended by Grandpa Wu are likely both morally upright and competent.”
Upon hearing her sister’s suggestion, Wang Xuan and Yang Nuo agreed and soon found Mingyuan’s dorm. Mingyuan lay on his bed, looking weak and exhausted. The little food he had in the morning, after undergoing Grandpa Wu’s trainings, had been depleted, leaving him hungry with no snacks in the dorm.
Mingyuan truly missed the home-cooked meals, finding his sister and little sister’s dishes to be satisfying and filling. However, the school food was inadequate for someone like him who expended a lot of energy; it simply couldn’t sustain him.
“Mingyuan, what’s wrong?” Hearing this, Mingyuan felt like he had been saved. He quickly sat up upon seeing Wang Xuan and the others in front of him, almost feeling like crying. “Sis, I’m hungry. I finished my morning workout and now I’m starving. There’s nothing to eat…”
Seeing her brother in this state, Wang Qian couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. Given the morning’s exertion and inadequate food intake, coupled with intense physical activity, it was no wonder he was hungry.
“Brother, I brought you some food, and I have something for you too,” Wang Qian said, taking out two jars of honey from her backpack. This honey was mostly from ginseng flowers, which she had saved in her space and brought two jars for Mingyuan, concerned about his energy levels.
Yang Nuo placed the fruits and lunchbox on the table, inviting the other dorm mates to come and have some fruit. Wang Xuan opened the lunchbox and urged Mingyuan to eat quickly.
The dorm mates were puzzled by Mingyuan’s sudden fatigue in the morning. They had seen him full of energy the previous day, and now they understood that he was simply hungry.
As one of the roommates joked while eating fruit, “Mingyuan, why didn’t you say you were hungry? I still have half a steamed bun left.”
Mingyuan shook his head, “That’s your dinner. I can’t take it. Even if I did, it wouldn’t be enough. I was planning to hold out until noon, but now, I finally have something to eat.”
Wang Qian poured a cup of honey water for her brother, Mingyuan. After he had eaten some meat, he glanced at his dorm mates, feeling a bit embarrassed. He quickly invited everyone to share, making sure there was enough for everyone to have a piece. These students rarely had meat, so when Mingyuan offered, they all graciously accepted, commenting on how delicious it was and praising Wang Xuan’s cooking skills.
Taking advantage of her brother’s pause in eating, Wang Qian handed him the cup. “Brother, drink some quickly. It will make you feel better.”