At noon, Shu Ping brought back some lamb shank bones from the canteen. There was only one stove in the house, so at four in the afternoon, Shu Yuan first made lamb and radish stew, then cooked rice. As the end of the workday approached, she took Xiao Man to the front gate of the electronics factory to wait. From a farmer who had come from the countryside to sell fish, she spent one yuan and three mao (1.3 yuan) on a silver carp weighing about two to three jin (1-1.5 kg).

By the time she returned home, Shu Ping, the two children, and Li Hongxia had also made it back. They took over the cooking, and Shu Yuan called the three kids into the room, handed out candy, and asked, “Can you smell the delicious food?”

The seven-year-old twins, Momo and Modi, sniffed with their little noses and said in unison, “We can smell it!”

Shu Yuan introduced them, “This is Xiao Man. Today’s meal is specially prepared to warmly welcome Xiao Man into our big family.”

The sense of ceremony was in full swing.

Xiao Man pressed his lips together in a smile. His mom had gone to the trouble of preparing a big meal just to welcome him. She was really good to him.

Momo immediately clapped her hands, the sound crisp and cheerful. “Welcome, little brother Xiao Man. Now we have a new friend.”

Despite living nearby, Shu Ping’s partner, Zheng Jianshe, wasn’t too keen on visiting the Shu family. He predictably showed up only when the food was nearly ready.

Zheng Jianshe had a refined appearance, fair skin, glasses, and an educated air. He had studied at a Workers, Peasants, and Soldiers University and was currently a workshop director at the electronics factory.

However, a little over a decade later, when the public’s demand for appliances would reach an all-time high, the electronics factory would end up shutting down due to poor management. Whether it was a workshop director or a temporary canteen worker, all would be laid off.

This meal could be considered a real feast. The whole family sat around a round table. While ladling out bowls of lamb and radish soup, Shu Ping said, “Lamb soup is nourishing. Everyone, drink more.”

Modi spoke up, “Mom, you better eat less. You’re fat like a pig.”

Hearing that, Xiao Man’s mouth dropped open in shock. How could this be? This kid actually said his mom looked like a pig. That was way too rude.

Apparently, this wasn’t the first time he’d said it, because Shu Ping didn’t react. But Shu Yuan wasn’t having it. She reached out and gave Modi a smack on the back of his hand with a loud slap, saying, “You’re the pig. Don’t you dare talk to your mom like that.”

Modi had been spoiled and pampered. The moment he got hit, he was ready to throw a fit. But seeing Shu Yuan’s hand still raised in the air, he pouted in grievance, yet in the end, didn’t cry.

Li Hongxia quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “There’s so much food today, let’s not argue. Hurry up and eat.”

Xiao Man admired his mom even more now. He felt she really had a way with disciplining children. He couldn’t understand why, in his dream, a child could anger his mom to death. That must’ve been a disobedient, thoughtless child.

The atmosphere at dinner was average, but the food was plentiful and delicious, so the meal didn’t turn out awkward in the end.

When Shu Ping’s family was getting ready to leave, Momo made a promise to Xiao Man. “I have to go to school, but after school, we can play together. Don’t you go to school?”

Xiao Man said, “I can’t go to school yet. I’m still not registered.”

Xiao Man always spoke with the maturity of a little adult, which made Shu Yuan laugh out loud. She rubbed the soft hair on top of his head and said, “Once your dad and I get our marriage certificate, I’ll register your household. Then you can go to school.”

Xiao Man answered with eager anticipation, “Okay.”

He was quite envious of Momo and Modi, those two kids who were already attending kindergarten. It sounded so fancy. Back in the production team, they only had a “Red Nurture Class,”^[1]Red Nurture Class: A politically oriented training program during Mao-era China intended to shape young people into ideologically pure successors of socialism. Students received intensive instruction … Continue reading and he hadn’t even had the chance to attend that yet.

Zheng Jianshe glanced at Shu Yuan and finally spoke. “Shu Yuan, you’re not getting any younger. You really make people worry.”

Shu Yuan figured he must be resentful because Shu Ping had given her money to spend.

Her decision to pay back the money as soon as she transmigrated really had been a wise one.

But she wasn’t about to be polite. She looked at him meaningfully and said, “Brother-in-law, no need to worry about me. You should take care of yourself.”

Her gaze carried a certain warning. Zheng Jianshe sensed that something had changed about her, but he couldn’t quite figure out what. Feeling guilty, he averted his eyes and clamped his mouth shut, saying nothing more.

He stewed in silence all the way home. The moment they walked in the door, he warned Shu Ping, “What kind of people have children out of wedlock? That second sister of yours and Xiao Man’s dad are probably not decent folks. For all you know, that man is selfish, uneducated, and has poor character. Sooner or later, the whole family will drag you down. Don’t give her any more money, and stop staying in contact with her so much.”

Shu Ping’s lips moved several times before she finally spoke. “Then where has your salary gone? It’s my wages that are covering all the expenses, and it’s barely enough.”

Zheng Jianshe replied self-righteously, “I give you my salary, and you think you can just funnel it to your own family as you please?”

Shu Ping pressed her lips together. She had her doubts and couldn’t help but speak up. “What’s wrong with helping my sister? Shu Yuan already paid me back. That matter is settled. As for your salary, have you been spending it on someone else?”

Zheng Jianshe immediately raised his voice, a hint of thinly veiled anger from being exposed slipping through. “Don’t talk nonsense.”

——

The next day, Shu Yuan brought Xiao Man to Weimin Photo Studio at four in the afternoon as promised. Master Zhao was in the studio, and the receptionist, Huang Juan, had already done her best to recommend Shu Yuan.

Master Zhao acknowledged Shu Yuan’s skill in photo coloring and assumed her photography and darkroom abilities wouldn’t be far behind. But upon meeting her, he still felt she was too young. What he had been looking for was someone capable of holding down the entire studio while he was away. Shu Yuan seemed too young for that.

“Taking photos won’t be a problem, right?” Master Zhao asked as he led Shu Yuan into the photo room.

The room was simply furnished: a box-style camera, two studio lights, five backdrop cloths for portraits, and a set of table and chairs used as props.

At last, Shu Yuan laid eyes on a genuine 1980s box-style camera. It probably cost around one to two thousand yuan. When taking photos, it even required a red cloth to block out the light. She circled the box camera once, then stood in front of the viewfinder and peered inside. “No problem taking photos, Master Zhao. But you’ll need to tell me the developer and fixer solution ratios.”

The two apprentices were especially enthusiastic. Wang Youcai said, “That’s easy, I’ll tell you.”

Hu Ziqiang added, “We can even mix it for you ourselves.”

They were worried that the person their master found might be difficult to get along with. But a skilled, easygoing, and pretty older sister like Shu Yuan? Who wouldn’t want her to stay?

Seeing that all three of them wanted Shu Yuan to stay, Master Zhao didn’t bother testing her skills any further and said straightforwardly, “You can start work on Monday.”

The head photographer earned eighty yuan, while the temporary fill-in worker would be paid forty-five.

In other words, they wanted someone with real skills to work as a temp, but the pay was low, so it was hard to find someone suitable.

Precisely because of that, he made the decision to let Shu Yuan take the job without hesitation.

Master Zhao felt that forty-five yuan was a fair wage, considering he wouldn’t be completely hands-off. He’d still drop by frequently to check in.

Shu Yuan agreed just as readily. “All right, I’ll be here Monday.”

She had thought Master Zhao might be picky and difficult to talk to, but hadn’t expected the job to be settled so quickly.

She was just riding the donkey while looking for a horse. This small photo studio job would only be her starting point.

On the way home, Xiao Man held Shu Yuan’s hand and swung it back and forth in delight. “Mom, you’re amazing. You found a job in just a few days!”

Shu Yuan was in good spirits. “No more freeloading. I’m officially going to work.”

——

She had originally wanted to share the good news with Li Hongxia and Shu He right away, but as soon as she approached the tube-shaped apartment building, she saw Shu He running in a panic. Shu Yuan quickly called out to stop her and asked why she was running.

Shu He, looking like she had just seen a savior, hurried to her side and whispered in her ear, “The factory is doing spring recruitment. Mom was afraid it wouldn’t be your turn again, so as soon as she got off work, she grabbed something and rushed over to Director Tan’s house to give a gift. She told me to make dinner, but the more I thought about it, the more wrong it felt, so I went out to find her.”

“What kind of gift?” Shu Yuan asked.

Shu He spoke quickly, “If it were just some regular cigarettes or liquor, it wouldn’t be a big deal. But she took that cloisonné vase from home, the one she treasures. It was Grandma’s, passed down to Mom, and she always told us to take good care of it. Do you think she should be giving that away just like that?”

Before Shu He could finish her sentence, Shu Yuan had already grabbed Xiao Man and hurried off.

Using a cloisonné antique vase as a bribe just to get a job in the factory?

Could anyone else be more extravagant?

She was really going all in.

They rushed through the narrow, cramped stairwell, down the steps, and out the building entrance. With Xiao Man tucked under her arm, Shu Yuan ran with the speed of a sprint champion.

The wind from their dash blew Xiao Man’s hair into disarray, exposing his smooth, round forehead. The little guy cheered her on, “Mom, you can do it!”

Shu Yuan ran even faster. She still had the mental clarity to think that this was a job with a modest salary and the risk of being laid off in the future. Trading an antique for it was absolutely not worth it.

Besides, it wasn’t even a true trade. As a factory worker’s daughter, she already had the qualifications for recruitment.

According to what was written in the book, during the wave of factory closures in the 1990s, laid-off workers were left in utter misery, while Director Tan’s family somehow had piles of money to invest in real estate and business ventures, eventually becoming well-known local tycoons. Could it be that they sold this very cloisonné antique to fund their startup capital?

Thinking of this, Shu Yuan felt an even greater sense of urgency. She charged forward with such speed that she seemed to leave a trail behind her.

She didn’t know whether Li Hongxia had already handed over the vase. If she hadn’t, then things would be easier to manage. But even if she had, it had to be taken back.

Wouldn’t that tear things open?

Then let it tear.

With that thought, she rounded two corners and finally reached the best area of the residential compound. This part of the complex was surrounded by greenery, with freestanding houses that had their own yards. These homes were reserved for the factory directors and Party secretaries.

One of these belonged to Director Tan. Without wasting a second, Shu Yuan pushed the door open and stepped in. “Mom, are you here? Mom! Li Hongxia! Li Hongxia!”

Xiao Man gathered all his strength and shouted, “Grandma, are you here? Grandma!”

Calling her by name really worked. Li Hongxia had been sitting in the living room, chatting with Director Tan and his wife about the spring recruitment, when she was suddenly startled by Shu Yuan shouting outside the door, using her full name no less. Her face turned darker than the sole of a shoe. She immediately came out to meet them, trying hard to keep her tone calm. “You’re just in time. Come, let your aunt take a look at Xiao Man.”

Li Hongxia thought this was the perfect time to deliver a gift. It was around dinnertime, when most people didn’t visit and she wouldn’t risk bumping into someone else trying to do the same.

But Shu Yuan’s eyes were locked on the leather bag tucked under Li Hongxia’s arm. It looked bulging, and in a flash of inspiration, she grabbed Xiao Man with both hands and shoved him into her mother’s arms. Just as Li Hongxia reached out to catch him, Shu Yuan took the opportunity to slip the leather shoulder bag off her mother’s shoulder, flipped open the hidden clasp, and checked the contents.

She let out a long breath of relief.

She had made it just in time.

That was close.

Thankfully, the cloisonné vase was still inside. Now that it was in her hands, no one should even think about giving it away.

She slung the shoulder bag over her own shoulder and stepped into the living room, where she saw Li Hongxia holding Xiao Man, showing him off to Jia Guixiang. The two of them were showering him with compliments, saying how handsome he was.

Xiao Man, in his clear and crisp voice, even called Jia Guixiang “Grandma.”

Shu Yuan greeted Director Tan, who was sitting upright and sipping tea steadily. She figured her mother couldn’t have gotten very far with conversation. Was she trying to get closer to the deputy factory director’s wife by gossiping about her?

Still, it was all for her sake. What parent didn’t worry about their child?

Jia Guixiang could no longer hold back her curiosity. She turned to Shu Yuan and asked, “So, where’s Xiao Man’s father? I haven’t heard you mention him.”

Now that the crisis was over, Shu Yuan was completely relaxed. She responded with ease and composure, “Auntie, Xiao Man’s father is out of town. You’ll get to meet him in a little while.”

Li Hongxia smoothly shifted the topic to Shu Yuan’s job, smiling at Director Tan and Jia Guixiang as she said, “You see, now that Shu Yuan has a child, she has to support her family. Director Tan has always prioritized assigning jobs to those in difficult situations. Could Shu Yuan get some priority in this round of recruitment?”

The smile on Shu Yuan’s face began to falter. Her mother was showcasing the family’s hardships to others, humbling herself to make polite conversation and force a smile, all to help her land a job, and was even willing to give away the only valuable thing they owned.

Shu Yuan felt a swirl of emotions. But Li Hongxia, on the other hand, thought the director and his wife were responding warmly and that the job would likely come through. Having said this much, they were clearly waiting for the gift. So she set Xiao Man down, took a step toward Shu Yuan, and reached out to take the shoulder bag.

Seeing her mother’s hand coming, Shu Yuan quickly dodged back. Li Hongxia stepped forward again, but Shu Yuan tightened her grip on the shoulder strap and shifted sideways.

Li Hongxia shot her second daughter a glare: “…”

Shu Yuan smiled sweetly and said, “Mom, I went to the countryside back then to help build the great rural motherland. Now, for this spring recruitment, I should carry forward the spirit of selflessness and give the job opportunity to a worker whose family is in even greater need.”

Li Hongxia: “…”

This was a disaster!

What a useless daughter. She had completely ruined things!

Director Tan and Jia Guixiang: “…”

Shu Yuan could feel both of them eyeing the shoulder bag at her side. Her brows knit slightly. She decided she needed to take back control of the situation, so she launched into another speech about upholding noble ideals and selfless dedication, then all but dragged Li Hongxia out of the courtyard, clinging to her without shame or restraint.

It wasn’t convenient to talk on the road, so they hurried home, Shu Yuan holding Xiao Man in her arms. As soon as they got through the door and closed it, Li Hongxia burst out, “Shu Yuan, why did you mess things up like that? I was just about to succeed with the gift, and then you come out with that selfless nonsense. You’re going to drive me mad!”

Shu Yuan set Xiao Man down, still clutching the shoulder bag tightly, and said slowly, “Mom, good thing I got there in time. Otherwise, you would’ve handed over this antique, right? When this thing is worth real money in the future, we can use it for your retirement. You’ll be the richest old lady in the whole factory. We can’t just give it away for nothing.”

Li Hongxia was fuming, stomping around looking for the feather duster. But when she turned around, she saw it hidden behind Xiao Man’s back, with only a tuft of feathers poking out above his head. She couldn’t help but let out a laugh through her anger. “You little rascal, you even know how to protect your mom. A job is a lifelong matter. Trading a useless antique for a job? I think it’s worth it.”

Shu Yuan said, “I’ve already found a job. I don’t need to wait for the factory to hire. I’m going to work at a photo studio as a photographer.”

“You know how to take photos?” Two voices rang out at once.

Shu Yuan nodded. “Mm-hmm. Someone with skills can always put food on the table.”

Li Hongxia wholeheartedly agreed. Back then, Shu Daqing had been one of the factory’s few eighth-level workers, and that came with serious status. Factory directors even had to bow and scrape when they saw him.

As for how Shu Yuan knew photography, Li Hongxia naturally assumed she had learned it while down in the countryside.

“My mom can do it. My mom is really, really good at it,” Xiao Man said proudly.

Shu Yuan scooped Xiao Man up into her arms and smiled. “Xiao Man knows just what to say.”

After hearing Shu Yuan explain her job situation, Li Hongxia was still not satisfied. Temporary work? What if it turned out like Shu Ping, who never had the chance to become a permanent employee?

“My photography skills are strong, and it’s something I love doing. It’s the perfect job for me. You don’t need to worry,” Shu Yuan said firmly and decisively.

Being a temporary worker came with no guarantees, but at least Shu Yuan was willing to go out and work. That was better than staying at home unemployed. Still, the thought that Shu Yuan might’ve given up a possible permanent job out of so-called selflessness made Li Hongxia fume all over again.

Shu Yuan didn’t sugarcoat it. “Who knows if Director Tan was just waiting for you to hand over that antique? From now on, stop bragging about having antiques.”

Li Hongxia was struck like waking from a dream, and a sudden chill ran down her spine. “……”

Could they really have their eyes on her antique?

She wasn’t stupid. This was all thanks to Tang Sufeng and her big mouth spreading the word. Now that people knew her family had an antique, what was she supposed to do?

As for Director Tan and his wife, they were regretting it to their bones. Director Tan was a passionate collector of old items, and naturally, someone had tried to cater to his interests. Anyone who brought him antiques had their problems prioritized, especially job assignments. But those antiques had all been worthless junk.

Jia Guixiang had snorted, “Don’t arrange any work for Shu Yuan. Once Li Hongxia runs out of options, she’ll have no choice but to hand over the antique.”

——

Now that Shu Yuan had a job, she finally felt at ease. She took Xiao Man around to get familiar with the city. In the evening, as they headed home, she turned a corner. Fifty meters more and they’d be at the entrance to the residential compound. She hadn’t expected to bump into Dai Shufang and Shen Pan at that very corner. These two were Shen Zhongcheng’s mother and son.

That Shen Pan was, in fact, the male lead of the novel.

And if the person standing opposite the main character was considered the villain, then Xiao Man was the greatest villain in the whole book.

The two were the same age.