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Chapter 9: The Plan
She opened the “Storage” category in the system mall.
The price came out to about 500 star coins per cubic meter, regardless of size.
Song Yun glanced at her pitiful 80-coin balance and sighed. She needed to start earning star coins quickly. Other things could wait, but storage space was essential—she needed it badly.
She wasn’t sure when she fell asleep. When she woke up, the sun was already up. She turned her head and saw the bed beside her empty. Alarmed, she jumped out of bed, heart pounding, thinking her brother was missing.
Just then, the door opened, and Song Ziyi walked in holding a basin half-filled with water.
“Sis, you’re awake. I borrowed a basin and fetched some water for you,” Ziyi said cheerfully.
He had woken up early and, seeing Song Yun still asleep, didn’t wake her. He had quietly gone out to borrow a washbasin from the front desk lady.
Song Yun patted her chest. “You scared me! I opened my eyes and didn’t see you. I thought… you’d run away.”
She’d feared that finding him was all just a dream.
Ziyi laughed, “Sis, where would I even run off to?”
Right. He had no one but her now. Where could he possibly go?
Song Yun took the basin, freshened up quickly, then returned the basin and enamel mug to the front desk with Ziyi. She quietly slipped fifty cents to the front desk lady as thanks for the loan.
The woman’s smile grew even more genuine, and she quickly helped them check out of the guesthouse.
After they left, Song Yun took Ziyi to the state-owned restaurant for breakfast.
As they walked, Ziyi suddenly pulled her hand and said angrily, “Sis, all our money was taken by Song Zhenzhen. Mom gave her three shares of money and ration coupons—1,200 yuan per person, plus a lot of coupons.”
Song Yun gave his little hand a gentle squeeze and smiled, “I already retrieved our money. As for the share meant for our parents, which Song Zhenzhen took—I’ll get that back too. No way I’ll let her off easy.”
Hearing this, Ziyi was overjoyed. The gloom in his heart vanished. The two happily ate two big meat buns each, with a steaming bowl of sweet soy milk. It was the best meal they’d had in days.
As they stepped out of the restaurant, Ziyi asked, “Sis, where are we going now?”
“To **Beicheng (North City),” Song Yun replied, leading him toward the bus station. “My household registration is temporarily placed there. Our parents are in Heisheng (Black Province) now, and the only way for us to go to them is through rural placement. I also have your household certificate. Once we reach Heisheng, I’ll figure out how to get you registered there.”
Seeing that his sister already had a plan made Ziyi feel completely at ease. He obediently boarded the bus with her.
After arriving in Beicheng, Song Yun first took Ziyi to the supply and marketing cooperative, where she bought:
These were intended as gifts for Yang Lifen’s mother, whom she would need to ask for help in arranging their relocation to the countryside. When asking someone for a favor, it wasn’t right to come empty-handed.
She also bought:
These she packed in a small wooden box as snacks for him to enjoy later.
Then, based on the address Yang Lifen had given her the day before, they found their way to her place.
Zhang Hongmei, Lifen’s mother, had just been transferred to Beicheng and hadn’t been assigned housing yet. She was temporarily renting a small courtyard in the mechanical factory’s family housing area.
When Song Yun arrived, Yang Lifen was sweeping the yard. As soon as she saw her, she dropped the broom and ran over, looking anxious. “Xiao Yun! So? Did you find your brother?”
Song Yun gently pulled Ziyi from behind and said, “Ziyi, this is my friend—Sister Lifen.”
Ziyi greeted her politely, “Nice to meet you, Sister Lifen. I’m Song Ziyi.”
Lifen’s eyes widened when she saw his face. “Oh wow, you two look so much alike—you’re clearly siblings!”
Maybe it was love at first sight, or maybe it was affection by association, but Lifen immediately took a liking to Ziyi. She reached into her pocket and pulled out two peanut milk candies, stuffing them into his hands without a second thought. “These are peanut milk candies—enjoy them.”
Ziyi, though raised in a wealthy household, didn’t act spoiled. He had eaten plenty of candy before, including imported chocolate from foreign trade stores, but he still smiled sweetly and thanked her, “Thank you, Sister Lifen.”
Seeing how well-behaved and adorable he was, Lifen couldn’t resist pinching his cheek. “You’re too cute.”
Song Yun looked at her helplessly, “Are you going to keep me standing outside forever?”
Only then did Lifen remember her manners. She smacked her forehead, “Right! Come in! My dad brought us apples and pears last night—I’ll go wash a couple. They’re super sweet.”
Song Yun stopped her. “Don’t worry about that. I’m actually here to ask Auntie for a favor.”
Lifen pulled them inside and whispered, “What is it? You look so serious. You didn’t get into trouble, did you?”
Song Yun rolled her eyes and set the gifts on the table. “Don’t be ridiculous. I want to go to the countryside—to take Ziyi to where my parents are.”
Lifen was about to push the gifts back to her, but on hearing this, she paused, eyes wide. “You want to go to Heisheng’s rural area?”
Song Yun nodded. “Yes. I’m worried about them. If I go there, maybe I can help them somehow.”
Lifen didn’t quite agree with the decision in her heart, but she couldn’t help admiring Song Yun.
In times like this, most people avoided anyone labeled as a “black element” like the plague. Every day, people published public notices in the newspaper to cut ties with their loved ones—spouses, parents, siblings—just to protect themselves.
But Song Yun did the opposite.
Lifen gave her a few words of caution, but seeing how determined she was, she didn’t press further. She promised to talk to her mother as soon as she returned.
After chatting a while and agreeing to meet again the next day, Song Yun left the factory housing with Ziyi.
She had grown up in Beicheng and knew the area well. Following her memories, she found a nearby guesthouse. Using a certificate from the local office, she smoothly checked in. The room was better than the one they had stayed in the night before: two small beds, a full set of furniture, and even a wardrobe.
After settling in, Song Yun took Ziyi shopping for daily essentials at the supply store:
They had money and ration coupons, and the supply store was well-stocked. Before long, they’d bought everything they needed.
“We’ll start with these. Later, we’ll go to the department store to buy clothes,” Song Yun said.
Though it was July, the Heisheng region was much colder than Jingbei. Her parents were most likely stationed somewhere near Heima Mountain, where temperature differences between day and night were huge. Even in summer, people wore thin shirts during the day and cotton-padded jackets at night.
Song Yun had left her old home with only two thin shirts. Ziyi’s autumn and winter clothes had been sold off by that awful foster family. They also needed underwear, socks, shoes, and winter layers—and all of that would require a lot of shopping.
Thankfully, they had enough money and coupons to manage.