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Chapter 1: The New Year’s Eve Party
On December 31, 1975, Song Xilan, carrying a basket of groceries, was squeezed at the entrance of a grocery store early in the morning. Her shoes were stepped on several times, but she had prepared for it by wearing old, worn-out leather shoes.

“Xilan, over here! Come quickly!” A middle-aged woman with short curly hair waved at her from the front of the line.

As soon as she spoke, a plump woman nearby loudly protested, acting like she was defending the sacred rules of queuing.

Song Xilan quickly waved her hand, “Aunt Zhao, no need, I’ll just stand in line here.”

Her voice was gentle and soft, and the people around her softened their gazes. The woman in charge of maintaining order also smiled, saying, “That’s better! If everyone cuts in line like this, what kind of example would that be? We’d all just rush in!”

The woman who had called out earlier snorted internally, thinking, “Unappreciative.”

Song Xilan smiled faintly. Some people’s kindness couldn’t be taken advantage of. If she dared to cut in today, tomorrow the whole neighborhood would know that Aunt Zhao had saved her a spot. By the day after tomorrow, rumors would spread that she was dating Aunt Zhao’s son, and they were about to register their marriage.

As the store doors opened and people rushed inside, Song Xilan was jostled a few more times. Fortunately, she wasn’t frail and managed to steady herself as she made her way through the store. She smiled when she saw the big chunks of beef hanging above the meat counter—today’s luck was good.

She bought a variety of meats: one pound of beef, two taels of pork, some pork bones and liver, and a fish. With her basket full, she squeezed back out of the crowd and hurried home on her bike.

When she got inside, her father, Song Baili, was holding a porcelain bowl with six steaming large buns that he had just bought from the cafeteria. Her mother, Tan Aizhi, had already cooked the porridge and was waiting for the pork, liver, and intestines she had bought.

“I’m back, I’m back! Mom, I bought beef. Let’s make sauerkraut beef dumplings tonight!” Song Xilan handed the basket to her mother and hurried to change clothes and fix her hair. She tied her shoulder-length hair into two braids with red silk ribbons.

After washing her face, she applied a little snowflake cream, gently patting it on her smooth skin. She had beautiful skin, tender and fair, like freshly made tofu, and the cream made it even more radiant.

Her mother worked quickly, preparing the ingredients, and within moments, the rice in the clay pot was cooked, the porridge was boiling in a delicate, flower-like pattern, and the whole house smelled of sweetness.

“Come out, breakfast is ready!” Tan Aizhi called out, stirring the mixture in the pot, adding a final sprinkle of green onions.

The Song family was particular about their meals. Unlike other families who would rush to eat in the cafeteria, they always ate hearty, well-prepared food. Song Xilan’s mother was up early to make the most delicious pork and liver porridge.

In the Song family, eating well was considered a blessing. If something went wrong in life, a good meal could help make things better. If one meal wasn’t enough, they’d eat two.

People who love to eat and know how to enjoy food will never live poorly.

The Song family indeed lived well. They all ate heartily and comfortably. If there was any trouble in their lives, it was probably related to Song Xilan’s lifelong happiness.

A Good Daughter is Sought by Many Families

Song Xilan was not only beautiful, but also well cared for and nurtured. She was round and plump, clearly coming from a family that never lacked for food or clothing.

Her character was also gentle and sweet. She always smiled warmly when calling people, her voice soft and tender, making older people especially fond of her. She was seen as a good daughter who would be easy to marry and bring good fortune.

After Song Xilan graduated from high school at 18, the matchmakers had never stopped coming. Not only was her appearance charming, but her father, Song Baili, was the factory manager at Limin Food Factory, so their family had good financial standing.

However, Song Baili and Tan Aizhi weren’t in a rush to marry her off. Their precious daughter, raised with care, was not something they were willing to give up so soon. They’d rather keep her close for a few more years.

Yet, Song Xilan wasn’t interested in any of the young men introduced to her. She had a peculiar taste—she preferred those who were good-looking, preferably with an artistic flair—someone who could sing, dance, and even recite some poetic, melancholy verses.

Half a year ago, she went to the city’s Song and Dance Troupe, where she met the young actor Yang Jingyu, who had recently joined. Sparks of affection ignited in her heart.

It was love at first sight.

Song Xilan, blushing, went home and told her parents about it. She was an obedient child, and from childhood, she always told her parents everything. After all, they had lived longer than her and were smarter. She trusted their advice, knowing it would be helpful.

Tan Aizhi, like her daughter, was fond of pretty things. As soon as she heard about Yang Jingyu’s good looks, she was immediately interested. Mother and daughter even went to watch a performance by the Song and Dance Troupe.

Song Baili, on the other hand, made inquiries into Yang Jingyu’s background.

Yang was an ambitious young man with a clean record. There was no mess surrounding him, although his family conditions weren’t great. He was from a rural area, and his father had passed away early, leaving his widowed mother to raise him.

He had endured a tough childhood, bullied as an orphan and living in difficult circumstances. Later, when the county’s cultural troupe visited his commune for a performance, everyone else just watched, but he saw it as an opportunity to change his fate.

He bravely approached the troupe’s leaders and, to his surprise, they recognized his potential and recruited him at the age of 14. Recently, he had passed an audition and joined the city’s Song and Dance Troupe, making it a truly inspirational story of hard work and perseverance.