She planned to make dinner a bit more lavish tonight. Though most people still preferred eating something light in the evening—porridge, for instance—since it saved food and suited going straight to bed afterward, watery meals also meant more nighttime trips to the bathroom. Considering Zhang Yulan’s condition, Mu Jinyue dismissed the idea. Though they’d only spent a day together, she could already tell the older woman hated inconveniencing others. So tonight’s meal had to be something solid.  

Mu Jinyue poured out some millet and rice, mixing the two to make a combined grain rice. Since she hadn’t bought any meat, eggs would have to do—steamed egg custard it was. She’d also use the fresh vegetables she’d bought today, stir-frying a plate of shredded potatoes.  

She had originally considered making two separate dishes—one spicy and one mild—but couldn’t find any chili peppers, so she gave up and just made one. Next, she prepared eggplant braised in soy sauce. As for the leeks, she rummaged through the kitchen and found a block of salted dried tofu, perfect for stir-frying with them. Finally, she used the remaining radish to make a simple radish soup. Four dishes and a soup—done.  

Jiang Yi returned just in time for dinner. Seeing him back, Mu Jinyue set the table and called everyone to eat.  

Jiang Yi went inside to change out of his dirt-stained work clothes, washed his hands, and then helped her carry the dishes to the table. Once everything was laid out, Zhang Yulan settled into her seat and smiled at Mu Jinyue. “You’ve worked hard. Sit down and eat.”  

“Alright,” Mu Jinyue replied, sitting down and placing a cup of warm water by Zhang Yulan’s hand before starting the meal.  

During dinner, Zhang Yulan asked her son a few questions about the factory, and just like that, the meal passed uneventfully.  

After eating, Mu Jinyue gathered the dishes and took them to the kitchen. She boiled a pot of water on the stove—just in time for washing up.  

But Jiang Yi followed her into the kitchen, rolling up his sleeves. “I’ll handle this. I’ll do my best to help with household chores. Your main job is to take good care of my mother.”  

“Alright.” Since her employer had spoken, she naturally had to comply. Mu Jinyue returned to Zhang Yulan’s room first, helping her with her needs before finally retreating to her own room.  

Once back, Mu Jinyue sat on the bed and started bookkeeping. She hadn’t had time earlier after returning from grocery shopping and cooking, so now was the perfect moment. Besides that, she also wanted to draft a weekly meal plan. A full month’s menu was too much to think of right now, but a week’s worth was manageable.  

Her plan was simple, mainly noting when to include meat and fruit. Conservatively, she scheduled meat every three days and fruit every four, ensuring they’d have meat twice a week. She wasn’t sure if this arrangement would work.  

Just as she finished writing, Jiang Yi walked in. She called out to him, “I’ve drafted a meal plan for the coming week. Take a look and see if it’s acceptable.”  

Jiang Yi raised an eyebrow and took the paper, glancing down at it.  

Mu Jinyue used the opportunity to step out and wash up. When she returned, the small table in the room had already been put away, and the bedding was laid out. She scanned the room but couldn’t find her meal plan. Just as she was about to ask, Jiang Yi tilted his chin upward.  

“It’s on the cabinet, weighed down. It’s fine. Let’s sleep.”  

Following his gaze, she spotted her meal plan on the cabinet, secured under a mug. Relieved, she nodded.  

“Alright.” She took off her outer clothes and climbed into bed.  

In just two short days, much of Mu Jinyue’s wariness had faded. She fell asleep soon after lying down. But tonight, for some reason, her dreams were unusually noisy. The clamor grew so unbearable that she struggled to open her eyes. As she woke, the sounds became even clearer. She glanced to the side—the space beside her was empty. She blinked in confusion.  

Instead of dwelling on it, she sat up and pressed her ear to the window, listening to the commotion outside. The chaotic mix of voices was hard to decipher. Having been here such a short time, she barely knew anyone’s name, let alone what was happening. But from the sounds of it, there was a fight—nothing to do with their household. She lay back down, closing her eyes and willing herself back to sleep.  

Just as she was drifting off, the door creaked open, and the bed dipped beside her. She assumed it was Jiang Yi returning, which made her feel slightly more at ease.  

But the noise outside continued intermittently. Though quieter now, it was even more irritating—like the incessant buzz of a mosquito, making sleep impossible. Mu Jinyue pulled the covers over her head, tossing and turning several times.  

Then Jiang Yi spoke. Keeping his voice low to avoid disturbing Zhang Yulan, his tone was laced with impatience. “Stop flipping around. Just sleep. I have work tomorrow.”  

Mu Jinyue stiffened at the near-scolding, murmuring a soft apology before scooting closer to the wall, curling up on her side and staying still.  

Suddenly, she was afraid he might hit her. Her heart pounded wildly. The arguing outside droned on, buzzing in her ears until her scalp prickled. The air in the room seemed to thin with the man’s presence, making it hard to breathe. Her nose tingled with unshed tears.  

After what felt like forever, he spoke again, his tone noticeably gentler this time, as if aware of his earlier harshness. “Some kids in the courtyard were fighting. Has nothing to do with us. Just sleep.”  

Mu Jinyue didn’t respond, pressing even closer to the wall. She thought she heard a faint click of the tongue, but she couldn’t be sure—because she fell asleep again.  

…

Having slept poorly, Mu Jinyue woke the next morning feeling heavy-headed and unsteady. Seeing the room empty, she changed her clothes from top to bottom before heading out to cook.  

When she reached the kitchen, Jiang Yi was already there, tending to the stove, lighting the fire. Mu Jinyue fetched a bowl, filled it with flour from the house, and grabbed a few eggs before returning to the kitchen.  

By then, the fire was burning strong. The man still crouched by the stove.  

Mu Jinyue set the flour on the counter and began kneading dough. She planned to make rolled pancakes for breakfast, and since they still had leeks, she’d make a few leek-stuffed pastries as well.  

Neither of them spoke. The kitchen was quiet.  

After breakfast, Jiang Yi left for work. Mu Jinyue cleaned the kitchen, washed the dishes, and then headed out to buy groceries.  

Originally, she’d intended to go to the supply and marketing cooperative first thing in the morning, but seeing none of the neighborhood aunties who usually cooked heading out, she wondered if she’d misjudged the timing. So she decided to go after breakfast. Grabbing a cloth bag, she informed Zhang Yulan and stepped out.

As soon as she stepped out, she bumped into a young girl from the opposite wing of the house. The girl had a fair and delicate appearance and greeted her with a bright smile. “Are you Sister-in-law Jiang? I’m Lin Tong, from across the courtyard. You can call me Tongtong.”  

“Hello, I’m Mu Jinyue. You can just call me Jinyue.”  

Lin Tong happily agreed. “Alright, then Jinyue it is! ‘Sister-in-law Jiang’ makes you sound so old. Are you going grocery shopping, Sister Jinyue?”  

“Yes, I’m heading out to buy food.”  

“Perfect! Let’s go together.” Lin Tong said, naturally looping her arm through Mu Jinyue’s and leading her out while chattering away.  

“Ugh, my mom usually does the shopping since I’m in school, but now that classes are canceled, she’s making me handle the chores. Sister Jinyue, I’m still not great at grocery shopping—you’ll have to teach me.”  

“Sure.”  

With Lin Tong around, the trip became much more lively. Occasionally, they ran into a few acquaintances, and Lin Tong cheerfully greeted them while also filling Mu Jinyue in on the happenings in the compound.  

The courtyard housed eight families in total. The best rooms—the three main ones—belonged to the Du family (no need for further introduction). The smaller side rooms housed two couples each. On the left side, where Mu Jinyue lived, the Wu family occupied one of the side rooms. Both husband and wife worked at the factory, but despite being diligent workers for years, they were still only first-level laborers.  

Lin Tong’s family lived in the right wing, while the Tang family occupied the right-side rooms—a couple and an elderly woman, Auntie Tang.  

The outermost rooms housed three more families: one was Auntie Wang’s, an elderly couple whose children had factory-assigned apartments elsewhere. The other two families had teenage sons around seventeen or eighteen. Lin Tong’s mother had warned her not to interact too much with them, so she didn’t know much—just exchanged greetings when they crossed paths.  

By the time Lin Tong finished explaining the compound’s layout, they had arrived at the supply and marketing cooperative. They’d come early, right during the rush hour, and a crowd of aunties and grannies were already pushing their way in. Mu Jinyue joined the fray.  

Only when she squeezed her way to the vegetable counter did she see today’s offerings—different from yesterday’s. Leeks and eggplants had been replaced with winter melon and spinach. She bought some of each before being jostled back out.  

She and Lin Tong had agreed to wait for each other outside if one got out first. Mu Jinyue found a spot to stand, and Lin Tong didn’t keep her waiting long.  

“There were so many people in there, I almost couldn’t grab anything!”  

Mu Jinyue glanced at her basket and was surprised to see salted fish. “You got fish?”  

Lin Tong proudly held up a piece. “The cooperative only sells dried salted fish like this. If you want fresh fish, you have to go to the fish stalls.”  

She then tugged Mu Jinyue along. “There’s a small market over there that specializes in fish, pork, and mutton. Let me show you. If you want fish, you have to come even earlier to get any—and cuts like ribs are usually reserved for government and factory canteens. What’s left is mostly fatty meat.”  

“Got it.”  

They took a quick look around the market before heading back, parting ways once inside the courtyard.  

Since it was still early, Mu Jinyue put away the groceries and went to Zhang Yulan’s room to open the window and massage her legs.  

After two days together, they’d grown more comfortable, and now they chatted during the massage.  

Zhang Yulan brought up last night’s commotion. “What happened yesterday? I heard a lot of noise in the courtyard—was there trouble?”  

Mu Jinyue shook her head. “I’m not sure of the details, but Jiang Yi said some boys from the compound got into a fight outside. That might’ve been it.”  

Zhang Yulan sighed. “Students should be in school studying, not causing trouble outside. Ever since classes stopped, things around here have gotten rowdier.”  

She then advised Mu Jinyue, “From now on, try to go shopping with someone else, and stick to the main roads where there are more people.”  

Mu Jinyue nodded seriously. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ve already arranged to go with Lin Tong.”  

“Oh, Tongtong? I’m glad you two get along. She’s a good-hearted girl. Invite her over sometime.”  

“Will do.”  

After the massage, Zhang Yulan grew tired. Mu Jinyue helped her lie down and tucked her in before leaving the room and returning to her own.  

…

Once inside, Mu Jinyue climbed onto the bed and curled up by the window, gazing across the courtyard. She spotted Lin Tong carrying a basin of laundry—probably heading out to wash clothes.  

Though they’d only met that morning, their time together had been pleasant. Lin Tong might just be the first friend she’d made since arriving here. But she wondered how long their friendship would last.  

It was 1968. Soon, the policy of sending educated youth to the countryside would begin. It was October now, and there were no signs of it yet—meaning it would likely happen in the next couple of months.  

1968. Of all the years to time-travel into. From this point on, society would grow increasingly unstable. At least she was married now, sparing her from the rural labor program. But the Jiang family wasn’t exactly ordinary. Jiang Yi clearly had other sources of income outside his job. If nothing went wrong, fine—but if it did, she could be implicated.  

I need a backup plan. What I really need is a job. I need money!

But how?  

Mu Jinyue slumped over the table, frowning in thought…