Chapter 19

He Cheng’an had been picking up and dropping off Lu Yun from work for several days in a row.

Each day, even before the closing time of the Cotton Textile Factory, He Cheng’an’s bicycle would be parked outside the factory gates.

This routine had solidified rumors that the two of them were indeed in a relationship.

Though there was still some gossip regarding Lu Yun’s past involvement with Chen Zhiqiang, Lu Yun found it all rather insignificant.

At least, it wasn’t the talk of the town anymore.

Besides, rumors had since shifted focus to Chen Zhiqiang and Li Chunxia.

The gossip about them had divided into multiple versions, each one more outlandish than the last, to the point that even Lu Yun found them absurd when she overheard them.

However, apart from a few colleagues she knew well in the office, no one dared to bring up these matters in front of Lu Yun. The few who did know were quite discreet and considerate.

—o—o—o—

Friday finally rolled around, and Lu Yun noticed the weather was brighter than before. The clear blue sky and white clouds lifted her spirits, and she found herself working more efficiently than usual.

After a few busy days, Lu Yun was looking forward to sleeping in and staying at home over the weekend.

She wasn’t the only one with this plan; Sister Sun shared a similar desire.

Sister Sun said: “I just hope my son gives me a break. Little boys are such live wires—always begging me to take him out to play on the weekends. How can I spoil him every time he asks?”

As the workday drew to a close, Lu Yun’s steps felt lighter.

Upon heading outside, she noticed that He Cheng’an had come on a different bicycle than usual.

It was a blue bicycle, brand new and gleaming, and much more stylish than the ones she had seen him with before.

He Cheng’an explained, “The bicycle you’ve been using is a bit heavy. This one’s lighter to ride. I’ll be heading to the provincial capital tomorrow, and I’ll likely be staying there for a few days. You can use this bicycle while I’m gone.”

After he spoke, he handed Lu Yun a pair of blue knitted gloves and a hat. The weather was getting colder, and he figured the gloves and hat would keep her warm while riding.

The gloves he gave her were fairly thick, but calling the hat “thick” would be an understatement. It was extremely warm and even covered her ears. Lu Yun thought this hat would keep her cozy even in heavy snowfall.

Right in front of He Cheng’an, she put on the hat. She wasn’t sure how she looked, so she tilted her head at him and asked, “How does it look?”

He Cheng’an’s expression softened, a tenderness in his gaze that Lu Yun couldn’t meet for long. She looked down, unable to stop herself from shyly avoiding his eyes.

He Cheng’an smiled and replied, “You’d look good in anything.”

—o—o—o—

On their way home, he didn’t give Lu Yun a ride on his bicycle. Instead, he suggested she ride at her own pace while he followed closely behind, saying he was concerned she might not be accustomed to the new bicycle.

Initially, Lu Yun thought he was being overly cautious, but as soon as she started riding, she realized he might be right—the bicycle was so light that it felt a bit unfamiliar, though it did ride much more smoothly.

When they were almost home, He Cheng’an called out to Lu Yun and, gripping his jacket with a slightly tense expression. He looked at her intently. “When I come back from the provincial capital… we’ll still be together, right?”

Lu Yun’s smile grew brighter. With a burst of energy, she sped up, leaving He Cheng’an behind as she called back, “Yes!”

He Cheng’an walked a few steps, then started jogging after her. “Ride a bit slower!”

“I know,” Lu Yun replied.

A song, *Tian Mi Mi*, played from a nearby record store.

He Cheng’an stood there, watching Lu Yun’s figure disappear down the street. When she turned a corner and headed into an alley, he couldn’t resist running after her once more, only stopping once he saw her walk her bicycle into her courtyard.

—o—o—o—

As Lu Yun wheeled the bicycle into the siheyuan courtyard, she overheard the neighbors chatting and laughing.

They seemed to be talking about Aunt Li’s nephew, who, they were pleased to announce, was no longer a bachelor.

However, he hadn’t married a city girl but a woman from the countryside.

Aunt Li commented, “My nephew thought about it and decided to marry a country girl. He said he liked her, she’s capable—what’s not to like? And he takes good care of his wife! Even got her a bicycle, though it’s second-hand. But he says he’ll get her a new one someday.”

Lu Yun’s new bicycle immediately caught the attention of the others in the courtyard. They eyed it with curiosity, clearly aware that it was no cheap purchase. Without addressing their inquisitive expressions, Lu Yun simply locked the bicycle in front of her home and headed inside.

Aunt Li looked annoyed, so irritated by Lu Yun’s aloofness that she said nothing more, instead getting up and heading back to her house.

The others couldn’t help but laugh quietly at the scene.

When Lu Yun wheeled her bicycle home, she expected her family to comment on it.

Surprisingly, Zhang Meili and Lu Dong only commented briefly—saying it was nice, and then left it at that.

Lu Xiang’an even took the bicycle for a quick test ride around the courtyard.

Somehow, this moment struck Lu Yun as odd, bringing back memories of the life she’d left behind—of her parents divorcing and each remarrying, and of the days that followed as they built separate lives.

Perhaps, after experiencing so much warmth since she’d traveled to this time, Lu Yun found herself genuinely enjoying her current life.

Lu Yun hugged Zhang Meili’s arm and teased, “Aren’t you curious about who gave me this bicycle?”

Zhang Meili replied calmly, “I figured you’d tell me when you wanted to. You may be my daughter, and Xiang’an, my son, and we live together, but there’s a word for it… what is it… privacy.”

Beside her, Lu Dong nodded in agreement, “Yes, that’s right. Privacy.”

Zhang Meili sighed, “Although I’ll admit, I am rather curious.”

And with that, she fell into thought, worried about the character of Lu Yun’s partner—whether he was a good person, if he had a decent temperament, and how easy it would be to get along with his family.

—o—o—o—

Early on Saturday, He Cheng’an headed to the bus station for his trip to the provincial capital.

He didn’t bring much with him, knowing he had all he needed there.

While waiting at the station, he saw several wives bidding farewell to husbands heading off to earn a living.

Scenes like these were common at the bus station, but this time, as he watched, He Cheng’an couldn’t help but smile slightly.

A young man nearby, outgoing by nature, caught He Cheng’an’s gaze and said: “She’s worried about me. But really, I’m just going to the provincial capital. I’ll be back in a few days. Besides, who knows if I’ll even find work there. Still, we’ve gotta earn a living, right?”

Though he talked about the need for money, there was a look of contentment on his face as he glanced back at his wife.

—o—o—o—

Upon arriving in the provincial capital, He Cheng’an went to check the progress on a renovation project he was overseeing. When he got there, he noticed Zhang Hao working alongside the crew. Curious, he asked why Zhang Hao was there and learned that someone had quit unexpectedly. Unable to find a replacement on short notice, Zhang Hao had decided to step in himself. Fortunately, the tasks were straightforward—moving materials and painting, things he knew how to do.

Without saying much, He Cheng’an rolled up his sleeves and joined in to help with the work.

The renovation had reached a stage where the building’s structure was beginning to take shape. The property had a large terrace, and as He Cheng’an walked past it, he lingered for a moment. The terrace offered a stunning view of the bustling provincial capital, with glimpses of the sea in the distance.

Down on the road below, a few cars occasionally passed by, the most common colors being red and black.

As Zhang Hao worked, he couldn’t help but smile. “Once this place is done, and if you can negotiate with the other homeowners in this community, we might secure a few more renovation jobs here. By year’s end, we could be looking at a decent profit.”

After a pause, he added, “You don’t cook often, but you should still stock up on winter vegetables. I can have my family help buy some for you. It’s cheaper when we buy it in bulk.”

He Cheng’an’s gaze shifted thoughtfully. “Tell me, if we got multiple units in this complex to renovate, do you think we’d be able to handle it?”

Zhang Hao stammered, “More units? We… we could, right?”

He Cheng’an chuckled. “Yes, more units. If I secure the contracts, you’ll go back to the county in a few days to recruit more workers. If we can’t find suitable people there, go wait at the bus station. Plenty of people come to the provincial capital for work, and they’ll all pass through the county to get here.”

Zhang Hao was momentarily speechless. Renovating multiple units would mean a substantial income. Many clients in the capital preferred local firms, and some of these companies were fully registered with proper business licenses. People trusted them, which made it easier to secure projects. Could they really compete and take on a large volume of work? Though he had his doubts, when he looked at He Cheng’an, something about his confidence made Zhang Hao feel it might not be impossible.

Not all of the current workers on-site were fully trustworthy either, so Zhang Hao didn’t ask more and continued working.

—o—o—o—

By late November, the Lu family had also started stockpiling winter vegetables.

Lu Yun watched as Zhang Meili and Lu Dong brought home bags of supplies almost daily.

Among the items, there was an abundance of cabbage, most of which Zhang Meili turned into pickled sauerkraut.

This decision left Lu Xiang’an, who wasn’t fond of sauerkraut, visibly troubled.

In winter, most of their meals consisted of pickled cabbage, potatoes, and sweet potatoes, with few fresh greens available. Still, Lu Yun was content with it, not being a picky eater—though she wasn’t particularly fond of ginger.

After a scolding from Zhang Meili, Lu Xiang’an was informed, “We’re having sauerkraut tonight.”

That evening, it was Lu Yun’s turn to cook. As she washed her hands, she felt the icy sting of the water and realized the cold had truly set in. She decided to layer up the next day with her thermal underclothes without needing anyone to remind her.

With her slender figure, Lu Yun wore her thermals without looking bulky or feeling restricted in movement.

For dinner, Lu Yun prepared sauerkraut stew with glass noodles and thin slices of pork belly. Zhang Meili added a side of scrambled eggs and spicy fried potatoes. The family of four had now moved their meals from the courtyard into the warmth of the house.

By the end of the meal, Lu Xiang’an had devoured two big bowls of rice along with Lu Yun’s sauerkraut stew with noodles.

“This is delicious! The sauerkraut tastes amazing!” he exclaimed with genuine delight.

When Lu Yun went outside afterward, she ran into Li Xiaohong, who had come to see her. Li Xiaohong was dressed rather thinly, and her face was red from the cold wind. Lu Yun wanted to ask why she wasn’t wearing a thicker coat, but she swallowed the question.

Panting slightly, Li Xiaohong, barely pausing to catch her breath, said, “He Cheng’an called you!”

At that time, not to mention mobile phones, even having a landline was a rare luxury.

A telephone installation fee alone cost three to four thousand yuan, plus a monthly maintenance fee and per-minute call charges. And calls were charged at both ends; each minute cost around one yuan.

Lu Yun’s annual salary, even with bonuses, was just over a thousand yuan, meaning she’d have to save for three years without spending a cent just to afford a phone.

Since arriving in this time, Lu Yun had never actually seen a phone but had overheard Sister Sun mention one recently in the office.

Apparently, Sister Sun had taken a call from her hometown and had been on the line long enough for the call to cost over four yuan.

Lu Yun asked, “Where is it?”

Li Xiaohong said, “It’s at the little shop down the alley from us.”

Although Lu Yun and Li Xiaohong didn’t live on the same alley, they weren’t far apart. As Lu Yun was about to head out to take the call, Li Xiaohong called her back.

“He asked me to tell you not to rush,” Li Xiaohong continued, “He said he’s not in a hurry, so don’t run. Oh, and the shop owner knows him, so don’t pay for the call.”

Li Xiaohong looked at Lu Yun with a bit of envy. When she first heard that someone was calling Lu Yun, she hadn’t even finished her meal before dashing over.

After all, with call rates at one yuan per minute, she thought this call must be important! She’d quickly run over to find Lu Yun.

Not that Li Xiaohong felt like she lost out in any way. She told Lu Yun that if He Cheng’an ever needed her help to pass along things in the future, she’d do it without charge. She’d even mentioned this to He Cheng’an, who had nodded and politely thanked her, saying, “Much appreciated.”

But later, he often asked Zhang Hao to drop off useful supplies for her, such as rice and flour.

So, Li Xiaohong became even more willing to help whenever she could; this time, she had even run over to find Lu Yun without hesitation.

—o—o—o—

Siheyuan courtyard: