Chapter 8: Big Treasure and Little Treasure

Geng Zhiqin rolled her eyes dramatically at her mother’s retreating back.

Yu Wentao stopped, suddenly turned around, and startled Geng Zhiqin, who gave a little shiver. Yu Wentao looked at her with disdain. “How did I end up with such a useless daughter like you? Not like your eldest brother, not like your third brother. Even your second brother is better than you!”

“Then why don’t you put me back in your belly and remake me?”

Yu Wentao was momentarily at a loss. “…I don’t have the energy to argue with you. Get up and knead the dough!”

Geng’s father finally spoke up, “Didn’t we just steam buns yesterday?”

Geng Zhiqin got up. “Don’t you see? Aunt Yu’s happy and wants to make dough to wrap pork rolls.”

Yu Wentao huffed and headed to the kitchen, ignoring her daughter’s cheeky “Aunt Yu.”

When Geng Zhiqin was little, the first word she learned wasn’t “Mom” but “Auntie,” because her three older brothers were always calling out. When she grew up and understood better, she eventually switched back, though Yu Wentao no longer minded the title and even liked to use it to keep her daughter in line.

“Hurry up!” Yu Wentao shouted again from the kitchen doorway.

Ye Fan said, “Xiaoqin has to work this afternoon. If you don’t want steamed buns, just use the rice cooker to make rice. With so many people, how many rounds of dough will we need?”

Besides the five adults, the Geng family had four children. Geng Zhiye’s second brother had two kids: a ten-year-old daughter and an eight-year-old son, both with big appetites. Right after school, they would throw down their bags and lead their younger siblings out to play.

Yu Wentao, feeling sorry for her daughter, agreed, “Alright, let’s go with your idea.”

Geng Zhiqin took the rice cooker to the kitchen.

Hearing that his son had just gotten off the train, Geng’s father told him to go rest in his room.

Ye Fan pulled up the reluctant person. “Stop pushing yourself. Once the food’s ready, I’ll leave yours in the pot to keep warm. I’ll go check on things in the kitchen.”

Just then, Yu Wentao stepped out of the kitchen. “You should rest, too. The two dishes will be ready soon.”

“Grandma, are you cooking?”

A young voice suddenly chimed in. Ye Fan looked out to see a little figure, barely waist-high, standing at the door. The little one stopped, rubbed their eyes, and let out a surprised sound. “Accountant Ye? What brings you here?”

Ye Fan let out an exasperated laugh. “Who taught you to talk like that?”

“And you’re one to talk! You’ve left me with Grandma for so long. Even a step-grandma wouldn’t be as heartless as you!”

Yu Wentao came out of the kitchen again. “If you want to talk about your mom, just say it. Why drag me into it? Want some meat?”

“Grandma, I wasn’t talking about you!” The little one leapt into Ye Fan’s arms. “Mom—”

Ye Fan picked him up. “Afraid I won’t want you?”

Dabao shook his head. “Mom wouldn’t abandon me!”

“What about your little sister?”

Dabao turned toward the front door. “She’s got short legs and is behind. Little sister!”

“Hurry up!”

One tall and one short child entered, each holding one of the little one’s arms. When they saw Ye Fan, they stopped. “Auntie?”

“Mom?” The little one wriggled, wanting to get down.

The two kids quickly let go.

Ye Fan set down her eldest son, crouched to pick up her youngest daughter, and led them to the door of the side room. “Do you know who this is?”

Only now did the four children notice there was someone in the yard besides Ye Fan.

Geng Zhiye’s niece, Geng Huihui, gasped, “Uncle?”

Erbao nodded. “Uncle!”

Dabao smacked his sister’s leg. “Silly Erbao! That’s Dad!”

Geng Zhiye looked pleasantly surprised. “You still remember me? Want a hug from Dad?”

Around this time last year, Geng Zhiye had come home, and the moment he tried to touch his eldest son, the boy burst into tears. Yu Wentao claimed there was an evil spirit around him. Just because Geng Zhiye couldn’t see it didn’t mean the child couldn’t. Although he didn’t believe it, he also didn’t dare touch him easily.

Dabao instinctively looked at Ye Fan, as if asking if it was okay.

Ye Fan nodded, and the child slowly moved forward.

Before he could get too close, Geng Zhiye scooped him up. “I’m not going to eat you. Where did all that courage to tease Accountant Ye go?”

Geng Huihui chimed in, “Geng Dabao ate it all up.”

Geng Dabao was so annoyed he tried to kick his cousin, but his short legs left him a full yard away from her.

With one hand supporting Dabao, Geng Zhiye waved to his niece and nephew. “Come over here.”

Ye Fan carried her daughter and followed them inside, while Geng Zhiye opened his bag.

He first took out some snacks. “Help yourselves.” Then he took out seafood and handed it to Ye Fan. Ye Fan took it to the kitchen. “Half for my parents, half for our family.”

Yu Wentao accepted it and put it in the cabinet. “You shouldn’t be giving any to your parents.” Then, as if remembering something, she asked, “Do you still call them Mom and Dad?”

Geng Zhiqin rolled her eyes at the ceiling. “They raised Sister-in-law for twenty-five years. Blood ties aside, there’s still family love. Don’t run your mouth when you see Aunt Tao in the future!”

“Do I need your reminder?” Yu Wentao scoffed at her daughter. “Take care of yourself! If you don’t get promoted, don’t call me Mom.”

Ye Fan interjected, “Don’t pick on Xiaoqin. The supply and marketing agency is a complicated place. I haven’t helped her secure a permanent position because it could make it harder for her to pursue better opportunities later.”

Yu Wentao loved to show off the treats and items Ye Fan bought for her, and Ye Fan never made things difficult for her. Still, Yu Wentao was a bit intimidated by Ye Fan, just as she was by Geng Zhiye’s older brother. Yet she wasn’t even afraid of Geng Zhiye himself.

As soon as she saw Ye Fan earlier, she started shouting—partly because she thought she was in the right, and partly because she had the old man backing her up.

When Ye Fan spoke again, she didn’t dare hold on to her argument. Out of concern for her daughter, she couldn’t help but ask, “How good is a good job?”

Ye Fan thought to herself, If Geng Zhiqin could get into university, even if it’s a teacher’s college, she could still stay at home.

At the door, she was talking about being a high school teacher: “It’s similar to my sister-in-law’s job.”

Li Mingyue had a high salary, good benefits, and a busy job, but the work environment was simple—unlike Geng Zhiqin, who, even when she was sick and selling vegetables, would get judged with people frowning at her lack of passion for her work. Yu Wentao didn’t believe such good things existed. “Xiaoqin’s already twenty this year,” she implied, you can’t wait too many more years.

Ye Fan replied, “Chen Xiaohui’s already twenty-five. What’s the rush? Geng Zhiye’s sister won’t be without suitors.”

All three of the Geng brothers had good careers. In Yu Wentao’s eyes, the second brother, who seemed the least promising, was still a level-two fitter. The father-in-law of the eldest and second brothers were suppressed and couldn’t hold their heads high, making it difficult for them to get promotions. But Geng Zhiye still had his power to back them up. If Geng Zhiqin wanted, she could marry someone from a well-matched family in no time. Yu Wentao couldn’t argue, so she muttered under her breath, “It’s easy for you to say, but how many families with good backgrounds and good jobs are waiting for Xiaoqin?”

Geng Zhiqin snapped, “Then why are you being so picky?”

“Who am I doing this for?” Yu Wentao couldn’t help but stamp her foot in frustration.

As soon as Ye Fan saw the mother and daughter arguing, she immediately went into the room across the hall.

Geng Zhiye was lying on the bed, and when he saw her come in, he asked, “What are you two arguing about now?”

Ye Fan said, “Xiaoqin’s job is fine, she’s not worried about food or drink. What’s there to argue about?”

“By twenty, she should be looking for a partner,” Geng Zhiye said as he got up.

The four children were sitting by the bed, sharing snacks. Upon hearing this, Geng Huihui sighed. “Uncle, you don’t understand. It’s not that Aunt isn’t looking, it’s that Grandma has high standards. Aunt says it’s okay as long as the person is decent. Grandma says if he’s even a little bit lacking, he’s not good enough. My mom says, don’t worry about it, in a couple of years, when no one introduces anyone to Aunt, she’ll calm down.”

Ye Fan replied, “I told her that if she gets a good job, we could transfer Xiaoqin. It should keep her calm for a while.”

Geng Zhiye frowned. “Why do you agree to everything? What happens after that period?”

Ye Fan smiled. “Just tell her the island’s logistics department is short-staffed.”

Geng Huihui couldn’t help but laugh and clap the bed. “No wonder she’s my aunt! She’s the best at dealing with Grandma.”

Geng Zhiye almost felt sorry for his stepmother. “She’d rather Xiaoqin didn’t have a job than let her go to the island.”

“She can’t bear to do it herself, but she can’t blame me for indulging her,” Ye Fan said, seeing Erbao tearing apart a layer of pastry, crumbs everywhere on the bed, her hands and body a mess. She quickly took all the snacks to the main room. “Take your time and share them here. Erbao, we’ll have meat for lunch.”

Geng Erbao shared half of the snacks she’d gathered with her brother. “Brother can have it, I don’t want any!”

Ye Fan rolled her eyes and went to the bedroom she shared with Geng Zhiye. “Your daughter’s becoming quite crafty.”

“Just like you!” Geng Zhiye said, pulling the blanket over himself and lying down. “Want to sleep for a while?”

Ye Fan wasn’t tired, but seeing him propped up under the blanket waiting, she lay down with him for a while. The smell of meat wafted in, and she get up.

After lunch, Geng Zhiye was still sleeping. Ye Fan washed his bag, then sewed two cloth bags with her mother-in-law, to store clothes for herself and the two children.

Once the sturdy cloth bags were finished, Ye Fan took the food that had been warming by the stove and brought it out, calling for Geng Zhiye to wake up.

After resting, eating, and feeling refreshed, with nothing to do at home, and since this wasn’t the best time to visit friends, Geng Zhiye decided to take his daughter and son to his nephew and niece’s school to pick them up after class.

Yu Wentao believed that Geng Zhiye’s second brother was a level-two fitter, but that wasn’t true. The eldest of the Geng brothers was very independent and would never have allowed his younger brother to work as a factory laborer. Back then, Geng’s father hadn’t retired yet, and even if the Geng brothers couldn’t go to university, they could still join the army. Those with slightly poorer physical conditions could transfer to administrative positions.

Geng Zhiye didn’t know exactly what his second brother did, but he knew that being a level-two fitter didn’t keep him as busy as his second brother was—living in the capital, he didn’t even have time to look after his children.

When Geng Huihui saw Geng Zhiye, she was extremely happy, hopping around and showing off to her classmates. “This is my uncle, the regimental commander!”

Jiangnan is known for its frequent rain and humid air, which makes Geng Zhiye appear younger compared to those who have spent years in the northern regions. Geng Huihui’s classmates, seeing his eldest son was very young, assumed that Geng Zhiye was at most thirty years old.

The younger classmates, hearing their elders say that being a deputy regimental commander at thirty is impressive, looked at him with admiration. “Uncle, you’re so impressive!”

Geng Huihui was very angry. “He’s my uncle! Don’t call him that! Uncle, let’s go.”

The young classmate asked, “Aren’t you waiting for your brother?”

“Wait for me, sis!” Geng Zhiye’s nephew popped out from his group of classmates. “Uncle? Are you here to pick me up?”

Geng Zhiye replied, “I’m here to pick you both up.”

The young boy sensed that his uncle was in a great mood, and saw an opportunity. He quickly turned his eyes and lowered his head to ask, “Big Brother, are you hungry? I’ll take you to buy some delicious food.”

“What kind of delicious food?” Big Brother asked curiously.

The young boy pointed to a shop nearby. “A lot of things. Let’s go check it out first. Little Brother, do you want to come?”

Geng Erbao was about to get down. The young boy stopped her, saying, “There are too many people. If you get bumped, Uncle will carry you.”

Geng Zhiye couldn’t help but laugh. The young boy thought his uncle had agreed, so he pulled Big Brother to go ahead.

Geng Huihui covered her face and groaned before looking up and saying, “Uncle, let me take Little Brother.”

“His goal is me.” Geng Zhiye, holding his daughter, followed.

The two little ones picked out a bunch of delicious food and toys, stuffing their small backpacks until they were full. Geng Zhiye took out five yuan and gave it to his son. Big Brother instinctively took it, then realized, “Dad is giving me money? I knew you were so nice!” He blinked his big watery eyes and asked, “Have you spent all your money?”

Geng Huihui: “I’ve put it away.”

The young boy extended his finger pitifully and said, “Sister Geng only gives me five cents a day. What can five cents do? A skewer of candied hawthorn costs one dime!”

Geng Huihui slapped his head with a loud smack. Geng Zhiye was startled. However, her brother only dodged slightly to avoid another slap and then gave the money from Big Brother’s hand to the vendor.

The children’s snacks were cheap; five yuan still left more than three yuan. Geng Zhiye told his niece to choose some stationery.

Erbao kicked her little legs and said she wanted some too.

Geng Zhiye put his daughter on the ground, and Big Brother took his little sister to pick out pencils and notebooks. “Dad, when will I go to kindergarten?”

“To the kindergarten near Grandma’s house? Not anymore. In a few days, we’ll go to the south to get familiar with the area, and in the fall, you can go to kindergarten.”

Geng Huihui and her brother were used to being separated, so they didn’t feel any sadness. It was like talking about everyday matters. Geng Huihui asked her uncle when he would leave.

“In about a week,” Geng Zhiye replied, noticing that his little niece was being very careful. “You don’t have to save money for me.”

Geng Huihui really wanted a pencil case with embroidery on it. “Can I buy a pencil case?”

“You can also buy a backpack,” Geng Zhiye said, calling the salesperson to bring two army-green shoulder bags.

Big Brother and Erbao stood on tiptoe, leaning over the counter in unison: “Dad, I want a backpack.”

Geng Zhiye took the bags from the salesperson and put them on his children. “Do you want anything else?”

The backpacks dragged on the floor and made walking difficult. The brother and sister shook their heads.

Geng Zhiye gave them a helpless glance, then turned around and handed the backpacks to his niece and nephew. “I don’t need what you two don’t want. When we go back, tell—” He stopped, thinking about how poor Ye Fan’s needlework was. “Tell Grandma to make you two some.”

The two children, initially disappointed, brightened up and ran home as soon as they left the store. Geng Zhiye’s nephew shoved the bag into his sister’s hands as he chased after the younger ones. “You two, slow down! If you fall, don’t cry!”

Geng Huihui looked around, not seeing anyone familiar, so there was no worry about being overheard. “Uncle, Ye family’s grandparents aren’t Auntie’s parents. Is Auntie sad?”

Geng Zhiye was surprised. “You know?”

“At lunch, Auntie said it. She said that soon everyone will know, but we aren’t allowed to get involved.” Geng Huihui was worried. “Uncle, she took Auntie’s job as soon as she arrived. Is she going to take you away too?”

Geng Zhiye wanted to be angry but couldn’t help but laugh. “You heard this from Grandma? She didn’t steal your Aunt’s job. Your Aunt had already spoken to the director.”

“She has to go with me to the army. Not to mention that your Aunt and I got to know each other through an arranged meeting—it’s a marriage by betrothal, and I can’t divorce and marry her. If I were to do that, it would just mean I’m fickle, and who is really related to the Ye family by blood doesn’t matter. Huihui, remember this: If a person doesn’t want to do something, no one can force them. If they don’t know what they want, or their will is weak, but they don’t dare admit their own cowardice, they’ll use others as an excuse.”