Chapter 3

Yang Shengbing had indeed once been Ye Yongguo’s apprentice. Yang was clever and quick on the uptake—he could grasp any lesson with just a hint. Ye Yongguo had invested a lot of effort in training him, determined to turn him into an eighth-level fitter. But just after completing his apprenticeship, Yang used his connections to transfer to a job at the city government. All of Ye Yongguo’s hard work had gone down the drain.

Since then, he hadn’t wanted to keep in touch with Yang Shengbing.

Yang Shengbing, for his part, still acknowledged him as a master and would visit with gifts during holidays. But Ye Yongguo never responded. Now, being the one to ask a favor from his former apprentice… that was something his pride wouldn’t allow. A master begging a disciple—he just couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Ye Yongguo mumbled and didn’t respond to Li Xiufen.

Seeing him like this, Li Xiufen knew exactly what he was thinking and immediately grew furious. “It’s already a critical situation, and you’re still clinging to your pride? Is your face more important than your daughter’s future?”

Ye Yongguo pretended not to hear and refused to engage.

Li Xiufen was so angry she felt dizzy. But since he wasn’t willing, she couldn’t force him to go see Yang Shengbing. So she had to compromise. “Fine, fine, you don’t have to go. I’ll go find him tomorrow. Surely you’re not going to stop me from going?”

Ye Yongguo still wasn’t keen on the idea, but since it didn’t require him to show his face, he couldn’t very well object. After all, this concerned their daughter’s assignment to the countryside.

More than that, he felt guilty toward this daughter. It had been his decision to betroth Chen Yongqing to Ye Qing in the first place. Otherwise, it would’ve been Ye Qing going to the countryside instead.

Ye Qing was his daughter, and so was Ye Huan. Both were his flesh and blood—it wasn’t easy either way.

Li Xiufen was too frustrated to sleep, while the man beside her snored away without a care.

She kicked him, but Ye Yongguo didn’t react at all. He just rolled over and went right back to sleep.

Li Xiufen, on the other hand, lay awake half the night worrying. Still, she got up early to make breakfast. After everyone had eaten and left for work or school, she picked up a basket and headed out.

Not wanting to burden Ye Huan mentally, she didn’t tell her the real reason for going out. She just said, “Mom’s going out to take care of something.”

Though she didn’t have much hope, she went to see Sister Zhang first.

Sister Zhang didn’t beat around the bush. “I’ve looked around and asked people, but there’s really nothing that matches what you want. You either pick someone from the few available, or hurry up and register your daughter. If you’re quick, she might still get a decent placement. If you wait too long, only the leftovers will be left—and your girl will suffer for it.”

That dashed any hope Li Xiufen had left. So she headed straight for the city government to find Yang Shengbing.

She returned around noon, smiling.

The matter was settled, and there was no need to keep it from Ye Huan anymore. “This morning, I went to see that apprentice your dad used to teach—Yang Shengbing, the one who comes during the New Year to visit. He works at the city government now and has connections at the Educated Youth Office. He helped get you a good placement: Hongxing Farm in Jiangping City. The farm has a flower nursery, and he got you assigned to it. I figured growing flowers is better than farming, so I made the decision to register you.”

She’d worried Yang Shengbing wouldn’t be willing to help, so she brought two jin of apples and some pastries. But when he heard her request, he didn’t hesitate. He immediately took her to the Educated Youth Office.

He introduced Ye Huan as his own younger sister and asked the staff to find her a good spot.

“The best current spot is the flower nursery at Hongxing Farm. There’s one slot left. If she’s willing, I can write her name down right now.”

To be sure, Yang Shengbing checked all the available assignments—this really was the best option. He turned to Li Xiufen and said, “Auntie, how about this? I’ll hold the spot for Huanhuan. Go home and talk it over with Master and her first…”

But Li Xiufen made a quick decision. “No need to discuss it. I’m deciding. Go ahead and write her name down.”

She didn’t want to wait and risk someone else snatching the slot with stronger connections. Better to claim it now and sort things out later.

Yang Shengbing had been a great help—he even refused the apples and pastries she brought, telling her to take them back for Ye Huan and the family.

Feeling pleased, she stopped by the market on the way home to buy some special ingredients for a celebratory meal.

Ye Huan relaxed when she heard she’d be planting flowers in the countryside.

That was something she could definitely handle.

“Mom, planting flowers sounds great. I’m happy with that.”

Li Xiufen reassured her, “Just go for now. In a year or two, I’ll see if there’s a way to bring you back.”

That was what Yang Shengbing had promised: “Auntie, let her go for now. I might not be able to get her back right away, but I’ll definitely try in a couple of years.”

That’s what he said, but who knew if it would happen? Li Xiufen didn’t tell her daughter about that part. She didn’t want her to keep hoping and end up disappointed.

All they could do now was take things step by step. The top priority was to prepare everything Ye Huan would need: food, clothes, supplies.

A thousand days of comfort at home, but one day away and it’s all hardship. And who knew when she’d be able to return—at least a year or two.

She had to make new clothes, stuff new bedding with fresh cotton—warm cotton. A new washbasin, thermos, towel, soap… all brand new.

Ye Yongguo watched her rushing around, bringing home more and more things, and muttered, “Is she going to the countryside or off on a grand tour?”

Li Xiufen retorted, “She should bring whatever she can. Otherwise, she’ll have to spend money buying stuff over there—and who knows if those remote areas even sell anything.”

One good thing about Ye Yongguo was that he handed over his entire paycheck to Li Xiufen each month, never asking how she spent it.

Besides, it was all being used for their daughter. So despite his grumbling, he didn’t stop her.

After sorting the new items, Li Xiufen clapped her hands and said to Ye Huan, “I’ll go cook. You think about anything else you need. After lunch, we’ll go out and buy the rest. We’ll finish everything up this afternoon.”

***

Just then, they heard voices in the courtyard.

“Here comes the young couple.”

“Mm, since Huanhuan’s leaving tomorrow, they came to check if she’s missing anything.”

…

Aunt Chi whispered to Sister Feng, “See, they’re real sisters after all. She still cares about Huanhuan.”

Sister Feng didn’t reply, just barely curled her lip.

Li Xiufen heard the voices and peeked outside. She saw Chen Yongqing pushing a bicycle, with Ye Qing following behind.

She wiped her hands and stepped out of the kitchen. “Yongqing, no work today?”

Ye Qing replied, “He’s off today. Where’s Huanhuan?”

“She’s inside packing.” She turned and called into the house, “Huanhuan, your sister and brother-in-law are here!”

Ye Qing quickly said, “I’ll go find her.”

Then she said to Chen Yongqing, “Go help Mom in the kitchen.”

Ye Huan hadn’t come out yet—she’d already hidden everything Li Xiufen bought in the back room the moment she heard Ye Qing’s voice.

When Ye Qing entered, the floor was spotless. Only then did Ye Huan step out from the back.

Ye Qing was wearing a new blue jacket today, just made yesterday.

Coincidentally, Ye Huan was also wearing a blue jacket—an old one.

They ended up dressed nearly identically.

Ye Huan had fair skin, so even though it was the same blue jacket, it looked much better on her than it did on Ye Qing.

Ye Qing wasn’t unattractive. She wasn’t as pretty as Ye Huan, but her features were delicate. Otherwise, Chen Yongqing wouldn’t have picked her out of so many candidates.

But their complexions came from different mothers. Li Xiufen had fair skin, and Ye Huan was even fairer—a smooth, porcelain-white tone.

Ye Qing’s biological mother was dark-skinned, and Ye Qing had inherited that, but worse—she was even darker.

Fair skin makes a woman three times as pretty. Ye Huan was already beautiful, and with that complexion, she was absolutely eye-catching.

Ye Qing, on the other hand, always seemed a bit dull in comparison—especially when it came to clothes. Same color, same style—Ye Huan simply wore it better.

Ye Qing felt a twinge of resentment.

She had come today to give Ye Huan some money and ration coupons. As the older sister, if she gave nothing while her younger sister was heading off to the countryside, Li Xiufen would certainly gossip to the neighbors.

When Ye Huan came out, Ye Qing held back her irritation and handed over five yuan and five jin worth of national ration coupons. “This is from me and your brother-in-law.”

Ye Huan’s eyes lit up.

She wasn’t the original host, so she didn’t feel anything over Ye Qing “stealing her man,” and she wasn’t interested in Chen Yongqing anyway. So she didn’t harbor any resentment toward Ye Qing.

Money and coupons, on the other hand, were practical.

Ye Huan said, “Elder Sister, I know you’ve always hated me. Now that I’m leaving, you must be happy, right?”

Ye Qing did resent her. She’d grown up without a mother, while Ye Huan had one who doted on her. And from childhood, everyone in the neighborhood had praised Ye Huan’s beauty.

Ye Qing wasn’t ugly, just a bit darker—but all the praise went to Ye Huan. Who wouldn’t be upset?

But could she admit that out loud?

Ye Qing said, “Don’t talk nonsense. You’re my sister. Why would I hate you? Of course, I want the best for you.”

Ye Huan asked, “Do you really?”

“Of course. Didn’t I just give you money and coupons? If I hated you, I wouldn’t have given you anything.”

Ye Huan sighed. “That’s not much. It’s a long journey, and I can’t bring much. I’ll have to buy things there. But because you and Big Brother got married one after another, Mom and Dad are strapped for cash right now.”

Ye Qing didn’t respond, but she knew it was true—their back-to-back weddings had drained the family.

Still, that had nothing to do with her. She was already married.

Ye Huan said, “I told Mom and Dad that if they don’t give me money or coupons, I’m not going. If they force me, I’ll hang myself right in front of the house. There’s no good life waiting for me there—just endless field work, never enough food or clothes. I heard some girls who couldn’t take it just married local men. Then they could never come back. I’d rather die and be a full-stomach ghost than a starving one.”

Her words were bleak and chilling. Ye Qing was shocked—if Ye Huan really died, people would gossip about her forever.

And it would hurt Chen Yongqing’s reputation too—who would want to marry into a family where the younger sister had killed herself?

Ye Qing quickly said, “Don’t do anything stupid! It’s not worth dying over a bit of money and food.”

Ye Huan replied, “I’m only telling you because you’re my sister. If I make up my mind, no one can stop me.”

Ye Huan had a brooding personality. People like her kept things bottled up and often did extreme things. What if she really tried to kill herself?

Ye Qing gritted her teeth and pulled out Chen Yongqing’s freshly issued paycheck—45 yuan and 68 cents. She’d planned to deposit it.

“I don’t have more coupons, but here’s your brother-in-law’s salary. Take it, and buy whatever you need once you’re there.”

Ye Huan hesitated. “Is it really okay to take your money?”

Ye Qing stuffed it into her hand. “What’s wrong with a sister taking money from her older sister?”

Only then did Ye Huan accept it.

Ye Qing repeatedly warned her, “Whatever happens, we can talk it through. Just don’t do anything stupid.”

Ye Huan said, “Elder Sister treats me well, so I’ll listen to Elder Sister.”