Chapter 4

After calming Ye Huan, Ye Qing finally noticed something else. She sniffed the air.

As soon as she entered the room, she had detected a faint, pleasant fragrance, which she initially assumed was the scent of flowers drifting in from outside.

Sister Feng, their neighbor, loved gardening and had several potted plants lining her doorstep. When Ye Qing arrived, she had seen several of them in full bloom, their vibrant red blossoms filling the air with their sweet aroma. It wouldn’t have been unusual for the floral scent to waft into the house.

However, now that she was standing close to Ye Huan, Ye Qing realized the fragrance wasn’t coming from outside. It was the scent of the snow cream Ye Huan was wearing.

Before her marriage, Ye Qing and Ye Huan had used the exact same snow cream—Lixiang Brand, a popular, mass-market product that Li Xiufen had purchased at a discounted employee price through a friend.

Buying identical products for both sisters was Li Xiufen’s way of showing impartiality, treating her biological daughter and stepdaughter equally.

Ye Qing had used this snow cream for years and was intimately familiar with its scent. The fragrance emanating from Ye Huan was definitely different—far more refined and pleasant.

It was obvious: Li Xiufen had bought Ye Huan the premium stuff.

And she claims we’re short on money? Ye Qing thought bitterly. If we’re so broke, how can she afford premium snow cream for Ye Huan?

Ye Qing casually asked Ye Huan, “Did you switch snow creams? What brand is it? It smells really nice.”

Ye Huan replied, “I’m not wearing any snow cream.”

There was a jar of snow cream in the drawer, the one the original owner used, but Ye Huan found the scent too overpowering and had never used it.

Still denying it? Ye Qing thought. If you’re not wearing snow cream, where’s that fragrance coming from? Did you just naturally smell like that? Do you think you’re some kind of fairy?

Ye Qing was annoyed, especially since she had just given Ye Huan several tens of yuan, which made her heart ache with regret.

She had regretted giving Ye Huan the money the moment she pressed it into her hand, but it was too late to snatch it back.

No longer in the mood to play the part of a loving sister, she said, “Pack your things. I’m leaving,” and stormed out.

***

Chen Yongqing was in the kitchen helping Li Xiufen prepare vegetables, chatting idly as they worked.

Accustomed to household chores, he didn’t need Li Xiufen to tell him what to do. After washing the vegetables, he carried them to the outdoor faucet to rinse.

He wasn’t much of a talker, but he would respond politely if someone spoke to him. Otherwise, he kept his head down and worked diligently.

Honest, reliable, hardworking, and with a respectable job, Chen Yongqing was the ideal son-in-law. With his own mother gone, Ye Qing would become the mistress of the house after marrying him.

Aunt Chi whispered to Sister-in-law Feng, “Ye Qing has married a good man. She’s landed in a bed of fortune.”

Sister Feng sighed, “Ye Huan has such bad luck.”

Her elder sister had married a good man and was living a comfortable life in the city, while she was stuck farming in the countryside.

The difference might not be obvious now, but in a few years, it would become stark: one living a glamorous life, the other covered in dirt and grime.

Worse still, Ye Huan would likely be rooted in the countryside forever, with no chance of ever returning.

Sister Feng, who was close to Li Xiufen and had watched Ye Huan grow up, felt deeply sorry for her.

But pity was useless, it was all fate.

……

Ye Qing emerged from the main room just as Chen Yongqing finished washing the vegetables and brought them to the kitchen. “Let’s go,” Ye Qing called out.

“It’s almost mealtime,” Li Xiufen said. “Why don’t you stay and eat?”

Ye Qing harbored resentment toward Li Xiufen, but she rarely showed it in front of outsiders. “I have things to take care of back home,” she replied. “I won’t be able to come and see Huan Huan off when she leaves, so don’t wait for me then.”

Seeing Chen Yongqing standing motionless, she urged him, “What are you waiting for? Let’s go.”

Earlier, Ye Qing had said they would leave after eating, but now she had changed her mind. Chen Yongqing was puzzled but, being a man of few words, didn’t ask. He simply nodded to Li Xiufen, stood up, and followed Ye Qing out.

……

Ye Huan carefully put away the money and ration coupons before heading to the kitchen to help.

Li Xiufen asked, “What did your eldest sister want?”

“She brought me money and ration coupons,” Ye Huan replied.

“I figured as much. How much did she give you?”

“Five jin of national ration coupons and 50 yuan, 6 mao, and 8 fen.”

Li Xiufen was stunned, dropping the celery she was holding. “How much did you say she gave you?”

“Five jin of national ration coupons and 50 yuan, 6 mao, and 8 fen. She said it was Chen Yongqing’s recent wages.”

Li Xiufen’s eyes glazed over as she muttered, “Has she gone mad with happiness? Why else would she give you so much?”

She knew her stepdaughter’s stingy nature well, always putting on a show of generosity. This sudden, substantial gift to Ye Huan left Li Xiufen slightly frightened.

“If she gives it, I’ll take it,” Ye Huan said.

Li Xiufen snapped out of her daze. “Exactly! If she dares to give, we dare to take. I bet she discussed this with your eldest brother. If she gives, he’ll give too. Whatever he offers, you take it all. Nothing beats cash and ration coupons.”

“I know,” Ye Huan replied.

But she wouldn’t wait for Ye Mingliang to come.

What if he didn’t show up?

What if Ye Mingliang didn’t have that much money on him?

Ye Huan: “Mom, I’m going to make a phone call.”

With her daughter about to leave for the countryside, Li Xiufen didn’t stop her from doing anything. “Go ahead. Just remember to come back for dinner. I’m frying your favorite small yellow croakers.”

Ye Huan nodded and headed to the mechanical factory’s gatehouse. “Uncle Li, can I use the phone to call my brother?”

Uncle Li, who was outside making coal briquettes, didn’t even look up. “Go ahead.”

Ye Huan dialed Ye Mingliang’s number. He answered quickly.

Ye Huan: “Elder brother, it’s me, Huanhuan.”

This was the first time Ye Huan had ever called him. Ye Mingliang was surprised. “Why are you calling? What’s up?”

“Elder Brother, I’m leaving tomorrow, right? Elder Sister just came by and gave me five jin of grain coupons and fifty yuan. I’m calling to tell you that you don’t have to match her. Whatever you give me is fine. I won’t think it’s too little.”

Ye Mingliang: “?”

He and Ye Qing had agreed earlier: five jin of grain coupons and five yuan each. Why had Ye Qing suddenly increased the amount so drastically?

Has she gone mad?!

Ye Mingliang: “Where are you calling from?”

“I’m at Uncle Li’s place at the machinery factory,” Ye Huan said. “Uncle Li is sitting right here.”

Ye Huan is doing this on purpose, Ye Mingliang thought. With Uncle Li right there, he has no choice but to match Ye Qing’s generosity. Otherwise, as the elder brother, he’d look even stingier than his sister, and that would spread like wildfire through the machinery factory and then to the steel mill in no time.

When did Ye Huan become so cunning? It must be Li Xiufen’s influence. And Ye Qing—how could she fall for such a simple trick so easily?!

Furious, Ye Mingliang hung up on Ye Huan and immediately called Ye Qing to berate her. “Ye Qing, did a donkey kick your brain?”

***

By the time Ye Qing returned home, she was already regretting her decision. But when Ye Mingliang called to scold her, she stubbornly refused to admit she’d been tricked by Ye Huan. Admitting that would make her look foolish.

“She might never come back,” Ye Qing retorted. “What’s wrong with giving her some money? She’s still our father’s daughter. If you think it’s too much, give whatever you want. I’ve already given my share, and I’m not asking for it back.”

“You should have at least discussed it with me first,” Ye Mingliang insisted.

Ye Qing snapped, “It’s my own money. I’ll give it to whomever I please, and as much as I want. You decide how much you want to give—I won’t stop you.”

She slammed down the phone.

The siblings parted on bad terms. Ye Huan didn’t care, she went home to wait for the money. Even if Ye Mingliang thought Ye Qing had given too much and reduced his share, it couldn’t possibly be the original five yuan.

It has to be more than five yuan, right?

Later that evening, Ye Mingliang arrived, his face dark with displeasure. Yet he handed over the full fifty yuan, not a penny short.

Clearly resentful, he didn’t even offer Ye Huan a civil look. He gave her the money and grain coupons and left without another word.

Ye Huan couldn’t care less about his attitude. Can attitude buy me anything?

Li Xiufen stared in disbelief, whispering to Ye Huan, “Your brother and sister… have they been possessed?”

“Maybe they’re feeling guilty,” Ye Huan replied.

That made sense. Growing up, Ye Huan and Ye Mingqiang had never received a shred of kindness from the other two.

Li Xiufen, who controlled the family finances, gave the most: one hundred yuan and twenty pounds of national grain coupons.

“Take this money and these coupons,” she said. “Spend what you need. Don’t skimp on yourself while you’re away. If you run out, just tell me, and I’ll send more.”

Li Xiufen had borrowed from several neighbors to scrape together these food coupons and money.

In the past, she could have easily come up with not just 100 yuan, but even 200 yuan.

However, Ye Mingliang’s wedding last year and Ye Qing’s wedding this year had nearly drained the family’s savings, accumulated over years.

Adding to the strain, they had also bought many new things for Ye Huan, leaving them short on cash and food coupons.

Knowing her daughter would face hardship in the countryside, Li Xiufen refused to let her go without proper provisions. She borrowed from neighbors, piecing together 100 yuan and 20 food coupons, all of which she gave to Ye Huan.

As for the future, she had already planned it out. Ye Yongguo’s monthly salary was 85 yuan. With Ye Qing married and Ye Huan sent to the countryside, only the three of them would be eating at home.

Their monthly expenses would likely be no more than 30 yuan, leaving them with a surplus of around 40 yuan. She would save a portion of this to help Ye Mingliang and Ye Qing when they had children, and any remaining funds would go toward Ye Huan’s dowry. She would also send her daughter 10 yuan each month for spending money.

Even if she had to eat less herself, she would never let her daughter go without.