Chapter 12: Moving In, New Neighbors

The neighbors initially thought that someone who could buy such a large courtyard must be a respectable family.

Several neighbors were looking forward to meeting this family, hoping to curry favor and gain some benefits.

However, when they saw Yu Meijuan and Yu Zihan, they were dumbfounded.

These two people are the ones who bought that large courtyard? There must be some mistake.

How could such individuals have amassed such a large sum of money? After all, in 1985, the average salary was around fifty yuan. It would take five or six years of not eating or drinking to save up three thousand yuan.

So their imaginations ran wild with speculation about how these two could have such money.

“Hey there, what did you buy?” a woman about Yu Meijuan’s age sauntered over and blocked their path.

Yu Zihan didn’t like people who lacked boundaries; she wanted to retort immediately. But Yu Meijuan politely responded, “We just bought some daily necessities for the house, nothing much.”

Then Yu Meijuan added, “Sister, we just moved in and still have a lot to unpack. Let’s get our home sorted out first before we properly introduce ourselves to the neighbors.” With such a clear refusal from Yu Meijuan, the woman didn’t push further.

However, she still felt a bit resentful. Why should these people get to live in such a large courtyard while her family of seven or eight had to squeeze into a small one?

She pouted and said, “Go ahead.”

People found her words amusing, as if it was up to her whether they went or not. Under the curious gazes of the crowd, the mother and daughter entered their own courtyard.

As soon as they stepped inside, they were greeted by the delicious aroma of cooked food. Although they had been surviving on bread and milk for the past few days, the smell of a proper meal made Yu Zihan’s mouth water.

Grandma Luo came out from the kitchen wearing a lovely apron and said to them, “You’re back! Since we have this fate, why not come and try my cooking today? Go wash your hands!”

Hearing Grandma Luo’s words, Yu Zihan and her mother exchanged a glance. Grandma Luo was the first person to show them kindness since they arrived in Qingcheng, and they gladly accepted her goodwill.

“Alright, I could smell the delicious food even before I entered. So it’s Grandma Luo’s cooking; she’s amazing!” Yu Zihan playfully exclaimed before running inside to wash her hands.

After Yu Meijuan finished washing her hands, she intended to help with the cooking, but Grandma Luo had already set the food on the table. At that moment, Grandpa Luo came out as well, inviting the mother and daughter to sit down while he helped Grandma Luo take off her apron and joined them at the table.

The way the elderly couple interacted made Yu Zihan envious; being together and supporting each other until old age was a fortunate thing.

“Today, we can all sit together for a meal; it’s a blessing from heaven. I hope you enjoy the food,” Grandpa Luo said, looking at the mother and daughter.

Then the couple started eating first. Yu Zihan and Yu Meijuan didn’t say much; they quietly savored the delicious food in front of them.

Grandma Luo’s cooking was not only visually appealing but also fragrant and tasty, though it was a bit on the bland side. From the elderly couple’s accent and taste, Yu Zihan guessed that Grandma Luo must be from the south.

They were merely strangers who had met by chance, and after this gathering, it was uncertain whether they would meet again, so it was better for them to maintain some distance. Yu Meijuan and Yu Zihan finished their meal with good manners.

Although they didn’t adhere strictly to dining etiquette, they maintained a level of decorum and did what they were supposed to do without overstepping boundaries. This impressed the elderly couple even more.

After a quiet meal, Yu Zihan took over the task of clearing the dishes. Yu Meijuan and the couple didn’t have much to say either, so she used the excuse of helping to join in on the dishwashing.

In the evening, back in their own room, Yu Zihan suggested that she and her mother take a shower first. While they weren’t exactly dirty, they definitely didn’t feel fresh and clean.

Fortunately, there was a wooden tub in the house, and Yu Zihan repeatedly heated water.

Yu Zihan thought that they now had their own house, so she took out the shampoo, body wash, laundry detergent, soap, basic skincare products, and toothpaste and toothbrush that she had stored in her space and placed them nearby.

She also brought out underwear, sanitary pads, thermal tops and bottoms, socks, and other items they could currently use.

The two of them took a refreshing shower and then changed into new underwear and thermal clothing.

Mother and daughter looked at each other’s faces, both shocked by each other’s stunning beauty.

“Mom, you look really beautiful,” Yu Zihan generously praised her mother. In this life, she wanted to be someone who spoke her mind, especially to those she loved and wanted to protect, and to freely express her beautiful compliments to them.

“My daughter is the one who’s beautiful. I’m so lucky to have given birth to you,” Yu Meijuan said, seeing the faint resemblance of someone on her daughter’s face, drifting into her own thoughts.

After Yu Zihan tidied everything up, she noticed her mother was still lost in thought, occasionally showing a faint smile. She didn’t disturb her, wondering if her mother perhaps had someone she loved. Could that person be her biological father?

No matter what the situation was, Yu Zihan intended to live according to her own plans. She understood that in the real world, relying on anyone was not as dependable as relying on herself. Only by being strong enough could she live confidently and gracefully.

That night, perhaps due to a tiring day, the mother and daughter slept soundly.

The next day, they woke up to find it was already past eight. They got up, and Grandpa Luo and Grandma Luo had quietly left. Looking at the empty house, Yu Zihan admired the thoughtfulness of the elderly couple. She appreciated people who respected boundaries; they were strangers, and not disturbing each other was a sign of quality and upbringing.

Since they had left quietly, they began to tidy up the house.

“Mom, you can stay in the room where Grandpa and Grandma Luo lived. Look, they’ve already taken away the bedding, and the bed is clean. We can just lay our own bedding on it.”

Yu Zihan carefully surveyed the room; it basically didn’t need anything else. The bed, wardrobe, and vanity were all intact and clean.

“Grandma Luo is really particular, keeping everything so organized,” Yu Meijuan said with satisfaction. The two of them busied themselves for the entire morning, achieving a comfortable living condition.

“Mom, why don’t you try my cooking today?” Yu Zihan went to the kitchen, which they had just cleaned up yesterday. The cupboard was stocked with various seasonings. There were also the honeycomb coal and some grains that Grandma Luo had purchased.

They had white flour, cornmeal, rice, and various coarse grains. There were also winter preparations of cabbage, potatoes, radishes, and other vegetables, as well as vermicelli, dried kelp, seaweed, and dried beans.

“Mom, how about I make some hot and sour cabbage, stir-fried shredded potatoes, and steamed rice today?” Yu Meijuan looked at the items in the kitchen, feeling a bit emotional. They had really gotten a great deal by buying this house.