Zhao Dacui, a middle-aged woman with kind features, hadn’t seen her niece for half a year. She welcomed her warmly, pouring hot water into an enamel basin.

“Come, wash your face. You must be tired after the train ride. You seem to have grown taller. Does your school have a cafeteria? Are you eating well? Didn’t they give you uniforms? Why didn’t you wear them back? Xiangwan has a good figure; she must look great in a police uniform.”

A charcoal basin warmed the room. Zhao Xiangwan unbuttoned her coat, revealing a bright green sweater underneath.

“The cafeteria is good, and I get meal tickets, so I eat well. We get two sets of uniforms, but I only wear them on campus. When I go out, I wear my own clothes. Look, Aunt, I always wear the sweater you knitted. It’s very warm.”

Zhao Dacui beamed, her eyes narrowing into happy slits. “Good, good! As long as you like it. I wanted to knit one for your cousin, but she said the color was too old-fashioned. My little Xiangwan is the best—she wears anything and looks great in it.”

Zhao Xiangwan washed her hands in the hot water, then put a warm towel on her face. “Where’s my cousin? What shift is she on today?”

“She’s on the day shift and will be home soon. Xiangwan, after washing your face, go pick some garlic leaves from the vegetable garden. I’ll fry some bacon for you tonight.”

Zhao Xiangwan nodded and stepped outside. The house had a small vegetable patch where Zhao Dacui grew garlic and cabbage.

As she bent down to pick garlic leaves, a voice called out, laughing, “Who’s this thief stealing my garlic?”

Zhao Xiangwan looked up to see a petite girl with braids. She smiled and greeted her. “Cousin, you’re back.”

Fan Qiuhan, though not tall, had a bold, energetic presence. She strode over, helping to pick garlic while complaining, “Mom always makes you work the moment you get home! Let me do it.”

Zhao Xiangwan smiled, knowing her cousin well—sharp-tongued but kind-hearted, independent but caring.

Walking inside together, Zhao Dacui greeted Fan Qiuhan happily. “You’re back just in time! Set the table and pour Xiangwan some hot tea. She must be tired from the train ride and hasn’t had hot food. I need to start cooking.”

Fan Qiuhan chatted with Zhao Xiangwan while setting the table, their close bond clear. Seeing this, Zhao Dacui sighed, “This is how life should be now. In the past…”

Fan Qiuhan rolled her eyes. “Mom, stop talking about the past. We should look forward. Once I start working and get paid in July, you can stop running the food stall. No more cold winters and scorching summers. I’ll take care of you.”

Zhao Dacui, busy cooking, muttered, “Why would I stop? I need something to do every day. Sitting at home would make me sick.”

Fan Qiuhan nudged Zhao Xiangwan. “Help me convince her! She wakes up early to sell rice noodles, working until 10 a.m. even when she’s sick. We don’t need that much money right now.”

Zhao Xiangwan stepped aside and said, “Cousin, Aunt is hardworking. She’s used to keeping busy.”

Zhao Dacui nodded. “Yes, yes! Xiangwan understands. Back in the village, I fed pigs, chickens, cooked, washed clothes, and worked in the fields. I have to work in the city too, or I’d feel useless. This food stall supports us. You’re too softhearted!”

Zhao Xiangwan suggested, “If you worry about Aunt working in the cold and rain, why not open a rice noodle shop?”

Before Fan Qiuhan could respond, Zhao Dacui shook her head. “Shops cost too much! My breakfast stall has a license, so I don’t worry about the authorities. No rent, just a few hours of work in the morning—perfect! Running a shop means rent, utilities, and working all day. I’d be exhausted!”

Zhao Xiangwan, unfamiliar with business, didn’t push further. “Aunt, if you need money, I can help.”

Zhao Dacui waved her off, laughing. “How much money can a college student have? Keep it for yourself. It’s not easy for you to study, Aunt knows.”

Zhao Xiangwan placed the dish on the table. The rich aroma of bacon and garlic leaves filled the room.

Fan Qiuhan grinned. “Mom, you always bring up sad things when we’re happy. Xiangwan is studying at the Public Security University. Uncle and Aunt won’t bother her anymore. The school covers tuition, food, and clothing. Even without help, she’ll finish her studies just fine.”

Watching Zhao Xiangwan walk toward him step by step, Fan Qiuhan knew how difficult it had been for her to study.

Zhao Xiangwan looked at her aunt and cousin with a smile. “Don’t worry, I’m interning at the Public Security Bureau and helped solve a murder case. The bureau rewarded me with 1,000 yuan. This is enough for me to finish my studies. You don’t have to send me money anymore. If Aunt and Cousin need money, just ask.”

“Really?” Fan Qiuhan and Zhao Dacui asked in surprise.

Zhao Xiangwan nodded. “Really.”

Fan Qiuhan’s mouth fell open. “Wow, does the Public Security Bureau give such high rewards? I thought being a police officer didn’t pay much.”

Zhao Xiangwan explained, “Some entrepreneurs have set up funds to punish evil and promote good, offering bonuses for solving major cases. Ji Jinmao has been working to improve police officers’ treatment. This time, for solving the Weng Pingfang murder case, he awarded a 10,000 yuan bonus. The bureau rewarded me with 1,000 yuan for my contributions.”

Zhao Dacui, overjoyed, chanted Buddha’s name repeatedly. “Amitabha, this is wonderful news. Xiangwan has a bright future and can earn money. I won’t have to ask your mother for help anymore.”

Zhao Xiangwan hesitated but ultimately chose not to reveal her true parentage. If she told them she was not the biological daughter of Zhao Erfu and Qian Shufen, it would mean she had no blood ties to them.

Zhao Dacui had been the warmest presence in Zhao Xiangwan’s childhood, and she was reluctant to let go. Though Zhao Dacui’s old house was simple, it was warm and peaceful, filled with the care of relatives and the tenderness of elders.

After dinner, Zhao Xiangwan took gifts from her bag. She gave her aunt a bright red cashmere scarf and Fan Qiuhan an electronic watch.

“Aunt, it’s Chinese New Year. Wear something red for good luck. If you feel cold at work, wrap up warmly. Cousin, since you always need to check the time after work, a watch will be practical for you.”

Zhao Dacui stroked the soft, thick scarf, smiling with tears in her eyes. “My Xiangwan has grown up. She even remembers to buy gifts for her aunt during the New Year.”

Fan Qiuhan put on the watch, playfully punched Zhao Xiangwan, and laughed. “You haven’t forgotten your cousin now that you’re rich. You have a conscience! I love you for that!”

All three of them laughed together.

Zhao Dacui hesitated for a long time before finally asking, “You’re back this year, but you’re not going home to see your parents? Your eldest brother visited a few days ago. He said he hadn’t received any letters from you and didn’t know when you’d return. Your second brother is working in Yangcheng and will be home tomorrow morning. They all miss you.”

Zhao Xiangwan lowered her eyes. “Aunt, I just want to stay here with you. Is that okay?”

Zhao Dacui and Fan Qiuhan exchanged glances, feeling a little distressed, then said in unison, “Of course, why not?”

[Xiangwan is such a pitiful child. Her brother and sister-in-law treated her badly. When she was young, they spoiled Chen Yang and treated Xiangwan like a maid. Later, when Chen Yang was taken away by her biological parents, they should have treated Xiangwan better, right? But instead, they treated her even worse. My sister-in-law went too far—tearing up her homework, burning her textbooks, and doing everything she could to stop her from studying.

If Xiangwan hadn’t worked so hard, she wouldn’t have been able to continue school. She would have been stuck at home doing labor, just like me—feeding pigs and chickens, cooking, washing clothes, working in the fields during harvest season. Then, at eighteen, she’d find a young man in the village to marry. Her entire future would depend on the man she married.

But this isn’t the life Xiangwan wants. This child has loved reading since she was little. She would hold a book and read whenever she had free time. She did her homework more seriously than any other child. She wanted to leave the countryside and see the bigger world. She should have that chance. She deserves a better life than me, my sister-in-law, and everyone I know.]

Zhao Dacui’s heartfelt love and affirmation made Zhao Xiangwan feel emotional.

To her aunt, Zhao Xiangwan was just another woman struggling in the countryside, looked down upon, ignored, and suppressed. However, her aunt didn’t know the real reason why Qian Shufen hated Zhao Xiangwan—because she wasn’t her biological daughter.

Zhao Xiangwan said, “Aunt, my parents don’t care whether I go back or not. I’m going to see my brother at the hospital where he works tomorrow.”

Zhao Dacui smiled in relief. “It’s good that you and your brothers are close. That makes me happy.”

That night, Zhao Xiangwan slept in the new quilt Zhao Dacui had prepared, breathing in the scent of sunshine from the pillowcase. On the other side, she heard Fan Qiuhan hugging Zhao Dacui’s neck and saying playfully, “Mom, I haven’t slept in the same bed with you for a long time.”

Looking up at the moonlight shining through the window, Zhao Xiangwan’s lips slowly curled into a smile.

The next day, January 24th, was the Little New Year (a festival before Lunar New Year for worship and cleaning).

At dawn—

Bang! Bang! Bang! A series of urgent knocks sounded at the door, mixed with a woman’s hoarse cries.

“Help, help…”

Recognizing the voice, Zhao Dacui immediately put on her clothes and rushed to open the door.

A gust of cold wind blew in, waking Fan Qiuhan and Zhao Xiangwan, who shivered.

A fat woman with disheveled hair stood at the door, raising her blood-stained hands in panic. “Sister Qiu, you’re a nurse! Hurry and save her!”

Seeing the blood, Fan Qiuhan quickly got up, put on his coat, and walked swiftly to the door. “Aunt Lu, what happened?”

Aunt Lu trembled. “Tinglan… Tinglan cut her wrists…”