“Xiaofeng, your job is settled. Huazhu is about to graduate from high school, and the current job market is tough—there are no openings, and no one is hiring temporary workers. I asked Uncle Lu for advice, and he said that the mechanical factory won’t be hiring this year. It looks like Huazhu might have to go to the countryside.”

While packing up her son’s bed for the night, Qiao Jiuru also shared the issues their youngest daughter would soon face.

By now, graduating from high school meant no longer being able to take the college entrance exam.

After high school, one could either take over their parents’ work, buy a job, or go to the countryside.

“Mom, little sister can’t go to the countryside. It’s too tough there, and she can’t handle that kind of hardship.”

Sufeng, only 21 this year, had graduated from high school at 17 as the top student in the city and was recommended to medical school.

But the situation now was completely different from when he had applied.

His little sister didn’t have a recommendation slot and couldn’t take over their parents’ work.

If she didn’t find a job, she’d have to go to the countryside.

“Of course, I know that! That’s why your father and I, along with Uncle Lu, discussed it. We’re thinking of having Huazhu go to the countryside with the medical team where you work. That way, you two siblings can look out for each other. You’re in the team, and she’ll have a big brother to help her out. With you giving her some financial support, she’ll be able to manage.”

“This is why your dad and I insisted you join the team hospital early. It’s mainly so you can look after your sister. You need to get established in the team first. It’ll be good for both of you.”

“Your father and I have thought this through, Xiaofeng. Once the recruitment notice from the team hospital arrives, you should report immediately. Don’t worry, with me and your sister-in-law here, you can focus on your work.”

In the living room, besides Su Huaiyuan, there was also Su Ze, who had already realized the family was facing a crisis.

The father and son exchanged knowing glances and jointly urged Xiaofeng.

“Mom and Dad, I’ll listen to you. Once I start working, I’ll send money back to you.”

Although Xiaofeng was very smart, he trusted his family immensely.

He didn’t doubt their intentions for a second and even planned to send money to them once he started working.

Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan exchanged a relieved look, their minds finally at ease.

In this era, besides reading, there weren’t many entertainment options at night.

So, the whole family was in bed by 10 PM.

The bed in Su Huaiyuan and Qiao Jiuru’s room was empty.

At that moment, the couple should have been sleeping, but instead, they were in the Western courtyard of the Bracelet Space, resting in the bedroom.

The couple had discovered that time inside the space moved twice as slowly as outside.

So, they had decided to rest in the space at night, leaving for the black market around 3 AM, ensuring they could get enough sleep without affecting their daytime work.

At 3 AM, they exited the space, feeling fully refreshed after a solid seven hours of rest.

With several cloth bags in tow, they quietly rode their bicycles and set off.

Since it was a Sunday and they didn’t need to work, they planned to exchange more grain and then check on the properties they owned.

After running through two black markets, they bought 300 jin of rice, 250 jin of flour, 20 jin of brown sugar, 100 eggs, 3 old hens, 12 salted fish, 5 jin of dried mushrooms and wood ear mushrooms, 3 jin of wool, 6 jin of cotton, and more than 30 various types of tickets.

Every time they exchanged goods, they would quickly stash them in the space before it got too light, then head to the Su family’s two-entry Western courtyard.

There were many valuable items in the Western courtyard, but the most precious things weren’t stored here.

Su Huaiyuan’s father and elder brother had foreseen this and hid Su Huaiyuan’s share of the family’s wealth in three inconspicuous little houses, not under his name.

Still, the Western courtyard held several large yellow fish, many pieces of jewelry of varying value, as well as furniture and daily necessities.

The courtyard hadn’t been raided yet, and everything was still intact.

Without hesitation, Qiao Jiuru took all the gold bars, jewelry, furniture, and daily necessities and stored them in the space.

They spent no more than an hour in the courtyard before clearing the entire house.

Afterward, they went to a nearby state-owned restaurant for breakfast, where they ordered wontons, noodles, meat buns, steamed buns, and ten fried dough sticks.

Since they didn’t lack money, they just bought what they needed with tickets from the black market.

After breakfast, the couple continued shopping at a department store and a supply and marketing cooperative on the opposite end of Peking University.

They mostly bought items that could fill their stomachs or keep them warm.

In just two days, Qiao Jiuru had spent only a little over 1,000 yuan out of the 5,000 yuan she had withdrawn, showing how far money could go in this era.

At the same time, Su Ze was also shopping at another department store.

The tickets he was using were still from Qiao Jiuru.

He was buying inconspicuous items like brown sugar, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, wine, milk candies, biscuits, and snacks—things needed in everyday family life.

When Su Feng and Huazhu woke up, their older sister-in-law, Zhou Wanwan, had already made breakfast.

“Where are Mom and Dad? Haven’t they gotten up yet?”

Seeing the parents’ door still closed, the siblings thought their parents hadn’t woken up.

Su Feng quietly asked his older brother.

Su Ze had already finished breakfast and was about to head out for shopping.

After hearing his brother’s question, he explained where their parents had gone.

“Mom and Dad left before dawn to buy some things to send to you at the hospital.”

“Oh, I see!”

The siblings finally understood, and they sat down quietly to eat.

Then, they helped their sister-in-law look after their nephew, cleaning the house and doing some chores.