In Beijing, the walls of an old courtyard were peeling, and the corners were marked with haphazard scribbles, likely the playful graffiti of some mischievous child.

Shen Guixiang crumbled cold steamed buns into pieces, scattering them across the stone-paved ground outside her door. Before long, a few plump sparrows landed boldly, their beady eyes glinting as they wagged their tails and began feasting.

The woman sat on a low stool, plucking vegetables while keeping an eye on the sparrows pecking away.

Since her daughter Qin Yao left for the southern island, there was always one extra serving of food left at home. Her daughter-in-law often reminded her to make fewer steamed buns, but she could never remember, always thinking of Qin Yao’s portion.

“Oh, Guixiang, the sparrows in front of your house are even plumper than the ones elsewhere!” Xu Huiling, with a radiant smile, passed by Shen Guixiang’s door, holding her daughter Ju Ying’s hand. Ju Ying proudly carried a pair of brand-new leather shoes and wore a dress made from light and trendy Dacron fabric.

Her voice startled the little sparrows, making them fly away. The uneaten pieces of steamed buns lay forlornly on the ground.

Shen Guixiang’s expression darkened.

Xu Huiling and Shen Guixiang were both factory workers and lived in the same crowded housing compound. Over the years, they hadn’t gotten along, arguing openly several times and competing privately just as often.

Shen Guixiang’s husband, Qin Chuanrong, was a cook, and she was adept at running the household. Despite raising four sons and one daughter, the family never lacked food even during the toughest years. They even helped neighbors occasionally, earning the couple a good reputation in the compound.

Xu Huiling had more refined features, but Shen Guixiang had fair skin, thin eyebrows, and small eyes—not stunning but not unpleasant either, with her fair skin being her biggest asset.

Years ago, Xu Huiling had met Qin Chuanrong for a blind date but dismissed him, not interested in a cook who spent his days at the stove. Soon after, Qin Chuanrong married his coworker, Shen Guixiang.

Even though she had no interest in him back then, Qin Chuanrong had excellent qualities. After all, marrying a cook guaranteed food on the table.

Since then, Xu Huiling couldn’t help but compare herself to Shen Guixiang. Living in the same compound, she saw how Qin Chuanrong doted on his wife and children, how well Shen Guixiang ate, and how plump her kids grew up. It made her feel as though Shen Guixiang had stolen her good fortune.

Xu Huiling married two years later, and her daughter Ju Ying was over a year older than Shen Guixiang’s youngest, Qin Yao.

Shen Guixiang and her husband doted on their only daughter, giving her treats like candies and biscuits that other children rarely had. Xu Huiling would see her daughter Ju Ying swallowing hard as she watched Qin Yao chew on dried meat, a sight that stung Xu Huiling deeply.

Qin Yao grew up chubby and fair-skinned, while Ju Ying was scrawny like a bean sprout. However, after entering her teens, Ju Ying blossomed like a budding flower.

The more her daughter resembled her, the more Xu Huiling doted on her. She loved comparing Ju Ying to Qin Yao, confident that her daughter would eventually marry well.

“Ju Ying has been getting so many matchmaking proposals lately,” Xu Huiling boasted. “Even the factory director’s son is interested. After they marry, they’ll have a two-bedroom apartment of their own. No more crowding here.”

She glanced at Shen Guixiang’s narrowed eyes, smirking. “Your Qin Yao wouldn’t have had to go so far away if you weren’t so cramped here. Marrying a military officer sounds great, but isn’t it too far from home? Your Qin Yao is not like the girl from the Chen family. Who is her grandfather? The person she went to the island for a blind date is the grandson of her grandfather’s comrade-in-arms.”

….

Xu Huiling finally left after flaunting her daughter’s prospects. The sparrows returned, plump and round as ever, nibbling at the crumbs Shen Guixiang had swept into a pile. Even with her broom in hand, the sparrows boldly hopped close, pecking away.

Watching them, Shen Guixiang couldn’t help but laugh.

When her husband, Qin Chuanrong, returned home, she opened her mouth to suggest bringing Qin Yao back. Before she could say anything, her second son and his wife arrived, laughing and holding a piece of new Dacron fabric.

“Mom, this is for our little sister,” they said. “It’s hot over there, so this will be comfortable for her. We’ll send it along with the other items.”

Since Qin Yao left, the family had more space, and although her two married sons didn’t say it out loud, they were clearly pleased.

Qin Chuanrong was also in good spirits.

“Dad, you’re about to have a military officer as your son-in-law!” his eldest daughter-in-law teased.

Qin Chuanrong’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “Let’s see what Yaoyao can achieve!”

As a cook, Qin Chuanrong had met many people over the years. Although factory leaders showed him respect because of his skills, he knew deep down they still saw him as just a craftsman.

He hoped his sons would achieve something significant, but none seemed destined for leadership roles.

His daughter Qin Yao got along well with the daughter of the Chen family. Chen Baozhen traveled thousands of miles to an island to have a blind date with the grandson of her grandfather’s comrade-in-arms. Qin Chuanrong was very envious for a while, but his wife Shen Guixiang pouted, thinking that there was nothing to be envious of.

“What do you know? That was Old Master Gu’s grandson,” he had said.

Although the match didn’t work out, Chen Baozhen still married a promising naval officer. Qin Chuanrong couldn’t help but feel jealous.

When Chen Baozhen later invited Qin Yao to visit the island, Qin Chuanrong saw it as an opportunity. He hoped his daughter would find a naval officer as her husband.

After Qin Yao called to say she wanted to stay and work as a nurse, Qin Chuanrong eagerly handled the paperwork. Thanks to his connections, the process was completed quickly.

With her job settled, it would be easier for Qin Yao to find a good match.

In high spirits, Qin Chuanrong began preparing care packages full of treats to send to her.

“Dad, if Yaoyao wants to find a good husband, she needs to slim down,” his eldest daughter-in-law said. “Don’t send her so much food.”

Though she didn’t want her sister-in-law to return, she still hoped Qin Yao would marry well. After all, men liked pretty women, and Qin Yao would look better if she lost weight.

“No,” Qin Chuanrong insisted. “Yaoyao feels miserable when she’s hungry.”

His second daughter-in-law turned her head, pursing her lips silently.

People are strange like that, she thought, wanting their daughter to marry well yet unwilling to let her endure hunger to lose weight.

She privately doubted Qin Yao would find someone to meet her father-in-law’s high hopes.

“Yaoyao, how are things over there?” Shen Guixiang asked during a phone call after sending the package.

“I’m doing well,” Qin Yao replied curtly.

Qin Yao couldn’t handle Shen Guixiang’s concern. In her previous life, her relationship with her parents had been distant, as they focused on her brothers. After transmigrating into this life, she felt no attachment to return to Beijing or reconnect with Qin Yao’s family, choosing instead to remain alone on the island.

Recently, while handling procedures and reconnecting with her family, Qin Yao’s parents were busy running errands, getting stamps, and organizing her documents. Her mother, Shen Guixiang, repeatedly expressed her concern over the phone. Qin Yao felt a warmth in her heart but also a hint of guilt.

She wanted to know Shen Guixiang’s true feelings toward her but was also afraid to find out, creating a strange and conflicted state of mind.

Luckily, being separated by such a great distance made these questions impossible to confront directly.

“Your father asked someone to bring you a lot of delicious food. You can enjoy it slowly. There is also a big jar of wild honey. Your grandfather went up the mountain to get it for you…” Shen Guixiang chattered on.

Qin Yao responded with surprise, “Huh?”

She still hadn’t finished the items she brought last time, and now more were on the way.

“Your second sister-in-law bought you some high-quality Dacron fabric. This material is only available in big cities. We won’t make it into clothes yet; you can find a tailor on the island to sew it for you.”

Hearing her mother’s instructions and care, Qin Yao held the receiver tightly. Her nose tingled, and her eyes inexplicably grew warm.

Her voice was slightly hoarse and carried a trace of nasal sound as she softly said, “Mom, once things settle down here, I’ll come back to visit you and Dad.”

“Alright, we’ll be waiting,” Shen Guixiang replied gently.

Then she asked another question, “Are you looking for a partner?”

Head Nurse Ge from the military hospital here said she wants to introduce someone to me. I’ll go meet him in two days. He should be an officer here.” Qin Yao explained.

“If there is any situation, give us a call so we can help you decide,” Shen Guixiang replied. In the background, her second sister-in-law’s loud voice could be heard chiming in.

After hanging up the phone, Qin Yao sighed.

She knew the Qin family hoped she would marry a naval officer, but she wasn’t ready for marriage yet.

She planned to meet the person introduced by Head Nurse Ge but would figure out a way to dismiss the idea afterward. If she didn’t like someone, she couldn’t be forced into marriage.

*

The blind date was arranged at Head Nurse Ge’s home. She lived in a two-bedroom apartment in the hospital’s family compound. The building was new, located on the third floor, facing south, with ample sunlight. Two pots of green onions and chives were placed at the entrance.

The chives here grew fast and were easy to care for. Their stalks stood upright, and if they weren’t cut soon, they’d become overgrown.

“Comrade Qin, come in and have a seat. I’ll pour you some tea,” Ge Yunxia said as she invited Qin Yao to sit on the sofa. She placed two porcelain teacups with pine crane designs on the table, poured tea from a red peony teapot, and handed Qin Yao a cup of hot tea.

The floor was polished terrazzo, and the walls were painted in the popular two-tone scheme—white on top and green on the bottom. The kitchen and bathroom had white square tiles.

Qin Yao glanced around the room, not thinking about the date but instead wondering when she could be assigned a small single room like this at the hospital. Even a tiled house would do.

Head Nurse Ge chatted with her briefly before stepping out, saying, “Wait here; the person will be here soon.”

Standing in the corridor, Head Nurse Ge craned her neck to look out, but there was no sign of anyone yet. Today’s first candidate was Deputy Director Xiao, someone she had roped in for comparison. After Qin Yao met him, she would meet Doctor He, which would improve the chances of success.

Judging someone’s merits often required comparison.

Doctor He was excellent in every aspect, but his quiet personality could be seen as a flaw. However, with the right strategy, it could turn into an advantage.

Having arranged countless matches, Head Nurse Ge prided herself on understanding young people’s thoughts. Some believed there would always be someone better after their first meeting.

With Deputy Director Xiao as a benchmark, Doctor He’s strengths would stand out. This way, her job as a matchmaker would be easier.

Ge stood with her arms crossed, mentally rehearsing her plan. She didn’t notice the activity downstairs until she heard hurried footsteps approaching. Nurse Xiao Ma was racing up the stairs.

“Head nurse…!” Xiao Ma panted, her twin braids swinging with each step.

“Why are you so flustered?” Ge Yunxia scolded.

Xiao Ma didn’t have time to wipe the sweat from her forehead. She leaned in and whispered, “Deputy Director Xiao wasn’t there when we went there, so they, they, they replaced him with someone else.”