Jiang Qiuyue was also grateful for her children’s good behavior. “They really are obedient, but it’s also because your cooking is so delicious—they’re too busy eating to talk.”  

“Haha, you’re such a sweet talker.” Gao Qin was thoroughly charmed by the compliment.  

Since learning that Gao Qin was the manager of the department store, Jiang Qiuyue had wanted to get closer to her. Now, with a few sweet words, the two quickly struck up a conversation.  

“You’re truly amazing, Sister-in-law. Your kids do well in school, and you’re so successful in your career—it’s really admirable.” Jiang Qiuyue’s praise was genuine. Gao Qin juggled work and household responsibilities, even though Qiu Jie was busy with his job. Balancing family and career was no small feat.  

“I believe women should have careers too. It’s the only way to realize our self-worth,” Gao Qin said, having already finished her meal. “My mother-in-law used to tell me to quit my job and just stay home with the kids, but I refused. Look at me now—my salary is even higher than Qiu Jie’s, and I call the shots at home.”  

“Honestly, Sister-in-law, if you get the chance, you should consider finding a job too.”

Jiang Qiuyue: …Forget it, forget it. In this lifetime, I don’t want to be a career woman. I just want to laze around like a salted fish.

“Finding a job isn’t that easy. I’m registered as a rural resident and only graduated from elementary school—no one would hire me.”  

This wasn’t entirely an excuse. Jobs these days were often inherited, whether in factories or government units, and opportunities were scarce. If she really wanted a job, she’d have to buy one.  

But spending hundreds of yuan just to secure work? Jiang Qiuyue would rather pass. She had already suffered enough from work in her past life. She was perfectly content living an idle, carefree existence—though outwardly, she framed it more diplomatically: “The kids are still young, and there’s no one to help take care of them. I’d better stay home and focus on raising them.”  

Gao Qin glanced at Lin Zhengrong’s two children and sighed. “You have a point. If you ever need anything in the future, don’t hesitate to come to me. Now that we’ve met, we’re practically sisters.”  

“Of course, Sister-in-law! I felt a connection with you the moment we met. Let’s toast with tea!” Jiang Qiuyue raised her cup and drank it all in one go. “Actually, there is something I wanted to ask you—do you know anyone selling bicycle coupons?”  

“Why do you need a bicycle coupon?” Gao Qin asked.  

“There’s no public transport from our village to town. Every trip takes an hour on foot, and it’s such a hassle. But with a bicycle, I could go anytime I need to.” Right now, a bicycle was at the top of Jiang Qiuyue’s wishlist.  

“Bicycle coupons don’t come cheap,” Gao Qin lowered her voice. “Last year, a model worker in our unit traded his for forty pounds of grain ration coupons!”  

Jiang Qiuyue waved it off. “Spend where you must, save where you can. Buy it now, use it now—otherwise, you’re just making life harder for yourself.”  

“That’s a great mindset, Sister-in-law. More people should think like you.” Gao Qin and her husband were both salaried workers, so their family was relatively well-off. “I don’t know who might have one right now, but I’ll keep an eye out. If I hear of anything, I’ll let you know.”  

“Thanks, Sister-in-law!” Jiang Qiuyue felt today’s trip to the city was worth it just for meeting someone as influential as Gao Qin. Life would be much easier with her as a connection.  

After the meal, Jiang Qiuyue took the kids to wash up. When she returned, she overheard Qiu Jie discussing Lin Zhengrong’s birth parents with him.  

Jiang Qiuyue had never brought up the topic with Lin Zhengrong herself. She didn’t feel close enough to him yet and wasn’t sure whether it might cross a line. But now that Qiu Jie had mentioned it, she listened quietly.  

“Earlier, you asked me to watch for anyone searching for relatives. I’ve checked every missing persons file at the station, but none match your situation.”  

Qiu Jie glanced at his watch—he had to return to work soon and needed to wrap things up. “Do you really have no leads at all?”  

Lin Zhengrong shook his head. “I was just a few months old. I don’t remember anything. And as you know, my adoptive parents refuse to say a word. I’ve tried probing before, but they’d immediately accuse me of being an ungrateful wretch, asking if I wanted to find my ‘real’ parents.”  

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep looking. If they’re searching for you too, you’ll cross paths eventually,” Qiu Jie reassured him.  

“It’s fine. I’ve already given up hope. The times were unstable back then—who knows what really happened?” Lin Zhengrong turned to glance at Jiang Qiuyue and the children. Now that he had his own family, the longing to reunite with his birth parents had faded.

As they left the Qiu residence, Jiang Qiuyue finally asked Lin Zhengrong, “I could try asking Wang Chunhua and the others for you.”  

“Honestly, they probably don’t know much. The person who sold me wasn’t local—no name, no photo. It’s like searching for a needle in a haystack. Let’s leave it to fate. For me now, finding them or not isn’t that important anymore,” Lin Zhengrong said.  

“Why not?” Jiang Qiuyue asked.  

Instead of answering, Lin Zhengrong smiled and patted his son’s head. “Beibei, Nannan, do you still want drumsticks?”  

“Yes!” Lin Beibei’s eyes instantly lit up.  

Lin Zhengrong picked up his son and glanced at Jiang Qiuyue. “Because I have a family now.”  

Jiang Qiuyue froze for a moment, her heart aching. As a child, Lin Zhengrong must have wondered why he never received his parents’ love. When he later learned he wasn’t their biological son, of course he’d want answers.  

Life hasn’t been easy for him.

After some thought, Jiang Qiuyue decided she’d make Lin Zhengrong a pair of patchwork underwear when they got home—something she hadn’t originally planned to do. Now, she felt she should do something for him.  

Unaware that he was about to receive a pair of colorful homemade boxers, Lin Zhengrong used his last meat ration coupon to buy half a roast chicken.  

At the Qiu family’s place, he’d noticed the kids and Jiang Qiuyue loved it, but half a chicken wasn’t enough to share among so many.  

“Dad is the best!” Lin Beibei, thrilled about the roast chicken, kept praising him. Nannan nodded eagerly too. “We love Dad the most!”  

Jiang Qiuyue chuckled and tapped her son’s head. “You little rascal—whoever feeds you is the best, huh?”  

“Mom is the best too! I love Mom the most, most, most!” Lin Beibei quickly amended, offering his drumstick to her.  

Jiang Qiuyue was already full and told him to eat it himself. “Save the rest for home. No more now, or your belly will hurt.”  

Lin Beibei obediently stopped after finishing the drumstick.  

Before heading home, they bought eight boxes of walnut cakes as gifts. At the supply and marketing cooperative, Jiang Qiuyue spotted oranges priced at 0.15 yuan per jin. Now that she had money, she initially wanted ten jin, but the sales clerk reminded her they required ration coupons. In the end, she could only buy two jin to try.  

Everything at the cooperative needs coupons—money alone isn’t enough. Jiang Qiuyue sighed inwardly. What a shame! If she weren’t lugging two kids around, she’d hit the black market—what a golden opportunity to splurge!  

Still, at the cooperative, she spotted sewing machines and radios.  

Ready-made clothes were too expensive and poorly tailored. With plenty of time on her hands, Jiang Qiuyue wanted to make her own. As for the radio, listening to broadcasts in her free time sounded like the perfect lazy life.  

Originally, she’d only thought of buying a bicycle—a practical necessity. But seeing the sewing machine and radio made her realize there were more ways to improve their lives.  

Where on earth am I supposed to get all these coupons?

The whole way back, Jiang Qiuyue brooded over the sewing machine and radio. To Lin Zhengrong, though, it seemed like she was still preoccupied with his birth parents.  

When the tractor stopped near their home, Lin Zhengrong jumped down first to help the kids off. Just as he was about to reassure Jiang Qiuyue that he was fine and she didn’t need to worry, a sickeningly sweet voice called out—  

“Sister Qiuyue!”  

Lin Zhengrong turned to see a young man standing at their doorstep, grinning so wide his eyes disappeared as he waved enthusiastically.  

“Sister Qiuyue, you’re finally back!” Jiang Youcai had a burlap sack at his feet—he’d come specifically to deliver homemade sweet potato noodles to his beloved “Sister Qiuyue.”  

Meanwhile, Lin Zhengrong’s brow furrowed.  

Who the hell is this punk?