Chapter 22

Early the next morning.

Furong, the daughter of Third Aunt, came running over.

She was a year younger than Danier, having just turned 17 after the Chinese New Year. Despite her young age, she was quite tall—half a head taller than Lin Ting, who was 165 cm tall.

Looking at Furong’s long legs, which even thick cotton pants couldn’t fully cover, Lin Ting couldn’t help but feel envious.

Furong’s mother, Zhang Meihua, was an honest and simple woman, but Furong herself was the complete opposite—she had a strong personality even at a young age.

That morning, when her second aunt came home and complained to her mother about her eldest cousin not being close to her, Furong immediately sensed something was wrong.

After all, her eldest cousin had always been kind and gentle. If someone as mild-tempered as him was so upset that he didn’t even want to go home, it had to be a serious matter. So after breakfast, Furong hurried over to check things out.

To be honest, Furong wasn’t very familiar with her eldest cousin’s wife, Lin Ting. They hadn’t spoken much before. She always felt that Lin Ting didn’t seem like a village girl—she was distant and hard to approach.

But now, seeing Lin Ting offering them food and drinks and even thoughtfully giving them space for a private conversation, Furong couldn’t help but whisper to her cousin, “The eldest cousin’s wife seems pretty nice.”

Danier replied shyly, “She is.” Then, she told her younger cousin how Lin Ting had insisted she stay last night and comforted her with great care.

Furong, sipping her malted milk ^[1]which is a sweetened powdered milk drink., squinted in enjoyment. This kind of treat wasn’t available at her house. Hearing Danier’s story, she sighed and said wisely, “No wonder they say you can’t judge a book by its cover… Anyway, sister, you still haven’t told me what happened at your blind date yesterday?”

At that, a look of disgust appeared on Danier’s delicate face.

She didn’t want to talk about it at first—it had been too revolting—but then she thought about how Furong might meet the same person one day. She decided to share everything so her cousin would be on guard.

When Danier finished recounting the event, Furong’s bright face was full of anger. She slammed the table and snapped, “Why didn’t you give that little shorty a good slap?!”

Danier… She wanted to, but she didn’t dare.

Seeing Danier’s reaction, Furong was clearly disappointed and patted her on the shoulder like a big sister. “Next time I see him, I’ll beat him up for you!”

Danier… Hopefully, she’d never have the bad luck to see him again.

Meanwhile, in the west room, Lin Ting noticed her mother-in-law packing clothes.

“Are you already getting ready to leave?” she asked.

“I had some free time, so I thought I’d get a head start,” Hu Xiu admitted a little awkwardly. Just a few days ago, she had said she wouldn’t be going to the army, and now she was already packing.

Lin Ting didn’t overthink it. She glanced at the pile of clothes on the kang and suggested, “If there’s too much stuff, maybe mail some of it first?”

Hu Xiu hesitated. “Mailing is expensive. I’ll sort through everything first and see if it’s necessary.”

Most of the items weren’t clothes, but bottles and jars she had collected over the years—things she couldn’t bear to throw away.

Seeing that, Lin Ting didn’t push the idea. Just as she was about to sit down and help, something small clung to her leg.

Looking down, she met Guoguo’s bright, smiling face. She pinched his chubby cheeks playfully and asked, “Why are you grinning like that? What do you want?”

Guoguo’s eyes sparkled. “Mom, let’s go outside and play! I want to ski!”

By “skiing,” he meant sitting in a wooden tub with a rope tied to the front, while an adult pulled him forward by running.

Lin Ting didn’t mind playing along, but given her stamina, she probably wouldn’t last long.

Hu Xiu chuckled and stepped in to help. “Your mother doesn’t have the strength to pull you. Let your cousins take you instead, okay?”

Guoguo didn’t mind who took him as long as he got to play. He quickly ran to his grandmother. “Then… let’s go now!”

Children were full of energy, and keeping them indoors all day was tough. Hu Xiu put down her packing and smiled. “Alright, Grandma will take you now.”

Seeing this, Lin Ting let out a relieved sigh and grabbed a thick jacket to put on Guoguo.

As she squatted down to adjust his pants, she noticed they were a bit short.

They looked fine when he was standing, but if he sat, his ankles would definitely be exposed. “Mom, Guoguo’s pants are too short.”

Hu Xiu peeked over in surprise. “He’s grown again? I’ll grab some scissors later to loosen the seams and lengthen them.”

Good cotton fabric was expensive, and children grew fast. Most families made bigger clothes for their kids, rolling up sleeves and pant legs so they could be let down later.

Guoguo tried to look at his own legs but was wearing too many layers to see. He could only sigh, “Guoguo is 4 years old, but the pants are only 3 years old. No wonder they don’t fit!”

Lin Ting burst out laughing and flicked his little nose. “You sound so logical… Alright, wait a bit, I’ll fix them first.”

The little guy grew impatient. “How long will it take?”

“Just two minutes.”

“How long is two minutes?”

“…It’s fast.”

“How fast is fast?”

Lin Ting…

In the end, she never got to take Guoguo out herself.

_

Secretary Wang from the commune came looking for her.

After inviting her inside, Lin Ting didn’t rush the conversation. She first made sure her mother-in-law and the children had left, then poured tea for everyone. “Is this about the rabbit breeding business?”

Wang Chunling, though usually polite, appreciated Lin Ting’s straightforwardness. “Yes, I’ve been thinking it over these past few days. I even contacted an export company in Huacheng, and they confirmed that it’s a real opportunity.”

Information was scarce back then, and Wang Chunling only discovered after reaching out that Huacheng had been exporting rabbit fur for three or four years.

Currently, half the farmers in the county were involved, and expansion was ongoing. This meant a huge market gap, guaranteed sales, increased foreign exchange earnings, and higher incomes for ordinary people.

Wang Chunling also saw an opportunity for career advancement. With so many benefits, she couldn’t just sit still. She decided to take a few trusted aides to Huacheng to investigate the market firsthand.

Before leaving, she wanted to meet Lin Ting again for her suggestions. She realized that college students had broader perspectives compared to high school graduates. Lin Ting, with just one idea, could boost the county’s economy. People like her were worth befriending.

She had another purpose too—ensuring Lin Ting wouldn’t disclose the rabbit breeding plan. She didn’t want her soon-to-be achievement stolen by others.

Lin Ting agreed on the condition that when the factory reopened, the Huo and Lin families would be given housing.

“No problem,” Wang Chunling agreed readily. However, she reminded her, “If we start breeding, it won’t happen overnight. It’ll take at least six months.”

Lin Ting expected this and shared the details she knew.

Time passed, and a week went by.

During this time, apart from a call from Huo Xiao, who had arrived at his new unit safely, life remained uneventful for the four family members.

But today was different. Lin Ting was growing restless, and Guoguo, who played outside all day, returned with news for her mother-in-law.

Hu Xiu, who was working at the loom, paused and looked around her carefully maintained home.

Lin Ting understood her reluctance to leave. If it were her house, she wouldn’t want to leave either. She said, “Give the key to Aunt San and ask her to check on it occasionally.”

Hu Xiu smiled and shook her head. “A house needs people living in it. Even a brick house will decay if left empty for years.”

One reason she hesitated to join the army was leaving her home. It was built as a wedding house, made with quality materials and carefully furnished. More than that, it was her lifelong home—her roots.

Lin Ting nodded in agreement. She gave Guoguo, who had taken off his thick coat, half a bowl of warm water and asked, “Did Second Aunt talk to you about this?”

Ever since rumors spread that their family was moving, the village had been abuzz with speculation about their house. Lin Ting had already heard several versions.

She didn’t ask Third Aunt because Zhang Meihua would rather suffer than take advantage of others.

Surprisingly, Hu Xiu shook her head. “Although Guilan likes small gains, she wouldn’t ask for something as big as a house.”

Still, Lin Ting figured Guilan had been thinking about it. She suggested, “Why not call Huo Xiao and ask?”

“No need,” Hu Xiu replied. “He said we should decide.”

Lin Ting, sitting beside her mother-in-law, was surprised. “Ask me?”

“You’re one of us. Why are you so surprised? What do you think?”

Lin Ting was happy but also taken aback. After a moment’s thought, she shook her head. “It’s your decision. Do what feels right.”

Hu Xiu sighed. “I’m asking because I don’t know what to do.”

Lin Ting rephrased her question: “What’s making you hesitate?”

“Selling feels like a waste. If we come back, there’ll be nowhere to stay. But if we leave it empty, it’ll deteriorate. If we let Second or Third Brother’s family live here, do we charge rent? If so, how much?”

Hu Xiu didn’t want to rent it out but knew that over time, gratitude could turn into resentment, leading to disputes over ownership. She didn’t want to strain family relationships over a house.

Lin Ting thought it was best to sell it, even at a lower price. Huo Xiao, at 29, was already a key military figure. His future was promising, making his return to the village unlikely.

If they sold the house and added some money, they could buy property in Tianjin, which would be far more valuable.

Even if Huo Xiao left the military, he’d likely settle in the county rather than return to the village.

Lin Ting shared her analysis, then added, “If you’re unsure, rent it for a year or two. Once you settle in Tianjin, you might feel ready to sell it.”

Spending time away might make it easier to let go.