Chapter 017

017  

“What? Dividing the household? No way!” Before Yao Dajie could speak, Lin Suifen, standing outside the crowd, couldn’t hold back. How could her sister-in-law separate from them?  

If Qingyin moved out, how could she control her? How could she take her thirty-seven-yuan salary? How could she use those enviable dowry items?  

“Qingyin, I know there are people in this courtyard who can’t stand to see us doing well. They must have stirred up trouble between us. But after all these years, you know how I feel about you… How could you bear to make me sad?” Clutching her chest, she looked on the verge of tears.  

“Your father and eldest brother just passed away. Those who know the truth will say you wanted to divide the household yourself, but those who don’t will think I couldn’t stand you and drove you out. How will I ever face anyone after this?”  

—Bringing up Qingyin’s father and brother, she had to consider her reputation.  

“Heaven knows, you lost your mother right after birth. I raised you through thick and thin. You mean more to me than even Hui Hui. I’d sooner split from Hui Hui than from you!”  

—Emotional blackmail.  

…  

Qingyin continued to “sob,” coldly observing her performance. She knew this was Lin Suifen’s specialty.  

All she had to do was cry about the wishes of Qingyin’s late father and brother, lament her hardships over the years, and emphasize her “kindness” to Qingyin—then she’d seize the moral high ground. Before Qingyin secured her job, she had been wary of this tactic, afraid Lin Suifen would use it to reclaim her position. That was why she had bided her time.  

But now, her job was officially secured by an Official Document, she had a Commendation Banner from the Organization Department, and her salary had even increased. It was like having triple insurance. So she wasn’t afraid of this act anymore.  

The time was ripe. This household division was happening.  

“Pah! How dare you claim you raised Qingyin? Have you forgotten how you used to beat her in secret?” Sister-in-law Liu brought up the past again. She firmly believed that if you repeated something enough, even if it wasn’t true, it would become true—and this *was* true, so she spoke with righteous indignation.  

Lin Suifen hated this troublemaker to the bone. She was everywhere!  

“Yao Dajie, you can ask around. Who in this courtyard doesn’t know about this?”  

Yao Dajie glanced at the crowd. No one could outright deny it. Had they seen it? Not exactly. But was it true? Last time, Lin Suifen hadn’t even denied it—so it must be.  

The hesitant looks on everyone’s faces told Yao Dajie all she needed to know.  

“Comrade Lin Suifen, I never expected this from you.”  

“I didn’t—I—”  

“Still lying? Why don’t you tell everyone where you just came from?” Sister-in-law Liu crossed her arms, glaring coldly.  

Lin Suifen was about to make something up when Sister-in-law Qin arrived behind her. “I can testify. Aunt Suifen just went to the factory’s finance office to collect Qingyin’s salary.”  

Qingyin immediately burst into loud, dramatic sobs. “Sister-in-law, if you needed money, you could’ve just asked! I could’ve kept just two yuan for living expenses. I’m just so hungry… I’d give you the rest. Wuwu… I know you have a heavy burden.”  

“Then why didn’t she take her own daughter’s salary? Doesn’t she like her?”  

“Exactly. She never mentions Hui Hui’s money, but the moment it’s Payday, she’s right there to grab her sister-in-law’s. It’s as obvious as lice on a bald head!”

“Today she dares to take her sister-in-law’s wages, tomorrow she’ll dare to touch her dowry. A person’s greed grows day by day.”

Yao Dajie frowned. This Lin Suifen had really gone too far, but… “What do you mean by ‘you’re too hungry’?”

Qingyin remained silent while others couldn’t hold back any longer, revealing how Lin Suifen had been cooking only for herself and Qing Huihui lately, deliberately excluding Qingyin.

“Either she doesn’t cook at all, or she just boils some Coarse Grain Porridge as a perfunctory meal. Their family never lived like this before.”

“You all don’t understand. As a widow with a child, life is hard for us. We can’t maintain the same standard as before.”

“Nonsense! I’ve seen you and your daughter eating out at restaurants several times. Who knows what delicacies you sneak at midnight… Wait! What’s this?”

Sister-in-law Liu’s eyes were like microscopes. She actually dug out a pile of gnawed chicken bones from the coal ashes under their stove!

Now, including Director Yao, everyone looked at Lin Suifen with knowing eyes.

She hadn’t even had time to dispose of last night’s leftovers.

Lin Suifen wanted to strangle her own daughter for being so stupid. She’d told her to keep watch over the house, but the girl had let Sister-in-law Liu barge in and find the chicken bones. What a useless teammate! If she hadn’t given birth to Qing Huihui herself, she’d suspect the girl wasn’t her own flesh and blood!

Director Yao didn’t care about her thoughts. Patting the sobbing Qingyin, she said, “Don’t cry, Xiao Qing. I know you’re hungry. Come, let’s go to my place for dinner. As long as I have food, you won’t go hungry.”

“How can we trouble Yao Dajie? With so many neighbors here, Xiao Qingyin can come to my house to eat.”

“Exactly! Aunt Zhao may not earn money, but I have three sons who are glorious steelworkers. You won’t go hungry with us.”

“Come to my place. I have a job, and it’s just my husband and me. We won’t shortchange you.”

The neighbors clamored to offer help. Though unsure of their sincerity, Qingyin felt genuine gratitude. Their enthusiasm only highlighted Lin Suifen’s hypocrisy and deepened Yao Dajie’s disgust toward her.

Sure enough, Yao Dajie couldn’t hold back anymore. She lectured Lin Suifen extensively, criticizing her from ideological, political, moral, and responsibility perspectives, even saying such behavior would have landed her in reeducation classes three years ago.

Director Yao was usually mild-mannered. Such harsh words showed how furious she was.

Lin Suifen didn’t dare argue, keeping her head bowed throughout the scolding. Just as she was about to promise immediate reform and better care for her sister-in-law, Qingyin gently tugged at Yao Dajie’s sleeve.

“Yao Dajie, thank you for speaking up for justice. But I understand my sister-in-law’s difficulties. Knowing she has to care for both Hui Hui and me alone, as an adult, I shouldn’t burden her further…” She rambled on, “So I want to separate our households.”

Lin Suifen thought: It’s over.

Had Qingyin insisted on separation from the start, Lin Suifen could have cried her way out. But after all that buildup, when everyone’s emotions were stirred, Qingyin’s sudden “mature and sensible” proposal for separation seemed perfectly natural.

Now, if Lin Suifen claimed she worried about Qingyin living alone, who would believe her?

As expected, Yao Dajie didn’t hesitate much. “Have you thought this through?”

“I’ve thought it through. The family assets were actually divided last year before my father passed away. On his deathbed, he was just worried about me, afraid I wouldn’t grow up properly. He kept holding my hand, saying I must learn to live independently in the future, to… *sobs*… I miss Dad so much…”

No one could bear to see her bring up such painful memories. They all urged Director Yao to uphold justice.

“Dividing the family assets is fine, but… there’s really not much money left in the household. Your brother’s medical treatment cost a fortune, completely draining the family savings…”

At this point, before anyone else could speak, Yao Dajie took the initiative: “Comrade Lin Suifen, we must be truthful in our words and actions. While everyone is saddened by Comrade Qingyang’s passing, the factory had already fully reimbursed his medical expenses last month, hadn’t they?”

“And there was additional compensation for funeral expenses too.”

Lin Suifen: “…”

“I remember on the day of the division last year, Second Uncle and Third Uncle were both present, along with representatives from the neighborhood committee. Old Mr. Qing’s savings of two thousand yuan were split equally between his son and daughter, correct?”

The division had indeed been clear at the time. Apart from the dowry and the courtyard house, the elderly couple didn’t have any extravagant hobbies. Especially with Old Doctor Qing’s substantial salary, they must have managed to save quite a bit.

“That’s right, I heard it too from outside—one thousand yuan each.”

“Wow! One thousand yuan!!” In these times, even dual-income families could only accumulate this much after half a lifetime of frugal living. Old Mr. Qing had truly given his all for both his son and daughter.

While treating his son so well was expected, maintaining such fairness toward his daughter was exceptionally rare for this era.

Yao Dajie, being the eldest in her own family, had suffered no shortage of unfair treatment growing up. Seeing such equitable treatment from a family elder was a rare sight, and she couldn’t help but marvel inwardly: the Qing family’s values of integrity truly ran deep through generations.

“If Old Mr. Qing knew you were withholding your sister-in-law’s thousand yuan while letting her go hungry, he wouldn’t be able to rest in peace.”

“Exactly, one thousand yuan is no small amount. How can someone be so greedy…”

Amidst the chorus of voices and seeing Director Yao’s moved expression, Lin Suifen realized she was cornered again today. Recently, Qingyin had been going to work diligently without causing any trouble, which had lulled Lin Suifen into lowering her guard. In truth, she should have kept a closer “eye” on Qingyin ever since the day she secretly changed the locks.

The dowry was entrusted to Seventh Maternal Great Uncle for safekeeping, but the divided family assets had been managed by Qingyang. Now that Qingyang was gone, the money must be in Lin Suifen’s hands. Sister-in-law Liu’s eyes nearly turned red at the thought of her holding onto so much money.

“What, don’t want to give it up? If you claim to have no money, my sister-in-law’s sister-in-law works at the bank—shall we ask her to check exactly how much is under your name?”

Lin Suifen’s eyes flickered. “Look at what you’re saying. The division was clearly settled while my father-in-law was alive. I haven’t touched a single cent. I’m just concerned that Qingyin is still young, and there are plenty of people in our courtyard with ulterior motives, don’t you agree?”

“Bullshit!”

“Who are you calling ulterior-motived?”

Yao Dajie frowned. “Enough, both of you keep it down.”

It must be said, Old Mr. Qing had truly been far-sighted. Though Lin Suifen had hidden her true nature well over the years, he had still prepared a contingency.

The courtyard’s managing elder also returned. Taking advantage of Director Yao’s presence, after exchanging pleasantries, they began discussing the matter of the family division.

“As for the money, while we’re all here, Suifen, you must withdraw Qingyin’s share by the end of your shift tomorrow at the latest. Director Yao, rest assured, we will continue to monitor this matter. If she doesn’t receive the money on time, you won’t even need to say anything—our courtyard has its own ways of handling it.”

The courtyard had its own rules. Though they might not hold legal weight, as long as the courtyard manager spoke up and the neighbors unanimously agreed, there were plenty of ways to make life unbearable for her within these walls.

“Right, the rooms are also divided as Old Mr. Qing specified. Qingyin gets the left one, and Suifen and her daughter take the right.”

Qing Huihui pouted. “Little Aunt gets to live all alone in such a big space, while the two of us are crammed into such a tiny one. What an ungrateful wretch.”

No one spoke up—this had truly struck a nerve with everyone.

Housing in the city was incredibly tight these days. Countless families squeezed a dozen or more people into tiny spaces of ten or twenty square meters, and many young couples couldn’t even get married for lack of a home. For Qingyin, a young girl, to live alone in a room over thirty square meters—it was practically “a waste of natural resources”!

“The housing was allocated to Old Mr. Qing by the factory and the neighborhood committee. He made indelible contributions to infectious disease control in our East District back in the day. How he chose to divide it was his prerogative,” Director Yao declared firmly.

Everyone quickly murmured their agreement.

“Besides, the difference between the two main rooms is only about four or five square meters. Lin Suifen, your side isn’t exactly getting the short end of the stick.”

“As for the household items, they’ll be split right down the middle. Since everyone’s here, let’s pitch in and get this sorted out.”

Now. Immediately. No delays!

However unwilling Lin Suifen felt inside, there was no time left to play the victim. She could only trail behind the crowd barging in like bandits, scrambling to gather what she could and hide what she wanted—assuming, of course, she had time.

There were exactly two iron pots in the house, one large and one small. Citing their larger household, she claimed the big one, leaving Qingyin with the small.

Two thermoses with rattan covers—one to each household.

There was only one set of kitchen knives and cutting boards. Since Qingyin wouldn’t be cooking for now, she passed on those and took the stove instead.

Other items like bowls, chopsticks, rice, flour, and cooking oil were divided equally per capita.

As for the sole bicycle—sorry, but that had been Old Mr. Qing’s birthday gift to Qingyin. Qing Huihui could only watch helplessly as Qingyin wheeled it away, seething with envy.

With Grandpa the courtyard manager and Director Yao overseeing things, no one needed to say a word. The neighbors made quick work of the division, and when it was all done, Qingyin bowed deeply to them all with genuine gratitude.

Though most, like Sister-in-law Liu, had their own ulterior motives, they’d still helped her solve her biggest problem—and that deserved thanks.

That night, Qingyin slept soundly. From today onward, she was truly Qingyin, putting down roots in this era.

To say she felt no longing for her past life would be a lie. After all, everything she’d had before crossing over—the chain of clinics preparing to go public, the spacious home, the nice car, the comfortable lifestyle, the gourmet meals whenever she pleased, the well-connected network, the emotionally fulfilling boyfriend available at a moment’s notice—all of it had been earned through her own hard work, penny by penny.

Well, since she was here now, she might as well settle in. Whether the original owner could return… she’d just have to wait and see.

Just next door, Qing Huihui was so angry she couldn’t sleep. “Mom, how could you agree to divide the family property? We’ve lost so many things, and they even took away so much money.” That money—her mother had once said it was meant for her dowry, and she’d already told Brother Zhiqiang about it.

Lin Suifen lay with her eyes open, staring blankly at the dark ceiling beams.

“Ugh, Mom, how can you even think about sleeping after such a huge loss?” How heartless could she be!

“Do you think I’m as heartless as you? Of course I’m angry, but what can anger do? I underestimated her in the end.”

Carelessness leads to defeat.

“You should’ve refused outright today—what could she have done if you just refused to divide it?”

Hadn’t Lin Suifen thought the same at first? But everything had happened too suddenly—from finding her wages missing, to Director Yao’s unexpected arrival, to Sister-in-law Liu fanning the flames, and her sister-in-law’s step-by-step maneuvering… No, more importantly, there was something she needed to do in a few days.

If that plan succeeded, the thousand yuan they’d lost wouldn’t matter.

After all these years managing the household expenses, she’d secretly saved up quite a bit, not to mention…

Thinking this, the anger in her chest eased slightly. Just wait—losing a few drops of blood now meant she could bite off a chunk of flesh later.

***

But what she hadn’t expected was how fast Qingyin would act!

The next day, when Auntie Gu heard about the division and came to ask, she only refrained from causing trouble for Lin Suifen after confirming she hadn’t been cheated—though a few sharp words were inevitable.

To avoid further complications before her big plan, Lin Suifen had no choice but to leave the house, conveniently heading to the bank to withdraw money.

Auntie Gu was strong and well-connected from her work outside. Seeing Qingyin now independent, she wanted to make life easier for her while preventing Lin Suifen from taking further advantage. She immediately went to seek help from Qingyin’s senior brothers.

With their wide network, it took only half a day to gather all the necessary materials.

After a full day of construction, when Lin Suifen dawdled back at dusk, she was stunned…

A solid brick wall now divided the corridor between the two main rooms—not encroaching a single centimeter on her side, but… but… but it enclosed Qingyin’s front window, cutting off her ability to secretly spy into the room!

Qingyin’s room had two large windows—one in front, one in back. The rear window faced the Liu family’s home, and if Lin Suifen dared to peek, Sister-in-law Liu would broadcast it to the entire courtyard.

What made her blood boil even more was that the space under the eaves, where her potted plants used to sit, had mysteriously transformed into a small kitchen—complete with a door, window, and a newly built stove with a fresh clay ring ready for a wok. Combined with the small stove they’d received in the division, Qingyin could now cook with both large and small stoves.

“Oh, Suifen, where have you been all day? Didn’t you hear? Auntie Gu brought people to build Qingyin a kitchen. Look how spacious it is!”

Though impulsive, Auntie Gu wasn’t reckless. Before starting, she’d consulted both the neighborhood committee and Grandpa, the courtyard manager, ensuring every brick was placed within regulations—leaving no room for complaint.

Every family in the compound had built their kitchens this way, but none had Auntie Gu’s speed and connections.

Lin Suifen took two deep breaths, repeatedly comforting herself with “the big plan matters most,” barely keeping her emotions in check as she handed over the thousand yuan.

With everyone as witnesses, Qingyin wasn’t afraid of her pulling any more tricks. She took the money, counted it carefully, closed the door, and began discussing the house renovations with Auntie Gu.

“What? You still want to renovate such a nice house?!”

“Yes, I want it to be more convenient.” Qingyin smiled and quickly poured a cup of water, handing it to Auntie Gu with both hands. “You’ve worked hard all day—have some water.”

When Qingyin went to work today, Auntie Gu didn’t make any decisions on her own. Instead, she ran back and forth to the factory to consult Qingyin on how to arrange and build things, making who knows how many trips.

Though it wasn’t necessary to go through so much trouble—Qingyin could have taken a day off to handle it later—the old lady was afraid she’d get the short end of the stick and insisted on striking while the iron was hot, not letting her delay work.

Auntie Gu was thoroughly pleased. “Oh dear, I’m getting old—not as spry as I used to be. And Anzi’s disappeared again somewhere. Otherwise, he should’ve been the one running errands for you.”

Qingyin thought to herself that he was currently recuperating from injuries—a weakling right now.

“By the way, how exactly do you want to renovate?”

Qingyin really wasn’t used to sleeping on the earthen bed. She planned to focus on her career in the future and wouldn’t have time to heat the bed, nor did she like the smell. “I want to remove the flue and stop using the earthen bed altogether.”

“That won’t do—how will you endure the freezing winters?”

“I’ll buy an electric blanket by then.” She could also add a good-quality quilt or buy an air conditioner.

She wasn’t sure if air conditioners were available now, but she’d heard from Sister Zhang and Sister Li that electric blankets were sold at the Overseas Chinese Store. Aside from being outrageously expensive, she could tolerate the other drawbacks.

“I also want to tear down the newspaper partition in the middle and replace it with cabinets.”

“But how tall can a three-door cabinet be? A young girl like you should still have a partition in the bedroom.”

Qingyin explained that the cabinets she wanted would span the entire wall, floor to ceiling, leaving no gaps—greatly increasing storage space while also serving as a partition.

After hearing her description, Auntie Gu was intrigued. “There are wardrobes like that? Then I’ll have one made for my place too. That way, Anzi won’t have to keep sleeping over at Gangzi’s.”

Everyone said Gu An never came home at night, but she knew her son felt the house was too small and wanted her to have more space. The inner room was large, while the outer one was tiny—even fitting a spring bed was a hassle.

“But this kind of cabinet isn’t available ready-made. I’ll have to trouble Gu’s Mother to ask if the furniture factory or lumber mill accepts custom orders. I can draw them a blueprint.”

“Got it.” Auntie Gu looked around—the kitchen was set, the stove was ready. “I’ll have them make an extra dining table for you.”

Qingyin could manage meals alone at her desk, but she didn’t refuse Auntie Gu’s kindness.

It felt so good to have an elder helping out!

Her colleagues knew she had moved out, but even the usually gossipy Sisters Zhang and Li said nothing, quietly adding a cutting board and kitchen knife for her. These items required ration coupons, which Qingyin didn’t have, so they were indirectly helping her out.

Even Sister-in-law Qin from the compound gave her a basket of potatoes and two cabbages, saying she’d have to spend money buying them otherwise. Their cellar still had plenty, and living alone meant she should save where she could.

See? Gossip was the “breeding ground” for women’s friendships.

Of course, Uncle Liu contributed by installing a lock on her kitchen door, so she wouldn’t have to worry about anyone sneaking in to take things when she wasn’t home.

Even Da Ya and Er Ya gave her gifts. Da Ya’s was a mop made from their old clothes, while Er Ya’s was a small teddy bear woven from grass beads, which made a nice little decoration to hang by the window.

Li Xiuneng, somehow having heard about her moving out to live independently, directly sent her a pair of thermos flasks and a pair of enamel basins—these were even more practical and hard-to-come-by daily necessities.

Qingyin thanked everyone one by one, keeping their kindness close to her heart.

＊＊＊

The matter of custom-made cabinets was settled within a few days. After setting aside enough for renovation expenses and the next month’s food budget, Qingyin deposited 1,100 yuan in the bank—this was her first savings!

As the carpenter worked, Gu’s Mother came by daily to oversee the progress, opening the windows and doors to air out the space. Since Qingyin had requested no paint, only the natural fragrance of the wood remained, making nights peaceful and restful.  

Though the kitchen was small, it was fully equipped. Auntie Gu arranged for a large covered water vat to be delivered and even stocked up on several dozen pounds of coal and firewood—enough to last a long time. Once everything was set up, Qingyin realized—she could really start cooking!  

After another month of eating at the canteen, once the cabinets had aired out completely, Qingyin decided to invite Gu’s Mother over for the first proper home-cooked meal.  

“No need, no need! Wait until I pick an auspicious day for you to start cooking. Today, you come to our place instead. Brother Anzi brought home a big lamb leg!” Auntie Gu grinned from ear to ear. Recently, Gu An had started coming home again, going to work on time, and even bringing treats for the family. Her heart was full of contentment.  

Qingyin also wanted to check on Gu An’s recovery, so she agreed. After work, she stopped by the market to buy some vermicelli and cabbage—perfect additions to lamb soup.  

The lamb leg Gu An had brought home was enormous, easily six or seven pounds, along with half a pound of snowy white lamb fat. The rich, gamey aroma drew the neighbors to their doorsteps.  

Everyone remarked how impressive it was that Gu An had managed to get such high-quality lamb—a rarity even compared to pork or chicken.  

Zhang Dama from the front courtyard, thinking of her grandsons who hadn’t tasted meat in nearly half a month—let alone lamb—hesitantly asked, “Anzi’s mom, could you spare a couple of ounces for my family? I won’t take it for free—I’ll trade you soap, alright?”  

Her son worked at a soap factory, so soap was a common perk.  

Auntie Gu’s household didn’t really need soap, but she had a soft heart. “Alright.”  

Liu Dama quickly chimed in, “Then I’ll trade you sugar coupons for three ounces, okay?”  

Li Daye added, “I don’t have coupons, but I’ll give you brown sugar for half a pound. My son sent some last time, and it’s still untouched.”  

These items were valuable, but they had expiration dates. Auntie Gu, being frugal by nature, would never hoard so much. But seeing Qingyin wink at her, she agreed.  

Soon, those with money offered cash, those with coupons offered coupons, and those without either traded eggs, fine grains, soap, towels, shampoo, bath coupons—anything of exchangeable value. In no time, the lamb leg was reduced to bones and just over a pound of meat. Gu’s Mother sternly refused to part with the rest, leaving the latecomers sighing in disappointment. They urged Gu An to give them a heads-up next time he brought home something good.  

They weren’t trying to take advantage—everyone traded at fair market prices. The real issue was that none of them had Gu An’s connections to get such premium goods.  

Qingyin watched with amusement. The neighborhood harmony was heartwarming. She had assumed everyone would avoid a street hooligan like Gu An, but instead, the older neighbors regarded him with a mix of frustration and fondness, like elders watching a wayward youngster. It was as if they all understood—outside the compound, he might be a troublemaker, but once he stepped through the gate, he was just Gu An, just Gu’s Mother’s son.  

“Yinyin, what did you mean by winking earlier?”  

Once everyone had left, Qingyin lowered her voice. “These are all useful things. You might not need them, but they’ll come in handy elsewhere.”

Auntie Gu’s eyes widened. “You mean for me to take it to the ghost market?”

Qingyin shook her head. Auntie Gu had dared to go to the ghost market before because she had connections for sourcing wild goods, but her martial brothers might not have the same channels. The more hands these items passed through, the less secure they became. Besides, urban dwellers weren’t as desperate for sugar and soap as those in the countryside.

“Another day, I’ll go with Gu’s Mother to our rural hometown. We can trade with the locals for rice, eggs, fruits, and vegetables.” Qingyin’s mouth watered at the thought of those organic ingredients.

One important reason she loved this era was that the food tasted better than in later times. Just as her grandfather often said, future produce and poultry might be bigger, plumper, and more attractive, but they couldn’t match the flavor of the lean, scrawny varieties from earlier days—those had the true taste of food itself.

Like today’s mutton—it didn’t look as fatty or thick as in later years, but once stewed, that incredible aroma immediately filled the air.

Remembering her grandfather’s advice, Qingyin knew mutton stew didn’t need many spices—just two slices of ginger and a handful of angelica root would yield a milky-white broth that wouldn’t cause internal heat. Auntie Gu sniffed appreciatively, repeatedly saying, “So fragrant,” yet frowned at the lump of white mutton fat. “That boy, why did he have to buy this? It’s already attracting flies in no time.”

She couldn’t stomach mutton fat.

Qingyin, recalling the mouthwatering Mutton Fat Flower Rolls, volunteered: “Gu’s Mother, let me render the fat for you. Can you handle chili?”

“Of course I can.”

So Qingyin cut the fat into small pieces and slowly rendered it over low heat, just like pork fat. Soon, clear mutton oil emerged. Once the cracklings turned crispy and were removed, the pot held pure, fragrant liquid oil.

“Huh? Why isn’t it gamey at all?”

“I added spices. With some chili, it’ll turn into red oil—perfect for noodles or steamed rolls. Guaranteed delicious!”

“Even just a dab in mutton soup makes it incredibly fragrant.”

“Tomorrow we can use the cracklings for stuffed buns—even tastier than pork crackling buns. We’ll chop some cabbage into them… mmm… so good!”

Just imagining the flavor made Qingyin drool.

“You like eating this?” Gu An appeared beside her unexpectedly, hands in pockets, wearing a faint, ambiguous smile.

“Of course! This is good stuff.” In her past life, it was hard to buy unless pre-ordered.

To encourage him to bring more home, she even added, “If you see mutton fat for sale again, remember to get extra. It’s really valuable.”

Gu An kept smiling, but his eyes remained cold.

Gu’s Mother busied herself dishing out the food. “Anzi, stop standing around and help!”

Gu An kept his hands in his pockets, his light brown eyes unreadable.

Only he knew his clenched fists hidden in those pockets—

His exceptional cooking skills had been honed under Lin Suifen’s harsh treatment.

His increasingly assertive confidence could be attributed to maturity or perhaps the successive blows of losing Qing family’s pillars.

But the original Xiao Qingyin knew nothing about medicine. Gu An was certain he had heard the old man lament many times about having no successor to his medical skills. Yet that night, she had been able to save his life… Even if someone underwent drastic changes after a sudden upheaval, it was impossible to go from knowing nothing to surpassing military doctors, let alone suddenly developing a taste for something they had always refused to eat.

At this moment, Qingyin, driven by her craving, forgot that the original Xiao Qingyin didn’t eat lamb. Spoiled since childhood, she claimed lamb was too gamey and would vomit after just one bite—let alone lamb fat.

Suddenly, he closed in on Qingyin, his voice low and strained: “Who are you really?”

Qingyin’s hand trembled. She had no doubt that if he had a weapon, it would already be pressed against her waist.

Gu’s Mother didn’t hear, but seeing her son’s dark expression, she sensed trouble and promptly smacked his back. “Get out of here! Don’t bother Yin’yin while she’s cooking.”

Gu An immediately reverted to his usual carefree demeanor, his peach-blossom eyes lifting as he suppressed the pain in his chest and slowly walked away.

But Qingyin’s heart remained unsettled. She knew that from this moment on, she was completely exposed in front of Gu An. This lamb dish had been his deliberate ploy—a test, a final confirmation.

Before treating him, she had underestimated Gu An. Outwardly frivolous, he was actually meticulous and exceptionally adept at concealing his thoughts. She even suspected that the so-called spy-catching incident that night involved him being an undercover agent or informant for the military or police—someone who had played a crucial role.

Yet to the outside world, he remained a temporary worker in the security department, a marginal figure who could take long leaves without anyone checking on him.

Qingyin suddenly recalled that in the original novel, the male lead’s meteoric rise wasn’t due to his professional skills but rather his repeated commendations for catching spies. Even his later smooth transition into business gave her an inexplicable sense of dissonance—as if everything had been too effortless, as if some unseen force had paved his way.

And wasn’t the biggest stepping stone in the entire book this cannon-fodder fiancé?

For the first time, Qingyin realized that as a transmigrator, she didn’t possess an omniscient view of every character and event.

By the time the lamb was ready, the cabbage and noodles stewed to tenderness, Qingyin’s heart was still pounding. How would such a hidden powerhouse, now aware his fiancée had been replaced, deal with her, this “intruder”?

The lamb suddenly tasted bland.

Gu’s Mother, though rough around the edges, wasn’t blind. She noticed the tension between the two. “Gu An, I’m warning you—don’t bully Yin’yin, or you’ll answer to me.”

His response was a loud slurp of noodles.

“Yin’yin, now that you’ve started working, I was thinking—why don’t we go ahead with your wedding?”

Qingyin nearly choked on her lamb broth.

“Don’t misunderstand, dear. I just worry about you living alone, coming home to a cold stove every day. It breaks my heart.”

“At Gu’s Mother’s house, whatever you want to eat, I’ll make it. My cooking isn’t great, but I can learn. No chef is born skilled, right? As for Anzi, whether he comes back or not doesn’t matter. You’ll be living with me, not him.” If not for worrying about the girl’s reputation, she would have long wanted Qingyin to move in and eat here.

Qingyin quickly brushed off the suggestion.

Gu An kept his head lowered, either considering the feasibility of the proposal or plotting how to eliminate Qingyin, the parasite.

After finishing the lamb soup, Gu An disappeared again. However, Qingyin wasn’t in the mood to treat this hidden big shot who might kill her. Lost in thought as she left Compound No. 20, she suddenly heard someone call her from behind.

“Old Qing’s girl.”

“Uncle Liu?”

“That matter you asked me to look into… I’ve got some leads…” As he explained, Qingyin’s face remained calm, but her heart leaped with excitement.

Perfect! She’d been worrying about how to reclaim the original owner’s dowry. Just when she needed it most, the solution arrived!

“Thank you, Uncle Liu. You’ve worked hard these past days.”

Uncle Liu, aware of the Qing family’s complicated situation, sighed. “What’s hard for a useless man like me? It’s you who needs to be careful. Your Seventh Maternal Great Uncle is no simple character.”

Seventh Maternal Great Uncle, Liu Jiamin, had addressed Qingyin’s mother as his elder sister. The two families had been close, but he hadn’t visited the Qings since Qingyang’s recent death.

Though the original book barely mentioned this character—not even as a minor one—Qingyin never underestimated him. After all, Old Mr. Qing, with his vast experience, had trusted him with the dowry, and he’d managed Xiao Qingyin’s dowry for years. Eager as she was to reclaim it, she’d bided her time.

Her past life taught her never to expose herself before understanding the enemy’s position.

Initially, she’d tailed him near the Erxiao residential area herself. But since the original owner was too striking, requiring troublesome disguises each time, and prolonged absences might draw attention, she’d enlisted Uncle Liu’s help.

“The man is humble, an excellent teacher, well-regarded by colleagues, neighbors, and students. I investigated the angles you mentioned but found no flaws.”

From her modern perspective, Qingyin had planned to first uncover Seventh Maternal Great Uncle’s weakness, then use it to force an early return of the dowry. Truthfully, marrying for money—even a sham marriage—to someone she had no feelings for struck her as irresponsible toward Xiao Qingyin’s life.

She could clearly sense the original owner’s complete lack of romantic feelings for Gu An, only disgust and fear. If she married for money and the original owner returned one day, how would she face such a marriage and life?

She owed responsibility to this eighteen-year-old girl’s future.

Yet she’d underestimated Seventh Maternal Great Uncle. The man had no vulnerabilities—whether in relationships, professional misconduct, or ideological issues—Uncle Liu’s surveillance revealed nothing amiss.

Too perfect. Too impeccable.

“But just today, as the sun set and I was packing up, guess who I ran into?”

“Your sister-in-law.”

“Lin Suifen?”

“Right.” Uncle Liu didn’t seem surprised at her blunt use of her “beloved” sister-in-law’s name.

Qingyin frowned. “Her family is from that area.” The Lin family, like the Gu family, were urban poor for generations, with many siblings and hardly any proper jobs. The entire family relied on making matchboxes for a living, and she, as a middle daughter, was even more neglected.

Her meeting with Qingyang was quite dramatic. It was said that Qingyang encountered a local ruffian bullying a girl while accompanying Old Mr. Qing on a house call. At that time, Shilan Province hadn’t yet been liberated, and the city was full of soldier thugs, hoodlums, and scoundrels, most of whom carried weapons.

Despite being a cultured man with no physical strength, Qingyang’s sense of justice flared up. Not only did he drive the ruffian away, but he also gave Lin Suifen some money to buy rice for her family.

Later, Lin Suifen came to the Qing family, saying she wanted to marry him in gratitude.

Qingyang blushed furiously. The righteousness and passion of youth stirred a faint budding affection in him.

Objectively speaking, it wasn’t love at first sight, because Lin Suifen—now older and better dressed—appeared more refined than the average housewife, but in her youth, she was quite plain. Yet, for some reason, Qingyang was inexplicably drawn to her. The elder Qings weren’t sticklers for social status, but for some indescribable reason, they didn’t take to her.

As the old lady put it, she felt Lin Suifen had “shifty eyes.”

But even the most stubborn parents can’t defy their children. In the end, the two married. At Qingyang’s pleading, Old Mr. Qing even swallowed his pride and secured her a job in the propaganda department of the steel mill, which she later passed on to Qing Huihui. That’s why, before his death, Old Mr. Qing insisted Qingyin take over Qingyang’s job—it was only fair.

If the son’s family benefited from his influence, the youngest daughter shouldn’t lose out either.

Qingyin had recently pieced together this history. “She and Seventh Maternal Great Uncle are relatives. The two families used to visit often, so running into each other at the school gate isn’t unusual.”

“What’s strange is that today, they passed each other at the gate without saying a word.” They entered and exited through the school gate in the residential area, brushing shoulders, yet exchanged neither words nor glances—highly unusual.

Clearly acquainted, possibly even closer than mere acquaintances, yet they pretended to be strangers.

Qingyin’s expression grew grave. “Uncle, are you suggesting they’re deliberately avoiding each other in public?”

And who would need to avoid suspicion? Only those with something to hide!