Jiang Lin earned fifteen kilograms of soybeans from repairing roofs for others.

She secretly exchanged them for oil with a junior cadre from the commune’s grain management office, getting less oil per kilogram compared to buying from the commune but without needing ration coupons, which was good enough for her.

Without fresh meat, they still needed oil.

During this time, both Dabao and Xiaobao’s pale complexion became healthier and rosier.

Jiang Lin and Yan Runzhi also looked better.

Yan Runzhi gestured for Dabao and Xiaobao to fetch wine glasses and a bottle.

It was wine Cheng Rushan had bought earlier and left in a corner unfinished, now with new wine glasses Jiang Lin had bought.

Dabao carried the wine bottle, and Xiaobao carried the wine glasses.

Yan Runzhi happily said, “Dongsheng, these wine glasses were specially bought by Bao’er Mother. They’re delicate porcelain, very beautiful.”

Cheng Rushan smiled at Jiang Lin, “Thank you, Wife.”

Jiang Lin replied hesitantly, “…I just bought them on a whim.”

Xiaobao giggled.

Seeing Jiang Lin about to sit opposite Cheng Rushan, Yan Runzhi quickly took the seat first, saying to Jiang Lin, “Bao’er Mother, I’ll sit here, it suits me.”

Jiang Lin teased, “Old lady, you’re quick to grab the best spot and seat.” She had no choice but to sit next to Cheng Rushan.

In their home, there were two long benches and a single-person stool.

With Dabao and Xiaobao on one side and Yan Runzhi on her own, Jiang Lin ended up sitting with Cheng Rushan.

Jiang Lin sat down and said, “We need to make two more stools.”

Yan Runzhi suggested, “We can dismantle that small broken bed.”

During dinner, Yan Runzhi noticed Jiang Lin seemed quieter with her son back.

Unacceptable! She signaled to Cheng Rushan to help Jiang Lin with the food.

Cheng Rushan glanced into the pot and skillfully picked up a duck leg, placing it in Jiang Lin’s bowl. “Eat more meat.”

Jiang Lin replied, “The duck leg should go to Dabao and Xiaobao.”

Yan Runzhi quickly said, “There’s more, there’s more,” and hurriedly found another duck leg for Dabao and Xiaobao. “I stewed extra.”

The two boys sat across from their parents, exchanged glances, smiled at each other, and started eating happily.

They ate until they were full.

Xiaobao said, “When Dongsheng’s back, I always eat until I’m stuffed.”

Jiang Lin teased him, “Oh, so if Dad isn’t back, we won’t feed you enough?”

Xiaobao replied with a grin, “That’s called missing him, it helps with digestion.”

He looked at Yan Runzhi. “Grandma, missing someone is good for digestion, right?”

Yan Runzhi laughed, “Absolutely right.”

After dinner, the boys pestered Cheng Rushan to play in the courtyard.

Jiang Lin asked Cheng Rushan, “Aren’t you going to the commune?”

Cheng Rushan replied, “Not in a hurry. Let’s go together.” He turned to Jiang Lin. “Help me pack my bag.”

After hesitating, Jiang Lin went inside to pack his things.

As expected, the bag contained various candies like White Rabbit and fruit candy, a pack of sheep milk sweets, a pound of hawthorn slices, a pack of large jujubes, all snacks for the children and women.

There were also rabbit skins for Yan Runzhi to sew knee pads and a pair of low-heeled black leather shoes for Jiang Lin.

Yan Runzhi saw Jiang Lin put the shoes on the kang and immediately urged her to try them on. “Let’s see if Dongsheng picked the right size.”

Surprisingly, the shoes fit perfectly, showing how attentive he was.

Yan Runzhi proudly said, “Dongsheng has a sharp eye. For those he cares about, he can tell their shoe size with just a glance.”

Jiang Lin remembered how he had quietly measured her feet that night.

She finished packing Cheng Rushan’s bag, leaving his schoolbag untouched with his important things for him to pack.

Estimating the time, Jiang Lin said to Yan Runzhi, “Mom, they should take a nap now.”

In the village, it was common not to nap after the beginning of autumn, but Jiang Lin wanted the boys to develop the habit so they’d be more alert in the afternoons when they started school.

Yan Runzhi waved to Jiang Lin, “Come see how well they play together.”

Jiang Lin approached and found Cheng Rushan doing handstand push-ups in the yard with both boys stacked on top of each other:

Dabao on his back and Xiaobao on Dabao’s back.

Cheng Rushan paused when Jiang Lin reminded them it was nap time.

Xiaobao said eagerly, “Mom, let’s go to the commune.”

Cheng Rushan stopped the game, let the boys down, and went to wash his hands. “Almost done, let’s go.”

Yan Runzhi brought a jug of cold boiled water with a few tomatoes for the children to drink and snack on while playing outside.

She handed Cheng Rushan his bag, saying, “Have fun, take your time coming back.”

Jiang Lin and Cheng Rushan set off with the children.

On the way, they met Sun Qinghui and Ye Jing heading to work.

Seeing Cheng Rushan back, they greeted him warmly.

Cheng Rushan ushered Dabao and Xiaobao ahead and encouraged Jiang Lin to talk with them.

Ye Jing whispered to Jiang Lin, “Meng Yiyi’s behavior seems unusual.”

Jiang Lin raised an eyebrow. “What’s going on?”

“She suddenly started studying and wants to return to the city for job exams, saying she won’t stay here to be mistreated anymore.”

Jiang Lin frowned. “Even when she had money, she didn’t move to the city. Now she wants to go back suddenly? It’s not that easy to move to the city—having money isn’t enough; you need connections. Without them, even if you have money, people won’t help.”

“Don’t worry, we’re keeping an eye on her.”

Jiang Lin thanked them and caught up with Cheng Rushan.

Dabao said, “Ye Aunty is nice.”

Xiaobao added, “Not like the old witch.”

Cheng Rushan chuckled. “Who’s the old witch?”

Both boys chimed in, “Meng Aunty! Wei Aunty! They bullied Mom.”

Jiang Lin hurriedly said, “I’ve dealt with them, it’s fine now.”

Cheng Rushan glanced at her but said nothing, just slowing his pace to walk with them.

At the commune’s entrance, Cheng Rushan gave Jiang Lin the jug of water and the bag with tomatoes. “Go play over there, I’ll find you later.”

Jiang Lin took her sons and said goodbye to Cheng Rushan, heading to the riverside.

There, reeds, purple loosestrife, and water celery grew, with geese and ducks swimming and small fish blowing bubbles.

It was a favorite spot for Dabao and Xiaobao, where they could play in the water and invent stories.

Normally, Yan Runzhi and Jiang Lin didn’t allow them near the water by themselves.

Cheng Rushan went into the commune courtyard.

It was early autumn, the first wave of harvest season, so most commune officials were cycling to the fields to oversee the harvest.

Only a few remained on duty.

Cheng Fugui, as the seasoned commune secretary, didn’t go out.

He avoided mundane tasks, planning to seek a transfer to another county’s revolutionary committee.

The county leaders seemed to constantly pressure him for reasons unknown.

Cheng Fuwan hadn’t returned since the morning meeting.

Now in his office, he discussed village matters. “Cheng Fujun and Cheng Fulian aren’t getting any younger. Shouldn’t they step down after this term?”

Cheng Fugui glanced at him. “Can you handle it?”

“Brother,” Cheng Fuwan said confidently, “why not? I believe I can. If not secretary, then brigade leader? I’m capable of managing brigade production.”

Cheng Fugui didn’t immediately agree.

Seeing his brother’s expression, Cheng Fuwan changed the subject. “Big brother, I’ve tidied up that small courtyard. Remember you mentioned retiring and moving back to the village?”

The small courtyard held sentimental value for Cheng Fugui from his youth.

He’d been confined there for years by Cheng Rongzhi, not allowed to leave the village.

It was a humiliation he couldn’t forget, compounded by ancestral grudges against the Cheng family.

Now older, with Cheng Yi and Cheng Rongzhi long deceased and Cheng Yunzhi in poor health, it seemed the time for settling old scores had passed.

Yet Cheng Fugui couldn’t shake his bitterness.

His nephew Cheng Yunzhi’s son was successful, while none of his own sons and nephews stood out.

It weighed heavily on him.

In life’s battles, even with all his efforts, victory wasn’t assured without worthy successors.

Cheng Fugui couldn’t accept it!

Just then, the secretary came in and said Cheng Rushan had arrived.

Cheng Fuwan grumbled, “When did that kid come back? He comes and goes without a trace!” He hadn’t been home, so he didn’t know Cheng Rushan had returned.

Cheng Fugui said, “He’s not dead, of course he’d come back.”

Cheng Fuwan replied, “Tell him to come tomorrow. The secretary hasn’t returned from the meeting.”

The secretary hesitated and whispered, “Um… he knows the secretary is…”

“Are you his secretary or the secretary’s secretary?” Cheng Fuwan was annoyed. “What a fool!”

The secretary frowned.

Being Cheng Fugui’s wife’s niece, she wasn’t so scared of Cheng Fuwan.

Cheng Fuwan continued, “Even if he knows, let him wait. Does he think he can see the secretary whenever he wants? Is the secretary not busy? Doesn’t he have work to do? Does he think this is just a village position? No one gets things done just because they want to.”

The secretary left and told Cheng Rushan, who was waiting outside, “The secretary is in a meeting. Please wait.”

Cheng Rushan could tell from her expression that wasn’t the real reason.

If there was a meeting, she would have mentioned it earlier.

This delay meant there was idle chatter inside, likely from someone he knew, possibly from Shuihuai Village, either Cheng Fuwan or his son.

He walked straight in, despite the secretary’s attempt to stop him.

She watched as he stormed in and slammed the door open.

Inside, Cheng Fuwan’s frustrated voice rang out, “What kind of secretary are you?!”

Cheng Rushan calmly said, “No need to get angry. I’m here on official business.”

He took out the results of his work from his bag and placed them in front of Cheng Fugui.

Cheng Fuwan scoffed, “What’s so impressive?”

He picked up the documents and saw several official seals, including from the Provincial Revolutionary Committee, Political Office, and various specialized departments…

Cheng Fuwan’s eyes nearly popped out. “Brother, he… he really got it done.”