TPW – Chapter 20 Good People are Rewarded

The door creaked open, and not long after, a woman walked in from outside. If Qiao Lu remembered correctly, she was the daughter-in-law of Old Hu from next door.

“The front door wasn’t closed, so I figured you’d be home, since you’re not working.”

Seeing someone enter, the little guy snuggled closer into Qiao Lu’s arms.

“Oh my, you two are still in bed?” the woman exclaimed, surprised.

Qiao Lu shrank her neck a bit and hugged Qiao An tighter. “Yeah, the weather’s pretty chilly, and the bed’s nice and warm. Come in, have a seat, make yourself comfortable.”

Wu Guifang smiled at her. “It is nice and warm.”

She didn’t sit down, but walked around the room, glancing around and sighing. “This room’s changed a lot—it’s completely different from before.”

“I remember this wardrobe used to be over here. And there are flowers now? Looks really nice. And is that a new curtain? Looks thick.” She tugged on it. “Wow, it’s really dark—pull it shut and it’s like nighttime in here.”

Qiao Lu’s eyes curved in a smile. “Yeah, sometimes when I want to sleep in, it really comes in handy.”

The old newspapers that used to be stuck on the window didn’t block any light. Once six a.m. rolled around, the sunlight would stream in, blindingly bright.

Wu Guifang nodded and touched the curtain again, reluctant to let go. “It’s great, really thick material… just feels a bit wasteful.”

Qiao Lu just smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

She got up and brought over a chair for Wu Guifang, who sat down and smiled at her.

“It’s rare to have someone around my age who’s also not working. When you’re bored, come find me next door and we’ll chat. I don’t have a job either. Got two daughters—one in primary school, one in kindergarten. It gets real dull.”

Qiao Lu replied, “Sure, I’ll come find you when I’m free.”

Wu Guifang looked friendly, with neatly cropped short hair that gave her a capable air. She was short, about 1.52 or 1.53 meters, but her energy was vibrant.

“I’m twenty-eight. How old are you?”

Qiao Lu answered, “Twenty-three—almost twenty-four.”

“Oh… then there’s quite a gap between us. But you look so young—if you told people you were a high schooler, I bet they’d believe you.”

“Is it that exaggerated?” Qiao Lu laughed shyly and tucked her hair behind her ear.

Qiao An lay in her arms, curiously observing Wu Guifang.

Wu Guifang looked at mother and son, smiling more the longer she looked. “You’re beautiful—really. And your kid is so well-behaved. Such a handsome little guy!”

Sometimes the difference between people really did feel like the difference between people and dogs. After she had kids, her own face had practically collapsed. Just look at Qiao Lu—still fresh-faced like a little girl!

“Even before you moved in, this place was tidy. Now it’s even cleaner. You two must be really diligent.” She went on and on with the compliments.

Qiao Lu smiled modestly. “It’s just two rooms. Doesn’t take long to clean.”

“That’s true. Though in that case, my place is even faster—just one room.” Saying that, Wu Guifang sounded a little envious. A family of three living in two spacious rooms, while her family of six had to squeeze into one.

She suddenly remembered something and asked, “Do the three of you sleep in the same bed at night?”

Qiao Lu nodded, rubbing Qiao An’s hair. “Yeah, An’an’s only three—he’s still scared to sleep alone.”

Wu Guifang said, “Makes sense. But it must be inconvenient for you and your husband. Maybe in another couple of years, he can sleep on his own.”

As she said that, the little guy tightened his grip around his mother’s arm, his eyes fixated on Wu Guifang.

Wu Guifang pointed toward the outer room. “Your man used to sleep out there before, right? Pull a curtain across for some privacy—it worked fine. That room’s huge. Not putting a bed there feels like a waste.”

Her own place was cramped—she’d kill for an extra room. And here in Xu Haizhou’s home, there were empty rooms with no one using them. Such luxury—it made her jealous.

“Haizhou used to sleep in that room? Why?” Qiao Lu glanced toward the doorway, where a bunch of miscellaneous items were piled up. It doubled as a dining room, a living room, and even a “garage” for the bicycle.

“Yeah. Didn’t he tell you?”

“Tell me what?” Qiao Lu asked, puzzled.

Wu Guifang clapped her hands. “This house didn’t used to be his.”

Qiao Lu actually knew about this matter: “I heard from Sister Liu that Haizhou got this house by sheer dumb luck, but I never asked him for the details.”

“Ah! It’s not really a secret, everyone knows about it. Here’s how it went…”

Since Qiao Lu didn’t know the whole story, Wu Guifang took the chance to tell her everything.

Four years ago, when the reform and opening-up had just begun, twenty-year-old Xu Haizhou came alone to Lian City. Rumor had it that he came south to do business and was looking everywhere for supply channels.

At the time, there were barely any private factories—in fact, almost none. And most people in the state-owned factories looked down on private vendors. Even if they could make money, they still refused to supply to private businessmen and even despised them. This made it nearly impossible for Xu Haizhou to find any suppliers.

Later, he got acquainted with some friends who told him the safest way for private vendors to source goods was to build relationships with warehouse managers, then buy factory defect items through them and resell them for profit.

Xu Haizhou set his sights on the warehouse manager at Lian City’s No. 6 Garment Factory—a man named Li Shunliang, who was also the original owner of the house.

After a smooth collaboration, Li Shunliang handled the supply side while Xu Haizhou took care of sales. They split the profits 20–80. After over eight months of working together, Xu Haizhou frequently looked after the elderly, solitary man, and the two became closer than brothers.

Li Shunliang had a daughter late in life, but his wife died from childbirth complications, leaving only the daughter by his side. He never remarried, and his biggest wish in life was to see his daughter settled and successful.

But fate had other plans. During the Down to the Countryside Movement, his daughter, Li Xiuxiu, suddenly seemed bewitched and volunteered to go to the countryside. Although the movement was nationwide and mandatory for students, only-volunteer single children could be exempted and allowed to stay in the city.

Li Shunliang had been willing to retire early at forty-three and give his job to his daughter, but still, he couldn’t persuade her to stay.

In 1977, the daughter returned to the city. She had left alone, but came back with a man—a rural fellow she had met in the countryside. The two were deeply in love and already discussing marriage. They had come back to Lian City together to “share the good news” with her father.

The man was from a remote mountainous village in the west. Li Shunliang couldn’t see any redeeming qualities in him, but his daughter was smitten and insisted on marrying him—and insisted on going back to the countryside to live with him.

Li Shunliang was furious. While everyone else’s kids were desperate to return to the city, his daughter seemed brainwashed, eager to bury herself in the countryside.

The rural guy was also quite stubborn. When Li Shunliang asked him to stay and live in Lian City, he refused, saying he couldn’t leave behind his many relatives back home. And if he stayed, he’d be considered a “live-in son-in-law,” which in his village was seen as a huge disgrace to any man.

Li Shunliang was so angry he nearly passed out. Of course, he didn’t want his daughter to marry into a rural household. They argued constantly over it, and the father-daughter relationship deteriorated badly.

Seeing that his daughter was determined to leave with that man, Li Shunliang, in a fit of rage, issued a public announcement: whoever was willing to marry into the Li family and stay in the city would be given the house and his job!

Once the news got out, would-be live-in sons-in-law flocked to their door—it was almost enough to wear out the doorstep. But it still couldn’t make Li Xiuxiu stay.

She left resolutely. Before she left, she met Xu Haizhou. Hearing how close he was with her father, she felt even more at ease walking away.

“Since Xu Haizhou is willing to take care of you, then give him the house and job. I’m determined to stay by Wei Zhong’s side. Once I have a child, I’ll bring your grandchild back to visit.”

“Ungrateful girl! Unfilial daughter!”

Four years had passed since Li Xiuxiu left. She had never come back, not even once, and hadn’t sent a single letter. She didn’t even know her father had passed away.

Raising a child like that—might as well have just made barbecued pork instead.

“She never sent a letter all these years?” Qiao Lu asked.

Wu Guifang shook her head. “I heard not even one. Sigh, such a thankless brat. Let’s not talk about her anymore. Anyway, your man really did have some luck. Of course, it also came down to his good character—otherwise, Li Shunliang wouldn’t have given him both the house and the job.”

“So what happened after that? Since Li Xiuxiu had already left, why did Haizhou end up getting the house? It can’t have been just because he’s a good guy.”

Wu Guifang gave a small smile and continued: “After Xiuxiu left, the old man fell seriously ill and was diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer. When his relatives and friends heard the word ‘cancer,’ they all stayed away. I mean, think about it—cancer! Even though the doctor said it wasn’t contagious, it was still a terminal illness. Who wouldn’t be scared? Better safe than sorry. During that time, not only did people avoid his house, even outsiders avoided our whole courtyard.”

That was just how it was in those days—literacy rates were low, and many people in both cities and villages were functionally illiterate. It wasn’t surprising that they saw cancer like a monstrous plague.

“Even his own family turned their backs on him. Only your man stood by him—running his stall by day, taking care of the old man by night, even better than a real daughter.” Wu Guifang sighed. “And the old man was someone who repaid kindness. Once he got sick and couldn’t work, he directly handed over the job to Xu Haizhou. Your man didn’t want it at first, but as the old man’s illness got worse, it became harder and harder to juggle street vending and caregiving. In the end, he chose to work at the factory. It was easier work and gave him more time to look after Li Shunliang.”

“The doctor said he wouldn’t live more than six months, but he hung on for four years! All of us neighbors say it was because your man took such good care of him—otherwise, he would’ve been gone much sooner. I think it was in the second year when Li Shunliang gave him the house.”

Most houses in those days were owned by the Housing Bureau, but the Li family’s two-room house was different—it was private property. That meant it could be freely bought, sold, or gifted—as long as it was legal, you could give it to anyone you liked.

“In the fourth year, Li Shunliang passed away, and your man quit his job to go back to street vending. That’s how it happened.”

After hearing this, Qiao Lu felt a mix of emotions. She hadn’t expected such a convoluted story behind this house.

In the 1980s, housing was scarce. Giving away a house to someone with no blood ties—forget just in Lian, it was probably unheard of throughout the country. There was no need to elaborate; it was obvious how devoted Xu Haizhou must have been in caring for Li Shunliang to move him to make such a decision.

“You two really are lucky. All our neighbors are envious that he got such a big place for free, but we can’t even be jealous, can we? If it weren’t for your man, where would Li Shunliang have gotten those extra four years?”

Wu Guifang had always been envious. But envy was one thing—she also knew she didn’t have that kind of luck or courage. In this day and age, you reap what you sow. Everything is part of fate’s grand design…

Qiao Lu was momentarily stunned and sighed, “I guess it’s true what they say—good people are rewarded.”

The two chatted a little longer and agreed to go grocery shopping together in the future. Then Wu Guifang went home to prepare lunch.

It started to drizzle around noon, and the sky grew gloomy.

Qiao Lu listened to the sound of raindrops tapping on the eaves and wondered if Xu Haizhou would still come home for lunch on a rainy day. Before they were married, he used to say that when it rained, he’d just grab a quick bowl of wonton or noodles at a nearby stall.

She hadn’t expected him to come home through wind and rain.

On the table was a pot of nourishing soup, already set and simmering, its rich aroma impossible to contain—it filled the room and lifted the spirits.

When Xu Haizhou arrived home, his wife was busy in the little kitchen. Qiao An was squatting by the stove, watching the orange flames with curiosity and occasionally helping her mom pass ingredients.

“Daddy!” Noticing Xu Haizhou’s return, Qiao An rushed over like a gust of wind and threw himself into his arms. Xu Haizhou caught him smoothly, lifting him up by the butt.

The little guy was now getting more and more generous with his affection toward Xu Haizhou.

Father and son rubbed cheeks affectionately—such a heartwarming sight.

Scenes like this had only ever existed in dreams before. Now, they were real, playing out before Xu Haizhou’s eyes.

The moment he saw Qiao An running toward him, his fatigue seemed to melt away.

From now on, he’d never come home to an empty room again. He was finally beginning to understand the true meaning of marriage.

“You’re back?” Qiao Lu turned her head and gave him a bright smile.

“Yeah,” Xu Haizhou replied, taking the bowl of steamed egg custard from her hands and smiling. “Smells amazing—so rich.”

Qiao Lu gave him a playful look. “You work hard, so your nutrition needs to keep up.”

All three of them were skinny as sticks—they needed some serious nourishment. Since they had money on hand, there was no need to scrimp on food.

Coincidentally, Xu Haizhou felt the same way. The whole family was scrawny—they definitely needed to eat better.

As he sat down at the table, Qiao Lu noticed his hands were red from the cold. She reached out and held one. “So cold?”

Xu Haizhou froze for a moment and instinctively held her hand in return, gently rubbing it between his palms.

“It’s fine, not that cold,” he said, placing her hand against the side of his face. Her warmth felt incredibly soothing.

Qiao Lu’s hand was chilled by the cold on his face, and she noticed something else. “Did you forget to wear gloves while biking?”

“Forgot to buy a pair. I’ll get some when I have time.” Still concerned about her, Xu Haizhou changed the subject. “How’s it going over there? Still hurting?”

Qiao Lu blinked in surprise. Then her face flushed slightly. “Much better, but… not tonight.”

Xu Haizhou regretfully gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Rest well.”

Ever since marrying Xu Haizhou, their meals had been even more lavish than when she lived with Qiao Yan.

Qiao Yan was frugal—even when she had money, she budgeted carefully. Qiao Lu, on the other hand, was more laid-back. Ever since learning her husband didn’t mind spending money, she started saving in other areas but refused to skimp on food. Since they had the means, there was no reason to shortchange themselves nutritionally.

For lunch, they had steamed egg custard, stir-fried pork with green peppers, and a cold cucumber salad dressed in a special sauce Qiao Lu had made—tangy, salty, and perfect with rice.

Qiao An was busy shoveling rice into his mouth while the couple chatted during the meal. Their conversation turned to the house’s previous owner.

Xu Haizhou’s chopsticks paused mid-air. “Sister Wu from next door told you?”

“Mm-hmm.”

He smiled lightly, unconcerned. “It was nothing. Just lending a hand where I could.”

“Lending a hand”? That was no small favor. Caring for a cancer patient took enormous time, energy, and money—he was far too modest.

Noticing his wife sneaking frequent glances at him, Xu Haizhou gave a faint smile and offered an explanation.

“It wasn’t completely out of nowhere. Back then, I was living in a slum with a friend. Uncle Shunliang let me stay in his house for free while I looked after him. Besides, he was my friend. You could say it was me repaying a debt.”

Xu Haizhou was no saint. He just helped out within his capabilities. Besides, his relationship with Li Shunliang had long since gone beyond that of mere acquaintances. They were like brothers, like friends despite the age gap. He couldn’t just stand by and watch Li Shunliang die miserably.

“And what about his relatives? Didn’t they make a fuss?” That was Qiao Lu’s real concern.