WRS – Chapter 59

On Saturday, Fu Yanyan came home and told Jin Xiuzhu that she had made a new friend at school. She wanted to bring her over to play the next day, just like her older brother used to.

Hearing this, Jin Xiuzhu was delighted. “Already made such a good friend so quickly? Alright, tomorrow Mom will stay home and make you something delicious. What does your friend like to eat?”

Fu Yanyan nodded with satisfaction, thought for a moment, and said, “She doesn’t really dislike anything.”

Whenever she brought snacks to class, that girl always eyed them greedily.

Jin Xiuzhu couldn’t help laughing. “Alright then, Mom will just make the pastries and dishes she’s best at.”

Fu Yanyan answered seriously.

She then turned around to tidy her room, carefully picking out a few toys she liked, planning to give them to her new friend the next day.

That evening, Jin Xiuzhu told Jiang Mingchuan and He Yan the news, asking them to get up early the next morning—one to buy groceries and the other to clean his room. Facing her father and brother’s gazes, Fu Yanyan lifted her chin slightly, a hint of pride appearing on her face.

Jiang Mingchuan chuckled and praised, “Our daughter is amazing—she’s already made a good friend.”

Fu Yanyan tried hard to suppress her smile.

Only He Yan spoiled the mood by asking, “Is it that chubby girl who sits next to you?”

“……”

What chubby girl—how awful.

Fu Yanyan glared at him unhappily. “Lili isn’t fat. She’s just… a little rounded.”

He Yan’s mouth twitched. He couldn’t understand why his sister was saying such nonsense. How was that not fat? She was practically twice his sister’s size—plump everywhere. He had never seen such a sturdy person at school.

Fu Yanyan snapped, “Lili is very kind. You’re not allowed to speak badly of her.”

Beside them, Jiang Mingchuan supported his daughter. “Whether someone is fat or not doesn’t matter—what matters is their heart. You can’t judge people by their appearance.”

He Yan lowered his head. “Got it…”

He hadn’t even said anything that harsh. Why was his sister making such a fuss…?

Only Fu Yanyan herself knew why she felt different toward Zhou Lili.

In her previous life, she had been bullied and isolated. No one played with her. People secretly tore her homework and books, threw her schoolbag into the trash, and even put chalk dust in her food.

Only Zhou Lili would often wait for her on the road, secretly stuffing food into her hands. She didn’t dare openly play with her, but those small, cautious gestures had once given her warmth—adding a bright stroke to her otherwise gray childhood.

Fu Yanyan told Jin Xiuzhu, “She got sick when she was little. Her grandma took her to some half-baked herbal doctor. Although she recovered, she got fat. Her parents are both thin.”

Jin Xiuzhu nodded. “Some medicines, when the dosage isn’t controlled well, do leave aftereffects.”

Fu Yanyan emphasized again, “She didn’t get fat from eating.”

Jin Xiuzhu found it funny, but she could tell her daughter genuinely liked this friend named Zhou Lili.

The next morning, Jiang Mingchuan woke early and went to the supply cooperative to buy groceries—meat, vegetables, and some candy. Jin Xiuzhu also got up, kneaded the dough she had set to rise the night before, and prepared to make red date cake, pumpkin pancakes, and sachima.

Just as she steamed the red date cake, Jiang Mingchuan returned with his basket. He had also picked some vegetables and garlic from their backyard plot.

Seeing her busy, he put the basket down, washed his hands, and went to check on the baby.

Sure enough, as soon as he entered, he saw little Liuliu lying awake, staring at the ceiling with big eyes, lifting her tiny hands, quiet and not crying.

But when she saw her father, she puckered her lips, seeming a bit wronged.

Jiang Mingchuan quickly went over and picked her up. “Awake already?”

Instinctively he reached to feel her diaper—slightly wet—so he set her down to get a clean one. But the moment he opened the diaper, he discovered she hadn’t just peed, she had pooped.

He tried to hold his breath, but it was too late—the smell made his brain go fuzzy.

He Yan happened to rush in to see his baby sister. Seeing the scene, he immediately pinched his nose and yelled in disgust, “So stinky—!”

In the kitchen, Jin Xiuzhu heard the noise and instantly knew the baby had pooped. She paused for a moment but pretended she didn’t hear anything, continuing to fry pumpkin pancakes.

Only after Jiang Mingchuan told He Yan to bring a basin of hot water did she ask, putting on an act, “What happened to the baby?”

From the room, Jiang Mingchuan answered as he washed the baby’s bottom, “Nothing, just keep doing what you’re doing.”

So Jin Xiuzhu didn’t interfere further.

Though He Yan disliked it, he still picked up the dirty diaper from the floor and took it out to wash.

Running into his sister outside, Fu Yanyan saw his tightly scrunched face and couldn’t help laughing.

Late in the morning, Fu Yanyan brought her friend over. The little girl followed behind her, wearing a gray cotton jacket, blue pants, and a pair of old black cotton shoes.

She really was chubby, but Jin Xiuzhu instantly noticed that the child’s body seemed weak—pale, lacking her own daughter’s rosy glow.

Her daughter was also fair-skinned, but her fairness was tinged with healthy pink, and her eyes sparkled brightly.

The little girl’s name was Zhou Lili. When she entered, she politely greeted everyone: “Hello, Auntie. Hello, Uncle. Hello, Big Brother—”

Jin Xiuzhu smiled and patted her head. “Lili is so sweet. Come in, Auntie made delicious treats for you.”

Zhou Lili blushed, carrying a small schoolbag and a lunchbox. She raised the lunchbox shyly.  “My mom made this… she told me to bring it to you.”

Jin Xiuzhu praised, “Your mom is so thoughtful. I’ll pack some food for you later so you can bring some home for your parents too, alright?”

Zhou Lili lowered her head, too shy to reply.

Fu Yanyan led her inside. Zhou Lili sat obediently at the table, hands on her lap, not looking around.

Fu Yanyan helped bring pastries from the kitchen, and Jin Xiuzhu brewed three bowls of malted milk for the children.

The two little girls sat together. Jiang Mingchuan washed vegetables in the kitchen, and He Yan sat across from them.

Zhou Lili stared at the warm, fragrant malted milk before her, swallowing, but too embarrassed to drink. Her family didn’t have things like this.

She secretly glanced at Fu Yanyan. Fu Yanyan gently blew on her own bowl. “You can drink now.”

She took a sip herself, afraid that if she didn’t drink, Zhou Lili wouldn’t either.

She normally didn’t even like malted milk.

He Yan, always enthusiastic, hurried to the big room halfway through drinking, and returned holding baby Liuliu. “This is our little sister! Her name is Liuliu! Isn’t she cute?”

Liuliu, woken up by him, wasn’t angry at all—seeing all the people, she grinned.

Zhou Lili looked curiously at the baby in his arms and said to Fu Yanyan with a bit of envy, “Your little sister is so cute. I want a little sister too.”

Then she said, disappointed, “But my mom got sick when she had me… she can’t have another baby.”

Hearing this, He Yan felt sorry for her and said, “Then from now on, this one is your little sister too.”

Zhou Lili stared longingly at the baby.

For a moment, Fu Yanyan wondered whether Zhou Lili was her friend or He Yan’s, and snapped at her brother, “Take Liuliu back to the room—she needs to sleep. You’re just showing off!”

He Yan huffed in dissatisfaction but still carried the baby back.

In the kitchen, Jin Xiuzhu heard and shouted, “He Yan, you must be done with your homework, huh?”

After He Yan came out, he stomped back to his room. A moment later, he slung on his schoolbag, opened the door, and yelled, “I’m not coming home for lunch—!”

Then he vanished.

Zhou Lili stared wide-eyed.

Fu Yanyan told her, “Just ignore him. His brain doesn’t work well.”

Zhou Lili took it seriously, thinking her friend’s brother truly had issues.

Fu Yanyan offered her pastries. “Try this—my mom made it especially for you.”

Zhou Lili took a bite, blushing, and her eyes curved into happy crescents. “It’s so good…”

“Right? Eat more.”

Then she opened the dried sweet potatoes Zhou Lili had brought. “This is delicious too—sweet and soft.”

Zhou Lili finally relaxed and smiled.

Seeing all the good food here, she had worried that they would look down on her dried sweet potatoes—the best thing her family had. Her mother normally didn’t make them except on special occasions. Last night, once she learned her daughter was going to Yanyan’s house, she made them after dinner.

Unlike many army families, her family wasn’t well-off. She had been sick as a child, and all their money went to her medicine. But things were better now—her mother was a math teacher with a stable salary. She even promised to buy new clothes for her during the New Year.

After finishing their malted milk, the two girls brought pastries and went to Fu Yanyan’s room.

Fu Yanyan showed her the family photo on her desk and shared her toys.

Zhou Lili stared at the family of four standing in front of Tiananmen, full of envy. “I’ve never been to the capital.”

Fu Yanyan smiled. “You’re still young. Your parents will definitely take you someday. Even if they don’t, it’s fine—when we grow up, I’ll take you! I’m already familiar with that place.”

Zhou Lili looked at her in surprise. “Really?”

Fu Yanyan nodded firmly. “Mm! If you still haven’t gone by the time you’re eighteen, I’ll take you myself. Mom saves all my New Year money for me. By then I’ll have lots of money!”

Zhou Lili’s smile brightened. “My mom saves my New Year money too. We can use mine together.”

“Okay.”

Zhou Lili was overjoyed, already imagining future scenes of Yanyan taking her to Tiananmen.  “Yanyan, you’re so good to me. No one else plays with me except you. They all say I’m fat.”

Fu Yanyan felt her nose sting, but she smiled. “That’s because you’re really wonderful. I liked you the moment I first saw you.”

“Really?”

It was the first time anyone had praised her like that. Back in her old hometown, she had no playmates either. Yanyan was her very first friend.

And she liked Yanyan very much too.

At noon, Jin Xiuzhu invited the neighbors Fang Min and Zhang Qiu over for lunch. She had gone over in the morning to tell them not to cook—she had made so many dishes that they wouldn’t be able to finish them otherwise.

Jin Xiuzhu didn’t like leftovers. She usually cooked just enough for one meal—enough to eat without waste.

Fang Min heard that Yanyan’s friend was coming over to play, so she specially brought a new notebook for her. “This is your first time visiting, so Auntie is giving you two new notebooks. See if you like them.”

Zhou Lili stared at the notebooks being handed to her, a little overwhelmed, and turned her head to look at Fu Yanyan.

Fu Yanyan smiled. “Hurry and thank Auntie Fang.”

Zhou Lili blushed. “Thank you, Auntie Fang.”

Fang Min patted her head with a smile. “You’re welcome.”

Fu Yanyan helped Zhou Lili take the notebooks.

Fang Min went to the kitchen to help Jin Xiuzhu bring out the dishes, laughing as she said, “Those notebooks were a prize I got from a competition for my last novel. I never use notebooks—put them in the cabinet for ages. Just happened to see them and thought they’d be perfect as a gift for the child.”

Jin Xiuzhu knew her well. Fang Min liked writing on loose sheets of white paper—if she wasn’t satisfied, she could just tear it up and rewrite. If she used notebooks, she’d never have enough pages to tear out.

For lunch they made six dishes, each one delicious.

After the lively meal, Fu Yanyan walked Zhou Lili downstairs.

Zhou Lili carried her schoolbag on her back and held a bunch of snacks in her arms—pastries Jin Xiuzhu packed for her.

When she got home, Feng Chun saw her daughter carrying so many things and was surprised.  “Why are you bringing back so much?”

Zhou Lili looked up and truthfully said, “Auntie gave them to me. She said she made too much, and if I didn’t take them she wouldn’t be able to finish.”

Feng Chun didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “You silly child, she was just being polite. And you took everything for real.”

Zhou Lili thought her mother misunderstood and seriously explained, “No, Auntie wasn’t being polite. Auntie was really nice and insisted I take them. She even said the dried sweet potatoes you made were delicious, and they like them a lot. She wants you to teach her next time.”

Zhou Wei, who had been washing dishes in the kitchen, came out when he heard this. Seeing his daughter looking simple-minded and earnest, he couldn’t help laughing.

He quickly walked over, took the items from her arms, and put them on the table. He saw the familiar red jujube cake and his eyes lit up. He immediately grabbed a piece to taste and said loudly with a grin, “Ha! This is the taste!”

Feng Chun looked at him, puzzled. “What taste?”

Zhou Wei waved her over. “Come try it.”

She picked up a piece, took a bite, and her eyes brightened. “So good!”

Zhou Wei laughed. “Right? Last year I told you—the canteen got a new breakfast chef who made all kinds of pastries every morning, super delicious. You didn’t believe me. Said cakes are cakes—they can’t taste that good. I wanted to bring you some to try, but then she stopped making them. I heard someone reported her.”

Feng Chun suddenly understood. “Ah, so it was her.”

Then she looked at her confused daughter and burst out laughing again. “Silly people really are blessed.”

She remembered Zhou Wei saying before that after the chef stopped making breakfast, many people begged the leadership to bring her back. Later they did try, but she didn’t want to return—seemed she had found a better job.

Who would’ve thought her own daughter became friends with the chef’s daughter? Other people couldn’t even eat her pastries, yet she generously sent so many home with Lili. They were really blessed through their daughter.

Zhou Lili didn’t understand what her parents were thinking. Seeing they liked Auntie’s pastries, she was happy and told them everything that had happened at her friend’s house. She even took out the new notebooks from her schoolbag. “Auntie Fang from next door gave these to me. She said they’re a meeting gift.”

“Yanyan also showed me the photos they took at Tiananmen. Tiananmen is so big! Mom, she said that if you and Dad don’t take me to Tiananmen in the future, she’ll take me herself when she grows up. She said her New Year’s money is all being saved for her by Auntie, and she’ll have a lot when she grows up.”

“I told her you also keep my New Year’s money for me, so we can use it together.”

Feng Chun didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Kids—always believing the “saving New Year’s money” story adults tell them.

But she thought to herself, If there’s a chance in the future, we really should take her to the capital.

---

Jin Xiuzhu noticed Wang Ling hadn’t come to find her for a long time and thought she was just busy. So she brought her drawings to Wang Ling’s house herself. It was evening, and she had planned to leave the draft with her son if Wang Ling wasn’t home. But unexpectedly, when she went there, even Yan Xing wasn’t home.

She knocked for a long time and no one answered. Finally, an elderly aunt from next door came out. “You’re here to see Sister Wang?”

Jin Xiuzhu visited occasionally, so the aunt recognized her.

Jin Xiuzhu nodded. “Yes, I needed to talk to her. If she’s not home, I thought I’d talk to Yan Xing. Why does it feel like no one’s been home?”

“Haven’t seen Wang Ling or Xing for days. Heard she was hospitalized.”

Jin Xiuzhu was shocked. “Hospitalized?”

The aunt frowned. “I’m not too sure. I’m only saying it because I recognize you. Don’t know the details.”

Jin Xiuzhu thanked her.

When she got home, she asked Jiang Mingchuan, but he knew nothing. Then he suddenly said, “If Sister Wang had something serious happen, I saw Captain Yan recently and he looked fine—didn’t look like anything was wrong.”

Jin Xiuzhu responded, “Tomorrow go ask Captain Yan. Tell him I urgently need to see Sister Wang.”

He agreed. The next evening he came back and said Wang Ling was in the city hospital, Room 408, needing surgery. Yan Xing had taken leave to care for her.

“Captain Yan said she didn’t want to tell anyone, afraid someone would spread it around and cause people to show up visiting and giving gifts. She even handed over the textile factory to others temporarily.”

Jin Xiuzhu understood—this was just polite talk. Mainly, they didn’t want trouble from too many visitors.

But she would definitely visit.

The next morning she left Liuliu with Fang Min, who agreed to watch her. Jin Xiuzhu took freshly made pastries and bone soup and headed out.

When she reached the hospital, it was lunchtime. The moment she stepped into the ward, she saw Wang Ling sitting up eating, chatting happily with Qian Yufeng. Yan Xing squatted nearby, shoveling food in quickly.

Qian Yufeng was facing the door and saw Jin Xiuzhu at once. “Oh! Why are you here!”

Wang Ling turned and was equally surprised. “My heavens, you actually found your way here! Didn’t I tell Old Yan not to tell anyone?!”

Jin Xiuzhu snorted. “So you’re treating me like an outsider now? If I hadn’t gone looking for you myself, I wouldn’t have even known you were hospitalized. Such a big thing and you didn’t tell me. Where’s your conscience?”

Wang Ling looked helpless. “I was thinking your child is still young. It’s not easy for you to come all the way here.”

Jin Xiuzhu humphed. “Still didn’t treat me like family.”

Qian Yufeng eagerly took the things from her hands. “Let me see—what goodies did you bring?”

The moment she mentioned food, Yan Xing shot up and hurried over. Qian Yufeng opened the wrapped bundles: one paper-wrapped box of pastries, one black clay pot. When she lifted the lid of the pot, rich bone-broth fragrance filled the entire ward. Everyone nearby turned their heads.

The patients and family members in the neighboring beds all looked over.

Qian Yufeng swallowed and asked Wang Ling, “There’s so much. You won’t finish, right?”

Wang Ling gave her a look. “If you want some, just say it. Why beat around the bush.”

Qian Yufeng grinned, went to wash Wang Ling’s nearly empty bowl and prepared two—one for herself and one for Jin Xiuzhu. Yan Xing quickly finished his rice and ladled himself a big bowl of soup too.

The rest belonged to Wang Ling, who just drank straight from the pot.

After one sip, Qian Yufeng smacked her lips. “So good. How do you make it?”

Jin Xiuzhu said, “Put more bones and meat. It’ll taste like this.”

Qian Yufeng pouted. “Never mind then.”

Using that much at once—too wasteful. Better to save it and cook multiple times.

After lunch, Qian Yufeng had to return to work. Before leaving, she snatched two more pastries, making Yan Xing’s heart ache.

Jin Xiuzhu sat beside Wang Ling.

Wang Ling lay back and talked happily. “These days, Yufeng delivers meals to me every noon and evening. Remember when you introduced her to me? I placed her in the county textile factory cafeteria. Later I noticed she could chat with anyone, so I secretly arranged for her to transfer to the city cafeteria. Back then I thought if I ever returned to the city for work, she’d be a trusted aide. She keeps me informed about anything happening in the city’s factory.”

“She’s helped me a lot—especially now. I’m really grateful you introduced her to me.”

Jin Xiuzhu chuckled. “Nonsense. I introduced her to you because I knew you were capable and kind. You helped her, so of course she’s loyal. You should thank yourself.”

Wang Ling loved talking with Jin Xiuzhu—anything she said sounded pleasant.

Jin Xiuzhu asked, “So what’s going on? Why surgery?”

Wang Ling sighed. “Stomach problems—they removed a small part. After a few more days of observation I can go home. But I’ll need to rest afterward. I’ve handed the factory affairs to others. No idea how they’re doing. Yesterday the deputy director came—said city leaders came asking for materials again, and he brushed them off. I’m not too worried. Everyone wants the county textile factory to do well. If our profits are good, everyone benefits. What I’m worried about is shipments going wrong. You know—there are always people with bad intentions.”

“The only thing I regret is that I was invited to attend the national textile fabric exhibition—now I can’t go.”

Then her eyes suddenly lit up. “Why don’t you go in my place?”

Once she said it, she thought it was an excellent idea. “That’s the national exhibition of the best textile factories! Only invited factories can attend. Even the city’s main textile factory didn’t qualify. Our factory was noticed because our cloth sells in the capital and is in constant demand.”

Jin Xiuzhu hesitated. “Can I even do it? Shouldn’t you send one of the other leaders?”

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to go—the exhibition sounded amazing. If Wang Ling weren’t sick, she would definitely go herself.

Wang Ling scolded her. “You’re really scatterbrained these days.”

She spoke frankly, “There will be reporters taking pictures at the exhibition. They appear on news and newspapers. This is important for promotions. If I send someone else, wouldn’t I be giving them the credit?”

She had grown the textile factory from the ground up and even worked herself sick. Letting someone else show up and gain the spotlight? Absolutely not. Who knew if they would become her competition later?

But Jin Xiuzhu wouldn’t be competition—she was their “public face.” Letting her go would bring honor to the factory without threatening Wang Ling’s position.

Jin Xiuzhu understood immediately and laughed. “I’ve been a bit slow recently.”

Wang Ling continued persuading, “You stay home all day—you must be bored. Go out and see the world. The exhibition is in S City; maybe you can visit your sister-in-law too.”

“I’ll have two reliable people accompany you. You don’t need to worry about anything. Just dress nicely and take photos.”

Jin Xiuzhu was very tempted but said, “Let me talk to Mingchuan first.”

Wang Ling nodded. “Alright, but hurry. The exhibition is on the 5th of next month—just a few days away.”

After chatting a while longer, Jin Xiuzhu left with the clay pot. Before she left, she told Wang Ling to rest, and she’d return in a couple of days.

Wang Ling heard the hint in her voice and smiled. “Then I’ll look forward to it.”

After Jin Xiuzhu left, Yan Xing sat next to his mother, nibbling pastries. Wang Ling told him to eat less—she couldn’t eat much right now, and watching him made her hungry.

Yan Xing huffed. “I told you to give me a little brother or sister, but you didn’t. Now look—Dad is busy, can’t come, and I’m the only one taking care of you. Look at He Yan’s family—when Aunt Jin had her baby, He Yan and Yang Yingxiong took turns helping.”

He felt miserable—tired every day and anxious about missing school.

Wang Ling suddenly felt guilty. This time truly had worn her son out. She quickly blamed her husband. “Your dad’s useless! I wanted to have another baby too.”

Yan Xing pouted. He didn’t believe her at all. His parents were just lazy and didn’t want to raise another child.

When Jin Xiuzhu returned home, she told Jiang Mingchuan everything. He Yan heard his mother might go to S City and looked envious. “Mom, I want to go too!”

Jin Xiuzhu cleared her throat. “I’m going there to work. Why would you go?”

He Yan didn’t buy it. “But you said you might visit Auntie, so it’s not just work!”

Jin Xiuzhu realized her son wasn’t so easy to fool anymore. “Are you not going to school? Tuition costs money. If you don’t go, isn’t that wasting money?”

He Yan deflated, unable to argue.

Jiang Mingchuan was fully supportive. “Go. Staying home all day is boring. Going out will be good.”

That was Jin Xiuzhu’s thought too. In her previous life, traveling was difficult. Here, women had more freedom—she wanted to see the world.

“I’ll tell Sister Wang the day after tomorrow.”

He agreed.

Fu Yanyan asked, “What about the baby? Will Aunt Fang watch her?”

Jin Xiuzhu nodded. That was also why she hadn’t agreed immediately in the hospital. “She’ll have to.”

Feeling a bit guilty, she added, “I’ll make Fang Min two outfits when I return.”

He Yan, unwilling to miss out, said quickly, “I want some too! Dad and the baby want some! And Yang Yingxiong!”

“…”

Jin Xiuzhu flicked his forehead. “Trying to work your mother to death?”

He Yan rubbed his head and giggled.

Jiang Mingchuan and Fu Yanyan both laughed.

After dinner, He Yan whispered to Fu Yanyan, “Then I’ll bring my baby sister to class too.”

Fu Yanyan glared. “Don’t you dare.”

————————

Many years later, Fu Yanyan fulfilled her promise and took Zhou Lili to the capital.

But after dragging their suitcases around outside the train station for a long time, they couldn’t even find a bus stop. They kept walking farther from the main road and didn’t see a single restaurant. Both were starving.

Zhou Lili followed behind, panting and wiping sweat. “Yanyan, are you sure we’re going the right way? This… doesn’t look like the direction that old man gave us.”

Fu Yanyan was exhausted too. She stopped, one hand on her hip and one fanning herself, looking around. Then she hesitated. “Why don’t we go back the way we came?”

“…”

Fu Zhou Lili glared. “Didn’t you say you knew the way?”

Yanyan’s expression stiffened. She absolutely refused to admit she was direction-blind and said confidently, “I didn’t sleep well last night. My brain’s a little foggy today.”

Zhou Lili: “Heh. I don’t believe a word you say.”