Chapter 24: First Watch Wan Zhenzhen had indeed returned to her maiden home. Fumbling through the darkness, she walked for over two hours before finally arriving. Her mother threw on some clothes to open the door, scolding as she did, "Are you trying to get yourself killed? What business do you have coming back to your parents' home in the middle of the night?"

Wan Zhenzhen dared not tell the truth and could only offer a vague excuse: "I sold ice pops later than expected and thought I'd just come back to muddle through the night."

Knowing her mother's temper, she quickly pulled five yuan from her pocket.

"There's nowhere to buy anything at this hour. Take this money tomorrow to buy Baojin some meat."

Only after receiving the money did Wan's mother show her a kinder face.

"Alright, there's no water in the washhouse right now. Just scoop some from the bucket to wash up. Don't take too much; we'll need it for cooking tomorrow morning."

With that, she yawned and went back to sleep. Wan Zhenzhen tidied up briefly, arranged a makeshift bed out of chairs in the living room, and lay down fully clothed. Their home had two bedrooms and a living room, but ever since Baojin started elementary school, her mother had banished her to sleep in the living room, dubbing her the "Living Room Chief."

Lying there for a while, Wan Zhenzhen couldn't fall asleep; her heart still pounded wildly. Her mind was a chaotic tangle of thoughts. What should she do? What should she do? Would Wang Hua demand a divorce? Wan Zhenzhen was genuinely terrified. In her previous life, she had tried two paths: finding a man to settle down with, and venturing south to make her fortune. Both had ended in failure, and she had spent half her lifetime consumed by regret. It was now 1983. People said the south offered opportunities, and some had even resigned from their jobs to head south and seek their fortunes. But Wan Zhenzhen didn't dare. Leaving one's hometown often meant losing status. In her previous life, even when she went south in the 1990s, she couldn't endure the hardships there; in this life, she was even less willing to try. Moreover, she didn't even have an ID card yet.

Travel depended on introduction letters, though, due to several years of reform and opening-up, enforcement of these letters had become somewhat lax. Some places were so chaotic that even small vehicles were being hijacked. For a woman traveling alone, it would be like offering herself up as prey. As for marriage, while she had been courting Wang Hua, she had also attempted to approach sons of leaders from the oilfield. The problem was, unlike Qian Qing, she wasn't sweet-tongued or skilled at coaxing people. Relying solely on her delicate features, she naturally couldn't climb into those prominent families. All things considered, her only hope in this life rested on Qian Qing. The crux of the matter was that Qian Qing was currently ignoring her! Qian Qing's business was booming, yet she showed not the slightest intention of helping Wan Zhenzhen along. Just as Wan Zhenzhen had bought a tricycle hoping to squeeze Qian Qing out of the market, this incident occurred.

From now on, she would only drift further away from Qian Qing. Wan Zhenzhen slammed her hand heavily onto the chair beneath her, grinding her teeth. Ever since her rebirth, she had carried a sense of superiority, especially when observing how many others faced an uncertain future while she could review her past life's experiences in her mind. She knew the future direction earlier than anyone else. A market economy was inevitable; the factory jobs everyone currently coveted would, within a few years, become associated with terms like "factory girl." Every time she thought of these changes, she felt immense joy, believing herself to be the center of the world.

Everything ought to make way for her; otherwise, why would Heaven have granted her rebirth? Surely it was to let her live well and compensate for the regrets of her previous life. Before stumbling over Qian Qing, she had firmly believed this. But now, reality was sliding her onto the same track as her previous life. The only slight difference was that Qian Qing was actually living better and starting faster than in her past life. Wan Zhenzhen rolled over, cursing Qian Qing in her heart for who knew how many times. Did someone like that even deserve to live? Wasn't her very existence meant to frustrate others? After cursing and hating, the problem looming before her remained unsolved. Usually, when facing difficulties, everyone has their own approach. Some trace problems back to their source to find the cause. Others make immediate decisions and react swiftly. Still others treat failure as valuable wealth, storing it in life's experience bank to avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future.

But Wan Zhenzhen was not like that. She was not skilled at solving problems, so she could only escape. And this escape lasted three or four days.Wang Hua held his anger in check and avoided seeking her out, keeping his head down as he went to and from work each day. He no longer even bothered with the bare minimum of civility. His expression was gloomy, and he showed no kindness to anyone. The women in the tongzilou building clicked their tongues quietly; the men, though they didn't spread gossip, also felt in their hearts that such a person was not worth befriending. Who could you blame for your own family's troubles? What did it have to do with the neighbors in the building? The tricycle Wang Hua had smashed lay abandoned in the bike shed downstairs. Whenever people parked their vehicles, they instinctively left an empty space around it.

Each time Wang Hua saw it, it hurt anew. He felt just like that broken tricycle—isolated by everyone. Old Lady Wang, however, hadn't changed at all. In fact, when Wang Hua started talking about divorce, she became quite enthusiastic. During the few days Wan Zhenzhen had been staying at her parents' home, Old Lady Wang had already begun chatting with everyone everywhere, thinking about how to carefully choose a daughter-in-law who would suit her tastes. **** After Wan Zhenzhen settled down, Qian Qing's business ran much more smoothly. Although the No. 1 Primary School for Children of Staff had posted a clear notice stating that small vendors were no longer prohibited from setting up stalls at the gate, several ice-cream carts had appeared there during dismissal hours over the past few days. Still, Qian Qing felt no pressure. Doing business meant that as long as there was no malicious competition, there was nothing to avoid.

The market was vast enough; if she consumed everything without leaving others even a sip of soup, how could her business endure and flourish in the long run? As her earnings grew steadier, Qian Qing's popularity in the tongzilou improved markedly. Before, people thought well of her, but since she had arrived only recently, many relationships remained mere nodding acquaintances. Now it was different. In this era, solid character served as a passport; no one would question such a person. Her home had become lively these days; at mealtime, people would drop by with something to eat. Nothing extravagant, yet each gesture warmly expressed their affection: half a small bowl of peanuts, a handful of greens, a few pieces of fish… Among them, the families of Xue Dabao and Xu Sijin visited most frequently. Besides the first two days, when the two "heroic mothers"

came personally, recent visits had been made by sending Xue Dabao and Xu Sijin themselves as errand boys. The two children dearly loved running over to Sister Qian Qing's house; each time, they rushed through the door clutching small bowls. That was because Mother Qian cooked so wonderfully! The aroma had already tormented those living nearby over the past few days; now, up close, it was almost enough to make one faint from its richness. Xue Dabao barely managed to hold back his drool as he handed his small bowl to Mother Qian: "Grandma Qian, this is dried fish my mom made. She asked me to bring some for you."

Xue Dabao's mother had grown up by the southern seashore and had always been skilled at preparing fish. The fish-head soup she'd sent a few days earlier had impressed even Qian Qing, who, accustomed to her own mother's cooking, was somewhat picky. Mother Qian affectionately patted his head.

"Thank your mother. It looks delicious."

Not to be outdone, Xu Sijin offered a small plate of pickled cabbage.

"Me too, me too! This is pickled cabbage my grandmother sent. My mom asked me to bring some. She said pickled cabbage with vermicelli tastes especially good!"

Mother Qian accepted it, patted his head as well, and, ever the diplomat, praised both gifts with varied compliments.

"Today we're making stir-fried chicken with potatoes. Let me pack some for you to take home."

Mother Qian prepared the chicken chunks using a Lu cuisine method: the chicken wasn't marinated but stir-fried raw, with a precise blend of several seasonings. The resulting dish, coated in sauce, carried a lingering savory fragrance. Once the chicken was nearly done, she added a few potatoes, braising them until slightly soft and tender. Qian Qing felt a twinge of regret. If only they had a ground-level wok; she could line the sides with small flatbreads. By the time the chicken finished braising, the bottoms of the breads would turn crisp and fragrant—truly delicious. Dipping those small breads into the stir-fried chicken's juices was an indescribable delight. Still, even as it was, the aroma of the stir-fried chicken was overwhelmingly rich, filling the entire floor. Xue Dabao and Xu Sijin cast longing glances at the chicken simmering in the pot. Though tempted, they declined. In these times, getting a taste of meat wasn't easy.

Although both children's families were not badly off, they couldn't afford to buy meat every few days.For the past couple of days, Mother Qian had been making simple home-cooked dishes, and the two little ones would graciously accept a portion to take home. But today's meat was out of the question; if they really took it back, their mother would surely whip them.

"No thank you, Grandma! We're going now!"

The two little monkeys took a deep breath, turned around, and darted off in a flash. Mother Qian called after them several times but couldn't stop them.

"Those two kids sure run fast."

Turning around, she saw Qian Qing wearing a faint, ambiguous smile, which made Mother Qian feel somewhat embarrassed. Of course, she understood what her daughter meant: compared to these two well-mannered children, Wan Baojin from the Wan family truly behaved improperly. At roughly the same age, every time Wan Baojin came over, he would stare longingly at the food. Mother Qian had repeatedly told herself, "He's just a child who doesn't know better,"

and "Let him have a few bites; how much could it possibly cost?"

But if children don't understand, shouldn't adults? Wan Baojin had been freeload­ing meals at her house, yet the Wan family never said a word. True, a bite or two wasn't much, but in these times, which family was truly well-off? Even pork had only become slightly more available in the last couple of years. In previous years, enjoying a meat meal required saving ration tickets and money for a long time. Feeling awkward, Mother Qian said, "I'll go deliver some to them."

When she returned home this time, she would definitely have a serious talk with Old Qian. Wan Baojin wasn't their child; what right did he have to so boldly come and freeload? As for those other families in the apartment building who, seeing Wan Baojin's envy, started copying his behavior—they were no longer welcome either! If she had extra money, she'd rather cook more delicious meals for Xue Dabao and Xu Sijin. At least those two children always politely greeted her with "Grandma Qian"

whenever they saw her. At noon, Mother Qian stir-fried an entire chicken weighing over three jin, added potatoes, and prepared enough food for four or five adults. She gathered all the small bowls in the house and distributed portions to everyone she knew well over the past few days.

Meanwhile, Qian Qing brought a bowl next door to Chen Xinran. She was deeply grateful for Chen Xinran's help; during these days, Chen Xinran had practically delivered food at every meal. Chen Xinran felt both delighted and slightly helpless: "Honestly, you've been bringing food so frequently that I feel Auntie is spoiling my taste buds. Once she leaves, I'll probably starve myself thin." Qian Qing laughed cheerfully:

"That would be wonderful then! Come live with us. From now on, I'll consider myself lucky to have an older sister."

Neither woman was shy or reserved; their temperaments matched perfectly. Their friendship had advanced by leaps and bounds over these few days, almost as if they were ready to swear sisterhood on the spot. Chen Xinran poured the chicken into her lunchbox, washed the bowl, and handed it back to Qian Qing.

"Of course that works! Later, I'll ask Auntie if she wants me. Actually, I really do need a good younger sister."

Chen Xinran spoke sincerely. She wasn't close to her father, and the younger sister brought by her stepmother always kept a distance from her. Especially after Zhao Nan had tactfully mentioned yesterday that Tian Xue had been persistently clinging to him recently, Chen Xinran couldn't understand it. Her father was, after all, a prominent figure in the railway system; why would Tian Xue be so short-sighted as to deliberately interfere between her and Zhao Nan? Clearly, Tian Xue wasn't unattractive; if she simply followed her family's arrangements, her kind stepmother would surely find her an excellent husband. So why had she set her sights on Zhao Nan? Additionally, today her uncle had made a puzzling phone call, asking whether she had received the money he sent, and offering to send more if she needed it. Chen Xinran's heart sank. Her parents had separated early, and she had taken her mother's surname.

After her mother passed away prematurely,若非 her father's critical promotion had raised concerns that people might accuse him of neglecting his daughter, he wouldn't have brought her back; otherwise, she would have had no connection with this side of the family at all. Even after being brought back to live there, she had hardly spent any time at home. During middle school, she lived in the dormitories, returning home only one or two days a week. In university, she remained constantly busy, spending even winter and summer breaks in the laboratory. Under such circumstances, everyone assumed that once she married in a few years, maintaining superficial courtesy would suffice. Now that she and Zhao Nan had formalized their relationship and planned to marry after the New Year, she never expected that at this crucial moment, her stepmother would behave so disgracefully—embezzling the money sent by her uncle, while her stepsister attempted to steal her boyfriend.Chen Xinran chatted casually with Qian Qing, while inwardly resolving to go back home today and get to the bottom of things.

Zhao Nan had mentioned that his stepsister had been spending lavishly lately, always trying to give him expensive gifts. Although he hadn't accepted them, he felt somewhat uneasy and had hinted that Chen Xinran should speak to her father about curbing such conspicuous behavior. After all, for someone who had become a leader, wasn't it excessive for their child to casually offer watches worth over a hundred yuan? Chen Xinran sneered inwardly; Zhao Nan's concerns were minor. If a man intended to leave, she, Chen Xinran, would never shamelessly cling to him. Moreover, having been together for several years, she still had confidence in Zhao Nan's character. However, the missing one thousand yuan could not simply be overlooked. Her uncle had generously supported her over the years; no matter how difficult their family circumstances became, he always sent her tens or even a hundred yuan annually. Now that she was employed, how could she possibly continue relying on others?

Tian Xue—hopefully she was smart enough not to have touched that thousand yuan.