“Achoo—”
The moment Yan Xue stepped inside, she sneezed loudly—clearly someone had been badmouthing her.
Qi Fang, who was rinsing rice to prepare the New Year’s Eve meal, glanced over at the sound. Before he could say anything, Yan Xue waved a hand dismissively. “It’s nothing. Probably just someone talking about me. I ran into Liang Qimao earlier.”
“Does he live nearby?”
If that were the case, it would explain how he knew they had gotten married here.
Yan Xue nodded, sharing her discovery as she started cooking. Having run a business in her past life—albeit a small one—she’d developed a superstitious habit. For big occasions like the New Year, no matter how few people were eating, she insisted on preparing eight dishes for prosperity.
In this era, few people associated the number eight with luck. Most bought six bowls for the New Year, considering four unlucky and eight reminiscent of scars and blemishes. But Yan Xue didn’t care. She wanted wealth—enough to bring her younger brother, Yan Jigang, to live with her. Whether the dishes were plentiful or not, she’d make up the number. By the end, she’d managed to arrange exactly eight dishes, plates and all.
It was nearly three in the afternoon by the time they finished. Sitting down to the reunion dinner, the table laden with food, the absence of family made the occasion feel unexpectedly lonely.
Yan Xue dug out the leftover baijiu from their wedding day, pouring herself a small half-cup and just a sip for Qi Fang. Raising her glass, she smiled. “Happy New Year!”
Her eyes were particularly striking when she smiled—bright and sparkling, as if untouched by worry.
Qi Fang watched her for a moment before lifting his enamel mug, clinking it lightly against hers. “Happy New Year.”
The liquor, brewed from pure grain, had a rich aroma but burned sharply on the way down, searing from the throat to the stomach before rising to warm his face.
Yan Xue wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but his lips seemed redder than usual. Propping her chin on her hand, she asked, “Have you always been unable to drink?”
“Mn,” Qi Fang replied, his tone as indifferent as ever. “Never touched alcohol before adulthood.”
But perhaps because it was New Year’s Eve, he offered more than just a monosyllable.
Yan Xue picked up a bite of food and pressed further. “And after you grew up? Didn’t you drink with family elders?”
A man with his looks was dangerous. With his low alcohol tolerance, in her past life, he’d have been a target for all sorts of schemes.
Qi Fang paused. “No. After coming of age, I spent my time in the mountains.”
“In the mountains?” Yan Xue was surprised.
His gaze settled on her, dark and unreadable. “Yes. Guarding the aircraft hangars.”
For a fleeting moment, she thought she saw something shadowy flicker in his eyes—but it vanished before she could be sure.
Choosing her words carefully, she asked, “Even during New Year?”
“Every year.” His expression remained impassive as he lowered his eyes.
While others returned home to their families, even the educated youth sent to the countryside, he had nowhere to go. Naturally, he was the one left behind.
He’d expected this year to be no different—until an unexpected turn of events.
His slender fingers traced the rim of his cup as he took another sip, his peach-blossom eyes half-lidded, revealing nothing.
Yan Xue didn’t know what he was thinking, but it couldn’t be anything cheerful. While others celebrated with their families, he’d been alone in the mountains, keeping watch over cold, empty hangars.
She reached for the bottle to pour him more. “Drink a little more today. Test your limits.”
Whether he wanted to gauge his tolerance or drown his sorrows, she didn’t mind. She rarely got drunk herself—someone else indulging wasn’t a bad thing.
But he covered his cup, refusing outright. “No need.”
He clearly preferred sobriety over the false comfort of intoxication. The bottle hovered mid-air before Yan Xue withdrew it. “Fine.”
Without the background noise of a Spring Festival Gala, the room felt too quiet. Gazing out the frost-covered window, Yan Xue’s thoughts drifted.
She wondered how Yan Jigang was doing. After finalizing her marriage, she’d sent a letter home along with a hundred yuan, asking Grandma to repay the debt to the production team. The money should have arrived by now.
She’d written simply so Jigang could understand, though his reading was still halting. His studies might have lapsed—Grandma couldn’t read at all…
The meal passed mostly in silence until movement outside drew Yan Xue’s attention. The frosted window made it hard to see, so she slipped on her shoes and stepped out.
It was Guo Changping and his family of three. She’d met Guo Changping the day he took someone to the hospital, but this was her first time seeing his wife. Whether from exhaustion or low spirits, the woman looked stern, her smile scarce.
Already aware of the new tenants, the couple greeted Yan Xue before heading inside with their child—likely to relieve Aunt Guo at the hospital after the New Year.
Unexpectedly, Guo Changping hadn’t used the holiday to rest. Instead, he’d lain in wait near Li Shuwu’s home and beaten him up.
“Probably paid him back for the insults Li Shuwu’s wife hurled at Aunt Guo,” Liu Weiguo remarked during a visit. “Knocked out two teeth. Now he’s stuck—getting dentures at the town hospital takes days, and the logging team heads back to the mountains on the eighth. He’ll be gap-toothed for over a month.”
His tone was amused, clearly unsympathetic toward Li Shuwu, whose selfishness had caused others harm.
Though the incident became dinner-table gossip, it couldn’t compete with the New Year festivities.
Despite its remote location, the forestry center was part of a major industry—timber being a pillar of the national economy. The Forestry Bureau supplied hundreds of millions of cubic meters of lumber annually, making it a significant local employer.
Every year, the Bureau sent teams to screen movies and organize activities like yangge dances for workers and their families. During peak logging seasons, performance troupes even traveled to mountain camps to entertain the loggers.
Yan Xue had arrived too late for last year’s show, but rumors said a renowned singer—exiled from Yanjing—had performed. Many families had trekked up to listen, raving about it afterward.
Liu Weiguo hadn’t come alone. His sister, Liu Chunni, tagged along to invite Yan Xue to watch the yangge dance.
Qi Fang never participated in such events. After a token inquiry confirmed his disinterest, the siblings whisked Yan Xue away.
The yangge troupe was lively—drums, gongs, and suonas blared as performers twirled fans, stomped on stilts, and chased each other with oversized head masks.
The yangge dance troupe wound its way along the main road of the forestry center, with men, women, and children lining the streets to watch. Yan Xue finally got a taste of the New Year festivities from this era—such activities had long disappeared in her previous life.
When she returned with a smile on her face, Qi Fang asked her, "When are you planning to go to town?"
"To town?" Yan Xue didn’t recall him mentioning this before.
"To buy the things we didn’t get last time," Qi Fang said. "While I still have a few days off."
Last time, because she was in a hurry and went alone, there were still some items left unpurchased. Yan Xue thought for a moment. "Let’s drop by Aunt Shan Qiufang’s place too. I didn’t get to see her last time."
"Aunt Shan Qiufang?" Qi Fang glanced at her.
"My grandma’s sister’s eldest daughter. Don’t you remember? She lives in town. I owe her for helping me get here this time."
Qi Fang had no idea how many relatives the Yan family had, so he didn’t press further. "Alright."
As for Qi Fang’s aunt, given that he had spent the past few New Years alone in the mountains, Yan Xue naturally didn’t bring her up either.
Yet when they went to town, they missed Shan Qiufang again. Her family had gone to her mother-in-law’s place for the New Year and wouldn’t return until the sixth day of the lunar month.
They had arrived on the fifth day, just as the New Year celebrations were winding down. Since traveling from the forestry center wasn’t easy, they couldn’t make a second trip. Instead, they left the items with the neighbor across the street.
As they walked out of the alley, they ran into a group of young men laughing and heading toward the next lane.
Qi Fang only gave them a brief glance before looking away. Yan Xue didn’t notice, but one of the men turned back to look before being nudged by his companion. "What are you staring at?"
"Nothing. Must’ve mistaken someone."
This time, they finally managed to buy everything they needed. The only inconvenience was the lack of plastic bags in this era—everything was either wrapped in kraft paper or tied with paper string.
Yan Xue took off her scarf and gloves. "You’re going back up the mountain on the eighth. Do you need me to prepare anything?"
"No." Qi Fang refused without hesitation, then seemed to realize his tone and looked up at her. "I’ll handle it myself."
"Then I won’t bother." Yan Xue had considered packing some of the newly bought biscuits for him, but if he didn’t want them, so be it.
As she was organizing their purchases, a train attendant passed by. The person had already walked past but then turned back, staring at Yan Xue.
Noticing this, Yan Xue asked, "Is there something you need, comrade?" Qi Fang also turned to look.
"Did you give Qi…" Realizing she might not recognize the name, the attendant rephrased, "Did you give someone a drawing of shoes? Roller skates?"
"You mean the roller skates?" That was the only thing Yan Xue had ever given away.
The attendant nodded. "Yeah, the ones with four wheels underneath."
Then, glancing at her and Qi Fang sitting beside her, the attendant added, "He asked me to give you something. Wait here—I’ll get it from the break room."
"Something for me?" Yan Xue was clearly surprised.
"Don’t worry, it’s nothing valuable." The attendant had already turned to leave.
Qi Fang sat by the window, watching Yan Xue but didn’t ask any questions.
Yan Xue, however, preferred to clear things up immediately. "A while back, I caught Old Man Wang selling shoddy goods and cheating people at the market. The person who almost got scammed was the one the attendant mentioned. Later, I ran into him on the train. He saw me sketching and asked for the drawing, so I gave it to him."
"Was this the ‘unpleasantness’ you mentioned before?"
"Not entirely." Yan Xue wasn’t that selfless. "I’d already had a run-in with Old Man Wang before. He slashed my sack of pine nuts."
One thing after another…
Qi Fang sensed there was more to it. From what he’d seen over the past few days, Yan Xue wasn’t the type to pick fights—in fact, she was quite sociable, judging by how well the Liu family and Aunt Guo treated her.
But since she didn’t elaborate, he didn’t pry. Soon, the attendant returned. "Here. He gave this to me a couple of days ago to keep on the train, but I hadn’t run into you until now."
Placed in front of Yan Xue was a pair of handmade wooden roller skates.
"Don’t ask me to return them," the attendant said. "They’re sized for you—nobody else could wear them anyway."
That was true. Yan Xue was petite, and the skates were made to fit her. Even most women with larger feet wouldn’t be able to use them.
So she accepted them graciously. "Please thank him for me."
She also handed the attendant a few bananas and a bag of biscuits. "Happy New Year, comrade. This is a small token from me and my husband. Please pass it along to him."
The phrase "me and my husband" made the attendant glance again at Qi Fang.
But Yan Xue had handled it impeccably—not only returning the gesture but even giving fruit to the messenger. The attendant nodded. "Sure, I’ll make sure he gets it."
Back in Xiaojinchuan, the attendant first went to Qi Fang’s place with the gifts. "Did you know she’s married?"
Qi Fang, who was doing laundry, looked baffled. "Know what?"
"That girl who gave you the drawing—the one who helped you before? I ran into her on the train today."
Qi Fang immediately stopped what he was doing. "You gave her the roller skates?" That was his first concern.
The attendant sighed. "Yes, right when I saw her. Here—she asked me to bring you these in return."
Hearing there was a return gift, Qi Fang quickly dried his hands before carefully accepting the paper bag.
As he placed it inside, the attendant couldn’t hold back. "I told you she’s married. I even met her husband on the train."
"What does her being married have to do with me? I just wanted to thank her—nothing more."
Muttering to himself, Qi Fang went back to scrubbing clothes.
But the attendant noticed something—he had just rewet a pair of pants he’d already washed and was soaping them again.
It made the attendant sigh inwardly. Going out of his way to have the skates made and then asking him to keep an eye out for her on the train—it didn’t seem like mere gratitude.
Qi Fang probably hadn’t even been this attentive to his blind date, and that still hadn’t gone anywhere.
But the girl was already married. Even if she weren’t, he likely wouldn’t have had a chance.
Qi Fang was too honest, too awkward with words. A good man, but hopeless when it came to winning a woman’s heart.
Meanwhile, Qi Fang wasn’t particularly interested in the person who sent the gift, but the skates themselves caught his attention.
He had carried them off the train and could tell they were made of solid wood.
The wheel axles used steel pins, probably oiled, as they spun smoothly. The surface was carved with patterns, likely for grip.
A shame they were wooden—plastic would’ve been better. He set the skates by the kang and asked Yan Xue, "Did you come up with this?"
"No, I’ve seen others wear them before."
Yan Xue wasn’t taking credit—she didn’t have that kind of creativity. After all, her "previous life" was still the past to her.
Qi Fang didn’t ask further. "Are you still going to Master Jia’s?"
So much for being the simple, straightforward type. One look at the roller skates, and he’d guessed why she’d sought out the carpenter before.
"Let’s go, there’s one more thing I want to do." Yan Xue neatly arranged the items she had bought and picked up the roller skates. "I’m going to Chunni’s house."
"Is this for Chunni?" Qi Fang was genuinely surprised.
He knew Yan Xue had asked him about Chunni’s inability to ice skate, but he hadn’t expected her to be so thoughtful—coming up with roller skates that didn’t require ice.
When Liu Chunni saw what Yan Xue had brought, she couldn’t believe it either and asked twice, "Sister Yan Xue, is this really for me?"
Liu Chunni’s younger sister, Liu Chunni, and her little brother, Liu Weibin, crowded around as if they were looking at some rare creature.
Liu Chunni was shy by nature, but Liu Weibin immediately reached out to touch the skates, only to be glared at by Chunni. He stuck out his tongue and withdrew his hand.
"It’s fine, touching them won’t break them." Yan Xue pushed the skates toward Chunni. "Try them on and see if they fit."
She had originally planned to have them custom-made, but someone else had already crafted them. Fortunately, though Chunni was three years younger, she was about the same height, so they should fit.
Sure enough, they did—just a little loose, but tightening the straps would fix that.
Sitting on the edge of the kang, Chunni gave them a test slide, and the wheels whirred instantly. "It feels even more amazing than ice skates!"
Liu Weibin grew impatient. "Sister! Let me try!"
"Can you even wear them?" Chunni was reluctant to hand them over.
"Of course I can!" Liu Weibin protested. "Mom says I’m growing super fast, like whoosh!"
Unable to snatch them, and hearing Huang Fengying return from the cellar, he ran out instead. "Mom, I want roller skates too!"
"What ice skates? No one’s allowed to skate on the river—what if something happens?"
Huang Fengying didn’t even look up, clearly used to scolding him.
"Not ice skates—roller skates! You can skate on the ground!" Liu Weibin tugged at her arm insistently.
With no choice, Huang Fengying set down her vegetable basket and followed him inside. "What nonsense are you on about now? Always coming up with wild ideas." When she saw Yan Xue, she paused. "Oh, Xiao Yan, you’re here?"
"Yes," Yan Xue smiled, pointing at the uniquely designed skates on Chunni’s feet. "I brought Chunni some roller skates."
Chunni couldn’t wait to show off. "Mom, look! You can skate without ice—isn’t it amazing?"
Her grin was brighter than spring sunshine, so dazzling it almost stung Huang Fengying’s eyes.
The other children stared at the skates with excitement and envy. Huang Fengying forced a smile. "It really is amazing."
"Sister Yan Xue is the best!" Chunni immediately hugged Yan Xue’s arm. Even in the skates, she was taller, nuzzling her head against Yan Xue’s shoulder.
Yan Xue patted her. "Go on, try skating. If they don’t work, I’ll have them adjusted."
The younger siblings urged her on, but Chunni stood frozen, her face turning red. Finally, she blurted out, "Fine, I don’t know how to skate, okay?"
The room burst into laughter, and Liu Weibin made faces at her.
"I’ve never skated before, so what?" If not for the skates making her unsteady, Chunni would’ve pinched his ears.
"It’s fine, you’ll learn with practice," Yan Xue reassured her. "If these work, I have the blueprint and can have more made."
Hearing that, the younger ones’ eyes lit up, and they immediately pushed Chunni to practice in a more open space.
Once the children were gone, Huang Fengying looked at Yan Xue with a complicated expression. "You’re very thoughtful."
"I didn’t make these myself—I just drew the design from memory. I hope you don’t mind me interfering."
"Interfere? I should be thanking you. No one else would’ve thought to do this for Chunni."
Huang Fengying’s eyes grew moist. "I know I’m too strict with them, and they get laughed at because of it… but what else can I do?"
A child’s happiness mattered, but no parent could bear the risk of losing another.
Yan Xue held her hand without saying a word. Sometimes, comfort wasn’t what was needed.
When Liu Weiguo returned home, he exclaimed, "Oh! Chunni’s got something fancy! Where’d that come from?"
Huang Fengying quickly composed herself. "Look at me, chatting away and forgetting about the vegetables. I just cut some cabbage—let me pack some for you." She hurried out. "You and Qi Fang married late and didn’t stock up. If you run out, just come get some from me. Last year, I bought over a thousand pounds of cabbage and two hundred pounds of radishes."
She picked two tightly packed cabbages, added three large radishes, and a dozen potatoes, filling a basket. "I’m not being polite, so don’t you be either."
"How long will this last us? Qi Fang’s going up the mountain soon," Yan Xue said, touched by the gesture.
Huang Fengying wanted to add more. "Eat the radishes first—they spoil after spring. The cabbage and potatoes just need a cool spot, but they won’t keep long."
"I’ll deliver it," Liu Weiguo said, having finished examining the skates. He took the basket. "I need to talk to Qi Fang anyway. I went to town looking for that gear but couldn’t find the right one. I need to ask him what to do. I stopped by this morning, but you two weren’t home."
When they arrived, Qi Fang had already lit the kang and was sketching something at the table.
Yan Xue glanced over—it was a detailed drawing of Chunni’s roller skates, down to every measurement and detail, as if he’d traced the real thing.
His memory was astonishing. Even she couldn’t have drawn it so precisely.
Liu Weiguo didn’t notice. He explained the situation. "I searched everywhere and only found one that’s close. See if it’ll work."
He pulled a gear from his pocket. From memory alone, Yan Xue couldn’t tell if it matched the original.
But Qi Fang closed his notebook and, after one glance, said, "It’s a bit too big—about half a millimeter off."
"What do we do then?" Liu Weiguo slumped onto the kang, running a hand through his hair. "Dad asked Uncle Xu, but he said it couldn’t be fixed. We’d have to go to the county, but we’re heading up the mountain soon. No time, and no guarantee we’d find it. Can’t just let Mom and the kids struggle, right?"
Huang Fengying could manage, but the younger ones had school soon—especially since the New Year was late this year.
Qi Fang rubbed the gear between his fingers, silent for a long time.
Just as Liu Weiguo was about to give up, he finally spoke. "Does the forestry repair shop have a lathe?"
"Of course—they’ve got welding and lathes. How else would they fix machines?" Liu Weiguo didn’t understand. "Why?"
Qi Fang pressed the gear onto the table. "If you’re in a hurry, go borrow their lathe."
