"Your biological father's side?" Second Old Lady remembered that Yan Xue's mother had remarried only after her biological father passed away.
Yan Xue nodded, "It was probably my grandparents from that side who reached out. Someone went directly to ask my great-aunt."
She flipped through the letter, "They said they missed me and wanted to know how I’ve been all these years, since my mother didn’t let me stay in touch."
Yan Xue couldn’t help but laugh at the explanation, "They must think I was too young to remember anything."
Otherwise, they wouldn’t have dared to say such things. Not to mention what happened back then, when her mother wanted to take her away, they hadn’t even tried to stop it.
After all, she was just a granddaughter—nothing like the child in her third aunt’s belly, whom everyone insisted would be a boy.
"Your great-aunt didn’t give them the address, did she?" Second Old Lady didn’t think this sounded like anything good.
If they’d really wanted to find her, they would have done so earlier. What kind of people wait until a child is grown before suddenly deciding to look for her?
"My great-aunt didn’t give it to them, but everyone in the Shan family knows my mother remarried into Yan Family Village. They’ll probably go there to ask around."
Back when Second Old Lady and Yan Jigang had written to her, she couldn’t mail the letters herself—she’d relied on people from the village, so someone must know something.
Yan Xue finished reading the letter and tucked it back in, "It’s fine. Whatever they’re planning, they’ll need my cooperation, and I’m not interested."
"But you’re about to give birth." Second Old Lady glanced at her belly, still worried.
Next month was Yan Xue’s due date. Qi Fang wanted her to deliver at the hospital, believing it would be safer.
But going to the hospital meant dealing with the hassle of travel—the logging camp was too far from any medical facility.
If she caught a chill on the way back, it could leave her with lasting health issues. After much discussion, the family had decided to wait and see how Yan Xue was doing when the time came.
And now, on top of everything, her biological father’s family was stirring up trouble. Second Old Lady felt like standing guard at the door with a broom, ready to chase them off the moment they showed up.
When Qi Fang returned at noon, Yan Xue thought it over and decided to tell him, "If you run into them, just ignore them."
Qi Fang frowned, glancing at her belly and then her expression, "You’re not upset, are you?"
"Why would I be upset over people who don’t matter?" Yan Xue smiled.
Besides, it was just a letter. If she let herself get worked up now, how would she handle everything else?
Yan Xue couldn’t be bothered to care about them, but Qi Fang noticed her choice of words—unimportant.
Was it because they weren’t important that she could brush them off so easily?
Looking into her clear, beautiful eyes, Qi Fang’s gaze softened, "Then don’t pay them any attention."
Still, he later went to Second Old Lady to ask about Yan Xue’s biological father’s family, just to be prepared.
But even Second Old Lady didn’t know much, "No idea. I just heard they were fairly well-off. Yan Xue’s mother had several sets of satin clothes."
She added, "Her mother never talked about it much. Her great-aunt might know more."
Yan Xue didn’t like discussing it either. After some thought, Qi Fang decided not to press further and instead made sure to come home even earlier each day.
A few days later, Liu Weiguo went into the mountains with the logging team. He also made a trip to the county town to help deliver goods for Yan Xue’s pilot project.
The items were transported by the bureau’s internal combustion engine to the town, then hauled by horse-drawn cart to the county. By the end of October, most of the stock had been sold.
After calculating the numbers, Yan Xue went to see Secretary Lang, "When would you and Acting Director Ning be available? Before I’m too far along, let’s settle the accounts."
"Already? Has all the trial batch of mushrooms been sold?" Secretary Lang remembered there being quite a lot.
Yan Xue had to admit Liu Weiguo had been impressively efficient, "Almost everything’s gone. Besides Chengshui and the county town, we’ve sold in several other towns too."
With the entire county’s population, that made sense. Secretary Lang nodded, "Alright, let me check with Acting Director Ning."
Acting Director Ning was still only provisional, though after the year-end meeting, he’d likely be confirmed in his position next year. For now, he took a hands-off approach to management.
As the deputy, he was content to let Secretary Lang handle things. If Secretary Lang succeeded, he’d benefit too—maybe even get promoted if Secretary Lang moved up.
Acting Director Ning was nothing if not pragmatic. If Secretary Lang wanted him to lend his name to the project, he did. If he was asked to review the accounts, he’d do that too.
That day, Lang Yue'e and Zhou Wenhui accompanied Yan Xue to the camp office. Zhou Wenhui carried the ledger, while Lang Yue'e held the money box.
They’d just withdrawn the cash from the bank—keeping large sums at the pilot site wasn’t safe, so they made regular deposits at the town bank.
Most organizations operated this way at the time. Those located nearby even made daily deposits, while individual savers were rare.
The pilot project was Yan Xue’s brainchild, built on her cultivation techniques. When she entered the office, Secretary Lang personally pulled out a chair for her.
Once everyone was seated and the ledger and money box were opened, Acting Director Ning was surprised, "This much?"
He hadn’t planned to say much, but the cash in the box far exceeded his expectations—eight or nine stacks.
And this was after paying the temporary workers. Including their wages and other expenses, the total must have been over ten thousand.
This was only the first year, and the initial investment had been substantial. He’d assumed breaking even would be an achievement.
Secretary Lang was also taken aback, but since Lang Yue'e worked at the site and he kept close tabs on it, the numbers weren’t too far off his estimates.
"This includes the share for the bureau and the payment owed to Yan Xue for the mushroom spawn, right?" He flipped through the ledger.
"Correct." Yan Xue produced the IOU, stamped with both the pilot project’s seal and the camp’s official seal.
Secretary Lang examined it before passing it to Acting Director Ning, "Then let’s settle Yan Xue’s payment first."
Yan Xue had sold the camp over 1,000 bottles of spawn at fifty cents each. Zhou Wenhui quickly tallied the abacus, arriving at a total of 527.5 yuan.
That alone matched some workers’ annual wages—and there was still more to account for.
After Zhou Wenhui finished the calculations and Lang Yue'e counted out the cash, the IOU was voided. Next was the bureau’s 20% share.
Based on total sales, this came to over 2,000 yuan. Secretary Lang had the camp’s accountant record the amount.
The accountant, who’d been called in to assist with the audit, had been stunned since the beginning, barely snapping back to attention when Secretary Lang addressed him.
Then came the camp’s initial investment of 4,000 yuan, covering setup costs and early wages. Only after all these deductions did the project’s actual profit emerge.
Secretary Lang thought for a moment, then turned to Acting Director Ning, "As we discussed earlier, since this isn’t just a one-year project, we’ll recover the funds over several years."
This had been a precaution in case the first year’s earnings were modest—if the camp withdrew all its capital, the young team might struggle to pay salaries.
But now…
Acting Director Ning eyed the remaining stacks in the box but kept his thoughts to himself, "How many years do you think would be appropriate?"
"Then let's split it over two years. We'll withdraw 2,000 this year." Secretary Lang also glanced at the pile of money.
There was simply too much—he couldn’t suggest stretching it over five or ten years to withdraw bit by bit.
But even splitting it over two years meant the remaining four, including Yan Xue, would each get around 1,000.
The accountant from the forestry center calculated the figures while marveling inwardly. This wasn’t just a pilot project—it was a goldmine.
If the short-term workers found out, they’d surely regret their choices. How could their wages compare?
But how the others divided the money afterward was their own business. The accountant only handled the forestry center’s books, and the center itself didn’t interfere.
Once the accounts were settled and the money stored away, Yan Xue didn’t leave immediately. Instead, she handed Secretary Lang a few sheets of paper. "Take a look at this."
The last time she’d given him something to review, it had been the pilot project proposal. Secretary Lang’s expression, which had just relaxed, turned serious again as he took the papers.
Acting Director Ning, standing nearby, couldn’t help but catch the title at the top: Jinchuan Fungus Cultivation Base Second-Year Work Plan.
She was about to give birth, and she was still drafting work plans?
Acting Director Ning was curious about the contents.
Secretary Lang was equally curious about what Yan Xue had planned. He flipped through the pages, then smiled. "I’ll study this carefully later."
Dealing with smart people had its perks. Yan Xue chuckled, cradling her belly as she stood. "Then we’ll head back now."
Back home, the earnings were distributed based on work contributions. Yan Xue, having contributed the most, received the largest share—over 1,000 yuan.
Guo Chang’an, who’d been working under Yan Xue since last year in a technical role, got more than 900.
Lang Yue'e and Zhou Wenhui, serving as cashier and accountant respectively, received slightly less but still nearly 700 each—more than most male workers at the forestry center.
Not to mention their work wasn’t physically demanding, and they even had several months a year with little to do.
As soon as the money was divided, the families started sending gifts to Yan Xue—food, household items, even little clothes for the baby.
Aunt Guo was the most frequent visitor, her smile unwavering since seeing Guo Chang’an’s wages.
Over 900 yuan! Even if Chang’an hadn’t been injured and had become a lumberjack, he might never have earned that much in his life.
Word had also spread about the pilot project’s success, and in just a few days, several people had approached her to introduce potential brides for Chang’an.
All of them were capable, sensible young women. But when she told Chang’an, he said he wasn’t in a hurry—next year would be soon enough.
She agreed. As long as Chang’an worked under Yan Xue, his future would only get brighter. Why worry about finding a wife?
Not just Guo Chang’an—even Lang Yue'e was suddenly flooded with matchmaking offers. Meanwhile, others were kicking themselves for not signing up as long-term workers.
What was a daily wage of one yuan compared to this? They could’ve earned hundreds in a year.
Why hadn’t they known the pilot project would be so profitable? And with the fungus logs still producing next year, the earnings would only grow.
Regretful, they rushed to Yan Xue, hoping to secure a spot for next year in advance.
Flattery poured out like water, but Yan Xue remained firm. "We don’t know how many workers we’ll need next year. Wait for the official recruitment."
When they couldn’t get their names on the list, they tried other avenues—knocking on Secretary Lang’s door, Acting Director Ning’s, even the Guo and Liu households.
Huang Fengying, cradling her granddaughter, dropped by for a visit. "Our families are close, but not so close that we’d abuse the connection. They should’ve signed up this year if they wanted in."
Zhou Wenhui was already earning well under Yan Xue, and Liu Weiguo had received plenty of bonuses. One had to be content.
Neither the Liu nor Guo families would make unreasonable requests, and Secretary Lang and Acting Director Ning certainly wouldn’t jeopardize their own achievements.
The only one struggling was Second Old Lady. "I ran into Mrs. Qian earlier, and she shoved two radishes into my hands, bragging about how capable her daughter-in-law is."
The old woman clearly hadn’t been able to refuse. Yan Xue found it amusing. "Maybe you should stay home for a few days."
"And leave you, with that big belly, to take out the trash?" Second Old Lady steadied her. "Still no signs of labor?"
Qi Fang had taken Yan Xue to a doctor in town. The baby was in good position, and her health was excellent—home birth was recommended.
The baby’s head had already engaged, and labor could start any day. Second Old Lady and Qi Fang made sure Yan Xue took daily walks.
Just then, another knock came at the door. Before Yan Xue could respond, Second Old Lady called out, "Didn’t we say to wait for next year’s recruitment?"
She opened the door to find not a familiar face from the forestry center, but a stranger—a lean man in his forties holding a slip of paper.
"Is Yan Xue here?" he asked.
Second Old Lady’s heart sank with suspicion, but she couldn’t just turn him away. "Who are you?"
The man stepped inside without waiting for an answer. "Is she home? I need to speak with her."
He didn’t introduce himself, his strides outpacing hers as he entered the main room.
There, he saw Yan Xue, one hand on her lower back, pacing slowly. He froze. "Xiuyan?"
It had been years since Yan Xue had heard that name. She studied him. "You must have the wrong person."
Second Old Lady caught up. "Where are your manners, barging into someone’s home like this?"
The man ignored her, eyes fixed on Yan Xue. "Xiuyan, don’t you remember me? I’m your Uncle Yongkang. I held you when you were little."
Of course Yan Xue remembered. Xue Yongkang—son of her biological father’s clan leader, close to her father.
But why would she acknowledge him?
She smiled. "You’re mistaken. There’s no Xiuyan here—only Yan Xue."
The name Xue Xiuyan had stayed behind when she left that family. She was Yan Xue now, with only Second Old Lady and Yan Jigang as her true family.
The woman before him bore traces of the girl he’d known, but her smile held no submission—nothing like her mother.
Xue Yongkang hesitated. "Fine, deny me if you must. But don’t deny your roots. The Xue family raised you."
Yan Xue didn’t bother responding this time. "Grandma, I’m tired."
Second Old Lady hurried to her side. "Let’s get you to bed." She shooed Xue Yongkang away. "Didn’t you hear her? Get out!"
"Your birth grandmother misses you," Xue Yongkang pressed. "Why else would she send me all this way? She’s even left you an inheritance."
Pretending ignorance wasn’t working. Yan Xue stopped. "Cut the act. State your real purpose—I’m not buying it."
Xue Yongkang also realized this girl wasn’t as soft-hearted as he’d imagined, nor did she harbor any nostalgia for her former family or relatives. Cutting straight to the point, he said, "Your third uncle is on his last legs."
This caught Yan Xue somewhat off guard. Her third uncle was nearly four years younger than her biological father, meaning he shouldn’t even be forty yet.
But what did that have to do with her? Yan Xue rested a hand on her belly, unmoved, even raising a brow as if urging him to hurry up.
Xue Yongkang nearly sighed aloud, regretting having taken on this troublesome errand for his clan aunt, traveling all this way for nothing.
His aunt had insisted that Yan Xue was still young, living under her stepfather’s roof, and surely struggling—just a few coaxing words would do the trick. But how could someone like her be easily swayed?
He switched tactics. "Your third uncle has no children. You’re the only remaining heir in the family. Your grandmother wants to leave everything to you."
If emotions wouldn’t move her, maybe self-interest would. "You know your grandparents have some assets tucked away."
But Yan Xue latched onto something else. "No children? When I left, my third aunt was already pregnant."
"She was. She gave birth to a son," Xue Yongkang admitted. "But during the famine of 1960, the child didn’t survive. Your third uncle’s health was ruined too."
No wonder they’d come looking for her. Their family line was on the verge of extinction. After all, her grandparents only had three sons—the eldest had died in battle years ago.
Moreover, her grandfather was the only male heir for three generations, with little connection to the rest of the clan. He probably wouldn’t want outsiders inheriting everything.
A glint of understanding flashed in Yan Xue’s eyes. "They didn’t just want me back out of goodwill, did they? Are they expecting me to take care of them in their old age, or…?"
Truly, neither sentiment nor material gain could cloud her judgment. Even faced with such a tempting offer, she still picked apart the details.
Xue Yongkang suppressed another sigh before answering, "Aren’t you already married? They just want your husband to carry the funeral basin for your third uncle."
Meaning they expected Qi Fang to act as the filial descendant—performing rites like carrying the burial urn and filling the grave, since local customs barred women from entering burial grounds.
Yan Xue nearly laughed. "Do you really not know why my mother was so desperate to remarry—even changing my surname—back then?"
Her mother had initially planned to mourn as a widow. The two families lived close enough that Xue Yongkang’s father, the clan leader, couldn’t have been completely ignorant.
Sure enough, Xue Yongkang’s gaze flickered at her words, which only amused Yan Xue further. "And knowing all that, you still expect my husband to carry his funeral basin? What were you all thinking?"
Xue Yongkang hadn’t anticipated her remembering so much. With no good explanation, he muttered, "Our local customs say the one who carries the basin inherits half the estate."
Lowering his voice, he coaxed, "It’s not like you have to do it yourself. Isn’t it better for you to take your third uncle’s half rather than let outsiders have it?"
But what was in it for him, traveling all this way to track her down?
Surely not just out of fondness for her late father, worried she’d miss this windfall.
Yan Xue waved him off. "Save your breath. Even if I were desperate—which I’m not—I’d never let my husband kowtow to a scumbag."
Her mother had nearly been violated back then, yet received no justice. Was she supposed to twist the knife now?
Qi Fang was an upright man. Why should he kneel before a monster and play the filial heir?
Seeing Xue Yongkang gearing up for another attempt, Yan Xue clutched her belly. "Honestly, I could go into labor any minute. Do you really want to be responsible for stressing out a woman on the verge of childbirth?"
That shut him up. After all, he was here to persuade her, not make an enemy.
If Yan Xue went into premature labor because of him—or worse—how could she possibly agree to their demands?
Terrible timing. Why did Xiuyan have to be due now? Had he come just a little later, none of this would’ve been an issue.
Out of options, Xue Yongkang excused himself, saying he’d return when she was "less occupied."
But childbirth was unpredictable. What if it took weeks? He couldn’t idle around forever.
On his way out, he stopped a passerby. "Excuse me, do you know where Yan Xue’s husband works?"
"Oh, you mean Technician Qi?" The man brightened—everyone at the forestry station knew the couple.
He pointed toward the repair yard. "Just ask for Technician Qi there." Then, curious, "You know Technician Yan?"
"Technician Yan?" This was the second time Xue Yongkang had heard the title.
The man blinked. "You know her but didn’t know that?"
Before Xue Yongkang could probe further, the man was called away, leaving him no choice but to head to the repair yard.
Sure enough, asking for "Technician Qi" led him straight to the man.
Qi Fang was in his early twenties, strikingly handsome—a good match for Xiuyan.
But his demeanor was ice-cold, the type who ruled the household and wouldn’t bend to a wife’s whims.
Xue Yongkang skipped the pleasantries, introducing himself and stating his purpose.
Women got emotional and turned down benefits, but surely this man knew better.
Qi Fang finally looked up. "How much are we talking?"
His tone dripped sarcasm—Yan Xue didn’t need handouts, and neither did he.
But Xue Yongkang misread it. "Her family used to run a small distillery with proprietary recipes. After the public-private mergers, they worked at the liquor factory."
Though collectivized, they’d kept some assets. Being a martyr’s family also offered some protection.
Qi Fang zeroed in on one detail. "Just a small distillery?"
This didn’t align with his assumptions. He’d figured Yan Xue came from an intellectual or high-ranking family.
How could a small-town distillery explain her breadth of knowledge?
If not from her biological father’s side, where else?
Unless this Yan Xue wasn’t the original—but her brother Yan Jigang had lived with her for years. Wouldn’t he have noticed?
Frowning, Qi Fang fell silent. Xue Yongkang mistook it for dissatisfaction.
Was this guy really scoffing at free money? Greedy much?
He was about to elaborate when someone burst in. "Technician Qi! Grandma Yan sent me—Technician Yan’s in labor!"
Qi Fang bolted upright. "Is the midwife here?"
He shot Xue Yongkang a look so frigid it chilled him to the bone.
Wait—was he blaming him for this?
As if he’d stressed her into labor?
Qi Fang [jots down in his notebook]: Just you wait—once my wife gives birth, you’ll see.
