At that time, Yan Xue had already finished her postpartum confinement and was bathing her little one in a large basin inside the house.
Babies who nurse tend to carry a strong milky scent, and with the added necessity of diapers, they require frequent washing—every few days, in fact. Of course, this was only possible because Yan Xue’s household had a boiler-heated wall that kept the place warm. Otherwise, in such cold weather, who would dare bathe a child so often?
But precisely because of the warmth, the little one didn’t seem to mind at all. The moment he was placed in the water, he began splashing wildly, arms and legs flailing.
"You think you’re swimming?" Yan Xue gave his tiny bottom a light pat, feeling as though even one hand could barely hold him steady.
The baby hadn’t been particularly large at birth. Due to Yan Xue’s small frame making delivery difficult, she had carefully managed his weight during pregnancy. But he was a hearty eater and sleeper, and in the month since his arrival, he had grown noticeably.
Qi Fang had returned home early that day. After washing the baby’s diapers, he had hung them to dry on the heated wall opposite the kang, a whole row of them. Seeing that Yan Xue was struggling to manage alone—and with the elderly woman of the household having been called away—he stepped in to help.
However, their little one didn’t seem inclined to give his father any face. The moment Qi Fang reached out, the baby thrashed even more vigorously, even lifting his head stubbornly.
Qi Fang shot his son a look but said nothing.
The baby stared back at him, still unable to speak, but his tiny neck was stiff with defiance.
Whether it was lingering resentment from the womb or simply an innate clash of temperaments, the father and son often found themselves at odds like this. Changing diapers or wiping his bottom was one thing, but if the baby truly started crying, Qi Fang had no hope of soothing him.
One moment, the child would be wailing at the top of his lungs; the next, the instant he was placed in Yan Xue’s arms, he would quiet down immediately, blinking up at her with wide eyes.
But with the elderly woman still away and the bathwater at risk of cooling, Qi Fang had no choice but to press on.
And so, the baby’s inability to speak became a disadvantage. Though he glared at his father, his entire body radiating refusal, he had no way to voice his objections.
So he resorted to his ultimate weapon. Just as Qi Fang finished helping Yan Xue and reached to lift him out of the water, the baby let loose—soaking his father in an unmistakable arc.
The stream was so blatant that Yan Xue couldn’t possibly ignore it, especially since the room was so warm that Qi Fang had earlier removed his outer sweater.
The man’s shirt was instantly drenched. He looked down at himself, then at his son, and said nothing.
Qi Fang was fastidious by nature. Even during the grueling labor of mountain logging, he maintained impeccable hygiene.
His son, on the other hand, after relieving himself, simply stared back with big, dark eyes, his little neck still stiff with defiance.
For a moment, father and son seemed locked in a silent standoff—until, seconds later, the smaller one suddenly burst into loud, dramatic wails.
The elderly woman happened to return at that very moment. Hearing the cries, she hurried inside. "What’s wrong? Why’s he crying during his bath?"
Yan Xue didn’t know whether to laugh or scold. She quickly took the baby and patted his back. "He just peed all over his father, and now he’s the one crying first."
The old woman caught sight of the damp stain on Qi Fang’s shirt and shook her head in amusement. "Where on earth did you learn this from?"
"It’s fine," Qi Fang finally said, retrieving a clean shirt from the wardrobe while the women swiftly dried and dressed the baby.
Just as they settled the little one back onto the kang, the postman knocked at the door, announcing a letter for Qi Fang.
Still changing inside, Qi Fang let Yan Xue retrieve it. She glanced at the envelope. "Zhou Li wrote back."
Qi Fang gave a quiet "Mm," watching as she set the letter on the table. He had intended to read it later but paused, reconsidering. "You read it first."
Yan Xue blinked in surprise. The man had already rolled up his sleeves and picked up the soiled shirt. "I’ll go wash this."
Washing a single shirt wouldn’t take long. He could easily have read the letter first—or waited until after.
Yan Xue looked up and found Qi Fang’s gaze meeting hers, steady and open, brimming with trust.
So she lowered her eyes and unfolded the letter. In both lifetimes combined, this was the first time she had ever read someone else’s mail before they did.
The oddness of it made her hesitate. She took a breath before finally focusing on the words.
By the time Qi Fang returned, having wrung out the shirt and hung it to dry on the heated wall, she had finished. "What does it say?" he asked casually.
Yan Xue replied just as naturally, "He mentioned being busy lately, hence the delayed reply. Also, he heard some news about another family’s affairs."
Clearly, the latter was the real point. Qi Fang didn’t press further. He rolled down his sleeves, picked up the letter, and read it himself.
Zhou Li, true to being Qi Fang’s friend, matched his discretion. Qi Fang had written vaguely, and Zhou Li responded in kind, mentioning only that a friend of his had spoken of an elder in their family who had recently reunited with a long-lost son.
The child had been born during the revolutionary years. With the parents forced to relocate and unable to take the infant along, they had left him with a local family, who raised him under their own surname. Such cases weren’t uncommon back then.
Zhou Li then digressed into reflections on the hardships of the revolution, the gratitude owed to the leaders’ sacrifices, and the blessings of their current lives.
Qi Fang skimmed the rest before lifting his eyes to meet Yan Xue’s. Without a word, they exchanged a silent understanding.
"Not from that side," Qi Fang murmured. For safety’s sake, he took the letter to burn it.
When he returned, the baby was already asleep. Yan Xue remained seated by the kang, her gaze lifting the moment he entered, waiting.
Qi Fang walked over and pulled her into his arms. "Seems we didn’t pick the wrong person."
Qu Mingli, a pragmatic man of action, didn’t fit the mold of those they had suspected.
Still, given the gravity of the matter, Yan Xue kept her voice low. "You’re sure about this?"
"Yes," Qi Fang answered without hesitation. "Aside from the things we can’t reveal from the teacher’s notes, we’ll do everything we can."
But with year-end duties piling up at the bureau and the logging teams still in the mountains, some plans would have to wait.
Qi Fang brushed his fingers lightly over Yan Xue’s cheek. "If your pilot project keeps expanding, will it soon extend beyond Chengshui?"
"Not that fast," Yan Xue laughed. "Just managing the seven forest farms in Chengshui is enough for now."
Cultivating mushrooms wasn’t as simple as planting and waiting. There were unexpected challenges—contaminants, this year’s relentless rains. After supplying the spores, Yan Xue still had to guide the other farms through planting and harvesting. Only once they gained experience could she consider the next step.
Remembering how, in the original timeline, Qi Fang had spent over a decade in stagnation, she gave him an encouraging pat. "Take it slow. There’s no rush."
They were still young. There was plenty of time to lay a solid foundation, step by step, until the day everything concluded.
A long silence followed. When Yan Xue glanced up, she found Qi Fang’s peach-blossom eyes lowered, fixed on the hand she had just used to pat him.
It took her a second to realize—she had been sitting while he stood, and her gesture had landed squarely on his chest…
She hadn’t intended to act improperly, but just as Yan Xue was about to withdraw her hand, the man caught it firmly, his gaze trailing from her hand up to her.
After her postpartum recovery, Yan Xue had lost some weight, but compared to before her pregnancy, she was still noticeably fuller, her sweater now snug against her curves. From Qi Fang’s angle, he could even glimpse the fair skin at her collar, his thumb unconsciously stroking the back of her hand.
The slightly rough touch, warm with his body heat, sent a familiar tingling sensation wherever it brushed. Only then did Yan Xue remember—it had been a long time since they’d been intimate. Their earlier argument and his business trip had kept them sleeping apart for a while.
But in the end, the man let go and averted his gaze. "You’re going to Wangshan Forestry Farm tomorrow to help them pick a site?"
"To guide them in picking a site," Yan Xue corrected carefully. She wasn’t the type to barge into someone else’s territory and boss them around.
But Secretary Lang of Wangshan Forestry Farm clearly believed her experience in successfully managing the pilot project at Jinchuan Forestry Farm made her the best choice. Rather than risk a haphazard selection, they’d rather defer to her.
Qi Fang, whether intentionally or not, kept his eyes off her. "Has Xiaojinchuan Forestry Farm reached out to you?"
Yan Xue was momentarily speechless. "How many years are you going to hold onto this? Even if I were going to Xiaojinchuan, it’s up in the mountains, isn’t it?"
"Not necessarily," Qi Fang actually snorted. "What if you end up on another blind date? Our son won’t be there to tag along this time."
Yan Xue couldn’t be bothered to rehash that old blind date incident. She simply smiled. "Then it’ll depend on whether you choose to leave me behind again."
Checkmate. The man fell silent instantly. After a pause, he asked, "Wife, are you hungry? Want me to get you something to eat?"
Unexpectedly, after finishing the site selection at Wangshan Forestry Farm, Xiaojinchuan did reach out to her. Yan Xue couldn’t help but laugh when she heard.
Secretary Lang, who came to relay the news, was oblivious to the backstory. "Is there a problem?"
"No," Yan Xue shook her head. "I was just thinking how close the two forestry farms are, yet I’ve never been to Xiaojinchuan."
It turned out Qi Fang’s prediction had come true. She wondered if his mouth was somehow prophetic—would she really run into another blind date?
A few days later, Yan Xue wrapped up her survey at Xiaojinchuan. The logging team was still up in the mountains, so she didn’t run into Qi Fang, let alone another blind date.
Only one other forestry farm had sought her help; the rest had made their own selections—either too far away or not closely affiliated enough.
The final two farms reported their desired quantities of mushroom spawn, both cautiously starting with just 1,000 bottles for trial cultivation.
After reviewing the numbers with Guo Chang’an and confirming they wouldn’t exceed the nursery’s capacity, Yan Xue began preparing materials in December. By January, the mother cultures were already growing.
After the New Year, the spawn cultivation was underway. Xu Wanchang and Gao Daidi returned to work, and soon, others began knocking on their door, eager to apply for permanent positions.
Yan Xue discussed it with the team and decided to repost the job notice, even enlisting the farm’s broadcaster to spread the word.
Applicants could apply for permanent roles, but with a condition: they had to work as temporary laborers for a full year first, meeting a minimum attendance requirement, before qualifying for permanent status the following year.
Even then, permanence wasn’t guaranteed. Poor performance could demote them back to temporary status—or get them dismissed altogether.
This was to weed out those just looking to cash in without putting in the work. The screening would happen in the first year.
The news disappointed many, who now regretted not applying for permanent roles the previous year.
But there were also diligent workers who saw the pilot project’s potential and were willing to put in a year as temps for a shot at permanence.
That said, only two people qualified for permanent status this year: Xu Wanchang and Gao Daidi.
The announcement left them both overjoyed—and the envy of many, especially Xu Wanchang.
Lang Yue’e had helped him inquire with Secretary Lang: his children could enroll in the forestry farm’s school as transfer students. He’d already arranged to rent the Guo family’s house.
Now, with his promotion to permanent status, his share of profits would grow. He didn’t know how to thank Yan Xue enough. His daughter, Xu Xiaoli, on winter break, started helping at the pilot site daily.
A few days later, Xu Xiaoli showed up at Yan Xue’s doorstep with two bundles of firewood and a large bag of walnut kernels—all painstakingly shelled by hand.
Yan Xue had repeatedly told her not to bring gifts, but the girl kept doing so. Even Gao Daidi’s mother showed up at Yan Xue’s house with two cans of preserves.
This was a rare visit. Last year’s payday and this year’s New Year had passed without a word from her. Gao Daidi had come alone to pay her respects.
But Yan Xue had hired and promoted Gao Daidi based on merit, not her family.
"Oh, Technician Yan, thank you so much for giving our Daidi such a good job—and making her permanent!"
The woman barged in, all smiles and enthusiasm, plopping the preserves on Yan Xue’s kang. "I know your family doesn’t need these, but it’s just a small token."
"Daidi earned it. She didn’t miss a single day last year," Yan Xue said, pushing the cans back.
Xu Xiaoli’s gifts were harder to refuse—the girl would drop them and bolt before Yan Xue could react.
But Gao Daidi’s mother was different. The two cans became a back-and-forth tug-of-war, accompanied by a flood of flattery that only made Yan Xue more suspicious.
Finally, Yan Xue stopped the charade. "Auntie, is there something else you wanted to discuss?"
"Well, there is one more thing," the woman admitted with a smile. "You see, Daidi’s younger brother graduated from middle school last year. He’s stuck at the youth brigade without a proper job..."
The forestry farm hadn’t hired in years. Graduates typically joined the youth brigade, working seasonal jobs with the families’ team in the mountains.
Yan Xue guessed her intent. "I’ve checked with Secretary Lang. Youth brigade members can apply for temporary positions here. But I should clarify—there are no permanent slots available right now."
"How many youth brigade members ever get permanence anyway? It takes years, if ever. He’d earn more here."
The woman was clearly set on this. Yan Xue pushed the preserves back again. "Then just have him come apply. There’s no need for gifts."
But the woman didn’t take them. Her smile turned ingratiating, her expression hesitant. Yan Xue raised a brow. "You’re not expecting me to make him permanent right away, are you? That’s not something I can do."
She’d set the rules. Breaking them would defeat the purpose—otherwise, anyone could bypass the system with connections.
Gao Daidi’s mother knew this. "No, no. I just wanted to ask... if Daidi’s brother could take her place as the permanent worker?"
"You want him to replace her?" This time, Yan Xue didn’t just raise a brow—her voice turned icy.
Gao Daidi's mother had sensed something was amiss, but she was clearly more focused on her own agenda. "We're all family—does it really matter who does the job? Daidi and her brother are the same."
"Daidi worked hard for a whole year to earn that permanent position, and now you want your son to take her place?" Yan Xue ignored her reasoning and repeated the question.
This time, the woman realized things weren’t going her way. "What choice do I have? Daidi’s just a girl—whether she has a job or not, she’ll still get married. But her brother’s different. Without a decent job, how’s he supposed to find a wife?"
Her face was the picture of self-sacrifice for the family. "Besides, it’s not like she’s being kicked out—she can still work as a temporary laborer."
She even glanced at Yan Xue, as if seeking validation. "Technician Yan, you have a son too. You must understand, right?"
Yan Xue did not understand. Before being a mother to a son, she was first and foremost a woman.
And how could a woman speak so shamelessly about sacrificing and belittling another woman?
There were already too many families who gave the only egg to their son, the only bowl of rice porridge to their son. Did daughters now have to surrender everything they earned for themselves to their brothers too?
She grabbed the two cans of food and shoved them back into the woman’s arms. "Enough. I won’t agree to this."
Afraid of dropping the goods, the woman scrambled to catch them and tried to argue, but Yan Xue cut her off. "Daidi won’t be keeping her permanent position either."
The woman froze, then panicked. "Why? On what grounds? Daidi earned that job herself!"
So she did remember it was Daidi who earned it. Yan Xue didn’t even want to waste anger on someone like her—it wasn’t worth it. "Then you should ask yourself that question."
With a mother like this, Daidi probably wouldn’t even get to keep her wages anyway. Whether she worked permanently or temporarily made little difference.
Yan Xue had made up her mind—she would revoke Gao Daidi’s permanent position and let her mother stew in regret. It would also serve as a warning to others, so no one else would dare pull such a stunt.
The next day, she brought the matter up at the pilot site. Everyone was outraged, especially Lang Yue'e and Zhou Wenhui, who were women themselves.
Lang Yue'e was better off—her family treated their daughters fairly. But Zhou Wenhui, who had a daughter of her own, felt the injustice deeply.
Zhou Wenhui even worried about Gao Daidi’s situation. "If she loses her permanent job, will her mother take it out on her?"
"Then let’s see if her mother wants to risk losing the temporary job too," Yan Xue said. "I doubt she’d give up several hundred yuan a year just to vent her anger."
Gao Daidi’s mother indeed couldn’t bear the loss. The moment Yan Xue threatened to revoke the temporary position if she caused more trouble, she immediately backed down.
Permanent or temporary, a job meant income—better than keeping Daidi at home where she’d fetch little dowry when married off.
Still, the thought of losing that permanent position made her sick with regret. Her husband even berated her, calling her shortsighted and a troublemaker.
But when she first suggested swapping the position for their son, he hadn’t objected—he’d even told her to bring gifts when pleading with Yan Xue.
The incident spread, turning the Gao family into the laughingstock of the forestry center. Who had ever heard of someone spitting out a benefit already in their mouth?
"People are lining up for that job, and she threw it away? What an idiot!"
"Honestly, if I were her, I’d slap myself twice—serves her right for being greedy!"
"Favoritism has its limits. Does she even realize Daidi only got that job because she’s disabled?"
"Poor Daidi. Even like this, she’s stuck with such a mother. Thank goodness for Technician Yan..."
If Gao Daidi weren’t disabled and unable to work elsewhere, her family might not have even let her join the pilot site in the first place—back when no one believed it would be profitable.
Who could’ve guessed the once-unwanted permanent position would become so coveted that it led to this mess?
The one who suffered most in all this was Gao Daidi. She might be deaf, but she wasn’t stupid.
And there were always busybodies who made sure she found out. Yan Xue noticed she had become even quieter than usual.
Seeing the girl staring blankly at the boiler, Yan Xue nudged her and handed her a note: "I’ve asked Sister Wenhui to keep your wages for you."
Gao Daidi stiffened in surprise, looking up at her with disbelief.
Yan Xue took the paper back and wrote: "She’ll open a separate account for you and save the extra."
Finally, Gao Daidi understood—Technician Yan was saying she’d still be paid as a permanent worker.
She shook her head hurriedly, but Yan Xue’s gaze softened as she wrote: "This is what you rightfully earned."
The elegant handwriting matched the gentle beauty of Technician Yan. "When you’re finally free to make your own choices, we’ll give it all to you."
Tears welled up in Gao Daidi’s eyes. She hadn’t cried when her family tried to replace her with her brother, but now she did.
She lowered her head, not wanting Yan Xue to see, but Technician Yan reached out and lightly patted her head.
Then another note was placed in front of her:
"Don’t worry. A capable girl like you will have her freedom one day."
Gao Daidi nodded, forcing a grateful smile as she mouthed, "Thank you."
Yan Xue gave her one last pat before tossing the note into the boiler, letting the flames erase all evidence.
From then on, only heaven, earth, and the core members of the pilot site knew the truth.
So it was a surprise when Qi Fang, back from the repair factory, brought it up.
The man was sketching designs at the table when he casually remarked, "Gao Changshun came to see me today."
Yan Xue paused before remembering—that was Gao Daidi’s father. "What did he want?"
"To beg for leniency, to ask you to reconsider and let Gao Daidi keep her job." His tone was indifferent. "I ignored him."
"Good. I doubt he was ignorant of this whole scheme." Yan Xue went to check on their child.
The audacity—knowing she wouldn’t budge, he’d gone to Qi Fang instead, as if he had any say in the matter.
"Don’t worry. The logging team heads up the mountain tomorrow." Qi Fang clearly didn’t consider it worth his attention, nor did he think it would trouble Yan Xue.
Sometimes, Yan Xue found it refreshing to be married to a man so detached from worldly concerns. He had no patience for trivial disputes or outdated traditions.
The only downside was that this detachment extended to other areas lately.
After feeding their child at night, Qi Fang would place the baby between them and lie down to sleep without a second thought.
Before the baby was born, Yan Xue had at least gotten the occasional affectionate moment. Now, two months postpartum, when they could finally resume certain activities, he acted like a monk.
Dressed in full pajamas, he lay stiffly on the other side of the crib, the very image of indifference—as if "I have no interest in sex" were written across his forehead.
Yan Xue glanced at him once, then again. He noticed and frowned. "What?"
"Nothing." Her eyes swept over him from head to toe. "Just checking if Guard Qi has taken monastic vows or forgotten how to wield his sword."
Qi Fang: I suspect my wife is implying I'm not good enough in bed...
Yan Xue: Be confident—just drop the "suspect."
