"Uh, I don’t have any money on me—just twenty-two yuan."
Shen Xianjun spoke up, thinking of his empty pockets, only to receive a disdainful look from his brother-in-law.
"Brother, what’s that supposed to mean? Ever since I got married, my allowance hasn’t even reached my hands."
Back then, he could at least afford an occasional cigarette. Now, all his bad habits were gone.
"No, you’re doing great. Keep it up. No need for you to chip in."
Hu Jun quickly caught himself.
"Then stop grinning like that, brother!"
"Was I? You must’ve imagined it. Hurry up and get ready. Even though it’s a holiday, you can’t slack off on studying. Your foreign language foundation is still weak. We’ll head to the study later."
Hu Jun deftly changed the subject.
The two-week holiday passed in the blink of an eye, and before they knew it, November arrived, bringing colder weather.
Lao Yang’s Noodle Shop had added lamb soup to its menu. Simmered from four in the morning, the rich aroma wafted from breakfast until noon, teasing everyone’s appetite.
"It’s getting cold. I wonder how Nian is doing now."
As Yang Yufen stewed the lamb, her thoughts drifted to her daughter-in-law, who hadn’t called home in a long time.
"Nian isn’t a child anymore. She knows how to take care of herself. Old Hu found out that the professor she’s working under now is incredibly accomplished—and exceptionally strict."
Professor Wen was worried too.
"Could it be even colder over there? Do they have heating? I should’ve packed that electric blanket for Nian back then."
Months without a single call—how could Yang Yufen not worry? This wasn’t like before, when Nian was still in their own country. Now, she was on foreign soil.
"Don’t worry. The embassy will keep an eye out. Their development is even better than ours."
That was all Professor Wen could say to comfort her.
Yang Yufen realized she’d been rambling. Sensing the lamb was nearly done, she added the radishes.
Qin Nian soaked her hands in warm water before continuing to transcribe her notes. Over this period, she had gained clarity on many things and learned even more. The characters in her notes were a unique shorthand only she could decipher—even if someone else got hold of them, they wouldn’t understand.
This special script was Qin Nian’s own invention, a rapid memorization method that saved time and reinforced her memory, ensuring everything she learned stayed firmly in her mind.
The professor had assigned her to the archives, so she no longer had to rush back to the dorm. Every spare minute was devoted to reading and studying. Stale bread soaked in warm water tasted awful but kept her stomach full.
She was grateful to her mother-in-law for raising her to be sturdy—otherwise, she might not have endured these grueling days. A strong constitution was truly invaluable.
The half-raw beef, heavy with the metallic tang of blood, was something she’d forced herself to swallow. From gagging at first, she’d grown accustomed to it.
Snow fell earlier abroad than back home. Qin Nian glanced at it before tightening the window coverings. She couldn’t afford to fall ill—that would be a waste of precious time.
"Grandma, we’re on holiday!"
Dabao and Little Baby threw themselves into Yang Yufen’s arms.
"Good, good."
"Grandma Yang, can I stay at your place?"
Wang Xing’s face showed none of the usual holiday cheer.
"What’s wrong?" Yang Yufen turned to him.
"The break is too long. I don’t want to go to my grandma’s. Mom and Dad don’t have time for me, and they won’t feel easy leaving me home alone."
Wang Xing hung his head.
"Grandma, let him stay with us! Our bed is big enough!" Dabao and Little Baby chimed in together.
"If your parents agree, Grandma Yang won’t object."
Yang Yufen looked at Wang Xing, who had once been scrawny but now was as plump as Dabao and Little Baby. She couldn’t bear the thought of him losing that healthy glow.
Besides, the boy was bright and well-behaved, and his parents provided his share of food—it wasn’t like he was freeloading.
"They’ll definitely say yes!" Wang Xing perked up instantly.
That evening, Wang Xing told his parents about wanting to stay at Grandma Yang’s.
"Xing, we’ve already inconvenienced Grandma Yang enough. It’s not right. I know you love playing with Dabao and Little Baby, but your grandparents miss you too."
Wang Xing’s father spoke gently.
"No, they don’t miss me—they just want the money and gifts you bring. My cousins always bully me, and Grandma just scolds me for being stingy. I don’t want to go."
"Why didn’t you ever tell us this before?"
Wang Xing’s mother was stunned. She’d always assumed her son was happy at her parents’ place, which was why she sent him there during breaks.
"Because you never had time for me. And before, there was no nursery."
Tears spilled down Wang Xing’s cheeks. His mother pulled him into a hug, only to realize how much heavier he’d gotten.
Now, looking closely, she saw how robust he’d become—his complexion healthier than ever. She’d been too busy to notice. Before, she’d blamed his skinniness on picky eating, since her cooking wasn’t great.
But now it was clear: while he might be a little fussy, it wasn’t as bad as she’d thought. So why had he been so thin before, and now so sturdy? The answer was obvious.
"Alright, you don’t have to go. Tomorrow, Mom will buy some things and take you to Grandma Yang’s. But you must behave, understand?"
"I’m always good! Grandma Yang likes me a lot!"
Wang Xing’s tear-streaked face broke into a grin.
"Good, good. Now go to sleep. We’ll pack your things tomorrow."
Wang Xing’s mother tucked him in, and only then did the couple speak privately.
"I’m sorry. I thought as long as my mom had money, she’d take good care of him. I didn’t realize he was suffering."
"It’s not your fault. I agreed to send him to your parents too. We were too busy, and we trusted family over strangers."
The guilt weighed heavily on them—they’d brought a child into the world but failed to raise him properly.
"Tomorrow, let’s go shopping together and properly thank Auntie Yang."
"Okay."
The nursery closed for the holidays as the New Year approached, and a heavy snowfall made it risky for young children to commute, lest they fall sick one after another.
The next morning, Yang Yufen bundled Dabao and Little Baby in thick layers. After breakfast, the two dashed outside to build a snowman.
Keeping an eye on them from a distance, Yang Yufen wasn’t worried. She washed ginger, sliced it, and simmered it with brown sugar and red dates in a pot. Later, she’d use the brew to make egg-drop soup for the kids when they came back inside.
Professor Wen had been away for days, attending meetings. As year-end approached, everyone was swamped.