Yang Yufen discovered that intricately carved items were also quite popular, and these were much simpler to make than handwoven crafts. She could produce many in a single day.
She had never made birdcages with floral patterns before, but since someone inquired about them today, Yang Yufen decided to give it a try.
With money coming in, Yang Yufen felt energized. There were still bamboo strips left at home, so she didn’t bother resting and immediately picked up her knife to get to work.
Her two children had grown accustomed to being taken out by Yang Yufen, and they were always thrilled whenever they left the house. However, on her fourth trip to Badaling to sell her bamboo crafts, she noticed others had started setting up stalls selling similar items.
Their craftsmanship might not have been as refined as hers, but their prices were lower.
Moreover, unlike Yang Yufen, who had to bring her two children along, these sellers simply carried their goods and actively approached tourists to make sales.
"Aunt Yang, I’m sorry—there are suddenly so many people selling bamboo crafts now," Fan Juan said, feeling rather embarrassed.
"It’s not your fault. Today, you even went out of your way to bring more people here and talked yourself hoarse just to help me attract customers. I saw all your effort. It’s just that I might not come back next time."
As the weather grew hotter, Yang Yufen couldn’t bear to let her children suffer. She had made a lot of items these past few trips, and with her higher prices, she had earned far more than she expected. It was only natural that others would grow envious.
"If you ever bring anything else to sell in the future, Aunt Yang, I can still help you attract customers," Fan Juan offered, feeling it was a shame.
But in the end, this wasn’t something she had control over.
Yang Yufen counted the money she had earned over these days, adding it to her savings—she now had over 6,300 yuan. She set aside 300 for her children’s milk powder and decided to use the rest to see if she could buy a house.
Professor Wen also learned that Yang Yufen had stopped selling bamboo crafts and came to console her.
"You want to buy a house?"
"Yes. Right now, I’m staying in Nian’s place, which is convenient, but I keep thinking—what if my good-for-nothing son suddenly shows up one day? At least this way, I can leave him something. And in the future, it can also go to the two children. I don’t know what else to do with the money, so buying a property and living off the rent seems like the best option."
Hearing this, Professor Wen sighed softly.
"That’s a reasonable way to think. Alright, I’ll help you look into it. You’re skilled and can fix things up yourself, so I’ll see if I can find a suitable house at a lower price. If you’re a bit short, I can lend you the difference, and you can pay me back with the rent later. No need to stand on ceremony—we’re family."
With Professor Wen taking the initiative to help, Yang Yufen felt bad about always taking advantage of his kindness. She picked some vegetables from her garden, filled a basket, and insisted he take them home.
Connections truly made all the difference. If Yang Yufen had searched on her own, who knew how long it would have taken? But with Professor Wen stepping in, he found two homeowners willing to sell within just three days.
"Both places are near the university district. One is asking for 3,500, the other for 5,000. They’re a bit small—combined, they’re about the size of Nian’s old courtyard."
This was already the price Professor Wen had negotiated down.
Yang Yufen didn’t go to see them, but she trusted that Professor Wen wouldn’t deceive Qin Nian.
"I think you should buy both. Your bamboo crafts can still sell, and Nian has a monthly salary too."
Professor Wen himself had taken a liking to a courtyard, thinking it would be a good investment. It would be perfect for retirement someday.
"You have 6,000. If I lend you another 2,500, that should cover it."
After a moment’s thought, Yang Yufen accepted Professor Wen’s suggestion, insisting on writing an IOU and pressing her thumbprint onto it.
Once winter came, she could sell roasted sweet potatoes and earn dozens of yuan a day. A whole season of that would be enough to repay the debt without touching her daughter-in-law’s salary.
Professor Wen accompanied Yang Yufen to finalize the paperwork.
"What name should we put as the owner?"
The clerk at the property bureau kept his head down as he filled in the details.
"Qin Nian. Both properties under Qin Nian."
Yang Yufen handed over the household registration booklet.
Professor Wen, standing nearby, was momentarily stunned. He watched as the clerk wrote down the name and stamped the documents, making it official.
"If the house is for Nian, then forget about the IOU. Consider it our wedding gift to her," Professor Wen said suddenly as they entered the residential compound.
"That’s not right! A loan is a loan. What you give Nian is yours to give, and what I give is mine. I have my own motives too—Nian will have to take care of me when I’m old. It’s not the same."
Yang Yufen was startled by his suggestion.
Seeing her reaction, Professor Wen couldn’t help but laugh.
"Fine. But don’t rush to repay us, dear in-law. Taking care of the children and your own health is more important. We’re not in urgent need of the money."
His use of "dear in-law" was a clear acknowledgment of their familial bond.
Yang Yufen smiled too.
She resumed her work of tidying up the house, and the two children were no trouble at all.
Of course, Yang Yufen had also become an expert at childcare—she could anticipate their needs before they even made a sound.
As the days grew hotter, whenever she took the children out, she would bring a bamboo mat. After rinsing the courtyard and letting it dry, she would spread the mat out and let the little ones roll around and play on it.
"I’ve been hearing movement in this courtyard the past few days. Rumor has it, it’s being rented out. There should be someone here now."
Yang Yufen heard voices outside the wall, and soon enough, someone appeared at the front gate.
"Aunt Yang!"
Their eyes met. Fan Juan hadn’t expected to run into someone she knew while house-hunting.
"Oh, you two know each other? That makes things easier. I’ve got things to attend to at home, so I’ll leave you to it."
The woman who had accompanied Fan Juan quickly excused herself and hurried off.
"It’s you, Juan! Are you looking to rent?"
Yang Yufen had already cleaned up the courtyard quite well.
"Yes, Aunt Yang. Did you rent this place?"
"I used my son’s pension, the money I earned before, and some borrowed funds to buy it. Since it’s close to the university, I thought I could start a small business here later."
"Aunt Yang, you’re amazing!" Fan Juan couldn’t help but admire Yang Yufen’s foresight and drive.
"Are you still in the bamboo-weaving business, Aunt Yang? I’ve been here before and didn’t see you. You don’t live here, do you?"
"No, my daughter-in-law works at the research institute, so I live in the staff quarters with the children."
"That’s quite the commute! Aunt Yang, how about this—you rent the courtyard to me. You’ll earn rental income, and I’ll buy your woven crafts to resell, or I can help you take orders. This way, you can focus on the children while still making money. What do you think?"
Fan Juan loved the location of this courtyard but didn’t have enough money to buy it herself. Though she earned a decent income, she spent just as much. Besides, she had already purchased property elsewhere and missed her chance here.
"I’m the president of my university’s Foreign Language Exchange Society. We often organize events hosting foreign guests and need meaningful souvenirs for them. I think your crafts would be perfect."
