"It's only because you've helped me before, Fan Juan, that I'm willing to rent it out like this. Anyone else, and I'd really be reluctant. As you can see, I've carefully repaired the courtyard and the house—just move your things in, and it's ready to live in."
Fan Juan directly offered eighteen yuan a month, payable every three months. Even so, Yang Yufen would receive forty-two yuan upfront, which she thought was quite a good deal.
Fan Juan also noticed that this place was much better maintained than others she had seen, which was why she was willing to pay a slightly higher price.
Of course, Aunt Yang was easy to get along with, and they had a good working relationship.
"If it's a rush order, I won't be able to take it. Otherwise, everything stays the same as before. If you need anything, you can also come find me at the research institute's family quarters."
"Sure thing!"
Fan Juan was delighted and even wanted to treat Yang Yufen to a meal, but Yang Yufen declined, as she had her two children with her.
Since Yang Yufen was now collaborating with Fan Juan, the prices for the bamboo weaving couldn't be set as high as when she sold to foreigners.
She lowered them to a more reasonable rate.
This way, Yang Yufen no longer had to take her children out to set up a stall in the wind and sun.
Riding her tricycle, Yang Yufen headed to another small courtyard.
Fan Juan, unaware of this, happily returned to school to move her belongings.
The more she earned, the less she dared to leave her things at school. However, the courtyard she had luckily acquired earlier was too far from campus, making it inconvenient for urgent matters. That was why she wanted to rent another place to live separately, so she could rent out her own courtyard.
Professor Wen knew about Yang Yufen's two courtyards and had been helping her find tenants. When he learned that one had already been rented out, he promptly helped her lease the other one as well.
Twelve yuan a month—though the space was smaller, it had all the essentials and was conveniently accessible.
A year's rent came to one hundred and forty-four yuan. Yang Yufen didn’t rush to repay Professor Wen.
She set aside one hundred yuan and used the rest to buy things for the children.
With the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, Yang Yufen made some seasonal bamboo crafts—miniature dragon boats and zongzi.
She had also figured out how to make birdcages, but since she wasn’t going to Badaling anymore, she didn’t plan to sell them. Instead, she casually gave one to Fan Juan.
When Fan Juan saw the birdcage, she immediately thought of her professor, who often took leave. Figuring she ought to butter him up a little, she presented it to him.
"Not bad. At least you have some conscience."
The professor didn’t show it on his face, but he was quite pleased.
He worried that capable students might neglect their studies or go astray, but it seemed this one was doing well—respectful, dutiful, and even knew how to cater to his interests.
Fan Juan paid for the birdcage out of her own pocket. In return, her professor tossed her a book on a rare foreign language. "More skills never hurt," he said. The book was filled with his notes, meticulously annotated.
Fan Juan suffered through late-night study sessions, torn between agony and delight.
Professor Wen, knowing Yang Yufen had resumed her bamboo weaving, stopped worrying about her.
Instead, his thoughts turned to Qin Nian, far away.
"Comrade Qin, come quick! Help me see where I went wrong."
An elderly professor handed over a notebook of data. Qin Nian took it and quickly skimmed through the pages.
"Here—the coordinates are off, which is why everything after this point is wrong."
Aside from calculations, Qin Nian absorbed vast amounts of new knowledge every day.
Supplies were tight at the base, and Qin Nian even shared some of the provisions she had brought.
She grew noticeably thinner, but her spirits were higher than ever.
Meanwhile, a certain man was blindfolded and led onto a boat. He barely had time to scribble a note, hoping it would reach his people before falling into the wrong hands.
Bamboo carvings sold better than woven items, likely because they were cheaper. Yang Yufen didn’t mind focusing more on carvings—she already knew some simple engraving techniques. In the past, she’d been too busy with farm work, scrambling for work points. Now, aside from raising her children, she had plenty of time.
When she tired of carving, she wove small items. When weaving grew tedious, she tinkered with bamboo to make little toys to amuse the kids.
She no longer grew vegetables in the front yard, using the space instead to dry her children’s clothes. Despite their small size, the twins went through outfits quickly, and the laundry line was always full.
A grapevine trellis stood in the middle, while a melon vine climbed another frame. The chickens had been moved to the backyard, and firewood was stored beneath the racks.
The vegetables she grew in the backyard were more than enough for herself. Aunt Wang even provided seedlings, so she didn’t have to lift a finger.
Whenever she cut bamboo, she brought back firewood too. If she spotted good bamboo shoots, she’d take some home to boil, dry, and save for winter.
"Grandma Yang, I’m here to see the babies!"
Yaoyao’s voice rang out from beyond the courtyard.
"Yaoyao! Come in, it’s scorching out there."
"Grandma Yang, my grandma asked me to bring you a popsicle!"
Yaoyao handed one to Yang Yufen.
"You have it, Yaoyao. Why didn’t your grandma come?"
"You take it, Grandma Yang! I have one too. Mom says I can’t have too many, or my tummy will hurt."
Yaoyao waved her hands, indicating she already had one.
"Yaoyao is such a good girl."
Yang Yufen accepted the popsicle.
"Dad picked Grandma up on his way to the Agricultural Institute, so she told me to come play with the babies. She’ll come get me later."
"Alright, you’ll have dinner here today. I’m making steamed egg custard."
Yang Yufen ruffled Yaoyao’s fluffy hair—it was delightfully soft.
"I love steamed egg custard the most!"
Yaoyao cheered, then hurried over to entertain the twins.
"Yaoyao, where’s your mom?"
Yang Yufen suddenly realized that if the child was on break, Little Fang should be free too.
"Mom went to another school. We have fifteen days left before vacation!"
Kids were always happiest when holidays approached.
Yang Yufen paused, realizing it was already July. Qin Nian had been gone for nearly three months—time had flown by.
She wondered how Qin Nian was doing, whether she was taking care of herself.
The weather in June and July was unpredictable. Seeing dark clouds roll in, Yang Yufen rushed to gather the children and bring them inside.
"Yaoyao, play with the babies inside. Grandma will tidy up the yard, then we’ll have steamed egg custard."
Out at sea, gales howled, tossing the boat like a leaf. A massive wave capsized it, sending everyone overboard.
As the rain poured, the sweltering heat eased. By the time Yang Yufen finished cooking, the twins were fast asleep.
To beat the heat, she had made a bamboo bed. She coaxed Yaoyao into taking a nap, listening as the rain grew heavier outside. By dusk, the storm had finally passed.
"Godmother, I’m here to pick up Yaoyao. Thanks for looking after her today."
Fang Fen arrived on her bicycle, still wearing a raincoat—clearly, she had just returned from somewhere.
