After being transferred to the Third Hospital, Gui Xiang found it much easier to care for her family. Those who had once doubted her now understood just how dire her family's situation was. The envious onlookers no longer felt jealousy—how could anyone envy a household struggling to support not one but two patients, a financial black hole with no end in sight?
Yet Gui Xiang continued to sell breakfast with a cheerful smile every day, never dwelling on her hardships. It was the nurses and other patients' families who spread the word about her struggles, having witnessed it firsthand.
Time passed slowly. In three days, Qin Nian would also be leaving.
"Nian Nian, think about where to hide these—either sew them into your clothes or keep them close to your body. Your mother suggests hiding some on your person and finding another place for the rest once you arrive."
Yang Yufen took out the gold bars and small gold beads.
"Mom, you exchanged all the money for gold bars? Wait—our family didn’t have that much money. Mom, did you—?"
Qin Nian stared at the items in the red cloth pouch, feeling their weight in more ways than one.
"It’s from what you gave me, Xianjun’s allowance, what was left from Aunt Gui Xiang, and the rent—just enough. See? The things you bought me are still here."
Yang Yufen raised her hand slightly.
"Quick, think about how to hide them. If anything happens, remember—money can be sacrificed, but not your life. This is soil I dug up, the cleanest I could find. If you suffer from homesickness or acclimatization sickness, mix it with water and drink it. Hopefully, you won’t need it, but keep it as a memento. It’s an old remedy."
Yang Yufen repeated her instructions before stepping out.
Dabao and Erbao knew their mother was leaving soon and had been clinging to Qin Nian these past few days.
Shen Xianjun called home.
"Dad!"
The two children crowded around the phone.
"Hey, you missed me, didn’t you? Your mom’s about to leave for school too, but she’ll call you just like I do. Be good and listen to Grandma, okay?"
Shen Xianjun had never felt such a strong longing for home before.
"We will!"
Listening from the side, Qin Nian felt warmth in her heart. Maybe this man wasn’t so bad after all.
Perhaps knowing their parents would call them, Dabao and Erbao’s moods improved. With Hu Zhenghao finding new ways to entertain them, the two children finally stopped feeling so down.
On the day Qin Nian left, Yang Yufen held the two children as they spent the day watching planes in the sky.
"Is Mom on that plane?"
Erbao pointed at a passing aircraft. It took a long time for another plane to appear, but the child didn’t seem to mind craning his neck.
Children’s sadness fades quickly. They remember, but with family around, they don’t dwell on it like adults do.
"Grandma! Grandma! I want grapes!"
The two children fixated on the grapevines in Aunt Wang’s yard. The grapes were already the size of small fingers, plump and still a vibrant green.
Along with the twins, a group of other little rascals had gathered.
Today, Hu Zhenghao and Yaoyao’s school had organized a picnic, leaving only the younger kids in the residential compound.
"They’re not ripe yet. When they are, Aunt Wang will pick some for you, okay?"
Aunt Wang laughed as the children buzzed around, running from one house to another.
"Aunt Wang, I want some now!"
Dabao hugged her leg and shook it.
"Hey, slow down! Don’t knock Aunt Wang over."
Yang Yufen walked over from next door.
"These kids won’t learn until they get a taste of their own medicine. If they keep pestering, they’ll probably try climbing the vines."
She plucked a few of the denser grapes and handed them out.
"Here, since you asked. One each. After this, behave."
Aunt Wang couldn’t help but chuckle.
"You just have to reason with them. You don’t seem afraid of them suffering a bit."
"Why should I be? If they don’t learn the hard way, they’ll think everything’s a treasure—or that adults just like lying to them."
Yang Yufen laughed too.
"Ew! So sour!"
"Yuck! It’s awful!"
The children made faces, instantly subdued.
"Go play with the bamboo ball."
Yang Yufen dug out a woven bamboo ball, and soon the kids were noisily kicking it around.
"You’re so good at handling them!"
"Kids stop being a nuisance when they’re busy."
Yang Yufen smiled. Truthfully, with the children in daycare most days, everyone was used to them. Teachers kept them occupied—only this one day of the week was particularly exhausting.
Yang Yufen raised them loosely—let them run around, as long as they stayed inside the compound, there was nothing to fear.
Before Qin Nian left, Wang Aimin’s family had also moved away. Wang Aimin had made a critical mistake at work, and for some reason, Mother Wang decided to write an accusation letter targeting Qin Nian and Dean Hu.
When the authorities investigated, they quickly uncovered the truth. Mother Wang had disrupted internal unity, and Wang Aimin was permanently removed from the research institute.
With a time difference of over a dozen hours, on the other side of the ocean, Qin Nian hadn’t expected to fall ill immediately upon arrival.
It wasn’t just her—everyone in their group had fallen sick. Seeking medical treatment here was far harder than she’d imagined.
Racial discrimination, unfamiliar food—everything was a struggle.
"If only you’d brought some soil from home."
A senior who had been there for a year spoke up.
Qin Nian suddenly remembered what her mother-in-law had packed for her and quickly dug it out.
"I did."
"That’s great! It might sound superstitious, but it works. I’ll boil some water—everyone should drink a little."
Whether it was psychological or not, after drinking the water, they all felt noticeably better.
Qin Nian carefully wrapped the remaining soil and stored it away.
Studying was grueling. The professors here didn’t explain things as patiently as their teachers back home, nor did they slow down for non-native speakers.
There were no special advantages. Even someone as bright as Qin Nian had to burn the midnight oil, spending her days off buried in the library. The students banded together, forming study groups to help and encourage one another.
Early in the morning, Yang Yufen took the two children straight to the institute’s phone room. Professor Wen and Dean Hu were already there.
"Calculating the time difference, it should be around now. But don’t worry—even over there, calling requires waiting in line."
Dean Hu reassured them.
"Ring—"
The phone’s shrill tone drew everyone’s attention. After the second ring, Dean Hu picked up.
"Hello?"
"Professor, it’s me—Nian Nian."
Qin Nian’s voice came through the line.
After a full day of classes, rushing to the embassy despite being given a hard time all day—just the thought of calling home tonight kept her spirits high.
"Mom!"
"Mom!"
Dabao and Erbao shouted in unison.
Though the line was distorted, the children recognized her voice instantly, yelling in excitement.
"Dabao! Erbao!"
Qin Nian nearly burst into tears, quickly covering her mouth and taking a deep breath.
