Volume One, Chapter 18: The Spring Festival of 1987

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Sun Yaqin had already prepared her response. “I saw it in the newspaper a few days ago. Big brother, don’t you ever read the paper at work?”
“All right, big brother, now we’re talking about Xu Tao and Chen Da. Why are you bringing me into this?”

Sun Liancheng was easily swayed by his younger sister’s words. It wasn’t that Sun Yaqin didn’t want to tell the truth—she just worried about her brother’s impulsive temper. She feared he might rush off to confront those relatives and that the bizarre idea of rebirth might make others think she was strange.

“Eat first! Eat first! The dishes will get cold soon. Brother Chen Da is someone Yaqin trusts, so I trust him too. I’ll talk to him about the rest later.”

Xu Tao expressed his gratitude toward Sun Yaqin several times. Despite her young age, he truly admired the little girl from the bottom of his heart.

Since they had to sell goods the next day, none of them drank much. Chen Da had originally planned to return to Shanglin Village the following day, but thanks to Sun Yaqin’s introduction, he decided to stay a while, see if this business could work, and then report back to his parents.

There were still five days before New Year’s Eve. They finished off the remaining wild game from before. After Sun Yaqin and Xu Tao settled the accounts, they followed big brother and Chen Da back to the village.

“Dad! Mom! Your second daughter is home!”

Sun Yaqin took off her hat and gloves and ran straight onto the kang bed.

Yang Guilan’s eyes were filled with worry.

“Let Mom see you. You didn’t even make a single call home; Mom was worried sick.”

“Mom, I’m grown up now. What could happen to me?”

Yang Guilan shot her a sidelong glance. “No matter how old you get, you’re still a child in Mom’s eyes. And you’re keeping secrets from me. Your big brother told me last time he came back. Yang Huifang went looking for trouble with you, and your third aunt...”

Mentioning Yang Guizhi, Yang Guilan’s expression grew complicated.

“All right, Mom, the New Year is coming soon. Let’s not talk about unhappy things. Guess how much money I made?”

Yang Guilan gently tapped her forehead. “You little rascal, when did you become such a little money lover?”

Sun Yaqin held up one hand to gesture.

“Five hundred yuan?”

“A little over five hundred, nearly six hundred.”

A small, proud smile appeared on Sun Yaqin’s face. She pulled out all the money, counting over nine hundred yuan in total, including more than three hundred yuan used to cover the cost of goods from the villagers. “Big brother, please help me distribute this to the villagers.”

“Mom, I’ll keep two hundred. The rest is for you and Dad.”

“Mom doesn’t want this money; you should keep it saved.”

“Mom, big brother has worked hard outside to build the house for our family. If you can accept his money, why can’t you accept mine?”

Sun Liancheng sneered beside her. “You’re surprisingly considerate, little rascal.”

Yang Guilan looked at Sun Liancheng and scolded, “Go quickly and give the money to the villagers. Some families might be counting on it for the New Year. Don’t delay.”

After Sun Liancheng left, Sun Yaqin continued, “Mom, second sister is still in school, and big brother is at the age to start a family. I’m still young—I don’t need this much money.”

“Then Mom can’t take it either. Your father and I aren’t too old to work yet. In Mom’s opinion, you should focus on studying more.”

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Sun Yaqin scratched her head, a playful look on her face. “Mom, I’m just not cut out for studying.”

“I’ll keep this money for you. I won’t touch it. I’ll also give your big brother his money. Your father and I aren’t at the age to depend on you yet.”

Seeing her mother accept the money, Sun Yaqin said no more.

At that moment, a cry for help came from outside.

“Uncle Sun! Aunt Yang! Help me!”

A figure darted into the house—none other than Chen Da, followed by Chen the Fourth carrying a stick.

Yang Guilan hurried forward to stop him. “Fourth brother! Fourth brother! What are you doing? Let’s talk this through. It’s freezing outside, and you’re carrying a stick to hit someone. What if you hurt the child?”

“Sister-in-law, get out of the way. Don’t touch me. Today I’m going to beat this little bastard to death!”

Chen Da, looking miserable, begged Sun Yaqin for help. “Yaqin, please help me explain to my father. He’s beating me without listening to reason.”

“Explain my foot! I told you to help out, but you went behind my back! You little bastard, this is how I teach you to behave!”

Now Sun Yaqin understood. “Fourth uncle, you’ve misunderstood! Brother Chen Da didn’t go behind anyone’s back.”

As soon as Chen Da entered, he climbed up onto the kang and hid behind Sun Yaqin.

Chen the Fourth was furious. “Yaqin, get up. Don’t defend him. Today, Fourth uncle is going to teach this little bastard a lesson.”

“Fourth uncle! You really have the wrong idea! If Chen Da had gone behind anyone’s back, I would have told you long ago. That’s just not his style.”

Chen the Fourth calmed down a bit. Sun Yaqin explained the whole situation to him. Although he still glared at his son, much of the anger had dissipated.

“Yaqin, what you said is true?”

“Fourth uncle, why would I lie? After the New Year, I plan to do something else, so I won’t be dealing with wild game anymore. I just thought Chen Da has nothing much to do now, so having him help is perfect.”

Yang Guilan brought a cup of water and urged, “That’s right, Fourth brother. I’ve never seen you so angry. At least let the child finish explaining. Have some water first and calm down.”

Chen the Fourth took the water from her hand. “Thanks, sister-in-law.”

He drank it down in gulps.

But even admitting he was wrong, Chen the Fourth would never back down in front of his son.

“Sister-in-law, you have me to laugh at. I’m just worried this brat won’t grow up right and am teaching him some discipline.”

Yang Guilan nodded. “I understand how parents feel. You’re just afraid this little seedling will grow crooked. Chen Da is a child I’ve watched grow up; his character is sound. How can you, as a father, have no faith in your own son?”

Chen the Fourth sighed. “You’re right, sister-in-law.”

He looked at Chen Da, who was still standing in the corner on the kang. “Look at you, hiding behind Yaqin like that. Get down here and go home!”

“Fourth brother, don’t go home yet. Have lunch at my place today. Let Dazi call his mother over.”

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Since the two families often ate together, Chen the Fourth didn’t refuse the invitation. It was also a good chance to share a little drink with Sun Junde.

Time flew quickly. Before they knew it, it was New Year’s Eve. The whole family sat together watching the Spring Festival Gala, making dumplings. Fei Xiang’s song “A Fire in Winter” was all the rage across the country.

On the second day of the New Year, Sun Yaling returned home with Yanyan.

Hearing the commotion outside, Yang Guilan looked from afar, thinking her eyes were deceiving her at the sight of her granddaughter.

“Yaling! Yanyan!”

Without even putting on a coat, Yang Guilan ran over and lifted Yanyan into her arms.

“Mom, it’s cold outside. Come inside quickly.”

Sun Junde’s face showed a faint smile upon seeing his eldest daughter and granddaughter home. The smile was shy, restrained, and full of a quiet fatherly love.

“Come on, let grandpa hold you!”

“Your hands are all dirty. Don’t hold my granddaughter.”

Sun Yaqin was also full of joy at her eldest sister’s return—something that had never happened in their previous life.

“Big sister!” Sun Yaqin and Sun Yaling both rushed forward.

After taking off her coat, Sun Yaling pulled a handkerchief from her pocket, inside which was wrapped some money.

“Mom, this is the money you and Dad gave me when I got married. I haven’t touched it. I didn’t know about the house construction, and I haven’t been able to help.”

Yang Guilan hurriedly pushed it back. “Oh, your father and I don’t lack money. You keep it.”

Sun Yaqin’s gaze fell on the handkerchief.

“Big sister, can you let me see your handkerchief?”

Sun Yaling stuffed the money into Yang Guilan’s hand and handed the handkerchief to Sun Yaqin.

Just as Sun Yaqin reached out, Sun Liancheng snatched it away. “Big sister, these handkerchiefs were purchased by me in Suzhou before the New Year.”

“Really? This was given out by our workplace. I thought it looked nice, so I used it to hold money.”

Sun Liancheng’s words brightened Sun Yaqin’s eyes. Most handkerchiefs sold in state-run stores were simple cotton checks, not very attractive. But her sister’s handkerchief was not only good quality but also stylish and novel.

Most of the items purchased by her brother’s workplace were for employee welfare, making them hard for ordinary people to buy.

Handkerchiefs are consumable goods that need replacing after use, especially in this era.

Sun Yaqin looked at her big brother with a mischievous smile. Sun Liancheng knew that nine times out of ten, when his sister looked at him like that, it wasn’t good news.

He threw down the handkerchief and was about to run off. “Mom, I’m going to Fourth uncle’s house!”