Chapter 55

Chapter 55

There were so many dishes that they couldn't fit on one table. Commissioner Zhu went next door to bring over a large table from his home, placing it alongside the existing one.

He Yan and Yang Yingxiong followed behind, each carrying two stools in their hands.

Jin Xiuzhu and Fang Min fed the two infants and put them to sleep, laying them side by side in the larger room. Before dinner, Commissioner Zhu somehow found a camera and wanted to take a group photo.

Upon seeing this, Jin Xiuzhu and Fang Min specifically returned to the room to carry out the sleeping infants. Commissioner Zhu took the first photo, then Jiang Mingchuan took another.

The two families together, Jin Xiuzhu and Fang Min sat at the front holding their children, with the other young ones standing beside or behind them. Everyone wore bright smiles on their faces.

Afterward, they each took family portraits. Perhaps due to the noise, Fang Min's son woke up and started wailing loudly. In a panic, Fang Min instinctively reached out to cover her son’s mouth, which was captured in the photo.

In contrast, Liu Liu, nestled in Jin Xiuzhu’s arms, slept soundly, even smiling subconsciously at the corner of her mouth, looking incredibly adorable.

After taking the photos, Jin Xiuzhu and Fang Min returned the children to the room for them to continue sleeping.

Seeing her son asleep again, Fang Min sighed in relief. "This child has such a temper, he can’t be provoked at all. I’m truly afraid of him."

Jin Xiuzhu gave her a sympathetic look, agreeing that her son was difficult to handle.

It seemed as if being worn down by her son had made Fang Min’s expressions more lively now.

After coming out of the room, they began the New Year’s Eve dinner. There was no alcohol at home, so they used tea instead, drinking and eating amidst warmth and joy.

As the meal progressed, the three children grew restless; there was a movie screening from six to eight in the evening, and they wanted to go watch it.

Jin Xiuzhu understood their intentions and told them to hurry up and finish eating.

Upon hearing this, He Yan and the others quickly ate, devouring their food. Jiang Mingchuan hurriedly said, "Why are you eating so hastily? There’s plenty of time, don’t choke yourselves."

Beside him, Bai Jingzhi silently increased her speed of eating.

When it was 5:50, Jin Xiuzhu let them go. The three children, along with Bai Jingzhi, each took a stool and left.

He Yan also brought along the prepared melon seeds, pastries, and water, clearly well-prepared for comfort.

Once the children left, the house became much quieter. Jin Xiuzhu and the others sped up their eating. After finishing, Jin Xiuzhu and Fang Min returned to the room to check on the children, who were still asleep. Fang Min whispered, "I won’t go. I’ve never liked crowds. You guys go ahead, I’ll watch over Liu Liu for you."

Jin Xiuzhu responded irritably, "What’s the point if you don’t come? It’s the New Year, we should go out and have some fun. We can just carry the children on our backs."

Fang Min looked hesitant.

Jin Xiuzhu had already taken out two blankets from the cabinet. She imitated the military wives who carried their children to literacy classes, asking Fang Min to help her. She strapped Liu Liu to her chest and then bound Fanfan to Fang Min’s chest. Fanfan only furrowed her brow but soon snuggled back into sleep.

Fang Min supported her son’s small buttocks with both hands, finding it much more comfortable than holding him.

Jin Xiuzhu said casually, "Let’s go."

Fang Min smiled and followed her out.

Outside, Jiang Mingchuan and Commissioner Zhu had already washed the bowls and chopsticks. Jiang Mingchuan was wiping the table while Commissioner Zhu moved his own table back, as it was blocking the way.

Seeing them come out, Jiang Mingchuan grabbed the stools and flashlight.

Next door, Commissioner Zhu held a bag, imitating He Yan by packing water and snacks inside.

Jin Xiuzhu and Fang Min walked ahead, each supporting an infant, chatting as they headed toward the assembly hall.

Upon arrival, Jiang Mingchuan immediately spotted where his son was and pointed in that direction. "Over there."

Jin Xiuzhu looked over and saw the three adults and one child completely engrossed. They had forgotten to eat the things in their hands, staring wide-eyed at the screen.

Jiang Mingchuan led the way in front, while Jin Xiuzhu and Fang Min followed behind. When they reached their side, their daughter noticed them, her eyes lighting up as she urged them to sit down and watch together.

Seeing his mother and aunt arrive, He Yan squeezed over to make space for them.

Yang Yingxiong and Wei Ningqing, sitting beside him, were pushed so close together that the adult on the other side said impatiently, "Stop pushing, there’s no more space."

Wei Ningqing and Yang Yingxiong lowered their heads in embarrassment, pretending not to hear.

Jin Xiuzhu and Fang Min shamelessly took their seats. Commissioner Zhu and Jiang Mingchuan didn’t sit down, planning to stand to the side. Commissioner Zhu placed the food in his bag between their feet. "Call me if you need anything."

Fang Min nodded.

Jin Xiuzhu’s eyes were already fixed on the big screen, not noticing when Jiang Mingchuan spoke to her. He repeated himself twice without getting a response and had to leave with Commissioner Zhu.

Sitting beside Jin Xiuzhu, Fu Yanyan quietly told her mother what had been shown earlier. Jin Xiuzhu took out melon seeds from her pocket, munching on them while watching intently.

The movie ended at 7:50, after which the lights in the assembly hall turned on. Many people got up to use the restroom, and people began setting up the stage.

He Yan and the three other children quickly ran out to urinate and returned shortly after. Fu Yanyan suspected that they hadn’t actually gone to the restroom, but He Yan’s thick skin made it impossible to tell from his face. As for the other two, they had become less honest after playing with He Yan for a long time.

More people arrived during this period, gradually filling the assembly hall. Jin Xiuzhu couldn’t help but say to Fang Min, "Quite a few people haven’t gone home for the New Year."

Fang Min spat the melon seed shells into a small cloth pouch in her hand and nodded. "Some people live far away and don’t return. This year is considered fewer; in previous years, there wasn’t enough space for people to stand at the back."

Jin Xiuzhu was surprised. "That many?"

Fang Min nodded. "It’s alright. A few years ago, when the commissioner was serving in the northwest, I went there to see him. It was packed with people everywhere."

Listening to this, Jin Xiuzhu was full of curiosity. She had often felt that this place was magical. If one were to talk about poverty, it was indeed poor. Logically speaking, Jiang Mingchuan was somewhat of an official, yet he wore tattered clothes, lived in a small house, and didn’t eat particularly well. Unlike in the Great Jing Dynasty, where even a minor government clerk would be much wealthier than him.

However, in many aspects, this world was surprisingly advanced. Advanced weapons, advanced education, advanced carriages—even the children of ordinary citizens could attend school without bankrupting their families. Soldiers were also very fortunate; as long as someone in the family served in the military, they wouldn’t have to worry about going hungry. At a certain rank, wives could join their husbands in the military, something almost unheard of in the Great Jing Dynasty.

Jin Xiuzhu watched a man in military uniform take the stage with a microphone, his voice heard throughout the entire assembly hall.

She was now accustomed to these things and no longer found it surprising to hear clear sounds.

The host spoke many flattering words, then invited a middle-aged man and woman to the stage to sing.

At the party, there was singing and dancing, and the atmosphere was very lively.

The performances continued until ten o'clock in the evening. Many of the children sitting in the auditorium were sleepy, yawning and trying hard to keep their eyes open.

Knowing that everyone was tired, the host finally stepped up to the podium and dropped a bombshell: "Thank you for watching. Tonight is New Year's Eve. I wish everyone a safe and happy new year, good health, happiness, and success in all your endeavors. Finally, we have this year's new addition: a raffle. Each family will send a child on stage to draw a prize. The first prize is a book from our great leader."

"Wow—"

There was a cheer from the audience.

The host knew that everyone was excited, so he quickly raised his hand to quiet them down. "Everyone, quickly decide who will go on stage. Once you've decided, line up in front of the stage."

As soon as the words were spoken, some children rushed over eagerly.

In some families with multiple children, they all wanted to go up, and arguments broke out. The auditorium became instantly noisy.

He Yan still had self-awareness and hurriedly called out to his sister, "Yanyan, hurry up and go."

Then he began to boast to his two friends excitedly, "My sister has great luck. Our house was drawn by her before. Everyone said the third floor is the best, and she drew it right away."

Fu Yanyan gave He Yan an annoyed look, thinking he was a big mouth.

Jin Xiuzhu also urged her daughter to go up, "Go have fun. It doesn't matter if you don't win."

He Yan was even more excited than Fu Yanyan and took the initiative to walk over to clear a path for his sister, saying, "Make way, make way. My sister is going to draw."

Yang Yingxiong and Wei Ningqing also joined in the excitement, stretching out their hands and following behind. They somewhat resembled the second-generation rich kids Jin Xiuzhu had seen before, leading a few lackeys.

She couldn't help covering her mouth and laughing. Fang Min also laughed, finding it very amusing.

Jiang Mingchuan and Commissioner Zhu stood at the entrance. Seeing the children approach, they called them over to talk. No one knew what was said, but eventually Fu Yanyan and Wei Ningqing both went to join the queue.

Yang Yingxiong egged them on, "You must win!"

He even asked Wei Ningqing to rub his sister's head for good luck.

Wei Ningqing really believed it. Before Fu Yanyan went on stage, he reached out and vigorously rubbed her head a few times.

Fu Yanyan: "…"

Fu Yanyan had already stepped onto the first stair and couldn't turn back to get angry, so she held her temper and continued up the stairs. She walked to the raffle box in the center of the stage, reached in, and grabbed a number.

All the children who had drawn numbers stood on the stage, looking at each other's numbers.

The drawing was soon over, and the host began announcing the prizes. The first prize was number fifty-four.

An excited little boy ran out, shouting, "It's me, it's me."

Cheers erupted from the audience in the auditorium, and several parents stood up happily to applaud.

A young soldier in uniform brought a book on stage, and the host handed it to the boy, telling him to treasure it.

The boy's cheeks were flushed red as he shouted, "I will."

After the boy left the stage, the host announced the second prize winner. He deliberately built suspense by opening the paper in his hand and passing it to a slightly older girl beside him. "My eyesight isn't too good. Can you tell me who the second prize winner is?"

The girl turned to look and, seeing the number on the paper, her face showed disappointment. Still, she said, "Number seventeen."

As soon as the words were spoken, all the children on the stage lowered their heads to look at their own numbers. Realizing it wasn't them, they turned to look around.

Fu Yanyan hadn't thought she would win. She didn't think she would be lucky again; last time was just a stroke of luck. So from the beginning, she remained calm inside.

When the number seventeen was called, she didn't react at first.

Not until Wei Ningqing beside her asked, "What number do you have?" did she unfold the paper in her hand to show him. Wei Ningqing's eyes lit up, and he became more excited than Fu Yanyan. He raised her hand and shouted, "Number seventeen is here."

Fu Yanyan blinked.

He Yan, standing below the stage, saw this and let out a series of exclamations, then turned around and started boasting loudly, "I told you my sister has good luck. She won."

"Quick, look, look. That's my sister."

Jin Xiuzhu and Fang Min also saw it and happily clasped each other's hands.

Bai Jingzhi couldn't sit still and ran forward.

The host had someone bring the prize up, and to everyone's surprise, the second prize was a brand new radio.

Excitement surged through the hall, and everyone looked at Fu Yanyan on stage, marveling at the child's good fortune.

Fu Yanyan was also stunned, unable to recall if something similar had happened in her previous life.

Unfortunately, she was too young back then, and much of it was forgotten. In her memory, there was no radio in the house until after Jin Xiuzhu and Jiang's father divorced.

The radio was too large for Fu Yanyan to carry, so He Yan and Yang Yingxiong hurriedly ran up to help, each carrying one side.

When they came down, Commissioner Zhu wanted to take a photo of them.

The three boys grinned widely, extremely happy. Fu Yanyan was surrounded by her brothers, her lips slightly curved upward, her eyes carrying a hint of smug satisfaction.

Years later, when the children had grown up and looked at this photo again, they could still feel the joy and contentment of that moment.

It was a particularly vivid memory from their wonderful childhood.

The third prize was a bicycle, which was won by a twelve-year-old boy.

Fu Yanyan glanced back at the children coming off the stage and suddenly noticed that most of the performers were boys, with only a few girls among them. Those girls who did get to perform only had the opportunity because there were no boys in their families.

On their way home, He Yan and the others were delighted, and Jiang Mingchuan was also happy, constantly telling them to walk slower and not to drop the radio.

Once they arrived home, the first thing Jiang Mingchuan did was pull a wire from the living room's light fixture over to connect it to the radio. After adjusting it a bit, they heard sounds coming from inside.

"He Yan exclaimed.

Yang Yingxiong stared curiously at the radio.

Jin Xiuzhu had already heard about these radios, and upon hearing the commotion, she left her child and hurried out of the room to see.

The whole family gathered around the radio, chattering nonstop.

Only Fu Yanyan sat calmly nearby, sipping water from her cup, thinking to herself, "This is nothing compared to what's yet to come—televisions, computers, phones..."

Refusing to admit that she was secretly pleased, she never expected that this year's New Year celebration would bring everyone so much joy because of her.

Upstairs, Yang Yao could still hear the excited voices downstairs after returning home.

Zhao Yun, who was in the room, also heard them. She had already gone to bed, but Yang Yao's return woke her up, causing her to frown and ask, "What's all the noise downstairs?"

That evening, she hadn't gone to watch the movie or the gala, feeling self-conscious about her weight and not wanting to be seen like that.

Yang Yao didn't hide anything from her and said directly, "After the gala, there was a raffle. Downstairs, they won a radio."

Zhao Yun was taken aback and asked in disbelief, "A radio?"

Yang Yao nodded. "Jiang Mingchuan's daughter went up to draw the prize. She seems to have good luck; last time, she picked the best house on the third floor, and now she's drawn a radio."

Not only did he say this, but he also thought it, feeling that Jiang Mingchuan had much better luck than him now. Before, he had thought that Jiang Mingchuan had lost sight of the bigger picture by not choosing Zhao Yun and instead marrying a woman from the countryside. Now, that same woman was both earning money and bringing him a daughter with such good luck.

Radios were expensive; who could afford to buy one now?

Zhao Yun remained silent, feeling a little uneasy and regretting not letting her daughter go over to play tonight—she might have won something too.

Seeing Yang Yao get into bed, she turned her back to him, but couldn't fall asleep. After some thought, she couldn't help asking, "What other prizes were there?"

Yang Yao was almost asleep when he heard this question and mumbled, "Books by great leaders and a bicycle."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yun found it even harder to sleep.

They were all good prizes.

Even winning just one would be great.

---

The next day, Qian Yufeng and Wang Ling came over to see the new radio.

The radio was brand new, with the words "Worker-Peasant-Soldier Seven-Tube, Dual-Band Transistor Radio" written prominently on it.

Neither family had returned to their hometowns this year, as they had to start work on the sixth day of the New Year, leaving no time to come back. Compared to going home for the New Year, their jobs were more important.

Especially for Wang Ling, the county textile factory now had a bigger reputation than those in the city, and she needed to keep a close eye on it, fearing that city officials might try to take it away. These were her hard-earned achievements.

It wasn't clear if it was Jin Xiuzhu's imagination, but she felt that Wang Ling didn't seem well, with a slightly yellowish complexion.

Jin Xiuzhu couldn't help but ask, "Have you been overworking yourself lately? You don't look too well."

Wang Ling: "I'm not sure. It might be from staying up late. The city officials put a lot of pressure on me recently, and I've probably offended everyone. I'm quite stressed now."

"No matter how tiring your job is, your health is the most important. If you have time, go to the hospital for a check-up and adjust your body. If you develop health problems from overwork, everything else will be in vain."

Wang Ling nodded at these words. Not only Jin Xiuzhu but Old Yan and her son had also mentioned her poor complexion recently, though she hadn't paid much attention to it.

However, Jin Xiuzhu's words carried more weight with her.

Qian Yufeng also chimed in, "Yes, I also noticed that your complexion isn't right. You should go see a doctor soon. If necessary, visit the old Chinese medicine practitioner in Squad Three. He's quite skilled; we used to go to him whenever we were sick as kids."

Wang Ling acknowledged that she would consider it.

Qian Yufeng had brought Daya along. She had heard that Bai Jingzhi was tutoring two children at home and decided to bring her daughter, despite some embarrassment.

She didn't hide her intentions and said directly, "I heard from someone at the canteen that Cousin Qin's niece got a good job after graduating from university and married the son of a leader, even bringing her parents to live in the city. I think my daughter Daya has that kind of luck. Her grades are much better than her brother's."

At the end of the term, her brother had scored only two points in math. When she scolded him for not being as good as He Yan, he claimed that Bai Jingzhi secretly tutored He Yan at home, which prompted her to come over. Anyway, her son wouldn't be able to go to university, so she couldn't rely on him, but her daughter was different. She had placed third at the end of the term and received an award.

She hoped that Daya would become as successful as Bai Jingzhi, beautiful and capable, attending university and becoming a city dweller.

Qian Yufeng no longer prioritized her son as she used to. Working in the canteen, she often chatted with other women, and they all agreed that raising daughters was better. Daughters were caring and filial, unlike sons, who could cause trouble after getting married, especially if they ended up with ungrateful daughters-in-law.

Well-raised daughters were no worse than sons.

Hearing this repeatedly, Qian Yufeng took it to heart.

Last year, she had even taken her daughter to the city to play. Everyone praised her daughter for being sensible, and when she told them that her daughter always ranked among the top in her class, they all complimented her for having good fortune. This made her reluctant to mention her son, finding it embarrassing.

Daya blushed upon hearing this but stayed, thinking about the chance to learn from Sister Bai.

Jin Xiuzhu found this amusing and called Bai Jingzhi out of the room, asking her to study with Daya.

Daya smiled and greeted, "Sister Bai."

"Hello."

Bai Jingzhi reached out to hold her hand and patted her head. "Come over and study together."

Daya said yes with a reddened face.

She was much more confident now. Last time when she went to the city, her mother took her around to see the sights and they even visited the department store. Although they only bought two hair ties in the end, it was the happiest day of her life.

On the morning of the sixth day, Zhang Qiulai returned carrying large bundles of goods.

Aside from her own clothes, everything else had been stuffed into her bags by her brother and sister-in-law. There were shoes made by her sister-in-law for the children, as well as pickled vegetables and chili sauce she had prepared. These ingredients made for delicious dishes. Her brother also crafted toys for Liu Liu and Fanfan, including rattles and spinning tops.

Initially, she worried that Jin Xiuzhu and Fang Min might not appreciate these gifts. Both women were accomplished individuals—one an artist and the other an author—truly remarkable figures. She and her sister-in-law were just ordinary people, without many valuable possessions. They lived frugally, trying to stretch every penny, and saved carefully for their children's future, uncertain about when they might lose their jobs.

To her surprise, Jin Xiuzhu and Fang Min loved the gifts. They immediately had the children try on their new shoes. Jin Xiuzhu wasn't skilled at making such layered-soled shoes, finding them too laborious, so she usually bought rubber-soled shoes for the kids instead.

The children gathered around Zhang Qiulai, thanking her warmly and expressing how much they liked their new shoes.

Zhang Qiulai was delighted.

He Yan was even more engrossed, playing with his siblings' new toys, unwilling to let go.

Feeling elated, Zhang Qiulai used all the pickled vegetables and chili sauce she brought for lunch, cooking up a feast.

After the meal, the children eagerly showed her the new radio at home.

Hearing that it was won in a lottery, Zhang Qiulai kept praising Fu Yanyan, looking at her with admiration as if she were a hero.

Fu Yanyan tried hard to maintain a composed expression, attempting to appear nonchalant.