Chapter 5: Facing Reality

Chapter 5: Facing Reality

Early the next morning, Ye Xiaoxiao woke up.

Having moved to a new place, she really couldn't sleep, and the room was freezing.

For the first time, Ye Xiaoxiao realized that poverty and cold went hand in hand—the poorer you were, the colder it felt.

It was the 1980s, an era where opportunities seemed to be everywhere.

But the winds of change had not yet reached the small Songlin Town. There were no vast plains, no bustling steel mills, and certainly no open environment like the coastal areas.

Even the village's sole logging operation, which provided much-needed jobs, was on the brink of closure due to growing environmental concerns.

Money, money, money, come from everywhere, right into my lap...

After silently repeating this mantra to herself, Ye Xiaoxiao braced herself to get out of bed.

However, as soon as her skin touched the cold air, goosebumps erupted, and she clung to the blanket, unwilling to let go.

She realized that perhaps it was in such harsh conditions that an iron will was forged.

Ye Jianguo and Ye Changqing had risen even earlier. Seeing that Ye Changsheng was much better, they tried to slip away unnoticed, but Miao Fengshan stopped them until they had packed the food supplies, only then letting them leave.

Before departing, Ye Jianguo urged Ye Changyuan to look after his younger siblings and to head home once the weather turned for the better.

Ye Changyuan nodded in agreement.

By the time Ye Xiaoxiao opened the door, Ye Jianguo and his son were already gone.

Ye Changsheng looked much better too, no longer the frail figure he had been the day before, and was seated at a table on the kang, engrossed in a book.

Ye Xiaoxiao recalled that he was in his final year of high school.

Over the past two years, national education reforms had extended the high school system from two to three years.

This hit children in impoverished areas the hardest, as an additional year of schooling placed an unbearable strain on some families.

"It's winter vacation, what are you studying?"

Ye Xiaoxiao sat by the kang, trying to make conversation.

Ye Changsheng didn't respond. He was poring over some study materials his grandfather had left behind. With just six months to go before the college entrance exams, his confidence was shaky.

Though he was regarded as a top student in Bai County, the local education standards were abysmal, far behind other regions, and only a handful of students made it to university each year.

The Ye family valued education, yet none of his older brothers had managed to get into university.

Ye Changsheng retorted, "Didn't you want to leave? No one's holding you back now. You're free to go whenever."

Ye Xiaoxiao chuckled and quipped, "But Mom and Dad don't want me to leave. I've decided, I'll live here from now on, with all of you."

Even if the Ye family tried to force her out now, she had no intention of returning to the capital.

In the original book, Ye Xiaoxiao returned to the capital, where initially many children from the big courtyards protected her and helped her bully Hao Yanyan. But later, under the influence of the protagonist's halo, those who harbored hostility towards Hao Yanyan were all won over by her.

Ye Xiaoxiao, who was once the white moonlight, fell from grace into the mud, ending up in a tragic state.

To change one's fate, it’s definitely necessary to stay away from the main female character and live one’s own small life well.

Ye Changsheng: "Do what you want, but life here is hard. I don’t think you can handle it."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "We’ll see."

Ye Changsheng: "..."

After having breakfast at her grandfather's house, Ye Xiaoxiao continued to give Ye Changsheng injections. Practice makes perfect. He had resigned himself to it and didn’t struggle this time.

After the meal, Ye Xiaoxiao noticed Miao Fengshan limping on his left leg. She sat on the kang (a traditional heated bed) and checked his pulse.

"Grandpa, you have an old injury on your left leg, right? The recent cold weather has caused it to flare up again."

Miao Fengshan nodded: "It’s just an old injury, nothing to worry about."

Ye Xiaoxiao didn’t say anything, but she had already made a decision in her heart.

During the day, when there was nothing to do, she decided to take Ye Changyuan out.

"I didn’t bring enough clothes, and I need to buy some everyday items." This was the truth.

Ye Changyuan scratched his head: "Just buy some cloth and cotton. Auntie can make clothes for you when we get back—she’s really good at it."

"Alright!"

Just as the two were about to leave, Ye Changsheng stopped them.

Worried they might get into trouble, he insisted on tagging along.

Ye Xiaoxiao wasn’t up to anything shady, so she didn’t mind him coming along.

The three arrived near the co-op. The town’s co-op wasn’t big, but it had everything you could need.

But once inside, Ye Xiaoxiao realized she didn’t have any ration coupons.

In the 1980s, China was still dealing with shortages—you needed both money and ration coupons to buy things.

"I don’t have any coupons," Ye Xiaoxiao said, standing awkwardly in the co-op. She’d never been in a situation where money alone wasn’t enough.

"How clueless."

Ye Changsheng said disdainfully, then reached out, "Give me the money."

Ye Xiaoxiao handed him two big bills.

That was a month’s wages for a worker—enough to buy plenty.

Ye Changsheng took the money and talked to the clerk. Soon, he waved Ye Xiaoxiao and Ye Changyuan over.

The clerk had extra coupons and was willing to sell them. After some haggling, they got a few cloth and daily necessities coupons.

As they were about to leave, Ye Xiaoxiao suddenly asked, "Are we low on food? Ask if she has any grain coupons."

Ye Xiaoxiao bought seven feet of cloth, five pounds of cotton, and everyday items like towels, toothbrushes, and moisturizer.

The original owner hadn’t packed much, so to settle in for the long haul, she needed to stock up.

At the very least, she needed moisturizer and hand cream. Ye Xiaoxiao had only been outside briefly, but her face was already stinging from the wind.

"What are you doing... we don't need your money."

Ye Changsheng felt a pang seeing the other person spend money so freely. Just as they were about to check out and leave, the other person mentioned they still had things to buy, which he couldn't understand.

"I'm not buying this for you, I just want to enjoy better food."

Ye Xiaoxiao pouted.

Ye Changyuan: "If you want to buy grain, I know a good place. Although it's a bit more expensive than the grain shop, you don't need ration tickets."

Folks from Baichuan Village often have their own ways of getting things.

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Where's that?"

Ye Changyuan hesitated.

Ye Changsheng, knowing where they were going, directly said: "That kind of place isn't really for you. If you really want to buy, wait until it's dark, and the two of us can go try our luck.

But let's be clear, the grain shop sells for thirty cents a pound, but there it's fifty cents, and with it being the end of the year, prices are definitely higher."

Ye Xiaoxiao knew they were planning to go to the black market—the unofficial market—thought about it, and agreed.

The three of them walked out of the supply cooperative, with Ye Changyuan carrying everything.

Halfway there, Ye Xiaoxiao stopped again.

Ye Changsheng: "What now..."

"Where can I get traditional Chinese medicine? I need to pick up some medicine for Grandpa."

Ye Xiaoxiao was born into a medical family; her grandfather was a traditional Chinese medicine doctor, and her grandmother was a Western medicine doctor. Influenced by her family environment, although she studied Western medicine in college, she's actually skilled in both.

Ye Changsheng shut up.

Seeing his deflated look, Ye Xiaoxiao couldn't help but feel a bit smug.

Bet you didn't expect this—I'm not the same Ye Xiaoxiao anymore.

The easygoing Ye Changyuan quickly pointed the way: "There's a traditional Chinese medicine clinic up ahead that opened a couple of years ago. There's an old man from who knows where, with a really odd temper, and hardly anyone goes there for treatment."