However, her second brother had always been known as a bit of a good-for-nothing in the village. Trying to marry the beautiful Sister Qiuye was like a pig trying to climb a tree.
Impossible!
Father Xu also felt his son was dreaming too big. He sighed and said, “Second Brother, Qiuye works at the town’s supply and marketing cooperative. How could she ever like you?
Let’s not even talk about whether she likes you or not—her parents are hoping she’ll marry into a family from the county, maybe even land herself a cadre’s son. Our family isn’t in their league.”
Second Brother Xu had expected this reaction. He silently bit into the coarse multigrain bun in his hand, not uttering a word.
Mother Xu, on the other hand, felt a flicker of hope. It was true that Qiuye worked at the supply and marketing cooperative, but her parents were still ordinary farmers.
If her son really could marry a girl who worked there, wouldn’t that mean they’d have an inside track for getting supplies in the future?
“What do you mean by not a good match?” Mother Xu argued. “I think our second son is pretty good—he and Qiuye are a fine pair.
Second Brother, tell Mom the truth. Have you two kept in touch? Didn’t you grow up playing together as kids?”
Second Brother Xu hadn’t expected his mother to back him up. His eyes reddened. “Mom… do you really think I’m good enough for Qiuye?”
Mother Xu lifted her chin proudly. “Why wouldn’t you be? You graduated from junior high, didn’t you? You’re not bad looking either. Your father’s still the village leader, and your third brother works at the transportation company.
Our family’s conditions are among the best around! And just look at your little sister—so beautiful. Why wouldn’t we be a good match for Qiuye?”
But hearing his mother’s words, Second Brother Xu felt all his confidence drain away. His mother wasn’t praising him—she was praising his father, his third brother, and his little sister.
“Mom, stop. I’m not as good-looking as my sister, I don’t have a job like Third Brother, and I don’t have Dad’s abilities. How could I possibly be worthy of Qiuye? Don’t tease me anymore.”
Mother Xu scowled at his defeatist attitude. “Why wouldn’t you be worthy? Didn’t you and Qiuye play together before?
Why don’t you talk to her now? Does she have a fiancé? If not, your father and I will ask a matchmaker to talk to her family!”
Second Brother Xu nearly jumped out of his seat. “No, no, Mom—don’t! If you go to her parents, I’ll never stand a chance.”
“Then you’ll go by yourself?” Mother Xu pressed.
He hesitated for a moment, then nodded reluctantly. He was worried his parents might make things worse if they intervened.
After breakfast, Father Xu went out to work with the others. There wasn’t much to do today, so Mother Xu stayed behind to tend the house.
She cleared the table and carried the dishes to the kitchen to wash. Xu Ying, seeing this, went over to help.
But Mother Xu wouldn’t hear of it. “Go rest in your room! Or read a book if you’re bored. Leave this to me.” She gently pushed Xu Ying out of the kitchen.
Xu Ying had no choice but to walk away. But after glancing at the chicken coop, she quietly placed three eggs inside when no one was looking.
Then, thinking about the food stash in Mother Xu’s room, she darted back into the kitchen and grabbed her mother’s arm. “Mom, didn’t you say you had some shortbread saved up? I’m craving one. Can I get the key?”
Mother Xu smiled indulgently. “Same spot as always—the key’s in the iron box under my bed. Go get it.”
Xu Ying’s eyes lit up as she rushed to the main room, fished under the bed, and retrieved the iron box. With the key in hand, she hurried to the big storage trunk.
Opening it quickly, she saw three sacks inside—two large ones filled with millet and cornmeal, and a smaller bag holding about five kilos of white flour.
Thankfully, in her previous life, Xu Ying had grabbed whatever she could find without being picky. Her portable space already had millet and cornmeal, and now the starter pack had included cornmeal too.
She scooped some white flour and cornmeal into her space, then swiftly closed the trunk.
Next, she opened Mother Xu’s cabinet, pulled out a shortbread, and returned the key to its place.
“Mom, I’m going to take Shitou and Huzi to the back hills to see if we can find any wild eggs,” Xu Ying announced cheerfully, nibbling her shortbread as she stood at the kitchen door.
Mother Xu watched her daughter’s happy face and couldn’t help smiling herself. “Okay, but promise me—you can’t go deep into the mountains, understand?”
“I won’t,” Xu Ying promised sweetly.
Mother Xu called to Shitou, “Shitou! Take your aunty up the hill to cut pigweed, but keep an eye on her. Don’t let anything happen.”
“Don’t worry, Grandma!” Shitou replied, setting down the chicken feed scoop. “I’ll watch her—I won’t let her go into the mountain.”
Mother Xu nodded approvingly.
Xu Ying sighed helplessly at her mother’s overprotectiveness. She was already eighteen—an adult—yet her mother still treated her like a little girl.
Shitou grabbed a basket and a sickle. “Come on, aunty , let’s go.”
Xu Ying took Huzi’s hand, and the three of them set off, humming a light tune.
Their village, Xujia Village, sat against the mountains, with a wide river flowing through it. As they passed the river, Xu Ying’s thoughts drifted.
Her drowning in her past life had everything to do with Dong Wenzhong and Chen Yanran.
She had liked Dong Wenzhong before—wherever he went, she followed.
That day, she’d seen him and Chen Yanran talking beneath the big tree by the river. Curious, she’d crept closer to eavesdrop.
But she’d been so focused on listening that she hadn’t watched her step. She’d slipped on a rock and tumbled straight into the water.
“Aunty, let’s go!” Shitou’s voice jolted her from her thoughts. He reached out to pull her along.
Xu Ying snapped back to reality and followed them toward the back hills.
There wasn’t much work in the fields today, so fewer people were out. A group of women sat in the village’s gossip corner, chatting away.
Xu Ying quickened her pace, trying to pass by unnoticed. But before she could escape, the sharp-tongued Zhang Dacao spotted her.
“Xu Ying! What’re you doing here? Looking for Comrade Dong again?” Zhang Dacao teased loudly, eager to embarrass her in front of everyone.
Xu Ying shot her a calm glance. Not today, Aunt Cao—don’t get your hopes up.
She smiled sweetly at the women. “Aunt Cao, what are you talking about? There’s nothing between me and Dong Zhiqing.
Oh, by the way, I just saw Xiangdong heading over to the educated youth center. Is he helping Chen Yanran again?
Tsk, poor Aunt Cao. You raised Brother Xiangdong all these years, and now he’s turning his back on you for an outsider… such a pity!” Xu Ying sighed dramatically, gazing at her with mock sympathy.
Zhang Dacao’s expression darkened. “That brat! Always siding with outsiders—useless thing!”
She stormed off furiously, ready to drag her son home.
Xu Ying grinned in triumph. “Bye, Aunt Cao!” she called cheekily after her retreating figure.
The moment she turned to leave, her third aunt’s daughter-in-law approached, tugging her aside. “Yingying, tell me honestly—why did you beat up Dong Zhiqing yesterday?”
“Did you two fight? Or… do you not like him anymore?”
Everyone in the village knew Xu Ying had once liked Dong Zhiqing—it was no secret.
Third Aunt’s family had always looked down on him. Wang Lanhua especially thought Dong Zhiqing was worthless: no strength, no prospects.
Her niece was pretty, well-behaved, and favored at home. If she ended up with a man like Dong Zhiqing, life would be miserable.
Now that Xu Ying was unmarried, her cousin-in-law spoiled her. But once she married, her husband’s family wouldn’t be so indulgent.
And when her cousin-in-law grew old… who would Xu Ying be able to rely on?