By the end of June, the heat had become almost unbearable.
Day after day, the temperature climbed higher. Thirty-seven degrees. Thirty-eight. Perhaps even forty. The air felt thick, heavy, and unmoving, like a damp quilt thrown over the entire city. But the Lin family had no radio at home. They could not listen to the weather forecast, could not hear the official numbers announced in calm voices. They could only feel the sun burning against their skin and guess for themselves.
Lin Ying stayed indoors as much as possible. Even sitting felt like effort. All she wanted was to lie flat on the bed and not move at all. In those days, there were no air conditioners humming in the background, no electric fans spinning lazily above. The house trapped the heat during the day and refused to let it go at night. It felt as if even breathing required strength.
Thankfully, Su Yulan had prepared ahead of time.
Seeing everyone grow restless and irritable in the heat, she had taken out straw mats and large palm-leaf fans and arranged them carefully on each bed.
The straw mats were tightly woven from dried reeds. When Lin Ying lay down, her back immediately felt a faint, soothing coolness. The surface was smooth yet firm, allowing air to pass through. She ran her fingers over the weave and could not help admiring the quiet wisdom of earlier generations. Without machines or electricity, they had still found clever ways to survive the long summers.
The palm-leaf fans were wide and strong, made from dried palm leaves attached to bamboo handles. Each fan was about one and a half times the size of Lin Ying’s hand, broad and solid. With one steady wave, it pushed a surprising amount of air forward—almost as powerful as a small electric fan. But power came at a price. After only a short while, her wrist would begin to ache, the muscles turning sore from the constant motion.
Lin Qiu was also home for summer vacation.Despite the sweltering weather, she seemed untouched by it. She skipped around the house, her braids bouncing against her shoulders, her small feet pattering across the floor. Sweat dampened her forehead, yet she paid it no mind. Children possessed a kind of fearless energy that the heat could not easily steal.
Watching her lively younger sister, Lin Ying narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.
“Fan me,” she bargained, holding up three fingers. “And I’ll buy you three popsicles.”
For Lin Qiu, that offer was irresistible. Su Yulan rarely allowed her to eat cold sweets. Popsicles were already rare treasures. Creamy ice cream—the expensive kind—was almost unheard of. Her eyes widened at once, and she agreed without hesitation.
She sat obediently beside the bed, gripping the large palm-leaf fan with both hands and waving it with serious dedication.
With each steady motion, a gentle breeze brushed across Lin Ying’s face and neck. The cool air slipped beneath her collar and lifted the damp strands of hair at her temples. Slowly, the unbearable heaviness of the heat seemed to loosen its grip. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to relax completely, feeling almost spoiled.Just as she was enjoying this rare comfort, a voice suddenly echoed from downstairs.
“Who is Lin Ying? There’s a letter for you!”Lin Ying’s eyes flew open.
Her heart gave a sudden leap.
Without even thinking, she sprang off the bed and hurried toward the stairs.
“Second sister! Who sent you a letter?” Lin Qiu called after her.
But Lin Ying was already halfway down, her footsteps quick and light.
At the bottom of the building, the postman stood waiting, a small stack of envelopes in his hand. The afternoon sun fell sharply across the paper, making the white glow faintly.
Lin Ying stepped forward and accepted them carefully.There were three.Her fingers felt slightly warm as she turned the first envelope over and tore it open. It was fromManxing Magazine.
The moment she saw the formal tone of the letter, she understood.
It was a rejection.
The words were polite and distant, expressing regret that her manuscript could not be accepted at this time.She exhaled quietly.
Manxing had not been her first choice. She had submitted there simply to widen her chances. Rejection was normal. She had prepared herself for it.
The second envelope was from Shuiyue Magazine.
Her heartbeat quickened slightly as she opened it. Shuiyue was different. Shuiyue specialized in romance stories. She had studied their past issues carefully, observing what kind of themes they favored, what kind of endings they preferred. She had adjusted her own novel to fit the spirit of the era [stories during this period often needed to reflect collective values and social ideals], yet she had kept the core of her story romantic and tender.When her eyes scanned the first few lines, her fingers tightened.
Another rejection.
This time, the disappointment sank deeper.Shuiyue had been the one she believed suited her story best. If even they had declined her manuscript, then what hope remained with the others?
It was her first time submitting, yes. It was understandable that she might not fully grasp what editors were seeking. Still, two rejections in a row felt like a quiet blow to her confidence.The hopeful spark inside her chest dimmed a little.
Taking a steady breath, she opened the third envelope. It was from Kanshan Magazine.
This one, she had assumed, would most likely reject her. She unfolded the letter calmly, already bracing herself for familiar words of regret.But what she saw first was—
“Congratulations.”For a moment, she simply stared.
She read it again.
Her manuscript had been selected for publication.
Selected.
Published.
Accepted.
A warmth rushed through her body so quickly that her hands began to tremble. She reached into the envelope again and felt something else inside. Money.
There were several neatly folded bills.
The letter explained clearly that her novel had already been printed, and the enclosed amount was her royalty payment.
As a new writer, her rate was three yuan per thousand words—the minimum standard for beginners. Her manuscript was 13,800 words long. The total came to forty-one yuan and forty-four cents.
Forty-one yuan.
In this era, thirty-six yuan was considered the minimum monthly wage for a regular worker. That was what a skilled worker earned after completing apprenticeship training. An apprentice might receive only twenty yuan. A seasoned worker might earn forty yuan, sometimes with a five-yuan bonus.
And she,with her very first submission—Had earned more than forty yuan.
This was not simply money.It was proof. Proof that her words had value. Proof that she could rely on her own ability.
Lin Ying pressed the letter lightly against her chest. Her heart felt full, almost trembling with joy. For a long moment, she stood there under the blazing sun, smiling softly to herself.Then she made a small, bold decision.She went to buy ice cream.Not an ordinary ice pop.A creamy ice cream—the expensive kind with a thick, milky taste.
When she returned home holding it, Lin Qiu’s eyes lit up instantly. But beneath the excitement, there was also confusion.
Her sister was usually careful with money. Today, she was very generous.“Second sister,” Lin Qiu asked curiously, licking the edge of the ice cream, “did something good happen?”
Lin Ying smiled, but she shook her head slightly.
“I won’t tell you,” she teased gently. “You’ll find out tonight.”
If she spoke now, Lin Qiu would bombard her with endless questions. And besides, the adults were not home yet. Lin Siqing and Su Yulan were still at work [state work units during this period required fixed hours], while Su Youfu and Wang Guihua had gone out to enjoy the evening breeze under the trees.Lin Qiu did not know the details, but she understood one thing clearly.
It was good news. And she had eaten creamy ice cream. That alone made her very happy.When evening came, the family gathered for dinner. After the meal, Su Yulan began clearing the bowls and chopsticks.She was just about to tell Lin Ying to wash the dishes when Lin Ying spoke first.
“I have something to tell everyone.”Su Yulan did not even look up.“If it’s about Shao Mingyuan, leave it for later. Wash the dishes first. We’ll talk after.”“Mom,” Lin Ying said firmly, “it’s not about Shao Mingyuan.”“Then say it quickly,” Su Yulan replied briskly. “And then go wash.”
In her eyes, Lin Ying was still young. Household chores were urgent matters. Whatever news she had could not possibly be more important than cleaning up.
Lin Ying straightened slightly.“I made money today.”The room fell silent. Su Yulan’s hands paused midair.Lin Ying did not have a job. How could she have made money?A flicker of worry crossed Su Yulan’s face.Su Youfu frowned at once.
“You didn’t do anything speculative, did you?” he asked sternly. “That kind of profiteering behavior undermines socialism [private trading for profit was strictly criticized during this time]. Our family can endure hardship. But we absolutely cannot do that.”His voice carried firm warning.
The summer air inside the room seemed to thicken again.
Yet Lin Ying stood there calmly, the envelope still safely tucked in her hand, her heart beating steady and bright.Su Youfu’s eyes were sharp and serious, his expression unwavering. His beliefs were simple but rigid: what the country said was right, and his family must follow it. He felt strongly that private buying and selling was wrong and absolutely unacceptable. He could not control what others did, but within his own home, he would not allow it—never.
Wang Guihua, on the other hand, looked small and hesitant. Her voice trembled slightly as she said, “Listen to Grandma, you can’t do things that aren’t allowed.”
Her fear had deep roots. Her eldest daughter and son-in-law had been sent to the countryside for reform through labor because they hadn’t disposed of certain belongings and had been discovered. Wang Guihua had been terrified ever since. In her mind, it was better not to do anything at all. At least, that way, nothing would get worse.
Even the usually quiet Lin Siqing spoke, his voice calm but firm: “Our family is doing alright. Your mother, your brother, and I are all earning money. You don’t need to support the family now. Just focus on getting married. You can earn money and take care of the family when you have a job. It’s all the same.”
Lin Ying stared at them in surprise. She hadn’t expected this response at all. Quickly, she explained, “My novel was published in a magazine, and I got a total of forty-one yuan in royalties.”
Then, with a decisive movement, she slammed the envelope on the table. Su Yulan, seeing the seriousness on Lin Ying’s face and realizing it wasn’t a trick, picked up the envelope first. But her education level wasn’t high, and she struggled to recognize many of the characters. She handed it to Lin Siqing, who read it with her side by side.
Together, they realized that Lin Ying’s words were true. Their daughter had indeed submitted a story to a magazine—and it had been accepted.
Su Yulan could hardly believe it. She had never imagined that someone like her could give birth to a writer.
Lin Siqing’s surprise was quieter but no less profound. Taciturn as ever, he rarely spoke even at home. When Lin Ying was little, he had thought she resembled him in temperament—quiet, serious, observant—but writing? That was beyond him. He couldn’t even compose a few paragraphs without struggling. Yet here was his daughter, a writer.
Su Youfu, unable to contain himself, practically jumped in excitement: “Our family can actually produce a great writer! That’s wonderful! I’ll tell everyone every day that we have a writer in our family—they’ll be so envious!”
Wang Guihua could barely read a character herself, but she understood one thing clearly: being a writer was a good, respected job. And it earned money—sometimes more than men. She beamed proudly, feeling a swell of joy for her granddaughter.
Su Yulan and Lin Siqing, recovering from their astonishment, then noticed the royalties. Su Yulan counted carefully: forty-one yuan. Her eyes widened. That was more than a month’s salary for her! Lin Ying could earn that with her own words. It was astonishing.
Meanwhile, Lin Qiu clung to her sister’s leg, her small voice buzzing with questions. “Second sister, what does a writer do? Do they write? Like the things you wrote before? Is it like when teachers make us write essays? Do we have to write a lot of words? Second sister, you’re so amazing!”
But everyone else was still too stunned to answer. Lin Ying smiled and gently patted her little sister’s head. “Think about your own problem first, and your second sister will explain it to you tonight.” Obediently, Lin Qiu quieted down.
Then Lin Ying handed all forty-one yuan to Su Yulan. “Mom, things have been tight at home lately because of my marriage . This money will make things a little easier.”
Su Yulan was deeply touched. Her daughter was growing up, thinking about the family. Yet she shook her head slightly. “Silly child, how could I use your money? We’re struggling, but we’re not starving. I was just thinking about whether you and Dr. Shao should postpone the wedding for another month. Now that you’re earning your own money, this money can be used for that. You and Dr. Shao don’t need to wait—you can get married in early July.”
Lin Ying hadn’t expected her mother to think of this first. It wasn’t her intention at all.
After washing the dishes, she still wanted to save some of the money at home. She approached Su Yulan again. “Do I need to spend so much on the wedding? We don’t have that much at home, so why don’t we save some? Let the family buy some things. Let’s keep half of this forty yuan for the family. For the past ten days, we’ve been eating mostly vegetables and radishes. Lin Qiu is getting a little tired of it.”
Su Yulan considered this carefully. Her expression softened slightly, but in the end, she said firmly, “Anyway, you and Dr. Shao are getting married soon. This money should go to the wedding first. If anything’s left, you can keep it. Just got married, and there are many expenses. It’s not right for you to keep asking others for money.”
Lin Ying accepted her mother’s decision, feeling a warm gratitude for her family’s care. She felt lucky to have such a thoughtful home. She returned to her room to answer Lin Qiu’s questions one by one.
Meanwhile, a sudden commotion erupted next door. Because the houses were so close, the Lin family could hear everything.
Su Yulan frowned. “That’s the Su family next door, right? What’s going on? Why are they arguing so loudly?”
Listening closely, she continued, “It sounds like your classmate is arguing with his parents.”
Lin Ying’s hearing was even sharper. Indeed, it was Su Beibei, arguing with her parents. There were probably others trying to break up the argument, but it seemed futile.
Lin Ying, thinking that the female lead’s gossip could be used for three card draws, deliberately moved closer to see what was going on inside.
She noticed a small crowd had gathered—neighbors peeking out, whispering to each other. Perhaps it was human nature: when a quarrel erupted, people wanted to see and hear for themselves. Lin Ying didn’t feel out of place among them.
She heard Su Beibei shout, “I can choose who I marry! I’m an adult. I’m eighteen! Can’t I decide who I marry?”
Then came Su Beibei’s father’s voice, booming and filled with anger. “Since ancient times, marriages have been arranged by matchmakers and parents. What kind of girl chooses her own husband? Have you no shame? You may be shameless, but I still have my pride. How am I supposed to live in this courtyard?”
Her mother, Chen Xiuqin, joined in, her voice sharp: “I carried you for ten months and raised you to eighteen years! Now you think you’re grown up and won’t listen to your parents? Your father is telling you what to do, and you still talk back! Isn’t he doing this for your own good? What kind of girl acts like you? Don’t you even know what manners are?”
The Su family’s quarrel spilled into the courtyard. Everyone could hear. Even the people upstairs and downstairs went out to see what was happening.
Lin Ying watched, a little uneasy. Su Beibei tried to keep her voice controlled, but her parents’ shouts drew attention from the whole courtyard. Who was truly shameless here?
And Lin Ying felt it was wrong to hear the insults hurled by parents at their own child. Girls deserved dignity. Respect should not be so easily stripped away.
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