Chapter 8

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Qiu Xiao’e had always disliked Lin Yilan—a child of remarried parents and a descendant of capitalists—who strutted around the compound so freely. Her disdain grew even stronger upon discovering Lin Yilan’s close relationship with Aunt Zhang, whom she detested the most.

Why was it that, as a genuine city girl living beneath the imperial city’s walls, she toiled diligently every day caring for her in-laws, husband, and children, yet her life was still less comfortable than someone from the countryside?

Glancing at the cement and tools in Lin’s courtyard, Qiu Xiao’e’s eyes flickered. “Aunt Zhang, I won’t talk to you anymore. Outsiders have already entered this compound. I’d better report this to the logistics department leadership immediately.”

Upon hearing this, Aunt Zhang knew that Qiu Xiao’e was up to mischief. She grabbed Qiu’s arm to stop her from leaving. “Comrade Qiu, I’m not saying this lightly, but you see everything as Lin making mistakes?”

“Besides, if Lin had really brought someone in, she would have registered with the on-duty soldiers. Otherwise, how could she have let them in?”

“Qiu, you say you came here yet didn’t even enter the gate, then you think you caught me making a mistake? That’s hardly appropriate.”

Lin Yilan, holding two shovels, smiled faintly and approached Qiu and Aunt Zhang.

Her gaze swept over the half-human-high courtyard wall in front of her, maintaining her smile as she leisurely opened her front gate. “Comrade Qiu, there’s an old saying: seeing is believing, hearing is deceiving. Although sometimes what the eyes see isn’t necessarily true, at least people use their own eyes to see. Unlike you, whose eyes must be growing on top of your head, since you see nothing at all.”

Lin Yilan’s words, admittedly rude, were especially bold in this compound’s environment.

But Lin knew well she had always acted by the principle of “If others don’t offend me, I won’t offend them.”

Moreover, since Qiu Xiao’e had already put a label on her, Lin couldn’t just let it slide.

Hearing Lin call her “Comrade Qiu” when she was only thirty-seven, Qiu’s face turned green with anger.

“Xiao Lin, that’s a bit harsh. Looks like your mother didn’t teach you to respect your elders. No wonder you come from a capitalist family.”

Lin glanced down at the cement on her pant leg, clicking her tongue in frustration—she had been trying hard not to get her pants dirty.

Thinking about her already scarce pairs of pants shrinking even further, her mood darkened.

“Comrade Qiu, when I respect someone, I don’t look at their age but at their attitude and character. Besides, my parents told me from a young age that when encountering those who cling to their age to boast, there’s no need to respect them just because they’re older.”

“And if you have a problem with my mother’s background, I suggest you wait until my grandparents come home tonight and ask them yourself.”

Qiu’s face instantly turned pale at those words.

Aunt Zhang finally found a chance to speak, quickly supporting Lin’s statement. “Exactly! I’ve heard the leaders on the radio say that nowadays, we don’t judge people by their background anymore.”

“Comrade Qiu, even though you’re not in the military, you should follow your husband and stay updated on the country’s policies and news.”

“Otherwise, how can a city-born daughter-in-law like you be less aware than a countryside woman like me? You have no ideological awareness at all.”

“Pfft—”

At the sound of laughter, Lin turned to see Fangfang standing in the courtyard. She hadn’t noticed when Fangfang had come out of the house.

Fangfang tried to suppress a smile, looking at the three of them.

“Uh, hahaha… sorry, hahaha.”

“Cough, cough, cough—haha, hmm.”

Qiu’s face flushed bright red. She had never lost face in front of the younger generation, especially not in front of a child who grew up in this compound. She felt all the dignity she had maintained for over a decade here was stripped away by these two.

She pointed back and forth at Lin and Aunt Zhang. “You… just wait.”

With that, she turned and hurried away.

Watching Qiu’s retreating figure, Lin said to Aunt Zhang, “Thank you, Aunt Zhang. By the way, would you like to come to my house for some water?”

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Aunt Zhang glanced at the sun and waved her hand. “It’s getting late. I have to hurry home. We’ll chat some other time.”

She too quickly headed toward her home.

Left alone, Lin shrugged at Fangfang standing nearby and said, “Let’s continue.”

Then she picked up a shovel, scooped some cement mortar, squatted by the door, and began shaping a slope for the doorstep.

While Lin worked, Fangfang stood silently watching.

No matter how many times she watched, she still thought Lin was incredible. After learning a few times during the construction, and reading books at the library, Lin had mastered mixing cement and was now practicing it.

Impressive indeed.

Only someone that capable could get into university, Fangfang thought.

When Lin paused, Fangfang wiped the sweat from her forehead and asked, “Xiao Lan, what do you think I should do in the future?”

Lin turned her head to look at Fangfang behind her. “What do you like?”

Fangfang looked confused. “What do I like? I don’t know. I just hope my mother doesn’t have to work so hard.”

“She takes care of all of us every day. She looks so tired. When I want to help, she won’t let me. She thinks I’m just causing trouble.”

“Sigh—”

“I really envy people like you who got into university. You can do whatever you want in the future and don’t have to worry about jobs.”

Lin scraped cement back and forth on the shovel, fully aware of Fangfang’s family situation, which was the same for most families in this era. Parents had many children; after caring for the older ones, they had to support the younger. Every month’s income had to be carefully budgeted—not just for daily expenses, but also to send money back to their own elderly parents and pay for the children’s tuition.

After finally raising the children, the eldest started having grandchildren and had to care for the next generation all over again.

Just thinking about it was exhausting.

Fangfang’s family was actually doing relatively well.

“Why don’t you try for university?” Lin asked as she switched legs and continued smoothing the cement.

Fangfang squatted down too, resting her chin on her arm and tilted her head at Lin. “I tried before but didn’t get in.”

“Getting into university is hard, and finding a job is hard. The educated youth who went out have all come back. There aren’t enough positions for so many people. Is marrying the only choice, like my mother says?”

“My mom said that if I can’t find work, I either have to marry or have my dad pull some strings so I can join the military.”

Lin didn’t know how to answer.

Given future trends, she could advise Fangfang to go into business. But she dared not.

She was afraid that if she said it casually, others would think a university student like her should be smarter than those without education, and might push Fangfang into business.

Not to mention the current business environment, where Fangfang might not be able to protect herself. Lin herself knew she wasn’t capable enough to bear her own future, let alone someone else’s.

She had always known she had only glimpsed a future decades ahead. She hadn’t gained much wisdom or ability.

And business was not something one could succeed at casually.

If she had the power to solve Fangfang’s life direction, she wouldn’t be worrying about her own family’s fate in this story.

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With this in mind, Lin sighed and gave a classic answer from the future: when you have no direction, read more books. At least that won’t harm anyone.

“You took the college entrance exam, right? That means you passed the preliminary tests. Why not try again?”

“I heard you applied to universities in the capital city. If that doesn’t work, why not try another place? Places like the capital or the metropolitan city have many applicants and high cut-off scores. Choose a less popular city or a university with lower requirements.”

“If that’s still no good, maybe try a vocational college?”

Fangfang looked at Lin doubtfully. She was the first person who gave her a reasoned analysis and encouraged her to try for university again.

Before, people either said “try again, maybe next time you’ll get in,” or “girls don’t need so much education.”

Words spoken casually as if everything were simple.

“Can I really do it? What if I don’t get in again?” Fangfang doubted herself.

Lin put down her shovel, dusted off her hands, and looked up at Fangfang. “Give it a try. Give yourself another chance. Your family’s condition isn’t too difficult. Have your parents support you for one more year.”

“I’ll give you the study materials I prepared for the exam. When it’s time to fill out your application, I’ll help you get some information.”

“Fangfang, tell me—do you want to be as tired as your mother in the future?”

Fangfang immediately shook her head.

Her mother not only worked hard but was also unrecognized by her grandparents.

Lin glanced around to make sure no one was nearby, then said, “Then go try university. At least if you go, you’ll have more choices. You won’t be limited to just joining the military or getting married.”

Fangfang nodded, still a bit lost, and squatted nearby.

Lin didn’t push further but gave her space to think.

After that, she finished shaping the slopes on the thresholds of the bathroom, the courtyard gate, and the front door of the house. Then she used the remaining cement to fill the cracks outside the courtyard.

When done, Lin stuck a branch upright in the middle of the main gate of the compound.

She then fetched her bag from inside, grabbed a small stool, and sat in the courtyard assembling a handrail.

Time flew by as she busily worked. The sun slowly set, leaves rustled in the evening breeze, and the compound gradually grew lively.

Lin went inside, turned on the porch light, then sat back down on the stool, waiting for her grandparents to return.

At dusk, a figure suddenly appeared before Lin.

“Hiss—”

“Ouch, ouch, my foot’s numb, ah!”

Lin looked at the wildly gesturing figure helplessly. “Big sister, how long have you been squatting there? I thought you’d gone home.”

“I was thinking about my life!” Fangfang stomped her foot in frustration. “Xiao Lan, I just made a very important decision.”

Lin watched Fangfang approach, her expression serious though not overly solemn. It was clear she had something weighty to say. Instinctively, Lin straightened up and suppressed the smile on her face.