Liu Fen was dazed, lost in her world, not even greeting her sister-in-law.

If not for the bandage on Xiao Lan’s forehead, Li Feng Mei would have thought Liu Fen was the one who had hit her head, appearing so dazed and unresponsive. Putting aside her thoughts, she quickly put her son down and helped Liu Yong move their things.

Liu Yong muttered curses about the Xia family being bastards, briefly explaining what had happened, including how the three of them were leaving when Xia Da Jun and his brothers returned home, and how they’d had to fight their way out of Da He Village.

“Make up the bed in the west room for Xiao Lan and her mother.”

Liu Yong meant for the mother and daughter to stay with them rather than return to face more abuse by the Xia family.

But he hadn’t specified for how long. Well-versed in social dynamics, Xiao Lan quickly pledged to Li Feng Mei: “I want to start a small business, save some money, and settle in the county town. There are more opportunities in Anqing County, and it’ll avoid village gossip.”

She wouldn’t stay at her uncle’s house forever.

Her uncle was genuinely willing to take them in, and Aunt Li Feng Mei wasn’t necessarily petty. Though Xiao Lan was mentally mature, she knew that living with relatives for too long inevitably led to friction. Since this was just temporary accommodation, she didn’t mind explaining more to put her aunt’s mind at ease.

Liu Yong caught Xiao Lan’s underlying message.

He didn’t argue, thinking Xiao Lan would lose her optimism once she faced hardship. Young people were fearless, thinking the outside world was simple. Yes, some people had made money in business these past two years, but could Xiao Lan endure the hardship?

In the lamplight, Xiao Lan noticed her aunt’s smile had become much more genuine.

“You silly girl, we’re family—no need for such talk. If your uncle says you two can stay, then stay with peace of mind!”

She could afford to be generous because Liu Yong had been earning well these past few months.

For now, feeding two more people wouldn’t be too burdensome.

Li Feng Mei quickly prepared the room. People weren’t fussy then—a bed with straw underneath and a mat on top was far better than the old broken house at the Xia family. Since being driven out of the Xia home yesterday, mother and daughter had been traveling day and night, truly exhausted.

After washing their faces and lying down, Xiao Lan patted Liu Fen’s hand: “Don’t worry, I’ll give you a good life. We’ll both do well—we won’t make steamed buns just to prove a point, but we’ll live well and show everyone!”

After a while, when Xiao Lan thought her mother had fallen asleep, Liu Fen slowly replied:

“I just want you to live well, Xiao Lan. Don’t blame me… I let you suffer…”

Xiao Lan spoke a few comforting words, knowing that before achieving results, any verbal promises would seem hollow. Completely exhausted, Xiao Lan fell asleep mid-conversation.

The next morning, Xiao Lan woke to the aroma of food.

Liu Fen had risen early and taken over the kitchen duties. Little cousin Tao Tao was feeling better today, hovering around his aunt in the kitchen. Liu Fen took a steamed bun from the steamer for him. Though it burned his mouth, Tao Tao wouldn’t spit it out, mumbling flattery through his full mouth:

“Aunt’s steamed buns taste better than Mom’s.”

Anqing County straddled the north-south divide—in later years, it would be one of those awkward regions that were cold in winter but without central heating. Their diet combined northern and southern styles, with the Liu family eating sweet potato porridge with white flour buns for several days.

While getting dressed, Xiao Lan had a pleasant surprise.

She found wrapped in a handkerchief in the box a stack of small bills totaling 18.30 yuan—the original owner’s secret savings.

At the bottom were several letters with bold, passionate words… from Wang Jian Hua. After forcing herself to read them, Xiao Lan smiled—he had openly pursued ‘Xiao Lan’, showing how sophisticated Xia Zi Yu’s methods were. Xiao Lan initially wanted to burn the letters but decided to stuff them back in the box—they might prove useful someday.

Just as she closed the box, Tao Tao entered.

“Aunt, Cousin Xiao Lan is awake!”

Tao Tao was very attached to Xiao Lan. Even though the previous Xiao Lan had a nasty temper, she was pretty! Children don’t care about mainstream aesthetics—their appreciation of people and things is natural, undistorted, more direct, and clear… To him, his cousin was simply pretty, even when angry.

Though Xiao Lan hadn’t much experience with children, her mental age wasn’t 18, and she had no resistance to adorable children.

Touching Tao Tao’s forehead, Xiao Lan was pleased:

“Your forehead isn’t hot—seems the fever’s gone.”

Tao Tao, in his childish way, felt his cousin was being so gentle with him, following her around like a tail—when Xiao Lan washed her face, he watched; when she combed her hair, he stayed. He’d glance at Xiao Lan, and take a bite of his bun: “Cousin, does your head still hurt… You’re so pretty!”

Indeed, she was very pretty.

After some grooming, hair braided into two plaits, and wearing clean clothes without patches, Xiao Lan thought herself almost too beautiful.

After tidying up, Xiao Lan took Tao Tao to the kitchen.

Liu Fen seemed normal again, though who knew what she was thinking.

“Breakfast will be ready soon. Your uncle and aunt went to check the rice—they can start threshing in a few days.”

Just then, Liu Yong’s voice rang out:

“Sweet potato porridge cooking?”

He hung his rain hat on the wall and smiled seeing Xiao Lan: “Awake? I told your mother not to wake you—you need good rest after your injury. The neighboring village caught a wild boar, your aunt went to buy meat.”

Outside of festivals, rural families rarely ate meat.

Tao Tao was nearly drooling.

Xiao Lan was naturally touched.

Liu Yong had always been generous despite being poor, and now with some money, he was even more free-handed. Until the grain was stored, Liu Yong wouldn’t leave, so his bicycle was available:

“Can you ride it?”

Xiao Lan nodded—she had ridden such old-style bicycles before. Though not sleek, they could carry loads, originally designed for military transport, handling rough roads with hundreds of jin of cargo and people.

Liu Yong meant for Xiao Lan to use it for her egg business.

Starting the business during harvest season—if she couldn’t handle the hardship, Liu Yong could think of other options.

Li Feng Mei returned with two jin of pork and a bone. The three-finger-thick fat was glistening—people then didn’t want lean meat, everyone lacked oil in their diet, so fatty meat was most popular. Li Feng Mei was quite proud of securing such good meat.

The family gathered to eat, and Li Feng Mei’s mood improved further hearing Xiao Lan and Liu Yong seriously discussing business details.

“How will you transport those eggs to town? Won’t the bicycle break them?”

In ’83, there were no village-connecting roads—not even paved ones, let alone cement. The ride to town would be bumpy. People could endure it, but eggs would break. Breaking 10 eggs per 100 would leave Xiao Lan with no profit.

Xiao Lan had been pondering this since yesterday.

In her previous life, long-distance egg transport used egg trays, plus smooth roads could transport them anywhere. Her conditions were primitive now—she couldn’t get plastic egg trays, but Xiao Lan had alternative methods.

“We can weave small reed rope baskets, just egg-sized, to hold each egg, strung together.”

Stuffing the gaps with cut wheat stalks and straw should substitute for shock-absorbing foam.

Liu Fen grew excited, “I can weave them—just show me how!”